Greetings Neighbors!

Today's Fun Friday comes to us from the self-proclaimed wise-guy Darrie! Never one to do things small she has offered not one but two great questions this week. So answer one or both: Darrie will select the winners on Wednesday, December 5!

Prizes: From our own Emarie.

Here are your two questions:
1. Everyone has it... That song. The song that makes you stop in your tracks, no matter what you're doing, and listen...or sing along...! It takes you back to another time and place, and you're useless for anything else until it's done. What's yours? and where do you go?

2. It's hiding in your closet... been there for years... but you wouldn't toss it because you loved it when you could wear it, the way it made you feel... and now... VOILA! you can wear it again...! What is it? What makes it so special?

What is Fun Friday?

GAME RULES!

1. Must be a registered member of the Neighborhood to play.
2. You may win one prize each month, but you should play each week. (Fun Friday Hall of Fame)
3. Two fabulous prizes are awarded each week.
4. Neighbors must answer the Fun Friday Question on the forum.
5. I will name the winners on Wednesday, November 13.
6. The winners will need to send their mailing address to me by Personal Message - DON'T post your address on the message boards for privacy reasons!

HAVE FUN!!!

Right after my divorce, I lost so much weight, I was down to a size 14 from a 20. I was a wreak, but loosing all that weight made me feel like I was on top of the world. I found this cute little black dress with pink flowers on it, a princess style, rather form fitting little number. Thin cotton. Very cool and sweet. I bought new shoes to match. I had my hair done (for the first time in a salon).
I decided to spend the morning with my mom. When I told her I was into a size 14 dress she said, "It must be mis-marked, that's the way Ross is, you know, they have reject clothes."
I was so crushed that I went home and cried.

Well, 20 years later I still had that cute little dress. One day I got on the scale and was down to 190 pounds! It was a pivotal moment and I got that dress out of a bag in the closet and voilà! it fit me again!!!

I had it dry cleaned and started wearing it. This time I didn't discuss my weight with my mom or show up at all. I simply enjoyed looking great. My husband took me out to our favorite restaurant and...well you can guess the rest!

1. The Theme Song from "Smokey and the Bandit." Eastbound and Down.

2. My High School letter jacket. Of course, I don't actually wear it around... that would be pretty pathetic. But I do try it on for my kids from time to time. I did wear it to an "Oldies" activity with my daughter a while back.

That's easy... I like to be really MOVED by music, really emotionally charged. I love ALL TYPES of music, but I must say that the world has truly lost a treasure with the passing of Luciano Pavarotti. He was one of the truly magnificent tenors of our modern age...

Every now and then, you will hear "Nessun Dorma", from the Opera "Turandot" performed by him. The amount of emotion and nuance he puts into this is just amazing. Here is a link to a video performance of this song on YouTube by Luciano if anyone is interested. YOU DON'T NEED TO UNDERSTAND ITALIAN TO APPRECIATE THIS - it is moving in and of itself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4

It is truly beautiful. I close my eyes, and I can see the hero wandering through the moonlit garden, gazing into the reflecting pool, as he dreams of his beautiful princess (whom he is singing his love and his feelings to) - "My beautiful Princess, gaze upon the stars that tremble with our love"... "my kisses break the silence".....I can go on and on. I have often fantasized about me, being the prince, meandering through that moonlit garden and singing of my love to the beautiful princess. It's really an amazing Opera... and it moves me to this very day. No one has ever come close to the power of the performance that Luciano Pavarotti puts into this, with his whole heart and soul.

As far as clothing, I am a total Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington FREAK - I love that movie more than anything. I have my den (home theatre) covered in Nightmare Before Christmas movie posters, memorabilia, statues, etc. - but among my prized belongings is a long-discontinued Men's adult-sized Small Mohair and Leather Letterman's jacket. The sleeves are white leather, and the body of the jacket is gray wool and mohair, with a large embroidered Jack Skellington face on the back, and the words "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" on the front left breast. It is the COOLEST jacket, and years back when they were for sale, they were not only very pricey, but were also sold out very quickly (they were produced in limited numbers), and all I had to choose from was a men's SMALL. At the time, I wore a 4X! So, I was pretty heartbroken, but I bought it anyway and I swore to myself, and I promised my mother (who was SOOOO worried about my weight and my rapidly failing health at the time) that I WOULD someday fit into that jacket! Of course, at the time she just placated me and said "yes, of course, that will be nice"....

WELL YOU KNOW WHAT??? THE JACKET LOOKS SO GREAT ON ME! YESSSSS I am a Men's Small jacket/shirt now! And I have NEVER, EVER LOOKED BACK!

Have a truly beautiful day, everyone!

Love you guys!

- Mike

I have 2 songs, first is We've only Just Begun by Karen Carpenter, This was our wedding song and I still cry when I hear it, the second is OF COURSE, The Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog. HELLO, who cant sing along to that? When my first daughter was 2 1/2, I found my old vhs copy of the Muppet Movie, and played it for her. When Kermit sang, I cried and cried and had to rewind and watch it over and over, so of course I took a pee test and was pregnant!

