Wordless Wednesday

"Dance Ballerina Dance!"

What "Miss Kitty" is really thinking is, "Why do these *&$@ shoes hurt! It's because I have 'cankles' isn't it?" LOL! Now friends, don't go all PETA on me and know that "Miss Kitty" wasn't harmed in any way, when taking this photo. Can't you tell that she's spoiled rotten? She's a total "Diva!" As a matter of fact, when dancing in the "Nutcracker," she ran off with the "Mouse King" and hasn't been on stage ever since! You just can't take the "alley" out of the cat! I guess that you can honestly say that she is officially "retired!"

P.S. Hey, Miss Kitty! "Poor Pitiful Pearl" called and she wants her tutu and pointe shoes back...NOW!"

Tell a Joke Tuesday

My blogger friend Wayne created "Tell a Joke Tuesday." Now don't you think that's a fun way to start the week? After all, who doesn't love a good laugh?

So here's my joke for the week...Brace yourself now for some side splitting laughter! LOL

A man was driving home one evening and realized that it was his daughter's birthday and he hadn't bought her a present. So he drove to the mall and ran to the toy store and asked the store manager, "How much is that new Barbie in the window?"

The Manager replied, "Which one? For we have the following...

'Barbie goes to the gym' for $19.95,
'Barbie goes to the Ball' for $19.95,
'Barbie goes shopping' for $19.95,
'Barbie goes to the beach' for $19.95,
'Barbie goes to the Nightclub' for $19.95
AND then there's 'Divorced Barbie' for $375.00"

"Why is the Divorced Barbie $375.00 when all the others are $19.95?," the father asked.

The store manager replied, "Divorced Barbie comes with Ken's car, Ken's house, Ken's boat, Ken's dog, Ken's cat, Ken's furniture and all of Ken's savings."

Honestly, I NEVER thought that it would work. I always thought that G.I. Joe was more of Barbie's type. "Ba dump bump!"

Tribute Tuesday

My blogger friend Wayne created "Tribute Tuesday" where we take time in our lives to honor those friends and family who are near and dear to us. This week I chose my sweet little cousin Andrew Robert.

Andrew is the fifth child of my cousin Lani and he is the most loving and affectionate child that I know. His full name is Andrew Robert. His middle name is in honor of my father. While my father's real name is Robert, we call him Bob. I immediately nick named him "Andy Bob." I know it sounds very "hillbilly" but I'm known to give my close friends and family nicknames. It is my special way of letting them know just how near and dear to me they are! It truly is a term of endearment.

Andrew has always been a happy child. He is very sweet and tenderhearted. I don't have children of my own but I love him as if he were my own. He fills that void in my life and we do lots of fun things together. When he was younger he would come to school with me and visit with my students and by the end of the day he had a classroom of "instant friends" who eagerly waited for his next visit. Together we have gone to the movies, church, field trips, shopping and to our favorite theme park, Marine World! Being with Andrew brings out the "little kid" in me and honestly, what can be better than that?

I truly cherish the times that we have together because I know that there is going to be a day when Andrew will have his own circle of friends and hanging out with "Cousin Obbie" will be nothing but just a fond memory of the past. Hey, I totally understand that...it is called growing up and when that moment happens, I promise that I won't cry because it's over, but I will smile because it happened.

I read this poem once and it touched me so and this is my hope and dream for my sweet little boy...

Little Boy / Little Man
Author: Clair Peach

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

Hopes and Dreams
Mischief and Laughs
Climbing up Trees
Splashing in Baths
What are the best men made of?
Hugs and kisses
Cuddles and Joy
Patience and kindness
Will make a man from this boy

Thank you "Andy Bob" for being such a joy and blessing to my life. Your childlike faith inspires me everyday! Please know that I will ALWAYS be there for you and I love you so very, very much!

"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Mark 10:15

And the Winner is...

When I was in high school, I lived in San Diego which is 2 hours away from Los Angeles. A couple of years in a row, my father happened be in that area doing business and my mother and I hung out at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion (this was before the Kodak Theater was built) to watch the rehearsals for the Academy Awards. We were such fans and would wait at the back entrance as celebrities would go in and out to rehearse for the BIG event...THE OSCARS.

I saw many celebrities - Lauren Bacall, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Ginger Rogers just to name a few. It will probably be the only time in my life that I had such a close encounter with celebrities and I loved every minute of it. Who doesn't like going to the movies and seeing their favorite celebrity up on the big screen? Yes...I am a fan of the movies and yes, I have made phony acceptance speeches in the mirror as I held my hair brush, pretending it was an Oscar! Call me crazy, silly or just plain "star struck," but I live for this time of year!

Well this year is NO different. I have my "designer gown" all picked out...a beautiful shade of pink sweats, my bucket of popcorn and my picks for the winners. So who do I think will win? Here is my list...

Best Supporting Actor - It will and should go to Heath Ledger. He was amazing as the Joker in The Dark Night and he deserves it. His performance sent chills down my spine! What a loss...

