Calvert DeForest. Known to millions like me first as Larry "Bud" Melman.
He passed away Monday at age 85. If one person, other than Dave Letterman himself, exemplified the revolutionary humor of the Letterman era, it was Larry/Calvin.
He was just himself, agreeing to do off the wall bits, and was able to make America laugh, time after time. And with such ease. Nothing complex, and not needing to be a "character"; he was just himself. And he had some of the best sense of comedic timing I've ever seen.
If you enjoyed Mr. DeForest's work, thank him, his friends and colleagues, by signing the guest book over at Legacy.com.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Advertisements that are.....
.....an insult to the female gender, part two.
Maxoderm.
I only offer a link because you can see one of their ridiculous ads on their home page. They have two, all over digital cable (you can't watch History International for an hour without seeing this commercial at least once---no one watching History International has "stamina" anymore??)
Commercial one: It's the spot on the site. Long-haired blonde, mid 20s, at the bar, sees older man, is thankful she happens to have Maxoderm in her purse (because he doesn't have time to SAY to her he's got it on him....they're across the room from each other), then heads over, turns back and talks about how Maxoderm is "totally different" than the ED drugs, then turns and walks with Dad....I mean Uncle....I mean Old Boss....I mean tonight's date out the door.
STOP! As an aside, yes I do think God places men and women with significant age differences together, that wasn't a blanket statement about legit relationships. This is all about finding tonight's sex toy.
Now---my question....is she so hard up to find someone that she has to make sure she can provide the, ah, stamina, for said guy by carrying the stuff in her purse?
Oh...and does it even work? That's another post that probably won't show up here.
Hope Blondie also brought a few other things with her to prevent, like, STD's, while that Maxoderm's at work.
Commercial two: Size-six, dark haired, 26 year old woman, partying on the dance floor like it's 1999. Wears the "3/4 shirt" so we get plenty of shots of her slender, shapely belly sweating up a storm while we're entertained by her navel.
*tongue firmly in cheek*
After dancing for six days (just kidding...maybe), guy notices her fluffing her hair around as if she were looking for live animals in her scalp. He goes for his "date choice of the night" and she responds. I guess she's already figured out he's got Maxoderm (in public? HOW?!?), because as he whisks her away, at the door she tells us, "...he doesn't need a prescription, he's got Maxoderm".
What? Did he have his Maxoderm ID bracelet on or something?
So, tonight's lesson is this: women are more likely to involve themselves in risky one-night stands if they either:
---find a man wearing the "I've got Maxoderm in my pocket and I'm happy to see you" T-Shirt
---make sure they've stocked up on Maxoderm at home, in the car, and in the purse, for you never know when you'll find the right guy whose name you do not know.
AM I THE ONLY ONE OUTRAGED AT HOW DISGRACEFUL AND DENEGRATING THESE PORTRAYALS ARE??
Are there women like this? Yes, I know that.
Do I think Maxoderm will be around in five years? Ah, no. I don't see it in the FDA's approval line anytime soon, so it'll have its 15 minutes, then get repackaged with another name and even bigger claim.
And be it known in closing.....I'm not posting this out of jealousy. I don't need Maxoderm. At least, that's what wifey says. :)
Maxoderm.
I only offer a link because you can see one of their ridiculous ads on their home page. They have two, all over digital cable (you can't watch History International for an hour without seeing this commercial at least once---no one watching History International has "stamina" anymore??)
Commercial one: It's the spot on the site. Long-haired blonde, mid 20s, at the bar, sees older man, is thankful she happens to have Maxoderm in her purse (because he doesn't have time to SAY to her he's got it on him....they're across the room from each other), then heads over, turns back and talks about how Maxoderm is "totally different" than the ED drugs, then turns and walks with Dad....I mean Uncle....I mean Old Boss....I mean tonight's date out the door.
STOP! As an aside, yes I do think God places men and women with significant age differences together, that wasn't a blanket statement about legit relationships. This is all about finding tonight's sex toy.
Now---my question....is she so hard up to find someone that she has to make sure she can provide the, ah, stamina, for said guy by carrying the stuff in her purse?
Oh...and does it even work? That's another post that probably won't show up here.
Hope Blondie also brought a few other things with her to prevent, like, STD's, while that Maxoderm's at work.
Commercial two: Size-six, dark haired, 26 year old woman, partying on the dance floor like it's 1999. Wears the "3/4 shirt" so we get plenty of shots of her slender, shapely belly sweating up a storm while we're entertained by her navel.
*tongue firmly in cheek*
After dancing for six days (just kidding...maybe), guy notices her fluffing her hair around as if she were looking for live animals in her scalp. He goes for his "date choice of the night" and she responds. I guess she's already figured out he's got Maxoderm (in public? HOW?!?), because as he whisks her away, at the door she tells us, "...he doesn't need a prescription, he's got Maxoderm".
What? Did he have his Maxoderm ID bracelet on or something?
So, tonight's lesson is this: women are more likely to involve themselves in risky one-night stands if they either:
---find a man wearing the "I've got Maxoderm in my pocket and I'm happy to see you" T-Shirt
---make sure they've stocked up on Maxoderm at home, in the car, and in the purse, for you never know when you'll find the right guy whose name you do not know.
AM I THE ONLY ONE OUTRAGED AT HOW DISGRACEFUL AND DENEGRATING THESE PORTRAYALS ARE??
Are there women like this? Yes, I know that.
Do I think Maxoderm will be around in five years? Ah, no. I don't see it in the FDA's approval line anytime soon, so it'll have its 15 minutes, then get repackaged with another name and even bigger claim.
And be it known in closing.....I'm not posting this out of jealousy. I don't need Maxoderm. At least, that's what wifey says. :)
Advertisements that are......
...an insult to the female gender.
1) Nutrisystem. These air all over GSN (you know, only fat people watch Match Game), and, there it was on CNN yesterday at McDonalds.....
Check THIS line out (I'm quoting the best as I can....)
"I have my life back; my husband says he has his wife back."
Okay...his wife was GONE because she put on 40 pounds. First, I could on all day with jokes about, you know, "there was more of her, how could he lose her? Ha ha.."
Why do I have the feeling this guy married her, in part (I give benefit of the doubt) because of her shape. And maybe not her shape as it connects to the more important element, her soul. Her heart.
See, my wife has been obese her entire life. So when I hear a guy talk about "getting his wife back" again after she loses weight, I seeth. The ONLY acceptable way to use this logic is if the 40 pound loss aided in reducing or eliminating a medical problem. Then, that's great. But if it's simply because his wife's got "the hots" back? GIVE ME A BREAK.
I've only known my wife to be at under 200 pounds in our 19 years of marriage on two short-term occasions. Add 40 pounds to her, and nothing changes in the heart and soul. She's just as, how shall I say, ah, good in bed no matter what her weight total has EVER been while we've been together.
She had Lap-Band Surgery in December.
I know you now are rolling your eyes thinking, "oh! Now I get it! Your situation isn't vanity!" THINK, people, think.
She has a direct relative who lives in retirement in an easy chair. Not because of the pension plan and the great financial investments of 40 years. It's because she's a minimum of 300 pounds and rarely can go anywhere except from one adult child's house to another.
My wife wants to ride rollercoasters with her grandchildren. She wants to get back to re-doing the backyard landscape...and re-doing, and re-doing.....
She doesn't want diabetes. In less than 90 days since the surgery, she's already off her HBP medication.
And all this she will.
And me? I won't get "my wife back". She never left. In fact, it'll be strange to see her quite a bit less than me (pressure's on me now!).
MY PROBLEM?---She's already had two customers at her financial institution hit on her. I knew the vain men would start noticing.
As for me? I'm going to bed. :) :) :)
1) Nutrisystem. These air all over GSN (you know, only fat people watch Match Game), and, there it was on CNN yesterday at McDonalds.....
Check THIS line out (I'm quoting the best as I can....)
"I have my life back; my husband says he has his wife back."
Okay...his wife was GONE because she put on 40 pounds. First, I could on all day with jokes about, you know, "there was more of her, how could he lose her? Ha ha.."
Why do I have the feeling this guy married her, in part (I give benefit of the doubt) because of her shape. And maybe not her shape as it connects to the more important element, her soul. Her heart.
See, my wife has been obese her entire life. So when I hear a guy talk about "getting his wife back" again after she loses weight, I seeth. The ONLY acceptable way to use this logic is if the 40 pound loss aided in reducing or eliminating a medical problem. Then, that's great. But if it's simply because his wife's got "the hots" back? GIVE ME A BREAK.
I've only known my wife to be at under 200 pounds in our 19 years of marriage on two short-term occasions. Add 40 pounds to her, and nothing changes in the heart and soul. She's just as, how shall I say, ah, good in bed no matter what her weight total has EVER been while we've been together.
She had Lap-Band Surgery in December.
I know you now are rolling your eyes thinking, "oh! Now I get it! Your situation isn't vanity!" THINK, people, think.
She has a direct relative who lives in retirement in an easy chair. Not because of the pension plan and the great financial investments of 40 years. It's because she's a minimum of 300 pounds and rarely can go anywhere except from one adult child's house to another.
My wife wants to ride rollercoasters with her grandchildren. She wants to get back to re-doing the backyard landscape...and re-doing, and re-doing.....
She doesn't want diabetes. In less than 90 days since the surgery, she's already off her HBP medication.
And all this she will.
And me? I won't get "my wife back". She never left. In fact, it'll be strange to see her quite a bit less than me (pressure's on me now!).
MY PROBLEM?---She's already had two customers at her financial institution hit on her. I knew the vain men would start noticing.
As for me? I'm going to bed. :) :) :)
Monday, March 19, 2007
I know I couldn't talk, but I didn't mean not to post.....
:)
Welcome to day nine of laryngitis. This has been a strange "cold aka whatever". Nasal congestion, sure. Followed by chest congestion...check. Cough develops. Hardly any cough! And, while taking my cough medicine (an expectorant), almost all the coughs are productive.
Yet, the voice shows a little improvement only. Usually in about a week I'm back in action. Wonder who has the Rob doll and they keep sticking needles in the neck? :)
Anyway.....a few notes over these past few days:
--Three of my Final Four remain alive (Oregon, Texas A&M, and Georgetown, my pick to win it all).
--God bless VCU. What a gutsy performance to beat Duke, and I really wished I saw the Pitt game, especially the big comeback.
--Down side of VCU's national exposure---Anthony Grant won't be their coach very long.
--I was surprised (probably with alot of other fans) at how few upsets there have been. Good news about that--we'll see some MONSTER matchups Thursday and Friday in the Sweet Sixteen.
----------------------------------------------------
Remind me to rail about Nutri-System and their discriminatory advertising.
----------------------------------------------------
Remind me to rail about Comcast, GSN, and a great editorial I saw in the local paper Sunday.
----------------------------------------------------
And, finally, remind me to be thoroughly embarrassed to be an ACC fan right now. How pitiful was this weekend, eh??
P.S.--excellent episode of "24" again this week---they left Maria in "holding" (pardon the pun), the war happy Veep is causing drastic measures himself, and by others, and we learn that, among other things, Jack can fly a drone.
We also learned Audrey Raines is dead. And maybe the plot of "24" the Movie. Jack's revenge in China. Wouldn't surprise me.
Welcome to day nine of laryngitis. This has been a strange "cold aka whatever". Nasal congestion, sure. Followed by chest congestion...check. Cough develops. Hardly any cough! And, while taking my cough medicine (an expectorant), almost all the coughs are productive.
Yet, the voice shows a little improvement only. Usually in about a week I'm back in action. Wonder who has the Rob doll and they keep sticking needles in the neck? :)
Anyway.....a few notes over these past few days:
--Three of my Final Four remain alive (Oregon, Texas A&M, and Georgetown, my pick to win it all).
--God bless VCU. What a gutsy performance to beat Duke, and I really wished I saw the Pitt game, especially the big comeback.
--Down side of VCU's national exposure---Anthony Grant won't be their coach very long.
--I was surprised (probably with alot of other fans) at how few upsets there have been. Good news about that--we'll see some MONSTER matchups Thursday and Friday in the Sweet Sixteen.
----------------------------------------------------
Remind me to rail about Nutri-System and their discriminatory advertising.
----------------------------------------------------
Remind me to rail about Comcast, GSN, and a great editorial I saw in the local paper Sunday.
----------------------------------------------------
And, finally, remind me to be thoroughly embarrassed to be an ACC fan right now. How pitiful was this weekend, eh??
P.S.--excellent episode of "24" again this week---they left Maria in "holding" (pardon the pun), the war happy Veep is causing drastic measures himself, and by others, and we learn that, among other things, Jack can fly a drone.
We also learned Audrey Raines is dead. And maybe the plot of "24" the Movie. Jack's revenge in China. Wouldn't surprise me.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Several quick thoughts.....
1) "24" was excellent last night! They were back on their game, especially with the great acting of President Logan, Martha, and Aaron Pierce. See? Jack doesn't have to be on half the show or more! But, we learned that last year. Next week looks really interesting, and I wouldn't trust Suberov for love nor money. :)
2) Hillary is already beckoning the term "vast right-wing conspiracy", and it's only March 2007. There must be some numbers in their inside polling that are already worrying them. Good Lord, she's got to create the "vast left-wing conspiracy" so she can get the nomination!
3) I HATE Maxoderm commercials. The ladies set the female gender back a minimum of 50 years.
4) Fred Thompson? Yeah, I can dig that. My lady in Philly has been telling us this for weeks and weeks, and I think there's a gap in there that he could fill and get right into the thick of the race.
5) After staying out of work yesterday and returning today, feeling better but with no voice, I really haven't studied the Tournament Brackets that much. I need to get this done by tomorrow night.
More to come....but right now, I've gotta eat!
2) Hillary is already beckoning the term "vast right-wing conspiracy", and it's only March 2007. There must be some numbers in their inside polling that are already worrying them. Good Lord, she's got to create the "vast left-wing conspiracy" so she can get the nomination!
3) I HATE Maxoderm commercials. The ladies set the female gender back a minimum of 50 years.
4) Fred Thompson? Yeah, I can dig that. My lady in Philly has been telling us this for weeks and weeks, and I think there's a gap in there that he could fill and get right into the thick of the race.
5) After staying out of work yesterday and returning today, feeling better but with no voice, I really haven't studied the Tournament Brackets that much. I need to get this done by tomorrow night.
More to come....but right now, I've gotta eat!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Go NC State Wolfpack!!
It's been a good weekend for Sidney Lowe, his red jacket, and his NC State Wolfpack.
I was excited when State hired Sidney as basketball coach, because the program finally restored connection to its glory years of Jim Valvano, esp. the 1983 Cardiac Pack National Champions (Lowe was our point guard).
So, I got to see NC State put away Duke Thursday in overtime, and Virginia last night (it's always sweet to see UVA lose!!), and I wake up this evening to find out they defeated Virginia Tech for the 3rd time this season. State is in the ACC Tournament final!!
Here's hoping that this great run ends like the 1983 ACC Final, when State had to win to make the NCAA Tournament; they beat UVA and Ralph Sampson by three, opening the door for them to make the most improbable run to the NCAA Championship ever (sorry, Villanova).
As opposed to 1997, 2002 and 2003, when surprising Pack runs ended on Sunday afternoon, losing to UNC, Duke, and Duke again, in that order.
Go get 'em Sidney! Now, where can I go buy myself a red jacket??
I was excited when State hired Sidney as basketball coach, because the program finally restored connection to its glory years of Jim Valvano, esp. the 1983 Cardiac Pack National Champions (Lowe was our point guard).
So, I got to see NC State put away Duke Thursday in overtime, and Virginia last night (it's always sweet to see UVA lose!!), and I wake up this evening to find out they defeated Virginia Tech for the 3rd time this season. State is in the ACC Tournament final!!
Here's hoping that this great run ends like the 1983 ACC Final, when State had to win to make the NCAA Tournament; they beat UVA and Ralph Sampson by three, opening the door for them to make the most improbable run to the NCAA Championship ever (sorry, Villanova).
As opposed to 1997, 2002 and 2003, when surprising Pack runs ended on Sunday afternoon, losing to UNC, Duke, and Duke again, in that order.
Go get 'em Sidney! Now, where can I go buy myself a red jacket??
HAVE A HAPPY PERIOD??!!??!!??
NO---I cannot understand a women's period.
I'm a man.
Even if I'm married, work in the same office as three women, and am counting the months until I have to buy the first "supplies" for my daughter.
I don't have a flippin' clue.
But this lady does. Easily one of the funniest blog posts I've ever read. Ladies, enjoy!!! Men, just move on, we don't have a clue. :)
I'm a man.
Even if I'm married, work in the same office as three women, and am counting the months until I have to buy the first "supplies" for my daughter.
I don't have a flippin' clue.
But this lady does. Easily one of the funniest blog posts I've ever read. Ladies, enjoy!!! Men, just move on, we don't have a clue. :)
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
When Cable News looks weird......
Kiran Chetry....on CNN.
I haven't seen her on TV there yet; I had heard she bolted Fox after some, ah, negotiating issues, I reckon.
She always struck me as a Fox News person "through and through", as it were. Really don't know why.
So, when I saw the above screen grab online tonight (thanks to reportercaps.com), I thought, surreal.
Kinda like when your favorite wrestler left one promotion for another back in the 1980s or 1990s. What? Hulk Hogan in WCW? It doesn't LOOK RIGHT!!!
Good luck, Kiran!! :)
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Post No. #550-----
Feels like I'm moving up the all-time home run list.....without steroids.
