October 4, 2012
Writers Quote
The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe. ~~ Gustav Flaubert
September 27, 2012
Interesting Quote
Conscious is being aware of something;
Conscience is wishing you weren’t.
August 25, 2012
Difference Quote
You’re not like the rest of them; someday the best of them will realize they were wrong.
Be proud of what you are and remember, Difference is the most common type of Ordinariness. So you do fit in. Be Brave!
August 19, 2012
Chibi Form Andrew De Leon
Chibi Andrew De Leon used with permission of the adorable, talented artist, Mallory Gillentine. Firefly adores this one!
This young Andrew De Leon fan’s original art really tells a story. Andrew has given encouragement and confirmation to many searching teens. Self-doubt, low self-esteem, and lack of purpose are so common with this age group. What Andrew has done, by acknowledging his ‘freakness’, is confirm that it is OK to be different; that it is OK to be unique; that it is OK to be yourself and that you do not have to match anyone elses standards of beauty or acceptance. This young man has made an enormous positive impact on so many hurting, searching teens. His enormous creativity comes through in many areas and this confidence in his own creativity has made it possible for other creative youths to express their creativity in positive endeavors as well. Many of his fans are highly creative, writing poetry, writing and performing songs, making videos, and of course you have seen some of the art that has been generated by his inspiration to his fans.
Kudos to you, Andrew! For the encouragement you have given your many fans!!! And, of course, for your beautiful voice!
August 16, 2012
Andrew De Leon’s Twitter
Ok, now that it has been announced that Andrew De Leon has been chosen as a Wild Card for America’s Got Talent, many of you will want to follow him on Twitter.
There are several fan clubs with his name on it and you might want to follow those as well, but there is only one true Twitter account of Andrew De Leon; he has given Portland Firefly permission to publish it here.
Ready for it… here it is: AndrewLeoDeLeon. If you go to this twitter account, you will see a picture of him standing diagonal in the photo with a greenish background. Be sure to click Follow so Andrew can keep you up to date.
This is what you’ll see at the correct twitter account: Andrew Leo De Leon@AndrewLeoDeLeon
Singer, Metal head, LOVE horror films! LOVE classical music 
(Real Andrew De Leon)
To follow his official Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AndrewLeoDeLeon
PS: This drawing is by Lauren Buitte and is taken from Andrew’s Twitter Profile Picture. Lauren, you are an amazing artist!
Used with Lauren’s permission.
August 13, 2012
America Wants Andrew Back!
Andrew De Leon has been a crowd favorite since he first set foot on the stage. America wants him back!
August 12, 2012
Andrew De Leon, is he an AGT Wildcard?
Is Andrew De Leon an AGT Wildcard? I think he is!
You can go to this link, find Andrew’s picture,then you can vote for him to be a Wildcard!
http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/photos/11402#item=253349
He currently is the number two favorite for the Wildcard Show! But he is Firefly’s Number One Favorite!
PS: Update: Yes Andrew is in the Wildcard Show on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 8:00 pm (7:00 pm Central & Hawaii). For more info see newer posts.
August 10, 2012
America’s Got Talent Wildcard Show
Andrew De Leon drawing used by permission of the artist, Lauren Buitte. Well Done, Lauren!
There is a lot of speculation as to AGT’s Wildcard show. The biggest question is who will be called back? Of course, we all want Andrew De Leon back. Firefly believes that with the YouTube performances being held this week, August 14, 2012, that the Wildcard choices have to be announced either that night, Tuesday, August 14, 2012 or the next night Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at the latest.
The next big question is when will the Wildcard show be held? Well, Portland Firefly has done some research and I believe that the AGT Wildcard performances will be held the week after the Wildcards acts are announced. That means they would be performing on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 with voting that same night and elimination the next night, August 22, 2012.
So….Andrew De Leon fans… plan to watch Aug 14 /15 to see who the wildcards are and definitely plan to watch on August 21st, and then vote immediately after the show ends.
Let’s hope Portland Firefly is correct on this call!
August 9, 2012
Another cute Andrew De Leon picture!
Adorable picture of Andrew De Leon used with permission of the Artist, Lauren Buitte.
