Big Leather Couch: Randy Travis

Showing posts with label Randy Travis. Show all posts

Five On Friday - 1954

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Friday, June 17, 2011 4 Of Your Sparks

Check out the other participants by clicking on the link to the left...and join in!

You can register for free at playlist.com and type in a band name and BAM the song will be there to assist in building your playlist.

Travis lays out some guidelines for this meme and they go like this:

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.

2. Go to Playlist.com to make your play list of five songs. Choose a particular theme to share with us. You can simply post the play list, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.

3. I don't know how to make a specific linky, so be sure to leave me a comment to let me know that you participated.

4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

So, yesterday was my 57th birthday. So, with that in mind I selected the top 5 songs from the Billboard Charts for the year 1954...

ENJOY!!!

HAVE A GRAND WEEKEND!!!

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Tuesday...Dancing, Ruby and otherwise...

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Tuesday, April 21, 2009 18 Of Your Sparks

This Week:
"Tools Of The Trade"
What is in my kitchen...

Remember to get over and visit TRAVIS of "Trav's Thoughts",
and get your full DANCING WITH THE STARS rundown...

By simply clicking on the banner directly above, you will be taken to Mary/The Teach's blog and there you will find hundreds if not tens of thousands of RUBY TUESDAY participants.

This week, we step into the way-back machine to this past January when our most wonderful friends - and recent newlyweds - TURNBABY of "And As The World Turns" and BRAD from "Pointless Drivel" were in Memphis for New Year's Eve and we spent one of the days exploring the home of Elvis, Graceland. I showed you the video of it HERE.

As we moved from the 'Jungle Room' we were directed down the steps to the finished basement. The entire stairway was lined with mirrors. As I neared the bottom I looked up and reflected in the mirror above me were Nancy, Turnbaby and Brad. The photo is blurry because you have to keep moving, there are people constantly moving throughout the tour.

But, Nancy had on one of her Ole Miss zip-ups, which is - OF COURSE - bright red. Turnbaby's top was Burgandy (in the red family) and Brad's shirt had a number of red cars (almost looks like my old '64 Chevy Malibu), on it...so I present to you, my weekly RUBY TUESDAY submission: (clickie for biggie)

So, yesterday at lunch I am running through my blog roll as is my custom and all of a sudden, I can not see any photos. Normally at work, videos are blocked, but not photos.

Then I get to Travis' blog and I see the "Websense" screen telling me:
Your organization's Internet use policy restricts access to this web page at this time. Reason: The Websense category "Social Networking and Personal Sites" is filtered. URL: http://travsthoughts.blogspot.com/

Then when I went to comment on another blog, the comment box is hidden by the Websense message.

Weird...some sites, no problem...some sites a tad of a problem and some sites...no access at all.

So, if I do not get to you during the lunch hours, I will need to come visit when I get home at night.

I mean...sheesh...why can't I read blogs at work????? What is wrong with these people!!!!!

LIVE BROADCAST: April 21, 2009 @ 9 PM ET

PODCAST AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD:
Immediately following the live broadcast
ALL RIGHT HERE AT THIS LINK!

Become a Radio Happy Hour subscriber

for free !
This week on Dr. Blogstein’s
Radio Happy Hour:

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is the drummer for the influential hip hop band The Roots.

With the premiere of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on March 2, 2009, The Roots joined host Jimmy Fallon as one of the coolest house bands in late night television history.

Randy “Father Felony” Radic, who has a long history with Dr. Blogstein, returns to the Radio Happy Hour to promote his new book A Priest in Hell: Gangs, Murderers and Snitching in a California Jail.

Radic, a former pastor at First Congregational Church in Ripon, CA, served time in prison after pleading guilty to felony grand theft by embezzlement after selling his church without the congregation’s knowledge.

Lorna Scott is most often recognized as James McAvoy’s stapler-yielding boss-from hell in the 2008 summer blockbuster, “Wanted“ which just came out on DVD a few months ago.

Since, the veteran character actress is quickly becoming a household name with a bevy of high-profile projects completed in the last year including her newest, a starring role in the new Bob Saget series, “Surviving Suburbia¸” which premiered on ABC Monday, April 6th at 9:30 p.m. following “Dancing With The Stars.”

All that, plus:

Dangerous Lee co-hosts

Vinny Bond sits on his Big Leather Couch to chat live with the listeners

Justin the Mouthinator treats us to his infinite wisdom

and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804

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Tuesday...Dancing, Ruby and otherwise...

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Tuesday, March 17, 2009 20 Of Your Sparks

Remember to get over and visit TRAVIS of "Trav's Thoughts", because NO ONE does a DWTS recap like our buddy Travis...

Went into the archives because last week I showed these pots empty and cold looking. Click on the logo above to see the other lovers of Mary/The Teach's weekly photo meme...

This is from the past summer...the deck at Nancy's...when the flowers are beautiful! And there is some green in there for the St. Paddy's day theme...

