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yeah...looks like earl was pushed out to the east further than anticipated, so only eastern most CT got any rain...we got nothing where i am...but that's ok with me! it also looks like it'll be past nantucket and they only canceled the really early boats to/from the mainland and island. still, it's gonna be mighty windy and the surf will be churning there...not good beach days! t-minus 6.5 days to santa fe, new mexico! woo hoo!
lisag
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I hope that everyone has a safe & fun Labor Day weekend!
kmp
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LOL! If you need a quick laugh... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bieWk7nyarc
lisag
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Thank you for sharing your expertise, Cat. I was thinking that this couldn't possibly be necessary even if the guy is in his late 80's. After all, if he were in England, would they expect a client to pay airfare and hotel to get the deposition? It's so crazy. Haven't heard back from lawyer yet about it. I did ask him why he couldn't teleconference.
Diane
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I see LisaG answered the issue on the deposition. There is no need to travel. Someone wants to pad the bill. Take it over the phone or on video conference. If they won't agree - go to the judge. Whatever jurisdiction you are in, this is probably covered by the discovery rules.
Cat
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Christine - I think it will be fine by Saturday...Earl is supposed to be up over the cape and beyond by then. He just might have some delays due to disruption of other flights Friday.
LisaG
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DH is out visiting his dad in NY and has to fly out on Saturday thru Philadelphia, keeping fingers crossed about Earl.... I want my husband home!
Christine
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Cornell
...........
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Wow, that is a close one, Lisa! I sometimes think that things happen a certain way for a reason. I guess the halt the ferry transports during that sort of weather, right? Thanks for your advice. I will keep working on my lawyer and seeing if something else can be done.
Diane
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Wow...how glad am I that I flip-flopped my yearly Nantucket vacation from Sept to June this year?! Hurricane Earl is supposed to go directly over the Cape and the Islands on Saturday, which would normally have been the day I took the boat from the mainland to Nantucket!
LisaG
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Diane - You know, I'm sure they could either have a lawyer or whoever records a deposition do it locally, while on a conference or video call. Heck, we do that stuff all the time for my projects, I really see no reason for your lawyer to do all that traveling...it's silly.
LisaG
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Thanks, Lisa. My sister also volunteered but I think it has to be the lawyers asking the questions --- I know squat about legal stuff. There's a nice university up in Ithaca, though, I think. Never been there. It must be a place for rich people to retire as this retired lawyer is there now.
Diane
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if it was closer, like near albany, i would volunteer to go for you, diane, but ithaca is waaaaaaaaaaaay up north. who the heck would want to live up there?!
lisag
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I guess if the old guy passed away, we'd be out of luck. Yeah, there has got to be another way than for me to pay some young lawyer 3,000 bucks to have a nice drive to upstate NY for the day.
Diane
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What if the old lawyer lived overseas? There MUST be a way to do this remotely...too bad Cat isn't here to ask...she would probably know if a deposition could be done remotely. And what if the old lawyer had passed away? What would they do then?
LisaG
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And how come the court system can't catch up to the times? We have the latest in teleconferencing equipment at work. My boss doesn't even have to leave anymore to attend many meetings because he uses the teleconferencing equipment. How come depositions can't be done that way?
Diane
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Thanks for the idea, Lisa. I will run it by them. I was asking him about other options -- the estate lawyer going alone, teleconferencing, etc. He knows I want to avoid him taking this trip. It's not my fault the guy is in his late 80's and can't make it down to Rockland County and lives in Ithaca -- and why didn't they think of getting his depostion before? My lawyer is very new on the case, though, so it's not due to him. And what if the guy moved to CA or something? Would they expect a client to pay airfare for the deposition??? The estate lawyer is calling old-lawyer's son to see how we can do this so, hopefully, MAYBE the son can bring the father to them instead of the other way around. What a mess. I hope no one ever names me in a will or trust ever again.
Diane
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Diane - Is there any way someone can get a deposition without the travel? Another lawyer up in Ithica? Maybe you can get a lawyer willing to take his fee from the estate once it's settled. This is just crazy...someone has to be able to help you with this.
LisaG
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Oh Diane :-(
Christine
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Oy, the hearing was postpone to 9/21. I got an e-mail from my lawyer that they have to get a deposition from the lawyer my aunt used when she changed her Trust. That lawyer is in his upper 80's!! He's way up in Ithaca so my lawyer told me it's a 3-hour trip EACH WAY. I just started crying. That trip to get that deposition will cost me between $2 and $3,000!!!!!! I only have a small savings account that was not to be touched unless I got laid off or retired. I already had to use it to put this lawyer on retainer. I can't sleep at night sometimes. It's so scary not to have any kind of financial shelter to fall back in case of hard times -- layoffs, etc. I'll get a dog and live outside like the rest of the homeless, I guess.
Diane
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At 9:30 EST this morning, they held the hearing in NY in front of a judge to see if that lying thief handyman can bring his case in front of a trial. This is over my aunt's estate. He is after my half and a good portion of the other niece's portion. My lawyer was supposed to call me when it was over but I haven't heard a word. I am sick to my stomach about it. Their whole case is LIES LIES LIES. I just hope the illegal immigrant isn't granted a trial. It will truly bankrupt me to pay a lawyer for that. Plus, I'd have to take time off from work and fly back to the hell hole known as Newark, NJ.
Diane
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Ew...Kate Gosslin at the Emmy's? And they renewed the show on TLC...ugh. And what is with the hair? It looks like a wig...horrible.
LisaG
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thank you.... all we can do is put him in God's (and the doctor's) hands.
christine
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I'll send prayers for your FIL, CHRISTINE. I hope everything goes well and he can make a recovery from this.
Diane
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{{{Christine}}} I hope everything turns out ok for your FIL.
LisaG
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Please keep my Father in law in your prayers. He had a second heart attack a couple of weeks ago (his second in about 6 months) and now they might be performing a heart transplant. My husband is in NY were they live right now.
Christine
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Still the BEST back to school commercial ever made! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcYbo7pjto
LisaG
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Maybe!
Christine
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chances are some else (probably a Hertz employee) took the transponder that is activated when you go thru the EZ Pass and thought they were going to get a free toll pass.
boston
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Oh now I see. Yeah, the Attorney General should be notified about these things.
Diane
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My husband got a rental today (his car is being fixed after an accident) and he told the repair shop (they give you three days free rental if your damage is over a certain amount) about what happened to me. They were surprised. He told them it better not happen to him!
Christine
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It is that type of device. There were recent problems about it on the news where the devices were reading for the wrong cars etc..... I have the forms for the AG and might still file a complaint.
Christine
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It sounds like an EZ-Pass kind of device where you just drive slowly through the express lanes vs. waiting in the lanes to pay a person. Maybe they try to charge people for tolls since most/many drive on toll roads, they think people won't notice if the toll fees seem a bit higher than what they thought. Christine - I would report it to your State's Atty General...sounds like a scam to me.
LisaG
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I wonder why a rental car place would care that you go through a toll? I guess there's a camera that takes a photo of the license plate if you do? It it's legit, their device is seriously malfunctioning. Yeah, you never know these days it something is deliberate or not.
Diane
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It was Hertz. I think its a device on the car and somehow it is read incorrectly when you go through a toll (or so I was told). Still it seems odd that it is happening several people I know. I am suspicious.
Christine
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Boy, that's weird, thanks for the warning, Christine. I wonder why this is happening on car rentals. Can I ask what company you rented from?
Diane
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lol! Lisa! ________________________ A word of warning to all of you. I posted about this on Facebook too. I had rented a car when I had my car in for repair last month. I had the car from 7/19 through the 23rd. I was told at the end my bill was $21 (repair shop picks up some). Fantastic. Come credit card statement, there is a charge for $15.90 on some toll paypass. I was perplexed. I never too the car on a tollway, only to work and back. I called this place and was told I had gone through tolls on two separate occasions, once even out of state. Long story short, I told them to check the mileage from where I live to where I was supposed to have been cavorting around through tolls and they wouldn't be close to matching what was put on the car. I probably put on 150 miles, if I drove as they said I did it would have been more then double. I must have made my point as the charges were refunded. Most interesting thing is after I mentioned this on FB and at work, several people said they had the same thing happen to them. Be warned!
Christine
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LOL!! Thanks for the laughs, guys. :)
Diane
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No, it's a sign she should dump Verizon Wireless and go to Sprint.
Sprint CEO
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A sign that you should take up jogging?
Puck
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LOL! I got Chinese takeout for dinner...here is my fortune..."May the warm winds of heaven blow softly upon your sprint." SPRINT?!
LisaG
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We've got parking meters all over the place in LA, so change helps. And they are so expensive sometimes.
Diane
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Oh really? How much are the tolls on the NJ Turnpike now?
Diane
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Yeah, although now quarters won't buy you much for tolls...maybe on the Garden State Pkwy, but not on the NJ Turnpike. I've been throwing all change, except quarters, into a bowl...when it gets full, I take it all to the local Coin Star machine to cash it in. Now they offer you an option to get a certificate for a store and they wave the service fee. You can also now donate your change to a charity! It's great.
LisaG
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LISA - Those quarters sure are necessary sometimes, huh? I remember keeping quarters in the car when I lived in NY in case I got lost in NJ and had to keep paying those darned tolls.
Diane
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Diane - bwa ha ha ha ha! That's too funny! I often pay in change when I can...lightens the wallet! I do keep an old 35mm film canister filled with quarters in my car, though...just in case I need change for parking meters and such. I also sometimes use the large capacity washing machines at the local laundromat for blankets and stuff.
LisaG
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I need a break from this world. Anyone have a funny to share? Or a heartwarming story involving people coming together? I have a cute one my sister shared with me yesterday. She lives in the boondocks and drives 50 miles each way to the city to work. She gets gas on the way many times at a small station in town run or owned by a man from India. Mary got about $6 in gas but only had change so she counted out $6 in change on the counter. The man sighed and started taking the change and then looked at her heartfelt and said, "What are you going to do about lunch today?" Mary assured him she as fine and had money for lunch. Another time she got stuck on Empty and went and got $5 worth of gas --- again paying with all change. She said the man was looking at her sympathetically and asked where she worked. She said she worked for a museum. She said she thinks he thought she was homeless. She had to use her husband's old broken down truck to take to work one day and it was on Empty. She pulled into that same station and got $4 worth of gas --- paying with all change again. When she went outside, the man followed her and said, "Now, are you SURE you have money for lunch today?" And he was looking at her so heartfelt like he really CARED! Isn't that sweet? (I asked Mary what was up with all the change -- she said she just had so much from when she got change for a $20 to do laundry).
Diane
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LISA - I read that, and hit the ceiling and was cursing at her in my mind. YES, she needs to go to prison if she thinks suffering is fun. Send her to Guatanamo and see how funny she thinks suffering is then. Speaking of that subject, I read with anger this morning how this jerk 21 year-old slashed a cab driver in NY just because the cab driver was Muslim. May that kid -- Enright is his name -- burn in hell in prison. I'm SICK of this kind of thing being tolerated (oh, everyone's upset about the mosque at Ground Zero -- which was a LIE to begin with!!) with excuses. I hope the charges of attempted murder stick and this skinny white kid is some big guy's girlfriend in prison!
Diane
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This woman should be put in a dumpster for 15 hours as punishment! http://tinyurl.com/2ceuktr --------- Woman Who Dropped Cat in Trash Bin: It Was Fun --------- 45-Year-Old Bank Employee Mary Bale Tells British Tabloid: It Was a "Split-Second of Madness," Adding "It's Just a Cat" --------- When his missing cat, Lola, was found in a trash bin, howling in distress, Darryl Mann, of Coventry, England, checked the surveillance video from a security camera outside his house. --------- On the tape, Mann saw a woman pause to stroke the cat, then inexplicably drop it in the bin. --------- CBS News correspondent Richard Roth reported on "The Early Show" the cat was trapped in the trash container for 15 hours. --------- Mann told reporters, "I don't know how anyone could, you know, go to bed and sleep at night knowing they've just locked a cat in a wheelie-bin; I just, you know, I don't know what was going through her head at the time." --------- Mystified by the random act of cruelty that turned his cat into kitty litter, Mann posted the video on Facebook, where it didn't take long to stir online outrage, even death threats aimed at the middle-aged woman from the middle of England ultimately identified as 45-year old Mary Bale, who works at a local bank. --------- Bale told the tabloid The Sun, "It was a split second of madness." --------- She explained to the paper, "I thought it would be funny." And anyway, she added, "It's just a cat." --------- Now police and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are investigating. --------- Lola, according to her owner, is tired, but fine.
LisaG
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That class is a GOOD idea, LISA! I think a brush-up every year would be good, too.
Diane
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LISA - LOL!! What drama! Hey, can you all mail that guy with the baby a pacifier?
Diane
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Oh, Lisa, that is disgusting (the pee call)
Christine
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Well, it depends on who's running the call, how many people are invited and if the key people are there or not. Usually, if it's 5 mins after the start of the call you don't bother to ask who joined unless it's someone key who's late. I'd say 90% of the people in my dept work from home and there are some people who put on the speaker phone, then do chores like clean the kitchen, etc. The worst is this one guy who has a crying baby in the background on EVERY call I've ever been on with him. Sometimes I'm on calls with him throughout the day on Wednesdays and the kid is crying the whole time...it's awful. The worst thing I've ever heard is someone on a call and because they didn't mute their phone, you could hear him peeing!!! I was instant messaging other people I knew were on the call and we were all both laughing and disgusted. I'm the education lead for our dept and I'm going to see if I can get a session on conf call etiquette.
LisaG
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LISA - I had meant to ask you if that was how conference calls usually went for you. I'm never on one, but my boss is. I remember once he came out and said that "no one showed up". LOL! So you start the conference call and get going and then there's a beep-beep -- and you have to stop each time and ask who just entered the conference call?
Diane
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Diane - the sad thing is that's almost like every call I'm on lately! The only thing missing was a screaming infant in the background for one of the home office people and several India workers whose names you can't pronounce or English you can't understand.
LisaG
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That was funny, Lisa, thanks!!
Diane
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for those of you, like me, who have to sit on conference calls all day long... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbJAJEtNUX0
lisag
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The ocean looks angry with the rain on Cape Cod today: http://www.capecodlivecam.com/beachcomber.shtml
Diane
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I don't think I've ever seen that brand out here - Brianna. Maybe it will get here at some point. I am a sucker for the Asian sesame type dressings. And, though I don't eat ch*cken, I love the dressing for the Chinese Ch*cken salad. :)I also love Thousand Island/Russian dressing in salads AND as a sandwich spread instead of mayo sometimes.
Diane
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Yes, the restaurant dressings are always so much better than the bottled stuff, especially when they can use specialized oils and vinegars. However, the Brianna dressings are VERY good and all natural. They can be pricey, but I think it's worth the price for the freshness, taste and purity of it.
LisaG
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Mmm.....the dressings sound good!
Puck
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It really was... so fresh and flavorful....
Christine
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Those freshly-made dressings right at the restaurant are usually SO GOOD! Now I HAVE to have a salad for lunch!
Diane
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Oh how yummy! I usually put cranberries on my salad too. When we were on vacation we had a salad with an amazing raspberry vinagrette. I usually don't like that much, but this one was so fresh and red, as opposed to the pink gloppy stuff I have gotten in the past. Found out the chef made it herself, but sadly, she didn't bottle it!
Christine
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I made such a delicious salad last night...reminded me of one I often get at a restaurant in Nantucket. You start with a nice mix of greens (whichever type you prefer), sprinkle in dried cranberries, goat cheese (not too much since this is very heavy) and toasted/roasted walnuts. For dressing, I use Brianna's Real French Vinagrette...I think a raspberry vinegar would be even better. I also added chicken for protein. YUM!!!
LisaG
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Diane - I'm not sure yet...I might buy a small can of the stuff to try it out on something else first. I believe there's a store nearby that sells it, too, so maybe they have a sample of what it looks like.
lisag
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It sounds nice, LISA. I'll have my fingers crossed that it goes as nice as you are imagining it. Keep us updated. The cherry wood sounds especially nice. Are you still going to try that stainless-steel-look paint?
Diane
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I didn't even notice the typo.... I hate remodeling, but love the results!
chrisitne
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some = come
lisag
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Well, I had someone from a local kitchen and bath remodel place some and do an estimate to reface my cabinets, install a new countertop & sink, plus reface 2 bathroom cabinets and also install new countertops and sinks. The guy was here for 3 hours (!) to review the options and materials for the estimate. I thought it was a decent price...I got discounts for the referral and for doing all 3 vs. just one room, so I'm going with it...*fingers crossed* I'm going on a recommendation from a friend who had the same thing done to her kitchen and it looks really nice. I'm getting a medium/dark cherry cabinet in the kitchen in mission style (all square corners/edges) with a Wilsonart laminate countertop (least expensive)...I splurged in the bathrooms with Silestone, since I went with laminate in the kitchen, and since the countertops are much smaller. I'm so psyched, but also still a bit worried because of the past bad experiences, but I figure if I'm going by a friend's place that I actually saw, I have a better chance of getting a good job done.
Lisa G
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I agree, PUCK!
Diane
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Well-said, Lisa! I feel the same way.
Diane
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Good for you, CHRISTINE! For your own sanity and health, you did the correct thing!
Diane
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I, too, am disappointed in Obama, primarily because I think the health care debacle was a missed opportunity to push for FULL single-payer health care (call it socialized medicine if you want -- who cares? -- that's what we need in this country). But like the editorial I read in Newsweek says, it's hard to make people understand that things would have been WORSE if Obama had not taken the steps he's taken to shore up the economy. All people see are that they are out of work, and the price of things is going up while the value of houses is going down -- they don't understand that a LOT MORE would have been out of work, prices would have skyrocketed, and home values would have utterly collapsed (this was not an utter collapse, by any stretch of the imagination!). But you can't argue that "less bad" is a good thing. Americans are largely idiots -- or babies -- and only care if their own nest is nice and soft and fluffy.
Puck
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Amen Lisa!
christine
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Christine - it's a shame, but stuff like this happens, unfortunately. It's scary how unthinking and reactive some people can be when they don't even have all the information. With the last election, that's what the Republican party kept pushing, fear...saying if we elected Obama, the country would fall apart, etc. Well, so many people were scared to death from those fear mongering messages. The thing is, Bush got us into this war, allowed the banks and Wall St to get away with what they did with unsafe lending, etc. I voted for Obama because I wanted change and he was an intelligent person...plus Palin scared the crap out of me...that she was a breath away from the Presidency. Ack! I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed in Obama, but he was handed such a broken country...the war, the economy, immigration, all the natural disasters happening (Gulf oil spill), etc. that I'm amazed he's gotten anything done. I think the Reps and Senators are the ones killing this country with their greed, stupidity, in-fighting, partisanship, etc. They all disgust and aggravate me to no end.
LisaG
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Well, I just un-friended. After the new rant about Islam worshipping Satan and her family members chiming in. HAd enough.
Christine
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This isn't the article I read, but here's one on the same subject that briefly talks about the affects of NAFTA on Mexico: http://tinyurl.com/2fdedy8
Diane
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I agree on both your statements.
Christine
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I'm for entering the country the correct way, too. But a lot has been hidden from us. The policies of the US have contributed greatly to the loss of jobs and poverty in Mexico. I hate to say "Clinton did it", but he did. I believe it was NAFTA. I will try and find where I read this all a few years ago, but it was an eye opener. It had to do with the farmers in Mexico, and it was direct US policy that caused so many to start running to our border to come in. When I read it, I understood so much. The US needs to take responsibility (oh, there's a new one) for the problem we helped create and not blame it all on the people so desperate to come here that they die crossing miles of blazing hot desert land for a chance at opportunity.
Diane
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CHRISTINE - Yeah, it always burns me when people like Rush Lardbutt call it "Obama's recession". What do these people do -- take Stupid Pills or something? They wear blindfolds and earplugs during the Republican administrations and then blame everything on the Dem president who comes in and tries to clean things up.
Diane
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or the one hung juror was Paris Hilton?
christine
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Our illustrious ex-governor was only found guilty on one count!! One count!!!! I think he got the OJ jury!
Christine
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And don't get me started on the oil companies... they are in too many politicians back pockets. I liken them to a vine whose tendrils are in every part of our society
Christine
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So true, they compalin that now we have problems,well the problems didn't start when Obama took office, they were there to begin with. As for immigration, has any administration taken a hard stance on it? I made the point that we need to also look at ourselves as well. Big business, small business there are many that don't ask just hire cheap. Slave wages, slave labor, how can you compain you are illegal. Now I am not for illegal immigration, my parents and family came here the right way... but this isn't a new problem.
christine
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Also, my biggest 'beef' right now -- Our country was bankrupted by rampant greed -- Wall Street, the banks, the mortgage lenders, the oil companies, etc. They have created poverty where it didn't exist before. But they point at the immigrant and say "Look, it is THEM who took your jobs and your healthcare and your money. THEY are your enemy." And the ignorant don't think twice and go, "Yes, OUT of 'OUR' country, you brown-skinned people!" And they point at the Muslim and say the same thing. "HE/SHE is the reason". Look everywhere for the demon, people, but don't look at who REALLY caused your predicament.
Diane
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Christine - If only people were not so ignorant then we'd all be able to come together and welcome all people from all religions of all races and nationalities. People who are easily duped into hating any group of people allow Hitlers to come into power. That's what I find so scary about these people. They should be ashamed of themselves, but they aren't -- and that is even scarier.
Diane
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Yes they do. I post nothing anything negative about work or co-workers. Though interesting developemnt, she was all in a tizzy about the "Ground Zero" mosque, posting article after article and how Obama should be ashamed of himslef, the hwole "Bad muslim" bit. Another shared friend posted an actual factual artice saying how the mosque is not on ground zero per say but nearby surrounding by stores and STRIP CLUBS! She then went on and on about how her family served in the military. The rebuttals were they served jsut for this right, you can't have it your way only. My husband is neither right or left, he studies both sides and comes to his OWN decision, not one that someone "incites" him into.
Christine
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CHRISTINE - I totally agree. She may find a job working for a racist like herself. You have a good point, though, because I have heard and read that employers use all means available to look up info on applicants which includes on-line sites like FB and others.
Diane
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I have hidden her posts, but I did have another friend comment on some of the things she has been saying. In the long run, she makes herself look bad. Have your point of view, be conservative, but do it balanced and fair. And don't inject race and violence into the mix. She is also looking for work. I can just imagine if a potential employer catches some of this!
Christine
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It was a good post anyway, LISA. I don't think "passives" describes anyone but couch potatoes -- which we are NOT. WE CARE about this world and the WHOLE world not just our little corner of it. I have to agree with LISA about this woman. Waiting a bit won't change her. I would just 'disappear' and unfriend her on FB. I have cut off ties with people who have shown their true ignorance like that, and I feel healthier for it. They are toxic to themselves and the world.
Diane
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Ok...I misunderstood the "passives" statement...so just ignore that word and the rest of my post can stand...the woman is poison...stay away!
LisaG
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I'm sorry, but people who make hateful racial comments in a public forum are not passives...they're making a statement to the world on their feelings and beliefs. I think it's horrific that she's making jokes about killing someone, but most especially about the president. She'd better be careful, because public forums ARE monitored and repeated statements like that might be taken seriously...and who would blame law enforcement for doing so? Personally, I wouldn't want to be associated with someone as ignorant and hateful as that, let alone being their friend...how can you even really be their friend when they are so cruel and thoughtless? JMHO.
LisaG
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we are "passives". Now he says since when did I say he was advocating violence. I told him "passives" and Kumbaya" don't exactly mean agression. I am done.
Christine
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we were having a discussion on his "civil war" he is looking forward to. We wer just at GEttysburg, we know what civil war cost this country in the past.
Christine
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My husband said to just wait a little bit. Her brother told us "passives in this country are part of the problem...Which way is the wind blowing today...Sometimes you gotta take the bull by the horns before it rams his horn through you. I'm done listening to Kumbaya...Read your history books and you will see where we are headed. Marshmellows anyone.". _________________________________________ I responded the God I follow doesn't advocate that type of behavior. My husband said you never know what she might start saying about us. Then again, she could say it regardless. What is wrong with people?
christine
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CHRISTINE - I know what you are going through. You need your sanity so if unfriending her FB will do it, I say do it. I am not an Obama fan either, but what these people are doing is racist and hateful and uncalled for. I don't care for him because he's not progressive enough, but I would never call for his death or even think that's remotely funny. That is sick. I also thought the world of the nicest woman back in NY. She retired down to FL, but now she's different. She's hateful and filled with ignorance. I grieve for the nice woman I used to know, but I had to break ties. I still believe it was the right thing to do. I think you will, too. These people become toxic, and we need to get away from them because we cannot make them change back to how we used to see them. Good luck
Diane
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Wow, in a battle on FB. I have an old friend whom I really just recently got in touch with. She is ultra conservative. At first I was fine, we all have the right to our viewpoints. After the first kill Obama joke I was turned off. After the feed after feed of anti democrat/Obama news I was starting to refute some things as was my husband (who is not an Obama fan, but hardly views him as the spawn of satan). AFter the racist joke, several people stopped being friends with her. Now her brother is advocating a civil war with plenty of bloodshed because of immigration and Obama. I think I am going to unfriend her as this is just not the person(s) I want to be around. I feel bad because if you meet her in person she is as sweet as sugar. But boy she hates Obama and the government. Funny thing she is unemployed and does like her check! What do you think? I am being stupid for hanging on?
Christine
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Back to "Wings", I LOVE the nutty character of Sandy Cooper. She must have a split personality or something but she is so good playing the nutcase going after Joeybear and then acting normal with everyone else. I remember she also played the daughter of the nasty restaurant owner upstairs of Cheers -- Mr. Hill. And Sam tried to get back at Hill by dating his daughter.
Diane
-

I am so sorry about your doggie Anita. I love my pets so much. I know this is really difficult for you and the girls right now. Big hugs to all.
rebecca
-

I can't imagine a dog who received more love than Sasha. Anita, hope you are doing OK. There is such an emptiness . . .
janet
-

Yes, I think poor Katie and Lizzie are really grieving her -- as are Anita and Gary. I felt like I knew Sasha, too, after all these years here.
Diane
-

Oh no!
Christine
-

What a shame...the girls must be very upset. Hopefully, they will understand that Sasha is now free from pain and suffering.
lisag
-

Say prayers for Anita and her family. They have to say goodbye to their sweet little Sasha today. They gave her such a good long life filled with love and fun.
Diane
-

yeah...jetties looks nice...a bit windy, but nice.
lisag
-

All the cams say it's a beautiful day on Cape Cod!
Diane
-

Even if I don't buy anything, it is fun!
Christine
-

Glad you had a nice trip, CHRISTINE! I love visiting little shops on those kinds of trips. Glad you found something new and delicious!
Diane
-

Interesting bio on Neal. I always liked her. She was also in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Janet
-

Got back from Lancaster Co., PA yesterday. the drive is brutal over 12 hours but we had so much fun. Ate too much, especially shoofly pie.... walked alot. DH was thrilled to see Gettysburg and I shopped ;-). They have this great place that has every kind of jam, jellie, salsa and more that you can think of. I found heaven in banana peanut butter *sigh*.
Christine
-

I adored her growing up....
chrisitne
-

God Speed, Ms. Neal. --------- Oscar-winner actress Patricia Neal dies at age 84 (AP) ----- Source: AP 52 minutes ago ----- KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Patricia Neal, the willowy, husky-voiced actress who won an Academy Award for 1963's "Hud" and then survived several strokes to continue acting, died on Sunday. She was 84. ----- Neal had lung cancer and died at her home in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard, said longtime friend Bud Albers of Knoxville. ----- Neal was already an award-winning Broadway actress when she won her Oscar for her role as a housekeeper to the Texas father (Melvyn Douglas) battling his selfish, amoral son (Paul Newman). ----- Less than two years after winning the Academy Award, she suffered a series of strokes in 1965 at age 39. Her struggle to regain walking and talking is regarded as epic in the annals of stroke rehabilitation. She returned to the screen to earn another Oscar nomination and three Emmy nominations. ----- The Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center that concentrates on helping people recover from strokes and spinal cord and brain injuries is named for her in Knoxville, where she grew up. ----- "She never forgot us after she went to Hollywood," said the 85-year-old Albers, who graduated with Neal from Knoxville High School in 1943. ----- Whenever she was in town, a bunch of her friends would always get together and have dinner, Albers said. Her family let him know of her death. ----- "She was so courageous," he said of her battling back from her illnesses and losing her 7-year-old daughter to measles in 1962. "She always fought back. She was very much an inspiration." ----- In her 1988 autobiography, "As I Am," she wrote, "Frequently my life has been likened to a Greek tragedy, and the actress in me cannot deny that comparison." ----- She made a grand return to the screen in 1968, winning an Oscar nomination for her performance in "The Subject Was Roses." ----- In 1971, she played Olivia Walton in "The Homecoming: A Christmas Story," a made-for-TV film that served as the pilot for the CBS series "The Waltons." It brought her the first of her three Emmy nominations. ----- "You can't give up," she said in a 1999 Associated Press interview. "You sure want to, sometimes." ----- In 1953, she married Roald Dahl, the British writer famed for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "James and the Giant Peach" and other tales for children. They had five children. They divorced in 1983 and he died in 1990. ----- Even before her own illness, her life often was touched by misfortune. Besides her daughter's death, an infant son nearly died in 1960 when his carriage was struck by a taxi. ----- Neal also suffered a nervous breakdown, and had an ill-fated affair with Gary Cooper, who starred with her in "The Fountainhead." ----- "I lived this secret life for several years. I was so ashamed," she told The New York Times in 1964. ----- She and Dahl divorced after she learned he was having an affair with her best friend. ----- The strokes at first paralyzed her and impaired her speech. After recovering, she limped and had bad vision in one eye. ----- A 1991 biopic about her travails starred Glenda Jackson as Neal. ----- Neal was born in a mining camp in Packard, Ky., the daughter of a transportation manager for the South Coal & Coke Co. After leaving Knoxville, she attended Northwestern University and then struck out for Broadway. ----- After doing well there, she made her screen debut in 1949's "John Loves Mary," that also starred Jack Carson and Ronald Reagan. ----- Among Neal's children is Tessa Dahl, who followed in her father's footsteps as a writer. Tessa Dahl's daughter is the model and writer Sophie Dahl. ----- Friends said her sorrows gave her an inner toughness that brought new power to her screen portrayals. ----- "I don't lie down. ... I'm fightin' all the way," she said in 1999.
LisaG
-

I know what you mean, Lisa!
Diane
-

Ugh...just got a baby shower invitation for someone I sort of know...I'm really more friends with her husband...and I probably wouldn't know anyone but her at the party. But, luckily, I'll be on vacation in New Mexico when they have it, so I only have to send a gift. WHEW! Dodged that bullet!
LisaG
-

LISA - It's amazing what some of these products can do. If it works for you, you'll have to show us the before and after photos!
Diane
-

Diane - Yeah, I'm going to see if I can find a store that sells it and see if they have a sample. It's an interesting idea though...I've seen them do stuff like that on HGTV home improvement shows.
LisaG
-

LISA - Wow, that looks like weird stuff. Can you get a can and paint something you don't care about too much before doing the main appliances?
Diane
-

janet - i missed the concert, but saw an interview with JT and CK...what a great combo! i didn't know they've been doing concerts together for a long time. i'll have to look for a rebroadcast on my local stations.
lisag
-

check this stuff out...i think i'm going to try this on my frig and microwave... ------- http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/learnhow.html ------- http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/FAQ.html ------- http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/press.html#Download_Hi_Res_Images
lisag
-

Did anybody catch the PBS broadcst of Carole King and James Taylor concert? Oh, it's wonderful. Check the schedule as it's going to be shown again, at lest in our area. Of course it's pledge week and those interruptions are not fun, but the concert is just splendid. Both still have wonderful voices. I absolutely loved it.
Janet
-

Great news on the house, Puck! And Christine, I hope your roof/window issues get resolved - finally! Rebecca, good to hear from you. I know how granddaughters keep their grandmas very busy - it's special. And Lisa, so glad of the good outcome from your tests. ..................My mother had breast cancer so I've had yearly mammograms since age 30. No big deal. A lot of women complain about them them and put them off - I know some who refuse to get a 2nd one - but the process has gotten quicker and the discomfort of being squished for the images is very brief. From my experience, the machines are getting better (less discomfort, quicker process), and technicians are becoming more adept and skilled. Please, anybody who should have a mammogram, schedule one. It will just take a few minutes, is not AGONIZING at all, just a bit uncomfortable for a few seconds as they take each image, with plenty of time to breathe in between pictures - and then you're done for a year. The radiologist studies your previous films to see if there is any change - and that's critical. Change over time is a factor that they watch. Sometimes, if the radiologist is on site, you get your report right then and there. What more could you ask for peace of mind? Of course, as Diane and Lisa have said, there are procedures beyond the mammpgram that have to be done sometimes, and that's good - you want to be as thorough as possible. And don't forget the monthly self-exam. .............when my mother died, the team of physicians came in form the OR and one said, which one of you is Janet? You need to be extra careful because you are the same age your mother was when she had her first mastectomy. I was 38. Now, 21 years later, no problems yet. It's always there, in the back of my mind, as are other concerns. I take them out and look at them when necessary, and then put them back, figuratively speaking. If that makes any sense.
Janet
-

Just stopping by to see what's up. Granddaughter has been here for 9 days so I have been too busy for the computer. {{{LisaG}}}- so glad to hear everythings okay. I felt a big lump in my throat for you. And then read the good post. So happy for you. Puck- happy new house to you. Wish I could get one. Ready to ditch this one. Yes, start a garden. They are a lot of work but worth it.
rebecca
-

Puck - enjoy the unpacking! Happy House!
LisaG
-

How exciting, PUCK! The first thing I think of is -- GARDEN!!!
Diane
-

I am finally moved into my new house! -- my first house, (owned by me alone, not co-owned). Sweetie is still here, of course. Now I have all these boxes to unpack.
Puck
-

Wow, Lisa, you weren't kidding. What a gorgeous beach day on Nantucket!! How I WISH I were there instead of here at work.
Diane
-

Diane...check out the jetties cam... http://www.nantucket.net/live/jetties1.php Looks like a pristine day on Nantucket...sunny, no wind and 72 degrees!
LisaG
-

Yeah, I missed Lowell so much when he left. I never liked Cassy, Helen's sister...she was too screechy and shrewish and the actress' performance was to jokey. I like the character of Alex...would have preferred she stayed on.
LisaG
-

Just saw that episode of Wings when Lowell leaves. I was crying. I watched it again, and cried again. That was so sad. All the characters are likeable, but especially Lowell. I guess maybe the actor had some stage work or something else he wanted to do at the time.
Diane
-

Lisa, glad to hear that.
Christine
-

WOW, I am so relieved, too, LISA!!!! What a relief!! Good idea to supplement with the thermograph! That gives me the most peace of mind. Also, you see your image live on the screen so there are no secrets. They also do full-body imaging for a little more. It can show them how your organs are working. I should do one of those one day --- yeesh, after I finish paying this lawyer MAYBE there will be something left. Let me know what you think when you go. HAPPY DANCE ABOUT TODAY!!!! YAY!!!!!
Diane
-

BIG SIGH OF RELIEF!!! The 2nd ultrasound shows everything is ok...the radiologist who read the images even came in and showed me (not that I could make heads or tails of the image!) and explained there is a group of small grape-sized cysts in a cluster and the initial reading of them just suggested a closer look to be sure everything is ok. I was so happy I cried...literally. Thanks for the positive vibes, Diane! :~) I'm still going to get that thermography thingy, though as another checkpoint/baseline...better safe than sorry. WHEW! Now maybe I'll be able to get some good sleep tonight.
LisaG
-

http://tinyurl.com/2aj4moj I hope this link will work. It's a good place to get the Super Foods in powder or in tablets. I think I'll order a bottle, too.
Diane
-

LISA - Good idea. Exercise like walking or running is so good for things like this! Drains off the nervousness. I'm glad everything will be done soon so it will be over with.
Diane
-

Thanks Diane...I got an appt for the follow up tomorrow morning...they said the radiologist should be on site to read the results immediately. I think I'm going to go walking to get this out of my head. Then maybe I'll buy and eat all the broccoli at the local grocery store!
LisaG
-

LISA - Talking about taking pristine care of yourself, I'll try and find the list I was given when I went for the thermography. There were a lot of healthy breast things to do on that list. One was eating a lot of the "super foods" that contain DHA (or something sounding like that). Broccoli is one. ALWAYS ORGANIC ONLY because pesticides settle in breast tissue. There are places that sell the super food in a dark green powder that you can add to juice, shakes, etc. The Dr. Richard Schulze is expensive, but very good.
Diane
-

LISA - Big hug to you {{{{{{{{{{{LISA}}}}}}}}}}}} Yes, it is very frightening and unnerving to get these calls and then WAIT. I hope they can get you in asap to put your mind at ease, hopefully. A cyst aspiration shouldn't be too bad but I've never had one. They just go in there and suck some liquid out for evaluation. I think they numb it first a bit. It would be a good idea to also add the thermography to this because you can see if there is a heat pattern over the area. If there is, they do need to go in and see what it is. If the area is cool, that is a better sign but you should still be evaluated. Keep us in the loop!! Thinking GOOD THOUGHTS for you!!
Diane
-

Talked to the dr...she said it appears they see something that looks like cysts and want to do some kind of cone imaging to see if there's anything suspicious. The radiologist will be able to read the new imaging scan immediately and *gulp* if necessary, they might decide to draw some fluid from the cysts to figure out if there are any problems. Diane - I don't know how you dealt with all this stuff, you're a strong woman...it's so frightening. I'm trying not to freak out because it's not going to do any good, but boy, what a wake-up call this is for me to take pristine care of myself. I'm giving the boyz lots of hugs today...they're helping to keep me somewhat calm.
LisaG
-

Ok everyone, I could use some positive thoughts sent my way...they want to send me in to do some additional imaging on one of my breasts...I'm petrified now. I'm also waiting for my dr to call me back with more info on why since the person who called didn't have the report and is just an appt scheduler. I go tomorrow morning...I hope it's just monthly swelling or something non-threatening.
LisaG
-

Thanks, everybody. The support helps. LISA - Actually, the problem is that she DID leave him half the worth of her house. I get the other half. At one point, when she was isolated by him, she left him EVERYTHING, and he was Trustee. It wasn't until she got into the nursing home to die that she witnessed his controlling and mean behavior and called her lawyer to give me half the house and change the Trustee to her sister-in-law. He wants to claim she was out of her mind when she did that and revert to the previous Trust which gave him everything and total control.
Diane
-

Oh Diane, what a mess.
Christine
-

Diane, that Juan is a piece of work. Shameless. I hope you guys come out on top, I really do. Seniors are so gullible!
Janet
-

Diane - It's such a shame you and your aunt were so far from each other and that this is happening now. I don't understand how this Juan guy expects to get anything if it's not in her will and there's no document stating your aunt's desire to leave anything to him. You might be able to get some free legal advice from your state or NY state as to how you might be able to proceed. I thought you also said this guy may be an illegal immigrant...maybe there's a way you can contact NY authorities and have them check...that would definitely get him out of your hair fast.
LisaG
-

USC did a study on this subject of seniors being taken advantage of in regards to their assets. There was an article in the USC Chronicle about it last year. It said that all too often one person has access to the senior more than anyone else and then slowly isolated that senior from their family members and convinces the senior to leave everything to them. My boss' aunt left everything to her health care worker when she died -- this was after she told my boss he was her only nephew and she was leaving everything to him. It was a Trust, and my boss couldn't get it overturned --- even after he researched this health care worker and found she has done this many times before! She would even go so far as to move the senior into her own home to isolate them. Everything my aunt's other niece or I were on the phone with her, Juan would call on the other line and tell her he needed to talk to her so she needed to hang up the other line. She would hang up when it was Debbie, but not me because I was long-distance. So I noticed that in about 15 minutes, she'd say, "Oh, Juan just drove in. I thought he said he couldn't come over today." Then he'd go to work on something and keep coming in to ask her questions to disrupt our phone conversation until she'd get so tired she'd say, "I'm sorry, Diane, I have to go. This darned Juan keeps wanting me to explain what I want him to do. I already told him so I don't know why he keeps asking me."
Diane
-

Oh yeah -- The Citation we ALL got says he wants the judge to rule that WE have to pay for HIS court and legal costs! He stole the contents of the safe, which we now think contained money meant to go to her other niece. He probably also sold the jewelry and is using this money to go after me and the Trustee (who is poorer than a church mouse)for the rest of my aunt's property. We now see he was isolating her and controlling her in the last year of her life in order to gain all her assets. When she went into the hospital at the end after the heart attack, he put a directive at the desk that no one is allowed to see except Juan Aguilar and the Aguilar family! The sister-in-law got through, though.
Diane
-

LISA - I really should -- Travel costs, too, if I have to. If I were in NY, I would do it in a second. Being in CA has a disadvantage but it's not an impossibility. He's definitely cruising for a bruising, as they say. He keeps pushing, I'm going to sue back with all the money of mine he has wasted holding up the sale of the house which made the Trustee have to pay more taxes on the property plus upkeep (expensive in the winter to keep the pipes from freezing). We just got a great offer on the house and the estate lawyer is calling sleezeball lawyer to agree to go ahead with the sale and put the money in escrow.
Diane
-

Diane - That's unreal! Can you sue him for court costs like your lawyer's fees when they rule against him? Maybe just the threat of him possibly getting whacked with those costs will make him drop his case. I'd go back at him hard to scare him off!
LisaG
-

The handyman started up again about my Aunt's estate and wants my half of the house. I have to hire an attorney because we have a court date. Ugh. It's so scary when you are barely making ends meet sometimes. I also do NOT want to fly back to NY for this but if it goes to a trial, I will probably have to. His case is ridiculous, though, and he has no proof. He is claiming my aunt had dementia the last several months of her life. Boy, she'd come back and clean his clock if she knew that! The Trustee has a long list of names of people from the bank, nursing home, etc. who will say my aunt was feisty and in had a VERY clear mind up to her death. Even the psychiatrist at the nursing home said my aunt was depressed because she knew she was dying, but there was no loss of any mental faculties. Also, now, apparently, Juan doesn't speak English anymore. He has turned into such a liar and thief. Stole the contents of my aunt's safe and her jewelry before the police kicked him out. He had changed the locks so only he could have access to the house.
Diane
-

LISA - Yeah, actually, I went up to Santa Barbara (remember when you and me and Bev went up there?) for it so that was an SB cost. I didn't realize there were ones more local and less expensive. I enjoyed the ride by the ocean, though. I will never complain having to drive up and down the PCH!
Diane
-

er...i mean as a base.
LisaG
-

Diane - yeah, I looked it up online and found a few licensed places, though not many! I think it would be good to get one this year as a basis.
LisaG
-

LISA - Go on-line and search under "Thermography" or "breast thermography" and read for yourself. I always do that because you have to remember doctors went to medical school which taught them only traditional medicine --- drugs, radiation, etc. so they've been fed a good dose of propaganda. It's only the exceptional doctors who are able to step aside from that sometimes and see other modalities for healing, health, and diagnosis. There's so much they don't tell us -- like every time you get a mammo, you actually increase your risk of getting breast cancer by about 3% because of the radiation. Sounds small, but when you get one every year and you are in your 60's, your risk is at about 60%. My rt breast had cancer and was radiated, and that breast shows more heat on the thermogram than the left even though it's been 13 years. The tissue has been forever affected by the radiation it had and is more prone to getting it again.
Diane
-

Yea, I looked over his site. I was disappointed.
Christine
-

Christine - You mean Mike Holmes? That's a shame...he's really good. I thought he did a house in the US once near Chicago. Oh well.
LisaG
-

Lisa, I went on the website, but it looks like they do work in Canada only.
Christine
-

wow...i'm looking at some of these other kitchens and mine looks like a palace compared to some of them! makes me feel a little better about the state of my place, but now i realize i probably won't win and get a free new kitchen makeover. :( oh well...still, can you vote 5 stars for me? you never know! ----- http://worstkitchen.diynetwork.com/Collections.asp?id=6133
lisag
-

Oh and a vote of 5 (FIVE) stars is the rating for the worst...not a 1.
lisag
-

Hi all - I'm entering my kitchen into the DIY Worst Kitchen in America contest...people look at the photos and rate the kitchen, then the person with the worst one gets a free kitchen remodel! I would really appreciate your LOW votes for my place...yes, I'll endure the embarrassment of people seeing all my half started, never finished projects, plus the poor "professional" cabinet restaining that I'm trying to deal with and figure out what to do...new cabinets or refacing...that's holding up the countertop, backsplash and flooring replacements. What a mess! Here's the link...please rate my kitchen at 5 stars meaning it's the WORST kitchen! http://worstkitchen.diynetwork.com/Collections.asp?id=6133
LisaG
-

FYI...time to enter for the HGTV Fall Fix Up! http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-great-fall-fix-up-sweepstakes-enter/package/index.html
LisaG
-

Diane - Probably more cosmopolitan areas will be more expensive. I'm going to ask my gyn about the test and see what she says.
LisaG
-

Lisa - Sure, my cost was $200. My sister, in NY up by Rochester, is paying $150 for it so the price seems to vary a bit area to area.
Diane
-

Diane - I'll have to look into the thermography...you mind if I ask what your cost was? If you don't want to post it, you can always email me.
LisaG
-

Christine - This is interesting...Holmes on Homes is on GHTV right now trying to help a woman stop a leak into her basement storage area. He thinks it's coming from the roof where an addition was made a while back. I'm telling you, you should really contact them and see if they could help!
LisaG
-

Also -- pressing on cancer is very very bad, and that's just what mammo's do. I know it's all some people have available to them now, but I think, in the future, there will be much better ways. Mammo's miss 20% of cancers. Thermography misses 10%.
Diane
-

PUCK - If you didn't see it on FB, Anita said her e-mail account got hacked into. Her password was too easy --- same thing happened to me last month. Gary changed her password so it should be ok, now.
Diane
-

LISA - Try going for thermography! It's really good for dense breast tissue -- I have, it, too. Nothing gets squished or even touched. I was so comfortable having it done. I just sat in front of the special camera, and turned to the side, etc. and I got several images showing the heat patterns in my breasts. It is read by a doctor, and you receive the report in a couple weeks. You have to pay out of pocket, but it's not too bad -- insurance doesn't cover it. No radiation either -- ultrasounds are safe, too. I got so tired of having mammograms (which deliver a dose or radiation) that said, "extremely dense fibrous breast tissue which could be obscuring lesions". So I went for thermography this time. It can spot trouble spots years before they will show up on a mammo.
Diane
-

I love the sound of the dulcimer. Go for it, Puck! ...........Lisa, good for you, keeping up on your mammograms. I don't think men would be as brave.
Janet
-

owie...just had a breast ultrasound because they said i have dense breast tissue and this would help ensure everything checks out ok, as the mammogram did. it's definitely better than being squished flat as a pancake, but when you're tender right before your period, oy! i'm now sure men would never survive being a woman with all the stuff we have to go through! ;)
lisag
-

PUCK - Oh, the dulcimer is lovely! I'll bet you were ok for your level so I hope you can start again if you enjoyed it. I think if you enjoy it, you can do it. I'm so amazed with I heard an orchestra how people can get to such a level where every stroke and note sounds like heaven. CHRISTINE - LOL! Yeah, not really a Picasso at all!
Diane
-

Diane, not everyone is born to be a Picasso, we do what we can. The main thing is to just enjoy the experience.
Christine
-

Diane -- so sorry about the class! I don't know what it is that makes some people artistic and others not so much. Sweetie bought me a dulcimer for Xmas, and I was doing okay and practicing well, but when I went to hear professionals play, I felt so bad I just quit (well, I also got busy, so maybe that's it!). I hope to pick it up again, and not let how other people play bother me. I hope I'll get it in time, too!
Puck
-

Thank you, Connie, you are so sweet to say that, and I appreciated reading it! :) I was also thinking that I would have been better off in a math class yesterday.
Diane
-

Janet, wonderful news!!! __________________________________________ I so agree about homes being constructed so poorly. I can understand an older home having issues, or if a house has been damamged, but this issue began MONThS after we moved in on the window that the builder "fixed", obviously not.
Christine
-

Diane - Please don't be so hard on yourself. Every person has different talents and abilities. I know from years of lurking here that you are a gifted encourager! And you have the most sensitive heart to people and animals. (All the kitties you've aided over the years will agree! =^..^=) Anyway, I've heard that people who aren't artistic are usually more technical in nature, so maybe that's true of you. Or maybe, as LisaG said, the artistic side of you can be trained.
Connie
-

Janet - Good news on your granddaughter! I think the weight will start to pick up faster and faster the closer she gets to 3 and 4 pounds.
Diane
-

Thanks, LISA. That was almost word-for-word what I told myself as I was sitting outside the laundromat this afternoon waiting for my clothes to finish washing. Yes, I can practice. My sister sent me some paints years ago but I never opened them so they are probably still ok and not dried up. I'm determined to get that d*mn leaf right. Oh my my. An English accent to boot (LOL! - not to start on the bootage subject again). I will have to watch those videos when I get back to work at lunchtime. I didn't get speakers for my home system so everything sounds tinny with the built-in ones. I want to hear him on real speakers. What a package!
Diane
-

Orlando Bloom videos.... LOTR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASmffMSUE28 ----- POTC: starting at 1:10, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yImqi0w78So&feature=related
LisaG
-

Diane - don't give up, if you really want to learn! Is there any way you can practice outside of the classes, so you can improve your technique? To me, it looks very difficult and I bet most of the people that take classes like that already have artistic abilities...you just may need to work at it a little more. Hang in there! ----------- Re: Orlando Bloom...yes, he has a lovely English accent...I'll look for some YouTube videos and post them here for you. :)
LisaG
-

