Earth Hour
Saturday the 28th of March between 8.30pm and 9.30pm is Earth Hour. This year the goal is set to have 1 billion people turn off their lights for 1 hour. Such an amazing initiative which we definitely support. So for once DO NOT visit us but join this global celebration and light your candles!

You're Never Too Old

As I glanced over the news yesterday at HappyNews.com, I found the sweetest article about giving. June Pearce of Florida was coming up on her 84th birthday and like many elderly, had no need for baubles or trinkets. Having suffered from strokes that robbed her short-term memory (as well as lung cancer), she remembered having a good time riding on the back of a motorcycle during the Depression. She placed an ad on Craigslist asking for someone to "give granny a ride on your hog". A very sweet man, Ron Borowski, had lost his own mother to cancer and decided to fulfill Junes' birthday wish... Click Here to read the full story

This reminded me of my dad and his 80th birthday. We asked him th think of something he really wanted that he had never gotten. At first it was the usual "You don't need to get me anything." But after some persistent questioning he finally admitted that he had always wanted two things: an army ring (he was in the army during WWII) and a ride in the rumble seat of an old car. A cousin of mine suggested calling a local fellow,Roy Bernick, a collector of old cars. Roy very generously brought out the most beautiful red and black Auburn to my sister's house where our family was gathered. My dad had tears when he realized we had arranged for him to get a ride in this car.

So through the generosity of folks like Roy and Ron dreams can come true. It seems a shame that we don't make dreams come true before people are either very old or very sick. I'm going to

make that one of my goals...care to make it one of yours too?

I'm Older Than Barbie!

Barbie turns 50 this year. I can remember wanting that new doll so bad. I had to wait a bit but I did get my Barbie. She looked much different than today's Barbie. She had short, brown hair modeled after Jackie Kennedy.

Today my granddaughters play with their Barbies. These dolls look much different than mine and have a ton of more clothes and accessories. Barbie sure has endured and for being 50 she looks pretty good!

Just for fun here are some trivia facts about Barbie:

*The person responsible for coming up with the "Barbie" idea was Ruth Handler, one of the founders of Mattel.

*Barbie's boyfriend Ken was named after Handler's real-life son. (He hated being compared to Ken.)

*Barbie's last name is Roberts.

*Barbie's best friend is Midge.

*The first Barbie cost $3.00--I don't remember what mine cost...

*A girl after my own heart--Barbie has had more than 1 million pairs of shoes!

*Mattel estimates that 3 Barbies are sold every SECOND!

*I'll share this with my friends at school tomorrow--Teacher Barbie was recalled in 1995 because she wasn't wearing underwear. What was she thinking?

* And if you have a Barbie from 1959 you could sell her for an estimated $27,450!!! (She has to be in mint condition.)

What is it that makes Barbie so popular with little girls? Do you remember your first Barbie?

Do you still have her?

DID YOU KNOW? The first Women's Day was held on the last Sunday in February 1908, initiated by groups of American socialist women for the purpose of demanding the Vote and to call attention to the political and economic status of women. When the Russian Czar abdicated in 1917, the provisional Government granted women the right to vote - this took place on February 23, according to the Julian calendar then used in Russia, but on March 8 according to the Gregorian calendar used by most of the rest of the world.

Every year, the 8th of March marks a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is an important occasion to celebrate the achievements and gains made by women and to focus on the job still to do in working towards equality for women around the world.

IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. Go to internationalwomensday.com for more info.