Five Dollars

There is currently a KFC commercial on TV where a boy, probably college aid, gets $5 from a relative and she tells him to go "buy something nice".  The point of the commercial is that he takes his 5 bucks and buys a ton of artery clogging food at KFC.   I get what KFC is doing...it's a nice marketing blurb.

But, I was thinking about the person sho sent the $$ and felt she was being made fun of.  Yep, it's hard to "buy something nice" for $5 but I'd take it.  And be grateful for it.  I know it's a commercial and not real but I know it happens in real life.  Someone who doesn't have a lot of money wants to give a gift.  I know when both of my grandparents lived only on Social Security of less than $300 month.   $5, especially for each grandchild, was a chunk of change.  They didn't go hungry--no one would have let be hungry--but I know they weren't going into their millions of dollars of savings.

I worked at a poor school and we had a grandmother with 3 granddaughters who brought in $$ every month to "put on their books" so when it came picture time or field trip time it would be paid for. These grandparents might have been ok but I'm pretty sure they didn't plan on raising 3 little girls after their children left home.  And $5 per child is a big deal.

So when you get your $5 from someone, don't wonder what you can get for it.  You can go to KFC. Thnik about the love and possible sacrifice behind the gift.

Loaning Money

I watch a lot of judge shows because first, it's entertaining and sadly, I think it's a portrait of the generations coming behind us.

Today,  there was a case where an older woman loaned a classmate she'd just met money and the classmate is claiming it was a gift.  She was never supposed to give it back.  She said she felt sorry for the woman who loaned her the money because she had no friends so apparently it makes the woman feel loved to be taken advantage of.  Luckily, the bitchy ingrate signed a promissary note and she lost.

While I think these people are idiots for loaning money to people they don't even know, I have to say I have loaned money to a "friend" that I'd known for a long time.   I do know that loaning money to someone is the fastest way to lose a friend but I trusted this person and we signed a note.  She and her husband sat in my living room crying that they could not even afford groceries.  At first, she wanted to borrow a credit card but I was at least smart enough to not be that stupid.  I asked how much they needed and she told me and I was stunned.  I normally would not have that money to even loan but I'd just been paid out for a burglary claim. And she knew it.  They both signed the note that it would be paid back in 12 months.

I finally got a payment after 14 months after I asked about it and told them I needed something...then dribbles for a couple more months...and finally, 2 1/2 years later I got the rest and that was only because they got a small inheirtance and I knew it.  She had told me when she got the money I was their first stop.  And after asking several times, they finally paid in full.  And I have not talked to her since.  I message her and try to call and get no response. I think she figured out I was no longer useful because she would never use me again.

I can't really change who I am and will always look to help someone out but next time someone tells me they have no groceries we will take a trip to the grocery store. And we're good if you need lunch money.  Don't ask for anything more.

Love Actually

On Sunday, I went to the Alamo to watch the "Quote Along" version of this movie and I had a great time.   It was actually billed as a girls night and a special deal.  When we arrived, we got British flags to waive for the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant), fans of our favorite characters (choices were Hugh Grant, Colin Firth & Bill Nighy) and Christmas poppers that we were supposed to pop for our favorite kiss.

The movie begins with Hugh Grant talking about love in terms of the arrival gate at Heathrow Airport where we see hugs & hugs & in terms of 9-11 and he points out that as far as he knows, no one called with hate messages before they died.  He points out that love is actually around.

We follow a group of friends over the 5 weeks before Christmas.  Old rocker Billy Mack (Bill Nighy, always a delight) is singing one of his old songs, Love is All Around with the word Christmas substituted for Love.  His sidekick is his longtime manager Joe.

Our Prime Minister is Hugh Grant, who immediately falls for Natalie, a member of his new staff, 

The Prime Minster's sister is Karen (Emma Thompson) who is married to business owner Harry, who is tempted by a slutty employee.

Sarah and Carl are Harry's employees who are in love with each other but family circumstances take all of Sarah's time.

Juliet (Keira Knightly) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are getting married and both think Peter's best friend Mark (Andrew Lincoln) dislikes Juliet when the opposite is really the truth.

Jamie (Colin Firth) goes away to Portugal to get over hearbreak and write his novel.  He ends up falling for Aurelia in spite of their language barrier.

Daniel has just lost his wife and is left with her grieving son Sam, a little boy with a crush of his own.

