Inspiration

...
So, I'm back from a quick trip to Jax. Talk about timing. My sister in from Alaska, my brother there from Savannah... got to see my daughter Lauren... it was a great little family get together. (more on that in a moment) Only problem is the sky was falling back in Memphis at the time. One of the most unprecedented rainfall and severe weather events ever to happen was going on. Flooding like we've never seen before. Just incredible. And I was on the sidelines.

Before nodding off to sleep last night, I was watching one of my previously favorite shows. Extreme Home Make over... and in this family was a little girl that was so remarkable I'm surprised Hollywood hasn't scooped her up. In this picture, she is second from the left next to her brother.

The family, comprised of two incredibly loving parents who adopted FOUR children from Kazakhstan, all needing medical attention in some way. All the children were precious, don't get me wrong, but talk about a 7 year old who jumped off the screen with so much personality and love for life you almost didn't realize she had lost both of her legs at the knee and had only one hand. Didn't seem to bother her one bit, as if she was telling us, if it doesn't me, shouldn't bother you. I was happy that my fortunate children walked in to watch a few minutes of this, they stood in "awe" as to how "normal" Ryanne was even though she was missing 2 feet and a hand. She's into "surfing," you know like with a surfboard and the ocean? She did some surfing while on vacation (seen in the show) with Bethany Hamilton. Bethany is a world class surfer, who you may remember lost an arm to a shark attack a few years back, and also, has not let that stop her from being one of the best in her profession. It was great to see these two get together.

Camera's were rolling when the show brought video to the family (on vacation at the time while their house was being built) video of how some of Ryanne's older prosthetic limbs had been donated to children in Haiti, who had lost limbs in that recent devestating earthquake there. This brought attention to the need, and the teams of people that are down there helping out kids as we speak. There is a website you can check out, called "Limbs for Life" if you feel so inclined to learn more. Little Ryanne was moved to tears in seeing how she was able to help out others.

I've become critical of this show as of late because of the number of families that end up with bigger problems then they started with, because of being "in too deep" financially with their new home. This home is paid off, and now the Carr family can concentrate on raising these four incredible children. Here is hoping that this family continues to grow, prosper, and heal.

Ryanne Carr. Don't be surprised if you hear more about her in the future... she is, in my opinion an unstoppable force of nature.

Lauren, my 14 year old, who in an earlier blog, I called out for not reading it, shared with me she indeed "does" read this blog... which made me proud. She's so talented and beautiful and getting ready to go into one of the best "arts" school in Jax! What an incredible future ahead for her. She's learning piano right now... and I just couldn't be prouder.


It's the first time that "ALL" of the kids have been together to see "Mom and Dad" since I don't know when. With Brenda living in Alaska, coordination to get us all together has been tough, so even though I missed the "rain event of the century" here in the Mid-South, I was able to be part of making my folks very happy. That is my "Tom Selleck" look alike brother Owen from the Savannah, GA area.

Okay... that's all for now. Be well. Be inspired. Be Happy.

Discovery home

...
Shuttle Discovery flew over the Mid-South this morning on its way home to the KSC.

Some heard some muffled "sonic booms" but most did not, and even though we looked, we did not see it on this picture perfect clear day. Then again it was likely at about 400 thousand feet when it went over. Only 3 shuttle missions left now. Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery round out the final trips to the ISS. Then what's going to happen, is still anyone's guess.

Another round of nasty weather is due into the region late this week into the weekend. That's never any fun.



Heading down to Jacksonville at the end of the month, my sister Brenda is in from Alaska to visit family and attend a wedding. She trains animals, mostly dogs, but lately, she has been working with a falcon.

Still working on my "secret project" proto-type still in production.


Powerball lottery is up to like 252 million. That's a "Quarter-Billion" dollars. So, do you take the cash pay out? Which is like half, or do you go for the 20 annual payments. I'd go payments, til I can figure out how to make sure I can secure the kids futures, without them having to take another 50% death tax penalty. How crazy is that?

Officially with WREG TV 3 for 24 years now. Amazing. I'll be 48 next month, and will be celebrating 30 years of Radio/Television. It all started in Jax, then Orlando, and now here, in Memphis. Guess I'm doing something right! Knock on wood!

Time to step outside and soak up some sun, and feel a cool breeze. I know they won't last long this time of year, so you have to get out and enjoy them while you can.

Extreme Home Makeover, Foreclosure Edition

...
So, I've always enjoyed the show "Extreme Home Makeover." It was a fun, feel good show. I guess it still is, but I'm hopeful that after all these years, they've finally learned something. The houses they have been building are simply "too much" for the families. Many losing them to foreclosure or sale.

While the show is on Sunday nights on (another network,) I often catch the re-runs on CMT, like I just got through doing minutes ago, watching the Kirkwood family. Their daughter Jael begged and pleaded for the crew to come and get them out of their "mold-infested" home that had chased the family to a hotel. They came, they sent the family to Disney world, they worked hundreds of people to near exhaustion in the rain to give them what looks like a really really nice house.

Go ahead, take a look.

I've gotten into the habit of "checking out" how the family is doing by going to the web and snooping around. The last time I did this, a young girl with a rare blood disease was selling bracelets to help fund medical research. See, since these are re-runs, these shows are 4 or 5 years old, and it gives me a chance to see how their stories have played out, long after the carpenters have left the area. The girl with the medical problems, their house sold in foreclosure just months ago.

The "Kirkwood Family"... well, the last I could find was Oct 2008. The house was done in 2005, so in the 3 short years since they handed them the keys, and PAYED OFF their mortgage, the house is up for sale, down from the 650K asking price to 550K. I wonder if they ever sold it, share with me a link if you find something new.

Tears flowed, thank you thank... guess what. Divorce. Washington law says they have to split the property. So here is this little girl, who wrote a book, had Disney illustrate it for her, and now, she gets to pack up and move from her fairy tale ending. Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad, for sucking it up and showing some real concern for your family.

Dawne also told the newspaper that because of 'back property taxes, money owed to lawyers, and life's expenses, selling the home has become their only option.' Dawne currently shares the home with her five children. Her ex-husband has since moved to Tennessee. (2008)

How does that happen after someone comes in a "pays off your mortgage?" What happened to "living within your means?" You get this incredible gift and then go and, well, you know. Many of these "paid off mortgage" homes, get re-financed to the breaking point, and then it's over. All with in a matter of years. Just sad.

Apparently, this has happened too much, I have notice on recent shows talk of a "5-years worth" of financial planning that goes along with the home. I sure hope so.

I think we all want to believe that they live "happily ever after" in their new home. Otherwise, instead of crying along with the family in the last 15-20 minutes of the show, we'll now ask: "So, how long do you think they'll be able to hold on to it?"