Sad Day

Today two famous artists died: Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

Farrah was known for her 1970's television series "Charlie's Angels" at the age of 62 this morning at 9:28am. She battled cancer and fought hard. She now is with her mother and sister in heaven who battled cancer as well. As Jaclyn Smith, who was known as the other angel said, "Farrah had courage, she had strength, and she had faith. And now she has peace as she rests with the real angels."

Michael Jackson died at a Los Angeles hospital after being found unconscious and not breathing at his home. He was 50.
My parents called to tell me Michael Jackson Died. However, my husband called earlier. My mom asked, "Arnnette, are you sitting down?"

"Yes", I said. She continued to say that MJ had passed away. She thought I would cry.

I have to say I did cry for Farrah, only because of the trials she battled with cancer, to close to home.

I bet you're wondering why my mom thought I would cry for Michael Jackson?

You see, In high school I loved Michael Jackson. I had all the magazines and diaries and folders with "I Love Michael". It was 1984, my parents were reading the paper when I screamed hysterically, and they could not get me to stop crying. When I finally calmed down, I showed them the paper with Michael all bandaged up from an accident that happened while filming a Pepsi commercial.

hm mm, maybe this is why I don't drink Pepsi and Only Coke is allowed in my house and the dining room decorated with Coke products. I don't think so but it's been so long, no, Pepsi gives me bad headaches and an after taste that makes me nauseous so, no it can't be due to the accident. I'm rambling again.

Anyways, my parents were mad because I was screaming like a crazy teenager. They thought I over reacted. I got in trouble for crying over michael when I should be crying over my grades or the current wars going on in the world.

My friend Diane S. understood my feelings, because apart from me being his big fan, Diane was more in love with him and even went to El Paso just to see his concert and here in Phoenix!

Thus the reason my parents thought I would over react today with the news of Michael Jackson. I will miss his talent and the memories of younger Michael Jackson.

My sympathy to Farrah's Family and Michaels Family. Both can rest in peace with out their worldly battles, and may their memories continue. Here's two songs I dedicate to both, She's out of my life and Ben, which Michael sang. Ben is acturally about his pet mouse. I always cry to both.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Inauguration Day 2009

At 12:00 noon on Inauguration Day 2009 (Tuesday, January 20, 2009, as set by the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution), Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States.
Welcome to the White House

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden and their family.

It is said that George Bush Sr. started the tradition of the New President walking and escorting the Old President to the awaiting Helicopter as he did with Ronald Reagan. Here, Obama escorts George W Bush to the awaiting Helicopter and below the President Bush and Laura leaving the White House.

This photo is of the Belated President Ronald Reagan as he leaves the White House. I also included his last speach.
It was said that as President Reagan flew around the white house one final time he told his wife Nancy, "Well honey, there's our old little shack." Here is Ronald's Farewell speech.

Reagan Farewell Speech.

President Reagan's Farewell Speech
The President spoke at 9:02 P.M. from the Oval Office at the White House. The address was broadcast live on nationwide radio and television.
January 11, 1989
This is the 34th time I'll speak to you from the Oval Office and the last. We've been together 8 years now, and soon it'll be time for me to go. But before I do, I wanted to share some thoughts, some of which I've been saving for a long time.
It's been the honor of my life to be your President. So many of you have written the past few weeks to say thanks, but I could say as much to you. Nancy and I are grateful for the opportunity you gave us to serve.
One of the things about the Presidency is that you're always somewhat apart. You spent a lot of time going by too fast in a car someone else is driving, and seeing the people through tinted glass--the parents holding up a child, and the wave you saw too late and couldn't return. And so many times I wanted to stop and reach out from behind the glass, and connect. Well, maybe I can do a little of that tonight.
People ask how I feel about leaving. And the fact is, "parting is such sweet sorrow." The sweet part is California and the ranch and freedom. The sorrow--the goodbyes, of course, and leaving this beautiful place.
You know, down the hall and up the stairs from this office is the part of the White House where the President and his family live. There are a few favorite windows I have up there that I like to stand and look out of early in the morning. The view is over the grounds here to the Washington Monument, and then the Mall and the Jefferson Memorial. But on mornings when the humidity is low, you can see past the Jefferson to the river, the Potomac, and the Virginia shore. Someone said that's the view Lincoln had when he saw the smoke rising from the Battle of Bull Run. I see more prosaic things: the grass on the banks, the morning traffic as people make their way to work, now and then a sailboat on the river.
I've been thinking a bit at that window....We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for 8 years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.
And so, goodbye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

I've included the President Obama and Michelles first dance as President of the United States.

