The Common Room

Tiger in the Dog House

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:38:56 GMT

There's nothing like a good, old-fashioned sex scandal to inspire the comedy writers at
Saturday Night Live.

Here was last Saturday's spoof:

Happy Birthday Wishes!!

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:30:32 GMT

The professor is brewing a special Birthday potion for spacedlaw and annie_from_aust. Hope your special day is magical.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADIES!!

T minus one - The day before Thanksgiving

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:42:03 GMT

Photo courtesy of sweetcatastrophe56

It's finally here, the day before the big feast. My task has been assigned. I will be baking the pies again this year. Pumpkin pies, Apple pies and Cranberry tarts. There is not a whole lot I can do ahead of time. I bought pumpkins in October and cooked, pureéd, and stored them in the freezer. I am currently defrosting and draining the liquid from them for their big day tomorrow. The apples can't be peeled and cut up until tomorrow and the cranberry tart....well I just feel better making that the same day as well. So it will be an early wake up call for me in the morning as the flour starts to fly in my kitchen and those pies start making their appearance. Thank GOD I have a double oven.....oh, did I mention there will be 37 people for dinner? My poor Mother-in-law. It's a huge number of people but I think she loves doing it. She makes the turkeys and mashed potatoes and the rest of us pitch in and bring all the other dishes. So if I don't get around to the LJ tomorrow, I want to wish all of my fellow countrymen a HAPPY THANKSGIVING, and wish all the hens on LJ a very nice day!

Nostalgia

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:49:18 GMT

Snoopylover1967 has inspired me with her walk down memory lane by posting the "Fashion Show" commercial for Wendy's. *snort*

Now here's a real oldie. This one was from the 1960's. It was a commercial for Rice Krispies.....does anyone remember this one?

This one actually won a Cannes Gold Lion award, is in the Advertising Hall of Fame, and was selected by Entertainment Weekly magazine as one of the ten greatest commercials of all time.

Amazing dog hero.

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:14:04 GMT

I truly believe that animals are able to feel compassion and emotion. Here is indisputable proof:

Mattress Dominoes

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:40:26 GMT

Some silliness for your Saturday morning:

Mattress dominoes:

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:53:34 GMT

I don't know if it's a sign of the times, the bad economy, or people in need of reassurance, but in driving around town I seem to be seeing a lot of signs advertising Psychic Readings. Why is there a sudden surge in this type of "service"? Which got me to thinking......how many people actually frequent these types of establishments? I never have, but I've always thought it might be a fun thing to do. I've never paid anyone to do a reading but when I was very young, we had a neighbor who would occasionally do them. She was a young Armenian girl from Iran that my Mom had befriended. She was new to this country and was a young bride in an arranged marriage. Well, needless to say, she was very unhappy both with her situation and with the difficulty of adjusting to a foreign culture. We took her in for a while when she decided to leave her husband and helped her to find her feet, so-to-speak, so that she could eventually live independently. But back to the subject at hand......she only ever gave me two readings. Once when I was around 7 years old, and once much later when I was in my early 20's.

She used two methods. When I was 7, she read my cards. She had me shuffle and cut the cards and she pulled out a queen (I don't remember the suit...hearts, maybe?) to represent me. She then began to lay out the cards in a circle around the queen. As she laid out the cards, two Jacks appeared around the queen. One with light hair, another with dark hair. She told me that I would be pursued by two men. A light one, and a dark one. I would have a difficult time deciding between the two but I would eventually end up with the dark man and it would be the right choice for me. This was a bit too vague for my 7 year old mind and I turned to my older sister and whispered, "am I going to marry a black man?" Of course she immediately started laughing hysterically and told everyone in the room what I had asked. Embarrassed by their laughter, I never again asked for a reading until I was much older (although she didn't often do them). I completely forgot about her "prediction".

Fast-forward to my last year at university. I had been dating someone for about three years. The final six months it was becoming apparent that things were not going well and we broke off our relationship. Three months later I met a very nice young man and we began seeing each other seriously. Of course, about that time boyfriend #1 decided to make a reappearance and wanted to desperately patch things up and get back together. For a brief time, I was torn as to what to do. I had a history with bf #1...both good and not-so-good and it's difficult to ignore someone whom you once had deep feelings for and they are pleading with you to forgive them. On the other hand, there was bf #2 who I didn't know well....we had recently met...but who had great potential and showed an enormous amount of kindness. It took me a few weeks to get my head straight about what I should do but I finally ended my relationship with #1 and stayed with #2....who I eventually married. It was several years later that my card reading came back to my mind. Boyfriend #1 had blond hair. My husband has dark hair! Mere co-incidence you may say........maybe, but when I finally remembered her prediction, I admit that I felt a sudden chill.

