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.