13 Thursday: The Chick Mix
1. While in town I ran into a woman whose name is Florence and who I only just recently met. She couldn’t remember my name. When I reminded her that it had something to do with Ireland (Colleen means “girl” in Gaelic) she said, “I still can’t remember, so I’m going to call you Lassie!”
2. Although I was nicknamed “Colly dog,” by my brother Jim when we were kids, I had never been called Lassie until now.
3. It’s okay that she didn’t remember my name. I don’t remember hers either unless I say “Florence Nightingale” silently to myself first.
4. In the grocery store last week a woman approached me to ask if I knew what “lee fruit” was. I told her I didn’t, as she pulled me over to the produce to take a look at something that appeared to be oranges but was, sure enough, marked “lee fruit.” “I’ll have to google it,” I told her. She answered, “If we were really up with the times we’d be able to google it right here!”
5. “In the palm of my hand” has taken on a whole new meaning.
6. Even though country music stations stopped airing the Dixie Chick’s songs after the lead singer, Natalie Maines, insulted President Bush, this was posted on the CMT website: The Dixie Chicks have been announced as performers at the Grammy Awards show on Feb. 11 in Los Angeles. Their single, “Not Ready to Make Nice,” is nominated for record of the year, song of the year and country performance by a duo or group with vocal. Their album, Taking the Long Way, is up for album of the year among all genres, as well as country album of the year.
7. Seems to me Natalie was just ahead of her time when she told that London audience three years ago that she was embarrassed by President Bush.
8. According the Associated Press, in an article titled “War Turns Southern Women Away from the GOP,” The Dixie Chicks aren’t the only Chicks from Dixie who disapprove of Bush.
9. Some words in our vocabulary have become so common that we accept them without thinking about where they came from. Did you know that Jacuzzi is named after its inventors Roy and Candido Jacuzzi and that Tupperware was named after Earl Silas Tupper, its inventor? How about Boysenberries being named after botanist Rudolph Boysen and Cesar salad being named after Cesar Cardini, a Tijuana restaurateur? For more, visit Frances HERE.
10. I knew the term “teetotaler” was related to prohibition but I was surprised to recently learn that it originally had nothing to do with “toting tea” and that it refers to the “total” abstinence of alcohol and likely came about when a member of the Temperance Society stammered with a stutter “T-T-Total abstinence!”
11. Inspired by a poem about the love of tea that my friend Katherine read at the open mic, I started working on one about tea as well. One turned into three unfinished tea poems so far. I had to give them up because I didn’t want to do what Billy Collins warns against: tying a poem to a chair to beat a confession out of it.
12. Virginia Senator Jim Webb gave an articulate rebuttal to President Bush’s State of the Union address Tuesday night. Webb, a Vietnam vet who was in Floyd last October, was against the Iraq war from the beginning (link via Lisa). So was I. HERE’S what I wrote before the war in a commentary titled “Bombed if They Do, Bombed if They Don’t,” which was published in the Roanoke Times under a different name.
13. The way so many newscaster’s talk these days – with their voices artificially raised and pitched – reminds me of models doing the pony walk down a runway – lifting their legs and strutting in an exaggerated way. I wonder why they talk and walk that way.
Thursday headquarters is here. My other 13’s are here. View more 13 Thursday’s here.
January 25th, 2007 1:40 am
I’m a Republican by nature but there’s many a day now I wish the GOP would get a clue. Happy Thursday to you!
January 25th, 2007 4:15 am
Interesting list, thanks for sharing. Happy TT:)
January 25th, 2007 6:20 am
Now that was about my favorite 13 ever!
January 25th, 2007 6:51 am
My niece recently went to a Dixie Chicks concert in Atlanta. The reason she went is because her friend works at the arena, and since it was not a sell-out the employees got free tickets. She thoroughly enjoyed it, telling us that the Chicks came onto the stage to the background music of ‘Hail to the Chief’. I agree that Natalie was ahead of her time, and it seems like now that the rest of the nation has the same opinion of Bush, the Chicks would be hailed instead of still banned.
Great 13 once again, always love it.
January 25th, 2007 8:53 am
I’ve never been a Republican, but count me as another “Dixie Chick” who is embarrassed by the fact Bush is president. I love the other Chicks’ music and I love their politics, so it’s particularly gratifying to see them getting accolades for their newest CD.
