Happy Birthday Michael!

Today is Michael's Birthday. There should be a party, and a cake, and laughter, but there is not. Today is not an easy day, there are tears as I write this.

But we had some great birthdays with him, and I'll share one of them with you now.

Early, early one morning at the Ranch, the entire staff gathered to surprise him. I believe it was about 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning and as quietly as possible, about 60 of us crept, as quietly as 60 people can creep, to his door and knocked. After a few moments, he, half alseep, opened the door and we burst into song, singing a joyous "Happy Birthday". Can you imagine what we sounded like that early in the morning? And us singing to him? He was so touched. Michael was always giving, giving, giving, but not used to receiving. I will never forget the look on his face that morning.

The commotion soon brought Prince, Paris and Blanket to see what all the noise was about. He thanked us and said "I love you all". We then turned on the sound system and played the Beatles version of "Birthday" thru the entire ranch. And then we all sat down together and enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast on the patio in paradise. That is one of those "snapshot" moments, I will never forget.

Michael would have been 51 today.

What I See.....

I slowed down on my way to work today and actually paid attention to what I drive by everyday.......it begins with four palm trees

not much traffic

a flock of ostriches,

a few vineyards,

Not one, but two windmills-

a herd of miniature horses,

and ends with a flagpole in my town of

"Mayberry" as I call it, where my office is.

Not a bad commute, huh?

Yes, it's a slow day in blog land.

Girlfriends

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........
Girlfriends are there,
no matter how much time and how
many miles are between you.
A girl friend is never farther away
than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
valley's end..
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Meet Robin and Susie from Arizona. We have been friends since 5th grade. Old friends are best!

HOT Fun in the Summertime

It's OK Daddy, we'll buy you a new pair of sunglasses....

9:00 AM - Pool Time

The Cruiser

Look, I found the Gecko from "Geico"

Our Digs at the Camelback Inn & Resort in Scottsdale, AZ

Gina and I in front of our old home, which is now a Church. There are pews in our family room and a parking lot where our lawn used to be. Holy cow.

Phoenix Trip - Good Friends, Good Times

Old Friends are Best. My Dad and Mr. Reardon, our neighbor who had a family of 8 wonderful kids and who lived right next door to us. My sister Gina, with Mary Reardon. Our parents would visit over the fence, while their 8 kids and our 4 would play any sport you could name in the pasture that separated our 2 homes. Good times...

My Dad with Jimmy and Pat Barr - dear, dear friends. They don't come any better than these!

Phoenix Trip - Take One

This was my "window seat" on the plane, now unless I'm mistaken, that appears to be a wall.

This is my Dad when he realizes he no longer has the seat he originally chose...

Oh, and let us not forget.....the bathroom was broken - so we all flew with our legs crossed! Go Air West!! My letter is in the mail.

Wanna hear Chelsea sing??

Try this link to find Chelsea, when she was 15, in a home video singing "Black Velvet" .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Nue4hNYAs

This is it............

Someone asked me recently if I would mind sharing some of my memories or momentos while working for Michael...............I would be more than happy too.

This CD collection was his last gift.

Retreating

Back from the 4 days at the Beach Cottage, with my Peeps. There were Mimosas, Massages and Memories. The chaos continued with Troy....after I returned from my massage, I found Troy sunbathing on the patio and he didn't want any tan lines if you get my drift. Then he was found playing Tarzan in a tree. Those girls couldn't keep their hands off him, he was always undressed. Oh heck, Troy is still in the car.........he's probably melted into a pile of plastic goop by now..........gotta go.

And then there was this birthday cake we just had to eat!

Happy 28th Carly!

Happy Birthday Carla! (she was named after Carly Simon) but prefers to go by Carla, now that she is all grown up!

Had a great dinner at AJ Spurs, and part of their birthday celebration is to put a coffee filter and a toilet seat protector on you to celebrate.

I think her boyfriend, Allen enjoyed it more than she did!

Love you sweetie!

The Abduction

Shortly after arriving at my weekend retreat, Troy the boy toy, was abducted. Notes were left in many areas of the cottage. I won't tell you or show you where we found Troy, but he was "naked as a jaybird" and there was a blue pill involved. These peeps of mine! So now Troy has a new song!

A Blast from the Past.........

What a nice surprise to find an email from an old friend.........well maybe more than old friend, how about my first crush.......hmmmm..........my first kiss. Thank you, Mr. Arizona, it was so nice to hear from you and catch up after 35 years. (Did I say that out loud?) Those were some of the best days of my life! And you are right...."somethings never change"......it is still my favorite song!

Dating is like skydiving........

just when you jump out of the plane, you get sucked right in to the propeller.

Never mix wine and email!

Well, that was a total freaking trainwreck!

CHELSEA JUST GOT A STANDING OVATION......

for her performance in "Guys and Dolls"...............and Momma cried.

Break A Leg....Chelsea

Chelsea's play "Guys and Dolls" opens tonight. She has the lead role of "Adelaide" and will dancing, singing and acting her brains out tonight! It has a 4 day run, and I can't wait to see it!

Life's A Beach.......Pismo that is!

I know how badly Gina wants to put that marshmellow in my hair!

Sisters at the Beach.

The Birthday Boys celebrating the half century mark. Ed came ALL THE WAY from Wisconsin and was Gina and Kevin's best man at their wedding, over 20 years ago.

And Ed, what a trooper you were to "suffer" through the final episode of the Bachlorette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sister, Gina and her husband Kevin rented a beach house at Pismo to celebrate Kevin's 50th Birthday!