UPDATE

Ok, this is not becoming a vintage television blog, but I have a couple of updates.

I did a little research for our girls craft day. Kb, I totally remember that tv movie about the poor bedwetter but I learned it was not an After School Special. They must have aired it as a Saturday night special or something. It was called The Loneliest Runner. It was an autobiographical account written by Michael Landon. (Who knew?!) I remember really liking that movie but it was so sad. I tried to Netflix it but it's not available on DVD. Bummer!! I also, tried to Netflix Like Normal People (you know, "Rah-jaw, I want a baby Rah-jaw!"). Sadly, it too is not available on DVD. Curses!

I've officially Netflixed 2 After School Special discs instead. I can't wait! We'll be dining on Campbell's Tomato Soup and Grilled cheese sandwiches.

And here's a hint to what else I've got on tap for our screening. I'm a little freaked out that somebody took the time to make that little montage... Of course, I'm one to talk, I'm hosting a Cheesy 70's Made for Television/ Craft Day. *shrug* Next up: Ice Castles!

***Downer Alert***
In case you're wonder what ever happened to Lance Kerwin, star of The Loneliest Runner and so many other shows from the 70's, check this out. Poor Lance!

This account is more upbeat.

And speaking of "Where Are They Now", who's up for seeing this?

My Mount Everest

I was just reading Shandon's blog. She was kind enough to invite me see Lawrence of Arabia with her and Norman but I passed. I admit, it was tempting though. I've never seen LOA on the big screen and I'm sure it makes for a much better experience. Still, I find the film to be a bit of a snoozefest. It's pretty, as is Peter O'Toole, and I'm almost always in favor of seeing Omar Sharif, but even good looking men and sweeping cinematography couldn't lure me away from my crafting this weekend.

Shandon went on the mention trying to tackle AFI's Top 100 Films of all time list. I too have considered this. I was curious to learn how many of those films I'd seen. I dutifully downloded the list and learned that I too need to see exactly 27 films to complete the list. Amazing! I bet we have a lot of overlapping "To See" films. I've placed some on that list deliberately. For instance, I have no desire to see Spartacus. I've seen most of North by Northwest but I can't confidently say I've seen the whole thing so it remains on the "To See" list. One I've never heard of, what the hell is The General? (I just looked it up. At least it's got Buster Keaton going for it.) Most of the films on my "To See" list are what I consider to be "Boy Films". I've never seen The Unforgiven and always meant to, so I look forward to that one. The Deer Hunter and Ben Hur are not so intriguing to me. Except the part about a rival playing mega-gay to a clueless Chuck Heston. The Director, William Wyler, apparenlty informed the actor of the gay undertones but warned "Don't tell Chuck." (Here is part of the back story that I couldn't love more if it were about my own lame grandfather.) I love that kind of behind the scenes drama! It could make viewing Ben Hur so much more palatable.

I just might join Shandon in her resolution. Who knows, I might enjoy The Wild Bunch.

Shandon, let's compare lists. Maybe we could knock a few off our lists over some crafts and tea. Maybe chicking the movies up a bit could help.

Who's with me?

This morning, when I woke at 7:00, instead of the alarm, I reached for the remote and flipped on the tv and watched some old sit-coms. I can tell you Cheers holds up fairly well but other sitcoms from the 70's suffer with time.

All of that old tv got me to thinking about daytime television when I was a kid. Now a days, I've noticed day time tv is geared towards seniors. Back when I was a kid it was directed at homemakers.

Of course, I was at school most of the time, but remember sick days? Ah, sick days. My Mom was a teacher and both of my parents had strict work ethics. As a result, sick days were few and far between for me and my brother. They definitely required a fever or evidence of chicken pox. When I was sick I must have watched a lot of tv because the first things I think of, when I think of childhood sick days, besides flat ginger ale and crackers, are The Price is Right and I Love Lucy reruns. I remember going to the home of a neighbor with a blanket and a tube of Doodle Art on some sick days (I actually had that jungle poster shown above). I loved Doodle Art but I hated those sick days. I would have preferred to stay in my own bed but I suppose Mom had to work, and I couldn't stay at home alone, so off to a sitter I went. I recall lots of commercials from the 70's. Remember that KTTV jingle (Eleven, eleven, eleven...)?

Here are a few of the commercials I recall:
K-Tel (Um, I think I actually had this one.)
Chiffon
Calgon
Dr. Pepper
Wisk
Tootsie Roll
Keep America Beautiful
Cal Worthington
Palmolive

Mercifully, I don't recall this one:
Tab (Thank God women got into advertising.)

My brother and I were "latchkey" kids for about 30 minutes each week day. Instead of going straight home, and accidentally burning the place down, we were sent to a neighbors house until Mom got home. Really this meant Ginger Snaps and milk. (I know I should have been grateful but, Ginger Snaps?! Gross! Ginger Snaps are probably the weakest excuse of a cookie in existence. I hate them to this day.) Once home, I remember watching Match Game followed by Tattletales. Next up was The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. Now those sitcoms hold up just fine. In fact I've got the first two seasons of Mary Tyler Moore on DVD and I'm bucking for some Bob Newhart for Christmas this year. For me, these are comfort shows at their best. I have to have them on DVD because cable television has retired them and replaced them with Fresh Prince and Full House episodes. A sure sign that the world is coming to an end. Well that and the lack of After School Specials (I'm still laughing at that clip!) I'm tellin' you, that's what's wrong with these kids today. It's just plain mean to expect today's youth to handle life's difficulties without so much as an After School Special to help them out. What's a kid to do?