Can you guys build up my self-esteem or smack to tell me to get over this? I was always intrigued by the Donna Dewberry one-stroke painting method. I've seen her shows during PBS pledge drives. Her work is gorgeous and she shows you how simple it is. So I finally saw a course at the local community college teaching the Donna Dewberry technique. I've been wanting to try it so I went. The teacher was great and shows us how to leaves and a rose. Well, EVERYONE in the class 'got it' and made the most beautiful leaves and roses and decorated the wood picture frame she gave us. I could NOT do one single leaf! I felt like a remedial student. The teacher even came and put her hand over mine to paint a leaf with me the way they do when you are in first grade. I STILL couldn't get it. One by one, the teacher is holding up the work of the other students who were so proud. They did amazing things with the instruction they got. Me? I wanted to crawl down and hide underneath my work table. What the heck was wrong with me that I couldn't do it? I almost cried at one point. It's lonely to be the "slow student". :( Now I keep trying to think of something I'm good at. I LOVE classical music but can't play an instrument because I can't keep time. Can't sing though I love hearing other people sing. I love art and paintings so much but now I see I can't do it myself either. Maybe I am just an appeciator of other people's work?
Diane
-

CHRISTINE - They seem to build new houses like tinker toys these days. That should not be happening to your new house. They actually built a mega expensive house in the marina, where I work. Less than a year after the people moved in, the sides started falling off the house! The whole thing must be in court because there is a high fence around it and the house is falling apart as if it's 80 years old. It's been sitting there literally falling apart for 4 or 5 years now. THey must have paid at least $2M for that piece of garbage.
Diane
-

LOL! No, I'm an old fogey -- but BOY, just saw Orlando, and is he GORGEOUS! Tell me tell me......is it too much to hope for that he has an accent to go with those looks?
Diane
-

It's a holiday here in Utah - Pioneer Day - - - and in the J home, as Darling Granddaughter #2 now weighs 4 pounds! .........Diane, seriously, you didn't know who Orlando Bloom is? Even I know who he is. . . . and I'm sorta out of the movie loop. .so sorry to read about the eaglet.
Janet
-

Ok...who wants to go with me to this place?! ;D http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1295893/Hell-hath-fury-Rage-cage-opens-Chinese-shopping-mall-women-vent-frustration-men-allowed.html
LisaG
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Christine - Maybe you should contact HGTV's fixit guy Mike Holmes. I'm serious! He comes into people's houses and fixes problems like leaks, poor construction, etc. You never know! And you could be on TV!
LisaG
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Woke up to a bad storm. Grass really needs the water... BUT.... our freakin' ceiling and window leaked AGAIN! WE thought we had it solved and its been dry for OVER a year! The house isn't even 5 years old and we have had this problem for 4 years! No one can fix it. If we find the builder was neglegent, I plan on suing.
Christine
-

Diane - The tornado watch expired luckily with no severe weather...it was rainy all day, but the grass really needs it...most of it is straw. I'm sure you'd know who Orlando Bloom is if you saw a photo...he was in Lord of the Rings playing Legolas and he was in Pirates of the Caribbean playing Will Turner. Here are a couple of links...LOTR: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2622855168/nm0089217 POTC: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3169291520/nm0089217
LisaG
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Call me 'out of it', but who's Orlando Bloom? Yikes, Lisa, I hope you are out of range of those tornados. That area of the use sure has had such dramatic weather this years. Also, I've been out here 24 years and never saw a drop of rain in July, yet we've had a misty rain here this July at least twice already. It's not dramatic, but highly irregular for these parts. Just shows how weather patterns are changing - as if we didn't already know.
Diane
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PUCK - I saw on FB that someone else got a hacked e-mail from her, too, that she was in London, though. Anita posted that she's fine and in AZ and was asking which e-mail account it came from.
Diane
-

Yipes...another tornado watch. I am SO sick and tired of this weather!
LisaG
-

Ah, Orlando Bloom got married...girls all over the world are crying their eyes out! ;)
LisaG
-

That's what I thought -- and exactly! -- why would she email us and not Gary!
Puck
-

Isn't there someplace you're supposed to report those kinds of hacks and scams? You know, so maybe they can get the scumbags?
LisaG
-

Someone else also rec'd an e-mail from Anita's e-mail address saying she was in London so it sounds like a hacker, for sure.
Diane
-

Puck - that's bizarre...why wouldn't she call her husband for money? i checked her vacation pages...no posts since 7/14.
lisag
-

PUCK - That sounds like a hacker. I received a similar one for someone else once before. It was from her e-mail address saying she was stranded in England and needed money wired. I knew it was a scam because she has family in Ireland and would never contact friends in the US if she were in trouble in England. Turns out it was a hacker. Anita posted on FB that they are driving back home from CA thru Nevada. And if ever anything were wrong, Gary is contactable and she would have contacted him.
Diane
-

I just got an email, purportedly from Anita, that she needs money after a mugging. I have emailed her on Facebook to confirm this. If you have received the same message, sit tight, everyone!
PUck
-

Diane - Yeah, it was a nice sunny day on the beach. Maybe the camera went out later. I saw a seagull land on the rooftop the other day...I'm surprised more gulls don't bother the camera. The tornado was in Litchfield (supposedly) and then another tornado warning in southern Fairfield county...just south of me. Scary stuff. We lucked out and just got some rain...good thing, because I was taking a friend out for a birthday dinner.
LisaG
-

Wow, a tornado in CT?
Diane
-

LISA - We think alike! I was just there an hour ago -- but I can't get that cam to come up. I just get a very very dark photo. I don't know why. You see a picture?
Diane
-

The thing about the later DVD sets of WINGS is that they omit the opening theme music montage of Nantucket. But here it is at Youtube: http://tinyurl.com/25lpv7n
Diane
-

BTW - I really like that photo...the various colors are great!
LisaG
-

Wow...scary stuff...tornado in Litchfield, CT!
LisaG
-

Diane - Check out the Jetties cam today...nice beach day! http://www.nantucket.net/live/jetties1.php
LisaG
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If you go here, it's from July 4th, and you can see Phoenix spread her wings! She was so magestic! It give you an idea of how close she was to leaving the nest. What a gorgeous bird, and what a darned shame. http://tinyurl.com/2croggy
Diane
-

Sorry - I meant to use the pronoun SHE not he. He was a SHE.
Diane
-

CAT - Wow, what a cool fun thing! What a nice guy giving everyone a nice summer time fun thing to do. LISA - Yeah, how sad. I'm interested in seeing the pathology report when they finish it. It might show possibly the source of where the fungus came from. I've been reading it can happen if there is a crack in an eggshell and that unhatched unfertilized egg that was his best friend could be the culprit. It may have had a crack before Dad really cracked it and then Mom ate it. Or it could have been from the fish as someone told me this weekend that when the water is low, there tends to be more fungus in the water and in the fish. He did use a fish as a head pillow one day. It had been dead a day or so when he was doing that.
Diane
-

Diane - So it appears Phoenix contracted a fungal infection which caused acute bilateral mycotic pneumonia. Poor little guy. :(
LisaG
-

It's a lovely picture
Christine
-

Howdy Cat! -- awesome picture! I love flying, and old vintage planes! Sweetie and I miss our little Cessna (sniff).
Puck
-

I am in Eagles Mere, PA. There is a man who moved here in the last 10 years or so and has a fying hobby. He hosts a fly-in every year and his friends fly their vintage planes in just for fun. He hosts a picnic and everyone comes out to look at the planes. It was really hot today and I would have taken more shots, but with the kids it ws just too hard. I used Picasa and played with the software to tweak the colors. It makes a huge difference.
Cat
-

What nice colors! Where were you that you took this pic, CAT?
Diane
-

LisaG - I just scrolled and noticed the post about your photo. What timing! I'll look for it. thanks!
Cat
-

I'll second that, LisaG! I love that play and he was fantastic. Thought I'd change the photo at last. Took that one today.
Cat
-

I read the John Adams book...it was fantastic. I MADE my mother read and she did begrudgingly, but loved it. However, I can't imagine anyone else but William Daniels being John Adams...he was the character in the musical 1776 and he was SOOOO good. Best line is the opening...�I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace; that two are called a law firm; and that three or more become a Congress!� Hilarious!
LisaG
-

Anyone ver see the mini-series "John Adams" wiht Paul Giamatti? We are watching it and I highly recommend it.
Chrisitne
-

Take it easy with those books, PUCK. Moving can cause so many injuries! Don't you hate unpacking those crates and boxes? The first place where they took the body of Phoenix said his body was anatomically perfect. What a shame. But he was very very skinny so his body was not absorbing food. The dad eagle is so sweet and was worried about him on Monday, so he fed Phoenix like a baby bird again -- beak to beak, and Phoenix ate for him. I'm guessing it was an illness because he really started not going for food last week when it was brought to the nest for him. He used to pounce on it and eat hungrily, and then he didn't even look at it when it was brought. I hope we find out soon. He is being flown today to the wildlife autopsy center.
Diane
-

Oh, that's so sad about the eaglet! I hope they find the cause, and if there's something we can do about it, we do it!...............................I'm moving books today. Just shoot me now (full of painkillers, that is!).
Puck
-

I prefer to look back at the videos of when Phoenix was feeling great and growing and hopping across the nest and flapping those wings. He really enjoyed being an eagle. This seems so unfair.
Diane
-

How sad!
Christine
-

If you want to see him after he was brought down from the nest, go here. It shows you the massive size he was: http://www.ournaturezone.com/index.php?topic=23.msg17214#msg17214
Diane
-

LISA - Some people were talking about that same thing. I read that mom and dad eagle were watching and did appear to be mourning. They stayed up overhead and knew Phoenix was dying. Like you said, it's so sad he grew to near adult size and was going to be on his own as soon as tomorrow. Here's the video of when Phoenix first hatched in April: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7IBLVf3FQk
Diane
-

Diane - I know...nature can be so harsh and unforgiving. It's such a shame he grew to be so big and was on the verge to being on his own. I wonder if the parents understand what happened and if they mourn. I can't help but think of the elephants in Africa that always stop and caress the bones of other elephants when they run across them...you just KNOW they understand what happened and are mourning the loss of their kin.
LisaG
-

I watched the "hot spot" of him last evening when he died. He did struggle for quite a bit breathing hard with a open mouth and trying several times to flap his wings to come back to life. Then he went down for the last time and his breathing slowed and, very quietly, his soul left and soared to the skies.
Diane
-

LISA - Yeah, I think those were the hot spots, too. Someone said their vet friend looked at a "hot spot" and said it did not look good yesterday. Yesterday he was breathing to quickly and he tripped in this nest and fell face down and didn't get up for 2 minutes. They were going to try and rescue him but he went downhill too fast. The autopsy will tell the cause and some fear it was a fungus or virus. I hope it doesn't affect the parents. I got so attached to Phoenix watching him every day since he was so tiny. 2 days away from fledging, and he died. I'm in grief.
Diane
-

Diane - I think maybe the "hotspots" they were talking about, were the recorded bits of video of the nest and the eagles that are posted and people can replay. I was looking at the titles of them and it seems like there were several that described Phoenix as stumbling and such, so maybe he was ill just before he passed away. Poor little guy. :(
LisaG
-

Oh Diane, that's so sad! I was watching recently, myself to see if he flew. How devastating! I hope the little guy didn't suffer too much. :(
LisaG
-

The bloggers on that site mentioned 2 eaglet off the Channel Islands off the coast of CA who died suddenly in their nests of West Nile Virus. Another set of eaglets died suddenly, too, and when they did the autopsy, they found that the rat or mouse Mom Eagle brought had eaten rat poison so the eaglets die, too. That is why toxins like poison are so dangerous. They do not only kill the so-called 'pest', they get into other animals AND the environment and continue to kill. They are getting an eagle tree-climber to come today to take Phoenix's body away. That will be so sad. Then they will do the autopsy. It will be very said if it's the West Nile Virus or something because then mom and dad Eagle may have it, too. And the Carrick's have been watching these 2 eagles mate for many years from their property on Hornby Island in Canada.
Diane
-

Oh, my GOD. I am so sad. I'd been watching the eaglet grow and thrive in the eagles nest on Hornby Island. He was 2 days away from fledging but he collapsed and DIED last night!! He didn't want to eat since Monday and yesterday he tried on a twig and just fell face first in the nest and stayed there. The bloggers were very worried but he got up later. I can't believe it. First time I ever watched this process and was looking forward to seeing him fly any day now. The Carrick's who have been watching these eagles for years are going to try and get up to the nest to remove Phoenix's body and do an autopsy to see why this happened. A vet was looking at the cam yesterday and saw "hot spots" on Phoenix which is a very bad sign and it was because he went so quickly. Don't know what hot spots are for eagles, though. I'm so grieved.
Diane
-

Watching the Cape Cod cams. Looks like a rainy day in Cape Cod. The drops were right in front of the cam and it felt like I was right there looking through a window. Could almost smell the rain.
Diane
-

Oh, yeah, the teacher from their high school days, right? Played by Peggy Lipton.
Diane
-

It was from season 6, an episode called Ms. Jenkins.
LisaG
-

Diane- I don't remember that episode! What season was it?
Christine
-

LISA - I watched it a few times because I found it so cool! If anyone is watching the Hornby Eagle Cam, baby Phoenix is getting ready to fledge soon! Any day now! http://www.wildearth.tv/web/dch-hornby-01?streamId=hornbyeagles01
Diane
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Diane - Yes! I remember that ep...priceless.
LisaG
-

CHRISTINE and LISA -- Remember the Wings episode where Soupy Sales had a small part and was in the beginning of the episode. He ran some kind of "Simon Says" thing for seniors. And Lowell calls to him and says, "Hey, wanna try and get me out, Sez Man?" And Soupy Sales does this really quick Simon Says thing and Lowell is really good. It goes so fast and is so amusing. I have more respect for the Simon Says game again. It's a real mind challenge when it goes fast.
Diane
-

Wow, 3.5 pounds now! That's terrific news, Janet! All those prayers made a difference. It also sounds like she is gaining the weight at a good pace.
Diane
-

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies at 80 ----- NEW YORK � George Steinbrenner, who rebuilt the New York Yankees into a sports empire with a mix of bluster and big bucks that polarized fans all across America, died Tuesday. He had just celebrated his 80th birthday July 4. ----- Steinbrenner had a heart attack, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and died at about 6:30 a.m, a person close to the owner told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not disclosed those details. ----- For more than 30 years, Steinbrenner lived up to his billing as "the Boss," a nickname he earned and clearly enjoyed as he ruled with an iron fist. The Yankees won six World Series titles during his reign. ----- He was known for feuds, clashing with Yankees great Yogi Berra and firing manager Billy Martin twice. But as his health declined, Steinbrenner let sons Hal and Hank run more of the family business. ----- Steinbrenner was in fragile health for years, resulting in fewer public appearances and pronouncements. Yet dressed in his trademark navy blue blazer and white turtleneck, he was the model of success: The Yankees won seven World Series titles after his reign began in 1973 ----- Till the end, he demanded championships. He barbed Joe Torre during the 2007 AL playoffs, then let the popular manager leave after another loss in the opening round. The team responded last year by winning another title. ----- His death was the second in three days to rock the Yankees. Bob Sheppard, the team's revered public address announcer from 1951-07, died Sunday at 99.
LisaG
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Congrats, Puck, on being a homeowner! #1 son is now in El Paso and will take the dry heat any day over the humid heat he experienced in Ohio for 5 years. He actually loves the desert ..........on the other side of the pond, our little Finnish granddaughter (born 15 weeks early at 1 1/4 lbs) now weighs 3 1/2 lbs! She is in the newborn unit of the local hospital now (doesn't need the highest level of care anymore) so her parents are home and very happy to be there. She is doing remarkably well. Against stagging odds.
Janet
-

Middle class family, mid-scale restaurants, I do like things MY WAY though!! lol!
christine
-

OMG...can you say control freak? No wonder Jon left Kate... http://primetime.tv.yahoo.com/
LisaG
-

10. I don't have a favorite way, I don't like Oreo cookies: You probably come from a rich family, and like to wear nice things, and go to up-scale restaurants. You are particular and fussy about the things you buy, own, and wear. Things have to be just right. You like to be pampered. You are a priss. --------- Should we start calling you "Priss-tine" instead? ;D Just kidding!
LisaG
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I don't like Oreos.
Christine
-

iciny = icing
lisag
-

Diane - I heard this on Car Talk, so I looked it up on the web...pretty funny. I alternate between #5 dunking and a version of #6 where I twist apart 2 cookies, eat the cookie only parts, then put the cookie/iciny parts together to make my own kind of "double-stuff". Analyze THAT one! ;D
LisaG
-

LISA -- Hmmm...I think that test was written by psychologists who were oreo lovers. I eat mine one bite at a time, and it said I was unimaginative but I've got the weirdest imagination of most people I know. I always have to be different. I eat them that way because I really don't like Oreos -- which led me to the other response which said I was probably born rich and am a prima donna. Doesn't really apply to me either -- actually, AT ALL.
Diane
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How Do You Eat Your Oreo? -------- Psychologists have discovered that the manner in which people eat Oreo cookies provides great insight into their personalities. Choose which method best describes your favorite method of eating Oreos: -------- 1. The whole thing all at once. -------- 2. One bite at a time -------- 3. Slow and methodical nibbles examining the results of each bite afterwards. -------- 4. In little feverous nibbles. -------- 5. Dunked in some liquid (milk, coffee...). -------- 6. Twisted apart, the inside, then the cookie. -------- 7. Twisted apart, the inside, and toss the cookie. -------- 8. Just the cookie, not the inside. -------- 9. I just like to lick them, not eat them. -------- 10. I don't have a favorite way because I don't like Oreos. -------- Scroll Down to find your results... -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Your Personality: -------- 1. The whole thing: This means you consume life with abandon, you are fun to be with, exciting, carefree with some hint of recklessness. You are totally irresponsible. No one should trust you with their children. -------- 2. One bite at a time: You are lucky to be one of the 5.4 billion other people who eat their Oreos this very same way. Just like them, you lack imagination, but that's okay, not to worry, you're normal. -------- 3. Slow and Methodical: You follow the rules. You're very tidy and orderly. You're very meticulous in every detail with every thing you do to the point of being anal retentive and irritating to others. Stay out of the fast lane if you're only going to go the speed limit. -------- 4. Feverous Nibbles: Your boss likes you because you get your work done quickly. You always have a million things to do and never enough time to do them. Mental breakdowns and suicides run in your family. Valium and Ritalin would do you good. -------- 5. Dunked: Every one likes you because you are always up beat. You like to sugar coat unpleasant experiences and rationalize bad situations into good ones. You are in total denial about the shambles you call a life. You have a propensity towards narcotic addiction. -------- 6. Twisted apart, the inside, and then the cookie: You have a highly curious nature. You take pleasure in breaking things apart to find out how they work, though not always able to put them back together, so you destroy all the evidence of your activities. You deny your involvement when things go wrong. You are a compulsive liar and exhibit deviant, if not criminal, behavior. -------- 7. Twisted apart, the inside, and then toss the cookie: You are good at business and take risk that pay off. You take what you want and throw the rest away. You are greedy, selfish, mean, and lack feelings for others. You should be ashamed of yourself. But that's ok, you don't care, you got yours. -------- 8. Just the cookie, not the inside: You enjoy pain. -------- 9. I just like to lick them, not eat them: Stay away from small furry animals and seek professional medical help - immediately. -------- 10. I don't have a favorite way, I don't like Oreo cookies: You probably come from a rich family, and like to wear nice things, and go to up-scale restaurants. You are particular and fussy about the things you buy, own, and wear. Things have to be just right. You like to be pampered. You are a priss.
LisaG
-

Yes, it's an old saying but it is so true. Except for Monsoon season which is upon us. So it rains a little every night if we are the lucky area of the valley to get it. But then it's a steam bath the next day. But so far not too bad. And we were very fortunate to have had a very nice extra long spring here. It almost tricked us into thinking we weren't getting a summer this year. Silly us.
rebecca
-

evaporated the moisture off my skin and clothes, that is.
lisag
-

Rebecca - The nice thing about AZ is it's a dry heat. I know a lot of people roll their eyes at that comment, but it really does make it more bearable. The humidity of the northeast is what makes high temps so uncomfortable. When I was hiking in the Grand Canyon, I was amazed that I never really felt grossly sweaty and my clothes didn't smell...the dry heat just evaporated.
LisaG
-

Fantastic Puck!!! ___________________________________ After having suffered in the heat and humidity running errands this afternoon, Illinois isn't that great in the summer either.
Christine
-

In defense of AZ, we have a couple of really bad months here and then the rest of the year is wonderful. We are out in it most of the time. I get up early and do my yardwork and watering before the real heat sets in. And when I get home I jump in the pool to cool off. I spend most of the weekend outside in my yard and pool. And while I know the AC does get a workout in most homes, we keep it at 85 degrees round the clock in the summer and use fans most of the time. Yes, it's really hot here. But I have been all over the States in most kinds of weather and I can honestly say I would rather live here with 2 months of high heat than anywhere else. Well, except maybe for Napa Valley. :)***************and congrats on the house Puck. There is nothing like owning your own home.
rebecca
-

Of course, the story of the fisherman is a local story of how the Shrine came to be built and isn't the true story behind the Shrine.
kmp
-

Okay - I must have dreamed about the convention center being near Ste. Theresa's Shrine. I just tried to find the website that I was at before and am not seeing it. Sorry for the rant which doesn't seem to apply to the Shrine after all. My age must be finally catching up with me. Anyway, they have added other 'attractions' to the area surrounding the Shrine, including a book/gift shop and a labyrinth. [ http://www.shrineofsainttherese.org/ ]
kmp
-

Having grown-up in AK [moved there prior to Statehood], I will concur that it is a beautiful place. However, there are parts that have become so commercialized for the tourist industry, that I doubt that I will return to some of my favorite childhood places. One in particular outside of Juneau [where we lived - my dad working for a governmental department - both territorial & state] is called Ste. Theresa's Shrine. It is on an islet which is cut off from the mainland [or used to be at least] at high tide. The story behind it is that a fisherman promised to build a shrine to Ste. Theresa if his daughter survived TB. She did & he kept his promise. The shrine was one of the more peaceful places [and one of the best fishing areas]near Juneau and always had an aura of spirituality about it - at least to ME it did. Recently, I googled it and found that they have built a resort/convention center on the mainland just across from the shrine. I know that tourism is a major industry for AK but somehow a resort just seems so wrong at that location! There are just some places that should not be commercialized. And Ste. Theresa's Shrine is one of the places, IMO
kmp
-

Congratulations, Puck!
kmp
-

It sure did! -- I'm a homeowner!!! We spent the afternoon cleaning the kitchen, which is the only room we can move into right now (because we are having carpet cleaners come out tomorrow, and a guy to build some built-ins, etc).
Puck
-

Puck - I hope the closing went well.
LisaG
-

Congrats Puck!!
Christine
-

For you Puck..."A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience." - Sydney Smith
LisaG
-

I close on my house tomorrow at 10am. If you happen to think of me around then, send good thoughts! My first house!
Puck
-

CHRISTINE - Me, too. I travel "in my mind" all the time and go everywhere. Just wish I could afford to take this body with me! :)
Diane
-

I fell in love with NZ while watching "The Piano". And "Whale Rider" only added to my affection!
Puck
-

He was very nice scenery in that film ;-) __________________ I love the desert, I have been there in the summer and it is bad, but its not that great where I am here. Hot and HUMID!!! Then we slide into cold winters.... I'll take the heat anytime. _______________________________________ NZ is gorgeous. Oh if only I had the time and $$ to travel the world.
Christine
-

I fell in love with the New Zealand scenery from LOTR...and by "scenery", I mean the country, not just Viggo Mortensen! ;D Though he was pretty easy on the eyes, too in those movies!
LisaG
-

LISA - WOW, New Zealand would be awesome to visit!!! I love watching the scenery in that movie, "Whale Rider".
Diane
-

LISA - I enjoy the cool clouds, too. That's everyone's lives in Phoenix -- inside with the AC running. That's one big reason I left there. Alaska is beautiful, I've heard. It's too bad their politics are totally corrupt up there I've heard from people who live up there. Thanks for asking about the EQ. It was a very gentle baby-buggy type rocking in LA. Epicenter was in the desert 28 miles south of Palm Springs. Same fault as the EQ in Mexico on Easter. They say it's an active fault.
Diane
-

I never thought I'd say this, but what lovely clouds are in the sky! It's a nice break from the intense beating sun we've had over the past week.
lisag
-

Ack...I can't stand this hideous weather! I'm staying inside in the A/C, but I miss being outside. I'm actually looking forward to temps only in the 80's tomorrow! Oy. ------- I spoke to my mom who got back from a 2 week vacation in Alaska...she said it was the most beautiful country/scenery she's ever seen. I think I'll have to start planning on trying to get there in 2012...next year will still hopefully be New Zealand in March. ---------- Diane - Everything ok with the earthquake you guys had out in CA?
LisaG
-

It's been delightful! We're moving things, a little at a time, into the new house (we don't own it yet -- that's Friday -- but they gave us permission to put things in the garage). It's a pleasure moving stuff when there's a breeze, and it's not scorching hot, and you're not dripping sweat like you just emerged from a pool.
Puck
-

Boy, what a scorcher for you all in the upper east coast. My cousin in NJ told me it was 118 degrees at 8 am one morning about a week and a half ago! That really is as bad as Phoenix! It's been so cool here in Southern CA (I should not say that so loudly) that a wasp actually found it's way into my apt through the crappy old screens and was flying into my wall heater to make a nest because it was too cold outside! I had the pilot light turned off and the gas guy said he didn't see anything in there, but he didn't look too much. I put some tape over the gap where the wasp was coming in, and the poor thing got stuck in the tape and died.
Diane
-

98 now...my mom is have 102 temps in nj!
lisag
-

It's 96 with a dew pt of 66...ugh! I don't know how my friend without a/c can stand it...and her poor father is in his 80's in the same house. Not good. I'm actually looking forward to temps only in the 80's starting Thursday! Now all those nay-sayers have to agree we have global warming!
LisaG
-

I'm so glad the heat is somewhere else other than here! We've had some marvellously cool morning and evenings (that is, they were not in the 90s the moment you woke up, and you were not dripping in sweat just making the walk to the mailbox). Yall can keep it, BTW! We have plenty.
Puck
-

It is insanely hot here, but not as bad as the East Coast. Stay cool!
Christine
-

Oy...just went out to pick up my mail at the post office...it is HOT!!! They say it's going to be hotter here in the northeast than in Kabul! Most of my flowers were ok, but the impatien was really drooping...gave everything a good soaking and will repeat tonight so most of the water doesn't evaporate. Everyone in the heat, take it easy! -------- Anita - sounds like you're having fun! Enjoy!
LisaG...back to the grind :(
-

quick check in... we're are in CA... haveing a grand time, off to San Francisco in the morning. I've updated the blog but no pics yet, will do so later, have posted many on Facebook though. http://mylittlesunshinegirls.blogspot.com/ hope everyone had a happy 4th!
Anita
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Diane - Depending on when you go and where you stay (how far from town), will determine if you need a car. I went 2 years in a row with only my roller blades and I was fine. They have a pretty good bus service now that goes to the beaches far from town (Surf Side and Madaket), plus 'Sconset. The bus also goes around locally, if it's rainy or if you don't want to walk. You can also rent a bike for the week, so you could pedal around on the many bike paths they have to the beaches, etc. Here's the shuttle bus web site: http://www.shuttlenantucket.com/ and here's the general transportation web site: http://www.nantucket.net/trans/on.php
LisaG
-

Thanks for the history lesson, Lisa!
Diane
-

LISA - Whenever I do get there, would I be ok without renting a car?
Diane
-

In modern times, the cobblestones keep the cars from driving up busy Main Street too fast, which is good! I know the island well enough to be able to mostly avoid those streets...it's hard, though, because many of the downtown roads are one way.
LisaG
-

Diane - my understanding is that the cobblestones (used as ballast in ship hulls), were used on many roads so the wagons hauling heavy barrels of whale oil from the wharves wouldn't sink into mud that would normally be the roadway. They remain on several roads as historical reminders of that era.
LisaG
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Happy 4th to you all!! WE had some great steaks on the grill. Watche dour kooky neighbors allow their trash to fly into everyones yards. Even after they saw me picking some up out of our yard, not a response. As its is windy, I threw it into their window wells. Now we'll see how long before they pick up the other stuff lying aorund including a bowl they used to take meat out of. It is sitting on their grill shelf. Teh same grill that has sat open since last year, is rusted, never cleaned and is gas that they use with charcoal.
Christine
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Welcome back home, Lisa! I know it's bittersweet. Typical cat snubbing the naughty human who went away for awhile! I think it's a cat rule to ignore the human for a certain period of time when they return from a trip. Feigning non-interest and seeing past the human at things in the distance is part of it. Watching my latest WINGS DVD this morning, and I can't get Nantucket out of my mind. Don't know what possessed them, though, to make cobblestone streets. I remember being so irked by that as a kid and asking, "Why did they make the street out of rocks?!" It hurt to walk or ride the bike on them.
Diane
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LISA - I have found so many teachers who are total LOONS! That lady acting like that with the turtle (who probably doesn't have a clue the woman is acting like that) reminds me of my kindergarten teacher I met again as an adult. What a nut!!! Her bathroom was full of butterflies and she kept talking in that strange hushed voice she used when I was in kindergarten.
Diane
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Hope everyone has a terrific holiday...stay safe!
LisaG
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Well, I'm back home. :( On the up side, I missed my kitties, s I got some good hugs and scritches in...I think Scooter is mad at me though. Oh well. I also flew home...hardly anyone on the road, but that's probably because I took the 3:45pm ferry and started driving about 6pm. On the way, I saw many different fireworks being set off in the various towns I drove through...very pretty, but it was a little dangerous because some drivers weren't paying as much attention to the road! It was a neat day on Nantucket, they had all of Main Street closed off and parts of some side streets for the July 4th weekend celebration. They did a fire pump and SOAKED anyone on Main Street with water from several fire engine water pumps...very funny and fun! Great weather for it, too. At least with the long holiday weekend, I get 2 more days before going back to work. Yay!
LisaG
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Lisa, the oil spill makes me disgusted beyond words.
Christine
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I'm not saying having a turtle as a pet is bad, but you should have seen this woman with the thing...I would have sworn she birthed the thing the way she was cooing over her. Yik. Her English boyfriend was with her...nice enough guy...he must be so proud....not! ;)
LisaG
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Ok...not so jealous of the Stamford teacher...she is a FRUITCAKE! Believe it or not, the woman has a boxer turtle (from the wild) as a pet...she brought it on vacation...she's had her for 22 years...she talks baby talk to it and kisses it on the beak. Oy. I feel so normal all of a sudden! ;)
LisaG
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Christine - have you seen any of the oil spill on the LA shores? That whole situation is so upsetting...and now with the hurricane, it supposedly pushed more globs onto the beaches. :(
LisaG
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Ok...I'm very jealous. The woman in the cottage next to mine is here for nearly TWO MONTHS!!!! She's a teacher in Stamford, CT and she came up in mid-June and doesn't leave until the end of July! Ack! How incredible is that?! Though, I think she's a bit full of herself...or at least her boyfriend, whom she told me several times is ENGLISH...and from LONDON. Yeah, honey, I get it. I almost asked, "So, in other words, he has really bad teeth?" ROTFLOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist that one! I wonder if I could find a work office up here that allowed WiFi access...I could come up for the entire summer...even bring the cats (if I could get a place big enuf that would also allow it) and spend the ENTIRE summer...June through Sept...working and living up here. Something to consider for 2011!
LisaG
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Oh God...lobster...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...slathered in butter and lemon....aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
lisag
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I second that! Wwe plan on heading down to STarved Rock and do some hiking on Saturday followed by dinner at the BEST Cajun restaurant the side of LA. For the 4th we are taking easy, grilling some steaks and going to see the fireworks.
Christine
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May everyone have a safe & fun 4th of July weekend!
kmp
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and I adore key lime pie.... oh my.... the tartness, the underlying taste of heavy sweetness.....
Christine
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That does sound so good. When I was on Cape Cod, I had the best, BEST ever clam chowder at the Beehive restaurant. The only way I could descirbe it was layred... the flavors where so rich and layered.... oh my...... I'm not a big swordfish person, but DH who doesn't like most fish, loves swordfish.
Christine
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Wow, that dinner sounds good, Lisa. Sounds like you are really enjoying your vacation. I admire that you do it all solo, too. I take day trips by myself now since the people I used to enjoy travelling with returned to their homelands. Rather than take a day trip with someone who is moody or whines about their problems, I like taking the drive and trip all by myself.
Diane
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Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...cocktail hour time! A nice glass of pino grigio and some Macy's cheddar & asiago cheese crisps...if you haven't tried these things, DON'T! They're addictive! ;) Tonight will probably be a "chowdah" dinner night...something small and easy to order...there's a restaurant that makes a really good thick one...lots of clams and potato. I ate there last night and they actually had swordfish...for some reason, not many places serve that anymore. It was delicious...broiled with just lemon...new potatoes with butter and steamed veggies. Oh and key lime pie for dessert...they make a really tart one with a chocolate cookie crust. YUM! Good thing I went roller blading to work off all these calories! :)
LisaG
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That's funny and also kind of sad. I'll have to keep an eye out on my spam folder. Many spammers are under the impression I am a man.
Christine
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Unbelievable...I just got a SPAM email about the possibility that BP may owe me money because of the Gulf oil spill. Interesting, since I live all the up north in CT! The ambulance chasers are out and about!
LisaG
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That is funny!
Christine
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That was a funny event with the hens while you were on wheels, Lisa! Those pedestrians! :)
Diane
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Oh and I forgot about a really funny story when I was roller blading Monday. I was going merrily along the bike path when suddenly 3 guinea hens scurried across the path right in front of me! Luckily, they were so fast, they crossed to the grass and I didn't hit them...I can usually stop pretty quickly, but they jumped out of the brush when I was too close. The funny part was I literally screamed "WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" when they cut in front of me. It gave a good laugh to a guy who was riding his bike the other way. I think my cartwheeling arms, as I tried to avoid the hens, also signaled something was wrong to the drivers on the road, because they were able to stop in time to also not hit the guinea hens who decided to not stop at all and continue on and cross the road! Too funny!
LisaG
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Cat - I just emailed 2 versions (full and reduced) of the Jetties sunset photo I took tonight. Thought it might be a nice summer photo for the GB page. :)
LisaG
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Well, I iced my ankle, cooled my skin with aloe gel and cool wet towels, then DROVE to the restaurant for dinner...it was delicious...then bought more aloe (it's chilling in the frig now) and an ankle brace), so I'm doing better! What topped off the evening was a beautiful sunset, so I drove real fast over to the Jetties beach and took some great photos of the beach and the sunset. I'm glad I always bring my camera with me! I will send some to you, Diane! :)
Limpin' LisaG
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LISA - Oh no! What a day! Frizzy hair, rain in your hood, and now your ankle. Yes, stay in lest the fates have more mischief to play on you! I hope you can put that ankle up and put something cold on it so it can be better (hopefully) by tomorrow. Yeah, I would guess the humidity does help the plants. I'm glad they got a drink of water. My cousin in NJ said it was 118 degrees yesterday (or was it the day before) morning at 8 am!! One thing I love about the Cape area -- there is almost always a coolness at night and in the am.
Diane
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ok...things aren't going so well, now. i got a bit of sunburn yesterday, even tho i applied sun screen...unless the stuff was no good...and i just sprained my ankle walking back from town. waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!! :( i think i'm going to stay inside until dinner time!
lisag
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Diane - LOL! Talk about frizzy hair...tonight is a whopper for me! The humidity was bad enough that I pulled it back in a clip, but then it started to shower as I was walking around after dinner. Though it's only a 10 minute walk back to the cottage, it was a wet one, even with my slicker on...the breeze kept blowing rain drops into my hood...but I was mostly dry by the time I got home. Many of the flowers are sighing in relief...seems like they've had very little rain, so some were wilted...even the hydrangeas. I think the fog and higher humidity of an island helps the plants through most dry periods, though.
LisaG
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Me, too, CHRISTINE. I wish all weekend were 3 days! It's the amount we need to do all our errands, go to church or a day of relaxation, and then one day of fun.
Diane
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LISA - Yeah, I'm so homesick for Cape Cod and Nantucket. I can taste the salt on my lips and see my frizzy damp hair. I love that it has stayed mostly the same. I love those little shops. Do you know if those shops stay open through the fall months? I'd like to go in October sometime -- I'm hoping for 10/11 if all goes well. It's almost like a dream to me!!!
Diane
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I'm just looking forward to a three day weekend coming up!
Christine
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LisaG -- so cool!!! (er, other than the mosquitos). Sweetie actually said last night "Let's save up money for a vacation somewhere!" YAY! I'm all for that! It's the first time he's actually mentioned it in the 14 years we've been together.
PUck
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Diane - I've been thinking about you as I walk around. Some things are a little different, but it's still the same island. :) The place I'm staying at has done a little upgrading...new kitchen stove, new toilet, new bed...it's great! For the mosquitoes, I have a citronella band that seems to help, but I don't like to wear it on my wrist, so I tie it to whatever I'm carrying. I'm going to try a new fan driven repeller that I saw...you can strap it to your belt, pocketbook, put it on a table near you, etc., so you're not spraying your body with anything. Tomorrow is supposed to be an iffy day, so I'm probably going to visit the place where we spread my dad's ashes...if I can get there...last year a storm broke through the sand bar and separated that area from the main island. Then, I believe, the weather is supposed to be great through the weekend. :)
LisaG
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LISA - Wow, you're in NANTUCKET!!! How cool is that!? Boy, I WISH WISH WISH WISH I were there. I need a break so badly. I think the bugs do not like lavendar cream or oil. If you can get something with that, that will be healthier for your skin and body. Those mosquitos can be such a pain. Also, I think if you eat garlic, they won't bite you because it's toxic to them--and the scent comes through your pores.
Diane
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foggy nantucket day today...bad for the beach, but great for shopping and roller blading and picture taking! :) the flowers are just phenomenal now...many of the hydrangeas are still just getting started, but others are well on their way to full bloom. the ones that are just opening are lovely shades of multiple colors, like pale yellow with pale pink, etc. the roses are all going strong and i have a few pictures of them. the only really bad thing is the mosquitoes...they bite ALL DAY LONG! one eve bit IN my ear! i have to get more repellent.
lisag
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I know!
Christine
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ain't technology great? i'm on the boat to nantucket and they have free wifi! ha!
lisag
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whew! well, i made it to hyannis today...got a later start than i wanted and finally hit the road at noon. ran into a nasty traffic snarl on i-95 near the CT/RI border...6 miles of backed up cars and trucks that took an HOUR to get through...i could almost walk faster! anyway, the weather is gorgeous up here and the moon was big and full and fat over the harbor...i got some neat photos. i'll be on the 9:15pm boat to nantucket and on the beach before noon, i hope! :) have a great weekend everyone!
lisag
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We had some crazy weather the other day. Storms in the morning and then storms in the evening with tornado sirens. And a roof got ripped off of one building in a nearby town.
christine
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wow...wild weather in CT today. they think a tornado might have touched down in bridgeport...there were roofs torn off, trees blown over in a row in a park, etc. where i live it got windy and we had 5 mins of rough weather, but then it just blew by. crazy.
lisag
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CHRISTINE -- You might be. I didn't even notice mine at first -- and then they decided they would NOT be ignored and got more often and more intense.
Diane
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Not everyone suffers from cramps. If you had them, you would remember them -- BELIEVE ME. It's been 14 years since I had them, and it's something I would never forget. There are a lot of things contributing to bad cramps -- hormones, fibroids, etc.
Diane
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I don't remember having really bad cramps back when I got periods. It has been over 10 years since my partial hysterectomy so maybe my memory is fading.... I have wondered if I am getting hot flashes, but despite thinking every so often I am, it doesn't seem like they are intense enough.
Christine
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It probably means my parts don't work -- which I wish I knew before spending all those years and all that money on the Pill!! HA HA!
Puck
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PUCK - wow, are you lucky. Eating chocolate or caffeine in any form is really bad for menstrual cramps, though. And no raw food. Only warm foods. The worst one I ever had was like torture. I left work, went home, took off everything and wrapped myself in a huge towel and sat on the bathroom floor writhing. I couldn't stand to have my clothes touching my skin. It took hours. Went it was over, I looked in the mirror, and my hair was soaked like I had just come out of the shower. I felt like I should have had a 5 pound baby to show for it or something. But no, it was must my period.
Diane
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LISA - I'd like to give that guy just one day of the cramps I've experienced over the years. I know women who have said that some of their period cramps have felt just like LABOR -- and these women went through labor so they should know. Mild, my aunt fanny. I'd like him to take a sucker punch to the lower abdomen and then smile and tell me the pain is just mild. ANOTHER BEEF OF MINE -- the term "hot flashes" That also must have been coined by a male. There is NOTHING flashy about it. It take a little while to come, it stays for far to long!!!, and dissipates gradually. It is NOT a FLASH. It's a HOT SPELL. I'd like a guy to come inside a woman's body and experience it and see how much of a "flash" it is.
Diane
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LisaG -- I have been fortunate never to have cramps. But when I had my Essure tubal inserted, the doc warned me I'd have cramps, and I had to ask what that would feel like. The doc didn't know (being a man), but the X-ray techs knew and told me. You know what it felt like to me? -- it was the EXACT description of what the Dementors do to you, the Harry Potter books. EXACTLY! No wonder eating chocolate is the cure for Dementor attacks! It certainly felt as if there were no more happiness or joy in the world.
Puck
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I'm cracking up here...I get these health emails every week or so from a program offered through work...they cover various topics. Well, I just got one that included a link to "When Your Period Signals a Problem"...I was interested, so I started reading. One paragraph discusses pain during your period...after reading the first paragraph, I had to believe this was written by a man. "Your period generally isn't the most comfortable time of the month. (uh, duh!) Most women have cramps as the uterus contracts to shed its lining. Usually the discomfort is mild (!) and it subsides in a day or two." I'd love to see this guy have a period for just one day...I'm sure he'd change the tune of this paragraph!
LisaG...apologies to Mike if he is put off by this post! ;)
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THIS IS A MUST WATCH!!!! You will find it so amazing that this couple was able to video this!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is actually a pretty amazing story about a baby hummingbird that I found on a sidewalk. He couldn't fly, so I took him under my wing. ----- At night, he would come home to our house for safety. During the day, he was in the backyard of the house near where I found him. About 4 days after I found him, I was holding him in my cupped hands when his Mama came by to feed him. She had seen me around, I guess, because she just flew over, perched on my hand and then fed him. This happened a number of times, so I called a friend who is good with a video camera, and he came over to film some of the amazing goings on that I told him about. ----- There's a lot more to this story, but that's enough info to give you some context for the video we posted to YouTube. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7xBLvMIBZU
lisag
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Thanks, PUCK and LISA. Natasha is about 20 years old so I guess something has to get them sooner or later. My vet said tumors in the jaw are very common in older dogs and cats. Just trying to keep her comfortable. She loves baby food, thankfully. She's still a happy girl, too. One of the strays, Jake, had this same squamous cell cancer in his jaw, too, 4 years ago. He went on for quite a few months, and then it took off like mad and grew under his tongue and was closing off his throat in only 2 weeks. I had been syringing water in his mouth for him to drink after it pushed his tongue aside but a few days later when it got to his throat, I knew he had had enough. He came inside that morning and was ready to go.
Diane
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Diane -- oh, that's very sad about Natasha! *hug*
Puck
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Diane - Sorry to hear about little Natasha. :(
LisaG
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PUCK - How exciting about the new house and it being a pretty good deal! Yeesh, inheritances sure can suck for some people. I know a guy who got a big inheritance and so he quit his job and is traveling all over the place. But it's not working out like that for you and me. For me, it's been 2 yrs and the handyman has tied up the lawyers with all his attempts at taking the whole estate. The house could have been sold over a year ago but he started another lawsuit. So another year of humongous taxes on that house plus lawyers fees, etc. came out of MY half of the money, too, all because of him. Plus to keep the house warm so the pipes don't freeze costs $300 a month. It's a log-cabin type of house (gorgeous, though) but the heat goes right out of it. The Trustee puts it at 62 degrees and it's still $300 a month. We were finally clear to try again, and the jerk handyman started up something else. I think I will die before I see one cent sometimes.
Diane
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LISA - I wish I could go to Nantucket, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so nostalgically sick for Cape Cod and the 'tucket. Watched another ep of Wings. The house they show that is supposed to be Joe and Brian's, is the typical Nantucket/Cape Cod home. How I ache to be there again. I go to Encinitas in early September and can't wait. My Natasha has cancer in her jaw and I don't know if she will have passed by that time or not. If not, I will make a shorter trip.
Diane
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ANITA - WHEW, I can't believe how many grades ahead Katie and Lizzie are with their reading!! You must have read to them quite a lot. The Grand Canyon will be awesome!! It is so gorgeous there. Be careful of the heat, though. PLENTY OF WATER, that dry air just takes it out of you.
Diane
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As for me, lots of doings, but all things are up in the air, so I was waiting until some balls fell to earth. First off, I'm under contract for a house, at long long last! It's a foreclosure, but it needs almost NO work (maybe $200 worth of stuff, including painting two small rooms). We'll have almost 20% equity in it just from driving a hard bargain, so we opted to toss in a few grand ourselves and get a regular ol' conventional loan with no mortgage insurance or escrow. YAY! It's a beauty, and when we get the keys, get moved in, and get it all fixed up nicely, I'll send pics....................................... Sweetie's dad died last month. I spent two weeks with his mother getting the financial angle fixed up (changing accounts to her name, getting probate going, etc), and cleaning out his separate bedroom/office -- it took the full two weeks for that alone! Meanwhile, it appears to have been a thankless job -- yesterday, his mom called because she couldn't find a flashlight when the power went out, and FIL kept flashlights all over the house, including six we found in his bedroom. Well, three were broken, one we took as it was actually supposed to be part of the truck's set-up (and we inherited the truck), and two we left by the computer when I left after two weeks -- and Sweetie's sisters were in charge of dismantling and moving the computer and the rest of the furniture out of the house. Well, we told MIL that, she called the sisters, who called us, with the subtle idea that we must have taken them all, and won't admit it. SHEESH! ......................................... And, of course -- as in practically every family -- the inheritance appears to have opened 50 gallon drums of worms. Sweetie appeared to have inherited the lion's share of land -- two family farms and a cabin on the river, plus the gun collection and truck. One sister inherited another farm (half-share) and had to share a lot on the lake with the other sisters (and that half-share in the lot was the only thing this other sister got). Well, when we read FIL's mother's will (found among the paperwork), come to find out she left those two farms to Sweetie's dad under a life estate only, with Sweetie being the remainderman. But the sisters are all up in arms about how lopsided the inheritance was, and apparently after we left they badgered MIL into changing her will from a three-way split among the three children, to "evening out" the "mess" FIL created. Well, those two farms weren't from his dad -- they were from his grandmother, and shouldn't count, anymore that past inheritances the sisters have had from other family members! But regardless, in "evening it out", MIL gave all the choice remaining lands and farms and houses to the sisters, and left Sweetie a decrepit, moldy, ancient, and rotting storefront in sleepy, near-dead downtown Nowheresville. They still have a three-way split of cash and investments, should those still be around when she passes, and which might still be substantial, depending on what her future health care might cost. .................................................. Meanwhile, back to the inheritance -- we are not ungrateful, but FIL also had a separate bank account to manage the farms, and MIL has chosen to keep that money, and not split it among the heirs of the farms. This is quite bad -- the three farms are planted in pines, and it will cost almost $100k to bring them to maturity in 20 years, money none of us has. So while we are grateful for the family legacy, Sweetie and I are a little bitter (and trying to get over it, I swear!) that we got no cash, or no land to convert to cash (the sisters are selling the lake-lot at once, and will have mid-five figures each from it), and nothing but dead expenses on "legacy" land. Oh, and the sister who inherited a share in a farm? -- she's going to sell it! She doesn't care about the legacy, and again, she will be flush with cash, while Sweetie and I try to maintain the legacy on our pitiful little salaries.
Puck
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Anita -- oh, poor Sasha! I hope the trip takes your minds off things, and that she is okay when you return!
Puck
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Anita - wow! Sounds like you're quite busy! Your vacation sounds like fun...I always wanted to rent/buy a small RV and drive cross country and try to visit all the states...well, not Alaska and Hawaii! ;) I'm heading to Nantucket soon and by this time next week, I'll be in my hotel in Hyannis and taking the boat over on the 26th. Yee haw! It's going to be strange going now than my usual September trip, but I think I'll manage...all the plants will be in full flower for a change...especially the roses and hydrangea, which are usually pretty much spent by Sept. I'm looking forward to sitting on the beach, relaxing and reading some books.
LisaG
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oh, so much going on with us Diane.. but you know it from Facebook. My beloved Sasha Poodle has been diagnosed with canine lymphoma, is on prednisone to reduce the swelling in her lymph nodes and keep her as comfortable as possible. Our vet is guardedly optimistic she will be one of the lucky ones that makes it for months rather then weeks, and she's already gone beyond the intial 4-6 prognosis and is still mostly symptom free.. the large lump on her neck is practically gone thanks to the prednisone. I do hope he's right and she'll be with us up to 6 months...Susie and Sasha turned 12 in May.. which is young sort of for mini poodles... vet said they could go to 16 or 18, and our last one was 16...so this was a shock............................. the girls just finished school, Katie is now a 5th grader and Lizzie a 2nd grader..both girls did great in school and are avid readers.. Lizzie is reading at a 4th grade level already and Katie at an 8th grade level.. Katie made straight A's all year and made the Principal's Honor list...ran 35 miles for Mileage club..in the spring music recital..President's physical fitness award.... both girls got Excellence in Art awards, Lizzie is doing advanced math as well... couldn't be prouder of them..... My Mom is here and on Monday she and the girls and I are driving cross country... wow, we're headed to the Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, California coast, San Francisco, redwoods, Yosemite....then home on the very southern route through Texas, New Orleans, the Gulf Coast and to Mom's house in Florida.. whew...a couple days to relax then back to Virginia.. Gary is staying home.. he'll take extra care of Sasha and I pray she is fine when we get back.. he has no desire to drive cross country.. or is it he doesn't want to visit my family in California :) he doesn't have that kind of vacation, well he does, but he doesn't want to use it all at once..and it will be fun to be just us girls. so what's new with everyone else?
Anita
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So what's new with everybody???
Diane
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For me, we are both at fault.... in all honesty. Accidents happen, but I agree about it being the same insurance. And she was driving her disabled neices car. DH said they probably are siding with her because of that.
christine
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Bummers that you both have the same insurance company. There's no motivation to fight for your side when they have to pay either way. Dratskies.
Diane
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I think you should share the fault...that makes the most sense to me. You may not have signaled, but she was passing where she shouldn't have.
lisag
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WE both have State Farm. I agree, she hit me, but they see otherwise. I feel like calling them and telling them I WAS HIT!
Christine
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I thought it was the same way as LISA said -- she hit YOU. A driver is supposed to be in control of their cars at all times. That means giving one car length for every 10 mph you are traveling. Which insurance co is saying it's your fault, Christine? Yours or hers?
Diane
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I was just reading an update on the missing little boy from Oregon. My heart is breaking! He reminds me of my son's best friend at that age.
Christine
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She was close behind so thats why neither of us got a ticket, but she still hit me!
Christine
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Christine - Then I would say it's even MORE her fault...how did she know you were going to turn? Maybe you weren't and you were just slowing down while continuing to go straight! ----------- On another topic, I just kicked my own butt trying to do 30 minutes on one of the elliptical programs...I was sweating like crazy! Boy, am I out of shape!
LisaG
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I think she was trying to pass me at the spot were the road widens.
christine
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she hit me on the drivers side door. It wasn't a head on, we were in a v shape.
christine
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Christine - did the woman hit you from behind? I thought in every case where someone was rear ended it was the person behind the other car that was at fault. Signal or no, if you had to stop in the middle of the road say because a dog was running across, etc., then the person behind you MUST be able to stop...period. I'd try to fight it if I were you.
LisaG
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Well the insurance company says I am liable for the accident as I didn't use my turn signal. She still was following to closely!
Christine
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LISA - Wow 150 lbs. Maybe 3 big guy friends!
Diane
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My son is having a JD breakfast sandwich!
Christine
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) � Jimmy Dean, a country music legend for his smash hit about a workingman hero, Big Bad John, and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, has died. He was 81. His wife, Donna Meade Dean, says her husband died at 7:54 p.m. Sunday at their Henrico County, Va., home, south of Richmond. She tells The Associated Press that he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. But he went on to a successful entertainment career in the '50s and '60s. In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.
Big Bad John
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He was just a little guy, but almost as dark as the driveway. I'm glad he jumped, so I could be sure to avoid him when rolling the plant into the showers. Well, I finished assembling the elliptical and it WORKS!!! Yeehaw! Seeing it in the living room makes me realize it definitely needs to be moved to my bedroom...there's a spot that would be perfect for it...it just takes up too much room in the living room...so now I have to get a couple of strong male friends to help move the 150 lb machine upstairs. Oh well...in the meantime, I'll use it downstairs.
LisaG
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I would flip if I saw a frog in the garden.
christine
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Just moved some of my potted plants from under the front overhang so they could enjoy the showers coming down...I had a little froggy visitor under one plant. So cute! The frogs seem to love that corner of the house and the big flowering plants there.
LisaG
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I think the belly gets some scar tissue and water deposits after the uterus is removed so all the more reason to have a little pouch there. Yeah, a woman should know better than to GUESS on this subject.
Diane
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Actually, I should answer... "considering I no longer have a uterus, it is pretty amazing!"
christine
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and I have thin arms and legs!
chrisitne
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I am 44... I am probably going through menapause... I got a belly! Glad to know I am not the only one! And you would think a woman wouldn't say that !!!
Christine
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Argh. I'm sorry, CHRISTINE. Some people need to learn to THINK. You never ever ask if someone is pregnant (unless it's your best friend or sister); you wait until they tell you. If they don't tell you, then they aren't. We ALL carry a pkg in front in the lower abdomen, Christine. My co-worker, Chris, gets asked that so much and she's in her early 50's. I have a pouch, too, it comes with menopause I think, and I'm underweight. I climb stairs and walk and run, but there it is.
Diane
-

