Vincent D'Onofrio ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - No. 2

Vincent D'Onofrio ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - No. 1

Birthday Flowers 2014

I don't post very much anymore; I keep thinking I'll get back to it, but the urge simply hasn't overpowered me lately.  Anyway, I did receive these lovely flowers for my birthday this past Monday and wanted to "preserve them" here.  They are beautiful and fill my office with the most wonderful fragrance.

 

Uncle Jay Explains 2013 (Good Luck With That)

I love Uncle Jay's take on things - nothing and no one is sacred.  He had been on hiatus for while, but he's back in time to offer his year-end wrap-up of 2013.

Happy Holidays!!

"And why is the carpet all wet, Todd!!!"
"I don't know, Margo!!"
Ah, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a visit from the Griswolds.

I don't post very much any more, but for anyone who might happen to drop by, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

It's Birthday Time!!

 

Good ol' Detective Goren turns 52 today!  I can't help but wonder what sort of deviltry he's conjuring up these days with which to torture all those creepy suspects.  I sure do miss the big guy.  In the "good old days" I would have tried to come up with some "witty" captions for the photos below; just don't have it in me anymore.  Happy Birthday, Bobby!!!!



 

Get Me To The Church On Time

The happy trio below is my godson, Nathaniel, his fiancee, Melissa, and her little one, Addison. (I "borrowed" the photos from Melissa's FB page.) Aren't they adorable, and don't they look so, SO happy!!! They are getting married this Saturday in Ironton, so I will be heading back home to the "wilds" of southern Ohio tomorrow morning for the occasion.

I still remember the day Carlisa and Ralph brought Nathaniel home from the hospital, and I had the happy experience of assisting at his first bath. Oh, what a fuss he made! I've never seen a baby turn so many shades of purple! LOL And, now, he's all grown up and getting married. My, my, time truly does FLY.

Sadly, Carlisa passed away in December 1995 when Nathaniel was only fourteen. Even though Carlisa won't be there in person, I know - without a doubt - that her spirit will be tucked away in some secret corner of the church, smiling and bursting with pride as she watches her baby boy embark upon the next great journey of his life.

 

I also have the distinct honor of lighting the "unity candle" for his mother.  I understand the usher, who will be escorting me up the aisle is about 6'5" or taller.  I'm 5'2".  What an interesting picture that will be!  I just hope I don't trip over my feet or set the sanctuary on fire.  It could happen.

 

 

HUMP DAY! HUMP DAY'S HERE!!!

Are you as happy as a camel on Wednesday?  I am.

Nothing Like A Good Book

I just finished re-reading one of my favorite books for the "upteenth" time; "Aunt Sophie's Diamonds" by Joan Smith. It is about an elderly aunt who passes away and foils her family's plans for an extremely valuable diamond necklace by having the gem buried with her...in her steel-encased casket. The fun ensues when various family members scheme and plot to dig her up and claim the necklace as their own. 

 

Luckily, my family will never have to engage in such shenanigans when I "cock up my toes" at long last. I barely have a "feather to fly with" let alone a diamond necklace worth 50,000 pounds.

 

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.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Swing State Hell
www.thedailyshow.com
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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.