For those of you like me in the sandwich generation you'll know how hard it is when you don't live close to your aging parent. I'll be heading to Florida on March 3 for a week with my computer! My mom hurt her hand in a fender bender - nothing's broken thank goodness but my timing is perfect.
For those of you who celebrate Passover, have a happy one.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
March 23 - our first hike of 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
American Idol Gives Back Big Time
Ryan Seacrest, host of the most watched show in the world, announced during Thursday’s show that American Idol is giving back. They have partnered with such giant companies as Coca Cola and AT & T go help the children in the United States and Africa. In the U.S the money will be distributed to Save the Children and others organizations working to help children living in the most disadvantaged areas of America.
In Africa, the money will be focused on delivering health and education programs. The money will be distributed to a number of organizations including: U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Save the Children, NothingButNets.net and Malaria No More.
How they are pulling this off:
There will be a two night special on April 24th and 25th to help raise awareness and raise money. On the usual Tuesday night performance show on Fox the remaining six finalists with sing inspirational songs. We’ll case our votes as usual and the sponsors will donate money for our votes.
On the 25th, rather than a one hour results show American Idol will have a two hour show with entertainers such as Gwen Stafani, Josh Groban, Pink, and Michael Buble. During this show we’ll be encouraged to make donations on toll – free lines via the Internet and the money will be distributed through the same channels as that mentioned above. There is a rumor that Bono will make an appearance. I’m a betting person. My money says he will be there.
Bono said, "We'll see worlds collide when Africa appears on America's most-watched TV show. This is a big deal, a little bit of pop history ... I wouldn't underestimate the reach of this show or the impact its audience can have."
This comes after Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell made a trip to Africa and even Simon was deeply moved by what he saw. We’ll see scenes from that trip a few of which were aired on the March 8 show. We’ll also see scenes from Randy Jackson and Paul Abdul’s upcoming trip to Louisiana and Miscopy and Kentucky.
It’s a brilliant idea. Simon said that the show has done so well for them they felt it was time to give back.
American Idol executive producer Simon Fuller, judge Simon Cowell and screenwriter-humanitarian Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill") -- who helped organized the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof and Bono -- are behind "Idol Gives Back.".
"Idol" exec producer Simon Fuller said he was approached by Curtis to launch a televised charity effort in the U.S. similar to the Curtis' BBC-backed "Red Nose Day" event, which has raised $820 million.
Red Nose Day started in the mid-1980s by the U.K. It is held every other year to raise money, culminating with a special on the BBC. Fund-raising includes the sale of specialty foam red noses at shops around the country. This year, Red Nose Day will be held on March 16.
"After lengthy discussions, it occurred to me that we should use 'American Idol' as an existing platform to premiere this idea," Fuller said. "Red Nose Day is an extraordinary institution, and I am hoping that 'Idol Gives Back' is an enormous success, raising awareness and huge amounts of money for all these wonderfully deserving causes, and allowing us to continue to make these important, world-changing shows for many years to come."
"Having witnessed some of the appalling conditions in Africa first hand, I'm especially proud that our show is offering Americans the chance to help those most in need," Cowell said. "Ensuring that American charities will equally benefit from these efforts was one of my priorities."
The show has also partnered with Scholastic to develop a companion Web site for teachers and students.
In Africa, the money will be focused on delivering health and education programs. The money will be distributed to a number of organizations including: U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Save the Children, NothingButNets.net and Malaria No More.
How they are pulling this off:
There will be a two night special on April 24th and 25th to help raise awareness and raise money. On the usual Tuesday night performance show on Fox the remaining six finalists with sing inspirational songs. We’ll case our votes as usual and the sponsors will donate money for our votes.
On the 25th, rather than a one hour results show American Idol will have a two hour show with entertainers such as Gwen Stafani, Josh Groban, Pink, and Michael Buble. During this show we’ll be encouraged to make donations on toll – free lines via the Internet and the money will be distributed through the same channels as that mentioned above. There is a rumor that Bono will make an appearance. I’m a betting person. My money says he will be there.
Bono said, "We'll see worlds collide when Africa appears on America's most-watched TV show. This is a big deal, a little bit of pop history ... I wouldn't underestimate the reach of this show or the impact its audience can have."
This comes after Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell made a trip to Africa and even Simon was deeply moved by what he saw. We’ll see scenes from that trip a few of which were aired on the March 8 show. We’ll also see scenes from Randy Jackson and Paul Abdul’s upcoming trip to Louisiana and Miscopy and Kentucky.
It’s a brilliant idea. Simon said that the show has done so well for them they felt it was time to give back.
American Idol executive producer Simon Fuller, judge Simon Cowell and screenwriter-humanitarian Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill") -- who helped organized the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof and Bono -- are behind "Idol Gives Back.".
