tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15473418821670102412024-03-13T09:26:51.411-04:00Peachy's PlaceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger399125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-43336909405531804942019-04-01T16:37:00.000-04:002019-04-01T16:37:01.318-04:00Space Center Houston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I travel to Houston pretty regularly. On one of my many trips, I finally decided to go to the Johnson Space Center. I am a space buff, so it was really interesting to see it. I did not go over to Mission Control. (It was Houston in July and tram is not air conditioned) - now you see why.</div>
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It was a self guided tour, and there was even an assembly "Meet an Astronaut." The astronaut that spoke was Leroy Chaio. He has spent time on the Space Station and spoke of his training to go to the there. He trained with a Russian cosmonaut. He showed photos that he took from the station. They were amazing. He had hurricane photos, and photos of the Sphinx and other natural wonders. From space, they look like miniatures.</div>
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I was glad that I could take the tour. So often, we don't take the time to visit the attractions in our own backyard. I call Houston my backyard because when I go, it is like going home because of the special people I get to spend time with when I go. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-54082202559835838852019-03-31T16:35:00.001-04:002019-03-31T16:35:14.795-04:00Let's Start Over .... AgainI'm going to try again...<br />
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I have started and restarted this blog more than once - sometimes life gets in the way. I have all types of blogs written in my head but it seems my fingers just never get to writing them.<br />
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Isn't life all about starting something new? I think so ... so I will do it again, how long this time - who knows? Let's see together :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-60413326136211001672015-06-13T22:54:00.000-04:002015-06-13T22:54:17.573-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9REJf1iVG873zch131vXQ37x6_K-ftYc25zoLBAr_6oUljemSboNCOJZzU2G4gh02YB1OnVlFAhJiN9U2wYMz3WaTjUKKeEaGM3nmoX6LJ0KvrsV6Db-aVa5G1G_Fw04OsBy5MRiwHZXI/s1600/kyssi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9REJf1iVG873zch131vXQ37x6_K-ftYc25zoLBAr_6oUljemSboNCOJZzU2G4gh02YB1OnVlFAhJiN9U2wYMz3WaTjUKKeEaGM3nmoX6LJ0KvrsV6Db-aVa5G1G_Fw04OsBy5MRiwHZXI/s320/kyssi1.jpg" /></a></div>
<center> Khyrstin (Kyssi) Andrews<br>
October 2008 - June 7, 2015</center>
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Today, this sweet angel was laid to rest. Watching the services celebrating her life, I was not surprised at the outpouring of love for this little girl, I believe I was amazed at how such a small individual – this little person who was only on this Earth for 6 short years impacted so many people.
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One of the gentlemen that spoke summed it up by saying that Kyssi was WORLDWIDE.
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She was – she has more than 300,000 followers on her Facebook page. There were thousands on the live stream of her services. All of this for this little person that had us mesmerized with her tenacity and strength. When you look at any of her pictures, she has this huge smile. So much she had to endure in her short years here on Earth but she did it with that smile.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LyqR3oFbKmtE97mltzEbsu-jGsWwYbfR9ex73Yza-Woabmdr9QXRuIWzKx-GRkJMSA8EjWXW0fwSNi9LHq2a-Bkq20RuH2MkoGhCNrvepxOlqqhnRYBVFEzauAyzmAAfEkr3WdP1Tiz3/s1600/kyssi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LyqR3oFbKmtE97mltzEbsu-jGsWwYbfR9ex73Yza-Woabmdr9QXRuIWzKx-GRkJMSA8EjWXW0fwSNi9LHq2a-Bkq20RuH2MkoGhCNrvepxOlqqhnRYBVFEzauAyzmAAfEkr3WdP1Tiz3/s320/kyssi2.jpg" /></a></div>Her mother, who is her biggest cheerleader, has been there by her side through it all. She watched that baby and she shared her baby with all of us. She let everyone who wanted to attend the service to be there PLUS she ensured those of us that could not be there in person could still be a part of the day as we have a part of Kyssi’s life for so long.
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I remember the first time I saw Kyssi picture, I said “she is a cutie” and clicked her picture. I read about her and was touched by her strength. Her mom kept us updated with her tests and scans – still that smile lit up the screen when you scroll down the newsfeed.
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When I logged on last week and saw the post from Mommy saying that Kyssi had gained her wings, my heart broke. Over the past few days, I would go to her page and read just as I always did. Here is this little girl that I never met, I felt like I knew her and reading others’ comments – I was not alone.
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I truly believe everything happens for a reason. We are all put here for something – to do something. For some, it takes longer than others. For little Kyssi, she packed so much in the six years that she was here. She touched so many people in such a short time – God knew that she was tired, and her work was done. Now, she can watch over those that watched over her. She is in no more pain, and she does not have to worry about a thing.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-38872608728136349442013-04-27T19:13:00.000-04:002013-04-27T19:13:00.441-04:00To Read Reviews or Not To Read Reviews...that is the questionI was on one of the many websites I have been on lately with other cruisers. You can find cruise reviews on the ship, service, excursions, and many other things. One of the reviews I read was from a first time cruiser who was disappointed with her experience. There is one thing to keep in mind – all vacations are not perfect (though many come pretty close).
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Cruising for me is the perfect vacation. You unpack once and you wake up in different places each morning. You cannot beat it. I totally understand that taking a cruise is not for everyone.