Soon after I had graduated from university I saw her again. This time she made some turkish coffee. A dark, strong coffee with lots of sediment of coffee grounds in the bottom. After drinking your coffee, you place the saucer upside down on top of the cup and invert it to allow the grounds to run down the sides of the cup. From there she reads the grounds and interprets your future. At the time I was looking for work in the field I had majored in but was having a difficult time finding anything. She took the cup and began to point out different things. She pointed to a shape that resembled a cap. She told me that I would possibly be involved in some sort of government or official service.......what? I had no idea what that was about. She pointed to some other things and made some vague and general predictions that I do not remember and that was the end of that.

When I was at school, I was on the university crew team for four years. After graduation, I continued to go out on the water occasionally with some other crew alumnae just for exercise and fun. One afternoon, after a workout, we were approached by two women who introduced themselves as policewomen. They were in charge of recruiting women for the L.A.P.D. Apparently, there was a push to get more women on the force and they were actively looking for young women they thought would make good candidates. At first I dismissed the idea, but as I continued to get turned down for several jobs in my field, I began to consider it. To make a long story short, I applied and began to take all of the tests. I passed all the psychological, written, personality, and physical tests, but I failed the medical due to my eyesight. They have a certain criteria and my uncorrected vision (without glasses or contacts) was beyond what they would accept. I was mildly disappointed but realize now that it was for the best. It wasn't until much later that I recalled the prediction of the turkish coffee. A cap?...some sort of government or official service? Whoa! Cue the spooky music.

So all of this makes me wonder: Have any of you ever been to a psychic? Do you go regularly or just once in a while for fun? Have any of your predictions ever come to pass? Are any of you blessed with psychic abilities?
What do you think of it? Do you believe that some people possess special gifts or, in your opinion is it a lot of smoke and mirrors and general predictions? Just curious......

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:30:58 GMT

The professor has deducted 10 house points for your serious lack of: you fill in the blank.

Report to his office in the dungeons for detention this evening at 7 p.m. where you will decide your punishment.

SNAPE-A-LICIOUS!!!

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:11:35 GMT

I just couldn't wait until Saturday.....just couldn't! I grabbed my 19 yr. old son and dragged him to the theater last night. Yeeeeee-owwwwwww-zzzzaaaaa! From the opening moment with the WB logo in the gray clouds until the last credits had rolled I was literally glued in my seat *damn that kid that spilled a soda on the floor*, but seriously, I am very pleased with this latest installment of the HP series.

JK Rowling's books are so richly detailed and full of colorful side stories that it's virtually impossible to put all of that into a film adaptation. Knowing that, I always try to go into the theater with an open mind and not get my knickers in a twist over what was left out. The films will never be as fully rich as the books, that's what makes reading the books so great. I feel sorry, in a way, for anyone who is only following this series by way of the films (like my husband). They are missing out on so much. That being said however, what the filmmakers have visually done with this series is beyond outstanding. From their elaborate sets to the amazing special effects they have spared no expense and the box-office receipts reflect the audience appreciation of this attention to detail.

Finally, FINALLY they have allowed one of the most interesting and intriguing characters in the book, Severus Snape, to have more than a few seconds of screen time. I think the most frustrating thing about these films has been the consistent cutting of all the great Snape scenes. And with an actor like Rickman who can just chew up the scenery every time he speaks, it's been a bit of a shame up until now. Well hang onto your broomsticks, kids because Snape gets several scenes in this one. Although it may never be enough for some of us.

The filmmakers have stuck fairly close to the book. The things they omitted were scenes that really didn't advance the story and the changes they made worked within the film. They stuck with the main storyline and as a stand-alone film, what they did really works well. I really enjoyed the humor in this one and when it came to dramatic scenes, all the young actors have improved tremendously.....even Emma Watson, whose skills I was seriously beginning to doubt in the last couple of films.

