Ian Cahr and Friends Raise $10,000 for New Leash on Life!

Hey, this is Dove, posting from college! Great news! Our 6-year old friend, Ian Cahr, has just won a National Community Service Award from the American Humane Association for raising over $10,000 for New Leash on Life with Ian's Bead Company, which includes 30 of his friends who helped him! Great job, Ian and friends! Good luck and keep it up!

See the news at www.americanhumane.org!

Golden Corral Rocked Mother's Day!

Hello Everyone!
Falcon and Dove hope all the mothers of the world are honored all year long, especially on Mother's Day. Falcon took her mom to the Golden Corral-a wonderful buffet restaurant with choices that boggle the mind. Falcon's mom is not the easierst person to please, and is not the most patient, but Golden Corral was uber busy on Mother's Day and handled the crowd with no problem.

The really cool part is when it's really busy, they get you a table, so no scrambling or fighting for a seat. The salad bar is the Field of Dreams with lots of leafy choices and tons of fixings. But, let's get to the good part...the entrees! Yes, the sides include the best baked sweet potatoes of all time, baked potatoes, various veggies, macaroni and cheese and well...chicken galore, (in various forms) and STEAK!!!! Ok, that was the carnivore in me, but Angus steaks cooked the way you like...to order! On a buffet!!! Now, I know my brothers and sisters of the south have probably had Golden Corral for awhile, but we just got a few in Pittsburgh over the past couple of years, and they are wonderful! Clean, neat, and unpretentious, but never tacky. The food is always hot, home cookin' with extremely nice people from the door, the salad bar, the dessert table, until you depart. Everyone is warm and friendly, and that fact that they were that happy on Mother's Day is remarkable. They ran the restaurant like a well-oiled machine, and accolades are deserved all around.

Did I mention the desserts?! Leave room...the Hogwarts feast or Peter Pan table in Neverland would be jealous. Did I mention the price? Dinner for two, all you can eat for $25!!!!!

The best part...mom LOVED it! She couldn't stop talking about how much fun she had. I also think part of the fun was that everyone in line was so absolutely pleasant. No one complained, everyone was nice.

I have now been in Golden Corral restaurants from Monroeville, PA through North Carolina. I have had a genuinely great experience every time. I am very impressed with the chain, and I can't wait for Father's Day!

They say there will be steaks served all day...hehe.

Falcon and Dove say...we hope you had fun with your mom, whatever you did. Stay strong, mothers! You have the hardest, but greatest job in the world!

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Last minute ideas for Mother's Day

Hello Everyone!

Falcon here...offering some last minute ideas for gifts for Mom's special day. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Falcon, are these things that you would actually give, or things you want for Mother's Day?" The answer is: both! The grest news about these ideas are that they are very inexpensive to do, and will be well received by any mom with a pulse! Here we go...

Gift basket...made by you. Have you noticed how most gift baskets put together by companies have things in the basket you don't really want, but you just deal with it because it comes with the package? Well, the solution is: make your own! It's easy. Just get an empty basket at a thrift store (the bigger and sturdier, the better), and then fill it up with a theme: kitchen basket, fruit basket, spa theme, flowers and herbs, etc.

The Kitchen Basket is a piece of cake: get spices, utinsils, preserves, jellies, teas, coffee, chocolates, honey, pancake mix, berries, sea salts...whatever you know mom would like, put them together in a basket and wrap it with clear or colored plastic wrap. Done! You can make this basket as expensive or as inexpensive as you can afford.

Another basket along a similar line, but also great for gardners is the Herb Basket. Of course, this is a living basket. Go to your favorite greenhouse and for a few dollars get the most commonly desired herbs: sage, basil (there are many varieties), chives, borage, organo, dill, sweet margoram, parsley, (many kinds), lavender, etc. and put them in a basket or a planter basket. Get some good potting soil, carefully remove your herbs and place in the planter, surround and cover them with soil and water. That's it! It smells wonderful, and helps mom have great access to healthy herbs.

