It's All About Me

First grade teacher's name: Mrs. Martin
Last word you said: Sheesh
Last song you sang: The Revolution Starts Now
Last thing you laughed at: my wacky husband
Last time you cried: watching Katrina's wrath on TV
What's in your cd player? nothing, now ask me about my mp3 player...
What color socks are you wearing? black speckled
What's under your bed? out-of-season clothing
What time did you wake up today? 8:30
Current hair: short, reddish
Current outfit: jeans, white T-shirt, salmon colored sweater
Current annoyance: Bush Administration
Current smell: Chili cooking on the stove
Current longing: vacation in May! can't come soon enough
Current desktop picture: work- picture of Gabe Kapler... home- crazy picture of my niece Molly
Current favorite music artist: Allison Krauss
Current book: Crashing the Gates
Current worry: nothing too much, regular stuff: war, pestilence, bombs
Current hate: New York Yankees
Current favorite article of clothing: jeans jacket
Line from the last thing you wrote to someone: xoxoxoxoxo
I am happiest when: I hear my husband whistling
I feel lonely when: rarely feel lonely
Favorite authors: Hmmmm....hard to say....nobody special right now, lots of people come to mind
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Big Sur
Famous person you have met: haven't met any famous people
Do you have any regrets? nope
Sex or love: Love
Favorite coffee: Verona
Favorite smell: the back of my husband's neck
What makes you mad? injustice
Favorite way to waste time: blogging
What is your best quality? the ability to see both sides of an argument (usually)
Are in currently in love/lust? love the hubbles
What's the craziest thing you have ever done? streaking (looooong time ago)
Do you find it hard to trust people? nope
Last thing you bought yourself: DVDs for new plasma tv
Bath or shower? shower
Favorite season: summer
Favorite color: green
Favorite flavor: chocolate
Favorite time of day: sunset
Any secret crushes? nah, except for Jason Varitek
Do you wear a watch? sometimes
Favorite stores: hmmmm, not really
How big is your closet? not big enough
Ever spend more then $200 in a store? yup, but not often
Do your friends know everything about you? Good Lord, no.
What do they tend to be like? mouthy, like me
Can you count on them? most of the time
Can they count on you? certainly
Last book you read: Night, Elie Wiesel
last movie you saw: Enigma
movie you saw on the big screen: Brokeback Mountain
show you watched on tv: What Not to Wear
song you heard: Mama You Been On My Mind, Dylan
thing you had to drink: Diet Coke
thing you ate: lunch: cottage cheese/pretzels
time you showered: this morning
time you smiled: a few minutes ago
time you laughed: this afternoon
person you hugged: the husband
person you talked to online: SMG
person you talked to on the phone: Amanda
Do You?
Smoke? no
Do drugs? no
Drink? occasionally
Sleep with stuffed animals? no
Have a dream that keeps coming back? no
Play an instrument? no
Read the newspaper? less and less
Believe in miracles? yes
Consider yourself tolerant? yes
Like the taste of alchohol? some
Go to church? no
Have any secrets? sure
Have any pets? no
Have any piercings? yes
Have any tattoos? no
Hate yourself? no
Wish on stars? sometimes
Like your handwriting? yes
Believe in ghosts? yes
Believe in the tooth fairy? sure
Sing in the shower? sometimes

Shredding the Constitution

Apparently, there will be a story coming up in US News & World Report outlining the Administration's choice to not ONLY tap our phones illegally, but also invade private homes and businesses at will. All of which has been going on since September 11, 2001, in the name of protecting us from terrorists. Bah!

Censure? That's not strong enough a punishment for these people. I think we'll look back on Feingold's resolution as a sweet little slap on the wrist in comparison to where they will all end up. Read more here.

People, Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Best Friend...

My best buddy from high school is passing through town this weekend while on the traditional college tour with her teenaged daughter. It seems like a minute-and-a-half ago that Janet and I were contemplating our futures, back in the early '70s. Pre-Watergate, pre-pullout of Vietnam, pre-college, pre-marijuana, pre-marriages, pre-children (hers), pre-divorce (hers) and pre-menopause (mine, but probably hers also).

A lot has happened over the years to both of us and the world. But the beautiful thing is that when we see each other we're pretty much the same. I still am better with planning and driving directions; she's the better writer. I'm more practical; she's the dreamer, and, by a long shot, the more intelligent. And, as is typical, I work in a corporation in a big city, she's a college professor in a small town. In the last election, she was a Kucinich voter; I went for Edwards. Both of us went for Kerry in the end, however, and both of us are appalled at where the United States is going today.