Best Supporting Actress - I so wish for a tie in this category. Viola Davis was phenomenal in Doubt. She had a powerful scene where she held her own playing against Meryl Streep. I also liked Penelope Cruz's performance in Vicky, Christina Barcelona as the crazed ex-wife of Javier Bardem. (Can I just say...I LOVE Javier Bardem? I do, I do!)

Best Actress - As much as I love "my Angelina" and want her to adopt me or at least babysit her children, it's not her year. It will be Kate Winslet for The Reader and she is due but then again I am hearing whispers that it could be Meryl Streep for Doubt. No doubt about it, it is going to be exciting to see who wins!

Best Actor - I love you Brad Pitt but I don't think it is going to be you my friend! It is either going to be Mickey Rourke or Sean Penn...I am hoping for Mickey. His beloved dog just died and I love a good comeback story. Also, 9 1/2 Weeks was one of the first R rated movies I ever saw and I thought he was hot! He was a bad boy back then and I had a thing for bad boys! (Okay, I STILL do) "Wink! Wink!"

Best Movie - Hands down, it's going to be Slum Dog Millionaire. It was touching, exciting and heartbreaking and if it doesn't win I will be very surprised! This one has "Oscar" written all over it.

Well there you have it in a nutshell...Robin's Oscar Picks for 2009. I am so excited. Hugh Jackman will be the host (I "heart" him and his accent) and they say that the show is going to be action packed and full of surprises. "Yippie, Skippy!" So if you're in the area, put on your "designer gown," bring some snacks and come on over and we'll have an evening of fun, fun, FUN!

UPDATE - Well the Oscars are over and I did fairly good on my predictions! I should have made bets in Vegas! LOL...too bad Mickey didn't win..."sniff, sniff."

BEE-Lieve!

Do you know that the bumble bee aerodynamically is NOT supposed to be able to fly? I learned this fact from a mighty woman of faith and a speaker in her own right, named Thelma Wells. She pointed out that the body of the bumble bee is way too big, and its wingspan is too narrow for it to be able to fly. Yet, NOBODY told him that he can't and so therefore he defies the odds of science everyday and is able to do the work that God has ordained him to do!

I know that many of us have dreams that we wish to fulfill but are sometimes discouraged from achieving that goal because of doubt, insecurity or negative thinking that often gets in the way. However, God wants so very much to give us the "desires of our hearts" Psalm 37:4. And nobody can take that away from you for if it is God's will then NOTHING can get in the way to hinder that dream. Hey,if the bumble bee can do it, then so can we! So go out and BEE the BEST that you can BEE! All that you have to do is BEE-Lieve!

Happy Monday!

"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did. When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better."

Concentrate on this sentence...

"The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you. Something good is going to happen to you today, something that you have been waiting to hear."

"Happy Monday!"

Not Me Monday!

Well here we are again at the start of a brand new week and you know what that means...It is time for another fun round of "Not Me Monday" where I tell you about ALL of the things that I did NOT do. Yeah, right!

I did NOT forget my Mother's birthday this week. I mean seriously how could I do such a horrible thing? After all, we celebrate it on the same day every year but this year as I was celebrating sweet little Allyson's birthday who happens to be a student in my classroom, it wasn't until we were in the middle of her blowing out the candle on her cupcake that I realized that I had some serious "explaining to do!"

Then in my attempt to buy my mother a birthday present, I didn't pick up an item from the sale rack at WalMart...NO. NOT ME! Honestly people, this is the woman who gave birth to me and she deserves nothing but the best. But then again, when there is a sale how can one resist? NO. NOT ME!

Well if one didn't think that was bad enough, I lost my debit card after my quick excursion to the WalMart. What...you say? How could I do such a dumb thing as that? I so wish that it was NOT ME but it unfortunately was..."sniff, sniff." Not only that, but when I tried to explain my "designer debit" card that my mother insisted we get together, the manager looked at me like I was insane! I really can't blame him I was insane at that moment...with panic!

Then came the phone calls to the bank and to my mother! Let's just say that my phone call to the bank was much easier and pleasant than the one to my mother was. Yes, I am an adult woman, but after hearing a long lecture about responsibility from my mother, I was made to feel just like one of the five year olds that I teach! Oh how I wish I was five sometimes...it was would a whole lot easier. I didn't just say that now did I? NO. NOT ME!

I also was unable to get a temporary debit card...that's a long story in itself but it resulted in me waiting ALL day Friday for Fed Ex to deliver me a new debit card. As soon as I saw the truck out in front of my house I ran out and thanked the delivery man profusely and then went on a shopping spree! Yes indeed! I NOW had money so to speak and it was burning a hole in my pocket book. "Robin Dana, don't you have ANY self control?" NO. NOT ME! And how was YOUR week?

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

"We loved with a love that was more than love." ~Edgar Allan Poe

Enjoy the day with your family and loved ones and take the time to say "I love you!"

On a funnier note...

