Billy Mays, another tragic passing

Rest in Peace Billy Mays

                                                      

As you may or may not have heard, famed tv pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his home sunday morning.  In all of the chaos with all of the celebrity deaths in the past 2 weeks - Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, Billy Mays comes as the greatest shock to me.  Certainly all of you are familiar with his face and many of his products - you probably have several in your home and may not even realize it!  I too had "seen him around" but knew little about him until hubby started watching hie show on the Discovery channel with Anthony Sullivan called "Pitchmen".  

It wasn't until I started watching it with him that I gained a whole new respect for the man and what he did in his chosen profession - as well as the products he "pitched".  He and Anthony "Sulli" Sullivan made a great team and the show was really entertaining!  It followed them all over the place as they met with inventors, evaluated products, worked with backers/investors and produced their tv pitch spots.  The whole process was fascinating and I was surprised at how much work goes on before they even consider producing something for tv.  They also are both super guys who really have huge hearts and did a lot to help others.  Billy Mays and his powerful personality will be missed!  If you get a chance, check out this clip from them on Conan.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0cB_6JGyRg

You will be missed.

wanted.......

so, Mama Kat over at Mama' Losin' it hosts writers' workshops and as you know, sometimes I feel inspired!  Well, there were some good ones last week, but we were crazy busy, so I'm just getting to it now!

write a creative want ad...

WANTED....

a wife for the wife

Looking for someone to be my wife, preferably a little on the old fashioned side, someone who can keep up with the laundry and the cleaning (not one or the other), likes to bake from scratch, prepare properly balanced meals also from scratch.  When those things are taken care of, this person must also be a good companion for this wife - must like to read, knit, sew, photography, hanging out on the back porch, volunteer, participate in moms' groups and Bible studies, hang out with my kids who also enjoy crafting of all sorts!  She must not be too thin or too pretty but able to help motivate me to do a little more in the working out category!  Must have working knowledge of budgeting, bill paying, menu planning, grocery shopping, PTO meeting protocol and teaching PRE.  Must enjoy lively discussions and hanging out with the family!  Ability to teach dogs to stop barking every time the wind blows is an added plus!

Any interested candidates simply apply here!

Happy Birthday Hubby!!!!

Although we aren't able to all be together to celebrate, I hope you have a great birthday!  I love you!!  Hurry home or your little girlies are going to open all your gifts themselves!!

So, you think YOU can dance?????? week 2

So, you know I hove this show!!!  I am behind in my comments from last week's show - being out of town will do that I'm afraid!  Anyway, in order to not get too far behind and have this week's show happen before I have my say, here I am, better late than never!

As far as the boys go, I really like these 3 as individual artists!  Vitolio, Ade and Brandon!  Once again, Vitolio and his  partner Asuka (see last week's post about her)

blew us away!  Their choreographer took Vitolio's lfe story as insiration for them and Asuka managed to not play the "sexy" card and they were amazing!  Brought a tear to everyone's eye!

Ade and his partner Melissa (see last week's post again - she's the naughty ballerina!  Love her!!) They were great again!  And Brandon is really finding a place in my heart too!  Losing a bit of his cocky attitude and really relying of his amazing skills - watch out boys!

Here is my new favorite couple!  Randi and Evan!  I really really liked them last week, but this week they caught my eye again!  They are two little sticks of dynamite and so much fun to watch!  They are both very good at their own genres and have done great at learning new styles each week!  I hope that they continue this way - they are so much fun to watch!!

I haven't chosen a single favorite yet - all the dancers are super super good - by far the best season as far as stong dancers with tons of talent evident at the very beginning!  There are a couple who haven't son my heart yet, but I think each week it's going to be harder for the judges to decide who to send home because they can all really kick butt!  Looking forward to this week's show!!!!

Happy 70th birthday Dad!!!

I hope you have a super fabulous birthday today and many many more to come!!

I love you!!

love this song!!!

I truly enjoy the show Weeds and this song was featured in a flash mob type scene at the end of episode 1 of season 5!  Very cool sound, reggae influenced but there's a little more to it than that.  Apparently they've been around for a while - on an international tour at the moment - maybe they'll  come to a city near you!

click and enjoy!!!

http://www.ilike.com/artist/Michael+Franti+&+Spearhead/track/Say+Hey+(I+Love+You)

camping debacle

this is our camping trip gone terribly wrong

so, there were lots of storms in the midwest over the last week and we were victims of a rapid deluge.  yes, we know better than to leave our awning up when it is storming - it wasn't storming, or even raining when hubby left early to commute back to work so he left it, the girls and I were woken up later by this loud noise which we later discovered was the awning crashing!

lovely, huh?

not pretty, or cheap either according to the RV repair place!  so, we headed home a little early and talked to our insurance company on the way.  good thing we left when we did, it rained the next 2 days straight anyway - better luck next time!

It's another Meme!

Drawing on inspiration from my good friend Merrie at Sleepless Mornings - ok, not inspiration, she did this meme the other day and invited anyone to join in, so I am!!

8 Things I’m Looking Forward To:

1. my sister and D's wedding in July

2. hanging out with my girls this summer

3. getting a lot of leisure reading done this summer

4. showing the girls some of our old stomping grounds in CA

5. the day I actually like to exercise

6. teaching PRE again in the fall

7. holding the new babies that have joined this world - 2 born to friends, 2 soon to be born to cousins

8. watching my little girls grow up into fine young women

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. laundry load #1

2. laundry load #2

3. laundry load #3

4. hang out with my girls

5. catch up on the DVR with my girls

6. catch up on my email

7. catch up on my blog

8. shower - the really good kind that feels like the first one in a year!!

