Mom's Life Rules

Just like I taught my boys some other life rules (other than don't talk about abortion, politics or religion at work) I follow and tell some of the young people I come in contact with:

**** Keep your financial business personal. Don't go spouting your mouth about what you got going on. It's NOBODY'S business. Your best friend today could be your worst enemy next week. (AND, depending on your crowd, you could save yourself from getting robbed.)

****ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS check your blind spot when you change lanes ALWAYS!!! MAKE IT A PERSONAL RULE. I'd of been dead and probably killed a lot of other people if I didn't have this personal rule. On many an occasion I'd be just about ready to change lanes, thinking, "I know there's nobody there," and I'm just about ready to move that steering wheel, and I remember my rule and spin my head to look and SURE AS SHOOTING there's a car RIGHT THERE. Sometimes ON THE FREEWAY, we'd of all been dead for sure.

AND, an added driving rule: DO NOT TAILGATE. Another thing that would have caused me to get into many an accident.

And the second to the last of the driving rules: Keep your speeding to a minimum. For real. And weather can change things so much. A first rain, after a dry spell, that's when it can be REAL slippery, and then you those days when you have the good ol' sun in the eyes. Blindness. Sandstorms, this that and the other. Mother nature and driving can really cause havoc. Not to mention the guy next to you. Be a DEFENSIVE DRIVER FOR SURE!

There's the regular rules we all have like brushing your teeth before you go to bed or turning off all the lights before you leave, BUT the first TWO up there are BIGGIES with me.

You also have the REAL BIGGIES like HONESTY and being DEPENDABLE .

****AND the BIGGEST RULE OF ALL

~~~ NO DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED!!!

I lost my 25 year old son in 2004 (and this boy & I were extremely close, I mean we were like BEST FRIENDS) to an impaired driver showing off his new car. Apparently his claim to fame was doing just what he did. Only this time he didn't make it. "OH D**** B*tt**t**, his thing is going around corners sideways." The car was going about 80 mph around a suggested 25 mph hard left curve. He screached around the curve, lost control went sideways and slid directly into a BIG WHITE OAK tree.

Since they were going SO fast, the car continued to spin around the tree until they were heading up the road with the tree three-feet in the car. It looked as if he was driving up the road and a 100 mph wind came up and blew the car straight off the road and into the tree, like it T-boned the tree. Kinda like Superman threw the car at the tree. It just looked so weird how the car got like that.

Only thing was the tree was right where my son had been sitting. He was pushed to the back, and pinned in the car for almost 4 hours.

THANK THE LORD, he passed instantly, so he did not suffer. It was sad that he was pinned for so long. It never dawned on me at the time, you know, my son was "dead" - my best friend, but we were not able to donate any of his organs. That really bothers me now.

Dang, I sure went off on a tangent. Sometimes I need to get that out. I am a greiving mom. He was SO.......... beautiful and such a good son. Always sticking up for "MOMS." :)(

2 of MY and 1 post from who I have figured out to be KRISTINA, Thanks Mama!

DeeWA2007 April 21, 2008
WOW, It's Monday, April 21, and I JUST now am reading your post of MY post Kanye. Yes, my son was a Christian, had a BIG four inch cross tatooed on his left shoulder, and a Superman w/an E tat on the right. Yes, he thought he was Super E. Maybe someday we can get together and you can listen to some of his free styles and the few songs he left on my computer. He'd never made it into the studio, and had stopped battling to write.(He'd come home and tell me "This old guy drug me around the parking lot by my neck saying, "you have to sign with me tomorrow," but he'd read The Source for YEARS and knew he had to keep ownership of his masters.He had gotten all the tuition money for Full Sail music college in Florida, and only needed the dormitory costs ($1,000). He said, "I'm doing it the right way Mom, I'm not selling drugs. If I graduate from that great college, I'll be able to get a job at any recording studio in the country, then the ppl who matter will hear my stuff." Thanks

DeeWA2007 April 21, 2008
Anyone who's interested in reading my son's obituary, here is the link. AND, thanks to EVERYONE who's posted and given us good wishes and inspiration. Yes, I'm 54, BUT I'm still ALIVE and vital, as was Kanye's Mom. Just because we're not 21 anymore doesn't mean we don't like good music. If you check out my BLOG at DEEWA2008.BLOGSPOT.COM and go to my -What's in Your CD Player- post of Feb 11, you will see that my favs are Kanye, Amy Winehouse (Kanye turned me on to her), Tupac (that's been in my player for 10 yrs now) Eminem, Alicia Keys, and my fav for 20 yrs Bruce Springsteen.Thanks again EVERYONE...Ernie's obituary: GO to the post area and leave a post....Ernie's Obituary

krobitsch April 24, 2008
i was a close friend of deewa's son he was a very talented young man and he loved his music he was so close to going to a school down in Florida for recording he was a great guy and we all miss him alot and he really thought kanye was going somewhere with his music and to think it could have been him someday but i guess jesus wanted him to walk with him instead and my eyes will forever water everytime i hear the song jesus walks rip E

My Thoughts

I thought Rev Wright seemed like a very educated, well read, full of himself and SMART-A** pastor. Standing up there laughing, wiggling around laughing at friends here and there like this isn't an important issue, it was insulting to me. Like, us white folks aren't in on the joke. At least Sen Obama came at it with a LOT of CLASS!

Nobody, as far as I'm concerned, is coming after the Black Church as a whole, you dummy. This seems to be some sort of stategy he's come up with to offset the back-lash he's gotten from the sound-bites Obama issue.

'I'm coming out of my silence now because it's like they're talkin' bout my mamma now!'

First thing, the Church ain't your mama, and second, ain't nobody talkin' 'bout her...

I Hate to go here, but this is so.... important.

Rev Wright came out this weekend, and spoke to the NAACP, last night I believe, and did a press type of conference, that I watched live this morning, I'll share my personal views of him in a sec. First, here are a few of the iReports from CNN:

iReporter Seanjo: "I respect Rev. Wright as a man and a pastor. I also respect his right to defend himself. But to suggest that the fallout from remarks that he has made in the past is not an attack on him personally, but an attack on black churches in general, is inflammatory and unproductive.
"When someone makes divisive and controversial comments, he/she can and should expect a backlash of criticism. That's not an attack, it's a defense. You can't expect to offend me without invoking defensiveness from me."

iReporterTony: "The stuff this guy says doesn't belong in a church -- period. It's classless, demonstrates a pure racial agenda, and undermines much of what Christianity is based around."

Suze: "This is a first for me. I just changed the channel as I find Rev. Wright to be highly offensive. Any thoughts I had of voting for Senator Obama are over."

Yony: "I find it shocking and disconcerting that people are willing to dismiss Rev. Wright's controversial speech as a "sound byte". Listening to to the entire speech reveals no further truth or justification. I'm not sure how one reads the part about the U.S. injection of African Americans with the AIDS virus as 'out of context.' Regarding Obama, it may very well be that Rev. Wright does not speak for him, but let us not forget that Obama attended this church for 20 years (proudly, according to him). I would expect a half decent man to have left such a place, where values are formed and solidified, long ago."

iReporter smokieyob: "Where does the healing start?"
Chipster: "Rev. Wright isn't doing Obama any favors. He preaches anger and hatred of decades-old injustices, yet no appreciation for the progress that has been made. Certainly, we can do better, but it doesn't help to incite so much anger in generations of black youth who never experienced slavery or the harsh discrimination of Wright's youth. Today, they have opportunities that Wright could not have imagined then.
"His ridicule of Jack Kennedy is particularly offensive because Jack and Bobbie sacrificed everything in their fight for justice for all minorities. They had wealth, education, and privilege. They didn't have to risk their lives, but they did. For Wright to ridicule their accents and compare it to broken English does a disservice to their sacrifice and to black youth who are capable of more than he gives them credit."
