Sing and Dance. For the CHOC of it.

Here’s a fun, creative way to thank CHOC for all they do for our kids. CHOC Follies is holding open auditions this weekend for their April musical, “The Wizard of OC.”

I know my guy was a NICU kid for 10 heartbreaking days when he was born, and I was forever indebted for the care he received.

The CHOC Follies charity has raised over $4.5 million to date and is out to hit the $5-mil mark this year!

Up for the adventure? They say no theatrical experience is required. “If you can talk, you can sing; if you can walk, you can dance!”  You just have to live in OC and be over 21 to audition. (Most rehearsals are Saturday during the day and Wednesday evenings, fyi.)

And if the stage is outside your comfort zone, you can always spread the word to others interested, or just buy tickets to the April show.

More q’s? Contact Executive Producer Gloria Zigner at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Associate Producer Lois Augustine at 714-532-8690 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Audition details:
Island Hotel
Nov. 1st at 2-4 pm or Nov. 4th at 6-8pm
690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach

“Thanks, CHOC!” from this double-preemie Mom.

Peace,
Debbie

Who Needs Petco When Ya Got Theme Parks?

Hey why bother with a lowbrow, generic Mr. Loofa chew toy when you could have a plush, soft Mickey, a mouth-watering Sea World dolphin or a sweet, stuffed Pluto for your fave furry friend?

I mean, anything less would be mundane and ALL the other dogs would already have it.

It’s only the best for my tug-of-war bestie.

So “Yes! Of course! By all means, my little bears! Get the velvety soft, super cute, you’ll-die-without $20 stuffed character du jour that you’ll discard and give to the dog to drag around the yard, get super crusty and mangle the arms, head and tail off.

In fact, kids, get two!”

Milk Is A 4-Letter Word

They say no crying over spilt milk. Is that for the kids or the moms? And who says?! Milk has spilled in my house more times than I can count. And as my rage boils and I think of the mildew and ick getting stuck under the fridge, under the cabinets or soaked in the placemats, I’m reminded of the no-worries phraseology. I hate the phrase!

And I know it only takes a few minutes to clean up, and after it’s cleaned I’m always wondering why I freaked. But at the time, all I can think is “ugh! ickk! why? again! for the love ….!” And maybe some other choice words come into play.

And yes, on top it all off, I know the milk probably wouldn’t have even spilled if I wouldn’t have been on my computer and would have just gotten the gallon for my guy in the first place. Double whammy. Double blood boil!

Why are the little things always the biggest freakouts? Maybe because they’ve already happened a million times. Maybe because we intuitively knew they were gonna happen. Maybe because milk is a four-letter word and a good cry does a body good.

Am I the only Mommy Monster when the milk hits the floor? What’s your melting point?

Shock and Gawk

As part of the original Moon Man gen with Kurt Loder, MJ, and the video that killed the radio star, I had to watch the freak show, I mean VMAs on MTV. I decided to tune in after I “heard” the East Coast tweets about the crazy Kanye rant, the Lady Gaga attire and Pink double outfit.

Yeah, it was quite a show. I thought Kanye was rude. Beyonce was amazing (damn, that girl has almost robotic crazy moves). Sorry, I didn’t get the Pink Cirque-like sing. The Gaga outfits and art, really what can you say? Loved Madonna’s opening. And thought Janet’s performance was daring and perfect.

How about you? Do you still tune in for the awards? For the shock value, the talent, to know what the kids are talking about?

Rock on MTV, for staying on the radar after all these years. And yeah, I’ll probably tune in again next year, for a little of all of the above.

The Kanye rant:

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Beyonce’s mad performance post-Kanye:

Turn the Left Cheek

The news of the last brother gone leaves me mixed feelings. While I’ve always have a Kennedy obsession with Jack and RFK (yes, I visited the Grassy Knoll and have watched the documentaries to no end), I was always mixed on Teddy. The scandal, the troubles, the choices.

But now that he’s gone, his character of survival stands out. Yes the man made mistakes, he confessed, transformed and wow did he get back up again.

He endured when many of us would have stayed under the many rocks. (Heck, I can hardly show my face after my kid has a public tantrum, or I realize I forgot to shut the windows after losin’ it over the crazy of the day.)

He learned, he thrived, he overcame.

So before all the snarky blogs start in on the scandalous, I say turn the left cheek. Which of us could have survived in the shadow of Ted’s Life and gone on to live for others in such a public way.

Hopes. Dreams. And long live the Kennedys.