Merry Christmas!

In case I do not get back to my blog before Christmas, I want to wish y'all a Merry Christmas! Check out the many Christmas videos I have posted since Thanksgiving.

ELVIS CHRISTMAS CONCERT BY PAUL PHOENIX

Normally I wouldn't post an Elvis impersonator here, but this guy is so awesome. Almost had me fooled. I love this song, "If I get home on Christmas Day." Really puts a tear in your eye.

GI Blues

On this day in 1957 Elvis was inducted into the U.S. Army.
Check out the info on wikipedia.

Elvis Graphics provided by MySpaceAnimations.com

Getting Caught Up on Christmas Music

I went two nites without adding Christmas music. I so owe it to y'all to give some really great music. Thus I must add at least Brian Setzer and Elvis. I will soon figure what is next.

Brian Setzer - Run Rudolph Run



Elvis Presley If Everyday Was Like Christmas



Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne (Covers Slide)

1. The Marcels - Merry Twist-Mas/2. The Drifters - White Christmas

One of the YouTube users I subscribe to has this terrific, high voltage, high energy Doo-wop Christmas video posted. I figure that now that Mike Huckabee is tied for first nationally, in the polls, most of y'all just want to jump up out of your chairs and do the twist. So I have added The Marcels'Merry Twist-Mas for tonites X-Mas vid. This video also comes with The Drifters' White Christmas. The Drifters version of this all time classic is my fave, bar none. I favor it even more than the Elvis version. I tried and tried to find an actual video of the Drifters singing the song, to no avail. If you don't know who the Drifters are, oh lo to you.

Interactive Christmas Music/Blue Christmas Elvis and Jon Bon Jovi

Hey, I forgot to add a Christmas video last night. So, what I want to do is add two videos of the same song, two dif great artists. As y'all know, Elvis was the first artist to record "Blue Christmas." First I will show Jon Bon Jovi then Elvis. Please watch both videos in entirety then comment on your favorite. My regular readers may think they know which is my fave version. I may just surprise ya. I will not let ya know until I get at least 10 comments. Here ya go.

A Very Special Redneck Christmas Episode

I would like to take this time to announce that Sunday or Monday I will be decorating for Christmas and filming it for y'all to enjoy, on YouTube. I will play it here. So join me for Elvis music, decorating the foil tree, eggnog, fire in the fireplace and if I drink to much eggnog singing and dancing. If ya don't watch and leave a comment I'll have a blue...blueblue Christmas.

Brian Setzer - Dig That Crazy Santa Claus - Live!

As part of my adding a Christmas vid each day from Thanksgiving to January 8 (Elvis' birthday) here is tonites video. As y'all know, I love Rockabilly and have a mild crush on Brian Setzer. I think y'all have to see this vid of the Brian Setzer Orchestra playing a fun Christmas video.



I just realized that I didn't add nay videos for Saturday or Sunday nites, so here are a few bonuses.

Judy Brown-Dear Santa


Band Aid - Do they know it's Christmas

Elvis Presley-Blue Christmas

Everyday can be Veterans Day

Warning; I am drinking eggnog with Old Crow. So this post may be sappy and/or emotional.


