the Rock Report

Someone once told me, “It ain’t the amount of stuff that hits the fan that gets to ya, but the size of the fan itself.”

Over the past coupla weeks, there’s been a lady who’s been bent on pluckin’ the feathers outta the Eagle’s hide … and it’s cost me in time, money, headaches and more!  Not to mention a bit of legal dealings to stabilize my own holdings

(DAMN!!  After all this, I’m wonderin’ if it wasn’t the Clarkster in disguise!  Naaah … she’s a woman, which means she ain’t got no … hmmm … maybe it was him, after all … anyway …) word up:  there are readers who already know who I’m talkin’ about.  The rest of you can email me if ya want in on it …

Anyway, fortunately, the fan was bigger than the poop thrown (she was also wantin’ to tax — or stop — my work.  And there ain’t no way in hell that’s gonna happen!  Makes me wanna rock it even harder!)  So, now … the trouble’s behind me, the smoke’s cleared and I’m still stadnin’, and back online with regular, everyday madnes … er, posts … like it usedta — and still oughtta — be!!  So (okay … maybe just a leeeetle wobbly … that shoulda read “standin’” …) let’s do it:

GETTIN’ BACK TO THE BIZ AT HAND

The new noms for the Songwriters Hall of Fame (Class of 2010) were announced this past Saturday, and, amongst the writers/performers, Dion, David Gates, Tommy James, John Cougar Mellencamp, Lou Reed, Leon Russell, Cat Stevens (finally!) and Earth, Wind & Fire. (I still don’t get it; I know these are all American writers/performers, but … look, if anyone deserves to be in the Songwriters’ HoF, it’s Ron Ryan!

But, amongst the writers, you’ve got Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Jackie DeShannon and Joe South (somehow, the SHoF forgot that these all performed at one time), as well as Mark James (”Suspicious Minds”), Luther Dixon (”Soldier Boy”) and the teams of Jerry Ragavoy and Bert Burns (”Twist & Shout”) and Paul Vance and Neil Pockriss (”Itsy Bitsy Bikini” … a song inspired by Paul seeing his three-year-old daughter in a “IBTWYPD Bikini” for the first time!).

Two performers and three non-performers are gonna be chosen and they’ll be announced early next year.

STAMPING IT OUT

One more quick woid: England, yer gonna have some new postal stamps coming your way in January! “Let It Bleed” by the Rolling Stones, “Led Zeppelin IV,” “Ziggy Stardust” from David Bowie and Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” are classic album covers destined to become stamps from Britain’s Royal Mail on 7 January 2010 (there’ll be ten album stamps in all!). Not guaranteed to get yer mail to its destination any quicker than regular stamps, but … hey, it’ll work better than if ya used none at all, right??

Well, that’s all the time we have on this edition. But stay tuned … we’ve got new lights and a coffee machine in the nearly-cat-free RockRoom (I did say “nearly”, right?) and will be back here later this evening with more …
So I’ll see ya on the flip side …

Awright … I know I’m a little behind. But, anatomy notwithstanding (hey … you started it!), the balding bird’s been bed-bug busy fittin’ piles of research into ten deadlined articles and gettin’ more Fore tracks into the hands of terra-radio stations around the US of A.
But, look … I’m back, so what’s to worry? We’ll get back to the regular schedule in a coupla days …

HOLD TIGHT!

Just a quick note: I never thought I’d miss Dave Dee and band so much until the new download of their hit, Hold Tight! arrived at the RockDesk. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich were fab rockers with the tightest in-group harmonies since The Hollies!
Oh … didja know that Dave (R.I.P., man …) was also the one on the scene of the crash that killed rock legend Eddie Cochran? He was still in training as a patrolman, but not only did he aid in securing the scene but also was directly responsible for getting Eddie’s guitar back to his parents!
Up until Dave’s death last year, the band was still performing. Here’s hoping they’ll keep it together, at least in the man’s memory …

