Things I Have Learned...

Each day is a beginning.
You are never too old to learn something new.
It is important to be polite and kind.
Kids grow up.
Volunteer--feel good while doing good!
Do not judge others.
Accept others for who they are.
Celebrate your birthday...celebrate everything!
Walk your dog-good for them, good for you.
Drink more....water.
Use less of EVERYTHING.
Have family meals.
Eat more veggies.
Play charades.
Wear a tiara...
Email / text less, talk more.
Turn you cell phone off once in a while.
Journal.
If you are fortunate enough to still have a living parent or grandparent, call them. Visit them. More Often.
Go on a picnic.
Game Nights!
Visit museums, zoos, aquariums, galleries etc.
Take a dance class.
Hold babies.
Be sure to kiss goodnite.

MERRIEST OF MERRIEST`

Christmas 2008 Wallace style was once again the Royal Rumpus we have come to expect.
With the Christmas Eve Party over, everyone headed back to their homes, and a few of our own kids at other folks homes, we began the gift wrapping marathon.
For the first time ever, we had help wrapping as we invited our 16 year old daughter Meaghan to join us in this holiday tradition that has kept us up until 4:00 AM in previous years. Meaghan cheerfully accepted the invite to help wrap, bow and tag gifts with her Popsicle and me.
With her help, and the help of our puppies and grandpuppies (right!) we were making quick work of this annual chore. Meaghan was finally so tired that she had to hit the sack with visions of sugarplums dancing in her head.
Along came Dylan to take over where Megpie left off, and we made quick work of this annual chore! We were done and cleaned up by 1:30AM! A Christmas Miracle!

Christmas morning came quickly, and the sleepyhead Wallace kids, Evan, Dylan and Meaghan, were up checking out their stockings. The Wallace beagles, Zuzu and Jack, joined in the stocking reveal as well!
Cinnamon Rolls, OJ and Coffee gave us the energy boost we needed and as soon as Austin and Dennice arrived the gift opening began!
Santa Pops passed out the gifts as I snapped the photos during the flurry of wrapping paper and bows. We dressed quickly, hopped in our cars and headed to the OC for more Christmas celebrating with the OC Wallace's.

We were met at the door by Meema Jetta and Peepa Gene, Leslie and Doug. Laura, Melissa and Chris arrived shortly after we did and the gift exchanging began. Ribbons were saved and thankyous were shared, making it time to eat the Christmas feast and what a feast it was! Ham, creamed corn, salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes, grandma's jello salad, rolls and pumpkin pie left us with very full and content tummies.
Following a win by the Lakers and animated conversations, we loaded up the car with our spoils for yet another Christmas stop!
We drove to Stanton where Peepa Ralphie had the champagne chilled and ready to enjoy! After admiring the new windows he had installed in his house, the gifts appeared as the wrapping paper disappeared! Christmas would not be complete without Candy Canes filled with M&Ms and White Linen from Peepa Ralphie!

With one last stop to make before we headed home for the night, we headed on over to Anaheim to deliver stockings for Bailey and Bessie and gifts for their Daddy and Papa.


A day filled with laughter and love, presents and paper, puppies and photographs, food and festivities, family and friends. A Wickedly Wild Wallace Family Royally Rumpified Christmas.
Wishing you the Merriest of Merriest!

Wallace Family Christmas Eve

Twas the night before Christmas at Casa de Wallace
Who knew that CHAMPAGNE went so well with TAMALES?
The SWEATERS on guests were a sight to behold,
UGLY BETTY herself would have even been sold!

With BLINKING and BLING BLING and POINSETTIA SCARVES,
And food on the table leaving no one to starve!
We played CHRISTMAS BINGO then WHITE ELEPHANT
And hoped on exchange gifts no money was spent!

We sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY ate cake and took PHOTOS,
Then called it a night and waited for HO HO.
Twas Merry Christmas Eve at our house tis true
And it was approved of by CINDY LOU WHO!