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I believe this particular reviewer had set her expectations really high and was let down. For example, today I was looking at Carnival’s website. It boasts about spacious staterooms. I’m sorry, anyone who has been on a ship (unless you are in a suite) the staterooms are anything BUT spacious. Room service, while it is convenient, usually only has fruit, sandwiches and pizza. It is your best bet to go get something and bring it back to the cabin yourself. Some people see room service and think that a full menu is available – NOT ALWAYS.
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On my first cruise, I did not see my cabin steward until about 4 days in because he would come in while we were gone and do what he had to do. We joked about him either being on the balcony or under the bed because no matter the length of time we were gone – he would come in, straighten up and leave before we returned.
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I would suggest to anyone going on their first cruise to leave your expectations open. Cruises are wonderful vacations with great ports; you get spoiled because the staff go above and beyond to make your experience memorable. When the ship pulls away from the dock, leave your worries, pressures and stress right there until you get back. Grab a deck chair and just look into the horizon – what a beautiful sight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-1054288008942759302013-04-21T14:32:00.001-04:002013-04-21T14:35:29.246-04:00Vacation PreparationI am so on information overload right now. In preparation for my vacation in a couple of months, I have been doing my usual research. Those of you that know me, know that I am totally anal when it comes to traveling. I need to know as much as I possibly can about where I am going, the layout of the city, the ship and the hotel. I have printed out the information on the sites I want to see in Seattle. I have done a virtual tour of the ship already, and I have found tours of the staterooms on YouTube. (I could only watch a few because they are either shaky and I got sick from the movement of the camera OR they were boring). One dude actually flushed the toilet. Yeh flushed it, like we don’t know what a toilet on the ship sounds like.
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One thing that I have found in my quest for information is that there is not a whole lot of GOOD information. There is some here and there but you have to sift through a whole lot. So, I got an idea to try to come up with something so that anyone that follows me (and is as anal as I am when it comes to traveling) can get their information in one place.
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I will be posting ideas here and there as I consolidate it. I have information from a bunch of different places from packing lists, suggestions, etc. Hey, I gotta do something as I countdown to my trip of a lifetime (thus far).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-460388861597824692012-07-03T15:49:00.000-04:002012-07-03T15:49:03.754-04:00RIP - Andy Griffith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Andy Griffith Show is still one of my many favorites to watch. I don't care how many times I might have seen an episode, I still will put the remote down and watch it. The best episodes (by far) were the black and white episodes. Andy once said in an interview that he did not mind playing the straight man to Don Knotts' Barney Fife. The two of them were magic - Barney would go wayyyyy out on a limb and Andy would be there to catch him and save his spirit - no matter how silly Barn would handle things.
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Good television now is pretty hit and miss, there are some good shows out there but there will NEVER be another Andy Taylor. Yes, he has played other characters (another favorite was Ben Matlock), but to me, I will always remember him as that dark haired, easy going sheriff from Mayberry.
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RIP Andy Griffith, you have given us a lot of great memories!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-46011396128507176242012-07-02T18:54:00.000-04:002012-07-02T18:54:14.926-04:00Oh My ... Christian Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can you believe it? I jumped on the 50 Shades of Grey bandwagon. I have to admit that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the trilogy.
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When I first approached it, I thought ok, these housewives are all up in arms over this story and it probably isn't hot. Well - grab your hose and pull because IT IS HOT!
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If you are not into erotica or think "OMG why would anyone want to read that" these are not the books for you. I have a friend who said that she had a church friend who said that the book should be banned because of the subject matter. Well excuse me, how do you know it should be banned? You had to read some of it. I mean live and let live.
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Whatever floats your boat ... I am not into most of the things that Christian and Anastasia were doing, but they were doing it with each other and they were consenting adults. So what?
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The things that people do behind closed doors is their business and who is to judge what goes on between two people who care about one another.
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Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now - back to the books.
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Was there a lot of sex? Heck yeh, there was PLENTY of sex. Were there some moments that would just make your jaw drop? Yep, PLENTY of those. Aside from the sex, aside from the overused phrases, and a number of other things that drives writers and editors crazy - it is a good read because there is a story going on that explains the secretive and sexy Christian Grey to the reader and to Anastasia.
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The first book, you really think - this guy is nuts, but by the end of 50 Shades of Grey, he has grown on you. You cannot help but wonder what makes him tick and the pages continue to turn until you finally find out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-52964378120703048552012-06-02T00:28:00.002-04:002012-06-02T00:43:41.216-04:00To Drink or Not to DrinkSugary Drinks that is.
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I was watching the Today Show this morning and Mayor Bloomberg is asking for a ban on restaurants serving 32 ounce size sugary drinks to customers (yes, the people that are paying). Get this...they can have two 16 ounce drinks brought out, but just not a 32 ounce size. It makes a lot of sense right? NOT
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The rationale is because of the obesity epidemic in society. He stated that there as some opposition when regulations with cigarettes came out. Hello Mr. Mayor, the cigarette issue is something totally different. It is like apples and oranges. It has been proven that second hand smoke is detrimental to those around, so not only is the smoker endangering his/her health - they are having an impact on others. I'm sorry, but if I drink a 32 ounce Pepsi - it will mot ooze into the person sitting at the next table.
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I think at some point, people should be responsible for their own decisions without the powers that be thinking they should be the parent for everyone. I am sure NYC has bigger issues that his attention could be focused on besides Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-63175049667322338312012-05-27T22:07:00.000-04:002012-05-27T22:07:27.440-04:00In Memory of Monica Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in the mid-1990s, BET Books published African American romances. While I have always read romances (Harlequin mainly), I went into the bookstore and found romances with African Americans on the cover. During that time, I remember a few that were the first BET authors I read - Brenda Jackson, Francis Ray, Carmen Green, Monica Jackson and a few others.
