I am pretty sure that I will be the only person interested in what I have to say... I guess I am truly jealous of anyone that has their 15 minutes of fame (read: reality television shows), but I cannot be edited by big corporations to fit their story lines. I would say or sell their products, but maybe I can get a sponsor.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
New Glasses, New Hair, New Phone
Well Friend, I cut a lot of hair off today. I haven't had it this short since 1994. I also have new glasses. Very Devo or kd lang. I also have a new cell phone. It is tiny and it was at a great price. Big ups to Heather at the Cingular store at the mall. Of course, I have some new clothes too. Big Mike is coming over and then we are going out. Certainly for dinner, perhaps then to a movie or to see a band in Wind Lake. I can't wait to use about 1/3 of the shampoo that I normally use and then no time at all to dry my hair. Wait until the guys at the plant see this...
There is nothing like an ice cold Root Beer in a glass bottle. If you know me, you know that there is one Root Beer that I absolutely refuse to drink. I won't touch it. I like Stewart's, IBC and Gray's. Those are all really good to drink. I'll tell you what my Friend, you know what goes good with a good Root Beer I bet? How about an Elvis movie marathon. I know that those Elvis flicks aren't great cinematic experiments, but I really like them. I love them. I like them better than watching M*A*S*H... I like them perhaps even more than James Bond movies... but it's close. I think a great rainy day of movie watching would be to alternate Elvis and James Bond movies. I would also be sure that I have chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing, peanut butter cups, Root Beer in glass bottles, and a small steak and don't forget the microwave popcorn. Maybe it'll rain this weekend.
Speeding Motorcycle... of my heart. Speeding Motorcycle... don't let's start. In a world of funny changes, Speeding Motorcycle... won't you change me? Thank you to Yo La Tengo and the call-in kid. What a great song. Wish I had written it. Here is a list of five songs that I wish I had written, in no particular order.
1) It's Only Rock and Roll 2) Jump! 3) Circle 4) Closer to Fine 5) The Christmas Song
I'll tell you what my Friend... those are all great songs. They aren't the only one that I wish I had written. If only I had the talent and the patience. Those songs are something that are living and breathing and came from deep inside the person who wrote them. Those songs can live forever and can never be taken away from them.
Well, here we have the Monday Morning GMs on ESPN. What happened to Aaron Rodgers? How come he fell to #24? Will he be good enough? Criminey! We don't know because he hasn't even walked into the locker room, let alone taken a snap in a regular season NFL game. Yikes! Look at all of the QBs who were taken in the top 10 in the past and tell me, just tell me, what in the world was it that stamped them with a GUARANTEE for NFL success. You don't know, admit it! You don't know and neither do I and we won't know until five years from now whether or not it was a good move. Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning... Tony Mandarich or Barry Sanders... Tim Couch or Daunte Culpepper? Then and only then, if all the factors remain the same, same coaches, same system, same receivers... on and on and on... Let me give you two names... Brett Favre and Tom Brady. Neither one went in the first round... how many titles between them? Four!
Well, yesterday was the 22nd of April and it was snowing here. Not enough to be of any consequence, but it is a little depressing. There's leaves on the trees and everything and then SNOW. You think it's bad here. What if you lived somewhere around International Falls? It's probably plenty cold and windy there.
We are still planning our trip to Cleveland. I just hope it has stopped snowing by then.
Now I have seen it all. Bam Margera selling deodorant. Then surprise of all surprises, TO and Javon Kearse are the same commercial. Good for them. Hey, I could make it all on a long shot bet in the Derby, right?
My fantasy baseball team is going well after some abhorent pitching performances.
Well Friends, it's hockey playoff time. Only it isn't for the NHL. At least the Red Wings won't win the cup this year, and I can rest easy knowing that the Blues won't choke in the first round. Here's to a repeat championship for your Milwaukee Admirals. Hopefully DB and I can get to an Admirals game here in the post season. I am not sure. We didn't make it to as many games as we had hoped this year. I think only three. Last year we went at leas twice a month. Not huge, but hey, we live over an hour away from the arena. We are also hoping for a nice showing from the St. John's Maple Leafs. It's their last year before the team moves to Toronto and comes back as the Marlies. Season tickets are on sale now in Toronto for a minor league team that isn't even there yet. In the mean time, nobody says word one about one of the Original Six, the Chicago Blackhawks. I'll tell my Friend, it's just crazy. Here we are, no NHL. No Stanley Cup. The last time there wasn't a presentation was in 1919, when a flu epidemic cancelled the playoffs. The next year, when the season and the playoffs resumed, the Ottawa Senators wone the cup. They beat the Vancouver Millionaires. I guess if I were a die-hard Senators fan, I'd be excited. However if I was born and raised in Vancouver, I'd be getting supersticious. So, that's the story about how the Grinch stole the Stanley Cup... almost like the year without Santa Claus. I miss you, NHL but I'm mad as heck!
