Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting

I am so incredibly proud of my daughter Brittany. She has spent the past seven years earning her black belt. It took tremendous dedication and focus. This August she officially got her belt along with some other wonderful kids our family has grown to love. My boys even obtained higher belts during the Extravaganza event as they call it.

Elvis loved karate. The Army also introduced Presley to karate, which he studied seriously, later including it in his live performances. Elvis started in shotokan, earned his first black belt in chito-ryu, dabbled in tae kwon do, and than got a black belt in kenpo.

I think that is why he may have worn the jumpsuits as well. He wanted to be able to do his karate kicks in his Vegas shows.

You don't have to be Elvis to find your inner Elvis. Just have the confidence to try something new and focus your goal.

Marilyn Monroe in a Pink Convertible

All I knew was that my wife Buffie was planning a very special birthday weekend for me. She said to take the boys and go to a movie and be back at 4:15 sharp because our escort would be waiting.

I thought we were going to a concert from what my sister Debbie had let slip. I didn't know she was in on the gag.

Buffie is a pretty smart girl, but I didn't realize how clever she truly was. Sometime after 4:00, I was driving down my street on what had to be one of the hottest days this summer, I could see a blur of pink in the distance. And it wasn't coming from the surprise lilies in our yard.

In the most beautiful pink convertible I had ever laid my eyes on was Norma Jean herself - Marilyn Monroe waiving and flirting with me. In the back of my mind, "I'm thinking is my wife watching this?" Oh yeah, she planned this. I think.