Pink Princess Birthday

The sunset link has been updated, go visit Beth for a heartfelt story...

Jen over at Sprite's Keeper gave us a free spin this week while she is busy preparing for Sprite's 3rd birthday party. I thought I'd use the free spin as an excuse to bring out vintage photos of my now 20 year old daughter and 17 year old son, along with some of their friends. They came out to wish Sprite a very Happy Birthday, whether it is a pink or yellow or princess or Snow White or Jasmine party. Happy Birthday Sprite!

May you enjoy those candles and make a good wish.

My Princess (on the right) says to make sure you get to lick the spoon and the bowl when making cake.




May you be thrilled with your gifts and the fun of package unwrapping.

If there are games involved, may they be exciting.

Cheers to you from the kids Sprite!

For more spins, head on over to Sprite's Keeper.

Traveling Thursday: Going to Hana Maui

We're heading outer island today...

Remember my friend I wrote about last week, the cool friend who can sing and dance...

Well, she lives in Hana Maui and I asked her to share the wonderful place that she is lucky enough to call home. She says it would take two or three posts, so she will be back for another Traveling Thursday sometime soon.


The captions under the photos are my friend's...

Shore break at Hamoa beach with my son and his cousin.

Historic first Hokule'a canoe arriving in Hana Bay to honor the passing of Samuel Kalalau, one of it's original members from the 70's.

Sunrise through the vog from my lanai.

Alau Island from the Loko (fish pond) of Hane'o'o. The largest in Maui. Fish ponds like these were used throughout the islands to trap, raise, and harvest fish for the village.

Tsunami of 1946 generated from the Aleutian Island earthquake wiped out my husband grandmother's home, taking the lives of Tutu (great grandmother), 3 siblings of my mother in-law, and an uncle. Seven other lives were lost in Hana and scores more on the Island of Hawai'i from this devasting tidal wave.

It's back to me, Pseudo here. I have to chime in and say that this last photo is the location of my friend's wedding. I was a bridesmaid and it was one of the most beautiful weddings ever.

If you go to Maui, not only should you experience the Hana Highway and Hana town; my tip is to stay up there for a few days. Rent a house or stay at the Hana Hotel. It is the most beautiful place in the islands, if you ask me.

Leaving you with a video of an aerial view of Hamoa Beach.

Link up your post to take us virtual traveling this Thursday, just use Mr. Linky.

Winners, Whiners, and Wisecracks

Yesterday my students were turning in a big project. While I called the tables up one at a time (can you tell I have been to a lot of wedding banquets) the other students were enjoying sharing their hard work at their tables with their peers. Although they had a new assignment they could have gotten started on...

I told them I did not mind their sharing instead of working, but to please keep the noise down.

I have one student who is just a very loud girl. A nice girl. A fun girl with a load pf personality. But VERY LOUD.

"Hey Gertrude," I yelled out towards her table, "bring it down a couple of notches."

"What Ms??? Why do you always pick on ME? Everyone is talking..."

"Yes. But I can only hear you and you are so loud I cannot hear myself think."

"Hoooo Mssssss. That's harsh. I think you hurt my feelings."

Her friend Stephanie smiled softly and poked her, whispered something I could not hear that made Gertrude whine even louder.

"Nooooooooooooot!"

* * *

Gertrude's table is called up to turn in their projects. Two of them sign in their projects and I am left with Gertrude on my left and Stephanie on my right. Gertrude wants to show me some of the details of her work, but she is talking so loud that my left ear is ringing a tune that sings something like, MIGRAINE, MIGRAINE, WHERE OH WHERE ARE YOU MIGRAINE!!!

"Gertrude, seriously, can you please tone it down? My left ear is ringing and it's making my head totally out of balance."

I don't see it coming.

Quiet, sweet Stephanie has leaned in towards my right ear. And shouts to the heavens,

"DOES THIS HELP MISS!!! Are you evened up now!"

The look of shock on my face made their day, especially, I do believe, Stephanie. I've got a new eye peeled on that girl.

* * *

One of the best things about birthdays in middle age is the cards you get...

I love my sister Shaunna. Ever noticed I don't put up photos of myself? Shaunna has one up of us for my birthday post. Want to go check us out?

Hehehe. Like I look anything like that at 52.

* * *

The first winner is..... Erin from The Locals Love It

True Random Number Generator
Min:1
Max:
Result:86
47
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The second winner is...Brian Miller from Waystaytionone

True Random Number Generator
Min:1
Max:86
Result:
27
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The third winner is...Debbie from Suburb Sanity

True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 86
Result:
86
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Thank-you everyone who played along. I wish I could send you all a goodie box. You three winners, please email me a mailing address and I'll send out your packages next week.

My nanowrino is 11,584. I am taking this morning off to catch up on a little blogging, but I might not be around to visit too much this month.

For more Random Fun, head on over to The Unmom's.

Today I am 52.

I am a three year cancer survivor.

I am working on being a survivor (so far so good) of unbloggableness...

I am thankful for many things...

I am thankful I live in a place where on a walk on a beach like this is only a 30 minute drive from my home.


Where my children and my friends' children can bond on days like this, which can occur year round.

I am thankful that these two wonderful people were put into my life. Same goes for hubs, who does not like his photo on the internet.

My birthday wishes include wanting my children to always pursue their lives with passion and a moderate sense of abandonment.

But that they have the sense to seek shelter when a storm is coming.

For my birthday indulgence, I would like to share a prayer from a book that brings me inspiration. I know the power of postive thought and prayer, as I have experienced the effects from all of you who have sent yours my way during the difficulties of the last couple of months.