Gilbert Day's Parade

Gilbert, AZ are having their annual Gilbert Days. This year the town of Gilbert started with their parade the weekend before their rodeo. So today, Saturday the 15th of November, we went to celebrate with their annual parade.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio started off the parade. Bayardo asked why I was taking a picture of him. I thought it was funny how he didn't look to happy with all the Latinos in the crowd and it bugged him that I was waving. Before I waved he smiled at the crowd next to us who where non-Hispanic, hmmm, and they say he's not racist.

You can see the beady glare through his glasses. That was my the start of my laughter. I love parades, I always get teary eyed. As long as there are no clowns! Never like clowns.

We saw many of the dancers & Veteran's that were in the Mesa Veterans Parade earlier this week so I'll spare you duplicate pictures. There were many of religious floats: Lutherans & lots of Non-Denominational Christan Church's. Many advertising companies like Remax and Watson flowers who were actually passing out fresh flowers to mothers, ahh.

We saw all kinds of Bikers.

World War II biker, Ducati Bikers who I chose not to take pictures of, because...

I like real bikers, and...

A double-dutch bike? See spidey?

There were even police officers on bikes going up and down. See the officer going the opposite of the parade? I loved this advertisment; Need your grill replaced? Ha-Ha, right on the grill of the truck. Bayardo asked where were the Biker Boyz, they should be in there....

Who are the Biker Boyz the he refers to?......

The LDS Missionaries:) Which by the way they were not at the parade, I found this image. He thought since there were so many independent churches in the parade, that all the biker boyz and while the sister missionaries ride in the car, should have passed out pictures Christ and Book of Mormons. I told him that wasn't a bad idea, I don't know if they could. So he said that the primary should have a float dressed as biker boyz then. Food for thought. This coming from a non-member speaking very seriously about spreading the word of Christ, and yet...may be someday. Anyways,

Here are girl scouts spreading their word of RECYCLE!.

Another trash statement.

There were belly dancers,

Mexican Dancers,

Wizard of Oz dancers,

and Asian Dancers. We were Celebrating!

Tiger even was there, actually it was the mascot for Gilbert High.

There were horses with..

the Sheriff's Posse,

Arabian,

Ms. Rodeo,

What the...Bayardo and the kids look on,

Even two legged, walking horses?!
There were all kinds of cars,

Fast Ferrari Cars, lil' cars (how and the world did that full grown man fit?),

Even Flintstone cars!

This poor boy, he hardly had room in his box. He still has 2 miles to walk through the parade!

And a sleigh...

Yes, it was a fun parade for all.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Barack Obama our new elected President

The polls were in at 9pm AZ time, Barack Obama is our new elected President.

270 electoral votes was needed to win. In the end, as of right now and still counting, Obama 306; McCain 145. A moment of silent while we pray to our Heavenly Father that Obama and his family are safe. That our country may be safe and Obama may lessen the burdens of our nation.

That we may continue to be "One Nation Under God...with Liberty and Justice for all..."

VOTE

I voted early this morning at 6:30am and proudly wore my "I voted" sticker. I am so proud to be an American Citizen and have the right to vote. It is sad that other countries, not everyone can vote. That only a couple decades ago, blacks and women could not vote in United States. We now have the right to vote, sadly many do not vote. recently in September of 2008, 9,000 voters of 250,000 voters voted in Gilbert, AZ. How sad to here this. To know that we have soldiers fighting for our country and citizens here in US are not fighting for our voices to be heard and vote, is heart breaking.

It's AZ time and now 6:07pm, you have less than an hour to VOTE! If you don't vote, then you cannot and you do not have the right to complain for 4 years. As Helen Purcell stated, "If we stand in line for release of movies, concerts, give aways, even overnight, than should we not stay in line for our freedom?"

May God bless us all now and the future!!

Ciao for now,

Arnnette