I was feeling froggy this morning, so I have a TT at each place.
January 25th, 2007 9:49 am
I love the Chicks and I for one was proud that they spoke their/our truth. I am glad they are being honored for their music.
I did not know that those words came from those places!
January 25th, 2007 10:03 am
Great TT! What a neat combination of trivia/stuff.
And as for #7…um…yes.
My TT’s up…things you should know about the vampires in my books, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles…
January 25th, 2007 10:08 am
i always found it ironic that the same people who were upset at Natalie Main’s “unpatriotic” comments were the same ones burning albums. Classy folks. The tides, they have turned. 🙂
January 25th, 2007 10:15 am
Our family were teetotalers in theory…in practice, it wasn’t the case 😉
January 25th, 2007 10:19 am
I don’t want to talk politics . . .just I’m just going to say that I did not smash any of my Dixie Chicks’ CD’s and if anybody wants to know what I think about W., they should watch “Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed.”
My list is up!
January 25th, 2007 10:28 am
I love Billy Collins. He’s the only poet on my iPod (for now!) I thought Caesar Salad was invented at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas!
January 25th, 2007 10:58 am
i don’t agree with natalie’s statement…but i do believe that there is a double standard with men vs. women. men in the entertainment industry make “out there” political statements all the time and don’t get bashed or boycotted for it…look at george clooney, willie nelson, tim robinson, etc. for some reason, when a woman does it, all hell breaks looses.
January 25th, 2007 11:13 am
I am very proud of Webb. He has done a great job of holding his own…I was also happy that Warner too spoke out. I am liking Chuck Hagel more and more these days as well. Jim Webb has my utmost respect.
I grew up in the Independent Baptist life…and a touch of Pentacostal, I know all too well what a teetotaler is (or was). Most people in our family are teetotalers.
Jacuzzi, Kleenex, Vasoline, Jello…so many times we call an item by the proper name of a brand instead of what it really is……We have a jacuzzi, for a long time I kept calling it a hot tub until Martin pointed out the obvious differences in the two.
I have always loved the Dixie Chicks….I’ve seen them twice in concert, the second time right after their outburst. I agreed with them so it never bothered me. Their new album did however, I have bought everything they have ever done and was very disappointed in this one. Probably the only reason they are getting Grammy nom. is too apologize for how they were treated. This music is white bread blah, no rootsy gritty girls left. Overproduced and middle of the road boring. They need to get back to their roots. I haven’t heard any of their hardcore fans say they liked this one.
January 25th, 2007 12:33 pm
Lassie? Oh my….
…and lee fruit…? Never heard of it.
I have no idea who the Dixie chicks are! either I’m too young (say yes!) or is it because we don’t hear about them here in Sweden!
January 25th, 2007 1:30 pm
#13 — our local newscasters are the worst! The deliver the most somber news in that almost happy, sing-song way.
January 25th, 2007 1:38 pm
Terrific Thursday Thirteen!
My TT is posted.
Have a wonderful day!
Happy TT’ing!
*^_^
(=’:’=)
(“)_ (“)Š
Raggedy
January 25th, 2007 2:37 pm
i couldn’t believe the furor that came about over what the dixie chicks said!! it’s so common place for our musicians etc to speak out.. madness. and disgraceful the venom some people live with.
great 13 as usual. and i love the cars below too.
January 25th, 2007 3:28 pm
Hey Collen, happy more snow day for Floyd! I haven’t yet heard the Dixie Chicks song, I’ll have to give it a listen–not my usual musical genre, but the political bent is up my alley. I enjoy your rambling thoughts posts, and wow, thanks for the link mention. Finished my TT post–took me 2+ hours, Blogger was not cooperative. Lost my photos twice. Wasn’t Webb great?! Scott and I both thought he should run for President down the road (too many people already running), but he’s (a youthful) 60 now so can’t wait too long. Have a great day.
January 25th, 2007 4:31 pm
I bought The Dixie Chicks’ CD even though I’m not a fan musically. Just to put some $$ on the sane column.
Recent Bumper sticker: “Bad President! No banana for you!”