So, I made the post copy bold and added a slight tint behind it to make it easier on the eyes.

Other than that...any suggestions, loves, hates, cash?

It looks like a food blog will be forthcoming...now that it is in my brain, I am liking the idea more and more. As I said, it will not be a five day a week posting...more like one and two some weeks.

It is that time of year again...and I know many of you have your pools you are in every year, but if you are looking for ONE MORE...then, maybe this one is for you...

The March Madness Pool is back and it will, once again, help raise funds for the continued success of the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South Baseball Program.

Over the last 6 years, a total exceeding $5000 has been raised. The donations have helped build dugouts, buy a scoreboard and purchase equipment to help improve the skills of the players. In addition it has provided scholarships for players who have difficulty participating in the teams annual spring training trip.

The pool will be managed on the CBS Sports Line website.

There will be a $20 entrance fee with the distribution of your donation as follows:

$10 will be donated to the West Windsor-Plainsboro Pirate Baseball Team
$10 will go towards the bracket pool

If you participated in our pool in previous years, you can log on to the CBS Sports Line web site using your previous user id and password. There are instructions on the web site to help recover them if you cannot remember them. The other alternative is to create a new account. If you have any questions, please email

You can email me for the password and League ID

The pool distribution will be as follows.
1. 70% Winner Share
2. 20% Runner-up
3. 10% Third place

You must be at least 21 years old to play. This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the West Windsor-Plainsboro School System.

Please make checks payable to the WWPHS Pirate Baseball Booster Club. Checks must be received by March 28th.

I will send you the snail mail address to send the check.

I made something for the first time this weekend...it is called "Deer Duey"...Do you know what it is? Do you have a guess?

Well, it will be the subject of my first new food blog...which will happen soon...

bwahahahahahahaha...

LIVE BROADCAST: March 17, 2009 @ 9 PM ET
PODCAST AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD:
Immediately following the live broadcast
Become a Radio Happy Hour subscriber

for free !
This week on Dr. Blogstein’s
Radio Happy Hour:

Stacey Oristano plays “Mindy Collette” on NBC’s critically acclaimed drama, Friday Night Lights.

Her character is described as a “stripper with a heart of gold.”

Jamie Masada, founder of the world famous Laugh Factory comedy club, is calling on Congress to act immediately on a $700 Thousand Comedy Bail-Out.

Brian Fischler is a legally blind comedian.
The one-time Maxim Magazine Comedian of the Month is the Founder/President of Comedians Unite For Sight, a not for profit that produces Laugh For Sight, a yearly comedy benefit that raises money for retinal degenerative eye diseases.

Dangerous Lee co-hosts

Vinny Bond sits on his Big Leather Couch to chat live with the listeners

Justin the Weatherman delivers a forecast

A quick and dirty March Madness preview with Chris Datres

and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804

Hope you scrolled all the way down for a treat...a well written song, the perfect pairiing and the most incredible interpretation...usually credited to Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt. The lyrics were written by Gus Kahn. This is the version recorded by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald in New York on August 25, 1950 and released on Decca 27209.

ENJOY....

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Wednesday/Thursday December 20/21, 2006

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Tuesday, December 19, 2006 44 Of Your Sparks

We continue to add more tunes for your sitting and listening pleasure

A HOLIDAY MUSICAL INTERLUDE COURTESY OF:

Al Green

Elvis Presley

Christina Aguilera

Manhattan Transfer

Randy Travis

Frank Sinatra

Harry Belafonte

Harry Connick, Jr.

Willie Nelson

The Drifters

Tony Bennett

Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops

Barbra Streisand

Better Midler

Brenda Lee

Dean Martin

Elton John

Garth Brooks

Jackie Wilson

NOT SURE HOW MUCH WE WILL BE POSTING THE NEXT 6 DAYS...
BUT FOR NOW - KEEPING IN THE TRADITION OF

THE COUCH

So, sit back and let THE COUCH
be your entertainment.

To My Family - I Love You All

To My Friends,
Both Cyber & Real
And Especially To Those Of You
I Have Met In The Last Year,
Both Soul Patrol & Bloggosphere:

HOWEVER YOU CELEBRATE -
CELEBRATE WITH LOVE, HAPPINESS AND SAFETY

BestAudioCodes.com

St. J - P.B.U.A.B.W.A.B

Thanks for sitting on THE COUCH, hope you enjoyed your stay.

Light A Candle For The Innocent Victims Of Online Child Pornography HERE

FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY IT FORWARD!

Remember .. Nets For Malaria - UNFoundation.org/malaria - find the big SI's Nothing But Net logo ... Or call 202.887.9040. Every cent goes to buying nets to place over the beds of children in Africa to stomp out Malaria. PLEASE HELP.

Keep that spark of insanity kids...It helps keep you an individual.

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Pay It Forward

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9 Of Your Sparks

Welcome To THE COUCH...Sit on Down and Get Comfy...

