Forever A Fangirl

Trying to obtain a Canadian passport

I've been finishing up what was a rather chill weekend compared to last.

Trying to obtain a Canadian passport. I've been meaning to for years but can't seem to get off this continent. Now the government reactions of the US and Canada to 9/11 has nudged the process along. Getting the passport now instead of later is sort of silver-lining-ish 'cos now I can leave when I want too.

The Cdn. Passport filing online is cool but you've got to find or hire everyone and/or their Veterinarian* to vouch for your authenticity (a guarantor) by signing your passport photo and and a "I've know this person for two years, minimum," document, vouching for me being me. Um. Right. After a lot of time at Passport Canada and "The I Was Born Outside of Canada...What Does That Make Me? sections. I've read for myself what a woman that I met in Madison, Wisconsin at a John Kerry-Bruce Springsteen rally told me(!)--If you have your kid in a country not Canada the kid is still Canadian. They've amended the rules to first generation only--which means both my boys went from Americans to 1 Canadians in an evening. (without filling or applying for anything). The household has shifted from 3 Americans/1 Canadian to 3 Canadians/1 American.

But still 3 men/ 1 female. Bah.

So they are American here but Canadian in Canada but Canada "suggests" getting a Canadian passport which I am doing because I have to for me. The suggestion is followed up by a hypothetical allusion to, "What if you need the Consulate? You'd best be a Canadian citizen with a Canadian Passport. hee.

Right now, my really slow photo printer is cranking out eight pages of Canadian Passport Application.

Today (Monday) is drive to Cary, IL and pay a lot of money to get my hair done in multi-colours. I'll get passport photos after my roots are touched up though vanity will win out and it won't be today.

Both my kids are first-generation-in-a-foreign-country Canadian, Too Funny. Talk about learning something new each day. Their kids however have to file papers by age 28 in order not to lose their Canadian-ness.

* Your vet--on the list of people that have "known you well enough--2 yrs.minimum" to vouch for you. Aww.

The weather blows. Literally. Warm tonight--icky, wet cold tommorow and allergy season as well.

A piece of the weekend:

Field Museum of Natural History

Photoshop Express: What A Disappointment!

I read about Photoshop Express, the free application that includes bountiful storage, ability to resize, correct and otherwise photo-manipulate digital photographs and as I tend to do, especially with something that includes "free" and "photographic" into the description, I went straight over and signed up.

My everyday full-featured photo alteration program is not Photoshop, it's Corel Paint Shop Pro. I've tried using Photoshop a couple of times over the years and I find it lacks intuitiveness--it's clunky and hard for me to get the hang of.

And I have really set my mind to it but I hate trying to find "help" only to dig myself further in, not getting the answer or the result I want, and getting frustrated.

My assumption is that the release of Photoshop Express, which is in beta, is a gesture in two ways. One, it acknowledges what the "futurist-type" techies have been saying and that's that software--all of it--essentially shall be free fairly soon. Secondly, for those dissatisfied with their primary photo manipulation program, Photoshop Express could provide a bridge for potential users to get accustomed to "Express" and then move to Photoshop.

   

Well, I just spent hours editing on my Paint Shop Pro photo program and then attempted to make a simple album in Photoshop Express and it was a dismal failure. Once again, things were not where I'd expect them to be. For example, when I signed up there was a generic-looking shadow figure that was supposed to be replaced by something that represented "me." An avatar, user photo ID, "Gravatar" in WordPress, whatever--and it took me a half a friggin' hour to find how to do it. It wasn't in the place where one would think it would be--which is with other user info. Instead, after I mucked about I found it by accident--and I can't even tell you where. Even when I pressed the last-ditch "help" icon--I was taken someplace foreign that had nothing to do with Photoshop Express as far as I could see. I even tried the Photoshop Express Forum. Besides being ugly aesthetically, it had nothing--nothing when I used various search terms which should've have brought up something so that I'll be able to head towards some kind of answer. But no.

