In the past week we have lost too many stars.
First we heard of the loss of Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett and on the same day pop icon Michael Jackson.
Since then a few more have passed away. Very strange.
One way I like to relax is to do star gazing. NO, not the human celebrities-The real stars above our head.
I have been fascinated by it since I was very young and there is nothing more relaxing on a summer evening than looking above your head and realizing we are just a mere speck in this vast galaxy.
This time of year is a great time to observe some cool events in the sky:

June 29 Contrary to popular belief, the Moon is visible during the day as well as the night, and the next few afternoons are a good time to look for it. Today, the Moon rises around mid afternoon and is low in the south by the time the Sun sets.

July 1 Earth will reach its maximum distance from the Sun this week, roughly three million miles farther than when we were closest to the Sun in January. This point in Earth’s year-long orbit is known as aphelion.

July 2 The planet Jupiter is one of the brightest objects in the sky. Only the Sun, Moon, and Venus regularly outshine it. Right now it rises before midnight and stands well up in the south at first light. It looks like a brilliant cream-colored star.

July 4 The Big Dipper stands in the northwest at nightfall with its bowl spilling toward the horizon. Follow the two stars that form the outer edge of the bowl to the right to find Polaris, the North Star. Despite its reputation, Polaris isn’t very bright.    

Happy star gazing!!

 

The Couple Has Decided To Stop Fighting
To Save Their Marriage–They Instead
Announced Divorce Proceedings Are
Underway, And The Couple Will Take Turns
Staying At Their Home In PA. With Their Children.

Now TLC the network that hosts the show says they will put it on hiatus until August as the dust settles.

Could Jon & Kates 15 minutes of fame be dwindling?

Dad will love anything you get him…even if it’s just a hug and a hearty Happy Fathers day greeting!!  But if you need a few gift ideas, here is a list for different “dad” personalities:

Outdoorsman: Is Dad a fan of the rod & reel? Hook a gift that any angler will enjoy. Find out what reel he needs for his next fishing expedition, or put together a new tackle box filled with the lures and hooks specific to the type of fish he tends to go after.

Sports fan: Score tickets to a game for his favorite professional team and have a nice outing with him. There are many different types of sports memorabilia available also. For example, you can purchase cufflinks made from tiny pieces of wood from stadium seats.

Do-it-yourselfer: A gift certificate to his favorite home renovation retailer just might fit the bill, or a subscription to a home remodeling book or magazine series. Think about a tool he has been dreaming about (that new belt sander or miter saw). Go out and purchase it and watch his face light up.

Golfer: Dads who golf may appreciate a trip to a renowned course to play. Or organize a game for his favorite golf buddies and him. Make sure you include the “19th hole” at his favorite restaurant or bar.

Gourmet dad: If Dad is a gourmet cook and handy in the kitchen, put together a gift basket with fresh ingredients and innovative cooking gizmos. Another creative idea is to make reservations at a restaurant owned and operated by a favorite chef.

The thrill seeker: If Dad is comfortable racing his Harley down mountain roads or parachuting out of a plane, tie that into a gift that fuels his thrill-seeking edge. Organize a bungee-jumping trip, or spend a thrill-seeking day at an area amusement park.

I hope you and dad have great weekend!!

Wal-Mart is launching a new fashion line with teen star Miley Cyrus and BCBG designer Max Azria!

And just in time for the critical back-to-school shopping season.

The exclusive collection will be called Miley Cyrus & Max Azria. About 90% of the clothing and accessories will sell for $12 or less. The rock music-inspired line debuts in all stores in August. It will be part of a triad of Wal-Mart-exclusive collections aimed at teens. The denim-based L.E.I. brand and surf-inspired Op also produce lines just for Wal-Mart. The discounter has been 1 of few bright spots in the retailing sector as the economy soured. Wal-Mart has maintained that it’s rapidly taking market share away from rivals as shoppers look to cut costs.

Here’s a list of 25 things that are disappearing from America, according to WalletPop.    This is the 2nd time they have created this list.     How many of these things do you agree are vanishing?     How many are already gone?
 
25. Maple Syrup
24. Catholic Schools
23. Cash Registers That Make a Ka-Ching Sound
22. Wild Salmon
21. Alleys
20. Charcoal
19. Neighborhood Kids Who Will Do Odd Jobs
18. Trader Pits at the Stock Exchange
17. Cars With Manual Shifts
16. Homes Without Cable
15. 401(k) Matches
14. Dental Coverage
13. Butcher Shops
12. Shade Tree Mechanics
11. No-Down-Payment Home Loans
10. 0% Balance Transfers
9. Customer Service
8. Known Toxins in Children’s Products
7. Professional Typists
6. Sidewalks
5. Fax Machines
4. Your Net Worth
3. 10 PM Drama on Network TV
2. The Daily Newspaper
1. Community Banks

As you take a bite out of that donut…here is how much exercise you have to do to offset the calories…

How much exercise do you need to do to burn off junk food?
–One donut = 59 minutes of walking
–1 slice of hand-tossed cheese pizza = 39 minutes of swimming
–Meduim sized brownie = 129 minutes of yoga
–Large order of fries = 77 minutes of biking.
Unless you have a few hours to work out or do some serious exercising, it’s probably best to avoid these foods as much as possible.

I found this recently and could not stop laughing at how true it is!!
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven ‘ t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don ‘ t have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

 A recent study shows the snacks you love reveal your dream job. Dr. Alan Hirsche, neurological director of

Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, surveyed more than 18,000 adults, and found these links between job satisfaction, personality and munchies:

• Potato Chip chompers would get the greatest career thrill as lawyers, tennis pros, police officers or CEOs. These competitive individuals have high expectations for themselves and others.
• Pretzel lovers should go for jobs as journalists, firefighters, flight attendants, veterinarians or pediatricians. These high-energy types are easily bored. They bite into a challenge and trust their intuition.
• Tortilla Chip fans make excellent farmers, travel agents, chefs, clergy or news anchors. These perfectionists and humanitarians are always ready to help.
• Cheese Curl consumers would find enjoyment as real estate agents, psychiatrists or producers. They’re formal and proper with a great sense of integrity.
• Popcorn poppers find fulfillment as artists, teachers, truck drivers, nurses, judges or neurosurgeons. They dive right in and take charge and are self-confident, not show-offs.
• Nut nibblers should go for careers as plumbers, architects, sanitation workers, cardiologists or politicians. These individuals are easy-going, understanding and keep cool under pressure.

Cracker snackers should be stockbrokers or race car drivers

With the warm weather upon us…it’s a perfect time to enjoy some ice cream. We all scream for ice cream!!

Is your favorite on the list?  Here’s the top 5 ice cream flavors.

   5. Neapolitan
   4. Mint Chip
   3. Butter Pecan
   2. Chocolate
   1. Vanilla 

Other tidbits about America’s love affair with ice cream:
   –Americans prefer vanilla ice cream three to one versus chocolate.
   –Butter pecan ice cream is more popular in the Southwest than chocolate.
   –Ice cream lovers in the South Central United States are most likely to deviate from traditional ice cream and buy

After spending the last 12 years as the most popular name given to new baby girls, Emily has dropped down to the number 3 position.   According to the Social Security Administration, while Emily was knocked out of her top position, Jacob remained the most popular boys name for the 10th consecutive year.Here are the top 5 names given to babies in the US over the past 12 months:

          GIRLS                            BOYS
1.)       Emma                       Jacob
2.)        Isabella                    Michael
3.)        Emily                       Ethan
4.)        Madison                   Joshua
5.)        Ava                         Daniel