MJ

Alright, alright, alright, alright. I soooo was not going to write about Michael Jackson, b/c everyone else is, but I've been offended now by Mr. O'Reilly, some other guy on the radio, the guy in the line behind me at the store today and now a random blog I was just sent a link to. They're all dissin' the man for his money, too much air time, lack of normalcy, whatever.

Some of you may not know that I have been a die hard MJ fan FOREVER! So much so that when my husband was told on the phone of the news, all I heard was, "uh, she's happy right now, I better wait to tell her." And then two of my friends called me to ask, "Annie, are you okay?" (My Mom and Stephanie call me Annie, and neither of them called me, but if they had, they would have said that and it would've been really funny.)

Let's just get a few things straight here about Michael Jackson. Here's why I think he deserved all the "remember the times" coverage-

#1- In his later years he definitely displayed behavor as a, shall we say, FREAK. I admit it. Freak freak freak. I whinced whenever I saw the pajama wearin', umbrella donning, black/white feathered hair guy. He hit a low and he was slow. I felt sorry for him, but unlike most of you, I still think he is innocent. He made bad choices, uh-huh, but I happen to agree with the jury.

#2- Okay, I think I made #2 above. He never led a normal life, was a complete wreck later in life, but I still liked him.

#3- I have loved Fred Astaire since I could watch movies at the MGM theater in Las Vegas with the couches for seats and conehead, genie like hairdos of the cocktail watresses serving the Mormon family 7Up. But, Michael Jackson had something more. Hard to compare the two, I know, but they were both entertainers and dancers. Their techniques were amazing, but Michael Jackson's moves were jaw dropping. Until the "gotta go pea, oop, now it's gone" move. (That's when the whincing began.)

#4- Before the "GGPONIG" move, I wanted to dance even a little bit like Michael. I watched "Billie Jean" over and over and was mesmorized. Then the "Beat It" video over and over until I could do some of those moves. Yep, I can still do them and like to, but it's a challenge, thanks to my big bum. The point is that he has been a huge part of my dreamy life of being a really good dancer since I was ten. Yep! Me and another million kids around the world, so can we just take a break from the Wall Street Minute for a month and remember the glove? the moonwalk" the "Ow!" and the high water pants? C'mon people! IT'S MICHAEL FREAKIN' JACKSON!!!!!!!

#5- I could do without all the "Whose kid is it anyway" crap though. That's gotta stop.

#6- "OW!"

You're Not Alone....say it one more time.

You're not alone. Gracie ate watermelon for breakfast. And Gracie ate more watermelon all day. And the rest of the day was filled with "accidents," dirty dishes, dirty clothes, more accidents, Cheerios spilled EVERYWHERE, another accident, watermelon juice drippings turn sticky EVERYWHERE, another accident, spit up, near blow out, more accidents, two in a row, as a matter of fact and then gardening for FHE which led to mud in the house and another accident. I am not exaggerating. At one point the word "hell" was addressed to my child. I won't disclose the exact phrase I used, but I knew the line of inner peace had been crossed and I did NOT care. I can only take so many pee pees on my floor. And to top it all off, Grace has been singing "...an earthly home, to parents kind and dear." on and off all day. Just that line. That one single line from a song full of lines! But I believe with all my heart that I am not alone. And that probably was a tender mercy I received because I actually did read my scriptures this morning.

Yep! It's brown!

For those of you who know me from my former singlehood and childhood, I've been getting a lot of comments about my hair. No it's not dyed. I am no longer a blonde so down with the stupido blonde jokes!! They no longer apply to me- they never did really, despite what my father-in-law will tell you. I could swear I've always been so much intelligenter than that. With every child my hair gets darker and darker. My aunt didn't even recognize me when she saw me last year. Crazy. Being a brunette isn't so bad though. I kinda like it. My eyebrows do too.