Today’s “Ha-Ha” moment comes courtesy of the sweet Miss Amy – one of my three adorable four-legged babies. Amy managed to totally fool me and do it with that irresistible wide-eyed innocent look she seems to always have – regardless of how technically guilty she may be!
The moment happened while we were going through our morning rituals and routine before I had to leave for work. I was running behind schedule and steadily multi-tasking my way through the things that had to be done. The girls had already been out once. When it was time to come in for their breakfast, Megan and Katie were waiting at the door and pranced right in. Amy was nowhere in sight – after calling her name a few times, she finally meandered out of where she was hiding in the bushes where something obviously commanded her undivided attention. Their usual second trip outside lasted longer than usual so I had time to catch up and finish getting ready for work.
When I went to let them in so I could head out to work, Megan and Katie were, again waiting at the door and pranced right on in! Amy, again, was MIA! Figuring that whatever had her attention earlier had piqued her interest again, I went out on the deck to look around the yard. I called her a few times and told her I was leaving — no response and she was nowhere in sight. I turned to go in and put on a pair of shoes to go out in the yard and see what the bushes had that was so captivating. What I saw when I turned around cracked me up!!! There were all three girls – yes, including the “missing” Amy – all inside the screen door sitting side-by-side quietly looking out at me! She obviously snuck in with the other two and I didn’t notice! And she didn’t say a word….not a whimper….not a whine….not a bark….nothing to respond to my efforts of calling her name and let me know she was already inside! I am absolutely convinced they were sitting there laughing at me…….hehehehe
I went in and they all jumped around greeting me — I looked at Amy and said, “you little sneaky devil, you!” She very coyly looked up at me with innocence and sweetness pouring out of her like syrup from a maple tree!
It made my day and gave me something to smile about for hours!
I turned 54 yesterday……REALLY??? When, exactly, did that happen and what, exactly, does that mean, anyway? I certainly hope it doesn’t mean I am supposed to go shop for one of those little old lady rocking chairs and start doing little old lady things (whatever it is that little old ladies do). I also hope it doesn’t mean that I should avoid talking about my age or celebrating birthdays. Cause I really love birthdays — I always have!!! And this one was no exception! Yeah, I’ve lived more than 1/2 a century – so far – and, yeah, my bones and joints can attest to that fact. But, I’m not afraid or ashamed to admit it! Afterall, I don’t {think} I look my age and I don’t {usually} act my age, so it’s only a number, right? So, what’s in a birthday? It is just a day on the calendar that marks how many years you’ve been on this earth. Just a day among many. I think more about what I have done with and in that life span than how many years it took me to do it! The fact that it has flown by so quickly is, I hope, a testament to how jam-packed it was and how much fun it has been – even though it has been dotted with some sadness, disappointment, and difficult situations……it has flown by because it has been mostly a life I can feel proud of and look back on with pure joy, love, and laughter! I’m glad to be here and hope I’m only somewhere just barely past middle age……cause I have a LOT more to do!
So, how did I spend my birthday this year? I went in to work for a short time in the morning. Then, I went to get some groceries and cruised around town a little with the top down on the pony – it was an exquisite day! I played with the girls a lot. Then, I went to see a movie and had dinner at La Dolce Vita with a dear friend – and more cruising around with the top down. Talked to my Mom and family/friends who called to wish me well. And then there was Facebook —- it is funny how receiving a ton of wall posts with birthday wishes can add that special little something to your already special day! In summary, a quiet day doing things I enjoy doing with people (and pups) I enjoy being with…….it was a totally enjoyable day! Not all that different from most weekend days, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way!
The title indicates I may have some other revelations to share — well, of course I do!
The World Series is about to start and my Yankees won’t be there! Boo Hoo! But, that’s OK! They played a hell of a season and made it to the playoffs! They are still the best team in the league and have made it to and won the World Series more than any other team – EVER! They are still the Yankees! AND – even though they won’t play in the series this year, they are still this year’s second best team in the American League! I know, it isn’t supposed to be good to be second best! But, there were only TWO teams that were good enough to be in the playoffs and there could only be ONE team good enough to go to the series. That’s saying something!!!!
