Sundays In My City #34 - Bow Wow

Unknown Mami hosts a great Sunday theme inviting YOU to get out and take pictures of your city and/or Sunday to share with the rest of blogland. Click HERE to see Unknown Mami's Sunday in her City today.

It was a busy week filled with uneventful-- or at least uninteresting things that kept me on the run. Honestly, I can't think of one thing I actually accomplished but I know I'm exhausted from all the usual chores of a "domestic goddess", I mean average housewife.

But, I didn't want to miss a Sundays In My City gathering, and since I laughed out loud when I drove up the street and saw this sign, I thought I'd share it with you....

It's the main entrance to 20th Century Fox movie and tv studio in Los Angeles. We locals simply call it Fox Studios.

This hideously large billboard-- literally the size of a two story, two car garage that hangs on a frame in front of a sound stage-- changes on a regular basis promoting their latest movie release or tv extravaganza.

When I turned on to the road facing the sign, it was a spec in the distance about a half mile away. As I got closer I realized the blue Avatar DVD sign was now gone and something big and brown was being promoted. When I got close enough to see it, I cracked up because that is one seriously big dog staring directly at on-coming traffic.

Not sure if this movie will be on my "must see" list but it looks like fun.

How's your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

photo credit: joanna jenkins

Check out more of the Sundays In My City community HERE

Graduation Advice

Around this time last year, my mailbox was flooded with 14 graduation announcements and party initiations (!) for a wide variety of precious darlings "graduating" from everything from kindergarten to college and a few crazy grades in between. You can read about it HERE.

Apparently I am not so popular on mailing lists anymore. I wonder if word got out that I was less than excited to be bombarded with so many bogus graduation announcements requiring gifts.

This time around only one announcement and invite graced my mailbox and it was from my oh so smart niece Kel. (And I was VERY happy to receive it!) I recently mentioned her brain power and showed you a picture of her HERE. Too busy to click over? Here's another picture for your viewing pleasure....

Kel's announcement arrived in a bulging envelope because she is not only graduating from high school with honors, she is also graduating from the community college with an Associates Degree in Science! All that and she's a horse-riding, gymnastic teaching, ice creaming scooping, busy bee who has more energy and enthusiasm than you can shake a stick at. In other words, and I am by no means bragging, *ahem* Kel gets great grades, works two part time jobs, participates in school activities and is A LOT of fun to be around.

And that's my problem....

With all the Grad congratulating I did last year, you'd think I'd be able to come up with some original words of wisdom for Kel's graduation card that will inspire and energize her to continue on her education path and bright future as she studies to be a Physical Therapist.

But so far.... I got nothing.

All I'm coming up with are the usual cliches and common as carrots messages that will cause her eyes to glaze over and move on to the next well-wishing card. (Not that she won't appreciate it, I'm just saying-- boring is boring and she is only 17, after all.)

Did I mention that I've been working on writing this card for three days and still-- nothing, nada, zero, zilch, other than-- reach for the stars, don't party til you puke, or watch out for the Freshman 15. Like I said, not the least bit inspiring.

What do you say to a smart, funny, kind, generous, 17 year old girl who's heading to a major University in the fall with big dreams, lots of brains, a sparkle in her eye, and the world at her feet???

Seriously, help me out please....

What words of "real world" advice and/or wisdom do you have for a graduate about to head off to college?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

PS I'm having a Summer Giveaway soon. More details to follow!

Photo Credit: © Hittoon - Fotolia.com (cartoon)

88 1/2

When I grow up, I want to be Betty White.

She totally rocked on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. Usually I can barely stay awake to watch the opening skit or two on SNL-- it starts at 11:30pm, but I propped myself up in bed and was wide-eyed and laughing out loud throughout the entire show.

No, it wasn't because they got an 88 1/2 year old white-haired granny to use the F-word (which, of course, was bleeped out). And no it wasn't because she was racier than I ever expected. Betty White rocked because you could see in her eyes just how pumped up she was to be doing a comedy show, in front of a live audience, and getting a fabulous response!

Not only did she do an actual monologue that was pretty darn funny, and significantly more than many other hosts perform, Betty White was in every single skit performed on the show! She was running and moving and performing and changing wigs and making people laugh non-stop for a full hour. I was exhausted just watching her.

If you missed it, here are the monologue and my fave two skits--

Monologue....

The Muffin Lady....

And with Tina Fey as a US Census Taker....

About 28 years ago, my then 16 year old brother, came to visit me in New York. We got up at 4:30 in the morning and drove 45 minutes into New Your City-- To stand in line outside the NBC studios where SNL is taped-- And waited three hours for a chance to get "stand-by" tickets to see the show live that night at 11:30pm.

We scored two ticket and prayed that, after spending the entire day and evening in Manhattan, we'd actually get INSIDE the studio to see the show.

This was back in the day when Eddie Murphy was a SNL cast member-- Yep, it was that long ago. Johnny Cash was the host and a weird looking guy named Elton John was the musical guest.

My brother and I were the last two audience members allowed into the studio for taping! And let me tell you, despite being exhausted from the long day, it was one of the top ten most memorable events of my life. My kid brother had a B.L.A.S.T. and that made it all worth it.

In hindsight, I would have gotten up again at dawn to stand in line outside NBC in hopes of scoring tickets to see Betty White in all her glory. She had perfect comedic timing, a spring in her step and a twinkle in her eye that lite up her face.

At 88 years young, she is a blueprint of the kind of person I'd like to be at 88-- Still up for a challenge, unafraid to stand toe-to-toe with women more than half my age, able to poke fun at myself, and able to tell a good, albeit slightly dirty, joke.