Jack and Judy are porn stand-ins and are nice but if they weren't there, it would be ok.

Colin & Tony are characters who are everywhere doing all kinds of odd jobs.

Each story is pretty fun and the ways they interact is fun.  I saved my popper for Jamie and Aurelia's kiss.  

I had a hard time choosing favorite character for my fan but I love Bill Nighy in just about everything I've ever seen him in and he's my favorite in this movie.  Colin Firth usually wins that prize.

This is actually a movie that grew on me...I liked it the first time but I love it more with each viewing.  And it was even more fun at the theater.  I did see a few men hanging around but most viewers were goofy girls like me who loved the movie.  I'd certainly do it again and I'll watch for the special nights again in the future.

Christmas Brunch 2014

Christmas Brunch 2014
Kyle,Jan, Maura, Lorraine, Robbie, Cathy, Deb, John

Several years ago I started having Christmas Brunch at my house for my little orphan friends but stopped after my dad moved in as he was uncomfortable with too many strangers in the house because of his hearing.  Today, I had the first one since I lost him.

John did waffles & pancakes, Robbie did the eggs, I did the bacon, sausage, biscuits & gravy and I think it was outstanding.  No one left hungry!!

After everyone left I sat down on the couch and then about an hour later!!  I guess I was tired!!

Hello Country Bumpkin

Last night we got to sit in the Chancellor’s box for the basketball game!  I’ve been in a box before but it was just to sit…I’d never gotten the full treatment before.  We had staff members greeting us, offering us cocktails and sodas and there was brisket, chicken & sausage and chips and queso.  We met the Chancellor and Mrs Chancellor and they were very welcoming.  They have courtside seats so only came up at half time to meet and greet but I enjoyed meeting them.  John and I were with strangers (and non-basketball fans, apparently) but we both enjoyed our time.  Robbie & Kyle sat in our seats and our seats are so close that I could have pelted them with popcorn, but I didn’t.  I did have to laugh at them eating popcorn they had to pay for!!  And the biggest bonus was the parking pass…no parking in Levelland for us this game!!

While it was fun to see how the other 10% lives, our seats are better and even though we have to pay for our own snacks, we can be loud and rowdy in our seats where it was a little hard in the box considering we were apparently the only fans there.   But I was impressed, nonetheless and I’d do it again anytime.  

Holiday Failure

I am a holiday failure. 

I pin the right stuff and like the right stuff and I admire the beautiful pictures from Southern Living and I drool over the recipes from Paula Deen but the truth is, I don’t ever do any of it.

None of this stuff is what I grew up with for holidays.  Mom would do chicken and dressing or ham for Thanksgiving and Christmas and a simple fruit salad…apples,oranges,bananas,pecans,cool whip…and we all loved that salad.  Even my nephew thinks Thanksgiving needs that.  And she’d make pies.  And we all looked forward to it. 

I always think people all dressed up, eating off china and drinking wine look good, but it’s not for me. 

I’m invited places and I really do appreciate the invitations and as much as I like the family, they aren’t mine. Even when Steve used to invite me, I never felt welcome.  Because, basically, even they are all still strangers.  I have actually become my Uncle Raymond, my daddy’s bachelor older brother who was the last present under the tree, a few socks.  I have chosen not to be Uncle Raymond the last few years because I feel how he must have all the years.  Steve and I have agreed not to do holidays.

I hope there are thousands of good memories made.  I have mine.  And this year, and future years,

I choose to hold onto those and miss my family.  It sounds sad but it really isn’t.  I look forward to time off more than anything.

Maybe, someday, I will find something that changes my mind.

Sometimes it's hard to remember this...

Blood Sweat & Tears

I added the picture of the ticket last month but had not told any one why.  Blood, Sweat & Tears was the free 98 Kool concert this year.  After about a week of torrential rains, the fairgrounds were basically a mud hole.  And Tech had a rare Thursday night ball game so lucky for us, there were not a ton of people there.  As a side note, this concert is always on a Saturday night and there is alway a Tech game and I remember thinking woohoo...Thursday night concert...no conflict.  Except the game was on Thursday....

As usual, this is a band that was a potential fogey band, touring since 1967.  There were no members now who were probably even born in 1967 but they knew all the songs and maybe the real band still gets residuals in the home.  Bo Bice from American Idol sings lead now and he's got a great voice for BS&T songs.  A good time was had by all.