After seeing this, I'm happy that David Yates will be directing the final two installments. I wasn't sure after Order of the Phoenix, but that was such a weighty, rambling book that any director would have struggled with it. He did his best on that one and all-in-all, although it's not my most favorite, it's not a bad film. He really redeemed himself in my eyes with Half-Blood Prince. If you're a fan of the series I think you will enjoy it. And like I said, lots o' Snape.

One last comment: Watch for the cape dragging through the puddle of water......GAH!......Thud.

ONE MORE WEEK!!!

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:25:21 GMT

Knowing that this film has been ready for release since November has been agonizing. IMO, it qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment. But I'm hoping that wait will make watching this film that much more special. I'm encouraged by the trailers that I've seen. I'm hopeful that they stayed as true to the book as is possible when adapting a book to the screen.

While I enjoyed the last film (Order of the Phoenix) the book was just too large and jammed packed with details for them to include everything. The filmmakers really tried and I think the parts at Hogwarts and the Dept. of Mysteries were well done, but the opening and the scenes at Grimmauld Place seemed a bit fragmented. If you had never read the book, you'd have a hard time following what was going on and why they were showing you these scenes.

Anyway, there will definitely be more luscious Snape-y-ness in this one. I love this poster: Snape front and center - and doesn't he look great!?!

Un très bon film

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:39:39 GMT

I just returned from the L.A. film festival and saw a very good film. A french language film called 35 Rhums (35 shots of rum). A far cry from the typical action-packed blockbuster. This was definitely an art house film. Very quiet, very subtle, but full of emotion. It's about a Father's relationship with his daughter and how they see their roles changing as they age...her into an adult and he facing growing older. If you get the chance to see it, don't miss it.

Of course the big crowds were outside the premiere of the Johnny Depp film Public Enemies that was happening across the street. Huge crowds, dressed-to-kill ticket holders, and frenzied fans...and lots of media. I'm actually looking forward to seeing that film. Not so much because of Depp, but last October when I was in Roanne, France, I met a girl from Chicago who worked as an extra in this film. She is a competitive swing dancer and she and many of her dancing friends were cast to dance in the background of a ballroom scene. She was also an extra in the movie theater when John Dillinger (Depp) comes to the cinema with the "woman in the red dress". She regaled us with lots of stories about things that happened on the set. I will be straining my eyes to try to catch her in the background...that is, if her scenes didn't end up on the cutting room floor. Oh well....that's the movie biz!

Cuttin' a rug in the Antwerp train station

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:33:05 GMT

How come this never happens when I'm out in public places?

Fun stuff!

Apple Tart, anyone?

Wed, 27 May 2009 21:16:38 GMT

I am so pleased with how this came out and it was so easy to do!! First of all was the greatest discovery of the world's easiest tart crust. Many thanks to David Lebovitz and his awesome blog for sharing this recipe.

After that, all you do is peel and slice the apples, place in a circular pattern, sprinkle with sugar, dot with butter and into the oven it goes (400⁰ for approx. 45 minutes). You can customize as I did: sprinkle on some cinnamon, some freshly grated nutmeg and top with an apricot glaze which is also easy. 1/2 cup of apricot jam and 2 Tablespoons of either water, rum, or brandy (I used apricot brandy). Heat in a saucepan and brush on while the tart is still warm from the oven. And voilà. Friends and family will be so impressed. It takes less than 20 minutes (not counting baking time) and it looks like you've worked all day!

PET PEEVE

Tue, 26 May 2009 21:27:06 GMT

This may be very petty of me.....but one thing I just don't understand and irritates me just a little bit:

Couples that share one e-mail address.

Why? Maybe it's just me. There very well may be some of you out there that do this with your husband. Can you please explain it to me? Don't most service providers allow for several user names on one account? I guess what bothers me is the lack of individuality. I'm not trying to send secret messages to my friends or talk about someone behind their back. But sometimes you would like to send a message for just your friend to see. I'm not talking about joke e-mails or chain letter type messages but a message that is meant just for one individual that their "better-half" is more than likely not interested in nor cares about.

Whenever I send a message to a friend that shares an e-mail address with their spouse and I don't get a reply, I'm always left wondering if they ever really got the message. Did their husband read it and deem it not worthy and send it to the trash file? If they had their own address and I got no reply I wouldn't be as bothered. They made the choice themselves not to reply. But with a shared mailbox, you're always left wondering.

