17 Years Ago on the Winter Solstice...

...I married my best friend.



As I recently told a friend who just got married, it's been a long and winding road,
And, as in any relationship there's been good days & bad days & going half mad days.
But through the years, and miles and tears and smiles
I'm proud to have found a lover who is also my friend to share the road with me.

May each of you find such Peace.

Life is a Vapor...

Surfer Girl....Thinking of you and your cross country move.

As always, I know you'll do fine. :)

John Mayer - Lost in the Music

Saw John Mayer Friday night...

Great show, even the Dallas Morning News agrees (which is unusual)




Do yourself a favor.

Life Lessons Learned From Star Wars

On this 30th Anniversary of the release of Star Wars, it seems appropriate to acknowledge that Star Wars changed my life...

Everything I Need To Know In Life I Learned From Watching 'Star Wars'

By Shawn Adler

30. Wretched hives of scum and villainy always have the best music.
It's no coincidence that the bar at Mos Eisley has the most kick-ass band this side of Naboo. Dives always have the best live music — directly proportional to how many felons they're serving at any given time.

29. Before making out with someone, make absolutely sure they aren't your sister.
This one goes without saying, but it's especially important for those who suspect they may have been adopted.

28. "Don't tell me the odds!"
According to C-3PO, the odds against successfully navigating an asteroid field are approximately 3,720 to 1. Buckle up and take some chances.

27. "These are not the droids we are looking for."
Searching is futile when you don't know what you're looking for.

26. Fear and anger always lead to the dark side.
Even if you're facing certain death at the hands of a playful sadist (who just happens to be threatening your sister), releasing your anger will only please him more. Relax — victory can only be achieved through calmness.

25. "Do or do not. There is no try."

Any task worth doing is worth doing right.

24. "At this moment, the Internet is completely empty."
Not strictly from "Star Wars," but said by the guy behind me in the movie theater as the opening title for "The Phantom Menace" crawled across the screen. It remains the truest statement I have ever heard.

23. All things are true ... from a particular point of view.
This is what Obi-Wan tells Luke when asked why he didn't reveal the truth about Darth Vader. But truth is a delicate and malleable thing: Is Luke Skywalker a freedom fighter or a terrorist? I guess it depends on what side of the Death Star you happen to be on when he blows it up.

22. If your girlfriend tells you she loves you, it's totally badass to reply, "I know."
She will love you more.

21. Always let the Wookiee win.
Why? Because Wookiees pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Knowing your opponent is integral to defeating him, and conceding a small battle doesn't mean you forfeit the war.

20. Everybody means something to somebody. Remember that scene at the beginning of "Return of the Jedi" when the Rancor dies and a guard comes in bawling after him? Even the most twisted, deformed and evil beings can be loved for who they are. Everybody is somebody's child.

19. Don't ever apologize to your boss.
Especially if you did something really dumb, like jump out of hyperspace close enough to be detected from the ice planet Hoth. It will only get the goofball next to you promoted while you are Force-choked to death.

18. People who smoke need to "rethink" their life.
Obi-Wan's moralizing encounter with an alien shilling death sticks in "Attack of the Clones" is a bit schoolmarmish but nevertheless true. It shouldn't take a Jedi to tell those things are bad for you.

17. Crime doesn't pay.
Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett, Sebulba, Greedo — the bad guys in "Star Wars" always get what's coming to them, even if it takes a while. The reverse of this, however, is not true. While crime doesn't pay, not paying for your past crimes does pay. Just ask Han Solo.

16. Don't trust a liar to save your girlfriend from prophesied doom.
They're lying.

15. Never desert your friends.
The best we can hope for in our journeys across the galaxy are good, honest companions. They stick by you through thick and thin and won't judge you based on your crazy family. So next time you're debating leaving Jedi training to rescue your friends from Cloud City, remember who it was that shot down Darth Vader during the Death Star attack. You owe them.

14. Girls are really good shots.
If you must fight a tyrannical empire capable of sending endless waves of Storm Troopers, bring along a few girls. They never miss.

13. "Size matters not."
This is a cooler, more complicated way of saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

12. "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."
People can become heroes in life, but only in death can they become legends.

11. Dictatorships run much more smoothly than democracies.
At the beginning of "Phantom Menace," the Republic is a shabbily run confederacy that can't even protect a sovereign planet from being gobbled up by warring trade unions. That's why Queen Padmé calls for a vote of no confidence. By "Revenge of the Sith," it takes Darth Vader roughly 10 minutes to end the threat. If you can stand a little repression, nothing beats an empire when it comes to efficiency.

10. Everything smells better from the outside.
Some mysteries are better left unsolved. Slicing through a Tauntaun is like breaking a trash compactor to see how it works: The only thing you're going to discover are some really bad smells.

9. No matter where you are or what you're doing, someone is going to have a bad feeling about it.
Go ahead, say it aloud: Admitting your fears is the first step toward overcoming them.

8. If you want the job done, it's sometimes necessary to call in bounty hunters.
Even the most powerful Sith lord can't be everywhere at once, which is why to get what you want you sometimes have to associate with less-than-reputable fellows. There's little shame in finding the most capable aides. And none at all in admitting you need help.

7. Sand people always walk in single file to hide their numbers.
If something's bothering you, chances are it goes deeper than what appears to be the immediate cause. Look closer. Troubles come not as single spies but as battalions.

6. Life is better the first time around.
Often imitated, never duplicated. The original is always the best.

5. Even if you're the galaxy's most powerful army, never underestimate guerrillas defending their home turf.
Not even laser canons and AT-ATs can defeat stone throwers like the Ewoks at home. Regardless of your ideological persuasion, feel free to make your own contemporary political joke here.