One of these days I'm going to host a Craft Day/ After School Special Marathon!

HOLY CRAP! Look what I just found. God bless the internet!!! I'm not kidding. I hope all of my crafty friends are up for a marathon!! Who's in? After all, this can't be done alone. As Afternoon Specials taught us, it takes a village!

Shut in fever

Today I chose to be a shut-in. I had vague thoughts of going to Michael's, for some craft supplies, but the thought of the crowds kept me home. Well, that and a sore throat/post nasal drip situation that has left me a bit achy. It was nothing a little Sudafed Sinus formula couldn't handle.

Turns out I made the right choice. While Americans were out spending $20B I was home finishing this cross stitch project:


I'm so glad I did. My sister-in-law, who has shopped Black Friday with her mom for at least the past 15 years, called from Ontario Mills Mall. Ack!! She called from the chaos and I had to sit down. The horror was almost overwhelming. I could hear the crowds and hustle and bustle and it freaked me out. She was calling to tell me she couldn't find the Crop-a-Dile I'd asked her to pick up for me. (I can't find one anywhere!) We discussed a few gift options for my nephew and she asked what he'd written on the list we worked on together yesterday. I've never been so happy to be at home in my life.

Being a part time shut-in has many advantages. For one, I can act as protester by not participating in today's buy-fest. It also means lounging in sweats and socks. Best of all it means no makeup application. It can also mean about 6 hours of Law & Order (yes, I got sucked in). How is it that no matter how many reruns I see of L&O, I never seem to see the same episode twice. Amazing!

By being a shut-in today meant I was available to receive the emergency phone call asking that I please Tivo High School Musical 2. My niece is having a HSM2 themed b-day party right before it comes out on DVD. She wanted to "screen" it at the party but the evil geniuses at the Disney Channel have apparently stopped the 24-hour marathons of the movie so parents will be amped to run out and pick up the DVD right before Christmas. I promised I'd record it for her. Unfortunately, this means I'll miss my beloved Men in Trees and even Lisa Williams: Life among the Dead. Oh well, you only turn 6 once. I'd hate to have to explain why I didn't record her party movie. That would make me a mean shut-in. I prefer to remain the fun-loving variety shut-it. A fun-loving variety shut-in who happens to be so dang crafty! (Even without a Crop-a-Dile.)

New Criteria

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I'm, thankful for my family and friends. I'm thankful for a good job that I (mostly) enjoy. I'm thankful to live in a loving environment no matter where my day takes me. I'm' thankful for having a great place to visit for a fun-filled Thanksgiving dinner/celebration.

But...

I wouldn't say I'm not thankful for this next bit, but I'm afraid I may be disappointed. There is a member of the extended family who, for some reason, always gets assigned dessert duties. The problem is that she consistently brings a rather small offering of desserts that I don't particularly care for. I have a feeling today will be no different. :( I recently learned there won't even be any pumpkin pie to fall back on this year. I know, I know... I can't even talk about it. Another relative is at least bringing a pumpkin type dessert that I hope will ease the pain.

But from this disappointment comes a thankful thought: I'm thankful that the friends in my life can all be trusted to throw down a great dessert. I mean it. Kb, Shandon, Heidi, Tony and Stacey know that, if given a choice, throwing in a layer of Symphony Bars in a pan of brownies, instead of raspberry jam, is always the way to go. They know that no matter how many times I'm offered mud pie, I won't eat it because I loathe the flavor of coffee (unless used in tiny quantities to enhance the flavor of chocolate, not compete with it). They understand that butter is essential to any truly delicious dessert. They understand that fruit is great as an added bonus to a yummy dessert but not the starring attraction (like that delightful Blueberry Bomb cupcake Shandon and I had not too long ago). They understand that strawberry shortcake is only good if the shortcake is just right. They understand the thrill of a good butter cream frosting. I've decided that all of this knowledge is essential to being a truly good friend of mine.

For these reasons, I'm thankful to all of my family and friends who understand what a good dessert is. If your eyes don't roll to the back of your head when you bite into a great cupcake, I'm afraid we can't be true friends because I don't think you know how to enjoy life. I'm thankful that my friends and I do.

Daddy is a punk rocker

Although I'm sad about the paltry Twilight Zone marathon the SciFi Channel is doling out today, I decided to let my nephew know that there would be a Ghost Hunters marathon in it's place. J (my nephew) LOVES Ghost Hunters so I was glad at least one person in America would be happy to hear about the programming change.

