WHEN I GROW UP

We have all been asked as a small child "what do you want to be when you grow up?" That question was asked of me so many ions ago, that I can't begin to remember what my answer could have possibly been.

Knowing what you want to be when you grow up is a life process, and life changes everyday. Knowing what you want to be when you grow up is part of your hopes and dreams you have for yourself. It should be something you have a real passion for, something that makes you happy and proud at the end of the day, not how much money you made.

As you grow older the question changes from "what do you want to be when you grow up" to "what do you want to accomplish in life?" Remember, it is never too late to accomplish your hopes and dreams and be happy and proud at the end of the day.

THE BACHELORETTE

Alex Michael, a management consultant was the first bachelor. He was introduced to 25 attractive, successful and talented women from all walks of life. The two bachelorettes left in the competition were Amanda and Trista. Alex breaks Trista's heart by choosing Amanda.

Trista then became the first bachelorette, and in the end, she choose Ryan, a firearm. They were married on national television and now have a son together.

Our new bachelorette is DeAnna. She was rejected by Brad Womack on the eleventh season of the Bachelor. Now the table has turned and DeAnna has 25 eligible men ready to win her heart. One bachelor in particular captured her attention as he introduced himself to her and was given the first of three "first impression" roses. Each week three of the bachelors move into the mansion with DeAnna, which makes the other guys quite jealous. After weeks of group dates and one-on-one dates, we are now down to four remaining bachelors, Graham, Jason, Jeremy and Jesse. DeAnna will be visiting their hometowns tonight.

I'm not really sure about Graham. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder and wants things his way. Steer clear DeAnna. Jason is a sweetheart. He seems very focused and down to earth. I think he and DeAnna would be a good couple. DeAnna loves children, and Jason has a three years old son whom he adores. I'm not sure she is looking for a ready made family though. Jesse is the only bachelor out of the four that has not kissed DeAnna yet. He doesn't seem to be very settled and not really ready for marriage yet. He makes her laugh and they have a good time together, but I don't think there is a real connection there. I'm pulling for Jeremy. He caught DeAnna's attention at the first introduction. He is tall, dark, and handsome. There is a physical attraction between them. They shared their experience of knowing what it is like to lose a parent or parents. Jeremy seems to be very focused and knows what he wants in life.

It has been hard for DeAnna to send a bachelor home each week, she knows what it is like to be rejected. Just choose wisely DeAnna. Can't wait for tonights episode.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

I am a die-hard fan of this show. I enjoy watching the dancers perform out of their comfort zone. Every year there is one performance that stands out among the others and Wednesday night was no exception. The Viennese waltz performed by Kherington and Twitch was breathtaking. The performance touched my heart. I can see the two of them going all the way to the end.

SMOOTH JAZZ

Smooth jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music, is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from mostly R&B, but also funk and pop. Beginning in the mid 1980’s, it had become successful as a radio format; however, in 2007, the format began to show signs of losing popularity as several high-profile radio stations in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States began changing formats away from smooth jazz. There has been a backlash against the genre, mostly from jazz purists who consider the recordings bland, overly commercial and not truly jazz.

In June 2008, the Arbitron service announced formal approval of "Smooth AC" as a new descriptor for the format.

The term "Smooth jazz" seems to inspire controversy. Normal jazz purists contend that smooth jazz is, in actuality, not jazz of any kind, regarding it as a misleading marketing buzzword that represents an attempt to hijack the ostensible prestige of jazz in order to sell what is really a form of "elevator music." They consider the smooth jazz genre uninspired, lacking the depth of expression, harmonic and rhythmic sophistication, and complex improvisation that are hallmarks of traditional jazz; substituting, at times, trite and hackneyed musical phrasing. Recurring accusations charge smooth jazz with offering a watered-down sound whose aim is to appeal to a larger, mainstream, middle class white audience, though, notably, radio demographics have indicated that middle-and upper-middle class African Americans constitute what may be a significant percentage of smooth jazz listenership. Smooth jazz is still played (though decreasingly) on Muzak-style background music systems as well as telephone music on hold services, which many artists try to distance themselves from as they are seen as degrading to music.

Smooth jazz can be traced to a least the late 1960’s. The Weather Channel released its first compilation album in 2007. The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz, based on collections of popular smooth jazz music played on the Local On the 8s segment.

Smooth jazz can be passionate, relaxing, romantic, soft, erotic, exotic, melancholic, and happy. As you listen you will hear bass, guitar, saxophone, congas, keyboard, drums, flute, horn, trombone, harp, banjo, and violin.

Spring 2008

As long as I can remember I have always been fashion conscious, even as a little girl everything had to match. I also took very good care of my clothes, which is very important, you would be amazed just how long they will last with the proper care.

I have never been one to follow the trends, but this year, I am really excited about the fashion trends this year. Spring 2008 is replete with fresh airy-light fashion in clear, bright, plain and solid colors.

Volume in clothing this year is the rage. The fuller cropped jacket, swing coat, yoked top, loose tunic dress, pants, and skirts. With time, whatever your age, the Summer of 2008 is one you will recall as the summer of lightness and freedom in fashion trends.

Kimono

The kimono is the national costume of Japan that people used to wear in everyday life until in the middle of 19th century (the opening of the Japan to the rest of the world). Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear (ki wearing and mono thing) but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length garment.
Kimono are T-shaped, straight-lined robes that fall to the ankle, with collars and wide, full-length sleeves. Kimono are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial) and secured by a wide belt called an obi, which is usually tied at the back. Kimono are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zori or geta and split-toe socks (tabi).
Traditionally, unmarried women wore a style of kimono called furisode, which have floor-length sleeves, on special occasions. A few older women and even fewer men still wear kimono on a daily basis. Men wear kimono most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in kimono because they are required to wear traditional Japanese attire that is referred to as yukata, which is of plain unlined cotton.
Today, kimono are most often worn by women, and on special occasions, but in a major Japanese city you can still see some Japanese women wearing them.

Father's Day

Sunday was Father’s Day, and I spent another Father’s Day without my father. No phone call to him after 7:00 p.m. to wish him a Happy Father’s Day. I would wait until that time of the day to call, he would usually be home from playing golf by then. My father loved to play golf, there were times on the weekend when he would spend the entire day playing golf with his buddies. As he got older he wasn’t able to play as much, and eventually not at all.
I remember one summer when I was visiting my father, we were on our way to the grocery store, and lo’ and behold the smooth jazz radio station was playing. I could not believe my father and I enjoyed listening to the same type of music. I didn’t know until the day of his funeral that one of his favorite songs was Wind Beneath My Wings (my favorite also) which was played in honor of the celebration of his life.
I guess you could say my father was my Hero. I am so grateful for the work ethics he instilled in me as a little girl that have followed me throughout my life. He also taught me to never be late for anything, I guess he believed in "The early bird catches the worm."
Even though my father is no longer here, I still wished him a Happy Father’s Day in honor of everything he taught me and the wonderful memories I have of him.

FIVE THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK!!

5. "They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen."
4. "This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time management course you sent me to."
3. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time."
2. "Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?"

AND THE NUMBER ONE BEST THING TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK:

1. (Raise your head slowly and say), "...in Jesus' name, Amen."

Introduction

Hi, I am a mother of 2 and a grandmother of one. I live with my daughter, the oldest of my children. My son has a little girl whom I adore. My granddaghter is two and a half, she says the most remarkable things. For example, she had asked her daddy for a sucker and he was not quite fast enough for her, so when he gave her the sucker and she had unwrapped it she so cutely turned to him and said "turd!"