As a kid, buying the Street and Smith's Baseball Yearbook before they cried, "Play Ball!" was one of the rites of spring. And I especially studied the pages that gave the updated all-time leaders in all categories (some of you may not remember when Babe Ruth was the king at 714!)
Quick aside---April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron can break Ruth's record at home against the Dodgers. The game is on NBC's Monday Night Baseball. Storm moves through Beaverdam, and, yep, we lose power. Later, Dad comes in the room to inform bro and I that Aaron hit number 715 (he heard it on battery-operated radio). Hmmm....never did ask him why he didn't just yell for us to come into his room to join him and listen...
Anyway, I'm up to 550 posts on this ol' blog. Most things in life that I've attempted....
---Staying up 24 hours straight
---Staying up to watch all 21 1/2 hours of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
---Staying up 24 hours straight playing records the whole time
....what's my fixation on 24? Hee hee......
I'm just glad that, for once in my life, I stuck to a personal project, and that's cool. I know it doesn't warm any other hearts, and probably won't inspire anyone to do anything, but, I'm happy.
Now, to go write that novel....or series of children's books I've always wanted to write......
....like my blogger friend in Philly. :)
P.S.----Ms. Clinton preaches the politics of division here. I thought she decried that....hmmm......
P.P.S.----Follow up to last post....here's Hillary does Gomer Pyle (and I mean an impression!)
As a kid, buying the Street and Smith's Baseball Yearbook before they cried, "Play Ball!" was one of the rites of spring. And I especially studied the pages that gave the updated all-time leaders in all categories (some of you may not remember when Babe Ruth was the king at 714!)
Quick aside---April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron can break Ruth's record at home against the Dodgers. The game is on NBC's Monday Night Baseball. Storm moves through Beaverdam, and, yep, we lose power. Later, Dad comes in the room to inform bro and I that Aaron hit number 715 (he heard it on battery-operated radio). Hmmm....never did ask him why he didn't just yell for us to come into his room to join him and listen...
Anyway, I'm up to 550 posts on this ol' blog. Most things in life that I've attempted....
---Staying up 24 hours straight
---Staying up to watch all 21 1/2 hours of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
---Staying up 24 hours straight playing records the whole time
....what's my fixation on 24? Hee hee......
I'm just glad that, for once in my life, I stuck to a personal project, and that's cool. I know it doesn't warm any other hearts, and probably won't inspire anyone to do anything, but, I'm happy.
Now, to go write that novel....or series of children's books I've always wanted to write......
....like my blogger friend in Philly. :)
P.S.----Ms. Clinton preaches the politics of division here. I thought she decried that....hmmm......
P.P.S.----Follow up to last post....here's Hillary does Gomer Pyle (and I mean an impression!)
Monday, March 05, 2007
Blogosphere Explosion
1) Ann Coulter brings an F-bomb (no, not the word for IC) on John Edwards, and most conservatives reply with disdain and disgust. I, too, join them. There's alot of things she has said/written with which I have wholeheartedly agreed. I also don't have a problem with reasonable satire. Note the word "reasonable". Calling someone a f....., is not reasonable. Period.
2) Good job by Michelle Malkin tonight on O'Reilly explaining this whole mess. Her reminding us of Ronald Reagan's speeches at CPAC brought about the stark contrast between "Morning in America" and, well...that f-word, which "was a joke", Ann said.
3) I'll withhold comment on Hillary's hymn sing until I get a chance to see and hear it for myself.
Dear God, we've got to live with this crap for another 20 MONTHS???!!!???
-----------------------------------------------------
"24"! YES, IT IS ON!
Oh, and it's the 5pm hour and Jack just can't get the "going into the consulate" thing out of his system. You'd think 20 months in a Chinese prison would change a guy's mind.......
Let me offer up some conversation banter here.....
Jack taking an ambassador hostage in his own consulate is breaking law, right?
Reid, et al, setting the bomb to kill Palmer is breaking law, right?
Yes, the plot to kill Palmer is much worse in terms of "level of law breaking", but how can I actually sit here and tell Jack to break the law if that's what it takes to find the ultimate bad guy, while booing Reid, Carson, et al, for their lawbreaking. Right? Am I right? The issue tonight, is justification. I'm still developing this line of thought.....
.....as my wife pointed out, the pretty lady from last year's "Invasion" show has landed a job on "24" as the Veep's assistant.
At 5:46PM.....FROM THE JACK BAUER HYMNAL----COUNT YOUR FINGERS, BREAK THEM ONE BY ONE.......
.....and then Jack gets bombed. I think Jack had a brief flashback to the Chinese Consulate and thought it better to get assaulted at the consulate rather than, say, in Siberia......
310-597-3781. If I call that number, do I get CTU or a "24" promo?
Why do you leave a door open to make a secret phone call? Don't you, like LOCK IT to give yourself some extra time???
Season six is not living up to season five (I don't think any season will....), but we'll see what happens from here. I will say this:
THANK YOU to the writers/producers of "24" for not making us go through possible nuclear explosions every two hours all day long. There's more character development, and I do like that. I don't need all the bombs. But I know lots of "24" fans do.
Tonight's "24" brought to you by the Dodge Avenger, and DEEP PURPLE!!
So exactly how does a Dodge Avenger put smoke on the water, and fire in the sky?
I dunno.
2) Good job by Michelle Malkin tonight on O'Reilly explaining this whole mess. Her reminding us of Ronald Reagan's speeches at CPAC brought about the stark contrast between "Morning in America" and, well...that f-word, which "was a joke", Ann said.
3) I'll withhold comment on Hillary's hymn sing until I get a chance to see and hear it for myself.
Dear God, we've got to live with this crap for another 20 MONTHS???!!!???
-----------------------------------------------------
"24"! YES, IT IS ON!
Oh, and it's the 5pm hour and Jack just can't get the "going into the consulate" thing out of his system. You'd think 20 months in a Chinese prison would change a guy's mind.......
Let me offer up some conversation banter here.....
Jack taking an ambassador hostage in his own consulate is breaking law, right?
Reid, et al, setting the bomb to kill Palmer is breaking law, right?
Yes, the plot to kill Palmer is much worse in terms of "level of law breaking", but how can I actually sit here and tell Jack to break the law if that's what it takes to find the ultimate bad guy, while booing Reid, Carson, et al, for their lawbreaking. Right? Am I right? The issue tonight, is justification. I'm still developing this line of thought.....
.....as my wife pointed out, the pretty lady from last year's "Invasion" show has landed a job on "24" as the Veep's assistant.
At 5:46PM.....FROM THE JACK BAUER HYMNAL----COUNT YOUR FINGERS, BREAK THEM ONE BY ONE.......
.....and then Jack gets bombed. I think Jack had a brief flashback to the Chinese Consulate and thought it better to get assaulted at the consulate rather than, say, in Siberia......
310-597-3781. If I call that number, do I get CTU or a "24" promo?
Why do you leave a door open to make a secret phone call? Don't you, like LOCK IT to give yourself some extra time???
Season six is not living up to season five (I don't think any season will....), but we'll see what happens from here. I will say this:
THANK YOU to the writers/producers of "24" for not making us go through possible nuclear explosions every two hours all day long. There's more character development, and I do like that. I don't need all the bombs. But I know lots of "24" fans do.
Tonight's "24" brought to you by the Dodge Avenger, and DEEP PURPLE!!
So exactly how does a Dodge Avenger put smoke on the water, and fire in the sky?
I dunno.
Friday, March 02, 2007
It ain't just the stock market......
......my emotions have been going on a huge rollercoaster ride this week, and at the closing bell tonight, I admit that I've experienced significant losses, too.
The good news is I don't plan on selling myself off anytime soon. :)
The bad news is it's becoming apparent that February 19, 2007 will go down as one of the worst days of, say, the past almost 40 years of my life......
Don't ask why. It's private.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bloggers----you know this feeling. You see something and want to link to it, hear something and want to comment on it, but are so busy that, three days later, when you finally get a chance to blog......I CANNOT REMEMBER A THING. :)
But I'll try.
First, a couple of links to good stories from this week's CBS Evening News.
---Over 50 years, and they're still playing cards.....
---This lady didn't just play the fiddle, she made it, too! Oh, and she's 90.
----------------------------------------------------------------
What fringe 0.13 percent of the population elected Al Gore the "next God"??
----------------------------------------------------------------
Rachel says her school has celebrated her 10th birthday all week by having great lunches, every day this week.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like to go back to North Carolina this weekend. Had more fun there last weekend than I have this week. And I hear the BBQ is good down there, too. :)
OH, AND FINALLY----to the potential winner of tonight's $275 million dollar Mega Millions jackpot, I know a GREAT way to make a small investment and create nice revenue growth. Call it your "coffee fund".
P.S.----Get off Katie Couric's back!!! I'm sick and tired of hearing everybody gripe about her and call her a failure, yadda, yadda.
Do any of you remember when Walter Cronkite was TAKEN OFF the anchor desk at a 1964 National Convention when CBS News looked for a team to take on the then #1 team of Huntley and Brinkley on NBC??
Alright then. Hang in there, Katie. :)
The good news is I don't plan on selling myself off anytime soon. :)
The bad news is it's becoming apparent that February 19, 2007 will go down as one of the worst days of, say, the past almost 40 years of my life......
Don't ask why. It's private.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bloggers----you know this feeling. You see something and want to link to it, hear something and want to comment on it, but are so busy that, three days later, when you finally get a chance to blog......I CANNOT REMEMBER A THING. :)
But I'll try.
First, a couple of links to good stories from this week's CBS Evening News.
---Over 50 years, and they're still playing cards.....
---This lady didn't just play the fiddle, she made it, too! Oh, and she's 90.
----------------------------------------------------------------
What fringe 0.13 percent of the population elected Al Gore the "next God"??
----------------------------------------------------------------
Rachel says her school has celebrated her 10th birthday all week by having great lunches, every day this week.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like to go back to North Carolina this weekend. Had more fun there last weekend than I have this week. And I hear the BBQ is good down there, too. :)
OH, AND FINALLY----to the potential winner of tonight's $275 million dollar Mega Millions jackpot, I know a GREAT way to make a small investment and create nice revenue growth. Call it your "coffee fund".
P.S.----Get off Katie Couric's back!!! I'm sick and tired of hearing everybody gripe about her and call her a failure, yadda, yadda.
Do any of you remember when Walter Cronkite was TAKEN OFF the anchor desk at a 1964 National Convention when CBS News looked for a team to take on the then #1 team of Huntley and Brinkley on NBC??
Alright then. Hang in there, Katie. :)
Monday, February 26, 2007
HELP WANTED: Investors (Well.....there IS a Smithfield, Virginia, too.)
Even though NOBODY in the Commonwealth has a clue about fixin' BBQ.....
I need a couple of people with some $$$ to invest, and they'd rather get better return on their money than, say, 2.67% or something....
It's REAL simple. We need to open Virginia's first Smithfield Chicken & BBQ location.
There aren't many choices for BBQ in the Richmond area, in my opinion. The leader of the pack is Bill's Barbeque. When you ask most people, "What's the first word that comes to your mind when you hear BBQ?" in Richmond, Bill's will be the one.
But, well, in a word.....Bill's BBQ is soggy. There's no real "texture". Do I expect my sandwich bun like "toasted"? Heck, no. But I do expect it to still have shape and flavor, rather than it be taken over by soggy BBQ.
Kudos to Bill's on one thing, though.....they have limeade. We'd have to do something about that on our menu.
Smithfield could come into Richmond and meteorically rise to popularity. Spacious eat-in facilities, employees who bring you your food and come refill your sweet iced tea (oh, and no one in Virginia makes sweet tea like Smithfield, either!). Very clean, family-friendly, fairly-priced (in other words, scratch Arby's from your choices; they're simply too pricey now.)
Start with one location....I have ideas as to location (which I won't divulge here), and watch the revolution begin.
SMITHFIELD CHICKEN & BBQ.....I BEG OF YOU....PLEASE COME TO RICHMOND!!!!!!
P.S.---I didn't even start to talk about their chicken. That's another page and a half. And the fries? Shoestrings that no one can touch (sorry, McDonalds), and the finisher----HUSH PUPPIES---the BEST in the world. I ate 'em cold driving home last night. I ate 'em cold at 6am Sunday morning when I woke up to go to men's room.
You'll eat 'em 24/7, too.
Now, back to the investor search.....:)
I need a couple of people with some $$$ to invest, and they'd rather get better return on their money than, say, 2.67% or something....
It's REAL simple. We need to open Virginia's first Smithfield Chicken & BBQ location.
There aren't many choices for BBQ in the Richmond area, in my opinion. The leader of the pack is Bill's Barbeque. When you ask most people, "What's the first word that comes to your mind when you hear BBQ?" in Richmond, Bill's will be the one.
But, well, in a word.....Bill's BBQ is soggy. There's no real "texture". Do I expect my sandwich bun like "toasted"? Heck, no. But I do expect it to still have shape and flavor, rather than it be taken over by soggy BBQ.
Kudos to Bill's on one thing, though.....they have limeade. We'd have to do something about that on our menu.
Smithfield could come into Richmond and meteorically rise to popularity. Spacious eat-in facilities, employees who bring you your food and come refill your sweet iced tea (oh, and no one in Virginia makes sweet tea like Smithfield, either!). Very clean, family-friendly, fairly-priced (in other words, scratch Arby's from your choices; they're simply too pricey now.)
Start with one location....I have ideas as to location (which I won't divulge here), and watch the revolution begin.
SMITHFIELD CHICKEN & BBQ.....I BEG OF YOU....PLEASE COME TO RICHMOND!!!!!!
P.S.---I didn't even start to talk about their chicken. That's another page and a half. And the fries? Shoestrings that no one can touch (sorry, McDonalds), and the finisher----HUSH PUPPIES---the BEST in the world. I ate 'em cold driving home last night. I ate 'em cold at 6am Sunday morning when I woke up to go to men's room.
You'll eat 'em 24/7, too.
Now, back to the investor search.....:)
I am truly honored.....
| You Are Most Like Ronald Reagan |
 People tend to think you're a god - or that you almost ruined the country. But even if people do disagree with you, they still fall victim to your charms! |
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Birthdays, church, NASCAR, Hams, and rain.....
In a nutshell, there's our Sunday in New Bern, NC, as we count down until the time we must depart to get the family home for their Monday of school and job (and my day of sleep!!! And I think I'll work on this blog, too.)
It was good to be in church today!!! We were at Uncle Frank's church, where he has been filling in as "interim minister" during their ministerial search. He did a fantastic job as he threw down the gauntlet of confession to God from Daniel in Daniel 9. Good stuff!
Then, an overflow Golden Corral lost our business (just no room!) and we went to Ham's. First time at a Ham's, and I enjoyed very much. Good food, good service, and Mountain Dew. That's all I need. Pictures and pictures of the family to celebrate Papa's 75th and Rachel's 10th birthdays. I especially enjoyed taking photos of Rachel eating just as the fork hit the mouth. :)
Now, lots of rain falling (but no storms!!!) as we prepare to go. An all-too-quick but very enjoyable visit to Witham Nation South.
Now I can listen again to an awesome radio station going home (100.7 The River) out of Raleigh (a Clear Channel station!).....why can't we have a station this good back home???
It was good to be in church today!!! We were at Uncle Frank's church, where he has been filling in as "interim minister" during their ministerial search. He did a fantastic job as he threw down the gauntlet of confession to God from Daniel in Daniel 9. Good stuff!
Then, an overflow Golden Corral lost our business (just no room!) and we went to Ham's. First time at a Ham's, and I enjoyed very much. Good food, good service, and Mountain Dew. That's all I need. Pictures and pictures of the family to celebrate Papa's 75th and Rachel's 10th birthdays. I especially enjoyed taking photos of Rachel eating just as the fork hit the mouth. :)
Now, lots of rain falling (but no storms!!!) as we prepare to go. An all-too-quick but very enjoyable visit to Witham Nation South.
Now I can listen again to an awesome radio station going home (100.7 The River) out of Raleigh (a Clear Channel station!).....why can't we have a station this good back home???
Saturday, February 24, 2007
All Things Witham---On The Road For The First Time EVER!!!
Welcome to my first blog post outside of Virginia!!
We're live tonight in New Bern, North Carolina, as we traveled here earlier this evening to celebrate two milestone birthdays!
On Monday, our wonderful daughter, Rachel, turns the big 10!! I'm still trying to figure out where in the world those ten years disappeared to!!!!
Then, the person she shares that birthday with, her Papa (my Dad), turns the big 75! So, at the risk of letting a big day go by, we came down to celebrate both birthdays tomorrow, since we have to be back home at this time tomorrow night so the kids can get to school Monday.
I, on the other hand, had at least some foresight and am taking Monday off to snooze. :)
There is a chance of some storms tomorrow PM, so I'm hoping they will either not develop or we can dodge the bullet.
---------------------------------------------------------
Quick, few, end-of-week musings:
1) Lots and lots on my mind right now, about things happening, things that may happen, things that may not. I'm very happy that, in spite of all that rambling through my mind at warp speed, I still made the trip here to NC. But, let it be said, next week could turn out to be extremely pivotal. Plus, my jury duty "on-call period" will be done soon, and that will make me happy, no matter what other emotions come my way.
2) NC State.....will they ever be able to recruit with UNC and Duke at their side door? They used to......hopefully Sidney Lowe can, because Lord knows we need some players. The poor guys there now, when you run only seven players, you run out of steam. I don't look forward to seeing their "March legs". They'll probably be tired. I hope at least an NIT bid, so the guys, and the coach, can play some March tournament basketball. All experience is a positive right now.
