Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

Spotted on some sort of gas tank outside of gas station. Is it a band? A warning? Found on bench at Schiele Nature Trail. Some poor lil babe's head is very cold!

Trying very hard to work myself out of the funk I have been in all week. It's not easy....but Surprise Kitty does help......a little.

This was Little Boy's fave song over the weekend. I am forever grateful that my boy has such a good ear and that I taught him what was good from Day1.........

Rebellion comes in all matter of forms. Some people get tattoos. Some stop paying their bills. Some stand on corners and hold signs. Some write snippy things online and hope/don't hope that anyone will read it. And some, like my friend and her watch over here, are a little more subtle. She's got this thing, you see, for her watch. It's big and clunky and ever-so-athletic and she feels she must wear it. All. The. Time. Dressy event with heels? Zumba shorts? Work day jeans? It's all gooooood and it all goes with her watch. And if someone has the nerve to ask "are you gonna take that watch off?" even if she thought about taking it off, now you can be pretty sure she won't. I, for one, like the watch. I think it says a lot about who she is, and besides that, who is anyone to say what is right or wrong, appropriate or inappropriate for any given circumstance? I used to know a guy in college who wore his watch around his ankle. (True story......

"I don't really like Seinfeld because it's set in olden times." (E-Roc's 19 year-old coworker commenting on today's great television.)

I don't know anyone who didn't love this song and this video back in the day. I was 9 years-old, and when I think back on the big, excessive decade of the 80's, this is how I see it. RIP Clarence Clemmons......

I was so glad that I was able to make it out to the processional to Nic O'Brien's funeral service yesterday. I didn't expect that I would be out there when I was researching and writing about it yesterday morning, but there I was at 2 pm.....stopped in one of the busiest intersections in Gastonia. It was really moving.....to see so many people stopped and silent as a seemingly endless line of black cars, police and emergency vehicles, and motorcycles slowly moved by. Flags waved....people saluted.....some put their hands over their hearts.....some kept their heads down.....children watched in interest. In Gaston County, drivers still stop for funerals, but I had never seen anything like this before. It was the first time I have ever stopped my car, put it in park and stood out in the road to watch one go by. When I got home much later, I was glad to hear that there was no disturbance by Westboro and that many people turned out for the service to support the family. ...

There will be a funeral in Gastonia today for LCPL Nic O'Brien. Westboro Baptist plans to be there to protest. The Patriot Guard Riders will be there to escort the casket on its trip from Charlotte and will also provide a human/bike/flag shield between the grieving family and the misguided protesters. According to the Supreme Court, Westboro has their right to protest. As for the rest of us, we have a right to say they're wrong...... (Many people plan to line the roads leading from Charlotte to the church to support the family. You can do it on a bike, in a car or on your feet. This bike belongs to a coworker who plans to participate in the escort. This day should be about Nic O'Brien and his family. Not Westboro Baptist and their "rights".)

When I saw this photo, I thought it was fake. Apparently, it was taken during the recent riots in Canada after the ending of the Stanley Cup finals. The woman fell on the ground and the boyfriend was trying to helping her up and to "comfort her". I don't have trouble believing it when you consider what was going on. I've never been in a riot....luckily......but it seems kinda like a small scale war. And war, they say, makes you do crazy desperate things.......