Thank you soldiers.

I just watched a heartwrenching movie, Grace is Gone with John Cusack. A dad has to tell his daughters that their mother was killed in Iraq. It makes you think of how many people all over the world have to have these conversations with children, that their parent isn't coming home because of insane terrorists who have no care for who they hurt.

Thank you to all of the soldiers everywhere! Thank you for keeping us safe and putting yourselves at risk everyday.

Thank you!

I just want to tell the world what a wonderful bunch of friends and neighbors I have. Thank you everyone.

My daughter had the horrid stomach bug that's going around and was sent home last week from school and she's been home ever since. Well home as in at all the friends and neighbors, thank you all for letting my little one come over before seven and lay on your couches and beds and watch TV, rest, read for the day. Thank you for sitting at my apartment so I could run to the store. Thank you for the rides for her. Thanks to my first block for their kindness and funniness when she had to come to school with me. The good news is although her tummy hurt still this morning, when she felt better she went to school for the afternoon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she will get on that bus in the morning, poor little thing.

One lesson I've learned since I became a single mom, learned again after my surgery, and was just reminded of this week, sometimes you have to ask for and accept help. Thank you everyone for the help!

Photos of the Baby Shower Crafts!

Finally located my memory card from the camera, duh. It is so tiny, I should never take that out. But it is so convenient that you can pop it right into the laptop and not use the cord.

Okay the highly anticipated baby shower crafts I made for my godson's girls baby shower:



Flower Pot Painted and Ribbons Glued on, flowers are clothes rolled up, dowels painted green, construction paper leaves. Flowers were a bathing suit, two onesie type outfits-one long sleeve and one short sleeve, the big pink ones are actually a sweatsuit, socks, and little washclothes.


Teddy Bear Made of Towels, 2 Bath Towels, 2 Hand Towels, 4 Washcloths


Diaper Cake


Our killer cute cupcakes, the duckys on top we made with chocolate molds.

All of these ideas are my interpretation of ideas from Woman's Day, and different websites. Let me not take all of the credit. All of my gifts doubled as decorations, great baby shower idea! Double the fun.


Bucket o'duckies we gave out as party favors. We tied pink ribbons around the cute little duckies necks.

Let's all do this!!!

Earth Hour 2009
On March 28, at 8:30 pm local time, one billion people will go dark for Earth Hour. World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

Already hundreds of icons and landmarks around the world have signed up to turn their lights off for Earth Hour 2009 including - the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sydney Opera House, Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens and The London Eye, among many others.

*my only question is when in local time, or it would be lights off in one time zone at a time I guess...

For my NZ friends, you rock!
March 10, 2009: At precisely 8.30pm on March 28 the diesel generators will be switched off on the Chatham Islands, a small archipelago off the east coast of New Zealand, heralding the start of the greatest community event the world has ever witnessed - Earth Hour 2009.

As the first country to flick the switch for the global event, WWF New Zealand's Earth Hour organiser, Dairne Poole sees her country as playing a vital role in Earth Hour’s journey to reach one billion people in over 1,000 cities, across 25 time zones.

"New Zealand will be the first country in the world to turn its lights off for Earth Hour 2009 with 43 councils and local bodies taking part. Even though we are a small nation, we are setting an important example for others to witness and hopefully follow," says Ms Poole.

The global wave of participation will gather momentum through Asia Pacific with major cities such as Sydney, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Mumbai and Delhi dimming the lights as millions flick the switch to express their concern for the planet.

This is so great I am putting a link to the Earth Hour website over in Links I Love.

What is wrong with people?

Some days I just can’t watch the news, did you hear about his mother who made her daughter stand on a piece of tape in one spot in the living room in just underwear and socks from 3 pm when she returned home from school until 3 am. She would spray her with water and keep a fan on her to keep her awake. When she wasn’t doing this she had her locked in her room with the heat duct taped over so she had no heat, with no clothes or blankets or anything. This kid it said was 10 and she got bruises just from standing still, imagine that. Plus, who know how long she’s been going this. What the f is wrong with people? Now why can’t the judge punish the mother as she punished her child? That bitch was smiling in court and waving at people, she has no idea what kind of torture she put her child through, and someone ought to do it to her. Jail is too kind.

Best cup of coffee I ever had

Yesterday I had the best cup of coffee I have ever had. My girl won a $10 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts at the baby shower on Sunday (I will post pictures of my crafts for it tomorrow). She wanted to use it for a donut and decided quite on her own to buy me a cup of coffee too. She said she wanted to treat because I always treat! It was a delicious cup of coffe purchased especially for me by my seven year old. Yum. Life really is good!

