We see the Salvation Army volunteers ringing the bells every year and sometimes we put a few coins in or maybe some cash and that may be most of the charitable giving we do for the season. I'd like to know what you are volunteering for or what you are donating and to whom this holiday season.
So let me know in the comments or email me at drew [at] Okra Cola (dot) com to let me know about how you are giving back. Even if it was last month at Thanksgiving it would still be good information for people. Thanks and Happy Advent, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
85 years ago yesterday the WSM Barn Dance aired on AM 650 in Nashville, Tennessee. That may not sound very exciting, but on December 10, 1927, it was renamed The Grand Ole Opry. Before doing a little research I had no idea that after an artist passes he or she is no longer a standing member of the Grand Ole Opry. I assumed it was like a Who's Who or a Hall of Fame, but Nashville already has the Country Music Hall of Fame. At one time they had to make 26 appearances a year and only got paid $44 which made being a member a hardship on some performers. Things have changed since then.
Anybody that has been to Nashville knows that the Ryman Auditorium is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry. If you know that you probably also know that there is a circle of the stage, about 5 feet in diamater, that was taken from the Ryman and was installed on the current Grand Ole Opry House stage. That circle, as well as the rest of the stage, was submerged under 46 inches of water during the May 2010 flood. The circle had to be refurbished but was reinstalled on August 25, 2010 with help from Little Jimmy Dickens and Brad Paisley.
Speaking of Little Jimmy Dickens he is the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry website says his mailbox is the only one out of alphabetical order at the Opry House to cater to his 4'11" stature. You probably saw him at the 2010 CMA's and if not check out the YouTube video.
Other members include, but are not limited to (in no particular order): Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Trace Adkins, Loretta Lynn, Blake Shelton, Vince Gill, Roy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton and many more.
Shows are still played at the Ryman and of course you can see a show at the Grand Ole Opry House too. Click the links, take a visit to Music City and take in a show or two while you are there.
Got a Nashville or Opry story, or see something I overlooked/left out/got wrong? Lemme know about any and all in the comments.
Carnival, Fat Tuesday whatever you call it today is MARDI GRAS! The day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, folks let down their hair and binge on the stuff they're supposed to give up for the next 40 days and nights. For most its just a hedonistic reason to go out and do what you wouldn't normally do.
Most people know that New Orleans is the home of Mardi Gras in the U.S., but Mobile, Alabama actually has the oldest organized Mardi Gras celebration. It's now celebrated in Biloxi, Galveston, all over different cities in Louisiana and many other Southern and non-Southern cities.
Parties, balls and parades are held; doubloons, beads, cups, Moon Pies are thrown, and much alcohol is usually consumed.
Another tradition of Mardi Gras is the King Cake. A large ring of a coffee cake/cinnamon roll type of pastry filled with anything from spices and nuts to cream cheese. It is usually iced and sprinkled with 3 different colored sugars: Purple for the Passion of Christ (justice); Green for hope (faith); and Gold for the treasures of leading a Christian life (power). Traditionally a trinket or more recently a plastic baby was hidden in the cake and whoever had a piece with the trinket in it was king or queen for the day; but also had to buy the next King Cake or host the next party.
Of course in our fine country of lawsuit happy people plastic babies are now not usually supplied by bakers; if they are they don't insert it into the cake. The last few I had were baked with a whole pecan to represent the baby/trinket.
So what are you giving up for Lent? You don't have to be Catholic, we could probably all use a little mortification now and then. Think of it as a good reason to pick up the New Year's Resolution you gave up about a month ago (more exercise, fewer cokes, reading more). If you aren't giving anything up, let us know your favorite hangover cure in the comments. Also, please let us know your family Mardi Gras traditions.
I love the movie Groundhog Day. It's one of those movies I can't pass over when I'm channel surfing. What's sad amazing, is that most of that stuff in the movie (speaking to humans in goundhogese, there only being one Punxsutawney Phil since the 1800's, etc.) is true!
Here are two Southern groundhogs:
Birmingham Bill lives at the Birmingham Zoo in Birmingham, Alabama and does make an annual appearance. You can join at the Wildlife stage starting at. 10am on Tuesday, February 2. Just for reference, the festivities in Punxsutawney, PA begin at 3am ET! Phil doesn't even prognosticate until 7:25am ET.
General Beauregard Lee, Ph.D. is the official weather prognosticating groundhog in Georgia and makes his home at the Yellow River Game Ranch. He is scheduled to make his official announcement at 6am CT. He is reported to be the first groundhog to make his announcement via Twitter.
As an FYI Punxsutawney Phil will have a webcast tomorrow morning. Click the link and pick your view. You can also have him text you his prediction. More here.
Many weddings up North, and around the world have huge, elaborate ceremony's and a reception that's even more elaborate. Sit down dinners, open (or cash) bar and a live band or D.J. to cap the night off. Down here, it's not always like that. Don't get me wrong, I've been to plenty of weddings here that meet some of these qualifications, but many more don't.
Down here you get to the wedding and it is usually pretty full of music and a some very nice stories of the Bride and Groom, more music and you are usually walking or driving to the reception in about 30 minutes. At the reception you have a few options: cake, mints, nuts, sherbet and ginger ale/lemon-lime punch. At the fancier weddings you'll have some additions: fruit, meatballs, and chicken fingers all buffet style. Catholic weddings usually have the additions above as well as beer, wine and a D.J.
The thing I like about weddings in the South is the fellowship with the wedding party. At sit down dinner weddings you get placed by folks you sometimes don't know and the only thing y'all have in common is knowing one or the other person getting married. At Southern weddings you get to see everyone, and that everyone may only be 50 people.
If you do get married anywhere I suggest a receiving line. It may make some of your guests uncomfortable, but it leaves you more free for the rest of the reception because you've already spoken to everyone once.
Got a wedding story or comment? Post them in the comments.
NOTE : I know that niether Ronald Reagan nor his wife were from the South, but it is a copyright free picture of a wedding and I thought it worked.
I'm a father of two beautiful daughters and have been married to my amazing wife for 6 years. I play harmonica in and around Birmingham and love music.
We see the Salvation Army volunteers ringing the bells every year and sometimes we put a few coins in or maybe some cash and that may be most of the charitable giving we do for the season. I'd like to know what you are volunteering for or what you are donating and to whom this holiday season. 
So let me know in the comments or email me at drew [at] Okra Cola (dot) com to let me know about how you are giving back. Even if it was last month at Thanksgiving it would still be good information for people. Thanks and Happy Advent, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
