There is ONE Thing I'll Really Miss About the Bush Administration

Barney, the first dog....

(the above story was from back in the day when the "The Onion" was a decent online periodical... unfortunately, it's now rather lame ....)

$1.44

That's how much gas is, at the station which is a mile from my house.
(But I don't fill up there, because the man who works there is lecherous and icky....)

But $1.44?????

A scant 2 1/2 months ago I was paying over $4 per gallon, AND there was a gas shortage in Atlanta due to Hurricane Ike.

Craziness.

'Twilight" - A Movie Review

The following is a VERY condensed version of the movie review given to me by my 5th grade daughter after she saw "Twilight" (with several friends, during a Friday night slumber party....).

Me: Hi honey - how was the movie?

S: OHMYGOSH Mom... it was like THE-BEST-MOVIE-EVER! I LOVE EDWARD!

Me: Wow. Sounds like it was really good. What was it about?

S: Well, Edward, he's like this vampire? And he is like SO cute, Mom. And Bella, she's like this girl in high school, and they like wind up falling in love, but like these other vampires are trying to get to her, and Edward has to protect her, and it's SO GOOD MOM!!! You HAVE to see it with me, ok? And I want Daddy to see it too, OK?

Me: Well.... I don't think your Daddy is going to sit through a movie about teenage vampires....

S: But it was SO GOOD! We have to BUY IT the day it comes out on DVD Mom, ok? Edward is SO CUTE, Mom.... I think he's EVEN cuter than NICK JONAS.

Me: (stunned silence... my daughter LOVES Nick Jones....)

Me: Well, does it have a happy ending?

S: Mmmm-hmmm, they go to prom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And there ya have it, folks. Not only is Edward cuter than Nick Jonas (which is a Major Coup in the life of a 5th grade girl), but the vampire GETS the girl and.... they go to prom.

Clearly Academy Award Winning stuff..... no doubt.

"Australia", a Movie Review

Keep in mind that this review is written by me.... a 41 year old woman who has a bit of a crush.... ok, let's just call it what it is.... a MAMMOTH crush on Hugh Jackman.

OK, you ready?

The movie sucked. (Pardon the crass verbage I've used, but I had to get my point across...)

I'm sorry Hugh, if you're reading this.... but you just WEREN'T given much to work with, my darling...)

Now, there were some redeeming scenes (ie: in particular, the scene involving a shirtless Hugh Jackman at the campfire)... but truly the movie was:
1) far too long
2) poorly edited
3) the plot and multiple subplots didn't flow together... at all
4) there was ZERO chemistry between Kidman and Jackman... their love scenes had a very "forced" look and feel to them

...and on and on....

I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this movie, not only because I think Hugh is the bees knees, but because I've always wanted to go to Australia.

However, on a positive note, I did LOVE the little boy who played Nullah. He was absolutely radiant and magical. (And he's not even an actor.... just a local kid Baz Lurhman found who was a perfect fit for the role.) But really, other than Nullah.... and the aforementioned shirtless Hugh Jackman scene, it's just not worth the admission price.

Two thumbs down from me.

(But Hugh, I still swoon for you....) :-)

Mike Kavanagh, 1951 - 2008

One of my favorite Atlanta radio personalities, Mike Kavanagh, passed away suddenly yesterday. He was only 57.

For people outside Atlanta, his name probably won't mean a lot, but for those of us who listened to his radio show, he was a warm, honest and truly caring human being who built his life around helping others.

I'll really miss him, and his radio show.

Thanks for the memories, Mike.

How Dogs & Cats See The World

From a Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!

2:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From a Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Idiots.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but next time at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is clearly an imbecile.

Finally.... justice.

Normally I'm not one to gloat (at least I hope I'm not like that...) but I think this is long overdue.

Picture of the Day

Courtesy of the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day site

This lovely shot is from New South Wales, Australia. Just gorgeous.

Please Keep Michele In Your Prayers

My blogger buddy Michele has had another setback due to her seizure disorder.
Her sweet husband Marcell is keeping us (her friends, and photo-fans) updated via her photo-blog.

Michele's seizure disorder was caused by child abuse at the hands of her father, when she was just a young, young child. It's something she will deal with all her life.

Please take a moment to lift Michele and her husband Marcell up in prayer.

"How To Talk to Girls", by a 9 Year Old Boy

This is adorable.

And the Whiner-Of-The-Year Award goes to....

Kid Rock!

An Unexpected Surprise

Today I had my annual exam at my doc.

He said to me "Happy Wife (actually he calls me by my real name) Happy Wife, do you realize you've lost 10 lbs since last year?"

I had no clue.

But boy, I was happy!

Unexpected weight loss. (The week after Thanksgiving, even! I wonder what the scale would have registered the week BEFORE Thanksgiving?)

I'm going to keep this train rolling.... I'm going to lose 10 more this month.

Why the heck not?

Give A Dog A Bone.....

...and she'll chew a hole in the guest room mattress.

Sigh.

Yes, I'm afraid that my darling chocolate lab Diva (as in "Destruction, Thy Name Is ....") got BORED while I was out today.

Apparently, very bored.

Truth be told, this was an old, OLD mattress that no one (except the dogs) slept on. Eventually I was planning on fully converting this room into a library/office. Now those plans have been accelerated substantially. :-)

SHOCKING, but true....

It is snowing in Atlanta today.
Just flurries, but still.
SNOW. Here.

Hubster is making turkey & dumplings for dinner. Perfect food for a cold gray Winter evening.

(Actually, it's still techically Fall, I suppose....)

A Radical Thought As We Enter December...