That may explain why Ted Murphy sent out some really great Postie Packs that are like a St. Patrick’s Party-in-a box. And what fun! My granddaughter saw me opening the box this morning and insisted on getting all decked out. Since she’s the one with Irish running through her veins, I thought it only right that she wear the all the trinkets. Kendyll was so excited to pose that she actually took the binky from her mouth when she saw the camera. That doesn’t happen often, as is evidenced by most of the pictures I’ve posted here.

It’s a little too cold here yet to go outside to blow the Blarney Bubbles so I put those away for later. Kendyll’s favorite part of the Party Box, though, was the shamrock beach ball. Here she is throwing the ball, which kept her busy for hours. In fact, she’s still playing with her new ball. Thanks, Ted!

I just checked online and found that the show is March 28. I’m not sure why it’s so late this year but I don’t care, either. I’m just glad I still have a chance to attend. My kids like the different foods and promotional products that the various companies give out; I’m anxious to see all my friends.

And then in July of 2007, I reminded all of you again about this ultimate internet reality show and even provided a their 20th episode for all of you to see. Imagine that! When critics claimed the RockStartUp.com site wouldn’t last, did they even imagine it would hit 20 episodes?

Okay, well how about 43 episodes? Because that’s how many there are now. In fact, Episode 43 chronicles the first leg of the Blog America Tour featuring several Posties and a couple of real cute Postie kids.

Just between us, one of the things I love about Izea, parent company of PayPerPost, is the way they engage their Posties (an affectionate term for the bloggers who work with PayPerPost) in every aspect of the business. While developing the all new PayPerPost marketplace, codenamed Argus, Ted put out a call to Posties everywhere, inviting them to be part of a focus group at the company’s offices in Florida. And once again, all was documented on video for the world to see.

This episode of RockStartUp is number 41. Watch it carefully and see if you can pick out the Posties!

I didn’t go last year because I didn’t want to run into those still left at my old workplace. I don’t have to worry about that this year since the company has been sold. That means that the kids and I can make a day of it, walking around from booth to booth, collecting our imprinted promotional products and visiting with some old friends.

I’m really looking forward to it this year because I think I’ll bring Kendyll with me. My friends at the Chamber of Commerce haven’t even seen her before. Let’s just hope the weather is clear that weekend.

Sarah is super talented, which you can see by watching her video. After you watch, how about giving this small town girl with a big voice your vote? Just head on over to the Maury talent search site and vote for Sarah.

The problem is that when I do watch TV, I don’t want to spend more time than I need in order to see a show. Commercials, while helping to pay for the cost of the show, drive me crazy! It’s just such a waste of time to sit through the same advertisements over and over again. I could be loading the dishwasher or throwing a load of clothes in the wash. So I do that, and then forget to come back to the TV until the show I was watching is over. That’s why I never see the end of most shows.

Sigh.

I realize that some ads are very entertaining like Geico gecko. Love that little guy! Others serve to inform and help, like those dealing with mesothelioma or other serious injuries or disease related announcements. Most of the ads, though, are simply annoying.

Just another reason to love the internet. No one can force me to read ads online.

Now, rather than uploading a video to one of the popular video sites and falling into the abyss of the Ignored Videos, you can join a website that allows you to upload your creations to specific categories and have other members vote on them. I know, what’s new about that? Well, what’s new is that the winning videos, meaning those that generate the most positive votes, will be featured on a weekly TV show!!! That’s right, at YawpBox, instead of just uploading your video and hoping someone enjoys it, you can upload and get your friends and family to vote on it and maybe even see it appear on a brand new TV show, YawpBoxTV with Lex and Terry.

Each week Lex and Terry will offer up the videos of ordinary people doing funny, touching or unexpected things, all voted on by the members of the site. I think this is the first TV show built totally around user generated content. I smell history in the making here!

Oh, and before I forget, once you get your family and friends to sign up you can all hang out and play some really cool games together. This is gearing up to be one of the best social networking sites out there. It’s all about entertainment – and we all love to be entertained, right?

