Since my laptop died on me my internet usage has been cut almost completely down. I am relying on when my husband isn’t on his computer and what I can get away with at work. This sucks major balls! And I do not have the extra money to get the damn thing fixed right now. Ugh! I just want to punch someone in the face!

On a better note, I took a giant step forward in my photography the other day. I swallowed all my self doubt and I offered my services for free to 23 people on my myspace friends list (all 23 people live in my area). I sent a message to said 23 people and so far 15 of those people have read the message and 4 have responded saying that would be up for it. I will give those people copies (in both 4×6 print and digital) of all the pictures I take and all I ask for in return is the ok to use those pictures in my portfolio and my soon to exist website.

So I am beyond excited about this!

So, back in the early 90’s there was a documentary filmed in Boone County West Virginia about Jesco White called The Dancing Outlaw. And since I am completely left in the dark about certain things, I am just now (18 years after it was filmed) learning about it.

Boone County is about 3 hours away from where I live. It’s down towards southern West Virginia, past our state capital Charleston. And it is home to Jesco (or Jesse as he prefers to be called) White. He is the dancing outlaw. The last of the Mountain Dancers, his style is unique to the mountain culture and resembles tap dancing. It’s a tradition passed down (along with his dancing shoes) from his father who was shot dead years ago. Jesco loves Elvis, dancing and huffing gas. He has done things in his life that most people only hear about on the 6 o’clock news.

I was able to acquire a copy of it and watched it the other night. While watching it, thoughts were running through my head. Thoughts like “Jesco is messed up” “Did he just threaten to cut his wife’s head off if she didn’t start making better eggs” “Jesco is awesome”.

One thing that I did notice was just how much those people in the documentary not only reminded me of people around here but also of my family. Alot of the actions, the mudpitting, they way they talk, even the decor in their homes seemed like it was pulled right out of my life and plastered on our television screen. And it made me love them and the movie even more.

Of course, I know that anyone outside of WV and those that were not born and raised in my great state would watch that and think we are all crazy, dumbass hillbillies. And that’s fine with me cause I know the truth, we may be crazy, we may be hillbillies but we sure are not dumb (now let me hear you squeal like a pig).

Along with The Dancing Outlaw documentary, Jesco also stared in the sequel Jesco Goes To Hollywood were it chronicled his trip to Hollywood to make a small appearance on The Roseanna Show. And now Jesco (along with his family) is staring in the another documentary brought to you by the creators of the MTV show Jackass called The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. Head on over to their site and watch the trailer. It is hilarious!

Ingredients:
4 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups milk or half-and-half
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate or 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts, if desired

Directions:
1. Grease bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with butter.

2. In 3-quart saucepan, cook sugar, milk, corn syrup, salt and chocolate over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and sugar is dissolved. Cook, stirring occasionally, to 234°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from water; remove from heat. Stir in butter.

3. Cool mixture without stirring to 120°F, about 1 hour. (Bottom of saucepan will be lukewarm.) Add vanilla. Beat vigorously and continuously 5 to 10 minutes, using wooden spoon, until mixture is thick and no longer glossy. (Mixture will hold its shape when dropped from a spoon.)

4. Quickly stir in nuts. Spread in pan. Let stand about 1 hour or until firm. Cut into 1-inch squares.