Journey

So I am off to the Journey Concert at Pala Casino tonight. Thank goodness for the Indian Casinos, cuz now they get all the 80's bands and folks that we adored when we were 20 years younger! I am looking forward to "Midnight Train" or "Don't stop believing" (what is the official name of that song?) In my opinon it's their best song and I may just get emotional when they play it. I love the build up and just everything about it. I'm looking forward to a good time tonight.



Here is a little blurb, I pulled from Wikipedia on Journey:

Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California with former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases, but its strongest commercial success came in the late 1970s to the early 1980s. During this period, they had hits with a series of power ballads and rock songs, including "Don't Stop Believing", "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Open Arms", "Send Her My Love" "Separate Ways", "Wheel in the Sky", "Who's Crying Now", "Stone In Love", "Lovin,' Touchin,' Squeezin;'", and "Lights". The group enjoyed a successful reunion in the mid-1990s with a major Grammy-nominated hit, "When You Love a Woman." Throughout Journey's three decades of existence, their albums have achieved gold status twice, platinum status three times, multi-platinum plateau eight times, and Diamond one time. These include seven consecutive multi-platinum albums, stretching from 1978 to 1987. They had 18 Top 40 singles, six of which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their signature song, "Don't Stop Believing", is the top-selling catalog track in iTunes history, at more than two million downloads.

Quote of the Day - July 28, 2009

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.

- Josh Billings

Quote of the Day - July 27, 2009

If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living.

- Gail Sheehy

Girls Weekend on the Riviera 2009

Last weekend we had a girls get away to the desert house on the Riviera. Who would have thought that 13 women would want to get away to the desert in July with the high temp being 117 degrees??? It happeneded and we had a blast!

Everybody showed up Friday night. We started the festivities with a couple of ice breaker games to include a purse scavenger hunt and observation game. Then we had our Greek themed Mamma Mia night. (total chick flick) We had chicken, greek salad, stuffed grape leaves and baklava for desert. And to cap it off we watched Mamma Mia!



Saturday morning was a time of relaxation and just talking and lounging around in the PJ's. There were coloring books and crayons, Girls night out Dare Cards, hula hoops, you name it, it was there to not act our own age! Early afternoon we played bingo and inbetween games we went out to check on our egg that we decided to fry in the hot afternoon sun! It took an hour but it happened.



That night we got into our 70's themed festivities by dressing up for the era and having a progressive dinner. 1st house had the typical 70's appetizers and Salad bar, to include celery sticks and deviled eggs and of course a punch bowl full of spiked punch! 2nd house included the main course which was Hamburger helper, tuna Casserole, Chicken Casserole and Veg-all! The last house was dessert, where we celebrated 3 birthdays and had cupcakes and cookies.



We were then off to Captain Jim's bar in our 70's attire and took the Salton City by storm. What a GREAT time!



Please see the slide show pictures below.

Quote of the Day - July 24, 2009

A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.

- Henry Ford

Quote of the Day - July 23 2009

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.

- George S. Patton

Quote of the Day - July 21, 2009

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

- Oprah Winfrey

Feather Boas

So lately, I've had this interest in Feather Boas. They're are just so many options and colors and it is such a glamourous accessory.

A feather boa is a fashion accessory that is usually worn wrapped around the neck like a scarf.

A boa may be made of fur, but it is usually made from various types of feathers: Ostrich, marabou, chandelle and turkey are the most common feathers used although non-feather boas are also available. Feathers used go through bleaching and/or dyeing processes and are glued and stitched into lengths called "ply". Sometimes more natural boas are produced. A lightweight chandelle boa may only weigh 65g while a 24 ply ostrich boa may weigh 200g. The more ply, the fluffier and thicker the boa. Boas are generally measured by weight (grammes), length and ply.




Types of feather boas

Ostrich — Thousands of long thin feather strands woven into ply are used to construct these very fluffy boas. These form the larger, Las Vegas showgirl type boas, as when they are coloured and woven into many ply, they can look very dramatic even at a distance.

Turkey — Many larger flat turkey feathers form these heavier boas which might weigh 120-180g and reach 30 cm in diameter.

Marabou — The fine down from marabou is used to form these very thin, and very fluffy boas.

Chandelle — Smaller feathers or "flats" from the turkey are used to create these lighter boas with smaller diameters.

Quote of the Day - July 15, 2009

I found this quote in honor of my upcoming weekend with the girls:

I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty.

- Imelda Marcos

The Fruitless Mulberry Tree

Last night when I was out with the dogs, I was reminded of a memory that was made in our front yard. First of all I love Summer. I love it for the fact that the weather is warmer and that the days last longer. I love the smells of the BBQ's when the neighbors fire them up to make dinner.

A few years ago, JD aka my husband John, used to have a part time job on Thursdays and would not be home till around 9ish. One of those nights (during the summer)The boys and I decided to have a Picnic dinner in our front yard. We have a HUGE fruitless Mulberry tree in our front yard. Our front yard hasn't changed much in over 10 years. The boys then were quite a bit younger. Michael's voice hadn't even changed yet and Kevin was still dragging around his favorite little "stuffy".