3) The Taco Bell gutted by fire next to work last Thanksgiving has been open a few weeks now. No word as to whether they plan to add rats as their latest attraction, a la NYC.
Good night from North Carolina!! Happy birthday Papa and Rachel! February 26, 1932 and February 26, 1997. :)
We're live tonight in New Bern, North Carolina, as we traveled here earlier this evening to celebrate two milestone birthdays!
On Monday, our wonderful daughter, Rachel, turns the big 10!! I'm still trying to figure out where in the world those ten years disappeared to!!!!
Then, the person she shares that birthday with, her Papa (my Dad), turns the big 75! So, at the risk of letting a big day go by, we came down to celebrate both birthdays tomorrow, since we have to be back home at this time tomorrow night so the kids can get to school Monday.
I, on the other hand, had at least some foresight and am taking Monday off to snooze. :)
There is a chance of some storms tomorrow PM, so I'm hoping they will either not develop or we can dodge the bullet.
---------------------------------------------------------
Quick, few, end-of-week musings:
1) Lots and lots on my mind right now, about things happening, things that may happen, things that may not. I'm very happy that, in spite of all that rambling through my mind at warp speed, I still made the trip here to NC. But, let it be said, next week could turn out to be extremely pivotal. Plus, my jury duty "on-call period" will be done soon, and that will make me happy, no matter what other emotions come my way.
2) NC State.....will they ever be able to recruit with UNC and Duke at their side door? They used to......hopefully Sidney Lowe can, because Lord knows we need some players. The poor guys there now, when you run only seven players, you run out of steam. I don't look forward to seeing their "March legs". They'll probably be tired. I hope at least an NIT bid, so the guys, and the coach, can play some March tournament basketball. All experience is a positive right now.
3) The Taco Bell gutted by fire next to work last Thanksgiving has been open a few weeks now. No word as to whether they plan to add rats as their latest attraction, a la NYC.
Good night from North Carolina!! Happy birthday Papa and Rachel! February 26, 1932 and February 26, 1997. :)
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
A few "24" thoughts....
....I don't know, but the last few minutes of the show this week confused me. Jack's dad didn't plan on killing him all along, just to apprehend him to start this magical mystery tour with the first stop checking on President Logan?
Personally, I don't think Phillip can kill Jack. He loves him too much.
Next week, the bomb goes off on Assad; Palmer survives (because, remember, he's in on it all!!)
Morris. There's really not much more they can do with his character if you think about it. And, honestly, the sooner he leaves the better.
When's the dark-haired chick at CTU going to do anything more than say four to seven lines a week?
Why do I get the feeling that Lennox will get just desserts on these assassination lovers before it's all over?
Oh, and now, let's get Marilyn and Josh back to CTU where they can stay comfortably during the rest of the day; no longer a pawn of dad-in-law or grandpop, with really not much else to do. Until of course, she tells Jack he's the dad. That'll be about hour 21.
So, that is all for now. :)
Personally, I don't think Phillip can kill Jack. He loves him too much.
Next week, the bomb goes off on Assad; Palmer survives (because, remember, he's in on it all!!)
Morris. There's really not much more they can do with his character if you think about it. And, honestly, the sooner he leaves the better.
When's the dark-haired chick at CTU going to do anything more than say four to seven lines a week?
Why do I get the feeling that Lennox will get just desserts on these assassination lovers before it's all over?
Oh, and now, let's get Marilyn and Josh back to CTU where they can stay comfortably during the rest of the day; no longer a pawn of dad-in-law or grandpop, with really not much else to do. Until of course, she tells Jack he's the dad. That'll be about hour 21.
So, that is all for now. :)
Sunday, February 18, 2007
An observation after this particular Sunday......
.....I really, really, really, really, really, really, really miss the National Football League.
And once my favorite event, The NCAA Tournament ends, I hit bottom.
And begin to count the days until the first training camp opens, and visions of fantasy football magazines dance in my head.
Hang on like-minded, we'll make it to late July!!!!
And once my favorite event, The NCAA Tournament ends, I hit bottom.
And begin to count the days until the first training camp opens, and visions of fantasy football magazines dance in my head.
Hang on like-minded, we'll make it to late July!!!!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Some thoughts about JetBlue and I-78......
1) JetBlue's decision this weekend to cancel a bunch of flights (including here in Richmond) to, I guess, regroup after their problems with the weather, cancelled flights, and the PR nightmare of New York City a few days ago, leaves me bewildered. Why try to "fix" a problem by inconveniencing MORE people with more cancellations?
2) But, I DO know these thoughts without a doubt. Regarding the transportation nightmares resulting from the huge snow/ice storm in the Northeast......
----I have tremendous amounts of sorrow for all the stranded travelers on I-78 in Pennsylvania, who are stuck, totally stuck in miles and miles of traffic, for up to 24 hours. Issues such as food and especially warmth become life-threatening issues. That must have been a nightmare for all drivers and passengers involved.
----With the exception of children, I have NO sympathy for the people I saw interviewed the other night on TV who had to "endure" waits of up to 11 hours on a JetBlue airplane. Was JetBlue apparently completely clueless and negligent to their customers? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT.....BUT......if I am stuck somewhere, I would MUCH rather it be in an airplane safely on the tarmac on the ground as opposed to, say, I-78 in Pennsylvania. Some people interviewed made it sound like the airplane became a war zone and they were furious at the horrific experience they had just lived through.
I'm sorry....no sympathy. If I were there, would I be disappointed and frustrated? Yes. Mad that JetBlue apparently never provided passengers information updates? Yes.
Act on television as if you just survived some sort of military battle?? Forget it.
If the maturity portion of my brain was working in conjunction with my reality portion, I would realize I was inside, warm, and inconvenienced by lack of food, bathroom facilities and patience, but I COULD BE IN MUCH, MUCH MORE DESPERATE STRAITS.
Had I been one of the passengers who went on TV and acted so "in the moment emotional" about my day, then went home or to a hotel and see the I-78 story on the air.......
.....I would have found myself relatively embarrassed. The people that went through hell were in cold cars in the middle of an "asphalt-nowhere", thinking they might not get out of what started as "just as a traffic jam" alive, not in JetBlue airplanes.
Sorry-----this has just eaten at me since I saw it on TV. There is desperate, and then there is "desperate".
I pray no one who reads this will end up in something like an "I-78 experience".
And when I want to get mad during an airplane delay, someone remind me my kids used to cry alot, too.
2) But, I DO know these thoughts without a doubt. Regarding the transportation nightmares resulting from the huge snow/ice storm in the Northeast......
----I have tremendous amounts of sorrow for all the stranded travelers on I-78 in Pennsylvania, who are stuck, totally stuck in miles and miles of traffic, for up to 24 hours. Issues such as food and especially warmth become life-threatening issues. That must have been a nightmare for all drivers and passengers involved.
----With the exception of children, I have NO sympathy for the people I saw interviewed the other night on TV who had to "endure" waits of up to 11 hours on a JetBlue airplane. Was JetBlue apparently completely clueless and negligent to their customers? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT.....BUT......if I am stuck somewhere, I would MUCH rather it be in an airplane safely on the tarmac on the ground as opposed to, say, I-78 in Pennsylvania. Some people interviewed made it sound like the airplane became a war zone and they were furious at the horrific experience they had just lived through.
I'm sorry....no sympathy. If I were there, would I be disappointed and frustrated? Yes. Mad that JetBlue apparently never provided passengers information updates? Yes.
Act on television as if you just survived some sort of military battle?? Forget it.
If the maturity portion of my brain was working in conjunction with my reality portion, I would realize I was inside, warm, and inconvenienced by lack of food, bathroom facilities and patience, but I COULD BE IN MUCH, MUCH MORE DESPERATE STRAITS.
Had I been one of the passengers who went on TV and acted so "in the moment emotional" about my day, then went home or to a hotel and see the I-78 story on the air.......
.....I would have found myself relatively embarrassed. The people that went through hell were in cold cars in the middle of an "asphalt-nowhere", thinking they might not get out of what started as "just as a traffic jam" alive, not in JetBlue airplanes.
Sorry-----this has just eaten at me since I saw it on TV. There is desperate, and then there is "desperate".
I pray no one who reads this will end up in something like an "I-78 experience".
And when I want to get mad during an airplane delay, someone remind me my kids used to cry alot, too.
Me??? Rascal Flatts??? In the same building?? Within feet of each other??
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!!
Rascal Flatts and Rob Witham in the SAME building.
Only a beautiful almost ten-year old freckled-face daughter could pull this one off. And what's even better, she never knew she was doing it!!
Here's the story, which has been a big secret for about four to six weeks.
--Daddy finds out Rascal Flatts, his daughter's favorite group, was coming to the new arena in Charlottesville. Dad was able to get two tickets for the show to be his present to Rachel for her 10th birthday. One catch.....let's NOT tell Rachel...make it a surprise.
--I get the tickets, and cannot believe the location. I hoped to be "in the building"; you know, Section 309....that's cool by me! What do the tickets say? "Floor. Row E." "Is this as good as I think it is?", I ask myself.
--So, the day comes, I call Rachel at work on speakerphone late in the day to inform her that her and Dad were going on a date. Her reaction......"what??" We meet at home around 530 and hit the road. Traffic was heavy all the way to C-Ville.
--Then the worst part of the night begins. I take the 3rd exit like the directions say, but the flashing sign on the road said take the second exit for parking. At this arena, you either pay lots and park close, or park for free and hoof it. 15 minutes worth of walkin'. Most nights, that's actually good exercise. Last night, with temps falling thru the 20's and Rachel having NO idea what was going on....she ended up cold and confused.
So, I take the third...wait in a long line of cars, then find what I thought was the right street based on the map....and was right. Went into an area of the University to park.....full; side parking lot...full---Rachel and I drive around for ten minutes, and SHE saved the day. We pass a building and she says, "Dad, you can park in there, I see stairs. And cars." I go around, get back to the other side of the building, enter the deck and the first parking place is open. I gladly take it.
--Of course, I'm in shorts. I'm always in shorts. Funny, the whole walk, my legs weren't really cold; it was the top half of me that was freezing! Okay, back to the really important part....
--I've taken Rachel up the interstate on a one hour, fifteen minute road trip and she knows nothing about what's at the end of the potential rainbow. We approach the building, she later said she saw how big it was and thought it must be some kind of show, but with no marquee or sign to announce to surprise, I take out the tickets just as we walk into the building.
"Rachel, tell me what it says on the tickets."
Rachel, who always reacts emotionally on a two-hour delay, looked, said nothing, then quietly said, "Rascal Flatts." Let the shock begin.
Then we have very nice UVA people (DID I JUST SAY THAT??) help ya find your seats.
The seats. Yeah, the seats that put you TEN FEET from the front walkway of the stage.
After a gaggle of teenage girls swooped in front of us to try to have their hand touched by the opening act, I told Rachel just before the main event, "...you better get up and stand at the end of that railing, or you'll never see the show."
So, she staked her claim to a slab of concrete, and proceeded to never sit down. Two solid hours of Rachel mesmerized by what was unfolding in front of her, fifteen chances to be "psuedo-crushed" by aforementioned group of teens, surviving one lady's "super-scream" just behind us, who I told Rachel after the show should join the military and become a drill sargeant, and having Rascal Flatts come up to eight to ten feet away from her.
(Rachel, by the way, never held her hand out to be touched. She got her maturity from her Dad.) :) :)
REVIEW:
1) The show? Well done; the stage was tremendously put together with a huge tall rectangle screen in the back middle showing some of their videos during their performances. The top is semi-circled with "little monitors" on them in checkboard fashion. Not overdone. I appreciated that. Sparks in the opening song; serious confetti at the end (before the encore). The best technical aspect of the night was when the threesome all came to within ten feet of Rachel, there was a hydraulic machine up high, they connected cables to the end of the stage, it rose high and carried them over the heads of the floor seating onto a small stage on the other end of the floor. The back upper and lower levels went nuts as they "brought the show closer" to them.
2) The group? They put on a pretty good show; quite entertaining for a general music fan like me, and apparently more like a worship experience based on the emotional reaction of many girls around me. Rachel later admitted to screaming twice and smiling alot. See, all I saw of her was the back of her head! She wouldn't look stoic alot when turning around to see me, and I asked her if she was smiling. She said yes. I told her I wanted to make sure the group didn't look down and think you weren't having fun!!
3) The music? Thank God they are musicians, and not just studio singers. The lead guy only sang, but another guy (Jay) really impressed me with acoustic and electric guitar work, a drums duet he had with the stage band's drummer that was nuts, then a virtuoso performance on the piano. When I see a group member sing, interact with the crowd, have fun, and show that much musical dexterity, I see worth in the cost of a ticket.
4) The final score? I enjoyed the show, I bounced up and down out of my chair taking pictures for my girl when good opportunities arose (and there were many) while holding her coat, and I enjoyed the people-watching.
Am I now a "Rascal Flatts fan"? No. Can I listen to their CD now in the van without thinking "yech!"? Yeah. Because that means Rachel's in the van, too, and I'll apparently use Rascal Flatts to any and all lengths to surprise my girl. :)
Like I said to some people yesterday and today:
"She's had me around her finger for ten years now, at least once I should be able to string her along!"
Happy Birthday, Rachel!
And, to Dee, the lady who put us in the seats that made my girl's surprise dream come true, I will kiss your feet when I see you. Thank you. :)
Rascal Flatts and Rob Witham in the SAME building.
Only a beautiful almost ten-year old freckled-face daughter could pull this one off. And what's even better, she never knew she was doing it!!
Here's the story, which has been a big secret for about four to six weeks.
--Daddy finds out Rascal Flatts, his daughter's favorite group, was coming to the new arena in Charlottesville. Dad was able to get two tickets for the show to be his present to Rachel for her 10th birthday. One catch.....let's NOT tell Rachel...make it a surprise.
--I get the tickets, and cannot believe the location. I hoped to be "in the building"; you know, Section 309....that's cool by me! What do the tickets say? "Floor. Row E." "Is this as good as I think it is?", I ask myself.
--So, the day comes, I call Rachel at work on speakerphone late in the day to inform her that her and Dad were going on a date. Her reaction......"what??" We meet at home around 530 and hit the road. Traffic was heavy all the way to C-Ville.
--Then the worst part of the night begins. I take the 3rd exit like the directions say, but the flashing sign on the road said take the second exit for parking. At this arena, you either pay lots and park close, or park for free and hoof it. 15 minutes worth of walkin'. Most nights, that's actually good exercise. Last night, with temps falling thru the 20's and Rachel having NO idea what was going on....she ended up cold and confused.
So, I take the third...wait in a long line of cars, then find what I thought was the right street based on the map....and was right. Went into an area of the University to park.....full; side parking lot...full---Rachel and I drive around for ten minutes, and SHE saved the day. We pass a building and she says, "Dad, you can park in there, I see stairs. And cars." I go around, get back to the other side of the building, enter the deck and the first parking place is open. I gladly take it.
--Of course, I'm in shorts. I'm always in shorts. Funny, the whole walk, my legs weren't really cold; it was the top half of me that was freezing! Okay, back to the really important part....
--I've taken Rachel up the interstate on a one hour, fifteen minute road trip and she knows nothing about what's at the end of the potential rainbow. We approach the building, she later said she saw how big it was and thought it must be some kind of show, but with no marquee or sign to announce to surprise, I take out the tickets just as we walk into the building.
"Rachel, tell me what it says on the tickets."
Rachel, who always reacts emotionally on a two-hour delay, looked, said nothing, then quietly said, "Rascal Flatts." Let the shock begin.
Then we have very nice UVA people (DID I JUST SAY THAT??) help ya find your seats.
The seats. Yeah, the seats that put you TEN FEET from the front walkway of the stage.
After a gaggle of teenage girls swooped in front of us to try to have their hand touched by the opening act, I told Rachel just before the main event, "...you better get up and stand at the end of that railing, or you'll never see the show."
So, she staked her claim to a slab of concrete, and proceeded to never sit down. Two solid hours of Rachel mesmerized by what was unfolding in front of her, fifteen chances to be "psuedo-crushed" by aforementioned group of teens, surviving one lady's "super-scream" just behind us, who I told Rachel after the show should join the military and become a drill sargeant, and having Rascal Flatts come up to eight to ten feet away from her.
(Rachel, by the way, never held her hand out to be touched. She got her maturity from her Dad.) :) :)
REVIEW:
1) The show? Well done; the stage was tremendously put together with a huge tall rectangle screen in the back middle showing some of their videos during their performances. The top is semi-circled with "little monitors" on them in checkboard fashion. Not overdone. I appreciated that. Sparks in the opening song; serious confetti at the end (before the encore). The best technical aspect of the night was when the threesome all came to within ten feet of Rachel, there was a hydraulic machine up high, they connected cables to the end of the stage, it rose high and carried them over the heads of the floor seating onto a small stage on the other end of the floor. The back upper and lower levels went nuts as they "brought the show closer" to them.
2) The group? They put on a pretty good show; quite entertaining for a general music fan like me, and apparently more like a worship experience based on the emotional reaction of many girls around me. Rachel later admitted to screaming twice and smiling alot. See, all I saw of her was the back of her head! She wouldn't look stoic alot when turning around to see me, and I asked her if she was smiling. She said yes. I told her I wanted to make sure the group didn't look down and think you weren't having fun!!
3) The music? Thank God they are musicians, and not just studio singers. The lead guy only sang, but another guy (Jay) really impressed me with acoustic and electric guitar work, a drums duet he had with the stage band's drummer that was nuts, then a virtuoso performance on the piano. When I see a group member sing, interact with the crowd, have fun, and show that much musical dexterity, I see worth in the cost of a ticket.
