Poinsettia Much?

So, I was sitting in my office yesterday morning - minding my own business - when this ginormous Poinsettia was delivered from Ralph, Nathaniel (godson), and Nathaniel's soon-to-be bride and her little one. It is beautiful, but in the back of my mind I keep hearing things like: "Feed me, Seymour, feed me." "Must be blood, must be fresh." And my personal favorite: "I'm just a mean green mother from outer space, and I'm bad."

Merry Christmas To Me!!

I just bought myself a Christmas present (one of many, sad to say).  This one happens to be a third row, center stage seat for "An Evening With Johnny Mathis" at the Aronoff on April 19th.  (I should live long enough to see it.)   For me, this is right up there with the second row, center stage seat I had for a Josh Groban concert a few years back. See, you might not be impressed, but I think it’s: “Wonderful, Wonderful.”

Swing State HELL Is Right!!!!

Tomorrow is election day, and I - for one - will be so bleepin' glad when it is over.  I happen to live in Ohio; have my whole fakakta life.  I am so tired of political ads on tv, crammed in my mail box, and the nonstop robo-calls.  Will it never end?  Well, yes - after tomorrow - until the next election.

Meanwhile, a little levity to ease the election pain...I love Jon Stewart.  He sums things up so well.

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The Most Exciting Band In The Land

I am an alumna of Ohio University in Athens, OH; graduating some (oh, the horror) 38 years ago.  Used to be, the best thing about Ohio University Bobcat football was the marching band.  Well, the Bobcats have started the season with an impressive 4-0 record.  And the band's not too bad either; rockin' in the video below "Gangnam Style" - which I am given to understand - is all the rage now.

Video from YouTube: AllAboutOhio.

Criminal Intent Season 8 Coming To DVD

According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, Season 8 of Law & Order Criminal Intent will be released on October 23rd of this year.  It is, reportedly, available for pre-order at Amazon.com. 

E-Reading - It's Not For Everyone

I love my Kindle Fire, I really do.  And I love reading electronic books; it's MUCH easier on the old eyes.  The problem I am finding, however, with e-books is...in some of them...way too many typos, weird line/page spacing, etc.  For example, I just read the following, "Nicole stood beside the coping machine."  I'm almost certain  they meant "copying" machine since they were in an office setting.  But I have to admit, a COPING machine sounds pretty good. 

Now, where might I find one of those...I wonder?

Sitting At The Drive-Thru

I was sitting in my car at the McDonald's drive-thru this morning, having – this should come as no surprise – chosen the wrong dang line; it was taking FOREVER.  Anyway, the dude in the car in front of me finally got to the speaker and placed his order.  (I had my window down already, so I was privy to the entire forthcoming exchange.)  I should explain that the young man was Mexican.  I understand this is the "politically correct" terminology nowadays; individuals prefer to be referred to from their country of origin versus Hispanic or Latino, but I digress. 

Anyway, he proceeded to order something that neither I, nor the young lady on the other side of magic ordering box, could understand.  She – very sweetly – asked him to repeat his order.  He did.  Ah, he wanted a Big Mac meal and something else... indiscernible.  It was 10:30a.m.; the Mickey D's employee patiently explained they serve breakfast until 11:00a.m., whereupon the young man promptly ordered two double cheeseburgers. (Yeh, that should do it.)  I should also explain that he had a VERY strong accent; it was difficult for ME to understand what he was saying, let alone the poor girl inside.  Again, she explained they were serving breakfast, to which he replied, “Okay, what do you have?” 

Are you freakin’ kidding me?  Most three-year olds can recite the McDonald’s breakfast menu.  (Can I get an amen?)  Okay, by then I didn’t know whether to laugh…or cry; the situation was both laughable and a little frustrating… if not downright sad.  I mean, I was feeling sorry for…well…pretty much everyone involved; i.e., the Mickey D’s employee steadfastly trying to do her job, the hungry-guy who didn’t know enough English to make himself understood, and – last but not least – the poor schmuck behind him who just wanted to order a medium caramel frappe, so she could get on with her miserable, humdrum, dreary little life.  Needless to say, the young man eventually gave up and went about his business.   

I’m sure there is a “message” in here somewhere; I’m just not sure what it is.  

Birthday Flowers 2012

Ever since I moved to this town some fifteen years ago, my friend, Ralph and godson, Nathaniel, send me flowers for my birthday. Since I took off a couple of days last week, Ralph postponed sending them until today, so I would get the benefit of a full week's enjoyment of them at the office.

It's My Birthday...And I'll CRY If I Want To

I haven't enjoyed my birthday for more than 20 years now...I have my reasons.  But, with the single exception of the year I turned twenty, those birthdays that ended with a "zero" have always held a "special" dread in my heart.  And this year, I reach the ripe old age of 60.  I'll say that again...60! Oh, the horror!  To paraphrase Dylan Thomas, I am not going "gentle" into my so-called golden years.

