CMA Awards

CMA = Country Music Awards!!!  Is on TV tonight and it's just so awesome!!

I have been a country music fan all my life!  My parents too!  My Dad used to sing in a band as a young man, and he can play several musical instruments.  My Grandpa B played the fiddle.  Everytime he would babysit us kids, we would wait for our parents to drive out the driveway, and then go get Dad's fiddle for him to play.  I remember he always liked to play Jingle Bells!!  We loved it!  We would dance around on the floor!  One story that I remember being told to me was when Grandpa B was working in the mine back in the 40s, and the mine flew in Hank Williams sr. to entertain the workers.  The fiddle player got drunk, and fell off the stage.  The band asked my grandpa to play with them.  Cause what's a country song without a fiddle!!!  :P  Unfortunately, I didn't pick up any musical instruments, except to play the stereo and sing along!!

I love the old country music, and I love the new country music!  I love bluegrass too!  It's soul music for me.  When I was in grade 7, I got a radio for christmas.  Late night skip would bring in the radio stations from the south, and I would listen to CFGM out of Richmond Hill, Ontario.  There was a call-in request program that use to come on late, and I would listen to it every night with my earphone so my parents wouldn't know that I was still up.  Most nights I would be fast to sleep, and the radio knocked to the floor playing out the earphone at 3am.  Once I woke up to the clearest version of "Ring of Fire" sung by Johnny Cash playing.  I still love that song every time I hear it to this day!!  Being the late 70s-early 80s, songs like "Joanie" sung by Conway Twitty, and "One Day At A Time" sung by the canadian singer, Carroll Baker were my favourites.  So fresh and new to me, I just waited on pins and needles to hear what song was going to be requested next.  I tried a few times to call in and get a song played, but never ever got through.  That was probably a blessing because I don't know which song I would want to hear!  LOL!

Fast-forward to 1997, and my hubby and I took a trip and stopped in Nashville, TN!  Country Music City!!  I was a like a sponge drinking up all the history!  Never did get to see anyone famous or any shows cause it was just a quick stop over for a couple days.  We did get to tour the Grand Ole Opry where we stood in the famous circle where so many GREAT country singers have stood to entertain the audience.  We got to sing "You are my Sunshine!"  I just belted it out like there was no tomorrow!!  HEHE!  I am truly a redneck deep in my soul, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!  As the years pass me by, I sometimes have to reign it in!

I have so many great memories attached to so many great country songs and country singers!  As I close off here, Taylor Swift is singing on the 45th CMA, and I'm still waiting to hear Faith Hill (who btw is 4 days older than me).  I am also looking forward to the tribute to Glen Campbell "The Rhinestone Cowboy."  Luke Bryan is singing "Country Girl Shake It For Me, Girl" and that's my new favourite song!  Miss Piggy just floored Brad Paisley!  LOL!!  Awesome show, just what this country girl needed!

NIGHT Y'ALL!  Going to enjoy the rest of the 45th CMA Awards!~

S

Twitter Parties

Since I joined Twitter a few years back now, I have been trying to figure it out.  At first, I used it mainly to stock celebrities and try to discover the real person under the persona.  I started to get bored with that, and I would just randomly pick someone who was following someone, who was following someone, and add them to my follow collection. 

My first real twitter contact was a lady from Alabama who posted tornado pictures.  I added her so that I would see more pictures if she posted them, and to find out how the area was recovering.  It was like seeing into another world from where I lived.  Well, didn't she fool me, and followed me back!!  From there, I have discovered more real twitter people!!  Professional people, casual people, funny people, writers, more celebrites, and more.

Since twitter is a world-wide topic hot spot, I found myself following folks who could provide a learning experience on my topics of interest.  That is when I made my second real twitter contact, a nice lady out of Michigan who runs a marketing online business.  She is good too!!  You can check out her blog, Indiebizchicks. She was hosting a twitter party, and that is how I came to join in.  I've been to a few of them now, and they are always informative and entertaining! 

A twitter party is an online chat set at a specified time and topic.  Just sign in and join in!!  You can learn so much in such a short amount of time.  Normally, a twitter party will range for about one hour.  A list of questions are put out there bit by bit, and the conversation will usually take off on its own.  I have joined a few now, and I've always been made welcome!!  Occassionally, I will have something of value to throw into the conversation, and that makes me feel good that I can offer something to the group since I usually take away more than I give.

If you have an opportunity to participate in a twitter party, I say "Go for IT!!"  You will have a great time, and learn something - even if it's about learning the process of a twitter party.  Technology has advanced us so far from the days of typewriters and secretaries.  The whole social network media is huge, and there are so many ways to network and find like-minded people to share with.

**Some important points I try to keep in mind at all times with social media - and internet in general.

• Make positive comments out into the universe, because negativity comes back to bite you when you least expect it!
• Don't have regrets, if you are posting pictures, make sure it is something you won't regret it tomorrow or 10 years from now.
• Think about how you use your online voice and message, does it reflect you in a favorable way?
• Participate and learn something new, it's good to learn new technology, and then share with others. 

Well, the twitter party was over a couple hours ago, and I'm still charged up!  LOL!  It was exciting, and I had a great time!  So if you have been on the verge of trying this new technology, I say, "Jump right in there!"  It's a great way to learn something new on the technology process, and your topic of interest too!

Have a great evening folks!  Until next time....

S