4) The final score? I enjoyed the show, I bounced up and down out of my chair taking pictures for my girl when good opportunities arose (and there were many) while holding her coat, and I enjoyed the people-watching.
Am I now a "Rascal Flatts fan"? No. Can I listen to their CD now in the van without thinking "yech!"? Yeah. Because that means Rachel's in the van, too, and I'll apparently use Rascal Flatts to any and all lengths to surprise my girl. :)
Like I said to some people yesterday and today:
"She's had me around her finger for ten years now, at least once I should be able to string her along!"
Happy Birthday, Rachel!
And, to Dee, the lady who put us in the seats that made my girl's surprise dream come true, I will kiss your feet when I see you. Thank you. :)
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
4th Post of the Day: See Gilmore Girls last night?
Our CW station pre-empted the Gilmore Girls for a college basketball game, which normally would meet with my approval.
But, in this case, my wife does have me interested in the show, and last night was supposed to be a pivotal episode concerning Lorelai and her true feelings about the "loves" of her life.
CW doesn't replay their shows online, so the question is:
Anyone see Gilmore Girls last night? If you did, what happened? Click "comments" and please clue me in so I can, again, be my wife's hero.
At least for ten minutes.
But, in this case, my wife does have me interested in the show, and last night was supposed to be a pivotal episode concerning Lorelai and her true feelings about the "loves" of her life.
CW doesn't replay their shows online, so the question is:
Anyone see Gilmore Girls last night? If you did, what happened? Click "comments" and please clue me in so I can, again, be my wife's hero.
At least for ten minutes.
GSN------I can't believe you did this to me!!!!!!
So, I have my TV on in the office for an hour, tuned to GSN for Password Plus and $100,000 Pyramid.
If I could pick one game show to have been on, it would have been Pyramid, without a doubt. The whole purpose of the game, especially the winners' circle, is tremendous. I'd put my headphones on and listen so the girls wouldn't be tortured.
So, $100,000 Pyramid is in their $100,000 Tournament, consisting of the three players who had won in the winners' circle in the quickest time over the past several months. The first of those three to win in the winners' circle this time gets $100K, and the tourney is over.
As of a week ago Friday, they had played 10 shows with two games each....and no one had made it to the top of the Pyramid yet.
So, Monday at 11:30, when I should see another two chances for someone to win it all, what does GSN do???
THEY REPLACE THE SHOW WITH "THE WEAKEST LINK"!!!!!!!!!
WHAT??!!??????
So, I don't know who eventually won the money. Yeah, I know it's a mid to late 80s show and I could surf online and find out, but THAT'S NOT THE POINT. You also cannot watch the drama of someone winning it all online either.
Why not schedule things so that the winning episode could have aired on that Friday, so that on Monday, people like me wouldn't have gotten VERY UPSET to see the program change.
There. I feel better. And I still love the ladies of Playmania. :)
If I could pick one game show to have been on, it would have been Pyramid, without a doubt. The whole purpose of the game, especially the winners' circle, is tremendous. I'd put my headphones on and listen so the girls wouldn't be tortured.
So, $100,000 Pyramid is in their $100,000 Tournament, consisting of the three players who had won in the winners' circle in the quickest time over the past several months. The first of those three to win in the winners' circle this time gets $100K, and the tourney is over.
As of a week ago Friday, they had played 10 shows with two games each....and no one had made it to the top of the Pyramid yet.
So, Monday at 11:30, when I should see another two chances for someone to win it all, what does GSN do???
THEY REPLACE THE SHOW WITH "THE WEAKEST LINK"!!!!!!!!!
WHAT??!!??????
So, I don't know who eventually won the money. Yeah, I know it's a mid to late 80s show and I could surf online and find out, but THAT'S NOT THE POINT. You also cannot watch the drama of someone winning it all online either.
Why not schedule things so that the winning episode could have aired on that Friday, so that on Monday, people like me wouldn't have gotten VERY UPSET to see the program change.
There. I feel better. And I still love the ladies of Playmania. :)
The end of cereal.......
...okay, it's over. You cannot make me take back the following statement:
Almost all of my favorite cereals don't taste good/right/like they used to.....anymore....at all.
It started with General Mills deciding that the "whole grain" train was the right, healthy way to go. They may be right about that, but Lucky Charms don't taste the same, neither do other GM cereals, except for Cheerios.
Well, let's go to Post and one of my all-time favorites, Honey Comb. The last two boxes bought, tasted yecch. Weeks ago, a box of Waffle Crisp yielding a disgusting surprise......
Dear God, Cap'n Crunch didn't do this, too, did he? The last box was, ugh.
So.....I'm putting all my hopes and dreams and cereal future on three small characters.....
Snap, Crackle, and Pop.
Almost all of my favorite cereals don't taste good/right/like they used to.....anymore....at all.
It started with General Mills deciding that the "whole grain" train was the right, healthy way to go. They may be right about that, but Lucky Charms don't taste the same, neither do other GM cereals, except for Cheerios.
Well, let's go to Post and one of my all-time favorites, Honey Comb. The last two boxes bought, tasted yecch. Weeks ago, a box of Waffle Crisp yielding a disgusting surprise......
Dear God, Cap'n Crunch didn't do this, too, did he? The last box was, ugh.
So.....I'm putting all my hopes and dreams and cereal future on three small characters.....
Snap, Crackle, and Pop.
Happy Valentines Day.......
......I guess.
Just kidding. Valentine's Day, though, has never been a big day in the Witham Nation, since our wedding anniversary was two weeks ago.
Bonnie spent her V-Day getting her first portal treatment for the Lapband. I got to see it and watch on X-Ray. Very fascinating. And, in a moment of poignacy, and some embarassment, the nurse couldn't get my "flak-jacket" keeping me safe from the radiation, to snap to in the front with the same type of snap that is on bicycle helmets. So, I held both sides....and thought of the irony.
Maybe I need to do something 'bout that. It's the only part of my body that is "fat". Kill the tummy, return to regular programming. It would help my heart, my apnea, my overall health, and, heck, maybe a few more things. :)
So, as wifey makes hard-earned progress, yours truly gets a reality check. Happy Valentines Day.
Just kidding. Valentine's Day, though, has never been a big day in the Witham Nation, since our wedding anniversary was two weeks ago.
Bonnie spent her V-Day getting her first portal treatment for the Lapband. I got to see it and watch on X-Ray. Very fascinating. And, in a moment of poignacy, and some embarassment, the nurse couldn't get my "flak-jacket" keeping me safe from the radiation, to snap to in the front with the same type of snap that is on bicycle helmets. So, I held both sides....and thought of the irony.
Maybe I need to do something 'bout that. It's the only part of my body that is "fat". Kill the tummy, return to regular programming. It would help my heart, my apnea, my overall health, and, heck, maybe a few more things. :)
So, as wifey makes hard-earned progress, yours truly gets a reality check. Happy Valentines Day.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Lyrics.....
.....off and on I'll quote some cool, some quirky, and some poignant lyrics of various songs that I've encountered.
NOW, before you call me what I AM NOT....the song where I find these lyrics does NOT advocate the return of the "South". It's the anthem of Southern Rock. Having said that, let it be known that I absolutely love this line from "The South's Gonna Do It Again" from the Charlie Daniels Band....
"Elvin Bishop's sittin' on a bail of hay; he ain't good lookin' but he sure can play."
Now, if you're Elvin, how do you take that? I guess it depends upon what's more important to one's manhood....looks or the ability to rip a guitar to shreds. :)
NOW, before you call me what I AM NOT....the song where I find these lyrics does NOT advocate the return of the "South". It's the anthem of Southern Rock. Having said that, let it be known that I absolutely love this line from "The South's Gonna Do It Again" from the Charlie Daniels Band....
"Elvin Bishop's sittin' on a bail of hay; he ain't good lookin' but he sure can play."
Now, if you're Elvin, how do you take that? I guess it depends upon what's more important to one's manhood....looks or the ability to rip a guitar to shreds. :)
Monday, February 12, 2007
"24" and more......
....what a nasty, nasty father Phillip Bauer is.
Chloe is guilty because of Morris' stint with the terrorists.
Jack is guilty thinking he killed Graem.
Phillip is a nasty, nasty father.
Meanwhile, do they try to kill Palmer and kill Assad instead? Or both?
The first hour was non-stop; I'm surprised the second hour is turning into a "tweener" episode.
The end will probably be different......
Hey, and Chloe has a pretty good right slap!
Good Lord, didn't take long for Phillip to use leverage via his grandson. Nasty, nasty......
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On other quick notes before the big ending in ten minutes.....
--Saturday was strange. Real strange. I actually couldn't sleep. (What??!??) Even taking my correct medication, I was awake, and awake, and awake. So, I took Rachel to her, dare I say, "boyfriend's" birthday party? It was at an inside go-kart racing place. I really didn't think Rachel was going to get on a go-kart and drive, but she did! I was so proud of her! They did two seven-minute "shifts", and she improved her best lap time from 1:02 in the first shift, to :45.5 in the second. Heck, she'd probably beat me!!
--Sunday, I, ah, caught up on the sleep. I slept. Like, all day slept. And that's the end of that day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't watch the Grammys.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, I don't know whether giving the Dixie Chicks an award was for musical excellence or as a political statement to slap George W. Bush.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay----tonight's "can't believe" moment on "24" is....Morris gets a drill in the shoulder one hour, and is back to work the next?? Yeah, right.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have officially lost track of how many shows my wife watches on TV. Let me see here.....
--"24"
--Heroes (online since it's on against "24")
--CSI: Miami
--NCIS (online since it's on against Gilmore Girls)
--Gilmore Girls
--The Unit
--Bones
--Lost
--Ugly Betty
--Grey's Anatomy
--CSI (online since it's on against Greys)
--Men in Trees
--Monk
--Psych
--Numb3rs (online since it's on against Psych)
--Desperate Housewives
--Brothers and Sisters (she's trying to catch up on this show's first season online)
Me? I watch "24" and "Gilmore Girls". And that's all.
OH! And I watch my wife watch TV....forgot about that!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I didn't see the end of the 2pm hour coming either. So next week, Jack learns the truth about pop (he's a nasty, nasty father), which means he and Marilyn will inevitably join forces (but probably not trust each other) and, well, you know......
.....still won't stop Jack and Chloe. One day, friends. One day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In closing.....
The Orioles lose Kris Benson for the season. Sorry he's hurt, but he would be no help. We were 67-95 last year, right?
The Giants say goodbye to Arrington, Pettigout, and Emmons. The new GM better shake that place up; they need it. Bad.
And, NBC wins the Tiki Barber sweepstakes. Where's he going to fit in on Sunday night? They already have three gabbers and Bob Costas, and they'd never put him in the booth with Al and John. Sterling? Bus? Cris? Is one of them gone? Definitely not Cris. And the "Today Show"? What the heck is he going to do there? Do you think they'll let Tiki do news stories (like Fox News had him fill in on their morning show and did NOT limit him to sports stuff)? I doubt it, but I hope so.
Oh, and does anyone know who's replacing Bryant Gumbel on NFL Network next year?
---------------------------------------------------
BREAKING........Chargers fire Schottenheimer. Goes 14-2, loses first round home game in playoffs.....again.......is this it for Marty? Or is there a team willing to give him one more chance to get to the playoffs.....and win?
Chloe is guilty because of Morris' stint with the terrorists.
Jack is guilty thinking he killed Graem.
Phillip is a nasty, nasty father.
Meanwhile, do they try to kill Palmer and kill Assad instead? Or both?
The first hour was non-stop; I'm surprised the second hour is turning into a "tweener" episode.
The end will probably be different......
Hey, and Chloe has a pretty good right slap!
Good Lord, didn't take long for Phillip to use leverage via his grandson. Nasty, nasty......
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On other quick notes before the big ending in ten minutes.....
--Saturday was strange. Real strange. I actually couldn't sleep. (What??!??) Even taking my correct medication, I was awake, and awake, and awake. So, I took Rachel to her, dare I say, "boyfriend's" birthday party? It was at an inside go-kart racing place. I really didn't think Rachel was going to get on a go-kart and drive, but she did! I was so proud of her! They did two seven-minute "shifts", and she improved her best lap time from 1:02 in the first shift, to :45.5 in the second. Heck, she'd probably beat me!!
--Sunday, I, ah, caught up on the sleep. I slept. Like, all day slept. And that's the end of that day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't watch the Grammys.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, I don't know whether giving the Dixie Chicks an award was for musical excellence or as a political statement to slap George W. Bush.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay----tonight's "can't believe" moment on "24" is....Morris gets a drill in the shoulder one hour, and is back to work the next?? Yeah, right.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have officially lost track of how many shows my wife watches on TV. Let me see here.....
--"24"
--Heroes (online since it's on against "24")
--CSI: Miami
--NCIS (online since it's on against Gilmore Girls)
--Gilmore Girls
--The Unit
--Bones
--Lost
--Ugly Betty
--Grey's Anatomy
--CSI (online since it's on against Greys)
--Men in Trees
--Monk
--Psych
--Numb3rs (online since it's on against Psych)
--Desperate Housewives
--Brothers and Sisters (she's trying to catch up on this show's first season online)
Me? I watch "24" and "Gilmore Girls". And that's all.
OH! And I watch my wife watch TV....forgot about that!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I didn't see the end of the 2pm hour coming either. So next week, Jack learns the truth about pop (he's a nasty, nasty father), which means he and Marilyn will inevitably join forces (but probably not trust each other) and, well, you know......
.....still won't stop Jack and Chloe. One day, friends. One day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In closing.....
The Orioles lose Kris Benson for the season. Sorry he's hurt, but he would be no help. We were 67-95 last year, right?
The Giants say goodbye to Arrington, Pettigout, and Emmons. The new GM better shake that place up; they need it. Bad.
And, NBC wins the Tiki Barber sweepstakes. Where's he going to fit in on Sunday night? They already have three gabbers and Bob Costas, and they'd never put him in the booth with Al and John. Sterling? Bus? Cris? Is one of them gone? Definitely not Cris. And the "Today Show"? What the heck is he going to do there? Do you think they'll let Tiki do news stories (like Fox News had him fill in on their morning show and did NOT limit him to sports stuff)? I doubt it, but I hope so.
Oh, and does anyone know who's replacing Bryant Gumbel on NFL Network next year?
---------------------------------------------------
BREAKING........Chargers fire Schottenheimer. Goes 14-2, loses first round home game in playoffs.....again.......is this it for Marty? Or is there a team willing to give him one more chance to get to the playoffs.....and win?
Friday, February 09, 2007
Sadness in the Orioles' family, again....twice....
After losing Pat Dobson to leukemia in November, the Oriole family loses two more members in the span of just a few days.....
Steve Barber: The first 20-game winner in the modern Oriole era, and played for the 1966 World Series Champs, died at 67.
Hank Bauer: Best known as a key member of the 1950's Yankee dynasty, I can forgive him for the pinstripes because he managed the Orioles to their first World Series title in 1966.
They join Pat Kelly, Dave McNally, Chuck Thompson, Curt Blefary, Mark Belanger, Nellie Briles, Moe Drabowsky, and Elrod Hendricks in Oriole history.
And to Steve, and to Hank, a big thanks!
Steve Barber: The first 20-game winner in the modern Oriole era, and played for the 1966 World Series Champs, died at 67.
Hank Bauer: Best known as a key member of the 1950's Yankee dynasty, I can forgive him for the pinstripes because he managed the Orioles to their first World Series title in 1966.
They join Pat Kelly, Dave McNally, Chuck Thompson, Curt Blefary, Mark Belanger, Nellie Briles, Moe Drabowsky, and Elrod Hendricks in Oriole history.
And to Steve, and to Hank, a big thanks!
"24" from Monday night, or, catching up this week, part one
Let's do the best we can four days removed from the latest hour.
--Didn't see the Morris "is the expert" storyline revealing....I was NOT paying attention there. "Why was my brother in Valencia?"---why didn't I realize that line was key?? Well, this is just taking us one step closer to the eventual Jack/Chloe hook-up I've been begging for....it just makes sense!!
--The dark-haired assistant to Buchanan....is she going to say "yes, sir" and walk around all day? No, that "sign in under my passcode" deal will return to haunt someone.
--Kudos to Karen for hanging up on the Mister. Gee, I could relate. Happens to me all the time. :)
--SWEET swerve by Prez Lil' Palmer, taking Lennox's suggestions and sneezing on them. And......ooohhh....we have a vice-president with his own agenda. Didn't that happen last year for about 90 minutes?
--Now, to the Bauer family.
"They're wacky and they're goofy, Graem liked to hear ka-boomy, now all in the same room-y, the Bauer Family!" (insert finger snaps here)
Jack's conversation with Dad in the back of the van early on.....didn't believe the Dad. Something just wasn't genuine. I didn't spend the rest of the hour predicting his eventual "badness", but I didn't become shocked when it happened.
Now, how? Another story. Dad: "You've been a great son". Been, eh? That's a clue.
Now, as someone pointed out to me this week, Dad's calling for EMT's, blaming CTU (obviously to dig deep into Jack's heart and psyche).....but, how 'bout some fingerprints on the IV thingy? Maybe Graem will get revenge by revealing the damning evidence against Dad to Nina Myers as she returns from the dead in the 7pm hour. Huh??
Some of the best acting ever on "24" was shown in the room where Graem and Jack, and later Graem and Dad, had their showdowns. Jack simultaneously hugging his brother trying to get the information, not wanting to shoot him up closer to death, but, then turning on a dime and screaming "Four CC's!!!!" because the truth....well, the truth was the important thing.