Ed: "Very educational, informative, and impressive overall. It's important for America to hear that different doesn't mean deficient; just different. I believe if more White Americans were accepting of this truth, Mr. Obama would have wrapped up the Democratic nomination long ago. This is, however, not to say that Rev. Wright was alluding to Mr. Obama when he made this statement."
iReporter krystal68: "Stop living in yesterday. My children have been raised to love and be loved. If people like Rev. Wright continue to live in a hateful past, we as a people will never be able to enjoy our present and our future."

A Kanye Widget (you know I've just recently learned what a 'widget is')

Just thinkin' Bout Ernie This Morning...

I'm doing my usual morning "crusin..." on the laptop. I go over to check out Kanye's Blog. He's always got cool artwork, and especially since he posted my comment from April 14, I kinda feel a kinship (corny huh, but oh well). I'm a "mom," you guys who know me, know I'm a mom to EVERYBODY who's younger than me...

Anyway, he's got this Post of these COOL windows that transform into little balconies, and he mentions in the post title that he doesn't like heights. So, I leave a comment on how cool the windows were, and that 'E' didn't like heights either.

I exit, and go down to his next post and there's some kind of metal (I got out of there so fast I can't remember) grey bean bag chair by a guy name Rick Ivery.

I almost choked. That is my son's last name. Two posts in a row that have something to do with my boy, and his LAST NAME, spelled just like it. That was just too weird for me.

I left a comment to get me some info on the guy, and that he was weirding me out, and I was leaving his blog right RIGHT THEN!!!

Then, not two minutes later, the little four-year old who's spending the night with his six-year old sister (their mom was living at my home for young moms when the six-year old was born and they've become like my GRANDKIDS (I'm Auntie D*****)

ANYWAY.... V came out and said, "I want to watch Mr. Kanye West with his glasses." (so cute, he's only 4. At least he knows his first name now. The other day he wanted to come and watch the video, we were in the car, and he kept saying, "I want to go see Mr. West." LOL right now!!!

You see I have the Grammys Tivo'd and because ever since Graduation came out, that and Back to Black are about all I listen to in my car. Whenever I pick up L. (OH YES, I'm supposed to tell everybody that I DON'T babysit her, she is my "partner" and we hang out. She is not a baby!), but when I pick them up they (V. 4 & L. 6) get in the car the first thing they say is, "Can we hear the Good Morning song?" Every once in a while they like to listen to Ernie too.

So, we put on the Grammys. When Kanye started doing Mama that did it for me TEARS TEARS TEARS............................ and I decided to write this post :( d

Olay for You

Olay for You

OMGosh..... It's a 1 point game with 37 seconds to GO...

Houston is up by 1 on Utah (93-92) - there's 37.4 on the clock, and it's Houston's ball. It's game 3 in this best of 7 in this opening round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

They just called a Time-Out, and have to go the whole length of the court. \

OMG, Utah is down by down by 1, they didn't call a Time Out when Houston turned over the ball, and they came all the way back up the court and ran the clock all they way down to .2, trying to, but weren't able to score.

Foul, putting Houston at the line. They got one, missing the first one on purpose. The way Tracy McGrady was scrivling his nose going, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I think he was supposed to miss 'em both. Bounce the ball off the backboard, rebound and then play out the last .2. That's just my guess though. I mean, anything can happen in 10 seconds of basketball, Reggie Miller taught us that.

Rockets 94, Jazz 92 FINAL

Here's How Kanye's Post Looks ~ SO COOL....

Thank you Kanye for Sharing Ernie's Story! Now, MANY, MANY people around the WORLD know about MY BOY! Hopefully, we'll be able to do even more when you have time after your tour is over.

MR. West, Mr. West, You've GOT A BIG HIT (tour) .... AND a BIG HEART!

And THIS is the Seahwaks Home Page

Have you seen just-released (former) Seahawk Shaun Alexander's Statement?

Talk about CLASS act, holy cow, how often do we see "I've been released," statements like THAT??

Shaun Alexander, League MVP in 2006 when he scored 28 TD's and "a franchise mark of 1,880 yards rushing while leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl and becoming the franchise's first MVP."
Number 37.... WE WILL MISS YOU!!Check out the Seattle Times article, which includes Shaun's released statement pretty much in it's entirety.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2004366482_apfbnseahawksalexander.html

Some Days are Busy & Some Days are NOT!!!

Soon, we'll have a GREAT Cartoon Here.....................

Way to go BUDDEEE....

Tony (Eva Longoria) Parker had 32 pts, and Timmy threw in 18 in last night's amazing coming-from-behind (AGAIN) win against Shaq and his Pheonix Sun buddies. Putting them up 2-0 in this opening round series in the NBA 2008 Playoffs.

As you can see from my previous post, I watched most of the game, sort of, at least the last quarter and I have to admit I am a San Antonio fan.

I've watched as Mr. Tim Duncan career has developed over the years. Remember when he first came in the league and David Robinson helped bring him up along? I have clear memories of watching TV blurps about David having Timmy over for a little backyard one-on-one and mentoring.

Here's what the Spurs web site had to say about our/MY OL' FAV and Hall of Famer ~ #30 ~ David Robinson:

One of the top centers of all-time, David “The Admiral” Robinson was a marvel of a basketball player and a respected figure off the court. A lean, muscular, 7-1 athlete, he was fast, strong and agile. In his first six NBA seasons he won NBA Rookie of the Year, MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, in addition to a rebounding title, a scoring crown, six All-Star bids, three selections to the All-NBA First Team and three selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

A contemporary of Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, Robinson posted career averages of 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game and won two championships -- the second one in his final season -- to stake his claim as one of the legends of the NBA.

Just thought I'd give us all a little history on how we even got to where we are today. Now, Timmy is giving back. Isn't that a "cute" (don't forget I'm a girl sports fan) pic of Tony & Timmy I found?

I'm sitting here listening all of these Sen Obama Supporters

Since Sen Obama is so great at, AND I REALLY DO THINK HE IS MYSELF (ON THE FOR REAL SIDE HERE) talking about race relations, I have said that wouldn't it be great for him to be named some kind of zahr for race relations, like our "drug zahr".

I mean, think about it. Our new Martin Luther King. I'm not kidding. He'd end up being more beloved in the LONG RUN that Hillary, that is if she were to end up winning this election. If he's president, then he becomes more "white", so to speak. Rules, regulations, etc., as President and his focus becomes issues that are NOT related to race per say but how we all pay for gas, food, WAR, etc., and he looses his ability to make lower and mid level changes in the RACE RELATIONS area. THAT'S WHERE A PERSON LIKE HIM WOULD REALLY BE BENEFICIAL. With him being a "good talker" and all.

Just thinkin'. You know - Turn lemons into lemonade!!!

BUT, I'm still leery of his true heart ever since I listened to a some of the Rev's sermons. I have been to MANY churches in the black community since I got married in '75. I have been to one or two with preachers like that and I did not go back. The church I am a member of now, I joined in 1986. and Ernie's funeral was there. At about 11 or so, he was a wise-man and my youngest son was a sheep in the Christmas play right up on that stage...... :(

Hillary is TROUNCING Obama

This IS what I believed would happen. I just truly believed that once the American public saw Rev Wright they would take a second look at Sen Obama.

I am still asking, "Why did you stay there once you heard this man say these things?"

BUT, one of my personal rules is (I guess it's actually 3 rules) Never talk about abortion, politics and/or religion at work. There are SO many deep feelings on those subjects. So, even though I am saying that I am a Hillary supporter, I am not going to go on-and-on about the subject. I did research over a year ago on Sen. Obama and quite a bit more on Sen Clinton. It was then that I made a VERY firm decision that I would not support him. At that time I knew nothing of Rev Wright. Now I KNOW I made the correct decision. Especially having been married to a black man, Oct 22, 1975, and my son was born Nov 11, 1978. If I EVER had him anywhere where anyone spoke of any race the way Rev Wright spoke of whites I'd of BEAT FEET....
with that said, I'm done for today.