Bo Bice & Blood Sweat & Tears

With my crazy friend Lorraine

The Judge

Best picture of Downey/Duvall but this scene not in movie

I had really high hopes for ‘The Judge’ after seeing the previews.  I had not yet ready any reviews because I always wait to read them until after I have seen the movie so I can see if we agree.  This time, we don’t.

I thought this was a great movie.  I happen to find smart men sexy and I happen to like movies about relationships and families, along with a little mystery.  You know, a movie with a storyline that I have not already seen twice this week.

Robert Downey Jr plays Hank Palmer, a cocky Chicago defense lawyer who goes to his home town in Indiana for his mother’s funeral and ends up having to defend his estranged father, the Judge, against a charge that he ran over and killed a man he’d sentenced to jail 20 years earlier.  Robert Duvall plays the Judge.  Winning & powerful couple of actors and they played well off each other.  As the evidence mounts, more and more secrets come out about this family dynamic and there are some heartbreaking moments.  Great stuff.

There are some creepy, unnecessary moments…RDJ makes out with a girl in a bar and later we find there is a possibility that she may be his daughter.  Ick.  (Spoiler: She is not his daughter).  She could have been referenced instead of seen. There is an unnecessary fight between Hank and his wife that could have been explained away instead.  Dax Shepard is his usual annoying self as an attorney/antique salesman.  He could have been eliminated too.  And the movie was a little too long.

Some really good stuff from others too:  Billy Bob Thornton is the prosecutor, Ken Howard is the presiding judge and the little girl that plays Hank’s daughter, Emma Tremblay, is adorable and I think kids in movies are usually annoying.  Vincent D’Onofrio and Jeremy Strong play Hank’s brothers.  Vera Farmiga is Hank’s ever horny old girlfriend (and mom of icky make-out girl).   

I recommend it and if I had stars or something, I’d give it 3 out of 5…would have been a 4  at an hour and a half but it lost one star for 2 hours, 21 minutes.   It lost an editing star.  

The Mating Season

This is one of my favorite movies.  At one time I noticed I had it recorded twice on my DVR.

Made in 1951, it stars Thelma Ritter as Ellen,  a hamburger stand owner from New Jersey who decides she has had enough and heads to the midwest to live with her son Val, a very handsome John Lund.  What she doesn't know is that she arrives on his wedding day (he could not reach her on the road).  But she feels she would be out of place at a society wedding so she does not attend.  She wants a new suit and new hat to impress her new daughter-in-law, beautiful Gene Tierney.  When she finally goes to the apartment to meet Maggie, Ellen is mistaken for the cook they hired for a party.  Thinking that Maggie would be be embarassed,  Ellen goes along with the charade.  It's only at the end of the evening that Val sees his mom and she promises not to leave town until all is cleared up.  But the next day, Ellen decides to continue as the cook so she can live with them but not be the "mother-in-law" because they are in their mating season, their honeymoon period.    Maggie comes to love Ellen  When she finds out the truth, she thinks Val is ashamed of his mom and although he loves Ellen very much, he does seem to think she would make a better impression if she was a little more polished.  Maggie leaves Val, thinking he is responsible for Ellen playing cook.  The end is happy (it's 1951) so Val introduces his mom to his boss (good) and his snooty potential new employer (bad) and tells them that he and mom are a package deal.  Maggie overhears and takes Val back.

Thelma Ritter is wonderful, one of my favorite actresses.  Gene Tierney is gorgeous.  And who would not want a man looking at her the way way John Lund looks at Gene?   I love their relationship and the relationship between Val and his mom.    Miriam Hopkins plays Gene's flitty, overbearing mother.  Larry Keating is adorable as Val's boss.

It's a fun, charming movie.  And obviously I record it every time it comes on!

Robin WIlliams...may he rest in peace

Yesterday while watching the news they broke the story that Robin Williams had committed suicide.  So very sad.  He was what I pictured when I heard the words manic-depressive, although I know nothing of what was actually wrong with him.  He seemed to have great highs, performances where he was brilliantly out of control.  And apparently, we learn, great lows, depression & sadness.  He has millions of fans everywhere, was reputed to be a really nice, generous and genuine guy but apparently he had demons that overtook him.  He has a wife and children who I assume loved him.  Fans everywhere mourn his death.  Co-stars praise him.  And sadly, it was not enough.  It was not enough.  So he checked out.  