Love Letters In the Sand

So, I have been writing letters. A lot of letters.To lots of people. Letter to Obama, letter to Rick Warren and now a letter to Melissa Ethridge. I still have a letter pending to the one and only Pat Boone.
Here is my latest letter...the one to Melissa Etheridge in response to her meeting with Rick Warren.
Would love to hear what all y'alls take is on this situation....xoxo b

Melissa,

I just saw a brief interview on ABC news with you commenting on your meeting with Pastor Rick Warren. You mentioned that you feel it is important to communicate with each other to bridge our differences. And I completely agree. I am impressed that you were able to meet with Warren, and thank you so much for your efforts!

Sadly the leadership of 'Soulforce' (http://www.soulforce.org) a peaceful faith based organization, was not as successful in their efforts to meet with Pastor Warren as you were. Their reasons to meet with Warren were the same as you stated in your interview. To open lines of communication, to encourage dialog with and understanding of each other. Peacefully and with love. Soulforce sent a request to Pastor Warren in September 2007 asking to meet with him in June 2008 as part of their "American Family Outing". They were traveling and meeting with the leadership of six (6) megachurches across the country and were successful in opening dialog in many of the churches they visited. After being given the run around for months by Warren, he finally agreed to meet with a small group of families from Soulforce following their Father's Day Sunday service.

Two days prior to the meeting date, Warren's office informed Jeff Lutes, Director of Soulforce, that Rick Warren would NOT be meeting with them because Warren was being honored with an award at another of his sites. Much time, effort and expense had gone into this process by the families of Soulforce and the only way I can describe Warren's actions and attitude regarding his short notice of not participating in the meeting is rude and arrogant.

I am hopeful that your meeting with Warren was the beginning of an open and honest dialog that is long overdue. Open communication with respect for each other is the key. I am grateful that you stepped out and took the risk to meet with Warren. Thank you.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Sincerely,
Beckie Wallace

My Letter to Pastor Rick Warren

Pastor Warren,

I have been urged by several groups to participate in letter writing campaigns asking, no demanding, President-elect Obama to rescind his invitation to you to participate in the inauguration. I believe it is important for me to let YOU know why I AM writing the requested letters rather than go behind your back and send them.

President-elect Obama alluded to bringing all American citizens to the table of equality in his speech the night he was elected. ALL people. That would include our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. He even mentioned this particular demographic along with other minorities in his speech.

However YOUR words and actions as they relate to our LGBTQ community are less than inclusive. Much less. In June 2008 you and your staff accepted an invitation to meet with a small group of Christian families from Soulforce only to then give them the run around and finally to REFUSE to meet with them. Apparently YOU were being honored with an award and that was more important than following through on an obligation to meet and have an open, honest and loving dialog with a group of brothers and sisters in the Lord. What rude and arrogant behavior on your part. If you had no intention of meeting with Jeff Lutes and the families of Soulforce, then you should have had the courage and integrity to say that from the first invitation (in September 2007) rather than string these folks along.

You stated “there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population ... This is not a political issue -- it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about." I am sorry Pastor Warren, but I couldn't disagree with you more. It is a civil rights issue and that is certainly political. It is about equality under the law for ALL citizens - for ALL men are created equal. Furthermore, you continue to misrepresent marriage equality as silencing your religious views. This was a lie during the battle over Proposition 8, and it's a lie today AND YOU KNOW IT.

Pastor Warren, I am going to write my letters and send my emails even though I am sure your invitation to participate in the inauguration will not be rescinded. But I believe that my voice and the voices of all the LGBTQ community and their allies need to be heard. I also believe that YOUR CHARACTER needs to be examined.

You do have an option however. YOU can CHOOSE to DECLINE President-elect Obama's invitation. I am doubtful that you have the integrity to decline such a prestigious opportunity.

Sincerely,
Rebecca L. Wallace

SANTA'S GETTIN HIS GROOVE ON!

