This meme requires posting a picture that is powerful, that expresses emotion, and speaks volumes to me. Here’s one that is worth a thousand words.

As my oldest prepares to go off to college, I think this pic speaks volumes.

To join in, give that button a click to go to the HQ.

The other day after a big storm…the sun peeked through just a bit to illuminate a cluster of tree tops.

Isn’t this beautiful?

For more ww’s go here.

Last month my daughter was an ambassador at H.O.B.Y.  (Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership).  She’s participated for 4 years now, one week a year.   It’s the development of youth in the world.. to inspire, volunteer, lead and motivate.  It’s really an awesome experience if your kids ever get an opportunity to participate!  Anyhow, this year they had a special motivational group speaking.  A group of young adults who travel around in a old hand painted van.  Sorta like modern day hippies but not.  They REALLY made an impact on my daughter and everyone they met that weekend.  They are actually traveling the U.S. volunteering…learning… and helping people.  Thus their name:  Being and Doing, Inc.  (B.A.D.)

B.A.D. Inc. is a cultural-immersion, “voluntouring” project aimed at performing and promoting community and interpersonal service.

If you get a chance, please check out their website and learn a little about them.  Very impressive for a group of young kids.  They are actually trying to make a difference.  (Which in this day and age you don’t see all that often).  Also, there’s a donate button in their sidebar if you are so inclined.  I don’t normally point to sites and suggest you donate, but if you’ve got a few bucks to spare for a great cause….I’d say push that button.  Even if its just $5.    It’ll make ya feel good!
And if you don’t have a buck or two to spare…at least leave them a little support in a comment.   I’m sure it would make their day.    What a beautiful way to motivate the youth in America.

I saw on tv that Michael Jackson was 500 M I L L I O N dollars in debt.  How the hell does a superstar like that get that far into debt.  Shit, how does he get in debt at all?    That is simply amazing!    (Yeah, I know, I know, Neverland, Chimps, Llamas, Funky face covers and lots of umbrellas and lawsuits.)

Lisa Marie Presley says MJ said years ago…something to the effect that MJ was afraid he’d end up like her father.    (And we all know the controversy with that one  *see video) I also hear that MJ’s got like 100 songs stored up that actually can be released posthumously.  Hmmmm.    MJ is certainly worth a butt load of money now…in death. BUT MAYBE  he’s not dead.  Could be he’s sippin MaiTai’s with Elvis in Argentina.    Hey…just a thought. Let’s see…..    Verrrry similar circumstances both in life and in death.   Odd really.  Right down to the many doctors many prescriptions and the slimy personal doctors present at death…the apparent penchant for Demerol….Just very interesting similarities.   And he was a very very smart man….he’s seen the way a sudden death of an icon builds an estate….I’m just sayin.   (Next time I go somewhere exotic?  I’m keepin my eye’s peeled!)

Finally the event planning is over and we had the graduation party last night at our City’s old recreation center.   It was the most UNhectic pre-party preparation I’ve ever experienced.  In fact I told Shane that I felt like I had some weird natural endorphins goin on because I was entirely too calm sane.   Check this:  I didn’t even flip out when I realized I needed 3 more boxes of Rigatoni noodles at 4:30pm (party starts @ 6).   I just ran up to the store and then cooked it.   No worries!   (I know, I’m stunned.  Normally I would have been swearing)   But I’m pretty sure that was all just the universes way of preparing me for yet another dealing with the hall we rented.

The party went very well….despite not having air conditioning,  the city staff not holding true to let me in 1/2 hour early, having to have my first guests help set up the place because afterall the city staff didn’t (as also promised) set up enough ANY tables or  chairs prior to my arrival…when I walked in all the (dirty) tables and chairs were in the storage area.  So not only did I have to set up for myself, I also had to clean tables prior to setting up.  *sigh*  (and ick!)

But it all turned out fine even though we were still setting up food when we should have been eating it….And as soon as I cracked open that White Zinfandel I suddenly felt much better.   (Although it may have been wise to actually eat something BEFORE the wine…but whatever).    Plus I now remember why it is I don’t drink often.   Nothin like scrubbing roasting pans with a hangover.  Yup, fun.

I’m still just amazed at the incompetence of our city’s staff that handles the rentals.  Not to mention the Mayor who failed to even respond to my email last week – yet I’ve heard his Facebook was updated with an announcement that he wants to buy a second home on Put-In-Bay and live there 6 months out of the year…..because as he stated….he does most of his mayoral duties via the computer and phone.    Imagine that.  Now who in their right mind would re-elect someone who only actually lives IN the city 6 months out of the year?  Who?

I live in a city that is relatively small (12,000)….and our Mayor has always prided himself on his ability to communicate with his residents….well…that is if you count the self elevating newsletters he puts out that cover the latest happenings in his life….pics of him in his Superman gear (a self professed fan of the superhero) and posing with celebrities and even competing in the latest local version of Dancing with the Stars….yet…I cannot get him to respond to an email regarding issues I’m having (it wasn’t just an issue with the hall).    Just like a politician…”I want to hear your input, your concerns“.  (so what?  so you can do absolutely nothing about it?)  *puts letter “L” on forehead*      LA-HOOOOSER.

*above pic:    cookies my sister baked.   they not only look good but tasted awesome.  the photo also includes cookies with Kaylee’s college name on them….but the pic is cropped as to avoid weirdos, kooks, stalkers and pyschos. *not you*

Just a sampling of the menu:  Kielbasi/Saurkraut, Swedish Meatballs, Chicken, Teriaki Chicken Wings, Rigatoni and for dessert – lady locks, fruit chicken pineapple salad, pizza, marinated mushrooms, broccoli cheese bacon salad.