Grrr... a co-worker asked if I was pregnant, saying she heard I was! I am too old, I don't have the parts anymore and darn it I just gain weight in my tummy. I like to wear flowy tops, I guess I need to wear tight tops so people can see its flab!
Christine
-

Diane - Well, the front wheel/housing/pedal arms are all one piece...I need to add the pedal arms, handle bars, feet, etc. I was too tired to try it last night, so I'll try tonight. I just caught a part of Y&R...Eric Braeden still looks great! He's 69...I also checked and he's been married for 44 years! Amazing now-a-days.
LisaG
-

Thanks for the tiny url, LISA. WOW, I cannot imagine they expect someone to put that together!!
Diane
-

Christine - i sure hope it will look like that when i'm done!
lisag
-

Diane - http://tinyurl.com/2fk29vl
lisag
-

LISA - Can you fit that into a tiny url? www.tinyurl.com
Diane
-

will the finished product look like that??
Christine
-

Diane - an elliptical machine is kind of like a combo of a treadmill and ski machine. You "walk" on pedals, so it's low/non-impacting to the joints. This is the one I picked... http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=elliptical+ironman+1840&cid=12977988531262491986&ei=mAcQTPPaCaKflwfluqH3AQ&sa=title&ved=0CAsQ8wIwATgA#p
Lisa G.
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Lisa, I do NOT envy you. Hope you don't end up with leftover parts ;-)
Christine
-

Everything seems to come unassembled these days. Soon, our new cars will come in a big box called "car kit".
Diane
-

LISA - Pardon my ignorance, but what is an elliptical machine?
Diane
-

JANET - I'm glad your grandbaby is there, too. An ex-co-worker had a preemie in December who was hospitalized until early Feb and is doing very well. But their medical bills are through the roof! They are both teachers, and this is killing them. It should never be that way. I agree with CHRISTINE, we are so afraid of change in the US, but I believe it's inevitable. It will get much worse here before he gets better, but it will happen, come hell or high water (we will probably get both of those!). Our taxes more than already pay for our healthcare, but we're not getting it. That's the screw. It's going into building bombs and bailing out Wall Street. I think my blood pressure just went up again.
Diane
-

WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! The elliptical is completely UNassembled...21 pieces to put together...it's going to take me forever!
lisag
-

Woo hoo! My new elliptical machine was just delivered! This was my qtr century club gift that I selected. I'm psyched!
LisaG
-

Better overnight then being released too soon.
Christine
-

We can certainly learn from our neighbors and improve what we have . . . . so glad our baby is in a country with such excellent care. I think I have run all my errands- pharmacy, gas station, got glasses adjusted, picked up rolling /kneeling walker, got crown on tooth . . . . haircut . . .. now doc thinks overnight stay may be a good idea in terms of pain mgmt. I'm ok with that . . . . .
janet
-

Janet, Finland is doing medicine right. From what I heard many European countries that have socialized medicine do well. We are so afraid to change anything here.... okay off my soapbox_
christine
-

Lisa: I think he said he just dumped the body in the ocean, so the possibilities are probably slim. But they do have a confession on tape, even if it won't hold up in court, and he has admitted to the latest murder in Peru. Anything to put him away for the rest of his life. I imagine that's all the closure Natalie's family will get. He claims she had some sort of seizure, but of course he didn't get help for her. That one incident has really hurt tourism in Aruba. The club where they met has closed, there was a lot of unrest with law enforcement's role in the case, but in the end, she was already dead . . . . his dad was a judge and the locals feel he protected his son from consequences.
Janet
-

JANET - Great to hear Melinda is ALMOST 3 pounds!! She's getting there. Regarding socialized medicine (many people don't realize our libraries, police and fire departments are all a form of socialized entities), I would like to see a study done comparing the mortality rates of the US's for-profit system and the socialized healthcare of other countries.
Diane
-

Wow! He confessed?! Maybe he'll confess to the Aruba killing and tell them where her body is...the parents need closure. What a sick guy he is.
LisaG
-

Janet, what a bummer. I hope you heal up fast so you have more time to enjoy the summer.
Christine
-

Dutchman Joran Van der Sloot, long the prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of a U.S. teen in Aruba, has confessed to killing a young Peruvian woman in his Lima hotel room last week, a police spokesman said.
christine
-

Janet - too bad you can't postpone the surgery until at least Sept. Hope all goes well.
LisaG
-

Sorry for the hiccup. Major stress here as I will have reconstructive surgery on my right ankle Wed. An extra bone will be removed and a tendon repositioned, and 2 toes straightened. No weight for at least 6 weeks. I'm trying to get stuff done that I won't be able to do for a while, and there goes my summer. Oh, and I'm also getting the screws removed from my left ankle - it's not a weight-bearing issue so I'll be able to use it though it will be sore. The screws have been painful. I hope Wednesday will take care of several issues though it takes a long time to heal. I guess I was just born with bad feet.
Janet
-

Actually, we got another update yesterday and Melinda weighs 2 pounds 11 ounces! That is very encouraging. I am very impressed with the quality of care they receive in Finland. It's (cover your ears!) socialized medicine. You know, that evil system that's going to ruin our country . . . . seriously, Finland is a very advanced country in many ways and us ahead of us in recycling, conservation of energy, etc. They are very conscious of resources. I do suspect their smoking rates are higher than ours, just from what I've seen. Alcoholism (those long, cold winters!) is an issue as well, but in many other health-related areas including infant mortality they rank better than the US. Sorry to hear of the GB car repair woes. That's just plain aggravating to get dinged or worse and have to get the thing fixed.
Janet
-

Diane, that sucks!
Christine
-

No estimate yet, I just dropped off the paperwork etc with the insurance and mailed my form in to the state. It is driveable, the door closes fine, the window rolls down. Its kind of scraped and crumple up, but thank God it is driveable. And I also have the same deductible. Need to fix it though, one winter and it will be all rust. My car is a 2002 Toyota Echo with low miles, I want to keep it for as long as possible.
Christine
-

JANET - Whew, I don't know how you did all that and holding a sleeping toddler as well!! It sounds so nice hearing about Melinda's progress. I know it's too soon to exhale but it sounds so good so far. How is the medical care in Finland compared to here?
Diane
-

It's a shame they didn't get that murdered when he killed the first girl. That left him out there to kill the second one. It just burns you up to think about it. CHRISTINE - Did you get an estimate for your car? How bad is it? Can the doors open? How old is the car? I parked my 2 year-old Yaris on a wide street last month and someone swiped the driver and backseat doors. It's not that deep so I'm guessing someone was squeezing past the garbage truck or something. They left NO note (jerk!!) so I am stuck paying the $500 deductible to fix it.
Diane
-

If convicted, I don't think he's going to last very long in a Peruvian prison. Any way you look at it, he's screwed. I know it's may sound sick, but I'm just so glad the Peruvian authorities are putting that slime ball through all this...he deserves to suffer as much as his victims. I remember the story he told to an undercover Dutch reporter who befriended him to try to get info...it was a sick thing to see and hear. The guy is a sociopath.
LisaG
-

They have a taped confession (evidently inadmissable) in which he describes Natalie's death. He whined "why do these things happen to me?" and then said he'd dumped her body in the ocean. Even if they don't get him for Natalie's death, hopefully they can put him away for this one. When we were in the area last winter (the day before his father collapsed and died) Dutch authorities were looking for him in Thailand, where he was busy in the business of human trafficking. Blech. Slime indeed...............
Janet
-

That man is a slime...
Christine
-

I know that people are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but I'm just LOVING the way Joran van der Sloot is being paraded in front of media cameras. Finally, that smug self-righteous smirk is off his face and he looks like he peed in his pants. That's what happens when you murder 2 innocent girls. I hope they have tons of DNA and blood evidence against him in Peru...too bad they don't have the death penalty, though.
LisaG
-

How horrible!
Christine
-

OMG, is there any way we can kick South Carolina out of the union? Have you all heard that Sentaor Knotts called his opponent (who was born a Sikh, but says she's a Methodist) a "raghead" and also said it was bad enough we already had one raghead in the White House...meaning Obama! Unbelievable...if I lived in that state, I would be so embarrassed, I'd move.
LisaG
-

Yes, I could use a day laying around a beach!
Christine
-

Oh Christine! Time for you to just run away to a tropical island and hide! Sorry you're having such a lousy time lately!
LisaG
-

Grrr... I was turning around on a somewhat deserted road (making a u-turn) when a car hit my passengers door. I have no idea where she came from as there wasn't anyone around. Neither of us got a ticket but now I have to deal with the damge....
Christine
-

Prayers for little Melinda, sounds like she is progressing. IT has to be tough not really knowing but hope for the best.
christine
-

Back in town after 10 days away. Darling Granddaighter did very well on the flights, but what a long day for her! She had a little meltdown in each direction each one due to fatigue and it's a juggling act to keep her entertained. We didn't arrive home until midnight Thursday and I had a sleeping tot in my arms, a heavy backpack, stroller, and 2 suitcases. I rented a cart but still had to call for help. My sis and her hubby were waiting nearby in their car and so he came and rolled the cart out for me. ......... last Utah-Ohio flights I will make, as far as I know. Kevin starts residency (4 yrs) in El Paso TX July 1. That's closer to us so hopefully not so much travel. Graduation was just great - very special - and he loved every minute with his daughter. On the day of his graduation, his brother in Finland buried little Christian, their baby who didn't survive prematurity. He asked me to write something for me to say at the graveside service . . . . nothing easy. . . At 6 weeeks little Melinda is 2 lbs and doing pretty well. It will be a long haul and prognosis can't be made at this point, though she looks at them, responds to their touch and voices, squeezes their fingers, and sucks on binkie. All very good things.
Janet
-

It kills me to see all these poor animals suffering because some bozo "has to" drive a Hummer. I always try to reduce my carbon footprint at home and I will only drive a car that gets at least 35 mpg. This country is so wasteful with our resources and the animals and planet are paying the price.
lisag
-

I cry at the thought of all that wildlife suffering. DH already made his donation to the gulf response and has posted on FB links for others to do so. Try also gulfresponse.org which covers several charities. People this is important!
christine
-

International Bird Rescue Research Center ----- HOW TO HELP ----- While those responsible for this well blow out are covering the cost of the Gulf of Mexico clean-up, you can support the ongoing work of the non-profit organizations currently on the ground preparing to respond to oiled wildlife. You can support International Bird Rescue's ongoing programs to rescue and rehabilitate aquatic birds by donating, becoming a member or adopting a bird. ----- Donate: http://www.ibrrc.org/donate_online.html ----- Member: http://www.ibrrc.org/membership.html ----- Adopt a bird: http://www.ibrrc.org/adopt_a_bird.html ----- Please also remember our friends at Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research who we are partnering with in this ongoing effort on the Gulf Coast. http://www.tristatebird.org/ ----- I actually already donate to Tri-State in memory of my dad who loved owls and other birds of prey...they're a good group.
lisag
-

what a week...thank goodness it's appletini time! man, the pictures of the wildlife in the gulf is heartbreaking...i nearly burst into tears at the shot of a pelican trying to walk on shore covered with sludge. i just can't watch it. i think, though, i'm going to search for a wildlife fund and donate. those poor animals.
lisag
-

So true as well as those who die such as the soldiers who are trying to do right, innocent kids on the streets caught in gang crossfire (we just ahd a really sad case her in Chicago).... death doesn't discriminate....
Christine
-

I think about all those who die every day in Pakistan, Palestine, and Iraq, and Afghanistan. The number may start with a 3, but I'm sure there are many zeros after it. How horrible to have war at your doorstep. I cannot imagine that kind of daily and nightly horror. I would guess that, for some, death is, at least, a release from that hell. But not for the children who didn't get a change to even grow up.
Diane
-

Christine - you can also try the small round daily pill holder...it's nice and small and you can put it near your clock radio to remind you or maybe next to your toothbrush. That way you touch it/see it in the morning and night giving you 2 chances not to forget...take it immediately and you'll be all set.
LisaG
-

I need to try something to remind myself. I have them in the kitchen right now. I just zone out with them.... be I will do the pillbox thing at the rate I'm going. ________________________________________________________________________ Sadly Tuesday morning a local radio station was saying who would be the 3rd death.....
Christine
-

How sad...another celebrity death...they say these things come in 3's. ------- regarding the supplements...I take quite a few (multi, magnesium, calcium, one for my hair, fish oil and one for my knees) and they say it's best to split them up during the day because your body can only absorb so much in 8 hours, so take 1/2 in the morning with breakfast and 1/2 at night with dinner. I have one of those daily pill organizers that also splits day and night. I leave it on the kitchen counter to be sure I always see it and check that that day's pills are all gone at night. It's a great reminder.
LisaG
-

CHRISTINE - The forgetting is a big issue these decades. Maybe try putting the bottle somewhere every morning where you HAVE to move it. I move my bottles right up against my soy milk cup so I HAVE to move them to drink it so have to pick them up.
Diane
-

Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress who brought the sexually liberated Southern belle Blanche Devereaux to life on the hit TV series �The Golden Girls,� has died. She was 76.
Christine
-

I am hoping so. I try to take a daily vitamin, but 9 times out of 10 forget to take it!
Christine
-

Christine - bummer...can you just take supplements to correct the problem? or even better, just change your diet to include more foods with those vitamins/minerals?
lisag
-

found out I might be anemic due to being low in folic acid/B12. Getting old bites!
Christine
-

LOL! I love that WINGS ep! And Lowell says, "Um can someone get over here right away? I just dropped all my fingers."
Diane
-

On one of the episodes of Wings I saw today, this high school kid is going to break Joe's pitching record. I thought the kid looked familiar, it was a very VERY young Matthew Fox!
Christine
-

My cousin Paul is (was) good friends with him.
Chrisitne
-

Dennis Hopper Dies at Age 74 ----- 'Easy Rider' Actor, Director and Co-Writer Had Been Battling Prostate Cancer ----- By MICHAEL S. JAMES and SHEILA MARIKAR, May 29, 2010 ----- Dennis Hopper, the director, star and co-writer of "Easy Rider" and an edgy actor in numerous other films, has died at age 74 after a lengthy illness, his production company Easy Rider Productions confirmed. ----- Hopper died at 8:15 a.m. PT at his home in Venice, Calif., from complications of prostate cancer, a friend, Alex Hitz, told the Reuters news service. ----- Though he may be best known for "Easy Rider," the 1969 cult classic, Hopper's film and television career extended back into the 1950s and he stayed active up until recently. ----- He also was considered something of a Hollywood wild man, whose battles with drugs, alcohol and erratic behavior may have helped stall his career in periods both before and after "Easy Rider." ----- Nevertheless, he enjoyed an acting comeback in the 1980s and afterwards on the strength of films such as "Apocalypse Now" (1979), "Rumble Fish" (1983) and "Blue Velvet" (1986). ----- Despite his declining condition in recent months, Hopper recently appeared in Hollywood to receive a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in March. Surrounded by his children and colleagues, the actor appeared to be in good spirits, smiling, laughing and waving. ----- "Everything I learned in life I learned from you," he told a crowd of supporters at the star ceremony, referring to Hollywood. "This means so much to me. Thank you very much everyone, and Hollywood."
lisag
-

Just read Dennis Hopper died.
Christine
-

Yes, and Roy sings and dances about buttons and bows!
Christine
-

oops
Christine
-

er...hySterical
lisag
-

Christine - That's an hyterical ep...that's the one where they dig up Roy's backyard thinking they're finding stolen money, but Roy is planning to install a hot tub. And while in the backyard, Lowell starts eating toad stools thinking they were marshmallows that he dropped...he starts to hallucinate. Great ep!
LisaG
-

I know, I was shocked when I heard. Poor Guy. RIP Gary. I spent many a Friday night with you on my tv.
Christine
-

Wow, I just heard that Gary Coleman died. That guy had such a very hard life with all his health problems and everything else. He's free now from all that.
Diane
-

I plan on buying season 4 next.
Christine
-

Oh, and I just saw the one where Helen gets accepted into a quartet, and the other people are so spooky!
Diane
-

CHRISTINE - Oy, what a time to have dilated pupils filling out a passport app! I'm on Season 4 now of Wings. I LOVED the ep of when Brian accidently sinks Lowell's boat and Lowell has to move in with Brian and Joe. I even watched it twice. Wouldn't mind Lowell keeping house for me! But he acts to motherish with them, and it's so funny!
Diane
-

Just had to share. I bought Wings Season 3 and am watching the episode were they are fogged in and Brian hypnotizes Joe. Now everytime someone says tortilla Joe clucks like a chicken! It is hysterical!
Christine
-

er...remove that "well" from there.
lisag
-

Just watched a news segment...this sounds yummy! -------- LEMON BLUEBERRY CAKE ----- 1 pkg Lemon cake mix ----- 1 cup sour cream ----- 4 eggs ----- 1 1/2 cups blueberries, washed & coated with flour ----- Combine cake mix and sour cream until blended. ----- Add 4 eggs and beat together well. ----- Fold in blueberries. ----- Pour mix into a spray coated well bundt pan. ----- Bake in 350 oven for 45-50 mins.
lisag
-

Lisa, I had mine dilated and then went out to the grocery store. i was asking strangers to tell me what the expiration date was on lunch meat! It was horrible! The worse part was I had to fill out an application for my son to get his passport.....
Christine
-

Diane - I have hazel eyes...mostly greenish. I never heard that green and blue eyes are more sensitive to light...interesting. ----------- On another note, did anyone else hear about this moronic woman who is suing the airline because she fell asleep on the flight and forgot to get off? Yes, the flight crew should have gone through the plane to ensure everyone was off, but she's SUING for wrongful imprisonment?! Gimme a break. They interviewed her and she doesn't appear to be particularly bright. I hope they toss the case out of court for stupidity. I'm more concerned that a terrorist could have stowed away on the flight and either taken the plane, blew it up, gotten access to secure areas, etc.
LisaG
-

LISA - You have blue eyes, right? Or are they green? Blue and green are more sensitive to light than brown so I can't imagine how you felt because I thought it was so bad with my brown eyes. Good idea for the end of the day next time. I will have to tell them no drops the next time I go because I cannot put my head into that thingee that allows them to look into the eyes after they are dilated. My neck is too messed up for that, and the doctor was nasty last time and got irritated with me so I tried. But I didn't know what to expect because I hadn't needed an eye doctor since I was a kid. Next time, I know and I will head them off. They have to find another way to look at my eyes because I can't get my neck to get into that position.
Diane
-

Diane - Yeah, I'm used to it...they do it every year. The problem is, my eyes are very sensitive to the medication, so it lasts a loooong time...makes me virtually useless at work with the computer! You should have seen me, glasses off, about 8 inches from the screen to be able to read. Next time, I'll make the appt later in the day and just won't go back to work. The worst was with a different dr years ago...my appt was in January...a very sunny day in January with lots of bright white snow on the ground. I had my sunglasses, but it was horrible. At least today, it was cloudy and as always, I had my sunglasses. It's really creepy to look in your eyes, though, when the pupils are so big!
LisaG
-

LISA - I hate when they do that. Did they warn you before they did it? They didn't warn me, and I could barely open my eyes because the light hurt so badly. Thankfully, it was across the street from work so I walked. I just told the guy, "Gee, it's a good thing I walked!!" I wouldn't have been able to leave with the car -- and that lot charges by the hour.
Diane
-

omg...went to the eye dr and my pupils are so dialated, they almost fill my iris! i can't see a bloody thing!
lisag...blind in CT
-

Diane - No, I didn't see the opossum...the fish was still flopping around and the baby seemed afraid...he actually hid his head under the belly of one of the parents! A little later, I tuned in again and one of the parents was feeding bits of the fish to the baby. Really neat! I love the little squeaks and squawks he makes, too!
LisaG
-

LISA - Did you see the possum they brought up to the nest on Tuesday? It was already dead, thank goodness. The face was still sitting in the nest on Wednesday. Oy. I don't see it today, thankfully. I hope they stick with fish although so many times they are eating something and it's not even dead yet!
Diane
-

These are hysterical ------- http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8347297 ------- and then these are adorable ----- http://purinaanimalallstars.yahoo.com/
lisag
-

one of the eagles caught a fish! dinner time!
lisag
-

CAT - Do you have any new photos of Etain and Max?
Diane
-

And of course I should have added, "Please accept my deepest condolences on your loss." I'm very distracted these days. Please accept my sincerest apologies.
Cat
-

LisaG -- that's hilarious about the money! My dad was a Frito Lay salesman, and constantly in and out of stores, and he would routinely find money. His average take each workday was $8, although sometimes it was as high as $50!
PUck
-

Thanks, everyone! I'm better now. Meanwhile, I wrote a little tribute to Papa on my blog, if anyone wants to read it -- http://bloodandskin.blogspot.com/2010/05/puzzles-in-paper.html
Puck
-

Puck - you are right orf course, but it's most likely the stress talking. People say all sorts of goofy things when they are stressed out and looking for a way to release pressure.
Cat
-

Diane, I haven't. I'll need to pop over there.
christine
-

JANET - Wow, graduating already! Does he do an internship now or would that be a residency? Good luck flying with grand-daughter. How old is she now?
Diane
-

PUCK - I'm so sorry about your FIL's sudden passing. Take care of yourself -- Sweetie doesn't know what he's saying right now.
Diane
-

CHRISTINE - Have you seen how big little Phoenix has gotten in the past few days on the Hornby Eagle cam? WOW.
Diane
-

Congratulations! And good luck on the trip. No matter how good kids are, you still have to keep them entertained.
Christine
-

Headed to Ohio and #1's graduation from med school. I will have Darling Granddaughter on the plane with me so it will be a very busy trip. She's a good traveler but . . . very busy.
Janet
-

If you need a smile, try this...Happy 3rd Birthday, Maru! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-iIbotFkzQ&playnext_from=TL&videos=lnEprECYsxg&feature=sub
LisaG
-

Diane - LOL...it is rather strange, but I'm not going to question it! I think the thing is, so many people are just oblivious to their surroundings...on the cell phone, listening to their iPod, texting, etc. and just don't pay attention. I mean so many people were walking right past the money in Grand Central Station, I couldn't believe it! So the moral of the story is, keep your eye roaming...especially on the ground!
LisaG
-

LOL! Oh, NOW I know where my money has been going!! LISA -- Wow, what is up with all that cash finding? I was just wondering lately why, in my recent life, has money been flowing outward like a burst dam???? I had a decent savings accouont and a nice collection of stored vacation days to save in case I got laid off (I could use the pay for them), but suddenly things are happening I need to handle and my vacation days are being siphoned off as well as the money in my savings account. I think I need to start walking around like Lisa and start looking down at the ground more!
Diane
-

er...mail aisle = maiN aisle.
LisaG
-

Ok...this is a strange/interesting little story...it seems I'm having a propensity to finding money in public places lately! It started during Christmas, when I had to make a run to the grocery store for some powerball tickets...while walking back to my car, I spotted some cash on the ground...turned out to be $36.00! I picked it up, looked around, but there was no one nearby, so no one who could have been searching for dropped money. You can't really turn in cash to the store lost and found, unless it's in a wallet, so I kept it. Next, a couple of months ago, I'm in my local grocery store, I walk up to an empty cashier aisle, look down and bam! a $20 bill! Again, no one is nearby looking for any cash, so I keep it again. Well, this past weekend, I first find $3.00 on the ground while walking in the middle of a busy Grand Central train station...then I find $6.00 on the floor in the mail aisle at the local Home Depot! Maybe I should quit my job and just roam around in public stores, etc. looking on the ground for dropped cash! Maybe someone "up there" is trying to fund my powerball playing! It's just so weird...a nice weird, but strange just the same. I just hope the people that have lost the money aren't in great need of it.
LisaG
-

Puck, I am so sorry.... please realize everyone is having a tough time, give it a bit to settle down.
Christine
-

{{{Puck}}} I'm so sorry to hear about your FIL's passing...and I'm sorry this is such a stressful time for you beyond that. Hang in there...I hope things ease up for you soon.
LisaG
-

I have been MIA because Sweetie's dad died last Friday. I've been staying with his mom ever since, trying to help her sort through his finances, his room, his files, his life, and otherwise get her on track. I'm staying another week. And right now, Sweetie (who is visiting this weekend, because he (nor any of the other siblings or grandchildren) can't get time off right now) said something to me about losing weight, and I'm so frikkin' furious at him. I was going to join Weight Watchers the day his dad died -- and he knows it. And when have I had time to diet???? -- I live at his mother's beck and call. I eat when she says, sleep when she says it's time to go to bed, and get up and do it all over again. He needs to show some frikkin' gratitude.
Puck
-

Everytime I see something about the oil leak I get sick....
Christine
-

Lisa, that was cute....
Christine
-

many people may feel it's politically incorrect, but i love it...i just wonder if it will really make it to tv
lisag
-

check this out! scroll down to "OUTSOURCED" and play the video! http://www.aintitcool.com/node/45130
LisaG
-

Diane: I think when a cat marches away with its tail straight up in the air, it might be the equivalent of eye-rolling. But I'm no expert. Christine, your son can't be 16! I remember your anxiety when he was about to begin middle school. Vision hasn't really changed, but I'm not producing enough tears. Will have some plugs inserted into my tear ducts later this summer. They help the tears to pool around the eye rather than exiting . . . through the nose, I think he said. ................in a few days we will go to #1 son's medical graduation. Plus master's in public health. And I'm flying Darling Granddaughter out to be with her daddy. It will be a big day for us.
Janet
-

My son is rolling his eyes and generally thinking I can't say one word that is relevant. He is 16 and I was the same way. I miss my baby who hung onto my every word... sigh... guess that is over.
christine
-

JANET - I guess I'm spared that since I don't think my cats are capable of the eye rolls. But I'm sure they'd be doing them if they could.
Diane
-

My eyes changed this year for the first time in about 10. At least it was slight. I am now wearing reading glasses and they tried to get me to get bi-focals. I am not quite that bad....yet...
Christine
-

Sadly, Diane, I think that's just the way we can get as we age . . . we can be difficult w/o really meaning to . . . I'm already seeing my boys roll their eyes at things I say and do. Lots of older folks live to complain and that is very hard to be around. .......speaking of aging, getting my eyes checked today. I think they have changed again in the last year.
Janet
-

Melinda will be seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist in a few weeks. I don't know how much they can tell at this age . . . and she can have a hearing screening any time. Perhaps they have to wait a bit - - -until she can be in a quiet environment w/o monitors beeping, etc. Not sure on that. I would think she could be seen by a neurologist any time, too, though some issues may not present themselves at this age.
Janet
-

Now that you brought it up, JANET, maybe our mothers were unknowingly giving us payback driving us crazy in our adult years!
Diane
-

JANET - I can understand that mother being driven to do that, too. I remember how we would drive our mother crazy in the car when we were kids in the summer. Maybe if she learned some techniques, like you said, taking a moment to think and then getting out of the car and giving all the kids a timeout in the car with her outside of it. She needed the timeout, too, of course. I remember my mother going, "You want me to drive this car right up a tree?" We were like, "Cars can drive up trees?"
Diane
-

Janet - I am so happy about Melissa's progress. A quarter of a pound is so much weight for her to gain at this size. I think her looking at people is a good sign, too. Mentally she seems ok so far. Those prayers must be helping. What a sad task to write a poem for her lost twin brother. I think no matter what you do, it's going to be a tear jerker. Let us know how you do with it.
Diane
-

When they did the little bio clip of Derek, he failed to mention Julianne. That was odd. They were partners for many years when they competed. They both lived with the Ballas family, so with Mark it was often a threesome. No wonder Derek got in a bit of trouble now and then. LOL and "no hair gel" as a punishment. And it was good timing for them to go to London, as their parents were splitting up and they didn't have to see it happen.Derek is incredible and so is his choreography. Often far better than the other pros, who are excellent!
Janet
-

Thanks. The last report was "no change" which is good news. A crisis can happen so quickly with these preemies, so it's always a tentative statement. ...................well, Chad got kicked off DWTS and that was correct, because the others did far more complicated dances. And when he did his solo shirtless (which looked mighty fine)he didn't stay in the style of dance they'd been doing, whatever it was. He just did some moves to show off his physique. I honestly don't know who will win. Evan and Nicole are just about equal but I'm really proud of him for opening up and being a performer (that paso was incredible!)But Erin could surprise us. She has done some spectacular dances, some not so spectacular. It will be interesting! Yay for the Utah Valley University dance team! They were incredible.............I wonder what Bruno said that was bleeped. It's the first bleep I've seen on live TV. Those censors have to be very alert! I wonder if there is a fine involved? Everybody looked shocked, including Bruno, but Tom smoothed it over.
Janet
-

Janet, I'm glad you daughter is thriving. I wish and pray the best for her and all of you.
Christine
-

On another subject: re the difficult moms on vacation, I had to laugh at your comments and hope I'll do better as I get older. . . a mother was arrested for ordering her 3 kids out of the car and telling them to walk home (a mile). She had just reached her limit and no one knows what that's like until they've been there. I kicked #3 out of the car 2 blocks from home one time. I absolutely could not have him in the same car with me. It reaches that point. Maybe the mom could have parked, left the kids in the locked car, and waited by the trunk, with her back to them . . . until they settled down. A timeout. Or followed them, driving very slowly . . . I guess there are other solutions, but kids can drive you to extremes. Sounded like this mom needs some support rather than jail time. ..............oh, and I don't know who I want to win DWTS! Evan has been remarkable and Nicole has been amazing. It was a good show last night with Derek and Nicole's Argentine tango . . . . wow. And last week, their paso in 1950's style. It reminded me a bit of the dancing scene in Greast, at good old Rydell High School. Brilliant choreography. I hope his back and neck feel better. .............Erin's paso was fabulous. And that lift! ........one of the dance teams competing tonight will be from Utah Valley University! Way cool to have somebody from the "hometown" perform. The Houghs were raised in Utah, and so was Chelsie Hightower. Louis Van Amstel spends time in Utah, teaching at a studio, I think. Ashley (partnered with Buzz this season) is from Utah. The skateboarder who was on a season or two ago lives in Utah to train. Lacey and her brother Benji are from California, raised Mormon. So I think we are doing our part here, producing good dancers. I think it's pretty remarkable, the number of dancers that are coming out of Utah. Then there's me, with my 2 left feet, admiring them.
Janet
-

My Darling Granddaughter #2 is a month old and weighs 1.5 pounds and is 13 inches long. She put on a quarter of a pound despite all the difficulties they were battling at first - a surgery, etc. So at the moment it's looking promising. Long term, we don't know. She opens her eyes and looks at people, which I think is a good sign. For a baby who was born 16 weeks early, that's mind-boggling . . . . . . . . . #2 son has asked me to write something for the graveside service they will hold for her twin brother, who only lived a few minutes . . . . . haven't been inspired yet. I think he expects a poem but I'll be lucky to compose a nice paragraph of prose. I want to reflect his feelings in it. If I get too sentimental he will choke. He is tenderhearted and this must be one of the worst experiences one can have, losing a child.
Janet
-

i was messing around on IMDB and had the urge to see what the old OLTL stars were up to. i found the IMDB site for Christopher Douglas...there is an absolutely gorgeous photo of him in B&W with short hair...what a beautiful man. then there was another photo of him in a ball cap and blue t-shirt and the left side of his face looked strange...i read his bio and in 2008 he got kicked in the face by one of his horses on his ranch and broke his jaw...OUCH! and such a shame that he's so scarred now.
lisag
-

My heart is heavy today. I loved Dio. Check out my favorite song by Ronnie James Dio. May he rest in peace. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxfn4cLKeWo
rebecca
-

Here is one for my Heavy Metal music loving husbnad... Ronnie James Dio, one time lead singer of Black Sabbath and really all around nice guy, died today at the age of 67 after battling stomach cancer. I wasn't a fan of your music and I might have mocked you because you were so short, but God bless your soul.....
Christine
-

LISA - LOL! It sounds like your experience was almost a carbon copy experience of mine with my mother!
Diane
-

I am aghast at the headline "women threw tot in the river to spite husband". What is wrong with people?
christine
-

Diane - LOL! I love it! I never go on vacation with my mom after that one horrible time in Nantucket. I literally could have smacked her at one point she was being so nasty to me. I seriously considered packing up and leaving. After that, no more than just a weekend for holidays...that's all I can tolerate!
LisaG
-

LISA - LOL! Yeah, maybe your poor sister will get the entire dump. So she likes to complain on whats wrong instead of enjoying whats right? My mother had some of that in her when she came out here once and I took her to New Mexico to Taos. She complained about the rental car, the nice little motel room we had, what I wore, the treeless landscape, etc. I had had it with her at one point and told her if she continued, I would rent her a bicycle and she could ride alongside the rental car.
Diane
-

Diane - I know re: the people that crashed...and what about the one boy that survived?! He doesn't even know yet that his parents and brother are dead..or that he's the lone survivor and 103 other people died. Talk about survivor's guilt! ------- Regarding my mom...I honestly dread hearing about her trips, because the majority of the stories are negative...she just got home last night and I already heard about the horrible plane ride and her bout with gastrointestinal issues. Oy. My sister is at her house tonight and I'm heading down on Saturday so we can take her out for a belated bday/mother's day dinner and give her the gift we bought for her. I'm hoping she dumps on my sister first, so I don't have to hear all the crap...literally! ;)
LisaG
-

LISA - But I'd love to hear about her vacation to the Irish Isles! I'd love to do that some day. Did she get one of those Aran sweaters?
Diane
-

LISA - Yeah, it does take the wind out of your sails having a great vacation and then to go thru hell going home. But, when I read about that story of the Dutch tourists who crashed in that plane on their way home from their African vacation the other day, I guess we should all be glad we get home alive these days.
Diane
-

I'm glad she made it back! I understand what you mean, butwhen they start with delays you do lose vacation time!
christine
-

well, the momster made it home from her irish isles vacation and the icelandic volcano didn't cause any problems...too bad her plane had to return back to copenhagen after over an hour due to mechanical problems and she finally got home 7 hours after her original est arrival! i hate vacations that end with lousy trips home. :(
lisag
-

LISA - LOL! You're so funny!!
Diane
-

Interesting! -- I'd never heard of that process/procedure. Thanks!
Puck
-

Diane - Congrats on the "cool boobs"! ;D Good news!
LisaG
-

Tired of always reading my mammogram reports that my breast tissue was too dense to see through and could be hiding possible malignancies, I went for Thermography this time! It was so cool. I had to pay, though, $200 and insurance usually does not cover. But I thought it was worth it to get a report that doesn't say 'I can't see thru this stuff', and it saved me a dose of radiation. You see the results as they happen -- although a doctor will read them and send you a report in 2 weeks. My breasts were BLUE, which is a great sign meaning they are cool. Cancer gives off heat, and there wasn't one spec of orange or yellow or red. I recommend it to anyone who can afford it and would like to try it. They say that a single cancer cell will give off heat that can be seen, approx. 10 yrs before a mammo can see it.
Diane
-

Yes, and she did not look her age.
Diane
-

she did and in her later years still seemed fairly healthy.
Christine
-

wow...another one. this is getting very sad! at least lena had a long life...i hope it was happy and healthy...we all know it was successful and she at least got the respect she deserved later on.
lisag
-

On a sad note: Barrier-breaking jazz star Lena Horne dies at 92...NEW YORK � Lena Horne, the enchanting jazz singer and actress known for her plaintive signature song "Stormy Weather" and for her triumph over the bigotry that allowed her to entertain white audiences but not socialize with them, has died. She was 92. ...Horne died Sunday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, according to hospital spokeswoman Gloria Chin. Chin would not release any other details. ... For more details: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100510/ap_on_en_mu/us_obit_horne
kmp
-

Happy belated Mothers' Day for all the GB mothers...
kmp
-

I am so glad I didn't plant flowers yet as we had freeze advisories over the weekend.
Christine
-

Hope all the people-mommies and animal-mommies had a lovely Mother's Day. It's been very windy and cold lately...had to bring in all my potted plants/flowers last night and will have to do so again tonight...it may get down to 29! Brrrrrrrrrr! I was just driving around yesterday and there's a new luxury townhouse complex being built over the mt from me (I suffered through all their rock blasting last summer!). I looked at 2 of the models...very nice! The first one I saw was just gorgeous and the views were spectacular...it will be incredible in the fall! Now all I need is $450k and I can move right in! Oy! Ah, but I can dream, can't I?
LisaG
-

Happy Mother's day to all moms, pet moms, sisters, aunties and friends!
Christine
-

Happy Mother's Day! Hope you all have a wonderful day.
rebecca
-

I agree, poor kid too!
Christine
-

kmp - that's ridiculous! ripping that sandwich out of the boy's hand like that! if they didn't approve of the snack, and since it was the FIRST time the mother was sending him in with it, why not just overlook it this time and send a note to the parents about their food guidelines? very poorly and stupidly handled.
lisag
-

I'm all for giving kids foods that are healthy, but this seems a little extreme to me: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1269522/Boy-left-tears-nursery-confiscates-unhealthy-cheese-sandwich.html?ITO=1490#
kmp
-

Diane - that's an adorable site! I was just watching the baby eagle being fed...what a fuzz head!
LisaG
-

CHRISTINE - Little Phoenix worried me earlier. He's getting so big and daring and was going right to the rim of the nest to get fed by mom. I wish birds could build little fences around the outsides of their nest to keep them inside until they are big enough to try and fly.
Diane
-

Diane, that is neat. I'm going to share that on FB.
Christine
-

Are you all watching the baby eagle cam: http://www.wildearth.tv/web/dch-hornby-01?streamId=hornbyeagles01
Diane
-

Wow...i just got the link to the Quarter Century Club gift selection...not too shabby! The jewelry is mostly icky, but they also have some electronics including a 40" Sharp LCD tv, a set of Trek bikes (not that I'd need 2!), Olympus digital SLR camera, Iron Man elliptical, etc. I'm really eyeing the elliptical...I think it's either that or the bikes...I've been wanting a bike for a while and with 2, I'd have a back up!
LisaG
-

this is sooooooo funny... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTU2He2BIc0
lisag
-

Puck, fantastic!
Christine
-

er...PUck! doh!
LisaG
-

Pcuk - That's AWESOME!!! Congratulations!
LisaG
-

Yall may know that I decided to try my hand at real estate in my down time. Got my first listing today!
Puck
-

I saw that and thought its only a matter of time until airports start closing.
Christine
-

Uh oh...just saw on the news that the Iceland volcano has coughed up more ash and they closed airports in Ireland and Scotland...my mom is currently on vacation in Ireland until next week! Wonder if it will delay her trip home.
LisaG
-

Puck - I would participate again, if there was a specific issue that interested me, but otherwise, forget it! I think the electors understand that it's not everyone that's being ridiculous, but the nuts make things more difficult and tedious. I lost 1 1/2 hours of my life (and I left early!!!) of my life that I will never get back! ;)
LisaG
-

LisaG -- glad you took the time to check out the process, though! If only more "sane" people would participate, then (1) we would wrest the dialogue away from teh nutjobs, and (2) the elected officials would quit seeing us as nutjobs.
Puck
-

Janet- I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I will say a prayer for Melinda. She is a little fighter. Hang in there Grandma.
rebecca
-

I just went to my first town budget meeting...now I know why I've never gone before...some of these people are NUTS! People yelling without permission to speak, others babbling about things that have nothing to do with the budget...OY! The only reason I went was because there was a notice at my mailbox that one of the line items in the budget would cause the condo and townhouse residents to be double taxed for maintenance of fire hydrants. Of course, they say that item is NOT in the budget and they're working on a cost reversal for associations and this will be voted on during the Public Works meeting...NEXT week. *sigh* So I left, I couldn't stand all the stupid questions and idiotic babblers.
LisaG
-

Yes... I think I might have to re-watch Georgy Girl! It has a really dreamy (and my teenage crush) Alan Bates in it!
christine
-

At least she had a joyous reunion with her brother and her niece, Natasha. But poor Vanessa Redgrave having to say goodbye to her dear sister only one year after losing her daughter.
Diane
-

I heard about Lynn on the radio...how sad. At least she's now free of pain. There have been so many deaths lately of my friends parents...it's really scary.
LisaG
-

I am so shocked! I loved her!
Christine
-

Actress Lynn Redgrave has died at age 67 (AP) NEW YORK - Lynn Redgrave, an introspective and independent player in her family's acting dynasty who became a 1960s sensation as the freethinking title character of "Georgy Girl " and later dramatized her troubled past in such one-woman stage performances as "Shakespeare for My Father" and "Nightingale," has died. She was 67. ***Her publicist Rick Miramontez, speaking on behalf of her children, said Redgrave died peacefully Sunday night at her home in Connecticut. Children Ben, Pema and Annabel were with her, as were close friends.*** "Our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven year journey with breast cancer," Redgrave's children said in a statement Monday. "She lived, loved and worked harder than ever before. The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend will sustain us for the rest of our lives. Our entire family asks for privacy through this difficult time."*** Her death comes a year after her niece Natasha Richardson died from head injuries sustained in a skiing accident and just a month after the death of her older brother, Corin Redgrave.
kmp
-

JANET - I agree, they have to take it one day at a time with Melinda. These days are so precious. Each one she makes it through is a triumph. Do they have socialized medicine in Finland so that BJ and his wife won't be socked with years' worth of astronomical medical bills? My friend and her husband are teachers and they have huge bills from when their preemie was in the NICU. It's so unfair. Also, the insurance dictated when the baby would come home and said they would not pay unless little Sofia got a shot of hormones each day (which made the baby scream) to hurry up her lung development. She was doing fine by that point, but the insurance company wanted to get her out of there asap. Greed greed greed.
Diane
-

LISA - It's amazing how dangerous too much lint or dust can be sometimes. I'm so glad they sent out that msg and you had it done. We've seen some people's computers foul all up --- and when opening it up, we find a blanket of dust over everything. The dust is lifted and blown out, and the computer works again. But a dryer is more dangerous since there can actually be a fire. Also my blowdryer was acting weak and not putting out much force and making noise for awhile. I figured it was dying a natural death until I unscrewed the end and found a thick blanket of dust over the vent. I removed it, and it was like a had a new blowdryer again! Wow.
Diane
-

That is actually a really good idea.
Christine
-

Wow...this is amazing. Recently, our townhouse assoc. sent a letter mandating that every unit have their dryer vent cleaned professionally to avoid dryer fires. While I had noticed that my dryer was taking longer to dry clothes (esp. towels), I didn't think anything of it, since the unit is about 16 yrs old. So anyway, I called the company they recommended (though I could have selected anyone else) since they were giving discounts to our complex. They were able to come out 2 days later and with the dryer running, used one of those super compressed air blowers and FOOF! it was a "snow storm" of gray lint on the garage roof (outside vent is only accessible from the garage roof)! The guy snaked the weighted hose all the way into the duct on the dryer a few times until no more "snow" came out. You could see how much better the dryer was running from just the vent flaps sticking straight out vs. before they were barely flapping! Well, tonight, I did my first set of laundry loads and now everything is drying in only one cycle (or less!) and even the towels (including the bath mat) is drying much faster! Also, I'm getting tons more lint in the lint trap with each dryer load...it's as if the thing can suddenly BREATHE again! I would highly recommend that everyone do this...it's very simple and fast...the guys were done in 20 minutes. It cost $69, which is a pretty decent profit for such an easy job...I was lucky to have metal vent ducts and only one 90 degree bend. Other units have plastic ducts, which is a big no-no, or so many bends, they can't really clean it and have had to re-duct the dryer! Big bucks for that!
LisaG
-

Janet - so sorry to hear of your family's loss and I will add my prayers for little Melinda to those already being given.
kmp
-

NEW YORK – Actress Helen Wagner, who played mild-mannered Nancy Hughes on the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns" for more than a half-century and spoke its first words, has died at age 91. ~ to read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obit_helen_wagner
kmp
-

They haven't made any predictions about when Melinda might come home. It's too soon to feel certain about her future, and she has to get much, much bigger. But the plan is to eventually transfer to the nicu closer to home, which will be very helpful. That won't happen for quite a while either.
Janet
-

JANET - Was the original due date sometime in August? I suspect, if all goes well and I hope it does, that's when she will be ready to come home. My friend at work had another preemie in December. Her first preemie, a year earlier, didn't make it and only lived 6 days. But this second preemie did make it and went home near her original due date with a monitor on her chest for the first month or so. But now she is monitor-free and starting to catch up to other babies her age.
Diane
-

JANET - Gosh, I didn't know baby Melinda has passed her 2-week mark! I'm pulling for her so please keep us updated. It is good news so far. :)
Diane
-

Puck: I can generally spell but make plenty of typos! I proof and proof and still miss them, too!
Janet
-

That was cute!
Christine
-

Janet -- glad to hear of her progress! But I have to say, I did get a chuckle out of your misspelling.
Puck
-

Janet, she is a fighter, bless her!
Christine
-

Very true Anita, my second cousin's wife brings her "friends" home for the night. He tolerates it because of the kids and because on that side of the family image is everything. You do NOT divorce. There is also a fair amount of money in that family and he probably figures she will take him for every penny he has.
Christine
-

Anita: so true. ............I just got the birthweights of the twins. Christian was 500 grams which is 17.64 pz or 1.1 lbs. He didn't survive. Melinda weighed 580 grams or 20 .4 oz or 1.28 lbs. Imagine human beings coming into the world that tiny. Melinda's doc is pleased with her progress. 97% of the preemies their size who don't make it die within the first 2 weeks. Melinda has passed the 2 week mark and continues to make tiny bits of progress here and there. It will be a very long journey until she reaches "normal" size and health but right now things are hopeful with my teeny grandfather.
Janet
-