I remember seeing RW on Johnny Carson one night with his idol Jonathon Winters and things were so fast & furious that JC just sat back and watched the show.   There was another guest, so insignificant in the picture, that came out and her line “I don’t know about you but these two are wearing me out!” 

I loved his dramatic turns too…Good Will Hunting, Insomnia, his heartbreaking performance in Fisher King.   And I admit I watch Birdcage every time it comes on. 

His family will never see this but I wish them peace.  I hope they understand that maybe a comet that bright could not help but burn out too soon.    And I wish I could tell him thanks for all he has given us over the years.

Jelly

Steve's Wedding Day

On Saturday June 7th, Steve married Lizabeth.  It was a really nice wedding at a rustic barn on her grandfather''s farm.  It was, frankly, beautiful.  The rain had made everything green,  It was quiet and peaceful.  And just family.  I am very happy for him.

Steve & Lizabeth

Steve & me

Kamri, Grayson & Kaden

Hoffbrau Steakhouse

We were out of town for a meeting and ate at the Hoffbrau Steakhouse in Amarillo.  We had an appetizer of friend pickles and I'd never tasted them before.  I really liked them.  Way better than I liked the chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes or rolls which were particularly disgusting.  I don't recommend and will not be eating there again.

Too much circus!!

A few posts ago I was wondering whether to unfriend a person who is having problems with her husband and the negativity has gotten worse,  My friend posted this and it made my decision.  Buh bye

Sal Mineo

I just finished a book called ‘Sal Mineo: A Biography’ by Michael Gregg Michaud.  It tells the life of the actor from his birth in 1939 to his death in 1976.  It details his life as a child star, working on Broadway to keep him out of trouble on the streets, his teenage years leading to an Academy Award nomination for ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ to end up as a has been, broke and practically unhireable.  For many years he supported his entire family—his father, a casket maker, his mother who mismanaged his career and money from the beginning and 2 brothers and 1 sister.  By the time he found professional management, his money was all gone and it seems everyone knew he was a deadbeat but everyone let it go by.  He’d move from house to house until he got evicted and found another person to use. He found many acting jobs beneath him and certainly manual labor never crossed his mind. He felt that as a 2 time Academy Award nominee (2^nd was for ‘Exodus’) he was entitled to live anyway he wanted, and trust me he did.

He starts off chasing the girls, notably a 14 year old actress who lost her virginity to him when he was 21.   In fairness, she was a woman who was around for the rest of his life, although the relationship changed when she caught him in her bed with another man.   Sal “didn’t like labels” but felt he could basically have anything and anyone he wanted and trust me, this books names names!  He was bi-sexual but made no secret that he liked the boys more.  He was quoted early as saying he like the little, flat chested girls and then it was the young boys.  He was basically portrayed as a predator who would go after whoever and whatever he wanted.  Famous names jump off the page…Don Johnson, Jay North (Dennis the Menace), Jon Provost (Lassie), David Cassidy (all claim no sex here) and Bobby Sherman, the first boy I loved at 12, who Sal helped get on TV and then when BS got what he wanted it appeared he distanced himself from his friend.  It was allegedly Bobby that Sal’s girl found him in bed with.  Sal Mineo’s obsession with sex and the gay lifestyle made him practically an outcast in Hollywood in the 60’s.  He turned down minor money paying roles in tv and movies to chase dreams of making gay, erotic, mainstream movies in an era when Hollywood was having none of it. 

Sadly, he was murdered in what appears to be a random robbery attempt in 1976.  He had something less than $10,000 in assets while having $50,000 in debts.  He had been in show business for more than 25 years and had nothing to show for it.  He had also met the man of his dreams.  Although “committed” it did not stop either partner from going after whoever they wanted whenever they wanted. He was narcissism personified.   He felt he deserved whatever he wanted, the minute he wanted it.

I’m not sure he would be a man I liked or respected.  His lifestyle was reckless and hurtful.  He took advantage of people younger and more naïve than he who were probably just thrilled to be in his presence. And I can only imagine that he left them hurt and confused when he was done with them. 

