Friday Music Blog - Southern Rock

Welcome to the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187 Chatter. Music, quite frankly, turns

me on and excites me. Electrifying strains, impassioned lyrics, pounding drums, melodious notes all combine in one permutation or another to transfix, transform, and transpire me. I am passionate about music. I am passionate about the Friday Music Blog.

This week’s focus is Southern Rock. List your favorite songs, bands, and albums of Southern Rock. Keeping in mind that much of Country music is crossover rock and vice versa this category is wide open. Remember to include the artist for all your selections.


Once again I have the distinct privilege of informing you all that Chief 187 Chatter hit another milestone; 27000 pageviews was achieved earlier in the week and the site is already well on its

way to 28000! We picked up another “follower” and had so many eyes on these "pages" this week. Year two of Chief 187 Chatter is well on its way and for that, and all of you, I am most grateful.


Once you have left your selections, please check back here throughout the day/weekend to see any and all new entries to this post. In addition, feel free to check out the blogs you may have missed this week and previous weeks as well. I invite you to join me on Monday for another week of entirely new blogs with original content. Happy Weekend, All!

Tantalizing Thursday - Pork Chops with Apples

Welcome to Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187 Chatter. The leaves in my part of the

world are starting to change colors, the air at night is definitely cooler, and the bounty available is changing at my grocery store. Autumn has arrived and the world around me changes wholly and completely. Eating healthfully and heartily is my goal and with the following recipe I intend to share I hope to be indulging in some satisfying autumn fare shortly.

Pork Chops and Apples
Recipe by http://BettyCrocker.com

Ingredients:

1 medium unpeeled cooking apple, sliced
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 pork rib chops, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick (about 1/4 pound each)


Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place apples in 1 1/2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Remove fat from pork. Spray 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes. Cook pork in hot skillet about 5 minutes, turning once, until light brown.
• Place pork in single layer on apples. Cover and bake about 45 minutes or until pork is slightly pink when cut near the bone and apples are tender.



This recipe is meant for two people but can easily be doubled or tripled to fit the crowd you are feeding. Foods that are big on taste, easy to prepare, healthy, nutritious, and delicious are always a great way to go. Utilizing fresh produce (apples in this case) helps make this dish stand out. Let me know some of your favorite autumn entrées you enjoy preparing/serving!

Please join me tomorrow as we end this week with the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187 Chatter, my favorite way to unwind after a long productive week.

You Know

You know well enough to know when things are right. You have reached a state of consciousness where you trust your thoughts, feelings, and emotions and can surmise what is right for you in most given situations. You are at one with body, mind, and soul and can act accordingly. You know.

You know when the shoes are just right. Tall, sexy, gorgeous and “you”, the shoe is outrageous! They elongate your leg, give you height, and make the outfit. No one has to tell you, you just know.

You know when the jeans fit perfectly. Tight-fitting, hugging your curves, accentuating your

assets, and creating a very appealing overall look, you know when the jeans fit. It may take an eternity of trying on pair after pair, but once you have them on, you know. Regardless of the price, because we’d pay anything to look this good, you know.

You know when your hair looks just right, the make-up is applied perfectly, and you are stylin’. Even if you haven’t been trained by professionals, you are able to construct a look, “the” look that works best for you. The look that makes you smile to yourself knowingly that, yeah, you got

it goin’ on.

You know when you’ve got your flirt on and workin’. Eyes wide and interested, smile on your lips, engaged in playful conversation. You touch him emphatically to let him know you are interested. Leaning in to laugh at his jokes, you graze his arm. You know there is electricity and he feels it, too.

You know when he touches you he wants you. His eyes are locked on you, his breath is husky, and his pulse is racing. You know he’s going to kiss you and you know you want him to and are going to let him. You know that when you close your eyes you’ll see white lightening.

You know that you are in control of the situation. You know that this is the time to just feel because you know he is the one. You know that this… he is what you want and you won’t be denied.

You know that you are finally able to know what you want and you know there is no greater feeling. You know and that makes all of the difference.

You know that even though you may stumble, have rough days, question your sensibilities, your attractiveness, and even your worth, you know that you will recover, rebound, and readjust to get your sense of balance back. You know because you’ve been there. You know because you just know. And knowing that makes you stellar.