Won/ONE

Somebody got a pin on the Pheonix Bench?

Must be cause I'm sure the air is coming out of their balloon AGAINNNNN......

I've been sitting here writing this-and-that looking over to half-a**.way check out the score (the Suns were WAY UP for most of the game) but again tonight and all the sudden I look up and the Spurs have been on a 13-0 run and now it's 61-63 SPURS.

Do you think Shaq is pooping out? Well, my rule is, 'the game ain't over till the FAT LADY SINGS.' or you could say it, 'Don't COUNT YOUR CHICKENS 'Till YOUR EGGS HATCH'.

Since Reggie Miller and his heroics, my belief is ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. Give a team 10 seconds and a couple of time-outs, and less than 12 to make up. Hey with the right coaching and players ~ PIECE OF CAKE, right? Remember Reg tipping behind that 3-point line???? MAN......

Holy COW it's 71-63 SPURS.... I'm outta here. I'm routing for SA. The announcer just said, "As you can see San Antonio Spurs are CRUSHING the Suns in the 3rd quarter plus 15....."

We'll see....

I AM SO...... SAD.....

I JUST found out that Danny Federici passed away. OMGoodness.... That is soooo.... sad.

I'd be willing to bet that my few friends who stop by to read my words of wisdom and blurps of news here and there, along with a bit of what's going with me [not so much] are probably saying, 'Who the heck is he?'

He's an E Streeter, that's who. AND, it was only just a couple of months ago that he announced that he would not be touring with THE BOSS and the rest of the E Street Band on his new World Tour, and that he had melanoma. Usually that's a treatable cancer, a skin cancer, so I was shocked and so sad to see he had passed away.

I have gone to see Bruce Springsteen more than anyone else EVER. I've been in 9th & 20th row right in front of the stage., and the 2nd row of the 2nd section back AND of course up in the upper level too. And, in 1989, when Ernie was about 9 yrs old we all spent the night in line down at the old Bon Marche with my friend Maggie Blomgren to get tickets. That was so much fun. Barbecuing, watching portable TV's (yes they even had SOME in 89) singing Bruce songs. That was a GREAT night and Ernie had such fun. Maggie was killed in a car accident. That next year at age 37, I think I was about 33 or 34. My best friend from Church. I really had a hard time with that one, Five years clean-and-sober and my best friend from church taken from us like that. She'd just gotten engaged, first marriage. Man.....

BUT, I have the BEST picture of Maggie & Ernie in line for those Bruce tickets with Ernie on a lounge chair giving me the thumbs up. I am smiling RIGHT NOW..... That's a good thing. GOOD MEMORIES. That's all I have left now! I'll try to find it and post it later.

Anyway, back to Danny. I want to send a SHOUT OUT TO BRUCE and THE E STREET BAND. I will pray for all of you and Danny's friends and FAMILY...

Gotta Give a SHOUT OUT to Danica Patrick

If you read my BLOG you KNOW I'm a sports fan. Keep up on things pretty much, even if auto racing is not one of my FAV's I gotta give credit when credit's due.

Ms Patrick is the FIRST FEMALE to win a major auto race winning Sunday's Honda's Indy 300 in Japan. WOO HOO!!! Danica!!!!

"I do feel kind of old today," Patrick quipped. "Yes, it's going to be one of those things that [is] remembered because it's a first. I've definitely thought about that before. I've hoped and wanted that as a person. I did think it would be nice to be the first female to win in history. With history going for a very long time, then I will be mentioned for a very long time."

"I thought a lot about it and a lot of races I had better opportunities than others. One of them was Motegi. It's where everything started in 2005. I always feel that I have that opportunity. I seem to have better results when I'm nervous and sometimes when I'm a little unsure and don't know what to expect. "

"It definitely felt like that with two days of rain and a flood coming down Turn 4. Those were things that came through my mind yesterday, that anything could happen and I needed to focus on the win."


Congrats Danica

What is going on with HOUSTON????

I mean, it's not that I don't like Utah, but geez louise. I really FEEL for Tracy McGrady who dang near had a triple double 23 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists.

Utah has now gone up 2-0 in the series. Houston who won 22 games in a row, many of them WITHOUT Yao Ming, who's out with an ankle (I think) injury.

Congrats to Utah....

Tracy is SO cute. I mean he played his heart out tonight, and it's almost sad to see the Rockets lose at home like that. I watched his AFTER-GAME press conference. Nice pin-striped suit. Looks like such a gentleman. I really like him, and he has stepped up BIG TIME since Yao went out.

Magic said, "He played as hard as I've ever seen him play.... God Bless Him." I'll give Magic THE LAST WORD TONIGHT....

Kanye Posted MY Comment on His BLOG

Shocked, I guess ,would be the best word to describe how I felt when I went to check out Kanye's Blog this morning. His Blog is one of my Home Pages (CNN, TMZ, ESPN, PerezHilton (Hollywood type gossip), The Daily Mail (from London), SI (Sports Illustrated), KanyeUniversecity.com/blog, and MY BLOG of course.

Well, I'm scrolling down looking at all his COOl artwork posts, Pharrell Williams & N.E.R.D.'s SOURCE Magazine cover post, and low-and-behold, there's MY COMMENT from last week as a post. It had my screen name DeeWA2007 as the title. I'm like OMG!!!! That's ME and MY comment!!!!!!!!!! It had 53 comments!

It all started the day before the concert, April 15, and I was checking out his BLOG and he had a POST: 41 Hours till Glow in the Dark. So, I decided to post a comment too, since I, too, was excited about the upcoming (the next day) concert.

It's pretty cool knowing that Kanye cared enough about our story to repost my comment. Now, he knows about Ernie too, and THAT makes me feel REAL good!

You can check it out for yourself at:
http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=0_-1__-1_~0_-1_4_2008_0_20&em3161=&em3281=

If you aren't able to get to it, I'm putting it all on MY BLOG for all my friends to read.

Here it ALL is:

DeeWA2007 April 15, 2008
I'm 54, taking my 19 yr old step daughter. My 25 yr old son was killed by a drunk driver in 2004. Before Jesus Walks was released he downloaded it and MADE all of us come upstairs to listen to it. He LOVED it. Said "This Kanye is going somewhere mom." He put Jesus Walks on his cell phone message the day before THE CRASH." It took OVER AN HOUR for all his friends to pass his casket all the while Jesus Walks played OVER-and-OVER. My attorney said, "First rap funeral I've ever been to." My son was a rapper and music producer just like Kanye, had a personality just like Ye. Thought he was all that, and then some. Dress liked Ye and was so talented. He and I had the same relationship, I'm a single mom who founded a program for high-risk youth in our community, and Donda passed the day before my son's birthday. I AM SURE THEY ARE ANGELS TOGETHER IN HEAVEN watching over all of us...........
sorry for the long post.

COMMENTS
shapiros April 17, 2008
thats a really touching story, you've definitely had that sort of impact on a lot of people ye. cant wait to see you at lollapalooza in august.
check out my website www. trendfresh. com

Billy April 17, 2008
very touchin young talent shot down so sad
but you can only grow from it

purplehaze1091 April 17, 2008
Its people like you who prove that Kanye is not just the next rapper but rather THE rapper PERIOD. Inspiration truly is in his lyrics this is proof if any. DeeWa2007 thank you for bringing this story over here.

athykay April 17, 2008
Wow. That is nice, and touching.

GoodMorning23 April 17, 2008
Yeah, I read that when it was first posted and I was actually thinking about it today, I was wondering if they played the explicit or the edited version, I'm kinda hoping they played the version with no swears...

AspiringMC April 17, 2008
Aw...

yerboylc3 April 17, 2008
thats what its all about...keep making that impact Ye

MissLilKanYe08 April 17, 2008
wow this was a very touching post. Its hurts when good people have to go. KanYe is inspiration to not only me(he's me idol), but to many others. Music in general is a positive thing.

