Karen’s Opinion

I was reading a post on one of my favorite blogs, New York Traveler by Mrs. Mecomber. On this particular post, she was posting pictures in reference to the word “surprise.” I happened to notice that in one of her pictures, her children were visiting a museum display featuring the wonderful guitarist, Elizabeth Cotten.

Elizabeth Cotten taught herself to play the guitar. She started learning how to play a string instrument when she borrowed her brother’s banjo. At age 11 she was able to scrape together enough money to purchase a guitar for herself and named her guitar, “Stella.” Cotten developed her own original style. Her approach to left-handed guitar playing involved keeping the guitar in standard tuning but holding it upside down. This position required her to play the bass lines with her fingers and the melody with her thumb. Her signature, alternating bass style has become known as “Cotten picking”.

Since its release, her songs, especially her signature track, “Freight Train”, written when she was 11, have been covered by Peter, Paul, and Mary, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Devendra Banhart, Matt Valentine, Laura Veirs, and Taj Mahal.

The following video shows her unusual style of guitar playing as she performs with Pete Segeer.

In 1984 she won the Grammy Award for “Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording” for her album on Arhoolie Records.

I just read a blog post on a friend’s blog that asked a serious question. Amanda from Shamelessly Sassy asked, would you date a man with a mullet? Before you crack up, think about this, how many nice guys do you know who are stuck in a fashion time warp? Amanda could have easily asked if you would date a man who had a Skoal ring on the back pocket of his jeans. Men do not care. They know what they want and are okay with their lives. That is why they are drawn to the real life television shows like truTV BLACK GOLD.

Watch the following and tell me if you are not intrigued. Ignore the constant beeping. These guys don’t hold back with their words. If only they would work as much as they talk. LOL

Men don’t need television that is written by a bunch of men and women sitting around a desk. They want to watch television where real action is happening. Shows like Ice Road Truckers and Deadliest Catch epitomize rough neck culture where in order to put food on the table, they take on jobs that could cost them their lives. TruTV BLACK GOLD characters are taking on the tasks that most men wish they had the guts to handle. I hope Obama produces a truTV BLACK GOLD Healthcare system for these guys. Ai yi yi! I am glad my son wants to be a lawyer. Oh wait. That gets pretty rough neck too.

If you want to watch real tv and see how roughnecks get the job done, TruTV’s BLACK GOLD is going to hook ya!

One of my purses, fern green batik, 2nd row 1st picture, has been featured in an Etsy Treasury called !!!Outstanding!

My thanks go out to etsy seller, Donna at Valentinefiberarts for featuring my fern green batik slouchy bag in her treasury. Thanks so much Donna.

Just look at the awesome things at her Etsy site. Here is just one of her handmade items.

Glass Slipper

While waiting my turn at the nail salon, I read in People Magazine that the actor who portrays a woebegon soul who has to do without an up to date cell phone because of a bad credit report is, Eric Violette. He is from Canada and although he looks to be singing in the commercials, he is actually lip singing.

I was wondering who the cute, perky actress is who does the Progressive Insurance commercials.

She is Stephanie Courtney. Other roles in which Stephanie Courtney has appeared:

“Mad Men” (Marge, a secretary)
“Blades of Glory” (reporter)
“The Brothers Solomon” (Sara)
“The Heartbreak Kid” (Gayla)
“For Your Consideration” (boom operator)
“Faking the Video” (Stephanie)

From the IMDB website:
Stephanie Courtney is main company member of the famed Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles, regularly performing in their sketch and improv shows. She hails from Stony Point, New York. After graduating from the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, she started doing stand up, which brought her to Los Angeles. She’s been invited to perform her stand up at the Aspen Comedy Festival twice. She also performed in Aspen in “Those Courtney Girls”, a show she co-wrote with her sister, Jennifer, and in the Mr. Show Tour, “Hooray for America”.

Kyle Krichbaum of Adrian, Michigan has an obsession for vacuum cleaners. His interest started when he was a toddler. He loved vacuum cleaners. Kyle got his first vacuum at age 1, dressed up as a Dirt Devil for Halloween at 2, and, as a former teacher recalls, was vacuuming during school recess at age 6.

Today, Kyle has 165 vacuums. He uses almost all of them, vacuuming his own house up to five times a day. His sweepers fill up almost every room in his house with one exception: his older sister Michelle’s. He tries to vacuum in his sister’s room but she won’t allow it. The principal at his school allows him to vacuum his office.

Kyle is making use of his vast knowledge of vacuum cleaner workings. He makes a bit of pocket change repairing his neighbors’ vacuums and cleaning their carpets. It’s a good thing; he just found another vacuum he wants to purchase for his collection.

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