Simple Joys

Welcome to Simple Joys on Chief 187 Chatter. Some weeks are more challenging than others. There are times it feels that a hole has been dug and it is nearly impossible to dig ourselves out. Other times a glorious week presents itself; all is right with the world and you cannot remember ever giving into doubt, stress, confusion, or anything of the like. Most of us have weeks that fall somewhere in the middle. The good and bad, give and take, exciting and dull flesh out the weeks we string together into a lifetime. Finding and savoring Simple Joys is the secret to good living. The key to accepting life in all of its forms and having faith that bad times morph into opportunities, lessons learned, and a new perspective is seeking out and washing yourself in Simple Joys. Like any muscle that is left dormant, it can atrophy. But daily use can spring it back to life resulting in the most amazing outcomes. Simple Joys, quite frankly, beget Simple Joys. So, without further ado, here are this week’s Simple Joys.

Friends. When family lives far away friends become a huge part of one’s life. This past week I’ve had many plans with friends and feel so lucky to have amassed a strong group with whom to socialize. Young and old, singles and married, parents and grandparents, we count all kinds of people as true friends who enrich our lives. Having friends to count on, rely on, and plainly have fun with is a monumental Simple Joy!

Warrior. This is the ultimate movie for Mixed Martial Arts fans or those who are not versed in the sport. A strong plot is set in the background of the world of MMA. I highly recommend the film, feel it was a quality picture, and thought the acting was spot on as well. As I have recently been making a name for myself interviewing MMA fighters both on the radio and in articles it was high time I saw this film. Seeing it and loving it was a powerful Simple Joy.

Thomas the Tank Engine. Each child in our family has had the great privilege and joy of taking the long journey to the Strasburg Railroad to take a ride in a coach powered by none other than Thomas the Tank Engine. Located in central Pennsylvania in Lancaster County, the Strasburg Railroad is one of the few places left in the country with working steam engines. In conjunction with the fantasy world of Thomas the Tank Engine, all of the railroad activities were enthusiastically met by our three children, including and especially our nearly two year old little girl. She delighted in every ride, activity, and sighting the day offered and shed nary a tear. Taking the family on a long excursion to experience a marvel like Thomas the Tank Engine and the Strasburg Railroad is a Simple Joy I’m proud to say we’ve revisited four times!

Apple-Picking. Autumn has arrived and with it the traditions we’ve shared since creating

our family. Apple-picking in September is a family favorite because we all truly enjoy eating the fresh apples off the trees and then taking home a huge bag full to consume throughout the weeks. Although we sometimes create tasty recipes calling for apples, mostly we scarf them down as snacks in their natural state. Picking apples with our family and friends, eating their natural goodness, and soaking in the memories create lasting memories that personify Simple Joys.

Good-Byes. My parents left this weekend. During the summer they are my neighbors living about 10 minutes away from me. They arrive in early June and a whole summer is laid out before us. We make tentative plans, speak often, and see each other a lot. Having them around through the end of September to reconnect and enjoy is an immense and wondrous Simple Joy that not many adults get to claim. The downside is there is always a “Good-Bye” that has to happen upon their leaving. But even that must hold some kind of Simple Joy for, although it is sad and tear-filled, it is an opportunity to tell one another how much we love each other. Sappy? Yes. But how many really do this with their adult parents? I get to do it every year!


Even the best Simple Joys are painful at times. Like the way I ended my Simple Joys this week with “Good-Bye”. Another summer has closed signaling my parents it is time to head back down to their home in Florida. After four months with weekly visits, meals, shopping excursions, and daily talks, our lives morph back to the long-distant relationship we endure for the majority of the year. We speak less, lose track of one another, and fall out of practice of being a family unit. As they do not live with me that is perfectly natural, but the initial separation is very difficult for my children and me. Yet, I must teach my children and myself that even in sadness and good-byes there can be Simple Joys. The thrill of an out-of –the-blue phone call from them, a social life that suddenly has far more openings, and the freedom to plan without consulting their needs are among the benefits. But, although these Simple Joys are great, I’d still trade them all in to have my parents around me year round. So, I’ll keep collecting little Simple Joys regarding them, but will look forward with great pleasure to the time when summer is dawning and they pull in to town with the van full and my heart bursting!

Monday Movie Blog - Movies about Boxers/Fighters

Welcome to the Monday Movie Blog on Chief 187 Chatter. The planets aligned themselves

over the weekend and my husband and I were able to attend a movie in the theater. As it does happen rarely, it was an enormous treat to secure a babysitter, settle into the darkened theater, and view a new release, one we had been desperate to see before home release. And it was fabulous, the whole experience. But as wonderful as it was, I still think getting comfy on the couch, having reasonably priced snacks, and the ease of stopping the film to pee or go to bed is far greater than going to the movies. Rest assured, the Monday Movie Blog is here to stay to provide unlimited usage for the home movie watchers!

This week’s focus is favorite movies about boxers/fighters. List your all-time favorite films that have to do with boxers, fighters, or the like. Remember to include the list of stars and a brief synopsis or review of the film.