The Spa Basket should have pampering items: lavender, creams, sponges, lotions, and gift certificates or gift cards for places that mom can relax: a spa day (if affordable), movies, favorite restaurant, etc.

The Fruit Basket is obvious: just get a strong basket, go buy fruit (wash it) and arrange. Wrap and you're ready to go.

Okay, suppose you are really on a budget...here are a couple that are nearly free!

Get mom a journal so she can write all her special thoughts.

Go to a park for a secial Mother's Day walk. If you're involved with Race for the Cure, you already have a great way to spend time with your mom. If you are not, take mom on a special walk to your favorite place in the park. She will enjoy you sharing that with her, and she will never forget it.

Extreme Mom Home Makeover
Let's suppose that mom has a porch or patio that needs a little fix-up. Some chairs may need cleaned, or a table painted and spruced up...well, while mom is out at a church luncheon, you and your gang can do a quick fix, add a couple of flowers and make her spot beautiful. She will appreciate any effort, and it can be the beginning of a springtime project, or completed in an afternoon. Either way, mom will love it, I bet.

Picnic in the park-get your siblings together, make a cover dish, and take mom for lunch in the park. She won't have to cook, and she will love it. Remember to take pictures. If the weather is poor, take the cover dish to mom's house, so she doesn't have to cook, and have some fun. Are there more than one mom you need to honor on this special day? Make a special dish or dessert for each; they'll know that you're thinking about them, and how much they mean to you.

Have a great weekend, and to all the moms everywhere...have a happy, blessed mother's day!

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

2008 Summer Movie Season Begins! 10 we want to see...

Hello Everyone!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!

We hope that where ever you are, (including our Brothers and Sisters in those area recovering from weekend tornadoes and cyclones), that you are well and safe.

Remember to always have a disaster plan in place for you and your family, and to keep a kit ready with three days of medicines, supplies and water handy. Dove and I have one kit indoors and one outside in the vehicle. Don't forget supplies for your pets!

Well, it's time for the 2008 Summer Movie Season! There are a lot of films coming out...too many to review at once, but here are 10 we are looking forward to seeing:

The Dark Knight
Obviously, the new Batman film is on the minds of many, with Heath Ledger's new interpretation of The Joker. It looks very interesting, with a strong cast, including Christian Bale and Gary Oldman.

Hellboy II
This is Guillermo del Toro's sequel and it looks like a fine romp. Falcon liked the trailer and hopes that the film has as much substance as it has strong special effects.

The Incredible Hulk
We hope this film is good; the last Hulk film wasn't. The trailer was okay, but Bruce Banner can be a very difficult character to portray on screen, even if he did start in a comic book. We hope this one rocks. We are cautious.

Iron Man
Falcon likes Robert Downey, Jr. and he really makes this film special. The soundtrack is fantastic! Very difficult effects and some impossible angles to capture make this film better than I thought it would be. You have to like this kind of thing...it's summer, you know what kinds of movies we get in summer...bang, bang! Our sort-ot-hero does make a point though, as he changes his mind about weapons and war.

Indiana Jones and the Kindom of the Crystal Skull
Harrison Ford and Shia LeBoeuf...sounds good to me. I am concerned that like a previous Indiana Jones film (Temple of Doom critically lead to the PG-13 rating)that Central and South American Native peoples be treated with a bit more respect and not stereotype. It is repugnant that we still have to worry about the treatment of sacred cultures on film in this day and age, but Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest proves its never to late to be gross and xenophobic. So, we worry...

The Cronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
It you have read C.S. Lewis' series, then this film adaptation of the book should be one of your favorites in the series. Falcon is personally happy that they found a young man who looks just like the Prince Caspian she always envisioned when reading the books. Yum. As for the story, this is a hard one to get in a 2 hour block, so I hope the compression does it justice. There's so little you can talk about on this project without giving something away...so we won't.