Go to this link and watch this. PLEASE watch this! It is hilarious! You won't be sorry! I promise! I would not lie to you this close to Christmas! Pinky Promise! Cross my heart and hope to die! Seriously! Its a riot! Go on, click on the link, thats it! You did it! It didn't hurt now did it! And I was telling the truth, right?
smoochies, b
http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/12280/dancing-santa-countdown

Merriest of Merriest!

I LOVE DISNEYLAND! Well, who doesn't? I mean really, who doesn't? (well, except for my friend Sam of course) Our family has had APs (Annual Passports, yes we are as they say "passholes") for 14 years! And Disneyland during the Holidays? Well, it really doesn't get any better than that!
Yesterday my two youngest children, Meaghan and Dylan performed with their clogging team, The CA All-Star Cloggers, at Disneyland for their 8 or 9th year in a row. (I really have lost track!) My dad joined us for the day, and it was great fun for everyone!
We lunched on burgers at the Village Haus, danced on the Carnation Stage, cruised It's A Small World Holiday, rode Big Thunder Mountain, took tons of pictures, were entertained by the babies and toddlers of strangers experiencing the Magic of Disney at Christmas, sipped hot cocoa, shopped, marveled at the lights and decorations, dined at the Plaza, watched as Sleeping Beauty's Castle became icicle covered, were amazed at the lights on the Christmas tree, wanted to be in the Christmas Fantasy Parade and cried during the snowfall on Mainstreet as "White Christmas" wafted through the night. (Well, in truth, the parade part and the crying part were just me.)
Although our feet were killing us, our hands and noses were freezing and our hearts were full, our tummies were not! So our final glad tiding of the night was a trip through Downtown Disney on our way home with a stop for Beignets and cocoa and coffee at the Jazz Kitchen Express. As we munched on our treats, the powdered sugar sprinkled down all around us like snow!
It was a very special Wallace/Shelton/CAS/Disney Christmas, and I loved every single non-stop minute of it!

crazywonderful!

It has been one of those crazysadwonderfulexhaustingfulfiillingoutrageousblessedrewarding weeks!

Saturday - 6:30 AM Meaghan and I head out from Rancho Cucamonga to Los Angeles for "The Trevor Project Gift Bag Party" as I call it! Together with 30+ volunteers we filled over 500 gift bags for the attendees of Cracked Xmas 11. My 4th year Gift Bag Partying! Always a great time!
After we finished Gift Bagging, we jump in the car and head to Anaheim! Clogging performance at the Anaheim Tree Lighting Ceremony!

Sunday - I attended The Trevor Project's Annual Fundraising Gala "Cracked Xmas 11". A Not So Silent Night to be sure! Fantasia, Wanda, Sigourney, Anne, Lesley, Sarah, Selma, and the cast of Springs Awakening had us laughing, crying, dancing, applauding and check writing! The highlight of my evening was spending time with very special friends and meeting the one and only Jennifer Coolidge! She made me want to eat a hot dog real bad while doing the bend and snap wearing a meat skirt and wrestling a lion! All the while asking myself "What about me?" If you have not seen her movies, you must!

Monday - After a long day at work and school, David, Meaghan and I Shooby Dooby Doobied down to Ruby's for their 26th Anniversary! To celebrate, Ruby rolled back the price of a Ruby Burger and Fries to $2.60! We were joined by my daddy and my friends Brian and Robbie for dinner. Ruby's has been one of my favorite restaurants for over 20 years. When the boys were small, Ruby's in the Crystal Court was our Friday night hangout. Dinner at Ruby's followed by a spin on the Merry Go Round and window shopping. Good times, good memories, good food!

Tuesday - Clogging class in Anaheim! My two youngest have been clogging with CA All-Star Cloggers for 10 years! Yes, 10 years! As we waited for Meaghan's class to finish, we were pleasantly surprised by the Disneyland Fireworks in the sky above us! I love pyro!

