TGIF....

Yes, indeed!

Have a great weekend...

Acts of Kindness...

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.

Know the line has held, your job is done.

Rest easy, sleep well.

Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.

Peace, peace, and farewell...

These wreaths placed on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery at Christmastime -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.


That's all it takes.... just little acts of kindness to make this world a better place.

Gone, But Not Forgotten...

When I was at the Australia Zoo in February,

I jumped at the chance for this photo-op.

I'm so glad I did!

Steve Irwin's death has been a bit of a surreal experience for me. I know that he is gone, but when I turn on Animal Planet at 6pm... there he is, bigger than life. It's hard to wrap my brain (and heart) around it.

I know a lot of people thought the man was crazy and made fun of him. But if they could walk through the Australia Zoo and see his passion, his life's work... I think people would have a better understanding why he did the things he did... and the way he did them.

Tonight, Terri Irwin will talk about her life with Steve, how she and her children are coping with his death, and her dedication to continue the animal conservation quest that he started. It'll be on ABC's 20/20 @ 10pm est.

You can bet I'll be on the couch... with a big box of kleenex!

Happenstance...

YES... THAT'S MY CAR!

And the crazy thing...

I was in the car with the engine running when the tree fell!

My own personal reminder from the Big Guy.

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Go to http://diy.despair.com/motivator.php to create your own motivational poster.

Thanks karmyn r @ Dreaming What Ifs...

Opps, They Did It Again...

Analysis:
PRIME-TIME LOSS TO TEST SPARTANS' ABILITY TO RECOVER

EAST LANSING - Spartan Stadium and its team changed together Saturday night, from boisterous to uneasy to depressed, and the changes were sudden.

In the aftermath of MSU's 40-37 loss to No. 12 Notre Dame - in which the Fighting Irish scored 19 straight points in the final 8:18 - MSU fans were muttering what the team wouldn't dare think: "Same old Spartans."

MSU's late-game collapse was nothing new for the people who have suffered through so many of them over the years, although this one was particularly outlandish. Maybe there's a curse at work, or an inferiority complex has developed over time and won't go away. Maybe an exorcist or shrink needs to get involved. - Joe Rexrode, Lansing State Journal

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It was absolute torture watching this game. In the first half, the Spartans played like champions... but in the second half, they played like a bunch of pee-wee players.

Could we get some consistency, people?!?!??

At Warp Speed....

Heading into the abyss...

Actually we were just travelling through the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel in Pennsylvania. I put the camera on the dashboard of T's car and took this shot.

I thought I'd share the photo with you as we head into the weekend abyss. Have a safe one!

Of Mice And Men...

LOTION GIVES MICE TAN, MAY BE CANCER SHIELD
Melanin boosted without the sun

By Gareth Cook, Boston Globe Staff September 21, 2006

A lotion that tans the skin without exposure to sunlight could provide a novel way to prevent skin cancer, Boston scientists announced yesterday.

The research, done with mice, found that a lotion can prompt skin cells to make melanin, the darkening pigment that protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation. After the lotion was applied for several days, the mice developed a light tan. After several weeks, the normally red- furred, fair-skinned mice were nearly black, according to Dr. David E. Fisher , who led the research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital Boston.

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Okay... to be "nearly black" is not really necessary in my book, but the thought of being a bronzed goddess seems mighty nice! So come on guys, perfect this lotion and get it out on the market!!!

I Found Nemo....

See... Nemo is safe and sound in the Baltimore National Aquarium!!

So let me give you a brief overview of our trip to Maryland and Washington DC. We got to T's aunt and uncle's (I & K) house on Friday afternoon. We just stayed there for the evening, talking and catching up.

On Saturday morning we took the subway into DC. We first went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery. After the gallery, we went out to lunch at a great restaurant called Gordon Biersch (they have the most amazing "garlic fries"). We then walked through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Next, we walked through the National Gallery of Art. Then it was on to the National Archives. After the archives, we went into the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. We were completely spent after all of this... so we made our way to the subway and back to the house.