It will be interesting to spend the day with Janet and Amanda and to see where her third (of 4) daughters is, both intellectually and personally.

And to catch up with my pal. Certainly brightens up a cold March weekend.

Losing His Grip

The liberal media strikes again...at long last! In my check of news sites this morning, I was warmly greeted by this caption:



Perhaps it's because so many people think he's an idiot...or a liar...or just plain ole' incompetent. Check this out!:



It would be a nice way to start the day except that our country is going down the drain bit by bit.

Oh, And Another Thing...

How 'Bout You?

Will Baseball Season EVER Get Here?

Do I Hear 29%

Ok, another poll today has the Chimp at 33%. I say we go for broke and sink into the 20s.

Worst.Administration.Ever.

Censure? Sure.

Russ Feingold is introducing the idea of censure into the US Senate this week. It makes so much sense, I can't believe no one has thought of it before now.

While the link above takes you to Talk Left, there are many subsequent links to all the coverage of the Feingold proposal for censure, if you're interested. But I couldn't resist snatching the picture above from there, and I hope they don't mind me borrowing it for this post.

Should be interesting to see how this story is covered. Surely they'll say it's a partisan witch hunt and overly emotional. But either way, it keeps the illegal wiretap story front and center and reminds everyone what lapdogs the Senate Republicans really are. Kudos to Russ. For what it's worth, I think you have my vote so far in 2008.

Dubya and Dubai, The Saga Continues

Perhaps there is a fate worse than Dubai after all...


Stay tuned.

Groundhog Day?

Having assumed they learned their lessons from past "pr offensives," I was surprised to learn the Chimp and his cronies are planning yet another one to catch us all up on the wonderfulness that is the war in Iraq.

Wouldn't it be nice to once in a while read that the Administration was actually doing something instead of talking about doing something? They will live in infamy as the most pr-oriented administration ever. The problem with them is that they don't know how to actually govern, they just know how to talk, berate, embarrass, whine, complain. All with a beautiful Hitler-like backdrop with repetitive words that they think will help us think they're actually competent. Dream on, boys. How many days until January 20, 2009? Can't come soon enough.

Worst.Administration.Ever.

Embarrassed to be a Republican

Typically, I avoid just picking up posts from DailyKos because I know that anyone who leans left probably goes there themselves to catch up on the latest.

However, I had to link to this one because I just loved the title: Embarrassed to be a Republican. In it Joe Scarborough, a noted Republican pundit says the following:

The lack of leadership in Washington, D.C., is sickening. If you look at what Republicans did--promised to do in 1994, when they took control of Congress, and see, how they've been acting over the past three or four years, the biggest debt and deficit ever. They are irresponsible and reckless on so many levels. I'm embarrassed right now to be a Republican. It's a disgrace because of the lack of leadership.

And the author of the post adds this kicker:

As kos said below, for all their fancy slogans, Republicans just can't govern. They can't deliver. They can't lead. The GOP leadership occupying the White House and the majority positions in Congress is pathetically incompetent, and Republicans are finally forced to publicly admit that fact.

It's really hard to believe how fast they've fallen...it's hard to believe it's not fiction. Perhaps this country is finally waking up.

And the Winner Is...

Sorry for the lack of posts recently...no real explanation since there's been plenty of craziness going on in Washington. Makes our job here just way too easy, doesn't it?

So, in light of the fact that everyone's talking about the port deal, the ridiculously low poll numbers (apparently lower than those of Tricky Dick during Watergate), etc., I thought I'd try my hand at Oscar predictions. If you recall, last year I went on the record as saying I didn't think "Million Dollar Baby" should win and, of course, it did.

This year, I believe the frontrunner is "Brokeback Mountain" and I couldn't agree more. Unlike "Million Dollar Baby" this was actually an original story about totally overlooked people in a totally overlooked place and time. And, to me, that's what makes it the best picture this year. All of which has nothing to do with the sexuality of any involved. In fact, I was reading an article about Brokeback the other day that referred to Ennis as gay and I actually stopped to think about it. I don't know whether that says anything about my general acceptance of sexuality or whether the story was that good. Either way, I took it as a good sign about the movie.

As much as I liked "Good Night and Good Luck," it doesn't deserve the win because it didn't have as coherent a story. I came away from it thinking that I knew a lot more about Joseph McCarthy than the movie told. This made me wonder if people new to the story (like those under the age of 45) would actually be able to understand it fully.

