I.N.T.E.R.E.S.T.S.
(In a Nutshell, Timeless, Endless, Riveting
Entertainment, Sports and Theater Selections)
This page will touch on people and activities that mean a lot to me... maybe we have some of these things in common! I'll include many links you can click on to learn more. (I check the links periodically but let me know if any don't work, thanks.) Most of the people I admire have an official web site and, in some cases, "fan sites". So it would be redundant for me to try to duplicate those!
 First, or at least what I know always needs to be first (hasn't always been but I'm working on it...) is my relationship with Jesus Christ which began in 1976. My testimony page deals with how that came about and what it means to me, in my marriage and every aspect of life. I also share how my husband of 27 years, Rex, and I got together and have stayed together. F.U.R.B.A.L.L.S. is about our "furry kids", Heidi, Colby, Archie, Jesse, Salina, Rosemary, Meg, and our dearly departed Farley, Tessa, Gus, Popeye and Harvey.
Next is my creative outlet, crocheting, which I learned in 1979 and have done a lot of ever since! I also sew and cross-stitch, but concentrate almost exclusively on crochet now. My favorite things to make are table runners and afghans, especially "pineapple" pattern, as well as baby and Barbie dresses, and Christmas ornaments. Two reasons I love to crochet are:
- You start with just a skein of thread or yarn and a hook and end up with an intricate-looking heirloom that was easy and relaxing to produce!
- It's portable, so I can do it on my 5-day-a week ferry commute!
If you are interested in having me do any custom crocheting for you, see my "Comfort N'Joy" page for pictures of some of my specialties, or E-mail me!
I have a few collections (limited by lack of space, time, and money):
- Sheep (figurines, stuffed or wooden, or anything with sheep on it) appeal to me not only because of the Biblical connotation but they are docile, fluffy animals that produce nice wool and I just like the way they look! (We live on acreage and hope that one day we can have sheep, goats, or even llamas. You'd be surprised how many people in the Northwest U.S. have llamas for pets! They are magnificent animals and very gentle.)
- Postcards! We haven't been able to travel much lately (have been to 40 states and 4 Canadian provinces) and I miss it... but postcards are a way to see what faraway places look like and to even imagine being there! I dream of one day seeing Australia, Paris, England, and Scandinavia....
- It can't really be called a collection but I have about two dozen teddy bears! Who doesn't love teddies?
- I don't call it a collection (I think my hubby does, ha) but I have a passion for silver and white gold jewelry. My favorite gems are peridot, blue topaz, moonstone, amethyst and garnet.
OK, following is the meat of this page including many neat links! I am about to share my favorite singers, actors/movies, sports/athletes/teams, and tv shows. Here goes...
 No "cookie cutter country" here! This great looking guy is Arkansas native Collin Raye. If you are not yet familiar with his music, 1) where have you been?, and 2) trust me -- you don't know what you're missing. While labeled "country", he is truly unlike any other country artist. He has ventured unafraid into such subjects as spousal abuse, alcoholism, Jesus' return into our present world, and a powerful indictment of child abuse, "The Eleventh Commandment". These "heavy" matters are balanced with sweet, poignant love songs and fun, uptempo rockers, always delivered with the same passion and the voice of an angel. This devoted father of two does NOT do "background music"; he makes you think, feel, and move into action! He also is incredible in concert; I've experienced nine of his concerts since August '98.
And, oh yes, I got to meet Collin in Dec. '99, in conjunction with a project the "Internet Collinators" did for him. He spent quite awhile talking to us though it was already after midnight, and was as gracious as we had always heard. (See my pictures page.) I met him briefly a second time the following July and gave him a baby dress I'd crocheted for his new granddaughter. (Hard to believe the man became a grandpa at age 40...)
 Though I feel Collin is in a league of his own when it comes to creativity, originality, and performing from the heart, there are a few other artists I would characterize in that manner, one being Clint Black. One unique thing about this man is, he co-wrote probably 98% of what he has recorded, and he is a phenomenally expressive songwriter. This Houston native is happily married to actress Lisa Hartman Black and is a dog lover (owns black Labs), making him a great guy automatically! He and Lisa became first-time parents in '02 to a baby girl, Lily. He's often asked about his resemblance to the late Roy Rogers. They recorded a duet several years ago. But they're not related!