On Sunday morning we drove into Baltimore and went to the National Aquarium. We had a nice time, walking along the pier before going into the aquarium. We also caught the dolphin show while we were there. All in all... the aquarium was great. T & I like the aquarium in Boston a bit better, but felt that this one was very enjoyable. We had lunch on the pier at the Hard Rock Cafe, then headed back to I & K's house.

Monday morning we packed up T's car and headed back to Michigan... we got back to the capitol city in the afternoon.

I find it amazing how you can be so excited to go on a trip... but by the time get back, you are even more excited about being HOME!

A Few Good Men....

MANY 'STRAIGHT' MEN HAVE GAY SEX
Nearly 10% of Self-Proclaimed 'Straight' Men Only Have Sex With Men

Sept. 18, 2006 --

Nearly one in 10 men who say they're straight have sex only with other men, a New York City survey finds.

And 70% of those straight-identified men having sex with men are married. In fact, 10% of all married men in this survey report same-sex behavior during the past year.

This means safe-sex messages aimed at straight and gay men are likely missing this important subgroup, suggest Preeti Pathela, DrPH, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and colleagues. --WebMD

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No... what this REALLY means is my chances of finding a man to date are rapidly dwindling.

It's tough enough as it is... why do I have to compete with other men too?!!??!?!!?

I'm Back...

But not quite here!

I just wanted to let you know that we had a great trip to the DC area. I haven't had a chance to download the photos... so they won't be posted until tomorrow.

Now I just need to try and get back in the swing of things here at work!

Leavin' On A Jet Plane... Ummm, Not Really.

But I am out of here... first thing tomorrow morning!

My best friend, T and I are going
down to the Maryland/ Washington DC area. We are spending a few days soaking up the sights... going to the Baltimore Aquarium, we may check out the Renaissance Festival, and possibly go to the Holocaust Museum. There also is a slim chance we may be touring the White House. It should be a great time.

So have a wonderful weekend... I'll be back on Tuesday with all the trip highlights!

On The Day That You Were Born...

Happy Birthday, My Dearest Taramisu

This picture was taken of us in 2001, when I was in New York

visiting my wonderful friend.

And to this day... neither of us look a day over thirty!!

Taramisu... I send you all my warmest wishes for you on your day!

When The Bough Breaks...

Here's a disturbing article from Lansing's local news station...

FURNITURE WARNING

A warning for parents: make sure your furniture is secure.

Falling TV sets and heavy furniture have killed 10 kids so far this year. That is twice as many reports as the consumer product safety commission usually gets in a year.

Children can easily climb or pull up on furniture, so the CPSC reminds parents to anchor furniture and TV stands to walls or floors.

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Like parents don't have enough to worry about!

I'm a bit of a paranoid person by nature... so it's tidbits like this that really make me glad that I didn't have any kids. Right now, I'd be in a "home" somewhere... off in a corner... drooling...

Roll With It, Baby....

Hello, my name is Jodi... and I'm an addict.

Addicted to sushi.

My first encounter with my "drug of choice" was when I first moved to Nashville in 1989. A group of my co-workers gently introduced me to the world of sushi. I started off with california rolls, tuna, and just a smidgin' of wasabi. I was hooked!

Now 17 years later... I am a sushi junkie. I love it all!! My favorites are tuna (still), octopus, eel, salmon, smelt roe, shrimp, and just about any type of roll that they can make... and now, my dish of soy sauce is the color of mud because of the heap of wasabi that is mixed in!

When I moved back to Michigan in 1996, I frequented a local sushi restaurant. I went there so often that I started to feel like Norm from Cheers when I would walk in... all the sushi chefs, hostess, and waitresses would all turn and say hello. A bit embarrassing... but I was there for one thing, and one thing only... to get my fix!

Of course, I didn't want to go down this seedy path of chopsticks, rice, and seaweed alone... so I would try to persuade my friends, family members, and co-workers to follow me into the world of my addiction. Some would run and save themselves, but the majority have sadly become regular "users".

Perhaps I will choose to get help someday. But until then... I will continue the out-of-control spiral into my sushi hell.