One of Monica's books was made into a BET movie - <i>Midnight Blue<i>.</i></i> She had other books to follow, and she freely shared her writing advice with anyone who asked.
I corresponded with her with some writing questions in the past; she was friendly and offered her knowledge and wished me luck in my endeavors.
So often you hear of authors forgetting they once were aspiring, but Monica's blog and her writing articles provided even the aspiring authors hope to be where she was.
RIP - Monica Jackson. Your stories are part of your legacy and you will be missed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-41082978199837444342011-02-17T21:39:00.000-05:002011-02-17T21:41:29.798-05:00Child StarsNow there’s a subject! Turn on the news or open a magazine and you will find some train wreck of a child star in the headlines.<br /><br />This is not a new occurrence. Go back as far as The Little Rascals, Alfalfa had troubles when he grew up and ultimately committed suicide. Danny Bonaduce, from the Partridge Family, seems to be doing fine now, but view his history. Todd Bridges – we cannot forget his bout with drugs and illegal activity. He is another who seems to be doing fine at the present time.<br /><br />The list goes on and on.<br /><br />Is it the bad influences around them? Is it the parents? It could very well be a combination. Parents, nowadays, have a hard enough time with their children without the glare of the spotlight. I am not trying to offer up an excuse, but when your child is making more than you can make in a lifetime I can see how they tend to turn a blind eye to some of their behavior. Some become accustomed to the perks their child’s “job” has afforded them. Did you see I same SOME, because there are others who would be bad parents regardless of what their child did.<br /><br />The kids and authority figures are to blame too. The more popularity they have, the more they believe they are above the law. And, the authority figures (police, judges, etc.) play right into it by just giving them a slap on the wrist. Well, if they spend some REAL time behind bars then the reality check might actually work. There are cases where if the deed done was committed by a regular citizen, he or she would be UNDER the jailhouse, but “Joe Star” get a $10,000 fine are on the streets within hours. No consequences for their actions, so they just thumb their nose at Lady Justice.<br /><br />I saw an article where Billy Ray Cyrus wishes Hannah Montana had not happened because he is now worried about his daughter. Well …. She’s legal age now but when she was younger, what happened? Was she allowed to get away with certain things? If she did rebel, what were the repercussions? I know if I did something my parents told me not to do, I’d be in SERIOUS trouble (SERIOUS TROUBLE). I believe the result would be the same whether I was some cute kid on television or not. <br /><br />The parents now are nothing like my parents, or my parents’ parents. They are trying so hard to be their child’s friend. Well, they have enough friends – they need mothers and fathers. I love my mother dearly, but why would I want to go out clubbing with her even when that was something we would want to do? No, there’s nothing wrong with hanging out with your mom, but all of your friends your age and your mom going to the nightclub – that’s not a good picture no matter how it’s painted.<br /><br />As for child stars, there have been a lot of successes, Ron Howard, who requires no examples to show his success. Peter Billingsley, the kid from A Christmas Story, is a successful director. Jodie Foster left the industry to get a college degree before returning to work. These individuals show it is possible to raise a balanced child amongst the craziness of Hollyweird. Looking at some of the young stars now, it will be interesting to see what happens with them – unfortunately, there will be some train wrecks to watch in the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-71374550522839045682011-02-12T08:17:00.002-05:002011-02-12T08:37:48.517-05:00Just WonderingWhen I opened up my browser this morning, one of the entertainment gossip articles I found was Justin Timberlake turned down Glee using his music for an episode. <br /><br />We all know Glee has become a huge hit, and from the clips I've seen (since I don't watch the show) they usually do a pretty good job dedicating an entire episode to a particular artist.<br /><br />Remember back in the 80's Weird Al Yankovic would do spoofs of songs, I'm sure he was turned down as well but he spoofed a lot of popular songs. In the end, both he and the original artist did well – all the way to the bank.<br /><br />GLEE is no different, and the kids on the show actually sing the songs. I haven't watched the show, but it appears to be enjoyable by those who do view it each week.<br /><br />I said all of that to say, what's the big deal? Is he afraid they will do a better job? If he looked at it from a business standpoint - if they did use his music, it would probably boost his sales and introduce him to some who didn't know some of it. It is not like he has a huge catalog. I mean seriously now, Michael Jackson's music has been used - does he really think???? (I won't even finish that thought because I'm sure you all know how I feel about Michael)<br /><br />This situation brings to mind something I read years ago when the new Star Wars trilogy was being done. Hayden Christensen was also caught up in his own hype and made the comment in an interview how he did not want to be defined as the actor who played Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Well, honestly, he could be associated with worse right? The Star Wars franchise is not a bad place to be. Now we are like Hayden who? On the other hand, Natalie Portman was in the same movies and she’s everywhere. <br /><br />Watch what you say and do, it may quicken your move to the forgotten pile.