long time no see

Yes, it has been awhile since my last post.  A lot has happened over the past few months and I won’t go back and recap.  In fact, I’m really going to cheat on this post and just repost the email I sent to my supporters of the Breast  Cancer 3-day as my update. Perhaps I’ll write something again soon. . . .or perhaps not. . .

Dear Friend,

I would like to thank you for your support of Team ONE Cure and the Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-day. We had a great event this year and with your help we raised 5.6 million dollars! Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds of this event go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Every advancement in breast cancer research, treatment, education and prevention in the last 25 years has been touched by a Komen for the Cure grant. The remaining fifteen percent of net funds goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, which provides ongoing support to breast cancer initiatives, so that strides made today can continue to propel us toward our goal.

Here is a short recap of my adventures at the 2009 Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-day. This year we had 2,200 walkers who journeyed through Atlanta wearing all shades of pink and various fun accoutrements such as feather boas, cowboy hats and bras on the outside of their clothes. I was one of 380 crew members who also dressed in crazy costumes to cheer on the walkers. I served again with my good friends at Pit Stop 2. We put up western shelters, sliced oranges and mixed gatorade with unbridled enthusiasm despite chilly morning temperatures. We wore pink wings and wigs as “Charlie’s Angels” on Friday, moon-walked like Michael Jackson on Saturday and took a fierce swing at breast cancer on Sunday in our pink tennis themed outfits. Due to the recent rains in the area our camp was moved inside this year, but we still got to sleep in our pink tents. The Closing Ceremony was held at Turner Field and this is always one of the most emotional parts of the event. When the survivors walk in wearing their pink shirts, all the other participants remove one shoe and hold it high in the air in salute of these amazing and brave women. There are also many tears as we remember those who are no longer with us, but we feel a sense of hope as a flag bearing the words “A World without Breast Cancer” is raised high into the air.

I will be on crew with Pit Stop 2 again in 2010 and hope that you will continue to support me in the fight against breast cancer. There is still time to donate to this year’s event if you would like, please visit http://www.the3day.org/goto/ladysoul.

I will post pictures soon on facebook so be on the lookout for those! Thanks again for your love and support!

All my best,

Kitsey E. Burns

Support Team ONE Cure: Atlanta Breast Cancer 3day 2009

“Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

Snow Story

View Project at Shutterfly

Brooklyn Dreamin’

Sometimes I imagine us in my car together. You are signing along with the radio. It makes me smile.

No Such Thing as Common Sense

I’ve come to the conclusion that common sense is a myth. I’ve come to this conclusion mostly because of the number of people at my job that ask me if I know where the bathroom is. Let me explain, I sit at a big desk with my nameplate on the front  when you first get off the elevator at the nameless business club at which I am employed. I will say it’s usually younger people like teens and college age kids who say, “Do you know where the bathroom is.” Let’s even assume that today is my first day of working here, don’t you think I would at least know where the bathroom is. Usually, I just give them my most polite smile and direct them to the restroom. Today, I just snapped though. Young, attractive, most likely intelligent young college age girl asks me if I know where the bathroom is. I looked her straight in her face and said, “no.” I just couldn’t help myself. How hard is it to ask for what you want? “Where is the restroom” is not hard, why do people feel like the need to phrase it by asking if I know where it is? I’ve worked here for almost two years, don’t you think I would know where the restroom is??? Work on it, people, that’s all I have to say. Work on it!

Beauty Secrets

I sincerely hate to reveal that my golden tan is not from being on a glorious cruise in the tropics. Nevertheless, I will confess that happiness is the tanning salon! For twenty minutes the world is mine alone. With the heat from the sunlamps I can pretend that I’m lying in the sun on some tropical island. Tanning beds these days are super hi-tech and even come equiped with a cd player. If I really wanted to get in the mood I could bring  my cd of ocean sounds. I have yet to try that, but I do often bring along a Jimmy Buffett cd. Lately, of course, my music of choice is the recently released album The Show Must Go On by my beloved Embers.