4. "It's a trap!"
Rest assured, the battle station you're attacking is fully operational. Don't assume your enemies are idiots, no matter how many Bothans died to bring you the information.

3. No matter how many people you kill or how many galaxies you destroy, one good deed can make up for everything.
Anakin Skywalker gets to go to Force heaven, or whatever the heck it's called when he's palling around with Obi-Wan and Yoda at the end of "Jedi." And this is after killing roughly 8 billion people (give or take the population of Alderan). Can we be forgiven for our crimes? Can we forgive ourselves? A lot depends on whether or not you believe the next statement.

2. The worst enemies you'll face are those you bring with you.
When Luke enters the forbidden tree cave on Dagobah, Yoda tells him that all he will face is what he fears inside. Evil doesn't come from some external trickster — it is a reflection of our own foul natures ...

1. Use the Force.
... but the tools to our salvation lie within us as well. Discovering how to channel these forces is what makes our journey. Let it go. The greatest lesson "Star Wars" teaches us is that the hero is within.

Rosie – Bait & Switch

Come on Rosie…are you really that dense?

The question is not whether you called US Troops terrorists.

It never was.

Once again, you have twisted words and intent to suit your personal agenda. I've listened to you do it time and time again. You're a master at it.

It really doesn't matter what position one holds on the matter, it's the tactics that you use on a social interaction level that cause me to lose respect for you. You're abusive and manipulative.

I watch The View almost every morning and while I'm not OCD enough to acquire transcripts, I listened to Elisabeth ask you to define a terrorist, which you have repeatedly failed to answer. In fact, it is not uncommon for you to answer a question with, not only a question, but an attack. Sometimes in the form of statistics, other times in the form of "how could you continue to…" Other times you and Joy combine to "gang up" on her. It's amazing to watch the smiles of satisfaction on your face as you interrupt and refuse to allow Elisabeth to answer your questions, and then ask why she doesn't answer.

I found it incredibly entertaining that you apparently encouraged Elisabeth to respond emotionally rather than with information, while you and Joy bring lists and numbers to the Panel.

It's really sad to see you repeatedly go for the sympathy vote by diversionary tactics. If you weren't so hostile, you'd make an excellent politician.

In this case your hatred for the President and his policies have blinded you (IMHO) to a very serious global threat to you, my and our children's safety and future. Unfortunately, and sadly, as you correctly point out, many people have been killed and injured in the current attempts to cope with the threat of global terrorism which is highly focused on killing you, regardless of your persistent efforts to defend their rights, simply because they are not centralized in some organized form of Government.

While most of us would prefer to end the conflict without lives being lost (sans the "terrorists"), you and I both know that is an unrealistic proposition.

That being so, I suggest you answer the original question…proposed before political analysts chimed in, who are the terrorists?

And I'll, go further, how do you suggest the non-radical peoples (i.e., Infidels) of the world who are being targeted by these folks respond to the terrorist's attacks and stated goals?

Now, now…don't skirt the questions with statistics, political rhetoric, numbers of innocents dead in the current campaign or other diversionary tactics. I'm looking for a solution. (Maybe you should respond emotionally LOL) We both know that the religious/political extremists who are engaging in these tactics intend to exterminate anyone who holds beliefs that are different than theirs and could care less about the loss of innocents. Sadly, war is cruel, and the instigators have no intention of backing down. But, hey, if you can propose viable solutions rather than grandstanding then perhaps something productive can come out of all this after all.

Remember Me

I'm proud of you.
I'm lucky and grateful to have you in my life.
I love you.
I miss you.
Come home safe.

Even though the DOD won't let you see this.

Karate Kid

What an AWEsome day!

Master Junior Mint participated in his first Martial Arts competiton in Hapkido and won First Place in "Sparring". This is where you punch and kick each other. Points are earned for contact made.

MJM had to compete in a elimination bracket to earn his trophy. He defeated two Orange belts (a higher level belt than his Yellow belt) and a White belt (a lower level belt) during the elimination. He also won a Third Place trophy in "Forms", which is akin to a display of style.

He observed his Instructor display some impressive moves, and wants to enter the weapons competion next time.

Well done son.

Welcome to the World Jaina!

Jaina Rose made her big entrance to the world today at 12:50 pm in California.



Surfer Girl called just one hour after an extended labor to share the blessed news. Both Mother and Daughter are healthy and doing well. The Father said the experience was "interesting", but SG said she was glad he was there to support her.

I informed Junior Mint that he was now an Uncle (at 8 years old) and he seemed very proud.
The word spread quickly, as I spent the afternoon calling friends and relatives around the country to share the happy news.

Happy Birthday little girl...I know you'll bring many years of smiles and tears to your parents. And as they look into your eyes today, I know they're amazed at the perfection that you are and the potential that you have. I can't wait to see where your mind will take you.

O The Stories We Can Tell...

So the Jimmy Buffett traveling circus pulled in to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas last Saturday and over 600 of my closest friends showed up for a hellova tailgate party.
The pictures don’t do it justice…

A Parrothead “Phlocking” is something that must be experienced in person…the sounds, smells and weather; yes, Jimmy brought the weather with him.

You gotta understand, that some people dabble into Buffett music for the “fun” songs then find that it goes a lot deeper…there’s some good stuff in the man’s treasure chest. I’ve found pearls of wisdom in those lyrics that have inspired me through good times and bad; and on the road have found some amazing friends and genuinely good people.

Jimmy, you’ve while you may not sit with us in person, you’ve brought a lot of kindred spirits together and forged what some of us old hippie types would call a “movement”.

It’s a good thing.

This weekend I watched Parrotheads unite to raise $2,300 for breast cancer research…that’s what’s called partying with a purpose folks.

