Darth Vader

A statue and a little bit of snow may make things look like something they're not.  In a small town in Poland stands a statue of the town's founder.  After the snowfall, it took on the look of Darth Vader.  dark side

perfect bedroom

A dad gave his daughter the perfect bedroom.  It took him 18 months and over $4200 but he says that it was worth it.  He did most of the work himself.  

His daughter even

has a tree in which she can sit and climb.  Fairy Forest bedroom

Dogs places 7th

Ludivine is a 2 1/2 year old bloodhound that decided to run a half marathon.  She got out of her house the night before the race but her owner wasn't worried because they live on a farm and just thought she was out sniffing around.  The next day at the marathon, Ludivine's owner didn't know she was there.  The dog ran the race and finished 7th.  Because of this organizers of the half marathon have renamed it Elkmont's Hound Dog Half.  dog wins medal

Steven Tyler

Amateur weather man Steven Tyler made his debut on CNN over the weekend.  He and his daughter Mia were out walking during the snow storm in New York when they happened on a reporter from CNN.  The lead singer from Aerosmith chatted for a while about the weather, how he probably will be stuck in New York for a while, said hi to his family, and added that he will be on Howard Stern Monday night.  out in the cold

White House

Want to live in a replica of the White House?  There's one for sale in Texas.  The outside of the house looks very similar to the White House complete with columns, second floor deck, and windows.  The interior is where the similarities end.  Inside it has four bedrooms and nine bathrooms.  It can all be yours for $19.5 million. 
new home 

Star Wars

The next movie in the franchise was set to be out in May of 2017 but it's been pushed back to a December release date.  There are speculations about why but nothing definite from the Disney

studios yet.  

But this means that we all have to wait even longer to see the next epic movie in the series.  That's going to be hard for me to do.  I guess I'll just have to go see "A Force Awakens" again.  Star Wars VIII

Cher

Cher has stepped up and is helping with the water crisis in Flint, MI.  She has purchased 180,000 bottles of Icelandic Glacial water to donate.  The company matched her donation.  bottled water

gofundme

A woman set up a gofundme account because she spent all her money on lottery tickets in the hopes that she would be the $1.5 billion winner.  That didn't happen so she thought complete strangers would help her out.  That didn't happen either...the site removed her plea for money.  Here's a thought...don't spend money you can't afford to lose.  lottery loss

Chipotle closing

For all the Chipotle lovers, the restaurant chain is closing.  But don't get too upset, it's only for one day and it's for a good reason.  They're going to have meetings so they can take care of the E. Coli issue permanently.  It will be on February 8.  restaurant closing

big lottery oops

Workers at a New York restaurant were so excited as they watched the numbers being drawn for Saturday night's lottery.  They screamed as each number was drawn that matched theirs.  When they hit the power ball, they cheered and screamed at their good fortune.  One even threw his apron on the floor and quit his job.  Unfortunately, the numbers were for Wednesday's drawing.  No word if everyone got to keep their jobs or not.  not a winner

suicidal deer

I have said this many times...there are suicidal deer out there.  Now a town in Illinois has put up a sign agreeing with me.  Paxton, IL is a small town south of Chicago.  My family has spent many fun filled days there going to pedal tractor pulls back when my youngest was a local, state, national, and international champion.  He had to retire when he was 13 but that gave us many years to travel to Paxton.  The sign was installed recently by the Ford County Highway department.  So far in 2016, no deer have achieved their goal.  clever sign

Eagles Cancer Telethon

I remember the first time my youngest son competed in a singing competition. He was just a youngster but everyone who heard him knew he had an amazing voice. It was the Winona County Fair in St. Charles. I entered him into the kids' category and he would be singing a song called "Battle Hymn of Love." It was a duet but he was confident that he could do it all by himself. They started the music and he ran off stage. I convinced him to come back but as the music started again, he ran off stage crying. I knew if I didn't get him back on stage right away that he may never have the courage to sing again in front of people. So after calming him down, I went to the judges and asked if they could move him out of the kids' category and put him in the open category and I would sing with him. It was a duet anyway and the female was supposed to sing first. We did a great job and took third place...the open category is a tough competition. We won $10 which I let him keep. He has since amazed audiences all over the area.

Forward to present time...we will both be singing at the Eagles Cancer Telethon January 17 at the Rochester Civic Center. We have been given three sets and possibly a fourth. Our first starts at about 12:30am on Sunday morning. I'm not really sure how soon after or when the other sets will be. But for all the night owls, it will stream live on eaglescancertelethon.org and be broadcast on KTTC (channel 10 on Charter). I just hope I can sing well enough to match my son's beautiful voice.

This year means more to me than all the other years we've sung on this show. My recent surgery and the fact that I'm still alive and able to sing is a blessing. 

Alaskan Bush People

Two of the stars from the reality tv show have been sentenced to 30 days in jail for defrauding the State of Alaska.  They falsified information on their oil dividend forms.  This means the jail time plus they'll have to pay back to the state the illegally gotten funds.  Then they will never be able to claim the money again.  When are reality tv stars going to realize that their lives are an open book and it will be discovered that they did something wrong?  Billy and Bam Bam Brown

Bowie

A great talent has joined the band in heaven.  Must be time to watch Labyrinth.  RIP David Bowie

hero dog

Two dogs in Maine were out for a walk on their own when one of them fell through thin ice.  If it hadn't been for her companion, she would've drowned.  Mishka was barking and in distress after slipping into the freezing water.  Senga was not about to lose her sister so she went looking for help.  She got the attention of a neighbor who realized that the dog needed help.  After discovering Mishka, help was called.  She was rescued thanks to the help of Senga and a quick thinking neighbor.  home safe

dog bear

"Bounce" has become famous for looking like a bear.  His pictures have shown up on the internet with people debating whether it's a dog or a bear.  Bounce remains unchanged by his fame.  His owner says that he still sleeps a lot and doesn't bark...just like a bear.  Bounce

R2-D2

Want R2-D2 wandering around your house?  What Star Wars fan wouldn't want that?  Well, for $8,000 it can happen.  And not only will the droid be mobile, he also holds 6 beverage cans.  Now you can sit on the couch and have R2 bring you your beer.  It's a dream come true.  R2-D2 fridge

Hawaii

On January 1, Hawaii became the first state to raise the smoking age to 21.  The first offense will cost $10 and second will be $50.  The fines for retailers is substantially higher for selling to minors.  E-cigarettes are also included in the new law and can't be used wherever tobacco products are prohibited.  Hawaii is typically ranked at the top for healthiest state so it's not surprising that they are the first to raise the smoking age.  Hopefully more states will follow.  no smoking under 21

Trouble for "soft kitty"

Soft kitty is the song that makes Sheldon on "The Big Bang Theory" feel comfortable.  It calms him when he's upset, sick, or tired.  It's been sung several times over the years on the series.  Now though, there's a controversy about it.  Edith Newlin's daughters claim that it is a poem that their mother wrote and is being used illegally.  But the publisher of the song in 1937 says that they legally licensed the song to Warner Brothers. Soft Kitty

another "great" is gone

Wayne Rogers from M*A*S*H passed on Thursday.  He was 82.  RIP Trapper

.  

Carrie Fisher

There's been a lot of talk about how much Princess Leia has aged.  Life happens.  People age.  Who are the idiots that think it's ok to shame others?  Carrie has answered those that have chosen to bully her.  Kicking butt and taking names...I'm adding her to my list of heroes.  Star Wars