Quote of the day...

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"I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable ... but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing."
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- Agatha Christie

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Dang...

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Well said... click here
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How happy are you?
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Hero

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- by Nickelback (click here)

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I am so high. I can hear heaven.
I am so high. I can hear heaven.
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Woah, wherever,
No heaven
Don't hear me.
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And they say that a hero could save us,
I'm not gonna stand here and wait,
I'll hold to the wings of the eagles,
Watch as we all fly away.
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Someone told me love would all save us,
But how can that be,
Look what love gave us,
World full of killing,
And blood-spilling, that world never came.
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And they say that a hero could save us,
I'm not gonna stand here and wait,
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles,
Watch as we all fly away.
Aaaaa...
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Now that the world isn't ending,
It's love that I'm sending to you,
It isn't the love of the hero,
And that's why I fear it won't do.
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And they say that a hero could save us,
I'm not gonna stand here and wait,
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles,
Watch as we all fly away.
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And they're watching us, (watching us)
They're watching us, (watching us)
As we all fly away,
And they're watching us, (watching us)
And they're watching us, (watching us)
As we all fly away (yeah)
Yeah,
And they're watching us (watching us)
And they´re watching us (watching us)
As we all fly awayyy,
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The benefits are there waiting for you...

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As always, my favorite web site has reinforced, once again, the need for physical activity in everyone's life.
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Click Here
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Nothing Else Matters

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Done by Bif Naked (click here)
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So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters
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Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters
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Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters
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never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know
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So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters
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never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know
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Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
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Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us, something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters
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never cared for what they say
never cared for games they play
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
and I know
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So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters
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-Metallica

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Eye Candy...

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For someone like me, click here or here for eye candy!!!
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I love the idea and how easy it would be to incorporate it into daily use. And the benifits are pretty cool, too. Imagine losing 30-50 lbs by just this one easy change. But, you have to want it...change, that is.
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OMG...Momma Phelps

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As I watch the Olympics and Michael Phelps raise up to his mom and sisters, I can only feel the prida a mother feels when her child takes a moment to share "life" with family. How cool was that?!!! She raised him right!!! God Bless You, Mama Phelps!!!
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How much does your health matter to you?

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You can do it. (click the previous statement)
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Just don't ever stop. Make time, make a commitment to yourself for the rest of your life.
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Music Videos

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You tube is a source of inspiration for flashbacks.
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Click Edison Lighthouse
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Where were you when this was popular?
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The World as 100 people

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If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look like this...
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• 57 Asians
• 27 Europeans
• 14 from the Western hemisphere (north & south)
• 8 Africans
• 52 would be female
• 48 would be male (go figure!)
• 70 would be non-white, 30 white
• 70 would be non-Christain, 30 would be Christian
• 89 would be heterosexual, 11 would be homosexual
• 59% of the world's wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people and all 6 would be citizens of the U.S.
• 80 would live in substandard housing
• 70 would be unable to read
• 50 would suffer from malnutrition
• One would be near death, one would be near birth
• Only one would have a college education
• Only one would have a computer

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for both acceptance and understanding becomes glaringly apparent.

The above was taken from a local realtor's solicitation sent to our home. The original work came from Donella H. Meadows who published the original 'State of the Village Report' in 1990. It took the current world statistics and reproduced them as they would appear in a village of just 100 people. The village of 100 people reflects all the variations of the real world, but in values we can understand. Google "State of the Village Report" to see even more in depth statistics about these 100 people.

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Altered Arts Magazine

Altered Arts Magazine - ATC recycled tutorial

Incomplete

One day I'll find relief

I'll be arrived

And I'll be friend to my friends who know how to be friends

One day I'll be at peace

I'll be married with children and maybe adopt

One day I will be healed

I will gather my wounds forge the end of tragic comedy

I have been running so sweaty my whole life

Urgent for a finish line

And I have been missing the rapture this whole time of being forever incomplete

One day my mind will retreat

And I'll know God

And I'll be constantly one with her night dusk and day

One day I'll be secure

Like the women I see on their thirtieth anniversaries

I have been running so sweaty my whole life

Urgent for a finish line

And I have been missing the rapture this whole time of being forever incomplete

Ever unfolding

Ever expanding

Ever adventurous

And torturous

And never done

One day I will speak freely

I'll be less afraid

And measured outside of my poems and lyrics and art

One day I will be faith-filled

I'll be trusting and spacious authentic and grounded and home

I have been running so sweaty my whole life

Urgent for a finish line

And I have been missing the rapture this whole time of being forever incomplete

- Alanis Morissette

Plants - Third one

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This is the third plant I own. It is called Orange Jessamine or Murraya Paniculata. It has a fragrant jasmine like scent when in bloom. I just had over 100 blooms in the last month. You can smell them as you walk by the plant without bending over! It is a favorite of mine for that reason.

