Kennedy Center Honors inspires

The recent broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors, one of my favorite events in television, featured two of my favorites--Oprah Winfrey and Paul McCartney. Also honored were Country Singer Merle Haggard, Dancer/Choreographer Bill T. Jones, and Composer Jerry Herman. It was spectacular!

Winfrey and McCartney were my favorites. When I heard they were to be honored, I wrote the date on my calendar. I always enjoy watching the Kennedy Center Honors, even when I don't know the honorees. I lead a simple life, and don't go to Broadway shows or frequent similar entertainment venues, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the arts. I consider cultural activities vitally important to the human condition.

The awards actually were bestowed on December 5. I mistakenly thought the show would be aired that day. I was disappointed when it wasn't. So I waited.

Finally learned the date would be Dec. 28, I was glad I remembered to watch.

I have "known" Oprah Winfrey since her early days in Chicago; she was on Kennedy and Company, a morning show that featured news and entertainment, hosted by Bob Kennedy. He died suddenly in 1972, and was no relation to the former President, to my knowledge. Oprah went on to host the show, first locally when it was called A.M. Chicago. Later, in '86 it went national and was renamed the Oprah Winfrey Show. The rest is history.

Like so many others my age, I have been a fan of Paul McCartney since the Beatles first came to the United States to perform. I, of course remember the famed performance of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Paul was my favorite Beatle.

I remember having pictures of the Fab Four on the back of my bedroom door. Like the other teenie boppers of the era, I kissed each of their pictures each night before I went to sleep. I of course had all their records and sang with them on a daily basis. I feel as though we have grown up together, living through the same global trials and triumphs.

I was moved by this show. I feel I've "known" these two--Oprah and McCartney--longer than I've known my husband and children. I watched through tears from the moment Oprah Winfrey was shown as a little girl growing up in Mississippi, to the last notes of Hey Jude.

The stories of the other honorees were probably equally inspiring to those who were invested in their lives. I wasn't one of them, but enjoyed them nonetheless.

There was even a tug at my heart at the sight of Caroline Kennedy as I thought about her father and his accomplishments during his too-shortened political life. I've always wondered what he might have achieved. Seeing her reminded me of the sad times we've shared with her, through her sparse television appearances; when her father was assassinated, her mother died, her brother's plane crashed, and when she buried Uncle Teddy.

Jennifer Hudson singing a song from "The Color Purple" produced by Oprah was a moment that for me, was only topped by Steven Tyler performing an "Abbey Road" medley of McCartney hits.

What an awesome night, one that actually made me proud to be a television viewer, for a change!

The Kennedy Center Honors is a wonderful, timeless legacy to bestow upon the artists who inspire and entertain. Thanks for the memories.

Must be winter--Juncos are here

A Dark-eyed Junco lazes on a red oak branch

There are some signs of winter that cannot be mistaken, even in the Arkansas hills when the temperature dances between 30- and 60-degrees, with some exception.

I just noticed this morning the Dark-eyed Juncos, have returned, though they have probably been here for a while. Either they were busy foraging deep in the woods, or I simply hadn't noticed. At any rate, they are here in abundance now, hopping around the ground, searching for food.


Generally, Juncos scurry on the ground, feasting on seeds thrown from the bird feeder by some of their less-tidy cousins.


Juncos are actually sparrows and are very common here.

They are sometimes called "snowbirds," since winter is when they appear. They do not breed here. That takes place in the northern reaches of the U.S. and Canada where these Juncos will head back in the Spring. When I no longer see them, I know it is a sign of my favorite season of all--Spring.

I love Spring so much that I consider the Junco's migration here as a sign of Spring, for I know they are here for only a short time. Spring Fever always kicks in for me around this time, just after the Winter Solstice when the days begin to get longer and I know Spring is next! I suppose I suffer from winter denial, especially since Arkansas does not have an abundance of snow. After growing up in the Midwest, winter means snow to me. It is easy to be in denial about winter here, which is one of the many perks of living here.

