BB King, Leon Russell and Mavis Staples in Concert

We bought last minute tickets to see BB King Live at the Orange County Fair opening night. He is 82 years old and still can entertain...

The concert was at the Pacific Ampitheatre ~ which is outdoors

Mavis Staples opened

And then Leon Russell...

We've got the blues

A gorgeous sunset

Heidi and I ~ we met up and crashed her date night with hubby Troy

The ferris wheel

Matching converse? An accident... but funny!

And even funnier because our friends, Heidi and Troy were wearing their mathching rainbows!

To be continued...

And we wonder why we're getting fatter....

Among the traditional cotton candy, popcorn, beer, churros, snow cones, ice cream... I found these lovely delicacies at the fair....

I used some restraint... but saw plenty of others indluging!

I...

I am: complex
I think: about the future too much
I want: to be healthy
I have: dreams of having a family of my own
I wish: I didn't care what people think of me
I hate: when people are rude
I miss: Jan and Zoie
I fear: that I will be alone
I feel: grateful for my many blessings
I hear: the air conditioning
I smell: philosophy's Amazing Grace lotion
I crave: touch
I search: everywhere until I find the answers
I wonder: what God's plan is for me
I regret: not loving myself more
I love: to travel
I ache: when I regret a decision
I care: about others
I always: try to be places on time
I am not: the best at sticking to a work-out schedule
I believe: in the power of prayer
I sing: even though it's not perfect
I dance: every chance I get
I cry: not as much as I used to
I don't always: listen without distraction
I fight: for what I think is right
I write: to do lists
I never: stop learning
I listen: to my inner voice
I need: to feel loved
I'm happy: when I am at peace with myself

What's that smell?

Last Spring my sister, mom and I went to a Perfume Extravaganza at Nordstrom. They had over a hundred vendors with samples and gift sets of all of the top selling and specialty frangrances. I chose Angel as my perfume and was excited to get it personalized by an artist who painted the bottle.

I've worn it a few times, have received comments from friends... "What are you wearing?" and "I can smell your perfume."

This weekend Ziad kept saying, "I keep smelling this smell... did you swith deodarants?" I became paranoid. Took a shower... changed my clothes... put on perfume.... "Nope! You still smell!"

"How can I smell? I just showered and put on perfume!"

"Let me smell your perfume..."

Ziad smells my Angel ~ the one in the pretty bottle.

"Yes! That's it! It smells terrible... I can't stand it! Smells like you need to wear deodarant!"

I couldn't get to Nordstrom fast enough to exchange that perfume. I told the sales woman that the perfume, "reacts funny to my body chemistry," and I wondered if I could exchange it for something else.

She smiled and said, "It's not just you. I've always thought that Angel smells like BAD BODY ODOR!"

She kindly exchanged it and recommended I stick with something, "a little fresher."

Thank you, Ziad... who knows how long people have been offended!

Los Angeles Anaheim Angels Hoopla

Ziad scored awesome tickets to the Angels game. Our seats were field level on the third base line. We brought his sister-in-law Traci and sweet three year old niece, Laci.

Can't go to a baseball game without a whole lot of bubble gum...

Red and White...

Laci loved her first baseball game. I can't say that she watched much of the game... but enjoyed the bouncing beach ball, the crowd and a pretzel and popcorn dinner!

Group Shot...

The Angels defense was offensive. 7-3, Bluejays

One super-duper cutie patootie... DYLAN!

My friend Lindsey (Best bud from college) sent me this pictures of her son, Dylan Jackson. He's 14 months old and sooooooooo cute! They live in Portland, so I don't get to see them often enough. Whenever I talk to Lindsey on the phone I can hear him saying, "Hi! Hi! Hi!" He's learning at an early age that mom on the phone = be a mad man!

Missing You, Jan and Bill

Today is the 3rd anniversary of the death of Bill and Jan Reed. Bill and Jan were like surrogate parents to me. My family vacationed with the Reeds several times a year. Some of my best memories of growing up were with them.

Today I took some time to think of them. I prayed. I cried. I wonder what they'd be doing today and miss their earthly presence tremendously.

http://http://nuggetnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=815&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

http://http://nuggetnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=725&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

http://nuggetnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=726&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

Jan and Bill,

Your legacy lives on. You taught so many how to really love. We learned from you how to work hard, give generously and to make time to cut loose and have a good time. You are greatly missed and will always be remembered....

"Talent (even if you don't have it) Show"

Ziad and I, also known as, Part Time Love, sang in a Talent Show last week.

The girls ~ Mari, Azadeh, Stephanie and I

aDORKable! Ziad played in a Band was Punk Chic

Rock and Roll, Baby... Rock and Roll!

Here, Ziad and I make our debut... singing, "Anyone Else But You," as featured in Juno

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else... but you!