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Site #1

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Site #2

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Site #3

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New Do's...

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I took before and after pictures of the boys with their new haircuts for summer. Karl just got his usual "trim" but KJ went all out and had his head shaved...
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KJ couldn't be talked out of cutting it by the haristylist! She loved his hair before!!! She said she doesn't say that to other boys but his hair was so soft and thick and straight. I think it hurt her more than him to cut it! LOL

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A Place To Bark has the best quotes...

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"How beautiful the day, when a kindness touches it"
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-George Elliston

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Plants...Second One

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This plant known as the Snow Bush, Hawaiian-Leaf Flower, Sweet Pea Bush or Calico Plant is from the genus Breynia which was named after the great German botanist John Breyne.

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I received a few clippings of this plant from a fellow garden club person and planted it in the backyard in the corner where I have planted several differents types of botanicals. This one is thriving and I enjoy going out to see its beautiful red/pink leaves and stems. It grows through under ground runners and I was told it can be "weed-like" in its quickness to multiply. I'm all for that! Keep inmind that the family of which this plants comes from has a very poisonous milky white sap. Do not get it in your eyes! Always wear gloves when handling this plant.

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#1 Site

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#2 Site

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Earth Trivia

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Our family has recently started going to Bennigan's on University on Thursday nights for Trivia night. We eat dinner late...9 pm...but enjoy it while playing three rounds of trivia. Last night we came in second place!!! Woo-hoo!!! That's the best results we've had so far. We came in 3rd when trivia started back in March. We won a $15 gift cert. last night!
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It's fun and everyone gives their take on the answers. Some things we are absolutely sure on, while others are a complete crap shoot! It's really a good time for our family.
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Plants...First One

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My first plant to display is the China Doll which I purchased from Lowe's 2 years ago. It was a small 3" potted plant which has been replanted three times now. It is doing well and I love the new growth!
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Here are some sites to find out about this gorgeous plant:

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#1 site

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#2 site

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#3 site

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Uh...avant garde?!!!

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I haven't figured out the fine art of editing the picture background but this is the best for now...I put the letters on the recycled bowl I made and it turned out pretty good. I need to solder the jump rings so the letters won't come off but otherwise, it is done. I think I might go to the community college and take a class in Photo Shop!
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A laughable yet interesting thing to think about...

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From a forum which I clicked on after googling "Toenail fungus" which I have on my two great toes...
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I had problems with cracked, caloused soles and toenail fungus. I had medicine
but it did not go very far....one of the items in the medicine was Urea which I
believe is a by-product of urine.
SO..........I started soaking my feet in
my own urine and WOW!, IT CLEARED UP THE CALOUS, THICK SOLES AND THE TOE NAIL
FUNGUS.

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HAHAHA!!! (I wonder if it works!!!)

Mother's Day 2008 (busy weekend!)

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We ate at the Hard Rock Hotel restaurant called "The Kitchen" down by Universal Studios Orlando. Very good brunch!
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Prom 2008

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I glued Swarovski crystals on the brown ribbon of Teagan's corsage.

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Finished for my brother...

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I finished the bowl I made the other night. I added some Mickey Mouse punches to it. I also made a smaller version which looks more like a cup. I will put some gel pens in there and give both to my brother.
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I made a third one today but I haven't finished it yet. It has an added embellishment that is also recycled! I will take pictures when I am through.

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Self-explanatory...Today is Earth Day

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Here is a recycled project I did tonight while talking to my brother. I found a blog with this bowl made from a magazine and I thought...hmmm, I have just the zine to use. So, I went to work with the glue gun and made a neat bowl for my brother to take to work filled with candy for his workmates. Since he works at Disney, I think I might add some Mickey Mouse punches for around the top. We'll see. I'll upload another pic if I add them.
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Here is the blog that was the inspiration for this project/gift...
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Click here

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From my mother-in-law...

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All I can say about this powerful lesson is to have everyone you know listen to it, have Kleenex ready and get something, if not everything out of it...
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The Last Lecture
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Thought for the Day

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"You cannot do a kindness too soon..
For you never know how soon it will be too late"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Sixth set of Relay pics....

