Dear Microsoft

Today I come across this item

http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/microsoft-offers-reward-for-missing-xbox-gamer/1260470

and all I could think was "damage control"

We are a game cube/box/wii free zone here and for a simple reason. One look at the vacant stares of my kids when they played at friends houses and the resulting "attitude" was enough to ban it from our home permanently.

It's like crack. only legal. and everyone does it. which makes it ten time worse.

I am sure there are many children who can pick it up and put it down.

Mine don't fall into that category, especially not my oldest.

So thanks but no thanks Microsoft. I may have to buy your crappy Vista platform for home use because it's the industry standard and I need to link up at work.

But you can keep your cube.

Oh...and say hi to the Borg for me.

The Big Week-end Part 1 of2

I can't believe my baby
my first born
my BamBam, turned 12 this Saturday.
He is still the apple of my eye and the sweetest preteen boy I know.
Here's some pictures from the week-end.
My folks came up from Florida and Friday night we


Had fondue at Dante's Down the Hatch
(This after the great debate over Happy Sumo's vs something new. Fortunately little brother Thumper came up with the brilliant idea of fondue. We love to do it at home...and call it Friday FUNdue. But Friday FUNdue is even more fun at Dante's!)

Jazz on "the ship"

And Dante himself taking BambBam and his brother for a trip to the treasure chest (after crossing over the gang plank with live gators below...hand to God)

BamBam got a sterling silver clipper ship tie tack and Thumper an American Flag pin after successfully answering four questions.

I was afraid we we're going to have a Monty Python and The Holy Grail moment "What is your favorite color. Blue! Uh no green! ....aaaaaaayyyyyahhhhhh!!!!)

But fortunately they prevailed.

Part 2 of the 2nd part tomorrow.

Hugs to a dear friend

One of my dear friends unexpectedly lost the love of her life this week and her community of friends is really struggling with how to help her.

She is a beautiful woman with two amazing young boys that she now has to raise on her own.

One of our mutual friends, the incredibly talented, Lisa Pace, is organizing an auction to raise money to help out.

Here's the link.

http://www.lisapace.com/2008/10/08/auction-for-a-friend/

If you feel moved to do so, please stop by and check it out.

I'd appreciate it greatly.

HUGS

Save the TaTa's

Save second base

Be proactive

Get em squished

Give

Walk for the cure

Go local.

I'm making some cards to sell at my firm's BCA bazaar in two weeks. A really small gesture in comparison to the fortitude of some REALLY amazing women in my life who stood up and faced the big bad C and kicked it to the curb.

My grandmother, aunt, mom.

Their names are/were Harriet, Anne, Elizabeth

Harriet. My maternal grandmother...had a full masectomy (both breasts for one small lump in one breast)) 30 years ago. And then died of old age 5 years ago. With her children by her bedside.

Anne. my aunt and mother's sister, had a partial masectomy (one breast) 15years ago for a lump in one breast. She danced at her daughter's wedding last year and is still dancing today

Elizabeth. My mother had a lumpectomy 5 years ago. She is coming with my dad on Thursday to celebrate BamBam's birthday.

My turn is probably coming. The genetic odds are not ones that Vegas would place bets on.

But I also know that breast cancer is a diagnosis

Not the end.

Pink

It's not just a color..it's an affirmation