missbumi April 17, 2008
you would be surpised of how much of a impact you make everyday is someones life Mr.West. Your truely an inspiration to all! I used you in one of course papers..."Also the song written by rapper Kanye West “Hey Mama” played a role in my piece, because he expresses his love and devotion to his through rhyming words. Seeing her struggle to make the best life him, he gained an understanding for who she was. One line that influenced me the most was: “…Now I feel like it's things I gotta get, Things I gotta do, just to prove to you, You was getting through, can the choir please Give me a verse of "You, Are So Beautiful To Me…" Like him I have lost my mother and through his words I found my own. " Thank You Mr. West.

Starr2897 April 17, 2008
That you so much for putting the spotlight on that post. I read it yesterday and it really touched my heart. God has given you a powerful anointing. Your show sounds amazing. Can't wait!!!

mrsEastandmrWest April 17, 2008
thats is so sad...wow..speechless

curbside April 17, 2008
I read this comment a few days back and I was surprised that you actually recognized it. I have a good deal of respect for you as a human being. You sheer determination and goal for perfection is unparalleled. Thank you for recognizing your fans even as a multimillion dollar entertainer. It's the small things you do that give back to our community and touch our hearts. Looking forward to Detroit!

daniginn April 17, 2008
That is very touching Kanye that is a blessing to know that you have inspired someone before they leave this earth and while they are on this earth.

Good looking out on posting this comment

wlad_to_the April 17, 2008
it so powerful,this story, god bless......

miss_highschool_dropout April 17, 2008
wow.... god bless :'(

shadowman April 17, 2008
THats DEEP.

tr3sDosUno April 17, 2008
i remember reading that post.... it was touching
Yahoo IM: tr3sDosUno

littledida04 April 17, 2008
I actually read that persons post as well, and at that moment I wondered if Kanye was going to read it.
"Dream what you want to dream; go where you
want to go; be what you want to be,because you have only one
life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. "

abaluch April 17, 2008
yeah i red that shit to...i was like damn..kanye has to post this...low and behold.

xmishx April 17, 2008
Kanye how do you find time in between your tour to still post? Thats a really touching comment, Im glad you see that through music you reach millions, all day everyday!!!

meeracle April 17, 2008
not that i had a doubt in my mind, but posting that makes you all the more real and legit to me. you are definitely someone i look up to, and i'm so proud of you to recognize like that.
be well and see you in boston!

Javon April 17, 2008
touching. It's cool u actually read these posts

ivanROC April 17, 2008
angels indeed

amisspelledword April 17, 2008
i appreciate you reading out comments and also taking the time to let us know that you are reading them

Tamomari April 17, 2008
WOW!! Very touching & powerful. U knew U read our comments Mr Ye.

Ernestime April 17, 2008
I had a sincere feeling that you would've felt enough passion to repost that comment from the tour blog that you had. I commend and respect your actions. Most importantly, your heart. God Bless.

ashleymarie April 17, 2008
wow, this was very touching. I pray for peace and strength for DeeWA2007 and for you Ye. God bless you both.

lilmissunshine April 17, 2008
...and the mere fact that u reposted this is why i love you, kanye

natalia0221 April 17, 2008
to be truthful kanye you inspire alot of people by your music and by everything you do. you show people the wonderful things in life and give people the best thing in life that can be given and that is motivation. i am also amazed that you do pay attention to what we post about your blogs. keep it coming kanye.
=] cant wait to see you in boston!

Nette821 April 18, 2008
WORD.... I'm with "lilmissunshine".....

FluRo April 18, 2008
wow thats very touching, sorry to hear about the loss and hopefully my great aunt who was close to me is R.I.P and watching over me Adam.

SoloPoloVision April 18, 2008
Wow, that's really moving, it's really nice you bother to read all of our comments and when someone posts something like this you really pay attention to them.

MURDAINMAYHEM April 18, 2008
no words.

melones April 18, 2008
When kanye performed hey mama at the grammys words cant explain how much it meant to me. Picture me growing up in brklyn. My biological left my mom when I was less than 8. My mom remarried a new dad who raised us. He passed less than 2 years ago due to lung cancer. Me and my mom were at the hospital the day he passed. The lyrics in this song paint vivid pictures so clear like my memory’s museum.
Seven years old caught you with tears in your eyes
Cause somebody cheat and tellin you lies
Then I started to cry as we knelt on the kitchen floor
I said Mama I'm love ya til you don't hurt no more
and when your older you aint gotta work no more
Last night I saw you in my dreams now I cant wait til I go to sleep
Last night I saw you in my dreams now I cant wait til I go to sleep
And this life is all a dream so my real life starts when I go to sleep
And this life, this here, this grammys its all its all a dream
And my real life starts when I go to sleep My mama mama mama

melones April 18, 2008
sorry for the long and sappy post..

RICHlv April 18, 2008
I hope DeeWa gets to read this that was touching.

MizzAero April 18, 2008
damn,,DeeWa i hope u rly do read this..
just goes to show how much ur music means to ppl =]
nd im glad the first person to cmnt to this didnt write "first comment" or nething

trinablue April 18, 2008
nice to see you actually read our comments.

i graduate this may from UT Austin and i feel like Graduation was written for me! dont ever quit doing what you do

_Banned_ April 18, 2008
Frikken scary...

_Banned_ April 18, 2008
I mean just think.

'The devils tryna break me down'
'I wanna talk to god but Im afraid cause we aint spoke in so long. '

jaxa33 April 18, 2008
I read this that day...I'm glad this made an impact on Ye. I think he's the type of artist that recognizes that MUSIC does play a role in our everyday life. When you think about it When you go to Church you do praise and worship etc etc. I listen and relate alot of songs to events and periods in my life. It's almost theraputic. IT IS theraputic...no way around it.

DonSuave April 18, 2008
Mr. West , This is why you cannot stop. The day you become so frustrated with this shady industry and perils that come with the package think about all the people who need that music you make. Had it not been for Roses I could not have visited my Dad when he was in the hospital with cancer and I would think that Real Hip-Hop has no place in the church if not for Jesus Walks. Don't hope, know that He does walk with you. Be peaceful, Don't hurtnobody.....

Brianna_81 April 18, 2008
See Ye , this is why i'd LOVE for you to make more songs like "Jesus Walks" ...God Bless

More_Than_A_Fan April 18, 2008
No one
Ever
Really
Dies...
They are all still here...
&& Angels do exist...
HIP HOP SAVED MY LIFE...
Thank You....

m_rizzuto April 18, 2008
BEAUTIFUL... beautiful how music transcends EVERYTHING including worldly life.

thats an inspiration for all creative people!

Candy April 19, 2008
This is very sad but at the same time is nice to know that you help the older crowed with your music too. Kanye I'm sorry for your lost,I remember seen your mom at the HOB Chicago. She seem like a wonderful person. That day you inspired me with your words about not letting anything or anybody bring you down no matter what they say. I could related to your loss,I was 15 when my mom pass away from cancer and it was a difficult time for me because I had to move in with my dad, that I had seen a couple of times in my life.I had to go through a lot to become the women that I am now. And realize that my mom is better of now then suffering in a hospital bed. Every time I hear "Hey Mama" I just thing about the good times with my mom and all the goals I will reach to put a smile in her face, just like you are with you mom.

NikNik13 April 19, 2008
This is very deep.

Chicagodoll April 19, 2008
OMG... tears are still falling... Jesus Walks is both my Mom and Dads ring-tone on my phone... that song means so much to me... and I think reading that just gave it even more meaning... now when I hear it I'll think of him and his family... That has to be an awesome feeling, knowing you've really touched someone's life...so just to let you know you've really touched mine as well...
