text:
To Love Again (1981)

“And there ain’t no use in holding on, when nothing stays the same…”

After scoring two of the biggest hits of her career — “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out” — and propelling her sound to a completely new place with the dynamic diana album, Diana Ross slowed things down considerably and took a step back to the past with her next album, To Love Again.  The LP is essentially a Michael Masser songbook, featuring four new songs on Side A and five classic love ballads written and produced by Masser on Side B, including the #1’s “Touch Me In The Morning” and “Theme From Mahogany.”  Therefore, like 1978’s Ross, it’s sort of a studio album/compilation hybrid, this time bound together with Masser as the common theme.

The album came after the success of “It’s My Turn,” a beautiful ballad of empowerment written by Masser and recorded by Ross as the theme song to the film of the same name.  The song was a big hit, reaching the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in late 1980, following closely on the heels of “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out.”  Diana herself has often cited the ballad as one that’s very close to her, having written in her memoirs, Secrets Of A Sparrow:  “Michael…was a very difficult man to work with, maybe because he knew how fabulous he was, but he could surely write songs that were relevant.  ‘It’s My Turn’ became very important to me” (202).  It’s interesting that Diana pointed out in her book that she had trouble working with Michael Masser — perhaps that’s the reason half of this album is made up of older songs. For his part, Masser is quoted in the liner notes of the CD re-release of To Love Again as saying, “I’m the luckiest guy in the world to have known and worked with Diana.”

The entire To Love Again album holds great significance in terms of Diana’s discography because it contains her last batch of new recordings for a Motown album before leaving for RCA (unlike Diana’s Duets and All The Great Hits, which were both also released by Motown in 1981 and were outright compilation albums).  After the enormous success of the diana album, the “It’s My Turn” single, and of course the monster-mega-insanely successfully “Endless Love” duet with Lionel Richie, Diana accepted a $20 million offer to leave her first and only record label; her debut album for RCA, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, would be released in late 1981.  Because Miss Ross was so vocal about her reason for leaving Motown — she wanted more creative control over her career — “It’s My Turn” certainly feels like it could have been a personal anthem for her at the time.  It also gives an interesting subtext to the rest of the new songs — which all have to do with the challenges of leaving one situation for another.

The problem with placing new songs and established hits on a single album is, of course, that the new songs have to compete against those that are already proven winners.  Every single one of the final five songs – especially “Touch Me In The Morning,” “Theme From Mahogany,” and “To Love Again” — are strong, standout Diana Ross tracks.  “It’s My Turn” easily stands among them; unfortunately, the other three new recordings aren’t even close.  The very best Diana Ross ballad performances are built upon a foundation of simplicity; they’re not overproduced, and they allow Diana’s voice to take the lead.  As much as Michael Masser clearly understood that, “Stay With Me” and “One More Chance” in particular are a sea of swirling production elements, and Diana’s vocals are pushed so far at times that they cease to even be pretty.  Therefore, To Love Again is an uneven and not always satisfying listen, although it’s fitting that an album released less than a year before Diana’s “new start” at RCA features some of the greatest highlights from her career thus far.

1.  It’s My Turn:  This song still stands as one of the greatest ballads Diana Ross would ever record; it was a deserved Top 10 hit, and it’s a crime that Diana didn’t receive a Pop Female Vocal Grammy nomination for it.  The vocal performance here is simple and powerful; there are no background voices to distract from Diana, and she stays comfortably within her range while still displaying impressive lung power as she belts out the familiar refrain.  Michael Masser’s lyrics here are some of his most memorable; though lines like “I can’t cover up my feelings in the name of love…” and “…if living for myself is what I’m guilty of, go on and sentence me, I’ll still be free…” are admittedly schmaltzy, the song is instantly relatable to anyone who’s ever made the decision to go out on his or her own and try something new.  Diana’s reading of the lyric is never overdone; she sounds wise and tempers the sometimes overly-optimistic theme with just a hint of sadness which adds complexity and depth to the entire work.  Diana’s emotional crooning of the words “…it’s my turn” at 1:50 into the song and then again at the end is some of her best singing since The Wiz soundtrack back in 1978; she’s certainly feeling this song as she’d been feeling those songs back then.  “It’s My Turn” remains a fresh, satisfying listen, and still sounds like it could be a hit today.

2.  Stay With Me:  In a strange way, this song could be considered a kind of “answer” song to “It’s My Turn” – in the previous track, Diana had been declaring her independence in a relationship, and in this one she’s begging for the opposite to happen, as though taking on the other party’s point of view.  The song starts out promisingly enough; Diana’s vocal is tender and quiet, and there’s a nice vulnerability that as she sings “…I know there’s a whole new world you found, and it’s to that world you’re bound.”  However, at about 1:10 in there’s a bit of a tempo shift, as the beat kicks up and the background vocals kick in alongside Miss Ross.  This section is actually quite similar to the section of “Touch Me In The Morning,” when Diana sings, “Well, I can say goodbye in the cold morning light…”  However, while the  tempo had been steadily building in that previous #1 hit, the shift feels more jarring here (listen to the Roberta Flack version of “Stay With Me” recorded around the same time, without the tempo shift — the song feels much more cohesive).  The backgrounds also hurt the song a bit for the duration of the track; Diana’s voice becomes a little lost in the wash of female voices, especially at 1:52, when Diana reaches way up into the top of her register to sing “Won’t you stay with me?”  Hearing her sing such high notes should be a powerful, key moment in the song, but her voice quickly fades into the background as the other voices take over, which robs the moment of the emotional payoff — not to mention the fact that her voice doesn’t sound that strong to begin with.  There are some nice moments here; I like the key change at 2:50, a case in which Diana’s voice does sound full and powerful and really does rise above the rest of the production, but on the whole this song just isn’t the classic you’d hope for out of two such talented artists.

3.  One More Chance:  This is an interesting early 80s ballad from Diana Ross; it was released as a single, though it failed to do much airplay or sales-wise.  This may be the closest thing to a “power ballad” she had ever recorded at Motown, with the song building to an eye-popping climax in which Diana Ross growls in a way she never had on record before.  Seriously — if you’ve never heard this song before — immediately listen to the final 40 seconds; Diana Ross sounds almost raging-angry in her repeated delivery of the words “one more chance.”  Though there’s no doubt that, as J. Randy Taraborrelli writes in Diana Ross: A Biography, Diana’s voice is “pushed to the limit” here, it’s unfortunately not that pleasant of a listen.  Diana Ross had proven on The Wiz and The Boss that she could soulfully and gut-renchingly belt out a song, and performances from those albums (for example, “Home” and “I Ain’t Been Licked”) feature an appealing rawness to her voice.  Here, the near-screaming on both her lead and background vocals sounds way too forced; again, she sounds more angry than impassioned, as though she was ready to get the heck out of the recording booth and go home…and maybe that was the case.

4.  Cryin’ My Heart Out For You:  Aside from “It’s My Turn,” this is probably the best new recording on To Love Again; it’s not nearly as strong as the first track or the five on Side B, but it’s a nicely written tune by Masser, and the production doesn’t drown out the lead vocal here.  Diana sounds confident and comfortable with the lyric; though this is a heartbreak tune, she’s not as vulnerable as she’d been at the beginning of “Stay With Me.”  Diana’s performance instead sounds honest and simple for the most part, and certainly not overdone like her work on “One More Chance.”  Still, this track does give her a chance to show some range and emote quite a bit toward the end, as her voices soars into her upper register (especially as she sings “What can I do?” at 3:15).  This song was released as a single, though it didn’t even chart in the United States (although soon after it’s release, Diana would be back on top of the charts in a big way — with the theme from “Endless Love,” a duet with Lionel Richie.)