To access archived Monday Movie Blogs, please type “Monday Movie Blog” in the search feature located in the upper left hand side of the page. Please act freely in the event you would like to add a movie selection to a former topic, including all pertinent information.

I invite you to join me tomorrow for Chief 187 Chatter’s most popular feature of any week,Simple Joys!

Sylvania 300 Race Recap

Where there’s Smoke there is fire and Tony Stewart is definitely on fire right now after winning the first two Chase races of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Taking the checkered flag for the 2nd Chase race, the Sylvania 300 run at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Tony Stewart must have felt lucky that he won a fuel mileage race as race leader Clint Bowyer’s #33 ran out of gas with less than 3 laps to go until the end of the race allowing Stewart’s #14 to shine in Victory Lane and take the points lead.

Chase-racer Brad Keselowski powered his #2 Dodge to a second place finish. Greg Biffle took third, Jeff Gordon fourth, and Brian Vickers rounded out the Top-5. Roush racer Matt Kenseth ran sixth, while teammates David Ragan and Carl Edwards finished seventh and eighth respectively. Juan Pablo Montoya came home ninth and Regan Smith managed to sew up the tenth position.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Points Chase now finds Tony Stewart atop the group, moving up one position and seven points ahead of Kevin Harvick who slipped one spot to take second.

Brad Keselowski ascended three spots to third. Carl Edwards slipped one space to fourth. Jeff Gordon had a tremendous six spot leap to sit in fifth. Kyle Busch picked up three positions to land in sixth as Matt Kenseth also bounced three spots up to seventh. Dale Earnhardt Jr. fell three positions to eighth; Kurt Busch tumbled down five spots to ninth, and five-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson lost two spots tumbling to tenth. Ryan Newman, teammate of race winner Tony Stewart, fell four places to eleventh. Denny Hamlin is consistently occupying the twelfth position.

Next stop on the Chase is the AAA 400 from the Dover International Speedway. The race will be held on Sunday, October 2nd at 2pm. ESPN will carry the broadcast. Be sure to tune in and then check back here for the Race Recap!

Friday Music Blog - Most Recent Best Discoveries

Welcome to the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187 Chatter. This blog is consistently on my list of Simple Joys. From the first one published to today’s version, I am thrilled with any and all responses to the prompts I provide. Music seems to bond us, excite and entertain us, and move us passionately. Having a platform to promote, remind, and expose others of music of our liking is a Simple Joy that we all seem to have in common!

This week’s focus is you most recent best discoveries. This is a wide open topic that is unique to the responder.

Answers can and will range from independent artists who are known regionally to mainstream acts that only recently came onto your radar. There are no wrong answers so simply leave the songs and the performers who you recently discovered.

As we close another week on Chief 187 Chatter I am delighted to announce that well over 26000 pageviews have been realized! The growth that I saw at the height of summer has slowed down, but there is still a following that grows modestly. In addition, more wonderful things are happening in my career. As soon as I can I will share them, but, in the meantime, I am so very thankful to you all for your warm, welcoming response to my work.

Join me throughout the day and weekend for updates to this topic. Interactive blogs are most fun when EVERYBODY participates. Whether you comment daily/weekly (Hi Jules & Art) or simply lurk in the shadows to read what’s on tap for the day, please feel free and welcomed to add your favorite music to the weekly topic.

I invite you all to join me again on Monday for another week of entirely original and new blogs here on Chief 187 Chatter. Have a terrific weekend!

Tantalizing Thursday - Fall Vegetable Chili

Welcome to Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187 Chatter. This week marks the first of

autumn. School is in full swing, leaves are beginning to shake free while others are changing color. A cool crisp air is in place in the morning and evenings when the warmth of the sun is still absent. Appetites are beginning to increase as we prepare for winter’s long stay and the increased activities of the yearly grind. Dinner, always a time when fare needs to be quick, healthy, and delicious for even the pickiest of palates, is an important meal that sometimes gets bumped by hurried schedules, lack of desire to “work for the meal” or becomes a mosh of convenience foods that are not nearly healthy. Trying to find acceptable, lightning fast and nutritious and tasty meal options is time-consuming so I tried to do the work for all of us. Enjoy this Fall Feast.

Fall Vegetable Chili
Recipe by: http://delish.com

Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon(s) olive oil
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 can(s) (15 to 19 ounces each) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 4 teaspoon(s) chili powder
• 1 can(s) (28-ounce) whole tomatoes in juice
• 1/4 cup(s) (loosely packed) fresh cilantro leaves, chopped


Directions:
1. In 5-quart saucepot, heat olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add carrots, parsnips, and chopped onion, and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, on large plate, with fork or potato masher, mash 1 cup drained beans.
3. Stir chili powder into vegetables in saucepot; cook 1 minute, stirring. Add tomatoes with their juice, whole and mashed beans, and 2 cups water; heat to boiling on high, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. Reduce heat to medium and cook, uncovered, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cilantro to serve.