Here's your roses... Kanye you move me in ways you will never know...you inspire me to be better and I feel like I found my "Big Brother" in you... I'm a girl but that song speaks to me because I really relate to your struggle... and I really feel your music helps me make it through :)
That_Girl0906 April 20, 2008
*Speechless* Perfect to read on a Sunday morning! God Bless!!

"We talkin' 'bout PRACTICE, man....."

A.I. (Alan Iverson) just tickles me. Now, if he's right in this vid, and he HAS only missed ONE practice THIS year, then LEAVE HIM ALONE about the whole practice thing!



Last Word: Alan, you DO make your teammates better by going to PRACTICE!!!

I was a CLINTON VOTING DELEGATE at our Democratic County Convention Yesterday ~ Pretty Cool!!

I attended the County Democratic Convention yesterday. AND, I had to drive through a SNOWSTORM to get there. Yes, it was APRIL 19, and it was REALLY a snowstorm. There was about 2 inches of snow on the ground by the time I got there. I video taped it. Unbelievable!!!

But, it was a pretty cool experience. We approved the County's Platform, and I volunteered to go on to the State's Convention, but I probably won't as I left at noon, and the voting was at 1:00.

I was SO...... tired when I got home I slept all afternoon until around 7:00 p.m. Barely watched the games. I get chronic fatigue and it sure kicked in yesterday, plus I wake up so....... early. Plus, my son got home around 3:00 a.m., and since I had to get out of here by 7:00 a.m., I never went back to sleep. I was just exhaused by noon.

Double OT for Suns v Spurs

It took the Spurs double overtime to finally overtake Shaq & his Phoenix Suns.

The Suns lead the whole first half, mostly without foul-happy Shaquille, going up by as much as 16 at one point.

It was about mid-fourth quarter before the Spurs finally took their first lead.

Duncan's first 3 of the season with just ticks left sent his team into double overtime against the revenge-minded Phoenix Suns . Don't forget the Spurs took last year's second round series from the Suns to go on to win the Championship.

Duncan said, 'I got a wide-open shot. Wound it up. Threw it up there and hoped for the best. ... It feels like a finals game. It's the first game of the first series, and we're going to have to muster energy back up.''

Tim had 40 points and 15 rebounds. I haven't checked all the stats, so I don't know what Tony Parker (Mr. Eva Longoria) did. I like to keep up on both Timmy & Tony. :)

Another Yummy Recipe (Baby Spinach & Oranges w/vinaigrette

Here’s a light and refreshing salad, perfect to accompany a light spring meal. (THAT REALLY DOES NOT SOUND LIKE ME TALKING, LIGHT SPRING MEAL? WTFrig! That OBVIOUSLY is a part of the recipe cut & paste....) :) :) Anyway, the recipe itself DOES sound REAL yummy! Now, THAT does sound like ME!

For the orange vinaigrette
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup fresh orange juice (see Tip)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste


For the salad
6 cups baby salad spinach
2 oranges, cut into ½-inch cubes
½ cup very thin red onion slices
½ cup coarsely crumbled feta or blue cheese

Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl.
Toss together the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss again.
Top the servings with cheese.

Paulette Mitchell, a culinary instructor, television personality, spokesperson, and the award-winning author of 12 cookbooks, is known internationally for her quick-to-prepare recipes with gourmet flair. Paulette’s most recently published cookbooks are “A Beautiful Bowl of Soup” and “The Spirited Vegetarian,” which was voted “Best Book in the World on Cooking with Wine” at the 2005 Gourmand World Media Awards. Paulette says that international travel is her favorite source of culinary inspiration. . To buy Paulette Mitchell's cookbooks, click here.

Kanye West put on a show of ~ HIMSELF!!!!

Yes, there was great lighting, and a cool spaceship idea deal that he was stranded in outer space, trying to get HOME, but this concert was ALL KANYE.

No backup singers or dancers. No big production. No marching band. Just Kanye up there, all by himself, for the whole set, singing his heart out, song after song. FABULOUS!

Just a little interaction with his spaceship, and the lighting and stage was WAY cool. I just cannot get over how under produced it actually was for Kanye, but how COOL it was because it was HIM doing his thing BIG TIME! *May 2, 2008 update: ** OK, I've had to come back and rewrite this part. YOU SEE. I was sitting to the side of the stage, almost behind the stage some, you can see by the pic I took of Kanye. AND, the two BIG screens they had up were at the end where we were sitting, in fact one was LITERALLY directly above my HEAD. If it would have fallen, it would have killed me. (So, I couldn't see the screens either.) Anyway, I could not see the spaceship lights at all, so those cool pictures I have posted on May 1, I did not see that stuff.

I still saw enough to LOVE THE CONCERT none the less. It was FANTASTIC!!! So, when I made my comments the day after the concert that it was under produced for him, you have to understand that I just couldn't see what most saw and what Kanye. Just wanted to clarify that in case anyone reads this down the road. It wasn't UNDER-PRODUCED AT ALL. IT WAS SUPERDUPPERDUPPERDUPPER!!! WHEW!

I LOVED IT!!

Opening Acts:

LUPE FIASCO

PHARRELL ~ N.E.R.D

RIHANNA

THEN THE BIG GUY

I tried to tell her she needed to get dressed up. Look cute, hip, get your nails & hair done. BUT NO!!!!!! She did not believe me and HAD to run upstairs and change her clothes. SO...... funny!





Joan is reading the Ticketmaster e-mail about the tickets, mad she's not going. Oops! Silly is doing the, "I am going to Kanye," dance. :)
My post on Kanye's BLOG

DeeWA2007 April 17, 2008
I was THERE! I loved those SHOES. I want to get some for my YOUNGEST son, he's now 25. He couldn't go, so I took my step-daughter. Just Kanye, the lights, his spaceship and the stage. He put on a SHOW! BIG TIME!!! JUST HE HIMSELF & YE! No dancers, no backup singers, just Ye doin' his thing... AGAIN ~ BIG TIME. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it.

Lupe Fiasco"The Coolest" "Go Go Gadget Flow" "Paris, Tokyo" "Hello/Goodbye" "Little Weapon" "Hip-Hop Saved My Life" "I Gotcha" "Streets on Fire" "Fighters" "Day Dreamin'" "Kick, Push" "Superstar"

N.E.R.D. "Anti-Matter"*"Babydoll" "Brain" "Spaz"*"Everyone Nose" "She Wants To Move" "Rock Star" "Lapdance" "Interlude (Drum-Off)" "Seven Nation Army (White Stripes Cover)"

Rihanna Rihanna did not follow the same set list every night. Her set included a subset of the following songs:"Breakin' Dishes" "Rehab" "Pon De Replay" "Doo Wop (That Thing)" (Lauryn Hill cover) "Break It Off" "Paper Planes" -- (M.I.A cover) "Shut Up And Drive" "SOS" "Hate That I Love You" "Unfaithful" "Take a Bow" "Don't Stop The Music" "Umbrella" "Push Up On Me" "Umbrella/Cinderella" (Remix)(featuring Chris Brown)

Kanye West "Good Morning" "I Wonder" "Heard 'Em Say" "Through the Wire" "Champion" "Get 'Em High" "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" "Can't Tell Me Nothing" "Flashing Lights" "Spaceship" "All Falls Down" "Gold Digger" "Good Life" "Jesus Walks" "Hey Mama" "Don't Stop Believing" (Journey cover) "Stronger" "Homecoming" "Touch the Sky"

Since Justin is one of my "Boyfriends" I had to give him EQUAL time

Isn't Timbaland cute in the intro???

4 Minutes to Save the World
Madonna & Justin Timberlake

WELL WELL WELL OL' Howard is steppin' up to the plate..

Howard Schultz has sent a letter to NBA Commish David Stern asking the vote scheduled for this Friday with league owners be POSTPONED on Clay Bennet's request to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

Howard is filing suit against Mr.? Clay Bennett to renig the sale of the Sonic to Bennett saying he did not act in good faith in his attempt to keep the Sonics in Seattle. YEAH HOWARD.