Dear God,

We pray for the leaders of this country and

every other.

May they not be swayed by false politics but

listen instead to the spirit of truth.

May they not harken to the false and bitter

voices of a frightened world, but instead hear

the angels who minister unto them.

May the world make room for their leadership

and resist not more their growth into greatness.

May their virtue sheild them.

May their lack of virute be forgiven and corrected.

May their words be true.

May their strength go before them

to cut like a sword

through all illusion.

May they see the innocence and brotherhood

in those who oppose them.

May they grow beyond a shallow fight.

And thus may we all be taken with them

into new light

new peace

new politics

new hope for allthe world.

Amen

From Illuminata, A Return to Prayer by Marianne Williamson

After one week of nonowrimo, I am at 10,582 words. Only 1,500 behind my goal.

If I am not around or not posting much this month, nanowrimo is why.

Everyone has until tonight to enter for a birthday giveaway. If you like what you read here, I appreciate your vote. I'm hoping to pull into second place. First place right now is Dingo and she is so far head there's no stopping her. Which she deserves as she is an amazing and witty writer.

Manson Murders and Matching VW's Part Three

Also known as another perspective...

If you missed part one and/or part two, you might want to read them first...
I had to call my sister up to confirm my memories. I'd been working on the first post, but was not sure at all if reading about the Tate murders and running into the Schnitzler's had actually occured on the same day, or if I only remembered it like that. A telescoping of events in my mind after forty years.

When Sis and I got to talking, I enjoyed hearing her version, her perspective of the trip. She was a month away from her 16th birthday at the time. I'm sending you over to my sister's blog for a blast into into the past of '60's rock; and part three of this little family story.

If you missed the birthday giveaway post, you have until Sunday to enter.

Traveling Thursday Equals Hana Promise

If you did not enter for a Hawaii goodie box giveaway you have until Sunday night.

I was planning on featuring Hana Maui today. One of my closest and dearest friends has made Hana her home for many years now. We met in 1982 when we both cocktailed at Bobby McGee's in Waikiki. She was a music major. After she graduated she moved to LA for a few years and whenever I would go home to visit family we would hook up.

Eventually she moved back and our friendship has morphed through many phases.

She was in a Flashback Show in Waikiki back in the early 90's. She was a back up singer and dancer for Elvis and she also played Judy Garland. I used to hang out at her house sometimes when she got ready. Daughter was a toddler and would sing on my friend's karaoke machine, pound the piano keys, and play make-up at the vanity. Not to mention sometimes Daughter and I would tag along and see the show. I credit my friend's influence for my daughter's musical theatre passion.

Serendipity? My daughter's voice instructor at UH is the daughter of my friend's voice coach from her UH days...

My friend is the musical director for Hana Performing Arts. A non-profit. They had a huge fundraiser on a Halloween theme. I don't know much more because I have been sick the last few days. But I do know they had Thriller rehearsals for weeks and my friend worked her butt off. There was a fundraiser the night before Halloween and Halloween night itself there was Thriller zombie march.

I am so proud to say the zombie front and center is my friend.

Enjoy the video and come back next week when I will feature Hana with my very special guide.

Meet cool zombie woman.




Link your Travel post on up through Mr Linky. There are no rules as to the definition of Travel. So take us away!

Random Number Generator Action

Ah Scorpio time. Fall is my favorite season and next to October, November is my favorite month. My birthday is coming up this weekend... I'll be 52. Can I get a WOOO HOOO? There might have been a time when I'd be lamenting the advancement of age, but I'm still happy to be a breast cancer survivor and grateful to be here.

And on the note of gratefulness, I'd like to celebrate my birthday by giving back a little to all the amazing, rocking bloggers who have supported my dive into the blogging world. There is so much I have gotten out of blogging the last year and a half, but the support and friendship and connection with all of you is truly a blessing.

The Hawaii goodie boxes seem to have been well liked by those who have won in them in the past. Some food yummies, some coffee, some exotic cooking ingredients that you get to figure out, with swap meet stuff thrown in for good measure. Since I am a three year survivor and since I am nearing my 300th post, I'm going to give away three goodie box prizes.

Leave a comment for an entry.

Leave another comment if you are a follower for another entry.

Leave another comment if you voted for me in the Blogger's Choice awards. You can only vote once, but I was winning over Dooce for, like, a day... It was blogtastic. If you want to vote follow the badge. You will have to register and it takes a few minutes, but thank-you if you do.



Speaking of thankfulness, EM from Life and Liberty has a great post over at Mom's without Blogs.

Another blogger friend of mine, someone who I have been reading since I began this adventure, has a birthday this week too. Today. Twenty-four at Heart is having an amazing giveaway for her birthday, Amazon gift cards, $240 worth. Go on over and wish her a happy birthday and enter her contest.

Because I am totally insane I signed up for NaNoWriMo. National novel writing month. We are supposed to write 2,000 words a day. It is only the second day and I am not only 1,000 words short, I'm writing a blog post. Oops. Another of my regular reads since I began blogging is Kristan Hoffman. An adorable and sweet young writer in Ohio (wonder if she knows Jan?). She called me out on her blog and I decided WTF. Over at NaNoWriMo they mention that we should tell people we are doing it so we will be less likely to quit. So I'm telling the entire internet -we'll see if this lights a fire under my arse.

I said I would write the bulk of the book last summer and spent 98% of the time doing research or blogging...

Hawaii goodie box birthday contest is on all week. I'll do the random number thing on Monday. I was going to say Sunday, but I might get lucky and actually go somewhere for my birthday.

For more randomness, head on over to The Unmom's.