Now she just needs a super-cool Rollergirl name and she’s ready for next season.
Kandi’s post last week about the local fairs got me thinking. I’ve NEVER been to The Ohio State Fair. No state fairs actually – what a sad, sheltered life I’ve been leading? Not to mention, as Amy in OHio, surely I owe it my STATE to celebrate this annual ritual of cows, bunnies, rides and funnel cakes.
So I was thrilled to get an email from the folks at Ohio Tuition Trust Authority (known in the biz at OTTA) inviting me and the family to come visit the Fair this year and learn more about the CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan – a tax advantaged way for families to save for college. As always with invitations to fun my response: HAVE MINIVAN, WILL TRAVEL. So we head up there on Saturday to see the sites, smell the smells and consume the funnel cakes.
In addition to the all the Fair has to offer – and man, there is too much to squeeze into a day but we’re gonna try – OTTA is raffling off $100 scholarship EACH DAY to one lucky fair-goer! And on Saturday (August 7th) they are giving away a $1000 scholarship. What a great way to start your kids’ educational fund if you don’t have one in place already, and a pretty sweet addition to one if you do! To enter, simply stop by the OTTA booth! You can find more information on the College Advantage by visiting their Facebook page as well!
So make plans to get up to Columbus at least one day this year – but hurry! The Fair wraps up on Sunday (August 8th)! For a complete schedule of everything going on the next few days, visit The Ohio State Fair’s website for a day by day listing.
I can almost taste the funnel cake!
PS: As a guest of OTTA for the Fair, I was provided with complimentary tickets to my family, as well as reimbursement for our traveling expenses for our drive up from Cincinnati.
A week or two ago, my delightfully wonderful pal Jenny sent an email alerting me and other local moms about Operation Vanessa and the travesty that is our adoption system. It is simply a devastating tragedy that has a beautiful two-year old named Vanessa at its heart. Please take a moment and read Vanessa’s Mom’s soul-wrenching words on the hows and the whys she finds herself and her daughter in this terrible place. As a Mom, it just tore me to pieces.
The short version is this: Stacey Doss worked with a California adoption agency, where she was introduced and eventually selected by Vanessa’s birth mom to become Vanessa’s legal mother forever. Stacey welcomed Vanessa into her heart and home when she was only a day old and she has been the center of Vanessa’s world since that day two years ago.
Vanessa’s birth mom for reasons of her own lied to Stacey and the adoption agency/system when she told them (under penalty of perjury) that she did not know who Vanessa’s birth father was. Regrettably the truth came out shortly after Vanessa’s birth – the birth father was known and now knew his daughter had been placed for adoption.
At first glance it would be easy to cry FOUL! How could the birth mother lie like this? How could she steal this man’s child? How could this happen? And at first glance perhaps there are folks out there that would side with the birth father who claims to have unknowingly lost his child.
But as with nearly all things in life – there are many sides to this story too easily lost if you take it at first glance. I truly believe Vanessa’s birth mother did what she did to protect and save her daughter from the potential danger that is the birth father. Most of you reading this are likely parents, if not moms yourselves and you know when faced with imminent danger to your children, you’d take whatever action needed to keep them out of harms way. I have to think that Vanessa’s birth mother saw no other choice and that lie, though ultimately destructive, was Vanessa’s way out. Penalty of perjury would mean little to a mother trying to save her child.
The bottom line in this mess is that for two years Vanessa has known no other world than the one beautifully created for her by Stacey Doss. And it is there that the birth father’s rights (if he in fact is owed any) become irrelevant to me. The only rights that should matter are Vanessa’s – her right to the life and unconditional love she was granted when she was placed into Stacey’s arms by the birth mother. To strip her from Stacey would be the equivalent of ripping both their hearts out, leaving two broken souls that will never heal. This child deserves to stay exactly where she is. Is it unfair to the birth father? Maybe. But I don’t care. All that matters is Vanessa – her best interests.
Montgomery County (Dayton, Ohio area) is asking the courts to return Vanessa to Ohio where she’ll be placed in foster care while this issue is sorted out. I find this shameful and beyond comprehension. And like Stacey said: “… children are not a commodity that you put in a warehouse until a decision is made as to where to place them!” The law is wrong here and this child should not have to suffer to prove it.
If you are in the area and can spare some time to show support for Vanessa and Stacey, we invite you to join us for a candlelight vigil in Montgomery County on Thursday, July 15th at 8:30 pm in the Carillon Park. We’ll assemble at the Carillon (see pic to right). You can get up to the minute info on the vigil at Operation Vanessa’s Facebook Page which will be updated regularly.
Not in the area? No worries – sign the petition; send words of encouragement to Stacey and Vanessa through their Facebook page, Twitter account or website. And most of all, keep them in your prayers.
Cincy Chic is once again hosting the wonderful diva’licious Red, Pink and Blue event next week. I had a blast at the event last year, believe me, you’ll want to mark your calendars for Friday, June 25th, 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm.
Red, Pink and Blue is all about women’s health and being proactive. The focus of this event is especially important to me – my mother died as the result of heart complications; I have an aunt who has lost both of her legs to diabetes and sadly, there are too many women in my life who have faced (AND BEAT!) breast cancer.
During the event, St. Elizabeth Healthcare will be on hand with their mammography van as well as blood pressure screenings. Are you up to date on your breast exams? Check here to make sure you’re keeping your dates and your boobies straight and perky!
Once you tend to your inner beauty, don’t forget about the outer! Watch as the Purple People Bridge becomes the world’s most awesome runway with sassy-hot fashion show. The first 200 hundred in attendance will score a sa-weet swag bag to boot! Get it? to boot…I crack myself up
“This event marries fashion and philanthropy. Not only will we have free
health checks and information available, but we’ll also transform the bridge into a quarter mile fashion show runway! It’s truly an epic production,” says Cincy Chic publisher Amy Storer-Scalia.
After all the fun on the Bridge, head to Star Lanes on The Levee for the wrap-up party and roll the night away!
All proceeds from the event will benefit the American Heart Association, Pink Ribbon Girls and the American Diabetes Association. Tickets are only $15 a piece, visit Cincy Chic’s site to order yours today.
But wait! I have 3 pairs of tickets in my hot, little Red, Pink and Blue hands and three lucky winners are gonna get them. Just leave a comment here and I’ll choose three of them randomly and you’re set! You have until Monday (6/21 at 11:59pm) to enter. Good luck!
Sunday, as some of you know, P participated in Ride Cincinnati. I’ll have some action shots and details later this week of the amazing P conquering her first bike ride, but for now I had to share an exclusive little pre-ride interview she gave…you can’t find this stuff anywhere but here people.