I caught my brother in the car:

Bro: Hey!
Lucy: Hey, are the kids in school today?
Bro: No, they're in the car with me.
Lucy: What are you doing?
Bro: Oh, we went to breakfast, then we went to Barbecues Galore then...
Lucy: Let me guess... Hooters for lunch? You're having a dream dude day! Let me talk to J.
Bro: It's for you... (handing the phone to J)
J: Hello?
Lucy: SO! Did you hear about the marathon all day tomorrow on tv?
J: No.
Lucy: They're showing Ghost Hunters from 8:00 am- 5:00 am tomorrow!
J: ...
Lucy: No Twilight Zone this year, it's Ghost Hunters instead. My loss is your gain.
J: ...
Lucy: ...
J: ...
Lucy: Dude, did you hear me?
J: Cool! I bet the scariest ones are in the middle of the night! A (my niece) wants to talk now.
A: I've got 6 pennies!
Lucy: Cool! I'll see you tomorrow.
A: Why?
Lucy: It's Thanksgiving! You know, Daddy makes a big turkey. It's a party at your house.
A: Oh yeah!!!
Lucy: I'll see you tomorrow. Can you hand the phone back to Daddy?
Lucy: ...
Bro: Hey guys, what band are we listening to?!
Kids in perfect unison in background: BLACK FLAG!!!
Lucy: *sigh* & laughing

My brother is a fantastic dad but is a definitely unconventional. His kids know more about music then I do. He'll swing from Johnny Cash, to the Sex Pistols to Miles Davis in 5 minutes. J's favorite song is Layla. When I asked what A's favorite song is, bro said "Anything loud". The kids love my bros music. So much so that J was Elvis for Halloween this year. I didn't see any other Elvi and was proud that he was WAY into it. I'm guessing he got a great reaction from the grown ups and that helped encourage him to ham it up. I was so happy about it. I don't think I ever showed him on the blog so here he is in all his glory. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you... The King:

His wig looks funny here. He's got it on crooked but it's a Danny Zucko wig from Grease. Turns out the Danny wig is WAY better than the Elvis wig. Trust me. When J walked out on the front porch to show us his costume, my brother blasted the famous Elvis entrance music and the neighborhood applauded for him. It was great!

Here's to being thankful for those fun little moments in life.

For your viewing pleasure

Here are some of the television marathons going on over the long weekend:

But first, there's bad news folks, the meanies at SciFi Channel have moved the Twilight Zone marathon to tomorrow, Wednesday November 21st. Yeah, you heard me. And as a final insult their Thanksgiving marathon will instead be Ghost Hunters this year. My nephew will be thrilled but I'm in mourning. Why, why, why?! First they hi-jack The Twilight Zone from LA's Channel 5 (who first started the heavenly tradition of Twilight Zone marathons in the first place) and now they move it all together?! Did I mention it's only airing from 9:00 am to 3:00pm? That barely qualifies as a marathon. That damn Ghost Hunters marathon will air from 8:00 am to 5:00 am. I'm so blue. I know they've heard it but I've already emailed them to officially tell them that they suck. (You can too by emailing them at: feedback@scifi.com)

I had been counting on TCM to come up with something good but it looks like they're doing a big, gross Andy Hardy marathon. Here's the trouble, I heart Judy Garland but I hate Mickey Rooney. I know he must have had something going on if Eva Gardner dug him but I just don't get it. Blechh! Still, I may have to give one of these movies a try. They made millions of people happy. I suppose they may be worth checking out. I don't know. *shrug*

Oooo! But look here. I know it's wrong but I just love watching those To Catch a Predator shows. I know, I know, it's just terrible but I LOVE watching each and every guy crumble into the same set of excuses. It's great! Now, I don't know if I can stomach five hours of them, but we'll see.

AMC is featuring a Hitchcock marathon. That might be fun. Meanwhile, USA has thrown in the towel and will air 39 straight hours of Law & Order and L&O spinoffs. I've mentioned my Pavlovian response to that show but I will have to resist. The last thing I need to do is get caught up in a 39 hour L&O bender.

Looks like it will be I Love Lucy for this girl. Yeah, that's it. I'll be thankful for my family, my friends and I Love Lucy this Thanksgiving.

Call me old fashioned

Today, Amazon.com unveiled their new digital reading device. It's a digital book. They've been working on it for over three years and God knows how much money they've spent on the thing.

It's called a Kindle. I'm sure they've explained the name but I haven't bothered to learn about it. I heard Jeff Bezos explain the whole thing on NPR and he swears that you can curl up with the Kindle just like you would a book. I'm not convinced. I'm just not interested in giving up my books. Frankly, I don't want to live in a world that has gotten rid of books. I simply haven't seen any way books can be improved upon. Mr. Bezos can spend as much money as he wants but I'm not giving up my books. It seems to me it's all about the money. With all due respect, Mr. Bezos is attempting to cut out the publishers. I understand the impulse to cut out the middle man but i don't think it's what the consumer wants.

