A White Christmas in Huntsville, Alabama

Thoughts On A Wedding

This past weekend, my mother, my daughter and I had the honor of attending my cousin's wedding. After a simple service at the church (we are Baptists, after all), the entirety of both families made the trek of about five blocks to the reception, held at the restored train depot in downtown Opelika, Alabama. What follows are some of the thoughts that went through my mind at the reception:

• I never knew this train depot was even here. For that matter, I've never been to the downtown Opelika area. Reminds me of the small North Carolina town where my brother and his wife live.
• This looks like just about every family reunion I remember from my childhood - people talking, laughing, eating too much...
• Dance floor? Live band? And they're good! Things are looking up!
• Morgan (my daughter) looks bored - just like I did when I was her age, being dragged to weddings. Well, this is her first really big wedding to go to. Let's let the old people talk and we'll go exploring.
• No groom's cake, but five different kinds of pie in its place. All home-made.
• The groom's dad - my cousin by marriage - seems to be having a little more fun than everyone else. I know there's no bar at this reception, but I also know I've never seen him quite this animated. Wait - is there a bar? More exploring...
• My great uncle looks as fit as ever - hard to believe he'll be 90 this year. Also hard to believe he has a doctorate degree, was a college professor, and has published several books. He's a smart man, indeed, to have figured out how to remain a simple, God-fearing man in this world.
• Morgan seems relieved to not be pinned down at one table all the time, having to sit still and be quiet.  Same goes for me.
• My uncle - my dad's brother - looks more and more like my Granddad every day. My aunt hasn't changed at all.
• Wow, I never realized how much of my family's on Facebook. And wants to be "friends" with me. *shudder*
• All of these people I've known all my life don't seem all that old to me anymore. I'm on a first-name basis with most of them now. When did I stop being a little kid in this family?
• My family's never been too big on titles for people, outside of grandparents, aunts and uncles. We never could keep track of what kind of cousin everyone is, let alone how many times they're removed, whatever that is. We generously use the generic term "cousin."
• Morgan is relieved that we just call everyone "cousin," but still seems a little interested in knowing how we're all related.
• If I hear one more prostate cancer story...
• Still no bar. Found two ladies frying what appears to be about a half-ton of catfish, though.
• The bride was in a sorority. They have weird traditions for when one of them gets married, usually acted out in a big circle on the dance floor. Lots of singing, clapping, and laughing.
• Wow - you can actually sweat all the way through a three piece suit.
• Discovered something called "wickles" - dill pickles soaked in brine with hot peppers.  How did I not know about this?
• Morgan is tolerating all these people she's never met wanting to hug her and ask her about school. Maybe she's not that freaked out anymore, or maybe it's that Dad's credit card is loaded up to purchase her some authentic Auburn gear tomorrow morning.
• Family reunion / Uncle Joe's 90th Birthday - this fall. Evidently, I'm the expert on setting up event invitations on Facebook...
• First wedding I remember going to in the past three years where I wasn't the least bit bitter. Feels good, actually.

The Boat That Still Rocks

I spent a fair amount of time this afternoon listening to Radio Caroline, the formerly-pirate radio station from England. For those of you who've seen the movie Pirate Radio (when it was released earlier in the UK, it was named The Boat That Rocked), you'll recognize their flagship, the MV Ross Revenge, in many of the scenes.  The Ross Revenge is currently being restored, mostly by volunteers, and isn't currently sailing.  Radio Caroline, and other pirate radio stations operating off the coast of the UK in the 1960s, was seen as a driving force in delivering modern music to the masses only served by the BBC.


Listening this afternoon, I heard radio like it used to be - as it should be - warts and all.  A very ecclectic mix of rock and roll spanning a good 50 years, live announcers, CDs and albums (yes, vinyl) being rattled about in the studio - I even heard someone cough off-mic in the middle of a break.  Plus, lots of great liners and jingles, some from those glory days of the '60s.  Not to mention, music I haven't heard in ages, and more current songs I might not have heard at all.


If you'd like to check them out, set a course for their website.


Here's one I heard this afternoon:

Wait, "Blues Brothers 2000" Is Twelve Years Old Now?

Maybe it's just the passage of time, or maybe I just like the music, but was "Blues Brothers 2000" that bad of a movie? Sure, it doesn't measure up to the original, but still not a complete waste of time, right?



Anyway, here's Erykah_Badu and Paul Shaffer, along with a bunch of other famous folks in one of my favorites from the film movie:

Life Beyond L.A.

Stumbled upon a great song by Ambrosia the other night - "Life Beyond L.A." I've been a fan of theirs for many years, but don't think I'd ever heard of this one.

Live Recording Session

notreadyforfm on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Huntsville Tornado over First Baptist

Creepy, isn't it? Taken by First Baptist Church member Ryan Crim a little after 5pm on Thursday, January 21st.

Link to the original and article on al.com.