 Speaking of duet partners, the pretty lady pictured here with Clint is Martina McBride. She has had hit singles since 1992, but two released in '98 impressed me enough to pick up her CD "Evolution". Still, I was not prepared for the power and beauty of the voice of this petite wife and mom from Kansas, and the quality of songs she selected to interpret. Subsequent duet partners (Jim Brickman, Bob Seger) testify to the widespread respect she has deservedly gained. I briefly met Martina in Oct. '98 and Aug.'99, and she was as nice as she is talented. It took some time, but the past few years, this multiple CMA and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year has finally received the widespread respect and recognition she so richly deserves.
 Over the years, I've changed the links and features on this page to reflect new favorites as well as old favorites I realized I should be including. I recently asked myself, WHY in the world am I merely mentioning the magnificent Gordon Lightfoot considering I first discovered him waay back in '72, have since acquired most of his glorious music and all these decades later, remain in awe of his unsurpassed combination of lyrics, melody and voice. If you've only heard the man's relatively few chart singles, you haven't really heard him -- each album/CD is filled with treasures that will entrall you the way they have me. Go to his discography, click on any album, any song and read the work of the poet of our times. You will long to hear the melody and voice that goes with those lyrics and will be glad you did!
 Back in '98-'99, when I must admit I had become a Collin Raye "groupie" and most of the other music I listened to was contemporary country, even though most of my favorite singers were professed Christians, I felt I should be listening to more music with a strong Christian message. I asked my cyber friend Judy who she could suggest. She came through by taping me two of her Ray Boltz CDs. I was quickly convinced, moved by his powerful, self-penned lyrics and soulful delivery. The CD on the left, "Allegiance" from '94, remains the most special, containing my favorite Christian song, "The Anchor Holds". But I become more impressed with this man's anointed writing and singing with each CD I hear. His ability to bring the Gospel to life will never cease to blow me away.
 I also occasionally listen to 50s-60s oldies, "big band", "soft rock" and have even gotten to enjoy some 70s disco! The last person I will "salute" in my music section has proven himself equally skillful in all of these styles. He has stated he feels he was born too late, as he loves 40s music. But I and countless others are grateful he's here in our generation! I have been hooked on the voice, arrangements, showmanship, and unlimited versatility of Barry Manilow from the first time I heard "I Write The Songs" in 1974. He has truly written, sung and arranged the songs that make the whole world sing!
M o r e M u s i c P e o p l e . . . .
- George Strait (what more can I say about the king of country music with 50 #1 singles since '82, and counting?)
- Marty Robbins (the troubadour of the Old West; glorious voice silenced way too soon)
- Bobby Darin (gone at the tender age of 37. "Mack The Knife" is my all-time 50's favorite, but the man could sing the phone book and I'd be all ears)
- Roger Whittaker (Kenya-born Brit, wonderful entertainer and what a voice -- the Shakespeare of contemporary music)
- Alison Krauss (angel-voiced bluegrass singer and picker; great God-given talent)
- Sara Evans (lovely voice and great contemporary sound; every CD has been first-rate)
- Larry Gatlin (have loved the beautiful harmonies and deep lyrics of this Odessa, TX native and his brothers Rudy and Steve for many years)
- Buddy Jewell (first winner and brightest star of "Nashville Star", the country version of "American Idol" -- first 2 CD's have been outstanding)
- Phil Vassar (versatile singer, pianist and writer of feel-good hits by Collin Raye, JoDee Messina and others deservedly becomes a star)
- Josh Turner ("Long Black Train" hooked me; mature voice way beyond his years)
I also love most 50's "doo wop", "big band", and classic oldie ballads such as many of those I selected for background music on my refuge. Now, let's move on to the wonderful subject of movies and their stars, beginning with a man I've loved from afar as long as I can remember...