The funny thing is...I don't remember getting this old.  I just woke up one day and - POOF - here I was. And I've heard all the well-meaning wishes and popular platitudes:  "You're only as old as you feel," "Age is only a number," "It's better than the alternative," "Your best years are ahead of you," etc.  I know people mean well but, in all honesty, these sentiments do not comfort me.  Oh, how I wish they did.

I guess, when all is said and done, I have become a walking, talking "cliche."  I have morphed into another of those aging "crones" who has begun to question her mortality, who realizes that she has fewer days in front of her than she left behind her, who has seen so many of the hopes and dreams of her youth wither and turn to dust to be vaporized with each passing year.  It truly sucks...this getting old.

It wasn't until recently that I really listened to the words of the following song, and it struck a particular chord with me.  I'm certain that countless others feel the same way.  I know that Susan Boyle turned "I Dreamed A Dream" into her personal anthem...of sorts, but I love this version sung by the cast of "Glee."  It is a little different slant on the song in that it is sung by Rachel (Lea Michele) and the mother (Idina Menzel) who gave her up for adoption at birth.  It all washes out the same in the end, however; "now life has killed the dream I dreamed."

Two Day Binge Alert

I took a little road trip up to Centerville this morning for an extra special treat; I have declared a two-day moratorium on the low carb thing. Anyway, I have been lusting after "Gigi's Cupcakes" for a couple of weeks now and have carefully and methodically been planning my two-day binge to include a small selection of these tasty morsels. The first one I "taste-tested" was the Peanut Butter Cup, and I promise you that it tasted even better than it looks in the photo below.

I would have taken the picture myself, but have managed to mess up yet another digital camera.  These photos are from the website. I defy you to NOT lick your computer screen.

Law & Order CI Season 7 DVD Release Date

I received an email today from TVShowsOnDVD.com regarding the upcoming release date for Law & Order Criminal Intent, Season 7 - YAY!!  It is available for pre-order at Amazon.com.  The following is the blurb from the website:

"With the first six seasons (which aired on NBC) already on DVD, fans have wondered if the final four seasons (which moved to the USA Network) would see the light of day. Worry no longer! Today a pre-order entry (see button link below) at Amazon.com revealed that Law & Order: Criminal Intent - The 7th Year is indeed coming to DVD, and will be in stores on June 26th. The price is $49.97 SRP, but you can lock in your copy at a discount if you pre-purchase it right away. We also have an early look at the box art for you, too!"

And this is the artwork...so they say.

Old, But Healthy...ish

So, I went to the doctor this morning...just a routine visit. The good news is, I have lost 11 pounds since my last visit in December, so that makes (approximately) a total of 50 pounds since July 3, 2011. My blood pressure was 110/76, and that is without the aid of medication. I'll know more about my cholesterol situation on Monday when the results of the blood work come in. Also, when the doctor listened to my lungs and heart beat, she used words like "perfect" and "wonderful." Not so bad for a fat, old crone...eh?

UPDATE: My doctors's office called around 4:30p.m. They ALREADY had the results from my blood work they drew this morning. (I am completely flummoxed by that fact alone.) More good news. My cholesterol is 25 points LOWER than it was in December, so I don't have to start taking a cholesterol medication, and I don't have to go back to the doctor for six months.

It's Official...I'm OLD!!!!

I came home today to find something positively and horrifyingly "wretched" waiting for me in my mailbox...the Golden Buckeye Card. That's right...I'm OFFICIALLY old! How thoughtful of the State of Ohio to remind me...as if I didn't know this already.  And it's not even my birthday yet.

Did I ask the State to bestow upon me this..this validation of my advancing years? I did not! And yet they took it upon themselves to do that very thing. The card states that it is a "link to elder caregiver & aging services." Yeah. Well, Bite Me! "We" are NOT amused.

Maggie Smith...The Ultimate Dowager

Or a prime example of how old people can say - pretty much anything that pops into their heads - and get away with it.  I only recently discovered this splendid show on "Masterpiece Classics" at the beginning of the second season here in the States.  I was able to stream the first season through Netflix to get caught up, but I have to say that my initial impression was not all that...great.

I mean, I fell instantly in love with the costumes, the overall pageantry, and the scenery of the English countryside to be sure, but I was a little "put off" by the fact that I did not find many - if any - of the central characters even the least bit...likeable. Not even a little.  I continued to watch, however and, by the conclusion of the second episode, I had become hopelessly embroiled in the various character's lives.

