Crikey!

I just watched the Steve Irwin "Croc Hunter" memorial service and I was fine most of the way thru. It was a beautiful tribute to him. I lost it when Bindi (his dd) came out to speak about her Daddy though. She was just so sweet and she vowed to carry on in her Dad's footsteps. I was fine again until his best mate drove Steve's truck off for the final time and they started showing pics of Steve with his children and wife. He is missed by the entire world.
Here is a poem written for him:
THE CROCODILES ARE CRYING
Endless visions fill my head – this man – as large as life
And instantly my heart mourns for his angels and his wife
Because the way I see Steve Irwin – just put everything aside
It comes back to his family – it comes back to his pride
His animals inclusive – Crikey – light the place with love!
Shine his star with everything he fought to rise above
The crazy-man of Khaki from the day he left the pouch
Living out his dream and in that classic ‘Stevo’ crouch
Exploding forth with character and redefining cheek
It’s one thing to be honoured as a champion unique
It’s one thing to have microphones and spotlight cameras shoved
It’s another to be taken in and genuinely loved
But that was where he had it right – I guess he always knew
From his fathers’ modest reptile park and then Australia Zoo
We cringed at times and shook our heads – but true to natures call
There was something very Irwin in the make up of us all
Yes the more I care to think of it – the more he had it right
If you’re going to make a difference – make it big and make it bright!
Yes - he was a lunatic! Yes - he went head first!
But he made the world feel happy with his energetic burst
A world so large and loyal that it’s hard to comprehend
I doubt we truly count the warmth until life meets an end
To count it now I say a prayer with words of inspiration
May the spotlight shine forever on his dream for conservation
…My daughter broke the news to me – my six year old in tears
It was like she’d just turned old enough to show her honest fears
I tried to make some sense of it but whilst her Dad was trying
His little girl explained it best…she said “The crocodiles are crying”
Their best mate’s up in heaven now – the crocs up there are smiling!
And as sure as flowers, poems and cards and memories are piling
As sure as we’ll continue with the trademarks of his spiel
Of all the tributes worthy – he was rough…but he was real
As sure as ‘Crikey!’ fills the sky
I think we’ll miss ya Steve…goodbye

On another note: it's the TMX Elmo craze!!
I went out to Target this afternoon to pick up the new Elmo for Ian for Christmas if I could find it. It wasn't something I HAD to have. They did have them though and I went ahead and bought an extra for a gift or to possibly Ebay. While I'm standing there, this guy comes up and pulls every last Elmo off the shelf. I was shocked! I actually told the guy to leave some for someone else. LOL If you know me, I'm not one to speak out like that. All he could do was smile and say "why?". Grrr. When I got home there were 2000+ on Ebay and by tonight there were over 14,000 (yes thousand!) on Ebay. People are paying outrageous amts of money for these and some people in other parts of the countrey say their stores are still fully stocked. I'm betting from this guy's reaction, that there are no more in my area to be found!

Update:
My van wasn't as bad as I thought. It just needed rear brakes and the front brake was warped or something hence the noise. Thank goodness! Dh took care of the bill so I have no idea what it actually cost though. Still wondering how we're going to pay for this trip. All his side jobs will be slow right now as his buddy who gives him out as a reference is in Lebanon for who knows how long. Hmm Maybe I should sell Elmo now! LOL Oh and dh has decided he needs a laptop eventually for his Primerica gig. I understand but I hope he can wait until after Christmas!