The Death of a Child....

Is there anything more horrific than the thought of burying your child? I cannot even breathe at the thought as I sit here putting off icing the cupcakes I have lovingly prepared for BabyBoy's 23rd birthday tomorrow. (How did that happen so FAST?)

DSD and I went to visit his parents last weekend - about an hour from Sanford, FL. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and there was a large rally being held requesting justice for Trayvon Martin. Thousands were shown on the news. Thousands of mostly black people. (Y'all know I really wanted to be there, right?) I was dumbfounded by the comments of my completely non-racist in-laws. Things like "There's going to be trouble there." "That is so not a good idea." "They are just asking for trouble." WHAT?!?!? A child is dead. Justice should be sought!

Then there is the girl who I befriended when we were in class together about a year and a half ago, who seems to think it is her duty to remind us all that jumping to conclusions is not a good idea. She has gone from someone I thought was a card carrying Democrat to some crazy gun-toting, planning to vote for any Republican who runs because she hates Mexicans. (I have Republican friends, I just like to know what I am getting myself into.) The thing that makes me the MOST nuts (and she is a blog post all by herself) is that she keeps telling ME that she understands these things because she is majoring in Political Science. HELLOOOO! She is also more than a year away from graduation. I am (in case I forgot to mention it today) 6 weeks and 6 days away!

Trayvon Martin was a typical 17 year old - obsessed with girls and getting by. But also by the overwhelming thought of college, the future, and life. And all of that is now gone. Justice has NOT been done in this case. A child is dead and someone should be charged in that death. Preferably the man who followed him and then pulled the trigger.

I have more... but I have cupcakes to ice. I am very thankful that I can celebrate my child's birthday tomorrow. RIP Trayvon.

And On Another Note... Happy and Sad..

Mrs. S passed away Wednesday from lung cancer. Thank you all for sending happy thoughts her way. I am certain it was for the best, because the disease was advanced and there wasn't much hope. But I would never tell her family that. And the world is a darker place without her in it.

Last week's family vacation went fairly well. DSD's daughter dotes on Grandson #1 (GS1) and he is precious. I see issues with the way she doesn't dote on Granddaughter #1 (GD1) or Granddaughter #2 (GD2) and I (as well as my mom and DSD's mom) all remarked on it. They are her stepdaughters, but their mother is gone (car accident in 2007) so she is all they have. And they are delightful girls.

Still, the water park, and snorkeling in the Gulf, and swimming in the pool went well. We ate like Kings and Queens, and we were able to visit more than we have before. I do have pictures.. and videos.. as soon as I figure out how to get them off of my phone.

Hug those you love and let them know it, no one is promised tomorrow.

The Rapture Deserves a New Harley!

My plan for tomorrow 21 May 2011 is to station DSD outside of the Harley dealership at 5:45 CDT and BabyBoy at the local Publix while I stand outside of a ritzy jewelry store! Plenty of food, a new bike, and JEWELS.. for free!!

Ok not really. I actually believe that there may be a Rapture one day with ~ 12 - 14 people disappearing and no one noticing. If anyone does notice though THAT will cause the end of the world because the 'alleged' Christians will their minds and destroy.

How many will kill themselves tomorrow because they've quit their jobs, lost their houses, spent their money on stupid in the run up to this BS? There was a Facebook link where a woman tried to kill herself and her children today because of it. (I didn't read the story).

How much more insanity do we need?


On another note, R.I.P. Randy "Macho Man" Savage. DSD says his heart attack was steroid induced, but he made me laugh when I was younger.

A Sad Day for Us All

We all knew this day was coming, most people do not live for over a year with brain cancer and he had made it for several months past that. But I was not ready to hear about it this morning on the radio. I would never have been ready to hear about it and I can only imagine how heart breaking it is for his family, friends and co-workers.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal lion of the Senate and haunted bearer of the Camelot torch after two of his brothers fell to assassins' bullets, has died at his home in Hyannis Port after battling a brain tumor. He was 77.

He owed this country nothing. He had money, he didn't need to work, but he spent almost 50 years toiling for a better, brighter America.

He wasn't perfect and there will be many stories about his failings over the next days, weeks and months, but it is my belief that we, as a nation, should appreciate the things he worked so hard to provide. Today is a sad day as we remember him and there will come a time when the health care bill is signed into law and the day will be bittersweet because he is not with us to celebrate.