Juncos are small enough that they could fit into the palm of your hand, though I haven't tried that yet. Gazing down upon them from a window, they look like plain, dark-colored birds. That is until you get a glimpse of their pure white belly. What a surprise to see the dark top half of the bird is the total opposite on the bottom half. It is almost like this is a yin and yang bird.

The sounds the Juncos make are as endearing as their appearance. They chirp while they flit around on the ground; perhaps alerting others to the food they've found. 

I enjoyed seeing these birds as they always add to my bird-watching and bird-feeding enjoyment.

Is shaking natural in the Natural State?

Even before I read it in the paper, I noticed that central Arkansas was having a plethora of earthquakes. I even posted something about it on my Facebook page.

I have always been interested in such things, so I signed up with the U.S. Geological Survey for notification via email whenever there is an event.

Looking at the cumulative number of shakers, even though they are minuscule by comparison to some around the country, the number of them that have occurred is somewhat alarming. I can't help but wonder just what is going on. Since that time, a few months ago, there have been plenty more--some as high as a magnitude of 4.0, though most are far less.

I haven't felt any of them, but I have a friend who swears she has. She lives near the lake. That makes sense. As the earth moves, it creates movement in the water, similar to the sloshing of the water in a bathtub. That would stand to reason that such an area would be more vulnerable and could enhance the shaking. Out of curiosity, the USGS should measure the area around the lakes.

My friend has noticed cracks in her home that have never been there before. Funny, we have noticed that too. There seem to be more cracks in the foundation and above doorways. While I'm not terribly worried about the house falling down around us, I have certainly noticed a difference.

There have already been two earthquakes this morning. Rarely does a day go by that the earth doesn't rattle a bit. So much for the steady ground beneath our feet...

While geologists seem to have dismissed the notion that drilling for natural gas, oil, and whatever naturally-occurring minerals and other resources being sought. They claim that activity below the terra firma is not responsible for this seemingly sudden occurrence.

I'm not convinced.

While I have no scientific data nor even a theory on which to hang my hat, it just seems to me, using a little common sense, that frequent drilling beneath the earth's surface on a regular basis has to have some effect--and not in a good way.

If anyone reading this has noticed anything in the way of cracking in houses, new sink holes, anything else out of the ordinary, post a comment.

KaDee Strickland merits an Emmy

KaDee Strickland deserves an Emmy. Her portrayal of Charlotte King in "Private Practice" this season was extraordinary, as is shown in this clip of the highly-praised drama entitled, "Did you hear about Charlotte?"



KaDee Strickland's character makes us believe. We felt her pain as doctors stitched together the gaping wound in her arm with no anesthetic. We saw the terror in her eyes as she rewound the incident over and over in her mind. There is no disputing that the initial episode was beyond compelling, but it continues. It isn't just this ultra-dramatic episode where she plays a victim of sexual abuse. Her portrayal has continued to be spot on. The demeanor of Strickland's character, Charlotte, is believable--the denial, the withdrawal, the lack of connection to the woman she once was. It is all credible.

I'm not the only nor the first person to come up with the notion that KaDee Strickland deserves an Emmy. See the discussion on the Private Practice Facebook page.  

The drama this year is raw and moving, as it more closely than ever before, mirrors the dark side of reality. Personally, I prefer the brighter side, but that's just me. I admit that during these dark moments of television drama, I long for the ever-popular happy ending. I miss those Ward and June moments. Yet, how many episodes of Leave It to Beaver really stand out in our memories? The truth is that we will remember Charlotte being sexually abused, thanks to Strickland's character portrayal. Thankfully, writers of such drama don't want viewers to be too depressed to watch the show, which almost guarantees their obligation to provide balance, setting us up for those happy times. That too mirrors real life.

Strickland's talents would have been lost on us, had it not begun for phenomenal writing. As a writer, I am probably most appreciative of the efforts of Emmy-winner Shonda Rhimes, a talented, creative writer who pens stories from her imagination.

Rhimes has already reached heights in her career as the successful writer of "Grey's Anatomy," from which "Private Practice" was born. Rhimes' will pen a third show next season. No doubt, it will be on a par with the others. This is a very talented woman.