Strap on those birthday hats, my MT celebrants - for Oct 13 is Hillary's birthday! (yes, I know I'm a tad early for it in the US, but we're well into the day here in Melbourne!)

What can we say about our funky chick Hillary? Mother of two, fundraiser extraordinaire, runner (and vigorous cheerleader to us all who care to strap on a pair of sneakers and head for the start line).

Yes, she's the total package. In short, she's simply the best!!!

So, as they say here in Australia, Ladies (and any Gentlemen lurking), will you please be upstanding and toast our birthday girl, Hillary!

When I was about 5, I had a serious crush on a neighbor. He was 9 and oh so cute. We were friends. Come to think of it, he may have been my first real relationship.

My mother made us break up on July 4, 1974. She cited abuse as her reason. Let me explain...

I was in love and would do whatever he asked. Now, considering I was 5 and he was 9, the last thing I did for him was pretty stupid. It was the 4th of July and we had fireworks (both literal and figurative) and he handed me a firecracker and asked me to hold it as he lit it. Of course, it jumped off my hand and traveled up my face, passing by the right side of my mouth and barely missing my left eye...thus, the break-up. The physical scars are barely visible, but the emotional scars will probably last forever...

My point with this very emotionally scarring story is KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE TOMORROW!!

...no matter how much they love the nine year old that lives just a few doors down...