5.  Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To):  From Diana Ross (1976)  Read My Album Review Here

6.  I Thought It Took A Little Time (But Today I Fell In Love):  From Diana Ross (1976)  Read My Album Review Here

7.  To Love Again:  From Ross (1978)  Read My Album Review Here

8.  No One’s Gonna Be A Fool Forever:  From Last Time I Saw Him (1973)  Read My Album Review Here

9.  Touch Me In The Morning:  From Touch Me In The Morning (1973)  Read My Album Review Here

Note: For information on bonus tracks from this album, click HERE.

In the end, To Love Again feels a bit thin, especially coming after The Boss and diana, both strong, cohesive albums filled with great original songs.  Because the best songs here — “It’s My Turn” and those on Side B — are all available on other Diana Ross compilations, this album isn’t necessarily an essential in the Diana discography.  To Love Again was re-issued on CD in 2003 with an expanded tracklist, and was far more successful creatively — it contains the superior Masser production “After You” (which was inexplicably left off the original 1981 lineup) and other non-Masser love ballads from the mid-to-late 70s, most of which are better (i.e. not overproduced) than the 1981 recordings included here.  As mentioned before, later in ’81 Diana would score with the ultimate love ballad, “Endless Love” — a single that proves once again how important simplicity is to a successful Diana Ross recording.  I’m sure a lot of fans have a strong attachment to the original To Love Again; surely a lot of the lyrics here are very relevant and there are those who love Diana Ross singing a ballad, no matter what it is.  Still, I think Diana Ross and Michael Masser had set the bar so phenomenally high with their best work that they just couldn’t match it with all of these 1981 recordings.

Final Analysis (The “New” Songs):  3/5  (“It’s My Turn” Soars; The Rest Need More “Heart”)

Choice Cuts:  “It’s My Turn,” “Cryin’ My Heart Out For You”

About Paul

Album-by-album, track-by-track, a look at the entire Diana Ross discography...
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55 Responses to To Love Again (1981)

  1. Antje says:

    Somewhere on the internet you can find the vocal track only of “It’s my turn” – stunning!
    Thank you, Paul, for making so many people’s Sunday.

    • Paul says:

      Wow…I’ve never heard this — I’m going to look for it now!

      • Tony says:

        It is stunning – I have heard it. You hear every breath and subtle note! Lovely!

      • markus says:

        here you are, Paul:

        another great review! Although I do love all that growling at the end of “One More Chance”…as we would say, she is “sangin HARD!”. LOL

        When I play that and “Fool For Your Love” from Silk Electric for people the reaction is usually “THAT’S Diana Ross???”

      • Paul says:

        I’ve gotten that reaction too…especially to “Fool For Your Love”…no matter what you might think of that song, gotta give her props for going there with such confidence!!

  2. Antje says:

    And let me take the chance to say a BIG thank you to Dick Ketler, who linked his wonderful “Dick’s Diana Ross Website” to yours. Both of you are doing a tremendous job!

  3. wayne2710 says:

    I have always loved this album, and of the ‘new’ songs believed One More Chance to be up there with the best of her work.
    I never really understood the cd expanded edition that added songs and productions that weren’t by Michael Masser, it took something away from it.

    • Paul says:

      Wayne — it’s funny — I used to love “One More Chance,” but over the years have liked it less and less. There’s just something that sounds really forced to me now, even though I think it’s a vocal by Diana that’s extremely unique and needs to be heard!

      As far as the added tracks on the CD…it totally ruins the “Michael Masser” theme and changes the entire idea, but I like that it includes some very nice performances (such as the Lionel Richie and Marvin Gaye duets). I also like it includes “After You” — which I wish had been on the original album!

    • ejluther says:

      I’m with Wayne – “One More Chance” stands up there her best material. Would I want her to sing every song with that kind of gutteral force and angry passion? No, but she turns it out here and delivers a wonderful performance both vocally and emotionally…I love the way she “acts” a song and think she does it beautifully here (as well as the title track “To Love Again”)…

      I also think it’s worth mentioning that the TO LOVE AGAIN album was essentially planned, compiled and released after Diana made her decision to leave Motown. If I remember it all correctly, she had very little to do with its release and probably didn’t want it to come out seeing as it wasn’t even a “real” album and oversaturating the market ran the risk of slowing the momentum of her RCA debut. In fact, there was yet another “new” Diana Ross record called REVELATIONS that Motown/Berry planned to release soon after TO LOVE AGAIN. A collection of unreleased tracks with little if no cohesion, the LP was apparently cancelled after Diana had this exchange with SOUL magazine about the planned project:

      “when “Soul” magazine posed the question to Diana that an unreleased Motown LP was in the works she said “I dont believe that..Berry would never stand in the way of my career..I know he loves me …He cant stop loving me overnight”..apparently Berry highlighted these comments in an internal Motown memo about the planned release and the project was aborted..”

      more on the REVELATIONS project here:

      Speaking of the RCA years, I’m very much looking forward to the discussion about the next several records – what an eclectic mix! Again, thanks for doing this project – it’s really great to revisit all these albums through your perspective and to hear others weigh in on them. Plus, it’s just kind of staggering to reflect and consider the sheer size of her catalog – she’s nothing if not prolific!

      Any chance once this is done you’ll go back in time and spotlight her albums with The Supremes? I would LOVE to see that happen…

      • Paul says:

        Hey! That’s a great point — I’m sure Diana didn’t have much, if anything, to do with this one since she was in transition between labels at the time.

        I’m definitely considering doing the Supremes next — I’m dying for the chance to write about the “Funny Girl” album, on which I think Diana does some of her finest singing — not to mention great works like the “Love Child” albums and all those great singles!!

  4. Tony says:

    One of my greatest Diana ballads is “Its; My Turn.” For me, the album needed this song on it to even make the album listenable! Second, To Love Again, is magic to me, a master piece for sure. The other new songs all begin with a promising introduction – but all fail me by the time the song ends. I started out liking “On More Chance” as well, but it actually grates on me. WHy? Well the new ballads on the album – sound like Diana “acting Like Diana Ross.” They sound unauthentic- LIke she is imitating her self! I do enjoy “Cryin My Heart Out for You”- but – for some reason – still leaves me a tad empty. Having said that– with a take away – like “Its My Turn” – all is fine !

    • Paul says:

      What a perfect way to say it — Diana acting like Diana Ross. Michael Masser has a quote somewhere that says something about Diana “being wrapped up in being Diana Ross” — that’s maybe what he was alluding to.

      • Tony says:

        Wow ! I thought i was the only one who thought Diana’s singing on the Funny Girl album- was amazing! ( Not to digress- but – I played that album to death) And for the record – I found it in a Used Record store – I was way too young to have been around back then!! I do believe the Funny Girl Album is extremely rare!

      • Paul says:

        I can’t wait for the day when it’s re-mastered and re-released. I discovered it when “The Music That Makes Me Dance” was included on the Love Song compilation a few years ago — I had never heard Diana belt the way she does at the end of that song while a members of the Supremes — her vocals on the album are absolutely superb…her best of the 60s, I think. Someone should have put her in a Broadway show back then!!

      • Antje says:

        She sometimes referred to herself in the third person, or made remarks of what was expected of her “being Diana Ross”. From the film set “Out of darkness” somebody recalled, she would appear all natural. Then, after the shooting was done, she disappeared into the bathroom with the words “I have to go back to being Diana Ross” …Of course, I do understand all this, it is part of show business to keep an image. But when singing? Or is it just another piece of the puzzle to explain why she left Motown? She said in an interview, she did what she was told at Motown. So maybe she even started playing a role when recording then, because she was so fed up with being bossed around?

      • Paul says:

        Interesting thoughts…maybe that’s it…she was “playing” herself…biding her time until she was in a new situation…

  5. spookyelectric says:

    I think the point about many listeners at the time thinking of this as a mainly ‘new’ album is a valid one – of course ‘Mahogany’ and ‘Touch Me’ were huge hits, but only more diehard fans would have known the rest of the tracks, especially the stunning title tune. The ‘diana’ album had introduced her to a whole new generation, so I think this was a pretty clever move on Motown’s part. It certainly feels more cohesive than some other compilations of her work.