These scenes are the payoff to my hope to discover the Jack Bauer under the Jack Bauer hero personna. Cannot wait for the eventual "father/son" showdown.
Next week......
Two Big Hours of "24"!!! The hours taking place are between 1pm and 3pm.
BEST LINE: "We are NOT THE SAME!!!"---Jack Bauer to his brother after Graem confessed arranging the whole Palmer/Tony/Michelle disaster, trying to bait Jack out and blame him.
--Didn't see the Morris "is the expert" storyline revealing....I was NOT paying attention there. "Why was my brother in Valencia?"---why didn't I realize that line was key?? Well, this is just taking us one step closer to the eventual Jack/Chloe hook-up I've been begging for....it just makes sense!!
--The dark-haired assistant to Buchanan....is she going to say "yes, sir" and walk around all day? No, that "sign in under my passcode" deal will return to haunt someone.
--Kudos to Karen for hanging up on the Mister. Gee, I could relate. Happens to me all the time. :)
--SWEET swerve by Prez Lil' Palmer, taking Lennox's suggestions and sneezing on them. And......ooohhh....we have a vice-president with his own agenda. Didn't that happen last year for about 90 minutes?
--Now, to the Bauer family.
"They're wacky and they're goofy, Graem liked to hear ka-boomy, now all in the same room-y, the Bauer Family!" (insert finger snaps here)
Jack's conversation with Dad in the back of the van early on.....didn't believe the Dad. Something just wasn't genuine. I didn't spend the rest of the hour predicting his eventual "badness", but I didn't become shocked when it happened.
Now, how? Another story. Dad: "You've been a great son". Been, eh? That's a clue.
Now, as someone pointed out to me this week, Dad's calling for EMT's, blaming CTU (obviously to dig deep into Jack's heart and psyche).....but, how 'bout some fingerprints on the IV thingy? Maybe Graem will get revenge by revealing the damning evidence against Dad to Nina Myers as she returns from the dead in the 7pm hour. Huh??
Some of the best acting ever on "24" was shown in the room where Graem and Jack, and later Graem and Dad, had their showdowns. Jack simultaneously hugging his brother trying to get the information, not wanting to shoot him up closer to death, but, then turning on a dime and screaming "Four CC's!!!!" because the truth....well, the truth was the important thing.
These scenes are the payoff to my hope to discover the Jack Bauer under the Jack Bauer hero personna. Cannot wait for the eventual "father/son" showdown.
Next week......
Two Big Hours of "24"!!! The hours taking place are between 1pm and 3pm.
BEST LINE: "We are NOT THE SAME!!!"---Jack Bauer to his brother after Graem confessed arranging the whole Palmer/Tony/Michelle disaster, trying to bait Jack out and blame him.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Super Bowl Commercials
My top four:
4) Bud Light: "Rock, Paper, Scissors"
3) Bud Light: "Auctioneer"
2) T-Mobile: "Wade and Barkley"
1) CBS Late Show promo---Letterman and Oprah cozy on the couch. Hilarious, in less than ten seconds.
Now, the road to Super Bowl XLII is underway!!!
4) Bud Light: "Rock, Paper, Scissors"
3) Bud Light: "Auctioneer"
2) T-Mobile: "Wade and Barkley"
1) CBS Late Show promo---Letterman and Oprah cozy on the couch. Hilarious, in less than ten seconds.
Now, the road to Super Bowl XLII is underway!!!
Super Bowl XLI
Well, that didn't take long.
Just as my bro warned me during our pre-game chat on my way home from the station, watch out for Devin Hester.
7-0, Bears.
Peyton better calm the offense down (false starts) and get into a rhythm.
COMMERCIAL: Bud Light takes the lead with "Rock, Paper, Scissors".
They talked about rain all afternoon on the Super Bowl Today, and with 11 minutes left, 1st quarter, it's a comin' down.
BTW: Kudos to CBS, who actually made a four-hour pregame show not seem like four hours. Great segments on Walter Payton and Brian Piccolo, the kidney donation of a former teammate in Dallas, and Katie Couric's report on Hines Ward.
SPEAKING OF KATIE COURIC: I can already hear the media blogosphere.....
"Look at her hairdo! Chet Huntley is rolling over in his grave, Cronkite is rolling over in his recliner."
GIVE ME A BREAK! But that's another story for another time.....
Manning eludes pressure, sends it downfield, Reggie Wayne is WIDE OPEN...touchdown! But, here we go again, the point after is botched! 7-6, early on.
COMMERCIALS: Fed Ex does the same thing as last year, only not cavemen, it's astronauts. The comet saved the spot from being really lame.
Bud Light and the auctioneer. EXCELLENT spot. It takes over #1, with their other spot 2nd.
FUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!-----Well, well....how the momentum swings! Colts get the ball. WAIT! Colts return the favor. Addai never had it---Alex Brown was all over him.
THOMAS JONES!!!!!!!-----one carry, 52 yards from the Big Stone Gap native, who, a year ago, was considered on his way out of Chicago, as they looked to Cedric Benson for the future. The city likes him now.
Grossman to Muhammed. Touchdown, Bears. Around three Colts to boot. 14-6, da Bears.
COMMERCIAL: Snickers....let's see. Gross, funny with the chest hair part, and the gay community is gonna scream. Chevrolet....good spot.
YIKES!!! DAVE & OPRAH!!!! Better than any commercial so far.
Game action-----in the pouring rain. The more it rains, the closer the Vince Lombardi Trophy moves to the Bear sidelines. Peyton looks really shaky. Like the pass to Wayne was the exception and not the rule.
FUMBLE!!!!!! The Colts are back in Bear territory. What a shot with the helmet!!
But it doesn't help. Three and out, try now to pin the Bears back deep. (Remember the coffin corner?? No one does that anymore.) 1:46 to go. And they do. First down at the four.
Anyone smell a Super Bowl record for fumbles???
Whoa. Tait down. Benson down. Inhale moment for Chicago. John St. Clair is in for Tait, as another UVA grad makes an appearance (see Greta? I actually would mention them!). Thomas Jones being the other, of course.....
There's not been a wilder opening quarter of a Super Bowl, that's for sure. Nine seconds left, back to the Colts.
GREAT LINE: Phil Simms....commenting on stars of a new CBS series being in the stands for the game...in the rain....."If it were a hit show, they'd be in a suite."
First Quarter Ends: Chicago 14, Indy 6.
COMMERCIAL: Wonder if there's an opening at GoDaddy.com in marketing? Shhh, don't tell wifey!!
We need to take Joseph Addai seriously. 7 rushes, 38 yards so far on the vaunted Bear "D".
He leads them to a field goal, and it's 14-9.
COMMERCIAL: Well, ain't that a kick in the head!! Excellent Bud spot with the dog winning the heart of the ladies' float.
QUESTION?:---How far away from the Grammys will you be next Sunday night? :)
Game is settling down now. Nice stop on 3rd down by Sanders. Chicago to punt, 9 1/2 to go until we ignore Prince. It's just pouring. Are they really coming back to Miami for another one?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nantz and Simms; they're great!
Simms: You're looking at your computer and saying 'oh, the rain should be gone in about 20 minutes....'"
Nantz: I forgot to tell you I failed meteorology class.
Simms: You? Fail? You'd give the teacher an apple to change the grade!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colts are settled down now, even in the rain. Remember when the Bears played the Eagles in the Fog Bowl many years ago? The cameras are beginning to take a wettin'.
TOUCHDOWN! Rhodes bulls his way on three carries to take the lead for the first time. 16-14, and yes, Peyton, it's too early to go for two.
COMMERCIAL: A medical spot has never quite looked that way. But I've already forgotten their website. The spot didn't work. I remember the characters, but not the sponsor.
At 7:44PM, the Colts take over again after a Bear three and out. As wild as quarter one was, the second quarter is about as "normal" as it can be in a South Florida rain.
Addai again, this time a nice reception and jive. Two minute warning.
COMMERCIAL: "Connectile Dysfunction". Pretty good one, Sprint.
BIG turnover.....Colts could have taken a five or nine point lead, but FUMBLE!!! Bears can try a two-minute drill.
No, they won't. Grossman FUMBLE!! Back to Indy. Urhacler, a BIG stop to force a field goal attempt. Vinatieri MISSED. He's human! He's human in a Super Bowl! Wow!!
HALFTIME: Indy 16, Chicago 14.
First trip in the blogosphere...remember I said Katie Couric would take ANOTHER beating? Check this out. Message to blogger: It's Hines Ward. He plays at Heinz Field. Just a little football note.
Now time to avoid the halftime show AGAIN THIS YEAR!!
Other channels......
SPEED CHANNEL: Monster Trucks
ESPN: Figure Skating
ESPN2: World's Strongest Man
FOX: X-2, X-Men United
QVC: My sweetheart, Lisa Robertson!!!!!
and I have to give a shout out to my daughter's favorite:
ANIMAL PLANET: Puppy Bowl 3
UPDATE: Here's Lisa's bio page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second half is ready. Missed Prince singing. Mission accomplished.
Do the Colts have it in hand if they score a TD on the opening drive and take six or seven minutes off the clock?
Here's a thought: first team to finish building their ark wins.
I'm telling you----Addai is a factor tonight. GREAT job by the O-line to get him the hole. He's my MVP pick at the moment.
Look at the clock, folks....we're already under eight minutes to go.
SIMMS: "And Jim, it's not stopped raining." (see earlier in blog the Nantz/Simms diatribe). These guys are equal to Gumbel/Simms, behind Summerall/Madden. I LOVE Dick Enberg, but he never had that four-star analyst with him. That's certainly not his fault.
That was the ugliest 24 yard field goal I've seen in awhile.
COMMERCIAL: "Meet The Robinsons"...opens March 30 and looks very promising.
Also...Coke's spots are all different. There seems to be no marketing scheme, like Bud Light. When Bud Light shows five spots in a Super Bowl, there is at least a little congruency. The Sheryl Crow/Revlon spot is pretty good. If for no other reason, you can look at Sheryl Crow.
Bears FINALLY have the ball and seem aggressive. They are SO lucky to be only five points down. Oops! Finally a sack by the weather, assisted by McFarland. Oh, dear, Grossman is looking like the mid-season Grossman. You've GOT TO BE ABLE to successfully snap the ball.
Boring commercials give me a chance to teach wifey what a "two-possession game" is. The Colts better make this a "two-possession game", or Chicago is gonna bite them...in spite of Grossman.
Dang, Rhodes is making his claim for MVP. The three big runs to the second TD, and now ripping off 36 yards. How about eight more and a facemask?
Did you see anyone say or write in the past two weeks that the key to the game would be:
"THE COLTS RUNNING GAME"????
Good Lord.....third and goal at the ten. They MUST get in the end zone this time. Another field goal is a BIG victory for the Bears. Run on third down, and almost gets Rhodes in!
But, alas, ANOTHER field goal. It's good and they hit the kicker. Running into the kicker doesn't provide an automatic first down, though, after seeing the replay, I'd like to know the ref's definition of "roughing the kicker". Maybe he's looking for blood or something.
COMMERCIAL: EXCELLENT spot for T-Mobile! "I'm sorry, is that your Dad??" Barkley gets dissed!!!!
So far:
1) Bud Light "Auctioneer"
2) T-Mobile "Wade and Barkley"
3) Bud Light "Rock, Paper, Scissors".
.....Colts with a STUPID penalty, and the Bears set up in great field position. Rex and company better do something with it.
Offensive Plays: Indy 63, Chicago 23 Wow.
Chicago's answer to Addai/Rhodes is Jones, now the workhorse with Benson out. Colts almost got to Grossman (sure knocked him down)....the only way to keep Rex from being completely rattled is to run the ball. Hey, good job by Grossman to elude several Colts.
FG attempt for the Bears this time. 44 yards...weather doesn't matter, and it's 22-17. Bears now need a three and out from their defense!!!
Harrison....challenge. He CAUGHT THE BALL. With possession, he's dragging both feet. Should be overturned. Great camera work by CBS. No doubt about that one.
Big third down now, especially if they get a first down. And they do, thanks to Wayne. That challenge could be big before it's all over.
End of three: Colts 22, Bears 17.
Colts' plan now: Move the chains, move the chains, eat the clock, eat the clock. But NOT a false start. 2nd and 13. Bears finally get some pressure on Manning and Harrison limps off.
13:38 to go, back to the Bears. The first holding penalty of the night.
Mooooooushin Muhammed with a great catch and run, and Bears are back in business.
NO THEY ARE NOT----INTERCEPTED! TOUCHDOWN COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, there's your Grossman moment.
BUT WAIT-----it's challenge time again. Remember, irrefutable evidence is needed to overturn the turnover (sorry, that just kinda came out....)
Another GREAT camera moment for CBS, and Nantz is right, they could have gone down to the field and check the divot where the cleat came down.
Colts....29-17. No one has come back from more than ten points to win a Super Bowl. Either the Bears make history, or they're history.
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THOUGHT: Is this the lamest year for Super Bowl commercials or what??
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Just went to NFL.com and voted for Joseph Addai as MVP.
Hey, look, another interception! Bob Sanders in the house----but there's a flag. GREAT article on Sanders in the Richmond paper yesterday. Too bad I CANNOT FIND IT at their site.
Bears back with the ball with 7:20 to go. Jones goes to 100 yards rushing, but probably too little, too late.
Hmmmm....I'm beginning to think Rhodes could be MVP. How about BOTH as co-MVPs??
Time for the NFL commercial contest winner......2:01 to play. Hey, it was very good!!! I rank it at #4.
And the final two minutes dwindle away.....
SO:
1) Tony Dungy becomes the third person to win a Super Bowl as a player and a coach. He's the first African-American to win it. Much maligned after Tampa Bay fired him, Indy immediately went for him and tonight, it's payoff for the entire organization.
2) Peyton Manning is NOT this generation's Dan Marino.
3) They won with DEFENSE and a RUNNING GAME. 50 years from now, history will look back on this team and say: What??!!?? They won??!!?? But they didn't play Colts football.
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And finally.....on a personal note, here's the real reason I rooted for the Colts tonight.
My best friend at church growing up was a big Colts fan. He went thru the ups and downs of Bert Jones, playoff disappointments, the middle of the night move, Ron Meyer coaching, Mike Pagel at quarterback.......and saw Peyton and company mature into a Super Bowl contender.
Tonight, a shout up to heaven, where Mike looks down and sees his Colts finally win the big one.
Congratulations, Mike. This one's for you. :)
Just as my bro warned me during our pre-game chat on my way home from the station, watch out for Devin Hester.
7-0, Bears.
Peyton better calm the offense down (false starts) and get into a rhythm.
COMMERCIAL: Bud Light takes the lead with "Rock, Paper, Scissors".
They talked about rain all afternoon on the Super Bowl Today, and with 11 minutes left, 1st quarter, it's a comin' down.
BTW: Kudos to CBS, who actually made a four-hour pregame show not seem like four hours. Great segments on Walter Payton and Brian Piccolo, the kidney donation of a former teammate in Dallas, and Katie Couric's report on Hines Ward.
SPEAKING OF KATIE COURIC: I can already hear the media blogosphere.....
"Look at her hairdo! Chet Huntley is rolling over in his grave, Cronkite is rolling over in his recliner."
GIVE ME A BREAK! But that's another story for another time.....
Manning eludes pressure, sends it downfield, Reggie Wayne is WIDE OPEN...touchdown! But, here we go again, the point after is botched! 7-6, early on.
COMMERCIALS: Fed Ex does the same thing as last year, only not cavemen, it's astronauts. The comet saved the spot from being really lame.
Bud Light and the auctioneer. EXCELLENT spot. It takes over #1, with their other spot 2nd.
FUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!-----Well, well....how the momentum swings! Colts get the ball. WAIT! Colts return the favor. Addai never had it---Alex Brown was all over him.
THOMAS JONES!!!!!!!-----one carry, 52 yards from the Big Stone Gap native, who, a year ago, was considered on his way out of Chicago, as they looked to Cedric Benson for the future. The city likes him now.
Grossman to Muhammed. Touchdown, Bears. Around three Colts to boot. 14-6, da Bears.
COMMERCIAL: Snickers....let's see. Gross, funny with the chest hair part, and the gay community is gonna scream. Chevrolet....good spot.
YIKES!!! DAVE & OPRAH!!!! Better than any commercial so far.
Game action-----in the pouring rain. The more it rains, the closer the Vince Lombardi Trophy moves to the Bear sidelines. Peyton looks really shaky. Like the pass to Wayne was the exception and not the rule.
FUMBLE!!!!!! The Colts are back in Bear territory. What a shot with the helmet!!
But it doesn't help. Three and out, try now to pin the Bears back deep. (Remember the coffin corner?? No one does that anymore.) 1:46 to go. And they do. First down at the four.
Anyone smell a Super Bowl record for fumbles???
Whoa. Tait down. Benson down. Inhale moment for Chicago. John St. Clair is in for Tait, as another UVA grad makes an appearance (see Greta? I actually would mention them!). Thomas Jones being the other, of course.....
There's not been a wilder opening quarter of a Super Bowl, that's for sure. Nine seconds left, back to the Colts.
GREAT LINE: Phil Simms....commenting on stars of a new CBS series being in the stands for the game...in the rain....."If it were a hit show, they'd be in a suite."
First Quarter Ends: Chicago 14, Indy 6.
COMMERCIAL: Wonder if there's an opening at GoDaddy.com in marketing? Shhh, don't tell wifey!!
We need to take Joseph Addai seriously. 7 rushes, 38 yards so far on the vaunted Bear "D".