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-26405929555108293682011-02-04T12:30:00.000-05:002011-02-04T12:30:02.571-05:00Six Degrees of Separation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YQcEzcvVDq-btXnROgS6PyHYjXdXWVS1WRdSCGARtpf1QWhVHLHG-w0JtCYSuSYBmVbF-cqoYhTzB_9iLhXwMyK4SfgNr_eOI2CXxMXGu8s2vy8hgm796m2fSfMALsW8HuzBxWhOqaqQ/s1600-h/Ritchie_Valens_album_cover2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YQcEzcvVDq-btXnROgS6PyHYjXdXWVS1WRdSCGARtpf1QWhVHLHG-w0JtCYSuSYBmVbF-cqoYhTzB_9iLhXwMyK4SfgNr_eOI2CXxMXGu8s2vy8hgm796m2fSfMALsW8HuzBxWhOqaqQ/s400/Ritchie_Valens_album_cover2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258909490974908146" /></a><br /><br />Okay, you are wondering how can a girl from Georgia have six degrees of separation to a Southern California singer from the 50s. Well, I do.<br /><br />I was living in the San Fernando Valley around the time the movie LaBamba was filmed. This movie focused on the life of Ritchie Valens.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fD8P8tYp3IN_h9hkzS3nI3SBzgfkZh28bsMaTCpNF9WgfOM8juc9w5agOZ6ZaRJO8o3nQX5hI7s25duYM-dzC98C9rrvuV5TdSjHLNrRcuIr0j0siKWJPQC_hnhUb5z_LRqysEPqtDRO/s1600-h/esai.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fD8P8tYp3IN_h9hkzS3nI3SBzgfkZh28bsMaTCpNF9WgfOM8juc9w5agOZ6ZaRJO8o3nQX5hI7s25duYM-dzC98C9rrvuV5TdSjHLNrRcuIr0j0siKWJPQC_hnhUb5z_LRqysEPqtDRO/s200/esai.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258913493973606162" /></a>While living in the Valley, I worked with Ritchie's niece. She said the actors were all really close to the family because they spent so much time with them. Lou Diamond Phillips played Ritchie, and she said how nice he was. The family was very involved in the movie, and looking on the internet, they are still very involved in keeping Ritchie's memory alive. She said that her grandmother (Ritchie's mother) never really got over the loss of him. In the movie, the story ended before her birth, so she had no movie counterpart in there. She never knew her uncle except through family stories.<br /><br />It was interesting to see family photos with candid family photos (you know the ones we have and hide from other people) of someone I had only seen played by someone else, or album covers.<br /><br />The <em>six degrees of separation </em>theory is still intact. I am separated from Ritchie Valens by only 3 degrees. Crazy huh?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-11145594112249359822011-02-03T12:16:00.002-05:002011-02-03T12:29:20.372-05:00The Day the Music Died<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7HHMX4kJwvenMNzL5gfGdNsOgDdShyphenhyphenPmf1ihnXFKVmMvrFBXDT-XAsMbfKlVNQ11uGtFWZaZRZkqmcJb1zfEJSMcHppyCIVDSSGZQmg0ysFZecULJuOP22U915v2dWoNk3IEHIOmn98l/s1600-h/trio.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7HHMX4kJwvenMNzL5gfGdNsOgDdShyphenhyphenPmf1ihnXFKVmMvrFBXDT-XAsMbfKlVNQ11uGtFWZaZRZkqmcJb1zfEJSMcHppyCIVDSSGZQmg0ysFZecULJuOP22U915v2dWoNk3IEHIOmn98l/s320/trio.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296551452935921714" /></a><br />It's been 52 years since a single-engine plane crashed into a snow-covered Iowa field, instantly killing three men whose names would become enshrined in the history of rock 'n' roll. <br /><br />The passing decades haven't diminished fascination with that night on Feb. 2, 1959, when 22-year-old Buddy Holly, 28-year-old J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and 17-year-old Ritchie Valens performed in Clear Lake and then boarded the plane for a planned 300-mile flight that lasted only minutes.<br /><br />"It was really like the first rock 'n' roll landmark; the first death," said rock historian Jim Dawson, who has written several books about music of that era. "They say these things come in threes. Well, all three happened at the same time."<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lyrics to American Pie </strong><br /><br />A long, long time ago...<br />I can still remember<br />How that music used to make me smile.<br />And I knew if I had my chance<br />That I could make those people dance<br />And, maybe, they'd be happy for a while.<br /><br />But February made me shiver<br />With every paper I'd deliver.<br />Bad news on the doorstep;<br />I couldn't take one more step.<br /><br />I can't remember if I cried<br />When I read about his widowed bride,<br />But something touched me deep inside<br />The day the music died.<br /><br />So bye-bye, Miss American Pie.<br />Drove my Chevy to the levee,<br />But the levee was dry.<br />And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye<br />Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.<br />"this'll be the day that I die."<br /><br />Did you write the book of love,<br />And do you have faith in God above,<br />If the Bible tells you so? <br />Do you believe in rock 'n roll,<br />Can music save your mortal soul,<br />And can you teach me how to dance real slow? <br /><br />Well, I know that you're in love with him<br />`cause I saw you dancin' in the gym.<br />You both kicked off your shoes.<br />Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.<br /><br />I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck<br />With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,<br />But I knew I was out of luck<br />The day the music died.<br /><br />I started singin',<br />"bye-bye, Miss American Pie."<br />Drove my Chevy to the levee,<br />But the levee was dry.<br />Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye<br />And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.<br />"this'll be the day that I die."<br /><br />Now for ten years we've been on our own<br />And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone,<br />But that's not how it used to be.<br />When the jester sang for the king and queen,<br />In a coat he borrowed from James Dean<br />And a voice that came from you and me,<br /><br />Oh, and while the king was looking down,<br />The jester stole his thorny crown.<br />The courtroom was adjourned;<br />No verdict was returned.<br />And while Lennon read a book of marx,<br />The quartet practiced in the park,<br />And we sang dirges in the dark<br />The day the music died.<br /><br />We were singing,<br />"bye-bye, Miss American Pie."<br />Drove my Chevy to the levee,<br />But the levee was dry.<br />Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye<br />And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.<br />"this'll be the day that I die."<br /><br />Helter skelter in a summer swelter.<br />The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,<br />Eight miles high and falling fast.