Sweet relief from the heat

Did you ever have a lemonade stand growing up? I never did, but I always wanted to. I was just too shy and we lived on a road without a lot of traffic.
I'm working on a story about lemonade and whether kids still take the roadside to sell the yummy yellow liquid.
If you know where I can find one, please leave me a comment or e-mail me at allisonflynn@shelbystar.com.

From the mouths of babes

Nathan's language skills are beginning to take off. He's beginning to answer our questions with more than a yes or no.
On Sunday morning he and his daddy were playing and Nathan was pinching Stephen. So Stephen pinched him back (not hard, mind you.) Nathan put on his best pouty face and said "Not nice, Daddy."
Sunday afternoon Nathan played peek-a-boo with my grandmother at her house. Looking right at him, I asked "Nathan, where are you?" Without missing a beat he replied, "Right here."
Hopefully he won't repeat any choice words he might hear when Mommy's driving....

OMG! NKOTB!!!

New Kids are coming to Charlotte! New Kids are coming to Charlotte!
Here's what I know thus far:
Oct. 30, Bobcats Arena; tickets aren't on sale yet.
But sweet Lord they are coming close by!!!!!!

Happy Father's Day = Baking disasters for mom

This is the second year I've had issues with making dessert for my husband for Father's Day.
The first year Stephen celebrated Father's Day was in 2006 - when Nathan was just a few weeks old. So I didn't even bother that year.
Last year I was all set to bake up a beautiful Red Velvet Cake. Except my baking powder was bad and the first cake I baked was only 2 inches tall. I had to send Stephen to the grocery store for more red food coloring and baking powder so I could hurriedly make another one.
Fast forward one year. This year I was going to make cheesecake, one of his favorite's. Except I opened the cabinet to find I'd run out of vanilla flavoring and hadn't replenished it.
Off to Food Lion Stephen went.
I told him later that next year I'd just buy him a cake. He gave me the stink eye. I guess he'd rather go to the store and homemade goodness than get a store bought cake. (I'm flattered by this, actually!)

Linus Flynn: 2005-2008

We lost a member of our family today. And although he wasn't human, he was a special part of it.
We first met Linus the cat when we lived in an apartment between selling our old house and building our new one. A scared, shy kitten, Linus was soon the hit of the apartment complex, garnering affection and food from most everyone.
When we got ready to move in October 2005, our landlord told us if we didn't take him he'd send him to the pound. And even though we already had three indoor cats, my husband and I agreed we could use an outdoor cat since our new house has a field (and field mice) all around it.
We named our new family member Linus because that was Stephen's pick. My dear husband is in the IT field, and since thought Linus (after the founder of Linux) would suit him.
Linus fit in well with our family, bringing us the occasional mouse or mole and loving all over us when we were outdoors with him. He even taught my son, Nathan, his first taste of responsibility -- Nathan loved getting a shovel and taking Linus food.
Linus was a smart cat, too. He soon figured out he could jiggle the door knob to let us know he was home and hungry.
Today we found him under a neighbor's tree, hit by a car. He had drug himself by his front legs as far as he could and couldn't quite make him home. That tree is directly across the street from the end of our driveway. I think Linus was smart enough to know that we'd see him and take him home from there.
Rest in peace, my orange friend. We'll miss you more than you'll ever know.

The great tomato debate

In Saturday's paper (and online right now) you'll find information on whether or not tomatoes around here are safe.
I volunteered to tackle this story for selfish reasons, folks.
I love tomatoes and on Tuesday night, I threw out $3 worth because I wasn't sure if they were safe or not. It made me sad to throw them away because they were so red and yummy looking.
Being sick would have made me sadder.

Congratulations, Class of 2008

My own high school senior, my niece, Bailey, graduated last night from RS Central High School. Call me a sap, but I got so teary-eyed when I spotted her in the crowd of other graduates in the sea of royal blue and white.
While she's only technically been my niece for almost 8 years, "B" (as we call her) and I go way back. Bailey's uncle (my husband), Stephen, and I started dating in 1993 - when Bailey was just three years old.
As I sat in the stadium last night my mind went back to Bailey, around age 4, sitting on my lap during football games. And Bailey, who once very truthfully told one of Stephen's friends "You've got on too much cologne." And Bailey, who handmade my son, Nathan, a welcome-to-the-world card and gave him her favorite bunny when he was born.
I'm proud of all our graduates this year -- you've all come a long way.
But I'm especially proud of my "B".

Courageous Kali

I met Kali Greene for the first time Thursday.
I knew who she was and remembered the stories The Star published about her five years ago when she was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's large cell lymphoma. But until yesterday, she was just words on a page.
Kali and her mom, Denita, came to The Star office for an interview with me to update you, our readers, about Kali's progress. She's in remission, and on Tuesday she'll graduate from Crest High School.
A lot's changed in five years. She's no longer a 12-year-old fighting for her life; she's a 17-year-old on the brink of life.
Kali's faced what many adults don't have the strength to deal with. She's come out with grace and is even paying it forward by leading Crest High School's Relay for Life Team.
I hope some day I'll have half as much courage as Kali Greene.