We're close

Please.

Cross your fingers.

Pray.

Do whatever it is that you do.

We're very close.

Boycotting Isiah

"I apologized and showed my remorse for what I said and for the pain I caused anyone. If a black man can’t get forgiveness in this country, when so many other people like Robert Downey Jr. and the governor of California get second and third chances … I think that says a lot about race and this country where we stand."

- Isiah Washington

Is he seriously trying to make this a race issue?

You messed up buddy. Deal with the consequences.

* Please note that I would NEVER boycott Isiah Thomas. He holds a special place in my heart.

Call me a wino!

I'm beginning to think I have a slight problem with wine.

I love it. I crave it.

My favorites include pinot grigio, riesling and merlot. (Oh, and Franzia bombs. Can't forget about those!... Go PC!)

Although, I will never be a wine connoisseur, I am beginning to notice slight differences in flavors among different brands and countries.

Do you have a favorite kind or brand?

Happy Belated Birthday R!

Man, I'm definitely slacking on birthdays as of late.

R, I hope you had a wonderful birthday last weekend! I'm sure J made sure of it!

Hope to talk to you soon!

Will you see it?

"Sicko"

(by Micheal Moore)

* A and I will be seeing this.

Horrific

Did anyone hear about the 13-year-old girl whose feet got cut off on a ride at an amusement park?

I was trying to find more information, but wasn't able.

I can't begin to imagine.

Definitely makes me MUCH more apprehensive about riding rides at theme parks.

One down. 20 million to go.

Well my friends. I finished my first WSU class last night. It went by so quickly.

All in all, only slightly painful. Research just isn't my thang. Glad that one's done.

Looking forward to the rest.

Happy Belated Birthdays B and C!

Both my nephew, B, and my dog, C, turned the Big 3 this weekend!

The "Shrektacular" birthday party was truly spectacular! (Great job to B and M!)

Happy Birthday to two of my favorite boys!

I'm intrigued

A and I just finished watching "The Queen," a movie about the days just before and after Princess Diana's death.

I'm so glad we finally hunkered down to watch it. I'm so intrigued by the history, pride and obligation of the Royal Family.

It was like reading one of those really good books that just leaves you craving more. I can't wait to learn more about the lineage and history.

Kudos to Helen Mirren (who won an Oscar for her portrayal of The Queen). She beautifully demonstrated the stoic queen and her multitude of layers.

Two thumbs up!

I know I'm a bit biased here, but I totally give two thumbs up to my bro-in-law and his production of Joseph.

I went on Friday and Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed every moment among friends and family.

I think one of my favorite moments was after the show when my high school french teacher called my bro-in-law hot. (All the while waving her hand in front of her face and trying to catch her breath. So odd!)

Thank you to all of you that attended! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! (J, I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to chat with you! Hope you, T and the parents enjoyed it!)

* The picture to the right is not M. However, it does adequately show what he donned in front of a crapload of people. Talk about being brave!

A transformation

At the advice of my smokin' hot personal trainer (a.k.a. A), I've been carrying two-pound weights in each hand during our evening walks.

I look like a speed-walker now. Totally worth it though. Three days in and I already feel a tremendous difference in my arms.

Low maintenance flowers

I need some advice on flowers. Now that we no longer have any offers on the 'ol home, I plan on spending a wee bit of dough on flowers next time we're in T-town.

That said, can anyone offer advice on a pretty flower that is pretty low-maintenance? We're not there that often, so we need a flower that'll survive with less water.

80s music rocks

I finally found a totally awesome 80s station on Itunes.

I swear I want to sing along to every song.

How cool were the 80s?

Mmmmm

The banana ice cream is to die for.

Thanks again J!

Here we go again

This is the first week that all my wonderful friends and family who are teachers are out for the summer.

I wore black yesterday to commemorate the occasion.

It's just really difficult calling home midday only to realize my whole family is lounging by the water, grilling out, while I'm stuck at a desk.

I know I "could have been a teacher" (blah, blah, blah). But, in all fairness, some people just weren't meant to be around other people's children all day, every day.

House update

Well, thought I'd post new pics of the house from after our "staging" weekend.

No new news yet, but we're (REALLY) trying to stay upbeat.

If you know of anyone looking for a starter home in the T-Town area, tell them about our lovely abode:)

Happy Birthday M!

Hope you have a spectacular day today and an even better year!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Never any time!

Hehehe... How classic was this SBTB episode?