<br />It landed foul on the grass.<br />The players tried for a forward pass,<br />With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.<br /><br />Now the half-time air was sweet perfume<br />While the sergeants played a marching tune.<br />We all got up to dance,<br />Oh, but we never got the chance!<br />'cause the players tried to take the field;<br />The marching band refused to yield.<br />Do you recall what was revealed<br />The day the music died? <br /><br />We started singing,<br />"bye-bye, Miss American Pie."<br />Drove my Chevy to the levee,<br />But the levee was dry.<br />Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye<br />And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.<br />"this'll be the day that I die."<br /><br />Oh, and there we were all in one place,<br />A generation lost in space<br />With no time left to start again.<br />So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!<br />Jack flash sat on a candlestick<br />Cause fire is the devil's only friend.<br /><br />Oh, and as I watched him on the stage<br />My hands were clenched in fists of rage.<br />No angel born in hell<br />Could break that satan's spell.<br />And as the flames climbed high into the night<br />To light the sacrificial rite,<br />I saw satan laughing with delight<br />The day the music died<br /><br />He was singing,<br />"bye-bye, Miss American Pie."<br />Drove my Chevy to the levee,<br />But the levee was dry.<br />Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye<br />And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.<br />"this'll be the day that I die."<br /><br />I met a girl who sang the blues<br />And I asked her for some happy news,<br />But she just smiled and turned away.<br />I went down to the sacred store<br />Where I'd heard the music years before,<br />But the man there said the music wouldn't play.<br /><br />And in the streets: the children screamed,<br />The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.<br />But not a word was spoken;<br />The church bells all were broken.<br />And the three men I admire most:<br />The father, son, and the holy ghost,<br />They caught the last train for the coast<br />The day the music died.<br /><br />And they were singing,<br />"bye-bye, Miss American Pie."<br />Drove my Chevy to the levee,<br />But the levee was dry.<br />And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye<br />Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.<br />"this'll be the day that I die."<br /><br />They were singing,<br />"bye-bye, Miss American Pie."<br />Drove my Chevy to the levee,<br />But the levee was dry.<br />Them good old boys were drinkin? whiskey and rye<br />Singin', "this'll be the day that I die."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-61981539873355075302011-01-30T13:54:00.005-05:002011-01-30T14:10:42.005-05:00American Heart Association - Go Red for Women Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFRqILLnSqcYAw9dl5B0tl8W194MSzDCWCeX7TQFqrrxq0C4C3fB1sRf4Ya2uTDsiTzQAAj_UoB8lVJ6G-SSQWiQWj4ET_KZfNH2-JMGYCKyP4WtVtxA_zW7Yn_eXTjbHC3q1IBA2FFbP/s1600/title.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 23px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFRqILLnSqcYAw9dl5B0tl8W194MSzDCWCeX7TQFqrrxq0C4C3fB1sRf4Ya2uTDsiTzQAAj_UoB8lVJ6G-SSQWiQWj4ET_KZfNH2-JMGYCKyP4WtVtxA_zW7Yn_eXTjbHC3q1IBA2FFbP/s320/title.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568058107705867538" /></a><br /><br /><br />http://www.goredforwomen.org/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-90075309962843685492011-01-27T08:35:00.003-05:002011-01-27T08:59:43.632-05:00Helloooooo Jacksonville<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPMD_SsSP_PaLx1Amd3b8dTYD_2ZoZHmOlKiJkXPZMy_DoluI9GQ5sCvkja44PHk9kLSgLDvAGHmwUCJEWCKeLqBlVvKRhe5VhvINPyesWu3E6Zry24BbIWoiqW2X7EfYRnueY2Ey7o4B/s1600/2011-01-26+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPMD_SsSP_PaLx1Amd3b8dTYD_2ZoZHmOlKiJkXPZMy_DoluI9GQ5sCvkja44PHk9kLSgLDvAGHmwUCJEWCKeLqBlVvKRhe5VhvINPyesWu3E6Zry24BbIWoiqW2X7EfYRnueY2Ey7o4B/s320/2011-01-26+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566859236548613586" /></a><br /><br />Barry was in great form last night. The place was packed and he was enjoying the love he was receiving. From <em>Keep Each Other Warm </em>to <em>When October Goes</em>, every note was on point. By his own admission, he mixed up some lyrics, but that is what endears him to us - we sing along with him anyway. <em>One Voice </em>was done with a children and adult choir with him - AWESOME.<br /><br />Inside the musical bubble he creates at a show always leaves you with such a wonderful feeling, then when its over the real world comes back to you. <br /><br />After talking with some friends after the show, they were discussing the bad reviews and this morning I saw how the fans were in a tizzy. Well, opinions are just that - how many years have we endured bad and hateful comments and reviews about Barry's music. What do we do? Ignore it, and keep going. So, don't give the review any energy - just let it go away.<br /><br />We know what a great performer he is, the music catalog cannot be touched. Longevity is the key, the artists now will not be known when the next one comes along. I said artist because an artist is a good performer and, with the help of technology, they sound good. A singer can belt out a song with or without music and sound wonderful. How many acts out now fall in that category? Enough said.<br /><br />I'd take a singer over an artist any day of the week!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-52964508179369062982011-01-15T18:53:00.002-05:002011-01-15T19:00:15.371-05:00Happy Birthday Dr. King!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3hFdU5cQMw9x0k_bDNoQFE2o-gofB0jws48CsdYE29Owo-BHoU8Hnnz1d8l_mgnMKBmefnvWIhLynN6Tm3KkkDe5c4Vuv9iCgv3TMklY-5uXjT1KiTeRfcEElHLgEsuQQyZpt6tfKd1x/s1600/rev-martin-luther-king.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3hFdU5cQMw9x0k_bDNoQFE2o-gofB0jws48CsdYE29Owo-BHoU8Hnnz1d8l_mgnMKBmefnvWIhLynN6Tm3KkkDe5c4Vuv9iCgv3TMklY-5uXjT1KiTeRfcEElHLgEsuQQyZpt6tfKd1x/s320/rev-martin-luther-king.