ALL THAT GLITTERS AIN’T GOLD …

Hey … remember that jackass, Gary Glitter?? (WOW!  For just a minute, I felt like the President!!) Awww, this has-been jerk was the one who molested little kids overseas and didn’t get away with it (fortunately).
And remember how he was sent back to England and told to sit and stay?? (well, he is a dog, IMHO … wait … sorry.  Dogs shouldn’t be compared to this idiot …)
Well, yesterday (23 Sep) a British court refused to let him leave the country for a French vacation, saying that he was “still a risk to children.”
But get this: The police told the court that Gary’s real intent was to slip over the border and go to Spain — where the legal age of consent is 13.
(hmmm … earlier, I mentioned dogs. Which brings up neutering. I wonder …. naaah; gotta have ‘em to lose ‘em …)

ROCK HoF NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Here it is, straight from the ticker:

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame announced the nominees for induction as the Class of 2010. The Hollies, the Chantels, Darlene Love, ABBA, KISS, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, the Stooges, LL Cool J and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were all named. Five will be announced in January and inducted March 15 in New York City.”

Okay … whaddya say we meet back here tomorrow about this time? Til then, Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music …
and I’ll see ya (awww, you know the rest …)

With heightened interest in The Beatles (due, in large part, to the new Rock Band game bearing their name and, in part, the digital remastering of their music library), UK TV/radio presenter Sir Terry Wogan has put himself in a recording studio along with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and the Rolling Stones’ former bassist Bill Wyman to record covers of The Beatles’ classics.

These will be released on an album called Bandaged Together and will benefit the Children in Need program.

The idea was brought together by a group of Terry Wogan fans known as The TOGs (and ya gotta love the name: Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals).

“Last year, thanks to the TOGs, we raised about £3 million for Children In Need,” Sir Terry says. “We had Bandaged One which sold an awful lot and made hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity. The idea this year is Bandaged Two and we are hoping to raise even more money.”

The album will include Sir Terry’s version of the Beatle anthem All You Need Is Love and is set to be released next month.

THE ART OF ELYSIUM

Awhile back, I mentioned a non-profit group called Art of Elysium, which Hugh Laurie (pictured) and his Band from TV supports.
Since then, I’ve had a few emails asking the musical question: What is Art of Elysium?

Okay … here’s the official blurb:

“The Art of Elysium is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 which encourages actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions.
They provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing.
They work with numerous hospitals and hospices throughout Los Angeles and have just opened in New York City.
For more information on The Art of Elysium please visit www.theartofelysium.org.”

I knowww … “Well … what does “elysium” mean??”
Actually, it comes from the Greek word, Ēlysion, which means paradise!
And what better feeling to give a child, huh??

See ya on the flip side …

THIS JUST IN: Ellie Greenwich — singer and songwriter who composed such hits as Be My Baby, Da-Doo-Ron-Ron and River Deep, Mountain High with husband/collaborator Jeff Barry — has just died. More info as I get it, and I’ll report later this evening …

Ooooookayyyyyyy … so I got
word yesterday that The Who’s Pete Townshend’s gonna “floss”.
Ummm … good for him, I thought. Soooooooo??

Actually, the guitarist announced Monday that he’s writing a new musical (which is gonna premier in 2011) called “Floss.”

“As a 19-year-old, with ‘My Generation’, I wrote the most explicitly ageist song in rock. At 64, I now want to take on aging and mortality, using the powerfully angry context of rock’n'roll,” Townshend says.

The play’s gonna be about the marital difficulties of a middle-aged couple (geez … where’d he get that idea??). “Floss,” incidentally, is the wife’s name in the play.

Some of the songs may track on an upcoming Who album next year — which tells you that the band isn’t planning on giving up anytime soon.

JUST A FEW DAYS FROM NOW …

we’ll know the #1 Independent Artist of 2009 … and I’m bettin’ on The Fore! These fore lads from Kent and London (Spencer, Nathan, Si and Matt) serve up the best Mersey-dirty Hamburg rock this side of The Beatles (hey … that’s what their newest fans have told me!).
With a tremendous fan base, two top-selling indie albums, some great awards and honours from all over the rock spectrum, it’s time to put ‘em right where they belong: at NUMBER ONE!!
So do yerself, the lads — and all rock-n-roll — a favor:click the following link, dig some of their fab tracks, and vote by clicking “Become A Member!”.
And that link is http://www.jango.com/music/The+Fore?l=0.
On behalf of The Fore, thanks …

Talk about puttin’ the right title with the right film!

The new movie, It Might Get Loud, boasts a cast of characters but with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, U2’s The Edge and White Stripes’ Jack White as its shining stars.

