I thought I'd drive-by post about this, because it's very close to my heart, and would love if others could attend as well.

Tomorrow, May 8, 2009, at the DoubleTree Guest Suites in Southcenter (Tukwila, WA area), Gloria's Angels will be holding their 2nd annual fundraiser in the form of an auction and dinner. Funds raised will help to support families in the community who are dealing with a life-threatening illness, and at no cost to them. This foundation was created in honor and memory of Gloria Strauss, who passed away at age eleven in September of 2007 from neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. My brother attended Kennedy High School with Gloria's parents, and Gloria was also a student of his.

In order to help as many families as possible, Gloria's Angels needs to raise money to keep growing! So, if you are available and want to help, please visit the following link to learn more:

GloriasAngels.org - Dinner/Auction Gala

Even if you cannot attend, donations are accepted any time, whether through a monetary donation, or giving of your time or talent. Since it's still a growing operation, volunteers and word-of-mouth are vital to keeping things going, and it's a great way for people to get involved in their community. And if you know someone dealing with a life-threatening illness, please let them know about Gloria's Angels. As things continue to grow, they plan to branch out to other states as well.

King 5 News in Seattle featured Gloria's Angels on their newscast on May 5, 2009, and if you'd like to see an example of what the group is accomplishing, please visit here: Angels in Action!

Thank you for your time, and hopefully see you there! :)

These sum up recent weather patterns in my neck o' the woods, enjoy! LOL. ^_^

White stuff falling down
A foot is more than enough
We are not prepared

When does it all stop
Keep adding more to the mix
Nature is so cruel

Tree limbs are breaking
Overcome with snow and ice
Winter's just begun

Shortest day of year
Longer days to come at last
Summer missed so much

Could it be more white
Porches, driveways and the yards
Can't be told apart

Want to get away
Oz-land beckoning to me
Be back next Summer

All I have to say here is that if we can survive eight years of Shrubya in office, we can survive anything. And by we, I mean, like everyone. Except maybe people who are already dead. Although the after-burn of his presidency will take eons to recover from, I'm afraid...@_@

But in all seriousness, well, I'm not really prepared for anything, I suppose. But I think if I had to, my survival instincts would kick in just fine. Or I'd perish. At the very least, my tasty braaaaain matter would keep the zombies well-fed, though.

That is all.

Chuck Norris, hands-down. ^_~

And honestly, who knows? I mean, really? Sometimes the winner ends up being the one you'd least expect. Such as between a hippopotamus and a crocodile, the hippo would win, and quite easily, at that. I saw a show about it on Animal Planet once, and it was kind of awesome.

And that is all I have to say about that.

A little FYI for everyone - LJ will be having some downtime next Tuesday, and the site will be totally inaccessible: Site Downtime - Ahhhhh!

Just thought y'all might want to know, although they do promise a news post later (like, on Monday). Kthxbye. ^_^

EPIC! Sweeeeeeeeet! Today is made of win and a million Internets. Historic, amazing...WOW. Thank you, America!

First off, I wonder, what does one give the Internet for its Birthday? A copy of An Inconvenient Truth, perhaps? (I mean, given Al Gore claims having invented it and all, LOL. Okay, so not really...)

Well, the definitive answer I can give for the biggest problem caused by teh Intarwebs: STALKERS. n00bs. Trolls. Creepy obsessive people with nothing better to do, socially inept people who have nothing better to do, and, well, pretty much everything else that might be construed as problematic is easily avoidable. Mostly.

I think CraigsList has had more problems stem from it than, say, MySpace, which is sad, given how helpful it was originally intended to be, and perhaps still is. Just seems like the biggest media brouhaha (and tabloid fodder) comes from those two sites these days (which is why I tend to avoid them).

Overall though, there's more good than bad, in my opinion, but it's the bad that makes it suck. But hey, you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and...well, you know the song, right? ;@ )

That said, here's to you, wonderful Internet, and may you continue to rot people's brains bless us all with your treasures for many years to come. Or at least a few more years to come.

Well, I look at it this way: You get to eat braaaains and do the Thriller dance whenever the mood strikes, so how is that suffering? Sure, they may be forever undead, but they get to torment people and roam the Earth forevermore! And claim n00bs to join their undead forces, so, bonus there. ;@ )

Oh, and they get to take on/hang with vampires and werewolves as well. I suppose it's as important as the discussion of pirates vs. ninjas in the long run...this is why we have scholars out there, you know? It's all subjective in the end, though, yes?

In a random burst of randomness, combined with boredom, I decided to do this for shiggles. The results are utterly (un)shocking! *LAUGHS*

You Should Live in Washington

If you don't want to live in Washington, you might also consider: Kentucky Missouri Nevada Oregon Tennessee

What State Should You Live In?

