Bella as a Pink Lady! 1950s

Bryn, Pirate Girl

The neighborhood girls

Blaine and her teacher, Mrs. Lea

Girls

The girls are staying SO BUSY with school, dance, tumbling, gymnastics and homework. Lots of reading, math and science project work this year.

Bryn has submitted her application and essay to be on Student Council! We are so proud of her.

Blaine is hoping for good news on the school play. Her teacher says she is "perfect, tops, and a wonderful student/teacher helper!"

Bella Boo is having a ball being a big girl. She is loving her school and learning so many wonderful Bible stories and lessons.

Political Season Update

The girls will be voting at their school come election day. Bryn had to interview her parents last night on who they were voting for so she could report back at school today. It was interesting dinner conversation let me tell you!

I love what our dear friend Le Moore shared with me this election season:

"Laura, David Brooks - my favorite conservative columnist - was asked what brought him around to Obama. In a moment of genuine candor, he replied, my wife and 2 daughters! I am pleased to hear that Brett is still the open and fair minded gentlemen that I met 10 years ago! 'Best, Le"

Miss Bella singing about how "Oh, the Lord is good to me"

Non-Profit SIG to meet Oct. 28 - everyone welcome!

More info here:

http://fortworthprsa.org/pressroom.htm

Balcom Agency event this week! Oct. 23

RSVP to kim@balcomagency.com

GFW PRSA Master's SIG event Oct. 29

MASTER'S SIG HAPPY HOUR EVENT ~
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29 WITH BELGIAN
EDITOR WHO COVERS U.S. POLITICS 
* Option to Stay for Dinner for Lengthier Discussion at The Vault's Unique Mediterranean Restaurant
 
Get your tough questions ready for the Presidential and other U.S. elections! 

Joining us to answer them on Oct. 29 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Vault Mediterranean Restaurant and V Lounge
will be Evita Neefs, foreign editor of the leading Belgian newspaper De Standard,
a radio commentator on U.S. elections and politics, and the author of several books.
 
Neefs is among several international journalists participating in a program through
TCU's Schieffer School of Journalism to "live in the environment they cover" for several months.  
Involvement by the GFW PRSA Chapter is being coordinated by Mary Dulle, APR, Fellow PRSA.
 

DATE/TIME

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
5:30 - 8 p.m.

WHERE
The Vault Mediterranean Restaurant and V Lounge
At The Tower in Sundance Square
(525 Taylor at 4th Street)
Free Valet or enter Tower garage on 4th St. just west of Taylor and exit free after 7 p.m.
 
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Networking and Neefs Briefing & Q&A
Private room in V Lounge Wine & Martini Bar - downstairs
Complimentary - Light Appetizers and First Round of Wine/Beer 
 
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Dinner with Neefs
(Dutch Treat)
PRSA-Reserved Tables - upstairs
The Vault Restaurant - one of Fort Worth's newest, hippest spots
Classic Mediterranean cuisine
Warm European ambiance with sophisticated yet casual elegance
www.thevaultdfw.com 
 
Reservations Required 
Event limited to first 20 people!
(Spouse or Guest Permitted)
 
RSVP to Joan Hunter at jhunter@the-t.com or 817-215-8973 
 
We hope you can join us for this unique opportunity to see U.S. politics from a foreign journalist's viewpoint.
 
FROM: Donna Darovich and Joan Hunter
Master's Special Interest Group co-chairs

Texas A&M

Gig 'em

Outdoor dinner at our house on a lovely fall evening

Logan

The neighbor's son has adopted the girls and loves playing with them. This is the interaction today:

"Daddy's home." - as Brett drives into the driveway
"Moms, may I have some milk?" - to me

He looks like the little boy from Stuart Little!

In planning mode for our Halloween party at our house for the neighborhood kids

This year, here's what the girls will dress as:
Bryn - Pirate
Blaine - Fortune Teller
Bella - Pink Lady 50s girl

Beautiful Bryn!!!

Bella as the Statue of Liberty

Miss Blaine at the Scarecrow Festival! Happy Halloween!

Big Girl Bryn at the Scarecrow Festival ! She is a great artist.

Happy Halloween ~ a fun day at the Scarecrow Festival outside of Brenham

A fun day at A&M, Oct. 18, 2008

Blog Action Day 2008 - POVERTY

RE: An effort to end poverty and raise awareness of this global crisis.

Thank you, Richie, for sharing information about this effort.

Any individual or family could find themselves in a desperate situation due to these unique and difficult financial times. Let us look at the faces of those who are suffering and offer a helping hand, a kind word, an open mind and compassionate understanding.

Seek out agencies and organizations in your community who are working to end poverty, homelessness and serving those who are hurting, hungry and homeless. The Presbyterian Night Shelter in Tarrant County, the Tarrant Area Food Bank and countless other need volunteers, donations and more.

As the holiday seasons approach, consider how your family or organization can reach out and serve a family in need. "It does take a village" but one person after another can make an impact and a difference, too. Share the word and make a commitment and a plan for how you can be involved in helping to end poverty.

http://blogactionday.org/js/83ebb6e7d726f7406c8976d479c910ba09d884fc

From Wikipedia

In case you were wondering...

