Wet Noodle Posse

Monday, July 20, 2009

Euterpe: Muse of Music and Queen of the Road

by Guest Blogger Rachel Goldsworthy

The best part of sitting in the back seat is singing. The bonus for weighing enough to get the front seat is having the CD or tape collection within arm’s reach.

Spilling CDs out of the glove box and fumbling them from their cases and into the player only to discover that someone put Big and Rich where Patsy is supposed to be…well, that is a drawback for the driver. Other than that, music on the road is pure pleasure whether I’m heading for a family reunion, a campsite, or hard bleachers in hot sun.

In the summertime, I flash back to the joy of the kids rocking out to We are the Champions on the way home from a baseball game, of belting out Me and Bobby McGee along with Janis on a solo road trip, of my husband trying to find the notes – any notes – of Money for Nothing.

Now that so many of us have iPods and our cars have docks for them, we can assemble special playlists, soundtracks for life that make summertime road trips even better. Miley Cyrus and Queen for the youngsters on tournament weekends. Queen and country for the middle ages any time. Chopin and Van Morrison for romantic getaways. Jann Arden’s Where No One Knows Me and the Ennis Sisters’ It’s Not About You when the trunk and back seat and passenger side are loaded with boxes of dishes, crates of books and plastic bags full of clothes.

It’s fun to flip through the jukebox of my mind or the list on my iPod to come up with the perfect song, and I seem to do it more when the sun’s shining and the roads are dry. Summertime. When the singin’ is easy.

I love lip syncing Fred Eaglesmith’s Mighty Big Car when I’m stopped at a light next to a guy in a huge shiny pickup, or Nancy White’s My God My Mom if it’s a minivan loaded with shopping bags and teenagers.

Are there tunes that reach out of the car stereo and make you croon? Please tell me I’m not the only one on the road who can’t resist singing along with Honky Tonk Woman – even when the windows are open.

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Rachel Goldsworthy writes underappreciated funny women's fiction. Somebody's going to get it one of these days. You'll find her commentary on life at http://www.rachelgoldsworthy.blogspot.com/

Labels: music, Rachel Goldsworthy, summertime

Thursday, July 02, 2009

How Do You Dress a Hot Dog?

by Lee McKenzie

Few things are more quintessentially summer than a hot dog. Hot dog stands appear in parks and on street corners, and they’re definitely a picnic staple, especially if children are included.

There are standard wieners, smokies, foot-longs, turkey dogs, and tofu dogs, to name a few. They can be boiled, broiled, grilled, dipped in corn batter and deep fried, or roasted on a stick over a campfire. Most of us are willing to sample at least one, no matter what kind of hot dog it is or how it’s been cooked. It’s how we eat them that’s important.

I like mine with mustard. That’s it. Nothing else. Preferably hot mustard. No ketchup for me, thanks, and I’ll pass on the relish.

How do you dress your hot dog? Do you prefer one condiment? The works? Maybe some chopped onion? Or what about one of the more unusual hot dog fixings, like chili, Cheez Whiz or sauerkraut? What’s the weirdest thing you or someone you know has put on a hot dog?

Will hot dogs be part of your Fourth of July celebration this weekend? If so, I hope they’re just the way you like them!

Until next time,
Lee

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Lee McKenzie writes light-hearted love stories for Harlequin American Romance. Her next book (working title—Wanted: One Mommy) has a tentative release date in early 2010. Tomorrow on her blog, The Writer Side of Life, she'll be sharing one of her favorite summer recipes for sangria. Please drop by!

Labels: Harlequin American Romance, hot dogs, Lee McKenzie, summertime