I just don't understand why everyone is so hot and bothered to create an electronic book. I maybe understand the appeal of carrying your entire library around, like an iPod can carry your music library, and I do like the dictionary feature in this Kindle thing (you can look up words with an electronic dictionary feature and that's pretty cool). Otherwise, I don't get it. Our culture has such an epidemic A.D.D. problem that, it seems to me, being able to carry only one or two books around at a time isn't such a bad idea. What's so bad about the book as we know it, anyway? Maybe I hang with an old fashioned group of folks but I've never heard anybody say "Man, I just wish I had a stiff flat screen to read from all day." Don't we get enough of that at work. I spend half of my working day staring into a monitor. When I want to relax with a good book, cradling a mini monitor does not appeal to me.

Am I wrong here? Am I being a granny? What do you think? If nothing else it will be interesting to see how this flies and how long it will take for that price to drop.

Sugar, Sugar!

Today I went to a cookie exchange. It was hosted by one of my dearest friends, Stacey. I met Stacey through my brother when I was about 18. We were fast friends and eventually became roommates in collage. She's what I call a "lifer". A "lifer" is a friend so great you'll be with them 'til you die.

Anyway, Stacey asked 12 of her friends to meet at her house. She asked us to each bring 2 dozen home baked cookies along with 12 recipe cards for our cookies. Then it got interesting. She and a fun neighbor pulled a bunch of craft supplies together and we made a recipe books for our new collections of cookie recipes. This is what mine looks like:

Even the recipe cards were ridiculously cute. Check it out:

Stacey is a teacher so she's on the super organized side. Today's production was no different. When I walked in, I set my platter of cookies and cards on the counter and walked straight to the crafting table. It's an illness I suppose. I see a folding table with glue, ribbon, beads and paper and I'm drawn to it. Today was no different. I was especially fond of this craft because I didn't have to be particularly creative. There was an example book already assembled so all I had to do was copy it. There's something very comforting and relaxing about making something so cute and easy.

While the Mod Podge was drying, we were invited to take a cute plate and fill it it with 2 of each type of cookie. There was coffee, tea, hot chocolate and hot apple cider to go along with our cookie plates. After about 4 cookies, most of us got sick. I chose to drink water and I think that may have helped. Aside from the inevitable sugar high it was a wonderful afternoon.

Thanks Stace! I hope we can do it again soon.

BTW, I'm currently watching Red Dust. If you haven't seen it you should. Clark Gable is absolutely scandalous!!!

Beat it!

I've long been annoyed with those soliciting signatures and/or money. I choose to give to a different charity once a month. I therefore do not give money to those who ask for money during my day. I don't give my signature because I don't think I can truly learn the ins and outs of an issue in 3 minutes in front of a Target store. I prefer to do a little homework and act accordingly. When a stranger asks something of me, I brightly reply "No, but good luck!" It disarms them. The solicitor can't really grumble or curse me out because I've been genuinely kind. It sort of drives them crazy and naturally cracks me up.

Solicitors have grown more and more aggressive with their tactics so my reply has been forced up a notch lately. The other day Tony and I were shopping when a cashier asked something like "Would you like to add a dollar to your purchase to help..." some poor kid. I said "No, tell that kid to suck it!" Tony burst out laughing after which the cashier slowly smiled then began giggling. I said "Well, when you phrase it like that, what am I supposed to say? If I don't give you a dollar it's like telling a kid to suck it, so I may as well just say it." He continued to laugh while nodding in agreement. I hate the way the questions are phrased these days. It's hard to say "No I don't want to save the forests." or "No, I'd rather not help a dying child." I don't think I should have to explain my charitable philosophy to every person asking something of me. I probably give more than the jackass asking but I'm not about to explain myself to them.

Today, another cashier asked "Would you like to blah, blah, blah... for kids with cancer?" I smiled and firmly said "No." Again, I was treated to a rather shocked expression followed by a smirk. The kid seemed a little freaked out by my response. I loved it!

I think I've found a new hobby.

The books that taught me to love to read

Forgive me if I've posted on this topic before, but I'm getting old and I just don't recall if this is a new topic or not. Besides, I'm triple booked for much of the day so I thought I'd write an easy post about something I know well, my favorite childhood books. These are some of the books that taught me to love reading. I read these in elementary school or they were read to me before I could read on my own. Here are some of stand outs:

James and the Giant Peach - (But with the original illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. Any other illustrations pale comparison.) Still great!

The Big Tidy Up - I used to check this out of the library regularly. I was obsessed with it. It's about a little girl forced to clean up her room one day. As a child I could relate completely.

One Morning in Maine - I have a signed copy from my Mom. She gave it to me the day I lost my first tooth. I still read it once in a blue moon and it still makes me happy. The illustrations are oh so familiar and I love that too.

The Little House on the Prairie series - I've mentioned the importance of this series many times. It's simply one of the most influential set of books I've ever read. I think about life on the prairie almost every day. Mostly I love these books because my Dad read the entire series to me.

Winnie the Pooh stories - My Dad used to read to me from a thick hardback book of Winnie the Pooh adventures. There were only a handful of colored plates in the book and I used to look forward to those illustrations while dad read aloud. My little twin bed was nestled in the corner of the master bedroom that I shared with my little brother. Dad and I used to sit with our backs against the wall while he read from that book. I can still feel the cold of the wall against my pajamaed (I just made up a word!) back. For this reason Pooh is still important to me.