They are very different. Sometimes I am long on the dreams, but short on the ambition. Sometimes when I see folks who are famous or rich for no obvious reason I think to myself "I could do that." However, those folks work very hard for what they have. Certainly we all have talents, but longevity of fame and fortune doesn't just happen, even when it seems to "just happen."
Tonight I have eaten 10 pretzels, a bowl of Marshmallow Mateys, a Budget Gourmet Pepper Steak and Rice and I am still a bit hungry. I am considering raiding the Easter candy.
Around my neck... I am ready to relax and not think about much but having fun all day and every day. I am still learning how to deal with challenges. I don't always have the answer. I just read something recently that basically said "If you don't know what to say, don't say anything." Think about it, choose your own right words, then and only then, say what you have to say. I know it might not always be the fastest, but let's face it, speed isn't always the most important. However, you do need to be able to think on your feet. I have to be smart enough to know when to do which.
I just bought The Killers "Hot Fuss" album. I really dig it. A shout out to Mr. D for grilling steaks! A shout out to Dennis and Rachael for steaks!
Well Friends, now I have seen everything, and let me tell you it was absolutely wonderful. For many years I have been troubled by a divide in my family. Something that has made holidays, celebrations and most everything very difficult. Today I saw a wonderful step in the right direction. I am not sure how or why it happened, and I am not really interested in asking, nor am I wanting to probe into what happened afterward. I will say this, I cried with relief and joy with someone else who was just as relieved and filled with joy, and I was happily surprised by that person's reaction as well. Life is strangely beautiful.
I am going to the Eye Doctor on Friday afternoon. I haven't been in a very long time. I did wear glasses for a time, and then I lost them and never made an effort to replace them. At the time I only wore them for the times that I sat in front a computer screen. I've had some pain around my eyes and know that it is time to go for a visit.
I also have a series of burns on my right forearm. Sunday night I dumped a pound of stir fry beef into a pan full of hot oil... who knows how hot it was. I have four distinct burns, looks real weird. I have only one that is blistering. They are more itchy than painful.
I spoke with an old friend tonight. It was good to talk with her. Chris happens to live in the Cities. I haven't visited her as much as I should. I haven't kept in touch the way I should. She's a good friend.
Well Friends, it will be busy for us over the next few weeks... but I really do like it that way. That means that we have a lot happening. We're off to see Anne and Jerry this weekend. It will be good to see them as they spend their winters in Texas... then we have a First Communion to attend. Next weekend sets off the birthday train among kids. Then before you know it, we are off to a wedding, Indy and whatever Cleveland may hold for us.
I recently purchased some new music, and I mean new for me. I am in my 30s but I think I still have a shred of hipness left. I have always liked many if not all types of music, but I used to get stuck in a time warp. It's important to stay in the loop. Music is important to me, new music makes me feel alive.
Well, it is amazing how we as people get excited about the things that are ridiculously absurd. When I am dead and gone, what do I want my legacy to be? Sure I would like to be rich, famous, leave my mark in history or any combination of the three... But what's important is the people who I am with now, what they mean to me and what I mean to them. The rest is just twinkie filling.
Danny B. and I are shopping for a new BBQ grill. I think we are ditching the table top model and looking for something with legs. We are a little bit older these days and it isn't so much fun to crouch on your knees to make your tailgate delights or anything like that.
I took a nap for nearly 2 hours today, while our friend Big Mike was visiting. But we all had it in our plans to lay down. I was the only one who actually fell asleep.
I heard from a friend who moved to Georgia today, hope to hear more. I hate losing touch. That means I am not a good friend, only an okay friend.
Hmm... I wish I would have had my card today as I stopped to get 24 brats and 8 polish sausages as it would have saved me $2.31 per package, for a savings of $9.24, plus the .15 on the aluminum foil would have saved me a total of $9.39 or nearly 50%. I know that I forgot my card, but what made it really bad is the young lady who was cashiering reminded me of how much I could have saved. To which I replied that I knew but that my husband had the stinkin' card. Reflecting on the situtation now, I probably wouldn't have said it in just those words, but I am well aware! Now, interestingly enough, this store usually gives you a "loaner" card when you tell them that you don't have your own card on you... just my luck that I don't get to save the dough when it really counts, only when I am buying canned mushroom stems and pieces. You win some, you lose some.