    It’s interesting to hear the perspective on the new songs, I especially like the comment about ‘Diana imitating Diana’. I get that totally – it’s something I think all artists with a career as long as she’s had can sometimes be accused of – this is probably the first time that criticism was as consistently appropriate I think. (Although I personally get a kick out of the excess of ‘One More Chance’, especially those gutsy ad-libs on the fade). It’s also worth considering the time this was recorded as well – Michael Masser was writing/producing this kind of material for the likes of Billy Preston & Syreeta and Crystal Gayle around this time with a very similar ‘overproduced’ sound.

    Never was a big fan of ‘Stay With Me’ until I heard the Teddy Pendergrass version a few years later – he really nails the song. I only recently discovered it was originally recorded by Billy Davis on the late 70s ‘Marilyn & Billy’ album – another great version. Masser must have written the song with a male voice in mind – it takes on a slightly different meaning – more vulnerable than submissive maybe.

    Diana fans might also be interested to know that record also contains a couple of other Masser tunes – a loungey soul version of ‘I Thought It Took A Little Time’ by the pair (nice, but Diana’s version trumps it for drama and emotion) and also ‘Saving All My Love For You’ – which of course years later kickstarted a run of million selling Whitney/Masser collaborations. Wonder how Diana felt about that? Did she ever speak publicly on it?

    • Paul says:

      I’ve wondered, too, if Diana ever looked back and wished she’d worked more with Masser once he started having all those hits with Whitney. “Greatest Love Of All” is the kind of uplifting message song Diana Ross loves…seems it would have been a natural for her to tackle at some point. Of course, she did return to Masser’s compositions with “In Your Arms” in 1982, which Whitney also recorded (as “Hold Me” with Teddy Pendergrass). But. of course, more on that song to come… (MUCH more…I can’t stand it!!)

      • BabyLuv says:

        It’s funny that the 2 of you mention this because I have also wondered what were Diana’s early thoughts about those Whitney/Michael collaborations. “Greatest Love of All” is especially one song that I could hear Diana rendering. It makes me think whether Diana could’ve sustained commercial success in the US for a little while longer had she continued to reach out to him and recorded those songs.

      • Paul says:

        I wonder, too, if she would’ve had hits with those songs…or perhaps the public was just ready for a fresh new face. Whitney experienced the same thing in her career; there came a point when radio just didn’t want to play her anymore and newer singers took over. In Diana’s case, it’s a shame, as she was still making some really good music long after her albums/singles stopped being hits.

      • spookyelectric says:

        Of course, I forgot about that song. How appropriate that the last Masser song Diana recorded then got picked up for Whitney – like a passing of the diva ballad baton!

      • Paul says:

        I know, right? It’s funny that Whitney would deny all comparisons to Diana Ross way back in the day, saying she didn’t “need her” as an inspiration. It sure seems now that the people mapping out her early career were looking directly at Diana Ross for inspiration!!

      • BabyLuv says:

        I was shocked and actually a bit disappointed when I saw that clip of Whitney Houston denying Diana as an influence. Yes, her mother & cousin Dionne Warwick may have been stronger influences but I felt like she could’ve gave Diana more respect than that. It’s like she was offended at the implication.SMH. But clearly she put the pettiness aside & years later dedicated whole tribute segment in honor of Diana at one of her concerts that’s up on Youtube.

      • Paul says:

        I agree — there was a weird attitude in the way she said she didn’t need Diana Ross, and it certainly made it seem as though being compared to Diana was an insult. I’m glad that as years went on that attitude seemed to soften up; their careers were similar and overlapped in many weird ways…from working with Masser to starring in (or almost starring in) “The Bodyguard”…to working with Brandy on a TV movie!

  6. Tony says:

    I recall that interview. Sad, on many levels. Sad that Whitney didn’t see the warrior who paved her road(DIANA). Sad , that once again Diana was not shown the respect she deserved and earned. Sad, that Whitney seemed so petulant and rude when she had a chance to be graceful and poised. Whitney – did come to see that a career of Diana’s magnitude is to be respected, and honoured and is most certainly responsible for the career of many who followed. Whitney was just not properly groomed, and advised about her history. Diana respects her past , those who paved the way for her….. and deep down so did Whitney.

    Here is my prelude to the RCA years.

    Whitney changed the taste of the American listening audience. Diana did just that in the 60’s and 70″s. However, Whitney’s voice became the the new standard. Diana sounded a little more “white” when the audience wanted it . Whitney sounded a little more rich and gospel. Tastes had changed…. and so did the intensity of the desire for that crystal clear , clean, crisp voice know as Diana Ross!!!!! The world wrapped their arms around a new sound , a new tone…an new voice…Whitney.

    No matter how good the Diana song was , no matter how well it is sung, how ground breaking or innovative the music was….. the world wanted the “Whitney” sound.

    The RCA years…… be discussed……NEXT.

    • Antje says:

      Summed up perfectly, Tony!

      • Antje says:

        Let me add this little story: Last year a voting on a – very much acknowledged – German-French TV-channel took place to crown the “The Queen of Pop”. Out of 50 proposals, Diana surprisingly made it into the top 10, together with Aretha, Beyonce, Donna Summer (!) and the expected (Madonna, Britney Spears and so on) – no Whitney, no Tina. Specials dedicated to the top 10 were broadcasted, including interviews with people like Nile Rodgers on their opinion/experiences. They also interviewed a professor from Princeton ( I think she is the one to come up with a book about the role of black female singers in musical history). She admitted that – though her body language clearly told she was obviously disliking Diana – she does not need to sing around a note like so many others, because she hits it perfectly while carrying along all the emotions.

    • Paul says:

      Tony — I totally agree that Diana’s output from 1985-onward really could have been the best work of her career and her sales still would’ve slipped. Popular arists, unfortuantely, have a “shelf life”…and there comes a time when people move on to the next big thing.

  7. BabyLuv says:

    Anyway, speaking of “It’s My Turn”…that song created one of my favorite Ross TV moments when she went into a spur of the moment rendition on Oprah. It’s so obvious this is one of those songs in her repertoire that will always be meaningful beyond words. You really feel the emotion come through, even as she sings it 20 years later.

    • Paul says:

      I LOVE that moment, too!!! One of Diana’s most amazing television moments, to be sure. She sounded amazing on those first few lines…the emotion was so thick…it was a moment that proved that hadn’t lost a bit of her ability over the years.

      • BabyLuv says:

        It’s only a couple weeks ago that I discovered that Aretha Franklin recorded a cover of the song.

    • Tony says:

      I fell in love with her all over again! That voice just moves me like no other!!! And sometimes we need to take things down off the shelf- to enjoy them again — and again. Actually that is what this Project does. It takes Diana Ross off the shelf and forces us us enjoy her and her voice again —- THANKS PAUL!

    • Tony says:

      I fell in love with her all over again when I saw this scene. That voice just moves me like no other!!! And sometimes we need to take things down off the shelf- to enjoy them again — and again. Actually that is what this Project does. It takes Diana Ross off the shelf and forces us us enjoy her and her voice again —- THANKS PAUL!

      • spookyelectric says:

        Good to see BabyLuv posting Aretha’s take on ‘It’s My Turn’. Heaven forbid dissing the Queen of Soul but this is a really good example of what Diana brings to a melody and lyric – Diana really sells the sentiment, Ree kind of bulldozes it. Of course Aretha’s version is thrilling and exciting, but Diana’s ends up far more moving and honest.

        Also on a ‘It’s My Turn’ tip – some readers might remember Diana’s recording (along with loads of other Ross classics) being used in a lovely little short film from the mid-90s called ‘Trevor’. About a teenager coming to terms with his sexuality – it won an Oscar for best Short Film and inspired a great charity ‘The Trevor Project’ that supports kids. Well worth hunting out.

      • Paul says:

        I have never seen “Trevor” and I’ve always wanted too — I’m afraid I’ll sit there bawling through the whole thing…it may hit pretty close to home!!