 Need I introduce this man and movie to any of you?! Of course, it's the pride of Pittsburgh, the one and only Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), my 2nd favorite movie he made! (My all-time favorite movie, bar none, is "An American in Paris". It contains three components unmatched before or since... Gene, Paris, and Gershwin music! To quote one of those classic Gershwin songs, "Who could ask for anything more?") This world lost Gene on Feb. 2, 1996 at age 83, and for me it was a great loss indeed. To me, he will forever remain young and vibrant as he was in the 1950s... that personality, smile, and the way he moved never to be equalled. Lest you wonder at this adulation for a man born in 1912, I am far from alone! There are at least two great websites devoted to Gene (here's the second one), largely visited by relatively young women for whom this man's memory will never be allowed to die!
 Here is another man who needs no introduction. I can't imagine anyone who doesn't admire the man from Indiana, PA, Jimmy Stewart. He really did lead a "Wonderful Life" and gave us all many unforgettable memories. He was a standout not only as an actor but as a human being... model husband and father, Brigadier General, poet, Presbyterian elder. There is even a museum in his hometown dedicated to him. We can all thank God that Jimmy switched from his original career plan to be an architect. His character George Bailey changed his town but Jimmy changed the world; it's a better place because he was here!
 Here's the star of my second favorite movie of all time -- Robert Preston, a/k/a Harold Hill in "The Music Man". I LOVE this movie and, though there have been many local revivals, no one could have ever played this role better than Robert Preston. The plot, the music, and even the names of the characters couldn't be more wonderful. (If we eventually have llamas or goats, I may name them Amaryllis, Marcellus, Winthrop, Eulalie, and Lida Rose.) I always had a crush on Robert in this role, and was shocked and saddened when he died several years ago at age 68. My favorite line is when he tells Winthrop he can't leave Marian because "I got my foot caught in the door". I cry every time....
I have usually been partial to 40s to 60s movies. But there have also been many modern-day stars and films that Rex and I agree on. (We have similar taste except he likes science fiction and I don't.) Here are several people and movies we both enjoy. (The movie links are courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.)
M o r e M o v i e P e o p l e . . . .
M o r e M o v i e s . . . . (besides most anything with Gene or Jimmy)
Hang in there! We're in the home stretch with an eye on the finish line, heading toward the end zone to victory lane. Yes, the final section of this marathon will deal with my love of spectator sports. Ours is an unusual household, as I am the tv sports fan(atic) while Rex can take or leave it. You've heard of "football widows". My husband is a stock car, football, and figure skating widower! Do NOT bug me, dear, when the race, game, etc. is on! :-D
I grew up in Chicago as a baseball fan; specifically, a fan of the "heartbreak kids" a/k/a Chicago Cubs. It became harder to follow them once we moved to Seattle Mariners country in 1990. But by that time, baseball had taken a back seat to the sports I will touch on below. I still watch baseball occasionally and root each year for the long suffering "Cubbies" and M's to make it into the postseason. But as I've gotten older, I've gravitated toward faster moving sports. There may be some deep psychological meaning behind this, but let's not get into that now!
I liked watching NASCAR races as long as I can remember. But once we got cable and I could see more races and learn who the drivers were, my interest skyrocketed. However, being a NASCAR fan has its drawbacks:
- Being female, it's hard to find like-minded females!
- This part of the country has no major Winston Cup or BGN speedways or tracks, so I must settle for tv coverage.
- In the Pacific time zone, most of the races are televised during our church services! (I no longer use this as an excuse to play hookey from church! But I still don't like missing part of the race...) :-Q
Rex teases me that stock car racing is "a bunch of guys driving around in circles". But we race fans know it's all about speed, skill and strategy! I follow Winston Cup (now Nextel Cup) Busch Grand National and the Craftsman Truck series, as well as the ASA (American Speed Association) where many of the big names got their start. Here are links and a brief comment on my favorite Winston Cup drivers (or actually, Nextel Cup as it became in '04):
- Dale Jarrett -- a great driver who, as I predicted, won his first Winston Cup championship for '99; well deserved! His dad, Ned Jarrett, was also a top driver and is now a NASCAR broadcaster.
