OK, his music is legendary. His talent amazing. His demise really sad. All that talent and so much personal tragedy but pa-leese... how many more news stories, news shows, news items on Micahel Jackson?

Sorry, folks, news is devastation in Africa, it's the cauldron of the Middle East, it's bail-outs and buy outs and decisions in Congress which impact our lives and our children's lives. News is health initiatives, financial tips and what street we should avoid because of paving.

ET can devote entire shows to Michael. TV news can give me 2 to 3 minutes--that's actually a lot. Put the latest "breaking story" on the newspaper entertainment page, but come on...

Sorry for whining...enjoy the day and get to the Crosby Art Show this weekend!

Tell us in 20 words or less about your best friend(s) and win a Stay and Play at Levis Commons plus a slew of gift certificates. Entry form is on our homepage...do it!

20 winners will be named August 30.

Are you having summer fun? Get to the riverside..nothing is quite as tranquil. Rent a canoe in Grand Rapids, check out pottery in Genoa at Jan Pugh's. Stroll downtown Perrysburg or downtown Sylvania. Look at the furnishings at Betty Rumpf's in Ottawa Hills.

Happy Day.

It's always a surprise when we come to visit family in South Carolina that Ohioans are not appreciated. Some of it is tongue-in-cheek, some of it is really serious. As more and more Buckeyes have moved south, the natives wonder: "Does anyone still live in Ohio?"

A website gobacktoohio.com suggests way to get the Buckeyes back to the north. It's an odd sensation to feel you're actually in the way. Although we've long maintained that eventually the rest of the nation will want to come north for the water...that may take time to materialize.

Meanwhile, I am appreciating the southern charm even if my Yankee ways are considered boorish. Case in point involves northern rudeness. An editorial lambasted people who honk at others as another northern misdeed harming the gentility of South Carolina. I've got to agree. The writer questioned what the purpose of all the honking is. "Do you think traffic will move just because you're impatient?

Ouch. "Chill out," he advises. Why, oh why, oh why O!

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Have you told us about your friend?
Write 10-25 words about your friend...bring in the form (available at this site) to J.B. Sarnie's at Levis Commons and have a chance to win an overnight for 2 at the Hilton Levis Commons plus lots of gift certificates to make your stay a dleight.

See info on homepage.

Friends see us through all kinds of the stuff of life. My pals are simply the best! If you yours are as well...tell us!

Happy June.

Hope you're going to the Zoo to Do...FUN!

It's been a real naturalists' day. We turned the garden, bought a bird bath and watched baby robins peek up from their nest on the front porch. Convincing the Mister not to take down the nest when mama Robin was building tooking some talking. "Oh, look at her," I'd coo. "It's just instinct," the former farmboy would stress.

But I saw a Mother's love as she dragged each twig and now as she is perched with a bit of worm over 3 hungry beaks I am mesmerized. The beauty of creation right out the windowpane. What a show! Which brings me to the wonder of freshly turned dirt. The aroma, not quite perfume, is the smell of summer. It's goodness encapsuled in a scent.

Maybe that's why I love farmers markets...they have a connection to the good earth that is unmistakable. Although today we did plant our own veggies, the chance of bringing in a harvest is a defiant act of hope. We're hoping Bambi and cohorts who call our garden their salad bowl may lessen up this year.

Hope you're buzzing in your garden. Or do go lsiten to the birds.