Halfway Through August ...

Thirty-one years ago today, Elvis died.

Fifty years ago today, Madonna was born.

Sixty-five years ago today, Maycle Samples gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

He's still bouncing strong today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE STEVE!!

CLAY COUNTY MAKES THE NEWS ... again

Five face charges in explicit photos of teen

Five people from Kanawha and Clay counties were charged Monday night in connection with taking sexually explicit photos of a 14-year-old girl at a residence in Clendenin. Police say the girl told them she had sex with one of the men, 20-year-old Donald William Taylor, of Bomont, at the residence. Taylor is charged with third-degree sexual assault, according to magistrate court documents.

Magistrate Julie Yeager arraigned the five people, including Amber Janett Stanley, 20, of Clendenin; Joshua D. Barnes, 23, of Clendenin; Thomas Vinson Mitchell, 29, of Clendenin; and Shelly Kay Sizemore, 35, of Bomont. Stanley, Barnes and Mitchell are charged with the use of a minor in filming sexually explicit conduct. Stanley, Sizemore and Mitchell are charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

SATURDAY WONDERINGS ....

If you do the right thing for the wrong reasons, is it still the right thing to do?

If you dream of the same person more than 3 times in a week, does it mean anything?

If frogs had wings, do you think they'd use them?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!

If you see JERRY McNEILAND today

(what are the odds?!), wish him a big, fat

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

HAPPY JULY!

My ol' friend, Chuck Blankenship, was born 50 years ago today. Fifty years. That's mind boggling to me. Both that he'd have been the big 5-0 and that he's not here to boost a Bud and celebrate with us.

I used to think it was silly when people said things like, "If he'd have lived, he'd be 102 today" or whatever. But then I grew up & learned to appreciate the time we have, the people we have to share it with and the harsh reality of having it cut short long before we're ready.

So ... as we welcome in a new month & ride the roller coaster of life, let's all take a minute to boost a Bud (OK, so I'm boosting coffee, since it's 6 a.m.) & toast this life we're still blessed enough to find ourselves actively participating in.

Live a little. Dangle a preposition or two. Go commando!

BEYOND THE BUBBLE

Just 3 more days of Spring, then Summer of '08 officially begins!

Hillary Clinton's finally in the background of the presidential campaign. Al Gore jumped right in to fill the media void she left.

The Midwest is suffering the worst flooding in history. Crops are ruined, lives are ruined, the impact will be far & long-reaching. It'd be Katrina all over again, yet somehow, it's not. Did we learn a lesson with Katrina or do poor black people who refuse to evacuate warrant more outrage than corn croppers?

Tim Russert died Friday. For the next 3 days, little to no news was reported on MSNBC as his friends and co-workers reflected on his life and their loss. He'll be buried today after a televised private memorial service.

Lock your doors - thieves are stealing anything that isn't nailed down, including vases from cemetaries. So few things in this world are sacred; fewer every day.

Star Trek's Zulu (the Asian man) is marrying his long-time boyfriend now that they've legalized same-sex marriage in California.

The times, they are a-changin'.

WHADDAYA THINK? Are you a believer?

Not too long ago, I watched some show that had a psychic guest who claimed he could contact "those who have crossed over" - dead people. He went on to say that anybody could contact their loved ones who have "crossed over" simply by asking for a sign - a certain scent or a song or ... whatever.

May 28th was my mom's birthday. She'd have been 70. Naturally, she was heavily on my mind that day. Heavily on my mind. On my way to work that Wednesday, I tuned in to 92.9 (that station that insists on playing, no matter where I've got the tuner!) & don'cha know "I'll Fly Away" came on. That was one of my mom's favorite songs ... the one I always whistled around the house ... the one she told me was also my granny's favorite ... the last song played at her funeral.

Ya think??

REMEMBER. APPRECIATE. HONOR.

Memorial Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who perished while in military service to their country. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I to include casualties of any war or military action. [Wikipedia]

OPINIONATED OBSERVATIONS

No, Hillary, it's not all about "Jobs, jobs, jobs." How about "EDUCATION, ELDERLY CARE, BRING OUR SOLDIERS HOME & FREE GAS FOR EVERYBODY!"?

If foreign countries don't want our help, fine.

Stop begging them & offer the help to those here at home.

Just because you think your underwear is lovely, that doesn't mean I want to see it.

Pull your *$#@! pants up!

Same sex marriage??

Rainbows make kids visualize gays having sex??

Placing children in foster care because you don't buy into their beliefs??

How about we all just run naked through the streets.

Never mind. I don't need to see that, either.

"IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE..."

"At the end of the day..."
"The bottom line is..."
"Close the deal..."

"Look..."

Just a few lines I hope to never have to hear again ...