Wednesday - There is nothing like company and office Holiday Luncheons to get you in the Yuletide Spirit! Encouraging everyone to have a good time and participate in the ornament exchange and sit near each other all the while keeping a smile on my face...
After work and school it was back to Anaheim for a clogging performance at the annual Family Christmas Party at Anaheim First Christian Church. The audience was great and really inspired the cloggers to dance their best!
Thank you Anaheim First!

Thursdsay - Clogging class in LaVerne! Yes, they have class two nights a week! After we dropped Meg off for class, it was a trip to the grocery store followed by a late night of Pumpkin Bread baking by yours truly.
20 loaves and counting...

Friday - I AM OUTRAGED at Pat Boone's (yes, PAT BOONE!) ignorant comments comparing the Prop 8 Protesters with Mumbai Terrorists! Because I am a lady, I won't write what I really think of him, but if someone wanted to serve him a "turd cooked in poison" I wouldn't stop them. And I will be contacting his people and schooling them. You Betcha!
Tonight will be dinner at the in-laws with the Oregon relatives that are in town. We will spend some quality time sharing our cultures.

Saturday - Tomorrow - Meaghan and Dylan are performing with CAS at Disneyland. It just never ends! But I wouldn't have it any other way, cuz this is what makes the Royal Rumpus that is my life so wonderful.
Tootsie Roll and I hope you have a restful weekend!

Shooby Dooby Dooby....

TOMORROW, Monday, December 8, 2008, is the 26th Anniversary of Ruby's Diner! They are serving a Ruby Burger and Fries for $2.60 all day! I am there!

Cracked Xmas 11

This Sunday, December 7, 2008, is the The Trevor Project's 11th annual "Cracked Xmas" at the Wiltern Theater. It is an evening full of merriment and joy and it is the single largest fundraising event for The Trevor Project annually. The Trevor Project is the nations only non profit, 24 hour suicide prevention hotline for gay youth. They are all about saving young lives! I will write more about TTP in a future blog...

I volunteered and attended my first CXmas in 2004. It will live in my memory and my heart FOREVER. David and I arrived that morning and began setting up the room with a team of hard working volunteers. My sweet friend Brian joined us later for the show. I was overwhelmed by the colors, the sounds, the talent, the people, the M&Ms, the generosity - all of it! I was amazed to find myself in the same room with Elvira, Lipsinka, Momma, the Nuns of Perpetual Indulgence, Allison Janney, Megan Mullally, Debra Messing, Judith Light, Jorge Valencia and Betty Buckley!

I met Sam Borelli that rainy Sunday in 2004. Sam serves on the Board of Directors of TTP and has a HUGE heart for gay youth. Sam has been a source of support, laughter, wisdom, joy and love for me and has become one of my dearest friends. Our eyes met over the volunteer sign in table that day and he directed me to the restroom! The rest, as they say, is history!

This years event will not disappoint! The Wiltern's halls will be decked with festive holiday adornments and the talent includes Wanda Sykes, the cast of Spring Awakening, Fantasia and more! The appetizing pre-show goodies provided by Wolfgang Puck and you have an opportunity to finish Holiday shopping at the Silent and Live Auctions! You will be surrounded by wonderful people that want to help save young lives! Bring a friend, make a friend! Have a great time! What could be better?

Join the supporters of The Trevor Project for this fabulous event. Cracked XMAS 11. Have a great time as you support the effort of saving young lives.

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/c11landing.aspx

Happy Holidays!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

David Honey and I had a unique holiday cinematic experience last night. We watched the movie "White Christmas". Yep, the Bing Crosby, Danny Kay,
Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen classic. You know - the one with the songs 'Snow', 'Sisters', Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep', 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas'...yep- that one!

What? You wonder what is so unique about that? Yes, I have seen this movie about 1,000 times...give or take a couple hundred...
But last night's viewing was unique indeed. We were sitting in lawn chairs in the parking lot of The Fox Theater in Fullerton. We were bundled up in jackets, scarves, gloves, hats and blankets. The movie, complete with pre-movie cartoon, was being projected on the large blank wall on the back of the Theater that faces the parking lot.