The dress I cant part with is a very sleek grey sleeveless, very simple size 8. When my husband left for 10 weeks to Officer Candidate School for the Marine Corps, I did Weight Watchers, busted my bum at the gym and worked for a presidential campaign, which is like 20 hours a day. I lost 27 lbs and wore that dress to his graduation, well that weekend we made daughter #1 (of 4) and poof! I never saw that size again. Tuesday is my day to see the surgeon and schedule my surgery, Im going to wear that dress again!!!!!

OOHRAH
your Marine Wife

The song that is my most favorite song and always makes me feel is What a wonderful World By Lious Armstrong. It always reminds me that though this world has it's many trials that it is truly a wonderful world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnRqYMTpXHc


I have not lost all my weight yet so anytime I can put anything on that is smaller I get a great feeling of joy

First, I've always been a yo-yo when it comes to my weight, down 30lb. up 45. When this story took place, I was near my highest weight.

One day, I was digging under my bed for something and I found a pair of dark blue jeans. They didn't look familiar to me and they looked nearly new. Me and my insecure self at that time decided my husband must have had another woman in our bedroom. I made this decision based on these three thoughts:

1. My husband is the most loyal person I know.
2. I am disgusting.
3. He's so bad at cheating because he's so loyal he made the woman leave without her pants.

Believe it or not, these reasons made sense to me at the time.

I was waiting for him when he got home, and when I showed him the pants he claimed they were mine. To prove that they weren't I tried them on. They barely went up past my knees, maybe mid-thigh. He laughed and insisted that they were from when I had lost weight a year earlier. Needless to say, after thinking about it for a few days, I realized how stupid my reasons and accusations were.

I'm wearing those jeans while typing this and they are so baggy that I commented to my husband this morning that I'm going to have to buy some more soon.

Victory.

Good after noon to all,
In response to the funfriday question here are mine.

Favorite Song: I have a couple, but the one that moves me to tears is SIMPLE MAN by LYNYRD SKYNYRD. It was played at my sons wedding for the son- momma dance, and it is all I ask of him to live a simple life and be happy, do what makes him happy and all else really doesn't matter.

Favorite article of clothing: Years and I do mean Years ago, I had a blue jean jacket that I customized. Now this was back in the 70's when the Vietnam war was going on,my eldest brother was in the service, sent home his first set of gold ropes from one of his many promotion in the Airforce. I attatched the ropes at the shoulder and around the arm, I then sewed an American flag to the right breast pocket, I wore that jacket for years and it was a size small, I wore it with great pride in honor of my brother although I had issues as to why "we" were even in Vietnam. I lost it for several years, only to find it in a barn that belonged to the neightbors. It was way too small, kept it anyway. Today it is hanging in my closet and yes, once again it fits. TT

Well, as you could all probably tell, I was clearly winning the part of the question about the song with my selection of the Theme from the movie, "Smokey and the Bandit." I apologize to all for selecting a near-perfect song so early in the competition, and making it nearly impossible for anybody else to have a chance of winning.

Then Stormy16 comes along and gives us SKYNYRD. I'm not sure that even Smokey and the Bandit can win out over SKYNYRD.

CONGRATULATIONS, STORMY!!! YOU DONE GOOD!

There are a few song out there that really touch me...not so much for the words and meaning, but because of the great voices behind them. The one song that has always pulled at my heart is "Memory" from Cat's. Barbra Streisand sang it long ago and I fell in love with the emotion. I also love "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". When I hear that one, my heart fills up with such hope and I can see Dorothy's face when I hear it.

As for clothing...well, the one pair of black jeans that I saved from 1988 turned out to be horrid when I could finally get them up over my butt again. My body changed in shape and the fit was bad, bad, bad! I'd been hanging onto those things for almost two decades, only to be disappointed by them! My dream dress was "something clingy". I'd spent so many years wearing baggy clothes that the thought of "cling" seemed like just wishful thinking. After my tummy tuck, I was able to wear a tight dress without the aid of control top hose! That was quite special.

Great questions Darrie!

Hi Everyone, Happy Friday!

The song that makes me stop in my tracks is "Somewhere Out There, The Neverland Medley" sung by Kenny Loggins on his "Return to Pooh Corner" CD.

"...hold your breath...make a wish...count to three... somewhere out there, beneath a pale moonlight, someone's thinking of me, and loving me tonight"

I always changed the lyric to "someone's thinking of you and loving you tonight" as I sang along during the many years I waited to adopt my beloved son, Jesse!

Tomorrow it will be 9 years since I first laid eyes on that wonderful boy!
He was 3 months old when he came home and I sang it as I rocked him
to sleep at night for months and months.

He outgrew the CD and I put it away. Last year I brought it to school to play at lunchtime for the preschoolers I teach.

Well...

When that song came on I just burst into tears! The force of hearing it after all of that time just rocked me! It took me back! I could almost feel and smell my sweet baby. Wow!

I felt the blessing of his wonderful baby self all over again! The years I spent crying and praying and waiting for him all melted away.

My baby is 9 now, almost as tall as I am, smart and funny and my treasure!

What a fun question, it was fun to re-live the song and the moment.


The clothing bit...