"Gray or grey (see spelling differences) is the color of black and white mixed together. It is also the color of an elephant, cement, and pencil writing. Gray often looks like someone made white darker, but not so dark that it is black. In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, and New Zealand, as well as a few other countries, this word is spelled grey. In the United States, it is spelled gray."

Feeling better today about the market!!

Hope things will take a turn for the better. I have good friends and family members who have been taking a beating in the stock market.

Congratulations to Linda Jacobson, APR!

She earned her APR this month! Very excited for her!

Three cheers to Richie for posting a live blog from our PRSA meeting today

Way to go, Richie, you social media guru!

Thanks to everyone who was a part of the Cowtown Brush Up on Saturday.

To Lauren Kwedar and all of the PRSA volunteers ~ Thank you!

Lisa Vannatter and Ryan Moore are married!

Congrats! The HMFW girls were all together. Lisa looked just like a princess ~ Grace Kelly is what people kept saying.

PRSA event at Balcom Agency

Save the date!

PRSA Mix and Mingle
WHERE: Balcom Agency
Fort Worth
Oct. 23
5-7 p.m.
RSVP to kim@balcomagency.com

GFW PRSA Newsletter link for October 2008

What's happening? News...

http://www.spjfw.org/ec0809/p1oct08.html

Uncle Paul, Aunt Bev and baby Anna

With Hadley Jo at Joe T's

PRSA Volunteers at the Tarrant Area Food Bank

Good news for Cindy!

Cindy Vasquez has a new job with Cancer Care Services as an Activities/Volunteer Coordinator.

I knew I should have sold some stocks on Friday.

Today was just an awful day on Wall Street.

Trying No. 7 "Boots" face products from Target of all places!

My mom, aunt and cousins tell me it will transform your face, smooth everything and rid the lines in 4 weeks! Try it and let me know. Very, very affordable. Now what do I do with all the expensive stuff I have bought?

Andra Bennett House and I are both from Mt. Vernon

We just discovered this yesterday over Facebook!

Bella's quote today while on our walk

"Mom, you know Sarah and Abraham? They were very old and had color the same as what I see in Daddy's hair and God promised them a baby and they got a baby. I learned that at school, Mama." - Bella, age 4

Sammie McQueen Smith's daughter, Peyton, and Nick Jonas!

Yes, that is them at the Apple store in Southlake. Apparently, Peyton is the talk of the town. Very exciting. They said he was super sweet.

Bryn did a bridge walk-over at tumbling today.

Paul Newman - a class act

Appreciate the fact that he gave back so much and his modesty and humbleness were qualities to admire aside from his great acting abilities. His "Newman's Own" products are wonderful. We'll continue to use them and think of this special man. The world was a better place with him.

We want to go to the King Tut exhibit that's heading to Dallas!

I first went when I was just a kid.

"Mom, when you were born were planes already invented?" Bryn, age 9

Yes, I was born when wonderful things were already in place!

"We were born after Snickers bars but before Twix. Do you remember when Twix came out? Somehow it was like a candy bar revolution. I still love a Twix." - My sister-in-law, Kathleen

Is this state of affairs of our economy keeping anyone else awake at night?

PRSA volunteers give time and energy to help Tarrant County children in need

Thanks to everyone who helped with the "Backpacks for Kids" event at the Tarrant Area Food Bank Wednesday night.

"As old and new media merge, what is journalism?"

SOURCE: PRSA, www.prsa.org

http://prsa.org/supportfiles/news/viewNews.cfm?pNewsID=842347585

What a special man ~ Truman Duncan

Our prayers and good wishes stay with you. You are an inspiration!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26834245/

Bryn in a dress that Mimi wore when she was 16-years old

Anna Lucile Rowntree at her first birthday party!

Happy Birthday Anna Lucile Rowntree

A big one-year old!

Sept. 20 - Girls got haircuts

B2 and B3 opted for bangs!

Three cheers to Lisa Starnes, APR

She received the official word that she earned her APR this week!

A candidate as strong as any other. Will we have your vote?

http://www.news3online.com/index.php?code=763IG1mO92ASp16D05eN

Life according to Blaine

Blaine: "Mom, where did you meet daddy?"
Mom: "Actually at Stan's by where we used to live;
right there by the SF rose."
Blaine: "Why do you go back there?
To refresh your memories of
marriage?"
Blaine, age 7

Funny what a $1 pair of glasses will do!

What's happening in October at GFW PRSA?

http://fortworthprsa.org/events.htm

A good read for marketers - from the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122185992094758237.html

"Yes, I'll be a star one day!"

Sisters helping sisters

The girls supported and helped give supplies to the victims of the hurricane. These are their new friends.

Thanks to Uncle John, too. The twin girls, age 3, loved their new car seats and tennis shoes.

Friends at Red Cross

Support this wonderful organization!



www.redcross.org

Dr. Doug Newsom

Thinking of her. She is set to retire in May. She is an amazing PR pioneer. She was a huge mentor to me. Just love her. She was a professor of mine while I was in graduate school at TCU. Her PR books are like bibles for the field. She is a first-class woman and professional!

