Two persons from my generation have recently passed on. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. While everyone knew about one's brave battle over cancer, the sudden heart attack of a pop king took everyone by storm. Still, these two individuals faced fame from two different walks of life. Many people have opinions about them. To each their own, but for now, as I turn fifty this year, I want to stop and reflect upon them as I did when I was a teenager.

I watched in awe of Farrah on Charlie's Angels. She was the "IT" girl, with beautiful hair and long legs. She was a natural beauty and seemed like a pleasant individual. I recalled as the years rolled on and her looks somewhat faded, what a bad rap she began to recieve. Through her fight with cancer, we saw her bravery and even if her life with her family was turmoiled with secrets, with Redman's jail time and Ryans constant battles with his kids, she still was a beautiful woman within. She deserved to go thinking her son was in "rehab", so she could go to her final resting place in serenity. God give you plenty of it now, lovely Farrah. So for all eternity, rest in peace. And I will always remember your beautiful smile.

Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five burst into my young life when I was in elementary school. Even though ABC and Mama's Pearl were the popular songs, I recalled spinning a B side of a 45 in my room. I became entranced with the soulful voice of Michael Jackson, belting out "Whose loving you." I played it over and over again. I remembered my freinds and me having an opportunity to play the radio during a lunch recess. "I want you back' came on and instantly we danced and clapped along. We even tried to sing the song.

As the years went on, we saw the transitions in Michael, in his music, his life, in his physical attributions. Many called him a lunatic, some mad man who wanted to be white, but he ailed from a skin condition. then we watched the trails of the molestation accusations. The woman who claimed Michael abused her son seemed just as wacky on stand. Who knew the truth? All I know is that I felt so appalled and sad about what the publicity that ensued over him after that. Was he just an innocent soul who got messed up pretending he was still a kid?

So many people came out to give him tribute after the news of his sudden death. People from all walks of life and from everywhere. I was amazed at the outpouring. My hope is that this generous spirit won't leave if his three children need something along the way. What is their fate? Is their any money left to support them? Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if all those people in England didn't ask for their refund back on the concerts he had planned in July? He obviosly wanted to make some to save face, to save himself, to earn money again. If he had remained an ordinary man on the street asking for help, would one give it to him? I wonder.

Tonight I listened to a compilation of songs he did over three decades. Astounding music. I sat in my chair, bobbed my head, snapped my fingers to Bad, Billie Jean, Thriller, and just absorbed whenever he sang a melodic song, like Man in the Mirror, or something poignant and stirring, like You're not alone. The man had absolute talent and in spite of what was portrayed in his public life, in music, he was blessed. Very blessed. He was definetely King of Pop.

So rest in peace Michael. I will always cherish my LP Thriller albulm and all the memories of your moonwalk, your white glove, and the fantastic moves you displayed in your dances.

Organize to build up your social network and recognition

I'm the type of person who seems to collect things, like stacks of magazines, old mail, oodles and oodles of information and recipes I've found in random places, that could help me as a writer or as a cook at home. Both are my favorite hobbies.

But I fail at always keeping things organized. I was perusing back through my long "collection" of old email in my inbox, wondering which I should discard and which I should save to recall the valuable information tucked on someone else's website or links. There is a lot out there and many authors have found new avenues of social networking. I'm always impressed with how they have acquired all of their new friends/fans/author support. And then I feel jealous of their popularity. I want the same for myself, but how do I achieve this?

One author claims the social networking is a valuable tool. You got to nurse it along, build upon the contacts you make, keep pumping up what you've got available. It makes sense, doesn't it? Instead of pumping out your money on bookmarks, t-shirts, or entering book contests. It's the people out there who stumble upon your website, the friends you make during this process, who will end up supporting and buying your books.