AND, now state and local political leaders joined the former SuperSonics owner in the fight to keep the NBA franchise in Seattle. Joining in on the suit.

My son, Ernie, couldn't stand ol' Howard. Used to say, "That guy needs to keep his nose in the beans and stay out of Basketball." See Howard Schultz founded Starbucks. He was being a smarta**, and Howard was always trading away great players, and when he traded Gary Peyton, that was the final Straw for Ernie!!! You really don't want to hear the quotes from that day.

BUT, wouldn't it be GREAT if in the end it's ol' Howard, Mr. Starbucks (I mean it was Seattle who made him what he is for goodness sake, drinking all that coffee.) who SAVED THE DAY (SONICS.........)

So, Clay, I guess you could say, I ain't over till "THE FAT LADY SINGS..." Don't get your court painted yet, OKC...

OK Who should be the MVP

Kobe seems to have it locked up. Even his kids were at the game on Sunday with "very" cute signs they (and Mommy [gorgeous, I might add]) had hand made with hand prints, sparkles, that said, "DADDY for MVP" Oh, my gosh........... They're about 5 & 3 I guess. The older one was holding the sign over her little head. Then they show a clip of Kobe blowing a kiss at the girls, Oh my gosh ........... (again). Don't forget I AM a girl sports fan. It WAS very cute. They were all dressed in pink I think, and Mommy was looking over all gorgeous and proud. Nice family. I hope he keeps his you know what in his you know where.

BUT, with all that eye candy aside, I don't have the knowledge this year to vote. Except what I've heard on TV, which has been pretty good, about several players, I haven't kept up like I sometimes do.

I haven't watched many games, was more into the college games. Not to mention I am not a into EVERY sport for goodness sake. I will not be refered to as a "junkie"!! So there...

I mean, I do some sort of a life :) I've had a lot going on since Nov. ... like the NFL & NCAA football seasons, MLB Spring Training AND a bunch of nonsense going on in my personal life.

Plus, my garden (that's a few posts in-and-of-itself), my pets (a 2 1/2 yr male Jack Russell Terrier [JRT] the same-mom/same-dad 6-month old sister JRT & a 7-month old Miniature Dachshund.) AND, my mama JRT, who passed away in January, long SAD story, has four puppies on October 21,~ 2007. My Izzabealla, who's pictured out on the RIGHT with me at about one week, and at 2 months on New Years sitting "On the Pot" out back.

Back to MVP ~ How bout this order for ya...

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles
2. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
3. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
6. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Carmelo arrested on DUI suspicion

Apparently Carmelo Anthony was pulled over for weaving on the highway. Long story short he All-Star (Nuggets)failed a series of sobriety tests.

The fifth-year player is due in court on May 14

You gotta check this out.... Really Cute and Fun

While doing my "cruzin'" today I came across this Miley Cyrus video. Perez Hilton had this to say about it. (credit PEREZHILTON.COM a great, fun place to get your Hollywood GOSSIP)

"We normally find her YouTube videos incredibly annoying, but….
She's finally made one that we like!
Mile Cyrus, 15, and her famewhoring older BFF, Mandy, 21, have made their own video of Madonna's 4 Minutes.
And it's full-on!
They've got choreography and backup dancers and it's all done professionally.
This was always our dream as a teenager, to be able to make our own Madonna video like this!!!!
We even give Miley extra credit for throwing in some gays in the video.
This makes us actually like her a bit!"



OK now let's be clear. This does not in ANY WAY mean I am a Miley Cyrus OR Hannah Montana fan!!!

I just saw this really cool NBA Playoff Commercial

The whole screen was Kobe & Shaq's faces cut in half put together as

one head talking in unison:

There's so many emotions at the end of the season.

Nobody likes to talk about it.

But, one of them is fear.

Fear that you've come this far and it could end.

The dream could die.

But me, I like the fear.

It means I'm close.

It means I'm ready......

Then the screen comes up and says:

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE

The NBA Playoffs coming April 19th

pretty COOL.....

The Big Dig: The Yanks Uncover a Red Sox Jersey

Since I'm not a Yankees fan, this story really cracked me up. I LOVED it when the RED SOX won the World Series a couple of years ago. Check this out....

From the NEW YORK TIMES

April 14, 2008
The Big Dig: The Yanks Uncover a Red Sox Jersey
By SUSHIL CHEEMA
With dust swirling around them on Sunday afternoon, Frank Gramarossa and Rich Corrado extracted a Red Sox jersey that a construction worker had buried at the site of the new Yankee Stadium. After workers used jackhammers to break through about two and a half feet of concrete, Gramarossa and Corrado pulled out a dusty, torn David Ortiz jersey.
Randy Levine, the Yankees’ president, and Lonn Trost, the team’s chief operating officer, presided over what Levine called an “excavation ceremony.” The New York Post had reported Friday that a Red Sox-rooting construction worker hoping to curse the Yankees’ new stadium had buried a Red Sox jersey at the site last week.
But Levine said the team knew the location that was initially reported was inaccurate, because workers did not pour concrete in that area on the day the jersey was said to have been added to the mix. On Saturday morning, the Yankees got a tip from two other construction workers on the location of the jersey.
“Two thoughts occurred to us,” Levine said. “One is that it’s never a good thing to be buried in cement in New York, so we thought about just pouring more cement on it.”
Instead, the Yankees decided to turn what Levine called a “bad, dastardly act” into a good one.
Levine said the extracted jersey would be cleaned up, put in a display case along with a Yankees Universe T-shirt and sent to Boston. There, the Ortiz jersey and Yankee T-shirt will be auctioned to benefit the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox’ primary charity, which is affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Trost said that the Yankees were speaking with the Bronx district attorney’s office about whether there was any criminality involved in the act and that the team was considering filing charges against the construction worker, identified by The Associated Press as Gino Castignoli, a Bronx resident.
“We take great pride in hiring Bronx residents,” Levine said. “He abused the privilege.”
Like many of the workers at the site, Gramarossa said he was a big Yankee fan. “A lot of construction workers are proud of this job and were upset it was in there,” he said.

Here's another article and a VIDEO about the ordeal on the ESPN site:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3344825

BREAKING NEWS

I am going to see Kanye West this Wednesday!!!!!!

I am SO........... excited!! I am taking my step-daughter. She is 19, and when she asked me where we were going, I told her it was a surprise, but to dress up. "Dress up, hip-like. Nails, hair, you know - you need to look real cute. We are going to get pictures taken."

My son says she will figure it out, just like he figured out where we were going, when I took him for Easter brunch to one of our town's nicer restaurant's. He told a girl at the restaurant where he's the asst manager that his mom was talking him to brunch for Easter. She says, "Oh are you going to Shenanigan's on the water in Tacoma?" "No, we're going downtown somewhere," SO SHE TELLS HIM, "The only place downtown where they serve brunch is the Oyster House. " Sure enough, that was where we were going! He thought he was SO........... smart! He says, "I'm a good detective." Oh brother.

Anyway, Kanye was my son who passed FAVORITE. He had me come upstairs to our office and listen to ALL THE WORDS to Jesus Walks, even before it was released. He had downloaded it. He said, "This guy Kanye is going places mom."

We played Jesus Walks over-and-over, as over an hour of his friends passed by his casket.

My niece and nephew love me to play the first song on his College Graduation CD.

GOOD MORNING..... GOOD MORNING....
Good morning Mr. West Mr. West Mr Fresh.