Horton Hears a Who - Certainly the first book that made me think of worlds apart from ours. Still profound, in my opinion.

The Very Little Girl - This one takes me waaaay back. The handwritten date in my copy indicates that I received it on my second birthday. I used to love it. I can find no evidence of it online.

Mrs. Tibbet's Typewriter - All about writing and loving books.. *heaven* This one has great illustrations to boot. Again, I can't find evidence of this book online. :(

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books - When we moved, and I had to start at a new elementary school, I was so shy that I spent many a recess in the library with the librarian. She let me help her put those crinkly, clear book covers on the new books. She also introduced me to Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. These books were a great comfort to me in that time between being the new girl and finding my little group of friends.

The Monster at the End of This Book - As much as I loved having it read to me as a kid, I found it to be even more fun to read to my niece and nephew.

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret - (Or most anything by Judy Blume in the early 70's) Ahh, Judy Blume. Her books were read by pretty much every girl in my class. We had great taste. I loved everything Ms. Blume wrote.

I'll stop with Judy Blume because after her books I graduated to Young Adult books and that's a list for another day.

I'm sure there are more original books to list here, some of these being quite famous, but these are the books that touched me most. These are the book that I vividly remember.

I'd like to tag Shandon, Trooperdog and AbNorman to list the books they loved in and before elementary school.

Personal Trivia

Shandon tagged me to describe 8 random things about myself. Anyone who's stopped by this blog knows that I love books, crafts, movies, tv, showtunes, road trips and other travel. I'm also prone to the occasional rant. Here are a few things you may not know about me:

• Let's start with fantasy. I don't dream of romance, I dream of real estate. I've always been this way. My dad always thought I had something in common with Lucy, from the Peanuts gang, because in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, when asked what she wants for Christmas, Lucy firmly states "Real Estate!" I understand her completely. I don't dream of big houses or plots of land, I dream of cozy cottages, secret gardens and log cabins. I know I'll find one for myself eventually. Last night, while at a financial seminar about investing, the speaker mentioned the tremendous rise in foreclosures. He said it was announced that California foreclosures are up about 120%. I leaned over to my friend and whispered "Sweet!" I'm not heartless, honestly, I've just been biding my time. Two years ago, when everyone was telling me to run out and get a shiny new 0interest loan I resisted. I kept saying "I'm waiting for the inevitable foreclosures. That's when I swoop in." Hey, when I'm right, I'm right.
  
• I hate to shop. I simply do not understand the impulse to go to a mall and throw money around. It's ironic that only a few years ago, I was in pretty big debt. Part of it was a car but the rest was probably books and entertainment (dinners with friends, movies, shows etc). I can spend hours in books stores or perusing books online but most other spending is a complete mystery to me. (Oh, and for the record, I'm now debt free. Yea!)
  
• Richard Simmons once licked me. You heard me. It all started when a friend talked me into going to Richard Simmons' studio for an exercise class. At one point he wandered over, looked me in the eye, then inexplicably licked my neck from collarbone to cheekbone. What the hell?! People, I'd been working out. I was sweaty. *shudder* I'm still traumatized.
• My first concert was Van Halen. I was about 15 years old. My Dad promised to take me and three friends to a concert. Since he was going to have to attend the concert with us he said I could choose between Van Halen and Styx. I guess those were two bands he thought he could stomach. I think I made a good choice.
• I don't drink. Well, I drink, but VERY occasionally. I'll have maybe one cocktail while on business in New York because a) I don't have to pay for it and b) I won't have to drive home. I simply hate the taste of alcohol. When I order drinks I have to tell the bartender to "make it wimpy or I won't drink it". They love me.
• I have a ridiculous memory for 70's music. Very rarely do I hear something from that era for the first time. I don't know what others were doing during the 70's but I, apparently, had a top 40 radio station on during all waking hours. Most of my friends love the 80's but I still heart the tunes from the 70's.
  
• I majored in Magazine Journalism partly because I figured it was a major that might come in handy no matter where my career took me. Mostly, it had the easiest math requirement available.
  
• I still have a portable 8-track player with a few choice 8-track tapes because it they make me laugh.

You're Killin' Me!

I'm sorry but I must get this off my chest:
It is officially too early for Christmas!! It's too early to be hearing Christmas music, seeing lights on houses and decorations in stores. People, you're killin' me. I love the holiday season as much as much as the next girl, but honestly!

I knew it was going to be bad this year when the first holiday commercial I saw on television was on Halloween night! What's the deal?! The reason the holiday season is so special is because it's supposed to be only one month out of the year. (Maybe 6-7 weeks if you must start the day after Thanksgiving.)

I understand the retailers out there who want to stretch the holiday (cash cow of a season) out as long as possible, but that house I pass, on my way home from work, is over the top not to mention jumping the gun. Some maniac has his house lights up along with an enormous blow- up Santa in a hot rod on his roof. He put it up last weekend. I appreciate the enthusiasm but come on! I can't remember the holidays ever starting so early.