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562565446572989410" /></a><br /><center>January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968</center><br /><br />From 1929 to 1968 is only 39 short years. <br />Too short to gather the fruits of your labor <br />Too short to comfort your parents when your brother drowns <br />Too short to comfort your father when mother dies <br />Too short to see your children finish school <br />Too short to ever enjoy grandchildren <br />Too short to know retirement <br />Thirty-nine years is just too short. <br /><br />From 1929 to 1968 is only 39 short years, yet it's <br />Too long to be crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination, it's <br />Too long to stand in the quicksand of racial injustices, it's <br />Too long to receive threatening phone calls, often at the rate of forty per day, it's <br />Too long to live under the sweltering heat of continuous pressure, it's <br />Too long, 39 years is just too long. <br /><br />From 1929 to 1968 is only 39 short years, yet it's Long enough. <br />It's long enough to journey all the way to India to learn under a great teacher how to walk through angry crowds and keep cool. <br />It's long enough to be chased by police dogs and lashed by the rushing waters from the fireman's hoses because you are dramatizing the fact that justice has a way of eluding me and my brother. <br />It's long enough to spend many days in jail while protesting the plight of others. <br />It's long enough to have a bomb thrown into your home. <br />It's long enough to teach angry violent men to be still while you pray for the bombers. <br />It's long enough. <br />It's long enough to lead many men to Christianity. <br />It's long enough to know it's better to go to war for justice than to live in peace with injustices. <br />It's long enough to know that more appalling than bigotry and hatred are those who sit still and watch injustices each day in silence. <br />It's long enough to realize that injustices are undiscriminating and people of all races and creeds experience its cruel captivity sooner or later. <br />It's long enough. <br /><br />It's long enough to know that when one uses civil disobedience for his civil rights, he does not break the laws of the Constitution of the United States of America - rather he seeks to uphold the principles all men are created equal; he seeks to break down local ordinances that have already broken the laws of the Constitution of the United States. <br /><br />It's long enough. <br /><br />It's long enough to accept invitations to speak to the nation's leaders. <br />It's long enough to address thousands of people on hundreds of different occasions. <br />It's long enough to lead 200,000 people to the nation's capital to dramatize that all of America's people are heirs to the property of rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. <br />It's long enough to enter college at 15. <br />It's long enough to finish and earn several degrees. <br />It's long enough to earn hundreds of awards. <br />It's long enough to marry and father four children. <br />It's long enough to become a drum major for peace. <br />It's long enough to earn a Nobel Peace Prize. <br />It's long enough to give the $54,000 prize money to the cause of justice. <br />It's long enough to visit the mountain top. <br />It's certainly long enough to have a dream. <br /><br />When we note how much Martin Luther King packed into 39 short years, we know it's long enough for any man who loves his country and his fellow man so much that life itself has no value - unless all men can sit at the table of brotherhood as brothers. Thirty-nine years is long enough - for any man to knowingly flirt with death each day of his life - because to spare himself heartaches and sorrow meant two steps backward for his brother tomorrow. <br /><br />Martin lived for several centuries, all rolled into 39 short years. His memory will live forever. How wonderful it would be if we could all live as well. <br /><br />Martin, like all others, would have welcomed longevity - yet when he weighed the facts, he said, "It's not how long a man lives, but how well he uses the time allotted him." <br /><br />And so we salute and honor the memory of a man who lived in the confusion of injustice for all his too short, too long, long enough 39 years- "For He's Free At Last."<br /><br /><em>By Willa Perrier <br />from A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul </em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-76430039852559401002010-12-16T19:52:00.000-05:002010-12-16T19:53:21.497-05:00We Miss Our CharlieI think I have blogged about my co-worker who passed away earlier this year. He has been weighing heavily on the mind of a lot of us recently because he LOVED Christmas. <br /><br />Charlie was lovable all year, but Christmas was his time. Last year, he decorated the big tree in front of the Director’s building. He and one student were up on ladders and covering it with lights and huge ornaments but in the end, it was beautiful. For our parade, he decorated his SUV, he made it look as if presents were coming out of the windows, hood and trunk. I wish so much I had my camera and was able to capture it. None of us got a picture, and that was the talk of everyone before the parade this year. No one wanted to even try to duplicate it.<br /><br />His best friend received a Christmas tie in the mail yesterday. When he opened it, he came to my office and held it up. I told him it had to come from Charlie’s wife – it had. She placed it in an envelope with no return address or note to him here at work. He called her and she said, “I knew you would know where it came from.” <br /><br />When I say he loved Christmas, it is no exaggeration. He had the ties, the bells, decorations all over his office and the day before we leave for the holiday you would find a tin of homemade biscotti sitting on your desk. No note, you just knew where it came from.<br /><br />He was such a special person, and not a day goes by that he doesn’t cross my mind. There will never be another one. Charlie was truly special.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-83962730671848541662010-12-12T09:07:00.003-05:002010-12-12T09:26:21.686-05:00We Turn In to Our ParentsWhen we are younger, we make a promise to ourselves that we will never act the way our Mom and Dad act.