Yesterday was a fun time on THE COUCH - I hope you all enjoyed it also.

Still not going to tell if it was fiction or non-fiction...That is for you to decide...

Fourth rainy day in a row here and it doesn't look like it will get better anytime soon with Ernesto heading up the east coast.

Was reminded in an email from one of the Soul Patrol group (THANKS TRAV!), that this weekend is the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. There are so many important causes out there, and it is so hard to support them all.

My mom used to be heavily involved with the Cerebral Palsy Telethon when we were young and I remember working one or two, all night long, in my teens. What a rush to feel you are helping someone out. That you are making a difference.

I was involved with our local Catholic Charity organization a few years back, but once I went back to work in New York, I found it tough to continue.

I have been lax the past few years...Well with charitable organizations at least. My time has been spent working with the Little League mostly, running the concession as most of you know. Sure we are a pretty well-off community, but without the concession money we bring in, so many of the improvements we have been able to do would not have been possible. And we do take all of our old equipment and donate it to Little Leagues less fortunate then us.

Combine that with the fact that we are at the one year anniversary of Katrina causing the death and destruction down south and you can't help but get introspective.

We sent some money to the Red Cross then and hoped it got to it's intended recipients and not to some bottomless hole of administrative costs.

I was still not working full time, or I would have taken some paid vacation leave and joined a local group who went down. Sure, you can say "But you were out of work, you should have gone" and maybe that is true, but I was freelancing - bringing in whatever I could to keep us going at that time.

I guess you can find an excuse whenever you need one but you also need to take the excuses and just shove them aside and go out and help. I am hopeful that I can once again find that in my heart to push the "woe is me" attitude aside and try and find a way to make a difference in someone else's life.

There was a movie a few years ago called "PAY IT FORWARD" and the theme of it was, if you do something for another, do not ask for something in return...Ask them to do something for someone else...In essence to "PAY IT FORWARD." Since that time I have tried to do that in small ways...

When the East Coast was hit with that huge black-out a few years ago, I was in New York.

There was no way off the Manhattan without walking or waiting for hours for a ferry or another option...One I tried. I went to the Lincoln Tunnel and approached a car with two women in it.

I knocked on the window and asked if they would just drive me through the tunnel to New Jersey. I took my license and handed it to the woman in the passenger seat, "Here, you can hold this if you want." They said yes (and gave back my license) and we drove through. When we got to the other side, they said they were going down the NJ Turnpike a short way. Knowing there was a rest area a few miles down, I asked if they could drop me off there.

When they did I offered money, but they would not accept.

I went into the restaurant and got a brown paper bag and wrote "EXIT 8A" on it. That was the exit closest to my home. I was standing by the gas pumps and within 5 minutes an older couple pulled up and said "Jump In."

They were on their way to Pennsylvania to their cottage there since they had no electricity in their house in North Jersey, and it was reported there was power at their other home.

They took me all the way to my exit and from there my wife picked me up.

I swore that day I would "PAY IT FORWARD."

Have I?

Well in small ways I hope I have.

I stopped once and helped someone change a flat tire on the NJ Turnpike. I have carried numerous large suitcases up and down subway and train station stairs for ladies who I saw struggling (you do get some odd looks when you reach out and say "Here let me help" though). Maybe these are things I should do anyway, but in a number of occasions I was running late to an appointment and during another time in my life I might not have.

Is that enough?

I am not sure...But I do look for ways to assist when I can...

This is also in the front of my mind because of something that happened to us this past weekend.

My wife got a call from the woman that does her manicures. Of course she had not gone in a long time as it was just not possible. Well, Lana called and said, "Come in...It is on me and I want to see you." So, she did.

When she got home she called me outside. It seems Lana is friends with a woman that works in a food distribution center and she also collects food for those who need it due to financial circumstances.

Well, in the trunk of our car was all this canned food (vegetables and fruits) and bags of legumes (big word for all kinds of beans), and boxes of cereal. Our pantry had been bare for some time. It isn't any longer. It really hit home that there are people out there who are doing so much more then me and that I can do so much more for others.

The food we received that we could not use, was dropped off at our local church which collects for the local food bank. I hope someone else can be helped using the things we could not.

So, I am going to make an effort to reach out more to "PAY IT FORWARD" and remind you all that, no matter how dark it seems...It is always darker for others. There are people out there that have it so much worse then me and I have thrown pity parties and should be ashamed.

That said...If you have the financial ability...Call this weekend and donate $5 or $10 to the MDA.

Find a local shelter and go in and volunteer...Send the $20 to Nets For Malaria as I remind you each and every day at the end of these COUCH discussions...

I guess the bottom line is that even when it is sunny out, there are those who only have gloom following and it is our responsibility to ensure that even a few rays of "sunshine" fall down on them.

After this time on THE COUCH, you will also notice another "sign-off" line at the end of our COUCH time...

Thanks for sitting on THE COUCH, hope you enjoyed your stay.

FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY IT FORWARD!

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