August 6, 2012
Classy Bolt
“While respecting an opposing country’s national anthem is something you would expect any Olympic athlete to do, we know that is not always the case. Following one of his recent preliminary race’s in London, Usain Bolt was in the middle of an interview when the US National Anthem began playing as Sanya Richards-Ross was being presented with her gold medal. Bolt instantly stopped the interview — which was being aired live — to acknowledge the presentation and show respect for a fellow athlete.
For those of you who are thinking “what’s the big deal,” there are plenty of athletes who would just continue their interview without thinking twice about it. That doesn’t mean they would be disrespecting a fellow competitor or country intentionally, but the fact that Bolt didn’t think twice about it says a lot about his character. He may be cocky and even a bit clumsy at times, but Usain deserves credit for this classy gesture.” Steve Del
Portland Firefly salutes Bolt!!!
Encouragement Quote
Experience is the hardest teacher, because she give the test first and the lesson afterwards.
August 2, 2012
The Difference Between Morning People and Night People
What is the difference between Morning People and Night People? It boils down to this simple explanation….
At 5:30 in the morning, when the sun is streaming in through the windows, a Morning Person gets up and makes coffee while a Night Person draws the blackout drapes and goes back to sleep! Which are you?
July 31, 2012
It’s a Blue Moon!
July 31, 2012 and it is another Blue Moon! A Blue Moon is the second full moon to occur in a calendar month and is a rare occurrence. Although the year 2012 is a rare year because there will be 3 Blue Moons occurring during the course of this calendar year… the most that can ever occur in one year.
So when someone says that something happens ‘Once in a blue moon” they are really saying that it is a rare occurrence.
A beautiful Full Blue Moon Night tonight in Portland, especially with the moonlight reflecting off of the gently flowing river.
July 30, 2012
I’m a Chemo Zombie
Last Thursday, my doctor increased my chemo dosage by 25%. It sounded like a bit much to me at the time, but I am only the patient so I deferred to his expertise…besides we have to attack this aggressive cancer! And I had been doing very well on the lower dosage.
Well, since chemo on Thursday I have been sleeping in bed ever since. That’s for four days and four nights…. I just can’t seem to wake up! Even though I try, I just want to go nitey-nite, day and night. Sunday, I managed to stay awake for four hours after I took a nice shower; but then I had no trouble snuggling back into my little bed cave and going fast asleep for a long sleep.
I just came back from taking sweet little Mercedes for a little walk and honestly, I feel like I am the living dead… a zombie …. It is all I can do to just take little puppy for a short walk.
My brain is so-o-o-o-o foggy and It feels like I just cannot wake up. And I’m not even on any drugs!
Still trying to get the cobwebs out today!!!!
This is a powerful Chemo…lets hope it kills the cancer!
July 27, 2012
The London Olympics Begin
The Olympic Games begin in London today. Tonight at 7:30 pm PDT (6:30 CDT) and 5:30 (Hawaii) we will be able to see the opening ceremonies. Word is that these ceremonies will be stupendous to watch! So get your dinner and your drinks and get comfy in front of the TV while you oohhh and awwww over the beautiful things you will be seeing.
Another reason that Portlanders will be watching is because the United States Flag Bearer is two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Mariel Zagunis from Beaverton, Oregon. Beaverton is a close suburb of Portland and there is a world renown fencing training center here with olympic class instructors and students.
For one night, Mariel Zagunis will turn her laser-like fencing focus to another important task with the world watching. “I’m just going to focus on not tripping, not letting the flag touch the ground and doing everything right,” she said at a news conference Thursday. Her mother, Cathy Zagunis, a former olympian herself, who is a friend of Portland Firefly is very emotional about this honor bestowed on her daughter by her US Olympic Teammates. Since the flag bearer announcement only came 24 hours ago, Cathy had to scramble to get to London in time to view the opening ceremonies in person (which she hd not planned to do).
Mariel won her first Olympic Gold Medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics in Sabre Fencing. It was the first time in over 100 years that the United States won a medal in that category. Mariel went on to repeat her Gold Medal win four years later at the Beijing Olympics, thus bringing home more Gold for the American Fencing team. She is the most decorated woman fencer in history.
