The countdown to the holiday has begun! Before you know it, the 4th of July will be here, and it will be time to scope out a place to watch the local fireworks shows and parades. Many festivals and firework celebrations start on Friday, which means you can celebrate twice. After all, what’s better than one fireworks show? Answer: two fireworks shows!
If you’re in Collin County, here is the list of the events near you:
For those of you who want to watch one of the hometown parades, I highly recommend the McKinney 4th of July parade. Gary and I will be participating in it this year, representing the McKinney Repertory Theatre and promoting our upcoming show, Hartburn Hotel. So, come out and see us — then buy tickets for the show which opens the following weekend (July 10)!
The parade begins at Old Wysong Parking Lot (corner of Hunt St. and N. Tennessee St.) across from the McKinney Public Library in Historic Downtown McKinney on July 4 at 10:30 a.m. Download the parade route here.
After the parade, you can stick around to check out the local car show, Veteran’s Salute and 14th annual ice cream contest.
The 2009 World’s Ugliest Dog Champion was crowned on Friday at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in California. Pabst, a boxer-mix rescued from a shelter took top honors in a surprising victory over former champion, Rascal who had dominated the contest for more than seven years.
Pabst’s owner, Miles Egstad, was stunned at his dog’s win, “I don’t think he’s that ugly!” But Pabst’s under bite and sweet personality soon made him an audience favorite. He swept all three rounds of the competition and took home $1,600 in prize money along with pet supplies and a modeling contract. Not too bad for an ugly mutt with bad teeth, eh?
Another dog won the pedigree category — Miss Ellie, a blind 15-year-old Chinese Crested Hairless. Her tongue hanging out of her mouth (see pic below) cracks me up — it’s hilarious! Personally, I think Miss Ellie is much more hideous than Pabst, but I guess there’s truth to the saying that beauty (or ugliness) is in the eye of the beholder.
We lost two icons today — one was a music legend and the other a famous actress. Farrah Fawcett lost her three-year battle with anal cancer this morning. She was 62. Her best-selling poster and “Charlie’s Angels” stardom made her one of the most famous faces in the world. Although her death was not surprising (her health had declined in recent months), it was sad to see another life snuffed out by cancer.
Today’s shocking news was the sudden death of Michael Jackson, the “king of pop.” At only 50 years old, he collapsed at his residence, suffering cardiac arrest. He died soon after at UCLA Medical Center. The exact cause of death is not yet known, but new sources are reporting that an autopsy will be conducted on Friday.
These deaths, along with the recent passing of Ed McMahon, serve as a not-so-subtle reminder that life is fragile, fleeting, and altogether precious. Every moment should be savored.
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14 KJV
Times like these should force us stop and think about our priorities. There’s more to life than work, responsibilities, and duty — so much more! Take time to smell the flowers and gaze at the stars. Hug your family members and tell them you love them. You may not get another chance.
Life doesn’t come with guarantees. It’s a time limited offer — here today and gone tomorrow. Don’t miss out on its joys while you are still here. Try to make a difference, and be sure to develop a relationship with the first person you will meet when you pass to the other side. A friendship with Jesus not only makes this life amazing, but it continues onward through eternity. Don’t put it off. You never know what the next day may hold.
The last two days are simply a blur in my mind. It’s 2 am, and I just finished working. I’ve been going non-stop between work, rehearsals, and work this week! Last night, I met with the professional organist who will be playing during our show. He’s amazing, and I have a lot of work to do in order to be able to play with him. That’s the difference between a professional and an amateur — but I’m doing my best to contribute where I can.
I’m playing a tune from the “Sound of Music” at one point during the show, and it made me think of the video below. Since I’m exhausted and don’t have time to write a proper blog, I thought I’d share it with you tonight. It was filmed at the Antwerpen’s Central Station in Belgium. The performers only met for a few practices and pulled off a really cool routine for unsuspecting passengers. Enjoy!
For those of you who want to watch one of the hometown parades, I highly recommend the McKinney 4th of July parade. Gary and I will be participating in it this year, representing the McKinney Repertory Theatre and promoting our upcoming show, Hartburn Hotel. So, come out and see us — then buy tickets for the show which opens the following weekend (July 10)!
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