Oh, we have to laugh, don’t we? The alternative isn’t pretty.
Loved your list as usual. I played this week. 🙂
~S
January 25th, 2007 4:58 pm
Yes, google access should fit in the aisles right between grapefruit and eggplant.
Interesting etymologies. I missed the Dixie Chick documentary but expect it will come around again soon.
January 25th, 2007 5:26 pm
I love the chicks too.
Names of people who invent them makes sense…diseases are named like that also.
Happy TT.
January 25th, 2007 6:35 pm
Great TT. But … Lassie? My goodness! That certainly made me smile.
January 25th, 2007 9:15 pm
I love the way these TT kind of followed one thought leading to another, dear Colleen….I very much like your Mr. Webb! I like that he tells it like it is and is not afraid to speak up! A good man! I remember his visit to Floyd and your post about it. So glad he won!!! It feels like we will hear a lot more from him as the year rolls on…!
January 25th, 2007 9:49 pm
I wonder if that Bailey’s people put in coffee is named after some “Bailey” person? people just call tissue, Kleenex but it’s actually just a brand name.
Like what Billy Collins warned! All kinds of poems are likely “steeping” in the word “tea” though!!
January 26th, 2007 6:30 am
Hi Colleen
I had a smile at Collie dog then a bigger Smile at Lassie Having a little giggle. “LEE Fruit” ill have to check that out unknown to me.
Take care ((((HUGS))))
January 26th, 2007 10:09 am
Lassie was always so strong and brave… not a bad nickname.
Natalie of the Dixie Chicks annoyed me long before her antics on stage. She has the MOST annoying high pitched nasal voice… they should have stayed with their original girl.
January 26th, 2007 11:43 am
It must be Thursday somewhere? “What that you say Lassie? Timmy’s in the well?” I’m sure she meant well after all who could ever forget you…You are unforgetable in every way!
January 26th, 2007 6:00 pm
I have to say…..you can share such interesting, totally insignificant information…..lol
Kinda like a walking Trivial Pursuit by Colleen….lol
January 27th, 2007 10:19 am
I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand celebrities who try and leverage their media coverage for political reasons. I’m thoroughly embarrassed by those chicks, and I’m disgusted by this post.
The State of the Union was flawlessly delivered by Bush, and the fact that he stood strong in his position on Iraq is EXACTLY why I voted for him-twice. Recently on NPR, Dinesh Desouza delivered an excellent argument as to why the US has to win the war in Iraq. Iraq has strategic significance in resources and stability throughout the entire Middle East. A loss in Iraq will lead to Islamic extremists (i.e. terrorists) targeting Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other nations in the region. We simply must commit our will as well as our resources and the attitudes here only embolden our enemy and divide our country.
Webb is a rude, loose cannon that is too emotionally involved with a son in Iraq to objectively comment on Iraq. He listed a long family history with the military the other night, and you would think that he would understand the commitment to serve when called upon. Shame on you Webb for having a double standard while attempting to play the honorable soldier while inciting dissent at home.
Here’s a quote I recently read that I can’t get out of my head: “I’d rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than go driving with Ted Kennedy.”
January 27th, 2007 10:26 am
FYI – Dinesh D’Souza’s comments:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7043113
January 27th, 2007 12:32 pm
No need to get so hot around the collar about this post, Jim. You’re free to feel how you do and so am I. You can argue that we need to succeed in Iraq, but the argument for invading in the first place hardly exists. The failures we see in Iraq today were predictable and predicted, but ignored by the Bush Administration. What you have in the past called bold is seen by most as rash and reckless, the results of which have been catastrophic.
I’m not sure if you don’t like celebrities using their celebrity status as a forum from which to speak out or if you just don’t like what they are saying. Jim Webb a lose cannon? and Bush is not? You seem to see politics as side-taking. I see it as an integral part of our daily lives, as it dictates to a degree how we can live it. You seem to be one who holds the belief of “my country right or wrong” when it comes to war. I believe it’s our duty as citizens to hold our leaders accountable and to keep them from sending our children into unnecessary wars.
January 28th, 2007 9:31 pm
I think I heard that about Caesar Salad on the History Channel. That last item makes me all the more glad I get most of my news from the paper (or the Web) and avoid TV news almost entirely.