Now, as for the Texas Rangers……whenever the Yankees don’t make it to the series (as rare as that occurence is), I always root for whoever goes from the American League. I just wanna see an AL winner at the end of every baseball season! But, this year is different! I’m actually {secretly} excited about the AL team that made it this year! The Rangers have never made it to the series – they made it to the playoffs before, but never all the way to the big games! If the Yankees had to give up their spot to anyone, I’m glad it is the Rangers. I wish them luck and will root enthusiastically for them to win it all!!! If they keep playing the way they did in the playoffs, the Giants won’t have a chance against them! (oh, by the way…..Dear Rangers: Once you get this exciting win under your belts, don’t think I’ll ever be happy if you try to beat out my Yankees for that spot in the series again!)
Election day is next week………..I can not WAIT until it is over!!! I’ve never liked the “politics” of politics, but in the past few years, I have gotten more and more frustrated and disgusted with it all. If I get one more political call interrupt my peaceful evening or left on my answering machine, I will SCREAM!!! It’d be different if they would tell me what they plan to do for me AND how they plan to do it…….but, all they do is tell me what they think their opponent WON’T do for me or just communicate a vague concept that they think proves to me they have my best interests at heart! I’m not buying it — any of it! I just want to be able to find out which candidate will support the things that I believe are important! And, unfortunately, the “politics” of politics makes that so much more difficult every year!!!
And, I’ll leave you with a quote that I absolutley LOVE — it is a sarcastic view of a pet peeve of mine — voting a straight ticket! Research, think for yourself, and vote for the candidate who best represents what is important to you – not just because they are backed by a particular party!
“I always voted at my party’s call, and I never thought of thinking for myself at all.” William Gilbert
The previews of Matt Damon’s new movie, “Hereafter“, sent me mixed messages. At first, I thought it was a thriller of some kind and my reaction was, “no way”! Then, the more I saw and heard of it, the more I was intrigued by it. You see, I have a curiosity about the after life and angels and whether or not our loved ones continue to surround us with love and guidance after they have gone. So, once it was obvious it was more about that sort of thing and less about something that was intended to shock or scare me, I really wanted to see it……a LOT!!! I hoped for a story that would give me more to think about and perhaps enhance or validate some of my beliefs. Yeah, I knew it would be “just a movie” and that it wouldn’t offer any scientific proof, but, come on — if writers (who hopefully did some research to provide some substance to their fiction) tell stories that align with my beliefs, then I can’t be alone in believing in them! Right? I really hoped this movie would give me some of that — I really wanted to like it and to leave with my head filled with thoughts and questions and wonder!!!!
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen! Oh, the story was good, but it was really quite ordinary……and extremely S…L…O…W! The opening scenes where the French reporter is caught up in a tsunami and experiences death before she is revived and the English boy whose twin is killed are the only scenes that had any life to them at all (pardon the play on words). But, that isn’t what I wanted to experience! The rest of the movie was how they reacted to their experience…..and it was mostly boring!!! Matt Damon’s character goes through the entire movie avoiding his abilities, calling them a curse, and not talking about his experiences other than to say that it was a burden and that he had no desire to put himself through it anymore. Aside from the French reporter having visions of shadowy people all around her while she was unconscious and the English boy having an incident where losing his hat causes him to avoid being on a subway that blows up (you know right off that it must have been the brother who knocked the hat off, but are supposed to be surprised when it is revealed later in a reading), there is no more insight into the hereafter — just how those who briefly experienced it felt about it.
On the other hand, it was a good story and a good ending! If I hadn’t gone in with such a specific idea of what I wanted to get out of it and such a high expectation, maybe I would have liked it……except for the slow, low-keyed way it was told. I don’t know…….thinking back on it, I am really not sure if I let my expectations spoil it for me or if I would have had the same BLAH attitude even without the disappointment. I am torn.
So — I did raise the point value for the basic story that was told — it was good and had the potential to be interesting, if it had been told better. But, the boring nature of the way it was told really weighed heavily on my rating – as did the disappointment I felt about it not delivering what I really wanted to get out of it. I give it a C overall. Save it for Neflix!
So…..what do you think about the new theme? It is an antique-y theme called Quentin – very proper looking! I like the look, but don’t like that it doesn’t support a custom header, so I lost my photo of the girls…..boo hoo!!! But – I like it, so I’ll keep it until I get sick of it and decide to find one that will let me customize the header, again.
When I saw the name of the blog page theme I picked, it made me all nostalgic! Not because Quentin is an old-fashioned name……no, I got all nostalgic because it reminded me of a favorite TV show from my school days. In the late 60s / early 70s, I used to rush home from school every day so that I could see “Dark Shadows“! One of my favorite characters was Quentin Collins, played by David Shelby. It was a poorly filmed series with hokey acting and story lines, but I loved it!!!