Jimmy's setlist was fabulous for long-time Jimmy fans ... he covered Texas songwriters/friends Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett and Willis Allen Ramsey. He ended the show with North East Texas Women giving a shout out to the NETWomen he met a long time ago ...

I can't say enough about how Jimmy's final encore of Tonight I Just Need My Guitar with him sitting alone in the spotlight is a perfect tribute for long time fans who can remember him before the big shows.

As Jimmy said before the lights went out, thank you for tonight and every night for the past 40 years, it's been an amazing run.

Is there something (else) we'd be doin' if we could?

Not a chance.

And if you ever wonder why we ride this carrousel,

We do it for the stories we can tell.

(Love those Texas Women)

On The Road Again...

Ok..I’ve been negligent. But I’ve been whooping off with friends in Houston where we celebrated the inaugural concert of Jimmy Buffett’s 2007 Bama Breeze summer tour last Saturday night.

Before the actual concert, my husband son & I met about 150 friends for a weekend of eating, drinking, dancing, a live band, and cooler racing? Yes, cooler racing. There was a rooftop pool party, and jello shots in the parking lot (warning…jello shots go down waaay too easy and pack a big punch).

By the time the Head Parrot hit the stage in Minute Maid Park the Parrothead faithful were in a tumultuous uproar. Jimmy didn’t disappoint. He revved the crowd up early with favorites like Fins, Son of A Son of A Sailor, and One Particular Harbor, I was thrilled that he dug into the old treasure chest and played two songs by Texas singer songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey, The Ballad of Spider John and Northeast Texas Women. There were also new favorites, Cinco de Mayo in Memphis, Bama Breeze and Regabilly Hill. The show ended with a lovely harmony of the Beach Boys cover In My Room and finally a Jimmy acoustic solo to a near silent stadium while he sang Tonight I Just Need My Guitar. The man knows how to work a room…no matter the size.

So, like a band of gypsies we'll go down that highway makin' music with our parrothead friends.
We'll be doing it all again Saturday when this travelin' carnival stops in Frisco, TX. Until then...I'll be hanging out at the Bama Breeze.

Peeps

What is your favorite Easter Candy?
Cadbury Eggs, Chocolate Bunnies ...or Peeps?
Well, at our house it’s Peeps.

Yup…those marshmallow confections garnished with colored sugar. Eat enough of them and you will find yourself bouncing around the house like a bunny rabbit. That’s exactly why my son loooves them

(I think). Perhaps it’s a childhood rite of passage, but even as an adult, I always eat at least one and watch Peep Jousting on YouTube. This year we found a Star Wars oriented one that made us laugh. I fear that many Peeps meet this sad fate of torture through microwaves at a time when we should be celebrating new life. Heartbreaking….

There are a lot of adults that won’t admit to eating the tasty treats, but I suspect that they secretly snag at least one from their kids every year. Maybe just to share a special moment with their offspring or to have a flashback to their own youth…it really doesn’t matter. Millions of the marshmallow confections are sold every year but in the infamous words of my 8 y/o son it’s that sugary sweet aroma that makes me feel soooo good. The only thing better than a Peep itself is a Peep inside a chocolate egg…because it has chocolate, too!
So buy yourself a pack of Peeps…whether to torture them in your microwave or to enjoy their sugary decadence all Spring long…it’s tradition.

The Real Pirate

This answers sooo many questions.

Earlier this week, Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, (who normally appears dead himself), said he snorted his father’s cremains…mixed with cocaine.

“He was cremated, and I couldn’t resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow. My dad wouldn’t have cared,” he said, adding that
“it went down pretty well, and I’m still alive.”

Hmmmm…let’s pause for a moment to reflect.
Keef has dropped off of the “who’s most likely to die” list, which he admits “has really disappointed him”. So, he pulls out 'ol Bert’s ashes and commiserates his mortality by becoming one with the old man. (I keep wondering how much was pure un-cut Dad?)

Maybe he did bong hits with dear old Mum, just to take the edge off, before ripping into the Urn?

Parting advice to the kiddo’s…don’t do any liquid Grandma…it only leads to the hard stuff.

*On Wednesday, Richards stated his recent comments were made in "jest", and can't believe people took him seriously. He published a comment on the Rolling Stones website stating that: "The complete story is lost in the usual slanting! The truth of the matter is that I planted a sturdy English Oak . I took the lid off the box of ashes and he is now growing oak trees and would love me for it!!! I was trying to say how tight Bert and I were. That tight!!! I wouldn't take cocaine at this point in my life unless I wished to commit suicide."

WTF? Personally, I find this retraction amusing. I think that his Manager probably got a call from Disney because the Pirate's of the Caribbean movie is coming out soon and, they didn't want 'negative' publicity.

Note to Disney...Historically, Pirates have been (arguably) defined as a rebellious, clever lot who operated outside the bureaucracy of modern life. i.e., outlaws, that miiight receive 'negative' attention from mainstream society. This is not necessarily a BAD thing for your movie. The younger folks probably aren't paying attention and the older one's that might not have come to the show otherwise, might decide to check it out seeing that the 'ol boy isn't just playing a "rum-soaked wobbly legged pirate" on the silver screen.

Keith has lived the life of a Pirate, which is the reason that Johnny Depp fashioned his characterization of Jack Sparrow after him…this latest walk off the edge of the map just reinforces that he’s the real deal.
Aaargh!

Two hundred years too late...

I've always been drawn to the Sea, but lived most of my life landlocked with frequent escapes to the water.
Having already been to the Caribbean this year, and with Buffett concert season starting soon, I'm ready to dive full force into the fun and fantasy of the life of a Pirate.
Yes, I've got a Texas heart and a Caribbean soul I can barely control.