Just take a look at the topics and you’ll see why this site and show is bound to be a hit. I loved the “Think You’re A Celebrity Twin” entries! I know there are loads of reality tv shows and frankly, I’m sick of them. But this looks like it’s going to be great fun and offer up some really good content because we get to choose what we like best. My all time favorite reality TV show was from decades ago: Candid Camera. (You young kids may not remember that.) It was a hit because it was all about regular people, not those who auditioned for casting directors. YawpBox has throwback elements of Candid Camera – real people becoming stars for 15 minutes of fame – with an updated slant – real people creating the content and uploading to the internet.

Looks like the best of the two worlds, the past and the present, are colliding to create a future hit!

Last night Nick took Kendyll to the mall so we took advantage of that and decided to watch 3:10 to Yuma. We pushed the loveseats and chairs around in a sort of theater seating set-up and kicked back for what is touted as “the best western since Unforgiven.”

I’m no movie critic; my likes and dislikes seldom mesh with people in the know. I enjoy westerns and loved Unforgiven but my husband is the real western fan. I doubt there’s a western he hasn’t seen. And so.

I liked it, though it isn’t as good as Unforgiven. I think I really liked Russell Crowe, which made the whole film worth watching. Christopher Bales kept making me think of a young James Brolin while Ben Foster totally creeped me out in a really good way.

My husband, on the other hand, did not like the movie. He said it was nowhere as good as Unforgiven and he’d have been happy to just not see it. He got tired waiting for the action. My husband isn’t necessarily a blood and gore kind of guy in movies but he does like action and this one didn’t measure up for him.

It’s only fair to say that the kids liked 3:10 to Yuma as much as I did. They’ve not seen many westerns, though, so I guess they don’t have the same perspective as their dad.

Now I’m wondering if anyone out there has watched the original made in 1957 with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. If so, and you’ve seen this latest release, how do they compare? Anyone?

TMZ has posted pictures of Jacko’s face covered with bandages. Pictures of his kids are there, too, but they look normal. So far. Why does he still have those children? And where is his REAL face?

I just read that the family that has owned Kennywood Park in West Miflin, PA near Pittsburgh for over 100 years has sold the park as well as its other amusement park holdings. Harry Henniger, a direct descendent of one of the original owners, F A Henniger, announced that Parques Reunidos, based in Madrid, Spain has purchased the park holdings of Kennywood Entertainment. Apparently, Henniger and family are comfortable with Parques Reunidos and their plans for the future of Kennywood.

“The Kennywood experience—as visitors have come to love and expect—will continue. Nothing will seem different, even to the folks working at the parks. Existing management and staff will remain in place,” said Harry Henninger, Chairman of Kennywood Entertainment. “In recent years, we’ve had talks with other operators wishing to acquire us, but Parques Reunidos is the first one to share our vision and philosophy.”

Maybe I’m overreacting. It’s just that Kennywood is a tradition. It’s special. It’s this wonderful amusement park nestled in the valley where people are encouraged to bring picnic baskets rather than buy overpriced food. It’s where every single school kid in the Pittsburgh area, including those in surrounding West Virginia and Ohio, visits on class trips at the end of the school year.

There is something both exciting and comforting about Kennywood. It isn’t “someone else’s” park; it’s ours. By the time a kid is 10, he knows the lay of Kennywood as well as he knows his own neighborhood. Yet, there’s always a few new rides side by side with the old favorites. This past summer I rode through Garfield’s Nightmare with Kendyll; 33 years ago I rode through with a boyfriend but it was called the Old Mill then. Think Tunnel of Love.

Kennywood isn’t as famous as Disney; it isn’t as flashy as a Vegas hotel or the neon signs of Broadway. Kennywood park is a family tradition where the “family” is anyone who grew up within 70 or so miles from the park. Let’s just hope that in 30 years, my granddaughter is able to share the magic of Kennywood Park with her children, and they with theirs. Anything less would be tragic.