Please Take One Minute

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae.

Lately, we've been doing Hazel's Heroes - The Champs & Chumps on Tuesday, and we'll get to that later tonight. This morning's post has nothing to do with sports though. I spent the weekend in Hazel's old stomping grounds to lend some support to a very close family friend (if you are Portuguese, you'd know we refer to them as "cousins") who lost her mother on Friday morning to breast cancer.

Over the last couple of years of doing this blog, I have asked people who check in to consider donating a few bucks to worthy causes - I don't know if any of you do, but if you have taken the time to consider it, thank you. Today, I humbly ask you to consider throwing a few bucks towards your national Breast Cancer Foundation - the disease is taking away our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, daughters and friends. I know people have their designated charities that they give to - if you are one of Hazel's legions of fans and admirers, you know she is always ready to help out at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston - but why not consider donating what you would spend on lunch one day or on a night out on the town for a very worthy cause. I think Hazel would give her thumbs up to a one time (or regular) donation to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

U.S Breast Cancer Foundation

Like I said, we'll be back later with Hazel's Heroes - The Champs & Chumps. Given the content of this post, we have to highlight one champ this morning. Former England Captain David Beckham proved to be a champ - I know, I know, I like to give the Englishman the business every time I can; but today Beckham gets nothing but love here.

After a very long day Saturday night, I picked up a copy of the Sun and read a story about how Beckham brightened the day of a young Canadian girl suffering from leukemia. The story was about a 19 year old girl name Becca who was one of Beckham's biggest fans. Her aunt somehow connected with Beckham's people to tell him about the young girl - a week later, Beckham phones her in the hospital to have a chat with her about how she was doing. He asked her if there was anything she wanted - and she politely said no. A few days later a package arrives from Madrid with Beckham's game jersey. That ladies and gentlemen epitomizes a champ - all too often we get wrapped up in some of the bad things professional athletes do...but some rise above the rest to show that they are ok. Beckham gets a free pass here for a while - at least until he comes to the MLS.

That is it for this morning gang - thank you for taking the time to read this.

HAZEL'S TUESDAY HOROSCOPE
You may have to juggle things around to appease someone you care about. Emotional matters will escalate if you aren't willing to back down or at least compromise. Pick and choose your battles wisely. 2 stars

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the Day on Hazelspeeps - for my "cousin" Caterina (I will never ever call you Catherine...never) who's mom was a great woman who instilled in her daughter an appreciation for "that shitty old Porkchop music". I'm going with You Tube for today's selections - all about Amalia

Povo Que Lavas No Rio - Mariza doing one of Amalia's signature classics

Estranha Forma De Vida - Amalia, they are being pulled off You Tube, but my "tia Floripes'" favourite

Casa Da Mariquinhas - Amalia a song that every one of our mom's sang to us as kids, no video of Amalia, but the track is the original

Adeus