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. knit better

2. keep up with my house

3. promote my photography business better

4. speak a foreign language or two

5.  get real bluebirds to nest in my bluebird house

6. win the battle with the thistle in my backyard

7. add 10 more hours to the day

8. alleviate my little one's anxiety

8 Shows I Watch:
1. So you think you can dance

2. True Blood

3. Burn Notice

4. In Plain Sight

5.  The Tudors

6. NCIS

7. Trust Me

8. The Unusuals

9. Weeds

10.Deadliest Catch

11. The Big Bang Theory

12. The No. 1 Ladies' Dectective Agency

ok, I have a DVR, I don't spend my entire life watching tv but at least I can watch what I like when I do!!

8 Favorite Fruits:
1. cantaloupe

2. strawberries

3. red raspberries

4. blackberries

5. blueberries

6.grapes

7.watermelon

8.peaches

8 Places I’d Like To Travel To:
1. Greece

2. Italy

3. Egypt

4. China

5. Brazil

6. Figi

7. Australia

8. Israel/ the Holy land

9. an African safari

8 Places I’ve Lived:

1. Indiana

2. California

3. Connecticut

4. Virginia

5. North Carolina

6. Oregon

7. Missouri

8. Alaska

9. Michigan

So, you think YOU can dance??????

I admit it, I LOVE this show!  I watch it every year!  Having dance for 17 years of my own life, I truly enjoy the talent that this show exposes us to!  There isn't the crazy melodrama that most reality shows bring, it really showcases the dance as an art form! That being said, I have a few dancers that I would like to comment on...

This is Melissa....
Melissa is 29 - old in the dance world - and they call her the "naughty ballerina"!  She is a breath of fresh air!  As one of the judges said, "some things get better with age" and she certainly did!  I have a special love for her because she is a ballerina - my dance genre of choice - but she does so much more!  Her pas de duex was absolutely beautiful, her partner Ade is amazingly strong and at the same time graceful - they called him a "gentle giant" and her certainly is that!  I hope that they are both around for a long time!

This is Vitolio...
Vitolio is not just an amazing dancer, he is also an amazing young man.  His story is truly inspiring - born in Haiti, his mother died when he was 5, raised by his grandmother who was without a job and on his own when he was 15 - and yet, here he his, a self made man following his passion for dance.  How can you not love him?  And he's good too!

This is Asuka....

I don't like to be negative, but this spicy little ballroom dancer rubs me the wrong way.  Don't get me wrong, she's a really good dancer, but she works WAY too hard at being sexy.  I know there is a definite component of "sexy" in a lot of the latin style dancing, but she takes it way too far, and she continues with it long after the music stops.  She is young, I know, but she needs to realize that she doesn't need to play the "sexy card" to draw attention to her talent.  It makes me sad, I hope that the judges (or somebody else) clues her in.

Anyway, not to end on a negative note.  The performances on wednesday we FABULOUS!  I think that at least 10 of the 12 couples were amazing and the other 2 couples weren't shabby, just not phenomenal.  What a great beginning to the season!  I can hardly wait to see what they come up with next week!

Our first graduate!

Big S graduated from 5th grade about a week or so ago - it's just taken me a while to get the pictures up with all the other craziness going on! Anyway, We were very proud of her and thought I'd share a couple (few) pictures from that morning!

Receiving her "walking papers" from our principle Mrs.P.

The big surprise of the morning was the Principle's Award  It is awarded to one boy and one girl in the 5th grade at graduation.  They have to fill out an application and then write an essay about their elementary school experience.  We were beside ourselves excited when she name was called!  She was so surprised - she never expected to win!  In addition the prestige, she got a check for $250.oo to spend on middle school spirit wear and supplies!  The big check was super cool - the Principal and PTO president presented the awards.

Big S and her 5th grade teacher Mrs.B with the big check!!

Big S and some friends celebrating after graduation!!  They are now middle schoolers!!

Happy 9th Birthday Little S!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of her.  Even though I took it last November, I just think it's so sweet!

This is a very typical view of Little S during her leisure time - what's in her hand often changes between the DS, ipod and a good book, but she loves to lounge and relax!!  I think this one may have been taking while we were camping last year!

From the time she was about 6 months old, Little S has LOVED elephants!  A dear childhood friend gave her a stuffed elephant (in the very life-like colors of mint green and yellow!) and she has carried "Elli" with her everywhere - planes, trains, automobiles, boats, sometime stuffed in a backpack, sometimes out in the open, but always the first choice for a companion e

specially when comfort is needed!  Ellie is indeed her very special friend!  See above she's even helping with the DS game!!!

I love you my dear little girl!  Everytime I look into those big blue eyes I just melt!  I want nothing short than a lifetime of health, love, happiness for you my dear daughter!  May all your dreams come true on this special day!

Momma

I have been deceived

Yes friends, I have been deceived.  Those bluebirds that have taken up residence in by beautiful bluebird house in my lovely red maple tree are impostors!  I thought they looked a little different  remember my previous post when I mentioned that they didn't look like traditional bluebirds that I was familiar with?  Well, I should have listened to my gut - those crazy little birds fluttering around my backyard are tree swallows, NOT bluebirds.  Now, yes I am very happy to have to have a young bird family taking up residence in our yard, but that's a bluebird house and darn it, my neighbors have bluebirds, so why not me?

this is a tree swallow, not a bluebird apparently

I have been amused with all of their antics - they dive bomb when they are flying and it's really funny to watch since it's very different from any other birds that we have in this area!

Really, my intent is simple to provide a public service announcement for all of you out here that may become victims of these deceptive little birds!