Not pictured:  Cheesy potatoes (Mmmm), Pasta salad and a big giant cake.     (I didn’t take pics of everything as I was tending one very theraputic glass of wine)

And one last ’shot’.  My lovely cousin Laura, who is beautifully pregnant – she’s one of those with just the prego belly and not a stitch of fat anywhere else  yet still thinks she’s ‘huge’….*uhhh* -   REFUSED to take a nice pic for the camera.
So in return I will post these:
And let me just say right now, I’m so so so glad I don’t have the breasts of a pregnant woman anymore.    Between my Cousin Laura and Cara over at LandofBean….I’m just thankful to have my normal every day boobies.

I was going to post this morning on our Lucy moments yesterday in getting ready for the grad party tonight…like when power went out for a few hours leaving us with no air when it was 96 outside and I still had cooking to do.   Or that I spent a good amount of time cleaning out borrowed coolers and when they were sparkling….a huge storm rolled in and covered them in and out with dirt and leaves.  *sigh*

But I won’t blog about that today  (ha ha, already did….) instead I’ll say that I was sooooo looking forward to seeing the 20/20 special YESTERDAY that was moved up to air early because of Farrah Fawcett’s death.   I always liked Farrah…of course, I grew up with Charlies Angels but she had some great roles…I think the best of which was in the Burning Bed.  OMG…AWESOME movie!    Her relationship with Ryan O’Neal was really beautiful and touching.   *sigh*  Poor Farrah.  Anyhooo…During the power outage I kept thinking….”I really hope this is back on by 9 so I can catch the 20/20 special.”

And what happens?  OMG.  Power comes on and all over the t.v….Michael Jackson dead at 50.    SAY WHAT?  First of all, complete shock.  Complete.    What a shocker.   He was truly an amazing entertainer.  So, so, so many moves, so many legendary songs.  The guy was creatively a genius.    (I heard this morning that in his will, he left the rights to the Beatles songs to Paul McCartney – which if true would be good.)  But I do NOT think that every minute on every station needs to be saturated with this coverage.

So Farrah got tossed to the back burner.  This courageous woman suffering immensely in the last couple years.  Fighting a disease as so many do and documenting her journey.   The story of a woman who had it all but cared more about her family, her loves than her career.   I SO would have loved to have watched that and shed a quiet tear for her.  But she was upstaged.  *sigh*  And I haven’t heard not one little thing about her passing since the news of MJ’s sudden death was announced.

Farrah is probably going to be nominated for an Emmy for her self documented journey with cancer in  Farrah’s Story.  That link is not the documentary itself but has info about it, including a video about it.    Lovely Farrah was 62 years old.  Rest in Peace, Farrah.

You know?  When I first started blogging, I wrote a lot about Murphy’s Law and how it applied to my life.  Laughing about it and accepting it.  Then I took on a whole new attitude and decided to stop letting that bum, Murphy into my life.  And it worked!  Things took a nice turn and oddly have been going great! 

Until this week.  Ughhh. 

Friday.  Found out I can not get in early to decorate our city rec center (hall) I rented for next Friday.   Some special new rule they have.   (Crabby wench tells me I’d have to arrive with my guests).  My contract says I get 1/2 hr before to arrive.   But they say the contract signed by me & them is incorrect.  Very long story short…I’m now getting my 1/2 hour set up time. ;O)

Saturday.   Propane tank I got 6 weeks ago ran out in the MIDDLE of cooking burgers!  Dangit! 

Monday.  Found out someone was using my credit card # online to have some fun. 

Tuesday.  *Pool alkalinity too high.  Dumb young pool girl says to put in 12 lbs alkalinity increaser.  Now ph is through the roof and won’t lower.   Back to buy more chemicals.   Wait…is that their plan?  Just keep coming in and spend $$$

*Found out the hall (above) we rented for THIS Friday has NO A/C.  (This after being told that it DID have air and would be on before we got there.)  Temps expected to be 80+.    With 100+ people.

*Isn’t it funny how you’re really not that hot until you turn on your a/c for the first time and it’s…. b r o k  e n?  (I KNOW!  G A S P! )   We were priding ourselves on the fact that it’s been 85 for a week and we haven’t put the air on yet….until now.   Nothing, nadda, silence.    All of a sudden we’re sweating…can’t sleep and even though it’s the same temp as the last week…we are now dying from the heat…tongues hanging out….seeing mirages of palm trees in our backyard.    (A few years ago…we froze to death when our thermostat broke.  It was showing 35 degrees when in fact it was 72.   The heating guy came in and questioned why we were wearing coats in the house when it was 72 on his thermometer.)

Wednesday.  I finally downloaded Internet Explorer 8.  What a mutha flippin waste of time.  They tout these new upgrades and then they SUCK.  Now almost every other website I visit…including MY OWN…gives me an error message!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Operation Aborted!)  There’s some glitch in IE 8 that doesn’t run or read some scripts (or some crap like that).    I’ve tried a couple suggested fixes…and still….crap.    And it seems to be with any site that has Google Friend Connect.    So I’m switching to Firefox.  Which btw is so much better than IE. 

Anyone else having issues with the ‘new and improved Internet Explorer 8′?  What a bunch of shit.