1.  Family, friends and local musicians who came out to help celebrate VenturaRocks.com’s 5-year anniversary meant the world to me.  I know how crazy life can get and how busy we can become, so to stop by and say hello or to hang out for awhile, well, that was just awesome.

Thank you!!!

There is a more complete photo gallery at VenturaRocks.com and I hope to get more photos from others who took pictures soon.

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2.  In Plano, TX, a police officer pulled over a man whose tags had expired on his car. The man who had been struggling to pay the bills and feed his family explained there was no excuse, but that he just didn’t have the money.  The officer gave him a citation anyways and left.

Inside the citation?  A $100 bill.

He was not only able to pay his DMV registration fees but his wife’s as well.

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3.  I saw this post this week and I couldn’t agree more:  “You’d think the chances of putting in a USB drive wrongside-up would be 50-50, but nope, it’s easily 90-10.”

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4.  I am encouraged that I did not see as many hate-filled posts and articles about the passing of the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, Fred Phelps.

I think my favorite post comes from former Star Trek actor and gay rights advocate George Takei who wrote:  “Today, Mr. Phelps may have learned that God, in fact, hates no one. Vicious and hate-filled as he was, may his soul find the kind of peace through death that was so plainly elusive during his life.”

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5.  I recommend less introspection and wondering why you are the way you are and try more serving others.
Get over yourself and get busy.

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6.  REAL news headlines:

• Man with Tail Worshipped as God (But Not by His Wife)
• Zoo Feeds Unwanted Giraffe to Lions
• Female Libido Pill Scrutinized
• You are What your Grandmother ate
• New Species of Mammal Kills Itself with Sex

Yeah, Okay, about that last one, the species, a pink-nosed rodentlike marsupial, was discovered in May 2013 and already scientist are seeking endangered species protection for them.  Really?

Click here for one of the news stories.

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7.  Don’t you just love your first glimpse of a really large full moon? I especially love it when it isn’t expected and it’s in the corner of my eye behind some trees or coming up over the hill and I have to take a second look. I literally gasp.

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8.  When Sydney Rose was born, I always considered the worst case scenario and what to do if it happened.  For some reason, we thought it would be a good idea to take her for walk out on the pier.  In my mind – and I am not kidding, you can see it on my face in this photo – (I remember like it happened yesterday wondering this to myself), “What if someone pushes the stroller over the edge?”  In my mind, “I’ll need to jump in and save her while yelling call 9-1-1”.
Of course they would have to tackle me first, hold me down while lifting up the stroller and pushing her over, not to mention her father fighting tooth and nail for her life.

But I still had a plan.

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9. Love this Meme entitled “23 People Were Asked ‘What’s the Best Thing About Being Single?’ These Answers Make A Lot of Sense”

The one that made me laugh the most is #7 and apparently answered by a male. It says, “Don’t have to compromise anything. I had to sit through Cinderella and a thousand bullshit chick flicks just because my ex wanted to watch them. Now, I watch Cinderella because I want to watch it.”

But the one that hits closest to home is #2. “You really don’t appreciate the entire mattress, until you have it to yourself.”

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10. Do you think they’ll start calling it a “Jennifer Lawrence” when someone trips or falls (especially in front of a lot of important people and your peers)? I feel so bad for her falling both times she attended the Academy Awards. I feel bad because that would totally be me! How lucky am I my dad caught this precious moment for me?  And no, I did not fall. After introducing Rey Fresco, I turned to walk off the stage and luckily I saw my foot had attracted the attention of one of the band’s guitar cords.  But yes, I am a klutz.

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11.  From my favorite quotes files:

“Sometimes doing the right thing does not make everyone happy — just the people who need it the most.” – Tony Posnanski

Tony is a restaurant manager who received complaints from customers about a loud table nearby.  When he approached the table where a mother was sitting with her child, he was asked, ““Do you know what it is like to have a child with autism?”

If you have a few moments please read what Tony did.

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Thanks for listening.