Sex and the City
Hey, something that isn't fastasy or comic book adaptations! This should be a fun romp...same actors, and although the film Twin Peaks wasn't as good as the television series, this one should fare much better.

Sisterhood of the Trevelling Pants II
This should be a lovely departure for the summer months for those who want acting and a strong narrative from young women. Amerika Ferrera (Ugly Betty) is in this charming story again, and we hope that it will be just a wonderful for families as the first one. This is for tweens and older, not the extremely young ones.

Speed Racer
Very light fare with a good cast. John Goodman and Susan Sarandon...and some new bright fun faces we hope to see in the future. I liked Speed Racer the cartoon when I was a kid, and the movie looks like Tron meets Cars, so we will see how it goes. This should be appropriate for mosst audiences.

Star Trek
This is Star Trek, kind of the early years, including Pittsburgher Zack Quinto (Sylar on Heroes) as a young Mr. Spock. Falcon has ony seen a small teaser and looks forward to more. We hope this works.

Kennywood Park Opens May 3

Hello Everyone!
Well, it's almost Beltane, May Day..May 1! Time to celebrate! Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, too! So, let's have some fun!

Kennywood Park, one of the finest traditional amusement parks in the U.S. opens May 3 and if you get to the park this weekend, you will probably see the end of the spring blooms: crabapple, cherry, dogwoods, sand cherry, etc. This is the only time of year you can see the blooms, and rarely can you get in the park in any year and see them. This is really the first time in 11 years that the park will be open to the public and the blooms are showing off. Usually, it's just too cold and/or unpredictable weather-wise for them to open the park. This year is special, so go for it; temps will be in 70s this weekend.

For those of you not familiar with Kennywood Park, it is in West Mifflin, near Pittsburgh, PA. It has several outstanding roller-coasters, including one that coaster enthusiasts believe is the best wooden coaster ever...The Thunderbolt. Ride first, then eat. Oh, the food...The Potato Patch, rated the best fries in the country several times over the years. The carousel is one from dreams past, something you would imagine in a park over 100 years old. The lagoon has great paddle boats, and there is actually a Penny Arcade full of modern and nostalgic games. The landscaping is beautiful, full of blooms whose fragrances stir the soul.

Come out and have some fun! See the blooms! If you can't come this spring, come this summer or fall. There are fireworks nightly during Fall Fantasy in August, and special days like WTAE Day in July. You won't be disappointed, and your children will have a day or weekend that they will never forget.

Good ol' fashion fun rules!

Lorena Ochoa and Danica Patrick: Take a bow!

Hello Brothers and Sisters,
Falcon here, calling for a celebration! Two awesome champions deserve our attention and praise.

This week, Danica Patrick won at Twin Ring Motegi. Lorena Ochoa, who is now the number one player in women's golf won yet another tournament, this time the Ginn in Florida, to win four times in a row this year, including a major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship (which includes a dip in the lake with family members after getting the trophy).

These accomplishments have come from extremely hard work and dedication to their craft.

The IRL and the LPGA respectively should take advantage of the success of these incredible women and play it up and promote the tours.

If you don't know about these women in their fields and their community, check out their websites:
www.danicaracing.com
www.lorenaochoa.com

I Agree with the Judge: Settle 'Potter' case now

Hello Everyone!
This is Falcon, and I am going to have a small rant. There is a case in Manhattan right now in Federal court before U.S. District judge Robert Patterson, Jr. who is now asking the sides to come to a settlement out of court. Falcon says she agrees, noting that the judge was quoted by the AP as saying, "I think this case, with imagination, could be settled."

This is a case that has Harry Potter fans reeling. Some are supporting Jo Rowling in her quest to keep a hardcopy version of the website Harry Potter Lexicon from publishing in print form. Others see former middle-school librarian Steven Vander Ark's efforts as commentary and scholarly, and therefore, eligible to publish.