My thoughts are with his family.

RIP, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D - Mass. Thank you for your service.

A Brain, and an Athlete, and a Basket Case...

A princess and a criminal.


So ends my absolutely favorite John Hughes movie.

I came of age in a John Hughes era of teen coming of age movies. They, and the Brat Pack, defined who I was, what I wore and what I wanted to be when I grew up. And my speech is still peppered with John Hughes movie references to this day.

John passed away today of a heart attack at age 59. His movies were amazing and I will never forget him or the charactars he brought to my life. I have even introduced many of his movies to my 20 year old son and we watch them together.

Thank you, John, for the fun, for the charactars, for the quotes ("Smoke up Johnny") for the laughter and even for the tears.

RIP John Hughes, director extraordinaire.

And For a World That is Mourning

The best, brightest and most caring of a generation of immense musical talent.

Thank You for the Music

I refuse to remember the laughingstock he became.

I refuse to remember the blanket covered baby, nicknamed Blanket, dangling over a balcony.

I refuse to remember the pedophile's oddly misshapen nose in court.

I refuse to remember the bankrupt whiner swearing he would never return to this country which had treated him so badly.

I am going to remember the music.

The #1 selling album of all time.

The most amazing, show stopping video of all time.

The voice.

The baby faced singer leading his 4 older brothers on stage.

The moonwalk.



This is the Michael Jackson I want to, and will, remember. The boy. The voice. The music.

Thank you for the music, Michael. May your rest be ever so much more peaceful than your life ever was. My thoughts are with your children in this awful time in their lives. RIP

Who Didn't Love Her?

Who didn't want to be her?

I watched the premier of Charlie's Angels as only a rapt 10 year old girl with her entire life before her possibly could. Those women were cool! They were hot! And they could run in heels! (Not sure why they didn't kick them off, but still.)

I loved her as Jill Monroe and always looked forward to her brief returns to the show.

I was sad when she and Lee divorced and she became, once again, Farrah Fawcett, instead of Farrah Fawcett-Majors.

I thought she showed the critics who called her only another pretty face in, first, "The Burning Bed," and then, amazingly, in "Extremities." (That movie still creeps me out)

There was always a girl next door quality to her. There was always a feeling that you could run into her at the mall and she would be happy to sit down and talk about shoe shopping with you.

And, if you saw the recently aired "Farrah's Story" on TV, you know that she has given everything she has to others so they will know the horrors of this cancer and what it can do. Maybe Congress should watch it and understand that, if she had not had money, she would have been gone two and a half years ago.

Farrah Fawcett has passed away after a 3 year long battle with anal cancer. My heart breaks for her family; long time partner, Ryan O'Neal; her poor father, who has now lost 2 daughters to cancer; and her only child who must now find his way without her.

RIP Farrah. You will be missed.

Missing You!

How can you miss someone you have never met? Never spoken to? Never known their real name?

I am here to tell you that you can.

I was just checking some of my blog links and I came across Mustang Bobby's latest post letting Blogland know that Andante, author of Collective Sigh, passed away on Tuesday June 16, 2009 after a battle with cancer.

I never met her, but I admired everything about her. She was always so upbeat in her postings, even in the ones that blasted people. We all knew she was fighting a long, difficult battle, but her hope convinced me personally that she would make it. Each time her postings lagged, I was concerned, but I knew in my heart that she would beat this horrible disease.

Sadly, she did not and she is gone. My heart is breaking for her husband and beloved daughter. May they get through this with loving memories of her.

RIP Andante, you will be missed more than you ever could have known.

Heartbreaking

I can not imagine how a person survives the death of a child. I hope I never find out.

My sympathy goes out to the Tyson family in the loss of their 7 year old daughter.

Gone too soon. Rest in Peace, little miss.

And Now, The Rest of the Story

How many of us grew up waiting for those words? How many of us spent time in the car, on vacations or short trips, praying for the legendary voice, many times just to get away from our parents music?

I could not come up with one specific bit of information I learned from Paul Harvey over the years, but there was plenty of it. Even as a child, I always looked forward to hearing his commentary, it was always interesting and informative and there was always that lovely twist at the end.

Mr. Harvey passed away in the hospital surrounded by his family. He was 90.