The lotions are another great feature. These lotions practically promise you a million dollars. Skin-firming, anti-aging, super moisturzing, extra bronzing, body blush, body tingle, the list goes on and on. Happiness today was a free sample packet of a tingle lotion called Stunning. It certainly was and I certainly felt stunning afterwards. 

Vitamin D makes me happy!

Things I Think About

I have a lot of things on my mind these days, but it’s stressing me out and I don’t like to think on it. Luckily, there are a number of random things that I often contemplate in lieu of worrying about my problems. Such as. . . .

Those people that ride those chopper motorcycles with the tall tall handlebars. . . don’t their arms get tired?

 The song “Hang on Sloopy” . . . I expect that people were making fun of Sloopy, not because she was from the wrong side of tracks, but because her name was Sloopy.

How did Rock Hudson manage to keep his sexual preference under wraps until after his death? Who were his lovers, if any? I think I might go google or wikipedia that one.

Why do we call the day of Jesus’ Crucifixion “good” Friday?

Hmm. . seems like there were some other odd things I ponder in my spare time, but they have escaped me at the moment. More later.

Post Production Blues

I have the theatre bug for a long time, but it really caught up with me in the summer of 2006. I had volunteered for sometime with the Foothills Theatre, but never been in a production. When I saw the summer production of Beauty and the Beast I just knew I had to get more involved. I love plays and have seen a few on Broadway and other venues.  I adore the huge productions, the lights, the glitter, the glamour! But, there is something to be said for small town theatre. It’s amazing what you can do with cardboard, paint and a few local seamstress with special talents. So, in the summer of 2007 I took my first ensemble part in Big: The Musical. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but fortunately we have some pretty good talent in our local group and I was really just needed to be an extra body on the stage. After that production, I was hooked. This winter I auditioned for the Radio: T.B.S. the Foothills Theatre dessert production. I had seen the talented people in our area and I was nervous about auditioning. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when I was chosen to play Dixie Mandrell, radio hostess and society doyenne of the Luna del Mar Manufactured Home Oasis & Monkey Emporium. The show is an absolutely hilarious chronicling of the lives of the ladies who reside in this not-so-posh development in central Florida. Being a part of this show was an amazing experience. As with Big, I had an opportunity to meet some great new friends. The camaraderie is one of the best parts of community theatre. Entertaining the audience is another great part. I was so touched and awed by all the wonderful comments from the audience after the show.  I was so moved by all the praise I got. I hope it doesn’t sound too vain, but it is quite an amazing feeling to be told how great you are at something. Several family friends insisted that they were not being biased when they said I was the best one in the show. The director, in fact, told me that I need to keep doing theatre b/c I’m really good at it. Most of all though, it was just fun! I will definitely be taking the director’s advice. This summer we’ll be gearing up for Fiddler on the Roof!

The downside is, all good things must come to end. I am sad now that the show is over. But, I have some great memories.

Forbidden Jam?

I once saw a church sign that read, “Forbidden fruit will get you into a jam.” I think the lesson was supposed to be an admonishment against forbidden fruit. Nonetheless, my initial reaction was. . .Jam! yum!

On Fire

Before you even read this post just go straight to www.theembersband.net and buy their new Christmas album! It’s amazing!

I first saw the Embers live in kickin’ Kenansville at the Muscadine Festival. I absolutely fell in love with them! They are all born entertainers. The level of musicianship and showmanship is fantastic.

I saw the Christmas show on Saturday and it was unbelievable! There was even a magical snow moment on stage! Not only do these guys and gal (love you Debby!) sing and play multiple instruments, but they are hilarious! Jerry and Wayne do some ridiculously funny (not to mention clean & fun for the whole family) skits. My personal favorite was a “guest” appearance by Rat Packers Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Their rendition of Marshmello World is on the CD too and just as funny as seeing it live. Frosty, Neil Diamond and some rockin’ elves also had “guest” appearances and Santa and Mrs. Claus did a little shaggin’ for us to Debby’s song Boogie Woogie Shake Shag on Christmas.