I understand they are working on a remake of it for the big screen…….not sure how I feel about that! The charm of it was the dark, bad filming and hokey-ness of it! I hope they don’t ruin it by modernizing it too much. But, I have to say, I am a little excited about the thought of Johnny Depp playing Barnabus Collins……yummy!!! Wonder who they are talking to about Quentin, Angelique, and some of the others………I’ll definitely have to go see it!
Speaking of movies that have peaked my interest — I am definitely intrigued by Matt Damon’s new movie, “Hereafter”, opening this weekend! At first, it looked like a horror/thriller type movie, that I would have no interest in at all. Then, I started seeing more in-depth trailers and it looks more suspenseful and interesting! It opens on my birthday weekend, so may just need to be sure I include it in the celebration festivities!!! {wink}
It has been a lovely, productive Tuesday…….time to settle in for the night and prepare for the inescapable Wednesday!
A friend and I made plans to see a movie on Saturday and we chose “Life As We Know It“. We debated a couple different options, but settled on this one. And we were both glad we did! It made for an enjoyable girl time….and it didn’t hurt to top it off with dinner at The Steele Pig after the matinée!
The movie stars Katherine Heigl as Holly Berensen and Josh Duhamel as Eric Messer (who prefers to be called just “Messer”). Holly and Messer’s best friends set them up on a blind date that does not go well at all – they never make it beyond getting in the car in front of Holly’s house! When the best friends get married to each other, Holly and Messer are thrown into occasion after occasion and situation after situation together – always at their total dismay! Then, the friends are killed in an automobile accident and leave their infant child, Sophie, to Holly and Messer, who are Sophie’s Godparents – together! The will leaves the house, an account to pay the mortgage, the SUV, and, of course, Sophie, to them so that they will have all they need to bring Sophie up in her own surroundings. Comedy ensues as they try to make it work for Sophie’s sake in the midst of still not really liking each other all that much……….until the inevitable happens and they start to warm up to each other.
Like I said, we both really enjoyed this movie — it was fun, lively, touching, heartwarming, and well done. I laughed and cried and left feeling good — my requirements for a successful romantic comedy!
Katherine Heigl — LOVED her in “Grey’s Anatomy” and am very sad that she left the show! In her film career, so far, I’ve like her in all of her characters, but she hasn’t done a good job of picking good movies, with the exception of “27 Dresses” and now this one. She is funny and usually is the best part of the movies she stars in. She has finally picked a winning flick and I hope she keeps it up — she has the potential to bring a lot to the screen, if she can get some roles in films that don’t fall flat.
Josh Duhamel — enough said!!! I cried like a baby when All My Children killed off Leo du Pres – not just because I loved the character, but also because I adored Josh Duhamel!!! He was charming and funny and absolutely perfect in the role of Messer in this film! He stole scene after scene!
Josh Lucas — as if having Josh Duhamel in the film wasn’t delicious enough, they threw in Josh Lucas, too!!!! Be still my heart………
The three rounded out a superb cast that really made the movie! The story was cute and fun. The movie was put together well, didn’t have any boring holes, and didn’t leave me hanging. It was well done and totally enjoyable!
I rate this one a solid A and recommend it for all romantic comedy lovers!
The Friday before President’s Day in February, 1999, was my Liberation From Glasses Day! I first got glasses in the fifth grade, after probably actually needing them for some time before that, but never let anyone know I was having trouble seeing the blackboard until then! I wore corrective lenses from that time on…….big clunky glasses, little wire granny glasses, progressive lenses that seemed to always look like sunglasses even when they shouldn’t be dark, contact lenses……..and my eyes got progressively worse over the years!
In the end, I was just barely away from being considered legally blind and had a severe astigmatism – I literally could not see the big, bright numbers on the alarm clock in the morning without first reaching for my glasses…….until that wonderful day almost 12 years ago when I had Lasik surgery done! It was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and the best $4000 I ever spent! I was liberated and could see the world without the help of corrective lenses for the first time in…….well, let’s just say, a LOT of years!!!