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The HHS ROTC Color Guard

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Survivors walking into the seating area after the dinner that they enjoyed...prepared by the Oviedo Women's Club.
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My brother and Jackie releasing their butterflies. Every survivor got one at the dinner and they were told when to release them.

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Living in the moment. Taking it all in...

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Fifth set of Relay pics...

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This is Zach Majka. He was the honorary chairperson of the Oviedo Relay event. He is holding the torch that went around the track the entire 18 hours of the Relay and was passed around each lap. He has survived cancer 3 times. What a trouper!!! His mom is following behind him. She, too, is a cancer survivor as is her mother, Zach's grandmother!
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This is Zach breaking the banner (which says "Celebrate") to start the survivor lap. Both the OHS Lion mascot and the HHS Huskie mascot were pulling the banner. If you look carefully, you can see the HHS drumline in front of the banner. They led the way for the march/walk/relay against cancer.
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On the survivor lap...my brother and my friend Jackie.

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Here they are coming up on the last curve of the lap. They look like true survivors...warriors for the rest!

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These gentlemen were holding up the rear. They had the Relay banner and everyone else joined in the walking behind them.

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Fourth set of Relay pics...

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Here we are walking the second lap...only the survivors walk the first lap. By his look, my brother took this very seriously. It was raining from the time the survivors came out from their nice dinner. It wasn't a hard rain and we walked on grass but it was really crowded for a while. There were a lot of people there.
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This pic is after our laps (we did two). Kent was taking the pics so he isn't in any but It was still a family affair!
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This is my friend Jackie with me. She walked the survivor lap with my brother.

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Another picture of my brother, sister and I along with my sister's husband and my son, KJ. He doesn't look happy but he is inside. (He's 15!)

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The luminaries that they set up for the 9 pm lighting. It was really nice. The rain slowed down enough for the candles to stay lit through the ceremony.

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Third set of pics

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Walking a lap around 11:00 pm. Kent stopped by after dinner to bring me some "stuff" to finish out the night and to drop KJ off. He snapped some pictures while he was with me. You can see that the lighting was really good. And the rain had stopped for a little while. It started back up after he left but stopped for good around 1 am.
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The torch was passed to me while Kent was walking with me. A cool experience. It went around the track all night long. I carried it twice. (I was wearing Kent's jacket while he was with me as he got hot and I was cold.)
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Kent got a glimpse of a teammate folding up one of the tents. It was near the end...I think around 10:30 am. I was still walking!!!

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I walked with many different people during the hours I walked. This was Mitch (Mitchell Wade Salons). What a nice guy! We had a very nice chat. His booth had Mardi Gras as their holiday, hence the beads he was wearing.

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Karl came with Kent to carry a few things back home (via car) that were needed for the team booth. I think he was proud of me. (At least, I hope he was.) I was tired!!!

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Second set of Relay pics

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A sign in front of the high school where the Relay For Life in Oviedo was held. It was put up a couple of weeks before the event so people could see it as they passed by on Lockwood Blvd.
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These cups were placed in the fence for all to see prior to the event. There's an arrow on the far right leading to the entrance where people turn in to park.
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Paint The Town Purple was an incentive for local businesses to get involved. For every $100 donation to the American Cancer Society, the business received a large purple ribbon to place on their door (or in some prominent spot). There were many throughout Oviedo.
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This was how my first pair of shoes looked after the walk. I wore three pairs altogether but these were worn the most hours. They were my old running shoes from back in the day (I believe it was a Wednesday!) when I could run in races. Now, my shin splints remind me of my age and limitations. The other two things are tally marks on the sleeve of my t-shirt to keep track of all the laps. I know I missed a few as I got distracted talking to new friends. The three markers were used - one for each hundred laps.

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A close up of my shoes. They were very good to me especially in the rain. My feet stayed dry the entire time it rained and even afterwards as the grass was drying off. New Balance are awesome!!!

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Relay For Life Pics

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Here is the booth that the team created. Our team is "The Broken Chain Gang". Each team was to pick a holiday and theme the booth around that. Ours was Memorial Day and we were very patriotic.
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The raffle area was on the side of the booth. You bought tickets and put your ticket into the bags. Winners were called the next day just before noon.
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Another view of the tent. Notice all the red, white and blue.

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My brother and my friend Jackie coming into the Survivor seating area for the opening ceremony.

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The HHS drumline marching in with their signature cadence (my younger son is the first base drum).

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