One more thing. When you make an album in Photoshop Express, why does it default to a butt-ugly fake woodframe "book?" That makes no sense at all. And if I do have style choices why are they not readily apparent? Bah. I went back to Picasa--which is not perfect--but that's for another post. I did the full album upload there--no problems. Photoshop Express, Photoshop period. Not for me. In a nutshell, I tried Photoshop Express and I hated it.

Click the "bubble" next to the little yellow guy to move text off photograph.

From Paley Fest: Dirty Sexy Money~ Season 2 Begins Oct 1, '08~ Dirty Sexy Money Wallpapers

Dirty Sexy Money Wallpapers can be found here.

Though Dirty Sexy Money, the lush, most expensive first-year drama ever made has been off the air for more than three months, word out of Paley TV Fest '08 is that it will be  back on the air in about six months (Sept '08) according to DSM creator Craig Wright. Some snippets of information about Dirty Sexy Money: Season 2

• Daniel Cerone, formerly at the helm of Dexter has joined DSM (What is that?--one Degree Of Separation with Peter Krause (Nick George) and Michael C. Hall (Dexter) having played brothers Nate and David Fisher respectively on one of the best shows evar, Six Feet Under? Hopefully, Cerone will do some much-needed anchoring with DSM--a show which seems in danger of floating away amidst the froth at times.

• Though politico Patrick Darling's character's "personal reality (is) cloaked in darkness...his journey toward openness shall bring him success.” possibly in the form of "Carmelita Darling."

• Nick George's dead father, Dutch: is he really dead? As Billy Baldwin was quick to point out, "Did you ever see a body?” The storyline was to have wrapped but due to the prolonged (now ended) Writer's Guild strike, it'll have to wait for S2.

• Unfortunately we have not seen the last of Brian, Jr. To that I say, Remember the old axiom about kids and dogs: a little of either goes a long way, especially in a nighttime soap.

Stay tuned: More to come.

Footnote.com Interactive Vietnam Wall

 
Above is a screen shot from footnote.com's "Interactive Vietnam Wall." The virtual version of the famous memorial which is a pair of 246-foot black granite walls inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 American military casualties is searchable. Every name etched onto the real-world wall is viewable online and linked to the veteran's service record. Online visitors can add photos and describe their memories of the servicemen and women who died in the war. (AP Photo/Footnote.com)

I stumbled across this story at Wired.com last night. After a speedy and painless join up to the Footnote.com site, I was able to view the wall as if I were there. I've seen the wall on 3 or 4 separate occasions and it never fails to overwhelm me.

I was at a key juncture of my life in the late stages of the Vietnam War (another "war" that was never declared so by Congress).

Colour photographs of the Mei Lai Massacre adorned the covers of the news magazines of our coffee table; we ate our dinner each night with the casualty count from the previous day's battles in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam. The son of the family kitty-corner to our home went to war and never came back. The war left a deep and ever-lasting mark on my psyche-a small price compared to so many others.

The ability to  view the Vietnam Memorial Wall is very welcome, if not about 5 years overdue. The wall itself was a little late too, but well worth it and I think the site will prove the same.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Online

Eggs No More

Fuzzy

Easter means different things to different folks. I may have gone to church as a kid on Easter Sunday but the Sunday that is called "Easter" now means Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies, Reese's PNB eggs, jelly beans, and plastic eggs with surprises within. Easter also means colouring hard-boiled eggs. We've done egg colouring since my oldest son was a child and even though my youngest son is now 15 when spouse asked prior to last weekend's grocery run if we were colouring eggs this year, son answered with an unequivocal "yes." Ditto for me. Just as we still fill stockings for Christmas we still colour eggs for Easter because we enjoy the process of a shared family activity. We call it "tradition" and I cannot see why we'd stop just because we've hit a a particular age. It's fun having
fun together.

Pattern

Eggs No More

Eggs: Coloured and Photoshopped

Pastel Fuzz




Basket Full
Mother Nature Fooled
Secret Meeting

What's the one thing you're most neurotic about?

Again with this picking only one!

OK. I'd say the one thing that gets under my skin in the most irrational and uncontrollable way is my complete overreaction to stains. Stains on clothing, furniture, THE CARPET, even non-stain stains like water marks on the  faucet and sink handles. Stains on people's faces are icky as well.