Y’see, it brings together rock guitar icons from three generations — and they’ll tell their musical life stories through interviews and performance footage.

The film, which is directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), has a lot of behind-the-scenes and “how do they do that?” footage. It’s centered around a gathering of the three artists, with each one divulging his particular guitar-playing secrets.

It’ll be released on August 14, and just might turn up in a theater near

Roger Daltrey’s upcoming solo tour, called Use It Or Lose It, is a way for The Who’s lead singer to keep his voice in shape during the band’s hiatus.

Beginning October 10, and lasting until the end of November, Daltrey will play 29 North American dates.
“I’ve looked after my voice; because I sing so loud, I have to,” Daltrey tells Billboard. “I think my voice at the moment is better than it’s ever been.”

It’s been 17 years since Daltrey released a solo album (his ninth) but he says he thinks he has “one more really good album in me. I’m working on ideas.”
While Who guitarist Pete Townshend is working on new material, his brother, Simon, will be providing guitar and backup vocals on the tour.

The set list will include a mix of material from Daltrey’s previous solo albums, The Who’s catalog, and also a few covers.

OOPS!  I DID IT AGAIN!!  I dunno … mebbe I’m showin’ more age than I thought (hey … it’s appropriate; after all, I do turn a year older tomorrow …), but I fell asleep at the wheel at around 4 AM while workin’ on this!  So this edition is gonna be a bit short while I finish wakin’ up, do my ablutions and get on the road.
But I’ll be back this evening with more, so stay tuned …

the flip side’s gotta be a little earlier from now on, I reckon …

Ahhh, those were the days, weren’t they??

Back in the Sixties, we had teen clubs all over the nation — places where kids could go to dance, listen to their fave bands, or just “hang out.”  Alcoholic beverages were verboten (as was smoking!), and … well, except for a rare fight between two guys vying for the same girl, these spots were peaceful and gave kids something to do on Saturday nights.

Everyone who ever played in a band back-in-the-day could regale you with stories from the stage; how they had to work at creating the excitement necessary to get the audience’s attention; how they worked long sets for little (if any) pay.  And that’s not including the set-up of amplifiers, PAs, mics, drumkits, unpacking instruments, tuning and more.
By the time the gig actually started, they were already sweaty and a bit worn.

Today, though, the scene’s different.  First, you’ve gotta be over 18 to play most of the clubs and dance floors (unless it’s an outdoor function, birthday, church social or whatever.  The teens-only gigs are few and far-between [see earlier post]).
The music is often backed up with high-tech gadgets and what-nots — and there’s always the Auto-Tune to help keep the vocals and instruments on track.
In some arenas, they don’t have to work hard to build up the audience; all that’s required is for them to be eccentric or outlandish (so much for drawing them in by the music …).

And, at the end, they expect a good paycheck.

Now, what brought all this up was that, yesterday, I had to meet a client for a quick meal as we went over some paperwork. Why he chose the kids’ fun-and-pizza place, GattiLand™, is anybody’s guess. Yeah, it was covered with kids playing video games, grabbing pizzas made of everything-but-broccoli … and takin’ in a band on their center stage!

a band made of … mechanical bears!!! And they were all lip-synching (of course, of course …)

Kinda made me wonder: Why not put some live, wholesome rock acts onstage instead? It could not only bring in a lot bigger crowd (and, GL, that means more $$$$, if you’re readin’ this!), but give more kids a safe, regular place to hear their favorite local acts — all the while grabbing some pretty appealing eats!

A few years ago, in speaking with Peter Noone (”Herman” of the original “Herman’s Hermits”), I found that things were pretty much the same across the pond (my interview with him was re-printed in 2008 and can be found here). He compares today’s venues with those of yesteryear’s (look for his take on The Cavern of way-back-when!).
Fortunately, today we have The Fore, who — while quickly gaining fans around the globe with their fab music, good looks and quick wit — are showing the music world that there is a huge desire for their brand of rock, as well as places for the kids to go, uncarded and unthreatened, to dig the music!

It’s high time somebody in Capitol Hills, Downing Streets or wherever, give the kids what they want … safe and fun places to hang out, listen to the music (and the bands that play it!), and just have good, clean fun!
Will Washington/London/etc. listen?? Only if we push them to do so!

