DEGREES OF SEPARATION

Tony Walker
My buddy Salbo & I have a running joke about how many people I know from high school. We joke about it but when I think about it, it is actually kind of interesting.

The joke is that so many times I have a connection to something through an old high school friend.
For example.... My pool has some serious rust on it. An old high school friend is in the pool business so I called him.

My comedy group has gotten several gigs from old high school friends who run resorts, own restaurants, are involved in an organization that needs a fundraiser, etc.
                       
I went to a prosthetic conference yesterday. (Tuesday June 7) An old high school friend works for the company that put the event together so he put me on the list.
                       
One of the lead investigators in the Caylee Anthony case in Florida is an old high school friend.
                       
Of course there is this wonderful site run by 2 hotties.... one of them is an old high school friend.
                       
In fact, coincidentally Boyle knows my pal Salbo. Salbo is not a high school friend but someone we both know through 2 completely different avenues.

These are just a few instances. Once this running joke got started with Salbo & I, I started to realize how many old friends really did go on to do some wonderful things. Major surgeons, detectives, entertainers, musicians, graphic artists, teachers, firemen, & so many more came from the class that Boyle & I graduated from at Hicksville High. Our small world has many from it who are shakin' things up. Don't get me wrong... we also have our dead beats too. But when I think about how many of our old friends went on to do some wonderful things I feel proud like it's a member of my family.

Salbo is always amazed at how many people from the old days I still know & how many of them are doing so many cool things.

Do you guys feel that way when an old friend does something extraordinary? Do any of you have a long list of people from your class who are doing great things too?

HEAT WAVE COCKTAIL

1 1/4 oz coconut rum
1/2 oz peach schnapps

3 oz pineapple juice
3 oz orange juice
1/2 oz grenadine syrup

Add all ingredients (except grenadine) to a parfait glass 1/2 filled with ice cubes. Top with grenadine. Garnish with a fresh slice of peach, and serve.

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

New Yorkers

 Due to the

 EXTREME HEAT:

No drinking more than four glasses of water a day.

Beer or Wine may be
consumed at will.

 

WICKED MOMMIES

Dawn Boyle

The Wicked Mommies strike again!

Two times in the past week I have been told by friends about such mean things. The first was when a friends daughter was the ONLY ONE left out of the class to be invited to a birthday party. We have rules in our school about not handing out invitations. They must be mailed to avoid anyone feeling left out. I understand that Kiddie Parties can cost a million dollars, but to invite everyone from a class and specifically leave someone out is just MEAN MOMMY! I wouldn't care what my kid said when doing the invite list it would've been ALL OR NOTHING!

My other friend I bumped into online at a store, she told me about how WICKED MOMMIES were making her so upset by telling her how bad a job she was doing that she volunteered to do. My advice to her was SCREW THEM! We volunteer to do things for our children - NOT THE WICKED MOMMIES! Wicked Mommies are usually the ones who just have big mouths, but don't really contribute to helping out the cause! Wicked Mommies don't realize how much their children benefit from our kindness!!

We...and I say "WE", are grooming little bitches my friends! When you allow your child to see you act a certain way to certain people they follow suit! My daughter comes off the bus at least twice a week crying because of a WICKED MOMMY kid. I have called the school, but truth is the school can't do anything about how a WICKED MOMMY acts. Is that something I should handle on my own?? Should I be opening up cans of whoop ass all over town because of WICKED MOMMY KIDS??

I think not! The story is as old as time....everyone wants to be the cool kids. I find the ones who certainly weren't when they were in high school are trying to relive some sort of GLORY DAY by being WICKED MOMMIES now. Being in a clique gets you NO WHERE MOMMIES!!

My philosophy on life is this - BE FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE...the more the merrier! It's bull crap that "3" can't play together - guess what...it only happens when they hear you say that OR when you don't step up and threaten the "party" to be over if EVERYONE IS NOT INCLUDED!

Take a minute....ARE YOU A WICKED MOMMY??? If you think you might be - fix it or
EVENTUALLY YOU WILL BE ON THE RECEIVING END OF WICKED MOMMY CRAP!

STICKY SWEET

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

Eat chocolate when you have insomnia. it won't help you sleep, but it'll make being awake more fun.

 

Instead of doing crunches, just eat chocolate with crunchy things in it.

 

Trying to eat right? Then make sure you unwrap the chocolate before you eat it.

You are what you eat. So if you eat chocolate, you're smooth, sweet and loved by all.

CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL: CANINES AND COMPUTERS!

 Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Osceola County Canine Sgt. Kristin Brewer testified this morning about what she and her canine, Bones experienced when checking the Anthony back yard. Bones alerted to human decomposition on the same spot in front of Caylee’s playhouse as Orange County Canine Gerus alerted to on the first investigation. The next day neither dog alerted on the spot. Sgt. Brewer stated that whatever evidence had been there was most likely scraped away when investigators removed the topsoil looking for further evidence.

Detective Sandra Osborne of the Orange County Sheriff's  Office then took the witness stand to testify about photos and Internet searches on a computer at Casey Anthony's home. Prosecutors have said previously that an Internet search on chloroform was conducted with the computer.

LUNCH TIME POLL

ABC news recently reported that 5% of children under the age of two now have a Facebook page.  There are also documented pages for unborn children created by their parents.  A playful way for parents to keep friends and family up to date on pregnancy and toddler news or an invitation to trouble?

"According to recent polls, over 7.5 million American kids are under age 13 have Facebook pages, and over five million are under age ten. The New York Times reported in March of this year that 3.6 million of Facebook's 153 million monthly visitors in the U.S. are under 12."