Stains do not belong. The worst stains are the ones that I discover on my clothes when I'm in a public place where I cannot do anything to remedy the situation.

Why do I feel so strongly about stains? In a nutshell they say "dirty," "unkempt," "has no regard for her appearance." or in the case of my house, no regard for it's appearance. Or in the case of my children, no regard for their appearance or my spouse, well you get the picture.

When did I become such a neurotic freak about stains? During my childhood of course! Why? A parent of mine is exactly the same way and made a huge hairy deal about anyone having stains on their clothes at any time. And the other parent seemed to never wear a shirt that wasn't stained, driving parent number one into near fits.

Yes. I'm scarred for life and oh crap, a scar is like a stain that won't go away--only worse!

Why do you think some people don't get along with you?

First, it's not that people don't get along with me. I never give them a chance. I've always made it difficult to acquire me as a friend in the offline world because I actively avoid people. When I have to interact, I'm extremely polite (I even metaphorically speaking, make myself gag at times, I'm so freakin' nice) and quite friendly usually. People mistake polite and friendly all the time. They are not the same thing, I assure you.

Why? Potential conflict. My feeling of, "Why bother because this person will just end up irritating me or me them before long and then what?" Rejection.

The reason I started to avoid people goes back to moving to the US to a small town in Connecticut populated by humans of sub-intellect. I was picked on and teased constantly from the beginning and this all was quite acceptable to everyone that should have cared. Yes, my inner child is deeply wounded. And I knew this before therapy!

Thus, I built up very large walls of protection including a massive layer of fat.

I've never, ever initiated a friendship and I don't say that proudly. And despite all my excuses, It's my fear of being rejected that holds me back.

Party Girl (in front with kazoo)

Age 13 (7 years after moving to Connecticut)

What's the most valuable thing you've ever had stolen?

Shortly after I moved from the thriving suburbs of  Toronto, Canada to a small town ( Watertown) appended to a small city (Waterbury) known as the industrial armpit of Connecticut, our home was broken into and my 1964 90% silver Kennedy half dollar collection was stolen from my cedar wardrobe that my great grandfather had built. I was only six and it really messed with my head that a stranger was in my bedroom ripping off my most previous possessions. Welcome to the USA.. :/

 

The door was locked and they busted it in--which is ironic given that we didn't have to lock the doors during the day in TO. More realisation that we were essentially next door to Mafia headquarters (NYC) in this country. It was the police chief's son who ripped us off and everyone knew but did nothing. Never got our stuff back--Including my parent's stuff--and he never was prosecuted. I left that town the minute I was old enough and had some cash to get started elsewhere.

 

US Death Toll in Iraq War Hits 4,000

A US soldier stands guard in the area where a suicide car bomber detonated his load in Shula, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, March 23, 2008. At least seven died and 14 were wounded in the blast. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Last year, the U.S. military deaths spiked as U.S. troops sought to regain control of Baghdad and surrounding areas.

The death toll has seesawed since, with 2007 ending as the deadliest year for American troops at 901 deaths. That was 51 more deaths than 2004, the second deadliest year for U.S. soldiers.

The 4,000 figure is according to an Associated Press count that includes eight civilians who worked for the Department of Defense.

I thought I'd have more to say about this "milestone" but in searching through prior posts I've written about this war I realize I have nothing more to say. Here's a post that still resonates with me, though:

Behind The Gun Of A Humvee

An Iraqi man grieves for a relative killed in a suicide car bombing in Shula, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, March 23, 2008. At least seven people died and 14 were wounded in the blast. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

QotD: "Nothing Sharpens Sight Like Envy"

What quality in your best friend are you most envious of and why?

Oi! What a question!

First, I don't have a "best friend."

Second, if I did I wouldn't envy him or her.

