Goodbye MJ

I have a lot of fond memories of Michael Jackson. I remember when I was growing up we had a VHS of "The Making of Thriller" which included several of the music videos from the "Thriller" album. It took you through the whole process of the making of the video from makeup and warderobe, to coreography. We wore that tape out watching it over and over.

(Mom... do we still have that tape?)

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I think my earliest MJ memory was seeing the posters and pictures and folders that my cousin Amy had in her room. For some reason, I especially remember the picture of him in the yellow sweater vest. Granted he got a really weird really quick, but a gifted performer and artist nonetheless. My sister Lisa even got to go to "Neverland Ranch" for a day. Don't worry, Michael wasn't there. I don't remember the circumstances around her trip there, but she had fun. Lisa is a HUGE MJ fan. She is greiving right now too. I think she's had nothing but Michael on her IPOD for the last week.

Michael Jackson is a concert that I've always said I would pay anthing to see. Oh well, I guess I'll never know ...

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I Passed My Test!!

I've been studying for the last few months (but mostly the last 2 weeks) for the L.E.E.D. exam (Leadership in Energy and Enviornmental Design) . It's a super hard test with about a 35% pass rate, but I did it! I studied so hard and it paid off, I am now a LEED Accredited Professional...

What does that mean... exactly... well...

"LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System."

I guess I can help design green stuff,
and hopefully keep my job longer,
and be able to sign my name "Laura Beesley, LEED AP"

Washington

Last weekend James and I had a wonderful weekend in Bellingham Washington. This is actually where he grew up. Not only did I get to see how beautiful it is up there, but I got to meet his step-mother Kathie for the first time, as well as his Aunt JoAnne and Uncle Ronnie from Kansas. They were all so wonderful. I haven’t met much of James’ Dad’s side of the family, so it was a real treat.

We all went out to dinner at a seafood restaurant at the marina

for James' birthday. It was delicious.

(Kathie is on the left, and JoAnn and Ronnie are on the right)

The house James grew up in used to be a barn. It is such a

neat house and has a beautiful kitchen with windows everywhere.

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This is the forest at the front of the property

and the dirt road you drive in through.
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The sun was going down behind the trees

and it almost looked like fire behind them.

This is the view from the back deck.

The neighbor was mowing the ... lawn?
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One of the things that James and I were to do while

we were there was to go through the shed/workshop.

This is where James and his Dad spent a lot of time

building things and playing pool. James and his dad actually

built a lot of clocks together.
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There were several pictures of the clocks

they had made on the wall.
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We went to the Farmer's market one afternoon...
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And went to the Demming Speedway.

The race little Indy cars here.

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This is the sign that was outside of James's Dad's

Veterinary practice in Washington.

As a bonus, I got a whole bunch of pictures of James when he was a baby.

Awwwww....... so cute!
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With Dad and Grandpa

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Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!

Ok, so I’m a day (or three) late, but better late then never.

I just wanted you to know how much I love you and how happy I am that I get you FOREVER!!! You are such a good man and I am so proud of you and all that you do.

XOXO