AND LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!

September 11th Tribute

Jacqueline "Jakki" Young, 37 years old

"Vibrant. Bubbly. Organized. Friendly. Petite. Delicate. Sweet. These are just a few words that described Jakki. Jacqueline Young (also known as "Lyric" to her friends) was originally from South Carolina. She had a special love for Rhythm and Blues music. Her passion for the Temptations led her to collect the lyrics of not only The Temptations' music but also the lyrics to songs recorded by the group's individual members, including Harry Berry, Ron Tyson and Ali-Ollie Woodson. Jakki even planned to design a website of Temptations' lyrics, using the great number she had collected. Her favorite Temptation was bass singer Harry McGilberry (fondly known as Harry Berry). She referred to Harry as her "Shweetie" and always cherished meeting him in Atlantic City back in March 2001. Jakki also had a special fondness for the late great Paul Williams and especially his rendition of "For Once in My Life" recorded on that program, touched her heart to tears. "


Jakki worked in New York for Marsh and McClennan on the 98th floor of the World Trade Center. She was one of thousands who perished in the September 11th terrorists' attack. My deepest condolences go out to her friends and family and to all of the people affected by this senseless tragedy.

REST IN PEACE SWEET LYRIC

Wino Forever...

As Johnny Depp's tattoo states... I, too, can say it proudly. Although my confession is not that I fell in love with Winona Ryder... but more so that I fell in love with the liquid!

For many of us wine lovers here in Michigan, this weekend we will venture over to the southwest part of our great state to partake in the annual PawPaw Wine Festival. There are several vineyards represented at this event... but the one near and dear to my heart is the Warner Wine Haus.

They have such a wonderful variety of wines. A few of my favorites are the Very, Very Cherry and a nice white wine called Liebestrauben, or "Grapes of Love".

So Saturday morning, we will make our way over west of Kalamazoo and do a little taste testing, visit with family and friends, buy a case of this or that, and thoroughly enjoy our day!

I hope that you have a great weekend!

The Right Stuff...

This man has it!

I can't explain it... but for years now, I have had the most tremendous crush on Ed Harris. I don't know if it his piercing blue eyes, his amazing dimples, or his chiseled facial features... but whatever it is... I love this man!!

He also is a great actor. Although Ed Harris is rarely the "leading" man... he has the ability to transform himself into the character with such natural ease and grace.

Here is a sample listing of Ed's incredible work:

The Right Stuff

Places in the Heart

Sweet Dreams

State of Grace

Eye for an Eye

The Rock

The Truman Show

Stepmom

Pollack

A Beautiful Mind

The Hours

Radio

I honestly don't know what it is about this man... all I know is I can't help but smile myself when he smiles on the screen.

So while I look at these pictures, my word for today is... YUMMY!

Finally....

Just what I've been waiting for...

A Real Life Murder Mystery

BY JOHN GRISHHAM

Thank God the wait is over!

If you aren't sure what I am talking about... see the tiny red splash in the upper right hand corner.

Oh, and by the way... it took four months to get a glimpse of the baby TomKat because they couldn't find a toupe small enough!

So here she is... 22 pages of her... the world can start turning again. Blah, blah, blah!

Passion, Enthusiasm, Conservation...

In an interview, Steve Irwin was asked how he would like to be remembered... and those were the three words he used.

Sadly... that is now how we will have to remember him. In what some experts are calling a "freak accident", 44-year old Irwin died doing what he loved... bringing the need for wildlife conservation up-close, in front of the cameras.

When I first read the headline of the death of Steve Irwin, I had just assumed that he had taken a wrong step while wrangling one of his beloved crocodiles. But to hear that it was an unlikely-to-happen-again mishap with a docile stingray... it broke my heart.


My heart broke for his wife Terri, his kids... Bindi and Bob, for the team at the Australia Zoo, for the animals near extinction that he has fought tirelessly for, and for the world.