- Tony Stewart -- I rooted for this exciting young driver to win the 2002 Winston Cup title, and he did! He got a lot of bad press at that time, much of which I felt was greatly exaggerated. He lost his temper a couple times, and for some time afterwards, the guy couldn't even look the wrong way at anyone. I felt he was a nice guy and just misunderstood - and it turns out I was right about that too. Tony has won his second championship in '05, and everyone has commented on not only his driving skill but his newfound emotional maturity.
- Jamie McMurray -- This then 26-year-old from Missouri "showed me" (and thousands of other fans) near the end of 2002 when, after impressive runs in the Busch series, he took over for the injured Sterling Marlin and proceeded to decisively win his first Winston Cup race. That's been his only victory so far, but I expect bigger and better results to come - he has too much talent to not break through soon.
- Johnny Benson -- The rumble you may have heard in Nov. '02 was me cheering over the LONG-awaited first Winston Cup victory of this Michigan native, former Busch and ASA series champ, and all-around nice guy, who usually had about the worst luck possible in Winston Cup. He has now shifted over to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series. Hopefully he will fare better there!
- Carl Edwards -- This amiable young guy is my favorite of the fresh new faces to come along since Winston Cup changed its name. He has proved a force to be reckoned with in both Nextel and Busch, as well as just being fun to watch with his ever-present smile and his trademark back flip off the car roof when he wins a race, which is often.
The other sport I've enjoyed the longest is the elegance and grace combined with strength and athleticism that is found in figure skating. Because of its beauty, it's a sport a lot of women enjoy. I used to only like watching female skaters, but an Englishman came along in the 80s who changed all that. I'll provide links and a comment on him and my other favorite skaters:
- Robin Cousins -- The British 1980 Olympic men's champion who made me realize skating could be not only graceful but athletic and manly at the same time. He retired from pro competitions a few years ago to concentrate on choreographing, and I miss him!
- Paul Wylie -- People were shocked when he won the 1992 Olympic silver, but I felt Paul should have won the gold. He is THE most elegant and artistic male skater ever, and I was crushed when he retired in '98 to go back to school.
- Kurt Browning -- This Canadian is an absolutely wonderful and versatile entertainer who nails everything from 70s funk (the "Brickhouse" routine is a must-see) to Gene Kelly on ice (Singin' in the Rain, complete with look-alike props from the movie). He is, in my humble opinion, the greatest male skater to have not won an Olympic medal.
- Scott Hamilton -- I wasn't always a fan of Scott's but he won me over in recent years with his personality, innovative and often wacky routines and, more recently, the grace and unbending optimism he has displayed in his fight against cancer.
- Alexei Yagudin -- Wow!! There have been many judging controversies in the Olympics, but the judges got this one right; no contest! This 2002 Olympic champ and 4-time world champ from Russia, with his innovative choreography and fancy footwork (and those eyes) is definitely my favorite of the current crop of male skaters. But wouldn't you know, he's developed an injury that could cut his career short. Say it ain't so!
- Caryn Kadavy -- A visitor to my site directed me to this long-overdue site for my all-time favorite female skater; about time! Caryn, who is now in her late 30s, remains a vision of grace and beauty on the ice unlike any other. She caught a flu bug during what was to be her Olympics; what a blow to us all! But she is doing well in pro competitions and is married to a doctor.
- Michelle Kwan -- It boggled my mind to see a 13-year-old girl blossom into a lovely, expressive woman overnight. I was heartbroken to see her robbed of the Olympic gold metal in 1998, then falling short in 2002. I'd like to see her try once more in '06. Artistry must be the deciding factor, and in that category, Michelle is unmatched. All who watch her are touched by how she "feels" the music.
- Kristi Yamaguchi -- Like Kurt Browning, this 1992 U.S. Olympic champion can perform in a variety of styles ranging from soft and flowing to driving and pulsating, and perform them all with equal skill and passion.
- Yuka Sato -- This lovely lady from Japan, the 1994 World Champion, reminds me of a beautiful flower, not only because of her effortless grace but the pure joy she exudes while performing. She has been successful in recent professional competitions not only as a solo skater, but as a pair with her husband, Jason Dungjen. As skating fans know, it is not easy to do both successfully!