In other words, the drinking agers have their places for fun … why can’t those of the greater demos — the “Coming Generation” of under-18ers — have theirs as well?

Okay … enough for now. Stay tuned, though … there’s more coming up in less than 24! Until then, remember:
Keep yer eyes on the skies, yer feet on the ground, yer heart with the music … and I’ll see you on the flip side!

IN THE NEWS: THE TOP TEN LIST IS OUT! We’re talkin’ about glam-rockers here, yardbirds — and the ones on this list are all from Britain (after all, they were the ones who launched the “glam” craze in the ’70s)!

(BTW: We all know what happened with that arse on yer left. But, here in the states, Gary Glitter did epitomize glam rock at one time. And, as an aside to Rose [I won’t give readers’ email addys or usernames without their permission]: Sorry, but I don’t trust that he’s changed! Most molesters thrive on their victims’ vulnerability. And most child predators never change; given the opportunity, they’ll do it again ..)

Anyway … here’s the list (as chosen by readers of Classic Rock magazine):

10. “All the Way From Memphis” - Mott the Hoople
9. “Telegram Sam” - T.Rex
8. “Ballroom Blitz” - The Sweet
7. “Cum on Feel the Noize” - Slade
(Yeah, I know. But listen to Slade’s original version, and you’ll see why this became Quiet Riot’s chosen anthem.)
6. “Rebel, Rebel” - David Bowie
5. “Changes” - David Bowie
4. “All the Young Dudes” - Mott the Hoople
(Written by David Bowie, sung by Ian Hunter. Some have said this is ’70s glam at its best.)
3. “Fox on the Run” - The Sweet
(My Sweet fave is still “Little Willy”)
2. “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” - Slade
1. “Bang a Gong” - T.Rex
(Any questions or doubts?)

Ya see any that you’d like to change or have included? Just lemme know …

THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY had one of the most absurd moments of all! Y’see, on July 28, 1958, Billboard Magazine had an article involving a claim from the Esso Research Center that said: “…tuning in Rock ‘n’ Roll music on a car radio can cost a motorist money, because the rhythm can cause a driver to unconsciously jiggle the gas pedal, thus wasting fuel.”
Gladta see they were on top of their game back then, huh?? n*o*t ..

SPENCER’S RED JACKET (followup) After reading the article in yesterday’s post about fans’ fab reaction to his bright red outerwear, Spencer Hannabuss of The Fore sent this to me:
“… how great is it that your readers have noticed the jacket, or tunic as it really is.
The tunic is actually a horseman’s jacket which I bought in Greenwich village (UK version, not US!), along with the trousers to match. Unfortunately the trousers are a little short in the leg so they don’t make an appearance at gigs that often.
The tunic is pretty heavy and padded, which makes playing in it a little restrictive and hot - but it’s all worth it cos it adds to the show.
The tunic even has the former owner’s name writen in the inlay - Sergeant Turner. I often wonder who he was, whether he is still alive and what he would think about the fact that his jacket is still being showcased to hundreds of passers-by each week.”

Anyway ya look at it though, it still looks great — and adds even more spark to their already-exciting shows!!

NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE …

Remember the instrumental by a band called The T-Bones? Their song, No Matter What Shape, hit the Top Ten on the Billboard charts when it was used in Alka-Seltzer™ commercials here in 1965.
But it wasn’t the only time these performers would hit the top. Six years later, they released a song called Don’t Pull Your Love under their real names, (Don)Hamilton, Joe Frank (Carollo) and (Tom) Reynolds. And, in 1975, they hit again with Fallin’ In Love Again. While still maintaining the trio’s original name on the first pressings, they had replaced Tom Reynolds with (Alan) Dennison back in 1972!

Well, it’s about that time (3:45 AM here, 8:45 AM there, 5:00 PM somewhere …) and I’m gonna take a zzzzz break for about 300 minutes … but stay tuned! There’s more to come later today!
See ya on the flip side …

IN THE NEWS: Awww, c’mon … don’t tell me you haven’t heard yet!

Remember Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant?? You know … the guy who’s been lookin’ so comfy next to Alison Krauss lately?
The guy who, at one time, had hired a “coke lady” to service the band (and, brother, I ain’t talkin’ Coca-Cola™ here!)?

Well, he was involved in an auto accident a coupla days ago … and, wouldn’tja know it?  He plowed his Audi A8 into a Mercedes driven by a … drugs counselor!

