Crabtree Falls

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Yeast Mystery


In primary school I ate a yeast roll in the lunchroom and shortly after I got a terrible migraine headache. For years, up until my mid-twenties, I would not eat a yeast roll, period. Even my grandmother's best batch, pulled right out of the oven on a hot tray, could not entice me. It became a family joke. Every time we'd sit down for a meal, someone would say, "Allen, grab you a roll and pass me some." I would do well enough just to pass them! Even the smell of them would trigger an association to that awful day in primary school! This conviction that yeast rolls would "do me in" was only reinforced when I later discovered some articles that indeed linked yeast with migraines. Was I one of the unlucky ones?!? Well, I do know that in Uzbekistan, in the early 90's, one of my favorite snacks was their naan, a round bread that is usually leavened with yeast. I ate it like it was going out of style! And, I don't remember getting a headache of any kind! Perhaps the honey and homemade apricot jams I smeared on the naan was just the antidote I needed to offset the yeast! Here's a sample of some research that links freshly cooked breads with migraines. http://www.widowmaker.com/~jnavia/tannins/tannbrd.htm

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Taking the Cake


This Lemon Bavarian Cake will satisfy my sweet tooth on this special day!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Startin' me a Revolution!


Cigar is in mouth. It's lit. I now wait for Natalie's call to discuss this thing called democracy and this process called an election.

Dire Strait




This time last year I surprised Kade with concert tickets to see the legendary country singer George Strait in Knoxville, TN.  It was our fourth anniversary!  Two opening acts performed before George Strait:  Ronnie Milsap and Taylor Swift.

This Saturday we will have been married five years and, I must say, I have NOT really given any thought as to what I want to do for her.  Nothing magical up my sleeve!  Not yet, anyway.  I need some ideas!             


Click here for another Ronnie Milsap hit I love.

This song I have always loved.  But George Strait has so many classic hits, it's mind-boggling.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Devilish


As lads in Headland, Miles and I somehow got our hands on the hit record, The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Honestly, Miles more than likely was the one to snag it and bring it home. Anyway, we excitedly played the tune several times. One day we apparently pumped up the volume a tad too much. Mom ran to our room and confiscated our record! Why did Mom seize it? See, this classic had a filthy word......some foul language. "I done told you once you son of a bitch, I'm the best that's ever been!" Ole' Charlie must have even felt guilty for undermining the morals of young, impressionable boys and girls because he later changed the words to make the lyrics more palatable to the moms of the world. I searched high and low on the Net for the original version. Couldn't find it. If you do, please post it in comments. In the meantime, here's the tamer form. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qepv1mtYdx0
Since Queen (at the 2013 I Heart Radio Festival) and Casey Kaseem have been in the news of late, how 'bout combining the two? When I was growing up in the late 70s-early 80s, on Sunday evenings, as I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep, I had my music box on the floor, and the radio was set to the American Top 40. One night I remember Casey introducing Another One Bites The Dust by Queen. Loved that song. Still do!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Smitten on Valentine's!

Don't let the date on the photo fool you! This photograph is actually from the first few months
of 2000. I had moved to Thailand and had fallen in love. This image evokes very pleasant snd powerful feelings. Kade and I were madly in love at the time. I'm talking head-over-heels, punch-drunk in love! Now, eight years later, we're still together and love is still present, albeit in a slightly different form. Below I have listed some of my favorite love songs. The song by Brian McKnight is one that I "dedicated" to Kade when we were doing cartwheels for one another.

My Love, Lionel Richie 
Always and Forever, Luther Vandross 
Write This Down, George Strait 
You are Everything, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye 
Back at One, Brian McKnight 
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, Rod Stewart

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Foraging

One day, when abandoned by my wife, I set out to forage for my daily sustenance. A trip to the frozen food section at Ingle's triggered a major regression. I immediately curled into a fetal position and cooed for a Salisbury Steak TV Dinner. I picked up a couple for about $3 total and made them my main meals of the day. The flavor of the steak with gravy was fairly good. It was a hearty meal all together. The downside was the two sides: mashed taters and corn niblets. They were awful! Luckily, the next day came and my wife was back nurturing me. The funny thing is, even in this state, I remain in a perpetual state of childhood. I like it! Maybe I never regressed at all when I was in Ingles that day!