Joy Will Come in the Morning

This is some badass violin playing. Love the interpetation.

"Beware what you set your heart upon. For it shall surely be yours."

Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803-1882, Poet and Essayist

I'm sitting here syncing my iPhone and started thinking about my day and how wonderful it was. I'm in a fantastic mood and wanted to share some love with a long post about how all is right in the world.

But then I realized the Temazepam is kicking in. Time for bed.

Goodnight!

I'm on the project team related to our participation and sponshorship of the 2009 Women's Conference hosted by Maria Shriver. As part of the team, I'm able to attend the conference. While it's a women's conference, men attend.

The list of speakers is amazing.

I'm so stoked!

"Behold the turtle: He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out."

James Bryant Conant
1893-1978, Educator and Diplomat

OMG. I laughed so goddamn hard I nearly fainted. Srsly. There's special place in hell for those of us who laughed as hard as I did at this.

at arco arena waiting for the concert to start.

let's hope i don't scream like a little girl when adam lambert gets on stage.

At the airport. Flight leaves in an hour. Actually looking forward to this trip.

"All I want to do is just go out there and play hard. If I do that, good things will happen. It's as simple as that."

Carlos Pena
All-Star Baseball Player

I watched the memorial as soon as I got home from the office. I realize it was a MEMORIAL after all, but you know that I have a few thoughts...

1. WTF was Mariah Carey thinking? She was horrible. She kept tweeting about it after the service. She blamed her shitty performance on being all "choked up". Bullshit. Her voice was shot. And, she should keep her damn hand down while she's singing. I hate that "moving your hand to the vocal gymnastics". Dumb.

2. Lionel Richie was pretty cool. Nice to hear his voice.

3. I liked John Mayer's performance.

4. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is the shit. VERY good speaker. I wish I could speak like her. Reminded me of Aaron Sorkin's writing. God, I miss The West Wing.

5. You just can't beat Rev. Al Sharpton. There's just something about him I love. The look on his face at the very end when he walked away from the microphone was classic. It was a "BAM! That was MY speech, bitches!" sort of look.

6. Usher's alligator tears. Not so much. Touching the casket was a little weird. It seemed like he did it just to say he touched MJ's casket.

7. The King children were incredible. I could watch them over and over and over. And over.

8. Jermaine's version of Smile was very touching. I was OK until it hit me that he was singing it to his little brother. Tears.

9. Maya Angelou is the best poet ever. Wow. So incredibly profound and so right on the money.

10. I just wanted to give Brooke Shields a big hug. And holy shit... she is gorgeous! After her speech, I hope she got a stiff drink. Poor girl was shaking like a leaf.

11. SHAHEEN JAFARGHOLI!!! Enough said.

12. I loved seeing J-Hud, but she could have done a better job.

13. I really liked how the brothers would stand up and hug each of the speakers/performers as they left the stage. Very heartfelt. Cool gloves.

14. The songs at the end could have been better if they had someone who could SANG sing. The back-up singer chick wasn't so hot.

15. I lost it when lil' Paris spoke at the end. Wow. Tore me up.

16. Jesse Jackson being on the stage with the family at the end was a little odd. Yes, his last name is JACKSON, but c'mon.

17. The single spotlight at the end as people left was haunting. Very appropriate.

Overall, I thought it was an amazing send-off for the greatest entertainer ever. I can't believe they put that together so quickly. Amazing talent.

I haven't watched the memorial yet, but I've been following updates via the internet. The above picture really grabbed my attention. I find it really amazing how protective of Paris the family appears to be. Their body language says a lot.

Regardless of where the kids end up, I hope that the Jackson family will remain near.

"You need to tell her that her vagina is not a clown car."

-Karen

I don't have much patience today.

"We deem those happy who from the experience of life have learnt to bear its ills without being overcome by them."

Carl Jung
1875-1961, Psychiatrist

At the Music Circus with Cynthia, Brian and Chris. It's our corporate sponsored dress rehearsal. Good times!

Goddamnit, I need to start watching 30 Rock!!

"Yesterday is a canceled check: Forget it. Tomorrow is a promissory note: Don't count on it. Today is ready cash: Use it!"

Edwin C. Bliss
Author

I've been craving a McDonald's breakfast. Based on the line, I'm not the only one with the craving.

London. Saturday night. The O2 Arena, the same venue where the King of Pop was scheduled to perform a series of 50 concerts.

STATEMENT FROM MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION REGARDING PEREZHILTON.COM

The Matthew Shepard Foundation was surprised to learn this morning via media reports that blogger Perez Hilton (Mario Lavandeira) has announced he plans to donate, to our organization, the proceeds of a lawsuit he is contesting over an altercation which has been widely reported in recent days.

We had no advance notice or contact from Mr. Hilton or his representatives regarding this proposal, nor any communication since he posted this plan to his website.

We do not know the details of the lawsuit, whether it has been filed, the nature of his claims or the likely outcome. But because the lawsuit presumably involves the physical attack prompted by Mr. Hilton's admitted use of an anti-gay slur, the Foundation will be unable to accept any funds obtained in such a manner.

We very much appreciate the generosity of the offer to support our continuing work to memorialize Matthew through activism in defense of sexual minorities and in favor of understanding, compassion, and acceptance. But because so much of our work involves education to reduce the use of hateful language against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, or those so perceived, it would be inappropriate for us to benefit financially from circumstances in which such a verbal attack was involved.

While we applaud Mr. Hilton's apology to the LGBT community and their loved ones for his use of such a slur, we also feel compelled to point out that use of epithets can often lead to physical violence, as it appears it may have in this case, and that the Matthew Shepard Foundation has worked for more than 10 years to bring to people's attention the consequences of hateful or intolerant language.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to announce Friday that she will not seek a second term, three sources tell CNN.

Palin has scheduled a 3 p.m. ET news conference at her home in Wasilla. The governor’s office offered no further details about the subject of the news conference, but the sources tell CNN that Palin will announce her decision to forgo another run.

"She thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward," one of the sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. "She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year."

As the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, Palin is considered one of the frontrunners for the GOP nomination in 2012. Her decision not to seek another term as governor is sure to stoke speculation that Palin is seriously eyeing a run for the White House.

I so cannot wait until Big Brother starts on Thursday!

There are very few people in the office today. It's a ghost town.

I'm sending Dina home early and then will take off around 1pm.