Am I being ridiculous?

"My Mom went to Paris and all she ate was a falafel......"

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:35:56 GMT

.....yes, that's right....isn't falafel the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of Paris?? City of light, corner cafés and baguettes, 3-star Michelin restaurants, la tour Eiffel. Well, when spending only one night in this beautiful city, tough choices must be made.

It was always in my plans to just spend one night in Paris. Paris was just to be a stop over in order to recuperate from the 11 hour flight from L.A. I was heading south the next afternoon to the city of Roanne to spend two weeks at L’école des Trois Ponts (School of the Three Bridges) for language classes and for courses in pastry and bread making. But I digress.......Paris.....my plane landed at 9:00 a.m. By the time I made it through immigration, picking up my luggage, and buying an RER ticket into the city, it was well after 11:30 a.m. Armed with my trusty print-out from Google Earth I set out, luggage in tow, to find my hotel.

Lesson #1: Never, I repeat, NEVER trust directions from Google Earth. I always make it a habit to know exactly the route to take to get to my hotel when arriving in a new city. Well, Paris was not new to me but I was staying in the 12th arrondissment this time. An area with which I was not quite familiar. Before leaving, I had typed in my hotel address and enjoyed the thrill of watching the globe turn and the camera zoom in on my exact location in Paris. A little "x" marked the spot on the map along with the name of my hotel. What was bizarre was I could not see any buildings.....just a bunch of trees and a giant park. I even called my husband over and said, "Can you see any buildings here? This is supposed to be where my hotel is....but I can't see any building." He said, "Well, probably the buildings are under these tall trees and you just can't see them from this angle." This seemed to make perfect sense to me so I printed out a street map of this location and plotted directions from the metro stop to the hotel. In order to make a long story short, let's just say that the effects of jet lag and completely wrong directions do not make for a great start to your trip. I wandered, made wrong turns, missed streets and stepped in a steaming pile of dog-doo. Merde! I finally decided to swallow my pride and ask someone for help. It turns out that although I was on Rue du Bel Air, the street my hotel was supposed to be on, I was no longer technically in Paris. I had crossed the imaginary border from Paris proper into the suburb of Saint-Mandé just outside the 12th arrondissment (a matter of just crossing the street....one side was Paris, the other side Saint-Mandé). The Rue du Bel Air that I wanted was back in Paris, just a block from a conveniently located metro stop.....but about 2 miles away from where I currently was wandering....so easy to find if I'd had the proper information! Aarrgh! It was nearly 2 pm by the time I finally arrived at my hotel. I took a much needed shower and collapsed on my bed and did not wake up until 6pm. Curse you, Google Earth!! *shakes fist*

Determined to a least enjoy my evening in Paris, I set out to find a place to eat. After a quick stop at a Supermarché to buy a few supplies, I set off to the 5th arrondissment to find a restaurant that I had enjoyed when I was here last year. This particular weekend was the annual La nuit blanche (White Night) celebration in Paris. For one long October night in Paris, museums, monuments, cinemas, parks and swimming pools stay open all night for the crowds. There are free concerts and art exhibits and a general party atmosphere in the city. At dawn, each district's city hall, local associations and shop keepers organize breakfasts for those who lasted through the night. When I had planned this trip way back in January, I had no idea that I would be in Paris on this very weekend. When I did learn of it, I thought, "wow, what luck!" But quickly realized that with a train to catch the next afternoon (and a non-refundable ticket to boot) that I had better not try this unique all-nighter. I was just going to enjoy a nice dinner, wander around my favorite areas and enjoy the sights that are beautifully illuminated at night, and then turn in. Well, Paris was certainly in a party mood. Every metro was jam-packed to standing room only. The popular areas, like the 5th (le quartier latin) where I was headed, were inundated with throngs of revelers ready to have a good time. At one point, walking down St. Germain, the sidewalk was so thick with people that you literally could not move. No matter how many "pardon" and "excusez-moi" I tried, I just could not make it through this crowd. Finally after strategic use of my elbows, I emerged, gasping, on the other side. The cause of the bottleneck: they were giving away free samples of pâté sponsored by a local radio station. I finally found my favorite restaurant only to discover it was full to capacity with a crowd of about 50 more people waiting outside for a seat. Every restaurant I passed seemed to be in the same situation. Apparently, one must make dinner reservations well in advance if one wishes to dine out during la nuit blanche! Other people were more inventive. On the bridges and in the parks, people spread out blankets and had picnic baskets and bottles of wine while the Eiffle tower sparkled in the background. It was beautiful weather - a few clouds but not too cold - and truly a lovely evening.