Article

"Why libraries are back in style" from the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122117550854125707.html

A nice little online tool where you can check to see if you are registered to vote, check your info online and be a part of the political process

https://www.voteforchange.com/

Thoughts and prayers are with all of those living through Ike

GP

Selena Gomez from the Disney show Wizards of Waverly Place is from GP. She says in the DMN today "I now represent Grand Prairie, Texas." Do we like her more because she is dating one of the Jonas Brothers?

DFW American Red Cross Blog for the latest updates

www.redcrossdfwdisaster.wordpress.com

American Red Cross needs your time, money, service and blood donations

Here's a note from our good friend Anita Foster,
Metroplex Communications Officer
for the DFW American Red Cross:

We are still in hurricane operations full swing with more than 
3,600 people still sheltering across DFW. It doesn't look like 
things are going to let up for a few more days, so I'm checking to see 
if you're available to help for the next week. We have a fundraising event 
on Wednesday where we could use a photographer from 9-11am at DFW Airport. 
We need people to be the "eyes and ears" at the Dallas Convention Center. 
We are at that point in the operation where the Honeymoon is over and 
we're transitioning into discontent (remember your PA training??). 
So, I need some folks to do pulse checks at the shelter and let us 
know what the unmet needs are of the evacuees. We're still placing media 
from the shelters and fielding requests for evacuee interviews. 
So, if you have some time, let us know and we'll get your assignments to you! 
 
Yesterday, our first Red Cross workers made their way onto the island 
to do the preliminary damage assessment. They report that many areas are 
inaccessible, but were able to determine that upwards of 10,000 homes 
have been leveled to the ground or severely damaged. This includes areas 
around Orange, Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula. The state of Texas has 
experienced a truly catastrophic event and you've been a part of helping 
the Red Cross bring comfort. Please know how thankful we are for your 
service and your commitment to helping others. Our work is far from over, 
but we will get it done in time. 
 
Let us know if you can offer up some time this week and take good care! 
You've all worked very hard!
 
http://www.redcrossdfw.org

Yum, Starbucks

I love being close to a Starbucks!

Dating rules according to Bella

"I am giving my boyfriend his rules and if he does anything bad
I am breaking up w/ him ...also if he drinks alcohol or if he kills
a person I will also break up w/ him. I won't be his girlfriend.
He only gets one chance... Does anything... Breaking up w/ him."

I said, "I didn't know you had a boyfriend."

She said, "I don't, but those are the rules."

Bella, age 4

Brett is seeing what he needs to do with Hurricane efforts

There are conference calls today, Sunday.

Best Mexican Food in Dallas

1. Javier's
2. MiCocina
3. Taco Diner
4. Ojeda's
5. Blue Goose

Bryn enjoying time with Stella, Blaine with Mary Elyn and Bella having fun with GiGi

John Moore coming to town this week. We all need to visit Aunt Martha. So worried about her. Not doing well at all. Digestive system has shut down.

Blaine was chosen to represent MES as the "Helping Hands" honoree

First one chosen for the year for 2nd grade. Three cheers, Blaine! Her teacher says she is a role model.

Looks like Ike might be heading to my dad's in E. Texas

Magnolia has no power. Staying cozy in DFW. Stay safe everyone.

Congrats to Rachael Kuper and J

They are expecting a baby. Who is next?

Just received some 3D images of AA's twins

Wow!

Sarah Palin

Everyone has an opinion on this one. Want to have a hot topic conversation with someone... just bring up her name. I have yet to find two people who agree on this one.

Jonas Brothers

Love the fact that they are "gentlemen." And three cheers for those purity rings. They are real role models. Hope they stay pure and wholesome!

Good for Britney coming back and looking good.

Hope she'll stay strong.

Where have I been the last week?

Well, working a ton.
Sorry no new posts the last few days. I've been updating my facebook page and making edits there.

READ ON! eChaser ~ September Newsletter that Greater Fort Worth PRSA shares with IABC and SPJ

Dates to know, profile pictures, news, updates, etc. are below.

http://www.spjfw.org/ec0809/p1sep08.html

Friends!

Who do you think is the happiest to be with the "big girls?"

Tumbling girls! BBB are doing tumbling and gymnastics.

Little Bells is learning to ride her bike!

She asked her daddy to take off the training wheels yesterday! I am so proud of her. Age 4. Wow! She is ready to grow up.

MAKE A WISH! A rainbow from my aunt's condo balcony in Hawaii

Bella with Brett & Toppy

A Pirate's Dinner!

"RRRRRR"

Free and fun! Look what a few bandanas and some imagination can do.

Bryn made a homemade book complete with maps, pirate rules, ship license, etc. and we wrapped up the day with a pirate dinner for her grandfather's birthday!

I think Blaine, complete with several missing teeth and that squinty eye, makes just the perfect pirate!

We had so much fun!

P.S. Yes, we had to say "RRRRR" before every saying.