On a cool autumn evening a warm bowl of chili is ideal! Having a version that is meat-free, hearty, healthy and delicious is the ultimate! Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or some

corn bread, a tossed salad, and a bit of cheese to sprinkle atop your bowl of chili and you have whipped up a terrific feast for you and your family.

Please join me tomorrow as I close the week out with the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187 Chatter.

Football

We are not a football family. There, I’ve admitted it publically. It’s not that football is prohibited on our television, it’s just that, for the most part, there is usually something else on we’d rather watch. As we are a “racing family” some form of auto racing is invariably on the tube live or streaming from the DVR. As we are God-fearing, flag-waving, apple-pie-eating Americans we do watch the Super Bowl every year. Well, of course we do, that’s when you see the best commercials!

And, hey, if a football game breaks out, all the better.

With my job co-hosting a couple of different sports programs on Internet radio, I try to keep an open mind about all sports, especially football.

I read the sports section of the newspaper (we still get one of those things that has newsprint), watch Sports Center when I get around to it, and try to glean information from water

cooler talk I happen upon, but that is rare as I work from home and don’t have a water cooler nor do I know anyone in my family who watches football or any other sport religiously besides auto racing.

If you are still reading this you are either a non-football fan like we are or you are so curious in a train-wreck sort of way that you are compelled to read to the end. You see, we just don’t get it. My husband and I recently debated why football is seen as such a popular sport in the United States of America and, although I prepared a valid list of reasons, we still don’t really get it. I rattled off things like Monday Night Football (MNF) coming into the mainstream at a time when there was only network television; a captured audience for what was already taking off as a beloved sport.

Breakout stars like Joe Namath on the field, the Dallas Cowboy

Cheerleaders on the sidelines, and Howard Cosell in the broadcast booth, helped put MNF in the

number one spot in the ratings where it stayed, to my knowledge, for its entirety. I relayed to my husband that where we live in northwestern NJ, although hugely populated with football fans,

was not indicative of places like the South and the Mid-West when it came to loyalty and fandom. We talked about the social aspects of the game (tailgating) and the barbaric fighting mentality

as well. But even though my husband relented that I was preparing a strong case, we both still weren’t convinced nor do we understand how the sport of football is a sport that makes people, a huge portion of the population, so impassioned.

I ask you, the lot of you, to tackle this question. If you are a football fan, you bleed your team’s colors, and your wardrobe features nothing but your team’s logo, please enlighten us. We are not unwilling to listen and learn; we’re just baffled. Help.

Simple Joys

Welcome to Simple Joys on Chief 187 Chatter. There are days when no matter how hard I try I just cannot seem to get my act together; days when I am treading water and not gaining any distance. Those times are troublesome and difficult, but by opening the possibility that Simple Joys are lurking I give myself permission to look for them. I offer myself an “out” from the predominate feelings of stress, stagnation, frustration, and fear. By accepting that I am always doing my best I can relax my expectations and allow life to happen around me and not try to control everything. When I loosen my grip of control, Simple Joys have a simpler time finding me and vice versa. Now, without further ado, is today’s Simple Joys.

Back-to-School Night. Attending Open House for my child’s school presents a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand I desperately want to feel confident that he is going to have a challenging and successful year and, on the other hand, I want to know that it will not be an overly challenging year so he can have a successful year! On top of those thoughts, I have the added concern of whether he is socializing well, an issue we’ve faced before. Upon entering the doors of his school all of my apprehension melted away. I saw familiar parents’ faces, caring administrators, and engaged teachers interested in the well-being of my child and the other children in their classroom. My fears were echoed by the other parents, my relief was seen in their eyes, too. The purpose of Back-to-School Night is to inform the parents of the curriculum, procedures, and policies of the school. For me and a host of other parents, it’s also a time to assuage our fears that our child isn’t unique in his/her behaviors, moods, and inadequacies. Having a place to do that at the beginning of the school year is an annual Simple Joy I cling to gratefully!

NASCAR fan. At the aforementioned Back-to-School Night I was seated next to an acquaintance I had not seen for years. I had recently friended him on Facebook, though, because I had noticed he was a NASCAR fan and I, being a NASCAR writer, thought that was enough of a basis to connect. Fate found us sitting next to one another. I didn’t think he’d really remember me, but, low and behold, he did. We spoke NASCAR for several excited and enthusiastic minutes. The magnetic pull of two NASCAR fans is a Simple Joy I relish each time it occurs!