A lost art

I was bored in class the other day, so I decided that I would write something in an effort to entertainment myself and occupy my time. As I started writing what was going to be a post for this blog, I realized how long it had been since I actually put a pen to paper and just wrote. It felt awkward.

I'm so used to sitting down at a computer and typing out my thoughts, that, for the first time, it felt wrong - as if I were writing in slow motion.

Makes you wonder how long it will be before they brush aside paper entirely and teach first and second graders the art of typing on various-sized keyboards...

Happy Flag Day!

M. This post goes out to you!

Congratulations A!

Congratulations to my BP on passing his class with flying colors!

People amaze me

Perezhilton.com - A Berkeley, California, watchdog organization that tracks military spending said it uncovered a strange U.S. military proposal to create a hormone bomb that could purportedly turn enemy soldiers into homosexuals and make them more interested in sex than fighting.

Pentagon officials on Friday confirmed to CBS 5 that military leaders had considered, and then subsquently rejected, building the so-called "Gay Bomb."

Edward Hammond, of Berkeley's Sunshine Project, had used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a copy of the proposal from the Air Force's Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio.

As part of a military effort to develop non-lethal weapons, the proposal suggested, "One distasteful but completely non-lethal example would be strong aphrodisiacs, especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior."

The documents show the Air Force lab asked for $7.5 million to develop such a chemical weapon.
"The Ohio Air Force lab proposed that a bomb be developed that contained a chemical that would cause enemy soliders to become gay, and to have their units break down because all their soldiers became irresistably attractive to one another," Hammond said after reviwing the documents.

"The notion was that a chemical that would probably be pleasant in the human body in low quantities could be identified, and by virtue of either breathing or having their skin exposed to this chemical, the notion was that soliders would become gay," explained Hammond.
The Pentagon told CBS 5 that the proposal was made by the Air Force in 1994.

"The Department of Defense is committed to identifying, researching and developing non-lethal weapons that will support our men and women in uniform," said a DOD spokesperson, who indicated that the "gay bomb" idea was quickly dismissed.

However, Hammond said the government records he obtained suggest the military gave the plan much stronger consideration than it has acknowledged.

"The truth of the matter is it would have never come to my attention if it was dismissed at the time it was proposed," he said. "In fact, the Pentagon has used it repeatedly and subsequently in an effort to promote non-lethal weapons, and in fact they submitted it to the highest scientific review body in the country for them to consider."

Military officials insisted Friday to CBS 5 that they are not currently working on any such idea and that the past plan was abandoned.

Gay community leaders in California said Friday that they found the notion of a "gay bomb" both offensive and almost laughable at the same time.

"Throughout history we have had so many brave men and women who are gay and lesbian serving the military with distinction," said Geoff Kors of Equality California. "So, it's just offensive that they think by turning people gay that the other military would be incapable of doing their job. And its absurd because there's so much medical data that shows that sexual orientation is immutable and cannot be changed."

Stickin' it to the man

As a sort of follow-up thought to my Ocean's Thirteen post, I would just like to say how incredibly excited I was to get into a movie, on a weekend, at night, for just $3 using my student id!

$3!!!! That's insane right? A got in without a student id for only $6. We both saw a movie, on a weekend, at night, for only $9!!!

That's what I'm talkin' about. Canton 6, Canton, Michigan.

Ocean's Thirteen

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Carl Reiner, Casey Affleck, Bernie Mack and the rest of the gang just seem to have so much chemistry on screen. You can tell that they, no doubt, had a blast shooting these films.

A couple of my favorite moments:

- The (hilarious) dialog between the two brothers

- Andy Garcia on Oprah

- George and Brad pretty much anytime in the movie

Without giving anything away, I'll simply state if you enjoyed the first installment with the Ocean's gang, you'll no doubt enjoy the third. MUCH better than the second try, hands down.

Two thumbs up from this movie-goer.

Justice prevails! (For now anyway...)

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A judge has ordered Paris Hilton returned to jail to serve out her 45-day sentence for a parole violation in a reckless driving case.

She was taken from court screaming.

Read the full story here.

Free advertising

Don't forget to clear your calendars! If you live in Southeastern Michigan, my bro-in-law M is scheduled to star in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in just two weeks! Should be awesome!