Richard Grant (the counselor) was knocked unconscious and, when he awoke, he found Plant standing over him. 

He’s suffered whiplash, his car is totalled (I’m still talkin’ drug counselor here) and his only printable statement? “My Merc is smashed up and I’m not in a good way.”

Fortunately, Robert realized he was at fault in the North London accident and has taken full responsibility.

ON THE STREET:  Now, this, I’ve gotta give you straight up:
We’ve all head that doctors will come up with names of just about any condition you have … and, if ya don’t have one, they’ll make one up! 
Well, in Huntington, W. Va., a guy who was in court for nearly killing his wife (yeah … abuse … it sucks!) was “diagnosed” as having (ya ready??) “intermittent explosive disorder”!
A judge practically laughed that “defense” off … but it shows how sorry our “professionals” have become …

SPENCER’S RED JACKET has become quite an item here in the states! The personable and talented front man for The Fore has worn the coat on various gigs, and, from the Rockmail and personal queries I’ve received, it’s getting rave reviews over here in the States!
(Of course, it’s not just the jacket: I’ve six emails in my inbox right now from lady fans who say, “He looks so GOOD in it!” [Okay … I fibbed a little; one said “sexy” and another two said “hot”).
As soon as I can find where he bought the coat, I’ll letcha know. Now, you do understand that, if you buy one, he doesn’t come with it, right, ladies??

Okay … listen, I’ll see ya tonight, okay? Right now, still a load of work to do … so check back for more in about 12 hours or so.
See ya on the flip side …  

This past weekend, Sir Paul McCartney took the stage at the new Citi Field in New York — and what a show it was!!
One of the best reviews to come from the show is by Paul Gedney, a mate (and great fan of Macca’s) who took in the Saturday show. Here’s his report:

“This past Saturday night, my brother and I were able to see the McCartney show at Citi Field in Queens. We haven’t seen Sir Paul in nearly 20 years and we were delighted that he has only gotten better (like we would’ve complained if he hadn’t) and it was one of the more satisfying concerts I’ve ever seen.
Of course, what a catalog of music for him to draw from. Considering all the great tunes he’s responsible for, there was not enough time for him to perform them all, and with his Wings and solo stuff, he barely scratched the surface.

His tributes to Linda (My Love), John (Here Today), and George (Something, on ukulele given to him from George) all hit the spot with the enthusiastic crowd and drew great applause.
Live and Let Die was complete with exploding flashpots and fireworks that really worked outdoors against the clear sky.
But it was the Beatles songs that got the place moving, and as the evening went on, the intensity grew. Paul played all the popular (aren’t they all popular?!) songs like Let It Be, Long And Winding Road, and Hey Jude. They did a rousing version of Helter Skelter during one of the two encores, and in the beginning of the show they surprised us all with A Day In The Life.

The musicians in the band were great, the same band he’s had the last 10 years or so, including Wix, the great keyboard player who was with them back when I first saw them in 1989.
Being a new stadium, the sound system was a bit more sophisticated for music, and Paul’s chat between songs just made him feel a little closer to the audience. At one point, a girl held up a sign which prompted Paul to comment afterwards that “if you read the signs you may forget the lyrics to the song you’re singing”; then he read the sigh aloud ‘marry me Paul’, and in not even a breath he said ‘no!’. The audience laughed but the girl got her few minutes of fame from that, having herself projected on the two video screens. She had called in to one of the morning radio shows to tell her story and said she had gone all three nights.

My seat was wayyyyyyyy up on top near the third base and the band looked like ants, but with the help of the two big screens, the show was fine. I had hoped to hear two hours of music and with the encores it ran about 2 hours and 35 minutes. It was an absolutely terrific evening.”

Thanks again to Paul Gedney for this fab report! He captured the excitement of the entire show in just a few paragraphs!! (mate, ya got a great future as a reporter if ya want it … : ) )

Okay … with that, (hey … how’m I gonna top it?) I’ll see ya this evening …

They didn’t quite make it to the states as part of the British Invasion … but Faron’s Flamingos were a hit in their hometown of Liverpool and beyond.