Janet, so sorry to read the news of your grandson. and will pray for your granddaughter. Such heartache. interesting conversation. About Thomas Jefferson, we just toured Monticello. His affair was long after the death of his wife and like you said, he could not have married a slave. Many feel it was a mutual thing and he fathered several children. He was opposed to slavery, yet owned many slaves and freed very few in his lifetime. He felt it was a volitile issue and left it for future generations to deal with. hmmmm. As for geeky men not straying, don't let that fool you. And why some people stay together, until you are in their shoes, you never really know the real reasons. Some or get back together, some people put more into their marriage than others and some are willing to forgive easier then others, and others are just looking for a reason to walk away. We'll never know what makes one stray, male or female. I've know of lots of women(married too) who've had affairs too. It's not just men. I'm not defending their actions but let's not bash all men. There are a lot of good ones out there. And don't forget the old saying, it takes two to tango.
Anita
-

Christine: I understand Franklin was especially fond of France. And French women. Evidently it was mutual.
Janet
-

I think the Jefferson affair was mutual, he probably adored her, but really could he have married a slave? AS for Franklin, he was one wild man.... and didn't hide it.
Christine
-

So did I Janet. I also voted for Clinton twice. I care more what they can do for us as a country, I think with Edwards, for me, is the fact that his wife is sick! DH read the book about him, this woman believes their child is destined for "greatness" etc...
Christine
-

Well, we know of Jefferson's affair with one of his slaves...I think they had children together. I don't know if it was a forced/rape affair or if he really did love her...I thought I heard stories to that affect. As for Franklin, he was really into what we would call free love...he admitted to having fathered an illegitimate son, but he took responsibility for him and raised him. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a British sympathizer and was taken into custody during the Revolutionary War since he was the Royal Governor of NJ. He's even mentioned in the musical 1776. I adore the story of John & Abigail Adams...very much in love their whole lives and she was quite the independent woman of her time...she had to be since her husband was away so much! Their letters to each other are a great read, though.
LisaG
-

Lisa: I believed we would be in good hands with Kerry and Edwards and I gave them my vote, too . . . and my trust. (And I was raised by a father who was nearly a John Bircher!) But historians are digging up info on Jefferson and Franklin, etc. that isn't lovely - and yet they were brilliant patriots and visionaries. They were human, but you'd think at this point in time people in public life would realize how vulnerable their position is, and how we do feel our trust was violated. Edwards and his wife did so much with their pro bono work and were an incredible partnership - while it lasted, I guess. We did look at them as examples. With Hollywood types, not so much.
Janet
-

And even though I didn't contribute I liked him initailly too... so did my husband!
christine
-

I don't think Obama would stray either. He just doesn't seem the type, he is kind of "geeky", seems to have been raised very well, not particularlly a "rich kid" with privliages handed to him left and rightm and Michelle is pretty gorgeous! I think he looks on her and says "wow, she loves me?". Edwards is just to pretty and Elizabeth, while quite lovely, always looked older then him. Not justifying it, just saying he figured she would just be thrilled to be his wife, enough for her. The Clintons... well whatever, it works for them in an odd way. REally who knows why men cheat? They do it rich, they do it poor, they do it with gorgeous wives.....
Christine
-

I think John Edwards was just too much of a pretty boy and thought too highly of himself. It KILLS me that I donated to his presidential election campaign...I feel like *I* was violated and I want my money back! And not to be rude to Obama, but I think he's also too much of a geek to fool around! Do any of you watch "The Good Wife" on CBS? It's a pretty good show about a woman who's DA husband is caught with a prostitute or something and they think involved drugs, etc. He goes to jail and she's left taking care of their 2 teenage kids, so she gets a job as a lawyer in a big firm. She still hasn't divorced him and now supposedly, some of the charges are being proven false (ie - drugs) and they believe he was also set up. I stopped watching it because it was getting a little slow, but it's sure a sign of the times when a new tv show is developed because of all the stuff going on in real life!
LisaG
-

Thank you, Diane. I appreciate that very much........................... I don't think Obama would be the straying type either, but Elizabeth Edwards is also a force to be reckoned with - - and she trusted John. Frankly, I'm glad to see women like her and Sandra Bullock say, "sorry, buddy, you blew it" and move on. They deserve more and they know it. So do their children. And I agree re the Clintons. Their partnership is about something else, though it took me a while to see it.
Janet
-

I don't think Obama would stray either. Neither would Dennis Kucinich.
Diane
-

JANET - I'm so sorry about your little grandson. BJ and Marica have been through so much trying so hard to have children. I put all them in the Worldwide Healing Prayer Circle. I hope all goes well for little Melinda and her fighting spirit pulls her through this. I saw a spread where all these young adults, who were born as preemies -- some barely a pound, if that. It was so inspiring to see them now because no one would ever guess they were born so early and went through so much to survive. I'll keep praying for Melinda, too.
Diane
-

I think the only politician that would never stray is Obama...I can't imagine Michelle letting him get away with any of that crap! Hillary stayed with Bill I think primarily for political reasons...easier to be considered for the presidency or other offices when married vs. divorced and single. Re: Woods...I don't think he "gets it" at all...they had him quoted during the recent tournament as saying something about "because the chicks dig it" in response to a question about clothes or something...can't remember what exactly. But what a pig...still referring to women as "chicks" after the mess he just went through? shows me that he has no respect for women at all.
LisaG
-

Thanks, everyone! I think Sweetie is going to recommend a trust to him (it's possible his dad doesn't know about what a trust can do), and then step out of it.
Puck
-

John Edwards is a big boy and made his choice, the jerk! I feel sorry for the poor kids. What makes people tick? I know one thing, I wouldn't marry a politician!
Christine
-

Lisa G, I so agree . . . . Tiger said as much in his "confession" to the press. He thought he could get away with anything, that the rules didn't apply to him. But the people around him had to make it happen, too. You can't tell me THEY didn't know. The jury is out for me re Tiger. Whether he'll put his personal life back together, whether he "gets it," I dunno. Professionally, I'm sure he'll recover. They always seem to. And good for Sandra Bullock to take decisive action and move along. I hope Elizabeth Edwards does, too. She deserves better. But so did Hillary. We now understand their relationship had different parameters, evidently. Just think, at some point John Edwards will be raising those kids when cancer takes their mom, and how's he going to explain all this to them? They're probably old enough to understand some of it now . . . . . . Edwards' girlfriend did admit she gets child support and also "support for her lifestyle" or something like that as she's now a full time mom. I'm sure she accidentally got pregnant, too? Oldest trickc in the world if she did pull it and dumb guy if he fell for it. Child support, yes, definitely, he's obligated. Blech on it all.
Janet
-

Janet - I think it's an ego thing with these men...they get to a certain level of power and/or notoriety and they think they can do no wrong. They're so full of themselves and think they're entitled to do, say, have anything they want. I know it may be mean to say, but I relish their downfalls...the harder, the better...they deserve all the crap they get.
LisaG
-

Saw some of Oprah's interview with John Edwards' mistress . . . . . boy, she's smooth. He shoulda seen her coming. Which, according to her, I guess he did. And he made choices. He's fully accountable. She certainly takes no responsibility for her own morals . . . . . . . . And I really believed in him - I wanted to believe in him, too. They showed the clip where Bob Woodruff asked if the child was his and Edwards looked him straight in the eye and said "absolutely not." I guess he went home later that day and told Elizabeth that it was indeed true . . . . and knowing his mistress was pregnant and then renewing his vows with Elizabeth ??????? Ugh..........the whole thing is sordid. And so disappointing. Heaven knows, we all make mistakes, but these were doozies, and so public. They "just happened" to make an explicit videotape that she "thought" she had destroyed?????? Come on. As a videographer she knew how to destroy a tape so it couldn't be reconstructed, but somehow she didn't? She also let GQ photograph her in a revealing pose ("I just wanted to feel beautiful, but looking back now, it wasn't such a great idea.") Oh, and to top it off, she says she's a very private person. Oprah didn't look like she was actually buying any of it. At one point she said "well phrased, but you didn't answer my question." Another one of those WHAT WAS HE THINKING situations, I guess. I don't mean to be judgmental about this but I suppose I am. I guess plenty of our leaders have been good presidents/senators,e tc. and haven't exactly been faithful spouses, but Edwards certainly seemed to be the exception . . .
Janet
-

Or - - Sweetie's dad can simplify and leave everything to the university. That's what Mr. J talks about doing on a regular basis. Especially when he's dealt with difficult clients all day.
Janet
-

Thanks - she is a fighter but faces many hurdles in the next few months- things can chanage so quickly when they're so tiny and early . . . . . . . Puck, I agree that Sweetie's dad should lay it all out for his attorney, who can give him some objective guidance. Otherwise, hard feelings can linger for generations. You guys don't wanna go there. Let the squabblers settle this with some mediation and don't let them pull you into it. If there's anything I've been reminded about in the last couple of weeks, it's that life is too short.
Janet
-

Janet - I'm so sorry to read about your son's family...I hope the little girl improves. ------ Puck - I agree with Cat, stay out of the personal stuff with the FIL & MIL...the lawyers can make the will so what the FIL wants to do happens.
LisaG
-

Janet - that is so very sad. I'm so sorry to hear of your family's loss. I certainly pray for all of you, especially your granddaughter. Bless you all.
Cat
-

FIL had better do what HE wants to do if it's that important to him. He can leave things in trust and name a trustee, which will insure how his things are disposed of. If he leaves it all to his wife, without strings, she can do anything she wants with it. It's hers. Just stay out of it. That's the best advice I can give. You'll end up with someone mad at you if you don't.
Cat
-

Janet -- I'm so sorry. But that's good news about your other children doing well and moving onward and upward!
Puck
-

Janet, I am so sorry. I will pray for your little granddaughter.
Christine
-

Lisa G -- that's a funny story! As a kid, I used to hide things up there -- parents never caught on, and people forget it "exists" almost! GREAT vacation plans! Oh, I would love to go to the Southwest sometime. ................................. Right now, we are in elderly-parent hellll. Sweetie's dad is quite likely dying now (the cancer spread so fast in the last two months, but he is trying one more shot at chemo). So, we go last week because they want Sweetie to drive them both to the lawyer to fix up their wills, and that's when all helll broke loose. And it's not, as you might expect, the kids squabbling over what they are to get -- they are squabbling with each other! FIL wants all HIS separate property to go to his kids, and MIL wants all her separate property to go to the grandkids. This would not be a problem, except FIL also wants her to use his property/income/money for herself, and then give what is left over to their three kids -- but she won't do it! She wants to give it all -- even his stuff -- the g-kids! I have never hear that 85 year old man cuss at all, and he was cussing up a storm. She finally said she would leave everything to the kids, but then told us later that she intends to change her will when he's gone. Now we are in a moral quandary -- do we tell FIL that she intends to overthrow his express wishes, or not? Yes, she has a legal right to do what she pleases with what will, legally speaking, be HER money. But she's flat-out lying to him in order to get his money in the first place!!......................(BTW, I think we can say with some certainty that this is about his wishes, rather than about what Sweetie will get, because FIL is directly leaving Sweetie a bunch of land and things, which are the things he wanted anyway, so it works out. On the other hand, it's hard to be 100% sure, because the cash and land (which will be sold) that remains, which will go to MIL and is SUPPOSED to given to the three kids if she doesn't run through it all is quite substantial. So I need an honest opinion.)
Puck
-

Update from the J household - #1 son's divorce was finalized last week and he'll do residency in El Paso TX starting July 1 (his first choice, he can use his Spanish, closest he could get to Darling Granddaughter) . . . . . . and he graduates from med school with master's in public health in a month. #3 has finished master's in electrical engineering at UC Berkeley and has a new job in Austin TX which he is enjoying very much. Hopes to transfer back to the Berkeley office in a year. It's been a very tough year for #2 son and his wife (in Finland). 2 weeks ago she had an emergency c section and gave birth to twins at 23 weeks. The little boy weighed 17.6 oz and only lived a few minutes. The little girl is a fighter. I think her weight is closer to a pound and a half. She has had heart surgery but no regressions since then. It will be months of ups and downs before we will know her prognosis.I posted an obituary for our grandson on my blog: http://janetkayjensen.blogspot.com/2010/04/our-grandson.html. So every day we try to check on the Finnish kids and encourage them. Nothing else we can do, really, except send prayers upward.
Janet
-

CHRISTINE - I think I'm going to buy some WINGS DVD's, too, there after payday!
Diane
-

This is a funny story...waaaaaaaaaay back in 2006, my sister's housemate asked for a copy of the Wallace & Gromit DVD of the Were-Rabbit for Christmas? Well, I *know* that I had ordered it, but when I was getting things organized to wrap, it wasn't in the presents box! I had recalled pulling the box down from the upper closet shelf a few times to add things and some stuff had dropped out, so I naturally searched the closed floor, shelf, etc. I did this several times...nothing. Ok, so I figured I either threw it out accidentally or who knows what, so I ordered a new one and wrote off the first one. ------- Well, I was rearranging the boxes of stuff on the upper closet shelf and one empty box slipped off and knocked into the inside wall of the closet just above the door opening and *WHAM* something falls down and clonks me on the head. Yep, you guessed it, that missing copy of the Were-Rabbit dvd! It must have some how fallen out of the presents box and managed to land on the thin casement ledge that lines the inside of the closet door. Unbelievable! ------- Well, at least I know I wasn't crazy...I really *did* order that first one and it really *was* still in the closet! Now I have an extra copy for myself! The even weirder thing is I had just mentioned this whole story to mom during Easter weekend. Bizarro!
lisag
-

Thanks for the suggestions on places to visit in NM...I'll look them up to see what activities are available.
LisaG
-

Diane, new sets. I bought them through the marketplace. I have bought some used before and you are right, perfect condition.
Christine
-

LISA - Great plans!!! NM is gorgeous and it will be nice and cool the end of Sept! I agree with Janet -- Taos is awesome to visit! I went the beginning of October one year, and it was nice and cold and the air was SO clean, the sky SO blue, the little flowers SO yellow. God, it was beautiful.
Diane
-

Christine - Did you buy them new or used? I've purchased a lot of "used" DVDs on Amazon and have been very pleased. Psstt --- most of the time I think the DVD's are copied and not used at all --- I won't complain because they play flawlessly. I get the case and everything. I've purchased seasons of Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Gilmore Girls like that.
Diane
-

LISA - Good points! Doctors also have a whole staff to pay now. And this is a classic example of the mega-rich in our government who have NO IDEA what regular people go through to survive financially these days. Barter with what? Like people are carrying around wads of $100 dollar bills to get the best deal with the doctor? The people can't go to the doctor because they have no insurance and no money. They don't have any leverage to barter a price with the doctor.
Diane
-

DIANE- yes I did. You can't beat the price!
Christine
-

Lisa: If you can work Taos and Cimmaron into your itinerary, they are beautiful places, too. Just don't bring your visa card to Taos - the art is incredible. I bought a native american storyteller figure there and I just love it.
Janet
-

On the up side, I've finally booked my vacations for the year. I was soooo wanting to try to hike in Provence, but it just didn't feel right...the cost was a bit high and I'm wary of those darned Icelandic volcano eruptions stopping me from flying to Europe! Instead, I'm going hiking for a week in New Mexico...Santa Fe, Chimayo, Abique, etc. I get to visit Georgia O'Keefe's house, too! And even cooler, my sister will be on vacation during part of my visit, so we're going to hook up at the end of my hike and spend a few days in Albuquerque or Santa Fe. Synchronicity! The only downside is that the hike is in September, so my yearly sojourn to Nantucket is moved up this year. But, it just so happens that the cottage I like is available for the week I want in late June, so it's perfect! I hope I get my federal refund soon to help pay for all this! :)
LisaG
-

Diane - yes...it's just the absolute absurdity of this woman even suggesting that people barter with their doctors is unbelievable. It's not just the doctor anymore, too...who pays the office people, nurses, etc.? Would you have to barte with them too? This woman is completely out of touch with reality.
LisaG
-

LISA - I agree with you. Yeah, the idea is to move FORWARD not backward to when people paid the doctor in chickens.
Diane
-

CHRISTINE - Great price! Did you order it from Amazon?
Diane
-

I usually fall asleep pretty fast if I try to watch tv in bed. And if you want to hear addicted, my parent were going to help us fix something but the next two nights are filled with DWTS and Biggest Loser.
Christine
-

Puck - are any of the shows you watch available to view online? Many networks now have the episodes/shows online after the initial airing. Give it a shot!
LisaG
-

It's pathetic how addicted I am to TV! I watched Lost and four episodes of GH online today. I tried to find the Damages episode, but no go -- I'll have to wait for the DVD, or hope for reruns over the summer. Now I'm trying to remember what shows might have been on there that I missed, and see if they are online. WORST! -- I have to watch DWTS tonight in the bedroom (we don't have a chair there, and I don't like watching TV in bed very much, except for right before falling asleep).
Puck
-

Oh no!!
christine
-

My DVR died!! I had the season finale of Damages on it, as well as the most recent episode of Lost! ARGH! I have to wait for 8am to call DirecTV and see if they can help me. I imagine their help costs money, though.....
Puck
-

I ordered seasons 1&2 of Wings! Less then $20 with shipping!
Christine
-

LOL! I just read this on another web site about the bartering for medical care idea... ----- Hey doc, how many chickens for a heart attack? And do you want frozen or living? ----- Lowden was leading Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by 47% to 37% in statewide polls .. but some are calling this chicken bartering Lowden's "macaca"-like moment. The primary is only a few weeks away, so we'll have to wait and see how much Nevada dislikes ol' Harry. ----- As Lowden continues to insist that bartering is the way to contain the nation�s high healthcare costs, it marks her as naive, silly and unworthy of high office. ----- Let's see .. surgeon performs laparoscopic appendectomy, a semi-private room, anesthesia, and post-surgical care -- $67,200. How many chickens is that? ----- I�d love to find out how much yard work someone has to do for the good Doctor to get their cancer treatment. ----- Save a chicken, vote for Harry Reid!
lisa
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I'm beginning to think all Republicans have lost their collective minds...check this story out! ----- Sue Lowden stands by health care bartering plan ----- By J. Patrick Coolican (contact) ----- Published Tuesday, April 20, 2010 | 3:39 p.m. ----- Updated Thursday, April 22, 2010 | 3:09 p.m. ----- Democrats opened a new round of gleeful attacks as Sue Lowden, the Republican front-runner to unseat Sen. Harry Reid, again extolled the virtues of "bartering" for health care. ----- Lowden was recently the subject of late-night humor after saying health care costs would be lowered if health consumers paid with cash and bargained down prices with health providers. She called it "bartering," a term normally referring to a trade of one good or service for another. ----- Lowden defended her remarks Monday on the "Nevada Newsmakers" TV show. ----- "You know, before we all started having health care, in the olden days our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor, they would say I�ll paint your house," she said. "I mean, that�s the old days of what people would do to get health care with your doctors. Doctors are very sympathetic people. I�m not backing down from that system." ----- The Reid campaign, which has for months focused its attacks on Lowden, sent out a statement with the subject line: "Has Sue Lowden Lost her Mind?" ----- Lowden, a wealthy casino owner, has occasionally veered off message since the campaign began. The latest slip threatens to make her appear out-of-touch, which is the very attack Republicans had hoped to use against Reid.
lisag
-

I loved that!
christine
-

ROTFLOL!!! I absolutly LOVE the opening of this episode... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dWkr2s6L8
lisag
-

christine - *THREE* women...he's got the girlfriend now. Oh and did you see, she's also missing teeth! They're made for each other!
lisag
-

i was thinking the same thing...he's going to blow is all on cigarettes and soda!
lisag
-

And how much do you want to bet after the lawsuits etc... he blows through the money? Get thee a good accountant sir!
Christine
-

How did 2 different women eve find him attractive?
Christine
-

i can already smell the law suits from the kids mothers looking for their piece of the multi million dollar pie.
lisag
-

oy...take a look at a new millionaire... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100423/ap_on_re_us/us_powerball_winner_missouri -------- i could barely believe what i was reading...he has 3 kids with 2 different women...he can't decide whether he should keep working at his minimum wage job after he collects his millions. uh, hello? how about setting up funds for the kids, traveling, ANYthing else! but i think perhaps he needs to visit a really good dentist first. *shudder!*
lisag
-

Still one of my favorites...
christine
-

The opening theme really gets me. It makes me feel so nostalgic for Cape Cod and Nantucket. One day, I really must go back. Hey, I'll visit you when you retire and get a house on the 'tucket!
Diane
-

LISA - Yeah, I love how they show real footage from the island! LOL! on your catching them on being wrong. I was watching some of that show on Youtube on Lowell leaving, and boy is that SAD. I sure loved that character. I liked Antonio a lot, too. Yeah, I don't think they needed to bring on Helen's sister -- you don't subtract a sexy guy and replace him with a sexy woman when most of your viewers are women! dumdumdumdum networks.
Diane
-

Diane - It was such a great show...though my interest waned when they brought on Helen's sister and Lowell left. I love when they show parts of the island and say this is the x-building and I'm like, no it isn't! that's the y building! I recognize many of the island shots, which is fun.
lisag
-

CHRISTINE - Oy, people can be so ridiculous!
Diane
-

LISA - I think I'm on Season 3 so I'll look forward to that. I'm getting them from Netflix.
Diane
-

"Try to Remember the Night He Dismembered" = http://www.youtube.com/user/teddyfalconer#p/c/33508D15ABD34524/24/8kq01eVGqX8
lisag
-

"it's so nice to have a mather around the house" = http://www.youtube.com/user/teddyfalconer#p/c/2626C72EBF35BA04/18/b_nqJzSHrsM
lisag
-

"four dates that will live in infamy" = http://www.youtube.com/user/teddyfalconer#p/c/33508D15ABD34524/54/zxMavXETNi0
lisag
-

oop...missed the dating one...it's called "four dates that will live in infamy"
lisag
-

the sinking house boat epis from season 4, "it's so nice to have a mather around the house". another great one is from season 3, "", where brian, joe, helen and lowell all join a dating service and then make a bet to see who has the worst date. it always kills me when they show joe's date, who is a ventriloquist who brings along her dummy who makes a pass at joe!
lisag
-

I heard it through the grapevine that there is talk of people suing the airlines for this whole volcano situation. People it is a natural disaster!
Christine
-

Lowell was nice to look at and of course Joe and Brian.
Christine
-

I loved the episode where they think Fay is a killer!
Christine
-

CHRISTINE - Glad you are a Wings fan, too! Cool about the Cheers bar visit and having a "Wings section". I believe the 2 or 3 men who developed Cheers, also developed Wings. And also Frasier. Sometimes I see a little of 'Sam and Diane' in Joe and Helen's bantering relationship.
Diane
-

Yeah, it would be safe to buy something more inland on Nantucket just in case. You want to keep your investment for awhile!
Diane
-

LISA - I see the dilemma about the car. 12 years old already? I think I remember when you bought it -- what make and model is it?
Diane
-

LISA -- YAY, another Wings fan!!! I just saw the Dismembered one the other night!! I just love the characters. Oh, last night I saw the one where Brian, Joe, Lowell, and Biggins all went on that time share gold trip but a storm hit the entire time they were there. And Lowell had his shirt off. Oh my my my. Wow, so sexy. So then I asked myself if it were storming and I HAD to share a room with one of them....which would it be. I narrowed it to Joe or Lowell, and I think Lowell won. Can't wait to see that ep you just told me about with Brian sinking Lowell's boat. I love Antonio, too.
Diane
-

My other favs are the ones where Lowell comes to live with Joe and Brian because Brian sunk his houseboat when he borrowed it for a date.
LisaG
-

One of my favorites is "Try to Remember the Night He Dismembered" when Roy suckers the rest of the gang to dig in his backyard, thinking they'll find buried money, but he's fooled them into prepping a hole for his new hot tub. Lowell is accidentally eating toadstools because he thought they were the dropped marshmallows Faye brought for the thermos of hot chocolate. He starts to hallucinate and tells Faye "I don't believe people with antlers have the right to criticize." Then he sees a giant frog and finally, asks for help because he "dropped all my fingers".
LisaG
-

If you love "Wings", you can view all the episodes on YouTube...someone posted them! http://www.youtube.com/user/teddyfalconer
LisaG
-

I LOVE Wings!!!! Such an underrated show! When we went to Boston we visited the Cheers bar/store and they had a Wings section. This was mnay years ago. I'm taking my glucosamine and after 2 days, feel a slight difference.
Christine
-

Diane - The damage to my car wasn't too bad...car is still driveable and he missed the tire and the rear tailight. He scrunched the rear passenger quarter panel. The problem is, the car is 12 years old, so the value of the car may not be worth the cost to fix it. I was planning to get a new car this year, but not for a few months. I'm hoping the insurance company just gives me money and I'll hold it for the summer when an investment fund comes due and that is what I've been planning to use to pay for a new car. Still, my poor little car...such a trooper! ;) Remember "Wings"? I have all the episodes on DVD! I absolutely LOVE that show still. It can still make me laugh...I was just telling my mother about one episode today. She was talking about her bonsai trees and I told her about Lowell, when someone mentioned the show on TV about the amazing small bonsai trees and Lowell says, "Who cares about the trees, the people are HUGE!" ROTFLOL! Anyway, I'm not sure if that statistic is accurate or not...I would think it would depend on the weather. I know they had to move the Sankaty lighthouse inland @400-500 feet from the shoreline because they feared it would fall into the sea if they had a few bad storms. Also, Tuckernuck Island on the western shore near Madaket continually joins and separates from the main island based on bad storms either busting through the spit of land connecting them or dumping extra sand to build it back up. I always said if I was ever able to buy a house there, it would be more on the northern side and even then, probably much further inland. I wouldn't want the worry of losing a house into the sea!
LisaG
-

I swear by glucosamine, too. It has made my bad whiplashed neck a lot more stable so I always take it. Hey LISA -- I was watching an old episode of "Wings". Remember that little show about the little airport on Nantucket. They said, on the show, that Nantucket loses one foot of beach every 12 months. Is that true????
Diane
-

Oh, LISA -- Big hug for you!! {{{{{{{Lisa}}}}}}}}}}} How much damage was done? I hope he offers to pay out of pocket. Lots of time their deductive is higher so they prefer to just pay themselves. Someone hit me in the parking structure at work. Poor guy was going home with a bad cold, had a bad sneeze and hit my car. He left a note. I found a great place that did excellent work for a great price and it looks just like new again. He gave me cash. I hope the same thing happens for you. Did he just hit the door?
Diane
-

Triple flex? Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try it. And have your vitamin D levels checked! Mine were in the tank. It's critical to help your bones absorb calcium and a whole lot of other things. Can't believe Kate is still on DWTS!!!!! Who is voting for her????? Aidan was robbed, if you look at it that way. Bless his heart, he had a great attitude and treated his partner well. More than I can say for Kate. And he danced (and performed) much better.
Janet
-

thanks for the tea and sympathy. ;) my mom just said, "this is good, maybe they'll total your car and you can buy a new one!" she just doesn't get it that this is just one more thing to have to deal with. luckily no one was hurt (just my poor car) and the car is still driveable. now i'm paranoid of where i park...i'll be parking further away next time, away from handicapped spots (where the guy was parked) and will make sure I honk my horn as I start backing out. I usually do that, but I didn't this time. bummer. thank goodness for soft furry kitties that i can cuddle with to feel better! and for you guys to offer your hugz. :)
lisag
-

LisaG -- ***hugggzzzzz***
Puck
-

Oh Lisa!! That stinks!!! ____________________________________ I bought a glucosamine and chondroiton supplement and keeping fingers crossed that it works!
Christine
-

What a crappy day...some numb nuts just hit my car in the Lowes parking lot. I need this like a hole in the head. I had backed out into the lane between parking spots and had just shifted into drive to leave when WHAM...he hits the rear passenger side quarter panel. I get out and ask "You didn't look, did you?" to which he said, "Nope". Grrrrrrrrrr! I know it's an accident and the man was elderly, in his late 60's, but now I have to hope he admits his fault to his insurance company, so I can get full coverage for the accident...including a car to drive when mine is being fixed. I wanna cry! :~(
LisaG with a slightly smushed car in CT
-

rebecca - I swear by Triple-Flex...it's made by Nature Made and you can get it at CVS or Target, etc. I started taking it years ago when I first heard of what glucosamine and chondroiton would do for the knees. TF was highly rated, so I started to take it because not only could I not do a deep knee bend without pain, I would often WAKE UP with achy knees! It took a littl over a month, but one morning I woke up and wondered what was different and then I realized my knees didn't hurt! So if you start taking it, be patient...they say it may take a few months to build up and really start to work. I take 2 tablets...one in the morning and one in the evening to allow my body to absorb as much as possible. Good luck!
LisaG
-

Triple-Flex? I'll have to check into that. I am willing to do anything to avoid surgery right now, if not forever. And once I lose more weight I will be rollerskating for sure. There is a nice path by my job that goes for about 2 miles. It is paved and divided and is just for skates and bikes. It runs between all the office buildings and goes under the main roads through little tunnels. It's all curvy and has little elevations all through it. Everyone loves it.
rebecca
-

Heck, I've had bad knees since college! I took a ballet course for a phys ed credit and managed to slip on the shiny polished floor while practicing...something tore and I haven't been the same since. The Triple-Flex supplements really help though, but I'm sure I'll need knee replacements at some point...thank goodness they can even do that now a days! A few years ago, after too many simple injuries from softball, I realized I ain't a spring chicken anymore and I adjusted my activities to be less stressful for my joints...roller blading, hiking, etc. I started walking again and went 4 times this week for 1 hour each and I already feel a difference in my body. It's really amazing what activity can do to improve your health!
LisaG
-

And congrats to LisaG for 25 years, and to the GB for 15. It seems like it was just yesterday...
rebecca
-

Good evening ladies, and Mike...All this talk about aging and the years flying by and bad knees and high cholesterol has me cracking up. I am having all of those problems now. And my blood pressure is ridiculous. I gave up coffee (oh the horror) and only have a glass of merlot on Friday nights now. I eat a bowl of cereal with Lactaid milk 3 times a week for dinner, and I am walking nearly everyday now. And STILL my BP is 185 over 109. I eat healthier than anyone I know, and have given up almost everything I like. It's driving me crazy. Maybe when I lose a few more pounds it will get better. And don't get me started on the aches and pains. I did the same thing to my knee a month ago and am just now able to get around without Motrin. Which BTW, I read helps cause high BP. So they get you coming and going. When I was younger I made fun of the senior citizen early-bird specials, now I'm living the dream. LOL
rebecca
-

LOL! It's funny how we're all talking about what's going wrong in these bodies!
Diane
-

The high cholesterol doesn't have to do with age all the time. I was 28 when I was first tested, and I have high cholesterol. It's always high even though I'm underweight and a vegetarian who eats very very little dairy. It's hereditary. People think I'm younger than 52, too, until they see my neck! Ugh. I have a goiter from having Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and the skin on my neck is all saggy. People's eyes go right to my neck and they say, "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were younger."
Diane
-

HAS high cholesterol, hopefully it will be past tense soon....
Christine
-

Oh I have knee issues too.... they come and go, but I feel it. Just heard that my best friend, who is 4 days younger then me, had high cholesterol. I know my BP is high!
Christine
-

Christine, I don't look my age either, but my body is working overtime to remind me that I'm a semi-centurion now. Most recently: torn meniscus in my left knee, originated in a small slip (not even a fall) when getting out of my tub five months ago, and exacerbated by a torque/twist while going downstairs three weeks ago. Now I can't go downstairs without pain, although I can go upstairs okay and walk without much of a limp most of the time. Dang! Yep, Happy Birthday to us all!
Elessann
-

I am told I still look young. I get carded, not that I look under 21, but I don't look over 40. I don't feel 44... it just kind of snuck up on me.
Christine
-

CHRISTINE - I don't feel it much but it shows in my pics. Mileage, I call it. How about you?
Diane
-

I was also 15 years younger ;-)
Christine
-

I'm so sick of my federal taxes going to kill people, though! We have tons of families and people who have lost their jobs, their homes, etc. Social programs are cut so severely that they can barely function. Dammit, I'm sick to death of it! The money we so desperately need here in our country is used to make bombs and ammunition to kill other people in foreign lands. College graduates are coming out with a 4 year degree with no jobs en masse. Ok, I got started. I could scream for hours about it. It's ruining this country. Grrrr.....Calm calm calm calm calm calm calm......
Diane
-

Yeah, gosh so much change in 15 years! CAT was still single, ARIAL was still single, CHRISTINE was with her ex and her son was an infant, ANITA hadn't been a mom yet, MERF and BIG R were around, and LISA and I were 15 years younger :)
Diane
-

LISA - Most people in CA owe state taxes this year. I had to pay $98. I love my state, though, so I don't mind.
Diane
-

Rumors have it she is bringing in the ratings and they don't want to lose her. That's why they usually keep her in limbo til the end, to keep us watching. I've had enough. Until she is gone or gets ones... I'm done!
Christine
-

Janet -- yeah, what you said! Sheesh. I guess it will take the judges giving her ones before they can outweigh the "fan" votes.
Puck
-

Oh, noooooooooooooooooooooo! Kate is still on DWTS? Please, send her home! Aiden wasn't very good but had the best attitude and worked so hard - - - - - --- He did all he could and handled it with personal grace. But Kate ---------oh, I'm so sorry we still have to watch her and her tantrums. Please, voters, see the light. I cannot believe that she has such a fan base.
Janet
-

i just keep thinking i was 15 years YOUNGER and 5 lbs LIGHTER! ;)
lisag
-

I was still married to my ex and living in our first home.
Chrisitne
-

HI everyone - 15 years! Can't be. I remember I started this site (taking over after Ian pulled the plug) on my birthday, but I don't think it was 15 years ago. Time flies.
Cat
-

Fifteen years of GB!!! I wish Merf were here to see this.....
Puck
-

Thats right tomorrow is the 15th! We should have plenty of last minute people coming in to the library for forms.... they are usually the ones who have no idea what forms to use and wait til the last minute!
Christine
-

Woo hoo! Taxes are DONE! First time efiling...though I requested a check vs. deposit into my checking acct. I want to see how this process works in one direction electronically before I give out my banking info. Now all I have to do is mail my CT return and I'm all done. I would have efiled that, but Turbo Tax only gives a free federal efile...they wanted $20 for CT and since I'm only getting $35 back from the state, I wanted to get more than half of it!
LisaG
-

I know my son was an infant and I had AOL. The guestbook was my first web site!
Christine
-

I just realized the GB folks first started coming together 15 YEARS AGO!!! Time goes so fast. I can hardly believe it.
Diane
-

That is great Lisa!!!! _________________________________________ I heard the same thing about Dixie Carter. A real shame.
Christine
-

I read that Dixie Carter died of endometrial uterine cancer.
Diane
-

Wow, 25 years?! Congratulations, Lisa!!
Diane
-

Hi all...hope everyone is enjoying this lovely weather...well, at least here in the northeast! I finally got my butt out and have been walking for an hour each evening...made a playlist on my ipod of walking songs, so they help keep me in rhythm and moving at a good pace. Amazing that my cravings for sweets disappears after that...weird, but good! Just got notice from my manager to supply a list of present and past coworkers of mine to solicit for a letter in my Quarter Century Club book! I can't believe I actually made it to 25 years here...the longest commitment I've ever made! But I'm also feeling a bit OLD now, too!
LisaG
-

I'm in shock that she died! I loved Designing Women and she seemed so young!
Christine
-

God Speed, Dixie. -------------- 'Designing Women' actress Dixie Carter dies at 70 ----- By ANDREW DALTON � 2010 The Associated Press, April 11, 2010, 12:58AM ----- LOS ANGELES � Dixie Carter, the "Designing Women" star who used her charm and stately beauty in a host of roles on Broadway and television, died Saturday. She was 70. ----- Publicist Steve Rohr, who represents Carter and her husband, actor Hal Holbrook, said Carter died Saturday morning. He would not disclose where she died or the cause of death. Carter and Holbrook lived in the Los Angeles area. ----- "This has been a terrible blow to our family," Holbrook said in a written statement. "We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy." ----- A native of Tennessee, Carter was most famous for playing quick-witted Southerner Julia Sugarbaker for seven years on "Designing Women," the CBS sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1993. The series was the peak of a career in which she often played wealthy and self-important but independent Southern women. ----- She was nominated for an Emmy in 2007 for her seven-episode guest stint on the ABC hit "Desperate Housewives." ----- Carter's other credits include roles on the series "Family Law" and "Different Strokes." ----- She married to Holbrook in 1984. The two met four years earlier while making the TV movie "The Killing of Randy Webster." ----- Although attracted to one another, each had suffered two failed marriages and were wary at first. ----- They finally wed in 1984, two years before Carter landed her role on "Designing Women." Holbrook appeared on the show regularly in the late 1980s as her boyfriend, Reese Watson. ----- The two appeared together in her final project, the 2009 independent film "That Evening Sun," shot in Tennessee and based on a short story by Southern novelist William Gay. ----- One of three children, Carter was born in 1939 in McLemoresville, Tenn. She grew up in Carroll County and made her stage debut in a 1960 production of Carousel in Memphis. It was the beginning of a decades-long stage career in which she relied on her singing voice as much as her acting. ----- She appeared in TV soap operas in the 1970s, but did not become a national star until her recurring roles on "Different Strokes" and another series, "Filthy Rich," in the 1980s. ----- Those two parts led to her role on "Designing Women," a comedy about the lives of four women at an interior design firm in Atlanta. ----- Carter and Delta Burke played the sparring sisters who ran the firm. The series also starred Annie Potts and Jean Smart.
LisaG
-

yeah. Enough already. Weren't we all saturated with the Jon/Kate drama even if we never watched the show?
Janet
-

Great googly moogly! She gives parenting a bad name -- stay home with all those kids you wanted so dang bag, and raise them!!!
Puck
-

I really hope this tanks... big time...
Christine
-

How inspirational....not!
christine
-

Oh............yuck. This article from Yahoo: "TLC Adds a Twist of Kate Gosselin By Joyce Eng Thu Apr 8, 8:27 AM PDT Are you ready for more Kate Gosselin? The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star will headline her own show, Twist of Kate, on TLC, the network announced Thursday. Check out photos of Kate Gosselin Set to bow in the summer, the 12-episode series will feature Gosselin responding to fan letters from those who are inspired by her story as a way to profile the personal challenges her fans face. Gosselin will travel the country to meet her fans' families and to try their jobs, according to the network news release. "I look at it as a loose concept," Gosselin told USA Today. "I want to be out there learning from others, helping to provide insight whenever I can, though I don't consider myself an expert on anything." Jon Gosselin files for primary custody of children The 35-year-old will also star in a series of Kate Plus 8 specials focusing on her new life as a single mom to her eight children. (Jon & Kate Plus 8 was canceled last year after Jon Gosselin said he didn't want his kids being filmed anymore.) Will you tune in to Kate's new show?" (Plus, Jon is suing her for appearing on DWTS. TLC sued him for appearing on other networks. And so it goes, I guess. )
Janet
-

She has a new show on TLC "Twist of Kate". It will show her traveling around the country helping people with parenting issues etc.... now who is watching and raising the children she chose to have? She is a fame w----. The woman claims to need the money as she is a single mother. What happened to all the money they made on the show? Oh right she has plastic surgery, gets $7000 hair extensions..... the list goes on. Then again, I thought most of those were freebies. Those poor kids....
Christine
-

I'm just wondering, where are the kids while Kate is playing at being famous? So much for "my kids come first". And you have to wonder, with all this publicity, what man in his right mind would EVER want to date her?! I'm also wondering when the children are going to start showing signs of trouble not only from having their parents divorce in front of millions on TV, but also because of their parents (particularly Kate) feeding their need for media attention. After all is said and done, it's the poor kids that are going to suffer for their parents vanity.
LisaG
-

Plus . . . . she's been gutsy to try it, but enough is enough. For some of the inexperienced and less naturally graceful, it's like going form preschool to graduate school.
Janet
-

Plus, could hair, makeup and costume have been any less flattering? Weeks one and two were much kinder to her in those departments, too.
Janet
-

I mean, how can dancing be joyful in her situation? It's certainly gruesome to watch.
Janet
-

How can dancing be joyless when you're petrified and waaaay out of your league? ITA, it's time for Kate to go. Personality issues and her treatment of Tony aside!
Janet
-

British actor Christopher Cazenove has died at the age of 64 after losing a battle with septicemia, his family said on Wednesday, the second "Dynasty" star to die in the past week. Cazenove, who attended the upmarket school Eton College, made his name playing aristocratic roles in a string of British TV shows but was best known for playing the role of Ben Carrington in the glitzy U.S. soap opera "Dynasty." Cazenove's death in a London hospital comes just days after the death of John Forsythe who also starred in the popular series that aired from 1981 until 1989. "Christopher died peacefully on April 7 surrounded by his loved ones having contracted septicemia (blood poisoning) at the end of February," said a family statement released widely to the media through his agent, Lesley Duff. "Despite a valiant fight and the untiring efforts of the wonderful team at St Thomas's (Hospital in London), he was overwhelmed. All who knew and loved him will be devastated by the loss of this incredible man who touched so many lives." Cazenove was married to actress Angharad Rees for more than 20 years and they had two sons, but the eldest was killed in a car crash in 1999 aged 25. Forsythe, who played Cazenove's brother Blake Carrington in Dynasty, died last week in Santa Ynez, California, at the age of 92 after a year-long battle with cancer. Casenove first found fame in the 1970s British mini-series "The Duchess of Duke Street," and appeared on screen, stage and on radio. Following his Dynasty stint, he appeared in the Hollywood movie "Three Men and a Little Lady" in 1990 and "A Knight's Tale" in 2001.
christine
-

Someone on another website made the comment that her dancing is joyless... just like her parenting. It made me think, that is so true.
Christine
-

I don't watch DWTS, but you have to realize they're keeping her on to keep up the ratings. If I were her (ew!) I'd be mortified with all the derogatory stories coming out. Now maybe people will understand why Jon left her...she's a controlling, obnoxious shrew.
LisaG
-

Yes, who are these people voting for Kate? -- she's clearly awful! She's not improving! And she's not interesting, charming, or otherwise engaging!!! I just don't get it.....
Puck
-

I'm disgusted that Kate lives to dance another week.... okay so Buzz isn't good, but he is Buzz Aldrin!!!
Christine
-

Our computers at the library no longer use floppy drives, only USB. But again, the discs can be used for creative projects. With library and school budgets small, things like this are welcome. We had a budget of about $3 for that summer reading program.... the discs were a big help. They were also used for a rock and roll themed teen program later that year.
Christine
-

LisaG -- the problem is that you cannot purchase a computer with a floppy drive anymore! -- and haven't been able to for some time. When it comes to donations, older technologies are more often than not a burden rather than a blessing.
Puck
-

I still think that schools or libraries would be happy to get free storage media especially in today's economy when budgets are being cut and they no longer have as much money to spend.
LisaG
-

I would check around with any schools or libraries for kid's projects. We used some old ones at our library for the summer reading program decorations. WE covered them with a picture of the Earth and hung them around the department.
Christine
-

Nobody's using them, though. Everyone uses USB drives, even K-12 schools. I'd just dump them, after shattering them (I always pull mine apart and shred the disk inside, just in case there's date there!). According to the 'net, the only places that recycle them do it for profit -- you'd have to pay to recycle them! If you google "recycle floppy disks", you'll get a lot of crafts projects, to turn them into something. If they are original software disks (not disks you wrote your documents to), you may be able to sell them on eBay.
Puck
-

Janet - if you mean data CD's, I'd suggest donating them to your local library or school...but be sure they're all wiped clean or reformatted...unless they're already blank.
LisaG
-

Oh, Niecy would be a hoot on DWTS - - but she's great on Clean House! .....does anyone know how to recycle old floppy disks? I have a box and don't want to just put them in the garbage . . .
Janet
-

Janet -- suddenly it struck me -- Niecy should replace Brooke/Samantha next season! Wouldn't she be a great color commentator!
Puck
-

Blizzard? Oh don't tell me!
Christine
-

And I agree that Niecy Nash is a hoot and a surprisingly graceful dancer. I think she'll stay on beyond her "talent level" as she adds such a wonderful element to the show. Her one-liners are spot-on. LOL when Carrie Ann told her she'd have to "do it bigger" next week and Niecy said, "I can do bigger!" Yeah! And it was true that Niecy seemed to have a reason for every movement - made it meaningful.
Janet
-

Ditto on DWTS. Pamela is better than "the red spotlight" but is just working the old image which is tiresome. She is a good dancer, tho. IMO, Shannen was in the middle of the pack so that was a surprise. ITA re Kate Gosselin. She should be outa there. If she watches the last episode she will see herself scowling and rolling her eyes, even while "onstage" in "candid" shots. I know she is terrified. Very out of her element. And she just got under Tony's skin. He was mortified as he's such a pro. But I think she has definitely polished that particular talent, being irritating. Plz, let her be voted off this week! Ugh on her comment that dancing is like "eek! a marriage!" That one fell flat. And Buzz, of course, is a sentimental favorite. Who would actually get rid of the 2nd man to ever walk on the moon, especially after he salutes the flag? Ashly looks gorgeous - - that blue gown was elegant - - - and certainly does all she can to make him look good. I like Evan Lysacek and thought it was cool to see him be informal in the jive, especially with his skating coach watching! And he is all arms and legs, not the ideal build for a skater either, they say, but handles himself with grace. I would like to see him really, really laugh. He's such a serious guy. Wow, Erin Andrews has grace. Some excellent talent this season. ......I thought our blizzard on April Fool's Day was a bit much, but I hope you guys on the east coast survive the rain!
Janet
-

Happy Easter to all!
Christine
-

Happy Easter, everyone...hope you all have a lovely holiday!
LisaG
-

oh yes....
christine
-

...and don't forget Charlie! The news tonight said that when he voiced the role of the faceless Charlie on Charlie's Angels, he was the highest paid actor in Hollywood.
Puck
-

LOS ANGELES � John Forsythe, the actor who made his fortune as TV's affable "Bachelor Father" and the scheming oil tycoon in "Dynasty," has died. He was 92. Publicist Harlan Boll says Forsythe died late Thursday from complications of pneumonia, following a yearlong battle with cancer in Santa Ynez. Despite his distinguished work in theater and films, Forsythe's greatest fame arose from his role of Blake Carrington in the 1981-89 primetime soap opera "Dynasty." With his full head of silver hair, tanned face and soothing voice, Forsythe as Carrington attracted the ardor of millions of female television viewers. While he had small roles in a couple of films in the early 1940s, Forsythe's first successes were mainly on the stage.
christine
-

I'm not surprised by her lack of practice.....
Christine
-

Christine -- I agree. And one thing the films aren't showing, but the online reports are saying, is that she's not practicing as much as she should. Poor Tony! Even TV Guide mentioned that he seems to always get the women who need "special handling".
Puck
-

Shannon wasn't great by all means but I think with time she might have improved. I also was surprised by Pam bring bottom two. A theory I heard is her image is not exactly family friendly. I thought she was pretty good. Yes, Kate is scared, I think because this is a situation that she can't be in charge of and doesn't know how to deal with it. And she is coming off horribly back stage.
Christine
-

Oooo! Nice surprise...USA channel is plaing "Hidalgo". VIGGO!!!!!!!!!!! Yum! :P
LisaG
-

I didn't much like Shannon's dancing, but I thought Kate's was much worse, and that she should be gone first. I can't believe Shannon went first! I also can't believe Pamela was in the bottom two. I need to give her more votes, but who to take them away from? I'm voting for Niecy, Erin, and Nicole, too! The girls dominate this one, IMHO!
Puck
-

Oh and HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!! http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/
LisaG
-

they're saying the rain and flooding is like a 100 year event...where I am, we only got 3.9 inches...ha! "only"! Still, compared to other areas in CT and RI, we lucked out. norwich is in deep trouble with flooding from the yantic river and i think they say rhode island really got hit the worst. but at least we're now supposed to enjoy a long stretch of sun with above avg warmth...mid to upper 70's! yahoo!
lisag
-

Enjoying DWTS. Really like Niecey Nash. She's a riot and really very good. Kate Gosselin is just awful. It's too bad, because you can see she's scared to death. She comes off not too good in the behind the scenes scenes.
Cat
-

Rebecca, I agree... hope all of you are safe!
Chrisitne
-

I know I don't get here that often anymore. But I sincerely hope all our easterners are safe from the flooding. Get out of there if you have to. Come stay with me. We're pretty dry out here.
rebecca
-

I was really upset to see Shannen leave DWTS! Over Kate??!!! And Buzz? Those two can't dance!
Christine
-

if you need a laugh... http://thereifixedit.com/ check out ALL the pages!
lisag
-

Puck - more like $2.00 + .0000001 of a cent!
LisaG
-

LisaG neglects to join the lawsuit, so that's just more for the rest of us! YAY! Up to $2 and 1/10 of a cent!
Puck
-

this is too funny, i get a postcard mailed to me about a class action lawsuit against at&t, something about their dsl service not being as high as promised. if i want to, i can go online, get a claim form, fill it out, mail it in and i MIGHT get a whopping $2.00 refund! it'll probably cost more than that to for the paper, ink, and stamp...not to mention my time! how ludicrous.
lisag
-

I hope everyone up the east coast is doing ok. This weather is terrible.
LisaG
-

Robert Kulp was a handsome man, even in his later years. I just saw him last night when I watched my EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND DVD.
Diane
-

LIsaG -- thanks for the info! Good to know -- it's part of our house rental, and not our own!
Puck
-

I always see him as Debra's father on Everybody Loves Raymond. It was a small roll, but very funny. I didn't realize he was 79, he has looked so much younger.
Christine
-

Puck - you should be ok. I found this on the web..."There is no danger if a microwave is run empty. The worse that would happen is the magnetron would go bad. Most microwaves have thermal fuses or thermostats that shut the unit down if it gets too hot or if a fire would start(the food burning) in the oven cavity."
LisaG
-