I do recommend the book.  If you can get past the smarmy, it does give a glimpse of the Hollywood machine that is pretty interesting and gives some tales of old Hollywood which fascinated me.  In the old days, the system seemed to protect their own.  Now the paparazzi is everywhere and their kids can’t go to kindergarten without a camera in their faces.  I kind of like the old way better.  But it is kind of fun learning a few secrets!!

Just comparing a couple of movies...

It was a rainy Saturday morning and I found one of my favorite movies of all time on TV.  I happen to think 'The Sting' is one of the most brilliant movies of all time.  Well written, well paced, one of the most gorgeous and talented casts of all time.  I mean Newman and Redford in their prime.  And every supporting actor was amazing.  And Eileen Brennan's character was Billie!!   I remember seeing it in the theater and being conned like everyone else.  I tend to watch it every time it's one.

After that was over, a movie called 'Devil's Pond' came on.  It starred Tara Reid, who I have heard of, and Kip Pardue who I have not heard of, as newlyweds who head to an isolated island for a honeymoon and then we find that hubby never intends for them to leave.  I missed the very beginning and there were a couple of other people in the movie but all I saw was the two of them.  And the acting was horrible!!  But it was only an hour and a half movie and I'd already started so I finished it.  Let's just say I was not sure who to root for because she was so stupid that she probably did not deserve to live and more importantly, if he'd killed her it would save the grief of the driver who ran over her later as she stepped out in front of his bus (which I can only assume was her fate).



How far down Hollywood has come....complete brilliance on every turn to hoping everyone in the movie would be eaten by a bear to save us all from the suckiness.

      Every thumb I can find UP




I cut off every thumb I could find.

So what to do...

So you are technically related to someone (2nd cousins) and you watch their marriage implode on Facebook in a really nasty and dramatic way are you still obligated to keep their current future ex as a friend?  Keeping the cousin is not a problem because he is not the dramatic one and frankly we don't communicate much.  The deal is they sought me out, not the other way around.  And then her mom and aunt so I have collateral friends.

I don't dislike this person but  she posts too much info about herself and too many negative things about this cousin that I don't really know.  Maybe they are true and maybe it's just drama.  And I like her mom and aunt.

Gonna have to make a decision soon.

Pharmaceutical companies and old people.

Today I was in CVS behind an older man--probably late 70's--who was trying to fill a prescription for eye drops and the clerk ran his insurance through and then came back and told him the prescription company was delaying paying for the medicine until they got a report from the doctor.  If he needed it, he would have to pay full price--$232--and IF the prescription company approved it, he would be refunded most of that.  And that could take up to 14 days.  So he tried to use his credit card and it was declined.  And then he wrote a check, saying the $232 was HALF of his Social Security.  The clerk did suggest he call his doctor to see if he could get samples and he told her the doctor was out of the office.  So I have a few observations:

1.  How does any company justify $232 for eyedrops?   I mean the drug company or CVS.

2.  Why does the doctor write a prescription that is going to cost $232?

3.  Where is this stupid Obamacare now?   It was certainly not helping this man.

4. People need to be able to tell people where to get help if they need it.  I felt inadequate.  I wish I had an extra $232.  I wish I knew if he could have gotten it cheaper and how.  I wish one of these pharmacy clerks had a magic answer as how to get it cheaper but since they can't make change for a dollar I doubt that is going to happen.  I wish the pharmacist had suggested something over the counter that would have lasted til Monday.  I wish, wish, wish.

5.  Who the heck is this prescription company to question something a DOCTOR thinks this man needed?  They don't question when they get their premium but when it comes time to pay out they don't call the doctor, they in effect call their lawyers to see how they can NOT pay.

6.  What beyond this $232 did this cost that man today?  His pride possibly, having his card declined in front of me.  I wasn't eavesdropping...I was behind him and they were talking loudly.  And I have to wonder if he has gas in his car and groceries in his house.  And if he had $232 in his bank account.

What the hell...at least he has gold in his eyes!!

The Storyteller

I have discovered a new author.  Jodi Picoult, who has been around forever but I'd never read one of her books before.  At Costco last week I picked up her book 'The Storyteller'.  The notes on the back of the book made it look interesting but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  The book is about a loner who befriends an older customer at her store and he asks her for a favor.  And the snowball begins!   The book is actually several stories in one...modern day...Germany in the 1930's, the Holocaust in the 40's and a bonus fiction story written by the storyteller.  I have to say the Holocaust part of the book was overwhelming.  How anyone could say it never happened is beyond me.  There were actually a couple of places where I cried and that is not something I do a lot of on any level and especially not at a book!

