Almost Famous...almost. profile picture

Almost Famous...almost.

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me


..What can I say...? I'm married (and have been since May 25, 2002) to David Dowda. I have a 20 (almost 21) year old stepson, Chris, who is just wonderful and handsome. David and I also have a 4 year old son, Lucas, and a 2 year old, Cash (yes, named after Johnny, may he rest in peace. No, we did NOT name him after money, as some people have asked me. Jeez. Dumb questions...). I have two wonderful in-laws: Don and Shelia who own Shelia's Flowers in LaFayette. I also have a super-crazy brother in law, Jon (his myspace screen name is Jack Daddy...you'll enjoy him and his dry, wisecracking humor...lol)! He is married to a fab Hispanic chick, Nora, who is originally from Monterrey, Mexico. I have two gorgeous nieces as well--Rebeka and Isabella. Let me tell you, David and Jon make beautiful babies...we got the boys, Jon and Nora got the girls! They live in Nora's hometown of Monterrey now after living in Dalton, GA for several years. Some people can say that they have issues with their in-laws, but I thank God everyday for the family I married in to. After high school, I had several short stints at different colleges around the south: David Lipscomb University for one semester, Dalton College for a year, and finally to West Georgia for four years...(yes, four years....I know it doesn't equal up to a "typical four year degree" but let's be honest, can you REALLY have a social life and complete a Bachelors degree in four freakin' years?)...where I graduated with a B.A. in English. During my final semester is when my life changed: I "officially" went out with David in January of 2002, we began dating that same month, and I was officially in love. He asked me to marry him two months later. The first week of May I graduated and on May 25th I got married at Gordon Lee Mansion. So do the math: from about March of 2002, I was planning a wedding while finishing up a B.A. and barely passing my final German course, which I had to have in order to graduate. Okay, man...this is getting excessive (so I'm a talker...we know that). Finally, on November 7th of 2002, God graced us with Lucas Bryant Dowda (after about 15 hrs. of labor AND an emergency C-section, we had a gorgeous 9 lbs. 13 oz. baby boy. Two years later on November 27th of 2004, God graced us a second time with Elijah Cash Dowda (actually due December 16th of 2004, but came the day after Thanksgiving...doc's said I "ate some bad turkey" but I told them they were "full of it and gimme' the epidural NOW, biiiiaaaatches!") He came two weeks early at 8 lbs. 8 oz...kinda' small compared to the first. I've held several jobs since 2002 ranging from non-profit community relations work to social services case manager for DFCS. I am currently unemployed, but job seeking and hope to be working full time (outside the home...lol) again soon. In a nutshell...I love my husband and children dearly and do anything to protect them as best that I can.
You Are Chocolate Caramel Kiss Lip Gloss
Saying that you're one of a kind is ... well ... an understatement.
You're unusual, quirky, wacky - and you love to challenge people.
And you are a total trendsetter. Your friends are quick to copy your fashion and music tastes.
Which is why chocolate caramel is your perfect flavor. It's as rare and outrageous as you are. What Flavor Lip Gloss Are You?

My Interests

I absolutely love to read! Being that my degree is in English, I love all genres of literature. Everything from African American literature, 18th Century American to Children's books or Modern literature...I love to read all types of books. Well, you sort of have to adapt when assigned 30 books to read in one semester. Go figure.

I'd like to meet:

Okay...here goes: Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Britney Spears (hair or no hair, I LOVE her and her issues), Jessica Simpson, Vince Vaughn and The Wilson Brothers...Owen and Luke, Desperate Housewives, Derek Jeter, Jason Kidd, Mike Piazza. Man, there IS a variety here. I'd also love to chat with fashion designers Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Vuitton, Versace and others. I enjoy fashion and even though I can't design myself, I would really be interested in finding out how these designers have come to be where they are today in their success. Yes, there are more...Adam Sandler (I once wrote him a fan letter in crayon, but never got the nerve to mail it), Drew Carey, Hugh Hefner, Vince Vaughn, Oprah and Dr. Phil...they are my two heroes!

Music:

My music taste is probably the most unique, quirky, and unusual of anyone I know...which may NOT be saying much! Some may say I kinda' contradict myself since I enjoy, literally, ALL types of music. I listen to anything from Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Steve Earle, Billy Joe Shaver, Drive By Truckers, Alejandro Escovedo, Townes Van Zandt, Kelly Hogan, Mike Ness (TOTAL hottie), Nick Cave, Gram Parsons...However, you can NEVER forget about my OTHER faves...Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson (when she doesn't lip sinc), John Mayer, Maroon 5, Kanye West...Local bands from around the Chattanooga and various other souther cities range from Bathtub Gin (my husband's band...Casey Collis is the BEST GUITARIST EVER), The Orange Julians (even though they are no longer, they're still great together), Black Diamond Heavies/Mark Holder, Johnny Knox and Hi-Test, Southern Culture on the Skids, B52's...and the list goes on...