The CD With Love At Christmas is a good overview of the show and I’ve been listening to it on repeat since Saturday. I was a tad disappointed that David Dixon’s rockin’ It’s Christmas Time Pretty Baby wasn’t on there.

The first track is Jerry Tellier singing Let it Snow. It will just melt your heart! I’m not much of a cold weather fan, but this song makes me wish it would snow! Next up is Debby Mac’s Jingle Bell Rock. This song was made for her!

I’ll digress for one minute and tell you that I have to listen to Christmas music all day long at work. I’ve come to the conclusion that there are only about 10 songs, but about 50 artists with their version of each song.  Many of them screw up some good songs. Not so with this CD though! There are two all instrumental tracks on here that are music to my ears. Stephen Pachuta on the horn plays an magical and heartfelt Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. David Dixon does a lovely and poignant Little Drummer Boy on the guitar. In addition to the classic Christmas tunes there are some great new original songs from the Embers. Wayne Free will tear your heart out with One Little Christmas Tree. The title track With Love at Christmas is simply beautiful. I’d be hard pressed to pick up a favorite song from the album, but I really love this one!

Now, if you didn’t go visit their website first go now! www.theemberband.net

Letter to the Editor

I’m pretty upset over the recent change of the holiday lights in my town so I decided to write a letter to the editor. I wrote a very descriptive 507 word essay on the subject and then discovered that letters to the editor are limited to 200 words. Needless to say, I was not pleased. I went ahead and sent my 200 words, but here is the essay in it’s entirety.

I have called my small town home for all of my 25 and half years. I am very proud to be from the former buggy capital of the south. All my life I have endured the question “where in the world is that?” and patiently corrected friends who insist on call my hometown south bend or west bend instead of its actual name. Even in a small town, however, nothing stays the same.

Some changes to our town have been good, like the new and very wonderful italian restaurant Kitchen Roselli, located in the historic Davis Bros. store building. Some changes I’m not so fond of, however. The holidays are always a wonderful time in small towns. Since childhood, my favorite tradition was the lighting of the town Christmas decorations on the night of Thanksgiving. Our town decorations were the most beautiful I had ever seen. Each light pole on Main Street was adorned with either a red or green bell of beautiful glittering garland accented with lighted multicolored bulbs. In front of town hall was a cheerful smiling Santa in shiny red garland.

After one last slice of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving night, my family and I would drive down Main Street to admire the lights. You can imagine my disappointment a few years ago when, unbeknownst to us, the lighting date for the decorations had been changed and they were not on for our Thanksgiving tradition. That was nothing compared to the disappointment of last year.

Each November I look forward to seeing the lights go up. The best thing about our lights was they were beautiful in the daytime and at night! During the day the December sunlight gleamed brilliantly on the red and green garland, at night with the bulbs on they were even more beautiful! Last November, as I drove down Main Street I could see the utility truck in the street, indicating that the lights were being put up. But, strangely I couldn’t see any lights. Upon closer inspection I realized that the lovely and unique bells that had always rung in the holiday season had been replaced. Instead of the brightly colored festive bells we had bland, clear-colored angels exactly the same as in the neighboring town. During the day these angels all but disappear in the sunlight. At night they blow into silent trumpets that lack the depth and vitality the red and green bells exhibited for so many wonderful years. I thought perhaps the old lights had just given out, though they seemed to work fine the previous year. This year, however, the Santa has returned to the front of town hall in a distasteful mixing of secular and religions holiday icons. While I am happy to see our little town progress, I am so sad to see our beautiful and unique lights be replaced by these cookie-cutter lights like every other town has. My Christmas wish is for the angels to fly away and our beautiful bells to return to brighten our town!