Wake up, Mr. West, Mr. West, Mr. Fresh
Mr. by-his-self-he-so-impressed
I mean, damn, did you even see the test
You got D's m***** f*****, D's, Rosie Perez
And yes, barely pass any and every class
Looking at every ass
Cheated on every test
I guess this is my dissertation
Homie, this shit is basic
Welcome to graduation
Good morning Good morning Good morning Good morning Good morning
On this day we become legendary
Everything we dreamed of
I'm like a fly Malcolm X
Buy any jeans necessary
Detroit wear cleaned up
From the streets of the league
From an eigth to a key
But you graduate when you make it up outta the streets
From the moments of pain
Look how far we done came
Haters saying ya changed
Now ya doing ya thing
Good morning Good morning Good morning Good morning Good morning
Look at the valedictorian scared of the future
While I hop in the Delorean
Scared-to-face-the-world complacent career student
Some people graduate, but we still stupid
They tell you read this, eat this, don't look around
Just peep this, preach us, teach us, Jesus
Okay, look up now, they done stole your streetness
After all of that, you receive this
Good morning Hustlers, that's if you're still living
Get on down
Every time that we hear them
Good morning Hustlers, that's if you're still living
Get on down
Every time that we hear them
Good morning Hustlers, that's if you're still living
Get on down
Every time that we hear them
Good morning Hustlers, that's if you're still living
Get on down
Get on down
Get, get on down
Get on down
Get, get on down

From "A FIT NATION"

(Health.com) -- Health magazine went to the top weight-control experts for their No. 1 tips to get the weight off now. Take a look.

To lose weight, or keep it off, one expert advises taking about 11,000 to 12,000 steps a day.

Start smart
Begin lunch and dinner with a veggie-rich salad or broth-based soup, says Pennsylvania State University satiety expert Barbara Rolls, author of "The Volumetrics Eating Plan." "That lets you fill up first on a big volume of low-calorie food and ends up displacing some of the foods you'll eat next -- the choices that are usually higher in calories."

Here's a good salad recipe: Mix 1½ cups of salad greens with ¾ cup of raw veggies like onions, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, or cucumbers; drizzle with 2 tablespoons of low-cal bottled dressing.

Sneak a snack
"Ten minutes before each meal, eat some healthy fat (around 70 calories or fewer): a handful of nuts, a few slices of avocado, or a spoonful of peanut butter, for example. That helps activate ghrelin, a hormone that lets you know you're full," says Michael Roizin, MD, co-author with Mehmet Oz, MD, of "You on a Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management."

Try the 3-hour rule
"The secret to losing weight comes down to keeping your metabolism alive and active," according to fitness guru Jorge Cruise, author of "The 3-Hour Diet." How do you do that? By eating every 3 hours, give or take 10 to 20 minutes, he says, which translates to three moderate meals with three snacks (100 calories each) between meals.

Though other experts say there's nothing magic about 3-hour intervals, eating small, frequent, portion-controlled meals and snacks can keep your blood sugar level steady, your energy up, and keep you from overindulging.

Have liquid assets
"If you're going to drink anything with calories (i.e., fruit juice, soda, sweetened coffee and tea, or alcohol), you need to consciously adjust your diet to accommodate those extra calories," says Purdue University nutrition researcher Richard Mattes, PhD. His research shows that people typically make adjustments to eat fewer calories over the course of a day after eating a solid food like jelly beans, but not after drinking the same amount of calories in a glass of soda.

And if you want to replace sweetened drinks with their calorie-free counterparts, rethink it. Some research suggests that people who drink no- or low-calorie drinks might actually end up eating more, Mattes says. The best thirst quencher -- and a dieter's best friend -- is still plain old H2O.

Cut out this combo
Skip those munchies made with white flour and sugar, like white bread, cookies, and pretzels, says integrative medicine guru Andrew Weil, MD. They signal the body to produce more insulin and set the stage for turning calories to fat, fat, and more fat.

Choose your pals
Studies show that most of us base how much we eat on what others around us eat, says University of Toronto psychologist Peter Herman, PhD. So steer clear of the big eaters in your social circle, at least when food is around. Sashay over and make small talk at parties with the folks who aren't hovering near the food table.

"Marching to your own caloric drummer requires some independent thought and calculation," Herman says.

Pare portions
Everything from beverages to bagels is two to five times bigger today than in the 1970s, says New York University nutrition professor Lisa Young, PhD, author of "Portion Teller" and who has studied the servings dished up in restaurants and by food companies.

"So if you grab a bagel or eat out, chances are you'll be served double what you need," she says. Her advice: Start leaving just a little bit on your plate or, if you can, cut the amount you eat in half. She also suggests that you "use your hand as a portion guide -- 3 ounces of meat fits into your palm, 1 cup of potatoes looks like a fist."

Be an early bird
Eat the most food earlier in the day, says Elisabetta Politi, nutrition manager at Duke Diet and Fitness Center, Duke University's successful weight-management center.

"Many dieters try to trim calories from their break-fast and lunch and then get hungry," she says. "Research shows the calories you eat earlier in the day help you eat less at night" -- a good idea since you probably won't be active after an evening meal.

Step it up
"Get a pedometer and start walking," says University of Colorado obesity expert James Hill, author of "The Step Diet." To keep the weight off forever, the goal is to take 11,000 to 12,000 steps (around 90 minutes) a day.

"You don't need to do it all at once," Hill explains. Start with 2,000 steps a day, or about 15 minutes of walking. Add another 5 minutes (500 steps) each week. You can find supercheap pedometers at drugstores and big-box retailers to help you keep count. There are lots of other sneaky little ways to add more steps to your day, too: Use a cordless phone and walk while you talk, or get up and walk during TV commercials. (Strategies to rack up more steps)

Think thin
"Seeing is believing," says Janice Taylor, weight-loss coach and author of "Our Lady of Weight Loss." "You have to picture yourself thin if you want to become thin." Visualize what you're wearing, where you are, who you are with, and how you feel. "The more vivid the picture, the more real it will feel to you," Taylor says, "and the more likely it will take form."

Shula Lazarus, PhD, a psychotherapist at the North Carolina-based weight-management program Structure House, agrees, though the method isn't clinically proven. "We use it to help dieters visualize a healthy eating pattern and the right portions on their plate. It can't hurt, and it might help."

Fill up on fiber
Crowd out calorie-dense foods by ratcheting up on fruits and veggies. "Start by eating one more serving of fruit and one more vegetable a day," says Donald Hensrud, MD, a Mayo Clinic nutrition specialist. Hitting that midafternoon slump? Reach for carrots -- the carbs will give you a lift. Not only does munching on nature's bounty become a good habit, but it'll also help you tap into dozens of disease-fighting phytochemicals and vitamins. The biggest fiber bulker-upper: beans. Just a cup of black beans nets you nearly 15 grams of filling fiber.

Brush your teeth
Sometimes the best advice comes from your best friend or, in this case, a fellow Health magazine reader. Barbara Haug of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, says she brushes her teeth right after dinner instead of at bedtime. "I can be a compulsive snacker in the evening," she says, "but I don't like messing up freshly brushed teeth."

You can find this and other articles at CNN's FIT NATION :
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/04/16/healthmag.sneaky.tricks/index.html

House Fire Right Down the Street

http://www.kirotv.com/slideshow/slideshows/15859487/detail.html

Check out the pictures at the KIRO website above. I was gone, but my son called me and said, "I think there must be a house on fire in our neighborhood. The whole backyard is full of smoke."

We live in a smaller type of private neighborhood right on Puget Soundl It's BEAUTIFUL here. I haven't seen/read any actual articles yet, but I sure hope everyone and all pets are AOK!!!

Here's a Workout to Lose 15 lbs by Summer from Prevention.com

Shrink 2 Sizes By Summer!
The ultimate shape-up plan to flatten your belly, firm your thighs, sculpt your butt, and get you swimsuit ready. See results in 4 weeks!
By Selene Yeager , Selene Yeager is a contributing editor to Prevention.
Forget sharks! When it comes to summertime stress, Jaws has nothing on swimwear.