I missed posting anything about Veterans' Day last week. Some of my fellow bloggers had posts up about it. But does that mean that there can only be one day to honor the patriotic and loyal veterans who have served our great country? Let me answer that with an emphatic NO!
Today is Thanksgiving. As y'all know, I grew up in Flint, Michigan. Actually near Flint, but who's counting. This is the time of year when growing up my parents and I, after their divorce my mom and I, would go to my maternal grandparents for Thanksgiving Dinner. It was also the time of year when we would get out the Christmas music and decorations. I still have the old Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas record my dad had in 1971. I still play that record, full of 36 years of static, every year beginning on Thanksgiving. The record has traditional songs, along with sappy songs about being home for the holidays. Some of these songs are real tearjerkers. On many of these songs Elvis sings about being away from home and wanting to be with loved ones. I also have a 1970 copy from his first Christmas album, Elvis Christmas Album, from 1957. This is less sappy.
Anyways, listening gets me to thinking. I remember the Thanksgivings and Christmas' at my grandparent's. We would gather in the family room to eat a large meal and my grandpa would always sit at the table, in the corner of the room. Above him was his group photo from when he played football his senior year at Flint Central High School. He liked to sit in this spot, because he could watch the football games and eat.
My grandpa passed away 15 years ago in March, 10. It never really hit me until I was making Christmas presents for the family in 2004. I used my grandpa's old ties he wore when he was working at General Motors to make pillows for my mom, aunt and grandma. I hand sewed the ties together and made a square with each pair of ties. I sewed the "tie squares" to plain white bed sheets that had lace sewn to them, to make the back look a little prettier. The lace came from the curtains that were on my front door when I moved into my house. As y'all know, I like Rockabilly music and funky fifties stuff. So this lace did not work for my decor. It was too pretty to throw away. So I put it to use. I still put it to use every year by making saches for everyone. Back to the story about the pillows. I was listening to Christmas music and I would look at the ties and I started missing my grandpa. I thought about the holidays and spending time with family. I just burst out into tears.



The reason for this post is I came across a school report I wrote when I was in high school. I want to share this report with you. The report was for sophmore history class. We had to pick a historical event, person or time period. I chose the 1940's. I also added a story about my grandpa fighting in World War II. He may not be a hero in terms of having been famous, nor is his name in history books. But to my family, he is our hero.
This was only a few months before he passed away. I had a chance to record him on one of those little tape recorders. I still have that tape. From the recording I wrote down what he said. I will type the report, exactly the way I typed it in 1991 or 1992. You have to remember that I was only sixteen when I originally wrote this. I hope my writing skills have evolved since then. Read and enjoy!

A TRUE STORY OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN

Phil Harding was a senior at Flint Central High School when he quit school to join the Navy in December of 1942. Phil was in track and football at Central. He won a couple medals in track but he didn't get anything for football. He just turned 18 on Decamber 8th, which was a year and a day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. To go to war he had to go through a year of extensive training. First he went to Great Lakes Boot Camp. To be a radio man in a fighter plane he then attended Aviation Radio School in Memphis, Tennessee. After that he then traveled Ariel Gunnery School in Hollywood, Florida. Then in Fort Lauderdale Phil was training in Torpedo bombing. He came home on leave in Flint, afterwards he went to San Francisco from which he left on merchant ship to New Hebrides in the South Pacific in December of 1943. He was in Guadalcanal to be assigned to squadrons. Though he was trained in torpedo bombs, and had little training in dive bombs he was assigned to patrol bombs with B-24s. It was real hot and damp and him and a lot of the other guys couldn't wait to get out. They had a lot of laughs, a lot of good times and a lot of bad times. There wasn't much time for recreation. Once in a while they'd play baseball, but most of the time they were in combat. Some of his war buddies were Del Kelly and Lynn Chadnois*, he went to school with them. He ended spending 24 months in the South Pacific. When he first came back to the states he came back to San Francisco. He got a 30 day leave to go back home. After that he went back to California, but the war was over. He headed back to Great Lakes and was discharged. Some guys stayed in. He attended MSU**, but wasn't sure what he wanted to do. The government was giving away free land in Alaska to any vet who lived on the land for a year could own it. Phil owned 160 acres. In the summer he surveyed the land for the railroad and lived off that money he made during the winter.

THE END

* Yes that same Lynn Chandnois who played for MSU. Going on to play for the Pittsburg Steelers, drafted in 1950. He played football with my grandpa at Central.
** Currently MSU stands for Michigan State College. At the time my grandfather was attending it was Michigan Agricultural College.

