In case you missed my articles from WQMX.com this week, let's get caught up!

My Sunday Morning Song

Eat Of The Week

50 Favorites From 40+ Years - #24

Forgotten Jukebox - K-16

Country Music Memory Lane - Mega Star Series - Toby Keith

Wynn At The Movies And More

OK, how great does this look?  I know, pasta is a big time winter thing for many, but this looks refreshing and I'm eating it. Join me!

Delish!

I'm Eating This!

Box Office Results -  Insidious:The Red Door  (Final Chapter)  (32 Million)

#2-  Indiana  Jones   (26 Million) -   #3   The Sound Of Freedom 

New This Week - Theater Camp 

Jennifer Garner - Will reprise her role as superhero Elektra in Deadpool 3, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman   (Story)

Jamie Fox – Made his first public appearance in 90 days after his “undisclosed medical condition”  (Story)

Indiana Jones - Has a budget of 295 million - deep finacial issues after ony about 89 Million in two weeks out  (Story)

Disney – Has experienced about 900 million in box office losses over the past year or so.  (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week #24  (Link)

Years ago, I remember seeing a story on the news about people who had skunks as pets. In watching that story, I learned that skunks can be found in different color patterns other than the classic black and white we're used to. Recently, there was the story of a woman hiking in the Metroparks in Berea who spotted an Albino raccoon! Now that was interesting to learn about and see the pictures!

Now in Chesterland, there is a family that says a rare deer frequents their yard. Apparently the animal is called a piebald deer - and has a genetic mutation that causes lack of pigmentation in parts of the body. This is causing the deer to almost resemble a cow in coloration, I'd say. Get the details and see the pretty animal for yourself in the article here.

So apparently there is a Siracha shortage, that is pushing up the price of the hot sauce.  Some people need some help if they are paying hundreds of dollars for a bottle.  

I have not honestly inspected the price of it.  But incase you didn't know you could just make it and save your money.  

Siracha it is delicious, I use it on everything.  I feel like Bubba from Forest Gump... Fries, Burgers, Noodles, Rice, Fish, like I said I use it on everything.  But I could definitely live without it.  (make it myself or just buy another brand?)  Anyway you get it... don't get it IN YOUR EYES!!!!

Thursday is the 78th birthday for Burt Ward. He played Robin on the 60's TV series Batman. What a show. I remember being young and Batman was my favorite super hero. I especially enjoyed the animated series from the early 90's, although I did watch the 60's live action show too. When you're 4 or 5 it didn't seem like too bad of a show, although once you get older you see how low budget - even for then - it was! 

My ex's dad has told me that he watched it with his brother when it was on, and even then they sometimes would joke about how silly it could be. Even if we consider it silly, it is still a piece of Americana that Adam West, Burt Ward, and the many other actors who contributed to it will always be remembered for.

Dolly Parton is a musician, businesswoman, philanthropist and icon in everyway.  Her accolades are plenty and she did it her way.  She is country music and music in general with her recent induction to the Rock Hall.   I can't say enough about Dolly.  She is a National Treasure!  Maybe the longest lasting imprint she will leave on this world is her Imagination Library.  This is a program that sends books to children from birth to 5 years old and shapes our youth during their formative years.  This is not for communities around her area...  It is a worldwide program and you can details here.   Or you can Click Here for Enrollment.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library just achived a milestone of 200 million gifted books since 1995.  So incredible and continued success to Dolly and her Imagination Library changing the world one book at a time.  

Independance Day has come and gone, but summer lives on, and so does my favorite simple BBQ side dish: Watermelon salad! It only has 5 ingredients, and has red, white, and blue foods in it!

Ingredients:

- Ripe Watermelon

- Crumbled Feta Cheese

- Red Onion

- Mint Leaves

- Balsamic Vinegar

Cube the watermelon, julienne or dice the red onion, and wash and pick the mint leaves. You can tear them or chop them, or just put in the whole leaf!

Then just combine! I usually put the balsamic to the side so people can put on as much as they want! Lime juice can also work in a pinch! It's deliciously refreshing, and perfect all summer long!

Haven't done a Mega Series profile in a while, and Toby Keith is just the artist to take us back to that pedestal. (He also just had a birthday July 8).  When he broke onto the charts he was instantly accepted as a hit maker, and through the 1990's had solid chart success.  But the 90's for Keith were just a mere warm up for the early 2000's when he went on a number one tear that is rare and enviable. Keith was and is a star and from my seat, there was a single song and album that catapulted him into very rare air.  