Movies:

I have many favorite movies, as most of you do, so I wll begin the list with my most memorable: Almost Famous (I have seen this movie so many times I can recite the lines. Hell, I even have the screenplay printed out since I did my Senior Thesis on how Almost Famous is a movie version of a bildungsroman. Needless to say, I got an A...but I digress); Pretty Woman...which I used to watch once every single night before going to bed. So enough said; O Brother, Where Art Thou; The Wedding Planner; My Best Friends Wedding; The Royal Tennenbaums (my youngest son's name is Eli Cash and, if you've ever seen the movie, this is Owen Wilson's character); Twenty Bucks (my hubby got me into this movie and it's super-great); Legally Blonde; Party Monster (I'm watching this right now as I type and I haven't even finished it, but I can tell it'll be a fave); Suicide Kings...I'll add more later when my mind works right...:-)

Television:

ANYTHING REALITY! Dog the Bounty Hunter, Real World, Road Rules, Real World vs. Road Rules Challenges, The Simple Life, Surreal Life, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Made (Mtv), Intervention...I mean anything reality. I also love Will & Grace. That is my fave sitcom EVER. My NEW favorite reality T.V. show is "Kathy Griffin: My Life On The 'D' List" (Bravo Channel)...it's FABULOUS! She is hilariously funny and cracks on all of the celebs that I love, which makes the show even funnier... I will keep the list running!

Books:

"Baby Laugh" and "Life Laughs"-both by Jenny McCarthy (yes, yes, YES...the former Mtv chick AND Playboy Playmate...blonde hair, boobs and a great heart!); Devil Wears Prada; You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again; The Nanny Diaries...(can you tell I like "nanny" books??)

Heroes:

My heroes range from famous personalities to friends and relatives... I love my parents and I include my in-laws in this category as well. They are the closest to perfection (next to Jesus himself) that anyone can be...and I appreciate and love them more than they realize and more than I show sometimes. My brother and sister in law, "Jack Daddy" and his wife Nora...I don't even consider them "in-laws"...just refer to them as "my brother and sister" since I am an only child. I hope they know that they've changed my life for the better! As for the famous faces I consider heroes...Rosie O'Donnell is one of my true heroes. She is not afraid to speak her mind and hold her own in the public eye. She is generous, kind, outspoken and gentle all in one. Her powerful presence makes watching The View worthwhile and I NEVER miss it. LOVE YA' ROSIE!!! Next in line is Oprah, who is just about the greatest thing ever to grace the presence of television (next to Ms. O'Donnell of course). She does what anyone with more money than God should do...she believes in giving. With her giving spirit, Ms. Winfrey is a leader among leaders and makes other rich 'n' famous celebs seem greedy! Oh, and she's honest and caring. No, I've never met her...just watch the show. We're not best friends or anything...BUT Oprah, if you (or your assistant) are reading this, give me a call! Last, but certainly not least, my husband David is my biggest hero of all. I cherish our bond and will love him until the ends of the earth. I knew I wanted to become closer to him when I first saw him, but on our first date, I knew I wanted to be his wife. He has given me three gorgeous children and I will always try to live up to the wife that he deserves to have. Okay, everyone...wipe away those tears and add me to your friends list...as long as you'll actually message me!

My Blog

Stuff...off...my...chest.

This pertains to the comment I made on the LHS thread under the Reminder topic...find it and you'll know what's up.  The story is as follows...I had several folks (Caressa and a few others) who ...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Sat, 18 Nov 2006 12:01:00 PST

My BoBo's Birthday...

Well, guys and gals...today is my oldest little one's birthday.  He's the big 4 and he acts it!  He threw his passie away in the garbage this afternoon!  Whether it stays there or not, ...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 01:23:00 PST

OMG...Britney and KFed!!!

Okay, the title of this blog gives it away, really, right??  But last night, I was sitting at home feeding the kids and myself (ribs, might I add, and they were super great.  SOOOO glad my h...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 08:10:00 PST

Not for the faint of heart......

Okay...this is not going to be for the faint of heart OR soul, so read at your own risk... No, really...I am going to preface this blog by saying one thing:  if YOU come to me and tell me that my...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Sat, 04 Nov 2006 11:35:00 PST

A new one...

I've got a new favorite song to post...the lyrics are great, the singer seems great (haven't listened to anything else of his, but this song says it all) and I wanted to post the song for all to hear....
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:08:00 PST

Surgery 'n' Stuff...

Well, the inevitable has finally come upon us.  Lucas is having surgery on Monday.  He has a cyst on his ear that has been there since he was born and it has bothered him forever.  We f...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Sat, 26 Aug 2006 10:46:00 PST

A little "Dan Marino..."

Okay, okay...I KNOW you all are going to think I'm exaggerating on this one, but I have to blog this for all to see.  And if you don't believe me, just check out my hubby's profile (Burmashave) o...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Sat, 19 Aug 2006 11:06:00 PST

My new favorite...

I am fascinated by the people who use arrogant ignorance to attempt and prove a point.  It just pisses me off to no extent.  Don't get me wrong, I know that everyone needs to put forth his/h...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:05:00 PST

Ahhh, a moment to reflect...

Hey, all...!  Well, I felt it was time to do this "blogging" thing again...so here goes! Life's been way hectic for me lately....  I have two little men runnin' me ragged and crazy. Since th...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 05:02:00 PST

Finally........

Well, I'm the big 2-8 today!  Happy birthday to me.  Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy one on my myspace page.  I appreciate it very much.  To all of you who I haven't se...
Posted by Almost Famous...almost. on Sat, 10 Jun 2006 04:42:00 PST