He leads them to a field goal, and it's 14-9.
COMMERCIAL: Well, ain't that a kick in the head!! Excellent Bud spot with the dog winning the heart of the ladies' float.
QUESTION?:---How far away from the Grammys will you be next Sunday night? :)
Game is settling down now. Nice stop on 3rd down by Sanders. Chicago to punt, 9 1/2 to go until we ignore Prince. It's just pouring. Are they really coming back to Miami for another one?
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Nantz and Simms; they're great!
Simms: You're looking at your computer and saying 'oh, the rain should be gone in about 20 minutes....'"
Nantz: I forgot to tell you I failed meteorology class.
Simms: You? Fail? You'd give the teacher an apple to change the grade!
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Colts are settled down now, even in the rain. Remember when the Bears played the Eagles in the Fog Bowl many years ago? The cameras are beginning to take a wettin'.
TOUCHDOWN! Rhodes bulls his way on three carries to take the lead for the first time. 16-14, and yes, Peyton, it's too early to go for two.
COMMERCIAL: A medical spot has never quite looked that way. But I've already forgotten their website. The spot didn't work. I remember the characters, but not the sponsor.
At 7:44PM, the Colts take over again after a Bear three and out. As wild as quarter one was, the second quarter is about as "normal" as it can be in a South Florida rain.
Addai again, this time a nice reception and jive. Two minute warning.
COMMERCIAL: "Connectile Dysfunction". Pretty good one, Sprint.
BIG turnover.....Colts could have taken a five or nine point lead, but FUMBLE!!! Bears can try a two-minute drill.
No, they won't. Grossman FUMBLE!! Back to Indy. Urhacler, a BIG stop to force a field goal attempt. Vinatieri MISSED. He's human! He's human in a Super Bowl! Wow!!
HALFTIME: Indy 16, Chicago 14.
First trip in the blogosphere...remember I said Katie Couric would take ANOTHER beating? Check this out. Message to blogger: It's Hines Ward. He plays at Heinz Field. Just a little football note.
Now time to avoid the halftime show AGAIN THIS YEAR!!
Other channels......
SPEED CHANNEL: Monster Trucks
ESPN: Figure Skating
ESPN2: World's Strongest Man
FOX: X-2, X-Men United
QVC: My sweetheart, Lisa Robertson!!!!!
and I have to give a shout out to my daughter's favorite:
ANIMAL PLANET: Puppy Bowl 3
UPDATE: Here's Lisa's bio page.
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Second half is ready. Missed Prince singing. Mission accomplished.
Do the Colts have it in hand if they score a TD on the opening drive and take six or seven minutes off the clock?
Here's a thought: first team to finish building their ark wins.
I'm telling you----Addai is a factor tonight. GREAT job by the O-line to get him the hole. He's my MVP pick at the moment.
Look at the clock, folks....we're already under eight minutes to go.
SIMMS: "And Jim, it's not stopped raining." (see earlier in blog the Nantz/Simms diatribe). These guys are equal to Gumbel/Simms, behind Summerall/Madden. I LOVE Dick Enberg, but he never had that four-star analyst with him. That's certainly not his fault.
That was the ugliest 24 yard field goal I've seen in awhile.
COMMERCIAL: "Meet The Robinsons"...opens March 30 and looks very promising.
Also...Coke's spots are all different. There seems to be no marketing scheme, like Bud Light. When Bud Light shows five spots in a Super Bowl, there is at least a little congruency. The Sheryl Crow/Revlon spot is pretty good. If for no other reason, you can look at Sheryl Crow.
Bears FINALLY have the ball and seem aggressive. They are SO lucky to be only five points down. Oops! Finally a sack by the weather, assisted by McFarland. Oh, dear, Grossman is looking like the mid-season Grossman. You've GOT TO BE ABLE to successfully snap the ball.
Boring commercials give me a chance to teach wifey what a "two-possession game" is. The Colts better make this a "two-possession game", or Chicago is gonna bite them...in spite of Grossman.
Dang, Rhodes is making his claim for MVP. The three big runs to the second TD, and now ripping off 36 yards. How about eight more and a facemask?
Did you see anyone say or write in the past two weeks that the key to the game would be:
"THE COLTS RUNNING GAME"????
Good Lord.....third and goal at the ten. They MUST get in the end zone this time. Another field goal is a BIG victory for the Bears. Run on third down, and almost gets Rhodes in!
But, alas, ANOTHER field goal. It's good and they hit the kicker. Running into the kicker doesn't provide an automatic first down, though, after seeing the replay, I'd like to know the ref's definition of "roughing the kicker". Maybe he's looking for blood or something.
COMMERCIAL: EXCELLENT spot for T-Mobile! "I'm sorry, is that your Dad??" Barkley gets dissed!!!!
So far:
1) Bud Light "Auctioneer"
2) T-Mobile "Wade and Barkley"
3) Bud Light "Rock, Paper, Scissors".
.....Colts with a STUPID penalty, and the Bears set up in great field position. Rex and company better do something with it.
Offensive Plays: Indy 63, Chicago 23 Wow.
Chicago's answer to Addai/Rhodes is Jones, now the workhorse with Benson out. Colts almost got to Grossman (sure knocked him down)....the only way to keep Rex from being completely rattled is to run the ball. Hey, good job by Grossman to elude several Colts.
FG attempt for the Bears this time. 44 yards...weather doesn't matter, and it's 22-17. Bears now need a three and out from their defense!!!
Harrison....challenge. He CAUGHT THE BALL. With possession, he's dragging both feet. Should be overturned. Great camera work by CBS. No doubt about that one.
Big third down now, especially if they get a first down. And they do, thanks to Wayne. That challenge could be big before it's all over.
End of three: Colts 22, Bears 17.
Colts' plan now: Move the chains, move the chains, eat the clock, eat the clock. But NOT a false start. 2nd and 13. Bears finally get some pressure on Manning and Harrison limps off.
13:38 to go, back to the Bears. The first holding penalty of the night.
Mooooooushin Muhammed with a great catch and run, and Bears are back in business.
NO THEY ARE NOT----INTERCEPTED! TOUCHDOWN COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, there's your Grossman moment.
BUT WAIT-----it's challenge time again. Remember, irrefutable evidence is needed to overturn the turnover (sorry, that just kinda came out....)
Another GREAT camera moment for CBS, and Nantz is right, they could have gone down to the field and check the divot where the cleat came down.
Colts....29-17. No one has come back from more than ten points to win a Super Bowl. Either the Bears make history, or they're history.
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THOUGHT: Is this the lamest year for Super Bowl commercials or what??
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just went to NFL.com and voted for Joseph Addai as MVP.
Hey, look, another interception! Bob Sanders in the house----but there's a flag. GREAT article on Sanders in the Richmond paper yesterday. Too bad I CANNOT FIND IT at their site.
Bears back with the ball with 7:20 to go. Jones goes to 100 yards rushing, but probably too little, too late.
Hmmmm....I'm beginning to think Rhodes could be MVP. How about BOTH as co-MVPs??
Time for the NFL commercial contest winner......2:01 to play. Hey, it was very good!!! I rank it at #4.
And the final two minutes dwindle away.....
SO:
1) Tony Dungy becomes the third person to win a Super Bowl as a player and a coach. He's the first African-American to win it. Much maligned after Tampa Bay fired him, Indy immediately went for him and tonight, it's payoff for the entire organization.
2) Peyton Manning is NOT this generation's Dan Marino.
3) They won with DEFENSE and a RUNNING GAME. 50 years from now, history will look back on this team and say: What??!!?? They won??!!?? But they didn't play Colts football.
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And finally.....on a personal note, here's the real reason I rooted for the Colts tonight.
My best friend at church growing up was a big Colts fan. He went thru the ups and downs of Bert Jones, playoff disappointments, the middle of the night move, Ron Meyer coaching, Mike Pagel at quarterback.......and saw Peyton and company mature into a Super Bowl contender.
Tonight, a shout up to heaven, where Mike looks down and sees his Colts finally win the big one.
Congratulations, Mike. This one's for you. :)
Friday, February 02, 2007
And thus ends another work week....various, random thoughts.....
....before I go crash and burn in the bed (hopefully not all day tomorrow!!)
--The groundhog didn't see his shadow. Early spring, eh? Means Virginia will have experienced about a four-week winter (and that's being generous) if the varmit is right. Why do we get so excited over a groundhog? How did groundhogs get a day for themselves on the calendar??
How about Pickle Day? Hamburger Day? Necktie Day? Coffee Day? Oh, I've got one! Mountain Dew Day!!!!
--Bill Murray was priceless again on Letterman last night. Dave's first ever late night guest on both his NBC and CBS shows, appeared to help Dave celebrate 25 years in late night (Late Night with David Letterman premiered on NBC on February 1, 1982). Murray snakes through Dave to get to Les Moonves, the king of CBS, to snatch some tickets for Sunday's game. Murray is a big Bears fan.
--I'm so frustrated about time lately. Start work early, leave late, come home, go to bed not long afterwards.....that's life right now. Yet, I'm afraid there are friends that think I'm avoiding them or have chosen to forget about them because I'm having trouble finding 15 minutes to compose an email. When it comes to emailing someone, if we don't do it like, on a daily or weekly basis, I like to take some time to put it together. This weekend, my number one goal is to get at least two of these projects finally in my rear view mirror. In my current "life circle" (work, home, work, home, work...you get the idea) there are not alot of true "friends". I need to keep the ones I have!!
--Mary Cheney, the vice-president's daughter, who happens to be a lesbian, is having a baby. Let's see, we can:
A) criticize her decision and begin a moral attack with holier-than-thou platitudes...
B) realize the baby is created in God's image, God loves him/her and has a plan for that baby. Rejoice in the birth! Whether you agree with the lifestyle or not, celebrate the continuation of life.
Because by celebrating life, rather than trying to "scare people to death", we'll find more people truly interested in a relationship with Jesus.....
God is a God of wrath....and a God of love. And I don't think it's coincidental that the first song many of us learned was....
"Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so...."
As opposed to a declaration of the wrath of God.
Everyone yearns for love. Let's love them as Christ would and let the Holy Spirit open their hearts to the love only He can give.
PS------GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--The groundhog didn't see his shadow. Early spring, eh? Means Virginia will have experienced about a four-week winter (and that's being generous) if the varmit is right. Why do we get so excited over a groundhog? How did groundhogs get a day for themselves on the calendar??
How about Pickle Day? Hamburger Day? Necktie Day? Coffee Day? Oh, I've got one! Mountain Dew Day!!!!
--Bill Murray was priceless again on Letterman last night. Dave's first ever late night guest on both his NBC and CBS shows, appeared to help Dave celebrate 25 years in late night (Late Night with David Letterman premiered on NBC on February 1, 1982). Murray snakes through Dave to get to Les Moonves, the king of CBS, to snatch some tickets for Sunday's game. Murray is a big Bears fan.
--I'm so frustrated about time lately. Start work early, leave late, come home, go to bed not long afterwards.....that's life right now. Yet, I'm afraid there are friends that think I'm avoiding them or have chosen to forget about them because I'm having trouble finding 15 minutes to compose an email. When it comes to emailing someone, if we don't do it like, on a daily or weekly basis, I like to take some time to put it together. This weekend, my number one goal is to get at least two of these projects finally in my rear view mirror. In my current "life circle" (work, home, work, home, work...you get the idea) there are not alot of true "friends". I need to keep the ones I have!!
--Mary Cheney, the vice-president's daughter, who happens to be a lesbian, is having a baby. Let's see, we can:
A) criticize her decision and begin a moral attack with holier-than-thou platitudes...
B) realize the baby is created in God's image, God loves him/her and has a plan for that baby. Rejoice in the birth! Whether you agree with the lifestyle or not, celebrate the continuation of life.
Because by celebrating life, rather than trying to "scare people to death", we'll find more people truly interested in a relationship with Jesus.....
God is a God of wrath....and a God of love. And I don't think it's coincidental that the first song many of us learned was....
"Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so...."
As opposed to a declaration of the wrath of God.
Everyone yearns for love. Let's love them as Christ would and let the Holy Spirit open their hearts to the love only He can give.
PS------GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Analysts downgrade 2007 Winning Numbers outlook....
.....analysts are revising their yearly forecast on the winning numbers that appear monthly on this blog. Last year's composite total of 62 was seen by experts as an "off-year" and not typical of past historical performance. Thus, they believed economic conditions would lead to an increase.
January did not give their forecasts any added credibility, though, it is only one month.
JANUARY WINNING NUMBERS: 6, 7, 21, 28
Indicators are being researched and there appears to be a redoubled effort underway to seriously investigate "interest rates" and the effect they may have as the year continues to unfold.
January did not give their forecasts any added credibility, though, it is only one month.
JANUARY WINNING NUMBERS: 6, 7, 21, 28
Indicators are being researched and there appears to be a redoubled effort underway to seriously investigate "interest rates" and the effect they may have as the year continues to unfold.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
19 years.....
....and Bonnie has picked up the contract option for a 20th.
I cannot believe we've been married 19 years as of shortly after noon today (hey, none of your business when we consummated it!).
Three apartments, eleven vehicles, one mortgage, one son, one daughter, many hours volunteering at school, about 150 hours a year spent traveling to and from church from 1997 to 2005, countless hamburgers, too many shared newspaper routes to even want to remember, an airplane trip to Kansas City, very few nights apart, many extra hours spent at the radio station (and she'd even spend a few with me, bless her heart), painting the house, vinyl siding the house, gravel driveway, paved driveway, Monday morning trash pickups, school field trips, and, I think, some 400 movies on VHS and DVD.
This is just to name a few numerical details.
From Barney to Blues Clues, a compact car to a minivan, diapers to high school choral outfit....we have seen much. And there's more to come. :)
I cannot believe we've been married 19 years as of shortly after noon today (hey, none of your business when we consummated it!).
Three apartments, eleven vehicles, one mortgage, one son, one daughter, many hours volunteering at school, about 150 hours a year spent traveling to and from church from 1997 to 2005, countless hamburgers, too many shared newspaper routes to even want to remember, an airplane trip to Kansas City, very few nights apart, many extra hours spent at the radio station (and she'd even spend a few with me, bless her heart), painting the house, vinyl siding the house, gravel driveway, paved driveway, Monday morning trash pickups, school field trips, and, I think, some 400 movies on VHS and DVD.
This is just to name a few numerical details.
From Barney to Blues Clues, a compact car to a minivan, diapers to high school choral outfit....we have seen much. And there's more to come. :)
Now SHE is a true Bears fan, and for good reason!!
I understand Bipolar Disorder; I have it.
I cannot, though, fathom what this lady experiences. My heart goes out to her, NOT for pity, but for sheer amazement at how she battles every day.
And this week's battle is special. Her son's in the Super Bowl. This is a MUST read.
Sunday, I'm rooting for the Colts....and the Bears' #31.
I cannot, though, fathom what this lady experiences. My heart goes out to her, NOT for pity, but for sheer amazement at how she battles every day.
And this week's battle is special. Her son's in the Super Bowl. This is a MUST read.
Sunday, I'm rooting for the Colts....and the Bears' #31.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
What a week......:) :)
This has been a great week for moi. Through no actions of my own, mind you. Others' plans motivate me to things not done in years, I'm reminded of the importance of communication in any way you need to (nothing illegal of course!!), and I see the aftereffects of the breakthrough over this weekend.
It begins Wednesday one week ago (Jan 17) when I received a forwarded email from my niece, announcing to us she was to be wed in one week. After reconnecting my jaw with the face, I talked with my wife via phone. Funny....looking back now this sure sounds like how wifey & I took the plunge.
Circumstances began to develop at the office Tuesday afternoon where I began to flirt with the idea of going to North Carolina the next day....for two reasons. One, to visit a relative, and two, get to the wedding. By late Tuesday, my mind was made up. So I worked ahead as much as I could, told two co-workers about my absence, and headed home.
Please note that I slept that night four hours straight, which is highly unusual (I usually don't go more than three without waking up), so I was getting rest and not becoming nervous.
Let me clue many of you in on the following fact: January 24th marked the 1,333rd day since I last left the Commonwealth of Virginia. This issue has been one of the MAJOR stumbling blocks in my comeback battle against depression. My last visit to N.C., in 2003, was a disasterous weekend which only left me dying to get home. I never wanted to be too far from home.
I made it to Virginia Beach once, and Skyline Drive once, and Charlottesville once between June 1, 2003 and last Wednesday, but never could cross a state line. In past attempts to go south, I would back out the morning of.....the last attempt I got as far as the Burger King drive-thru next to the interstate where I boldly told my wife to take me home.
I know the entire situation has been very negative on my wife and especially my kids, plus my relatives in North Carolina (brother, sis in law, niece, and Dad) would be continually disappointed that I didn't come with the rest of the family.
From the moment I woke up Wednesday morning, I had an absolutely different feeling. NO NERVOUSNESS at all concerning the impending trip. I left around 9:15 and headed south on I-95.
I did not know how I would react when I got to the Virginia/North Carolina border, but I did know that I was getting more excited as the miles past, whereas anytime in the past 3 1/2 years I would have been getting closer and closer to throwing up, most likely.
At exactly 11am, the van crossed the border into North Carolina, my eyes full of tears, my heart filled with joy. And looking back, I think going alone was the way I had to do this. It was me, CD's, the radio, and God, for four hours down, four hours back.
Proving I hadn't been in NC in a long time, I took US 264 East rather than US 64 to head to New Bern, and ended up in Greenville....panicking. The wedding started at two. Time was running out. Yikes!!
