Blogoversary

Since I've been oh-so-good about updating my blog, I didn't realize that today was my Blogoversary until someone posted a comment congratulating me on it. Hmmm...I suppose that means I should post more often. Ooops. Maybe now that both of my kids are back in school, I'll have more free time. Of course, do I want to spend that time blogging? Yeah, I probably do.

Blackened Sunrise

My nephew, Cody, is in a teen metal band called Control the Chaos. The band has won numerous contests and played at countless venues around Vegas and Southern California. They are known as Vegas' Hottest Teen Metal Band. They recently completed a professional video for their song Blackened Sunrise. Even though Metal is not my kind of music, I'm still impressed that a bunch of teenage boys have the conviction to follow through with their dreams. I wish them all the best in the world in making their dreams come true. Cody, I'm proud of you!

Remembering

Four years ago today, my brother-in-law, SFC Ron Wood, was killed in Kirkuk, Iraq. Last year I posted a memorial video that Ron's brother and a friend made that was shown at Ron's funeral. The video below was made by some of Ron's men in his unit and has clips from the memorial service Ron's unit held in Iraq.

We miss you, Ron. We think of you every day. You'll always be our hero.

The Passing of Two Icons

I know there are other things I could choose to update my blog with since it's been far too long since my last update, but I'm going to start with the passing of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

First, Farrah Fawcett passed away on Thursday, June 25 after a courageous battle with cancer. Of course, my first introduction to Farrah was though "Charlie's Angels." I can't think of a better way to remember her than to quote what my friend, Traci, put on Facebook:

"Not only was she a gorgeous icon, but she put up one hell of a fight against cancer and showed the world what a horrible disease it is. How many celebrities out there would admit they have anal cancer and then be filmed throwing up with a bald head? Probably close to zero. She was a fighter. That kind of courage rarely comes wrapped in such a beautiful body with teeth that white. Bravo Farrah! You are a hero."

Well said, Traci. She was beautiful, brave, and smart -- the complete package. I wish Farrah and her family peace.

Now I know there are people out there sad at the passing of music legend Michael Jackson, who died just hours after Farrah Fawcett, and others who are saying "good riddance" to an accused pedophile. But I don't want to talk about his personal life, because as eccentric and aloof and strange as he was, it's his music and his dancing that I choose to remember.

I remember the golden age of MTV. You know, back when they actually played music videos introduced by VJ's like Martha Quinn and Nina Blackwood. I remember watching Michael Jackson videos brought into our home courtesy of one of those ginormous satellite dishes that were something like 12-feet wide. Watching videos like Beat It, Billie Jean, and Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', just to name a few, was the highlight of my after school hours, you know, when we weren't watching the "After School Specials" (what ever happened to those?). You have to give credit to Michael Jackson for being the Consummate Entertainer. The man could sing in three octaves and dance like no one had ever danced before. I dare you to listen to a Michael Jackson song and not want to get up and dance. Go ahead, I'll wait....It's simply not possible. His music and his videos changed the course of Pop Music as we know it. Do you think performers like Prince, Britany Spears and Justin Timberlake would be where they are now if it weren't for Michael Jackson? I doubt it. You can't deny that Michael Jackson was one of the the top performers ever, right up there with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Elvis. There is a reason "Thriller" is the top selling album of all time, going Platinum six times, having seven Top Ten hits (there are only nine songs on the album) and winning a record eight Grammys. In my book, it is one, if not the single Greatest Album of All Time.

Like many celebrities, it seemed Michael Jackson chose the path that lead him into trouble in his personal and, even sometimes, his professional life, but despite that, Michael Jackson had a gift and we were all lucky enough to have had the opportunity to watch and listen.

P.S. My friend, Farrukh, wrote this article for Islam Online regarding Michael Jackson's death which I thought I'd also share.

Welcome Little One

My dear sister, Kim, and her husband, Steve, are the proud parents of a baby girl!! Sawyer Kate-Rhianan was born on Sunday, May 3rd, at approximately 5:15 pm, weighing 6 lbs 2 oz and 18 inches long.