I LOVED Robert Culp, especially in "The Greatest American Hero"
Puck
-

Puck, I don't really know.
Christine
-

*sob* Robert Culp died!!! __________________________________ TV actor Robert Culp, best known as a secret agent in the 1960s hit "I Spy," died on Wednesday after a fall at his home, a Los Angeles police spokeswoman said. Culp, who was 79, was pronounced dead at Queen of Angels Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, where he had been rushed after falling during a walk shortly after 11 a.m. local time, the spokeswoman said. "Apparently a radio call came, a passerby reported that there was a man down," the spokeswoman said. "It appears that the individual had fallen down and struck his head. It's still a preliminary investigation and we're still waiting on the official cause of death." She said there was no indication of foul play. Culp, who was born in Oakland, California, earned his first major role on television in the late 1950s Western "Trackdown," playing a Texas Ranger named Toby Gilman. His most famous role was as Kelly Robinson, a secret agent with a double life as a professional tennis player, in the popular series "I Spy." Culp also wrote the scripts for seven episodes of the show, which ran from 1965 to 1968 and featured Bill Cosby. In the 1980s, he returned to a starring role in prime-time U.S. television as an FBI agent on "The Greatest American Hero," and reunited briefly with Cosby on an episode of "The Cosby Show." In later years, Culp became active in civic causes, joining in a lawsuit to stop construction of an elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo and accusing officials there of mistreating animals.
Christine
-

So, I just made a boneheaded mistake. I was trying to use the timer on the microwave, when I accidentally ran it, empty, for 20 minutes. I didn't hear it because the stove's vent fan was running. I hope I didn't do any damage!
Puck
-

i didn't know this...just stumbled upon this today...God Speed, Mrs. Horton! ----- Frances Reid, 'Days of Our Lives' matriarch, dies at 95 ----- Los Angeles Times By Valerie J. Nelson, Saturday, February 6, 2010 ----- Frances Reid, 95, who was the last original cast member of "Days of Our Lives" and portrayed the soap opera's matriarch, Alice Horton, for 42 years, died Feb. 3 in Beverly Hills, Calif. No cause of death was reported. ----- Ms. Reid was already a Broadway veteran when she debuted in the premiere of "Days of Our Lives" on Nov. 8, 1965. She made her final appearance in 2007. ----- Familiar with the demands of daily, live television after appearing on the soaps "As the World Turns" and "The Edge of Night," Ms. Reid was hesitant to take the part on "Days." But roles for women older than 40 were hard to come by, so she finally decided to accept the role, according to an NBC biography. ----- Her character was a housewife and longtime hospital volunteer. She once aided a prison escape by drugging doughnuts, a homemade baked good that was her specialty and often integral to her plot lines. In true soap fashion, the Horton matriarch was thought to have been killed off -- a doughnut played a role -- in 2004 but was found alive two months later. ----- Ms. Reid, whose father was a banker, was born Dec. 9, 1914, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and grew up in Berkeley, Calif. ----- After studying acting at what was then called the Pasadena Community Playhouse, Ms. Reid appeared in more than a dozen productions on Broadway, playing Ophelia in "Hamlet," Roxane in "Cyrano de Bergerac" and Viola in "Twelfth Night" in the late 1940s. ----- In the early day of television, she reprised the role of Roxane, again opposite Jose Ferrer, in a TV adaptation of "Cyrano" that aired as an episode of "The Philco Television Playhouse." In 1954, she took her first part on a TV soap opera, playing the title character in "Portia Faces Life," but she quit after six months because she found the workload "exhausting," according to the Web site Soap Opera Central. ----- Before joining "Days," Ms. Reid had roles on about 30 TV shows and later appeared in the 1966 movie "Seconds" with Rock Hudson and the 1971 movie "The Andromeda Strain." ----- While on a photographic safari in Africa about 20 years ago, Ms. Reid suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed. She returned to "Days" after achieving a near-complete recovery. ----- She received an honorary Daytime Emmy in 2004 for lifetime achievement. ----- Her husband of 39 years, actor Philip Bourneuf, died in 1979. The couple had no children.
lisag
-

I heard she was.... lol! Too much face lift..... I hope Aiden improves and hangs out a bit longer. I also kind of like Pam. She knows who she is and doesn't try to be more.
Christine
-

Yep! I was pleasantly surprised by Pamela Anderson -- she used her hotness-skills to good effect. I voted for Aidan, even though his hips are locked! UGH! I also voted for Erin and Maksim, because they are totally hot together, and she has legs fifteen miles long! Buzz Aldrin's wife was....scary....
Puck
-

Did anyone watch DWTS?
Christine
-

Loved the weather here, we were in the upper 70's, did yard clean up after such a harsh winter. Must have hauled 24 tractor wagons full of debris and leaves to the compost pile. Never did get all the leaves this fall as the girls and I had h1n1 and then it rained so much and winter hit hard and early. So thankful to finally have spring. Today we're supposed to get thunderstorms. It's in the upper 60's and rain off and on, great after all that yard work. Katie and I put out at least 8 bags of mulch. My daffodils are blooming so are my crocuses. Everything else is shooting out all over. The snow was actually good for the garden. It insulated the plants from the bitter cold and then as it melted they were nicely watered. Now to get the lawn to come back. . . . . . . . . . . Oh, here's a little funny, Lizzie looked over our fence and said the neighbors should clean up their yard too.. LOL.. that's OUR yard...we just didn't fence all our property, too much of it! but I'm not cleaning and raking the woods!
Anita
-

LisaG -- I enjoyed it for about one day, then the mosquitos hatched from their eggs. Yep, that quick. It's all ruined now!
Puck
-

Ugh! Thursday and Friday was in the 60s and sunny, Saturday we had 30s and snow!
Christine
-

I hope everyone is enjoying this spectacular weather we've been having...74 in March! I could get used to this! :)
LisaG
-

LOS ANGELES � Fess Parker, a baby-boomer idol in the 1950s who launched a craze for coonskin caps as television's Davy Crockett, died Thursday of natural causes. He was 85. *** Family spokeswoman Sao Anash said Parker, who was also TV's Daniel Boone and later a major California winemaker and developer, died at his Santa Ynez Valley home. His death comes on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.
kmp
-

I heard about it but didn't get a chance to see it.
Christine
-

Has anyone watched the show America's Worst Drivers on the Travel Channel? It's hilarious...and scary! They did San Francisco this week and next time they're doing Boston with all the rotaries...that should be interesting!
LisaG
-

The sign does make sense that way.............................. Happy St. Patrick's day to all!
christine
-

Happy St Patrick's Day! I always think of Merf today, as I admire the "bloomin'" ( literally!) shamrock she sent me so many years ago.
AnneM
-

Now I understand. If read in the correct order it tells a story.
cw
-

Graves had a lovely death, as they go. No suffering, so lingering illness, no debility, surrounded by family. Next to dying in your sleep, pretty good way to go. As Mr. Cleese noted, reading the text on the sign from left to right makes sense, so the traffic is clockwise as well. It also just looks like a European sign. We have Max to thank for that. He went to Google Images and typed in funny signs. There are repeats, but there are lots of funny ones.
Cat
-

CAT - LOL! on the passageways in Adam's house. What timing for his family for Peter Graves to die like that. But, at least, he was enjoying his family in his last hours and not suffering in pain in a hospital bed somewhere. I read that heart attacks often occur after meals. Sometimes eating foods are are too rich and too fatty can do it if one is close to having one anyway.
Diane
-

I was just going to post it...
Christine
-

LOS ANGELES � Peter Graves, the tall, stalwart actor likely best known for his portrayal of Jim Phelps, leader of a gang of special agents who battled evil conspirators in the long-running television series "Mission: Impossible," died Sunday. **** Graves died of an apparent heart attack outside his Los Angeles home, about a week shy of his 84th birthday, publicist Sandy Brokaw said. **** He had just returned from brunch with his wife and kids and collapsed before he made it into the house, Brokaw said. One of his daughters administered CPR but was unable to revive him. Graves' family doctor visited the house and believed he had a heart attack, Brokaw said.
kmp
-

cw, you can tell which direction the traffic flows on that sign by seeing that the text also flows in a clockwise order. "take the second exit. oops I meant the first" etc.
John Cleese
-

Our troop delivered 8100 bags of mulch in this deluge this weekend. They did a great job.
cw
-

Can you tell which direction the traffic is going around in the sign? The thing that gave it away as British to me (aside from the M highways) is the word round. That would be "around" in the states. I am still watching OLTL but I am two or three weeks behind. GH actually started getting interesting or maybe I just like the guy who plays Sonny's kid. Then again if I really liked him, I'd remember his name.
cw
-

Anyone know if there are open spaces on Noah's Ark? ;) Lord, I hope this rains stops soon! What an absolutely horrid day it was today! Then again, I guess I should be thankful the temps were as warm as they are and it wasn't snow...there's probably be over 2 feet on the ground!
LisaG
-

The economy is hitting everyone. Soaps have been declining for years, though. I find Greenlee completely tiresome, even though I like the actress. And why can't Adam secure that house of his? Everyone uses those secret passages and they're never closed off.
Cat
-

YEs. And soaps in general are in alot of trouble.
Christine
-

CHRISTINE - Do you think they are paring down the cast to save money or something? I never understand that because the networks are still getting plenty of advertising -- more than ever really. If you get DVD's of old shows, you'll see about approx. 12 minutes in advertising in a one hour show. On a DVD of a new show, you'll see approx. 18 minutes (sometimes 20) in advertising. And the soaps seem to run ads more than any other show. It's like 8 minutes of show, 4 minutes of commercial....
Diane
-

just reading up on some OLTL news... lots of people being let go....
Christine
-

I watch OLTL off and on. If I am around I turn to it, but I don't go out of my way. I do keep up with what is going on using soapnet
Christine
-

Cat, yup, I'm actually still watching.. miss it every so often as I volunteer a lot at school.. today I'm home, rainy dreary day....but better then snow so I won't complain :) tired of the Greenlee stuff on AMC though..and Dr. Demento..... interesting twist today with Tad and Damien though from his past but I won't say anything for those that watch on dvr or soapnet.... hasn't really turned into anything yet but the writing is on the wall... nice to see Brooke English back... not really like Jessica as a HS student though.. ugh.. want the truth to come out about Stacy's baby being Fish's baby.. not Schyler's...and Rex..ugh!
Anita
-

CONNIE - Really? Wow, that is a major thing for Sedona. I remember one lane in each direction bumper to bumper on holiday weekends. I hope the new roundabouts don't take away from it's naturally peaceful vibe. I'll check out the link. Thanks for letting me know!
Diane
-

John - good point! What a bunch of Sherlocks we are! It just looks English to me. Well - how is everyone? Anyone watching the show? or AMC?
Cat
-

Diane - You might be interested to know that they've added roundabouts in Sedona. Here is a link that shows you why and where -- http://www.sedona.biz/allaboutroundabouts.htm If you know where you're going, they're fine, but otherwise I think they just add confusion. Oh, here is a link that shows the map clearer -- http://www.scenic179.com/roundabouts/ -- in case you remember some of your favorite areas. :)
Connie
-

Since I didn't know of him during his football days, he will always be Jonathan Garvey from Little house....
Christine
-

God speed, Merlin. ------ Football Hall of Famer, TV star Olsen dies at 69 ----- SALT LAKE CITY (AP)�Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL�s greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
LisaG
-

Even without the M32, M4 designations the sign is clearly Brit designed as you can see the traffic travels clockwise and in the colonies your circles are navigated counter-clockwise.
John Cleese
-

Diane - Yes, there's one there...another by the airport in Hyannis. There was another one before the bridges, but it was finally replaced with highway overpasses. There are also a couple on Nantucket itself...one near town that goes around the war memorial and another out by the road to Sconset.
LisaG
-

LISA - I can only remember that small one by the Bourne Bridge.
Diane
-

I think I kind of like these picture signs. I wish they had those in NJ and then I wouldn't be so afraid to drive there with all their missing signs for exits.
Diane
-

Does it really end like it does in the photo up there or was that just photoshopped so someone could write the funny comment? Speaking of those rotaries, ever drive through Baltimore? Oy. That was my first time on a big one and I prayed the whole time round and round and round and round I went.
Diane
-

From wikipedia: The M32 is a motorway in South Gloucestershire and Bristol, England. It provides a link from Bristol City Centre to the M4 and is part of the Bristol Parkway. At approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) long, it is one of Britain's shortest motorways. It is generally 2 lanes wide, though heading northbound it widens to 3 lanes as it approaches the A4174 ring ro
Cat
-

These are called rotaries in the northeast and there are still a few around on the way up to the cape. I hate them!
LisaG
-

I have driven two way ones and find them frightening. The one way ones are fine.
Chrisitne
-

Also if I remember correctly, round-abouts are always one-way.
kmp
-

This a typical road sign in England...that is without the 'editorial' comments. This type of road is called a 'round-about'. If memory serves me [as a passenger while my son-in-law drove], the vehicle on the outside lane has the right-a-way for exiting. They aren't as complicated to maneuver as they look. Actually, they are easy to exit. You simply drove 'round until your street/road exited off the round-about. But then again, I never actually drove while I was in England.
kmp
-

CAT - Do the European signs typically have a drawing of the way the roads go like this one?
Diane
-

I think the M2 and M3 and main highways in England. The signs are a European style, too. Other than that, I have no idea where the sign really is.
Cat
-

Thanks, Janet!
Diane
-

It seems like English-style humor, CAT! :)
Diane
-

I just saw a great program on Irish music.... so totally loving the Chieftans!
Christine
-

Aha! Evan Lysacek's partner will be Anna Trebunskya, the beautiful redhead. They will make a striking pair. Good luck, Evan! I'm also rooting for Niecy Nash, host of style network's Clean House series. She is a hoot. Louie Van Amstel is her partner. Pam Anderson and Kate Goselin? We can only hope they leave early in the season. Maybe Jon will be with the kids when Kate is rehearsing? (In LA?) Haven't we seen enough of them already (I mean, Jon and Kate?)....happy late birthday, Diane E! ...sorry to hear of the woes at work, Lisa. It's got to be devastating for morale. Oh, that was Tom Hardy? Excellent production of Wuthering Heights.
Janet
-

Max found the site with the funny signs. I think it might be England, but I have no idea where the sign is.
Cat
-

He is fine! And he is so HOT in The Virgin Queen..... Seriously though, they are a group of I think 5 or 6 women who sing old English and Latin songs.... really interesting music. I have seen their CDs on sale at the local RenFaire and have a compilation of their music on CD.
Christine
-

The Medieval Babes is what studs like Tom Hardy are called? Or -- that's not the name of a movie, is it? He is SUCH a medieval babe. LOL!
Diane
-

This is one kewl pet! http://petoftheday.com/archive/2010/March/04.html
LisaG
-

I like it too!
Christine
-

Love the new pic!
Puck
-

You will like it. It is very well done and the music is fantastic. The Medieval Babes they are called.
Christine
-

I like Tom Hardy's voice. I will make a note to add that to my Netflix queue. Thank you, again.
Diane
-

CHRISTINE - LOL! Look me a few minutes to figure out your post! Thanks for the info!
Diane
-

Interesting sign! CAT - Do you know where this sign was posted?
Diane
-

Pretty large part in the first half of it.
Christine
-

LisaG - I just scrolled and noticed that you sent an email. I didn't get it. But finally got organized enough to change the photo. Max found a bunch of funny signs online and I thought this would give us a smile. Your day sounds awful. This economy is perfectly brutal.
Cat
-

CHRISTINE - Thanks for telling me about it. I just found that one on Netflix. How big is his role in that one?
Diane
-

Just saw a clip of KG on tv talking about DWTS. She has the disco hair, the girls falling out of her dress and saying how she will "be there" for the kids. Yes be there, stay out of the limelight stop trying to make yourself a star and take care of your kids! ______________________________________________________________ Excited to see Evan L (can't spell the last name) competing!! Love him!
christine
-

Diane, I saw that version of WH and TH is quite nice to look at. I first saw him in the Virgin Queen on Masterpiece Theater. I love everythign Elizabeth, love Robert Dudley so it was REALLY nice to see him!
Christine
-

The more I think of these companies and using the bail out money for bonuses for the execs at the top leaving the people in the middle and bottom as bad off as before (or worse), the madder I get. Whenever I see the cops giving some homeless person a hard time or stopping some poor schelp in an old car or the helicopter overhead circling and circling, I say to myself (audibly, though), "Why don't use go harass some white collar CEO who has ripped off the employees the same way you do these poor schleps at the bottom? Why don't you circle that d*mn loud helicopter over the corporate offices of Anthem Blue Shield or Bank of America for the crimes they are committing against the people?!" Just makes me sick, it does.
Diane
-

I don't know if this will help with stress or not --- But I recommend renting from Netflix the newest WUTHERING HEIGHTS from Masterpiece Theatre with Tom Hardy playing Heathcliff. (Talk about BOOTAGE) You will not be disappointed.
Diane
-

LISA - Boy, I really feel for your situation. Good idea to write. STINKS that companies get stimulus money and them give it as bonuses to the higher-ups and then they continue to get rid of jobs and lay GOOD hard-working people off! I hope, for the reasons you mentioned, that you stay under the radar and remain employed. What is this country coming to? It's not good, I know that.
Diane
-

Oh Lisa, how sad this is happening. What scary times we face.
Christine
-

God, what a horrible day at work today...massive layoffs again and this time I know a lot of them. :( One person on my team...a really nice guy, decent worker, was always my backup when I was on vacation...GONE. Someone else on my team was also cut, but I don't know who. Ticks me off that they go after the full time employees vs. letting the contractors go...clearly they are only looking to save $'s vs. getting rid of the poor performers. Makes me so damn mad and upset. Luckily, I made it through...this time. Then this evening, I find out from a co-worker on my customer account that FIVE more people I know are being axed...1 I work closely with and she's a phenominal worker; another who I know well and is just a wonderful person; 2 others that I know from working with, but not too well; and the last that I've worked with, but have never been impressed with her skills...that's the ONLY layoff I can understand. I'm afraid to find out in the coming week who else will be kicked out. It's just heartbreaking and scarey as hell...I could easily be next. I just hope my high visibility account support helps me, along with my FDA certification to do account support backup for an external customer will keep me here for a while. The dumbest part of all this is that they keep cutting people when we're in the midst of a resource shortage crisis...it makes no sense. And these are not jobs that can easily be outsourced to another country. I think it's time I write my representative and the President to demand that he not give my company any stimulus money as long as they keep shipping jobs overseas...and just as bad, replacing experienced workers with green just-out-of-tech-school-and-completely-clueless tech support in the USA. We should all start a commune and quit the rat race....either that or win Powerball! *sigh*
LisaG
-

They both are pathetic excuses for parents. Those kids need some stability right now.
Christine
-

Whose taking care of their eight kids while she spends 10 hours a day training? Yes, please, let her be the first voted off!
Puck
-

Unbelievable...the woman is media whore now. I'm sorry, but she absolutely disgusts me. I'm not defending Jon's actions, but I honestly think she's worse than him...she feeds off all this new celebrity at the expense of her children. It's really time to get the heck out of the spotlight and just raise the kids...try to give them as normal a life as they can get after this media circus.
LisaG
-

Oh good lord Kate Gosselin is on DWTS, guess I'm missing it this season! Or maybe no one will vote for her, she will stink and leave the first week (*wishing*)
Christine
-

I just read that Marie Osmond's son comitted suicide. Poor family... sad how this follows Andrew Koenig.
Christine
-

Thank you for the birthday wishes, Everyone! :)
Diane
-

Happy birthday Diane!
Christine
-

Happy Birthday, Diane E!! :)
Connie
-

Cat - I emailed you some flower photos of mine if you want to use any of them.
lisag
-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DIANE E!!! (a day early) Hope you have a lovely day!
LisaG
-

I was looking but didn't find any spring flower photos that I could get for free. I have to confess, I didn't exactly troll the internet. If anyone has anything they'd like to post, just send it to me.
Cat
-

CHRISTINE - LOL! Yeah, they do!
Diane
-

Even domesticated animals have their moments....
Christine
-

LISA - I remember that sad story about the chimp who mutilated the owner's friend and removed her face. And they shot the poor thing. That chimp was troubled all day and was getting more and more restless the older he was getting. He didn't belong in a human's house living like a human.
Diane
-

I've read that they are not planning on killing that whale -- and like you guys say, he was just being what he is -- a wild animal. There would be holy hell if they even thought of killing him. People are getting more outraged by the event because that whale doesn't belong in an oversized pool. He belongs in the wild. I read a good article this morning about a woman who has studied them for the past 25 years -- out in the ocean. She said the power of these whales is amazing and they have observed their expert killer instincts when it comes to their food. They have seen them knock seals off of shallow water perches by a herd of them jumping up and down to create strong waves. When the seals are knocked off, they go right into the water flow and the whales eat them. They will also kill other whales, too. She said she could never imagine for one second having one of these creatures put into a large swimming pool for the rest of its life. It's just not natural for this creature.
Diane
-

they'd better not kill that poor whale...it was just acting like the wild animal it is...unpredictably. i wonder if wild animals go nuts like that occasionally because of their unnatural enforced captivity? reminds me of the woman in CT who had the chimpanzee that mutilated her neighbor and they had to kill it. wild animals that are permanently injured should be put in sanctuaries, not in shows or in personal homes.
lisag
-

Christine -- I know! Who are these idiots calling for the destruction of a killer whale??? What do you expect when you take a highly intelligent wild animal and train it like a dancing monkey??? That it's always going to be all, "yessah massah! I be dancing on my tail for fish and I be lovin' it!!"?? I'm usually not one of those "free the zoo animals" people, but I'm starting to believe that we need more humane rules for captivity, to include the mental health of these animals in our care.
Puck
-

Just seeing the news, the reporter stating that Sea World doesn't plan on destroying the whae that killed the trainer. It was a horrible tragedy, very, very sad, but why do people act surprised when a WILD animal acts like a WILD animal??
christine
-

spring flowers sound good to me. They cancelled school today for nothing. It's now supposed to get bad tonight! Probably no school tomorrow now.
Cat
-

WE have had snow here the last few days and it melts within 12 hours.
Christine
-

well, turns out momster's big snow storm is a bust...much of it is melting.
lisag
-

Well, so far it's been all rain here...but my poor momster in NJ is getting all snow...12-18 inches when it's all over! Ugh!
LisaG
-

Yay to flowers!
Christine
-

I agree with springy! Some pretty flowers....
Puck
-

Hey Cat - something springy would be nice for a photo...crocuses maybe? There are tons of free ones online...I can find one if you like and send it to you. Re: the weather...we've had mostly rain that has melted most of the snow that fell the other day. They're telling us 3-6 inches in my area (south of rt 84)...it's the northwest hills that are going to get creamed again. They already got a foot of snow and are supposed to get another 12+". Oy!
LisaG
-

My God, Diane. I can't believe what I just read. That's one of the worst hospital stories I've ever heard.
Cat
-

ANyone have any photo ideas? Also - LisaG - brace yourself. Your area is in for it! You look to be be getting our share.
Cat
-

LISA - Wow, I'm so glad it was just a magnesium deficiency. Sometimes it's a thyroid problem. It's best to always take the Calcium with Magnesium (so you don't get constipated, too) and Vitamin D (for absorption). Some brands sell it together in one formula. I like Dr. Northrup, too. I love her videos they show during PBS pledge drives. She's very empowering.
Diane
-

Diane - Morthup's book is great! I was having heart palpitations over a yr ago and thought it might be part of early stages of menopause. I read the part in her book about the heart and the body's electrical system and she recommended taking magnesium. A week after I started that, no more palpitations! And it's recommended to take Magnesium if you take calcium supplements...they help with digestive issues of the calcium. The woman's a genius.
LisaG
-

PUCK - Yikes, I think you're right.
Diane
-

Diane -- you're absolutely right! A man gets prostate cancer, and they invent these teeny tiny devices that you implant near the tumors, and he get to live and keep his equipment. But women? -- hack it off, yank it out, or otherwise get rid of it, because it's useless. And I guess to a man, that's true. So long as she's got one basic entry point, men don't care about the quality of the experience!
PUck
-

Excellent point, CHRISTINE! I think in a decent society, health care is a right. We pay plenty already in taxes for it but our taxes are put into our military budget which is like 5 times that of any other country. Who will we bomb - Mars? And people are dying of things that can be cured in the meantime.
Diane
-

LISA - Now that I think of it, it was all women as patients in that out-patient surgical center. Hmmm.... You know, I think the thing with out patriarchal system is that they don't yank out men's parts even when there is something wrong. They just do that to women. My doc even asked me if I wanted the other ovary removed as well while she was in there, and I said HECK NO! It's healthy and I'm keeping it. Notice you don't hear about testicles being removed as rapidly as women's ovaries get removed. Dr. Christianne Northrup has a good part in her book on Menopause about this.
Diane
-

Diane, we do.... not sure if anyone has the exact right answer, but somehow we have to work on a solution. I have a friend who says health care is not a right, well not too long ago voting was not a right for many..... in todays modern, advanced society we should have a better system.
Christine
-

{{{Diane}}} - what a horrible experience you had! I'm telling you, if it was a MAN that had to have these procedures, they'd be allowed to stay in the hospital for a week! Gives you the idea to fake a fainting spell and get a hospital stay out of it!
LisaG
-

Christine - I heard about Plushekno and his constant whining. Makes me even happier that Evan won...this is going to stick in the Russian's craw for a long time and I hope he chokes on it!
LisaG
-

I wonder if they will have these Olympic events on DVD. I would love to get the downhill slalom or the ski jumping. I go to the NBC site, but they don't show the events or even one whole run. And each 2 minute video is preceded by an annoying 15-second ad. This is about the only time I miss having a TV. This and having to miss the USC football games because I just love the mascot white horse.
Diane
-

They try and make everything "out patient" these days. It's like a drive-thru. My 65 year-old friend had her gall bladder removed out-patient. She had to go home like that. I had an ovary removed last year and a fibroid "out patient". I bled all over my clothes which they made me put on less than an hour after I woke up. The power went out and they wouldn't let my friend pull into the parking garage. So the nurse walked me down a flight of stairs and way down the street to where my friend had to park. People on the street must have thought I'd been shot seeing all the blood. This country is SICK. It needs a health care system that is HUMANE.
Diane
-

I just saw on his web site, Plushenko now has himself pictured wearing a platinum medal! It reads, "Silver of Salt Lake, Gold of Torino, Platinum of Vancouver." This guy should give it a rest! Geeshhh!
Christine
-

Oh how sad...I remember her! I just read in IMDB that she was married to Michael Keaton, too. God speed to her.
LisaG
-

The small screen has just lost one of its familiar faces. Benson and Soap star Caroline McWilliams died Feb. 11 at her home in Los Angeles from complications of multiple myeloma, her family told the Los Angeles Times . She was 64-years-old. McWilliams began her career on the soap opera Guiding Light in 1969 followed by a stint on Another World before she broke into prime time with Soap. That was soon followed by her most famous role, Marcy Hill opposite Robert Guillaume on Benson. In 1982, McWilliams married Michael Keaton. They had one son, Sean Douglas, but divorced in 1990. Around that time, she appeared in the movie Mermaids and on Beverly Hills, 90210, as the mother to Jamie Walters ' character. McWilliams also enjoyed the theater, frequently performing onstage and directing live productions.
christine
-

This is true...per Snopes.com, the bill has been reintroduced for the SIXTH time by CT Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and is now in Committee. ----- Sign the online petition (see below). ----- Call or write your members of Congress and ask them to support the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act. You may reach your member of Congress by calling the U.S. House of Representatives switchboard at 202-225-3121. To find your representative in Congress, go to: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml. ----- ====================================================== ----- This is IMPORTANT. Please take a moment to read it. ----- Proposed Mastectomy Law Change (written by a surgeon).... ----- I'll never forget the look in my patients eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies. ----- So there I sat with my patient giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank you' they muttered. ----- A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery. ----- This Mastectomy Bill is in Congress now. It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important. Please take the time and do it really quick! The Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill is important legislation for all women. ----- Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same. ----- There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached. ----- Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support.. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. ----- http://www.mylifetime.com/community/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition ----- This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON.
Lisa G
-

Cat, I heard about it. What idiots they ALL are!
Christine
-

Janet, I agree with you on the skating... I enjoy the artistry, not just a quad!
Christine
-

ANyone catch the porn star's statement that she is due an apology from Tiger? People just cannot accept responsibility for their actions! i'ts unbelievable.
Cat
-

I don't begin to understand addiction, really . . . there are so many facets to it, and addicts are marvelous at hiding and evading and we want to trust them . . . interesting research that shows changes in the brain. Which would make it even harder to quit. I can't imagine a program sending someone home after 3 weeks and thinking she'd succeed . . . even with AA, she might need something more intensive as an outpatient. Cool, Diane, your Scott Hamilton moment! I like his commentary (on the whole). I love his enthusiasm. There were 6 judges from eastern Europe for the men's figure skating, and 3 from the western world . . . (is that how you say it?) Anyway, for a sport that can be so political, last night's results are encouraging. Plushenko was not the complete package. You can do a quad and not much else - does that mean you should win? Or difficult triple combinations, fabulous spins, etc. and artistry and be the whole package. Plushenko evidently has said if you don't have a quad "you're ice dancing." IMO, ice dancing (which has even more questionable scoring) is very, very difficult. Every sport at this level is difficult and demanding. I think Weir should have been scored higher, maybe 4th. He was beautiful to watch. Evidently his program did not contain as many difficult elements. But as a fan, I liked it. Though I could do without his behavior.
Janet
-

I guess that's true of a lot of atheletes and their sports. Especially boxers.
Diane
-

That's just the way the snowboarders are...they LOVE their sport and injuries are just part of it. Ice dancing is tonight...that should be interesting.
LisaG
-

LISA - YOW!! What horrible injuries. I guess they don't publicize this enough. She is going to have life-long pain and life-long problems from such injuries. What a dangerous sport. One would think one would switch to a different sport (or no sport) after that many injuries.
Diane
-

I have a friend who says curling reminds her too much of housework!
Christine
-

Puck - Curling...Mwa ha ha ha ha! ;) ------- Diane - The winner of the women's halfpipe snowboarding was the Aussie Torah Bright...she was iffy on her physical health to be able to complete. I read that around Christmas, she had an accident in the pipe and dislocated her jaw (ouch!)...and she's had 3 concussions and her headaches didn't ease until about a week prior to the games. If you want more info on when stuff is being held and info on results so far... http://www.vancouver2010.com/
lisag
-

I love the jumping! Remember Eddie the Eagle from years ago? The British ski jumper? Wow he was bad!
Christine
-

CURLLLINNNGGGG!!!!
Puck
-

LISA - Oh, I love the downhill slolums! I've got to watch Youtube on my lunch hour and see some of this. I know, those people really can fly up so high (and upside down) on those snow boards. I don't hear of many injuries that are serious, though, so I guess -- I don't know -- one would think the injuries would be very serious and spinal but they somehow seem to avoid those things for the most part.
Diane
-

Diane - I don't think ski jumping has started. I was watching the snowboarding halfpipe...those people are NUTS!!! The camera angles they had really show how high up they are. The pipe sides go up 22ft and they shoot 5-10ft past that and do flips and twists...insane! I also watched the women's downhill skiing...too bad for Vonn and her fall, but her team mate Mancuso got another silver and even better, it wasn't expected of her.
LisaG
-

I'll have to catch that skate on Youtube. How has the ski jumping been? I LOVE that sport.
Diane
-

That's a big bummer for me not having a TV during the winter Olympics. I love the winter ones. I'll catch it on the tiny screen on Youtube. I did have an Olympic moment this summer -- I was in the Whole Foods market coming around a corner to go down an isle when I hear someone's cart going at a fast speed in my direction. Within a blink of an eye, the cart stopped short of me, and I look up to see an apologetic SCOTT HAMILTON! Wow, first time I had ever gotten that close to an Olympic medalist. And it d*mn near killed me. :) He pushes his cart like he's on the ice rink.
Diane
-

He's from close to where I live!
Christine
-

Ok, I watched the repeats of the men's ice skating...I have to agree with the final standings...Evan *WAS* better. Much cleaner long program...the foot work was incredible - fast and precise...he had more energy, too. The Russian guy's program was just "meh"...some landings were borderline...footwork was not as difficult as Evan's and the whole thing just seemed slow and pokey...it dragged. I thought it was excellent judging. Finally, the ice skating judges got it right!
LisaG
-

Go Evan Lysacek!!!
LisaG
-

One a lighter note, did any of you catch Blair singing the OLTL theme song? Its on youtube.
christine
-

Oh boy, cleaning out the videotapes. I cleaned the bookcase a week ago and planned on doing more of the videotapes this weekend or so. I said to myself, "Come on, Diane. How much Patrick can you keep forever on video? Do you ever watch it? No." Hmmm.....still it's really hard to throw out some of those Patrick tapes but I really just have too many. Keeping a couple should suffice. I have to make room for the DVD's I buy.
Diane
-

Wow, JANET, PUCK, and CHRISTINE -- You all are a wealth of new knowledge for me on this subject. Everything you all said makes sense. The biggest thing for her is that she cannot live with her mother unless her mother dries out, too. Her mother is continuing to drink so it's no surprise Sondee starts up again. You are all so right about the social changes. That's fascinating about the MRI stuff, PUCK. And fascinating about genetics, too, JANET. My friend's father died from liver cancer which we now suspect was from too much alcohol. When I was a child, my parents were strict with themselves of never having a drink until guests came and wanted a drink. And they would have just one or two at that time. So I was surprised when I was at Sondee's house, when her mother would make drinks before dinner -- for her and her husband. Everytime. So they were drinking daily. Maybe that whole house is one of those things that makes my friend drink. There's so much to learn about all this. I wish I could get access to my cousin without going through my friend or her mother.
Diane
-

I have 4 bags of clothes in the basement that I keep adding to everytime I clean the closets. I REALLY need to get them to Goodwill. They are doing no one any good where they are. I also have a bag of shoes!
Christine
-

Recovery usually meanss a total change in social life, too - you have to drop the friends who participated in your addictive behavior. That leaves you without your customary support system (in some settings at least) and is one more strike against recovery. What a tough thing. That article must have been fascinating. .........Studies have also indicated that the brains of people who are homosexual respond in different ways when compared to those who are heterosexual. I don't think "it's a choice." I really don't. ............I've been watching the A & E series on Hoarding and evidently "there is something on the 14th chromozone" that they see in hoarders. It has strong family links. Of course growing up with hoarders would be a strong influence, but there's also something genetic that is showing up. Fascinating. I am trying so hard to downsize and discard items I don't need or use. It's a challenge as both of my parents were pack rats and I grew up in a somewhat cluttered, though clean, home. They just couldn't get rid of anything, and even though they moved with great regularity, all of it got packed up and moved with them. I am trying so hard to not repeat the pattern. We just donated 300 books to charity. I figure if it's in the library, I should be able to let it go. Except my favorites. And I have many of those . . . My next project is to go through my videotapes. Then my clothes. My bedroom closet, however, is now a wonder of organization. Hanging shoe racks are so convenient. It's really empowering to be able to shed possessions you don't really use or need. I get a kick out of watching "Clean House" on the Style network.
Janet
-

And sometimes when a person conquers one addiction they replace it with another.....
Christine
-

There was an article in a magazine I read a few years ago -- might have been National Geographic -- and they were talking about functional MRI and the brains of alcoholics. The long and short is, addiction is more about the mind than the body, but it is a POWERFUL drive. I can't remember the article exactly, but the taste of alcohol was strongly wired -- smell, taste, memory, and all going to the pleasure centers of the brain. The author was a 20-years sober alcoholic, and agreed to do the fMRI, and even after 20 years, his brain "hit" on some of the images and smells, just not as strongly as a current drinker. For him, IIRC, the "hit" was the atmosphere of a tavern -- dark and smoky, a big bar with a brass foot rest, rows of shiny bottles, the roar of conversation. It's not just the drink -- it's not even just the taste and smell or the desire to have a "buzz" -- it's sooooooo strongly wired to memory, sense memory, and pleasure centers that it's a miracle anyone overcomes addiction. But the conclusion was that the only thing that DOES work is a long-term treatment project along with a commitment to change -- something like years and years in AA. But since it's EVERYTHING about alcohol that they desire, then EVERYTHING must go. If the flashing neon light of a saloon on the way to work perks up her pleasure sensors, she needs to drive another way to work. If it's the visual thrill of seeing amber liquid splash into her favorite glass, the glass must go. If it's swirling the glass around while sitting in her favorite chair, donate the chair to Goodwill. It's all about a VERY wide variety of sensor pleasures (and yes, sometimes it's the people in our lives -- she can be just as addicted to the way her family responds to her alcoholism -- if you want to see a good movie on that subject, on the co-dependency that arises in marriages where one partner is an alcoholic, go rent "When a Man Loves a Woman", with Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan. Alcoholics say it's quite realistic in the way it shows the co-dependency.)
Puck
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I don't drink, but after simply breathing at a recent champagne reception, I wondered if I was starting to get a bit tipsy. Whew! ...........I wouldn't think 3 weeks would change a lifetime of habits, and the person would be so incredibly vulnerable. Physically they'd be dried out of course, but in every other way I think they'd still be an alcoholic. Shake my family tree hard enough and out fall the bottles for numerous generations back - - so it's probably a good thing I never started . . . Diane, I hope your friend can get some help. I think the average addict (of any kind) takes several stabs at rehab before it "takes." What a terrible thing. Moving home may have also introduced a whole lot of other circumstances into your friend's life, besides the vodka-drinking mom. As in emotional history, which could complicate everything. Gosh, that's tough.
Janet
-

Here's an Amazing Animals video about a woman who used to drink a lot...until she met this horse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMj2K2-K8wo
Diane
-

Christine - I think you are right. There is a book that is supposed to be good, though I have not read it yet. It's by a Dr. Gabor Mate, MD, who practices in Canada. He has a whole book on addictions called something like "Ghosts Revisited". My friend, I think, had a lonely childhood being the only child and had a VERY controlling mother. She married my cousin and had 3 great kids in a house down the road. When my friend's father died, they moved in back into her childhood home with her mother since the house is SO large and it was economically better. She didn't have a drinking problem until she moved 'back home' (as far as we know). It was her mother giving her the vodka for the pain after my friend hurt her back. Even when my cousin protested that it was not the right way to handle the pain, her mother kept sneaking the vodka to her daughter. She felt guilty when my friend almost died from liver failure. We think the mother is also an alcoholic and that's why it is extra tough for my friend to stop drinking since there is always booze in that house for 'grandma'. My friend needs a dry house. Grandma will never see that she also needs to stop drinking.
Diane
-

I think the alcohol just masks deeper issues, its why some people are overeaters.... the addiction is deeper then just an addiction. Very sad....
Christine
-

My friend took a gun one night (I have no idea where she got it) and held it to her head and wanted to kill herself. They called 911 and that's when she got the longest treatment -- the 30-day one. Which we know, now, is nothing. After that she was in the car as a passenger with her 20 year-old son, Jesse. Jesse noticed she slugged a drink when she thought he wasn't looking. He got so upset he actually threw her out of the car on Rte 9W which runs parallel to the river. She called my cousin to come pick her up. When they got back home, Jesse was unconscious having taken an overdose of pills. Thankfully, the got him to the hospital in time to have him pumped out. She has the most beautiful family and grandchild -- but when it comes to alcohol, that's the only thing that matters. More than ANYTHING in this world, they want a drink.
Diane
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CAT and LISA - Thank you. I didn't know about the smell coming through the pores. I live so far away from them that I don't have direct contact at this time. CAT - You are, sadly, probably right. This will have a very sad and tragic ending. I agree that it is monstrously selfish to drink and drive. Nice people become murderers that way. I'm sorry for both you and LISA for the two people you worked with who were alcoholics. It's so hard to be "up close" like that. What a way to die -- bleeding to death from the stomach. And both of them were so young to die.
Diane
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Vodka is the severe alcoholic's drink of choice, but Lisa is exactly right. It ends up being detectedbecause your body gives off an odor. I noticed the same scent around Ed that I did around another severe alcoholic. By the time he was giving off the scent, I could smell it well after he had been around. It was unbelievable. It has to be the body breaking down. It's unpleasant, not like the sort of sweet smell you might detect on someone's breath who has been drinking vodka. This comes out of your pores. The sad truth is that she is probably too far gone into the addiction. Everyone should stil help, but start the detachment process, because, sadly, she likely will kill herself by drink. Everyone was fortunate that Ed didn't kill anyone else in the car accident. He simply would not, no matter how many times he was told, stop drinking and driving. Monstrously selfish. But that was the disease. Ed himself was not a bad guy. The disease could easily have turned him into a murderer.
Cat
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Diane - that's so sad about your cousin's wife. I had an office mate years ago that was a big drinker...drank just about every day at lunch. He used to drink vodka, too, but I could smell it...it comes through your skin out of your pores if you drink that much. Like Cat's engineer friend (so sorry about that, too, Cat), this guy died young...he got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and keeled over. Bled to death into his stomach...I believe it was ulcers from all the drinking...he was in his mid 40's. It was so sad, because he left behind a wife and young daughter. I hope your cousin's wife gets the help she needs and truly commits to her recovery.
LisaG
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Diane -- I wish I had advice. The only alcoholic I ever knew was my mother's second husband, and he died at age 39 of a heart attack. I don't know if he ever tried to dry out, or not.
Puck
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CAT - Thank you so much for your wise advice and for sharing your personal experience. My friend (and cousin's wife) sounds very much like this man. She was so far gone by the time they realized she had a problem. Also, I learned that Vodka does not leave that alcohol scent so many alcoholics drink that. That's what my friend drinks. You are right -- the 30 day stays and, of course, those 2-week ones are nothing for someone who is so chronic. She is on 2 meds and one is supposed to stop the craving, but she is still drinking anyway. I hope my cousin is able to keep her from driving. If she doesn't get killed in an accident, she will kill someone else and end up in prison. I will let you know how it goes. My cousin (the husband's sister) is going to show him the info. I found on the long-term treatment centers. It's a matter of that or death. No doubt.
Diane
-

We just lost our chief engineer to alcoholism. He was a heavy drinker for years, and the best drunk you ever saw. You simply couldn't tell he was loaded. Only after years of knowing him could you tell he was drunk. He would be fine in the morning, drive from our main office to our mine site (about 25 miles) and be totally loaded upon arrival. He would drink in his car. In November, he was at his disk passed out - so passed out that we thought he had had a stroke. He went to rehab for the third or fourth time. It didn't work. He had three daughters (one special needs) and a wife at her wits' end. He simply couldn't stop. If you friend has been through rehab and they are telling you minimum 90 days or better 6 months, listen to them. Hardcore drunks can do 30 days standing on their heads. The whole thing takes on Greek tragedy proportions. Preventable but in many cases unavoidable. 46 years old, he died from a car accident. We hear he had a 4.6 BAC and an arrhythmia, likely related to years of alcohol abuse. So - in sum, only the drinker can stop, and anyone who tries to help should feel that he or she has done all they can. You can't make them stop by appealing to reason. They have to want to stop. Some people are just beyond help.
Cat
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David Canary, one of the biggest stars in the world of soaps, is quitting All My Children, reports Soapnet. Canary, 71, in a statement, announced he's retiring, saying his career on All My Children gave him "more than words could ever convey, both professionally and personally. I have cherished each and every moment." David Canary has played twin brothers Adam and Stuart Chandler since 1983 - until last year when it was revealed that Adam shot and killed Stuart - and has won five Daytime Emmys. Canary, who is thought to be quitting because the show is moving from New York to Los Angeles, will be on the air through April. He says "viewers will be happy with how Adam departs the canvas..." but adds that the door isn't closed - which, of course, it never is on a soap opera. "This is not the last you've seen of Adam Chandler. I will be back to check up on the Chandler clan."
Cat
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The Betty Ford Treatment Facility in the CA desert is $42K for 6 months!!! This one in southern NJ is half the price at $21K for 6 months. It's clear that this woman will die if she does not stop drinking. She tried the hardest after her 20 year-old son tried to commit suicide because he couldn't stand her drinking anymore. But she soon started again because she was at a day clinic of a out-patient group therapy the other day, and they caught her drinking right out of her purse! They called my cousin to pick her up because they told him they would not allow her to drive home. My cousin is at his wits end. He's the greatest guy -- works in his own business all day and comes home and cooks dinner for everybody (her mother lives with them). We think her mother is an alcoholic, too, but won't admit it which makes this extra hard. That needs to be a dry house.
Diane
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Can I ask if anyone here has had a loved one who had an alcohol addiction and was helped by spending time in a treatment facility? My cousin's wife (who was my childhood friend and neighbor) is 50 and became an alcohol several years ago. She started drinking after a back injury and could not stop after the injury was repaired in surgery. She almost died 2 years ago. Her liver was enormous and hard. The doctor didn't think she'd make it w/o a transplant, but she did. She dried out for about 3 weeks and went home. She thought she licked it but she soon was drinking again. She has been in 3 other rehabs -- but the longest time away has been 30 days. I was looking at treatment centers who say one needs a minimum of 90 days in a treatment facility -- preferably 6 months to a year to really get it under control and learn new life skills to prevent relapses. The places are quite expensive, though. They are in NY state. I saw one called Seabrook House in southern NJ. Anyone have any personal experience with this kind of thing happening with a relative or close friend?
Diane
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Such dramatic weather you are all having!!
Diane
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And the weather people have screwed up yet another storm forecast. "Oh, we're only going to get 2-5 inches." Well, we've probably already gotten that and it's still coming down...big fat pretty flakes. I don't mind because we didn't get much the last few weeks and this will probably stop soon, but I hate it when they under predict.
LisaG
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Its a scary thought.
Christine
-

A rise of just three degrees celcius would be enough to kill rice cultivation -- a food that over 80% of the planet relies upon as their primary source of sustenance.
Puck
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of course climates HAVE shifted after the rise of the humans, even ever so little. on the grand scale of epic changes what we may be experiencing now has been a miniscule change, none the less one that has been easy noticed. A point is say what we have experienced in the last 50 years had occurred 600 years ago between 1360 and 1410, would historians even had mentioned? Would they even had noticed? Moreso COULD they have noticed? The only reason we have noticed this relatively minor shift (thus far, saying what IF we are now on our way to an hot age) is because of our technologies that allow us to notice. if a major blizzard hits in Moscow WE know it in Little Rock. If such a blizzard hit in what is now Moscow in 1410 would anyone in Rome had known? Would anyone in Japan had known? Of course not. THIS proves such changes we have seen now could have happened many times over the era of the humanoids. Only now we have the capabilities to notice it world wide. I'm not stupid and realize that yes this apparent present shifting could be INFLUENCED by mankinds actions since the dawn of the industrial age, but I have severe doubt it has been caused by it. I welcome the green movement, but am conceded by those that blindly follow it thinking we are doomed or are in for severe hardships if we do not excelarate our efforts. We are just in for, perhaps, an adaptive shift in our lifestyles to compensate for what mother and father nature have in store for us. I apologize for my lurkness, but feel I must for reasons I am having difficulties to put into words that explain it clearly.
.
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It would help if they would stop destroying the rainforests in the name of the almighty dollar.
rebecca
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It's snowing here in South-Georgia-Just-Above-The-Florida-Line.
Puck
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To the anonymous lurker. you're right that the climate has shifted many times in the billions of years since the Big Bang. However, the climate has NOT shifted since the rise of humanoids We were made to live in a very specific range of temperatures. Every bit of food we eat, and all our domesticated animals ALSO were bred to survive in THIS climate, and no other. We have a very serious reason to want to stop climate change, whether it's "natural" or not.
Puck
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I guess it does give you time to do stuff around the house. ____________________ I finally figured out what PITA means!
Christine
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We got about 30 inches Saturday and another 14 or so Wednesday but we still have a teenage shoveler and the power stayed on so I got caught up with the soaps and got some sewing projects done. I got four days off of work, more snow days than in the 30 years before combined. I can't complain.
cw
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We're fine - no power outage. Just alot of snow. It's melting already. Still a PITA, though.
Cat
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I don't understand why people are so against the whole global warming issue. I mean what is wrong with wanting to do right by our planet regardless? what is wrong with wanting to stop killing our atmosphere and land? Are we so complacent we are afraid to change our ways? ________________________________ And lurker, you can at least leave your name. We respect people's opinions but we want to see who we are talking to.
Christine
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This is proof of global warming? It's called climate shifting. Been going on for billions of years. it's not like these historical changes from hot eras to ice age and whatever inbetween happened overnight. It happens over centuries and gradual. Sure , I buy it that mankind 's doings are afactor, but it 's MUCH less of a factor than misguided whacks like Algor believe. He should study what ALL geological history shows us, not just pick what supports his ideas.
.
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Lisa, I know alot of people who think the opposite of global warming with this weather. I'm not one of them
Christine
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http://mylittlesunshinegirls.blogspot.com/
Anita lots of snow pics
-

Glad to see everyone appears to have survived the snow storms. I can actually see the grass again here...was a warm 36 and sunny, so much of the snow melted again. If anyone was wondering about global warming, these wacky weather patterns is proof of it...they said the NE and mid-Atlantic would experience wild weather events, including increased precipitation.
LisaG
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Wow, 26 inches of snow????!!!! And, ANITA, no electricity for 4 days!!! Yikes!!
Diane
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Its a sad day when the word "only" comes before 6 inches of snow!
christine
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cw.. check in when you can.. I know your county was the hardest hit with power outages .... Cat glad you are okay... thanks all for thinking of me!
Anita
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hi all, I'm here, still thawing out after 4 days of no electricity...thankfully the 2nd storm just missed us and we only got 6 inches from it and high winds but we had 2 feet from Saturday's storm. no power till Tuesday...lost all the food in the freezer, managed to get into town late on Monday and get a generator.. but it was 2am by the time we got it up and running...but we warmed the house up from 42 to the 50's .. we kept the girls in the van with the heat running Monday night (in the carport so no worry about exhaust, they had heated seats and SATELLITE tv...Lizzie slept)....it was miserable.. I never was a fan of snow but if I ever see it again it's too soon... I have 2 and half feet of snow on my roof ... we've had 2 half days of school this month because of snow.. and more snow in the forcast for Monday so who knows when we will be back.. I should have gone to Florida last week! But thought for sure if I did this would be nothing and I'd have to turn right around and come back...hope to catch the soaps today.. cable was out even longer than the power...haven't seen anything since last week! argh....so much to catch up on.. and me MISSED Lost!!!!!! hope they repeat it before next week's episode!!! or I can find it online!
Anita
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Cat, good to hear from you. I feel so bad for all of you just getting pounded with snow. Stay safe and warm. And yes Mitch has crossed the level!
Christine
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yikes! Buried under snow. About 26 or so inches. Can't go anywhere. Watching OLTL - Mitch has reached a new level of evil. Not sure why everyone is so reluctant to just shoot him. I guess they need him for storyline, but that stuff with Jessica was beyond skincrawling.
Cat
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To all my GBers on the east side of the nation. My heart goes out to you. I hope you are all safe. And warm. Yikes. I can't even imagine the cold you are feeling.
rebecca
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Holy cow...4 feet of snow?! I'm glad Anita's ok. My mom called and they got about another 10-12 inches on top of the 10+ they got last week. She was enjoying it though...just stayed indoors and watched the big flakes fall. It was a big waste of a snow day here.
LisaG
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Anita posted on FB, they had now power for days, but now do.
Christine
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LisaG - That's so weird about your snow amounts. I guess that article I quoted from was right. My family in PA got about 26" last weekend and at least another 20" this time with lots of blowing snow. I'm worried for Anita because she probably got hit hard too. I hope she has electricity. And Cat is probably snowed in too. Hopefully they can check in here sometime and let us know they're all right.
Connie
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Well, unless the storm reinvigorates, the "blizzard of 2010" was a big bust here in inland CT. At the most, we MIGHT have about 4 inches that's fallen all day. Guess I should be thankful they over predicted vs. under predicted...initially, they were saying 8-14+ inches!
LisaG
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They are talking renal issues. BIL who is an EMT is heading out to NY and will find out more.
Christine
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He got through it. Now we wait to see how the next couple of days go.
Christine
-

