The Elvis Experiment

On the Etsy forum tonight, someone was asking for ideas for a project to do for a social research methods class they are taking, with the assignment to violate a common custom and then record others' reaction to it. My suggestion was to sing loudly in line at the grocery store or sitting at a restaurant table, something random such as the National Anthem, My Heart Will Go On, or Kung Fu Fighting. And this reminded me of something.

Years ago, I was in the grocery store in West Memphis, Arkansas (just across the river from Memphis, TN) on a Saturday afternoon. Just a typical day, buying typical groceries.

When I walked in, I thought it was odd to see a large karaoke machine at the front by the carts, but whatever. Probably it was just used as a makeshift PA system for some reason. Ho-hum.

I had been shopping for about 10 minutes when the music began to swell. Much louder than the typical Muzak. Then someone began singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", ala "Elvis." I began looking around to make sure that I wasn't the only one hearing this (because if I was, it was time for my meds).

I wasn't.

Turns out, this particular grocery store had an Elvis impersonator who worked in the meat department, and they decided to let him sing for the customers. Not something fun and peppy like "Blue Suede Shoes" or "Jailhouse Rock." No, we lucky customers got a powerful, lengthy, intensely-overly-dramatic rendition of a song designed to bring tears to your eyes and the Lord into your heart.

While shopping for groceries.

Now unfortunately, I had the opposite reaction than what I'm certain the singer was hoping to illicit. I got me some serious church-giggles. The louder and more dramatic he sang, the more I had put my hands over my mouth while my entire being shook with unreleased laughter. By the time he finished his "Glory, glory, haleluia"s, I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

I wasn't the only one.

At the end of the song, I'm sure he was expecting a thunderous roar of applause from the lucky patrons. However, it came out more like a golf clap. Between giggles and snorts, people were looking at each other like, "Should we clap? Yeah? Really? Seems weird, you know, to applaud in the Kroger, but OK. Not really sure about this."

I had to hang out in the frozen foods for a while, until I could compose myself. I did not want to go up to check out and let him see me. I knew I would bust out laughing, and I was helpless to control it. So avoidance was the only answer.

The emotions were a combination of confusion, a complete sense of inappropriateness on my part, and pity for the singer. Frankly, I don't even know if he was good or not. The oddness of the entire situation made everything fuzzy.

But maybe this guy was taking a social research methods class and this was his assignment. In which case, bravo! I'm sure he got an A.

The Easiest Blog Post Ever!

Stolen from Beadiful Things. Feel free to take it and do your own. One word answers only, please!

1. Where is your cellphone? Purse
2. Relationship? Married
3. Your Hair? Colored
4. Work? Worrisome
5. Your sister? Non-existent
6. Your favorite thing? Horseback-riding
7. Your dream last night? Icky
8. Your favorite drink? Tea
9. Your dream car? Meh.
10. The room you’re in? Studio
11. Your shoes? Beloved
12. Your fears? Excessive
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Peaceful
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Family
15. What are you not good at? Math
16. Muffin? Chocolate
17. One of your wish list items? Manolos
18. Where you grew up? Arkansas
19. Last thing you did? Photograph
20. What are you wearing? Denim
21. What aren’t you wearing? Make-up
22. Your pet? Baxter
23. Your computer? Sllllllooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww
24. Your life? Complicated
25. Your mood? Swings
26. Missing? Sunglasses
27. What are you thinking about right now? Cappuccino
28. Your car? Pathfinder
29. Your kitchen? Underutilized
30. Your summer? Heartbreaking
31. Your favorite color? Impossible
32. Last time you laughed? Yesterday
33. Last time you cried?
34. School? Daughter
35. Love? Family

The Odd Couple, New Stuff, and a Sale

I wish I had a funny line about the above picture, or even a reason for posting it other than, "awwwwwww!!!", but seriously! HOW CUTE IS THAT???

In Etsy related news, I do have a few new fabrics! I love these two, and I also have them in a red colorway and a royal blue colorway. Coming soon, I promise!

Also, I've marked down several of my summer fabrics, so now is a great time to find some deals on headbands and a few wristlets. And, if you live anywhere near my part of the country, there is a lot of summer left to be had.

Only 6?

(Freebie opportunity at bottom of post! Wheee!)

I've been tagged! I'm totally like an official blogger type now!

I've been tagged by Ann at Beadiful Things. The rules of the game: list 6 weird things about yourself and then tag a further 6 bloggers (by going to their blog and telling them to check out your blog post related to this) to keep the momentum going. List your 6 tagged bloggers at the bottom of your post.


1) I love Star Trek The Next Generation. I will watch it anytime it's on. It always makes me giggle that Captain Riker has to forcefully yank down the bottom of his uniform jacket everytime he stands up. You would think that by Stardate 85632.9 that someone would have tweaked this little design flaw. Or maybe Captain Riker just needs to lay off the Taralian Chocolate Mousse and is too vain to get his uniform in the next size up.

2) I keep walking by the new Harry Potter book in the store and wondering if I should just go open it up, look at the last few pages, and see how it ends. I'm not going to buy the book, and I really don't want to know this information before I see the movie, but it's so prevalent in pop culture, I'm sure a spoiler is going to cross my path someday soon. So I'm wondering if a pre-emptive spoil is in order?

3) I have a fortune cookie fortune taped to the front of my computer monitor. It says, "Art is your fate: Don't debate."

4) I am terrible at math. REALLY AWFUL. (Not sure if this is weird, or just sad.)

5) I've never seen a single episode of American Idol. (Although I have seen a few episodes of "Hey Paula" on Bravo, the Paula Abdul reality show, and chica? is crazy.)

6) This morning, I made cat toys. ??????


OK, now to find some willing victims... If you would like to challenge yourself AND win a FREE HEADBAND, just comment with a link to your 6 Weird Things post and I will send you a Free Headband of your choice! First Six only, please.

As soon as your post is up at your blog, I'll link back to it here.

Winners:

Nicole at Filed Fingers
Shannon at Anodyne Design
Bamabelle
Designs by Sabreena

Give Peace a Chance

Although I'm sure that Baxter wouldn't want all the neighborhood dogs to see this photo - it might ruin his street cred as a bad ass - I couldn't resist posting it here. That little grey thing snuggled up beside him? It's MAX! And on Baxter's favorite blanket, no less.

After some intense negotiations and sensitivity training, Baxter and Max have come to an agreement. Baxter has agreed not to eat Max. Or step on him. Max has in turn agreed not to slice Baxter to ribbons with his razor sharp claws, or make him yelp by biting his nose with his needle-like milk teeth.

In honor of Baxter being a good doggie and playing nice with the twee widdle kitty, I'm posting a recipe for his favorite treats, Baxter's Bacon Bites.

3 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 cup crumbled bacon (I use Bacon Bits that you find in the salad section - inexpensive, and they keep forever in the fridge)
1/2+ cup cold water

Directions: Mix ingredients together thoroughly. Roll out on a floured surface to 1/4" to 1/2" thickness. Cut with cookie cutter or slice with a knife into treat sized rectangles. Bake at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

I'm not sure how I got so lucky...

One of my favorite customers and fellow etsy sellers, Angie at Just Bead It, has just featured me on her blog! Angie was one of my very first customers when I started on etsy, and was so gracious after she received her bag to request that I send her business cards so that she could give them to her friends. Not long ago, I did a custom bag for her someone in her family.

Not only is she a dream customer, she has gorgeous jewelry! Check her out!