"Idol" exec producer Simon Fuller said he was approached by Curtis to launch a televised charity effort in the U.S. similar to the Curtis' BBC-backed "Red Nose Day" event, which has raised $820 million.
Red Nose Day started in the mid-1980s by the U.K. It is held every other year to raise money, culminating with a special on the BBC. Fund-raising includes the sale of specialty foam red noses at shops around the country. This year, Red Nose Day will be held on March 16.
"After lengthy discussions, it occurred to me that we should use 'American Idol' as an existing platform to premiere this idea," Fuller said. "Red Nose Day is an extraordinary institution, and I am hoping that 'Idol Gives Back' is an enormous success, raising awareness and huge amounts of money for all these wonderfully deserving causes, and allowing us to continue to make these important, world-changing shows for many years to come."
"Having witnessed some of the appalling conditions in Africa first hand, I'm especially proud that our show is offering Americans the chance to help those most in need," Cowell said. "Ensuring that American charities will equally benefit from these efforts was one of my priorities."
The show has also partnered with Scholastic to develop a companion Web site for teachers and students.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Our NYC Trip
I was playing tourist in New York City. The noise was very different than what I hear from my house!
Our travels took us to Central Park; a harbor Cruise; the David Letterman Show; the NY Public Library; United Nations; the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History.
We had to scurry out of NYC due to the forecast of snow and wind. Somehow visiting museums in 30 degree temperature and blowing snow didn't sound appealing.
Our travels took us to Central Park; a harbor Cruise; the David Letterman Show; the NY Public Library; United Nations; the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History.
We had to scurry out of NYC due to the forecast of snow and wind. Somehow visiting museums in 30 degree temperature and blowing snow didn't sound appealing.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Heading to NYC
Our NYC kids are moving to Stamford, CT. They bought a condo. We aren't lovers of the big apple but this will probably be the last time we'll hit the city unless some occasion brings us to Manhattan. The kids are heading to Mexico on Sunday so we'll stay at their condo from Friday to Saturday and play tourists. We have a packed week doing Central Park, museums, a harbor cruise and on and on.
We are meeting the kids in CT to see their condo so lots of exciting news. And we booked a Panama Canal cruise for 1/5/08 for 2 weeks.
My mom has decided to stop smoking - this time for good though I have heard this countless times. She is using an over the counter losenger and I must say - so far so good - 2 weeks. Good luck mom. Hang in there.
We are meeting the kids in CT to see their condo so lots of exciting news. And we booked a Panama Canal cruise for 1/5/08 for 2 weeks.
My mom has decided to stop smoking - this time for good though I have heard this countless times. She is using an over the counter losenger and I must say - so far so good - 2 weeks. Good luck mom. Hang in there.
Late Night with David Letterman
Well it's possible to get tickets because we got a call today and we're going for the Monday early evening taping. I'm hoping to write a piece about how I went about getting tickets. I've read other people's stories but I had a strategy!
Monday, March 5, 2007
I am blessed and other ramblings
While I was in the gym today lying down doing ab work I started to think about how lucky I am. When I got in the car my husband called and said he was thinking about how blessed we are and that when things get us down to take a deep breath and count our blessings.
We can't pick our parents or the country into which we are born but I've been blessed on both counts.
We can't pick our children (Unless they are adopted.) but I've been blessed with two amazing daughters and a terrific step son.
We can pick our mates. The first time around I made a mistake except my girls were not a mistake so something great came from it. The second time around I gave more thought into who I was choosing. My husband is my biggest supporter.
We can't always pull ourselves up by the bootstraps but I've been blessed. Though I was a single parent with two little girls I had help from my parents and a lot of motivation. Though my husband was from a low-income family he was motivated and became educated.
We are blessed. We have the ability to spend our summers pulling our trailer behind us. We have the luxury of going to the Panama Canal in January 2008.
We are blessed by this little angel of a dog's presence in our lives which came quite unexpectedly.
We are blessed because we have a roof over our heads, heat and food. We can help others who aren't as fortunate.
We are blessed because we have love in our lives.
We can't pick our parents or the country into which we are born but I've been blessed on both counts.
We can't pick our children (Unless they are adopted.) but I've been blessed with two amazing daughters and a terrific step son.
We can pick our mates. The first time around I made a mistake except my girls were not a mistake so something great came from it. The second time around I gave more thought into who I was choosing. My husband is my biggest supporter.
We can't always pull ourselves up by the bootstraps but I've been blessed. Though I was a single parent with two little girls I had help from my parents and a lot of motivation. Though my husband was from a low-income family he was motivated and became educated.
We are blessed. We have the ability to spend our summers pulling our trailer behind us. We have the luxury of going to the Panama Canal in January 2008.
We are blessed by this little angel of a dog's presence in our lives which came quite unexpectedly.
We are blessed because we have a roof over our heads, heat and food. We can help others who aren't as fortunate.
We are blessed because we have love in our lives.
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