Pack Meeting. Being the Den Leader for my son’s Cub Scout Den is a highly rewarding and sometimes tedious job. We attended our first Pack Meeting of the year recently which is customary for the beginning of the school year. Typically a long, drawn out event, I realized that my days attending such programs with my oldest child were quickly being numbered. Next September would be our last as Cub Scouts. We started together as Tiger Scouts and advanced ranks each year. At this year’s opening meeting I noticed the new crop of first grade Tigers. They are so young, green, and innocent. When I returned my gaze to my own Den I realized how the years flew in rapid fire succession. The sweet, young, wide-eyed boys were replaced with gawky, handsome, more confident, and taller young men; fourth grade Webelos 1s. Having the privilege to help guide, train, encourage, and explore with these boys is a Simple Joy that has been years running with a finite end in sight. The volunteering has an end; the Simple Joy of fulfilling memories will last a lifetime!

Popcorn Sales. In addition to meetings, camping trips, and working on achievements, Cub Scouts do fundraisers throughout the year. The fall is marked by popcorn sales much like the Girl Scouts sell cookies in the late winter. Our fundraising organizer in the Pack knows the benefit of moving the product in what’s known as a Show and Sell. The Cub Scouts, with prior permission, set up at the outside of a grocery store, chain pharmacy, discount store, or, in my son’s Den’s case, the local car wash. The boys arrive in their Class A formal dress uniforms and hawk their different varieties of popcorn for sale, “to help benefit the Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts of America”. Amazingly some people are able to withstand the charms of these young boys, but most are eager to help and support the Pack by buying the product while others still simply donate flat out. Seeing these budding salesmen in action and witnessing the goodness of peoples’ hearts is a Simple Joy that is timeless and heart-warming.

Girls’ Night Out. When time permits I enjoy nothing more than going on a date with my husband. There are times, however, when a night out with the girls is warranted. My dear friend and I were invited to a mutual and much younger friend’s bachelorette party and accepted. We dressed up, kissed our respective children and husband’s goodbye with our thanks for the furlough, and welcomed the night that unfurled before us. Tame by most standards, the festive atmosphere, bevy of potent potables, and lively conversation made the evening a success! Mostly I was secretly relieved that I had nearly two decades of marriage under my belt, three fantastic kids to return home to, and a sense of belonging in my life that was hard-earned. Appreciating my life is a Simple Joy that is priceless!

When all else seems dark, plagued with problems, and/or frustrating, that is the time to wrestle yourself away from the despair and look for a way to break out. Sorting out your thoughts, finding a hole in the seam of your negativity, and keeping your receptors out for Simple Joys at every turn is definitely a step in the right direction to let positivity creep back into your life. Hopefulness, confidence, happiness are far more favorable to you than the alternatives. These feelings and emotions will keep your productivity and mood in sync. Recognizing that Simple Joys are ever-present and always available is a giant step in getting on the path of positivity. So, whether you write yours down like I do mine or you quietly think about all of the Simple Joys in your life, keep them in the forefront of your mind and let the positive affects waft over you again and again!

Please join me tomorrow when I wax poetic on freestyle Wednesday on Chief 187 Chatter!

Monday Movie Blog - Movies with Surprise Endings

Welcome to the Monday Movie Blog on Chief 187 Chatter. My parents, who are retired, are huge movie buffs. They see scores of movie in a year at the theater. Recently they saw a current release and were less than enthusiastic with their review. I, not being retired, have limited time and funds to earmark for movies shown in the theater. I have to rely on the type of movies I can access through Netflix and, thankfully, if I’m not happy with the film I can send it back or go to the next streaming movie on my queue.

Having the Monday Movie Blog to assist me in my movie choices saves a lot of stress and consternation. The Monday Movie Blog on Chief 187 Chatter is a very good thing!

This week’s focus is movies with unexpected endings. The films where there is no formula being followed; a surprise ending that leaves the audience aghast, breathless, and/or speechless.

Sometimes a movie like Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho can do that near the beginning so even movies that offer twists throughout the film are appropriate for this category.

Please remember to give the stars of the film as well as a brief synopsis or review without revealing any spoilers for those who haven’t seen the film but may want to see it.

To access former Monday Movie Blogs simply type “Monday Movie Blog” into the search feature in the upper left hand corner of this page. Please feel free to add more movie selections to any and all topics as this is an ever-evolving and growing resource for all to use.

I invite you to join me back here tomorrow for the most popular post on Chief 187 Chatter, Simple Joys.