November 22nd, 2006

Roar of the Crowd - Los Angeles
By Jim McCarthy

You're still here?

In the office, I mean. This is ditch-day-USA, people! Anybody still in the office after 1 or 2 should be assumed to have plans to Xerox their various body parts once everyone else leaves. If you don't want your co-workers mentally putting you in that creepy category, you better get your grocery list together and hit the streets!

But before you do, I want to call your attention to something other than either the prospect of that dude from accounts payable sitting on the copy machine or the long line at Honeybaked Ham for the 2 gallon Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. Which are good.

Instead, I want to ask you to support an organization in Pasadena called Union Station, which plans to feed a few thousand homeless and impoverished people on Thursday. For the third year, Goldstar Events is working with Union Station to give its members an easy way to do something to support a great organization without leaving your desk.

Just go to our website and buy a full Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 5 for just $10. If you're so inclined, buy a whole lot of them. This is one of the very biggest Thanksgiving dinners in Southern California, so the help is really appreciated.

So before you shut down your email and web browser, take two more minutes to do a simple thing that's going to have a big impact on someone else's holiday!

Then leave. Your boss already snuck out five minutes ago.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Jim McCarthy
CEO, Goldstar Events

Sheesh, I haven't been here in awhile.  It's amazing how when you go to work, they actually expect you to work. LOL  It's been a busy week, but I'm so looking forward to the 4 day holiday.  Tomorrow, we are going to my mom's for a scrumptious turkey dinner.  On Friday, I need to take Lobo to the vet to get his stitch (stitches?) removed from his neutering operation.  We really have no other plans than to unpack our Christmas decorations!  I can't wait!!  Oh, and maybe we'll start making some cookies.

I wish you and yours a wonderful weekend!

This is from this past summer.  We went to visit my sister's friend and they have a cool little water park in their complex. 

Today is my mom's birthday (also my sister's, but we'll concentrate on my mom for now ), so I think she is the obvious choice for my Thankful Thursday.  She was a SAHM as long as I can remember -- raising 4 of us.  (I can't even imagine.)  I'm her eldest, so that means I'm her favorite, haha.  Just kidding, siblings!  She has an 8th grade education, but loved school and especially history.  She's a Texas gal, so one of her favorite sayings is: "Texas is bigger than the whole United States!"  Gotta love those Texans.  She quit school, because she had to go to work to help earn money for her family.  She has 9 brothers and sisters.  All, but one, are still with us.  She is super, super, super close to her sisters and they have actually rediscovered their bond again in the last 10 years.  These ladies are growing old gracefully together!  My mom instilled a love of education in us.  She didn't require us to do chores as long as our homework was done.  She never made judgements on our interests or hobbies.  Can you imagine she didn't bat an eye as I dragged my little brother and sister to stand in line for Star Wars on Hollywood Blvd?  She even had my dad drive us!  She was not one to be demonstrative with physical affection until we had grown up, but we always felt wanted and nourished.  While other kids couldn't wait to move out ot their parents' homes, I waited till I was 30 and my sisters are still there!  Today, she is 72 and still going strong.  She volunteers at her Church and takes my dad to his various appointments.  Mom, thank you!  I love you!!