      • Paul says:

        Tony — I am loving listening to her again, too…especially in chronological order. I am gaining a new appreciation for the risks she took over the years, especially in the 80s. Can’t wait to start discussing works like “Silk Electric” and “Eaten Alive” — I know we’ll all have differing opinions about her choices!

  8. spookyelectric says:

    Paul – do try to watch ‘Trevor’ if you can get hold of a copy. It may have dated a bit (it came out in 1994) but it really has something special about it – it’s funny and moving and really ahead of its time. It’s the first time I remember every seeing a rounded attempt a portraying a young gay kid on screen (this was over a decade before the likes of Ugly Betty and Glee). And of course, it has all those great Diana tunes in it. I interviewed Diana Ross a few years back and asked her about it and not only was I surprised she had seen the film and loved it, she told me all about The Trevor Project too.

  9. oscar zepeda says:

    I happen to love this album and I am glad the expanded edition included all the songs it did. “One More Chance” also being one of my favorite songs.

  10. chris meklis says:

    To Love Again: I always thought of as a classic Diana Ross ‘showpiece/ career summation’..
    When I eventually got that album on tape, I did not have any of the 70’s studio albums and so I listened to it as a studio piece which enticed me to the 70’s sounding Ross without the at that time, hard to digest strange tracks like Brown Baby and Save The Children, even Surrender, Young Mothers and Love Hangover… I found hard to digest as a “Diana rookie” (all of 11 years old in 1985)…I could not piece together sounds and concepts of her Anthology…

    So, with 2 RCA’s (Swept Away and Eaten Alive), a Betamax of Central Park and Caesars Palace 1979, I dove into To Love Again and it had a charm about it for me that finally bridged me to the 70’s Diana Ross.

    It’s My Turn needs no explanation- that stellar performance of perfect balance of emotion, vocal prowess, female assertion and lyric and mood interpretation represents what Diana the balladeer, Diana the self- assertive independent woman, and Diana the talented vocalist/performer is all about.
    And because of singular performances like this, where nobody can sing songs like this and pull them off (same with the Supremes hits), Diana has the right to ‘act’ like Diana Ross…lol 🙂

    I liked Stay With Me and Crying My Heart Out at the time, they were cute, melodious and satisfying, now I cannot handle Crying My Heart anymore…it’s too slick, and I rather prefer her gutsy growling of “One more” “One More Chance” in that song than I do the “Once again, I’m losing myself….over YOU!!!! I’m crying my heart out for you, What can I DOOO! I’m losing myself over you, OVA and OVER AGAAIN”….the former seems more authentic and expressive of the pain of losing a love.
    One More Chance has over the years become a firm favourite power ballad for me…

    To Love again and I Thought It Took A Little Time fast became my best soft ballads and I always have a soft spot for No One’s Gonna Be A Fool…probably because I knew and liked this song years before I ever had the whole Last Time I Saw Him album in my hands!

    Touch Me In The Morning, well no need to go into that- of course it’s a classic, a masterpiece creation for our lady!
    If I had been an older fan familiar with her 70’s albums- my take on this collection would have been far different I think

    Chris xx

    You are a stat mr. Paul…I and all the others are clearly getting right back into our albums and I love hearing opinions about them…Diana Ross has such a collection, “eclectic” is understating it!

  11. Michael Coleman says:

    Great review, but I couldn’t disagree more about “One More Chance”. After “Be A Lion” and “It’s My Turn”, it may be be favorite Diana ballad vocal.

  12. Michael Coleman says:

    Great review, but I couldn’t disagree more about “One More Chance”. After “Be A Lion” and “It’s My Turn”, it may be my favorite Diana ballad vocal.

    • Paul says:

      Thanks, Michael! I know a lot of people love “One More Chance” — and I agree that it’s a powerful performance — it just feels too forced for my liking!

  13. Mike says:

    Why has no writer that I know of ever commented on Michael Masser’s cribbing of some of his own Stay With Me lyrics for a Crystal Gayle song c. 1986? I’m writing this from memory, but this was one of her crossover songs, a medium-level hit, and both the melody and the accompanying line “I never thought that I would meet someone so beautiful” crop up several times within the song–instantly identifiable for those who know Stay With Me.

  14. Mike says:

    The song was A Long and Lasting Love, 1985, cowritten w Gerry Goffin. Chorus of it and Stay With Me have identical melody and identical first two lines. Second two lines differ.

  15. Piotrek says:

    On “To Love Again” (expanded edition) there’s a remastered version of “I Thought It Took A Little Time (but today I Fell in Love)”-probably the best thing that Diana Ross has ever recorded. I played it to my girlfriend and said that this must be our “first dance” during soon-to-come wedding. Perfect song.

  16. V16TROLA says:

    I listened to One More Chance last night on full blast. The power of the music and vocals in the last half of the song just blew me away. Agreed that it is completely overblown but I love the completely OTT-ness of it. Whilst I don’t come back to it that regularly, I still love it. 🙂

  17. Pingback: In Memory Of: Michael Masser (1941-2015) | THE DIANA ROSS PROJECT

  18. Pingback: Record Store Wednesdays: “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” Cassette | THE DIANA ROSS PROJECT

  19. David Wilson says:

    I love Diana Ross. I’m a massive fan but I also retain the ability to be objective about her work. This album was a massive disappointment following the 1980 DIANA album produced by CHIC Organisation which captured the zeitgeist. Instead this was a real backward step containing a few sub par “new” schmaltzy ballads with some excruciating vocals and a few of her greatest hits. The impression was that these “new” hadn’t quite made it onto previous album projects for obvious reasons. Diana doesn’t have much depth to her voice and sounds even thinner here. I’ve never understood why Gordy allowed producers to push her voice beyond her limited range until it becomes painful to listen to and so off key (the final part of Touch Me In the Morning makes me wince every time I hear it) It only hi lights her shortcomings. This album was a blatant cash in by Motown as Diana was heading off to pastures new- if only she’d realised that the grass definitely wasn’t greener on the RCA side and that she was pressing the self destruct button on her career. Apart from It’s My Turn” the other singles didn’t chart well in the UK because they were 2nd rate dated bland MOR fayre. The move to RCA, Dreamgirls, The Motown 25 Special all contributed significantly to Diana’s downfall. Mary’s memoirs sealed her fate. This album was a warning sign of things to come- the 80’s Diana Ross’s “Lost Decade”. She should have dominated the 80s charts instead her career hit an all-time low. She did manage a few good hits (Missing You No10 US, Chain Reaction No1 in UK) but certainly not the consistency or quality we had come to expect. She was no longer the first choice for producers and songwriters to work with. Nor was she high on the list of those that other stars wished to collaborate with. A duets album or American Songbook style standards collection would’ve been awesome (I’ve Got A Crush on You with Rod Stewart gives a glimpse of what might have been). Such a shame.

    • Paul says:

      David — Of course I agree that the 80s were a wildly uneven period for Diana’s career — but I don’t think I’m as harsh when assessing the output. Every artist has a “shelf life,” sadly, and I’m not sure Diana would have continued to top the pop charts, even if she’d stayed with Motown. Ross has repeatedly stated that she felt the need to express her own creativity and exert control over the career — and that’s what RCA afforded her the opportunity to do (especially on the first 2 RCA albums). Although I’m not crazy about either of those two works, I understand that Diana was finally at a point in her career when she felt she could experiment, and I can appreciate that. Later in the decade, she would seemingly start to struggle with getting a “hit” again — and I think that’s when her discography became bland and uninspired (i.e. EATEN ALIVE, RED HOT). Thankfully, she really bounced back with FORCE and TAKE ME HIGHER, albums that balance her need for creativity with good, polished material. Thanks for reading along!!

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Relaxing on the Boat

Rethymno attracts all sorts of travelling visitors who like to moor at the marina and sample the many delights that this beautiful port city has to offer. I was walking around the marina enjoying the late afternoon sun when I saw this group of friends on their boat playing a board game. The backdrop of the locals walking up and down the harbour strip and the man fishing from the rocks made this too good a photo opportunity to miss.

