First, happy birthday to one of the loves of my life, my first-born daughter Brandi. On Monday I will publish our ode to her childhood (as I did with Katrina a couple of weeks back). For now, we’ll just start with the song that started it all…
***
This one is an open mic performance by Brandi’s friend Dana. Her voice is smooth and mellow, and this is her original piece. Enjoy!
***
Next we have a video that was brought to my attention by Jill Blashack Strahan, the Founder & CEO of Tastefully Simple. Jill likes to inspire us to find our passion, and here she’s hit the mark with this inspirational story of Jodi:
For a time Brandi and Katrina were in day care with a family who had 3 boys — and 1 of the boys was autistic. His parents were much like Jodi’s parents: kind and patient and loving. While raising an autistic child can be a challenge, it needn’t be the end of your wishes for your child to have a healthy and productive life. Watching Jodi’s video brought tears to my eyes.
***
This is a new commercial for our local EMS/Fire dispatch. They dispatch every fire agency in the County of Sonoma — EXCEPT my agency (because we’re police and fire). They also have the contract to dispatch and provide the ambulances that respond to all 9-1-1 calls for medical service. (There are other private ambulance companies in the County that are not dispatched through this center, or at least not usually. It’s kind of complicated.) Anyway, thanks for sharing, Nancy. It was cool to see peeps I know in the commercial!
***
Ever get stuck behind a Highway Patrol Officer doing a traffic break? They’re doing them to keep you safe on the road. Here’s our beloved CHP doing one — it’s actually the longest one I’ve ever seen!
Brandi may remember we had to have one done for us once… we were on a girls’ road trip to Great America and Brandi was around 7 or 8 years old. Half-way there, the timing belt — or some critical belt that runs the car — broke and the car stopped running in the middle of a 5 lane highway. I could only get to the center divide… and then I ran across the freeway to the callbox… leaving poor Brandi in the car alone. That seemed better than having her run across the freeway with me. As soon as the CHP dispatcher heard I had a child in my car in the center divide, she was all business. The CHP officer showed up in less than two minutes, but the whole time poor Brandi was having a fit in the car… rocking back and forth, wanting to come be with me, and I kept pantomining for her to stay in the car. Another CHP officer ran a break so I could get back to my car. At last, the tow truck arrived. (Yes, we continued the trip after stopping for a rental car.)
***
Let’s plug Tastefully Simple one more time. Here is one of our Florida consultant’s on a local news show demonstrating a Valentine’s Day Dinner at home… so easy! Hope this inspires you to cook at home for your loved one on Valentine’s.
***
Now, I’m off to dinner with family to celebrate my first-born’s 24th birthday. (The cake is a mere two feet away from me in this r0om — dangerous! I must go join the crowd and get away from it!)
Have a great weekend!
:>