Christine -- any news on your FIL?
Puck
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Thank you
christine
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Christine - I hope everything goes smoothly for him.
LisaG
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Please keep my FIL in your thoughts and prayers today, he is going in for triple bypass surgery.
Crhistine
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New Hawaii Five-0? Oy. I hate when they try to capture the TV gold of the past. Nothing will ever replace Steve and Danno!
LisaG
-

Not sure how many of you still watch "Lost" but Daniel Dae Kim has been chosen to be in the new Hawaii 5-0!
Christine
-

I agree...
Christine
-

So they're remaking Robin Hood (again!) this time with Russel Crowe. Eh. I'm watching LOTR and I think Viggo Mortensen would have been a better RH. Crowe looks too paunchy and bloated. And they have him with short hair...RH should have longer hair IMHO.
LisaG
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Now they are saying 6-10".
Christine
-

Yikes! A foot! They're predicting snow here for tomorrow but up to 4"!
Christine
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Wild...we got no snow at all! My mom in mid-NJ got about a foot or a little more. I hope you made out ok, Anita!
LisaG
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these are incredible! http://www.dailyartpress.com/2009/08/beautiful-pencil-sculpture.html ------- you can see more at her website: http://www.jennifermaestre.com/portfolio.php
lisag
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Interesting, Connie.
Diane
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Anita - I have family in PA, so I've been reading about your big storm that's coming. Here's an interesting bit from one article -- "This winter has seen many snowstorms travel north after hitting southern Virginia , 'where a new ice age is forming because they're getting one storm after another,' Head said. Areas around Roanoke and western Virginia had more snow this winter than the Boston area, and 'that's a major shift in the weather pattern,' he said."_______________ Not much comfort to you, but at least it explains why you're getting so much snow and LisaG is getting so little. Stay safe, and take lots of pictures!
Connie
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Oh Anita! Take care and stock up on supplies. You might be in for a long one.
christine
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check this bird out...he's so kewl! he looks like a piece of candy! http://petoftheday.com/archive/2010/February/05.html
lisag
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Anita - they're telling us that the bulk of the storm will miss us...we may get a couple of inches. I can deal with that! Good luck! Hopefully it won't be too bad.
LisaG
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okay here, preparing for the BIG storm..they say it will be bigger than the storm we had before Christmas.. from 2 to 3 feet of snow! FEET!!!! we're in the band that is flagged at "potentially paralyzing"
Anita
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My mom, not the family members, but I bet they do too!
Christine
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It has been quiet. Interesting news, my mom has been attending the pretrial for Drew Peterson. She is really enjoying it. Talking to family members, wanting to strangle Drew.
Christine
-

Doing fine
Christine
-

wow...quiet around here. hope everyone is doing ok.
lisag
-

What's next? Underwear insurance?
Diane
-

Yeah, it's like handing them an extra $5 and whatever claim you might try and bring, they will say that kind of wear is not covered. I order clothing from a catalog, and they always ask me "Do you want to get the $2 insurance so that if your package is lost or stolen, it will be replaced." Oh for Pete's sake NO. Use a traceable shipping method, you dodos. They want to add a few bucks all the time to EVERYTHING. On Buy.com, they try and sell insurance with everything we buy there. It's such a scam.
Diane
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That is silly!
Christine
-

LisaG -- I never heard of such a thing! Shoe protection -- ridiculous! Whatever happened to (1) making a quality shoe to start with, and (2) taking care of them so they last a long time??? I guess the latter, though, can only happen if the first is taken care of.
Puck
-

Unbelievable story...I went to the local Sports Authority to get new walking sneakers since my old Reeboks finally bit the dust with a ripped side seam. So I pick a new pair and then I decide to look at the suede UGG boots, just to see how they fit, etc. They didn't have them out (clearly $100+ boots are probably kept in the back), but I *did* notice a display of suede boots of various colors that looked just like UGG's but were on sale for $30. Hmmm! So I find a size 8 (no half sizes) in a sand color and try them on...very nice! Comfy and warm shearling inside...a slightly cheaper made material from true UGGs, but I'm only planning to wear them to dash to the store in chilly and snowy weather, since they say these kinds of boots are horrible for insteps. So anyway, I decide to get them (saving $60 over UGGs!) and the guy at the register says that for $5 more, I can purchase a "shoe protection plan" for the boots. I looked at him and said "you gotta be kidding! Shoe protection?!" He said something about wear on the outside of the suede, blah blah blah...and I tuned out. How ridiculous! I'm sure there are plenty of loop holes in the coverage, like it has to be "normal wear & tear" and they only give a replacement, not a refund of the price and I betcha they stop making them after this year. Unreal how companies are trying to squeeze more moola out of customers with ridiculous stuff like this! Yeesh!
LisaG
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well, the duggar's had their 19th kid...poor thing was born 3 1/2 MONTHS premature..i hope she'll be ok. i certainly hope they take this as a sign to stop having kids. i mean 19th is enough (heck 3 was probably enough!) and at 43, the mom should realize the danger she'd be putting a fetus in...it's really starting to look more like an addiction to having babies, rather than bringing a HEALTHY new baby into the world.
lisag
-

JD Salinger died. What a week!
Christine
-

Go the light, all are welcome! Godspeed, Zelda!
Puck
-

LOS ANGELES (AP) Zelda Rubinstein, the 4-foot-3-inch character actor best known as Tangina, the psychic who tries to calm a family inhabiting a haunted house in the 1982 horror film Poltergeist, has died. She was 76. Her agent, Eric Stevens, tells the Los Angeles Times that Rubenstein died Wednesday at a Los Angeles hospital. Stevens says she recently suffered a heart attack. Rubenstein made her film debut in the 1981 comedy Under the Rainbow and went on to roles in Sixteen Candles, Southland Tales and the TV show Picket Fences. She returned for both Poltergeist sequels. The Pittsburgh native also appeared as the mother figure in a high-profile mid-1980s AIDS public awareness campaign and was an outspoken activist for the rights of little people.
.
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Oh wow...PR is now gone, so all the Cartwrights have headed to the big round up in the sky. :( ------------- Puck - here's a link to Eastern Promises... http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2947612953/ It was a good movie and Viggo was great in it...he was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, too. But Cronenberg makes too many dark movies for me.
LisaG
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She doesn't strike me as overtly religious........ Just read that Pernell Roberts passed away. Boy he was a handsome man......
Christine
-

Christine -- I'd be more interested in WHY she thinks we ought not help the Haitians. Does she think they made a pact with the devil, for example?....................................................... Lisa -- naked fight scene! Why haven't I heard of this film? ..................................................... RE: the new Emma. Well, I watched it last night finally, and it certainly grows on you. I actually like Jonny Lee Miller's characterization of Knightley. He is believable -- and still a viable candidate for a husband -- whether he is loverlike, brotherlike or fatherlike. In any incarnation, you can see his affection for Emma. One objection, however -- my favorite line in the novel is one of Austen's rare double-entendres (and a rare instance of man-watching in any novel of the 18th century), when at the Coles' party, she spots his "tall, firm, erect figure" among the crowd of men. I'm sorry, but the girl playing Emma in this one is taller than JLM. But Jeremy Northam was perfect for that line, running through my head, at the moment she looks at him from a distance at the Coles' party!
Puck
-

Oh, Lisa! Too funny!
christine
-

Just did a double feature of a couple of Viggo Mortensen movies. I watched "A History of Violence" and "Eastern Promises"...wow...very intense! I guess it's a Cronenberg thing, but boy, were the violent scenes accurate and gorey...some were a bit too much for me. There's a steam room scene in EP where Viggo's character, Nikolai, is attacked by 2 opposing Russian mafia hit men. The scene was so intense, I didn't get to enjoy the fact that VM did the scene nekkid! ;) I must say that the man is in incredible shape for his age...now if only a nekkid scene was in a more calm scene or movie! I think I need to go watch some of my LOTR dvd's to see a sweeter VM character!
LisaG
-

I like the Paltrow version alot. And then there is PnP!! Colin Firth.....
Christine
-

Puck- I own the paperback of Emma. I should probably read it. I've seen all of the Austen novels on PBS, on Masterpiece. The one Emma I did see, I didn't like. I guess it's because of the Paltrow/Nortam chemistry. But I should still do the author the honor of reading her books since I have liked the mini-series so much. And the subsequent movies based on her. Has anyone seen Lost in Austen? I loved it.
rebecca
-

That doesn't seem like a lot.
Christine
-

Thought I'd check on Slezak: (335 episodes, 1971-2009) I'm sitll surprised it's so few! In one way, it's amazing, because the lines are different every day. It's like being in 335 plays, but over 38 years? You'd think she'd have been in more.
Cat
-

I checked again and the 10,295 episode was the other day. the 10,000th was a tribute to yrtle. Anyway - Lucci has been on only 600 ish or so. Still, a small number considering she's an original member. But, my God, she is a miracle of nature. She looks FABULOUS, I think. Better now than years ago.
Cat
-

Grrr... just lost it with a friend's sister on FB. THe new post is about not helping the Haitians. Do people not realize the risk of having a Hugo Chavez or Castro come in and be a savior to the people? Do some people not know the level of poverty in that country is staggering and mind blowing? The poorest of the poor would only wish to be poor in this country! I'm not turning out my pockets, but I gave, just as I give to charities in the US. I'm sure alot of the same people who complain, don't donate a dime to anyone. Okay, rant over! Sorry!!
Christine
-

But it changes the tenor of the story! There's a vast difference between lovers who are equals, and lovers where one is pretty much a brother or father figure. BIG difference! IN any case, I don't object -- JN was indeed too gorgeous to trifle with such things. It would just be nice to one day see the story as Austen intended it!
Puck
-

I remember seeing that and saying "Hey that's Palmer!"
Christine
-

This is interesting about Mitchell....His best-known role on film was in Agnes de Mille's spectacular dream sequence as 'Dream Curly' in the 1955 musical classic Oklahoma! (1955) He worked in tandem with the famed choreographer quite frequently.
lisag
-

Cat - maybe they meant he was in 3000 eps?
LisaG
-

Puck - who cares? JN was gorgeoous! ;) Oh, and the BOOTS!!! :P ----------- Horrid weather here in CT today...the only saving grace is that my car is not parked in the garage, so it's getting a pretty good "washing". I can't imagine how much snow there would be if it was colder!
LisaG
-

That's so sad. He was lucky to make it to the 40th anniversary. Will the character go as well, do you think? And how can he only have appeared in 300 episodes? That seems so few! I just checked Susan Lucci - she's been in 648 episodes in 40 years. Why does that seem such a low number to me? If there are 250 episodes a year (give ore take - 5 a week for 50 weeks), just to use an easy number, that's 10,000 episodes! I looked it up just now and saw a reference to episode 10,295 - so that number is close. Of course, I think it started out as a half our, and moved to a full one, but still, I thought both actor's numbers would have been higher.
Cat
-

I liked that Gwyneth version too, but hunky, beautiful, gorgeous Jeremy Northam was not right for the roll! Knightly is supposed to be nearly 20 years older than Emma!!
Puck
-

LisaG- I totally agree with you on the movie version of Emma. I love Gwenneth and Jeremy together. "And now I may call you MY Mr.Knightley". Swoon. What a man.
rebecca
-

I was just going to post that, RIP Mr. Mitchell!
christine
-

LOS ANGELES (AP) � James Mitchell, who for nearly three decades played gruff patriarch Palmer Cortland on the ABC soap opera All My Children, has died, his longtime partner said Sunday night. Mitchell died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, partner Albert Wolsky said. Mitchell had suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for years, complicated by a recent bout of pneumonia. Mitchell appeared in more than 300 episodes of the popular soap from 1979 until a 40th anniversary episode this month. He was a regular on the show until 2008. Mitchell enjoyed playing the icy, wealthy Palmer, who wielded power over his children and the show's fictional town of Pine Valley. "He loved playing mean," Wolsky said. "A soap gives an actor a chance to develop something because it goes on for so long." Born in Sacramento in 1920 and trained as a dancer, Mitchell had leading roles in the Broadway musicals Brigadoon and Paint Your Wagon, and danced on stage with the American Ballet Theater. His film credits include 1953's The Band Wagon with Fred Astaire, 1954's Deep in My Heart and 1955's Oklahoma. Mitchell also taught movement for actors at Yale University and Drake University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate. Funeral plans were pending.
.
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HI all - i agree hat Robertson and Limbaugh are beyond disgusing. How they can look at what happened and not only not help, but then try to discourage others from helping, is just plain evil.
Cat
-

rebecca - i watched...was ok. they really make emma into a b*tchy snob...i didn't care for the characterization. the movie with gwyneth paltrow and jeremy northam will still remain my favorite emma...jeremy is the perfect mr. knightly! :)
lisag
-

Hey ladies, don't forget. There is a new version of Jane Austen's Emma on PBS tonight. I have the DVR set. It doesn't come on until 10 pm here and I will be long gone by then. Have a great night.
rebecca
-

If you go to YouTube and type in "sand art" in the search field, you'll find several more of those videos.
LisaG
-

Holy crap that was good! Thanks for sharing!
Christine
-

LisaG- thank you for sharing that. It truly was a very moving experience for me. I have never seen anything like that in my life. I am going to share this with my friends.
rebecca
-

This video shows the winner of " Ukraine�s Got Talent", Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II. ----- Her talent, which admittedly is a strange one, is mesmeric to watch. The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about $130,000.00 ----- She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated. ----- It is replaced by a woman�s face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again.. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman�s face appears. ----- She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier. ----- This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house. ----- In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye. ----- The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine , resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million. ----- Kseniya Simonova says: "I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And there�s surely no bigger compliment."
lisag
-

This is pretty kewl... http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vOhf3OvRXKg
lisag
-

ouchie...just got my free h1n1 flu shot. i'm such a big baby!
lisag
-

CHRISTINE - LOL!! That IS good!!
Diane
-

Doh! That's just priceless!
Lisag
-

Awesome Christine! I'm passing that one on.
rebecca
-

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune "Satan" writes to Pat Robertson---------------------------------------- Dear Pat Robertson, I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll. You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract. Best, Satan
Christine
-

Glad I went with Unicef__________________ Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation under fiscal scrutiny
Christine
-

Well said Janet!
chrisitne
-

Oy! Robertson really said that? And Limbaugh, not surprising. A (figurative) pox on both their houses.
Janet
-

So true, Diane.....
Christine
-

Oxfam is another excellent place to donate money for Haiti.
Diane
-

Pat and Rush exhibit such shameful and cold behavior. When someone can close off sympathy like that, it's called a sociopath. That's what I believe both of them are. They are mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ill. Karma WILL teach them both, I have no doubt of that. Their life review after they leave this world isn't going to be fun either.
Diane
-

I went with UNICEF. I also posted an angry tirade on FB about RL. I take this very personally as this could be my family out there! I hope he rots! Or when he meets his maker, he is called on it.
Christine
-

Christine - I split my donation between Americares and the Red Cross...they may provide support differently and through different paths, some of which may be better than the other. I was starting to watch some coverage on a late night news special and I just couldn't watch for more than a few minutes...it was devastating and heartbreaking. I can't imagine all the families that are broken, all the children that are orphaned, all the injured in pain, etc. It's overwhelming.
LisaG
-

Lisa, I'm not surprised by Rush either. I'm doing my donation today. I might go with Wyclef Jean's charity.
Christine
-

BTW - the text donation will appear on your cell phone bill and it goes to the American Red Cross for the Haitian Relief fund.
LisaG
-

For those looking to donate to the Haitian relief efforts...1) You can text �HAITI� to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti. ----- 2) Americares: https://secure.americares.org/site/Donation2?idb=78993387&df_id=5083&5083.donation=form1 ----- 3) American Red Cross: https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=254911611&df_id=4437&4437.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=t4mrv2z3b1.app196a
LisaG
-

Oh how sad...I just read the post about Teddy Pendergrass. :( He was only 59...God speed, Teddy. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/arts/music/15pendergrass.html
LisaG
-

I just read also about Rush Limbaugh also saying we shouldn't contribute to the Haitian relief effort. That if you go to the American Red Cross website, what's the chance of your donation really making it there. The man is sociopath...he's reprehensible. There are HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people (including innocent children) dead...even more injured, homeless, without food and water. My God, what kind of heartless people are these men???! They both absolutely disgust me.
LisaG
-

I was just going to post about that Anita. Pat Robertson is a idiot! ------------------------------------My family felt very little tremors in DR. My cousin posted something quite touching in FB. She thanked God for sparring her country and prayed for "our brothers and sisters, the Haitians". It could have been them. I was reading how DR is considered richer with better buildings and infrastructure. I know my mother's house that she was born in is still standing. Its not to say everything is fine in a crisis there, but the level of poverty in Haiti is SO high in comparison.
Christine
-

heartbreaking news in Haiti and then Pat Robertson says they brought it on themselves...someone needs to stick a sock in his mouth....what a fool...God doesn't work that way.
Anita
-

RIP, Teddy Pendergrass!
Christine
-

I agree. Roscoe Born is such fun, but yeah, there's something about Mitch this time around that is disturbing. I'm so busy that I'm not watching at the moment, but I think I may pick it up this week.
Puck
-

I have to admit, I do like Mitch, but he is really slimey this time..... I find him disturbing. Still the actor, Roscoe Borne(?) is pretty nice to look at.
christine
-

Isn't Rene condescending to Kim? I mean, she wasn't much more once upon a time... she gets so high and mighty but forgets her past? ... they've written her into such a shrew...
anita
-

LOL, good to see David Vickers is back.. and to see him burst into the Commissioners office... with Blair and Eli on the desk.. LOL... maybe he can get Dorian to get some smarts. I'm sorry but I do NOT like Mitch Lawrence.. I don't even like to hate him.. the whole storyline is beyond stupid.
Anita
-

I would love to see it when the cat shows up!
Christine
-

I'll bet a lot of people make up crazier stories than that to get our of jury duty. So it's probably routine for the court to say "show up!" and that will be a hilarious courtroom!
Janet
-

They probably just associated Sal the cat with one of it's owner's SSN. I think it's so ridiculous that they didn't excuse him. Too funny.
lisag
-

What I don't get is that Sal doesn't have a social security number so how did he get called in the first place? Hey, Hi ELESSANN! I think we were all shocked by Merf's sudden passing. Nice collage at the top. She's happy with Big R now.
Diane
-

LISA - Oy, what next? A cat on jury duty, ok. I hope he pees in the jury box, and that will empty THAT courtroom for quite awhile!
Diane
-

Thank you CAT! glad to have the GB back :)
Anita
-

Well - when goDaddy says your domain is expiring, they mean it! I thought it was set up to renew automatically, but the card probably expired in the meanime. BUt - we are back in business.
Cat
-

Yay! We're back!
Christine
-

LisaG - Too funny! Be sure to watch the video on that page also.
Connie
-

Only in America... http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11790367 --------- Cat called for jury duty --------- BOSTON, MA (NBC) - A Boston family is trying to figure out how their pet cat was summonsed for jury duty. --------- "I said, Sal, what's this? You know, I don't believe it I was shocked," said Guy Esposito, Sal's owner. Sal's owners, Guy and Anna Esposito, think they may know the source of the mix up: Sal really is a member of the family, so on the last Census form, Anna Esposito listed him under "pets". --------- "I just wrote 'Sal Esposito', scratched out the 'dog,' and wrote, 'cat,'" said Anna. --------- Anna filed for Sal's disqualification of service. However, the jury commissioner was unmoved and denied the request. --------- Sal's service date at Suffolk Superior Court is set for March 23. Anna said that if the issue isn't cleared up by then, she will simply have to bring the cat to court.
lisag
-

She was rather creepy!
Christine
-

oops - that was supposed to be "brought me by here" (not "her") in the first sentence. And it was not Kathy Brier's mother, as I found a photo of KB with her parents on KB's webpage. So - sister or other relative?
Elessann
-

The thought that brought me by her tonight concerns the actress who is playing Mitch Lawrence's henchwoman - the blood-toting, needle-bearing (and subsequently wearing) nurse who tangled with Stacey on today's show. The actress looks like she could be Kathy Brier (Marcie McBain)'s mother or older sister. No acting credits at the end of the show, though, so I couldn't find out. Did anyone see the show and think the same thing? Same facial expressions and mannerisms, but with a lower-pitched voice. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Elessann
-

1/7/2010 Hello all - I came by to make a stray comment and to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and was stunned when the photo at the top of the page loaded. I'm heartbroken to learn of Merf's death, but at the same time, it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to think about her and all of our old conversations. She was truly one-of-a-kind. I never see an e-mail of cute cat photos without thinking of her.
Elessann (whose e-mail address can be found at the (disgustingly old) Tulane University Archives website with a bit of digging)
-

me second!
Christine
-

Don't forget to enter... http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-dream-home-2010-giveaway-enter/package/index.html -------- if anyone here wins, I call dibs on the first guest visit! ;)
LisaG
-

Oh how wondeful, the snow is falling.....
christine
-

Watching AMC now - just saw the map pinning Pine Valley. So Llanview is right near Bryn Mawr, which makes sense, with the Welh spelling and all. But Pine Valley is near Villanova? With a yacht club? You gotta love the geography. You always knew the towns were near Philadelpha, but that's the first time I remember seeing it placed on a map near real towns.
Cat
-

Geography ( and alot more) flies out the window with the sopas!
Christine
-

Oops, that's what I meant to say --- Twenty Ten! I like that.
Diane
-

I prefer a TARDIS!
Christine
-

Or Hover-craft? I think I'll be calling it 2010 as in Twenty-ten. Sounds cool.
rebecca
-

Yeah, but where's the jetpack I was promised 30 years ago???
Puck
-

It does sound "space age"
Christine
-

Happy 2010, Everyone! I love the way "two thousand ten" sounds. Sounds a bit Star Trekky to me.
Diane
-

Happy New Years to all the ladies of the GB, and to Mike. hope it is a better year than the last one. Be safe.
rebecca
-

Thank you Anita & Cat for the tribute picture to Merfuff. If memory serves me correctly, she & BigR were married on [or near to] Jan. 1st. If so, maybe they are having an anniversary waltz this New Year's Day.
kmp
-

Happy New Year to all the 'GBers' - now & in the past...
kmp
-

Very cute... http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000086?v=5289218&l=100000085 ------- HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
LisaG
-

Happy New Year to all my GB friends!
Christine
-

I am but I always thought they were a local paper. Did you try googling them?____________________________ Found out I need more therapy on my finger. Still can't straighten it and usage is difficult.
Christine
-

19 degrees here, no wind, but snowing. I just had a thought: Merfuff often contributed to the Pioneer Press, an online paper . . . perhaps they'd appreciate knowing she's passed away? Is anybody familiar with the Pioneer Press?
Janet
-

Holy cow is it COLD outside!!! Temps in CT are in the low 20's, but the wind is howling with gusts up to 40 mph. BRRRRRRRRRRR! Stay warm everyone!
LisaG
-

That sounds really neat!!!
Christine
-

Puck: What a great gift. I love the sound of a dulcimer. Keep practicing!
Janet
-

Sweetie gave me a mountain dulcimer for Christmas. Four days later, and I can pick out Amazing Grace, This Land is Your Land, Shortnin' Bread, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Camptown Races. This is FUN!!!
Puck
-

Our neighbors gave us an early Christmas gift..... Tejano music full blast at 3:30am... we called the cops twice. They had a big party, windows were closed but the music was sooooo loud! Part of me wants to go ring the doorbell etc... as they are probably sleeping it off.
christine
-

Yes indeed, thank you CAt for the GB. Merry Christmas to everyone!
rebecca
-

Thank you , Cat! _______________________________Merry Christmas to all!
Christine
-

Merry Christmas to all. And I hope our GB friends on the east coast are all safe and warm.
rebecca
-

Thanks, Cat! Happy holidays to all.
Janet
-

Thanks, CAT!!
Diane
-

I just struggled to get that out of my iPhone's email and uploaded! Timing is everything...
Cat
-

The photo is courtesy of Anita. Sorry it took so long to post. Marry Christmas to all.
Cat
-

Yeah, seeing MARIELLA's name again is so cool!!
Diane
-

Anita, thank you...
Christine
-

Mariella! Good to see you again. Anita- very nice collage of Merfuff. Thank you.
rebecca
-

So good to see so many old friends. Thanks Cat for keeping this place alive for us all to visit with each other. Wishing you all a safe and a happy holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzza, Peace on Earth, Joy to the World.... and the link below this I posted solo, it's a tribute to Merfuff, no password needed, it's a direct link to the photo.
Anita
-

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a261/anitastreet/merfuff/inmemoryofDebby.jpg
Anita
-

We travel tomorrow, so Merry Christmas to everyone! I'm so happy to see old friends long lost to us, and hope Merfuff is happy this holiday season, pain-free and with her Big R.
Puck
-

Thanks to Diane E, I have found you ladies again. I'm just heading off to bed but finally have the log in to send you all a message and say how wonderful it is that so many of you are here again. Missing absent friends, though - so sad to hear about Merfuff.
Mariella...yes, really
-

Happy Holidays to everyone... For everyone who's traveling--->safe trip.
kmp
-

I'm off to bake cookies and pack for my trip to the momster's for Christmas...I probably won't be back until sometime next week, so MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone and a very happy and healthy New Year!
LisaG
-

To you too Boston!
christine
-

If don't get the chance to get back here, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year!
Boston
-

Christine: I remember reading about that terrible winter. Our three winters there were milder. In fact, it was colder at times in Utah, but everyone thought we were freezing in Chicago.
Janet
-

Well, when all was said and done, we got about 6" of snow total. My mom got about a foot in NJ, so it looks like we missed the worst here in western CT. The roads, driveways and walkways are all cleared...I don't understand why people freak out so much these days and buy out the grocery store...it's silly.
LisaG
-

Thanks, Anita!
Caitlin
-

photos sent. please let me know if you don't get them.
Anita
-

Cat, I'll send you the photos.. thanks!
Anita
-

We had a blizzard back in 79 that people were climbing to and shoveling the roofs!
Chrisdtine
-

thouight I'd try to find the link to a photo of Merf. couldn't. If any one has one to post send it to me at bluedoor(four) at comacast.net, except the (four) is the number. I'd spell it out right, but I'd get loads of spam. We had a fair amount of snow here - about 6-8 inches. Not too bad. Still haven't gotten much for Etain for Christmas so I think I'm going to try ot get Max out to help me with that today. He's getting cabin fever. LisaG - I just read about the DVR inquiry. I have Tivo and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. Bite the bullet and get the HD Tivo with the lifetime plan. you won't want to watch TV any other way ever again. If you want to save shows forever, get a 1TB external hard drive. You can export files to that and save them without compromising your Tivo. The lifetime plan is for your Tivo, not your lifetime. It does work out better after about 3 years, though, so it's worth it. I have 4 Tivos. 2 are HD and 2 are regular. The first one I bought went a little wonky after 3 years, but the others are going strong. I also have Comcast and use the HD cards for HD broadcast, rather than a box. They go into the Tivo. The only drawback is no on demand. Other than that, it's great. If you get two cards, you can watch one channel and record on another, or record on 2 channels and watch the recording on Tivo. Any questions, I'll be happy to answer.
Cat
-

Take care, blizzard-bound people! Check in so we know you're OK.
Janet
-

snow just started here in CT about 9pm...so much for the "hurry and get everything done early in the day" warning. glad i didn't listen and went to TK's for hot wings at 6pm...only ONE friend showed up. everyone is a wuss...especially my friend in the same town i'm in...no excuse for not going out for at least one drink. lol...weather.com is calling this "THE BLIZZARD OF '09!!!" gimme a break. i remember REAL blizzards from when i was a kid. are they really so hard up for news that they have to embelish anything that happens? sheesh!
lisag
-

Stay safe, Anita!
Christine
-

we have clost to 2 feet of snow so far.. it's still coming down, we lost power once, it's stayed on since they repaired it at 1:30 this afternoon.. hope that it stays that way. Our roads are not driveable..the State Police want everyone stay home so they can get the roads in better shape...Gary cleared our driveway but now it's up big climb up to the road.. LOL! keep warm, keep safe!
Anita
-

I hope all our GBers on the east coast are safe and sound. You all are in my prayers.
rebecca
-

Watch full episodes of AMC and OLTL daily at abc.go.com.
.
-

That sounds neat! And I'm glad you made it home okay!
christine
-

We have about 6 inches on the ground. It's very cold tonight! We just got home from the historical farm, where Darling Granddaughter had a pony ride and a train ride. She loves it.
Janet
-

One of my friends in NC has 13 inches of snow and counting....
Christine
-

Hope all those fellow east coasters do ok with the storm coming up the coast. I'm hoping it skims us here in CT...the news stations are all giving different forecasts, so who knows anymore!
LisaG
-

LisaG... Here is another person who does impressive origami...Make sure you click on all of the links at the top of his home page, especially the one for 'musicians'...http://www.ericjoisel.com/home.html
kmp
-

Cat, golf was around before him, it will be around after him. Maybe not as big, but it will be there.
Christine
-

These are awesome... http://thedesigninspiration.com/articles/won-park-the-master-of-origami-paper-folding/
LisaG
-

Golf will be fine without Tiger. Rounds played have been declining for more than 10 years. you should hear Tery's thoughts on why tiger is bad for golf. He'll likely be back by the Masters, anyway.
Cat
-

I'm so sorry to hear about Merfuff. I thought of her today while I was watching the Nigel/Neville scenes and I thought I'd pop in and see what she had to say about it. At least she's finally with Big R. I know she missed him very much.
Josie
-

I think if TW had one mistress, maybe then as a wife I MIGHT consider a reconciliation, but being as the number is in double digits, no way Jose! Ever! Ever! What kind of example is that for your children?? The iimpact on golf is interesting. Golf isn't exactly a "cool" sport to start, but he helped make it cool. They are talking dip in sales etc....
Christine
-

Cat, I don't have your email address but have photos.. feel free to use any of the ones I shared in the photobucket link down below.
Anita
-

I heard that TW's wife is consulting a divorce atty...I can't say I blame her. I don't know how so many of these women play "the good wife" when the infidelity happens. And he had to know if it ever got out, it would be an even bigger nightmare and embarrassment for the family. This situation reminds me of Clinton and Lewinsky...only thinking of himself and not the ramifications to his wife and children. I feel so sorry for them...bad enough to have to deal with the cheating, but to have to do it in a public forum is horrible.
LisaG
-

Interesting to read about Tiger Woods - I hope he can deal with his issues and that his family will be OK. I'm not writing about the scandal, whatever that is - just the impact he has on golf and other activities. If he misses a tournament the attendance (and revenues) drop by 50%. Thousands of employees everytwhere are economically dependent on this super-star in one way or another. Imagine the pressure. Also, you'd think that sponsors, etc. would plan ahead for the times Tiger doesn't play (as in another major injury, retirement, etc) because it seems like all the eggs are in one basket. Don't they have a Plan B? He is, as we've learned, only human. And I do wish him and his family well. Wish I could live on that island in Sweden where his wife has bought a house - it's gorgeous there, and hopefully they'll have much more privacy there.I would surely hope so.
Janet
-

Hello all - so nice to see some familiar names, but so sad an occasion. If anyone has a photo of Merfuff I will happily post it.
Cat
-

Starla- email coming at ya.******Janet-you be careful too. This is why I live in AZ.
rebecca
-

Lovely GB friends: ___________I've been thinking about our dear friend Merfuff and some of the things she inspired here: the Hats for Big R initiative, the Mooch relay, sending flowers after her spinal surgery, how her friend Jan died of cancer after Big R (hats involved there, too), and how Debbie always wanted to take a challenge and meet it._____________ So I'm thinking I might like to make a donation in Debbie's name to a charity that provides hairpieces to people with cancer and other medical conditions. ____________________If anyone wants to join in, feel free to e-mail me. I'll put my e-dress at the end of this and spell out the "at" instead of using the @ sign so I don't get spammed unmercifully. But I'll check in here from time to time, too, so for anyone having trouble finding me, you can leave a message.______________I'd gladly entertain other notions -- and I'd be more than willing to do the legwork and find the "right" organization and collect funds (doesn't have to be my idea) -- but I think that would be a fitting tribute to her._____________Anybody who wants to contact me can e-mail ____________ hootieperch(at)yahoo.com _________
starla
-

I thought our roads were messy with this latest snowstorm, but they don't compare to your driving experience, Lisa! Of course our traffic isn't as heavy. There is a canyon between us and Salt Lake City that can have whiteout conditions - but sometimes you won't know until you're actually in the canyon. The roads can be dangerous, slick, icy , , ,
janet
-

LisaG- I don't know how you do it. It would scare the heck out of me to drive those roads. Glad you are safe. I would love to have a 'tini, but I'm still on major antibiotics, so have one for me.
rebecca
-

You deserve the drink! Glad you are okay!
christine
-

Lovely "pome", Cawdor...thank you. ------------- I hope everyone in the northeast is ok...what a horrid day of weather! I was at my mom's putting up the tree and lights...it took me over 5 hours to get home to CT from NJ because of the icy overpasses on some roadways. At one point it took me 1 hour to go 4 miles...it was a parking lot. I nearly did a 180 over one bridge, though, and I was only going 1 mph! Luckily, the accidents on the bridges were more nuisance spin outs and bumper crunchers, but there were several that caused miles and miles of back up on the highway to get around them...the DOT was nowhere in sight to salt the road, too. Grrr! I was never so glad to be home...I had me a big ol' Appletini and now I'm feeling fine! %)
LisaG
-

Thank you Cawdor. That is beautiful. It was good to hear from you again.
rebecca
-

Thanks, Cawdor.
Diane
-

beautiful...
Christine
-

For Merfuff . . . I. There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth, and every common sight, To me did seem Apparelled in celestial light, The glory and the freshness of a dream. It is not now as it hath been of yore Turn whereso�er I may, By night or day, The things which I have seen I now can see no more. II. The rainbow comes and goes, And lovely is the rose; The moon doth with delight Look round her when the heaves are bare; Waters on a starry night Are beautiful and fair; The sunshine is a glorious birth; But yet I know, where�er I go, That there hath passed away a glory from the earth. XI. . . . . The clouds that gather round the setting sun Do take a sober coloring from an eye That hath kept watch o�er man�s mortality; Another race hath been, and other palms are won. Thanks to the human heart by which we live, Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears, To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears. Ode / William Wordsworth
Cawdor
-

I haven't watched GH in years..... same with most of AMC. I had to scale back... not enough time for so many soaps.
Christine
-

Puck, especially good since Jason was finally acting like the father he imagines he is.
cw
-

Okay, time to watch soaps. Anyone watching GH? I'm finally watching my recordings from last week -- Wednesday's episode was FANTASTIC! Jason yelling at Michael, and giving him the beechslapping he's been needing for a long, long, time was amazing! I had to watch that scene twice.
Puck
-

Its been a thrill to see so many familiar faces (names) on here again.
Christine
-

So glad I was able to reach many of you and that others have been reached too. So many of my emails bounced. and yes, I do wish I had the Merf to English dictionary somewhere. Who had that anyway? Was it Chris Green.. way back when? and yes, Merf had a big heart.. never a mean word about anyone. .the worst I ever heard her say was the "Damty Vikings"...she loved her football and I really thought that's why she hadn't been around the GB, because it was football season.
Anita
-

Diane, that is too funny! Merf, making us smile even now!
Christine
-

Hi STARLA! I remember a post once where she said she had to go for a hair bite and had to put on a damty undergarment which she hated. And someone asked if they could translate and kindly tell them what Merf was going to do!
Diane
-

{{{Merfuff}}} How could such a small lady leave such a huge void? Anita, thanks for letting me know. Just because long hours at work are keeping me away, that doesn't mean I don't think of this place often. But I can't quite imagine it without our dear Merfuff. As others have said, our only consolation is that she isn't hurting any more. Why is that cold comfort? The world is a smaller, sadder place. I miss you all.
starla
-

She once called me at home -- this, despite the fact that I had never given out the number, nor could I recall giving out Sweetie's real name! She put pieces of my life together, and called me in a down moment, and really cheered me up. I wish we COULD have taken that job in Rubber Balls, and spent some time with her in real life.
Puck
-

MERF was helpful like that. She used to send me little donations to help me buy cat food back when I was caring for 16 cats outside. That was so sweet of her, and it helped.
Diane
-

I just heard from MARIELLA! She was so glad to get my e-mail but so very sad to hear about MERF. She thinks about so many of the GB'ers and wants to say hi. She's super-busy right now with family things but will have more time later.
Diane
-

Connie- you always have the backup info! Nice to see you again. Cawdor- ahhhhh- maybe Cawdor could find us a po-em!
AnneM
-

I used to have Mariella's real address- I will mail her a note. Eless will show up here eventually and read. Elizabeth- wherever you are, darlin'- you were a great addition to the Merf Times!
AnneM
-

Now I will take particularly good care of the shamrock she sent me in honour of my birthday( and some TK related joke) over 10 years ago.
AnneM
-

And Merf- my goodness- so many poignant feelings about her! What a lovely soul- so generous and kind, so funny, a kindly tactful straightshooter! But she'd been in so much pain and for so long, and lonely since Big R passed away. When I first met her live, I was amazed at how frail she was for her age- but only in bosynot in spirit.
AnneM
-

Anita- thanks so much for thinking of contacting me- Tink has my co-ordinates.
AnneM
-

Morning all - Thank you anita for emailing me about Merf. Such a loss. She once offered to help pay my rent when she thought I was struggling. So sweet. I have passed the news on to Ace, AnneM, BelCanto, JulieR and RH.
Tinker
-

why did I spell hear as here???
christine
-

The posting page has a hint to the password on it. The user name is the first half of the presenter's name.
Puck
-

Connie.. .try that same address but at gmail.com instead of email.com..... I don't have the email.com one anymore.... first part is the same.. and yes, they would need the password for the GB you're right.... hadn't thought of that.. but AnneM and Elessann should have it...
Anita
-

Anita - One last thing -- Thanks for sharing the pictures of Merfuff. :')
Connie
-

Anita - Also, if folks haven't been around here in a while, they will need the GB password.
Connie
-

Anita - I just sent an email to an old email address I have for you -- ...@email.com I'll check back tomorrow to see if it bounces or if you have a newer one you could share. The email I sent has a few distribution lists that Cat used to send out various emails to everybody way back in '02 and earlier. You can figure out who some people are just by their email address. Of course, lots of them will be outdated, but maybe there are some on there that will be helpful.
Connie
-

Thank you for sharing those pictures, Anita... Looking at them brings back memories of that trip to visit Merf & Big R.
kmp
-

I just read the sad news... It's hard to wrap my mind & heart around that Merf is gone...
kmp
-

Wonderful pictures. Makes me sad.... but Merf, if you can here me, man TK looks wonderful!!! You lucky lady!
Christine
-

Diane :)
Anita
-

This morning, I was talking to myself in the bathroom and caught myself saying "iffan that doesn't work...". Hmmm.....I think Merf is putting words in my mouth. :)
Diane
-

I found an e-mail addy from 4 years ago for MARIELLA. I sent her an e-mail and will see if it bounces back or not.
Diane
-

Those are wonderful pictures -- thank you, ANITA!!!
Diane
-

okay, here's a password for sharing purposes.. not MY password. knew there was a way to do this :) .. .. .. it's nita1108 let me know if it works thanks!
Anita
-

hmm... let me figure another way to share then.. I really don't want to post my password to photobucket...brb..
Anita
-

Anita, it wants a password.
Christine
-

http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a261/anitastreet/merfuff/ here is an album with the photos I have of Merfuff... my favorite is the one of her and Big R.. but I have the ones of her meeting TK in there too.. they are from her website, which has been gone for a while..... I've sent email to a few folks .. but I don't have a lot of addresses anymore. My email to Elessann is bouncing.. and I don't have email for AnneM anymore.. I'd like to let them know.. and wish I could reach Mariella.. and even Elizabeth.. I know Merf was so fond of them... and all the posters her at the GB.
Anita
-

CAT - I agree, it is shocking. So many unexpected deaths this year. Would you please be able to post a picture of her at the top?
Diane
-

OH MYGOD!!! I just checked in quidkly and read that Merfuff passed away! How awful. She was such a bright light. I know we will all miss her tremendously.
Cat
-

man! it's like one big slushy outside! 3-4 inches of snow and now rain...it's pretty icky.
lisag
-

I agree! __________________________________ Hope everyone is staying warm and safe with the bad weather going on!
Christine
-

OLTL is a GREAT show these days, and I sure hope ABC isn't dumb enough to axe it. If any ABC show needs the axe, I'm sorry to say it's AMC.
Puck
-

That would be great, LISA!
Diane
-

I still have my hat and pin too. TK autographed it for me. It's starting to fade a little.
rebecca
-

I watched OLTL as a kid! I hope it doesn't go!
Christine
-

ROTFLOL! Wow, you all have a good memories! The roller blade ceremony! What TK eats for breakfast, the poems, etc. OMG, we were wacky back then...drunk on Thorsten and Patrick Thornhaaaart essences! ;) I know I have a LOT of the old GB posts saved on diskettes...maybe over my holiday vacation, I can try to pull up some of them and repost them for some reminiscence of Merf and the good old days.
LisaG
-

Me, too, PUCK! Maybe we'll have a reunion when we are all in our 70's. :) Sad that AS THE WORLD TURNS got the axe. In that article, they said it was RUMORED that ABC was thinking of axing OLTL. Gosh, I sure hope not. The article said that cable channels and news shows and other talk shows are taking the place of daytime dramas -- as well as women being in the workforce now to a great degree. I get sad for actors because it was tough enough before for them to get a part on TV and now it's even tougher because of the game shows and reality shows. If they take the Daytime Dramas away, that will be even more parts. We might never have known TK if not for the daytime dramas. OLTL seems like part of my life since I watched it as a kid.
Diane
-

Great memories, everyone! BTW, I still have my GB hat and pin!
Puck
-

Oh, Diane that is too funny. I remember those days too.
Christine
-

Hi CONNIE -- Sorry, didn't read your post down there! The cats are doing ok, thanks. They are almost all 18 or 19 years old now. Many have died. There are 6 left total (including my couple indoor ones). 4 of the cats are 18 or 19 years old, another one is probably 13 or 14 and the last one is about 7-8 years old. Thanks for asking! As soon as there are only 2 of them left, I really want to move out of this crummy old apt building I've been living in for so long just so I can care for them. It will be nice to move to a nicer place! A place with no cracks in the walls for one thing.
Diane
-

I'll never forget the first month or two I found the GB in late '95, I think. It was back when so many whiners were on. Merf and a bunch of us started wondering what Thorsten Kaye eats for breakfast, and someone said he probably eats Nutella on toast or something (since he's European). They were going on and on about it until Merf posts, "What the H is Nutella?!" LOL! Then the whiners kept posting to talk about the SOAP but we all kept talking about Nutella. The posts were just flying back then. Ian, the webmaster was not around, but the whiners threatened to complain to him about us talking about Nutella and not the soap. :)
Diane
-

wow, as you all know I don't post alot but I do read the GB when I can and I stunned. Merf was a fantastic lady who smile came thru her written words. I personally will miss her posts, most I had to read 3-4 times to understand them!, but I pray she is sitting on a cloud with BigR and at peace. God Rest your Soul Debby.
Boston
-

I love that TK story!
Christine
-

KATHLEEN - I think the poems were from "Cawdor". You were close with the "C"!
Diane
-

Oh man...the GB hat!!! I had one of those!!!
Kathleen
-

Now that you say that Connie, I do remember them being anonymous. Maybe I always suspected you, I don't know? Or did you used to post something every morning as well?
Kathleen
-

You are are bringing up such great memories. Ah, MERF, it stings to have you gone. I remember LISA and TINKER visiting TK in NY and telling him about MERF because he was going to do a Wisconsin soap thingee the next week or so. They described her and described her GB hat with all the buttons on it. So when TK was in Wisconsin at the table signing autographs, he recognized a little woman in the line wearing the GB hat covered with buttons fiddling with her camera. In his booming voice he said, "HEY MERFUFF!! Quit fiddling with that camera!" LOL! Merf was dumbstruck and turned a thousand shades of red!!
Diane
-

I confess to posting a few poems. But only when I opened the page and there wasn't one posted yet. Man, I am fighting the tears today. Actually I'm not fighting them, I'm just letting them come.
becca
-

I think the morning poems were done anonymously, but I always suspected it might be by Anne M. Any confessions? ;) ____________________ Hi, Diane! How are the kitties?
Connie
-

A poem for Merfuff: She walks along my country's shore behind her lonely guard and holds in every step the rhythm of my heart. Oh broken cliffs of Ireland lay down as soft as white sand and guide her on a steady path when I can't be at hand. And raging winds that shaped these hills caress her face with care. Forgive the sadness in her eyes and gently stroke her hair. Now Mother Ocean lift her high if she must leave by sea. Take her safely where she must then bring her home to me.**********Thorsten Kaye's Mother Ocean. God speed lady.
rebecca
-

Kathleen - I do miss those days. Remember the ice cream social on Friday nights? And Deety's ditties? Those were good times.
rebecca
-

{{{Merfuff}}} I am so sad today. I can't believe it. I had just sent her the Firefly series on VCR tapes as she couldn't use the DVDs. And she was loving it. And she is the only one that ever called me Becca. She was one in a million. I will miss you very much.
rebecca
-

This was one of the first websites I visited when I first got the internet!!
Christine
-

....and CW would type out the happenings of the show LIVE each day. It was always funny when there was obviously something happening 'on screen', but there was no dialogue, so cw couldn't tell what was going on!
Kathleen
-

And Connie would open us every morning with a poem, and Tiffany would close us every night with a summary...MEMORIES!
Kathleen
-

Yes, the GB was one of the first places I visited on the internet, too. And Merf, along with many of you who are posting now, are among the first people I remember meeting online! It's hard to believe how many years have passed... Remember that Halloween slideshow 'parade' we did?
Kathleen
-

Sometimes, I would read what she wrote and not understand a word!
christine
-

Connie, That was my experience, too. The GB was one of the first places I visited on the Internet. Merfuff was one of a kind. "Kind" defines her, too. Always concerned about others.
Janet
-

I'm so terribly sorry to hear about Merfuff. She was one of the reasons I started posting here - so long ago. That and LisaG on roller skates I believe having a wedding ceremony with "Patrick." Merfuff and I had a bet that I was older than she was. She didn't believe me. Merfuff - you still owe me those chocolate covered donuts!
jennifer
-

and she was obviously feeling okay when she last posted as she had just had a "hairbite" :) I know she was looking forward to the weekend and football.. and I figured that's why she hadn't been around here because it's football season. I haven't been around much either since I was sick for most of November or running around with the kids. Guess I should check in more often.
Anita
-

Yup, Merf always said that her brother would take Mooch kitty.. that was one reason she didn't want a shelter cat, they wanted it returned if something happened to the owner.. she said she'd feel better knowing her cat would be with family. I have her brother's phone number. I will call him this week if I don't hear back from Klaus. I know Klaus and family visited Merf this past summer. She had so much fun with his little girls even though the kids spoke no English. She adored little people :) Klaus didn't say what happened but I do know that a couple years ago Deb had surgery for major blockages (100% blocked) of the femoral ateries... she had severe PAD....so I don't know if maybe it was what caused her death. I just hope it was painless and quick. I feel so bad thinking of her all alone in that big house. I do know she had several people that looked in on her regularly. She last posted her and on her football forum 11/4.... and passed away 11/10, that's all the details I have.
Anita
-

Kathleen - I do, too! It's a reinforced hole that the ropes go into on a sailboat -- I think that's what it was, anyway. I, too, wish I knew what happened. She seemed fine at her last post. Perhaps she passed quietly in her sleep. Poor Mooch. Big R left her and now Merf. But ANITA said that her brother said he would take Mooch so I feel confident she is with him now.
Diane
-

Diane- I remember her using that expression! I also remember a discussion about what a grommet actually was, LOL!
Kathleen
-

Thanks for sharing that memory, Anita. Merf will definitely be sorely missed! It just feels so weird that we don't know what happened, since we've all 'known' her for so many years! :-(
Kathleen
-

Here are a couple of sites...one with a story about Merfuff and another with a photo and a little about Merf and this web site. -------- http://mfinley.com/articles/cyberfriend.htm -------- http://www.mfinley.com/articles/internet-cat.htm
LisaG
-