I liked "Crash" moderately well, but it's not best picture material and why it was nominated is beyond me. I think it was an important story to tell, but the movie was fairly predictable AND unrealistic. People don't actually talk to people of different races the way they do in this movie. In my experience, I find that people do talk to others in their own race the way it's depicted in the movie, which makes racism much more subtle and subversive. But, if nothing else, it reminds people that there still is a long way to go.

I haven't seen "Capote," "Walk the Line" or some of the other big movies, but I think the Academy missed the boat on not nominating "The Constant Gardener" for more awards. I thought Ralph Fiennes was fabulous, the story was quite original, as was its setting. It definitely did not look like every other movie from a visual perspective.

Anyway, for what its worth, here's my hoped for predictions:

Best picture: Brokeback Mountain
Best actor: Heath Ledger
Best actress: Felicity Huffman
Best supporting actor: George Clooney
Best supporting actress: Rachel Weisz
Best director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain

I just hope George Clooney wins at least one award as I'm dying to hear what will pop out of that witty man's mouth...and we both grew up in greater Cincinnati, so I have to go with the hometown guy. Plus, I have a reason to post his picture on the blog.

Christmas is Coming

If you're the type of person who does Christmas shopping all year-round, here's something you can buy me, or other like-minded thinkers. Enjoy

"Complete with "Urban Camo pants, Shotgun, T-shirt and Retractable kick spike shoes" comes the "You don't know Dick" action figure. Since appearing in the New York Post, the toy has raised eyebrows across the blogosphere.

The figure, soon to be released by HeroBuilders.com through Vicale Corporation, seems to make light of the hunting accident in which the Vice President Dick Cheney shot 78-year-old Texas attorney Harry Whittington..."

The Chimp Doing a Heckuva Job

Oh, I see. They did anticipate the levees breaking. They just decided to ignore it.

Why don't I feel better?

(Kudos to AP for finally doing some real reporting!)

Gravity Taking Its Toll

How low can he go?

CBS) The latest CBS News poll finds President Bush's approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 34 percent, while pessimism about the Iraq war has risen to a new high.

Americans are also overwhelmingly opposed to the Bush-backed deal giving a Dubai-owned company operational control over six major U.S. ports. Seven in 10 Americans, including 58 percent of Republicans, say they're opposed to the agreement.

Better Late Than Never?

Suddenly some missing emails from the VP's office have been found and forwarded to Patrick Fitzgerald's office, as mandated more than three years ago. The story is here. A quote is here:

Special Prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a court hearing Friday that the White House "recently located and turned over" 250 pages of emails from the Office of Vice President Dick Cheney, according to an article filed by the Associated Press Friday evening.

That Friday was yesterday, my friends. Fitzmas delayed is Fitzmas denied? I don't think so.

Speaking of Good Music

If you're interested in listening to music that is quite good, original, and not found in any ordinary, average, everyday neighborhood cd store, you've come to the right place.

Allow me to introduce Fred Steffen, a guitar-player extraordinaire and all-around great guy. You can buy his double-cd for a mere $20 here. Fred's been writing and playing his own brand of folk and blues for a number of years and since we don't live in the same city, I don't get a chance to hear him live as much as I'd like. But when I do, I'm always in awe of his ability, primarily with the guitar and harmonica, and most recently with piano. If anyone has heard me sing they know I have absolutely no musical talent, but I excel at appreciating other people's abilities in this area.

And if you enjoy the artwork on Fred's CD, you can credit his brother Bob, a talented artist in his own right.

For you trivia buffs out there, check out Song #12 "And I Love You," which was written for our wedding a few (ahem) years ago. Enjoy!

James Wolcott is My Writing Hero

Where have you ever read a better paragraph that sums up the current state of affairs?

As I post, President Bush is on Fox News delivering a speech in Indiana, looking jaunty and relaxed, repeating soundbites such as "As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down" and working that Determined Jaw as if he were personally going to grind terrorists between his back molars. He has to repeat himself ad nauseum because if he paused to reflect on the harm he's done and the horror he's unleashed he'd collapse like a paper cup crushed beneath a boot.

Sound Familiar?

Tonight, we watched John Fogarty (from Creedence Clearwater Revival, you remember...) on Austin City Limits, and he sang this song. I thought it would be good to repeat those lyrics here because it got me up dancing in the living room.

Fortunate Son

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail To The Chief",
oh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no senator's son,
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no,

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, why don't they help themselves? oh.
But when the taxman come to the door,
Lord, the house look a like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Yeh, some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give,
oh, they only answer, more, more, more, yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no military son, SON, NO
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, NO NO

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate son, son son son