Good thing I kinda already live there, eh? I must admit, I'm a little disappointed - I really hoped to get a result somewhere closer to, oh, I don't know, New York. Usually I get Boston on these kinds of quizzes (yes, I know, Boston is NOT a state, LOL), but hey, whatever, it's just a quiz, after all! ^_^

----This is just all kinds of random fun, so I couldn't resist.----

Guess what today is: ‽



It's a good day to use all sorts of punctuation anyway...although I think the most common ones being shared in the media today are ????????????????? and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! given the current political crap that continues to, well, continue. ^_^ Oh, and also this: @_@;

Now get out there and punctuate the land like there's no tomorrow, because you just never know anymore. ;@ )

So, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 3-Day began this morning here in Washington. I'm a bit sad, feel like I should be there, but at least this year the event is being represented by my cousin Alicia, family-wise. It's her first, so I hope she does better than my mother and I fared back in 2006 (when Mom ended up in the CCU with severe dehydration). It's nearly the same route/area as that year, but the weather is supposed to be nice, and not too hot, so I'm sure she'll do fine.

Anyway, if you are on the Eastside (Bellevue, Kirkland, and North Seattle) at any time this weekend, no doubt you will see a large sea of pink making their way about town. Be sure and wave, honk, and show your support! Believe me, they appreciate it, and it's one time nobody will shoot you if you honk at them. ;@ )

I hope one of these years I'll be able to do the 3-Day again, but I know my body is in no place to do it until I get my respiratory issues smoothed out. Although I've been doing better, asthma-wise, it's strenuous activity that really sets my lungs afire (especially uphill climbs). I have too many reasons and know of too many people out there I'd like to show my "60-mile" strength for, and especially for myself. Especially given my Aunt Carolyn's recent diagnosis (although hers is localized and early-stage, and will be 100% treatable). So, I vow to definitely do it, somehow, someday. (Somewheeeeeere... *AHEM* Sorry.)

Next year, the 3-Day will be in October, although...for my Illinoisan friends, they are having the event in Chicago I think in August of next year. I'd almost be tempted to do it - it is (obviously) flatter there, terrain-wise, which I could handle, but it also gets hotter, LOL. Hrm. Something to think about! ;@ )

Fankyoo for your bewbie supportage! ^_^

Tent caterpillars. 'nuff said.

Ugh...I haaaate tent caterpillars. And anything that resembles them in mass quantities. Anyone who's been around here long enough knows this about me. Spiders, meh, snakes, eew, but nothing compares to the creepiness of the tent caterpillar. And nests full of them...*SHIVER*

I do like the cute, non-creepy "regular" caterpillars, though. As long as they don't land on my head or something. But anything that becomes a moth, yeah, I'll pass, kthxbye. Plus, there is really no useful purpose for them, given the damage they cause to plants and stuff.

So, there ya go. Y'all asked, and I answered.

Since "The Big Three" networks are airing this program tonight (at 8 p.m. Eastern, and I think all other time zones), I thought I'd point it out, too.

Stand Up to Cancer is a pretty big deal, with many big-name celebs (actors, musicians, comedians, etc.) making appearances and hoping to raise money for cancer research, awareness and support. Given I have two close relatives fighting cancer at the moment, and several other family members and friends who have fought and/or succumbed to it as well (and many who have WON their battles), I realize the importance of this effort. So, why not tune in and see what you can do, because chances are, you or someone you know has been or will be touched by cancer at some point. We owe it to them, and ourselves, to do what we can to help. :@ )

You can learn all about the efforts here: Stand Up to Cancer.

And as Bartles and Jaymes used to always say in their ads: Thank you for your support. ^_^

Interesting that the example of haiku given doesn't even fit the general 5/7/5 rule (although perhaps in Japanese it does, the translation could throw others off, just sayin'). Hrm.

I have written many-a-haiku in the past, although most were intentionally horrible, so you know, I wouldn't exactly consider them worth sharing. But hey, just for fun, I'll write some impromptu ones; pardon the horribleness of them, okey dokey?

Life is a journey
Never-ending adventure
Left up to ourselves

Earth - a funny place
Evolving, yet remains true
Paths remain in time

Confusion abound -
Tuning in the only way
To be understood

Okay, those are far too serious and introspective (I always seem to write about life and personal journeys, LOL); let's have some fun, shall we?

First is one I wrote on a forum some time ago; we were making up silly haikus and I've never forgotten this lovely gem.

Doggies go woof woof
And they like to chase their tails
Get off of my leg!

One more silly one:

Something's itching you
Source of which is yet unknown
Benadryl for hire

Yes, such grown-up humour there, LOL. I've never claimed to be a completely serious person, obviously. Seriously strange perhaps, but who isn't? ;@ )

Okay, I don't have time to keep writing, but go ahead and share yours, and perhaps I'll come back to offer up more later. I'm here all week(end)! ;@ )

This is just too cute, keep watching...you know you want to! ;@ )

Edit: I don't know why this reposted...I already posted it before - TWO DAYS AGO!!!! Must be a boo-boo on YouTube's part (it wouldn't automagically post it before, which is why I manually pasted it into a post). D'oh! Well, it's just as funny upon multiple viewings, anyway. ;@ )