So, with 61 days till the next Pirates of the Caribbean film is released, I found this fun quiz so you, too can see how much Pirate you have in your soul...

Jack Sparrow: [to Elizabeth] One word love; curiosity. You long for freedom. You long to do what you want to do because you want it. To act on selfish impulse. You want to see what it's like. One day you won't be able to resist.

What Pirates of the Caribbean character are you? Your Result: Jack Sparrow You are the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow! You disapeared under agents of the East India Trading Company, sacked Nassau port without firing a shot, and you managed to get so drunk that you are now considered a crazy person!
Will Turner
Elizabeth Swann
James Norrington
Tia Dalma
Cutler Beckett
Hector Barbossa
Davy Jones
What Pirates of the Caribbean character are you?

Elizabeth Swann: [to Jack] Curiosity. You're going to want it. A chance to be admired, and gain the rewards that follow. You won't be able to resist. You're going to want to know what it tastes like.

We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About…

Last night there was a phlocking of a few phriends from high school. We reminisced about old times and caught up about our current lives.


The occasion was because the daughter of one of us is getting married this weekend. Both she, her intended and her sister were there. That didn’t stop any of us “older” folks from cutting loose about who was “hot” or not, who was a gold digger or black widow, who was (un)ethical in business and what we thought about it.

One of us even had the foresight to bring our old school “yearbook” so we could gossip about the indiscretions of those who were unfortunate enough not to be in our good graces or intelligent enough to have hung out with us in our younger days… or stood the test of time with us.

Sigh…time.

Somewhere I took a right instead of a left, and I’m thankful of the phriends that persist in keeping up with me in spite of my windward ways. You are special to me…life is a hellova ride, let’s do it together.

And for AED and AI, I have only one word of advice for your marriage. Patience.

Pirates - At World's End

I can't tell you how excited I am to see the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean. Who's going to betray who? Can Will emerge in his own right? Where does Lizzy's heart truly lie? Will there be a wedding? Is Tia Dalma Calypso? What is the story between Captain Teague and Jack? Who will die?

The trailer has just been released and has some tantalizing clips, especially if you know about the mythology of the films.

Watch an HD version (720p) here
(please allow time for it to download).

Captain America, RIP

It's a slap in the face of American Patriotism, pure and simple.

Captain America was assassinated on the Courthouse steps by a sniper’s bullet.

The recent storyline is a foreign writer's attempt to force his personal opinion on the current climate in American Politics (i.e., the death of [personal] Liberty) on us.
(Mark Millar is Scottish born & raised, and currently lives in Glasgow.)

Wha??? Captain America has saved the world from those who would destroy freedom of expression countless times since he arrived on the scene in 1941 (just before the USA officially entered World War II).

Steve Rogers didn’t start out as a hero; he was a wimpy guy that didn’t make the cut, until he participated in a secret experiment to create an elite group of super soldiers. Every kid has insecurities, and the Captain America story let’s kids imagine that even the “square” kids can do something important…all you need is an indestructible shield and can do spirit.

While I haven’t kept up with the current “Civil War” being played out in the Marvel Universe, from what I understand, I don’t like it. Superheroes don’t fight superheroes. They are symbolic metaphors, not the personal platform for individual social commentary…seeing a superhero playing the role of social dissident doesn’t feel right to me. Captain America fights for the ideal of a free and democratic society…the greater good; not the selfish concerns of the one. We must “live together or die alone” and “justice for all”.

Captain America saves the world by riding a Nazi rocket to (his apparent doom) in the Atlantic Ocean, ultimately to be rescued by “The Avengers”. Captain America once considered whether being a superhero is worth it (what superhero hasn’t), but ultimately he chooses to keep fighting. Above all Captain America is a Patriot. For him to be gunned down by a mysterious sniper (ala Jack Ruby) symbolizes the loss of the American Dream. I get it, the symbol of freedom lies dying with handcuffs on; but I don’t believe that the American Dream is dying.

If the Captain (aka “America”) is going to bite it, he deserves to go out in a blaze of glory, not some act of street violence. I don’t know about you, but I still believe in America and the fight for Justice, and feel certain that a lot of other folks do, too.

Can Captain America be resurrected? You bet, it is the comics after all..and Marvel is tops in the soap opera department.

Can you tell me where I might find my friend and companion?

Captain will help anyone a friend or a stranger
Now number one without a gun he's bypassed the Lone Ranger
He's a do good who loves apple pie and kisses little babies
He'll guard you against everything from atom bombs to rabies.

Captain America we love you, Captain America you're grand.
~Jimmy Buffett, Captain America,
originally from the album Down to Earth, 1970.

Blue Sun

And you thought you found me because of Firefly...

"Excuse me, while I kiss the sky."

That's ok. I'm a huge Firefly/Serenity fan.

I can do you one better.

Last weekend (2/24) over North Texas there was a REAL
Blue Sun.

No kidding.

Truly, dust can turn the sun blue. But it takes a special kind of dust. All the grains in the cloud must be about the same size and, for maximum blue, should measure about 1 millionth of a meter across. This makes the air behave like a blue filter.

And guess what, there was this weird dust storm that blew threw North Texas last Saturday that wreaked havoc, downing power lines with 60 mph winds, leaving homes without electricity and causing the cancellation of about 300 flights at DFW airport...and turned the sun blue.


The winds caused praire fires and even forced the evacuation of the Fort Hood Army base!

This was an eerie storm, but I am truly one of the priviledged few to experience a Blue Sun.

Take my love. Take my land.
Take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care, I'm still free.
You can't take the sky from me.