I’d like to thank The Academy...

...for an evening of great entertainment. I did not know Hugh Jackman can sing, but he did a great job, very entertaining. Hugh was looking good too, sorry Matthew McConoughey my love. I'm telling you when I win a bunch of money I think I'll take a trip over to Australia and look for a date. All of these Australians are amazing!
I can’t say there were many incredible dresses this year; I wonder if we were toning down because of the economy? Of all the dresses of the night, Halle Berry had the number one dress of the night. Penelope Cruz had the second best dress of the night; it was a sixty-year-old antique dress. I think it would have been an incredible wedding dress actually. Now Reese Witherspoon (love her) was her dress on backwards? Just kidding the dress was gorgeous, except for those black sash strap things, what were they all about? Love to the Queen but what the hell did she have on, it was too much, too much fabric, too much royal blue, too many ruffles, just way too much. Alicia Keyes, who I love to listen to, looked amazing too, as did Angelina Jolie. Her earings were incredible, were they real emeralds? Gorgeous.

All fashion aside, okay almost, what in the hell happened to Mickey Rourke? He was so hot back in the day. I had to Google it and he had plastic surgery. Well, I just hope he sued. For real. And then that white tux with the black cowboy boots and the shades, really, as if enough attention wasn’t going to be on him for his nomination. Because if that look was supposed to be cool, well excuse the rest of us we are just not striving to be that cool.


Before and After



Okay most memorable moments, I had two. The first was when the screenplay writer of Milk was giving his acceptance speech and spoke to the gay children who have been told they were not as good (I can’t remember his exact words) but that they were important. It was important what he said, teenagers who know they are gay have such a hard time if someone doesn’t let them know they are okay and needed just the way they are. That was my favorite moment. The second memorable moment for me was when the singer/songwriter from Slumdog Millionaire was giving one of his acceptance speeches and he said that all of his life he had a choice between hate and love and he chose love and here he was. “Nuff said, right! Love on!

Oh I can’t talk about memorable moments without mentioning Heath Ledger’s family, that was so heartbreaking. I loved Heath Ledger, especially in Brokeback Mountain, what an incredible actor he was. His family was so poised and demonstrated to us all grace in loss and celebration.

Did you see the man balance the Oscar on his chin? What was that all about? That was a little ridiculous, I think, but completely normal compared to Ben Stiller’s performance. Ben, seriously, what the hell were you doing, just present the darned award because you were not funny. Not funny! Natalie Portman though looked gorgeous. I love her so much, did you see her in the Wal-Mart baby movie; she was so good in that. That is my secret cheesiest favorite movie of all time! Anyway, I felt bad she had to present an award with Ben Stiller, but she gets kudos for the funniest joke of the night. She told him he looked like he worked in a Hasidic Meth lab. Ha Ha Ha. I’m still laughing when I think of it! Great awards this year! I like everyone else, loved that the old winners presented the new people with their nominations, which was well done. My kid and I enjoyed watching although she fell asleep early, it was a great TV night.

My Email from the our kick ass Pres. Thought you'd like to read!!

Rachel --

Today, I signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

This is a historic step -- the first of many as we work together to climb out of this crisis -- and I want to thank you for your resolve and your support.

You organized thousands of house meetings. You shared your ideas and personal stories. And you informed your friends and neighbors about the need for immediate action. You continue to be a powerful voice for change throughout the country.

The recovery plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs, provide tax cuts for working and middle-class families, and invest in health care and clean energy.

It's a bold plan to address a huge problem, and it will require my vigilance and yours to make sure it's done right.

I've assigned a team of managers to oversee the implementation of the recovery act. We are committed to making sure no dollar is wasted. But accountability begins with you.

That's why my administration has created Recovery.gov, a new website where citizens can track every dollar spent and every job created. We'll invite you and your neighbors to weigh in with comments and questions.

Our progress will also be measured by the tens of thousands of personal stories submitted by people who are struggling to make ends meet. If you haven't already, you can read stories from families all across the country:

http://my.barackobama.com/yourstories

Your stories are the heart of this recovery plan, and that's what I'll focus on every day as President.

With your continued support, we'll emerge a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Wow

Do you know what I just realized?
Yes, I am kinda slow sometimes...

But - The President of the United States spoke at my college graduation!!!

Um, Yes I do rock that much!


So do all of you. Happy VD Day!

Do something unexpected and kind for someone else this week, hey you never know...