Got Writer's Block? Remake Yourself

I am suffering from a severe case of writer's block.  Perhaps if I became something new, something different.  Making Heritage Pie last week whetted my appetite for a serious procrastination session and because I am feeling all kinds of festive today, I am going to share the love with you.


Turn yourself into a M&M , Simpsonize Yourself  or Shrekify Yourself

Turn yourself into a 1960's girl singing star

Click on the  photo and watch me dance.

If you are feeling blue, got the blues or just like the color of blue - then I have got some fun for you.

Here's a trip back to the 80's - The Smurfs are back!

You can Smurf Yourself and if that wasn't enough good news - there is a generator out there in Procrastination Land that will give you your very own Smurf name!

You Better Get Your Shades!

I've got mine on.  The newest issue of Shades of the Departed Magazine, all about occupations,  has been published. Among many of the photos that portray people at work, the footnoteMaven has included some  wonderful photos of  firemen and policemen.  I just love a man in uniform, don't you?

With over 100 pages, there is certainly something for everyone in this edition.  The Photo Detective, Maureen Taylor's column "Dressed To The Nines" makes its debut.  Your favorite regulars like Denise Levenick / Peneople Dreadful, Craig Manson, Janine Smith, Caroline Pointer and Denise Barrett Olson do not disappoint with their contributions.

Cheri Hopkins, one of the two You Go Girls, makes a guest appearance showing off her most excellent talent of scrapbooking.  The footnoteMaven has raised the bar of excellence even higher with this issue.

I took a couple of months off from my column, but look for me in the next issue when Shades focuses on School Days, due out in September.

Heritage Pie

Always looking for new ways to procrastinate, my eye spied a post by Diane Haddad over at The Genealogy Insider.  She created a great heritage pie chart for her son Leo using a chart generator from Kid Zone.



So I took a few minutes to make my own heritage pie chart.

Ok. I've shown you mine.  Let's see yours!

Oh How I Love A Parade!

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to be in a parade.  Riding in a red convertible, perched  on top of the back seat smiling and waving.

Oh let me tell you about the waving.  I have been practicing "The Parade Wave" all my life.  I even took a class in parade waving.  Think I am kidding?  When I was about 11 or 12 years old, my mother enrolled me in the "Wendy Ward Charm School."  For those unfamiliar, this was a service offered by Montgomery Wards in the 1960's to young ladies so that they might learn social graces, correct posture, how to walk (GLIDE, step and pose, GLIDE)  and most importantly the "Parade Wave." 

"Parade Waving" is truly an art form, it is even listed in the Urban Dictionary - "A slight hand gesture used to wave for prolonged periods of time (like during a parade) or as a casual non-verbal greeting to friends. With the arm bent at the elbow, the waver turns their wrist back and forth exposing the front and then the back of the hand in a single motion."   

Well I wasn't in a red convertible, but I was in the 4th of July Parade this morning here in Stockton.  El Toyon chapter NSDAR was a participant.  Nothing fancy, we decorated a member's pickup truck and several ladies rode in the back.  I walked in front of the vehicle with two other ladies - we were holding our chapter's banner.  We all wore red, white and blue and had wreaths of glitter on our heads.  The route was about 1 mile and it was about 100 degrees in the shade, but I had a BLAST!  The sidewalks along the parade route were crowded with people cheering and waving back at us.

We were in good company - in front of us were players from the Stockton Thunder (Ice Hockey Team) and in back of us were the Sacramento Kings Dancers (Kings = basketball team).  There were over 75 entries in all.  Quite a turnout for Stockton!

I made some family history today.  So how did you spend your holiday?  Did you make any family history?