I love this picture of Madonna, it’s from way back when, but I like it. Anyways….

I clicked around trying to find out a few details on Madonna’s birthday party at Volstead, a private party nightclub in London’s west end. Here’s what I found out. Supposedly about 90 people showed up to surprise her, including her three kids.

Thousands of red roses were everywhere, her table had some sort of caviar-filled crystal ball on it as some sort of center piece type thingie. The menu had some tasty items: sushi, quail eggs, watermelon martinis and giant bottles of Krug Rose champagne.

Adoring hubby Guy gave a tender and loving speech about her. Madonna then got up and gave a speech “refusing a mic because it was too impersonal.” She said the typical usual stuff about loving her family and loyal friends and then went off on some tangent about Kabbalah.

It sounds like quite the birthday bash as it lasted until 3 a.m. apparently.  Late night for the old coug!

Madonna turns 50, and what a career she has had. She is most definiteley controversial, but I have to say I do enjoy her music and respect her as a business woman. As the saying goes she is often imitated, but never duplicated!

Her hubby dropped some major cash when he bought her a diamond necklace and earrings set from Bulgari worth $500,000! That was the elegant part of her present, the romantic touch was a rose he named after Madonna that he supposedly placed in a vegetable patch. Her daughter Lourdes, 11 designed her a dress apparently.

Justin Timberlake reportedly gave her a very practical gift of golfing vouchers and numerous media outlets had birthday cakes delivered to her home in Marylebone, central London.

Madonna is listed in Guinness World Records as selling 120 million albums and 40 million singles to earn the title of the most-successful female solo artist.

Her Sticky And Sweet world tour kicks off on August 23 in Cardiff.

Madonna’s highly publicized friendship with baseball player Alex Rodriguez, just made more news. It seems he has made a very substantial donation for her charity Raising Malawi.  Her charity helps Malawi’s over one million orphans obtain access to food, education and medical care.  If true, its a truly generous gift and will be put to very good use. I wonder what A-Rod’s estranged wife feels about this?   Hopefully, he’ll be as generous with her during their divorce.

New York Daily News is reporting that an unnamed source revealed:

“They’ve asked him for a million dollars, and I hear he’s agreed to give at least $500,000.”

The gossip last couple of months was that he and Madonna were having an affair. She denied the allegations adamantly stating that she and husband Guy Ritchie are still happily married.

Philippe van den Bossche director of Raising Malawai says:

“Obviously when you’re talking about donors, these are private things. I would never reveal information about any donor.” He adds: “We’re building a girls’ school, which will bring the best resources from around the world with a specific focus on medicine, education and the law.” It will be based on the British system — as is taught in private schools Madonna’s children Lourdes and Rocco attend. … We want programs that can be copied in developing countries throughout the world. Not just a celebrity one-off.”

Britney Spears was working her little butt off for Madonna. If you haven’t heard, she might be showing up a few shows, and also be featured in a video during Madonna’s concert.

Here she is with her mom looking exhausted. I guess Madonna really made her work. Here are some of the juicy highlights of what they are going to be doing together…

“It’s absolutely classic Madonna. Probably the raunchiest stuff she has ever done. It leaves nothing to the imagination and will be very controversial.

“Britney and Madonna are unwrapped like mummies, to appear together almost naked apart from tiny leather bondage pants and knee-high boots.

“They then dance closely together, pressing their hands and bodies together.

“There will be big rows over whether it is sexy, shocking or both.”

Madonna’s “Sticky & Sweet” tour is expected to make $300 million worldwide. The tour starts August 23rd in Wales and ends on November 3th in Mexico City. You think Madonna would be happy with that, but apparently not!

There were first rumors that Madonna and her hubby Guy were breaking up. Divorce laywers were in on the rumors saying Madonna went to visit them. Then Madge herself put that rumor to rest with a statement saying there was no way they were breaking up. Now the new rumor is she did it all on purpose to sell more tickets and Guy was in on it! I don’t think whether she was single or married would make any difference. Her concerts sold out in like 10 seconds! I don’t know who started this rumor but it is totally lame.

Mariah spent a considerable amount of time in the UK to promote her latest album ‘E=MC2’, albeit, she was lip synching in all her appearances, which may be why her efforts just ended up in vain. Mariah’s new CD has officially bombed over at the other side of the pond. Her album failed to meet expectations, underperformed and only came in at #3 this week. And just who beat her to the top? The Kooks’ album came in at #1 while Madonna has the #1 single in the UK. Here’s to hoping that Mariah and her album do better in the US.

Madonna apparently drinks 10,000 dollars worth of Kabalah bottled water a month. I think this is one of the most ridiculously things I have heard of. Especially in a country where our tap water is just as good as any bottled water out there. She even gets the water flown to herself if she is staying somewhere!