We're working on a new song set and are in search of an "Open Mic" night. Watch out for Part Time Love!

I did it! It's over... WAHOO!!!!!!!!

So, today, I got the email that I've been waiting for. It was from my professor and read, "The Chief Academic Officer has approved your thesis! This is the final stage of the approval process!" This makes me very happy.

No more Statistics, Research Methods, or Test and Measurements. Now my weekends don't have to be spent writing papers or cramming for an exam. I won't have to pull my hair out having to redo my reference section for the thirteenth time in accordance with, "proper APA format." And best of all... I can now read and write whatever I want.

It feels so good to be done. So many times I wanted to "take a long break," to have my free time back. But deep down I knew that somehow life would get in the way and it would be that much harder to go back. I made a goal several years ago to earn a Masters... and I stuck with it. No more school for me!

The Board of Directors

The President, Faculty and Graduating Class

of

Walden University

announce that

Melinda Marie Hughie

will be conferred the degree of

Master of Science in Psychology in General Psychology

with a specialization in Clinical Child Psychology

Summa Cum Laude

at the Commencement Exercises

Saturday, July twenty sixth

Two Thousand and eight

at one-thirty in the afternoon

Northrup Auditorium

University of Minnesota Campus

Reception to follow ceremony

Since I didn't have an overwhelming need or desire to, "walk" at the Graduation Ceremony, my parents and I decided to take a trip. A cruise! To Alaska! We will leave at the end of August and I can't wait! I know we will have a fun and memorable trip.

YAHOO!

Fun in Memphis with Taylor and Brittnee

After my work conference was over, I spent the day with my two sweetnesses and Goddaughters, Brittnee and Taylor. When I arrived, Taylor was, "hiding" in the dryer. Only Taylor!

We decided to break tradition of Build-A-Bear, The Disney Store and Ruby Tuesdays and tried something new. We hit Memphis' Incredible Pizza Company. It's a glorified Chuck E. Cheese (which I avoid at all cost) but way cooler. It has a buffet with pizza, southern food and a salad bar and all of the sugar one could need... and a huge game center with bumper cars, speed racing, arcade games, fair games and a giant bouncy house!



Here is the, "mandatory," group picture. The girls are getting so big! Taylor starts the 2nd grade and Brittnee will be in 7th this Fall. They are very smart cookies! Brittnee is very perceptive and wise beyond her years. Her vocabulary is very adult, she is a computer and electronics whiz and has the sweetest heart. Taylor is reading up a storm, will correct you when you get out of line and is hoping for a, "nice teacher," this year! She is full of energy and go-go-go... and knows every single word to all of the, "cool" music. I love these girls so much and am so thankful to get to watch them grow and learn and LIVE.

Getting Taylor to eat anything that's not her idea is a challenge. She only wanted olives and jumped up and down when she saw green AND black olives. I was able to get her to eat some applesauce and some cheese bread... sort of nutritious, huh?

Brittnee and I

Taylor reminds me of myself when I was younger. She always wants to strike a pose!

Brittnee is a good sport with Taylor...



Between the girls and I we, "won," over 8 hundred tickets!

Taylor would have been content to stay in the bouncy house the whole afternoon. At several points she was in there by herself, running around and literally bouncing off the walls!

They loved this percussion arcade came. Those two have some rhythm!

Here they are with their loot..

After all the fun and games... the girls kindly obliged and tagged along to Archivers, my favorite SCRAPBOOK STORE! I picked up some necessities... and we headed home for some downtime. HA! Taylor bounced around the living room singing and dancing and being a ROCKSTAR!

What fun! I can't wait to be a full-time mommy. Days like this are definitely practice!

From Winnie The Pooh

"Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering. "


~Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne

Advice...

Don't date because you are desperate.

Don't marry because you are miserable.

Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.

Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don't associate with people you can't trust.

Don't cheat.

Don't lie.

Don't pretend.

Don't dictate because you are smarter.

Don't demand because you are stronger.

Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.

Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.

Don't stagnate.

Don't regress.

Don't live in the past.

Time can't bring anything or anyone back.

Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr/Mrs Right.

Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.

Find a new friend.

Start a new career.

Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.

To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.

To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.

Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what you can be.

Simplify your life.

Take away the clutter.

Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.

Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.

Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.

Be true to yourself.

Don't commit when you are not ready.

Don't keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.

Say those words.

Don't let the moment pass.

Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.

Love Deeply.

Walk barefoot.

Dance with wild abandon.

Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself.

Don't wait for someone to take care of you.

You light up your life.

You drive yourself to your destination.

No one completes you - except YOU.

It is true that life does not get easier with age. It only gets more challenging.

Don't be afraid.

Don't lose your capacity to love.

Pursue your passions.

Live your dreams.

Don't lose faith in your God.

Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!