It was becoming glaringly apparent that I would never find a restaurant in the Latin quarter so it was time to execute plan B. I headed for my next favorite spot, Le Marais. The Marais in Paris is the historic jewish quarter of the city. I headed for rue des Rosiers to find what I had been dying to try - a falafel from the famous L'As du Falafel, reputed to be the best falafel in all of Paris. My plan was to enjoy this for lunch tomorrow before heading out on the train but desperate times call for desperate measures and I WAS HUNGRY! I hadn't eaten since the breakfast served on the plane an hour before we landed and I was ravenous. L'As du Falafel is owned by an orthodox jewish family so I knew that they were closed on Saturdays until sunset. However, I was sure that now that the sun was down, they would be open. Again I was disappointed to see it locked up tight along with most of the other restaurants in the Marais. I knew we were between the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holidays so maybe they just remained closed until these holidays are over. The Marais was also filled with people, although a lot less crowded than the Latin quarter, but the narrow streets seemed like a ghost town with the majority of businesses closed. Then up the street I noticed a small crowd. A hoard of people were gathered around the only restaurant open on the block. "Chez Hanna" also served mediterranean/middle eastern food but they were open and doing a brisk business. I decided if I don't get in line and order something, I might never eat anything at all tonight. There were people sitting inside at the tables and others waiting to be seated, but there was also a line for the take-out window which I quickly joined. I had a nice conversation with some girls from Germany who were also desperately looking for something to eat. After about a 15 minute wait I finally had falafel in hand. I sat down on the doorstep of a closed restaurant and dug in. It may not be the L'As du Falafel that I had planned on, but it was certainly delicious to this hungry traveler.

Crowds waiting outside "Chez Hanna"

After this delicious feast, I enjoyed some heavenly italian gelato and wandered the festive streets for a few hours. I finally was hitting a wall and needed to go back to my hotel and get some sleep. I returned to the hotel at 11pm and with my window open, fell asleep to the sounds of raindrops just beginning to fall on the metal roof. The gentle "tap-tap-tap" echoing through the courtyard made me happy I was in my warm, cozy bed.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Sun, 11 May 2008 12:48:58 GMT

Paintings by Mary Cassett

This is for the Mothers..........

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here"

This is for the mothers who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who don't or can't.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

For all the mothers who cried outside hospital rooms but smiled inside for their babies and slept in fold out chairs so they wouldn't be so frightened.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football, hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the grandmothers raising their grandchildren because their daughters (or daughters-in-law) can't.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college --or married -- or Moms themselves.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? Is it the panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers..

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all.

For all of us.

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them.

And pray.

Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.

Author Unknown

"Home is what catches you when you fall - and every once in a while we all fall."

The Lounge Lizard

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:14:08 GMT

Here in California, the Santa Ana winds blew in lots of debris and hot air from the desert. We had a record breaking 90 degrees (F) on Easter Sunday. Everyone was seeking ways to cool off with this sudden temperature change. Even the local reptile population got into the act. We looked outside Sunday afternoon and found this little guy floating around in our pool.

He seems to know how to live the good life. Later on he managed to climb out and he scampered off into the bushes. It was an unusual Easter Sunday!

Already the temperature has dropped considerably and we are getting back to the normal, milder climate for this time of year.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter holiday as much as Mr. Lizard!

Stop the world, I want to get off!

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:03:12 GMT

Now here's something you don't see everyday. Time Stands Still at Grand Central Station:

LOL! It would make you wonder if maybe YOU weren't going crazy. Where can I sign up to be a part of this??!!

Five for Fighting Helps Battle Autism

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:57:34 GMT

My son receives a baseball trophy for playing in the "Challengers League".
This wonderful organization allows all children, no matter their disability, to enjoy playing baseball.

Dear LiveJournal Friends:

The band Five for Fighting will generously donate $.40 for each time this short, beautiful video is viewed. The funding will go toward research studies to help find a cure for autism. When you have a moment, please visit the link here to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal.
God Bless!

