Look Over Your Ballot BEFORE You Go Vote

Be an Informed Voter

I'm certainly not going to tell you who or how you should vote, but I am going to tell you, it's a whole lot smarter to take a look at the ballot before you arrive at your polling place.

In addition to the Federal offices, state, and local offices, ballots also include Proposed Amendments.

You may have heard and gathered info on most of the higher offices, but you may never have heard of some of the amendments.  It's just smart to take a look and see if there's any additional info you might want to check before voting.

To See a Sample Ballot

...gotta love the digital age.  We can see and print sample ballots online.  

Most states will have a similar web site, but I can specifically help you with Alabama.  If you're a voter in the state of Alabama, go to: 

http://alabamavotes.gov/.

There you can check your voter registration status and the location of your polling place.  You can also see Sample Ballots for each county.  

http://alabamavotes.gov/ElectionInfo/2012SampleBallots.aspx?a=voters

Links to the Amendment Acts

See all those amendments on the right side of the ballot?  They give a general description, but often, they're not really enough to make an informed voting decision.  You could Google all the Act Numbers assigned to each, but there's a much shorter way.

Check out the pdf from on the Secretary of State (Alabama) web site.

http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2012/general/statecert-amendments-2012-06-08.pdf

The pdf lists all the proposed amendments on the ballot and includes LINKS to the Act Numbers.  Use those links to read the actual Act.  

This will give you a little more information.  If you need to know more pros and cons to each, you'll have to google a bit.  The State Provided files are just straight up records and documentation.

For any of the local or state offices on the ballot about which you may not be as knowledgeable, you should probably Google the candidates a bit to make an informed decision.

Be Prepared

Well, there ya go...at least, in Alabama.  Click a couple of links and walk into the polls as an informed voter.

Read up.  Go vote!  :-)

The Lacs and Lansky - Country Brings a Beat

No doubt, we southerners love country life, and generally, we like country music, but in the tradition of The Lacs, our country boys are also bringing our sweet southern home with a hip hop/rap beat. 

"Country Road," from The Lacs album, Country Boy's Paradise rocks the lyrics we all know by heart...

"Country Road, take me home, to the place where I belong..."

...and our own Okie-bama boy, Lansky (of SouthBound Productions) takes us further down the gravel road...

...from the city to the sticks...trailer life, southern rap, moonshine, county line...AU, Roll Tide..."

How the heck did he find Belly Acres, Alabama?!?!?  :-) 

Bounce to the beat with every rut in the road, the Country Boy track is available on SoundCloud along with other tracks from SouthBound Productions.

...and for more Lacs love, see our previous post on Kickin' Up Mud. 

You Don't Know Dixie

LOL!!!!  I just finished watching You Don't Know Dixie on the History channel. 

I actually did catch a few things I didn't already know, but the majority of it is stuff we've been trying to explain to non-southerners for years.  ...just normal life for us.  :-)

...neat approach, too.  There are video clips from well-known southerners and scholars.  ...and it's narrated by a feller with a distinct southern accent.  ...though I can't rightly pinpoint the exact dialect.  Maybe if he could tell me "who his people are," I could narrow it down by region.  ;-)

Cathartic Tunes and Tones

Yep.  We all have THOSE days.  …just want to pop in a CD, drive, and leave all our cares behind.  I actually made a list of my favorite “Get Over It” songs on LM5 and some of the best reasons to play them LOUD. 

After a friend’s Facebook post today, however, I’m thinking that certain sounds in general are just uniquely cathartic.  I nearly fell in the floor laughing along with the baby SO enjoying the sound of his Daddy tearing up a job rejection letter…and then, credit applications.

Who knew the sound of ripping paper could be so cathartic?  What tunes or tones do you recommend to sooth the savage mood?  I can personally think of many, many documents that I would thoroughly enjoy ripping to shreds.  You?

By the way, I’m not sure if LM5 allows a lot of links, so I’ve listed my Get Over It song favorites here.  Enjoy Front Porch Pickers!