He will be missed, not just by those of us who learned so much from him, but also by generations who may never know, 'the rest of the story.'

RIP Paul Harvey

The Loss of a Friend

We haven't really talked in years. After high school our lives just went in different directions when I dropped out of college to get married and her dad took a huge promotion and moved the family to the NE. She graduated college in 5 years with a Master's Degree in some kind of Engineering, I had a beautiful baby boy.

We kept in touch on and off. She was in town the week I found out that I was pregnant. She had moved back to the area when she was pregnant with her first one. We kept trying to get together for lunch or dinner or something, but circumstances prevented it. I saw her right after her son was born, but she moved away then. She found my email address and we emailed for a bit, but life gets busy doesn't it? I was in the process of changing jobs, buying a house, starting over after the divorce. She was pregnant with #3.

Three years ago (when our 20 year high school reunion was cancelled due to lack of participation) 10 of us got together and had dinner at a nice restaurant, but no one had a chance to really visit and catch up. We all passed around our email addresses and telephone numbers and promised to stay in touch. It was a lie.

This morning there was a note on the counter from my son. Apparently her husband was trying to track me down and remembered BabyBoy's name and found him on MySpace. "I am trying to contact (using maiden name), if she is your mother, please let her know that her good friend (using both married and maiden name) passed away this morning."

She has battled cancer for some time. I didn't know. I didn't really know her at all anymore. But, at one time, I knew her better than I knew myself. At one time I knew her phone number better than I knew my own name. She was there for my first kiss (it was a game of "spin the bottle" so she was probably watching), my first date, my first broken heart. There were many nights of staying up late to watch videos on TBS. (MTv existed, but we didn't get it). We were in band together, Student Council, National Honor Society. We went to dances together when we were both boyfriendless. We dated some of the same people. My first memory of her is from kindergarten. It never bothered her that she wore bright colored socks that in no way matched her outfit. She was only 40.

There should be more time. She should be there when her oldest starts to drive next year, when they all graduate from high school, from college. When her only daughter goes shopping, first for a prom dress, then a wedding one. She should be there when the grand babies start to arrive.

She should be there just in case one of us finds the time and has the inclination to pick up the phone.

Rest in Peace, CJ.

Should We Blame the Victim?

I was horrified Monday morning as I was putting on my shoes and heard the news that Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor had been shot in his home. I did not have time to follow up on the story throughout the day and had no idea how serious his injuries were until I heard on Tuesday that he had died. His death made me sad, not because he was a rich and famous NFL football player, but because he was a young man just starting out in life with a small child. And his death seemed so senseless. My heart goes out to his family.

I didn't really know anything about Sean before this tragic incident. I don't follow the NFL much (only the Super Bowl, really) and the only players I readily recognize are the former Gators. So the problems this young man had over the years meant nothing to me. Why should they now? Sean Taylor was at home, in bed, asleep in the early morning hours of 26 November 2007. Someone broke into his home and shot him. Whatever Mr. Taylor had or had not done in the previous 24 years of his life did not give anyone the right to shoot him, certainly not in his own home!

It seems to me that the media is holding Sean Taylor accountable for his own murder due to his actions in the past and that is not acceptable. It is like holding a woman accountable for her own rape because she was wearing a short skirt. We all need to be held accountable for OUR OWN actions and use some common sense, but we should not be blamed, by the media, by the courts, by anyone for things that are beyond our control. Sean Taylor was exactly where he was supposed to be and some lunatic broke into his house and shot him. Let's not blame Sean Taylor.

Rest in Peace, Sean.

The Gator Nation Mourns

A senseless death.

A walk-on defensive back for the Florida Gators was killed early Friday when the
motorcycle he was driving hit a median at a high rate of speed, police said.

Michael Guilford was only a redshirt freshman and normally would not be known at this point of his career to the entire Gator Nation, but there was a nationally televised story on him (I think on ESPN) right around the time the Gators won the National Championship in January.

Apparently Michael was a very an integral part of that National Championship team despite his youth.

Guilford mimicked Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith during preparation for
the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January.

Rest in Peace, Michael.

With Liberty and Justice for All**** updated 10/13/2007

For all. For everyone. All of us.

Except for Martin Lee Anderson.

