With prices the way they are with EVERYTHING, I figured that a bunch of us are going to consider staying closer to home to enjoy some time off.  It got me really thinking about what exciting things we have to do right here in our backyard that doesn’t require more than a few hours of driving, or minutes for that matter, and still have a load of fun. 

So here is a list of things that I came up with.  They are listen in no specific order, just as they came to mind.  If you do a google search for each one, it should come up with a web link for you.  If you would like to add something, just click on the comment button and I will get your suggestions up here too!

Discovery Island Water Park, The Up Country History Museum, The Cotton Museum, Museum of Art in Spartanburg, Hollywild Animal Park, Table Rock State Park, Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, Visit the town of Mayberry in North Caroliana, The Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, The Chapman Cultural Arts Center in Spartanburg, Biltmore Estates, Ghost Town in the Sky in North Carolina, Antique Shopping at Stone Mtn. in GA, Durham Town Plantation in GA, The Roper Mountain Science Center, Harrahs Cherokee Casino, The Jockey Lot on a Saturday!, and JUST OPENED to the public, Shoeless Joe Jackson’s House.  It’s been preserved and relocated to the street across from the Greenville Drive Stadium.  It’s FREE!  Call 864-235-6280 for more information.

I would love to add your suggestions!  Just click the comment button to share!

Today, the U.K. magazine Total Guitar deemed Celine Dion’s cover of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980) the worst cover of all time!

Honestly, I don’t think Celine Dion could ever sing a bad song or cover.  Shoot!, she could make “Jimmy Crack Corn” sound angelic!!!

Check out Celine’s version of “You Shook Me All Night Long” and you make the call.

(the worst cover of all time…. paaah-leeezzzze)

American Idol has come and gone till next season… but did you know in your backyard there is Greer Idol going on?  This closely follows the same format of AI, and GI is looking for your votes!

You can visit www.greeridol.com and listen to the top 12 contestants, then cast your vote!  Voting ends midnight Monday nights. 

Take time to support our local guys and gals that are displaying their talent.  Really a great bunch of singers.  Personally, I like Colt Davis.  Oh, and if you have more than one email address, you can vote more than once. 

The next round of competition is this Friday, June 27th, with the Coconut Grove Band.  Round 3 is July 4th.  Round 4 is July 11th.  Round 5 is July 18th.  The Greer Idol finale will be July 25th with Sea Cruz.  

Good Wednesday! We are half way through this work week and beautiful weather is sticking around for the next couple days. We are so blessed with beautiful Southern weather!

I don’t know what triggered the thought of Jon Secada, but I just can’t get the song Just Another Day out of my mind! It’s driving me crazy. Doesn’t that drive you crazy! You get a tune in your head and you end up singing it in your sleep!

So, maybe if I do a total realease, share the video with you and have you join me in singing along… maybe the autoplay in my mind will shut off!

Enjoy!

Hi Everybody!  I hope your day is going well.  All I keep thinking… it’s only Tuesday!  The reason, I was out late last night.  I went down to Columbia, SC to see Pearl Jam in concert at the Colonial Center.  Great show.  And I know you’re thinking Stacie and Pearl Jam?!?  Yes, I do like some grunge tunes straight out of the West Coast!

A really great show, the Colonial Center is FABULOUS!  Excellent venue and the drive really isn’t bad at all. 

Now the title of this blog is Swaying the Vote for a reason.  Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, started talking politics last night.  Yes, he is entitled to his opinion and entitled to share that opinion.  It’s his show that we paid to see.  I was fine with him sharing his point of view until he started bashing our President.  I just think it unnecessary to demean and beat up on the man that we elected to hold this critical position, to lead the United States of America.   Perhaps we don’t agree with all the decisions that President Bush has made, but when it came down to crunch time, he made a decision.  And I have faith that he made those decisions with good intentions and a “we got to do, what we got to do” attitude.

There were many young people in the audience, and hearing what Mr. Vedder had to say could easily sway their decision come election day.  He didn’t share with us who he is voting for in November, he didn’t even talk about Obama, Clinton or McCain, just said unfavorable things about our President.  Talk to your kids about politics.  See where they stand.  Let them know where you stand.  If you don’t, you just might allow a grunge rocker from the West Coast make their decision for them.

I do want to add that Eddie Vedder did speak favorably about our Troops risking their lives every day for us, which was a breath of fresh air.  Of course, like many of us, he wants to see them come home safe and sound and this war behind us.  No matter what, one thing is for sure, he supports our men and women battling overseas.   

Hello friends!  I’m back on afternoons and feeling great!

Here’s the deal today.  I am on an animal kick.  It is so disturbing to me to see animals, especially dogs, not being taken care of properly.  (My husband and I have two dogs.)  And I know the term “properly” is relative.  I am speaking in the sense of food, water, adequate shade if it is an outdoor dog, a collar that fits correctly and not too tight… things like that.  How can some people take in an animal and then not care for it!?  It really steams me.  

I won’t go into it too much, but please, if you see an animal in your neighborhood that isn’t being taken care of properly, or if you’re suspicious of inconsistent care, do something about it!  Make an anonymous phone call to Animal Control in your city and county. 

Take action!!  Be that furry friends voice!    

It’s Friday!  What plans do you have for the weekend?  Well, I just want to remind you that the Shakespear Festival is going on at Falls Park in downtown Greenville.

 I plan to finish painting a plant table.  It’s one of my latest hobbies.  Buying unfinished furniture from Wood You Furniture on Woodruff Road (Wood You and Woodruff, that’s cute) and finishing it myself.  Just going plain and simple black.  In the event you want to try this, here is what I did, very simple. 

Purchase your piece of furniture.  I always buy mine already assembled.  Prime the furniture.  It’s better to prime, in case you ever want to go back and strip the piece to stain the natural wood.  Then paint the table any color you want!  I used high glass black paint.  Two coats.  After that has dried for 24 hours, put a coat of lacquer on it.  Done!!  I put two coats of lacquer on the top of the piece for better protection.

Try it!  It’s fun, and you make the piece your own! 

Have a great weekend, see you on Monday! 

The “new” NKOTB!

It’s just incredible that New Kids on the Block are coming back with new music! And all the guys still look really, really good! I’m sure this time around the craze won’t be so… crazy! Although, I could be wrong. We’ll have to wait till they hit the road in September. Their new album comes out in September as well, the first single has already been released, fittingly enough, called Summertime. It’s a catchy tune, I like it.

Gosh, I remember begging my Aunt to sign me up for the NKOTB Fan Club. Which eventually she did to shut me up. And then there was the time my Father actually looked over the phone bill and saw a $3.00 phone charge. What was that? Me leaving a message for Jon Knight. I wonder if he ever got it?

Check out NKOTB’s new song here!

So last week in our Hollywood minute update, I reported, from another report, that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had thier twins in France.  All during the Cannes Film Festival… remember, I joked about what Cannes will do to expectant Moms….

 Anyway, IT’S UNTRUE! FALSE! A LIE!  Now, don’t shoot the messenger (that’s me) it’s Entertainment Tonight’s fault.  They went with the story not knowing if it was true or not.  The twins are still cooking!  Although, I bet Angelina wouldn’t mind having those tots right now.  With summer here, it’s gonna be sweltering for her!

 I should have known though.  If Angelina had truly given birth, CNN, Fox News, Court TV, CNN Headline News… all the news outlet’s would have gone to Breaking News.  Even if Hilary Clinton made the announcement that she would definitely be Barack’s VP if he won the Presidential election and he wanted her to be VP… they’d still lead with Angelina. 

Well, one thing is for sure.  We didn’t miss it!