Rock on Betty White!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: NBC

Sundays In My City #33 - Favorite Things!

Unknown Mami hosts a great Sunday theme inviting YOU to get out and take pictures of your city and/or Sunday to share with the rest of blogland. Click HERE to see Unknown Mami's Sunday in her City today.

I've been humming the "Sound of Music" song about brown paper packages tied up in string because I received one yesterday from the very talented Amariah Rauscher. I was lucky enough to win her April Giveaway (Thanks to Izzy at Stone Spirit who turned me on to the opportunity).

One of my vivid memories as a kid is of my mother singing the song "Favorite Things" every time she saw the UPS truck driving down our rural street in Ohio-- a sight that was not all that common. So when the manila envelope from Amariah arrived I was surprised and so happy to find this inside.....

To be honest, I actually held off all day long opening her generous gift because it was so lovely and so filled with memories that I seriously thought of sending it directly to my Mom without disturbing the wrapping. But, like the little kid I used to be, my curiosity got the better of me and I opened it, oh so carefully, and discovered this gorgeous print....

A million thanks to Amariah. You put a smile on my face and I'll think of you each time I look at your beautiful artwork.

Visit Amariah awesome blog and checkout her May Giveaway HERE!

Photo Credit Amariah Rauscher - This is a 5" x 7" print of her drawing "It's a Small Thing." It is a reproduction of her original charcoal and watercolor drawing. You can have one too and see more of Amariah's artwork at her Esty Store HERE! And WOW, it's on sale until June 1st!

So on this Mother's Day, and in honor of my Mom and the talented Amariah, I leave you with this contemporary rendition of a favorite song.

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there.

What are your "favorite things"?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Check out more of the Sundays In My City community HERE

Big Kid Update - Day 195

I am an avid believer in the power of prayer. Regardless who or what you pray to, I believe the collective force of positive energy directed towards a specific person (s) is meaningful and impactful.

Regular readers know I've written about our blog friend Attila The Mom and her son Big Kid as he's battled for his life with the Swine Flu since October 25, 2009 when he first fell sick. If you don't know Attila or her son's story, it starts HERE-- and I think it will, quite frankly, make you sit straight up in your chair.

Attila's nearly daily updates were titled by the number of days Big Kid's health battle raged on. Yesterday she posted Day 195! This is no "little bug". The Swine Flu has kicked their butts ever which way to Sunday and it continues. Her latest update stopped me in my tracks and I immediately sent a pray towards them.

Please, please, pay Attila a visit and share some much needed blog love-- She is one of the VERY BEST people you'll ever know and the struggle ahead for Big Kid and her family could really use a little boost-- and yes, positive prayers and energy sent their way.

Click HERE for Update - Day 195

Click HERE to start from the beginning to understand the road they've traveled.

A million thanks,

xo

Joanna

Photo Credit © Johnny Lye - Fotolia.com

Music To My Ears

Why is it that after a week out of town in Ohio with family on a quasi vacation, I come back to a mountain of paperwork, a to-do list as long as my arm and more laundry than Martha Stewart could tackle in a month? Vacation seems to multiply everything so much more than when I'm home working away at the chores. How does that happen!

But I'm back... revitalized sort of... and loaded with news, so here goes--

We are in baby countdown mode! My sweet niece, Queen M, is due in just 38 days, give or take, with her little girl. As I've said before, this is the first bundle of joy from the "younger generation" in our family and we are all EXCITED.

Last weekend the Great Aunties-- all four of us, threw her a big baby shower bash that was so stinking fun! All girlie with guests from ages 1 to 85, the food was a mile long salad bar filled with every salad item you could think of and topped off with her favorite CAKE. Yum!

Look how cute she is. Right now, Queen M is literally half my age. Could someone please tell me how that happened!

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My baby sister's second daughter Kel is graduating from school next week. Not just any school either! Kel is graduating from high school with honors, then the very next day she receives her Associates Degree in Science from the community college which means she starts at University in the fall as a Junior! She's on her way to being a physical therapist and has a great start on life. We are bursting with pride and love her so much.

Again I ask, when did all that happen? Just yesterday she looked like this....

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When I returned to Los Angeles I had a much anticipated package waiting for me in my huge stack of mail. It was a music CD by the husband of my dear blog friend TechnoBabe. (You know her, right? If not, click HERE and stop by and say hi. She's an amazing writer.)

Techno's hubby, James, is a gifted musician who wrote and recorded ALL of the music on the CD himself. Let me tell you-- I am impressed! He is a very gifted artist and I thoroughly enjoy his music.

Photo Credit Bipolar Shaman

Having been in the advertising and entertainment business in my previous life, I tend to listen to music and think what it would work well with. Many, many options crossed my mind as I listened to James' music about 20 times so far. I will just say that track 4 would work amazingly well for a James Bond love scene-- and a really fabulously romantic one at that.

This CD was music for my ears for two big reasons. First because it's wonderful and well worth the addition to my music library (hint, hint). And second, because James is bipolar. I know a thing or two about bipolar disorder from loved ones. The work, focus and time it took to make this CD is a huge accomplishment-- especially when you read James' story. Please CLICK HERE to listen to his music and to show him some blog love.

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At the moment the house smells like homemade peanut butter chocolate chip cookies for Godson's school field trip to the park tomorrow-- which means some of that laundry I mentioned will have to wait a little longer. But I'll be around in the next few days to catch up on all my fave blogs. I've missed you guys.

What's music to your ears?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit Bipolar Shaman - TechnoBabe