Cretan Life

Relaxing on the Boat

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Tag Archives: admin

March brings a major milestone

Hello again all

Once more I have spent weeks being busy with work and home, all good again.  Work is going very well but I have been chasing endless paperwork to bring extra money in.   I have finally been successful in closing down an old policy which was deducting a minor amount from my account each month.  This was the fabled PPI claim, I have been successful before but not on this one however I have now been able to stop the money coming out.  No refund sadly but no more payments, so still a victory.

So then, onto big news.  The March payday (26th) brings exciting news for me!   Avid readers of the blog (although the blog has been somewhat quiet recently) will know how huge this debt was and what lengths I have gone to to get rid of it.   Well, on this payday, 2 amounts of money go out of my bank account which are the FINAL payments on TWO loans.   Yes yes yes…2 loans both finish on March 26th.

This means spare income of £375 a month.  That is huge to me, and justifies the decision I made NOT to lower my payments or move to a weaker payment plan.   I cannot tell you the joy I feel but there is more…so read on.

I qualified for my bonus, which also pays out in March.  Readers will recall I was leant some money by family members which I have paid back all bar £1500.   I can now pay that back in one go, yes in one payment.

I am in the unusual position of having a large payment coming to me in March but using my debt management experience I am paying it straight out.  No nice treats for me, they will come later I hope.  It is better to pay things when you get extra funds.

So, 2 loans finish and a family debt completed returned.  That family loan was £6500 by the way.

I am getting there my friends, slowly the clouds are clearing.   I read so many other blogs around this subject of debt, mine was made worse by the affair and divorce and other issues, but if you fight hard enough you can make it.

Always chase every penny, sell what you can, win what you can, be savvy and you can make it.  I am so very close, so close in fact that I can tell you that by the end of the year I should only owe £9000.   That’s still a lot you say?  Is it though, my debt was over £100K.

I honestly cannot wait for payday, so see those final amounts go out and the direct debits drop to ‘finished’ state.

The path to financial freedom is almost available my friends, and when it is, I will step onto it and help whoever I can.

Underestimated the admin!

Apologies for the quietness, been so busy!  Not just with work, but all the admin!   I knew I would have forms to fill in for the Insolvency but wow.

I had already completed a mountain of paperwork and forms, but then I received my ‘director questionnaire’ from the high court.  It is 48 pages, 46 of which are questions around your financial acumen and how you conducted yourself.  Most of them I could answer but some of the questions are so ambiguous that it is hard to know what to put!

Questions such as “Did you, or are you/have you been aware of, any directorship directly or indirectly linked to the “company” at the perceived date?”  what perceived date??  confused…so I put no!  Or did they mean the company that has gone Insolvent?  Who knows.

I did my best with it though, and was as honest as I could be.

In addition, I had the car accident back in July.  I finally received my medical report and proceed forms.   Again, 28 pages of reporting on a meeting I had ages ago, and then an expenses form for minor trivial expenses.   Again, all done and in the post.

As if my hand was aching enough, I attended my Driver Awareness Course and was handed renewal forms for my driving license as that expires in 8 months.  It feels like there is a mountain of paperwork that I have got through but luckily I have a huge backup of stamps to use!

Sometimes you have to get this stuff done, and things like my blog and entering competitions are forced to take a back seat.

But, all admin is done and out of the way, so back to real life.  Is that a good thing???

bills, bills, bills.

Sometimes, and it is rare, my situation gets to me.  It does take a lot, by definition I am a very strong person.  I handle personal crisis well but occasionally it gets too much.  I can only juggle so many things at any one time, today got a bit too much.

Started last night when I got in from work, my ex was kind enough to leave the usual school letters and bills to be filled in, signed and paid and then to be returned to the school.  Quite why she cannot pick up a pen and at least fill them in is beyond me but I am well used to it.  However, there were a few more than normal.

I had come home with £24 in my wallet, proud I had made it through the week after withdrawing £50.  I figured that would get me though the weekend but no, and you can guess what is coming here, the school forms requiring payment equalled £24.  Totally gutted…my wallet was now empty.  Whatever I try to do, every week I end up with no money.  It annoyed me and just felt a little deflated.

Today I received 2 letters, the first was a fine from my bank for my business bank account going overdrawn.  This was expected as I have ceased trading.  This letter will be dealt with by my Insolvency Practitioner but it was still unpleasant to receive the letter.  I knew it was was bad as it was HAND SIGNED!  Normally bank letters have printed signatures, but not mine.

Onto letter 2.  My energy company is putting up my direct debit by a whopping £46/month.   This is an additional £500/year.  This was my breaking point today, I just feel like I always lose.  No matter how many savings I make, or things I sell, or cuts to spending I perform I somehow always end up back at square one.  I have mentioned this before, once you are at the bottom of the pit then somehow you stay there.   It does seem that you need that lucky win, or lottery win, to pull your out.

I wonder how many other people in debt feel this way.  This never ending drain on your funds?  Perhaps when you are affluent you don’t notice these little things but sadly I do notice them.  I just want a break here, it is so hard keeping everything paid and up to date as a single parent.

It is now only 7 weeks till Christmas too.  Something really needs to happen, financially, and quick.

So much paperwork!

It is the Insolvency Meeting Thursday so still wading through all the paperwork I have to complete and provide.  Not a complaint as it is for the greater good, but there is so much information to provide.  Not surprisingly, my accountant has been none too helpful seeing as they will become a creditor.  Informed them what was happening, no reply!  However, I won’t worry as the Insolvency Practitioner will contact them to provide the documentation.

Work has also been the same, lots and lots of paperwork to do.  I am surrounded by paper and pens at the moment!  Also, my printer is low on ink.  But, a busy job is a good job as it means there is lots to do which ensures longevity of employment!

An added bonus tonight though, my daughter refused to go and stay at her mum’s.  This is only the second time this has happened, bless her!   I was all set for yet another night in with the dog, and I get the bonus of my angel!   It impacts my admin but who cares, who can moan when their little girl wants to stay with their dad?

With everything going on, I have noticed how fast time is going.  Somehow tomorrow is Wednesday already and that is another full day.   Sometimes time flying is good but right now I could do with it slowing down a little so I can catch up.

I will print and complete my final forms and statements tomorrow, then I am all prepared.  Just got to sort the payment and I am ready to go.  Keep an eye on those London papers for the Insolvency message soon!


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5 ingredients for a lasting marriage

Wedding ringsTwenty-six years.

Starting this week, that became my answer to the question, “How long have you been married?”

Reactions to my answer through the years have ranged from delight to surprise. The delight usually comes from people who reached, paid homage to and surpassed the same milestone. They understand and appreciate the effort, then admit me to an ethereal club bounded only by the unstated belief that membership is sparse and diminishing.

The surprise spawns from two camps: those who insist I am too young to accomplish any such feat, and those who actually are too young.

Between these rather mild extremes resides the camp that concerns me most — one made from a mix of the wistful and indifferent. Some of these campers wish they were married that long, and maybe strayed outside reason in the effort. Still others can’t conceive of spending that much time exclusively with one person and aren’t inclined to try.

I am confident in my categorizations because nobody reacts silently or indifferently to my answer. People are compelled to compare the size, shape and color of their matrimonial experiences, not out of pride but validation, and they use degrees of courtesy or rudeness to do so. That is because all married people discuss their marriages in public like they talk about their children, pets or vacations. These things double as yardsticks with which we measure our self-worth.

A few people also wonder aloud how a quarter century of companionship is possible, as if this were a traditional recipe and the secret to mixing the ingredients vanished with the last good cook, and upon answering the query I always stumble. Not that I am reluctant to reveal secrets, or that a secret even exists, but because I doubt anyone who has to ask holds any value in perseverance.