Please, I'm begging you, try to restrain yourselves. Christmas decorations should be forbidden until after Thanksgiving. Poor Thanksgiving gets skipped completely these days. We seem to jump directly from Halloween to Christmas. Have a heart, enjoy Thanksgiving! It's the one holiday that everyone can enjoy. The all inclusive nature of Thanksgiving is one of the reason I like it so much. Well, that and I get to enjoy my once-a-year viewing of Home for the Holidays.

It seems I'm not the only one who feels this way about early Christmas exploitation. What do you think?

*Getting off soapbox.*

The Boat

Those who grew up around here know The Boat. Well, anyone worth their salt knows The Boat. It's officially called The Galley but everyone I know has called it The Boat for as long as I can remember. The Boat was a restaurant that served delicious burgers, fries and rather large mugs of beer. The menu was simple as was the atmosphere. I say "was" because The (beloved) Boat has been closed and torn down to make room for yet another God damn Kohl's. The Kohl's is opening tomorrow but I don't see The Boat opening any time soon. What a rip off! The good news is that folks around these parts had such a fit about rumors of The Boat being shut down that they really had no choice but to relocate it to the south end of the Kohl's parking lot.

I know it's a silly thing, considering all that's going on in the world, but The Boat has been a simple pleasure for decades and I really miss it. On their site, they claim it's making a come back in Fall 2007. I drove by this evening and it didn't look like much progress has been made. Mostly, I'd like to know if the original boat will be returning or if they plan to use some lame pseudo boat instead.

The fun thing about The Boat was that you got in line next to the bar and actually walked through a boat and around to the other side of the bar to place your order. The poor chefs had to work in the guts of the old boat. They made great burgers but I always felt a little sorry for them because it looked so damn hot in there. Once you had your burger, fries and beverage in hand you sat on benches at long tables and enjoyed whatever sporting event happened to be on the (first generation, projector variety) large screen TVs. I miss those dumb TVs. The Packers are having a good year and it would have been fun to watch them win on one of those TVs. I suppose they'll reopen with snazzy new plasma TVs. Trouble is, plasma is a little too high falutin' for The Boat. I don't mind a place getting a nice scrub down, but I'd hate to see The Boat change much more than that.

Man, I really miss those burgers. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you what else is on their menu because it's all about the burger, fries and maybe the delightful blue cheese salad that is more blue cheese than salad. The Boat is low brow at it's very best and I miss it so.

So I ask you, does anyone know when The Boat will reopen? It would be perfect for my nights out with my high school friends. (Thank God Moffett's is still around.) And to my high school friends who read this blog, next time we have our August reunion, assuming The Boat is open, LET'S GO!

I found this loving photo of The Boat on Flickr. *wiping a tear away* It's so nice to know others love it too!

Stalker Paul

A long lost ex-boyfriend contacted me over the weekend. He apparently reached out via LinkedIn on Saturday. I'm not terribly dedicated to my Blackberry so I didn't discover the email until this morning while in line at Jamba Juice. His email said:

"Hi, Granted, this is a rather sterile way to contact you, but I didn't want to go through shared acquaintances. With that said, I'd really like to know how you're doing. I think of you and your family often. I hope this finds you all well. "

Here's the long-story-short version of our last year or so together: We tried to be friends after we broke up but he was not happy with me dating someone new (about a year and a half after the breakup), even though he had been dating soon after the breakup. Mostly, he clung to my family. The family he never had and, I believe, wanted to emulate desperately. I have a wonderful family while his parents weren't terribly reliable or kind to him when he needed them. Also, he had NO long term friendships. Well, he had one friend from high school but, I bet that one didn't last either. He couldn't seem to keep a job for more than about 18 months either. I now look at "Lack of meaningful friendships" and "Lack of long term employment" as a big red flag issues when it comes to men. Eventually I had to tell him that I was in love with someone else and he sort of freaked out one day. After that, I asked him to go away and never contact me again, and I meant it. I later learned that he continued to contact my mother and brother through email. When I found out he had been corresponding with them, I was not happy about it. This guy sort of creeped me out near the end of our relationship. He was WAY too attached to my family. My Mom ultimately said "Look, if you don't like it, I'll stop emailing him. You're my daughter so whatever you want is what I'll do. My loyalty is entirely with you." I said "You're my family not his. He doesn't get you. Cut him off." Looking back, it was a bit harsh. It was my one and only Queen Elizabeth I moment, but I'm telling you he gave me the creeps and I just wanted nothing to do with him ever again. They both said "No problem" and never questioned my "cut him off" request. I said "Stop it" and they said "You got it.". I was touched and impressed with their loyalty to me. I'd never questioned it, but still, it was the first time I'd seen a family circling the wagons reaction and it felt good.

That was many years ago. Friends and I have since referred to him as "Stalker Paul", due to the nature of his going around me and contacting my family. I know it's sort of mean but he was so dang strange near the end. What can I say? The name stuck.

After receiving the email this morning, I decided to take the high road and tell him the truth about my life. I admit that making up a fictitious existence was tempting but I have nothing to hide and I'm not in high school anymore. I figured, it's been so many years, why not? I rattled off a few thoughtful paragraphs about me and my family and hit send. He soon replied with an incredibly sterile list of bullet points. What kind of detached freak replies with bullet points? Bizarre. His response ended with:

"Let me know if your travels ever take you down to San Diego. I would love to catch up with a bit more detail."

