Bailey Arata

More sad news, Today August 22nd 2008, Bailey was put down after a short battle with cancer. She was only 9 years young.

The groomer discovered some large lumps on her neck and stomach last Friday and within a week her health deteriorated.

She was one of the sweetest golden's out there and was loved very much by her family and friends.

We will miss you Bail.

Sad news

08/19/2008
We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.

www.davematthewband.com

Tables

Why cant people just seat themselves at weddings? I hate doing this stupid seating chart. This person wants to sit here, that person wont know anyone at the table. Who the hell cares where you sit. If the wedding is fun enough you wont be sitting at all! You will be dancing your ass off. People can KMA!

Possible Wedding song

So we are starting to look at songs for us to dance to for the wedding. We don't have "a song" but some ideas have been floating around. Here is the first choice. Let me know your thoughts

Heaven - By: Bryan Adams

Oh - thinkin' about all our younger years

There was only you and me We were young and wild and free

Now nothin' can take you away from me

We bin down that road before

But that's over now

You keep me comin' back for more

Baby you're all that I want

When you're lyin' here in my arms

I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven

And love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn't too hard to see

We're in heaven

Oh - once in your life you find someone

Who will turn your world around

Bring you up when you're feelin' down

Ya - nothin' could change what you mean to me

Oh there's lots that I could say

But just hold me now

Cause our love will light the way

N' baby you're all that I want

When you're lyin' here in my arms

I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven

And love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn't too hard to see We're in heaven

I've bin waitin' for so long

For something to arrive

For love to come along

Now our dreams are comin' true T

hrough the good times and the bad

Ya - I'll be standin' there by you

Today, August 7th 2008

Well this is it, the last year I will spend in my twenties. Its kinda sad, I really enjoyed my twenties. I had lots of "birthday weeks" and really looked forward to celebrating each birthday. This year is a bit different then the others. I feel older and dont really want people to know its my birthday. Strange isnt it. All these years I would announce to the world that I was the birthday girl, this year ...not so much.


People at work are sending me e-mails (we have a birthday calendar posted so the ENTIRE company can see when your birthday is). People I dont even know. Some guy "Clay" sent me this message:





Howdy Nikki, I just wanted to shoot you a quick note and say Happy Birthday (Give or take…) and that I hope the year has been going well for you so far. I think we may have met/spoken in the past but if not, I am the PreSales Rep for XXXXXXXX(name has be disguised to protect the innocent). If I may be of help to you down the road, I am looking forward to hearing from you. If not, it was nice talking to you anyway and I hope you have a great day!
Cheers,
Clay



Now thats just strange. And kinda creepy. So here is to another year. HAPPY FREAKING BIRTHDAY TO ME!

How many Nicole Nelson's are there?

Thanks Meg,

There are 694 Nicole Nelson's in the United States.

When I get married there will be 2 Nicole Arata's in the United States.

Interesting.

Birthday Cards

So, over the years, each and every year, my grandmothers sister always sends me a birthday card. She is by far one of the sweetest women I know. She has devoted her entire life to god, and became a nun at the age of 16. We still have her hair in a box (its kinda weird, I know). I remember every year when I was a kid I couldnt wait to open my card from Auntie Sister (thats what we call her). She would always put a $10 bill in the card, and when you are a kid, this is a HUGE deal. She never forgot a single birthday, and would write the sweetest things inside the card. This year was no different. I still get so excited when I receive the card from Auntie Sister, at this point its not about the $10, its about the fact that she always remembers my day. So when I arrived at my parents house today (yes she sends it to my parents still), there is was, Aunite Sisters birthday card. Like a kid in a candy store I ripped it open, waiting to see what was inside! And there it was, a crisp $10 bill. I love her for that, not the money, but for her thoughtfulness. So here is to you Auntie Sister, for always remembering me. I love you!

August 5th 1962

Tomorrow is the anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's death. 46 years ago she was taken from the world. As I told you in my earlier blog my love affair with Marilyn began when I was in the 11th grade and still continues today. I wanted to share with you a very special moment, a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Back in October of 1999, Christie's Auction house was set to auction off Marilyn Monroe's possessions. For a limited time they opened it up to the public for viewing, I of course could not have missed this. So I set up a trip with some friends, who had already visited the auction house, and we were on our way to NYC.

As we approached the auction house I could feel myself getting very nervous. I was about to see and possibly feel most of Marilyn's possessions. I broke down in tears as we entered the auction house. I was surrounded by Marilyn, her voice was playing softly in the background and her items we laid out for the world to admire. Since we got there very early there wasn't many people in the place, which was nice because I could take my time gazing at all the items.

As we approached a jewelry case, there was a women with white gloves standing behind it. I looked down and saw the wedding band that was given to Marilyn by Joe DiMaggio. One diamond was missing. Since there was no one there yet, I asked the white gloved woman if she could take it out of the case, she could see the excitement in my eyes, and very carefully she took it out of the case. I stared at it for a good 5 minutes. Trying to imagine it on Marilyn's ring finger.

I moved on, next was the piano that was her mothers, a white baby grand. It was purchased by Mariah Carey for a cool $500,000. I wondered all over the place trying to imagine how Marilyn brushed her hair, how she sat on her couches, and the books. She was quite the reader, there was a whole room full of books. However my friends that I was with said that they wanted to save the best for last.

As we approached a room in the back of the auction house, I was told to keep my eyes shut. Nervously I was brought to a room, that seemed very dark. I didn't want to peek, so I kept my eyes shut. I was put into position, and then told to open my eyes.

There it was...the "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress. Floating in mid-air. Lights shining, it was completely see-thru. I fell to the ground and started to cry. There were security guards all over the place and one ran over to me and pulled me up and asked me if I was ok. I was shaking, I told him I was fine, just a huge fan. He laughed at me and gave me a smile.

I approached the dress and just stared at it. She was in this dress, she was sewn into this dress. She may have only worn it for a few minutes, but that dress is a part of history and I was able to experience it.

I will never forget that experience, not for the rest of my life. I was able to experience Marilyn, and not many people can say that.

So on the anniversay of her death, lets remember Marilyn for who she was. A real person with a dream. Her dream came true, but ended much too soon.