For those people who are certain that a recipe exists, however, I will describe my ingredients, mixed in equal parts:

Respect — For any relationship to work, the individuals involved must appreciate one another’s beliefs, perceptions and conceptualizations as unique and precious. Disagreements over these things are possible, perhaps even inevitable, but the differences should not be allowed to detract from the relationship. If they are, the relationship is bound to fail.

Commitment — Marriages require constant maintenance; they are neither perfect nor automatic. The reason is clear: marriages can break and need repair, as with anything that undergoes stress and pressure. The key then is moving forward with repairs even if they hurt, even if egos are bruised and attitudes must be adjusted. Saying “I’m sorry” bespeaks courage; saying nothing bespeaks cowardice. While I know I lack the courage to climb Mount Everest or swim across the English Channel, I also know that is not the kind of courage necessary to make my wife happy and my marriage enduring.

Consensus — This relates to respect, in that spouses should possess the maturity to find a middle ground where they can coexist between divergent beliefs. My wife and I hold distinct views on everything from yard work to laundry, yet neither forces the other to concede. I have lost count of the times we settled our differences by sorting through what aspects about them each of us can accept. Sometimes, too, consensus means trading responsibilities. (After all, I never liked doing yard work and she never liked doing laundry, so that turned out to be a smart trade.)

Teamwork — Marriage, by definition, constitutes two people trying to make a life together. Anyone who expects or even demands to be exactly the same person after saying “I do,” as before saying it should hold off until the compulsion for selfishness and self-interest subsides. Alternately, anyone who treasures autonomy and rankles at relinquishing even a small part of it probably is better off in a relationship where neither partner requires much from the other.

Love — So, how did I know “we” sounded more appealing than “me”? I was an undergraduate in college, the woman soon to be my wife was a graduate student at a university 175 miles away, and one evening she drove down as a surprise. A few hours earlier, she had said by phone that an unexpected project had quashed her plans to visit. I hung up feeling lower than I thought possible about missing another person.

Shortly afterward, her plans changed yet again, and she jumped in the car and sped south without first calling. When she knocked on my door and I saw who it was, my joy reached a level that resonates with me even today.

But that was not “the moment” when I knew I was in love forever. It came later that night, after we celebrated her surprise with an evening on the town. She was leaning against the car waiting for me to unlock the door, nothing more, and I glanced over at her …

… And I knew, in that fraction of a shred of an instant.

No fireworks. No cadre of singers in my mind belting out Handel’s “Messiah” — just an overwhelming flush of confidence and contentment and assurance. A common moment somehow sparked an uncommon feeling. Little else was certain about my life at that point other than an intense realization that whatever came next was worthless without this woman sharing the experience.

A realization like that is the first ingredient, the main ingredient — the secret ingredient, if you will — in the recipe for any marriage. All other ingredients merely enhance it; they do not supplant it. But mixed well, these ingredients retain their cumulative flavor much longer than 26 years.

One Comment

  1. My wife and i, over the years have learned that most of us,marry for all the wrong reasons! Primarily for sensual appearance. Looks, socioeconomic and political foundation. Also, to help in producing pretty babies’, just to name a few. First of all, rarely do we seek to know nor to get acquainted with the one who composed the institution of marriage. This leads to the divorce epidemic and social destruction. (2) There is a definite need to know and understand the family laws. And, less we forget, that marriage is perpetual and not for this present age alone. Let your life be a joyous experience.

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In the Driver’s Seat: Be Proactive

I recently moved to a new job, and thought about the whole transition process. Part of that process includes planning, reaching out, and asking for help. But a bigger part of transitioning is doing the hard work. That means to be your own advocate, apply for jobs, prepare for interviews, and close the deal.

In thinking about all this, a woman from my last job said she also wanted to make a change. I helped her with online resources to update her computer skills, writing, organizational, and overall administrative skills. From there, it was up to her.

Continue reading “In the Driver’s Seat: Be Proactive”

Two Years After: Alt-Ac Careers

Spring is in the air, pollen is flying and graduation is in bloom. This week many universities are in graduation or commencement mode. It feels great to finish your program, get out of school and start a new life. But now what??? Dr. Patti Mason and I are two years out of finishing our doctorate. Here’s a look at some realities for new graduates and where Dr. Patti and I are in 2017…

Continue reading “Two Years After: Alt-Ac Careers”


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Fault-safe WCF Proxy Generator for Service Reference clients

WCF is great, but if a connection ever throws an exception for any reason it puts the client in the Faulted state and the client has to be aborted and recreated. It’s a pain in the ass since this can happen anywhere a client method is called.
In a previous post, I showed the dynamic generation of a proxy for a WCF channel.

Nowadays, I suspect most people create their clients using “Add Service Reference”. This generates a ClientBase client that suffers from the same problem as raw channels – if there’s ever an exception, you need to recreate the instance.

Following the earlier post, I created code to use the CIL Emit libraries to dynamically generate a fault-tolerant proxy around a given client. If an exception is thrown, the client is recreated with the correct authentication and whatever settings were used to construct it in the first place.
The code is up on github.


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How is my garden doing? I think they are doing poorly but at least I have SOME vegetation.
I have one, little tomato growing …
It’s on a very brown-ish half-dead looking plant, too.
I have cucumbers!!!
Baby cucumbers!!! =)
I mean seriously .. how does your garden grow? It took mine about 2 months to do ANYTHING and by the time it did, half of my plants died. 2 of the 4 strawberry plants survived but are not blooming any fruit andthe rasberry is long gone.


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One of my dear friends got married this past weekend. She was the quintessential bride. She was so happy and really loves her man!
Chrissy and Ryan
Another one of my our good friends was in the wedding with her husband so they got to walk down the isle together after the ceremony!!
Gretchen and AJ
Brad and I at the Indianapolis Yacht Club (reception).
Me and the beautiful bride (yea she is tiny and I’m quite tall).
Someone went a little crazy with the garter!;)
Gretchen’s husband followed a trend the groomsmen were doing. They were getting so hot that they were taking off their shirts, but the yacht club obviously wouldn’t let them walk around shirtless, so they put their vests back on. You can see how classy this party was and how much we loved it just by the expressions in this photo!
Me trying to Cha Cha..
Gretchen’s twin brother dancing with the bride and he was amazing at this Michael Jackson song!!
We had fun and got a TON of wildflower seeds and daisy seeds so next year I hope to not have to buy too many plants for around the deck we will be building.


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Vase of Vines

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    A domino exclusive print! Offered as unframed giclee print, in a white or black frame, or printed on canvas.

    An exotic arrangement of purple jasmine and Japanese snake ball alliums.

    Framed Print - 1"W

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    For more ideas check out how to create a gallery wall

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Thursday, June 3, 2010

Dove Bar My Mini Moment Photo and Essay Contest

Have a favorite mini moment to relax? Dove ice cream wants to see and hear about it in their Dove Brand Ice Cream Photo and Essay My Mini Moment Contest. Download a photo and an essay of no more than 1,000 characters by June 7. Prizes include a mini getaway to Napa Valley, a mini spa escape, and an ultimate mini oasis room makeover. Click here for prize information. Check out complete contest rules. If one of my belog vsitors wins I'll be happy, but also a little jealous. :-)

That reminds me of another reason to enjoy the month of June: Ice cream.

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Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V - Interviews with Johnny Boggs and Larry Wood

Several weeks ago, Jane Hale, president of Ozark Writers, Inc., forwarded names of contributors to Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V, who a...


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Monday, May 12, 2014

When Riding a Zip Line Watch Out for the Noodle

Last Friday, my sister Kathleen and I, along with some of her former co-workers and 50 other brave souls, met bright and early at the YMCA in O'Fallon, MO, for a bus trip to the Trout Lodge at the YMCA of the Ozarks in Potosi, MO.

The day started out great. The early morning weather was sunny and mild with just a hint of clouds. Before we boarded the bus, our hosts at the Y provided fruit juice, bottled water, and brown paper sacks of snacks for our trip.

