M.A.C, my all time favorite makeup company is prepping a new line of lipstick, powder, lip gloss and blush shades all inspired by Disney Characters.  The products will be priced from $12.00 - $29.50.  Things are mum for the moment but it's most definitely in the works.  Look for a huge campaign before the September launch.

Now if I had one of these I would totally use my Bluetooth instead of just not talking while I'm in the car.   The Victoria Line from Novero has created a line of jewelry where you can talk on your Bluetooth and look stylish at the same time.  I'm partial to the black pearl looking one.  Too bad the average price is $120,000.  They are made from real precious metals and are jewels, so I guess the price tag is justified.  My only concern is the transition period.  While living in NYC the Bluetooth hit the scene and for a few weeks I wasn't sure if the people using them were crazy and talking to themselves or if they were on the phone.  I guess if you're willing to pay that much you would be considered eccentric anyway.

Now I love me a pair of high heels but I think I'll pass on these.  Mihai Albu has created a 12" stiletto by stacking shoes!  And the kicker, lol, is that they cost over $1,500.  I mean they look like a child got into their mom's closet and happened to stumbled upon some glue and went to town.

Here's some video of a recent performance from New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) and The Backstreet Boys. Who knew they could still rile up a crowd like that?

Check out this True Blood based music video by Snoop

Who knew that you could do all that with an IPhone? This is AppleGirl and from what I read she just signed a recording contract because of a few of her YouTube performances.

For any of you who have checked out 'My Favorite Blogs' list you might have come across, Abby's Blog.  Abby Sunderland is a 16 year old girl from California who set out to sail around the world solo.  I forget how I came across it originally but I thought it was amazing that such a young girl would take something like that on. 


Today we were at the Frisco Boathouse when I heard that she had been reported missing.  I couldn't believe my ears.  When we got home I had a chance to check her blog and her family had posted an update about the situation on her blog which I reposted below.  I hope they find her unharmed and she gets home OK.

REPOSTED FROM:  "ABBY'S BLOG"
We spoke with Abby early this morning and learned that she had had a very rough day with winds up to 60 knots and seas 20-25 feet. She had been knocked down several times but was handling things well. The wind had subsided to around 35 knots which she and Wild Eyes are quite comfortable with.

We were helping her troubleshoot her engine that she was trying to start to charge her systems. Satellite phone reception was patchy. She was able to get the water out of the engine and start her up. We were waiting to hear back from her when American Search & Rescue authorities called to report having received a signal from her emergency beacon (EPIRB). We initially thought that the signal was sent automatically from her water-activated EPIRB and that it had been activated during one of her knockdowns. As we pulled the paperwork from her EPIRB registration, we learned that the signal had come from her manually activated EPIRB.

We were referred to Australian Search & Rescue and while we were on the phone with them another signal came in from her handheld PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). Her water-activated EPIRB has not been activated so we are hopeful that the boat is still upright.

We are working closely with American, French and Australian Search & Rescue authorities to coordinate several ships in the area to divert to her location. There are several ships in her area, the earliest possible contact is 40 hours. We are actively seeking out some sort of air rescue but this is difficult due to the remoteness of her location. Australian Search & Rescue have arranged to have a Quantas Airbus fly over her location at first light (she is 11 hours later). They will not be able to help her other than to talk via marine radio if they are able to get close enough. Hopefully, they will be able to assess her situation and report back to us.

Abby has all of the equipment on board to survive a crisis situation like this. She has a dry suit, survival suit, life raft, and ditch bag with emergency supplies. If she can keep warm and hang on, help will be there as soon as possible. Wild Eyes is designed for travel in the Southern Ocean and is equipped with 5 air-tight bulkheads to keep her buoyant in the event of major hull damage. It is built to Category 0 standards and is designed to self-right in the event of capsize.

Thank you for all of your kind emails and calls. We appreciate your prayers and support.

We will update as soon as there is some news.

Laurence, Marianne and Team Abby

Yikes, it's been too long!  Things have been busy here, trying to get ready for mom's imminent arrival and trying to fit in as much work as possible before I have my week off.  It looks like I'm going to try to squeeze in a few hours here and there. 

Anyway, other than than it's almost full summer here in the mountains so I have another trip planned tomorrow on the water.  We're going somewhere in Summit county with friends then we're clearing out the guest room later that evening.  So little by little things are getting back to normal.  Hopefully my meeting at a restaurant in Frisco will go good and I'll have a job lined up for when mom goes home.  This is the place I'm looking at, seems like they get a ton of business in the summer and that's definitely where I want to be.  

So the other day when I went into the office Patti, our office manager, gave me pics from our trip.  This is the one that Pete liked the best.  I'm the left front paddler. 

Here's one of what a spill looks like.  This is Tom, Mike & Leon other WOA rafting trainees.