CONNIE R - It's so nice to see you after so long. :)
Diane
-

So sorry to hear about Merfuff. The GB will never be the same.
cw
-

really irks my grommet, I'm going to start using that!
christine
-

Yeah, she gave us "that really irks my grommet". People always stop in amusement when I inject that into a conversation. Thanks, Merf.
Diane
-

oops, that was ARIEL in the pic with Rebecca and TK. Dang, I can't find the pic I had of TK and Merf. Of well, it will show up sooner or later. I think using ANITA's pic would be the best.
Diane
-

I have everything from Merf's website still. I never delete anything.... I have a great pic of her and Big R together too.. they are all on my external hard drive. And I have pics from the summer of 2000 from when we got to visit in person at the Jolly Ranch.. she was such a gracious hostess. And she knew how much I wanted to go to the Mall of America but she wasn't up to it.. so Richard took me.. we had a grand day.. he walked the whole mall with me.. carried my packages.. we had a lunch and laughs.... it was a great trip. I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that she's gone.
Anita
-

she definitely had an interesting way of speaking!!! :-)
christine
-

I think I have an old pic of Merf, too, but she's in the pic with Rebecca and Thorsten. ANITA probably has a better pic of her by herself.
Diane
-

I am in shock about Merf. It seems so sudden, but I know she has been suffering in that body for quite a long time. Things will never be the same without her. I remember her Merfese in the early GB years and how funny it was. We will miss you greatly, Debby. You were one of a kind.
Diane
-

Puck, here's the obit.. it really doesn't say much at all... http://www.hillfuneralservice.com/index.cfm?event=memorials&id=385 I'm still in shock and can't imagine the world without our Debby Merfuff .. now I know why she didn't reply when I told her Gary was coming her way.. the really sad thing is he was up there(Minneapolis) when she passed away...last time he went to Minneapolis, Big R picked him up and he had dinner with Deb and Big R...he is in shock by the news as well.
Anita
-

Anita -- do you mind sharing the obit?
Puck
-

I�m so sad to read the news about Merfuff. The GB was one of the first places I found on the Internet back in �94, and Merfuff was the greeter to all newcomers. It was a delight to read her posts, filled with humor and her unique way of �speaking�. (Didn�t someone once make a Merfuff-ese dictionary? lol) She will be sorely missed, but I am glad she no longer has pain and limitations.
Connie R
-

I just heard the news about Merf, and am so sad that she is gone. Like you, Lisa, it's hard to imagine not seeing her posts here :-( But yes, she is now free of pain and with her love!
Kathleen
-

Anita -- thank you so much for finding out -- I was wondering why she hadn't posted recently. Oh how sad for us.....but yes, she is finally free of her pain and limitations, and reunited with Big R. Godspeed, Debby! We loved you very much!
Puck
-

I so don't know what to say...... wow.....God bless you Merfuff, you will be missed.
Christine
-

Anita - Bless you for posting such heartbreaking news. It's truly such a shock, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the concept that we won't see her posts anymore. But as you said, she's finally free of the physically limitations and pain of this world and is dancing away with Big R again. That's how I'm going to try to remember her. If you get any more information on any charities she may have wanted us to contribute to in her honor, please let me know...I'd love to recognize her unique and brave way of going through life. -------- God speed, Merfuff...you will be sorely missed...but say 'hi' to Big R!
LisaG
-

Cat, can I email you a photo of Merfuff to post on the GB? I don't think I have your email address anymore... do you still have my old yahoo address?
Anita
-

I have some really really sad news. My friend and our dear beloved Merfuff has passed away. I had an email from her friend and mine Klaus that I had missed in my Yahoo email account. He hadn't heard from her in some time and could not reach her by phone. He was able to reach her nephew and found out she had died. I am shocked and stunned. In looking through the GB I see she last posted on 11/4. I found a small online obit that states she passed away in her home on 11/10 and at her request there was no funeral or memorial. She is now with her beloved Big R and in no more pain. Hopefully tapdancing her way across the heavens. .... .... .... .... .... I am still in a state of shock. I've emailed Klaus for more information if he has any. I know her brother had agreed a long time ago to take Mooch if anything happened to her. She was only 59 years old.
Anita
-

This woman could barely breathe... asthma! I wonder why?
Chrisitne
-

Christine - I saw that episode, too. Clearly, these hoarders are mentally ill in some way. What's amazing to me is that they're not ill from the germs and other gunk in the house. Ick!
LisaG
-

sorry toddler
chrisitne
-

The woman had a package of toodler diapers.. her son is 28!
Christine
-

I was watching Hoarders just now. This woman had 8000lbs of trash taken out of her home. The cleaing crew also found 2 dead cats that were almost skeletal and nearly petrified. How can anyone live like this???
Chridtine
-

We are do for a real good snow on Wednesday. Of course I work the late shift as always when it snows. I only hope its not bad as I'm not sure what the hand will be like come then.
Christine
-

Winter is here! We're going to get the first 'real' snow of the season tonight, but hopefully it will only be a couple of inches and will melt later in the week. We already had big wet flakes falling today...good day to stay in and start the Christmas decorating, cards and present wrapping.
LisaG
-

that is too funny! I told DH who is hunting for a light up tree "just like the enighbors"/
christine
-

LOL! This is pretty funny... http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Neighbors-Ditto-Display-Looks-Like-a-Bright-Idea-78523157.html?yhp=1
LisaG
-

Because they are "soulmates!" (cue violin crescendo) They are IN LUUUV! Love means never having to say you're sorry! It was....DESSSSTINYYYYY!!!
Puck
-

I guess I'm lucky because I don't know any slutty women so I can't compare. I did have one friend 25 years ago who fooled around with a married man, and he left he wife and kids to be with her. I was very disturbed by that and never had the same respect for her again. She seemed to feel justified and have no remorse. She was married, too, at the time. How could you have no remorse for the people who were hurt? And the vows you tread upon?
Diane
-

Yeah, you're right, ANITA. You've been blessed to have a husband like Gary. I think so many women have known so many deadbeats (SO MANY) that it's easy to throw the whole lot of them in the toilet. I really wish there were an end to all tabloid 'news'. It takes us away from what is important and that is the state of domestic and world affairs. If we diddle our lips about Brad Pitt and the alleged affairs all these celebrities have, we pay no attention to things that need out attention.
Diane
-

oh, I'm known my share of slutty women too.. I don't think it's fair to lump all men into one category. There are a lot of good ones out there. Everyone makes mistakes.. it's just when they are in the limelight everyone else knows about their mistakes. I'm not defending Tiger's actions, I feel bad for the whole family. Just be glad not all our mistakes aren't broadcast by the media or on the front page of the tabloids.
Anita
-

That's a big reason I see men as the weaker sex. Like LISA said - they think with their little head most of the time.
Diane
-

it was deliciously campy!
chrisitne
-

Yeah, the coffin was a bit campy. And yes, how can he be free?!??! -- several people saw him shoot Jared!
Puck
-

He admits to having an affair...shocker...not. I am so thoroughly sick of hearing about these men who have everything good pulling crap like this. Tiger says he wasn't living up to his values...what values? He's healthy, wealthy, has a beautiful and loving wife, plus 2 little innocent girls...what the heck was he thinking? The stupidest part is that as a celebrity, these guys HAVE to know these kinds of reprehensible behavior is going to be easier and more likely to be found out about because they're so well known. Unreal.
LisaG
-

Mr. Woods is on tape!_________________________________ What is everyone thoughts on Mitch so far? On what planet caould he possibly be free? But I did like him coming out of the coffin! Classic Mitch Lawrence!
christine
-

Reminder...they're lighting the Rockefeller Center tree tonight on NBC...starts at 8pm, nut they usually don't light it until the final 10 mins or so. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is also on CBS at 8pm.
LisaG
-

We just watched that video... how cute!!!!! ______________________ looks like Tiger had more then one "liason"
Christine
-

this is SO cute!!! http://video.yahoo.com/network/100284668?v=6522901&l=3774740
LisaG
-

That works for the politicians, but the celebrities don't need marriage...it's acceptable for them to not marry and have a family...look at Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. They've been together for like 20 yrs and refuse to marry...people STILL ask them when they'll marry...it's ridiculous. And I know there are women that cheat, but the majority are men...it's a congenital flaw that their 'little head' rules over the big one. ;) And people wonder why I don't date. Ha!
LisaG
-

They get married because they need a wife to take care of the kids. They need the IMAGE of an all-American family.
Puck
-

I agree, what's the point of getting married if you're going to fool around? Isn't that the whole point of being married, to commit yourself to ONE person mind, body, soul and spirit? The worst offenders to me are the sanctimonious politicians who go on and on about "family values" and have illicit affairs with women, hookers, even homosexual liasons. I have nothing against gay relationahips whatsoever...I think they should be afforded the same rights as any heterosexual couple...it's the hypocritical "family value" politicos that condemn it, then practice it, that disgust me.
LisaG
-

Though why get married in the first place?? Image, power? Who knows. And I am sure there are enough women too doing the same thing!
christine
-

Maybe he ws in a rush to get to the after Thanksgiving sales?? Lisa G, I agree with you for the most part. The power, the money, the fame... the women throwing themselves at you..... your ego soars and if you aren't grounded it is too tempting. I know of a few musicians who have open marriages. One has been married for 30 years. I don't condone or like it but at least its honest.
Christine
-

I agree that it does NOT look like a DV situation. But I kinda see where Tiger's coming from as far as embarrassment and not wanting to talk about it. I'm going to bet the story goes something like this -- "My wife and I had an argument (maybe about a mistress), and to prove my point, I decided to leave in a huff, and instead I ran into a tree and had to be rescued." That IS embarrassing, and childish, and who wants to be seen in that light?
Puck
-

Mike - Them and Mark Harmon! ;) Hubba hubba!
LisaG
-

Yeah, 2 a.m. backing out - and he hits his neighbor's tree and fire hydrant and his wife has to break a window to get him out of the car? I'd say that was an unusual accident. Most of us back out fairly slowly. He must have been in a huge hurry. But I really admire the guy and hope this doesn't get any more publicity. Let the paparazzi grill someone else for a while.
Janet
-

Lisa, so I assume Lee Majors and TK are two of the first 198 that are not pigs? :-)
Mike
-

Mike - that is truly bizarre. I can honestly say I don't care about Tiger Woods and this whole situation. In my mind 99% of rich or famous men are pigs and will at one time or another cheat on their wives...I wouldn't expect anything better, unfortunately. Sad, but true.
LisaG
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Just want to clarify that I in no way condone domestic violence nor find any humor in such. What I find amusing in this is the fact that this particular chinese network went to such great lengths to report this story that many are likely tired of hearing about. I apologize to anyone who thought I found humor in domestic violence, real or alleged.
MIke
-

Watch this! Chinese coverage of Tiger Woods, complete with computer renderings of "what happened". HILARIOUS! http://deadspin.com/5416369/chinese-crack-tiger-woods-case-with-dramatic-cgi-re+enactment
Mike
-

I'm tired of it too. But I do think there is more to it then a simple accident.
Christine
-

Leave Tiger alone already. sheesh!
Janet
-

I know, not good! I don't see him running for President any time soon.
christine
-

Yeah, methinks I smell another Dukakis.
PUck
-

Glad they caught the Washington police shooter and some of his suspected accomplices. He should never have been out of jail. Huckabee had granted him a pardon. Oy!
Janet
-

LisaG- yes, we do something like this every year. It really is cool.
rebecca (Xerox employee for 28 years now)
-

Oh, yes, after all their challenges, a full-term pregnancy and a healthy baby would be a miracle. Absolutely. And we'll just have to celebrate without them and maybe I'll fly over in the spring, depending on other factors . . . Darling Granddaughter had a grand visit in Ohio with her daddy - thanks to our friends who flew her out and back with them parents of #1's best friend).
Janet
-

Janet, she needs to stay home and rest and #2 son should be with her. It might be tough, but it will be worth it when the little one is born. _____________neat story about Lucy.....
Christine
-

This only takes a couple of minutes to do. It is really quick and easy. XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL ----- If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. ----- How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second. ----- Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them. ----- This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. ----- Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. ----- We can never say enough thank you's.
LisaG
-

Oh, dear, my Finnish daughter in law is in the hospital and won't be able to fly here for Chritmas. They've had numerous in vitro attempts, and this one has complications and they don't think she should fly at all during the pregnancy, if she is able to stay pregnant. She will be hospitalized 1-2 weeks. #2 son is going to cancel her airline reservation and I think he should cancel his, too. She should come first. Shoot, he's the organizer of fun during the holidays, so we'll have to carry on without him. If necessary, I'm willing to go there (if invited) to help out. He's on top of things - he has brought her a laptop and videos and books and magazines, and her sister has brought "her girly stuff" to her. Still, it's a very anxious time for them.
Janet
-

warning: long post, good story Wrong Number Miracle Mom was going to miss mortgage payment if she sent daughter money Virginia Saenz could hear the desperation in the voice of the telephone message. It was 5 a.m. on the day before Thanksgiving, and the caller, Lucy Crutchfield, was trying to tell her daughter that she'd send money for groceries -- but she'd have to miss a mortgage payment to do it. But Crutchfield dialed the wrong number. Instead of getting her daughter, she got Saenz, a real estate agent from the San Diego suburb of Tierrasanta. "I know right now we are all struggling," Saenz said. "Lisa on the phone, she sounded so desperate for her daughter, it broke my heart." Saenz did the only thing she could think of -- she called Crutchfield back and said not to worry. Crutchfield would pay the mortgage, and Saenz would handle the groceries. "She said, 'You have the wrong number ... don't worry any more,' " Crutchfield recalled. For Crutchfield, it was a holiday miracle. Her house is already in foreclosure. Her mother recently passed away, and Crutchfield is now trying to pay off her house. She had a money order prepared to make a mortgage payment on that house -- but was going to cash it in when her daughter called asking for money. "I thought I was going to lose that house, too," Crutchfield said. Saenz told Crutchfield to keep her money and promised to take care of her daughter. The real estate agent then called Crutchfield's daughter. "I asked her what she would like, what her kids like, and then I felt really bad because she said she only wanted eggs and milk," Saenz said. "When somebody only asks you for eggs and milk, they are in a really bad situation." So Saenz went grocery shopping on Thanksgiving morning with her 14-year-old son in tow to tell her what kids liked to eat. They bought food for a Thanksgiving dinner and enough groceries to get Crutchfield's daughter through the end of the month -- her next payday. She said the act of giving made "the day special for me." "I helped somebody," Saenz said Friday. "I think it's what anybody would have done." Eric S. Page reports about all things San Diego, but he draws the line at cat stories. You can
Janet
-

Kelly will have many opportunities stemming from this experience. She really blossomed. I understand she has a fiance. She has the most radiant smile and infectious giggle. Louis was the PERFECT partner for her and I saw tears in his eyes more than once. What he accomplished with her was wonderful. I know that other contestants have had career opportunities stemming from appearing on DWTS - Mario Lopez, for example . . . any exposure is good exposure, and on DWTS they get a LOT. I wonder if they have a list of celebrities dying to get on, or if they approach some with invitations. I really do enjoy the show, even though it gets campy and tacky at times. It's still very entertaining and has heightened an interest in dance in many people, and that's great.
Janet
-

FInally saw it -- yep, Donny was good, but I was more touched my Kelly! Oh well -- it's not a loss that Donny won, anyway! He IS great!
Puck
-

Yes, Donny won!He was flawless Monday and Tuesday nights and on his game. I was really pleased for him. He is one of the Good Guys.
Janet
-

Just heard from #1 son, and they're back with the family that flew Darling Granddaughter to Ohio. She was anxious to see them and "dance with Charlie." Now I'd buy a ticket to see that. So pleased they are having a great visit.
Janet
-

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
christine
-

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Christine, glad you are successfully out of surgery! So, I take it Donny won? -- I haven't seen my tape yet! He's great of course, but I was soooo rooting for radiant little Kelly!
Puck
-

I just want to take a minute and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I love the picture Cat. It makes me miss my mom and gramma a lot. And I love the little guy peeking back at the "camera". Anyways, have fun all, and be safe!
rebecca
-

uh . . .make that 250 miles round trip just to get Darling Granddaughter off to Ohio. Still it's worth it. I think Mr. J will do the driving when she arrives back in Salt Lake City on Sunday - and deliver her to her mom.
Janet
-

Christine: sit back and let the others help. You are so lucky to have a mom around who can do dinner, etc. for you................. Last year I was recovering from ankle reconstruction and we didn't even put up Christmas decorations. Instead we flew to Ohio (wheelchair transit at airport and hotel) and our kids spoiled us. It was actually easier to get in the car, go to the airport and get on a plane than stay here and try to deal with snow and ice. You do what you gotta do. So this year I am sooooooooo grateful my ankle is healing well. What a difference 13 months can make. ..................Darling Granddaughter is in Ohio with her daddy. Our friends were flying there to visit their son (#1's best friend) and they offered to fly her out with them - a 2 year old! They said she was an incredible traveler and so much fun. But I had to drive about 150 miles round trip to pick her up from her mom's and deliver her to our friends' home so they could take her with them. Her mother was, shall we say, uncooperative. But we were determined to make this week happen. I broke my trip up and stayed at my niece's the night before Darling Granddaughter's flight, and we played dress-up (niece has all kinds of fun stuff). It was really a hoot to see Darling Granddaughter get into it. She is sooooo verbal and funny. And really quite resilient, for which I am also very grateful......ordered some pies from Village Inn and picked them up, will bring that and some fresh fruit to SIL's for dinner tomorrow. That makes for an easy day. And her kids do the cooking. She's not able to.................. We will have all 3 boys for Christmas so there will be plenty of cooking then. However, #2 really likes to grill and that's a great help. They will come from Finland and stay about 2 weeks. #1 will come from Ohio and stay about 3 weeks, and his daughter will make several visits during that time. #3 is coming from Berkeley for 5 days. So it will be a little crazy but nice to have the kids around.
Janet
-

Christine - Glad your surgery was successful...that must be a relief. Might I suggest, if you need to get your hair washed, go to a salon and get it done...one less thing to deal with when you have to shower with a covered hand. I know what a pain that is...I had the same issue last year when I cut my finger with scissors. -------- Just got back from buying T-Day food and the grocery stores are mad houses! Of course, I find I forgot one thing, so now I have to go out again later. *sigh* And the bizarre thing is everyone seems to be out of regular whipped cream! All they had was the one with artificial sweeteners, so I drove to 3 more stores and finally found one with light cream at the mini mart in the gas station. The cashier said everyone was buying it there, too...I told her everyone seemed to be out. This is the 2nd year this has happened to me...you'd think they'd order extra. Next year, I buy it a week in advance!
Lisa G.
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thanks Janet. They didn't have to do a graft for a piece of nerve which is good. Doing stuff is hard though. Showering with a bag on my hand and trying to do my hair! I am less mobile then when I had the stitches so its even harder now. We are going over to my moms tomorrow. I have her my stuff and she is goign to prepare everything, so thats a big help. Got the guys working around here. But its frustrating! Putting jup my tree on Friday should be fun!
Christine
-

Christine, glad surgery is over and was successful.
Janet
-

Doesn't Kelly have a radiant smile? I thought Louis handled her so well - his maturity was key to her success, I think. And Donny just did not make a misstep at all on Monday or Tuesday - - - to be the last dancer Monday night, do a show-stopping routine, and get 30/30- wow! He is an incredibly hard worker. I've seen him in concerts and in Joseph and truly admire his talent. He's also funny - and really devoted to his family. He is the real thing. .........We have a lot of Utah connections with the show. The Houghs are natives, Donny and Marie are, and now Louis lives in Orem (not far from Donny). I wonder if he's teaching with Ashley del Grasso (sp?) at her studio? And Louie the snowboarder lives and trains in Utah. Chelsey Hightower is also a native. We seem to turn out singers and dancers. It must be in the water? I am a native of California so that explains me.
Janet
-

YAY! Donny!
christine
-

HAPPY THANKSGIVING (a little early) to everyone! Hope your holiday is dafe, happy and filled with good food, good friends and family. :)
LisaG
-

surgery went well. They were able to connect the nerve. Wearing huge splint!!!!On vicodin.... rested alot, watched dwts, love Donny and Kelly, but pushing for a Donny win!
christine
-

Janet - i ws just saying pretty much the same thing at lunch. I have far more respect for Donny Osmond now than before the show. And Kelly Osborne has been delightful. Not the best dancer, but her personality is a hoot - and that smile of hers lights her up.
Cat
-

Just thoughth I'd weigh in on DWTS: Donny is the man. Mya is the better dancer but has been trained, starting with ballet, since the age of 2. I think his fan base may make the difference in the end. He is really a good, decent guy, a devoted family man and a hard worker. Loved his Broadway routine last night. Kim was right on target with the level of choreography and it was definitely a razzle-dazzle judge- and crowd-pleasing number. Clearly the best of the free style dances. Dmitry didn't choose well for Mya's freestyle number as it wasn't unusual in any way and didn't demand as much as she can do. I was sorry to see Joanna go as she deserved to be in the finals. That last waltz they did was just breathtaking, and what a song! Anyway, I'm hoping Donny will go all the way with this cuz he's deserving. I just hope he doesn't goof in the dance-off. Not sure how much weight that carries, but only the judges vote on that one. I think it's still added in to last night's scores, though. Whatever. Go, Donny!
Janet
-

Thanks for the picture, Cat - I have always loved that one. ............Hope Christine is doing well post-surgery. Drove 230 miles round trip to deliver Darling Granddaughter to friends who flew with her to Ohio so she could be with Daddy for Thanksgiving. They said she was a "phenomenal" traveler. (It could be said that her mother less than cooperative, thus Grammy did the driving). We had so much fun Sun. night playing dress-up with Cousin Amy, who has a child's paradise of toys at her place. We will have some visits with her over the Christmas holidays, so that will keep us busy.
Janet
-

Elessann, if it makes you feel any better, I missed it too.. remembered the day after :) Good to see you here...hope all is well. .. things getting busy as the holidays approach...shopping, cleaning, parties...school, PTO, volunteering.. life is good, I can't complain.
Anita
-

Elessann - hopefully Mickey will still be around next year! ;)
LisaG
-

Dang it! I even have a "Happy Birthday Mickey" button, made a mental note to remember to wear it, then promptly forgot and neglected to wear it yet again. Oh well, there's always next year... Hope all of my old acquaintances are hanging in there!
Elessann
-

Thanks Janet and all of you!! I'll be doing the one hand typing again.
Christine
-

Christine, so sorry you're having to undergo surgery. Will be thinking of you.
Janet
-

I get to be put under! I can't move during the surgery at all.... worse part, no food after midnight on Sunday until the surgery!! Which is in the afternoon!!! I will make it a point to stuff myself silly this weekend!
christine
-

Great puns, Lisa. I just blogged them. Christine, hope you are healing well!
Janet
-

He looks good for 81!!
Christine
-

Happy 81st Birthday, Mickey Mouse!
LisaG
-

Could have been worse.....
Christine
-

Christine - Ugh! So sorry to hear...I hope surgery goes ok. What a bummer.
LisaG
-

Thank you. My co-workers husband calls the shooting pains "fireballs". YEp, thats what they feel like. Since I have less of a bandage on it and am moving it more, I am feeling that more.
Christine
-

I saw your post on Facebook. We'll be thinking about you during your surgery.
Puck
-

severed nerve. I need surgery on it. He did the old pin trick and I fifn't even feel it. The way its numb is like the finger is divided in half. The half that I cut deeper is the numb half.
Christine
-

So Christine...what's the verdict?
LisaG
-

I am on my way! Tomorrow, 10am!
Christine
-

Christine - Sorry to hear about your finger...I hope there isn't any nerve damage. Go to the specialist ASAP! Sending positive thots your way! OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!
LisaG
-

Great! I need to go to a hand specialist as my finger is still numb. And to top it off, I have my blood pressure is high!! Of course waiting an 45 mintues for my appointment proabably didn't help!
Christine
-

Wow...I was painting tonight...did the walls last year a soft wheat/tan and now I'm finally getting to the trim. It's been 15 years since I've painted (when I first moved in) and boy does the "off white" paint left on the doors and the trim look dirty and dingy! The white I'm using really makes the wall color POP! The only problem with painting trim is having 2 cats that like to be near you all the time! Poor Jake got a little paint on his back, but I cleaned it off. Would be nice if they offered their tails and helped paint with them! >^..^<
lisag
-

Another death...Ken Ober, MTV's 'Remote Control' Host, Dies at 52.
LisaG
-

LisaG- we have the DVR box for DirectTv too. And we love it. Treat yourself. You deserve it.
rebecca
-

I know that show was one of my favorites
Christine
-

Oh, how sad! I LOVED the Equalizer...that was a great show. I even have DVD's of the show. RIP Mr. Woodward.
LisaG
-

We are in the same boat, out VCR no longer works with our TV. We have digital cable and have mulled over our options. ____________________________________ Just saw Edward Woodward died. He starred in The Equalizer years ago and was in the original Wicker Man. I always liked him.
Christine
-

LisaG -- I don't have tivo, but i have the DVR that comes with DirecTV service. LOVE IT! I bought mine on eBay two years ago for half the price it was selling through DirecTV, and I pay $5/mo to subscribe to the DVR recording service, so all is well. As to picture quality, I don't see a diminishment at all, but then again, I don't have an HDTV. If you have an HDTV, you need HD service from your provider (if you want the HD picture) AND you need an HD DVR/Tivo. That's just to make sure you can receive and record in HD -- if none of that matters to you (it doesn't matter to me), then just a regular DVR will work, and they are cheaper than HD DVRs.
Puck
-

Tivo help! Anyone out there have Tivo? Since I got my new LCD tv, my ancient VCR is just not doing the job with the quality of the picture when recording. I was thinking of getting a DVD recorder, but they're kind of pricey and some of the reviews I've read say some pretty bad things about the picture quality, too...plus they say the units break easily. So, I was thinking maybe going with Tivo, but I have no idea of the equipment needed or how to order the service. Any suggestions? Thanks! :)
LisaG
-

I always like his character, so deliciously evil! And he was so good with Tina!!
Christine
-

I think our beloved Elizabeth established that rule. But how did Mitch supposedly die? He is a delicious character, one of the best ever. But why do the writers have to make his victims so stupid - like Jared? Exactly how would anyone prove that Charlie killed Jared step-father? The only two witnesses didn't speak up at the time and Jared can just say he lied in prison. By allowing himself to be blackmailed, he gives credence to the story and lets Mitch run around. Sheesh, he's dumb.
Cat
-

Is everyone watching "The Wizard of Oz"? It's on TBS at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday!
LisaG
-

Geeky Puns...Conversion Units: -------- Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi 2000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won ton -------- 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope -------- Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond -------- Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram -------- Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour = Knotfurlong -------- 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling -------- Half of a large intestine = 1 semicolon -------- 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz -------- Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower -------- Shortest distance between two jokes = A straight line -------- 453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake -------- 1 million- microphones = 1 megaphone -------- 2 million bicycles = 2 megacycles -------- 365.25 days = 1 unicycle -------- 2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilomockingbirds -------- 52 cards = 1 decacards -------- 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton -------- 1000 milliliters of wet socks = 1 literhosen -------- 1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche -------- 1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin -------- 10 rations = 1 decoration -------- 100 rations = 1 C-ration -------- 2 monograms = 1 diagram -------- 4 nickels = 2 paradigms -------- 2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital = 1 IV League -------- AND....... 100 Senators = Not 1 decision
LisaG
-

They gave me one in the ER.
Christine
-

CHRISTINE - Have you had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years?
Diane
-

Or to take a lead from DALLAS, they could have the 'death' of a character simply be a shared dream of everyone in any given SOAP-ville and when everyone wakes up, lo and behold, there is the 'decease' alive and well...until the next time everyone falls asleep... This could give a whole new meaning to the song: "I dreamed a dream in times gone by..."
kmp
-

And they can always keep the essense of the character alive by doing a brain transplant! Remember on Friends, Joey's soap character came back with the female lead's brain! ;D
LisaG
-

Amen, Mike...
Puck
-

Mike, even then that might not be the real end!
Christine
-

Re: Mitch Lawrence. As was said here oh so many years ago, "Thou shalt not be truly dead, unlesseth, on screen, thyne head rolleth away from thyne limp body."
Mike
-

No one dies on a soap!
Christine
-

Hello all - Mitch Lawrence. Well, OLTL is really pulling out the creepy stuff. How did Mitch supposedly die the last time? Why was he only soap dead instead of dead dead? And you can realy tell he loves sinking his teeth into that character. Someone has to drive a stake through his heart this time.
Cat
-

wow! lowes is a great store! i just called to try to find out about my storm door...the guy that measured said because of the inconsistent size, it would have to be a special order, but when I went to Lowes, they said a standard door could be ordered with just an extra $40 for installation to fit it behind the siding. well, i just called to see where things stood with scheduling the installation and she said the door wasn't in and that it would need a special order because of the size! i almost blew a gasket. i told her that i specifically asked the salesman about what the measurer said and he replied that a standard door could be used. so she went to talk to the mgr of the dept and they're going to eat the extra cost of the special order door! it's just going to take a couple more weeks to get in the door. i better go buy another powerball ticket with that kind of good luck!
lisag
-

When I was younger and would go to the Domincam Republic to stay with my cousins... I remember Dark Shadows playing (pre cable etc... days), the maid/cook (more like a family member) would stay up and watch it with us.
chrisitne
-

You must be practically asleep!
Christine
-

LOL i got chinese food for dinner and the fortune cookie says "To lower your stress level, get a cat." I have 2, so I must be VERY relaxed!
lisag
-

Dark Shadows... I was in college when it first aired and a lot of us actually arranged (or at least tried to) our classes around when it was on, so we didn't miss any episode (back in the 'pre-taping of shows' days)...
kmp
-

I knew he was on his way! Must watch it!
Christine
-

Dark Shadows! Oh wow, what a blast from the past! Really creepy show...Barnabas was nasty!
LisaG
-

I always liked Carlo too. However, my alltime favorite soap villain goes back to the 60s, the guy that played Nicholas Blair on Dark Shadows, Humbert Allen Astredo. I mean for crying out loud, the deliciously evil Angelique was absolutely terrified at even the mention of Nicholas.
Mike
-

pssssssssssst! carlo hesser is poseidon!!!
blast from the past
-

OMG! OMG! OMG! It's Mitch Lawrence!!! Heavens, Roscoe Born is one of those men who just gets more good looking as he ages. He's my favorite OLTL villain! -- well, him and Carlo Hesser...
Puck
-

chocolate.... yum..... ______________________talking about chocolate, I bought some new ice cream. Edy's hot cocoa with marshmallows... it's the light but is really good!!
christine
-

Christine.. did you ice it with vanilla or choclate frosting? :) sorry, I keep thinking of the icing on a cake everytime I see that post! .. Merf.. Gary is up near you again in the Twin Cities...wish he had more time, he still fondly remembers his visit with you and Big R years ago......he flew out this morning but is booked solid..will be a short trip.
Anita
-

I iced it a few times and that really helped. No red streaks or itching. I felt a few twinges but it is feeling what I excpect it too. The tip is still a bit numb. Tonight I'm going to probably open it and put antibiotic cream on it.
christine
-

christine - i would ice your finger to take down the swelling. also, if it start to itch or if you see any red streaks coming from it, go back to the ER asap...since it was metal that cut you, it could be infection or blood poisoning.
lisag
-

And my mom is on vacation! I really wanted her... called her from the ER.
christine
-

My finger is bruising and still numb... I can't unwrap it yet... I don't even want to see it. I call it Frankfinger!
christine
-

Christine - ouch! Not a great present after all huh? Hope the finger feels better soon. Reminds me of the time I accidentally cut my lower index finger with a pair of scissors when I was cutting something in my hand...boy did I fee stupid at the ER. The worst part was the numbing stuff they pumped into the finger. Later I took out the stitches myself because it was healing over them!
LisaG
-

We were at the ER LAst night. Cut my finger really bad trying to take a harmless looking wire off a new pan I got ( free gift for my work anniversary.). I needed six stitches. Staying home today... much pain.
Christine
-

2 PM 11/4/09 Got a hairbite today. Weight off my mind ;)____Can someone (perhaps a 2nd time) please refresh my memory? Why did Joe (I understand Ray MacDonald) retire and appoint Dr. Demento hospital head? Was Joe blackmailed?____And is David's custody of Trevor the only sword he has over Amanda's head? Why don't she and Jake apply for shared custody? There's a laundry-list of Dr. Disgusto's crimes - no time served but plenty of people to testify on their behalf as to Dr. Dipwad's crimes._____Lovely pity parties by Jake (who thinks with his penis - only of sex with Amanda) and Kendall (in hog-heaven at home up till recently rather than a nasty prison) whinges any time she is away from Zach and the boys for a couple of minutes.______BIG problems those are not.___And what a LAUGHER - Clint Buchanan attracted to skanky Whatshername? Hope the writers cannae manage that.____Ooooh, Nigel and Neville - treat X 2!
Merfuff
-

DOH! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFMaS0PEWqk
lisag
-

They had a pharoh hat on clearance... no point, he just pulls it right off. I bought some chocolate for the guys yesterday as none of our candy was. _______________________________ Found out today at work, one of our most difficult, annoying and memorable (as in roll your eyes and hide she is coming) patrons passed away. They suspect complications due to H1N1. She was morbidly obese and had many underlying health issues such as diabetes and had had respiratory issues for years.
christine
-

Ha ha ha...I would never even attempt to put anything on a cat! I was missing leftovers, since I didn't do Halloween this year, so I went down and bought myself some mini Reese's. :)
LisaG
-

i put my cat's chicken head costume on and he was NOT amused. Pulled it off twice.
Christine
-

I put a black-and-orange jester collar on Niki, and she sat soooo pretty at the door while I handed out candy. But then the tiniest little girl you ever saw came up to the door by herself (well, parents were about 15' away at the end of the sidewalk), and she said, all in one breath, "TrickOrTreatI'mAfraidOfDogs". But she braved it out -- there was candy at stake, of course.
Puck
-

I always tell my husband, you just never know. I think for us, with halloween being on a Saturday and the weather being pretty decent, alot more people came out. Mostly real little ones. Don't think the older one wanted to as our hours only went until 6pm. Kind of lame for the teens.
christine
-

Bought four bags, gave out three or four pieces at a time, and still have half a bucket (two bags) left! First time in a new neighborhood -- we don't have a feel for it yet.
Puck
-

We always have lots of kids. We had about 5 groups of kids and that was all. I have so much leftovers. I'm taking it to work. I don't want it in the house.
rebecca
-

I went shopping for Halloween and made sure the front lights didn't go on...I had a feeling it would be a bust this year because it was on a Saturday and kids would be going to parties all day...plus it was drizzly and rainy. I was right, there were hardly any kids around when I got home at 7:30pm. The only down side is now I have no leftovers to eat!
LisaG
-

I am so glad I decided to buy 5 bags of candy, even though we only get a few kids each Halloween, even if DH told me I was nuts.... we had more kids then all the years we lived here (4) combined! We were ready to have my son go out and ToT for candy!
Christine
-

Love that cat!
Christine
-

Some fun for Halloween... http://www.onlinepumpkincarving.com/ ======== and tell me if you don't think this poor cat is contemplating ripping his owner's eyeballs out for dressing him in this silly costume. http://catoftheday.com/archive/2009/October/31.html
LisaG ...... BOO!
-

"That's the last time I mix beer, wine, and sushi".
rebecca
-

caption c/o Three Dog Night: "Mama told me not to come!"
janet
-

I really can't wait to go home!
Christine
-

"Who put NUTMEG in my beer!!!!!"
kmp
-

5 AM 10/29/09 "It was that durn fresh apple that did it. That's my story and I'm sticking to it."
Merfuff
-

Love, love, LOVE that picture!!! There are actually websites devoted to this stuff. I'm just reading a book "cake wrecks" which is based of the website of the same name. I wonder how some baker's could be so stupid or how some think some of these things look good!
Christine
-

2.30 PM 10/28/09 Wouldnae it be deliciousssss to see someone tell Joey (Fillion, natch) of Dori's plan to marry her lesbian lover (NON-lover)? Oh my, could Fillion make much of that! Dori/Robin had best not attempt to speak French too much or often or she'll either choke or swallow her own tongue. Talk about Accent Overkill.
Merfuff
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I wanted to do that to a pumpin this year! -- but I'm out of money, and won't be paid until too late for the holidays. Of course, I have candy! -- I have the important things covered! HA HA!
Puck
-

Ha ha ha! That's what I did with my pumpkin last year...everyone loved it! -------- this is terrific...bet it makes you smile! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw
LisaG
-

OK - I rarely am amused by what I am sent (which is mercifully little) by friends passing along internet jokes, etc., but this was too funny! If anyone wnts to come up with a caption - post ideas and I'll try to get it up. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Cat
-

3.45 AM 10/27/09 Wow, double Barlett - wahoooooooo! Thanks for the scoop.
Merfuff
-

Merfuff - This will be of great interest to you -- "Word has it that Peter Bartlett will being doing double-duty soon as Neville, butler to the London branch of the Buchanan clan, who bears a striking resemblance to his Llanview counterpart Nigel."

-

He could also dress up as Joey??
Christine
-

Ladies, and Mike- don't forget to watch Castle tonight. It's the Halloween ep. One of his costume changes invloves a long Browncoat, with suspenders, and a lovely pistol. Yes, he's dressing up as his own character Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly/Serenity. How cool is that?! What a great shout out to his Browncoat fans. I can't wait.
rebecca
-

I'd be happy to take some of that rain off your hands, if I had the powers. Thought I heard thunder this morning but it was not to be.
rebecca
-

has everyone on the east coast grown gills yet? yeesh! it may have been a quiet hurricane season so far, but all the summer storms and now these few early nor'easters we've had are aggrevating...especially when they ruin an entire saturday! :(
lisag
-

I think Adam?
Christine
-

So who did kill Stuart?
Janet
-

these are sooooooooooo kewl! click on the photo number or the right arrow key to see all the shots! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33445823/ns/technology_and_science-picture_stories/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1
lisag
-

Christine.. my spoiler is I was right.. as to who shot Stuart.. we heard it today out of Emma's mouth finally!
Anita
-

The girl looks like a Roger Howarth Todd....
Christine
-

Merfuff -- yeah, they had such minimal build up. I remember that Ross wouldn't give her the divorce until she "gave him what he wanted" -- presumably, in hindsight, it was the kid. But they could have done a LOT more!
Puck
-

3.45 PM 10/23/09 After Ross and Tea spent some weeks in other pursuits, all of a suddy the child is of paramount importance. A smaaaack to the writers for a poor build-up to that storyline._______starla, ya still checkin' in now and again? I've good-dayed your bud Max every day since ya told us about him. How 'bout an update?
Merfuff
-

what spoiler???
Christine
-

AMC................spoiler....................................................................................................................................................................................finally................................................................................................I was right....
Anita
USA -

I read the child is a girl who goes to the school...... RIP Soupy Sales......
Christine
-

Soupy Sales is dead at age 83.
Puck
-

For some reason, I thought Tea's child would be a girl, and a love interest for Matthew.
Puck
-

6.45 AM 10/23/09 Christine, SO glad your friend is improving._____Janet, LOL! That dance marathon was a disaster from the get-go. Yep, Nita, bet ya pegged Matthew's roomie...kid should be about 5 ;)
Merfuff
-

who wants to bet that Matthews new roommate Tom is Tea and Todd's son? just finished watching on soapnet.. and the kid kind of looks like a big brother to Jack. hmmm.. of course the kid is SORAS'ed big time.. he should be MUCH younger.. but then this is a soap!
Anita
-

Merfuff: HA! Great analysis. Every time I tuned in, for about a month, it seemed they were in that dreadful dance-a-thon. That was grimmmmmmmmmmm
Janet
-

My friend is back home and off of work for 2 weeks, taking blood thinners... thanks for asking. And thank you all for the prayers and good thoughts for her.
Christine
-

Oooops, Frankie the Brilliant burned the vids/tapes.
Merfuff
-

2.30 PM 10/22/09 Anyone notice almost NO one can keep their flappin' traps shut on soaps? They speak aloud in public places where they're highly likely to be overheard, they tell secrets to folks whose tongues flap at super-sonic speed and other equally idiotic mouth-blasts.____Then there are the AMC Hubbard dolts. These folks take at face-value the crocodile tears of Madison's father. Then Jesse the Brilliant burns (after enough of a view of the tapes for any minimally intelligent person to determine the tapes were edited/falsified) the tapes Madison's father so generously provided; thus destroyin' the evidence (which any PD computer tech could have proven to have been edited). Hoist by his own petard - the hammer is about to descend on the Hubbards; The Idiot Family of PV. Natalia, who to this date has not been a brain trust, is the only one to vaguely smell a rat.____And I figured out why the Chandler murder has been dragggggged out so long. It gives the writers on that storyline a nice, 5-month vacation; just recycle the same dialogue (ditto Kendall and Zach and assorted others). Oh yeah, and Jesse is Cop King, Angela and Jesse are vested doctors in PV. Remind me to avoid PV like the plague!____While I'm on the Irritation Highway, the perky woman for the Progressive Insurance ads could irritate the bark off a tree._____Mike, yes, Al Martino had a smooooth voice...sad he is departed.______I still cannae find what happened to your toes, Becca, but I'm glad to hear things are better, hon._____Christine, how is your ill friend? Much improved, I hope.___Nita, yep, as it looks, I still watch OLTL.
Merfuff
-

Rebecca: take care of your foot and don't use it too much. Glad it is improving! Anita, so sorry about the flu. What are symptoms, again, of S 1 N 1?
Janet
-

Rebecca, glad your foot is better...... Anita, here is hoping to a speedy recovery! __________________________ YEs I still watch OLTL. Getting ready for it now. I don't get to see it as often as I like, but I still watch it.
Christine
-

I have the swine flu and it's no fun. Merfuff, yeah I noticed how much Ross and lawyer looked alike before we knew they were brothers.. I would actually get them mixed up at times. good casting IMO... and hmm, is anyone else still watching OLTL?
Anita
-

Janet- I woke up feeling much better this morning. Not so sad and foot not throbbing as much. If only the show was tonight. :)
rebecca
-

rebecca: Three Dog Night actually came to our town this summer - - and we had to miss them! They are still so good, and we've gone to CA to see them - but when they came here, we were out of town. But it sounds like you just couldn't manage the physical demands and I'm so sorry.
Janet
-

Hey, has anyone talked to Tinker (Jennifer) lately? I've been wondering how she's been doing.
LisaG
-

@Janet- thanks. I had to sell the U2 tix for tonight. I just did not think I could last all night in the elipse with the surgi-boot. People accidently stepping on them and all that. Plus the energy level is very low. Sucks. But I got a really good chinese dinner out of it. And a glass of plum wine. So it's not all bad. No, not true, it really does suck. It's U2. My boys from ireland. sob....
rebecca
-

Glad Kelly will be okay... I really like her. Yay, for the encore!! Wow, after 30 years I am crushing on Donny Osmond again!! Wow how sexy was that dance!!!
Christine
-

I'm betting Donny's the encore dance. Kelly hurt her foot in her dance and did the group hustle w/o shoes. I thought her partner might have kicked her accidentally . . . . plus, Kelly's done an encore already.
Janet
-

I am adoring Kelly, as much as I thought it was a wack-o choice before! I don't see the shows until days later (haven't seen this one), but if I were voting, I'd be splitting votes between Kelly and Donny.
Puck
-

I agree that Donny will probably be the one to do the encore dance tonight. I just hope that Kelly's foot injury doesn't force her to drop out. I know that she's probably a long-shot as to winning, but there's something about her that makes me want her to go all the way to the end.
kmp
-

I didn't see it last night, but heard he was excellent. I have to catch the recap tonite. I also heard Kelly danced to "Crazy Train"!
christine
-

DWTS: DONNY O ROCKS! I knew he was good, but I didn't know he could become that good. Go, Donny! Plus, he just brightens the show with his humor. Rebecca, so sorry about the toes. I feel your pain.
Janet
-

4 AM 10/20/09 Anyone else notice the marked physical resemblance between Ross and his brother/attorney? Wonder if they are really related.____When I was about 14, my folks would let me take our li'l red Mercury Comet about 4 miles west and north to a deep hollow with a river (small one). Bein' careful to avoied rattlesnakes, we'd ding around down there. Things were surely different back then, eh?
Merfuff
-

LOL Christine! That was why I *NEVER* let my mother teach me or be in the car when I was learning! ;) I only wanted to learn from my dad or my older sister. My sister was great, she just got in the car with her friend and said, "Drive wherever you want." Once I got the hang of it, I would drive up and down the block by myself...I got real good at doing K-turns! :)
LisaG
-

Gack! I finally drove with my son!! DH sat in the front and I sat cringing in the back. He's not a bad driver, but I just couldn't look. Every time I did I thought he was going to hit car.
Christine
-

I caught the video on the news!!!
Christine
-

7 AM 10/19/09 A 125# bear wandered into a convenience store somewhere in Wisconsin and headed for the beer cooler. He simply curled up in it for an hour or so...last arctic blast before hibernation? Gives a whole new meanin' to 'Clean-up on aisle 49!' However, the bear must be from elsewhere...he did NOT drink any beer!
Merfuff
-

Lisa, that is horrible.
Christine
-

I mean great news about your photos, not the exec of your company . . .
Janet
-

Great news, Lisa!
Janet
-

Oh my company makes me so proud to be part of them...NOT! I just found out one of our top executives, Robert Moffat, was arrested along with billionaire Raj Rajaratnam in that insider trading case. Their unbounded greed disgusts me. At a time when Americans are losing their jobs right and left, even though execs are still getting millions in compensation, they still need to break the law because they don't think they're getting enough money. Really pisses me off.
LisaG
-

What disgusts me most about the Heene's is that they took away resources that could have been needed to help or save someone that needed them. They absolutely disgust me and I hope the really do put them up on felony charges in addition to requiring them to make full restitution for the costs associated with the "rescue" and the ongoing investigation.
lisag
-

I so agree... we watched some of the interviews last night and I was so creeped out! The guy basically pimped out his son for a reality show! And all the manpower trying to "rescue" the kid! Makes me so sick.... DH also said the media should be blamed for making this story bigger then it should have been. And we wonder why people pull c--- like this? becuase they get their 15 minutes of fame and try to stretch it into a tv show and $$.
Christine
-

2.45 10/18/09 Congrats, Lisa!____Now, I hope the news media, instead of whoring the story of the Heene family, will draw back to bare bones reports of only real developments. Do NOT show that pimpy father onscreen at all. Cameras on law enforcement agents or attorneys - NO shots of a father who would so teach his son and possibly endanger his life. What if the li'l 6 year old got confused by the instructions and DID take off in the balloon? I also want Child Services to make an exhaustive report and if warranted, get those kids OUTA the clutches of those pimps.
Merfuff
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Fantastic!
Christine
-

Wow! That's awesome LisaG. Congrats!
rebecca
-

KEWL! I submitted several photos from my trip to Tuscany for The Wayfarers' 2009 contest and they picked 2 for their 2010 brochure! I get a free Wayfarers shirt and credit next to the photo. :)
LisaG
-

Going to see Loggins & Messina tonight. And U2 on Tuesday night. To tell you the truth, I'm more excited about tonight. 7th row seats a little off to the right, seats 1 and 2. So perfect.********************Tried to have a yardsale today. It took 5 hours just to haul everything out and set it up. So I will have it tomorrow morning. Everythings already tagged and ready to sell. I'm just going to throw a few sheets over everything for the evening and hope for the best.**********************LOL, Roy is watching an old episode of Miami Vice and Bruce Willis is on it. He has all his hair. Too funny. But he was so good looking then. Still looks good to me, actually.
rebecca
-

@LisaG- that's funny.
rebecca
-

How I learned to mind my own business... ----- I was walking past the mental hospital the other day and all the patients were shouting, '13....13....13...' ----- The fence was too high to see over, but I saw a little gap in the planks, so I looked through to see what was going on..... ----- Some idiot poked me in the eye with a stick! ----- Then they all started shouting '14....14....14...'
lisag
-

I'm in CT. Most of it isn't sticking, but still...BRRRRRRRR!
lisag
-

Lisa, where are you again that you have snow? Of course the diet pop cancels out the candy! Just like when you put artificial sweetner in your coffee and have a dessert!
Christine.
-

christine - i hope your friend gets better soon. i understand about the combo...the diet soda saves you the calories so you can eat the candy bar! perfect rationalization, if you ask (as i eat my m&m's and diet pepsi).
lisag
-

holy crap, it's snowing here
lisag
-

Thats an inside joke between me and her.
Christine
-

thanks... she seems pretty chipper, but I still worry. I only wish I didn't live so far, I would go see her and bring her a snickers and a diet pepsi.
Christine
-

Christine -- ***hugzzzz***
PUck
-

Please say a prayer for my best friend. She had pneumonia and pluersy awhile back adn just starting feeling sick again. She went to the doctor and they sent her to ICU with a blood clot in her lungs.... she is now in the cardiac unit. I am so scared for her! I can't imagine my life without her! WE have been friends for 30 years.
Christine
-

You can take my cold weather!
Christine
-

GLobal warming is a misnomer -- it should truly be called "climate change". For example, when the Greenland ice melts and plummets into the sea, it will chill the temperature of the ocean, which will stop the Gulf stream from flowing to Britain. The gulf stream is the only reason why a city like London, on the same latitude as Fargo, ND, has balmy weather. Britain will go into a chill. But it will be hot as blazes down here in the south!! ARGH! I wish I had yall's cold weather.
Puck
-

I think Adam too, and as you said, a great way to write off Zach!
Christine
-

cold here too... well, for me.. 43 and rain.. yuck! and I think Adam killed Stuart.. he was so messed up on the drugs from David.. if and when he realizes what he did it will kill him....I bet Zach will confess and Adam will never admit it...that's how they'll write out Zach....he'll be in jail....of course this is all my opinion.. I don't read any spoilers or magazines...
Anita
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7 AM 10/15/09 Yep...global warming (earth temp has not increased in 11 years)...as polar bear populations INcrease and each 'green' job costs two other jobs.______My question of the day, dame it, is who DID kill Stuart?
Merfuff
-

I know our high today is what should be our normal low! It got cold so fast, I haven't even finished cleaing my yard for winter!
Christine
-

wow...another freeze warning tonight! it's too dang cold for only mid october!
lisag
-

My heart's with Donny. He's the hardest worker! Mya was in "Shall we Dance," I'm pretty sure. She has danced before, definitely. Donny is really a perfectionist and hard on himself. While we saw scenes of pairs being hard on each other, he takes it all on himself. I think Kym is a great match for him. She really plays to his strengths.
Janet
-

I thought I heard Mya is a professional dancer/choreographer. Is that really fair? I love Melissa Joan Hart and Kelly Osborne. On the guys side, Donny all the way. I think for the oldest, he is the best!
Christine
-

Loved the puns! So glad all went well, kmp! So who's gonna win DANcing with the stars? I'm thinking Mya? Glad deLay is done. Carter and Erving and snowboarder guy could go w/o breaking my heart. .....................................Go to my facebook wall if you want to see a video clip of darling granddaughter introducing herself to a herd of goats. She is just 2 years old! And happy birthday to ms. jennifer. Where are you keeping yourself?
Janet
-

Sad that this isn't making the news rounds as it should. Al Martino died. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-10-14-martino-obit_N.htm
Mike
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OMG. https://www.snuggiefordogs.com/flare/next?tag=os|sm|go|gn
lisag
-

PUNS FOR EDUCATED MINDS -------- 1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi. -------- 2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian. -------- 3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still. -------- 4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption. -------- 5. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery. -------- 6. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering. -------- 7. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blown-a-part. -------- 8. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie. -------- 9. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it. -------- 11. Atheism is a non-prophet organization. -------- 12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.' -------- 13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. -------- 14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.' -------- 15. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. -------- 16. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran. -------- 17. A backward poet writes inverse. -------- 18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes. -------- 19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion. -------- 20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine.
LisaG
-

ALERT!!! Exploding Pyrex! This is true...here's the Snopes article... http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/pyrex.asp
LisaG
-

Happy BD tomorrow, ARIEL!
Merfuff
-

happy birthday Jennifer!
Christine
-

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!
Puck
-

Happy BD, JENNIFER!
Merfuff
-

A day early, but... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER!!! Hope you have a fantastical day! *<|:)
LisaG
-

I had my 30 year 8th grade reunion last night. It was alot of fun. We tried to trick on ex-classmate into thinking DH was an ex-classmate. DH ended up winning most changed! lol! Both of us are so tired this morning as we haven't been out and about til after midnight in years!
Christine
-

Merf -- a lot of the titles are pretty darned clever! OLTL's on to something there...
Puck
-

It wasnae THAT funny ;)
Merfuff
-

3 AM 10/11/09 It is doubly tragic that so often when a woman has decided to get OUT of a bad marriage, that kinda murder happens._____OLTL's title of the window scene, 'The Defenestration of Blair Cramer', had me roarin' with laughter!_____Think Jake/actor does not wanna move to CA / stay with AMC. They seem to be de-Amanda-ing him.OLTL's title of the window scene, 'The Defenestration of Blair Cramer', had me roarin' with laughter!_____Think Jake/actor does not wanna move to CA / stay with AMC. They seem to be de-Amanda-ing him.
Merfuff
-

Hmmm....sounds to me like she had reason to believe her life was in danger when she carried a gun to a soccer game. You never know what goes on in a marriage. THe sheriff was an idiot -- the right to carry a handgun is not limited to just those places where there are no kids. Which would be a stupid rule, anyway, since -- I assume, since I'm not a parent -- kids are one of those things adults want to protect from harm!
Puck
-

and does a person really need one at a kid's soccer game?
Christine
-

How ironic..... http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/09/gun.soccer.mom.dead/
christine
-

Tea's hysterical screams, though, were pretty darned good. Dang, that actress is a good one, and OLTL is lucky to have her!
Puck
-

3.45 AM 10/10/09 Blast, DWTS ran over, so I missed 'Castle' but I'm armed with the title for reruns._______I've NO problem with our playground loadin'...it's the intense stuff like heavy graphics or vid which defeat my li'l dial-up buddy ;)______Even for Dori, the gay stuff was heavy-handedly written and...not what I'd call any help for the program. Waaay over the top for even Robin to handle.
Merfuff
-

Trim, pretty please?? Last trim was in March. I can't imagine how long Merfuff has to wait to get this to come in.