Due to an accident on the highway, the bus ride took longer than expected, but we enjoyed a movie on the way.

Because of our late arrival, Kathleen and I weren't able to participate in the GEO-caching event that had already begun. In a nutshell, the task involves taking a GPS tracker and making your way through the woods using longitude and latitude markings to find landmarks. Maybe next time.

Instead, we joined some friends for a pontoon ride around the lake. Our pontoon driver/guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She pointed out special features of the lodge, the horse trail ride path, and the location of a pair of eagles' nest. Her passion came through as we rode across the lake.

During lunch, the weather took a turn for nasty, but we were safely inside the glassed-in dining room, with a spectacular view of the lake, as hummingbirds flitted about their feeders and lightning zigzagged across the dark sky.

Also during lunch we debated if we should try the zip lines. We decided if it rained we wouldn't do it. By the time we finished eating, the sun reappeared and clouds fluttered away -- so did our excuse.

Our group of ten was last to go, so after walking about half a mile to the launch site, we were able to observe the first group and get some tips before getting harnessed up and ready to soar.

When Kathleen took to the platform I watched for her reaction. For years she's wanted to try zip-riding, but has been talked out of it. But after seeing men and women in the first group in ages ranging from their 40s to their 80s take to the platform, she worked up her courage, and so did I.

After putting on a helmet, we were instructed to run from a platform down an incline, where we would be launched. After a successful first trip she was handed a noodle to try and hit a red-white-and-blue target at the end of the ride. After hitting the target, she returned with a huge smile and a thumbs up.

So far, so good.

My first trip was amazing. I ran off the platform and down the incline and was lifted into the sky. My ride lasted only a few minutes, but the view was lovely. Zipping past evergreens and the winding trail below, I had a great view of the dogwoods in bloom.

Not to be outdone by my sister, I decided to try my luck at hitting the target with a noodle and opted for blue to match my helmet. Just before my ride began I asked for final instructions on how to hold the noodle while also holding onto the rope.

Um. I was so focused on my hands I forgot about my feet. I made it off the platform then stumbled on the incline.

I scraped the top of my right foot and twisted my left knee--the one I've had surgery on. Ouch!

But I persevered. Although my dignity took a hit, I held onto the noodle, swatted but missed, the target, and finished the ride.

After removing my helmet and harness and being treated for a flesh wound, I hobbled back to the lodge. My knee swelled up, and it has been painful to walk on, and much to my disappointment I missed the Heart Walk on Saturday.

You might wonder: Would she do it again?

Yep. I would. It was an amazing experience, a feeling of gliding through the fresh air among tall trees with the ground below.

But next time I think I'll skip the noodle.

  1. Donna--I think you should try skydiving. The landings are much smoother, and the thrill is even greater. (And if you do a tandem jump--which is what I have done--you get harnessed to a diving instructor. In my case--all three times--it was a cute young man.)

    Bravo for you. I'm sorry you got hurt, but good for you for trying something you were a bit hesitant about.

    1. Hi Sioux,
      Not sure I'll try skydiving, but it's great you did--and three times. I'm impressed!

  2. Donna, this is great! I always wanted to try this, and I think you've given me the courage to do that! (But I'm very sorry about your injury.)

    1. Hi Dianna,
      It was fun and inexpensive doing it through the Y.

      You should try it. I think there's going to be another trip in the fall. Can you imagine how beautiful the trees will be then?

  3. Good for you, Donna! And when people ask what happened to your knee, you can be all nonchalant and cool and tell them it's a zipline-related injury. (Just leave out the part about the noodle!) :)

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

    1. Hi Madeline,
      That's a great idea. I'll have to use it.

  4. I don't think I am a candidate for this since I can't even keep from falling twice in 5 months! But I enjoyed seeing you have fun!

  5. Ohhh, I'm so sorry you got hurt, but at least you had fun while doing so! Hope you also had a great Mother's Day. For Sibling Day this year, my sister asked if we wanted to zip line and I right away said, NO. I'd probably break my leg.

  6. You are such a risk-taker! No zipping for me. I would not even like standing on the platform.

    Maybe your next country "noodle" experience should be noodling for catfish. I hear it's perfectly safe. Really.

  7. Yay for Donna & Kathleen! So sorry about your poor knee, but so glad you went for it. I imagine it was wonderful. I think I'd love the zipping part, just not the take off or landing. I went once but it was a course that required climbing trees and walking tightropes, which I absolutely refused. I was a great cheerleader though.
    I did parasail, which was really wonderful, but there again I had a rough landing on my knees. Haven't tried skydiving (Sioux is a wild women after all) but my sister used to go and an old friend is a skydiving addict. With the wretched body I have now I'll pass on all that exciting stuff. You go ahead!

  8. Kudos to you and your sister for your bravery to zip line. I can sure relate to your agonizing knee pain. Hope you feel better soon.

  9. Sorry to hear you got hurt, but if you leave the noodle part out of the story, getting hurt while zip lining sounds downright cool! Very impressive.

  10. You're so brave! I can't handle heights and would likely pass out before they ever put the harness on me. Sorry you were hurt---hope you're feeling better. My son and his new wife went zip-lining in Antigua on their honeymoon and can't wait to go again. Their assessment was the same as yours---that the experience bears repeating.

  11. Wow! This is awesome. It sounds like a lot of fun. I'm so glad you went zip riding. I can imagine what a lot of fun. I wish I could get enough courage to do this. I admire you for taking this adventure.

  12. Good for you, Donna! It's always exhilarating to try something out of our comfort zone. Hope by now you're healed up and feeling great!

    Critter Alley

Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V - Interviews with Johnny Boggs and Larry Wood

Several weeks ago, Jane Hale, president of Ozark Writers, Inc., forwarded names of contributors to Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V, who a...


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Tag Archives: Kale

Weekend Snapshots

30 Dec

Wow, today we realized that this is the last weekend of 2013. This weekend is also the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will spend as 20 year olds. This time next week we will be 21! We had a pretty low-key weekend filled with lots of niquil, tissues, green smoothies and chicken noodle soup. Our mom was sick over Christmas and we were hoping to avoid catching her cold but it looks like Devon was unsuccessful. Now that the last Monday of 2013 has arrived, here are some pictures from our weekend.

We spent Friday afternoon doing what we do best, shopping. More importantly, finding good deals. The after Christmas sales were pretty great this year and we may have purchased a couple things we really didn’t need. But who turns down $14 flannels, $15 gap sweaters, and $3 Fossil iphone cases? Yep, nobody.
We also checked out the 50% off Christmas section of Target. It is the best time to stock up on wrapping paper, gift tags, tape, and holiday bows for next year at just a fraction of the cost. We walked away with over 10 rolls of wrapping paper, because we could not pick which ones were our favorite! Does anyone else take the time to purchase clearance Christmas supplies for the following year?

Homemade chicken soup for the win with Dr. Kraker’s on the side. Have you tried his apple oat crunch crackers yet? If not, check out our local Marshals. They rock.

Have we mentioned that we love kale smoothies? Yep, moving on.

Sunday morning we started off the day with a huge bowl of egg white oats topped with a diced apple and peanut butter with XL cups of coffee on the side.

After a long weekend of working retail and feeling crappy both Saturday and Sunday we ended the weekend on a good note with a pho date with our mom and step-dad. The waitress at our local vietnamese restaurant has our order memorized, 2 large shrimp pho please.

There’s nothing a large bowl of pho can’t fix.

We spent the rest of Sunday night relaxing, meal planning for the upcoming week, and catching up on Greys. We’re currently on Season 5 and loving every single episode!

What was your favorite moment from this weekend?

Our Weekend in Pictures

9 Dec

Happy Monday.

Catching Fire.

Shredded Kale Salad.

Coconut Chobani.

Starr Hill IPA.

Sweet potato fries.

Sunday morning waffles.

Relaxing yoga.

Kitty Snuggles.

We hope you have a fabulous week!