About a half-dozen cell phone calls to my brother later, I'd finally gotten back on track. He told me to meet him in a parking area where workers at a plant park their cars, then head over to work. I almost past the road he referenced without realizing where I was; it came together, and I slammed on brakes to turn into the "parking area", which I should have known, was an area of dirt and sand with several strategically-positioned ruts. After all, I am back in North Carolina. You don't need asphalt to create parking there! :)
I followed him to the church and arrived at 1:59pm. I was greatful to find out the wedding would start late, and NOT because of me. In fact, the bride (my niece) pulled in the church lot (which is paved) right behind me. My appearance was not revealed to her, so she met me at the van and gave me a big hug.
I went in the church, met people and figured out how to photograph this event, well, kinda. No one ever nominated me for "photographer of the month", but I ended up doing pretty good.
There weren't more than 20 people at the wedding, which was a very close-knit affair. I'd never seen a service like this before and probably never will. No one sat down. No one. The family and friends gathered all stood behind and around the happy couple. It wasn't crowded....my bro had proper room to give her away and step back, etc......it was the most intimate wedding scene I've ever seen and you could feel the joy of the couple, and of everyone else in the sanctuary.
Simply put, it was cool. My niece whispered her vows (did she really say them, Pastor?? j/k) and it only took a few minutes. Then it was done, and the avalanche of picture-taking began. There had to be a half-dozen cameras in action before, during, and especially after the ceremony. So, after lots of photo ops with the stars and supporting cast, we headed to the fellowship hall to enjoy the reception. I need to remind myself to post a picture of the cake, because I cannot describe the "bride/groom" topper....you just need to see it.
I was MADE to get in one big "family" photo (I told bro afterwards there wasn't to be any physical evidence that I was there...ha!), which I hesitated because, well, I wore a golf shirt and.....ah.....shorts. I didn't expect the affair to be quite as fancy as it turned out to be (my bad!)
Then we cleaned up and went back to Uncle Frank's house, where the bridge/groom eventually arrived. I enjoyed conversing with the groom's dad and sister from Iowa, and about 7pm, I realized I had to get on the road. So, I made one of the two trips I'd planned. I should've known my original itinerary was too much.
The four hour drive home felt like it took 90 minutes. It was the nicest trip home from NC I have had in years and years. What a day.
472.6 miles driven...left 915am, arrived home 1109pm. Richmond to New Bern to Richmond.
As I told my wife, as for the "ball and chain" of being petrified of being far from home, not only did I unlock the chain and walked away from that stupid ball.....I took the key, unlocked the chain, took it off my ankle, then lifted the ball with my good arm (hee) and proceeded to slam the ball into the ground, smashing it to bits.
That part of the depression recovery is DONE!!! And I made sure to take my niece aside and personally thank her for being the one responsible for this all happening. :)
There was only ONE disappointing event of the day, other than not making all hoped-for stops.
I didn't get to Smithfield BBQ (see a few posts down). But it was much more important to get to know new family members than eat hush puppies. I'll get them soon. :)
So, to Daniel and his new "Marine wife", my niece, Krista...congratulations and all the best. And lots of prayers for protection for Daniel, who returns to Al-Sadr, Iraq for another tour in February.
Then Friday night I was reminded that the best way to handle concerns, problems and insecurities was to talk about them (especially since the person involved gave me that good advice!), and it relieved worry and restored peace.
Then I woke up at 1130am Saturday and didn't have to go back to bed just hours later.
Then I slept in today to 230pm (didn't mean to sleep THAT late), then worked/enjoyed the rest of the day.
For those of you who have battled/are battling depression, you know where I've been, and some of you know where I am now. And I pray all of us, together, will, in our own journeys, be able to take off those chains and smash the balls into bits, getting another step closer to the man I'm supposed to be, and the person you're supposed to be.
1,333 days. It's over. Let's move forward. :)
It begins Wednesday one week ago (Jan 17) when I received a forwarded email from my niece, announcing to us she was to be wed in one week. After reconnecting my jaw with the face, I talked with my wife via phone. Funny....looking back now this sure sounds like how wifey & I took the plunge.
Circumstances began to develop at the office Tuesday afternoon where I began to flirt with the idea of going to North Carolina the next day....for two reasons. One, to visit a relative, and two, get to the wedding. By late Tuesday, my mind was made up. So I worked ahead as much as I could, told two co-workers about my absence, and headed home.
Please note that I slept that night four hours straight, which is highly unusual (I usually don't go more than three without waking up), so I was getting rest and not becoming nervous.
Let me clue many of you in on the following fact: January 24th marked the 1,333rd day since I last left the Commonwealth of Virginia. This issue has been one of the MAJOR stumbling blocks in my comeback battle against depression. My last visit to N.C., in 2003, was a disasterous weekend which only left me dying to get home. I never wanted to be too far from home.
I made it to Virginia Beach once, and Skyline Drive once, and Charlottesville once between June 1, 2003 and last Wednesday, but never could cross a state line. In past attempts to go south, I would back out the morning of.....the last attempt I got as far as the Burger King drive-thru next to the interstate where I boldly told my wife to take me home.
I know the entire situation has been very negative on my wife and especially my kids, plus my relatives in North Carolina (brother, sis in law, niece, and Dad) would be continually disappointed that I didn't come with the rest of the family.
From the moment I woke up Wednesday morning, I had an absolutely different feeling. NO NERVOUSNESS at all concerning the impending trip. I left around 9:15 and headed south on I-95.
I did not know how I would react when I got to the Virginia/North Carolina border, but I did know that I was getting more excited as the miles past, whereas anytime in the past 3 1/2 years I would have been getting closer and closer to throwing up, most likely.
At exactly 11am, the van crossed the border into North Carolina, my eyes full of tears, my heart filled with joy. And looking back, I think going alone was the way I had to do this. It was me, CD's, the radio, and God, for four hours down, four hours back.
Proving I hadn't been in NC in a long time, I took US 264 East rather than US 64 to head to New Bern, and ended up in Greenville....panicking. The wedding started at two. Time was running out. Yikes!!
About a half-dozen cell phone calls to my brother later, I'd finally gotten back on track. He told me to meet him in a parking area where workers at a plant park their cars, then head over to work. I almost past the road he referenced without realizing where I was; it came together, and I slammed on brakes to turn into the "parking area", which I should have known, was an area of dirt and sand with several strategically-positioned ruts. After all, I am back in North Carolina. You don't need asphalt to create parking there! :)
I followed him to the church and arrived at 1:59pm. I was greatful to find out the wedding would start late, and NOT because of me. In fact, the bride (my niece) pulled in the church lot (which is paved) right behind me. My appearance was not revealed to her, so she met me at the van and gave me a big hug.
I went in the church, met people and figured out how to photograph this event, well, kinda. No one ever nominated me for "photographer of the month", but I ended up doing pretty good.
There weren't more than 20 people at the wedding, which was a very close-knit affair. I'd never seen a service like this before and probably never will. No one sat down. No one. The family and friends gathered all stood behind and around the happy couple. It wasn't crowded....my bro had proper room to give her away and step back, etc......it was the most intimate wedding scene I've ever seen and you could feel the joy of the couple, and of everyone else in the sanctuary.
Simply put, it was cool. My niece whispered her vows (did she really say them, Pastor?? j/k) and it only took a few minutes. Then it was done, and the avalanche of picture-taking began. There had to be a half-dozen cameras in action before, during, and especially after the ceremony. So, after lots of photo ops with the stars and supporting cast, we headed to the fellowship hall to enjoy the reception. I need to remind myself to post a picture of the cake, because I cannot describe the "bride/groom" topper....you just need to see it.
I was MADE to get in one big "family" photo (I told bro afterwards there wasn't to be any physical evidence that I was there...ha!), which I hesitated because, well, I wore a golf shirt and.....ah.....shorts. I didn't expect the affair to be quite as fancy as it turned out to be (my bad!)
Then we cleaned up and went back to Uncle Frank's house, where the bridge/groom eventually arrived. I enjoyed conversing with the groom's dad and sister from Iowa, and about 7pm, I realized I had to get on the road. So, I made one of the two trips I'd planned. I should've known my original itinerary was too much.
The four hour drive home felt like it took 90 minutes. It was the nicest trip home from NC I have had in years and years. What a day.
472.6 miles driven...left 915am, arrived home 1109pm. Richmond to New Bern to Richmond.
As I told my wife, as for the "ball and chain" of being petrified of being far from home, not only did I unlock the chain and walked away from that stupid ball.....I took the key, unlocked the chain, took it off my ankle, then lifted the ball with my good arm (hee) and proceeded to slam the ball into the ground, smashing it to bits.
That part of the depression recovery is DONE!!! And I made sure to take my niece aside and personally thank her for being the one responsible for this all happening. :)
There was only ONE disappointing event of the day, other than not making all hoped-for stops.
I didn't get to Smithfield BBQ (see a few posts down). But it was much more important to get to know new family members than eat hush puppies. I'll get them soon. :)
So, to Daniel and his new "Marine wife", my niece, Krista...congratulations and all the best. And lots of prayers for protection for Daniel, who returns to Al-Sadr, Iraq for another tour in February.
Then Friday night I was reminded that the best way to handle concerns, problems and insecurities was to talk about them (especially since the person involved gave me that good advice!), and it relieved worry and restored peace.
Then I woke up at 1130am Saturday and didn't have to go back to bed just hours later.
Then I slept in today to 230pm (didn't mean to sleep THAT late), then worked/enjoyed the rest of the day.
For those of you who have battled/are battling depression, you know where I've been, and some of you know where I am now. And I pray all of us, together, will, in our own journeys, be able to take off those chains and smash the balls into bits, getting another step closer to the man I'm supposed to be, and the person you're supposed to be.
1,333 days. It's over. Let's move forward. :)
Friday, January 26, 2007
BREAKTHROUGH!!!
I have SO MUCH to blog about. So, I'm gonna go to bed and rest up before I share all the good news.
That's right, "all the good news". Us depressed people ain't supposed to say that, are we? :)
That's right, "all the good news". Us depressed people ain't supposed to say that, are we? :)
Monday, January 22, 2007
"24", Day 6....10am to 11am
This won't be five-star live blogging tonight; I'm off my game, but I don't want to miss "24".
"Why do people I know keep dying?"---Chloe O'Brian
"Not after this!"---Jack Bauer
Wife notes that our friends Greta and Heidi are happy again this hour since Jack hasn't changed out of that shirt. You know, it shows off "chiseling". Wifey likes it, too, she's just kind enough not to rub it in.
"These people want to live in the Stone Age, I say let them."----Feisty Admiral
"Would you like some mineral water, Mr. Assad?"---Morris O'Brian
"How will you be putting a wire on him?"---Sandra Palmer, who is universally despised by all "24" viewers I've spoken to. Why does she want to know? Does she do wiring of suspects part-time?? She came from the same gene pool as David Palmer????
Hmmmm......finally, some background on Jack. Let's see lots more, I want to learn Jack.
SHOCKER!!!----Greg Bauer??? The baldy guy???? What???? How does Jack not know this last season? I need to look back into their interaction then.
"Whatever's going to happen next, I'm sure it'll be in another city."---Greg, evil brother of Jack.
---------------------------------------
Is it time now for our first "babe with a gun"? Or our first "Kim Bauer" be-a-like?
Is it me or is this guy in detention look, from his profile angle, just a bit like Dick Morris?
---------------------------------------
"You know that's Jack's son."----the wife
Jack never was the "house guest" type. And, Jack has many uses for cords from lamps.
"You're hurting me now!"----Greg
"Trust me, I'm not."----Jack
The President speaks..............."did the guy change the teleprompter?" (The wife).
Well, that we don't know, but we do know Jack has multiple uses for a trash bag as well.
--------------------------------------
Next hour......meet the father, wonder what sister-in-law is doing glued to the bannister, and, what'll happen to Karen.
I doubt Chloe gets time to check out The Price Is Right.
"Why do people I know keep dying?"---Chloe O'Brian
"Not after this!"---Jack Bauer
Wife notes that our friends Greta and Heidi are happy again this hour since Jack hasn't changed out of that shirt. You know, it shows off "chiseling". Wifey likes it, too, she's just kind enough not to rub it in.
"These people want to live in the Stone Age, I say let them."----Feisty Admiral
"Would you like some mineral water, Mr. Assad?"---Morris O'Brian
"How will you be putting a wire on him?"---Sandra Palmer, who is universally despised by all "24" viewers I've spoken to. Why does she want to know? Does she do wiring of suspects part-time?? She came from the same gene pool as David Palmer????
Hmmmm......finally, some background on Jack. Let's see lots more, I want to learn Jack.
SHOCKER!!!----Greg Bauer??? The baldy guy???? What???? How does Jack not know this last season? I need to look back into their interaction then.
"Whatever's going to happen next, I'm sure it'll be in another city."---Greg, evil brother of Jack.
---------------------------------------
Is it time now for our first "babe with a gun"? Or our first "Kim Bauer" be-a-like?
Is it me or is this guy in detention look, from his profile angle, just a bit like Dick Morris?
---------------------------------------
"You know that's Jack's son."----the wife
Jack never was the "house guest" type. And, Jack has many uses for cords from lamps.
"You're hurting me now!"----Greg
"Trust me, I'm not."----Jack
The President speaks..............."did the guy change the teleprompter?" (The wife).
Well, that we don't know, but we do know Jack has multiple uses for a trash bag as well.
--------------------------------------
Next hour......meet the father, wonder what sister-in-law is doing glued to the bannister, and, what'll happen to Karen.
I doubt Chloe gets time to check out The Price Is Right.
Friday, January 19, 2007
LONG LIVE SMITHFIELD BBQ!!!!!
When you come across a blog that is written not only by someone who actually knows what Smithfield BBQ is, but actually realizes it is the BEST BBQ in the history of the world, you take note!!!
So, please welcome Amy, aka Aidensmamma, as she proves she's from North Carolina. I oughta know. My mom and two siblings were born there, grandparents lived there, brother and father live there now. And, secretly, I've always wanted to live in Johnston County and work in Raleigh. :)
Click here and enjoy!!
So, please welcome Amy, aka Aidensmamma, as she proves she's from North Carolina. I oughta know. My mom and two siblings were born there, grandparents lived there, brother and father live there now. And, secretly, I've always wanted to live in Johnston County and work in Raleigh. :)
Click here and enjoy!!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
"24" in the news: the annual Muslim uprising.....
I honestly believe most Muslims in the United States do not feel to the extent that Rabiah Ahmed does.
Check out paragraph four of this article. The grocery store??? I don't remember running around Ukrops this morning trying to find an evil Muslim terrorist.
Then skip down to paragraphs eight and nine, where Fox simply makes sense in their explanation of "24" in its entirety.
Glenn Beck is so right; the best hope we have for an end to Islamic extremism is for the TRUE Islamic community to arise and take back their religion. Push the extremists exactly where they belong---first to the fringe, then over the cliff.
Then, there won't be as many concerns about TV portrayals, or taking visits around town.
AND.........for those of you people who are so hateful, biased, and stupid enough to continue to look at all Muslim-Americans as the murderer coming after you? Do this instead........
.........when you see a Muslim-American, take all your negative energy and think of Osama Bin Laden. HE'S the murderer coming after you.
Check out paragraph four of this article. The grocery store??? I don't remember running around Ukrops this morning trying to find an evil Muslim terrorist.
Then skip down to paragraphs eight and nine, where Fox simply makes sense in their explanation of "24" in its entirety.
Glenn Beck is so right; the best hope we have for an end to Islamic extremism is for the TRUE Islamic community to arise and take back their religion. Push the extremists exactly where they belong---first to the fringe, then over the cliff.
Then, there won't be as many concerns about TV portrayals, or taking visits around town.
AND.........for those of you people who are so hateful, biased, and stupid enough to continue to look at all Muslim-Americans as the murderer coming after you? Do this instead........
.........when you see a Muslim-American, take all your negative energy and think of Osama Bin Laden. HE'S the murderer coming after you.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Hours Three and Four: 8am to 10am
Well.....so far, at :18 after the hour...
1) This Palmer will negotiate with terrorists.
2) This Palmer has little sense and no backbone.
3) Jack had to get at least SOME exercise during his China excursion, though his driving skills are certainly rusty.
4) Wifey reminds me each season a "family" in typical America gets involved.
Oh, and brilliant the plan of Jack to create the fender-bender. But Assad won't make it to 9am.
8:21am---meanwhile, at Palmdale, the Gap Band is singing "Party Train" as the buses come to pick up the terrorists, ah, freedom fighters, for their field trip.
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE: Why doesn't it ever rain?
8:23am---Curtis adds to fuel in Jack's mind about "can he do this anymore?" He's changed. Really changed. Jealous? Yep.
8:25am---didn't they teach "expendable teenager" not to go after terrorists with dirty dishes in middle school?
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE II: For those of you who want "non-stop action", this may not top Season Five.
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE III: "24" will be alot better once this road is traveled. I mean, who really IS Jack? If he doesn't know, who does? I know, I know....other than Chloe....
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE IV: I could have married Chloe. She's like my wife, only my wife doesn't snarl, talks more, and gets the cutest look with her nose and eyebrows when she smiles.
COULD SOMEONE PLEASE ELIMINATE AMERICAN IDOL???
Back to work.....
Is it me or is the lady playing Sandra Palmer just bad? She sounds like she's reading cue cards!!
And I thought people were scared to come out of their homes. Why the protesters on the sidewalk chanting? Did they have the signs in mothballs just in case they needed them??