This is a slippery area, to be sure. I would like to look at some of the areas that may have been forgotten.

Many Harry Potter fans have been helped by Vander Ark's site. Even Jo Rowling herself has admitted to using the site for reference while in the process of composing some of her own works. That means that man is passionate, and has done a service to the popularity of the Harry Potter series success. He wasn't compensated for any of that research time; he did it for pure love of the series, and the desire to get more young people to read. Now, he wants to publish a book that probably should have more reference material and commentary than it now contains. In the interest of compromise, he should probably add additional commentary to the text. This would make the project more of a review and reference piece. Let the guy make a nickel.

Okay, what about Jo Rowling's plan to do her own reference text in a few years...it will make a mint like all her other work. Sorry, but it is completely ludicrous to believe that those buying Vander Ark's project wouldn't buy one written by the author years from now. Of course they would.

History has proven that fan generated texts have only increased popularity of the original, not hurt it. Look at Gene Roddenberry's 'Star Trek' and George Lucas' 'Star Wars'; there have been plenty of fan created books and materials, essays, and comics, and all have enhanced the fan experience and appreciation for the originals. Here is my next suggestion for compromise: Steven, give one of Jo Rowling's charities a portion of the sales of your version of the lexion! That way, the project will not be 'perceived' as taking anything away from charities that will benefit in the future from the author's encyclopedia when published.

Jo, Dove (Areya) loves you dearly, but I am a mom, as you are...so let's have a conversation, Mom to Mom.

Jo, although you are the author of the 'Harry Potter' books, you no longer 'own' it. You are its parent, but you did not 'raise' your son in a vacuum: you had many others whose contributions went into making what 'Harry Potter' became...a huge success. You did not 'pay for' or 'compensate' those contributors, yet their influence is very much present and obvious to those who have studied literature through the ages for many a year. Now, I don't expect you to compensate them; I expect you to honor them. The most honorable thing that you can do is to remember how you got to where you are.

Many, many people who were never on the payroll at Warner Brothers helped make this project a success. No one does it alone, and many did everything they did, spending lots and lots of their own money to make Harry Potter popular. One of them is a librarian named Steven Vander Ark.

If he is willing to go back and revise and add some additional commentary to the printed lexicon, and dedicate a portion of the profits to a charity that you name, can this lawsuit go away? You have had a great run of it, and Warner Brothers has more coming in the next few years with the films. This lexicon will not hurt you; and it may help you in ways you cannot yet expect.

I know...because I am a mom, too... that your deepest concern is for your charities to prosper, and I believe that this is a way to help keep that thought ever-present, without causing any permanent damage in reputation or image of anyone involved.

I remember another author of famous literature in the 20th Century who had a problem very similar to this one...J.R.R. Tolkien.

He decided before he passed away to allow a lot of projects to be done, mostly because he saw advantage in sharing more of his work with the world. He once said that the greatest compliment to his work was that people were so interested in seeing Middle-earth and its characters extended beyond the borders, and he delighted in the fact that someday, perhaps there would be little girls named Eowyn running around in future generations. He knew that he had not created the names or the places really, but 'listened carefully' to the dictation'.

He was a very spiritual man and realized that as an artist, whenever anyone shares something they created into being, that at the moment it is shared, it no longer belongs to you...it belongs to us all.

Try to let your child grow a little through someone else's eyes...they will not hurt them, and what they have to offer may end up being a very good thing, even if it doesn't seem like it right now.

It is a mother's...and an artist's curse: we love them, we raise them, and eventually, we must learn to let them go...graciously acknowledging that although we did most of the work to get them where they are today, we did not do it alone. We let them run, trusting that they will be fine in the hands of a world that loves them, maybe not the same way that we do, but loves them, nonetheless. Trust that all will be well; you have a strong child, and he will be just fine.

Peace,
Falcon (Stephanie)