It's time for a trip in the WABAC Machine

Let's travel back in time shall we?

Mr. Peabody, if you would be so kind...

Back, back we go...

2009...not nearly far enough...

1989...nope, a little further...

1978..now we're getting somewhere...

1972...a good year for plaid...

1966...almost there...

1963...adorable, but I'm thinking even further...

1961...just a little more...

1960...now we're talking...

January 1960...ta da!

Happy Birthday to me!

The end*

*This was going to be a way cooler post with funny stories and insightful bits of life's lessons learned. But then I decided to find and scan all these pictures. And after all that I was too tired to post anything else. So feel free to make up your own stories and amazing insights on my behalf. I won't mind. Seriously. I'm too old to mind much of anything.

And I probably won't remember anyway.

What?

Message for a Monday Morning

I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point,
"If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."
-Kurt Vonnegut

Good morning

Don't mind me, I'm just practicing my "old lady" schtick.

Satan Responds

Satan responds to Pat Robertson's abhorrent remarks about the tragedy in Haiti.

Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll. You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

Best, Satan

Originally penned by Lily Coyle as a letter to the editor on StarTribune.com.

To contribute to relief efforts in Haiti you can text HAITI to 90999 (Red Cross, $10 added to your phone bill, 100% goes to charity) or 20222 (Clinton's charity, $5), or text YELE to 501501 ($5 to Wyclef Jean's org). Also check out the Google Crisis Response page for information and other ways to donate and help.

Details? We don't need no stinkin' details!

So...remember way back when?

C'mon, you remember.
When I announced the upcoming Non-Con and 50th Birthday Bash Extravaganza?

Remember that?

And remember how at the time I also promised (and I quote)
"Exact details to be announced."

What was I thinking?

This is a NON-con. As in it's not a conference and I don't plan shit anything. Well except that I did declare that we're having the non-con and I picked the date and the place and okay so I plan SOME things. But "exact details?"

I should know better.

But, things being what they are and me being who I am, I can't leave us with absolutely no plan at all. So here's a couple three things that might, in some small way, be considered details.*

*Subject to change at any time. I'm just sayin'.

1. Friday: Potluck and game night at Sunnyside Up, starting at around 7:00 pm or so. Bring a dish or some snacks to share. The locals will provide the games. (Hey locals! Please bring some games, okay? Thanks.)
2. Saturday: The 50th Birthday Bash Extravaganza, 7:00 pm at (where else) Sunnyside Up. No gifts necessary. All ages welcome. Food and drink will be provided. Musical performance by the fabulous Greybeards. Bring your dancing shoes.
   

Things To Do & Places To Go in Corvallis for all the times that are not #1 or #2 above:

• meet, greet and hang out at Sunnyside Up
  
• bounce away at Corvallis Bounce
• join the local homeschool group for playtime at the Homeschool Central Family Fun Friday from 10:30 am -1:30 pm.
• swim, swim swim at Osborn Aquatic Center
• wander around Downtown Corvallis
• stop at The Toy Factory for a kid friendly, play friendly visit to our local toy shop
• Diana's house! She's got lots of yard, lots of video games and lots of energy. Ask her, she'll happily tell you how to get to her place.

UPDATED TO ADD:
Food Shopping:

• First Alternative Co-op Linda H. says: "I really love this place for to-go potlucky food, and it's right down the road from Sunnyside Up."
• Safeway
• Natalia & Cristoforo's Italian Deli
  
• Albertsons
• Diana reminds everyone that "Kitchens are available for any outta towners who want to cook."

If you're a local with more ideas, let me know and I'll include them here. Otherwise, just get yourselves here on January 29 and

Tales from the Cafe

Shhhhh...it's a secret.

Hope

hope

1.	the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best

2.	a particular instance of this feeling

3.	grounds for this feeling in a particular instance

4.	a person or thing in which expectations are centered

5.	something that is hoped for

Hope. We've got it. We're holding onto it. We're not letting it go.

The news from NY is better than expected. Not great, but just a little bit hopeful. So welcome after a moment when any hope at all seemed completely out of reach. My friend Janice has been moved to an excellent hospital in NYC that has access to all of the latest research and treatments. She's in good hands and surrounded by love. Her pain is being managed (FINALLY!) and the real work of reversing this thing started today.

Keep up the healing vibes!

What's Going On

I've got nothing funny or uplifting to post today. I contemplated saying nothing at all, but that doesn't feel right. So I'm here to share what's going on.


You see my dear friend Janice was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma last week. She went into the hospital thinking she would receive treatment for an ulcer. Now her world, as well as the world of everyone who loves her, has been turned upside down. Apparently this isn't a "good" type of cancer to get. (As if such a thing really exists.) With this one, once you've got symptoms it's already spreading and it's aggressive.

So...yeah...

But we are not ones to give up hope. And Janice is ONE. TOUGH. BROAD. If anyone can beat this, she can. So you know what I say?


Please keep Janice in your thoughts. Send her your light and love. Do whatever feels sacred and healing and send the vibes her way. I'll do the same.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Happy Whatever