The writer is very talented and the story was very compelling.  I do have to say that I was exhausted when I finished it and will have to read some sappy romance thing next to clear my mind.  I have, for some reason this year, read a couple of books about the Holocaust and am not sure when I'll be able to handle another.  I'm not even sure I can handle another Jodi Picoult for awhile either.  But I'll be back, no doubt.

Appliances

I have to say Lowe’s is making me laugh, in a kinda scary way.

I ordered new appliances from them…a refrigerator, a stove, a dishwasher and a microwave.  Last week I received 2 calls one day, one to tell me the stove was there, the other to tell me the dishwasher was in.  I verified all appliances are here and would be delivered tomorrow, Saturday April 5.  I was assured they were.

I called this morning to verify myself and was told I am on the schedule.  Then later this morning, a person from the millworks department called to tell me my French doors were in and ready to be picked up.  I had not ordered French doors.  Then we figured out it was my French door refrigerator!    And verified yet again that it would be delivered tomorrow.

Five minutes ago, I got a call from a guy telling me my microwave was here and he wanted to verify I would be there tomorrow for delivery.  I told him about the other appliances and he said oh, more than one page.

Will I have appliances tomorrow?  Not sure.

Here is an addendum...Even though I published today, I wrote this on Friday.  All appliances were delivered yesterday.  They boxes say it's what I ordered.  We will see whey they are unboxed and installed.

Creepy?

I just saw a picture on Pinterest that showed 2 men who had been released from a Japanese prison camp in 1945 and both were skin and bones.  The board this person pinned it on?  ‘Creepy’.    Really? That is your first impression?  Not heartbroken?  Not heroes?  Not man’s inhumanity to man?  Creepy is the friggen best you can do?

Does she not wonder where they came from and if they’re still alive or if they ever got over being starved and beaten by animals?  Doesn’t she want to know what they became and if they had families and lives?  Doesn’t she want to know what made them survive when so many others didn’t?  There is no way that this experience affected everything in their lives for the rest of their lives and the best this person could come up with is creepy?

 Geez.

Goodbye vacation. Hello kitchen

So I bought this new house.

The house needed a little love.  I got what I think was a good deal on it.  I probably didn’t but it’s what I want to think so there.  And it had some issues right off.  First all, it’s 12 years or so old and I doubt it had ever, ever been cleaned.  It certainly did not appear that it ever had.  Filthy.  And frankly, it was pretty hard to tell flaws because it was hard to see beneath the dirt.  So now it’s mostly clean and it still has a few issues.

It mismatched carpet in the bedrooms that needs to be replaced.  And it has tile everywhere else.  So first order of business…new carpet.  They measured 110 yards so there is $3100.  A little higher than I expected but doable.

Next, the paint job is horrible.  Semi-gloss paint throughout most of the house.  Who does that?  One nice red wall.  Everything else, not good.  Once the cabinets were clean they don’t look horrible…where there is a problem is a gouge…but the rest looks pretty good.  They will be good for awhile.  But the rest of the house needs to be painted. 

It needs a storm door and a pocket door going into the laundry room and a new potty in the back bath.  Not too bad.

And the countertops in the kitchen are not horrible but my contractor told me he thought we could do granite countertops all within my budget so I got my hopes up.  And a shiny backsplash, which I love.  So I’m ready to go full speed ahead.

Then the estimate came….under budget…except for the countertops and backsplash and paint throughout the house.  That is another big chunk of change.  So the dilemma begins.  I have some savings that I can use but that is just that …savings and then vacation money.  So what to do…have the kitchen I’ve always dreamed of or keep the $$ in the bank.  The kitchen is the first thing you see when you walk in.  And I love a pretty kitchen.  And the extra $$ is just a bit of savings.  And it will be something I will love for a long time.  And I can’t take the money with me!  And my pension goes into savings and in 4 months it will be replaced.   But it certainly means no cruise this year. 

So my decision seems to be made.  Goodbye vacati

Drama. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

My tolerance for drama is at an all time low.  Just saying.

Good news today and a not so great day today, foodwise

It's been a strange day.