So, why is this post titled “What’s New”? This obviously isn’t new news! Well, that part isn’t……but, this part is:
The Lasik surgery has served me well for almost 12 years. I was already over 40, so the doctor over corrected one eye and under corrected the other so that I would prolong the onset of the “40-year-old eye syndrome” – you know, when your arms suddenly aren’t long enough to be able to read the paper! And, it worked — I have not had ANY vision problems and have seen things perfectly clear all these years! Until recently! Lately, I have been having some blurry vision when my eyes get tired or I have a lot of small print to read. So, I went to get an eye exam. I could still get away without wearing glasses at all for quite some time, but we decided to get reading glasses to help keep my eyes from working too hard at times! And, so, the circle comes back around and I am, again, wearing glasses — only when needed to read, but wearing them just the same! As of yesterday, I have a lovely pair of Gucci reading glasses…….yes, Gucci — I always go right for the expensive items, no matter what I’m looking for — it is a curse! hahaha
I think the color (violet caramel) and shape goes well with my hair and shape of my face — I like them (keep your opinions to yourself, if you don’t agree – I need to be happy with the whole “giving in to glasses, again” thing)! And, man, they do help!!! So, here they are…..drum roll, please:
So, that’s new…..or back to old…….or whatever!
The title of this post is not a phrase I came up with…..although I wish I had! It is actually from a song that Jen Chapin wrote about her first son before he was born. I have heard the song before and really like it a lot, but for some reason, tonight when I heard Chapin sing it live at the Temple Theatre, that phrase resonated for me and really touched me. In the song, she is telling her soon-to-be-born son “I have been thinking ’bout this sad, sad world About survival and the one thing you should know is find your joy and let it show”. Wise advice that I try to live by, but never said it so profoundly!
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I attended a fundraiser at the Temple Theatre tonight. The Jen Chapin Trio performed for about 90 minutes and wow’d the audience! I was disappointed to see a small crowd attend, but those that did were treated to a very special experience. I have heard her music before and was in awe at the chance to hear her in person. I was not able to attend the last time she was here, which was a huge disappointment for me. I’m so glad I was able to attend tonight.
Jen Chapin, the late Harry Chapin’s daughter, has a style all her own – her thought-provoking lyrics and soothing sound have a calming effect, while infusing humor and fun along the way. It was the perfect end to a long work day – allowing me to mellow out and feel full of joy and emotion. I found myself feeling the same way I feel when I get out my old Melanie, Carole King, Carly Simon, or Joni Mitchell albums — mellow, joyful, emotional! Don’t get me wrong – I am NOT comparing her music to these other ladies or them to each other! They are all very distinctively unique, but the feeling they bring out in me is the same.
I hope the next time Jen Chapin appears at the Temple Theatre that we can fill the house – she deserves it and more people deserve the amazing experience I and the rest of tonight’s audience enjoyed.
Tonight, I found my joy and I’m letting it show!
Thank you, Peggy, for continuing to bring high quality entertainment to Sanford – we love you for it!
I LOVE OCTOBER!!!! I look forward to it every year…..it is, hands down, my favorite month. Yes, there are other months that I find almost as enjoyable – April, because it is a sign of renewal and spring time – December, because of Christmas and all the decorations and holiday activities – just to name the top two after the perfect month. October just seems full of joy and beauty and starts to cool down, but not too cold (great sweater weather) – it is THE perfect month!
Of course, the first and most obvious reason I love October is because it is the month in which I was born! This year, the 24th day of October will mark my 54th year of enjoying life and all it has to offer. But, I think I would love October even if it wasn’t my birth month. Since it is, however, I take full advantage of the wonders that come with being an October girl.
Other family reasons to love October:
I know that autumn officially starts in September, but October is really the month that kicks it all off and when autumn is at the height of beauty. I grew up in the north-east, where the change of seasons is so much more pronounced and celebrated than it is here in the south. North Carolina does have a change in seasons and autumn is quite lovely, but it in no way compares to October in the north-east. I so miss the gorgeous colors, the sound of rustling leaves underfoot, the smell of burning leaves in yards around the neighborhood, and the joy that all those things bring.
The rest of October’s nature (beyond the beautiful leaves) is wonderful, too — pumpkins, squash, apples, corn, mums, indian corn, gourds, and more!
And, of course, you can’t forget that October kicks off the holiday season……yeah, I know, most people think that Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season, but you can’t leave my second favorite holiday out of that picture — HALLOWEEN!!! Ghosts and witches and gobblins and things that go bump in the night!
Then, there is baseball…….October is a big month for baseball – the playoffs and the World Series – when I think of October, I think of the NY Yankees! Perfect combination!
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month……go pink and save the boobies – big or small, save them all!!!
So, October is jam-packed full of wonderful things — and, did I remember to mention that my birthday is in October?????
Happy October, everybody —- enjoy it!!!