Get Over It - The Very Best of Eagles (Remastered)

Some Beach - Blake Shelton's Barn and Grill

Come Sail Away - Come Sail Away - The Styx Anthology

My Life - The Essential Billy Joel

It's My Life - Bon Jovi Greatest Hits - The Ultimate Collection

Kickin' Up Mud!!!

What an absolutely beautiful day in Belly Acres!  The boys were definitely out kickin' up mud today!  ...well, dust and dirt clods.  ...hasn't rained a lot lately.  :-)


If you haven't seen the music video for The Lacs's "Kickin' Up Mud," you'll enjoy this link to the official video.  If you like the song as much as I do, you can purchase it through iTunes through the following link: Country Boy's Paradise - The Lacs.  If the muddy pole dancer is a bit much for you, (I could have done without that, myself.) there's an unofficial video below.  Mostly, it's the song in the background while guys really do enjoy some serious mud ridin'. 








Ooooouuuwwweeeeeeee!  That looks like fun!  Any other mud ridin' fans out there?  What's your vehicle of choice? Do you prefer wet/water-like muddin' or thick muddin'?  Have you been mud riding?  Have you been covered in mud?  Whatcha think?  Love it?  Hate it?

Weather's gettin' just right!  I we don't meet up on the porch first, I'll see y'all on the trails.  Have a great week, y'all!

One and Only Genuine Original ALUMNI Band

Wow.  Nothing will date a girl more than trying to pick up the old high school horn after 20+ years.  After only a few years, I, like many of my poverty-stricken college classmates, sold my high school band instruments. 

I’ve regretted it ever since…at least, I regret selling “the one.”

Over the years, I thought about playing, but never could afford a horn comparable to the beautiful silver-toned Yamaha YEP B-flat 4-valve Euphonium I had in high school (and sold for a song).  

For normal folks, that’s the horn that’s just a little deeper than a trombone, but with valves rather than a slide…looks like a small tuba. 

I guess it was worth the good karma.  I got it used and fortuitously dirt-cheap from a former band member, and I passed it along just as cheap to the next group.  I really shouldn’t regret selling it, but since I didn’t pursue music as a profession, or even as an amateur, I just can’t bring myself to even consider the prices on a new or used replacement for the YEP 321.

I did, however, on a nostalgic Christmas lark, scour ebay for classic (i.e. beat up, but still solidly playable) 3 valve Euphoniums a few years back.  Since, coincidentally, hubby and I both primarily played Baritone/Euphonium in high school, I found and bought 2. 

Don’t laugh.  I know they look like someone scraped the lacquer off with a hammer in spots, but they’re both quality horns that play beautifully.  Not that we ever have time to play, but every once in a while, it’s nice to pick one up and tinker.

Well, now I’ve committed myself.  Hmmm. ..maybe in multiple senses of the word.  I volunteered to play in the Alumni band at an upcoming “reunion” to honor our high school band director.

Boy, times have changed!  I got the sheet music for the school fight song and alma mater in a pdf file via email.  The first time I looked at the sheet music was on my cell phone.  I could even get the Finale files that would allow the computer to play all the various parts for practice. Rehearsals via conference call have been suggested.  Yikes!

Technology is a wonderful thing, but nothing has changed about physically playing a brass instrument.  I’ve got to seriously “lip up” and practice a LOT before this public performance.

I’d forgotten about the conspicuous “ring” around the lips after truly practicing.  LOL!!!  Since it’s a low-brass mouthpiece, it’s about the same size as my eye-glasses lenses.  I have not, however, forgotten to stock up on the brass musician’s best friend, Carmex lip goo.  Now, if only my dog didn’t run in terror every time I pick up the horn…

I actually have made it through both songs without any truly terrible blats or wrong notes.  I just need to practice and get that muscle memory back for each lip notch.  …not too bad for 20+ years of rust.  I’ve got about 9 weeks to practice, so I’ll let you know how it goes.  In the meantime, continue the conversation.

Did you play an instrument in high school?  Which one(s)?  Do you still play?  Would you play in an Alumni band?  Will this blogger survive the commitment? 

Rock on, readers!