From the first time I heard the band back in 1963, I was impressed with their driving rhythm and lively, Beatlesque vocals.  Led by Billy (”Faron”) Ruffley, their uninhibited set included stunts like Faron’s crazy prancing (which is why they called him the “panda-footed prince of prance”) and drummer Trevor Morales back-flipping from his seat behind the drumkit!
They could cover songs like The Contours’ Do You Love Me? and Chuck Berry’s classic Talkin’ ‘Bout You with an attack that, IMHO, could make the originals jealous.  You’ll find more about him by clicking the link at the top of the post (it’s an amazing story!).

And Faron was still performing through the first of this millenium, until (due to heart and leg problems) doctors advised him to permanently retire.
And, now, he’s gotta have some mondo-serious surgery — and that’s why I’m callin’ on you readers to send up a mess of prayers for him.  Let my mate, Arty Davies (who was drummer with the band later on), tell you in his own words:

“Please say a prayer for Faron  (at) 11am on Tuesday (EDITOR: that’s 6 AM EST.  If you’re gonna still be asleep by that time, be sure to send some words up the night before, okay?) He is due surgery (and it) could be a 4 hour operation.

Last week, he had a pacemaker fitted, but his hip joint needed replacing but they didn’t want to do surgery because the pacemaker needs three months to settle. But after another check they realised surgery is urgent; they have found his leg is broken also. Basically they said his leg is a mess inside. He asked them to be honest with him and they were. (Here are) the risks of the op:

1. He could die on the table (EDITOR: this is due to his heart being very weak).
2. He could lose his leg. 
3. After the op he is in risk of infection, with the extent of the damage.

So the poor guy needs your prayers. He has promised me we will do a gig as Faron’s Flamingos again.  I said I am not hauling my drums to heaven, I want to do it on terra firma.”

Come on, yardbirds — we can do this for a legend, can’t we??  So, whether it’s the night before the op or at 6 AM EST (11 AM GMT), let’s send up some prayers/good thoughts and vibrations on behalf of Faron
(Billy Ruffley), okay?? Thanks …

LET ME INTRODUCE MY FRIENDS …

Y’know, this info superhighway has some amazing stops — and, all week long, I wanna take a mo to introduce you to some great friends of mine and their fab sites.  You don’t wanna miss these:

THE “DRUMMER’S DRUMMER”

Lemme kick this off with the fellow who not only sent me the info on Faron, did the site behind the link up there and was drummer with the Flamingos at one time, but also knows rock like the back of his hands (when they’re not wrapped around the sticks!).

Still, Arty Davies always has time for his fans, whether it’s to share a memory, a laugh or just a few encouraging words.  His experience and knowledge of the genre would surpass that of a hundred stateside artists!  And you can catch up with him at his very clickable site (with music and vid!) here! He’s also on Facebook&#0169 as well. Very interesting, indeed …

MOD-ERN MUSIC

I’ve had a few readers who’ve wanted to know what’s become of Andrew McCulloch since leaving The Fore. Well, here’s your chance to find out!
Andrew is fronting one of the most unique bands on the market now: The Sons of Mod.
It’s really amazing how these lads can come together and, by way of improvisation, come up with some very good songs! As I understand it, Andrew makes sure their sets are recorded and, if their “jam” jells and produces a very kewl number, the band adds it to their setlist!
Innovative, original … and great music! Click their link to find out more …

NOT JUST COSMETIC …

No, the lovely Baby Boomer Newswoman, Angela Betts, is as genuine and down-to-earth as you can get! A mix of humor, wisdom, sensitivity, music and more, this lovely lady is as country as grits with red-eye gravy and as lovely as a fragrant rose!
Speaking of fragrances, she’s also the lady you’ll want to contact for some fantastic Mary Kay products. But she does more than that; she actually helps and even advises her customers, to help them find the “perfect fit” for their complexions!
She also has a blog that, although (by her own admittance) hasn’t been updated in awhile (she’s been very busy), holds, within its archives, some of the best reading this side of the Mason-Dixon Line! Just click here for some Southern sunshine!
And if you ladies want the best look (or you guys wanna surprise your mates with some great beauty-enhancement products), you’ve just gotta click that link to her Mary Kay site!

More tomorrow, okay? Right now, I’m gonna do a little touchup on another site or two, then catch some needed zzzzzz’s. So, until about 24 hours from now, keep yer eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, rotate yer tires, keep your heart with the music …
and I’ll see ya on the flip side!