A resounding 90% of women worry about stepping out in public in a swimsuit, reports a recent survey of 1,670 women by BizRate Research. Seventy percent said hiding trouble spots such as midriff bulges and bikini-bottom jiggle was a top priority when shopping for a suit. Well, drop the sarong--we've got you covered.

Our workout will flatten your belly, tone your arms, firm your butt and thighs, and burn off fat so you can hit the beach with confidence. The core of the plan is a 30-minute sculpting routine combining trouble-spot toners and cardio-based moves, like side hops and push-up jumps, that rev your metabolism and keep it elevated even after the workout, so you slim down and firm up fast. In a study from Anderson University, exercisers who did this type of high-energy strength-training boosted their calorie burn 11% more than those who did a traditional routine--and kept their metabolism 6% higher for an hour afterward. It's supereffective at flattening your belly, too, since all the moves target your midsection. We've also included a series of 30-minute cardio routines that burn up to 260 calories per session and an easy-to-follow, satisfying diet plan to speed up your results. Start today and you can drop about 15 pounds by summer.

Did you hear about the Teen Girls Beating up another Girl to Post on YouTube?

They're facing LIFE IN PRISON

(CNN) -- Eight Florida teenagers -- six of them girls -- will be tried as adults and could be sentenced to life in prison for their alleged roles in the videotaped beating of another teen, the state attorney's office said Thursday.

The sheriff's office relased the video of a 16-year-old being attacked by other girls.

The suspects, who range in age from 14 to 18, all face charges of kidnapping, which is a first-degree felony, and battery, said Chip Thullbery, a spokesman for the Polk County state attorney. Three of them are also charged with tampering with a witness.

I'll tell you what, I'm sharing this story with EVERY teenager I know. This is no joke.

The Star Spangled Banner

A couple of days ago I put up a post about PATRIOTISM, and what it means to me. Well - in that post I mentioned that I "thought" that Francis Scott Key had written the words to the Star Spangled Banner. That was some REAL deep recall on my part. I mean I read a book in GRADE SCHOOL about that guy. I used to love to read biographies when I was in elementary school. Julia Ward Howe, Francis Scott Key, Amelia Earhart, etc.

Well, I was right! It was Mr. Key who wrote those words. I finally this evening went on a mission to look it up. Here is what I found.

On Sept. 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key peered through clearing smoke to see an enormous flag flying proudly after a 25-hour British bombardment of Baltimore's Fort McHenry. Key was inspired to write a poem, which was later set to music. Even before "The Star-Spangled Banner" became our national anthem, it helped transform the garrison flag with the same name into a major national symbol of patriotism and identity.

Here are ALL the words to the "poem" that eventually was set to music.

The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Pretty COOL, eh? Well, I think so....

Just In - Breaking News

Breaking News

The main suspect in the killing of pregnant fellow Marine Maria Lauterbach caught in Mexico.







YEAH!! Here's the article off CNN:


(CNN) -- U.S. Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, the main suspect in the killing of a 20-year-old pregnant Marine, has been captured in Mexico, federal authorities announced Thursday.


In January, the FBI released this picture of fugitive Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean and the tattoo on his left arm.

Authorities are awaiting extradition to bring Laurean, who has been on the run since January, back to North Carolina.

Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach was eight months pregnant when she was last seen near Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, in December. A month later, her charred body, along with that of her fetus, was found beneath a fire pit in Laurean's backyard in Onslow County.

Authorities believe that Laurean killed Lauterbach on December 14 and used her ATM card 10 days later before fleeing to his native Mexico. He has been indicted on charges of murder, ATM card theft, attempted card theft, fraud and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Lauterbach had accused him of raping her, and it is unclear whether he was the father of her fetus.

Her body was found after Laurean's wife produced a note he had written claiming Lauterbach slit her own throat during an argument, officials have said.

A 4-inch wound was found on the left side of Lauterbach's neck, though the wound itself would not have been fatal, according to autopsy results.

The Thrill of Victory AND the Agony of Defeat.....

Leading 60-51 with 2:12 remaining, Memphis missed crucial free throws and watched Kansas hit a pair of three-pointers, including a game-tying dagger by Mario Chalmers with 2.1 seconds left. The Tigers eventually lost 75-68 in overtime.

WHAT A GAME!

Congrats to the Jayhawks. Missed free throws, that's all I gotta say. Pressure, pressure, pressure. It was either four or five missed free throws in the waning seconds of last night's game that left the door open for Kansas' Mario Chalmers to make that GREAT 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds on the clock to tie the game and send it into OT.

Memphis had been up the whole second half. All they had to do was hold on, and if they'd of made those FREE THROWS.

BUT, Coach Bill Self.... What a way to coach. I really got to give it to him. He started fouling at 2 plus minutes. I thought, 'it's pretty early for that,' but he must have known what he was doing, because they overcame a 9 point deficit. AND WON!!!

SO, there you have it. My Tigers went down in defeat. I had a hard time watching OT. Turned the channel and watched Law & Order....

Pat Summit & her Lady Vols are going back to the Dance

Well, it's gonna be Tennessee v Stanford in the lady's NCAA Championship game on Tuesday. But, what an end to the LSU v Tenn game. The lowest scoring game in Final Four history. 47-46.

After a foul and two free throws put LSU up by one with 7+ seconds to go, the Vols' Parker brought the ball down the court passing to Nicky Anosike who went up missing her layup, but Alexis Hornbuckle got the rebound under the basket, put it up with seven-tenths-of-a-second to go, and there you go, THE GAME by one (her only points of the game.) The Lady Vols go back to the Final and LSU goes home AGAIN.

That makes FIVE years in a row LSU has gone home from the FINAL FOUR winless. I feel bad for the girls. How sad going to the big dance every year of your college career and going home without the title. BUMMER!

Can you Imagine Me doing the little Dance with my arms in front of me??

Memphis Tigers v Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA Basketball Finals on Monday

Memphis was one of my picks/favorites so I'm happy. AND, Kansas although not especially a fav, I was smiling about them WHOPPEN up on North Carolina. I'll bet even UNC couldn't believe that first half. I think it was something like 40-12 at one point. UNC made a BIG second half effort, they came within 4, but with those huge deficits to overcome, they often times just plain RUN OUT OF GAS, and it was - too little too late. I'm sure that Kansas' first half took a lot outta UNC's BIG FAT EGOS...

I've never been a UNC fan, them always butting heads with DUKE, my all time favorite. I'm a Coach K fan, big time.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's game. I'm rooting for the Memphis Tigers. But, these are college kids, so I just enjoy seeing everyone do well. You don't like anyone to have a really bad night. Let it be a GREAT game and let the Tigers win by 2.

Those Tigers are some running fools, I'll tell you that. Those boys must have a ton of energy. They run, run, run, run. And, their record was like 33-1 in the regular season.

That was a good game on Saturday. Poor UCLA. They went home for the third year in a row from the final four without a title. OH WELL.... They're always messing with my Husky's so I'm not feeling too bad for them.

As for Pac 10. I'm rooting for the Stanford Women's B-Ball team in the Final Four semi-final game today at 4:00 against UCONN.

Then Defending 2007 Champs the Tennessee Volunteers meet SEC rival LSU in the final game today. The winners meet on Tuesday for the Women's Championchip. The Men's game is TOMORROW NIGHT (Monday, April 7, 2008) at 6:00 p.m. PDT. go tigersssss..... :)

Lacey Man Making Porn Videos with Teens

http://q13.trb.com/news/kcpq-033108-childrapist,0,4744899.story

Stanford's Lopez Twins forego Junior & Senior Years for NBA

Brook & Robin, 7 foot twins, will leave two years of college eligibility behind to hire agents and enter the draft their mother reported yesterday.

Saying they'd always wanted to play in the NBA, and that after much thought, this was the right time. They both had a great tournament appearance against Marquette, and quite a bit of National Media attention, so I'd say, GO FOR IT!

We'll see how high they go...