The atmosphere for the evening was relaxed, friendly, and very family oriented. People were polite and I didn't notice any laser pointers or cell phones ringing. Amazingly, most folks remained seated for the entire movie! The crowd was made up of people of all ages from babies to grandparents. Some even brought their family dogs and I was especially delighted to see a beagle there that was almost as cute as mine! There were audience members sitting on blankets, most were sitting in lawn chairs, and some were in patio recliners!
Popcorn was popping and raffle tickets were for sale (I did NOT win!) and you were treated to a candy cane for a monetary donation to the cause!

This was our first time seeing a movie at the Fox but it will not be our last. The FREE outdoor movie nights, held monthly, are scheduled as a way to raise awareness and funds for the restoration of the Fox Theater. Built in 1925, stars such as Judy Garland and Jayne Mansfield once performed on the grand stage. Sadly, the theater has fallen into disrepair requiring money, elbow grease, love and more money to return it to it's original glory. We plan to go back in February for "When Harry Met Sally".

I am dreaming that one day I will be watching "White Christmas" INSIDE the Fox, but until then the outdoor movie nights are more than wonderful!

World AIDS Day 2008 and Thankfulness

It is the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day, a day established in 1988 to bring awareness of the AIDS epidemic to our communities, our nation and our world. A day set aside to remember those who have lost their lives to this horrible disease. It is a time for us to renew our commitment and resolve to find a cure.
I would like to suggest that World AIDS Day is also a day to be thankful - for those doctors and researchers that continually strive to find new and improved treatments and medications; for the caregivers that tirelessly and lovingly bring comfort to those suffering; for the tenacity of the activists that work to make this issue a priority with our government; for educators and medical professionals that have made it their mission to keep our young people healthy and safe; for those determined to live in spite of being infected.
I am wearing my red ribbon today and I have had several opportunities to share it's significance. I am thankful for those that asked and for their interest.
Take time today to remember and to mourn AND to cherish and give thanks.
http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/world/

Counting Blessings and Sheep!

Today is the day after. The day after the day we spent with family and friends and turkey and ham and potatoes and gravy and creamed carrots and stuffing (ourselves and the dish) and corn au gratin and cranberry sauce and rolls and apple pie and pumpkin pie and ice cream and whipped cream and family pictures and laughter and teasing and stories and hugs and kisses and naps and ipods and iphones and ring tones and car rides and raindrops and reflecting and thinking and remembering and thanking.
With the parade watched, the food cooked and consumed, the leftovers divvied up and everyone back to their own homes with full tummies and full hearts, I have been given permission to say...MERRY CHRISTMAS! Let the Royal Rumpus Begin!

It's Turkey Lurkey Time!

Thanksgiving Eve...The Night Before Thanksgiving! The night before the day we spend with our nearest and dearest and reflect on our many blessings. I will start tomorrow the way I start every Thanksgiving...sipping a big hot cup of joe (that my sweet husband David will have brought to me) while I watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (my very favorite parade in the whole wide world.) I love that parade! The reporters in their warm winter coats, the big balloons, the Macy's Stars, the Broadway Shows, Snoopy, the dance teams, the close calls and mishaps, the bands, the crowds, Santa....Every year as I am watching it I say to David, "I would love to be in NY for Thanksgiving and go to the parade." And every year he sweetly replies "someday we will."

So like I wrote earlier, it's Thanksgiving eve, and I am watching Home Alone 2, Lost In New York. Well, I am not actually watching it-- more like listening to it and glancing at the tv every so often. I love this movie. I love everything about it. Kevin and his antics, The Christmas Pageant, the pigeon lady, Mr. Duncan, the extended family, the shower scene, the turtle doves, The PLAZA, the hotel staff, Central Park, the bad guys, the room service, Rockefeller Center...NYC...LOVE IT! Every time I watch this movie I say "wouldn't it be beautiful to be in NYC for Christmas!" And every time my sweet husband replies "someday we will."