My favorite character has become Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.  She is played brilliantly, magnificently by the one and only Maggie Smith.  The following YouTube video captures a sampling of her outspoken moments.  Next to the swivel chair incident (which is included), my favorite "Violet moment" (which is not included) is when she informs the gathering at the dining room table (and I'm paraphrasing) that a young woman does not have "opinions" of her own...that she must  wait until she is married, and then her husband will tell her what her opinions should be.

Sadly, some people probably adhere to that sentiment even in this day and age.  I...happily...am not one of them.

This Is Cute...When You're 9 Months Old

...But not so much when one is rapidly approaching the ripe old age of 60, as am I. Sadly - at the end of a long day at work - I sometimes find myself actually "crawling" up the last flight of stairs to my apartment. What can I say, it's HELL (and a little pathetic) getting old.

This is my great-great nephew, Ethan.  My sister-in-law, Marge, (his great grandmother) sent this video to me via her iPad.  Unfortunately, all the software I have loaded on my laptop does not play "nicely" with Apple products, hence the "sideways" view.  I assure you, he is crawling UP the stairs, not sideways.

If you listen, you will hear Marge call him "Zach" and then correct herself.  Zach is her grandson and Ethan's uncle; another sign of getting older, right?  I do crap like that, too.  (LOL)  Oh, and that high-pitched "squeal" of delight is Ethan, testing his lungs.  They sound fine to me. 

Hollywood D'os & D'on'ts By Vincent D'Onofrio

I "almost" didn't open this when I received it in my VDO Google Alerts because I "assumed" it was just a repeat of the articles/ videos I've been receiving the past week or so regarding "Don't Go In The Woods." But I did open it, and I'm so glad I did. Again, I'm sure this has been posted on all the favorite VDO sites, but I don't visit those places like I used to, so I'm posting here. That way, I can look at it whenever I want, and I think I might be wanting to look at this a LOT.

How funny! "Do not talk to me if you see me at Starbucks," is one of my favorites, although there were "several" other good ones.  Yes, I do believe this video is worthy of many, many viewings. And it was so nice to see him doing something humorous and lighthearted for a change. He should do it more often.  What a perfectly lovely surprise with which to begin my Saturday.

Get More: MTV Shows

P.S. After a little research, I guess this has been around for about a week. Oh, well. Better late than never; especially when VDO is concerned.

My Newest Guilty Pleasure...Justified

Well, a girl has to have "something" to help while away the long, cold, dark, lonely hours of a Cincinnati winter night. So, I looked around and I found Raylan Givens.  Actually, I found him at the end of Season 1, so I got caught up (thank you Netflix and the Internet) and I have to say that I do enjoy this man, I truly do.  This tall, good lookin', long-legged, hat wearin', U.S. Marshal with a GREAT... BIG...gun.

Granted, he's no Bobby, but he'll do in a pinch.

Season 3 Promo


Producer Chats About Season 3

The Big Bang Theory Turns 100

One hundred episodes, that is. If there is one thing I love more than Detective Robert Goren, it's TV shows that make me laugh, and TBBT more than foots the bill on that score. I have to admit that I didn't much care for it when it came on the air five years ago, but one of my co-workers kept talking it up, so I gave it another chance last year. I caught up with all the seasons via Netflix and now it is one of my absolutely "favorite" sitcoms...of all time.

As with LOCI, I have watched the episodes over and over and can quote dialog, etc.  I just love these geeky, nerdy guys and the women in their lives; they make me fall down laughing.  I don't agree... entirely...with the choices the "powers that be" at CBS chose for their TOP 10 moments, but three of mine are in there, including... and especially...Number 1.  (They got that one right.)

Now, I truly do not expect anyone to watch the video or comment on it, but I wanted to put it here, so I could watch it whenever I choose to do so.  So, to the cast I say, "Congratulations on 100 episodes, and...may the force be with you...for another 100."



P.S. It's too bad NBC or Universal didn't give us a TOP 10 favorite moments from LOCI or, if they did, I've never seen them.  I'm certain, however, that all the "Bobby-lovers" out there have their TOP 10 (at least) Bobby moments.  I know I do.

Vincent D'Onofrio On The Radio

I'm sure this has been posted on every VDO blog out there, but I don't care.  I want to have it here. And, yes, Vincent, you are a "genius" character actor.

Something To Make You Smile

Well, it made me smile in any event and, I'm guessing, over 85 million people can't be wrong, so here is the talking dog video that went "viral" on YouTube.  I just LOVE this dog; he's got such a "face."

Goodbye 2011...Hello 2012

It's that time of year again, to bid farewell to the old and look forward with giddy anticipation to the new. Or, as I have come to expect:  new day, new year...same old crap. Hope your 2012 is everything you want it to be...and then some.

And to say goodbye to 2011, I give you "Uncle Jay" and his singing review of the "highlights" of 2011. Enjoy!