I have had a really sore throat the last couple of days, deep down at my neckline, not just the back of my throat.  And my ears were stopping up.  I had gone to the clinic on Monday but the doctor there could not see anything and blew me off as a whiner.  She called in  RX for nasal spray and something to stop the throat pain.  Writing a RX seems to be the first 3 years of medical school and this doctor missed bedside manner altogether.  To top it off, because they had the words Urgent Care in the clinic name, they charged $50 copay instead of $20.  I did not even bother with the prescriptions.

This morning the pain was really bad and my lymph nodes were swollen and painful.  I had a dentist appointment at 830 so had taken time from work already and a bit of time so before my appointment I went to get blood drawn for my A1C since I've been taking Victoza for 4 months.   Then after the dentist appointment, I went to my regular doctor who felt the swollen nodes and wrote me a prescription for a strong antibiotic.  I've just taken one pill and already feel better.  Pain is less.  Lump in throat feels smaller.
Sinuses feel better.   But after the pharmacy I just took the rest of the day and came home and slept most of the afternoon.  And I ate comfort food...I'd stopped on the way home and got a Mini-Murph pizza and an almond joy.  And I had frozen French fries for supper. Not a good food day but it's all good.

Now the really good news...my A1C is 560, with average blood sugar of 114 and doc says technically not in diabetes range and that I can stop with the other diabetes medicine and just stick with the Victoza.  He'd left a message while I was alseep and he called me a "poster child" !!   I am thrilled.  Losing some weight.  Trying to beat the diabetes.  Woohoo!!

The Other Side of the Mountain

Geez Louise, guess what I found on Netflix tonight!!

The summer after I'd graduated from high school Mom & I came to tech for freshman orientation.  We stayed in Chitwood Hall and ate in the cafeteria and toured the campus.  And we went to the Fox theater on 19th street and saw 'The Other Side of the Mountan'.  I had no clue what it was going to be about.  It probably started at the right time!  We did not have a theater in Spur anymore and most of the movies I'd ever seen were when I spent time in the summer with Cathy.  Movies were a treat.

This movie is about skier Jill Kinmont, a shoe-in for the 1956 Olympics until she severed her spine in an accident just before.  It then shows her journey through rehab and breakup with her fiance who could not handle her condition and then losing the man she loved later in a plane crash.  She recovered and went on to become a teacher.  And she even finished her story in happy ending fashion in same movie, part 2.

The acting was not great.  The actors were a little long in the tooth to be playing high schoolers but it was
an ok movie and there was even a tear or 2.

Beau Bridges played the love of her life who died in the plain crash.  He was about 34 at the time and he looked then what his son Jordan Bridges looks like now.   Look,  a surprise separated at birth although not my typical find.  They are father and son after all.

    

And in an odd note, in the 2nd movie (yep, I watched it too) Jill says every man she ever loved had died...even Buddy, the fiance who dumped her....he died at 28 in an avalanche.  It would have been some kind of karma if he'd lived but been paralyzed, huh?

Ready for Spring. Ready for Baseball.

Separated at birth...obscure version

One I don't remember ever seeing before tonight.  Jeremy Slate was on 'The Untouchables' very last show.  He played a former army hero who was hired to kill Eliot Ness.  He was a very creepy character who smoked a corn cob pipe.

And growing up, there was a sitcom starring Brian Keith called 'Family Affair' and there was a little boy with red hair who played an orphan named Jody.  His name was Johnny Whitaker.  I don't know what happened to him after he was about 10 years old.  But when I saw 'The Untouchables' tonight I thought about him.

Tom Selleck

Back in 1980, a show came on CBS called Magnum P. I.  Tom Selleck starred as a private investigator Thomas Magnum, a vet who lived on an estate in Hawaii and solved cases and lived in paradise.  He was a pretty man back then, no doubt.  Not a great actor but a amiable, low key actor.  

Magnum P.I.

The show went on for a few years and he worked steady and was still pretty charming and pretty.  He was never my favorite actor of all time but I always liked him.   Now he is Frank Reagan, the Police Commissioner of New York City on Blue Bloods and I still like him alot.  He is believable and comfortable and fair and standup.  Kinda like he was Magnum who naturally morphed over to the man in charge.

I think I'd like Tom and Frank a lot in real life.

Thin Mints & Potter's Field

I can't say I learn something new everyday but at least in the last 2 days I have.  It's certainly not brain surgery but it's going in the right direction I guess.