-

Another issue -- last we saw, Max was at the carnival and then in the hospital where his legs wouldn't move. NOthing since!!! Where is Max and is he okay, and how come Sonny didn't visit THAT loyal lieutenant in the hospital in place of Dominic???
Puck
-

Okay, several things. OLTL -- if Tea had divorce papers in her hands, she does NOT necessarily need to file them in Tahiti. As I understand it, she would have to present proof of divorce before marrying in PA, and that would make her marriage to Todd legal. The existence of the dissolution of divorce (the papers) I think would matter, not necessarily that they were filed (which is just public notice of the divorce). ............. GH -- So, Dominic/Dante wants to take down Sonny. What does it take? He was just directly ordered to kill someone by Sonny! Isn't that attempted murder??? Isn't that what allllllll federal agencies have tried to get out of alllllllll mob bosses??? What does it take? -- sweeps week?
Puck
-

Wow...are they rebuilding the OLTL cast from back in the TK days?
LisaG
-

Wonder why they are getting rid of Jared? I rather liked him. I could do without Natalie on a million levels, though....
Puck
-

Jared Brotherton Booted by 'One Life' (SoapOperaNetwork.com) � According to the Soap Whisperer, a new addition to the Soap Opera Network family, we can confirm that actor John Brotherton has been let go by ABC's "One Life to Live" in the role of Jared Banks after two years on the soap. Brotherton joined the cast in August 2007 and has since enjoyed a dysfunctional relationship with Natalie Buchanan (portrayed by Melissa Archer). The two were married in May 2009 in a private ceremony. Brotherton is expected to air into the fall. Prior to joining the "One Life" cast, the actor appeared in an episode of the canceled CW television series "The Game" in 2006. In 2009, he will have appeared in three films including "Gone," "Surprise, Surprise" and "Taken by Force." He starred in, directed, wrote and produced the 2007 short "Smith and Mike on a Tuesday."

-

Laura Bonarrigo Returns to �One Life� (SoapOperaNetwork.com) � Laura Koffman, now going by her maiden name Bonarrigo, is returning to ABC�s �One Life to Live� in the coming months as Cassie Carpenter returns to Llanview for a visit. Soap Opera Network has learned that Bonarrigo was seen on the set of the soap last week filming two episodes that will air sometime this fall. Her return is hot on the heals of the news that Robert Krimmer is reprising his role as Rev. Andrew Carpenter, Cassie�s ex-husband, also this fall along with Gina Tognoni who will reprise her role as Cassie�s cousin Kelly Cramer. Will the two be crossing paths? Tune in to find out! From 2008-2009, Bonarrigo appeared in a number of episodes of �All My Children� as Rebecca Fowler, mother of Natalia Hubbard (Shannon Kane) and lover of Jessie Hubbard (Darnell Williams), Natalia�s father. She played the role of �Angie� in the 2009 short �Concerto� starring actor David Zayas (�Oz,� �Dexter,� �All My Children�).

-

Krimmer Brings Andrew Back to Llanview (SoapOperaNetwork.com) � In the midst of �One Life to Live�s� recent casting blitz comes word that Robert Krimmer will be reprising the role of Rev. Andrew Carpenter sometime this fall. Andrew was last seen in December 2008, when he attempted to help Marty Saybrooke regain her memory after a serious accident. Prior to that, the good Reverend�s last appearance came when he visited Todd Manning, while he was on death row for the �murder� of Margaret Cochran and their unborn baby. Originating the role of Andrew in 1991 Krimmer (known professionally as both Robert and Wortham, his wife�s maiden name), remained on contract with the show until 1999, when he was placed on recurring status. Seldom seen since in the decade that has followed, Andrew has remained in Llanview, while the actor enrolled in law school and is now an attorney near Los Angeles. The soap is keeping mum on the exact length of Krimmer�s return to �OLTL,� and no first airdate has been announced. It is also unclear exactly who he will be interacting with. However, given Rev. Carpenter�s history of dealing with homosexual issues and bigotry, it isn�t too far of a stretch to assume he may be drawn into �OLTL�s� current gay storyline, although it remains only speculation at this time.

-

The latest info. Cassie on two episodes. Andrew performs big gay wedding only. No guarantee they interact. Kevin on three episodes in London with Nora, Bo, Matt, Destiny. Kelly starts taping in January 2010. She shows up during February sweeps.

-

OK, you cannot make this stuff up. If you search "circus" and find a post by me below about a local trial that WILL (I swear, it HAS to) become a movie on Lifetime, well, it did end a few weeks ago with the same result, the dude was found guilty. So, on Monday he was senternced, and on the VERY day of the sentencing, just as something happened on the day he was sentenced before (again, see below), the alibi witness who came forward on the sentancing day of the first trial, got arrested on Monday for beating his wife (the guy on trial was for murdering his wife on 9-11-2001) and is now in the very same jail. You cannot make this stuff up. How can this not be a movie someday? I know it's hard to "see' based on two posts I made here, but trust me, here it's all the talk and we've had plenty of murder tirals before, but this one is on a whole new level of "Hollywood worthy".
Mike
-

I think Wortham was his then wife's maiden name and he took it for his first name. Kind of weird... I guess if he is back to his old name they must not be together anymore....
Christine
-

"Robert (formerly Wortham) Krimmer". Formerly Wortham? New to me, is this old news? And why? Anyone know the story?
Mike (formerly Emmanouil)
-

Yeah to Kelly and Kevin, but whiney Cassie looks to be back too. That negates anyone they'd bring back.
Mike
-

Yay! WE get Kevin back!!
Christine
-

MORE SOD TIDBITS -- Gina Tognoni will reprise her role as Kelly Cramer on OLTL starting in NOvember. Hubby Kevin (Dan Gauthier) will also return! YAY! Also, Roscoe Born (Mitch Lawrence) will also return to OLTL, which may resolve the "who's your daddy" story about Rex's parentage. Also seen at the studios were Laura Koffman (Cassie) and Robert (formerly WOrtham) Krimmer (Rev Andrew) -- although the show dropped back to "we don't comment on rumors" at that point.
PUck
-

Greg Vaughan has been fired as Lucky, and Jonathan Jackson was asked to come back -- in that order! What a bunch of maroons.....
Puck
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11.15 AM 10/6/09 Purportedly (DTV onscreen guide), 'Castle' was on at 3 AM and I videod it. Niiiice.
Merfuff
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It will be on reruns. It is not like soaps or DWTS
cw
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Merfuff - That's what I was afraid of. Sorry. Maybe someone can share with you if they've taped it.

-

Hehehe, streaming vid and dial-up work like oil and vinegar...an epi would take 3-4 hours...nice dream tho.
Merfuff
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Merfuff - Not sure if you still have dial-up internet and if that would allow for staying online long enough, but you can watch the full episodes online at http://abc.go.com/watch/castle/186439

-

1PM 10/5/09 There is a male actor on AMC who seems to think that if he hesitates, stammers and repeats phrases that it brings a foundation and adds deep emotion to the scene. He is a real irritant and has the depth of a raindrop...only the raindrop's depth is of value. Gack._______Due to the fact that local ABC has chosen to air the MN Vikings / Green Bay Packers game tonight, no 'Castle'. 'DWTS' WILL be on middle of the night, but I've heard no such save of 'Castle'. Grrrrrrrrrr and wahhhhh.
Merfuff
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rebecca - i watched wall-e last night! :)
LisaG
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Merfuff, I am so sure he will do that ;-)
christine
-

1:45 PM 10/4/09 Thorsten's exuent stage left has certainly been well-set-up with Kendall bein' a clone of selfish me-me-me Erica. Will miss his smilin' face._____Was also disappointed by Natalia's 'I MUST win!' attitude at the dance marafake.___Colby looks better and better as a responsible, carin' adult.___I want Annie to get a MAJOR come-uppance - the snooty, murderous, society-climber twitch.____I read that Michael Moore really disdains capitalism. I expect annnny day now we will read that he has dispersed his millions to all of us and others; moved to a 5th floor cold-water walk-up, and seeks a minimal salary job ;)
Merfuff
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LisaG- watch WALL-E on your new set. It is awesome. And wait til you see UP on it.
rebecca
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love TZ
Christine
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Creepy and cool! Not sure how he does it...must just be a numerical calculation thingy... http://video.yahoo.com/network/101149635?v=5949466&l=5218106
lisag
-

This is pretty cool. Rod Serling graduated from the same high school my mom did. Twilight Zone premiered 50 years ago this weekend and they are having a ton of activities. The neatest thing is one of our local drama clubs and the local PBS station have worked together to broadcast several LIVE performances of Twilight Zone episodes that had local ties (episodes that mentioned Binghamton or took place here or in other local communities. Watching one now. (black & white of course).
Mike - from another dimension
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Congrats LisaG! If you get digital cable and extra HD channels, if you think the over the air HD channels are clear, just wait until you see stuff like the Discivery channel, national Geo etc in HD. Also, any live sports or shows recorded live like leno, letterman, etc. They blow away HD shows in prime time (which are amazing in their own right.) A MUST watch if you get HD box is Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel. it is THE MOST AMAZING thing in HD there is Znd there are 11 episodes.
Mike
-

I can see the difference with the HD channels, but I never was so gung ho on them. As long as I have a good picture I'm okay with it. We have the new boxes on all but one of our TVs. Comcast sent out a notice at to why we have one tv without a box. It kind of creeps me out that they know this!! DH called them and said it was none of the business what we do with our TVs!
Christine
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wow...they delivered my new tv set today...it'a amazing how clear the hd channels are! the non-hd stations aren't quite as nice to watch, though...colors and clarity vary, so i might bite the bullet and get the hd cable box. dvd's are amazing tho...especially the animated ones like monster's inc...amazing!
lisag
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As much as I hate the abusive boyfriend storyline on GH, I gotta admit, the kid who plays Kiefer is selling it. It's like he's been counseled on all the classic ways abusive men manipulate women. Today, it was the crying about how much he loves Kristina, after he got teeth-spitting mad that she wouldn't have sex with him, grabbed her by the throat, and threw her to the floor. Real tears in his eyes -- and you can just see her melting about how he must love her soooo much to cry about how much he loves her. MY GOD! The acting is tremendously good. But I'm not buying how a girl like Kristina would fall for it -- but the guy playing Kiefer is a worthy choice for the story. One only wonders what will happen when Papa Corinthos finds out.
Puck
-

YAY, Kmp!!
Puck
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2.30 AM 10/2/09 SO glad to hear it went so swimmingly, kmp!
Merfuff
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kmp - That's terrific news! I'm so happy for you!
lisag
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10/01/09 (8:40pm)...Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm home from the hospital. I got home this afternoon about 4 pm - following my second PT session today. Everything went well and I can already see a big difference in my *new* knee's mobility. So much so that both the PT with whom I worked in the hospital & I can already see it becoming the stronger of my two knees. So barring anything major changes, I'm planning on having my other knee done early next summer. As for pain post-surgery, on a 0-10 scale [0 = none, 10 the worse pain imaginable], I've never really had more than 2 and even that was more discomfort than pain. Now I'm off for my *bed* as I am weary but hopefully now that I'm home, I'll be able to get a full-night's sleep.
kmp
-

Time for a trim?
Floyd
-

Maybe they should have renamed the show to "Jon's Gone" instead of "Kate Plus 8". DOH! --------- Re: Thorsten...maybe he's gonna do the Mr. Mom thing for a while. :)
LisaG
-

That's what I have been hearing as well.
Christine
-

According to TK's official website... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ladies, this is what we know and can share from Thorsten. Thorsten is not relocating to LA with AMC, and he is not commuting to AMC after its move. It looks as if his last AMC tape date may be in November. If that changes, we will let you know, but that is where things stand for now.

-

Maybe they could recast him?
christine
-

sure its a show and he lost his "role".....
christine
-

So, Jon has been "fired"...they're going to continue the show (unreal!) as Kate Plus 8. Yeesh. http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv-zone-1.811968/tlc-fires-jon-gosselin-or-he-quits-whatever-1.1484717
lisag
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It is really a great show...
Christine
-

Sweetie now works at a state park, and he heard about it today, so we are taping it. It sounds great!
Puck
-

Any of you watching Ken Burn's National Parks? It is really a great show. IT also gives me some great travel ideas ;-)
Christine
-

Hey ladies, and Mike. Don't forget Castle tonight.
rebecca
-

They were alot of fun... and I got to meet one and get an "autograph". There is something to be said about live shows
Christine
-

Blue Man Group is hilarious! I'd see them again in a heartbeat. Last night we saw an excellent production of To Kill a Mockingbird. We are so fortunate to have good touring groups come through town, and a wonderful old historic theater with great acoustics, too.
Janet
-

But I lost the rest of the money I brought!! lol! We did manage to eat well and saw Blue Man Group. WE also took a trip to REd Rock Canyon which was gorgeous.
Christine
-

Welcome back, Christine. $100 up is good! Much better than losing anything.
LisaG
-

Back from Vegas, no big win (I managed $100). So much to catch up on and unpack!
Christine
-

3.15 PM 9/24/09 Mefinks it is a Jessica character who assaulted Jared. She is not a butterfly of a human and note the 3 fingernail scratches on J's neck. Also, Nat is as nervous as can be._____The dance marathon is one of the most laborrrrious plot devices the writers have ever resorted to in my memory. Ugh.____I abHOR what the writers are doin' with Jack. Hope his parents explain tohim that the character's behavior is reprehensible.
Merfuff
-

went out to water the plants tonight and saw my froggy friend from a few months ago...not sure exactly where he's living, but he's a neat guy. *ribbit*
lisag
-

Some of the women are going to be hard to beat on DWTS. I'm very impressed. But WHAT did Len have for dinner? He wasn't even civil until the last 30 minutes. I've never seen him so cranky and negative. I hope Tom Delay gets eliminated very soon. I predict he'll go after Ashley Hamilton.
Janet
-

GH -- highly impressed with Anthony Zaccara's erudition -- his Shakespearean (and Iago-ian) mention of Johnny and Olivia "making the beast with two backs".
Puck
-

Still watching my tape. WOW! -- Kelly Osborne was a revelation! I was tearing up myself....
Puck
-

Great god in heaven! I just say Tom Delay dancing to "Wild Thing" on DWTS. It IS the coming of the apocalypse....
Puck
-

woo hoo! uh huh, uh huh, uh huh! NCIS season 7 premier tonight! mark harmon. oh baby! :P
lisag
-

i don't watch dwts, but i saw a commercial with tom delay...creeped me out. ick.
lisag
-

Aaron Carter and the Iron Chef guy both have great potential. I think they'll do well.
Janet
-

Went home and watched my tape of DWTS -- Aaron carter was good, but the UFC guy was dismal!
Puck
-

DWTS has quite a few Utah ties, surprisingly. Of course the Osmonds are natives, and so are the Houghs (Julianne and Derek). Chelsea Hightower is, too. The skateboarder lives here now as he's training for the 2010 Olympics and Park City is the home of the Olympic ski team. Remember Ashley, who danced in the first couple of seasons? She's a Utah girl, too. She has a dance studio and probably lives close to Donny! I knew Donny would get flustered at some of the dance holds. He'll just have to deal with it. He and Kym had a good laugh over it. I thought the judges might chide him for having too much space between him and his partner in the foxtrot but they didn't. ...................was anybody surprised at the outcome of America's Got Talent? Much as I like the guy, he hasn't got a great voice, and I don't know if he can sustain a whole show. I really thought the soprano would win. "Cheesy" as they are, I also had hopes for the Texas tenors. What great voices!
Janet
-

You can roll your ankle in a hospital parking lot when there are long, wide crevices criss-crossing it, and you happen to step into one. About 4 inches wide and 3 inches deep. I made sure the security man took pictures, and noted that there were no cones or signs. And there were workers nearby. Sheesh. Can't believe a hospital would be so careless. ....................well, I enjoyed DWTS. There will be some surprises, I'm sure. I thought they gave Donny such a great song that it would be hard for anyone to not be theatrical ("Chicago- All that Jazz.") He did well in the samba, too, and he does have rhythm. The snowboarder's going to be fun.
Janet
-

Christine - I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Janet - I hope that you have a speedy recovery from your injury.
kmp
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9/21/09 (9:37 pm)...Merf: Thanks for asking about my knee surgery - but ask me again next Monday evening. :-D It's scheduled for Sept. 28th @8AM. Barring any difficulties, I should only be in the hospital for 3 days and then have home care [physical therapy] for at least a week or two - then out-patient therapy (3x's a week) for 4-6 weeks depending on how I do. I should be able to go back to work (one day a week) in about 4 weeks post-surgery. I have exercises that I'm doing in preparation for the surgery. I will be using a walker for the first week or so; then graduate to a 3-prong cane before finally walking unassisted on my own again. My goal is to be able to ride a bike again.
kmp
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2.45 PM 9/20/09 KMP? Christine, sad news of your uncle. I always liked my uncs.____Janet, how ratty to injure yourself at a hospital! Hope it heals (heels? ;)) fast.____Anyone else think Marissa is hopelessly vapid and insipid? How could JR fall for her after a firebrand like Babe? Change?___Got a huge kick outa the 'superb' coverage Jesse's 3-day trained cop daughter Natalia gave to North. Natalia couldn't follow a CA garden slug.____Dancers took more breaks than they danced / earned...laughable.____Becomes more obvious Thorsten / Zach is...waning.___And how is Susan Lucci gonna handle move?
Merfuff
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LisaG - congrats on the new TV. Before you get HD cable (WORTH it), try a 25$ pair of rabbit-ears and run the over-the-air auto-programming for your TV. YOu likely wil lget a bunch of free ones if you are near any metro area where you used to be able to get over-the-air analog. YOu should at least get PBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS.
Mike
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7 PM 9/19/09 KMP, check in when ya can and let us know how the knee surgery went. I hope WELL!
Merfuff
-

ROTFLOL!!! This "attack kitten" is hysterical... http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5970824/15531413
LisG
-

Woo hoo! I finally bought a new TV set for the one that died months ago. Got a 40" Sony Bravia LCD...can't wait to see how it looks in the finally complete wall unit. And the nice thing is I get free delivery and they're going to haul away my big old HEAVY tube TV that is sitting in my garage. My only fear is that the cable picture won't be good enough and it'll push me to buy HD cable. Ah progress!
LisaG
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LISA - A lot of check-outs in 2009 for sure. When they do that collage of them at the very end of the year this time, it's going to go on forever. Of course, a lot of the check-outs have been in people's personal lives with their loves ones and their animal family members, too.
Diane
-

i was just looking some stuff up on IMDB and saw that Larry Gelbart (writer for MASH, Tootsie, etc) passed away on 9/11. also, Don Galloway from Ironsides died in January. Geeze it's been a really bad year.
lisag
-

I wish TK could do some UK film work but I guess then he'd be away from home which he doesn't want to do. I know he would be excellent in some of those classic roles.
Diane
-

I'll bet OLTL will fit TK in. I have no TV anymore, though, so I won't see him even if he is. The only thing I miss about having a working TV (I do use my old one as a DVD player, though) is that I LOVE LOVE LOVE USC's Mascot, Traveller. I LOVE that beautiful white horse. I only would watch the football games to see Traveller ridden out by the Trojan rider when there was a touchdown. Thankfully, in the past, the USC team has been so good that Traveller would ride the field all the time. Some say he's a "magic horse". :) He must be --- he got me to watch football.
Diane
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I must have missed it. Where are you off to, CHRISTINE? I'm sorry about your uncle passing away.
Diane
-

Part of the problem is alot of stuff I used to take on my carry on I can't and 3 ounces of shampoo won't do it for more then 2 days...... so I need to pack most of my stuff. I'm only taking some carmex, a 3 oz bottle of contact saline, my case, kleenex (never know when a bathroom has no tp!!) and a book.
christine
-

Well, I think the suitcase should be fine.....
Christine
-

Just got back from my Uncle's memorial.... 2 hours one way in rush hour! I want to crash, but I need to pack. I really hope my suitcase isn't overweight!
Christine
-

Janet -- so sorry to hear about your ankle, and glad you were proactive and got on the hospital about their shoddy parking lot! I rolled my ankle in May and it's still slightly swollen! I'm miffed because my ankles and wrists are about the only thing on me not fat, and now one is a "cankle" from the stupid roll. Oh well...just gotta lose weight so more parts are thin!
Puck
-

TK was the only thing making AMC worth watching. I wish he would come back to OLTL -- what trouble he would make for Marty/John! -- which is okay, because I'm over them. I'd love it if he were not Ian or Patrick, but a new character and Marty has to...well....make him fall in love with her! It would be nice if, for once, SHE were the one feeling the all-consuming passion and running to a man she wants, rather than the one others fall in love with and have to coax her into a relationship.
Puck
-

Janet- OW! And a hospital of all places!
Christine
-

Janet - Ow, ow, ow, OW!!! I *SO* know what it's like to roll your ankle...mine are shot from injuries in high school gymnastics, so I can just be walking and it can go out. I just did it carrying Jake to the vet in his carrier, and again on vacation in Nantucket...I just need a slight slope and it can go out. Luckily, they're so bad (ligaments never fully heal) that it doesn't hurt too much. Hope yours is better soon! -------- TK can also do plenty of theater in CT and there's also Williamstown during the summer (it's over now) would be good. There are tons of famous actors in CT that put on plays here.
LisaG
-

I saw OLTL yesterday and it looks like Todd's been up to something again, probably contributed to several fatalities (?), and I hated to see the neurosurgeon's family doubt his skill when he couldn't save his brother. they really beat up on him, as if he wasn't doing that himself already. Nobody had any empathy for him. That was a little much, I thought. And is TK leaving AMC? Or I guess AMC is leaving TK? He should just do theater in NY. I'd go to see him :). it was nice to see Matthew maneuver out of the chair to comfort his friend. A & E had a nice bio on Patrick Swayze. What a guy. Henry Gibson? that was Henry Gibson on Boston Legal? I didn't recognize him. He played a judge, right? If it's the character I'm thinking of, he was absolutely hilarious. ..............sprained my good ankle yesterday. In the hospital parking lot of all places. .. ..there were long, snaking, (4 inches wide, 4 inches deep) wide fissures all over the parking lot, no cones or roping off, and I stepped in one, didn't see it, and rolled my ankle. So I'm wrapped and braced and filing a report with risk management. I showed them the fissure and they photographed it. If a hospital doesn't have a safe campus, who should? I'm surprised some little old lady hasn't fallen and broken her hip or worse. Plus, the mini -ER room S-rayed, wrapped it and braced it and said Ok you can go home - - - - - - and then I couldn't put a shoe or sock on, so I had a half-bare foot, had to go to a med supply place and buy a surgical velcro "shoe" to wear to keep it protected and clean. I wasn't impressed with that, either. What were they thinking? the nurse finally did give me a "bootie" sock with non-skid bottom, but that got filthy just getting back to the car.
Janet
-

Diane - yeah, that chocolate almond toffee crunch is phenominal. I actually still have some of the Aunt Leah's fudge left...I bought 1/2 lb of the heath fudge...they have so many other flavors tho. http://www.auntleahs.com/
LisaG
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Diane, others we lost, which really started to steamroll after Ed McMahon passed, are: Karl Malden, Dom DeLuise, David Carradine, Gail Storm, Billy Mays, Fred Travelena, Harve Presnell, Walter Cronkite, Frank McCourt, John Hughes and probably others.
Mike
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LISA - You're killing me telling me about the chocolate toffee Nantucket crunch!! Wow, that must have been awesome. They make the best fudge on Cape Cod, too. I have ordered from there and have had it sent to my sister and cousin.
Diane
-

Wow, this sure has been a GOODBYE year, and we still have 3.5 months of it to go. From the celebrity crowd, we lost (and unexpected at times!): Natasha Richardson, Michael Jackson, Pharrah Fawcett, Ed McMann, Ted Kennedy, Henry Gibson, Mary Travers, and Patrick Swayze (I'm sure I missed some). I unexpectedly and suddenly lost my good friend, John Urban, after what should have been a simple non-surgical procedure. As far as cats, it also has not been good. I lost Streudel and Ophelia, and my friend Scott lost his sweet cat, Shakti. So many many departures. How many more before 2009 lets out?
Diane
-

the last time I went was with my ex... DH hasn't been there in ages. I can't wait!!!
Christine
-

oh Vegas.. sounds fun.. I'm going next fall... for a big birthday... me and 3 of my cousins.. we all turn 50 and our birthdays are all 2 months apart.. it will be a blast.. just us girls :) .. Have fun Christine! I haven't been there since I got married in 1993.. and it's changed a lot...
Anita
-

For a few days..... we really want to see Penn and Teller, being fans of theirs for years. I also heard of a very risque hypnotist show that's description made me laugh out loud. That might be back up. There is also a Price is Right show and as I am a TPIR junkie that might be good too. I have heard good things about Mystere, but DH isnt' too interested. And after having a rather cool and rainy summer, its going to be high 90s and sunny!!!! And hopefully the dry air helps my sinuses and allergies!
Christine
-

I'm really surprised TK is leaving the show, but from what you guys have been discussing, it sounds like his character isn't as good as it used to be. I would probably try watching OLTL again if he went back as Patrick or Ian.
LisaG
-

Christine - how long will you be in Vegas? If you want a recommendation for a show, go see Cirque du Soliel's Mystere...awesome. Don't bother with the Beatles Love show...way overpriced and not worth it.
LisaG
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3 PM 9/17/09 Re Christine's share of a comment from another website, I can see that AMC's writin' of Kendall's ridiculous stances and her nasty treatment of Zack could be his/Thorsten's write-off from the show. And Kendall IS ridiculous. Abject gratitude she is not in an 8 X 12' cell (her absence is also ridiculous) would be more proper a response._____Thorsten is an enthusiastic dancer!_______Happy birthday, Constitution of the United States of America!
Merfuff
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Woo hoo, 2 more days and Las Vegas here I come!
Christine
-

Wow, another one....
Christine
-

Henry Gibson was great on Boston Legal, too. I'll miss him.......
Puck
-

Wow...Mary Travers died in Danbury Hospital..that's a few miles from me. I didn't know she lived in CT, let alone so close.
LisaG
-

Went to see Julie & Julia tonight...very cute movie. Meryl Streep should get nominated for an award for her portrayal of Julia Child...she really brought her back to life!
LisaG
-

Oh, I loved Henry Gibson! I remember his poetry bits on Laugh-In. We are losing so many this year, it's so sad. :(
LisaG
-

and Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary has also died at the age of 72... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090917/ap_on_en_mu/us_obit_mary_travers
Anita
-

I just saw that....
Christine
-

:-( Henry Gibson died. Page has a nice picture of him. http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/obit-laugh-ins-henry-gibson-dies-73_7251
Mike
-

I watched yesterday and have to say I got a bit misty eyed when Matthew got out of his chair to comfort Destiny....
christine
-

I am posting this verbatim from a OLTL board that I visit "Looks like TK is not going out to LA to do AMC. Maybe they'll have him commute. But there are rumors that he will be coming to OL as either Patrick or Ian, Patrick's brother the character he played on Port Charles."
Christine
-

2.30 PM 9/16/09 Yep, Shaun's condition was soap hype to keep us hangin' on, grrrrr. I hope the writers 'save' him.___What with so many crummily written storylines (Kendall, Krabby and Ungrateful, in her locked room [I'd like to slap her] with a doeppleganger in prison for her, for one example), it was nice today to see the awards ceremony on OL with the Commish Bo/Robert doin' a grand job of it.
Merfuff
-

Did you really expect more from these networks that would send reporters out into the worst of the storm and risk their lives?
Christine
-

Man, it's pathetic...Weather.com and the Weather Channel have resorted to "Remembering Hurricane xxxx!" stories. Can't they just be happy that it's been a relatively mild season so far and hope that it remains that way? I hate when they try to frighten people or bring up sad and depressing past events.
LisaG
-

I am sure he has.... what a nice, decent man.....
Christine
-

They showed an interview with PS and Barbara Walters and she quoted from the movie "Ghost"..."you take the love with you". Hopefully, Patrick has taken all the love with him to the next phase of his existance.
LisaG
-

Oh, and he could dance. Godspeed, Patrick. He fought the good fight. He will be missed.
Janet
-

I am just so sad. My momma loved him. Dirty Dancing was her favorite movie. God speed Patrick.
rebecca
-

God speed, Patrick. :( -------- 'Dirty Dancing' star Patrick Swayze dies at 57 -------- LOS ANGELES (AP) - Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into viewers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," died Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57. -------- "Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement released Monday evening by his publicist, Annett Wolf. No other details were given. -------- http://apnews.excite.com/article/20090915/D9ANESBO4.html
LisaG
-

Yet again.....NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I loved Patrick Swayze.....
Puck
-

Patrick Swazye died.... :-(
Christine
-

I kind of like him!
Christine
-

NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Puck
-

Not sure about Shaun...looked bad, but couldae been soap suspense garp.
Merfuff
-

Shaun didn't make it???
Christine
-

3.30 PM 9/14/09 Not only is Kendall a bleepin' twit, she's selfish and downright stooooooopid. I mean really stoopid to risk so much; like Zach's freedom (admittedly, he has committed a fraud) and the kids' sanity ('Mommy's here? Mommy's not here?')._____Dame, I wanted (or was this soap melodrama) Shaun to make it through surgery.
Merfuff
-

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Mooch was adopted by Merf. I'm glad that she's been such a good companion.
kmp
-

ROTFLOL! Now with my DSL back, I can play the pod cast from Saturday's "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me". I looked up this story and laughed... "More than half of all british people injured by cookies ----- An estimated 25 million adults have been injured while eating during a tea or coffee break - with at least 500 landing themselves in hospital, the survey revealed. ----- The custard cream biscuit was found to be the worse offender to innocent drinkers. ----- It beat the cookie to top a table of 15 generic types of biccy whose potential dangers were calculated by The Biscuit Injury Threat Evaluation. ----- Hidden dangers included flying fragments and being hurt while dunking in scalding tea through to the more strange such as people poking themselves in the eye with a biscuit or fallen off a chair reaching for the tin. ----- One man even ended up stuck in wet concrete after wading in to pick up a stray biscuit. ----- Custard creams get a risk rating of 5.63, the highest of all. ----- This compared to 1.16 for Jaffa cakes, which was the safest biscuit of all in the evaluation. ----- Research company Mindlab International were commissioned by Rocky, a chocolate biscuit bar, to conduct the research. ----- It found almost a third of adults said they had been splashed or scalded by hot drinks while dunking or trying to fish the remnants of a collapsed digestive. ----- It also revealed 28 per cent had choked on crumbs while one in 10 had broken a tooth or filling biting a biscuit. ----- More unusually, three per cent had poked themselves in the eye with a biscuit and seven per cent bitten by a pet or "other wild animal" trying to get their biscuit."
LisaG
-

For anyone in Jay Leno headline withdrawal... http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/video/clips/best-of-headlines/1135821/
LisaG
-

I'm hooooooooooooooome! :) Weather was so-so in the morning, so I tried to get on an earlier ferry home...missed the noon boat by 2 slots. Then I was on standby for the freight boat and the weather got downright nasty...wind and rain, but I managed to get the last car spot on the boat. WHEW! Was pouring rain along most of Cape Code and into RI...I was so glad to be driving in that mess in the daylight vs. night, which would have been the case with my original ferry reservation. The boyz are purring away, happy to see the mommy is back...and bringing Nantucket kitty treats! >^..^< Mrow! Also, SO nice to be back on DSL...I had to use a dial up connection in the cottage with a max of 54K...horribly sloooooooooooow.
LisaG
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Thanks, Lisa, he had been sick the last couple years and had a bypass years ago. Still he always looked good when I saw him. I guess he went down hill the last month so I was not expecting it. He died at home so at least he was with his family.
Christine
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4 AM 9/12/09 Yes, Nita was part of the Internet Kat Kindness...she took Mooch to kmp, who brought her the rest of the way to us (with a visit to Ariel) because Big R had just been diagnosed with cancer and Bro Fred was horridly sick with bronchitis. A great, great kindness from all of you here...thank you from the bottom of my fuzzy heart and Mooch's furry black feetsies.
Merfuff
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And I've surely enjoyed your vacation, Lisa!
Janet
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I'm always relieved when idiotic behavior isn't reported from MY state. We have enough that goes unreported anyway. But holy cow, did he think he would be below the radar? Or did he want the press?
Janet
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Christine - I'm so sorry to hear about your uncle.
LisaG
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Got the news today my Uncle passed away....
christine
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LisaG- I am so jealous. Lobster is my very favorite. Of course I am always jealous of your vacations. They sound like they are actual vacations, you know...the kind with much relaxing and good food, good books and music. I'd kill for one of those. Well, maybe not kill. But you get the idea.
rebecca
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Following up with Nantucket Chocolatier toffee/chocolate/almond crunch. *sigh* I'm in heaven! The best part of this vacation is that I've also actually LOST a few pounds just from all the roller blading, walking to dinner, and walking on the beach. Oh, if I only lived here, I could be a skinny lobster eating fool! :)
LisaG
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Mind you, I said ALMOST in that other post! ;)
LisaG
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OMG...I am almost having orgasms eating this lobster! :P Nothing like a cool rainy day to eat freshly steamed New England lobster with TONS of butter and lemon, a nice glass of white wine and soothing jazz playing. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
LisaG
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What's worse is that his apology was only grudgingly given after the Rep party chastised him into it. Now he's trying to us it for his re-election bid. Supposedly, the Dem's are going to officially reprimand him and I heard the Rep's may force him to apologize on the Senate floor, too. Just goes to show who is a mature adult with class and who comes from South Carolina! ;)
LisaG
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I like that list! I am still speechless at the complete last of respect people have for our president. Sure I was no Bush fan, but if anyone heckled him during a speech I would be just as outraged. I also thought kids should look up to our leaders as shining examples of what hard work, staying in school etc... can get you. Nothing is sacred anymore... presidents.... authority figures... even God. And we wonder why there are so many problem kids? They are taught to respect a gang leader more then the police!
Christine
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Lisa, #10 is my favorite. Hit me funny bone.
Mike
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Mike - ROTFLOL! I loved #2 and #1! With Sanford and Wilson, South Carolina must be so proud....NOT!
LisaG
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From Dave Letterman ***** Top Ten South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson Excuses ***** 10."Shouldn't have gone tailgating before the speech" 9."Ashton Kutcher put me up to it" 8."Was trying to impress that hellcat Nancy Pelosi" 7."Thought I was in the audience at Maury" 6."Uh...swine flu?" 5."I'm an idiot" 4."Yeah, I accused a politician of lying. What was I thinking?" 3."I thought it was a roast" 2."It's been weeks since a Republican politician embarrassed the state of South Carolina" 1."Nobody cared when McCain yelled, 'BINGO!'"
Mike
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I might be wrong, but I also feel that all this lack of any respect, the heckling, the signs etc.... who is to say that doesn't give some sicko the idea he should kill the president? There ARE mentally unbalanced people and it might not take much to push them over the edge.
Christine
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I'm with you Janet. I remember all the other presidents speaking with our kids. And it was never a big deal. And the day before the actual speech Roy and I saw Obama crossing the lawn to Helicopter One and commented how beat down he looked. It was really sad. You could tell he really took this to heart. Which makes me back him all the more. My opinion is the majority of the people against him are just lazy Americans that don't want to change their "entitled" lifestyle.
rebecca
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I've seen some Parliamentary debates, but correct me if I'm wrong -- aren't they occurring during their own internal debates? The queen is never heckled when she addresses Parliament. I'd LOVE to see Parliament-style heckling during those long and tedious floor speeches, when Congress is debating INTERNALLY their own bills and proposals, because sometimes their self-righteous pontificating needs to be taken down a notch or eight. But the President is NOT their peer, but their superior, and should not be heckled when he (or she!) addresses Congress.
Puck
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There was some background grumbling and then the "He's a liar!" outburst could clearly be heard. One congresssman had a poster that he pointed to whenever the camera looked his way: "what plan?" ..............Yeah, I've seen Parliament on TV and they really go after each other and the P.M. too............that's pretty racous, but somehow we've been more respectful of some things on this side of the pond. I think the opponents lost some ground with their boorish behavior. Especially when Obama wants input from both parties. And invites it. I'd be just as mad if someone had treated a Republican president that way, too. Opposing Obama's speech to school kids (which, incidentally, Reagan and GHW Bush both did during their presidencies and nobody fussed about it) and then this . . . . I really feel that Obama's working so hard and is really dedicated and I'm open to what he has to say. He is our president. It angers me to see people behaving like this, it really does. But I hate politics anyway.
Janet
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okay, sorry for the multi posts. My bad.
rebecca
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Anita- I remember your trek with Mooch. It was the talk of the GB for days.
rebecca
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Janet - The English would probably say "it's about time"! You ever see any of their sessions? They heckle constantly! It's unreal.
LisaG
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On the lighter side, I have a funny story...was on the beach Tuesday and a woman was sitting with her friends in a group. He husband threw a scrap of food to a seagull...bad move! All of a sudden, tons of seagulls surrounded them and a young brown seagull swooped in and yanked the sunglasses off the top of the woman's head with it's beak and flew off with them! I think she said they were either $40 or $400, so her husband had better track them down. They were lost for good! ------- Then today, it was sunny, but far too windy to be on the beach, so I just went for a walk and took photos. Coming back, I felt like Marcel Marceau walking against the wind, it was so strong! I definitely worked off all the calories I just ate at the restaurant tonight! :)
LisaG
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I was listening on NPR and heard booing at that point...I bet it was people booing his outburst. Bet he feels like an idiot now. ------ One thing I love about going to Nantucket for vacation...there's no TV, just a radio, so I listen to the local NPR station and get massive entertainment and education in a week...it's amazing. I'm listening to a Fresh Air session now about how some super right wingers are calling Obama a Nazi...how they say he's going to put all gun owners in a concentration camp, etc. I'm shocked. How assinine are these ideas?! What's more scary are these wacko right wingers who come up with this crap...they live amoung us! *SHUDDER!*
LisaG
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I agree, Janet
Christine
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I was shocked by the heckling, too. I understand he immediately apologized to CNN, and Obama seemed to handle the interruption w/o distraction. And we wonder why certain generations seem to lack manners. That was a huge breech of Congressional conduct, I understand, and downright disrepectful. I would have felt the same way if it had been G.E. Bush speaking and a democrat heckling. It's just not the way we should operate at that level. And what does that make us look like to other nations?
Janet
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2.15 PM 9/10/09 '...they became fur friends.' LOL! Thanks, Nita, for the clarification. I was more than a hair upset at that time about Big R, but our beloved Mooch was a great boon and is my bosom buddy now still.____Look at how lovely the orange strains of color in her coat are.
Merfuff
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March 1999 is when we brough Mooch to Merf... so she's about 11 years old.. my vet put her age at about 9-11 months when I took her to the vets office here for all her shots and a checkup before we even make our trek west and north. She's about the same age as Susie and Sasha, who turned 11 in May.. .I remember she and Susie would both curl up in my lap. That was before Sasha came home to live with us. She was a good cat. Not afraid of the vaccuum cleaner, let me give her a bath, loved to be brushed, never scratched the furniture. So glad she's found such happiness with you Merfuff! Katie loves to hear the story and see the photos of Susie and Mooch here at our house. She was with us for over a month and they became fur friends. I just couldn't keep a cat with my allergies. It all worked out perfectly.
Anita
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looks like his opponent for the upcoming election "suddenly" had 5000 people contribute money to his campaign this morning ;-)
christine
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I didn't catch the president's speech (working) but was shocked to hear about Rep. Joe Wilson shouting "You Lie!". If he was my Rep. I would be calling his office immediately. What boorish behavior. I don't care if this would have happened with Pres. Bush or whatever. That was completely uncalled for.
Christine
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Whew! I go away for three days, and there's tons of discussion! Howdy KMP! Long time! Sorry to hear about the cancer and the knee, but glad the cancer, at least, was nothing to worry about! Knee troubles seem to be going around. I'm certainly a limper these days. ..................................... Spent three days with my Dad and his sister, my aunt from Puerto Rico. Had a BLAST! It was her first time meeting Sweetie, who she adored on the spot. They left an hour ago, and I'm so bummed.
Puck
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Listening to Obama...damn, he's GOOD! Clarifying all the misconceptions of the health care reform...and getting some good digs in at "Dub-yah" about not having a plan to fund the wars.
LisaG
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Click on "The Art of Pencil Drawing"...it shows the original b&w drawings...the colored copies are much cheaper! Three of the now 6 I have are "Nantucket Cottage", "Old North Wharf" and "Nantucket Steps".
LisaG
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Janet - LOL! The sharks are staying away from me! Luckily, they're all over by the mainland. Plus it's too cold to go in further than my calves now! -------- Diane - The artist is George S. Hill...he had stopped doing the hand colored pencil drawings for a while to do oils, but those were just too bright. The pencil ones are much softer and prettier and I like that each one is hand colored, so each one is slightly different. I now have 6 of his pieces! His wife runs the studio and thanked me for buying them all...ha! Here's his web site... www.gshill.com
LisaG
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Oh, LISA, you are killing me with memories here!!! I would love to see photos of those drawings. I'll bet they are awesome. What is his name? Maybe I can look up some of his stuff. FUDGE! I was just thinking about Cape Cod fudge this morning. And chocolate shops!! There was one in the town of Falmouth we used to go to. The lady would sit in the window with that big swirly machine and we'd watch her make chocolates. How are the hydrangea?
Diane
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kmp, nice to hear from you, congrats on your parents' birthdays and anniversary - what a legacy. So sorry about the knee. Hope all goes well. ...............................I think Barbara Padilla is superb. But she's not "an ordinary mum" as Piers keeps saying. Surely she has a gift but has had much training and experience, too? I wonder what type of cancer she had? The way they present her - with the gowns and the staging, and then her lovely face and voice - she's clearly the frontrunner. But you have to think, with that voice, why she isn't singing professionally already? She surely gets my vote. I heard Ave Maria for hours last night, just running through my head, with her beautiful rendition. I'm sentimental about the Texas Tenors. There were some bad flubs last night, though . . . . "professional suicide," as Piers calls it. The "mad scientist" pianist played more wrong notes than right, although the lighting effect was cool, the dancers from Chicago didn't impress with their routine, the circus act was odd and distracting, and the singer from CA was trying so hard to be somebody else - he didn't give us his rich, smooth voice. The 3 sisters were "pitchy" and not together . . . . Loved the Ricki and partner dancers, but they are so young. Imagine what they'll continue to do. I love the KY singer, too, but he's got his limits, and so does the other "rock" quality singer. Love the cloggers, but hard to know where they'll go next with it. Love the Voices of Freedom, what great kids!I think the recycled rhythm guys may make it to the finals. But the two groups of semis really don't feel equal- so many were so good last week, and so many were so bad this week! Oh, and Grandma Lee will probably make the finals, bless her heart. My money is on Barbara Padilla but I do see the Texas Tenors on a billboard, too. They could give a great show. So there you have my running commentary. ...........LisaG, I hope you are staying away from the sharks!
Janet
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Hey Diane - Just got back from doing some major damage on my credit cards. Oh well. On the good side, the clothes store I usually visit is gone, but on the bad side, the artist whose hand colored pencil etchings is doing them again. I already have 5 of his pieces...all scenes around Nantucket and I just bought another today...a rooftop view of downtown Nantucket as seen from the top of the Congressional Church. Then, of course, there were the obligatory stops at Aunt Leah's fudge for Chocolate Heath flavor...and then Nantucket Chocolatiers for homemade chocolate covered cranberries and their version of heath bar with toffee, chocolate and almonds. YUM!
LisaG
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MERF - About 11 years then! Mooch looks good! She's probably about 13 now then?
Diane
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3.30 PM 9/9/09 Diane, I count back...Big R died 10/2001, and I think he was diagnosed 2 and 2/3 yrs before his death. Right after the diagnosis, the KIND GBers brought us Mooch. So I think I was March of 98. KMP? Izzat right? And, KMP, great good luck with the knee replacement. Dinnae be stubborn (please): rent either a power chair or a wheelchair for use as directed by your orthopedist.
Merfuff
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LISA - You want to show up in front of one of the cam's today??
Diane
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http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/articles/2009/09/09/30329792/index.xml -- This is a good article on the President's address to the students bru-ha-ha
Diane
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Christine...I totally agree about Barbara Padilla. That song [i.e., that version of Ave Maria] always gets to me... It is my mother's favorite song and the only one she wants to be played at her memorial service....As far as the rest of the contestants, I don't think anyone comes close to her. Not the best performances for any of the others tonight, in my opinion.
kmp
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has anyone watched America's Got Talent? Barbara Padilla the opera singer made me weep tonite.... wow what a beautiful singer!
christine
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Oh and the ferry that takes cars is the Steamship Authority...the old slow ones. Hyline and Fast Ferry are the high speed lines (1 hr) but is only for passengers and those with bicycles.
LisaG
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Diane - Sorry, missed your question about the ferry...I go out of Hyannis...I'm not sure if they even still run out of Woodshole, where we used to go when I was a kid. On Nantucket, there are 3 web cams...one at the ferry station, one looking at Jetties beach and one in front of Arno's restaurant, where I happened to have eaten tonight!
LisaG
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hello kmp!
Christine
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LISA - It seems we burn the worst when it is overcast and cloudy, doesn't it? I guess because we don't feel the heat of the sun and we don't think we're getting burned.
Diane
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KMP - I know A LOT of people who go through that same thing with an HMO. I also experienced it with an HMO. I'll take universal not-for-profit health care any day over that. As long as it is funded well, it works. 57% of our budget goes to wars. It's sick. We spend more than any other nation on that while our citizens are suffering from lack of healthcare.
Diane
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Well, it appears the big "socialist" message (insert eye roll here) from the President to work hard in school was much ado about nothing...making those up in arms look like idiots. Yeesh. ------- I just heard on the WCAI (Cape & Islands) NPR radio, an interview with the biologist tagging the great whites off Chattam on the mainland. They said they're attracted to the big herd of seals there...a positive sign for both the seals and