I won't be replying. I can't put my finger on why, but the whole exchange gave me the creeps. I sent a sincere reply, assuming he was normal, and got a rather strange and cold response. I just thought "Well, you asked jackass." Maybe he heard I was single and assumed I must be miserable about it. Instead he heard from a very happy and satisfied ex-girlfriend who I'm willing to bet has a lot more going for her than he ever will.

God, I wonder if he's found this blog. *shrug* Well, if he is reading this, all I can say is "Sorry to disappoint Big Guy but I love my life. Suck it!"

I dare you!

Recently, a friend recommended a show I had zero interest in. After hearing more and more about how great it was, I eventually became curious. Shandon was kind enough to let me borrow the first season she had on DVD so I decided to give it a try. I'm officially a convert. The show is called Dexter and it's on Showtime, currently in it's second season. I was initially turned off by the subject manner (day in the life of a serial killer) and the billboard (Ewwwwwww!):


I know, I know. It's a disgusting subject and what redeeming qualities could it possibly have? Well, I'm telling you it's a wonderful show. It's a crime show on par with Law & Order if that gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. Honestly, I think I prefer it to Law & Order. I know those are fightin' words but I'm dead serious (pardon the pun).

Dexter is about a sociopath who was adopted by a police officer when he was very young after a traumatic event that is revealed throughout the first season. Dexter's adoptive father knows that he has killer tendencies, due to this terrible experience, and tries to help him channel his tendencies by giving him a normal life, teaching him how to fake emotions and hunting. He eventually realizes that Dexter will likely kill anyway so he teaches him to choose his victims carefully and to only kill those who have killed innocent people. He teaches Dexter his "code" to "work" by. Dexter does not understand emotions but he understands these rules his fathers has taught him and strictly adheres to them . Dexter's father teaches him to a) Be certain of guilt, b) Kill only those who really deserve it c) how to never get caught and d) never let emotions drive your actions (as if Dexter had any).

Really, Dexter is not very different from Batman. He lacks the costume and ride but otherwise the main characters are very similar. Don't get me wrong, this is no super hero series. It's SO much better than that. The dark humor often comes from Dexter's inability to understand emotions and read people. He works in forensics and has a sister (the girl he was raised with) who works on Homicide. Dexter knows how a killer's mind works and tends to solve crimes before the police can. Once Dexter is certain he's got a ridiculously guilty criminal on his hands he "takes care of" them in the same systematic manner. Believe it or not, the viewer is almost immediately on Dexter's side. Each episode features another scum bag but the most interesting story line is that of another serial killer playing a cat and mouse game with Dexter. I'm not proud of it but I've watched the entire first season this weekend. I dare you to watch the first couple of episodes and not be hooked.

Oh, and don't worry, you don't have to watch any killings. Much is left to the imagination. To be clear, I'm not a fan of gore. I prefer suspense and that's exactly what this show delivers. The last episode of the season is particularly great. Don't skip ahead though. It's important to watch this one in order. The show is now in it's second season. I can't wait to get my hands on those episodes. I heart Dexter!

(Shandon, don't worry, I'll be returning the discs to you tomorrow, if you're around. I think you should check it out ASAP and I'd hate to be the one to trip you up. I think you and Norman would love it.)

Family Affairs

Today Mom and I went to my cousin's baby shower. Now, it should be noted that I am NOT a shower kind of girl. Don't get me wrong, I'm always happy for the shower recipient but, damn, how many showers does a girl have to endure in a lifetime? I love my cousin but I was not looking forward to another shower. I was, however, looking forward to seeing my family. My Dad is the oldest of ten kids. (I know.) His sisters are more and more endearing as the years pass. I also adore Dad's Aunt and two cousins. They are hilarious and really know how to live. Dad's aunt was widowed in the early 70's and his uncle left her fairly well off. California real estate, the gift that keeps giving. Anyway, when we all get together there is ALWAYS some fun family gossip to be had. I know it's unsavory but, come on, if you're going to enjoy some juicy gossip it may as well be about your own family.

Today was no different. Today I learned that everyones least favorite family member asked our favorite family member for $500k to pay off his mortgage. What the hell?! I still can't imagine the nerve. This guy is a notorious jerk. I can't imagine anyone wanting to help him out. Can you imagine asking anyone for half a million dollars? Unbelievable.

On a lighter note, a fantastic second cousin is going to Prague to study for six months. I'm incredibly jealous. Her little sister threw up on a plane when she ate a duty free sized bag of m&ms and chased is with two frappuccinos. *gross*

Another wonderfully sweet aunt recently had a long overdue breast reduction. I gave her a hug, looked down and said "So, how are the girls?" She said they were great. The surgery went well and she said she never had any pain. Recovery was a snap. They took "a pound out of each". Good grief! She said she would have liked them to have taken more but that's all they could safely take. *shudder*

Another aunt, the mother of the shower recipient, always knocks herself out to create an amazing spread at family gatherings. She had an amazing kitchen constructed just to handle these celebrations. There were about 40 women at this get together so she had tons of food out. She made about 8 quiches as the main course. I've never been much of a quiche gal but these were amazing. I chose the cheddar and ham option and it was delicious. I've got to get the recipe because it was by far the best quiches I've ever had. We decided the spread was by far the best shower food we'd ever had.