This year in London, 2012 will be her third try for Olympic Gold. We do expect her to achieve her golden goal again!! For more about beautiful Mariel, go to www.marielzagunis.com or check back here in a few days for another post on US Fencing!
Google Doodle for Today
Check out the adorable Google Doodle for today Honoring Sports. http://www.Google.com
July 25, 2012
AGT Fans ~ Firefly Apology
Well, Portland Firefly owes all of my readers an apology; she is completely human. I really thought that the judges would give us their Wild Card choices tonight, but it seems that didn’t happen. With the exception, of course, of Sharon’s comment that she would call back the male clogging dance troupe of All That.
Oh, how I wanted the suspense to end tonight! Oh, how I wanted to hear that Andrew De Leon is going through to the Wild Card round!
Andrew De Leon fans…. we just have to wait! And it could be a long wait because the Olympics are now taking television center stage and America’s Got Talent will not return until Tuesday, August 14th, 2012. It’s just too long of a wait. I hope that Andrew doesn’t give up… that he continues practicing; because we know we will see him (somewhere) again soon! NBC cannot ignore the popularity and the ratings that this young man will bring to AGT.
When will we know if Andrew is going through to the Wild Card round? Currently, AGT has been promoting the YouTube video acts. Maybe they will be seen first on Aug 14th with the Wildcards coming in the next week on August 21st, 2012. Last year, the wildcards were announced only one week prior to appearing on TV. So at the latest, I think the Wild Cards will be announced on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012. In any event, we all must play the waiting game….
PS: In the past each judge chose 4 wild card acts to perform again for a total of 12 wild cards.
Scroll down to read additional posts that give you more information on Andrew De Leon.
July 24, 2012
Ride, Sally Ride
A Stanford University physicist answering an ad for NASA Scientists, she was chosen to be the first Women Astronaut in Space. She passed away yesterday at age 61 from pancreatic cancer which she had for 17 months.
As a Flight Attendant, I once had Sally Ride on one of my flights. She was traveling in coach and looked exactly like her photographs. I remember thanking this very humble young woman for what she did and congratulating her on being the first American woman in space. The year was probably 1985 or so and she obliged this single mother by giving me her autograph for my children… Since I had collected several sports related autographs for my son, this one is addressed to my brilliant daughter.
In 2001, she founded Sally Ride Science, a which is aimed at promoting math and science for girls. One of her projects was to develop a camera that could fly aboard spacecraft and take pictures for middle-school students. The fruits of those efforts include EarthKAM on the International Space Station and MoonKAM on the GRAIL lunar probes.
“What might seem like just a cool activity for these kids may very well have a profound impact on their futures,” Ride said after the first student-requested MoonKAM pictures were released in March of this year.
“While she never enjoyed being a celebrity, she recognized that it gave her the opportunity to encourage children, particularly young girls, to reach their full potential,” Hawley, a friend of hers, said. “Sally Ride, the astronaut and the person, allowed many young girls across the world to believe they could achieve anything if they studied and worked hard. I think she would be pleased with that legacy.”
July 23, 2012
Encouragement Quote
Forget about the things that are behind you,
Reach out for the things that are ahead of you.
July 22, 2012
AGT’s Earth Harp and Burning Man
America’s Got Talent is having a special taping of two acts on Monday, July 23, 2012 because these two acts must perform outdoors. The performances will be shown on Tuesday, July 24th, 2012.
One is the Human Cannonball… I have nothing to say about that act.
The other is an amazing act called Earth Harp where the building, structure, theatre, etc. actually becomes part of the instrument. It was so awesome to the judges, that William Close was sent directly to New York (actually New Jersey). Somehow “going to New Jersey” just doesn’t have the same ring to it that “going to New York” has! Go to:
for his AGT LA audition.
Anyway I found a video of William Close playing his Earth Harp at Burning Man in 2011.
This one is about 5 minutes long. He never mentioned his Burning Man experience, only stating that he “taught this (Earth Harp building) in schools.”
To get a better sense of the music as well as the Burning Man Experience go to:
This video is about 15 minutes long.
What is Burning Man? Well, it is unlike anything you have ever experienced before or will ever experience again… unless of course you attend again!