I am so glad I was able to get this story out of him. He never talked about his time in the war to anyone, not even my grandma. I never really saw him too much in the hospital, during his last few months. But I recall my grandma, mom and aunt talked about him having "flashbacks." He would refuse to use the hospital bathroom, because "There were Japs in the latreen." Nobody really knew what that meant, except it had something to do with when he was in the war, was the best guess.
My cousins from my aunt are much younger than I am. They were quite young when he passed. When he was alive they were living in Virginia. I am planning on doing some sort of scrapbooking thing with the story and some graphics for them for Christmas. My grandma gave me his old military blanket. As much as I hate to cut it up, I just might do that and make something. This way everyone can share it. Maybe I can make more pillows out of it. Maybe some sort of tapestry for my cousins. On both projects I could use other scrap fabrics, for decoration.
I think I get my passion for politics from my grandpa. I share his belief in honesty and fairness in government. I share his patriotic love of this great country. I remember when I was a kid, the only thing he watched on TV was sports, news and C-Span. I recall him sitting in his big old recliner in the family room watching C-Span, Pabst Blue Ribbon in one hand and a Pall Mall in the other, yelling at the liberals like Ted Kennedy. I can't remember who else he yelled at. He did like the former Texas Governor Ann Richards. He didn't like her politics, but he liked that she was feisty and stood up for what she believed.
He was a Republican, but didn't have blind loyalty. He would be just as mad at corrupt Republicans as corrupt Democrats. Maybe more so at corrupt Republicans. Because that was his party. And he would be ashamed that they would sink to the level of Democrats. Grandpa liked Ike and I like Mike. I think grandpa would like Mike Huckabee also, for his honesty and desire to put the American people first.

Y'all have a Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

How much do I love Elvis?

I realize this is going to be a lame post, but I thought I would tell somebody about my story. I went to the grocery store last night. As I was in the check out line I was looking around at the candy. Usually I don't buy candy. But I saw a Reese's Peanut Butter cup with Elvis on the wrapper. It was for a contest to win an Elvis Tribute car. Well, I just had to buy the peanut butter cup to win the car.

This peanut butter cup also has banana cream, besides the regular peanut butter/chocolate. I know gross, huh? I think they did that because Elvis liked fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Those really are good. As I was sitting by computer when I got home I was staring at that peanut butter cup, wondering if I should try it. It wasn't that great. I didn't win either. That tells ya how much I love Elvis.

I finished my second Mike Huckabee project. Now I am working on my "I Like Mike" apron. I will soon post my progress about the finished pillow and progress about the apron on Hobbies for Huckabee.

I Like Mike Pillow

Where have I been? Ya would think after all the buzz after the debate I would be keeping writing. Some people think the debate wasn't all that great. I have to admit, if the debate hadn't taken place in Michigan, I would probably be thinking the same thing. But the debate took place in my home state. So I guess I do have some bias there. I went in watching it with total excitement. I already knew "I Like Mike" and having a negative opinion about Mitt Romney. Plus I had so much fun blogging up to the minute of the debate. Although it did tire me out. Don't think it will happen again, unless there is some other event in Michigan.

Anyways as to what I have been up to since after the second airing of the debate. I started making an "I Like Mike" pillow. I am using red felt for the pillow, blue felt for the lettering, and white thread for the zig-zag to attach the lettering.

First I started out cutting two pieces of 15in, plus 1 1/4in for seams, of red fabric. Then after those were finished, I cut out letters. Once the letters were cut I pinned them to the front piece of the pillow. Since the pins make the fabric puffy, I am in the process of basting the letters on. Basting is the process of of using long stitches to merely hold the fabric in place before actually sewing on the regular stitches. Sometimes these are taken out once the actual sewing has been done. If the stitching is directly over the basting, the basting is kept in.

What I am I going to do with this pillow? Great question. Since I can't afford to give a contribution to Mike Huckabee's campaign I am going to sell it on eBay. I will be making more items, such as pillows, coasters, an hostess apron, carry-bags, and anything else I can think of. I will be listening to Elvis and Rockabilly music while I sew. So ya know every product will be made with love.

Remember the bag I made when I went to the Iowa Straw Poll? Remember the videos I made during that time? I will be making more videos while I am busy in the sewing room. From now on my sewing projects will be posted to Hobbies for Huckabee. I hope my projects can encourage people to be creative and join me on this community blog. It is not just about sewing. It is about anything artistic and creative.