Perhaps my favorite part of the shower was the fact that the games were optional. I really dislike shower games. They're generally boring and take too much time. I'd rather be socializing. These games, on the other hand, were for those who chose to participate. It was great. For one game there were 8 the baby sonogram pictures up on a wall. The game was to identify the body parts. They had an elbow, the bottom of a foot (that I never would have guessed), a nose and so on. The play or don't play thing really worked for me. I didn't play.

My other cousin's wife made the adorable invitations and some impressive paper embellishments for the games and door prizes. When I asked if she was a scrapper she was mortified. "No! Never! I'm no soccer mom. You'll never see puffed paint on my sweatshirts!" she said. She cracked me up. Whenever someone said her name I said "Oh, you mean the scrapper?" She kept on denying it but I told her she had tendencies. I explained that while scrapping was certainly a cult to avoid, but that there are ways to avoid the goofy, annoying scrapbooks. I told her I'd show her some of my pages sometime. When we left the shower we saw her standing at the side of the house smoking and talking on her cell phone. She's a rebel and I like it.

After the shower, I couldn't wait to get mom in the car to tell her about the family gossip. She couldn't believe what I had to tell her. Especially the bit about the money request cloaked in a sappy letter. She didn't have much to report. Christmas should be fun this year.

(Disclaimer: No, I have not personally seen the picture featured above. I just plain love it and thought it did a great job of describing most families I know.)

Good end to a lame week

After this stupid week, Shandon and Abnorman were kind enough to let me pick the movie tonight. I wanted something fun and ironically chose Wristcutters: A Love Story. Shandon mentioned that she had heard it was pretty good. I looked it up and decided it indeed looked interesting but mostly it seemed a better option than Darfur Now and No Country for Old Men. I'm sure those are perfectly fine films but not after this week. Shandon and Abnorman didn't like Wristcutters much, but Heidi and I thought it was very funny. I'm not sure that I'll ever see it again, but if you have a particularly dark sense of humor, you may want to check it out.

I know people

So, today was my first day back in the office after The Meltdown of 2007. It was also the first day back to doing my real job. I got lots done, had a fantastic meeting and overall had a wonderful day. I thanked those who had been so supportive and moved on.

I did, however, mention the meltdown to a few people and one emailed me: "Do I need to do a beat down? I know people...". That cracked me up. She later stopped by and said "No really. I know some butch lesbians who would love to help you out." I laughed and assured her I was ok. But I must admit that that having access to a gang of protective butch lesbians is good to know.

I'd like to thank my tiny readership for their kind words. I learned that some of you were concerned for me. It's so nice to know that I have such wonderful people in both my professional and personal life. Well, I've always known that, but to hear it is amazing. Thanks guys!

Ok, now I'm in my pjs and deciding what upbeat movie to see. Happy days are here again.

P.S. I think it's time to finally break down and order that war time poster I've been obsessed with for so long. Maybe I'll get one for the office too!

Another Day

Today was the opposite of yesterday. It was sort of hectic but there was no crying, not even when I was supposed to cry.

Allow me to explain. I'm lucky enough to have a job that allows me to see very cool movies years in advance of their release dates. Today I saw a movie, in storyboard form, that won't be released for a long time. After screening the movie we got to sit with the artists, designers and writers. Let's just say SO much more goes into those movies than you could ever imagine. It's also very cool to be able to ask a writer about character motivation and other details that I' d never otherwise notice. It was impressive.

As for the crying, well right before the movie started I saw a friend look over her shoulder and ask "Do you have tissue?". Panicked, I said "Wait, what? We need tissue?!" About 6 people nodded in unison. *sigh* Sheesh! As if I hadn't cried enough lately. Well, for what ever reason, I managed to hold it together and didn't cry. (I'd tell you more about the film but then I'd have to kill you and I'd really rather not. I know, I know. "Mustard for you!". But really, I can't!)

OH! But the one thing I finally noticed about the place is that their guest badges say "A stranger from the outside!" right under your name. Sorry, but that's just plain funny. I mean think about it, that's what visitor badges are really saying anyway. I love that someone is having fun with the stranger danger concept in a grown up environment. It's just funny to me.

If you read my last post about visiting this studio then you may recall that I thought it resembled heaven and smelled of cinnamon rolls. This time, when we stepped of the shuttle, someone took a deep breath and said "Apples!! It's hot apple cobbler. Ohhhhhh." He was right. On the way out I took a whiff and said "Oh no! Now it's hot buttered bread." Another said "For God's sake! We have GOT to remember to carve out time to visit that damn bakery. It's killing me!" She's right. "Visit Bakery" is definitely going on the To Do list.

SO that was my day. I'm tired and going to bed early and keeping in mind that, after all, tomorrow is another day.