Whoa. Are we seeing a developing undercurrent of a political statement regarding civil liberties during a time of unrest? Maybe the FBI is using the old copy of the former Vice President's martial law plan from some 18-20 months ago.
It's almost 8:42.
Chloe quote: "You mean like I'm doing already?"
PREDICTION: By 9am, Assad is dead, the lead will be, too, and they'll be serving sandwiches in the Palmdale Moving Cafe.
Curtis IS doing his job. But he's not supposed to have the smirk. Hmm......
QUOTE TO REMEMBER: Jack just said, "too risky"???? More doubt.
CORRECTION: Well, there's some action after all. Nice explosion.
WIFE IS RIGHT I: Let them get on the plane, then bomb it. I agree.
QUOTE TO REMEMBER: "Their President gave in to us.", terrorist talking to Fayed, the really, really bad terrorist.
Chicken President, doubting Jack, the real President only available to hawk insurance for another season. WHAT WILL WE DO!!??!!
-----------------------
Ready to see "wussy neighbor" get tough? Well, that should be enough headbutts to the floor.
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE V: C'mon, there MUST be new technology regarding computers that Jack doesn't know! Computers are revolutionized in 18 months!!
Wow! Quickest appearance by a mole in "24" history!!!!
Assad is alive, and we head for 9am.
-----------------------
Best commercial of the hour: Tostitos--"Mommy and Daddy Wrestling".
-----------------------
9am to 10am.
Lesson #1---President Palmer can say "nuclear".
QUOTE TO REMEMBER: "I don't think I'm up to it.", as well as, "I'll do my best."---Jack Bauer
On this day, Jack's best will NOT be enough.
What's Curtis gonna do to go against Jack? "What did the Chinese do to you?", he said to Jack.
Hmmmm......would you trust the last nuke built by the Soviets? Is it gonna work? Quality control? Did they have it in 1990?
Is this the FIRST PAY PHONE used on "24"? Probably not; just wondered.
Well.....Mom dialed 911 after all. "Can't say I blame her", says wifey.
CO-WORKER THOUGHT: She says the White House goes up in flames tonight. We'll see.
AGAIN----I PLEAD WITH YOU-----ELIMINATE AMERICAN IDOL!!! AAAHHHHH!!!
Trust the Ambassador? Let's talk to Jack. Let's talk to Assad. Let's see Curtis' eyes leave his head.
Now the President's sister is going berserk, and here comes goofy hubby, now killer and deliverer of all things nuclear.
Tom Lennox. Hmmm.....Tom Lennox. Remember his brief appearance last season.
Jack now goes after this season's "Beh-roos" (can't remember spelling). He's barely alive.
The address is in Valencia. Hope they pick up some fresh-tasting orange juice!!
--------------------------------------------
Okay. Rush Limbaugh says the "gosh-I-can't-believe-they-did-that-moment" at the end of this hour is the biggest of the first eight. So, hold on folks.
Well, now we know the Curtis/Assad connection, and Curtis is taking it into his own hands.
Curtis is gone. Jack now breaks. This puts him over the edge.
"I'm done."-----Jack Bauer
THAT ISN'T ALL, FOLKS. THEY WANTED THE WHITE HOUSE TO HAVE THE FEED.
WHY?
That's why.
Nothing more to blog. The last ten minutes said it all.
1) This Palmer will negotiate with terrorists.
2) This Palmer has little sense and no backbone.
3) Jack had to get at least SOME exercise during his China excursion, though his driving skills are certainly rusty.
4) Wifey reminds me each season a "family" in typical America gets involved.
Oh, and brilliant the plan of Jack to create the fender-bender. But Assad won't make it to 9am.
8:21am---meanwhile, at Palmdale, the Gap Band is singing "Party Train" as the buses come to pick up the terrorists, ah, freedom fighters, for their field trip.
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE: Why doesn't it ever rain?
8:23am---Curtis adds to fuel in Jack's mind about "can he do this anymore?" He's changed. Really changed. Jealous? Yep.
8:25am---didn't they teach "expendable teenager" not to go after terrorists with dirty dishes in middle school?
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE II: For those of you who want "non-stop action", this may not top Season Five.
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE III: "24" will be alot better once this road is traveled. I mean, who really IS Jack? If he doesn't know, who does? I know, I know....other than Chloe....
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE IV: I could have married Chloe. She's like my wife, only my wife doesn't snarl, talks more, and gets the cutest look with her nose and eyebrows when she smiles.
COULD SOMEONE PLEASE ELIMINATE AMERICAN IDOL???
Back to work.....
Is it me or is the lady playing Sandra Palmer just bad? She sounds like she's reading cue cards!!
And I thought people were scared to come out of their homes. Why the protesters on the sidewalk chanting? Did they have the signs in mothballs just in case they needed them??
Whoa. Are we seeing a developing undercurrent of a political statement regarding civil liberties during a time of unrest? Maybe the FBI is using the old copy of the former Vice President's martial law plan from some 18-20 months ago.
It's almost 8:42.
Chloe quote: "You mean like I'm doing already?"
PREDICTION: By 9am, Assad is dead, the lead will be, too, and they'll be serving sandwiches in the Palmdale Moving Cafe.
Curtis IS doing his job. But he's not supposed to have the smirk. Hmm......
QUOTE TO REMEMBER: Jack just said, "too risky"???? More doubt.
CORRECTION: Well, there's some action after all. Nice explosion.
WIFE IS RIGHT I: Let them get on the plane, then bomb it. I agree.
QUOTE TO REMEMBER: "Their President gave in to us.", terrorist talking to Fayed, the really, really bad terrorist.
Chicken President, doubting Jack, the real President only available to hawk insurance for another season. WHAT WILL WE DO!!??!!
-----------------------
Ready to see "wussy neighbor" get tough? Well, that should be enough headbutts to the floor.
THOUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE V: C'mon, there MUST be new technology regarding computers that Jack doesn't know! Computers are revolutionized in 18 months!!
Wow! Quickest appearance by a mole in "24" history!!!!
Assad is alive, and we head for 9am.
-----------------------
Best commercial of the hour: Tostitos--"Mommy and Daddy Wrestling".
-----------------------
9am to 10am.
Lesson #1---President Palmer can say "nuclear".
QUOTE TO REMEMBER: "I don't think I'm up to it.", as well as, "I'll do my best."---Jack Bauer
On this day, Jack's best will NOT be enough.
What's Curtis gonna do to go against Jack? "What did the Chinese do to you?", he said to Jack.
Hmmmm......would you trust the last nuke built by the Soviets? Is it gonna work? Quality control? Did they have it in 1990?
Is this the FIRST PAY PHONE used on "24"? Probably not; just wondered.
Well.....Mom dialed 911 after all. "Can't say I blame her", says wifey.
CO-WORKER THOUGHT: She says the White House goes up in flames tonight. We'll see.
AGAIN----I PLEAD WITH YOU-----ELIMINATE AMERICAN IDOL!!! AAAHHHHH!!!
Trust the Ambassador? Let's talk to Jack. Let's talk to Assad. Let's see Curtis' eyes leave his head.
Now the President's sister is going berserk, and here comes goofy hubby, now killer and deliverer of all things nuclear.
Tom Lennox. Hmmm.....Tom Lennox. Remember his brief appearance last season.
Jack now goes after this season's "Beh-roos" (can't remember spelling). He's barely alive.
The address is in Valencia. Hope they pick up some fresh-tasting orange juice!!
--------------------------------------------
Okay. Rush Limbaugh says the "gosh-I-can't-believe-they-did-that-moment" at the end of this hour is the biggest of the first eight. So, hold on folks.
Well, now we know the Curtis/Assad connection, and Curtis is taking it into his own hands.
Curtis is gone. Jack now breaks. This puts him over the edge.
"I'm done."-----Jack Bauer
THAT ISN'T ALL, FOLKS. THEY WANTED THE WHITE HOUSE TO HAVE THE FEED.
WHY?
That's why.
Nothing more to blog. The last ten minutes said it all.
LIVE Blogging is next!
Quick thoughts on first two hours of "24" last night:
1) Jack's return seemed overblown (size of aircraft) and even messianic (hair!), otherwise fine.
2) Line of the night: Jack Bauer, "Drop the coffee".
3) I can see how Chloe was married to the shiny one.
BIGGEST EVENT: Looks like we'll really get to see the "cerebral" Jack this season and see him (gasp) fail. He can't win every time, this isn't DC Comics. I'm chomping at the bit to see a whole new side of character development from him.
And Chloe's dressing one step closer to get Jack to fall for her!! Fact is, he already is; he's too busy to know it yet.
HERE WE GO!!
1) Jack's return seemed overblown (size of aircraft) and even messianic (hair!), otherwise fine.
2) Line of the night: Jack Bauer, "Drop the coffee".
3) I can see how Chloe was married to the shiny one.
BIGGEST EVENT: Looks like we'll really get to see the "cerebral" Jack this season and see him (gasp) fail. He can't win every time, this isn't DC Comics. I'm chomping at the bit to see a whole new side of character development from him.
And Chloe's dressing one step closer to get Jack to fall for her!! Fact is, he already is; he's too busy to know it yet.
HERE WE GO!!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Possible sponsors of tonight's season premiere of "24"....
The official "groomer" of Jack Bauer post-China.
The new "hip" vacation trip for "24" wonks who want to feel closer to Jack......
The last "hip guy" to speak softly and carry a lethal weapon....
During a local break, a guide to those who'll help you make sure your "ex" doesn't show up at the worst possible time......
Hi, I'm Jack Bauer, and whenever I save the United States, I count on these.....
...disclaimer: make sure you carry four of them to guarantee you a good day and a half of signal.
Stylish CTU leaders, even on the most trying day, look great with this accessory.....
The official wardrobe provider of Karen Hayes when she's not on duty.....
....and finally......the product that describes Curtis Manning perfectly.
Off to the "24" bash!!!
The new "hip" vacation trip for "24" wonks who want to feel closer to Jack......
The last "hip guy" to speak softly and carry a lethal weapon....
During a local break, a guide to those who'll help you make sure your "ex" doesn't show up at the worst possible time......
Hi, I'm Jack Bauer, and whenever I save the United States, I count on these.....
...disclaimer: make sure you carry four of them to guarantee you a good day and a half of signal.
Stylish CTU leaders, even on the most trying day, look great with this accessory.....
The official wardrobe provider of Karen Hayes when she's not on duty.....
....and finally......the product that describes Curtis Manning perfectly.
Off to the "24" bash!!!
Boy, this sure hit the nail on the head!
My thanks to my favorite blogger for the link to this one.....
| Your Blogging Type is Confident and Insightful |
 |
Friday, January 12, 2007
Well, Chloe fans, it didn't take THAT long for eight months to pass.....
THE weekend is finally here.
Think about it......
---excellent playoff football weekend
---maybe for you a three-day weekend (yes for my wife and kids, me? Not so much)
---and the most anticipated event of 2007 arrives.
"24" IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!
You think nearly eight months has been hard on us fans to wait, think about JACK!! He lived thru 18 months in China! Somehow I don't think we'll see pictures of him, sunglasses and sunhat on, camera around his neck, touring the Great Wall.
I hear TREMENDOUS things about what we'll see as the day unfolds. Rush Limbaugh has seen the first eight hours and says the first four will leave you shaking your head, especially hour four.
AND, I'm happy to announce that the site of last May's "24" Season 5 Finale welcomes us again to the "Season 6 Premiere" of the BEST SERIES ON TELEVISION!!!
Did I mention that "24" was the best series on TV? For my money, it's the best episodic television series EVER.
Remember, before "24", networks never dreamed of "fall finales" and "16 new episodes in a row, no repeats", as ABC is now touting with "Lost" (which they've screwed up royally, and I mean from a scheduling and promotion standpoint, I don't watch the show.)
Have a series with 24 new episodes in a row, with the season only lasting four months???
It worked.
If Kiefer fulfills all three years of his new contract, we'll end up with Season Six, then seven and eight, PLUS, don't forget there's a movie in the works.
Face it, it's the decade of JACK! Well, for most of you "24" aficionados......
For me, it's the decade of CHLOE!!!!!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------
SO.......we'll blog about the first two hours airing Sunday night before Monday night's show, then we will resume an "All Things Witham" tradition:
LIVE BLOGGING "24"!!!
Blog ya Monday, at 8p eastern.
Think about it......
---excellent playoff football weekend
---maybe for you a three-day weekend (yes for my wife and kids, me? Not so much)
---and the most anticipated event of 2007 arrives.
"24" IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!
You think nearly eight months has been hard on us fans to wait, think about JACK!! He lived thru 18 months in China! Somehow I don't think we'll see pictures of him, sunglasses and sunhat on, camera around his neck, touring the Great Wall.
I hear TREMENDOUS things about what we'll see as the day unfolds. Rush Limbaugh has seen the first eight hours and says the first four will leave you shaking your head, especially hour four.
AND, I'm happy to announce that the site of last May's "24" Season 5 Finale welcomes us again to the "Season 6 Premiere" of the BEST SERIES ON TELEVISION!!!
Did I mention that "24" was the best series on TV? For my money, it's the best episodic television series EVER.
Remember, before "24", networks never dreamed of "fall finales" and "16 new episodes in a row, no repeats", as ABC is now touting with "Lost" (which they've screwed up royally, and I mean from a scheduling and promotion standpoint, I don't watch the show.)
Have a series with 24 new episodes in a row, with the season only lasting four months???
It worked.
If Kiefer fulfills all three years of his new contract, we'll end up with Season Six, then seven and eight, PLUS, don't forget there's a movie in the works.
Face it, it's the decade of JACK! Well, for most of you "24" aficionados......
For me, it's the decade of CHLOE!!!!!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------
SO.......we'll blog about the first two hours airing Sunday night before Monday night's show, then we will resume an "All Things Witham" tradition:
LIVE BLOGGING "24"!!!
Blog ya Monday, at 8p eastern.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Political strategy in the Men's room......
So, I stop by the restroom before I leave the office tonight, and someone had left a newspaper on the floor.
Who do I see? Nancy Pelosi (plus Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid). You may insert your own joke here, I will resist the urge.
Nancy says Congress will not allow the President to send in more troops to Iraq.
Which got me to thinking......like a politican..........
The LAST thing that ANY of us should politicize is the situation in Iraq. It puts our troops in more danger, first of all, and secondly, we are talking about the most sensitive region in the world (always has been, always will be).
Will "politics" inevitably come up in a frank, honest dialogue on the subject? Sure. What I'm speaking of is "using politics to further your political career/agenda/ambitions".
So, I started thinking like a politican who only wants to look good and get re-elected.
Let's say I'm George W. Bush. I hear the cries of the new majority on Capitol Hill and say, "Okay, let's do it your way."
Bush goes to the Iraqi Prime Minister and announces that all United States military personnel will be out of Iraq no later than December 31, 2007. So, they've got a year to get their own house in order.
Now, we know the following would most likely occur:
1) Terrorists and terror sympathizers would continue their sectarian attacks and count down the days until 01/01/08. More and more Iraqis will die.
2) After January 1, 2008, when we are "gone", it's most likely that the government there now could last, say, 30 days. So therefore, all-out chaos ensues and contributes to the destabilization of an already destablized region. Plus, with no blanket protection by the U.S. and coalition forces in their way, the attacks become bombardments.
3) So, by the 2008 political conventions, it could be argued that there would be more Iraqi deaths in the chaotic first half of 2008 (as well as maybe a threatened invasion by Iran, Syria, or both) than there were in 2007, or in 2006, or in 2005, etc......when the U.S. still had a presence.
Hmmmm.....now, to score possibly debilitating points to Hillary, Barack, whoever......the GOP can, at their convention, point to the Middle East and say, "Look how all hell has broken loose since our forces left. Yes, there were big problems while we were there, but there was some level of stability. There is none now. We have the Democratic Congress to thank for our role in the year of hell that is 2008 in the Middle East."
The Dems nominee would (correctly) remind the electorate that it was the GOP that led us into Iraq in the first place (which McCain, Guliani, etc. could retort that Democrats such as Hillary Clinton and John Edwards voted for the war, too).
I don't like thinking like a political think-tank. My above logic is only trying to protect my political future, and not the deaths of innocent people.
And, oh, by the way, while we continue to disintegrate as a society pointing fingers......who's minding the store called "Friends of Israel"?
God forbid........
It's Mary Lynn! Not Chloe this time.....Mary Lynn....
I catch the start of Letterman Friday night to discover Chloe was going to be on!!
So, I waited, and she was the final segment, and certainly worth the wait. It was the first time I really got to see 100 percent Mary Lynn. Almost any other time you see her in the media, it's always wrapped up in conversation about her "24" alter-ego. Dave actually brought up things like, holidays, and her New Years Resolution. If you want to know why Dave was willing to help her fulfill the resolution immediately, click here.
I like Mary Lynn even more than I like Chloe. :) You go, girl!!
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I still say that when "24" finally sails off into TV history, it will include Jack and Chloe finally getting together. Imagine their children! A combination of scowl, patriotism, and the ability to break someone's fingers when necessary. Feel sorry for their schoolteachers!
Why do I insist on this? Simple, since Jack's wife died in season one, there's been no other woman he's been able to fully, fully trust. When he is in his biggest crises, he calls on who?
Chloe. Every time. Her answer to him pretty much always comes two-pronged:
1) "I don't know if I can do that, Jack!"---said in an insistent whisper, always reminding him of CTU Protocols, lack of computer availability, et al.
2) "Okay, Jack; I'll see what I can do!"---with a scowl, but a scowl filled with passion.
We are 166 hours away from season six. Whoo hoo!!!!!!
Friday, January 05, 2007
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