Getting into the (Bah, Humbug!) Christmas Spirit

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:58:32 GMT

With Thanksgiving over, it's time to get ready for Christmas. The last few years I've had difficulty making this transition.....I don't know why. It seems I don't really get into the swing of the holiday season until almost the week before and by then I am hopelessly behind. I frantically try to throw up decorations, do the shopping, the wrapping and the baking. Forget Christmas cards....I've given up on trying to do those long ago. Rather selfish of me because I do enjoy receiving them. I just can't seem to bring myself to send any....yet my loyal friends still continue to send them to me......go figure.

I will credit my sudden Christmas spirit to watching a live performance of the Nutcracker last night. My six year old niece is taking ballet lessons and my sister invited me to see her holiday performance. I assumed that it would be a cute little holiday production with lots of 5 to 10 year old little girls doing short little dances with a winter/holiday theme. I had no idea that it was going to be the Nutcracker ballet performed by a large dance company ranging from young children to adults. This was not a professional company but a very talented group nonetheless. I was very impressed. The principal parts were played by the older members and the little children were featured in the background as mice, gingerbread men, candy canes, toy soldiers, etc. As I was being swept away by the music, I suddenly realized that I had never seen a live production of the Nutcracker before! Sure, I'd heard all the music and I'd seen several dance numbers performed on television....but I've never before seen the entire production live.

Before the show, I went backstage to help my sister organize all the excited little girls. Here are two candy canes getting their makeup done.

And here are three little "candy canes" all ready for the show.

(My niece in the center with her very ballerina-like pose)

So, maybe something as simple as this little ballet company can take credit for my sudden surge of Christmas cheer. I can't guarantee it will last, but it's a good start.

This year I'm determined to suppress my inner Ebenezer Scrooge and kick my ass into gear to get an earlier start. So starting today, December 2nd, I'm makin' a list and checkin' it twice in an effort to have a more organized, stress-free Christmas. Ack!....wish me luck!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:46:39 GMT

My contribution to today's Thanksgiving feast. Two apple, and one pumpkin pie. I wish all my LJ friends in the States a blessed Thanksgiving day. And to all my LJ friends around the world a happy and wonderful weekend. Count your many blessings today.

O.K....I give in.....

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:19:46 GMT

I resisted as long as I could.....I've finally given in and decided to

South Park Me:

Tomorrow's the Day

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:13:00 GMT

Less than 24 hours to go. The bags are packed. Good God, I hope I haven't forgotten anything important. In my attempts to pack everything into a carry-on suitcase, a few thing had to be jettisoned at the last minute. The cute pair of boots I bought had to go. They were just too bulky to pack and I didn't want to wear boots on an 11 hour plane trip. So, it's just the walking shoes and a nicer pair of shoes for a more dressier outfit. The travel blanket has to stay home as well. Again...too much bulk. I've been told however that on almost all international flights, they now provide you with a clean blanket (wrapped in plastic), eyeshades, and ear plugs. It's been a long time since I've flown on a trip like this. The last time (I'm really dating myself now) was on Freddie Lakers' Skytrain where everything was ultra-budget. No blankets or pillows, or if you did find one, it had been used by God knows how many people and never cleaned. You even had to pay extra if you wanted a meal. A lousy boxed lunch at that. I still can only afford to fly coach, but I've heard good things about Air Tahiti Nui. Well, I've done all I can do. I have a feeling tomorrow might go something like this:

(click on play button)

Yippie!

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 22:57:54 GMT

Just when I began to get nervous about my passport, I received an e-mail the very next day that they have finished processing my application and my passport will be mailed to me via priority mail. Woo-Hoo!! I should expect to receive it by Sept. 5th. Whew! That was the last item that really had me worried. Now all I have to do is fit 11 days worth of clothing into one carry-on suitcase. This will be interesting....

Where the HELL is my &%^$@#** Passport!!

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:22:47 GMT

*heavy sigh* O.k....it's August 30th and my passport has still not arrived. I leave in 15 days. I've tried the automatic tracking the government has on their website, but was told not to bother until I'm two weeks away from my departure date. It's been more than the estimated 12 week processing time and still nothing. Tomorrow I am officially two weeks away from leaving. I will be spending the better part of the day making calls and trying to find out where I am in the system. G-r-r-r-r-r-r!