Harken: Seems odd you'd name your ship after a battle you were on the wrong side of.
Mal: May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.*

*Remember the Alamo, March 6

Independent Texans

Today is Texas Independence Day.

171 years ago today, Texas declared it's independence from Mexico as the Alamo was under it's final siege.
You remember the Alamo, right?

The Alamo fell 4 days later (March 6, 1836), and the decisive battle of the Revolution occurred on April 21 at San Jacinto.

Both Texicans and Tejanos should be proud of the Republic of Texas that existed for for nearly 10 years before joining America as the 28th State. And what a State it has become! There's nothing like Tex-Mex food or music that Tejano's have created here anywhere in Mexico...even the Spanglish is different in Texas. Texans are distinctive in our food music and culture, a blending of the American west and South of the Border. Texans aren't better than other folks...just different.

A few famous Texans I thought of while trying to think of an interesting quote for this page...

George Bush, George W. Bush, Lyndon B. Johnson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adm. Chester Nimitz, Sissy Spacek, Lance Armstrong, Molly Ivans, Anna Nichole Smith, Beyoncé, Townes Van Zandt, Janis Joplin, Tommy Lee Jones, Barbara Jordan, Kris Kristofferson, Farrah Fawcett, Jayne Mansfied, Joan Crawford, Don Henley, Pat Green, Henry Cisneros, Nellie Connally, Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Matthew McConaughey, Gene Roddenberry, Bonnie & Clyde, Lee Harvey Oswald, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, George Strait, The Dixie Chicks, Bob Wills, Buddy Holly, J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Waylon Jennings, "Blind" Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker, Howard Hughes, Roger Staubauch, Nolan Ryan, Selena, Los Loney Boys, Jimmie Vaughn, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Miller, ZZ Top...

...in the infamous words of (another) famous Texan

That's right your not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway.

So on this day of rememberance, hoist your Shiner (or Dr Pepper)and face toward Washington-on-the-Brazos, then give a toast. (something like "To Texas Independence" or "Long Live the Republic of Texas")

Be sure to remember next Tuesday, March 6th, commemorates the Battle of Alamo, and say a special prayer for all the brave souls that fought and died in the heroic stand of that great Mission in San Antonio.

Honor the Texas Flag.
I pledge allegiance to thee: Texas, one and indivisible.
~Pledge to the Texas Flag

Who's Your Daddy?

How hard can it be to get a blood test?

In the continuing saga of Dannielynn Smith (the 5 month old daughter of Anna Nichole Smith for those of you who have been living under a rock), the various "interested" parties are flying from one port of call to another without anyone going to a medical clinic except for Anna Nichole who is, from my accounts laying in a Morgue in Florida 18 days after her death.

This child was born September 7 and almost immediately one of the people claiming to be the child's father requested paternity testing; but Anna Nichole and her Attorney/Companion/Common-Law Husband (?) skirted the issue, by placing his name on the birth certificate and started the P/R ball rolling to make this child's paternity a nasty public issue when it is, in fact a medical certainty.

The sad thing is that this woman chose to air a private conflict in a public forum.
Was she unaware that she had been used by others for their own personal gain for many years? Her self-image was so damaged that she escaped facing reality by sleeping around (e.g., being a "free spirit"), having multiple plastic surgeries and the consumption of untold amounts prescription medications. The woman was on a downward spiral that, through neglect and lack of self-awareness (IMHO) resulted in both her and her son's death. A sad state of affairs indeed.

Now the "Adults" left behind are continuing the public battle of a matter that should have been quickly and simply resolved shortly after Dannielynn's birth.

This child deserves a better life and I hope that the Judge and Guardian Ad-litum in the custody case have the courage to ensure that custody and visitation are arranged in HER best interests and she is able to grow up out of the spotlight and finds a way to cope with the spite and whirlwind that surrounded her Mother's short sad life.

Somebody order the DamB blood test and let this child get to the business of growing up.

The Astronaut Farmer

"If we don't have our dreams, we have nothing."

It appears that Desdemona isn't the only one building Rocketships.... *big grin*
While Charles Farmer's desire to reach the stars has a different genesis, the goal is the same.

It's what's in the heart that other's often cannot comprehend. Desdemona found that Joe Merchant was the missing link she needed to connect her with the stars.
What/Who is yours?

I think I'll go put on the blue jumpsuit that the Boomtown Boys gave me, and get back to work.

Go "Build Rocketships Now" *wink*

Film Review - The Dream is Alive: 'The Astronaut Farmer'
at Space.com

Said Mark Polish in Warner Brothers’ production notes, “The story was sparked by our interest in space exploration, but beyond that, it’s about a need to dream of adventures, whether it’s Neil Armstrong or Lewis and Clark. I think that, as a society, we’ve stopped dreaming about exploration.”

Farmer’s family, who dreams with and for him, is not unlike NASA’s workforce and its supporters. They understand the dream, even if those around them -- Farmer’s neighbors and the media who flock to his ranch -- do not.

"Somewhere along the line, we stopped believing that we can do anything," says Farmer. So, could be argued, has the nation, if not the world. We went to the Moon in 1969 because we didn’t know we couldn’t do so. Today, politicians and the public are too quick to assume that if a dream seems impossible, then it likely is.

"That kid can fly."

Surfer Girl and her husband have agreed on a name for their daughter. She picked the middle name and he the first.

After explaining the meaning of the name to our son, he commented that:
"The Prophecy is proceeding as I had forseen."

If you know ANYTHING about Star Wars, then you know that it is a story about family.
The interesting thing is that none of this was planned, sometimes the fates align and everything just falls into place.

The naming of this child appears to be one of those times...

And the name of Luke's Niece is Jaina Rose.