Well, I gotta get back to my sewing.

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

Thank You

I just would like to thank all of you who came to read my live blogging last night during the debate. According to statistics, I had over 300 hits during and after the the debate. And most of those came from the South and GM towns in Michigan. All of you really made it worth the while I worked my booty off. For those of you who were first timers to this blog, I hope you keep coming back for Mike Huckabee news, Michigan news, Rockabilly music, cherry cars and vintage sewing. I would also like to thank Maritime Sentry for mentioning the blogging I was doing about the debate.
I also apologize for the many spelling and grammatical errors. I was in a hurry to get out the info, plus show off the great cars. Cars that great blue collar men like my Grandpa Wells and other men and women in the factories sent off the assembly lines. Men and women, like my grandpa, who came to Flint and other cities from the deep South to find a better life in Michigan. People who traveled on trains, buses and old cars carrying with them not much more than the few clothes they had and possibly a guitar.
I will soon be doing a post about both my grandpas and the time they spent working for GM. Both men grew up in different parts of the country, lived different lives, different levels at GM, different political views, but the one thing they had in common was they loved their families and wanted to give them the best lives they could.
Now it is time for me to get back to my sewing and listen to scratchy Elvis records.

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

If I Can Dream (breakdown)

Little 'ol me has been having writers block. I was not sure what to post most all night last night. Now I think I know what I want to write about. I have posted the Elvis video of him sing "If I can Dream." I have posted the words. Now, with this whole Larry Craig incident adding to many past Republican scandals, it got me thinking. I want to post a breakdown of the Elvis song and why it really speaks to me in political terms.

If I Can Dream

There must be lights burning brighter somewhere.

Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue.

If I can dream of a better land,

where all my brothers walk hand in hand.

Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true?

Oh why?

There can be quite a few takes on this stanza. For me, two things come to mind. The feeling yours and mine European ancestors were feeling when they decided to come to the great country called America they heard about. To them, America was the better land with birds flying higher in a sky more blue. They worked hard in Europe to save up for the trip to make

their dream come true.

Since the song was recorded in the sixties, it could also be about the civil rights turmoil.

There must be peace and understanding sometime.

Strong winds of promise that will blow away

all the doubt and fear.

If I can dream of a warmer sun,

where hope keeps shining on everyone.

Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun

In current times there is so much going on with our culture. And secular society is fighting to keep God out of the public square. On the political scene Democrats hate Republicans just for the sake of hate. Republicans hate Democrats just for the sake of hate. There needs to be peace and understanding. Yet, Christians do need to fight to keep their rights.

With the word hope being used, I have to mention in Mike Huckabee. With his ability to look at all sides of the issues, he is the hope that can shine on our nation.

We're lost in a cloud

with too much rain.

We're trapped in a world

that's troubled with pain.

But as long as a man

has the strength to dream

he can redeem his soul

and fly...

This is the stanza that really speaks to me about the direction the Republican party has been heading in. The Republican party is "lost in a cloud with too much rain," with scandals and big wigs being persuaded by the lobbyists.

Mike Huckabee has the strength to dream and fly and redeem the soul of the party.

Deep in my heart there's a trembling question.

Still I am sure, that the answer's

gonna come somehow.

Out there in the dark,

there's a beckoning candle, yeah.

Mike Huckabee is the answer. He is the beckoning candle out there in the dark.

And while I can think, while I can talk.

While I can stand, while I can walk.

While I can dream.

Please let my dream come true...

Right now.

This last stanza tells me that when I see something wrong, I need to stand up and speak up about it. This is a message to everyone out there, whether it be 1968 or 2007. Don't let apathy take over. Even for people who can't talk, or stand, or walk do whatever you can to right the wrongs.

I am not sure what Elvis had in mind when he wrote this song. Perhaps it was the civil rights. Perhaps it was about the poor children going hungry. Perhaps it was the government.

Whatever his purpose was, this has got to be one of his best works. I encourage all of you to watch the Elvis video on the sidebar. Some people have done some splicing with pictures of Elvis and old news footage of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Kennedy brothers. I also encourage you to watch those. They are very moving.