Ever wake up with the sweats? Just soaked? I do sometimes, and then I get cold because I am sweating like crazy and then I pull that comforter up, but then I still get too hot. It's horrible.
I'll tell you what my Friend, I am looking forward to the most delicious chocolate chip cookies on Saturday. I am lucky, I asked my Mom for them and I am going to get them. Nothing sweet until 5:00pm on Saturday. Then I think I will eat about a dozen of them.
You either love it or you hate it. There is no middle ground. I think cilantro gives food the breath of life. It brings freshness and a flavor like no other. I hail from the "love it" camp. It is hard to imagine fresh salsa or pico de gallo without it. What's the point?
In other news, I spoke with my youngest uncle the other night. It was a good conversation. He lives in Louisville and has a great family. He is a great guy who can just say the right things. He has a way with words. I have a good family, it is made up of people who care for each other. I wish that we all lived closer together. When I was a kid, I would dream that one day I would own a hotel that we could all live in so we could be with each other all the time. Nobody would have to leave or drive far away. It's still something that I wish for, for us all to live close by each other.
This is a show that I have come to appreciate over the years. It provides me with one of my only strong "complete" family memories. It was the one thing that we all enjoyed and did together. It also reminds me a great deal of my Dad, which is a huge reason why I like it. It helps me catch a glimpse into my Dad's sense of humor. It still bothers me after over five years. I still get choked up if I think about it too long. I know I will always miss him, but sometimes the sting is worse than other times. It's odd to think that a television show offers comfort.
A good friend reminded me that I am still young. That must explain why I am so excited about summer. I tell you, we got to have ourselves a rock and roll party! I want this to be a busy, fun and outrageous summer! I want to take weekend roadtrips. I want to see concerts. I want to see friends. I want to see the water... maybe the ocean? I want to see the country, at least whatever we can in a 6 to 8 hour drive. There's so much to do... so much to see. Thank goodness we have a whole extra hour of daylight. In the mean time, I am still enjoying the candy that the Easter Bunny so generously gave to us. Cadbury eggs... my all time favorite Easter candy. NCAAH playoffs are here too. They will be on the ESPN networks. You won't be disappointed. Thanks to Rae for reminding me that I am still young.
Consider this my official notice to Hollywood. You people are completely vacant of creativity and originality. How in the world can you justify a re-make of the Bad News Bears? You won't come close! If it is going to be re-made, at least have the decency to choose a cast that doesn't insult my intelligence. Billy Bob Thornton ATTEMPTING Mathau's "Buttermaker?" DREAM ON. You'll scare the children! Brady Bunch movies, Fat Albert, Starsky & Hutch? Now I have seen it all. Thanks for ruining a memory that YOU created. What a flippin' lack of creativity.
Well, my nap was about 20 minutes... now it is a bit warm in the sun, plus the whirring of the laptop is keeping things nice and warm too. My chocolate ingestion has sky-rocketed since last Sunday. As you know, I gave up chocolate for lent. Since last Sunday, not one calendar day has passed without at least one tiny taste of stuff. I hope the scale doesn't reflect it. What I need to do is put some air in the tires on my bike and set out for a little bit of a ride at least three times a week. Easier still, I could walk down to the lake. But, when I think of the week that I have coming up, I am inclined to just rest here on the couch. Aside from that, the whole jump an hour ahead thing seems to be taking its toll right now. I am anxious to plan a bit of a trip for this summer... can you tell?
The windows are open, clocks moved ahead, plenty of coffee and good things to eat. Life is good my Friend. We had a great time with our friends last night and a great dinner at Ralph's Steak House in Delavan. I highly recommend it for those of you of the carnivorous nature. I think I will fall asleep in the sun on the couch today, it's a good thing. The only thing I will be missing is a cat. I am really looking forward to spring and all of the fun things that we can plan on doing. April is already filled to the gills and May won't be far behind.
But alas, if I use the coffee grinder, I run the risk of waking Danny B. He does enjoy sleeping, so I will wait until after 8:00am before I get going with the grinder. I think I am going to start entering every sweepstakes and/or contest that I can. You can't win if you don't enter, right? We'll have some visitors today. That's kind of exciting, usually the folks who visit us are Paul and Nichole and Big Mike. They all happen to live in the area, so we see them quite often. Most other times, we are doing the driving to see others. It's okay, considering we live at least 50 miles from everyone else. In the winter there is a shortfall of activities around her, now we are coming into "the season" and that provides us with plenty of entertainment opportunities for our friends. What I should do is make coffee, then go get some doughnuts.