Some good envy quotes:

The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause.  ~Baltasar Gracian

Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own.  ~Harold Coffin

Envy is the most stupid of vices, for there is no single advantage to be gained from it.  ~Honore de Balzac

Envy is thin because it bites but never eats.  ~Spanish Proverb

Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own.  ~Harold Coffin

If malice or envy were tangible and had a shape, it would be the shape of a boomerang.  ~Charley Reese

LOST~ Season 4, Episode 8 "Meet Kevin Johnson" *SPOILERS*

"Meet Kevin Johnson"

First Aired~03/21/08
Sayid confronts Ben's spy on the freighter, and Ben urges daughter Alex to flee Locke's camp in order to survive an impending attack. Watch Official ABC LOST Full-length video of all 4 Seasons here

Things start off looking peaceful enough but as tradition on LOST dictates, they didn't stay that way very long.

It's time for a flashback! Michael (Harold Perrineau), who the audience hasn't seen for nearly 2 years (about 2 months, Island time) suddenly gets some backstory--and it's very depressing. Below, he attempts suicide. We are supposed to believe that he feels/felt so much remorse for killing Ana Lucia and Libbyduring his Island stint that he blabbed about it to  his son Waaalt! Michael's not got any ID on him but has a note to Walt pinned on his shirt, according to the Nurse Who Is Not A Ghost.

So how was Walt supposed to ever get the note? Jedi Mind trick?

Mike tries to kill himself in a couple of ways--neither are successful...

...because according to Tom Friendly, Michael can't die--the Island won't "let" him.

Worse or at least just as bad, Michael keeps seeing one of the women he killed*--Libby (Cynthia Watros)--who was introduced and killed in Season 2 as a Flight 815 Tail section survivor-sort of gf to Hurley. She is tied up in this somehow because she was married to Charles Widmore and sponsored Desmond in his round-world boat-race that landed him on the Island. Desmond also was introduced in Season 2 but he crashed on the Island in a sailboat trying to impress his estranged gf Penny Widmore, daughter of Charles, the Freighter and Oceanic Ft. 815-owner.

*This causes Michael to become even more distraught...

...as if Waaaalt! refusing to see Michael--after Michael confessed his sins to the 10-y.o.-kid-he-never knew-until-the-Island was not bad enough. Maybe Walt (Malcolm David Kelley) just really misses his dog  Vincent (still wandering the Island) and blames dad for leaving the dog behind.

And things just keep on sucking more for Mike. Mr. Friendly tells Mike that Mike has a mission and by doing so Mike can be a hero again. Mike believes this. The audience begins to remember that Mike--much like Locke, has always been a ginormous loser. Why would things be different now?

Well, one thing is different. Mike is now "Kevin Johnson." Mr. Friendly tells him he's to board Charles Widmore's freighter which is about to set sail for Craphole Island. Michael is to kill everyone on board or he is told, by the "trustworthy" Mr. Friendly, all his friends on the Island will be killed by the Freighties.

Tom Friendly's (M.C. Gainey) friend is either gay or French, possibly both. Not that it matters. Why do you think they added this dimension to Mr. Friendly? Are we going to be seeing a lot of him in the next 2.5 years, whilst the series concludes and this is their way of "fleshing out" the character?

Before Michael goes on a mission on behalf of "Ben," (why Michael, why? You are so messed up. This is not going to make Waaaalt love you) Michael demands "proof" of the assertions that the filthy rich Charles Widmore is behind the whole phony Flt. 815 with 300 bodies on it found deep in the ocean thing. Conveniently, Mr. Friendly not only has a big file all about it, but it's right there on the table like he knew Mike was going to ask that! Amazing writing, E. Sarnoff! Don't feel bad though, your boss J.J. sometimes writes as badly. More after jump.

Also, Scenes from April 24 *New* Episode.

Letterman: Top Ten Reasons For Watching Battlestar Galactica, What The Frak Is Going On? *Spoilers*

Did you remember to watch Letterman last night so you could see the Top Ten Reasons You Should Watch Battlestar Galactica? If you forgot or missed it, it was just posted on YouTube an hour ago and I've embedded here for your viewing pleasure along with the entire series recap, " What The Frak Is Going On?" Letterman Top Ten Featuring The Battlestar Galactica cast 03.19.08:

(more commentatary after clip)

"What The Frak Is Going On" (above) is a tongue-in-cheek recap of the entire Battlestar Galactica series thus far. It's very fast and it's funny as well but you simply must watch the DVD's to prepare yourself for Season Four. However, if you don't have time to watch all three Seasons of BSG prior to the April 4 premiere of Battlestar Galactica on the Sci Fi Channel (check your teevee listings for time), then you simply must watch the Battlestar Galactica miniseries from several years ago. It's about 2.5 hours in length and it'll give you an good general idea of the series. You can catch up with the rest later.