Since I'm such a collector, I realized how organization is also key. For me, I will have to dedicate a whole day to weed through each old email and pick out the websites recommended, get a list of the people who follow them, and also get a separate list started of my author friends, and of those, who in the past, I have offered a "free" pdf file or actual book. Then put these lists down into a safe place for quick access, like in an index box, in order to keep the communication flowing whenever I release future projects or to share press leases or interviews.

It won't be easy, because as I scroll down my emails, there is a lot there, but to build up my own network of readers and author friends, I must keep communication flowing, to make them feel recognized on the other side. Only then, I feel reciprocation in kind will be achieved. And it's always wonderful to be recognized somehow, isn't it?

Any tidbits of advice or comments are always welcomed here.

Why not the simple things?

I've been off work the past couple of days, mostly because it happened to be my 3rd anniversary on the 27th. My hubby and me always try to take some time off just for ourselves, whether we go off somewhere romantic or not. Of course we try to do something fun, but economics lately doesn't help. Still we do things we enjoy, like barbecuing or fishing. Or just watching movies together. The point is spending quality time, right?

Anyway, I also got a little time in to catch up on reading, in books or seeing what's on the Internet. I'm a big fan of looking at stuff about celebrities. They live such an alternative lifestyle than from most average Americans like me. I came across a little blog the other day about the type of theme birthday parties they throw for their children. I believe Suri, Tom Cruise's & Katie Holmes' young daughter, just celebrated turning 2 years old and OMG! Her birthday party cost over $10,000! I could not believe what I read! And it seems to be the thing for these popular celebrities to do, just throw out huge sums of money for the kids and mostly for their posh friends!

Then this morning, on the CBS morning show, they were talking about how certain types of cell phones come with baby rattle sound effects, soothing music and sound effects, and can even be used to teach your child to spell, etc. You just give them the cell phone to play with and it would entertain them for hours! see info on gadgets here. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/052809_natali.pdf

Well, I dunno about these trends. I think if you hand over a high tech gadget like that to a child, it doesn't teach them the value of respecting mommy's property. I have an older cell phone that doesn't do much, but even I still have problems relinquishing it to my teenager to use once in a while, because it cost me to get it in the first place and to pay for that service every month. When my daughter has lost a phone in the past, I give her a huge lecture about keeping up with her things. That's its not cheap to fork over $50 in order for her to get a replacement phone. So why do these parents think it's neat to let baby handle their cell phones like its a toy? Just to play with the sound effects to lull them to keep occupied? I think there's something wrong with this concept, somehow. Granted, maybe for a few minutes, like you're at the grocery store and trying to check out, might you hand over the phone to keep the child amused for a moment or two, but still you must teach that child to value your things.

And what about those huge parties? I am all for having them with a theme, because they can be very cute and memorable, but I don't think a party should be over $10,000. Nor do I think they should go over $100. I believe birthday parties, for a young child, should be personal, with immediate family & friends gathering to celebrate. When a child enters schools and has new friends enter their lives, then the birthday party can be for them too. Let them play in the yard, play pin the tail on the donkey, take them to swim park if its summer time, or a game zone at the mall if they are a bit older. Serve cake, punch, finger foods, and give a little gift bag with simple things like toy figurines, puzzles, crayons, or candy. I was flabbergasted to read that the little goodie bags the celebrities were winging out there had Ipods in them along with other expensive novelties, mostly for the adults who came to the party. They had customized cakes, real ponies to ride, actresses hired to portray Disney characters, etc. Wow! No wonder the cost of these parties added up, especially if they were throwing it for the adults as well.

I could never do that, but of course, I'm not a celebrity. Still I wonder what it teaches these kids in the long run, if they do this same thing every year. Wouldn't they grow up expecting a blow out from now on? I think there is still something magical about an intimate gathering of family and friends. The conversations are heart warming as they might reminsce about the day one was born, or some cute little thing done as a child. Isn't it the value of family and love that really counts and not the need to go over the top just to impress other people? What do you think? Shouldn't all this be about the simple things in life?