Show dates are:
Friday, June 22 (evening performance)
Saturday, June 23 (evening performance)
Sunday, June 24 (matinee)

P.S. I'm thinking I should call the theater manager and ask for a share of the profits. I mean, the millions of people who read my blog will surely go out and tell all of their friends... Thousands will show and the production will be the hit of the year!

Yup, I think I'll give them a call.

Back in the day

I tell you what. Back in the day, we had desks that were actually large enough to hold a book, a folder and a writing utencil.

These days, you're lucky to simply take notes on the sorry excuses they call desks. Seriously, they're like 4 in. x 4 in.

Ridiculous.

Good luck with that buddy

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” Washington said in a statement released through his publicist, Howard Bragman, without elaboration.

Msnbc.com - Isaiah Washington has lost his job on the hit ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” five months after creating a furor with his use of an anti-gay slur.

Washington’s contract option was not renewed for next season, series producer ABC Television Studios said Thursday.

Does anyone else think this is crap?

Hilton out of jail after just 3 days

June 7, 2007

Detroitfreepress.com - Socialite Paris Hilton was released from jail early today after serving just three days and will serve the rest of her sentence on home arrest, with an ankle monitor, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said this morning.

At a hastily called news conference, the sheriff's department said Hilton, 26, had been released from the Century Regional Detention Facilty early today, in part, for "medical reasons,'' which a spokesman declined to discuss.

"After extensive consultation, including with medical officicials... she has been reassigned to the electronic monitoring program,'' said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore. "She has been fitted with an ankle bracelet'' and sent home, where she will be monitored for the next 40 days, he said.

Reporters at the news conference questioned Whitmore repeatedly about why she was released and whether she suffered any more stress than other prisoners still incarcerated. He repeatedly said he could not discuss her medical issues. He cited federal laws that protect medical information. "There are privacy issues that prohibit me, by law, to do that,'' he said.

Hilton checked into the facility Sunday night to begin serving her sentence for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. As of early this morning, the sheriff's department's inmate locator Web site was still saying her projected release date was June 26. But about 8:51 a.m. Detroit time, the celebrity Web site TMZ.com broke the news that she had been released.

(I apologize for devoting a post to this issue.)

Old geezers

I can't believe it was 10 years ago today, H!

My how time flies.

Rebellious teenagers out to have a little fun.

Good times. Good times.

I never had any doubt that we'd be as close now as we were then.

P.S. Thanks for the card!

Middle Ages Tech Support

Ship 'em out

No wonder today's youth are so screwed up. Look who they have as "role models."

Paris in jail. Britney out of control. LL and Nic in rehab. Mischa in the hospital.

Now Mr. Lachey's gal is in the hot seat. (Can't say I'm too surprised.)

Who's up for just packing these girls and shipping them off to a charm school/rehab facility in the Swiss Alps?

People.com - Some eye-popping pictures of Lindsay Lohan and Vanessa Minnillo posing provocatively with knives have made their way to the Internet.

The photos (posted by celeb photo agency x17) were apparently taken in June 2006 and show Lohan, 20, holding a knife to Minnillo's neck, then pointing the blade into her own mouth. Minnillo, 26 – Nick Lachey's girlfriend – is seen pulling down Lohan's tank top and pointing a knife toward her bared chest.

In another shot, Lohan makes an obscene gesture, flashing the offending digit and displaying chipped nail polish. It's not known what prompted the pair's photo session. The pair's rep didn't respond for comment.

Meanwhile, the New York Post on Tuesday speculated that the photos could hurt Minnillo's TV broadcast career. (She recently parted ways with MTV's TRL, and she has worked as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight.) But her rep denied to the Post that Minnillo has lost any work because of alleged bad behavior.

What's the point?

My big class project this semester is to do a lit review. (I did something very similar back in my first attempt at grad school, so I was familiar with the concept before this class.)

Twenty-pages into my source summaries on Sunday, I got a bit worked up. Not because it was difficult. But because I don't see the point in wasting hours upon hours of my life simply reviewing research that has already been done on a subject I chose in a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants moment.

I understand that professors want to see that we are capable of such a feat, but really, I don't think I'll EVER see any other purpose.

Thank goodness it's an eight-week class...

Rearranging life

I am a strong advocate for rearranging rooms.

It always makes you feel like you're starting fresh again.

After speaking with H tonight, I realized it was time to rearrange.

I now feel a sense of calm again. (For now, anyway.)

Anyone have a bat?

I've been having printer issues for the last few weeks at work.

As of today, I've reached my boiling point.