<br /><br />Well, reality check - no matter how hard we try, we turn in to them.<br /><br />I notice everyday how much I have picked up the characteristics of both of them. The trait coming to mind as I write this is the anal gene from my father. After 33 years in the Marine Corps, he was Marine down to his soul and things had to be a certain way. Don't get me wrong, his "crazy ways" did not seep into his home life - mainly because my Mom was not having it. She told him those were his recruits, and we were his family.<br /><br />Anyway, Daddy would place things in certain places, his closet was PERFECT, shoes were left in align, and when he wrote (even on lined paper) he wrote with a ruler to make sure it was straight.<br /><br />I am not that extreme, but when I put things away I have to put it away in a certain way, I have my desk at work where everything on top and in the drawers are in a particular order. When I do a project, I get frustrated when someone comes along and screws up my "vision."<br /><br />Not bad, another example - before I bought my Kindle, I bought books whenever I walked into Walmart or Target so to say I have a lot of books would be an understatement. I made a spreadsheet in Excel listing the book titles and author; plus, i have a notebook with a page dedicated with each book (I put a copy of the front of the book and the cover blurb on there). So, now I can look through the book and check the spreadsheet in order to make sure I don't double buy a book which prompted me to develop this system. When I was going through setting this up, I found books I forgot I had so it was a beneficial project.<br /><br />In closing, the best thing to say is to embrace those parental traits we inherit because it has become engrained in US besides were else will they go?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-40278733450416395712010-11-27T15:09:00.002-05:002010-11-27T15:28:18.928-05:00Lessons in Customer ServiceEveryone knows the key to keeping a customer returning is to offer great customer service. If the customer is happy he/she will tell others, and if they are unhappy he/she will tell others.<br /><br />When a customer is mistreated, the company might not care, but in the end if they continue to treat the customers in this way - it will affect their bottom line. This is true regardless of the business being discussed, whether it is retail, service or even entertainment.<br /><br />A perfect example of great customer service would be my favorite retailer - QVC. If you have ever dealt with them, you have found they go above and beyond to ensure the customer is happy. If you do not like something you order, you can send it back within 30 days with no questions asked for a complete refund. If it is a food order, you don't like it, you call and tell them you did not like it and your money is refunded and you do not have to return the item. If they make a mistake, you will receive notification, sometimes you do not even know of the mistake until then.<br /><br />If you contact customer service, you will actually speak to someone - not a recording whether in the middle of the day or the middle of the night. The person you speak to will be able to answer the question and will make sure you feel good at the end of the conversation. The bottom line is they value the business of the people spending their money with them. The customer hangs up feeling like their needs were met and they have not wasted their money.<br /><br />Other companies do not care about the customer, they want the money and that's it - nothing more and nothing less. Like I said before, eventually the customer will get the message and move on. In these days and times, people just want to be treated fairly and with respect. It is not funny to think you can treat people any kind of way and expect them to fork over their money and say "oooo I liked that kick in my teeth, let me pay you to do it again." It will get old and pretty soon the money and the people will be gone.<br /><br />Just something to think about.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-54478462973389870192010-11-10T19:01:00.002-05:002010-11-10T19:10:56.774-05:00Who Cares about CoCo?I just had to chime in on this. I have never been and probably never will be a Conan O'Brien fan. His humor is just not my taste. Uhm, I'm about to insert my opinion here - I think that his ego grew back a few years ago when he was appointed heir to The Tonight Show legacy. Well, we all know that didn't work out too well for him. <br /><br />His ego was not the only reason for that failure, I think it was a combination of things; ego was a part, but I think the 11:30pm crowd was another part of the "failure equation." The fans that like him at Late Night were not the Tonight Show fans. Was it because his crowd was still out partying when he moved to 11:30, or were they not drunk enough to think he was funny at 11:30, I don't know. I do know that his move was not a good thing and NBC yanked the rug from under him - with a quickness. <br /> <br />Could it have been done better? Sure, but we all know when it comes to business, that phrase is always used - a phrase that I hate. "It's not personal, it's just business." Well, it is personal - maybe not to the person using it but it could be very personal to be person to whom they are speaking. Ok, I digress - back to the Conan issue.<br /> <br />He has moved to TBS, yes TBS. The promos have hyped him up bit time. and looks like they spent a lot of money on them. I sure hope they get what they paid for. <br /><br />First week ratings are good, but take away the curious watchers that want to see if he is really funny, the other watchers who want to see what he is going to say about Leno and NBC, then there are the real fans (well, the ones that are not out partying and not passed out from alcohol yet).<br /> <br />I want to see what the ratings are like in a month or two. If they are the same - THEN I will be impressed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-16469947867264115242010-10-31T17:15:00.002-04:002010-10-31T17:31:54.038-04:00What's So Scary?Well the crap that's coming out in the theaters now definitely isn't.<br /><br />Gone are the days of good scary flicks. The movies that make you jump before anything even jumps out at you. When will Hollywood realize that it isn't the blood, guts and gore that makes it scary, it is the music score, shadows, etc.