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I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy, a Yankee Doodle do or die. A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam...born on the 12th of July...
This is the month we celebrate our Independence here in the good old U.S. of A. And it's also the month we celebrate... ME! Yes, that's right. It was July when Shirley and Leonard Simmons brought a brand new baby boy into the world... ME!
I'm staying close to home this month...teaching at Slimmons, celebrating my birthday, and spending time with my Dalmatian, Hattie. Now, for all of you Clubhouse Members, we'll be having our July Auditorium on the 5th, and I'll be coming 15 minutes early that night to chat about the cruise a bit. Then on the 12th, 19th, and 26th, we'll be having informal chats. Yes , that's right, I'm having a chat on my birthday!!! If any other appearances come up, I'll be sure to put it on my calendar for you.
And, of course, I continue to work on plans for my Cruise to Lose! Have you booked your cruise yet? If you haven't, this is the best week to do it. You see, our rates are only locked in until the 7th. After that we have to release any rooms we have left back to the cruise line so they can sell them to other people. At that point, it's possible they may start charging u s more for any additional bookings. We can't know. So it's best to go ahead and make your reservation before the seventh of this month. You can email Linda W. or call her at 1-800-637-8124.
This is really going to be a fantastic cruise. I'll be there for you all week...and I am teaching ALL the classes and seminars myself. Some of you have said you are worried about the oil spill. It's a horrible thing, and I do hope they get it stopped soon and get everything cleaned up. But when it comes to booking a cruise, I don't want you to worry about that. Carnival's ships are still sailing, normally, in and out of New Orleans. The port of New Orleans has not been closed at any point due to the spill. If needed, the Triumph will divert the course of the ship to sail around any areas that are affected by the spill. Carnival says they have no reason to expect the spill to affect their access to any port. Of course nobody can know how this will progress. But if Carnival announces anything, we'll be sure to let you know.
So I'm still planning to be there. And you still need this cruise! And hey, New Orleans still needs you to come visit. So get on that phone and book that reservation and I'll see you in September...in MY HOME TOWN!
Now tell me...what are YOU doing this red, white and blue month? Does your 4th of July celebration include... well... EATING?
 Food comes in all kinds of colors. Red could be that luscious apple that you're slicing up. White could be that cold glass of milk - got milk? And you know I left my thrill on blueberry hill! We are now faced with another holiday and another time to celebrate with our forks. I sometimes wonder if people know what July 4 is all about. July 4, 1776, everyone got together with their powdered wigs and had a big, grand barbecue - OOPS! Wrong book! Let's stick with the history book. July 4 is when our country proclaimed its independence. There was a lot of signing of documents and lots of famous people, and look how far we've come!
It's a paradox, really. We celebrate our independence, but we are still very dependent on food. You know it's true. Right now millions of people are standing in front of a barbecue, flipping and turning, wheezing and pressing. I see parks. I see families passing huge bowls around - potato chips, potato salad, a plate piled so high with ribs that it looks like the empire state building!
As I look around the world right now through the eyes of CNN Headline News, I see a lot of countries and a lot of people who do not have independence. This saddens me so much. Sometimes we overlook how important this day really is. So if Mr. John Adams and all those other famous men had not put their ideas on paper, we might be one of those places that is held very tightly by one person or a group of VIP's.
Please don't misunderstand me; I LOVE picnics! People don't invite me to their picnics. You're laughing right now, but would you want me at your house for the 4th of July? Maybe I'll ring a few doorbells! I'll get all dressed up in red, white and blue and just surprise people. Can't you imagine that?! You're eating a big, barbecued drumstick with sauce all over your mouth and your hands, your doorbell rings, and you say to yourself, "Who the heck could that be?" You get up, and now there's barbecue sauce on the sliding door by your patio, and there's even barbecue sauce on your hand as you turn the knob. I think some people would faint, so I guess I'd better not do that!
Exercise your rights this 4th of July! It's not just all about a 24-hour picnic, you know! Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone came out of their houses all across America and just walked a mile after that 4th portion - I mean, July 4th meal! It's like any other day. You have to watch the portions, and you have to celebrate life and this day, because it is so special. I don't take my freedom for granted. Isn't that a wonderful word? FREEDOM! 1776....that was a very good year!
Now, you know I always share a recipe with you. Here's one you can use for your Independence Day Celebration!!!
Let me know what you think of the recipe. Watch your portions...not just on the holiday, but all month long. Keep exercising...and when you need a little motivation, stop by and read my Salute to Success column. I have a couple of firecrackers to tell you about this month!
Take good care of yourselves...and I'll see you in the clubhouse!
Love,
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Well...Happy July...and a Happy Red, White and Blue to all of you...my 
