Straight from California is a picture of Shelby-Nichole Holt who is not only holding her freshly-purchased copy of THE REASON, but she’s a major character in it!

In December 2008, at a charity auction held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California for Erin Gray’s Haven House, a domestic abuse shelter. Shelby’s mom, Mary, outbid everyone to get character naming rights for THE REASON. Six hundred dollars was raised on THE REASON auction alone to aid in the mission of Haven House.

Here I am with Erin…a real sweetheart:

Please let me know if you’ve seen THE REASON! E-mail your pics to me at marley_gibson AT yahoo DOT com.

Thanks,
Marley = )

Wow…nothing like waiting until the last minute to get the old income taxes done, eh? If you don’t have to do them yet, boy, are you lucky! I usually use H&R Block for my taxes, but this year, I thought I’d give TurboTax a try. And after five hours and still no complete filing, my eyes are bleeding.

Not so easy…

Using TurboTax is like a reverse slot machine. You owe $3,500 one minute, you’re getting back $1,400 the next…and on and on and on as you input numbers. Sort of wish I could press the “get ticket” button and just got to the cashier to deal with everything.

Ahh…back to the books…

Hugs,
Marley = )

Okay…I know many of you may laugh at me for this post, but I’m in need of some advice, recommendation, suggestions…anything…

I have a treasured, loved–beloved–teddy bear named Donny who has been with me all 43 years (and a few months) of my life. Donny was a Christmas 1966 present for me…but I was born about 10 days late and arrived on the 28th. Still he was there waiting for me. After going through a couple of other teddy bears, Donny became my one and only. I slept with him every night and not only did he go off to college with me, but he also went on my honeymoon — something my brother and sister had always kidded me about, so of course, I made it so.

Through everything I’ve been through in my life — especially my cancer — Donny has been my side. He is the first and forever love of my life because of all he has brought me through. Whenever anything goes bad and a girl needs to cry, Donny has always been there. And yes, he was named after Donny Osmond. LOL!

After 43 years of constant loving and affection from me, Donny is a little worse for wear. Back in the early 1980s, my grandmother gave him a full body overhaul. This is the state he’s still in today…although, his aging is showing. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t cover treasured childhood toys, so I am in desperate need of someone who restores stuffed animals. My boyfriend tells me I’ve GOT to do something to preserve Donny. I don’t want anything more to happen to him.

Here he is…front and back…

Does anyone know anyone who does really high-end, quality restoration jobs on teddy bears? The web is full of them, but this is a huge matter of trust. Go ahead and laugh if you may, but Donny has been a rock and has seen me through heartbreak, misery, health problems and was there to lend strength when my sister had her heart attack, when my mother had her 7-way bypass, and when my father recently had all of his medical problems. Suffice it to say, Donny is a member of the family and I need to preserve him before time takes any further toll on him.

Any advice, recommendations, suggestions, etc. would be very much appreciated for a very well-loved bear.

Thanks so much!
Marley = )

Well…we’re on spring break with my boyfriend’s sons (11 and 9) and we’re having a great time…except for the pollen! Holy schmoly…it’s like it snowed yellow! My poor car is covered in it and if you stay still outside for more than ten minutes, you’ll be covered with it too.

Check out my poor whip…

We have enjoyed campfires…

Turkey burgers on the grill…

And finding the REAL Farmville…LOL!!

=

We’re having a great time being together and hanging out. What do you do during spring break?

Hugs,
Marley = )

A very happy and blessed Easter to everyone. Wishing you and yours the peace of the season.

Hugs,
Marley = )