Perhaps I am overthinking this. I don't know, but I thought I would share my thoughts.

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

If I Can Dream (lyrics)

I was searching around on the web and found the lyrics to "If I Can Dream."

If I Can Dream

There must be lights burning brighter somewhere.
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue.
If I can dream of a better land,
where all my brothers walk hand in hand.
Tell me why, oh why,
oh why can't my dream come true?
Oh why?

There must be peace and understanding sometime.
Strong winds of promise that will blow away
all the doubt and fear.
If I can dream of a warmer sun,
where hope keeps shining on everyone.
Tell me why, oh why,
oh why won't that sun appear?

We're lost in a cloud with too much rain.
We're trapped in a world
that's troubled with pain.
But as long as a man
has the strength to dream
he can redeem his soul
and fly...

Deep in my heart there's a trembling question.
Still I am sure, that the answer's
gonna come somehow.
Out there in the dark,
there's a beckoning candle, yeah.

And while I can think, while I can talk.
While I can stand, while I can walk.
While I can dream.Please let my dream come true...
Right now.

Written by Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935-August 16, 1977)

Mike Huckabee to Appear on FOX News Sunday and other quick notes

Mike Huckabee is scheduled to appear on Fox News tomorrow, Sunday, at approximately 12:50 EST

To see the Capitol Offense videos click here. Definitely check out Elvis singing Johnny B. Goode with Capitol Offense.

Many new bloggers for Huckabee. Go here. If you are a blogger for Mike Huckabee or Conservative Politics and would like to be on my blogroll please let me know. Elvis bloggers are also welcome.

You MUST watch this ultimately awesome video found at Mike Huckabee '08. http://huckabee.wordpress.com/2007/08/17/hope-for-america-the-mike-huckabee-story/

I found this cool article this morning Huckabee plotting N.H. primary coup.

If I Can Dream

Check out this Elvis vid. It is from the "68 Comeback Special" concert. It is one of the most touching Elvis songs from the middle to late era of his career. The song is called "If I Can Dream." Even if you aren't an Elvis fan you will be moved to tears. It is the same song, but two dif performances spliced together.
Listen closely to his words. The whole song sums up how I feel about the state of our country, the direction the Republican Party has taken and the direction it needs to be taken back to, why I Like Mike, Mike Huckabee's speeches.
The way Mike Huckabee speaks reminds me of the way Elvis sings, except Mike doesn't swivel his hips when he talks. No offense, but I don't want to see that. What I am talking about is they are/were both fluid and natural with their forums of speaking. They speak/spoke with their heart and soul. It's that naturalness that makes Mike so great.



If it were up to me I would choose this as Mike's theme song. Fortunately, for the campaign, it's not up to me ;).

The Best Music to Come out of Arkansas since Johnny "The Man In Black" Cash

Since this is a blog mostly about Mike Huckabee, but today is also Elvis Day, I thought I would bring this post to the top of the page.


Even though today is Official Elvis Day at Michigan Redneck, I have found a way to still talk about Mike Huckabee. All day today I am listening to my Elvis records from the seventies or watching Elvis on TV Land. Today at noon will be a documentary interview, Elvis: His Best Friend Remembers, with one of Elvis' closest friends. At 7:30 pm will be the showing of his performances on Ed Sullivan.

When I went shopping in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday, as I was leaving the bank, I heard playing on the radio Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue." I thought then about a Capitol Offense post about my experience at the Straw Poll. Since today is Elvis Day this is a perfect time to talk about Mike Huckabee and music. If it hadn't been for Elvis there never would have been the great music that Capitol Offense covers. While these songs are not Elvis songs, Elvis inspired and opened the door for the artists who first recorded the songs Capitol Offense plays.

Back to Johnny Cash and Capitol Offense. Johnny Cash is from Arkansas, as is Capitol Offense. As I heard Johnny Cash sing I thought, "there is another great musician from Arkansas" and that's Mike Huckabee. Could I say they are better than Johnny Cash? No. Are they as good? I can't say. Different styles and eras, make it incomparable. But they are damn good! I was so glad to have the experience to hear him play bass in Capitol offense, during the Straw Poll.