I have a very tiny (and sexy!) lined black linen button down vest that I can't wait to get back into! I love vests - haven't worn one in years! I hope they make a really big comeback just as I get small enough to fit into them again. Who knows, maybe I'll start a new trend!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Fondly,

Darien

Lets see my song choice would have to be "I wanna dance with somebody" by Whitney Houston. What a great song and a great time. When ever I hear it I can't help but to smile.

As far as question # 2 . I remember when I 1st lost my weight and got down to a 16 a went thru my closet and found a pair of jeans I had kept since my senior year, I pulled them up over my hips and was elated when they zipped. How fabulous that was. It was even better the nxt time when they nearly fell off!

TC you have my vote!!! You made me smile and cry at the same time!!!
Songs change so quickly for me. I have so many that speak to me that I simply can't pick one!!!
As for clothes....there was once this adorable short short olive green corderoy skirt that didn't fit me but I wanted sooooooooo bad to wear. I kept it in my closet for so long justwaiting for the day it'd fit. AlasI gave up and figured it never would and got rid of it. Gawd how I wish I would have saved it....not sure it'd even fit me now but for a time, it was a great motivation. Some day I'll find one that will replace it and wear it with pride. :)

I'm very glad to hear I have 4 more days to decide...! This ain't gonna be easy!

Do I get to pick a winner for each question? or just one winner for both?

I guess I should let y'all in on my answers too, huh?

Well... the song is easy... there are many for me too, and Darien, I have to tell you... your post made me cry! We also used the "Return to Pooh Corner" CD for my daughter from the time she was an infant to help her sleep. We still use it, and I am always amazed at how quickly it relaxes her and helps her just close her eyes and go right to sleep! But, that's not where my song comes from...

The song for me is "The Holly and the Ivy" by Mannheim Steamroller. You see, the first time I'd ever heard it playing was when we first took my girl home from the hospital, that warm January day nearly 10 years ago... and I cannot hear it now without thinking about all those emotions I had during that ride home...

I'd had to abandon my home, give my two dogs to a shelter, put my grandmother in a nursing home and leave all of my worldly possessions behind... All so I could give this little pink bundle a home... a life... a chance. When the song came on, suddenly it was all so clear... and she was sooooo worth all of it! I was suddenly totally at peace with my decision, and I've never looked back since.

I have it on every one of my playlists on my IPod, and sometimes, it comes up and surprises me... everytime, it brings me to tears, and I am useless for anything but stopping, and listening and remembering.

As for the clothing... it's the pair of black knee high boots with the 4 inch heels that I bought and have never been able to wear... they look just like a pair I had some 20 years ago that I loved and wore to death...! They made me feel sexy and smart and like I could wear anything with them, and if I did, then I'd be able to get any guy to look at me and like what he saw... Back then, I could... it's been a while since I had that feeling, so I bought the boots, and am foolishly hoping I'll be able to wear them someday... That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!

Well everyone I bought the prizes and now I am ready to just find out who the winners are so dont forget when you find out if you won PM me your address so I can send it out ASAP....I'm so excited like a kid in a candy store......hugs

Ok y'all... this is about as tough as it can be... but, since I have to pick only one, I'm gonna saaaaaayyyyy.....


Stormy16...!!!

Your son is very lucky to have you for a mother... and your brother should only know a little bit about that jacket and it's history to be proud to have you for a sister...!

I must say though there were several very close runners up... this isn't as easy as it looks!!!

Thanks for playin' everybody!

Jeff, just wanted you to know that I live in the town where the Van Zants grew up so we have been to a ton of free SKYNYRD concerts over the years. Amazing how even though the legendary original members have died, they keep on truckin'. Older than dirt now but still ROCKIN! Also, the first song that they play in the stadium at all Jaguar games is 'Sweet Home Alabama' just to get the locals in an uproar!

Celadon, that is way too cool. North Florida is the birthplace of Southern Rock! I'm glad that Stormy won this week!

My boys and I went to a great concert last spring... It was called the Rowdy Frynds tour. 38 Special (another Van Zant band) opened. Then we got to see Hank, Jr. Then the concert closed with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Nearly four hours of live redneck rock! Did you know that the keyboard player and one of the guitar players were members of the original Skynyrd band? And having the baby brother do the lead vocals... well, I think that today's version is just as good as the original.

Of course, it is funny that one of the signature songs for a Florida band is "Sweet Home Alabama."

Hey Yall,
Don't get any better than red neck rockin. I see Lynyrd Skynryd everytime they come within 200 miles of me. I have managed to see them 4 times and never grow tired of hearing the music..... Still an Old Hippy at heart, Still do things now at the tender age of 51, that I done at the tender age of 16. Thanks for the vote.....Stormy

Oh and all of my Granchildren know the song Oh lord wontcha buy me a mercerdes bendz, by Janis Joplin, I sing it to them as I rock them to sleep..LOL

OMG! I am so dating myself here but I saw her in concert at the ripe ole age of 15 singing that very song! Many more too but that one she just rocked!

Jeff, I have seen 38 Special numerous times. They do a lot of benefits and free concerts here in Jacksonville. Too cool that I still love that music and you too it seems!