Lion Love

Not just a highlight of 2012, but a remarkable experience of a lifetime. The crowning moment of our trip to South Africa and parts north.

This was taken at the Lion Encounter in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. It is an active conservation program for African lions.

Pictured here is a 17-month old male lion. Nearby is his sister. They play together just as kittens do, except that their paws are bigger than our heads!

Zippity Do Dah Zippity Day

My oh my what a wonderful day.
Plenty of sunshine heading my way.
Zippity Do Dah Zippity Day


Feeling a bit down today because the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge is over?
Here's some ways to add some Zippity Doo Dah to your day: http://www.divinecaroline.com/22189/100749-zippity-doo-dah-simple-ways
Need the full lyrics for this song:
Click here.
Need the story behind this famous Disney song? Click here.
Well, thank you to the The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge people. What a great idea. I have never blogged for 30 days straight and it's been a great exercise.

Youth Advocate

So one day I'm going about my business and the next I'm calling myself a Youth Advocate.
Why? Here's why:
As a young person you have needs but you do not have all the skills to get those needs met.
You just have not lived long enough.
I've been around the block a few times and am not afraid to speak up. I know how to use my words and who to speak to and how to pull in the resources I don't have.
I know how to write a proposal, find the information I need and where to go if I don't have what I need.
I can stand up to an adult who is trying to put me in the position of a child. No way I'm buying that.
So here I am advocating for young people who skateboard.
Skateboarding is not a crime, but the athletes who skateboard are treated like criminals and ticketed for practicing their sport.
I'm standing up for these kids. Draconian measures of punishing skaters with tickets is not the solution. We cannot just say no repeatedly to skaters. We must provide solutions such as a sanctioned space for skateboarding. People, be it young people or adults, will always find a way around a "no." 
I am for keeping kids out of harm's way and providing a safe place for them to recreate.
This is the responsibility of our cities, our neighborhoods and our neighbors.
It is all our responsibility to keep our kids safe.
Where do you stand on this?

X-GAMES

Is there a more thrilling sporting event than the Summer X-Games. 

I mean the winter games are cool too, but there is snow to cushion the falls. 

The Summer X-Games are a demonstration of defying gravity.

Sitting at the Orange County Fairgrounds, watching the "Vert" was thrilling. I know I was there watching the competitor literally flying though the air, but thinking about the level of risk and athleticism involvedin pulling it off, are mind boggling.

The second the winner pulled off a 900 degree (or something like that) the crowd stood and cheered. They knew that the winner had been chosen. In nearly one hour of doing the Vert, this guy had just nailed it.

I came to love this sport very late in life and now I'm hooked. It's so new, so fresh, so remarkable.

Something I would never contemplate trying, but completely embrace. Look for me this summer in the OC, I'll be right there watching the vert and more!

It's a nice day for a white wedding

"White Wedding" is a song by Billy Idol that appeared on his album Billy Idol (1982). 
This is the same year that my daughter Kara was born. Her white wedding in 2009 was one of the best days of my life, and I know, in her life. It was exactly what she wanted the day to be. The love shared by her and Nick, and all the love shared with their family and friends made it a joyous, memorable day. I never knew the wonder and joy she brought into my life was even possible. And now her amazing husband Nick is a part of that wonderment.
I am blessed.

V is for Valentines

Q for Quirky + V for Valentines = Fun.

Unbelievable

Unbelievable: the assortment of chochkiss that is dreamed up and manufactured and sold at chochkiss houses like Michaels. Really Wilton? Really? You thought that this 'humorous' wedding topper was going to be a big seller?