The name "Jaina" could originate from the Hindi word jaina.
This itself comes from the Sanskrit jina, which means "saint", and more literally, "overcomer" (triumph).
The root words for this are ji ("to conquer") and jayati ("he conquers").

Additionally, Jaina could also be derived from "Joan," which is Hebrew for "God's gracious gift."



"I name you the Sword of the Jedi. […] you shall be blessed for the peace you bring to others."
―Luke Skywalker

Little Miss Magic

Surfer Girl had a sonogram today and the Grandkeet is a healthy Girl!

So in less than three months this precious gift will come into the world and turn Surfer Girl and her husband’s lives upside down in the most wonderful way.

I told Junior Mint the news and could tell immediately that he was disappointed that the baby wasn’t a boy, but he took a breath and said…”Well, ok.”

How exciting to be an Uncle at eight!
I don’t mind being a crazy Grandma, as long as Kokomo is my AWEsome Grandpa.

Now, Little Miss Magic what are you gonna be?

The Super Bowl

The New Year has officially begun.

The Daytona 500 is Sunday and this is Mardi Gras week.

You just thought that the game that was played on February 4 was the "Super Bowl".
The first Daytona 500 was in 1959 and the first "Super Bowl" was in 1967. Hmmmm...
43 drivers in stock cars racing at near 200 mph around a 2.5 mile super speedway is serious thrill seeking...and dangerous.

Now I know there have been accusations of "cheating" by several teams this week, but hey, I figure for the most part they are just testing the boundaries of the rulebook.
NASCAR is notorious for writing rules that are not specific, so the Crew Chiefs simply wiggle through the loopholes. It's a cat and mouse game to see who can squeeze extra aerodynamics out of their hot rod that might give them an edge on the track.
If it hasn't been specifically defined, then it isn't against the rules; even if it violates the "spirit" of the rules ~ that's the way most of the Crew Chief's look at it.

Now, there are those that say this gives a "black eye" to racing, but I'm not so sure.
These guys are being creative. Isn't that what Stock Car Racing is all about? The experiments learned from these cars, the aerodynamics, the accidents, etc...are taken back to the auto makers and adapted to vehicles that you and I purchase.


So, as far as I'm concerned, while NASCAR wants the teams to compete "equally", I encourage creativity.

Roll on, brother, in the wheel inside the wheel.

I'm hopping on board with the Krewe of the Crossbones.
Cheers.

Jimmy Buffett - Here We Are

Since the Jimmy Buffett BAMA BREEZE Summer Tour has just been announced and some dates are starting to leak out, I thought I'd post this Video that was a "hidden video" on Jimmy's latest CD, Take The Weather With You.

Besides it's freezing outside and watching makes me laugh and think of all the fun we have at JB shows when it's WARMER!

Don't Chu-Know you wanna be there.

WWJBD or What is a Parrothead?

Inspired by CruiserMel’s comments on my Barometer Scoop post.



According to Jimmy Buffett: "Timothy B. Schmidt (Eagles bass player) was in the band, and we were playing the Timberwolf Ampitheatre outside of Cincinnati. People had already started wearing Hawaiian shirts to our shows, but we looked out at this Cincinnati crowd, and they were glaringly brilliant to the point where it got our attention immediately. I said "Look at that!" Then Schmidt says to me, "They look like Deadheads in tropical suits. They're like Parrot Heads!" He yelled to me in the middle of a song. So I immediately took the term and threw it over the microphone - the people identified themselves with the term from the get-go."

In that moment (6/22/1984), a cultural phenomenon was born.

The Head Parrot/Pirate, celebrated his 60th birthday on Christmas Day, 2006, and as of this writing finished the Party at the End of the World Summer tour in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday. Rumors are that he will re-visit the South Pacific this year (where he wrote One Particular Harbor). We are looking forward to a Texas date to reunite with phriends, but we're thinking of going to see him in Raleigh, too. There’s nothing like a phlocking before a JB show if you’ve never seen it (come early, but pace yourself *wink*)



A Parrothead, IMHO, is anyone who enjoys Jimmy Buffett music.
No Passport required, no concert experience necessary. If you enjoy life in the laid back lane, had the urge to run off to St. Somewhere, maybe had too much tequila (or not quite enough) or had your exploits told on the Coconut Internet (not that I’m one to deal in gossip) then you might be a Parrothead. I could go on and on, but I’m overdrawn at the Bank of Bad Habits

Winners!

Master Junior Mint in partnership with his buddy won the 2nd Grade Science Fair at their school for a project on Static Electricity!

How awesome is that!


The guys rubbed a balloon on a wool blanket then tested to see whether the balloon would stick to various objects. Sometime it did, and sometimes it didn’t. They had fun with the testing, but typing the results got a little tedious (but hey, they learned something about typing on the computer, too! *grin*).
I think that they both learned that with hard work can come a great sense of pride.

Maybe JM will be able to make the grades I wish I could have made in school....ok, now I wasn't that bad, I think I graduated High School with a "B" average, but this kid is looking like school might be easy for him....except writing, his writing looks like hyroglyphics.
Hmmmm....might that bode for a career in Medicine?
(I doubt it...he's too involved in video games *rolls eyes* LOL)

Oh well, I'm getting ahead of myself, for today I am one proud Mommy!

Barometer Scoop

Here we are, back from our week in the Caribbean sunshine. We started the week by saying “Hello” to the water and finding loads of Sand Dollars and even a large Conch Shell. There’s nothing like looking into the turquoise blue of the Caribbean while your son is racing up and down the beach thrilled with every shell he finds…we even noticed tiny shells that had extraordinary colors. The Frigates (or Pirate birds) and the Pelicans were flying overhead, and all seemed right with the world.