Minors of all ages are all over the pages of this world dominating social network. They are exposed to fun games and tons of harmless fun as well as adult level conversations, posts and jokes.  Are minor children capable of handling the social situations and dangers present on social networking sites?

Social networking is here to stay.  Many parents are in denial or due to lack of know how are not actively participating in their kids internet usage. Kids are going to make mistakes and it is the responsibility of the adults in a household to monitor the internet use in their home.

At what age do you think social networking is appropriate?

Do you have minor children on Facebook?

Do you monitor their internet activity, social networking related or otherwise?

Editor's Note: Facebook's Official Policy:
http://www.facebook.com/policy.php

"If you are under 13, please do not attempt to register for Facebook or send any information about yourself to us, including your name, address, telephone number, or email address. No one under age 13 may provide any personal information to or on Facebook. In the event that we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under age 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information as quickly as possible. If you believe that we might have any information from or about a child under 13, please contact us at info@facebook.com "

Facebook adds:
"We recommend that minors over the age of 13 ask their parents for permission before sending any information about themselves to anyone over the Internet."

WICKED QUESTIONS

WHAT, 
IF, 
WHAT IF I NEVER MET YOU?!
Jillian B Hart

"What and if... Two non-threatening words that when put together can haunt you for the rest of your life." Ah, yes, the movies always have the words.  But how often have you caught yourself questioning life along those lines?

There are people that come in and out of our lives and leave us forever, never the same.  What if I never met you.  Everyone has those people in their lives.  The ones where you know - you wouldn't be who you are if not for them.  There are some that are your favorites over the years.  That made your face light up and the stars shine in your eyes. Some that go in and out of your life.  Some that have screwed things up or made things better.  Sometimes you were open.  They were closed.  Vice versa. Old friends.  Old loves.  Both.  Nostalgia can be something to revel in and it can also be a wicked place to dwell.  Especially on those occasions when and if you have too much time to think.  It can haunt you or wrap around you with indescribable comfort like a blanket fresh from the dryer on a cold day. Nostalgia - you never know which way it will hit.  You smile... but silent tears speak volumes.  Happy or sad.  Both. You smile in the warmth of the memories, but there are the select few who know.  Who can look in your eyes and see the sorrow behind the sparkle.  Who know that to this day, despite the happiness you hold, you wonder, "what could of been"...

Are there some people in this life that you never get over?  That you just cannot live without. That will forever own a piece of your heart. Like it or not! That you will forever wonder about.  Think about.  Question if you should of zigged when you zagged.  Forgetting them, is like forgetting to breath. It's an impossibility. You can close your eyes and imagine the image of them that is imprinted on your heart and shiver at the thoughts and dreams of a life that never happened.  Are there days that you wonder... How did I even get here?  Days that you wish you could dance again.  Laugh again. See your smile reflected back to you in their eyes again. Are there days you wonder can you ever go back?  You can't go back. No one can. Can then exist now? Should you even let it?

When life has taken you down one path... how do you forget the other?  How do you breath with no air?  Some days it's just hard to breathe.

Life goes on and you live it.  Make yourself happy in it.  Shine like the sun.

Breathe in the memories...  Breathe, just breathe...
'Cause if you don't breathe - you die.

WHAT TYPE OF MAN SHOULD A WOMAN AVOID?

We’ve all been there, crazy about some guy who is absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong for us. Odds are he fits into one of these categories:

“The Narcissist”: Thinks he’s cool, gorgeous and you’re lucky to be with him. He’ll choose himself over you every time and wonder why you don’t agree.  This type of guy lowers your self-esteem, shakes your self-confidence and thinks that all your friends are mad about him so he flirts shamelessly, thoroughly embarrassing you. I dated a Narcissist and experienced all the above. Once you escape and the spell is broken you wonder how you could have been so blind and stupid to have fallen for such a jerk.

“The GQ Guy”: He’s overly concerned about his appearance, his clothing, the car he drives, and expects you to dress, act, and speak, so as not to reflect badly on him. He tends to criticize easily but can never admit a flaw in himself. He can make you believe you are too fat, too plain, too talkative, too unfashionable and too demanding. He is a specialized type of Narcissist.

“The Gusher”: He’s full of compliments, usually trite and insincere. He flatters and makes small talk to make you feel “special” and plays up the sensitivity bit. He lets you know he’s in touch with his “feminine side”.  This is the guy who borrows a friend’s puppy to attract chicks!  While he pretends to be interested in your feelings he’s really only interested in feeling you up!

The “Manly Man”: These men feel that women exist for two reasons. There are the women to marry and bear your children, pose for the family portrait and keep your household in order. The second is the playmate for sexual pleasure and release of tension for working so hard for wife and family. The wife should understand this need and look the other way; after all, boys will be boys! These are the Prince Charles, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and John Edwards of the world.

The “Pathetic Loser”: This is the guy who tries to win you through your sympathy. “I have no one.”; “I’m misunderstood and mistreated by women.” He makes you feel like you are the only one who can help him and make his life worthwhile. In reality, he will be a constant drain on your energy and time. His neediness with consume you, always trying to build him up and make him feel better about himself. The truth is, no one can make a person feel good about himself but himself!

I’m sure there are many other “types” to avoid, but these are some of the one’s I’ve encountered in my past. I hope some of you will feel free to add to this list as per your own experiences. Maybe we can help other women avoid the mistakes we’ve made in the past!

I know that a man could easily construct a list of types of women men should avoid as well.  I’m certainly open to seeing one myself!

How about it Tony?

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

The vision that you paint in your mind is the reality that you hold in your heart. 

Courage, confidence and constancy will meld them together to become your chosen and purposeful path. 

With each step; act, dream and believe - 

the rest will follow!

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Design, LLC

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