"I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon." ~Author Unknown

Tribute Tuesday

My blogger friend Wayne created "Tribute Tuesday" where we take time in our lives to honor those friends and family who are near and dear to us. This week I chose Jim and Irene. They are the parents of my best friend Carla. You see, I grew up as an only child and longed for brothers and sisters. My parents always told me that once they had me they "threw away the mold!" I think that what they really meant was that one "perfect" (okay, maybe not quite perfect) child was WAY more than enough! LOL...

My "Other" Parents...Sweet Irene and Jim...Aren't they just precious!?

Anyways, when we moved to San Diego, there was a family that lived across the street from us and they had a four children...three girls and one boy. Well, they had one little girl named Carla that was the same age as I! We were inseparable! We were the preschool version of "Lucy and Ethel." I loved being at Carla's house with all of the noise and activity that always took place. She loved being at my house where it was peaceful and quiet...and boring! Zzzzz!

Carla's parents were wonderful! In fact they called me their "Daughter Number 4!" I was a part of their family suppers, birthdays, holidays and even went on vacations with them! Jim was also my junior high Spanish teacher. I so wanted to impress him that I studied my tail off just to get good grades because I wanted to please him so. He also blessed and mentored me when I chose to become a teacher many years later.

Together we have shared joys and heartache and I am eternally grateful for their love and devotion that they shared not only with each other but to me as well. While I have grown up and moved away, I still stay in touch with them and my visits with them are deeply treasured. From Jim and Irene I have learned that it isn't just "flesh and blood" that makes a family. It is love and devotion that does. I love you Jim and Irene with all of my heart. Thank you for taking me under your strong wings and helping to make "this little Robin" fly!

Tools Of Truth...

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

"I delight to do Your will, O my God." Psalm 40:8

Prayer for the day...Taken from Praying God's Will for Your Life by Stormie Omartian

Dear Lord,
Help me to continually say yes to YOU. Help me not to be afraid to trust in YOU and Your will for my life. I want to experience everything that YOU have for me.
Amen

"My First Award!"

Thanks to my "Blogger Buddy Wayne," I have become the recipient of the Honest Scrap Award! However, in order to receive it, I must dig deep and reveal 10 dark secrets about myself as well as share this honor with seven friends out there in "Blog Land," so here it goes!

1. When I was 5, I was playing "Tarzan" with a cord that was attached to my mother's curtains and I thought it would be great to tie it around my neck before I took my fateful swing and nearly hung myself in the process. I had to nurse a serious rope burn for days!

2. When I was 12 my mother made me drop out of the "Girl Scouts" because she didn't want to be stuck with the mandatory job of selling "Girl Scout Cookies" and she knew that I wouldn't do it. I can't argue, I love eating "Thin Mints" not selling them! LOL

3. I am bitter because I never got an "Easy Bake Oven." My dad said that it was a waste of money...he couldn't believe that a light bulb could actually bake a cake. I blame him to this very day that because I didn't get one, that is the REAL reason why I am such a lousy cook!

Isn't it beautiful?! Maybe someday...LOL!

4. In junior high, I used blue and purple eyeshadow to make a killer bruise on my leg in order to avoid running laps in P.E. I almost got away with it until my coach realized that bruises don't "sparkle!"

5. I have a tattoo of a bluebird on my back. It is in memory of my grandmother who always called me her "Bluebird of Happiness." She called me that because I had blue eyes when I was a baby.

6. My grandmother was a bit "eccentric" and thought that it would be fun to feed my cousin's goldfish some "Scotch," YES, "Scotch!" Needless to say, he instantly went "belly up" and we had to go get a new goldfish to take the place of beloved "Goldie." May God rest his soul! (Do goldfish have souls?)

Do NOT do this at home..."Naughty! Naughty!"

7. When I graduated from college my mother sent an invite to my graduation ceremony to President Bush (Not the son, the father) I got a very nice form letter back from Barbara Bush. My mother does those types of things...it can be very embarrassing at times.

8. I am a "Diet Coke" addict and can drink up to 6 cans a day...I know that is soooo bad. My dad says that if I ever need a kidney transplant, he isn't giving me one of his...I'm not surprised, he didn't get me an "Easy Bake Over" either! Yeah, yeah, I know, get over it Robin!

9. I once gave myself blonde highlights and ended up looking like "Cruella DeVille!" (I did it to impress this guy that I liked...let's just say that HE wasn't impressed!) Another time I dyed my hair a shade of red and it turned out pink! I don't do pink! Now I just leave my hair alone!

My "Alter Ego!" I don't think Cruella likes "pink" either!

10. I've been to the "Rose Parade." I went with my friend Suzanne and we got up super early in the morning to go see it. We had a great time but actually, I had more fun watching the drunks who had been partying the night before than watching the floats go by. Seriously! When you see one rose petal float, you've seen them all. The drunks were far more entertaining!

Well there you have it my friends! The good, the bad and the ugly! Since I am new to blogging I really don't have seven friends that I can give this honor to but I will choose 7 blogs that I so enjoy reading and hope that you will too!

1. Wayne's Window To The World
2. My Charming Kids
3. Kelly's Corner
4. Bring The Rain
5. The Life, Faith & Creativity of Jessica Turner
6. Insights From The Magic Tutu
7. In Stitches