Will I ever really be in NYC for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Who knows. Maybe... I love the dream, and I love David for keeping my dream alive. But tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day 2008, I WILL be with my family. With my husband, my four children, the girlfriends, the grandparents, the niece, the aunties, an uncle and maybe a friend or two. Right here in SoCal. And when I have them all around me, when the royal rumpus begins, I listen to their laughter, their stories, their snoring (cuz you know what turkey does to you!) there isn't anywhere I would rather be! And I am thankful. Thankful that we have each other, that we love each other, that we have love in abundance, that we have our health and our homes and jobs! I am Thankful for my puppies - Zuzu's Petals and Just Jack. And for my friends - some new, some not so new, some textual- all wonderful!

I have much to be Thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.

It's Twilight Time!

I am a Twilighter. Or a Twilight Mom. Or maybe I am just crazy. Maybe. My 16 year old daughter Meaghan encouraged me to read the Twilight book series and I agreed thinking it would be an excellent mother/daughter bonding activity. And it did not disappoint. I have read all four books in the Twilight series, and I am dying to read the latest installment, Midnight Sun. Currently I am reading yet another Stephanie Meyers book, The Host. What can I say. I am hooked. Thank you Meaghan!

Last Friday night, I waited in line at the theater with Meaghan and about 300 of our closest friends to watch Edward, Bella, Jacob, Jasper, Emmet, Alice, Carlisle, Esme and the rest of the assorted vampires and er-humans come to life (well, not technically since they are vampires) on the big screen!
In line with us were females of all ages (and a couple of males)...from elementary age girls to women older than, well, older than me! Those on the best dressed list were wearing a variety of tee shirts, sweatshirts and baseball caps, all Twilight inspired, complete with images of Edward and the Cullens. "Bite Me", "Vampires Are Forever" and "Team Edward" are just a few of the slogans adorning practically every person in line!
Once we finally entered the inner sanctum of the theater house and were seated, our excitement escalated. Butterflies. Even some tears. Meaghan and I held hands and nervously nibbled popcorn and hot tamales and sipped diet coke and water. Our legs were shaking, we couldn't sit still, and we were perspiring! After a short yet spirited round of the "Team Edward vs Team Jacob" chant and a less than stellar string of movie trailers, it was Twilight time!

And then it happened.....we turned into...whoo girls. Each time a beloved character appeared on the screen we let it out ..."Whoo!!!!" with our arms thrown in the air! And when the man-boy-vampire hotty himself, Edward Cullen (portrayed by the one and only Robert Pattinson) walked by the school cafeteria window, the sound in the room was deafening. We melted at each close up. Each time he stared into our eyes, I mean Bella's eyes, we grew weak.
And I wanted to scream out to Edward..."Bite Me! Bite Me Hard!"...what? Oh, right. I did scream that. Loud. To Edward. The fictional vampire of my dreams.

I AM a Twilighter. I AM a Twilight Mom. And I AM just a little bit crazy. But most of all I AM blessed. Blessed to be the mom of a 16 year old girl that loves Edward Cullen and asked me to read a couple books with her. I love you Meggie! xoxo

Sunday Night At Our House....

Just an old fashioned Sunday evening around the television at the Wallace's...season finale of True Blood followed by Dexter...and of course the Laker game.

When did Winnie the Pooh, Fraggle Rock, Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles morph into De Grassi, America's Top Model, Family Guy and Sarah Silverman?

Our family room is home to countless movie screenings, season finale spectaculars, Bachelor parties and assorted holiday film fests. Oh, and don't forget Shark Week on the Discovery Channel!
The family room carpet bears the evidence of the above mentioned events and the staff of the local Pizza Hut knows us by name!
There's the doorbell...