I was just hanging with my Mom, watching the news because I was too lazy to walk upstairs to my place when I saw a story that didn’t just surprise me but made me say “awwww” too.

Josh Hutcherson, the dude that plays Peeta in The Hunger Games (more on my opinion of that later) is auctioning off 5 dates with himself to benefit a young girl in his hometown who was in an accident. (click here for more info)

Now I hated The Hunger Games books, so I have no plans to see the movies. In my opinion they weren’t very well written and by the end of the second book, I was wishing Katniss would off herself so I didn’t have to read anymore.

What surprised me though is the fact that both of the lead actors in The Hunger Games are from Kentucky. Jennifer Lawrence is from my hometown of Louisville and Josh is from Union.

I think that it’s not only fab that both of these actors are well received and are from my home state! We already had claim to George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Ashley Judd as well as musical groups Tantric, My Morning Jacket and Cage The Elephant.

It always excites me when someone from here does well. People tend to stereotype Kentuckians, especially with all the press the Oxycontin Express documentary got. People tend to see the minority of people that cause the majority of press and forget there are thousands of people here that aren’t drugged out maniacs.

So bravo to Josh Hutcherson for being a nice guy and making a young girl’s life better in the best way that he can.

Love and Smooches,

Mel