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/