My other favorite sport is not appreciated by most women. I don't know why, though I didn't get into it myself till I was thirty-something! My interest in the NFL was timely since it happened the season my then-hometown team, "Da" Chicago Bears went to the Super Bowl! Yet my interest started not from the Bears, but due to starting to watch college football on the weekends when there was nothing else on, and wanting to understand what was happening. Once I got a rule book and learned what downs are (that's most of what you need to know), I started getting hooked. "Football widows", try sitting down and watching the game with your husband. You might surprise yourself -- and him!
I still root for "Da Bears" though it's not the same without Coach Ditka and my all-time #1 player, Mike Singletary, who has now deservedly been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mike was not only a great and intense player but is a devout Christian and family man; a real role model.
The Seattle Seahawks have frankly been boring for several years, despite some great trades and draft choices, till finally becoming the conference champion in the '05-'06 season. I also watch college football, and people in this area are so crazy about the Washington Huskies, it's almost like having a second pro team!
This almost concludes this chronicle! I just have a few more links to share. After reading the above, you will realize that my favorite tv shows are the movies, sports events and music programs featuring the people noted on this page. My favorite current series (till recently) is shared by many -- the wonderful, wholesome family drama 7th Heaven. (What woman wouldn't want a husband and father like Rev. Eric Camden? My hubby says "Ruthie", in her earlier curly-haired days, looked like pictures he's seen of me at that age. I know I didn't have her self-assurance and maturity at that age...) This is the last season, and the timing seems right since the kids have all grown up now, and the reruns will live on for decades to come.
My current favorite series would have to be the entertaining and totally original "defective detective" who made his debut in '02. If you think you have unusual quirks, you are likely totally normal compared to the obsessive-compulsive Adrian Monk (masterfully played by Tony Shalhoub) who, despite his inner demons that keep him from being readmitted to the police force, manages every week to solve crimes that confound everyone else. I love this show!
At the serious end of the spectrum, I admit to regularly watching and being fascinated by true crime-solving chronicles on Court TV such as Forensic Files and The System. Lastly, there are three "oldies" that are my all-time favorites and that I will likely always watch reruns of (all are still thankfully being rerun)
- "The Wonder Years" -- I can't imagine anyone not loving and being able to relate to this charming and totally unique look back by a grown-up narrator recalling his teen and pre-teen years. Compounding the appeal was the fact that Kevin (Fred Savage) and Winnie (Danica McKellar) were the cutest teenage boy and girl ever! (I always longed for hair like Winnie -- never came remotely close...)
- Name this tune! "Love....exciting and new....come aboard....we're expecting you!" OK, I won't quote the rest, although I could. I admit it, ever since we finally got "TV Land" added to our local cable service a few months back, I rediscovered "The Love Boat" and watch several times a week. It's romantic, sweet, funny, idealistic, often silly and depicts improbable situations, but in general, an innocent escape as well as a constant reminder of how much I would love to take a cruise one day! I also have long enjoyed Gavin McLeod ("Captain Stubing"), who with his wife Patti currently hosts "Back On Course", an interview program on Christian TV. Gavin is now in his 70's (now I know I'm getting old...).
- "All in the Family" -- I saved my VERY favorite for last. Always FUNNY though I've seen them all so many times, I know in advance what Archie, Edith, Gloria and "Meathead" are going to say. Archie always reminded me a tiny bit of my dad, and Edith a tiny bit of my mom! (the friendliness, not the voice...) I was very sad when Carroll O'Connor (Archie) passed away in June 2001. As I told my hubby, "I lost my TV daddy". By all accounts, Mr. O'Connor was a gracious man and devout Catholic, nothing like the character he masterfully played.
THE END!!! Thank you for taking this LONG but (I hope) fun tour of my interests. Check out many of the links on this page; maybe some of your interests will match mine! God bless...
  
Animated heart graphic courtesy of Penny of Beauty for Ashes
"Dream Orphans" - official font of The Evergreen Refuge - download here
Music MIDI from Georgia Girl MIDI's
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