1.   I bought Girl Scout Cookies yesterday, Thin Mints.  The box says "Crispy chocolate wafers dipped in a mint chocolaty coating".  I always thought the mint was in the cookies, not the coating.  Eat and learn.

2.  Potter's Field--I learned this from the Untouchables.  I knew that Potter's field was where the indigent and unclaimed were buried.   But I found out today, from federal agent Lee Hobson that the origin is from the bible.  When Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver he received for betraying Jesus, the priests would not keep the blood money and instead bought "potter's field" to be a burying place for strangers.

Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, saying: "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." But they said: "What is that to us? Look thou to it." And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and went and hanged himself with a halter. But the chief priests, having taken the pieces of silver, said: "It is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood." And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying place for strangers. For this the field was called Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, even to this day ~~ Matthew 27: 3-8

Different, but both interesting...

Jack Reacher

As a reader, you almost always picture a character in your mind, especially one that you have become friends.  Then when the books are made into movies or TV someone either fits perfectly or they are all wrong.

Robert Urich was a perfect Spenser although Barbara Stock who I had never seen before or since, was not perfect as his Susan Silverman.

Vivian Leigh was perfect as Scarlett O'Hara.  And Leslie Howard was perfect as the wimpy Ashley Wilkes. I never thought anyone would fall for Clark Gable's Rhett Butler but that opinion is rare.

Katherine Heigl wasn't Stephanie Plum.

Harry Potter was perfectly cast, top to bottom.

Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss Everdeen.  And Woody Harrell is perfect as Haymich.

Jack Reacher is a character that British author Lee Child created.  6'4".  A tough man of mystery.  Former MP.  A man who puts right above everything.  And who does Hollywood choose to play him?  Tom Friggin Cruise.  5/2, eyes of blue.  Cocky little asshole.  Doing his 'A Few Good Men' impression.  Obviously not my favorite actor.  Wrong choice.  Seriously.

Greg Maddux

First, let me say, I am one of the top 10 biggest Greg Maddux fans.  The other nine would be his wife and children, siblings and parents.   And because big bro Mike is the pitching coach for my beloved Texas Rangers, in baseball terms, we are practically family.

I was  a Braves fan in the 90’s because they were on TV every night so I got attached to their little but mighty pitching staff—Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Steve Avery.    No Big Unit arms in the bunch but consistently good pitching all around.  Yesterday Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were announced as Hall of Fame inductees.  All great choices.  And Crag Biggio was .2 points from getting in too.  Maddux got the highest percentage of votes, 97.2 percent.   One of the baseball writers who did not give Maddux a vote says he knew he was a shoe in and wanted to make a statement that because he pitched in the PED era of Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa…etc…that everyone from the era’s rep was stained.   Maybe I’m crazy but wouldn’t pitching to the steroid crew and winning 355 games, 4 Cy Young awards and 18 Gold Gloves  and absolutely not a sniff of controversy attest even more to his greatness? 

I remember reading that they did a survey in the league:  Who has the best fastball?  The best curve?  Who threw the hardest?  None of the answers were Greg Maddux until you got to the Who is the best pitcher in baseball?  Then his name was everywhere.  The man was an artist. Not a fancy, showy one.  Not one no hitter thrown his entire career.  But everyone knew how good he actually was.   Even the idiot baseball writer.  Heck, if you were not going to give him your vote, you should have given it to Craig Biggio!!  He deserves to be there too.

I hope to go to Cooperstown someday.  And now I can hang with the greatest pitcher I’ve ever seen.  I’ll get my picture taken with his picture.

Second Decision of 2014

I downloaded an app for Charity Miles which will make a donation for every while you walk, bike or run.  Walking is my only option but someone will make a donation of 25 cents a mile.  I hope to get up to a dollar a week.  :)

First decision of 2014

I ended 2013 angry with a person who has been my friend for a long time but in the last year has treated me with a disrespect that is in inconceivable to me.  This person came to me in a time of need and I gave something I did not really have to give. And this was a huge part of my 2013 decisions.  And I have decided I can be bitter about it and keep hitting myself on the same thumb with the same hammer or I can throw out the hammer.   Hammer is gone.   Forgiveness will come slowly.  It will take more to forget.

I hope the loss of our friendship was worth it.