Big Song - Right Away

Toby was another with an interesting story before his days on the charts. He, like Joe Diffie worked in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young adult.  He also was forming bands at that time and was doing double duty in both industry's for a while. He played some semi-pro football and even had a tryout for the USFL but didn't make the squad. So he tried Nashville and that landed a deal with Mercury Records in due time.

Fans Love This Song

As you know things worked out pretty well. Keith hit the charts in 1993 with Should Have Been A Cowboy and it went #1.  In fact, that song became one of the most played country songs of the 1990's on radio.  Keith spent the 90's charting popular songs and solidified himself as a legit hit maker and fresh new face in a very big decade for the format.  There were some really big songs and some not so much. He was in a new class of stars that got a foothold then, like Kenny Chesney, Doug Stone, Tracy Byrd, Mark Chesnutt and others.  The success was good, but far better things were ahead for him as the decade closed out.

Tough Stuff -  But A Great Song

In 1999, Keith was having issues with his record company, which is not rare in Nashville.  A song called When Love Fades was released by the record company off his new album and it failed to make the top 40, (#44) and you and I probably don't remember it.  Keith wanted to release the song, How Do You Like Me Now, as that was the title song of the new album.  The legend goes that there was much disagreement over this. In fact, the record company before this nixed the same song out of hand. In the end he won his fight, and it's a good thing because that song and album changed everything about Toby Keith's career and life by a mile.  The song spent five weeks #1 and crossed over pop, and is universally loved by - well by everyone. 

Life And Career Changing Song - They Are Rare To This Extent

The result of this gigantic hit song was it became more than a song, it was pure pop culture.  An empowering anthem for those rejected in love, for men and women. And that was the real key.  It was not offensive, or even really angry, just honest and was relatable for everyone. Who hasn't felt that way?  You would be hard pressed to find anyone who is alive and under 50 who doesn't know and love that song.  How anyone could possibly think that was not a smash the first time you heard it, is still beyond me.  Perfect song, done by the only artist that could do it.   It's one of the most believable songs I can think of.

Huge Song

This was a new TK.  His sound, his image his everything was reborn.  He went on a #1 bonanza as a result that is incredible. What followed over the next number of years were 17 more number one songs, including a stretch of 6 in a row and 11 out of the next 12.  He dominated the charts and the format as few have for about the next ten years with a great mix of hits ranging from barroom songs, to terrific ballads and patriotic anthems.  Everything about Toby was different. He was singing with a confidence not there in the mid 1990's.  He was on top by a mile.

This Endeared Him To Even Those Hard To Sway

His world view became a rallying cry for his fans with songs like, American Soldier and Courtesy Of The Red White And Blue, Made In America and others.  He visited and entertained troops overseas many times and became a hero to them and their families. He emerged as a symbol for saying what was on his mind and his fans loved that too.  He launched a ton of side business ventures that were and are still successful, even starting his own record label, Showdog Nashville.  No more record company feuds.

This Was A Big Hit Of Course

During his run, Toby Keith did about all you could do.  His fans love him for who he is and his music which has sold about 50 million albums to date.  You may have heard of his recent health issues and it's good to see him back out on the road performing.  He has about as loyal of a fan base as you can have.

Hard NOT To Like This -

Was and is he a more modern day Outlaw in Country Music?  Well, yes. 

Outlaw Willie Nelson Thinks So Too!

What a career for Toby Keith.

Even Sting Wanted To Record With Toby #2 Hit

I hope you had a happy 4th and enjoyed some food and fireworks with family and/or friends. I did absolutely NOTHING all day and it was quite nice. Growing up, we would always go to see the fireworks in Hudson.  Although I think we stopped going many years ago. Also, one year I was in the Stow 4th of July parade - but that was a one time deal. I no longer have a "tradition" for fireworks on the 4th. 

There was one year where my mom and I were going to Albuquerque to visit her sister and a couple of my cousins right around the 4th of July. Driving out to New Mexico that year was very cool! Once we got into the Texas panhandle and into New Mexico, you could just see fireworks being shot off from who knows how far away!! It was very pretty to be driving across the desert at night surrounded by occasional flickers of light.

Once we were in town, my aunt took us to a local fireworks display for that year. As far as I remember that was the last time I actually tried to make it to a scheduled fireworks show. Hopefully you made it to one this year and enjoyed it for me.