Unbeknownst to a lot of friends, and even some family, my sister and her husband have been in the process of applying for an adoption for about a year now (my sister also has two grown sons from a previous marriage). About three weeks ago, they turned in the last of their paperwork and were prepared to wait the year or more it usually takes to adopt a baby in this country. Then just a week later, they got a call that a birth mother wanted to meet with them, so they met and just a few days later, their baby was here. It all happened so quickly, but Kim and Steve are thrilled, excited and overjoyed with the love they have for their daughter.

I haven't been able to make the trip to see Sawyer, but I get to hear her squeaks, sighs, burps and cries over the phone. I can't wait to get my hands on her and kiss her chubby cheeks!

Here's a little scrapbook I put together with the photos I have of Sawyer (some are blurry because they were taken with a cellphone camera):

Make a Smilebox photobook

Welcome to the world, Sawyer! I can't wait to meet you!

Love - Aunt Kate

Do You Have a Secret?

I've been reading Post Secret for a few years now. If you don't know what Post Secret is, here's a basic rundown... A man named Frank Warren started Post Secret as a small art project. He stood on the streets and went up to random strangers saying, "Hi, my name is Frank and I collect secrets." He would hand them a blank, self-addressed postcard with the instructions to create their own postcard with a secret they've never shared with anyone else and then mail it to him anonymously. What began as a small project quickly escalated into hundreds and then thousands of postcards. These postcards are featured weekly on his blog (new secrets every Sunday!), in museum exhibits, in books and during his live lecture.

Earlier this month, I, along with my friends Janice and Anjie, headed to Logan, Utah, to hear Frank give a lecture at Utah State University. The tickets were just $5.00. Because the lecture was during the evening, Janice used her employee status to get us a discounted room at the Holiday Inn Express in Logan (they even upgraded us to a suite, so we all had our own bed). We headed to Logan in the afternoon, checked-in at the hotel, and then went up the lecture hall. They had only 500 tickets available and they sold all of them (well, students got in free).

We listened to Frank talk about how he started the site. He talked about putting the books together and why some of the secrets he wanted to include were banned, mostly for copyright issues. For example, one secret was written on what was thought to be a page from a Disney coloring book and the lawyers told him he couldn't put it in the book because, "Disney will sue your ass!" (Am I right, Anjie?!) He told how his dad finally shared his secret with him and how it changed their relationship, how they grew closer because of it. Frank shared his personal secret, then opened up the floor to others to share there secrets. It was so hard to hold back the tears as some told some heartbreaking, but ultimately redeeming, secrets. Secrets that once they unleashed them, it allowed them to be free. To grow. To be better people.

After the show, Anjie got in line to have Frank sign a copy of one of her Post Secret books. I didn't have a book, but I met him and told him how much I've enjoyed the website and books. He was very nice and thanked us for coming. As we were walking away, a local paper asked us for an interview. (Sadly, I forgot to make a copy of it and now it's archived. Anjie or Janice, do either of you have a copy of it?) We went to dinner and then back to the hotel for the night. The next morning we ate a quick breakfast at the hotel and got some coffee at Starbucks, then headed home. It was a great night with great friends. Thanks for going with me, ladies!

Anyway, if you haven't read Post Secret, I urge you to check it out. And remember to share your secret with someone you know or even mail your own postcard to Frank. Don't hold your secrets inside. As Frank said, "The world needs to hear your voice."

Happy Happy Birthday!

Just a quick note to wish my mom the Very Best Birthday Ever! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you! Love you!!!

Excuse Me, I've Been Preoccupied

Man, oh man, has it been a while since I posted on my blog. Ya'll probably thought I forgot about you. I haven't. I've just been preoccupied with this crazy thing called "life." Maybe you've heard of it. Better yet, maybe you have one!

Well, I've got a lot of things to blog about. Too many to fit into one post. Or at least too much information for you to read if you have one of those "life" thingys I mentioned. So here's a teaser of what's to come:

• My trip to Logan to listen to the PostSecret lecture.
• My kid's T-Ball and Soccer seasons.
• Review of Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
• My venture out to The Kings English Bookstore to listen to Dooce read an except from her book and have her sign my copy.
• Review of Dooce's book: It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, A Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita

Maybe I'll think of a few other things, too. But those are what I can remember off the top of my head. A very tired head. One that needs a Margarita.