Seven former boot camp guards and a nurse were acquitted Friday of manslaughter
in the death of a 14-year-old boy who was hit and kicked by the drill
instructors in a videotaped altercation.
The all-white jury took about 90
minutes to decide whether the guards were responsible for the death of Martin
Lee Anderson, a black teen. The guards, who are white, black and Asian, stood
quietly as the judge read the verdicts.
Surveillance video shows the guards
striking the limp boy with their fists and knees in January 2006. The case
caused protests in the state capital and prompted Florida to close its juvenile
boot camp system.

I wish I had something positive to say, but I am devastated. This was a CHILD. I don't know how anyone who watched that videotape could not hold the guards responsible. Sadly, I am wondering why the guards and nurse were not also indicted on lesser charges. Criminal neglect? Assault and battery? Child abuse and or neglect? Did the DA know that the evidence would not stand up to a manslaughter charge? Was that the plan all along?

Martin's parents received a hefty check from the state. The guards/nurse don't go to jail. A lot of prominent people received a lot of attention. And poor Martin Lee Anderson is dead, with no justice.

Rest in Peace, Martin.

*****Update: According to NPR(and I have not double checked my facts) the Feds are looking into pressing charges against the nurse* and seven guards that did this. Was this a violation of Civil Rights? Watch the video before you answer. I think it was.

*I am in deep contempt for this nurse who watched a child beaten and then lied on the stand that he was conscious the entire time. There is no way in HELL I would allow this bitch to nurse anyone I cared about... or even anyone I hated!

Long Live the King

I am not a whack job, I swear. For the most part I am a (fairly) intelligent, rational person so mired in reality that I miss some of the simple pleasures. My beliefs, however, on what happened 30 years ago today in the Memphis mansion called Graceland are probably as far-fetched as they come. My family will not even mention Elvis in front of me because they are sick of my trying to convince them I am right.

No, Elvis did not voluntarily leave the life and people he loved. He is not now, nor has he ever been, a member of the FBI, CIA, or DEA. He did not just make a run for it because he was bored. SOMETHING happened in that 2nd floor bathroom. A heart attack? A stroke? A drug overdose? Something. But, I honestly don't believe Elvis died. There is just too much unexplained weirdness.

Why were there 2 death certificates? Why was there only 1 permit filed to move Elvis and his mother to Graceland from the cemetary where they were originally buried? Was Gladys left behind? Or was there only 1 body to move? I don't buy Vernon's BS explanation about the name on the grave either. "Elvis always wished his middle name was spelled Aaron". Yea, okay. The life insurance that was never cashed in, although we all know Elvis was broke as a joke on 16 Aug 1977. (Thanks Col Parker, you useless, thieving POS.) Have you looked at the picture of Elvis in the coffin? Why was it suddenly 1958 again? Why did the coffin weigh so much? Sure Elvis had packed on the weight, but he wasn't bedridden. And the sightings? I don't really lean toward believing he was seen every week at the local gas station. But the ones where he was seen in the backseat of a limo leaving Graceland at 4am? And weren't there some who swear he waved at them from the bedroom window when they were touring Graceland? What about the pictures of Lisa with a man who DID look remarkably like an older Elvis (from the back)?

I think Elvis sustained brain damage that fateful day. I believe he was probably left with the mentality and personality of a toddler and he lived his remaining days on the 2nd floor at Graceland. The grief would have been real, Elvis, who he really was, was gone. The body remained with a childlike innocence, but the essential "Elvis" really was dead. And Priscilla stepped up to protect her only child and Elvis' only heir. She turned into a tiger trying to protect her cub and the memory of a man who belonged to all of us.

Whether I am right or not does not matter. I believe, if he survived that fateful day, he is gone now. Elvis is at rest, although he will never be forgotten. His music will survive as long as there are those of us who know what an amazing talent he had, as long as we pass it on to our children, as long as there is one person who appreciates the story, the music, the struggle.

The King is Dead. Long Live the King.

Elvis Aron Presley
Born 8 Jan 1935
"Died" 16 Aug 1977
Rest in Peace. You are missed and will never be forgotten.

Thanks for the Memories

I don't remember Merv Griffin in movies, and, until I read the article, didn't know that he was the brain behind Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune. All I really knew about him was that, in the pre-cable era, when I was home sick from school, he was funny and entertaining and kept me from total boredom.

Thank you for that, Mr. Griffin. Rest in Peace.