Sigh…then it was off to the Welcome Party, excessive drinking, loud music, dancing, meeting up with relatives and friends and all out revelry – yee ha! JM blew soap bubbles to keep things interesting. Later we took a drive down the Mayan Rivera and saw some very nice Hacienda’s and scenery. We took a day trip to Isla Mujeres where JM & I went snorkeling & saw some awesome coral, colorful fish, and sea turtles. JM also swam with a (Nurse) Shark, because Sharks are cooler than Dolphins!
We rented a golf cart and cruised around the island to the lighthouse, which sits on the Eastern most tip of the Island (which is also the Eastern most point of Mexico) where there is also a small Mayan ruin. JM and I climbed around the cliff for a while and watched the waves crash into and up on the huge rocks. It was an impressive site. Then we cruised down to the other end of the Island were we ran into some large fishing boats from Texas and North Carolina (the Migration and the 5 o’clock Somewhere were there) that were searching for Sailfish and Marlin. JM hung out on the beach for a while while Kokomo and I had a few drinks and checked out another lighthouse.

JM attended a Piñata Party so now we have a boatload of Mexican Piñata candy to go with our Halloween and Christmas candy. We went to Margaritaville a couple of times, watched ParrotVision, had Cheeseburgers in Parrotise, and various frozen concoctions. They even hosted a kids party that kept JM entertained while Kokomo & I had Margaritas & shopped.


The rest of the week was spent hanging out at the pool or the beach where we were swept away in a mini tsunami on our last day (really)…. the surf was high anyway, then a wave about 4-5 feet high came up and swept me out of my chair and JM all the way up into the Cabana Boy Cart at the Sea Wall (he was wearing his life jacket, and thought it was pretty cool). The kid enjoys the thrill of the Sea…and after being “swept away”; he stood up a raised his arms over his head in triumph!

The only downside of the week was that the Air-traffic controllers in Cancún decided to take a morning siesta putting all flights out of Cancún 2 hours behind schedule. Which means that after arriving at the Aeropuerto two hours early, we were treated to the hospitality of gate switching and long lines during our extended visit at Mexico’s busiest Aeropuerto. Of course, they provide for our convenience, a variety of Mercado’s and Duty Free shops to separate us from any renegade Peso’s that might be lingering in our pockets, which; in my case they were successful at.

Ahh well, JM had his portable video game handy so he was entertained. We all tried to keep a positive attitude and we arrived home safely and that’s all that really matters.

Now, it’s time to start planning the next phlocking.

That Explains A Lot...

Your Personality Is Like Acid

A bit wacky, you're very difficult to predict. One moment you're in your own little happy universe... And the next, you're on a bad trip to your own personal hell!

What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

....or maybe not.

Isn't that the definition of Parenthood?

Who do these people think they are trying to figure out who I am with five questions?

Oh well, sometime these quizzes are kinda fun.
I'm packing today so I can go to Mexico tomorrow & I'm in my own little happy tropical universe...listening to Radio Margaritaville, dancing around the house as I waste away...go figure.

Thanks CruiserMel, hope you get your Carribbean fix soon, too.

What's In A Name?

Surfer Girl is trying to name their baby.

She doesn't know if they are having a boy or a girl yet. She says she's been having strong "boy vibes", but she wants a girl. Obviously, as long as the child is born healthy, everyone will be grateful.

But, back to names. Surfer Girl will have a sonogram in about two weeks that, hopefully, will reveal a healthy child and also will give her a peek between the legs. Either there will be an appendage or there won’t. This information will make SG and her DH’s decision considerably less confusing…maybe.

A name is something that you will live with all your life, most of it (God willing), as an adult. But you will probably hate it (and your parents for giving it to you) when you’re a teenager.

What does your name mean? Does it have a family history, religious, or ethnic reference; maybe you were named after a famous person or fictional character? Sometimes your name can have multiple meanings as Junior Mint’s name does. His name is, first and foremost a religious name, it means “bringer of light”, and is also the name of a famous heroic fictional character. There’s also little chance that other people will ask “what?” or “how do you spell that?” when he tells them his name. Teachers don’t pause and say, “I hope I don’t mangle the pronunciation of your name….”.

A name can build confidence. A person should be proud to put their name on a business card or a job application and feel confident they will not be discriminated against before they ever have the opportunity to meet you face to face.

Personally, I have seriously wondered about the monikers some celebrities (and no doubt their copycats) have inflicted upon their children. These people must think it's cute, funny, unique, individual or they are just mean, ala Johnny Cash: A Boy Named Sue. Regardless, these children must chart a different course in life. Those that are the children of celebrities have the advantage (among the associated disadvantages) of money to insulate them. Those of average folks have to fight it out and it’s often not pretty. I can’t tell you how many runaway kids I used to work with who had “unique” (or “trendy”) names. Bless their hearts.

I have enormous respect for the task ahead of SG and her DH in the next 3 ½ months as they make this very important decision. Kokomo and I had agreed on Junior Mint’s first name before he was born, but didn’t decide on his middle name until after he was born. Sometimes it takes seeing your child breathing in your arms to know the right thing to do.

Another Trip Around The Sun

Junior Mint turned 8 this week.

Over the weekend he took his friends for bowling and laser tag. They had a blast…so did Kokomo and I. JM threw a “strike” on his first ball…ever! How cool is that! I can’t say how well they did at laser tag…except that they didn’t get “killed”, so I view that as a success.

He said he got everything he wanted. A little cash, a new PS2 to replace his old broken one, a couple of Pirates of the Caribbean toys, a Hot Wheels track, and a couple of games for his PS2 and his Nintendo DS.

He also got his name on the marquee sign in front of the school announcing his Birthday and shared cupcakes with his classmates.