Back then, money was a little tighter for us, so I scrounged around the refrigerator and found some little Smokey sausages and eggs. I chopped up the sausages, scrambled the eggs up and we took our plates out to a blanket under the HUGE fruitless Mulberry tree. It's amazing how much fun a simple summer evening can be with your kids. We sat there, we ate, we laid on our backs and looked at the sky. I don't remember what we talked about, but everything was pretty much perfect. Definitely quality time with my boys. Quality time is defined as all parties have a GREAT time.

I'm not sure is Michael and Kevin remember this, but it's a memory that I will treasure forever. Our picnic in the front yard. And that fruitless Mulberry tree? Loads of memories come from that. Hanging Birdhouses from it, the kids climbing it when it was trimmed back, Michael raking the leaves from under it. And even now, just last week, Kevin and I were under it watching Roxy and Dude run around the yard like maniacs. I even challenged Kevin to try and catch the maniac dogs (since he's supposed to be so fast) We call them the greasy pigs when the dogs get like this. Kevin caught both of them. Me? I failed miserably.

I treasure these times and I can't wait to make new memories. Something about warm summer evenings. They're magical.

Quote of the day, July 13

People think computers will keep them from making mistakes. They're wrong. With computers you make mistakes faster.

- Adam Osborne

Quote of the Day July 12

If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
- Milton Berle

Quote of the Day July 10

You never get tired unless you stop and take time for it.

- Bob Hope

I've been pounding away here on the keyboard and researching stuff for work, and decided, I need a break from all of that "stuff." So with that, I thought I would post some useless bit of information here. Haven't quite determined what that might be yet, but as I type here, I am sure I can think of something that you'll be thankful for taking the extra minutes of your time to read. (hmmm...hopefully nobody notices that HUGE run-on sentence there)

I will tell you that currently both of my dogs are sitting in my lap, which a HUGE feat, considering, well...maybe not...the size of my lap. But, to further clarify, both dogs are under 15 lbs, so they're not huge.

So as I sit here rambling I have a ba-jillion things going through my mind and not sure where to start....so thinking maybe I just won't (start) :)

So see? I have wasted your time and I believe the only quasi interesting thing about this post was the fact that both of my dogs are in my lap, which incidentally, Dude aka Deet da dee has decided to stand up in my lap, with his front feet on my desk and watch me type...which at the moment he seems to think is pretty darn fascinating. I'm watching his head tilt as I clack away at the keys. Underneath him is Roxy as she attempts to maneuver herself in my lap to a better position, so that when Dude wants down, there will be absolutely no space for him, therefore being banned to the floor. She's such a smart girl. Dude aka Deet da dee, just isn't all there. But he sure is a sweet loyal dog. So with that, Dude has just jumped up off of my lap and Roxy has taken over full lap comfort.

Yup, I believe I have sufficiently wasted your time and mine, for that matter. Now I'm gonna post a picture of the pooches so you can visualize the faces much better.



Thanks for reading and I promise, just maybe a better posting next time!

Happy Video for July 8, 2009

This video was made in the Antwerp , Belgium Central (Train) Station on the 23rd of March 2009. With no warning to the passengers passing through the station, at 08:00 am a recording of Julie Andrews singing 'Do, Re, Mi' begins to play on the public address system.”

As the bemused passengers watch in amazement, some 200 dancers begin to appear from the crowd and station entrances.

They created this amazing stunt with just two rehearsals!

Enjoy!

Just click the pause button on my playlist located at the bottom right hand side of my blog so that you can enjoy the sounds of the video.

Michael Jackson

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

- Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror

Before all the silli-ness and weirdness, MJ was a great entertainer and his music was something I would crank up in my car and sing-along too. I still will listen to his music, for years to come. (I'm not ashamed to admit it!) ;) He did make a difference in the music world.

4th of July in the Desert

We spent the 4th of July in Ocotillo Wells. Ocotillo Wells is an unincorporated community in San Diego County, California that lies along State Route 78, three miles west of the Imperial County line. During the summer time, temperatures can hit the triple digits regularly. On the 4th of July, we were easily at 104.

As you can see from the slide show pictures below, there was a parade and the Ocotillo Wells Fire Department was gracious enough to "hose" us down after the parade. The water felt great!

Quote of the Day - July 6, 2009

"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
Bill Cosby

God Bless America

With the 4th of July fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to keep up with the patriosm of my postings here on my corner.

I looked up the lyrics to "God Bless America" I can honestly say, I don't know all the words. Whenever this song is sung, I can definately belt out the 3 primary words of the song and "from the mountains, to the praires" and "my home sweet home", however other then that? It's a shame, that I mumble along. Now I have "somthing" and I am PROUD to be an American! I hope that you too will benefit from this post and next time the song is sung, sing along with confidence. Just be aware, don't be around me when I sing....I'm not a very good singer. My son shudders when I sing along in the car. It's not pretty.

God Bless America
Words and music by Irving Berlin

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

Quote of the Day Wednesday, July 1

Where liberty dwells, there is my country.
- Benjamin Franklin