I was fortunate to be able to visit the Australia Zoo in February. This facility is unlike any other zoo I have been to... it is as close to a natural environment for the animals without putting them, or the visitors, in any danger. To walk among the kangaroos, pat the koalas... it was Steve's vision to bring the people close to wildlife. He has said "if people care about something, they will want to save it".

My only hope is that the dedicated team at the Australia Zoo will continue Steve's work. And having seen them in action... I'm sure that they will do so with honor.

My heart goes out to the Irwin family. To Steve's extended family... his best mate, Wes... John, Brian, Kate, Frank, Kelsey, Jai, Jodie, the two Richards... and the rest of the friends at the Australia Zoo.

And to Steve... good work, Mate! Crocs Rule!

Baby, Take a Bow...

A well deserved retirement begins with a flood of tears and emotion. Andre Agassi will be missed.

And The Winner Is...

THE PRIME MINISTERS CROWNED WINNER OF SONIC SUMMER CONTEST


PONTIAC — Decked out in ties and sweater vests, The Prime Ministers won over the crowd and took the top prize at the second Detroit News Sonic Summer battle of the bands contest Friday night at the Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats festival.

The group's polished, pop-influenced sound made for an upbeat set and an enthusiastic crowd at The Detroit News/Comcast Stage on Pike Street in downtown Pontiac, and earned it prizes including a 12-hour recording session at Effigy Studios and a publicity photo shoot from StarShowz Photography.

"I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack," said Prime Ministers bass player Ned Coho. "It's good to get some recognition. I was actually nervous tonight."

The quartet, whose latest CD, "Budget Cuts," was released earlier this summer, also won a special-edition Fender Stratocaster guitar from ABC Warehouse, a Spider II 210 amp from Axis Music Academy, a feature on Motor City Riffs on WRIF-FM (101.1).on Sept. 10 and a performing slot on the festival's main stage Sunday.

The Prime Ministers, whose members are in their 30s, beat out finalists Free Element and Pillar of Autumn. Comcast taped the evening's performances for rebroadcast for Comcast On Demand. The event was co-emceed by Dave Doran of WRIF and Adam Graham, pop music writer for The Detroit News.

The three bands were among 20 that emerged from more than 100 entries in July; those 20 groups were voted on by visitors to DetNews.com and whittled down to nine contenders, who then performed at Ferndale's Magic Bag, Detroit's Majestic Theatre and Pontiac's Clutch Cargo's to determine the final three.

The Prime Ministers entered the contest last year and made it to the online vote, only to lose out in the voting's last minutes. The loss was "pretty bitterly disappointing," said frontman Todd Wicks. But this year's contest gave the group the chance to play in front of one of its biggest crowds and was a lot of fun, he said.

Judge Nicole DeMember-Johnson, managing partner at Effigy Studios, said the Prime Ministers' enthusiasm and dedication made them her top choice.

"The Prime Ministers won because of their lyrics, stage presence and commitment to music," she said Friday. "They love it, they believe in it and that goes out to the audience."

The other judges were videographer Peter Franco of DE1X Productions, club and Amir Daiza, promoter of Clutch Cargo's club in Pontiac, and John Antone, founder of Axis Music Academy.

The bands were evaluated on sound quality, technical skill, entertainment value, originality and creativity, and songwriting ability.

The Prime Ministers were "very original," Daiza said. "They could have a mass appeal."

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CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS!!!

You're Beautiful...

Congratulations to James Blunt on his "Best Male Video"

and "Best Cinematography" MTV Video Music Awards.

LOVE HIM!!!

And The Beat Goes On....

The 36 Year Old

The 21 Year Old

Can you guess who won??!??? You betcha... Andre Agassi is reliving his glory days with every swing of his racquet. He prevailed over Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 in three hours and 49 minutes of daring, gutsy tennis.

It was looking doubtful on Tuesday... Agassi could barely walk and had to receive cortisone shots in his back. But last night... although looking a bit stiff at times... he played like a man with a heart of a 21 year old.

Let's hope that his back holds out... because the way he is playing... that may be the only thing that could stop him from advancing on Saturday against a young German, Benjamin Becker (ranked 112).

Go, Andre... go!!