I think I’m up for a good ole “Brain Dump”…..got lots rattling around in my head and just might need to purge to make room for more interesting things to think about! I’m one of those creative types, so I have an overactive imagination and thought process…..so, sometimes I just get so much going on in my mind that I think my brain is going to explode! hahaha How’s that for a nice mental picture as a framework for this post????
OK – so, first up – TV!
I’m really excited about the new fall line up on network TV. This is the first time in several years that I’ve actually thought this was a possibility, let alone believed it!!! But, it’s true. From what I’ve seen of the shows that peaked my interest, so far, I think I’ll be working my DVR to death and spending a lot of time watching TV! That can be good and bad news………
So, what ones have me all worked up?
I’m reading a book that I’ve really been enjoying — Tim Gunn’s Golden Rules! I love Tim Gunn and Project Runway and anything else he is on. He’s such a character and the things he says are a hoot!!! This book is all about etiquette and what is acceptable in proper society. He dishes on celebrities, Project Runway contestants, and family/friends to make his points – for the good and bad! It has really been fun to read!!!
Speaking of books……I found a free app for my iPhone – iBooks!!! That is where I got Tim Gunn’s book. It is great — I can buy a book, read it, and either keep it for future reference or delete it (but it still is accessible, if I want it again later). I don’t have to have the actual book lying around taking up space! And — it goes with me everywhere — like I really needed another reason to have use my iPhone! So, if you see me out somewhere gazing into my iPhone, I may be reading emails or text messages or checking my FB status or checking out the news, but then again, I just may be reading a good book!!!
I am going to walk in the Alzheimer’s Walk this weekend. I’m really excited about participating in this event! It upsets me so much to think of all the people who are robbed of one of our most precious gifts – our memories!!! I just can not imagine it! My Great Aunt Betty suffered from strokes and a form of this horrible disease. I wasn’t able to see her in her last few years, but kept in touch. It was heart breaking to know that she was so lost and I was deeply saddened by what her children, my cousins, were going through. She was always one of the sources I would seek out for stories of my family and our history. I don’t know if my bad knee will allow me to walk the entire route, but I’m gonna give it one hell of a try — for her!!!
Movies I’m looking forward to seeing soon:
And there are some others that I’ve seen in previews at the theater, but don’t remember what they were…….I’ll remember them when I see them again, though!
Hhhhmmm — doesn’t sound like much now that I’ve written it all down, but that’s about all I have for now…….and DWTS is about to come on with the results from last night’s dances! So, I’m done with my ranting
OK….so, here’s my opinion about tonight’s DWTS season 11 premier! I got bored with the show last season, but ended up watching it in the last few weeks. But, this season, I think I just might stay interested. For the most part, everyone did pretty good for the first week out of the gate. Some did REALLY well, some were surprising, and a few don’t hold much promise. These are my thoughts…………spoilers coming………..if you haven’t watched your DVR, yet, you might want to wait until after you do to read my opinions!
Standouts – all did an amazing job and show the most promise, so far:
Kyle Massey
Brandy
Jennifer Grey
Most Awkward – all were stiff, nervous, and least likely to stay long:
Bristol Palin
Michael Bolton
David Hasselhoff
You’re Kidding, Right? – made too much of a mockery of it and it did NOT pay off for her:
Margaret Cho
Biggest Surprise – I was completely shocked how good he did:
Kyle Massey
Still Got It – at 76 years old, she’s still got some moves and some pretty amazing gams for an old broad – she likely won’t get into the finale, but she’ll surely do well for a good portion of the season:
Florence Henderson
I Totally Disagree w/ the Judges
# 1 – he had only one week to practice (much less than all the others) and he STILL did a LOT better than Michael and David – he didn’t deserve to be in a 3 way tie for last place with 15 points:
The Situation
# 2 – not at all sure how he got more than the minimum 15 points:
Michael Bolton
My Favorite – from her emotional rehearsal video to the selection of a song from Dirty Dancing to what I thought was the top performance (and the judges agreed) – I had tears pouring down my cheeks the whole time:
Jennifer Grey
My guess for the first to go home BEFORE the show:
David Hasselhoff
My guess for the first to go home now that I’ve seen them in action – tie – either one will meet my approval:
# 1 – he walked and just went through the motions, instead of danced
David Hasselhoff (but a cult fan base may keep him for a while)
# 2 – she made a sorry attempt at a comedic dance and it didn’t work
Margaret Cho
Do you agree with me or have different opinions?
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