Held every August near Black Rock City, it is too hot for Portland Firefly. Burning Man is an annual art event and temporary community based on radical self-expression and self-reliance in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada which is about 110 miles north of Reno, Nevada. Burning Man begins the last Monday in August culminating on the first Monday in September (which coincides with our Labor Day Holiday).
You must buy a ticket and they go fast. It will be HOT, maybe a little cool at night. You must pack in everything that you will need for the duration of the ‘festival’ and carry it ALL back out (trash), because we want to leave the Playa as clean as we found it. That means food, water (although some can be had there), camping equipment, all necessities, including sunscreen, sand storm protection, hat, jacket, bicycle (for getting around the Playa), costumes (It’s a big party), and oh yes, an art car!!! There is no electricity unless you bring your own generator. This is camping at its rudimentary (and sometimes rudest) best.
Even though last year there were Fifty thousand participants, it is a very organized medium-sized city. You can see an aerial view, from a skydiver helmet cam, of Burning Man here:
It’s cool!
Anyway, I think that William Close and his Earth Harp will be performing in New Jersey the end of August this year instead of performing at Burning Man!
July 21, 2012
Portland Sand in the City
Every summer the city of Portland brings in truckloads of sand to Pioneer Courthouse Square.
As the summer fundraising event for Impact NW, Yoshida’s Sand in the City brings the beach to downtown Portland. In just six hours, sand teams and architects transform over 450 tons of sand and 4,500 gallons of water into magnificent sand sculptures! In its’ 18th year, Sand in the City has raised thousands of dollars to support our Kids on the Block Awareness program.
$4 per person $10 per family at all times
Saturday, July 21th, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 22nd, 1:00 p.m. – All sculptures are demolished and the sand is removed!
Public transportation (Tri-Met) is encouraged as downtown parking is limited.
SATURDAY EVENING BEACH BASHCome join us to celebrate the hard work of our ‘Friends of the Kids’ campaign. Enjoy an evening of music and fun on the square.
http://www.sandinthecitypdx.com/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=997414
In addition to Kids on the Block Awareness Program, Sand in the City will support youth and family programs that are listed below.
- Program SUN Community
- Impact NW Mentoring
- The Independent Living Program
- AKA
- Impact NWs Social and Support Services for Educational Success (SSSES)
- Urban Opportunities
July 20, 2012
Aurora Theatre Massacre
This morning all of America awoke with news of yet another tragic shooting. A 24-year-old lone gunman, dressed in all black bullet-resistant protective gear with his face covered by a gas mask, entered the Century Movie Theatre #9 in Aurora, Colorado and fired more than 100 rounds of bullets from three legally purchased guns.
When it was over, there were 70 people who had been shot. Stories of heroism will be made known as the days and weeks progress. One such hero who protected a mother and her two babies (he was hit in the legs by bullets, which probably would have severely wounded or killed the children) had remarkable things to say. Not even 20 years of age yet, he said that he simply was in “the wrong place at the right time” and that he did not consider himself a hero. He also said that he had already forgiven the gunman who shot him. One psychologist remarked that “People are angry. and their anger cannot find focus”. I think our hero has the solution to that Anger…Forgiveness. For Forgiveness frees the hurting, not the one who did the hurting. Yes, Forgiveness is the magic key.
As of this writing, 30 are still in the hospitals; 11 are in critical condition; and twelve are reported dead.
Portland Firefly would like to commend the Aurora Police Chief, Dan Oates. He conducted an amazing press conference. He was informative, in control, and most of all well prepared (unlike the Colorado Governor who just rambled). He answered appropriate questions, others he refused to answer stating that they were part of the ongoing investigation or that he simply didn’t know. He closed the interview by telling us that there would be an update on Saturday at 2:30 pm. One of the best press conferences that I’ve ever seen for a tragedy.
Portland Firefly sends her prayers to those whose lives were changed today by this tragedy.
July 17, 2012
Andrew on Skype
Andrew De Leon will sometimes take time out of his busy schedule to Skype with his adoring fans. If he didn’t have time to Skype with you last week, this is what he looked like while he was Skyping. Andrew is busy practicing and getting ready for ……… maybe something big??
Picture used with permission of the artist, Lauren Buitte. Love the hat, Lauren! You are a great artist!
