MAKE A WISH AWARDS

Damian and April from South Shore Dist. with Johnny


Every year Make A Wish holds an annual award ceremony to honor those who have made significant contributions, either monetarily or otherwise, to the organization. This year they invited Johnny along with Damian and April from South Shore Dist. -- the folks who organize the Skate Jam. The MAW folks asked Johnny to help present the awards to the honorees as well as giving Johnny an award for 'his donation' (AKA: Deluxe's donation) from the sales of his deck -- over 12k.

In the past, the Houston Shell Open has always been the largest contributor, but last year Damian and April beat them! Over 105k! 2008's Skate Jam will ROCK even more -- with plans of a nation-wide telethon so people across the country can call in to talk to their favorite skater and make a donation.

Tommy Austin, founder and first Wish Granter, spoke at the ceremony. He told us of his friend (a seven year old child) whose only dream was to be a police officer and how Tommy made the boys dream a reality days before he passed away. This was 20 years ago. Tommy was a beautiful speaker and said this, "Families with seriously ill children are like a wheat field, when the rain comes they are beaten down to the ground, but eventually the sun slowly comes up and the wheat stands tall again. For some families, Make A Wish is that little ray of sunlight that perks them up, even for a short while".

Powerful words from an amazing man. I couldn't have said it better.

The Gulf Coast Make A Wish Team with Tommy Austin

From this angle, it kinda looks like Einstein was there but he really wasn't...

MARDI GRAS!!!

YOU LOOK FABULOUS DAHLING!


Last weekend was the kick-off for church sanctioned (okay, not really), uninhibited, let-it-all-hang-out, non-stop parting. AKA: Mardi Gras. If your not familiar with this age old tradition, it's a two week Eat-Drink-(fill in with your favorite vice here)-Fest before the Lenten Season begins. The mind set is that you will be so sick of your vice by the time Ash Wednesday rolls around you will be ready to stop whatever it is for SIX whole weeks. We kick our bad habits every year -- sodas, fast food, booze, candy -- EXCEPT for chocolate! I've tried it before and it ain't pretty. If I do decide to give up my coveted treat, my plans are to awake from my six-week-sugar-induced-coma Easter morning so I can bite the head off my children's chocolate bunnies.

Seriously.

I've been known to make excuses why I have to make a 'quick run to the store for eggs' when I'm really trying to get a fix -- Dove Chocolate. Just the candy bar, I won't buy a bag or anything... I don't have a problem, I can stop using chocolate anytime I want to! But I digress...

Anyway -- our friends David and Kim invited us to David's office on the Seawall for BBQ and parades.

Our gracious hosts for the evening



It was the perfect setting, we had access to David's office so we could go inside/use the restroom -- (important things when your barricaded in for 12 hours) and the kids had plenty of room to run amok between each of the three parades.


The boys waiting for the first round of intense bead grabbing



Let the bead bonanza begin!




It truly can't have the moniker "Mari Gras" without the obligatory Hooter's float


HARK! IT'S THE ALMIGHTY THOR! GOD OF THUNDER!

Seriously. This was the best well spent 20$ ever.



Mike, Wes and David
MIKE: "I wonder if this is within the 'Casual Friday' guidelines? If not, I will make it so..."

WES: "Chicks dig guys who aren't afraid to show their feminine/pimpin' side."

DAVID: "I wonder if this hat came with matching pants? I AM the new Snoopy Puppy guy or whatever his name is..."


If you didn't already know by now I LOVE MY FIRE PIT!!! The ultimate party must-have! FIRE PITS ROCK!



HAVE YOU SEEN ME? RANDOM PARTY CRASHER...

Mike and I spent the good part of the evening hanging out at the fire pit with the very hungry 'Alaska Grown' here. Note the hot dog in his hand. Nice kid, very polite even helped out at the end with the clean up. Later we asked Kim and David who he was and they said they have no idea!

You know it's a good party when you don't even KNOW you have party crashers!