They may not have a fancy label. Nor are they well known. But they are great! They played great songs. Of course ya know "Jailhouse Rock" was my fave that they played. But also they played "Sweet Home Alabama", "Free Bird", "Johnny B. Goode" and so many others that are too numerous to mention. They played "Johnny B. Goode" with Elvis. I recall hearing them play it. For some reason I can't recall Elvis. I could have sworn I went to hear them when they played it. But I don't recall Elvis. This was when I was trying to take video. Perhaps I was having a mild heat stroke? Or maybe I was just overwhelmed by the "coolness"? I can not believe my mem card in my camera got messed up. I was able to retrieve the still pics, but the vid is gone forever. Don't worry, I know the Elvis that was there was an impersonator.

Priscilla Presley on Larry King

It was an awesome interview. Last night there was the annual candle light vigil in front of Graceland. Larry King drove up in this cherry 50's car. Priscilla answered the door and let him in. They talked about Elvis and her life with Elvis, and how they met. She said she still loved him after the divorce and that they stayed good friends.

She gave him a tour of Graceland. Most everything has been kept up the same way it was back when Elvis lived there. The kitchen looked like it did back in the 60's or 70's. They went down to the jungle room. She told the story of how it used to be a patio and Elvis had it enclosed. She showed a cigarette box that she bought Elvis. Larry asked if he ever smoked, and Priscilla said he did. I was surprised by this. I never thought he smoked. She showed him a cell phone from 1967. Elvis always liked to have the latest in technology. I recall from the time I went when I was 17 I saw a VCR in the museum. The upstairs is closed to the public, because that was where Elvis went for privacy when he wanted to be alone.

Larry showed lotsa clips from Elvis' movies and concerts. Priscilla said there are even young kids that come to visit every year. Did you know that Graceland is the second most visited home in America. The White House is first. The estate is planning on expanding the museum and Heartbreak Hotel.

Larry showed great clips of famous people talking about Elvis. Larry King said James Brown said he wasn't just a fan of Elvis, they were brothers. Bob Dillon said hearing Elvis for the first time was like breaking out of jail. There was an interview from John Lennon. I was OK until my ears started bleeding from Bill Clinton singing "All Shook Up."

When I was Three...

...I went to Graceland for the first time.

My uncle, who was in the Navy, was stationed in Memphis at the time. This was in 1978. My grandma, mom and I went to visit my aunt and uncle there. They took us to Graceland. This would have been only a year after Elvis' passing. At this time only the grounds were open. The plaza with the Elvis museums and Elvis gift shops was a regular shopping plaza then.

I don't remember too much about when I went to visit. I remember parking at the plaza and walking up to Graceland. At the time I knew who Elvis was. The only grave that was there was Elvis'. His grandma and father were buried next to him, later on.

There is also a memorial plaque for his twin brother Jesse, who was still born. Jesse is not there. According to Priscilla Presley on Larry King last night no one knew where he was buried. He did not have a headstone. Elvis always wanted to find him. I will write a post about the Larry King episode I saw last night.

Get a load of my uncles bell-bottoms ;)!

With a tear in my eye I would like to talk about when I first Elvis. When I was a little girl my dad would play his Elvis eight-tracks and records. I would stand on his feet and we would dance to Elvis. I still have those old records. Eight-tracks? Your guess is as good as mine. In fact I am still listening to those old records, at this moment. One time my dad saw them in my collection and asked me where I got them. I told him he gave them to me. He asked when he gave them to me. I told him he left them when my parents divorced. He said, "so I didn't really give them to you, but you can keep 'em anyways."

Hey, I just heard Elvis singing "Jailhouse Rock" on Elvis Pure Gold album from 1975. I still think about when I went to Ames and heard Capitol Offense play the song. I couldn't help but think about hearing them play and I just shouted out, "awww Elvis!".

I also got to go to Graceland when I was seventeen. I have to find the pics. Then I can post about that time.

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!