Ya know…it’s pretty cool to be a kid and have everyone pay attention to you, and be soooo excited about your birthday that you can hardly stand it.

And to top it off celebrating with JM refreshes my enthusiasm for life, not just on his birthday, but every time I see him smile.

Reach for the Stars

I met with Junior Mint’s "Quest" teacher this morning, (Quest is a program for bright students) and she thinks he’s awesome. *big grin* She told me that JM shows signs of being a “gifted” child, and went on to describe his art projects, storytelling and analytical abilities that he has shown in class during the year.

She was impressed with his ability to remove himself from distractions and work independently. We agreed that he has strong opinions and has a wealth of knowledge on a large variety of topics.

Do I need to tell you that I was one proud Mommy when I left that Conference?

You can never take too much time to read and talk to your child…it’s amazing the things that they are learning from you. Even seemingly insignificant questions can open huge doors in the mind of a child.


This meeting not only reinforced the work that JM has been doing, it reinforced that the time I and many others have invested in the details have been well spent.

8 Seconds

We’re hanging out inside waiting out the ice storm, and Kokomo is flipping the television between the Football playoffs and the Dallas Mavericks game. After getting distracted by his laundry and the Football game he quickly flips back over to the Mavericks game…thinking that he probably missed the finish, but nope. In the ~30 minutes he has been otherwise distracted only 8 seconds have elapsed off the clock. Wha??? 8 seconds???

It is absolutely amazing how long it can take to play a second of this game, especially as the clock winds down. They actually break the seconds down into tenths of a second. There are coaches time outs of varying lengths and commercial breaks, (otherwise known as "official time outs") in the last minute of the game that can draw out that minute into twenty. While they play the last 10 seconds of the game, I’ve got time to go to the bathroom, move the laundry from the washer to the dryer, fold the clothes from the dryer and still have plenty of time left over.

I’m a Texas girl, raised on Football. Basketball was never on my radar. What’s with all these different time outs of different lengths in Basketball? I asked Kokomo how many each team gets, and what lengths they get and he just looked at me with his eyes glazing over and said “I don’t know”.
(I’m sure he does, he just didn’t want me to make fun of it in this post.)

Kokomo also rolled his eyes at me when I told him I was going to blog about this, but he wonder’s why it’s hard for me to watch 82 regular season basketball games even if the Mavericks do (currently) have the best record in the league. I dunno, if they get back into the playoffs I’ll watch, but they better not choke again like they did last year in Miami.

Ok..rant over, pour me some boat drinks and I'll kick back & oogle those finely tuned bodies till I pass out...

Ice Storm

Why is it when we get “winter weather” in North Texas it can’t be snow? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for more cold weather, in fact I absolutely abhor cold weather. But my attitude about it is that if it’s going to be cold, cloudy gray and spitting nasty stuff from the sky, it may as well be fluffy and white.

One of the reasons I live in Texas is so I don’t have to experience “winter” as many folks do. We usually get one or two hard freezes a year, and maybe one “winter weather” event. As far as I’m concerned, it only needs to get cold enough to kill the mosquito’s.

Watching the weather people standing along the highways scraping ice off of their eyelashes is just abusive…and funny as hell. Those folks should get hazardous duty pay. No self respecting Police Officer would stand on the side of a highway with people who have been living in drought conditions trying to drive on frozen precipitation!

It’s a good thing I don’t have to be anywhere, my son is plugged into his computer games, we’ve got plenty of DVD’s and sports to keep us entertained, so I’m just going to stay inside and turn up the Caribbean rhythms to create some virtual sunshine.

Feel free come back and visit me in August when I’m complaining about how many days we’ve had over 110°.

Already gone...

There are still Christmas decorations hanging around the house, but my mind is already somewhere between the Port of Indecision and Southwest of Disorder.

We are heading to the Caribbean at the end of the month and I’m spending my time imagining my feet in the sand and sipping Piña Colada’s.

Unfortunately, I have spent all day fighting with iTunes converting my WMA files to MP3 files or whatever kind of iFrackinfiles an iPod uses. Do I need to confess how many music files are on my computer, and why I like the WMA format better?

After I get it all sorted out, I’m definitely going to be kicking back on the beach snapping my fingers at some cute Cabana Boy to fetch me cold boat drinks, & listening to my well thought out tunes and contemplating the devil who is Steve Jobs and his new iPhone.

I think I'll start on the boat drinks now.

Timeless...

Just a quick entry to acknowledge that today is my sister's Birthday.

She went forward in the search into the Great Mystery nearly thirteen years ago.
I know she is scouting a trail ahead of me and I am rejoicing in her journey, though there have been days I would have liked to share with her.

Lighting a candle in your honor today dear sister. You are always in my heart.

Surfer Girl Fare You Well

Ok, so Christmas and my daughter’s wedding are over. Everyone has returned to their respective ports o’ call, and with tomorrow night’s National Title game, I will consider the Season officially over.

The wedding was very nice. The only people who noticed what went wrong were those that did the planning. I’m sure it’s great fun to collect Wedding and Christmas gifts at the same time! I still have some things I got for wedding gifts. Ooooh, that was a loooong time ago. Anyway, she was still carrying her bridal boquet the day after the wedding - how cool is that!

Our (nearly) 8 y/o son was the ring bearer. He thought that was pretty cool, kinda like Frodo charged with carrying the Ring of Power. He was so proud to dress up in his suit and tie. He wanted to see everything that happened during the ceremony and had to crawl onto the platform with the Bride and Groom to get a clear view of them lighting the Unity Candle. But hey, he did dance with his sister, his mother and grandmother at the Reception.

Now, if I can just learn how to work all the new toys we got for Christmas I’ll be ready to head to the Caribbean at the end of the month.