Quiche, the Perfect Side for Easter Brunch

28 Mar

Quiche is a fun word to say.
Almost as fun as it is to make.
Have you ever sat down to think of all the different things you could add into one quiche?
The ingredient list seems endless.
Meats, cheeses, tofu, vegetables, egg beaters, egg whites, whole eggs, almond milk, soy milk, skim milk, you name it.
Do you go for the crust-less route? Decisions, decisions.
That’s why we would like to share with you our first quiche recipe! We don’t think it will be our last either.
For us, it was perfect broken up on top of salad, eaten for breakfast, and paired with a side salad for dinner! It made a bunch of meals for us. We love quick, easy dinners! Don’t you? If so, give this recipe a go ASAP!

Like the title foreshadows, we are making it for our family for Easter brunch this Sunday. I hope they love it as much as we do. Our menu this Sunday also includes mimosas, fruit, ham, and lots of love! If you don’t have anything on your Sunday brunch menu yet, maybe you could add this to your own.

We found this recipe on Eating Bird Food. Brittany, the blogger behind the site, has so many great recipes, workouts, and tips to living a healthy lifestyle. We have made a few of her recipes before and always look forward to seeing what she’s making next. We were so excited when we saw she posted about a quiche recipe because it was on our “to make” list for the month! Thank god we found it.

Mushroom Feta Crustless Quiche
(Serves 6)

Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil
1 onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
3 cups of kale, chopped
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp nutmeg
sea salt and ground pepper to taste
2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup Kirkland egg beaters
1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a glass pie pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Coat a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray or a little olive oil. Turn to medium high heat. Once heated, sauté onion, garlic, mushrooms, kale, spices, salt and pepper.
3. Cook mixture until onions become translucent. Add water to the pan if mixture becomes dry.
4. In a small bowl mix together almond milk, eggs, and egg beaters. Spread cooked mixture on the bottom of the pie pan. Then sprinkle feta overtop of the vegetables. Finally, pour the egg mixture into the pan. Make sure egg mixture covers all vegetables.
5. Bake uncovered until golden brown top and edges. This will take around 25 minutes. Quiche can be served hot or at room temperature. Slice into six and enjoy.

We would like to know, what are your favorite ingredients to add to a quiche?


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Puffle Rescue

Hey Penguins! Dragonflyer here! Billybob has posted on the Club Penguin blog about the new game Puffle Rescue! This is what he said

Hello Penguins!

Our new game – Puffle Rescue continues to make news on the island! If you’ve not played yet, then head to the Mine and join in the rescue mission. The team’s really excited to hear what you think!

We’ve heard from a lot of you wondering how to open the door to the Underwater Room. The note in the Hidden Lake room says to go to the Black Puffle level in Puffle Rescue, and follow a shadow… So head to the first level of the Water Level and see if you can find it.

You’ll need to find a way to make sure you have enough air to follow it though. Where will it lead? You’ll have to find out!

In other news… Penguin Play Awards start today! There’s lots going on down at the Plaza, with interviews taking place on (and off!) the red carpet. What’s your favorite? Don’t forget to vote and have your say on what comes back to the Stage in April.

What do you think?

Dragonflyer, dragonflyer.wordpress.com

  1. rockhopper said

  2. Allqe said

    First Post

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the spirituality of the city – part one

Nowadays, there is a spirituality for everything.  There is a spirituality of gardening and a spirituality of sex, a spirituality of work and a spirituality of play.  And some of this is intriguing and even helpful because “this is our Father’s world,” as the old hymn puts it, and every square inch of creation bares at least a speck of God’s original good imprint.  I could go one with the usual disclaimers about how this sort of thing could lead to become New Age or lead you to start listening to Yanni or Enya (or, God forbid, Yanni and Enya in concert together from Amsterdam or Paris…), but you’d probably tune me out…so let’s not go there.  Suffice it to say, I think spirituality of any sort is always rooted in one’s “larger story” (and we all have one), mine is obvious from the title of my blog.  Yes, I’m a Christian, and quite convinced (with Augustine and Calvin and C.S. Lewis and many others) that this ocean of spiritual sensation always leads to the Fount from which all goodness originates.

So then, the spirituality of the city is just one more way of noticing, within this ocean teeming with life (and sometimes dark places and bad creatures, too), the signposts which point to Home.  The city, after all, may not have been our original domain, but it is the final destination in the Christian story.  St. John describes it in Revelation (not Revelations, please!) 20-22 with all of his apocalyptic color – it is, as some have called it, a “gardened city” – the original vision of the great Architect who apparently loves coffee shops as much as He loves irises.

My city, of course, is San Francisco.  I grew up outside of New York City, and was first captured by the view of the skyline from Central Park.  Though young, I suspect something of that ‘original inkling’ from the Garden awoke in me, and I knew that this was it – a beauty that drew both from the garden and the city.  In Orlando (where I spent 13 years), I saw it at Lake Eola, where an urban walking path leads you around a lovely lake with paddle-boats, a pagoda, the outdoor Shakespeare Theater, and more.  But San Francisco – well, it outdoes them all, which is quite ironic given the fact that many evangelical Christians see it as one of the most dark and dirty places on earth.

That’s a sad fact, and perhaps others can address why that is.  I’ve not experienced San Francisco in that way.  Walking through the manicured paths of Golden Gate Park, into the wonderfully serene Japanese Tea Garden, over past the waterfall at Stow Lake, and on to enjoy the satisfying urban cuisine at the energetic Park Chow on 9th, I begin to see why God said, “And it was good.”

img_0168In the city, people love good food, by the way.  I’d do well to devote a whole blog to it.  And you won’t find the drive-thru on every corner that you see in the suburbs.  On a cool day, you’d probably prefer to watch whales while eating breakfast at the Cliff House or Loui’s, while on a warmer day you might do your week’s shopping for fruit and vegetables at the Embarcadero Farmer’s Market.  People like to eat and drink, and do it with others here.  They work hard, but play hard after it’s all said and done.  And while I suspect the preachers and politicians are decrying the evils of the Left Coast and San Francisco, the suburban family is chomping down the fattened calf of processed Big Macs while a San Francisco family is likely dining together, perhaps with friends, on food that isn’t processed, that is locally grown, and probably lacks the chemicals that just accelerated the suburban daughter’s journey into puberty by a year.

But, the spirituality of the city, and this city in particular, is seen in its ability to anticipate the future Gardened City.

Now, there are other naysayers.  Some, of course, are in the business of pitting rural vs. urban, with lots of love for Wendell Berry and the nostalgic simple life of rural America.  I lived in rural America, went to college in rural America, and learned to sin in ways I never learned on Long Island in rural America.  I’ve also read Wendell Berry, and he’s not shy about the ravages of sin in fly-over country.

There is also John Eldredge, whose books convinced one family I knew to move to Montana because cubicles are evil and buffalo are not, or something like that.  That family moved back shortly thereafter.  They didn’t find God in Montana.  It seems that wild hearts can be bred in the urban jungle, as well as in raging Colorado rivers.

 Which is all to say that the spirituality of the city is a subject worth exploring, and will be one explored in coming installments.  For now, it’s worth considering a small thing – that God may not be as cynical as your inflatable-ego talk-show host who has written off the left coast, that He may be so fiercely passionate for His original goodness to flourish that in the places where you least expect it – among the poor, the wounded, the not-so-sexy, the marginalized, and the powerless – (even when these things are bound up in a place, a city) – that He’ll show up and make sure His garden flourishes, not just with blossoming flowers, but with the scents of cuisine representing all nations and tongues, and from the backyard gardens and kitchens of people who in very ordinary ways (sometimes beautiful, sometimes broken) embody God’s vision of the Gardened City.

~ by drchuckdegroat on April 19, 2009.

One Response to “the spirituality of the city – part one”

  1. […] Chuck DeGroat’s first two posts on his ” The Spirituality of the City” series (Part 1; Part 2). You gotta go and read them. Very perceptive and helpful. Here are a few quotes to get you […]

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