<br /><br />Alfred Hitchcock is by far the King of Suspense. He knew how to hold the audience in the palm of his hand.<br /><br />What about the boogeymen of the horror flicks? Freddy, Jason and Michael. To me, Michael is the scariest. Each had their own traits that brought in the movie goers, but when it comes to the winner of Scariest is Michael Myers.<br /><br />Freddy Krueger was the only one to speak, and his one liners could be pretty funny. The old folk tale of "if you die in your dreams you die for real" made his movie scary in the beginning, after a while, it got old. But in my comparison of Boogeymen, Freddy was probably #2. You couldn't get away from him because we all have to go to sleep right?<br /><br />Jason Voorhees is the least scary to me. I guess because I wouldn't be in the woods camping anyway. My idea of camping has indoor plumbing, soft bed and room service. Jason became a serious joke, besides, if the idiots stopped going into the woods he would have run out of carnage. Well, until he went into outer space? Jason in outer space just went a little too far.<br /><br />Michael Myers in the first Halloween was only called "The Shape" in the closing credits. The glimpses of him in darkness, the creepy music and heavy breathing - now that is suspense. There was not a lot of blood but it still made your heart race. AMC ran them over the last week, and I still had to watch with the lights on even though I have seen the movie dozens of times. Every creek made me look around and make sure the doors were locked and the alarm was on. <br /><br />Then again, if it was any one of these guys none of those safety precautions would help anyway. *wicked laugh*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-22498685765254013092010-10-24T18:10:00.002-04:002010-10-24T18:45:13.262-04:00As the Favre ContinuesI know Brett Favre is a great quarterback, yeh yeh. I get it. But what is with the sudden fascination with the texts, photos and voicemails from two damn years ago. If it had just happened, alright. 2008? The trick, oh I mean, young lady that "released" them must be out of work and needed to earn some quick cash. Or, did he just break it off and she got pissed. <br /><br />Let's get real here, I dump text messages after a week, why would I keep them from two years ago UNLESS I was giving myself an insurance policy. Reminds me of Lewinsky and the "famous dress" but I digress. <br /><br />Favre was probably paying her a little attention, giving her a little money then it stopped and honey got upset. These women should realize that these men are looking for fun when they "the women" are trying to find a husband or their next baby daddy. These men are not going to leave their wives (it's cheaper to keep her) besides they are thinking, if she will do everything under the sun with me, she will do it with someone else." <br /><br />I know there will always be another woman that will fall for their charms. Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming the women because the men do it and they will only do what they are allowed to do. As long as women let themselves be treated like a piece of meat, sneak around and meet them on the low-low - the men are going to do it. <br /><br />Women are too much for that, at least I know I am.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-3636978787857286592010-10-20T00:10:00.002-04:002010-10-20T00:14:11.467-04:00Deja VuI know I have said this before, but I mean it this time - at least I mean it as I am typing it. I will get back into this blog thing. You know since I have stepped out of the Manilow world, real life just isn't that interesting (LOL) so I don't have much to write about. However, I think coming up with something will keep the creative juices flowing, so I am going to get back to it somehow.<br /><br />I guess I could call this a Seinfeld-esque like blog - much ado about nothing.<br /><br />So, stay tuned....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-18684134593164039062010-10-20T00:03:00.003-04:002010-10-20T00:09:50.707-04:00Rest in Peace Mr. C<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZloXrhDp1gH3I7XHdRVjhFGrheb99g_X5n-6MraqCBt4xSCsskDzCvXLuWbb23zvPX4Dc_ZVD8lAGA8dnGz783iNZCv4D9Gf7rEZmbGAUXf5W0OXrdtzW2waFh1wZ5t5_5KGEv3HYvw98/s1600/tombosleymarionrossmadaboutyou.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZloXrhDp1gH3I7XHdRVjhFGrheb99g_X5n-6MraqCBt4xSCsskDzCvXLuWbb23zvPX4Dc_ZVD8lAGA8dnGz783iNZCv4D9Gf7rEZmbGAUXf5W0OXrdtzW2waFh1wZ5t5_5KGEv3HYvw98/s320/tombosleymarionrossmadaboutyou.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529974288668673842" /></a><br /><br />Tom Bosley<br />Sunrise - 10/1/1927<br />Sunset - 10/18/2010<br /><br />REST IN PEACEUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547341882167010241.post-73821638597493941682010-09-06T00:22:00.003-04:002010-09-06T00:29:58.295-04:00Where Has the Year Gone?Labor Day is tomorrow, so that means we are on the downhill side of 2010. Before we know it Halloween will be upon us, with Thanksgiving knocking on the door.<br /><br />I have begun my Christmas shopping, and know exactly what I have to pick up for everyone except my Mother. She is the most difficult person to buy for because she has everything - she needs nothing. Besides, I pick up things for her throughout the year, so I cannot even think of anything she wants right now. My target date for completion by the end of October is still intact. I will probably be finished before then. It is a great feeling.<br /><br />I have made it to Chapter 7 with my revisions. I have a friend that is going to re-read it to see how it flows. She will be honest, and I really appreciate it. There is a writing workshop this month with an editor, I hope to get some valuable information.<br /><br />I have been thinking about going back to Vegas for my birthday. Barry is performing on my day, and the Hilton emailed me with some awesome hotel rates. The last time I checked Travelocity the flight from ATL was even reasonable. I just might make it happen, who knows. I had a great trip over the summer so I know it would result in a great birthday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0