Are you convinced, yet?

If you are not (and seriously, what do you watch on teevee, Dancing with the Stars?!) you have a look at the next several clips. One, Phenomenon, shown in three short clips, is a variety of writers, actors, a singer(!) and directors who explain why this show rocks their world. You may be surprised who pops up in the "Phenomenon" clips (after the jump). "Revealed"  right after the Phenomenon videos is more interviews, recaps and possibly previews of Season Four, the final season. It's after the jump and it's in two short YouTube clips.

No Surrender

In many ways, last night's show at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee reminded me of the first time I saw Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band in 1980, at the LA Sports Arena. Remember 1980? It was the year that both Ronald Reagan was elected president and a month later, John Lennon shot to death. I was living in Southern California and my best friend Jerry, a native New Yorker and HUGE Springsteen fan, was kind enough to invite me to accompany him to Springsteen and E Street's show at the LA Sports Arena--two nights in a row!

Back in those days Bruce and E Street played 3.5 hour sets full of raw emotion, intensity, rollicking good spirit, sincerity and social commentary. "Exhilarating" is probably the best way to describe those times. They were rock n' roll shows unlike any I'd seen before--and as nothing I've seen since.

There were moments back then and last night too, where I was on the verge of tears--all the while with a smile on my face. And I wasn't the only one. Springsteen and E Street's performances are transcendent and indeed, they elevate you spiritually to a place of deep joy and comfort.

When Springsteen and Van Zandt harmonize they evoke memories of spinning 45s records on the turntable back in our younger days, gleaning more from a few minutes on a disc than hours in a classroom. Most of us of a certain age can feel this on a visceral level--they speak to us in our language--the language of rock n' roll. Springsteen and E Street forge a connection which comforts us in a way in which mere words cannot fully do justice.

(Photo/Jim Bovin)

But there was a stark contrast as well between the Springsteen shows I saw in 1980 and the 2008 performance.

Time, as it will, is taking it's toll; the show is a full hour less in length than the gigs in 1980.

Most troubling to me was Danny Federici's absence. A founding member of The E Street Band, Danny is fighting for his life with a vicious form of cancer--melanoma that has metastasized. I've posted two video clips of Danny's last performances in 2007 below.
Though Bruce issued an upbeat-sounding statement last year when Danny first prepared to "take a leave" from the band, as I watched Bruce's face on the huge screen last night when he explained that his wife and bandmate Patti was home in New Jersey with their three teenagers, I saw a flash of deep sadness cross his face a moment later as he moved on to say that Danny Federici "may" be able to join them for a short stint "later" in the tour.

Also, if you haven't seen Clarence Clemons lately you'd have been shocked at his appearance. EDIT/After giving it some more thought, I realize that Clemons has lost a lot of weight and that doing so later in life leaves saggy skin--this could explain a lot./ The Big Man is no longer big and interplay between the Clemons and Springsteen was almost non-existent. It was Steve Van Zandt doing most of the clowning with Bruce last night. Clemons now moves slowly--perhaps he's dealing with arthritis?, often perching on an overstuffed chair nearly off stage, sometimes sitting for a song's duration. Thankfully, he is still able to belt out his amazing signature sound when called upon.

Despite these poignant reminders that time leaves none of us unmarked, "magic" continues to pulse through the night whenever Bruce Springsteen picks up a guitar and steps on stage.

Hard to read Bruce's writing? Here's the list, courtesy of Bruce's official website Bruce Springsteen.net, ( Springsteen songs only) in print:

March 17, 2008
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bradley Center

No Surrender { lyrics }
Radio Nowhere { lyrics }
Lonesome Day { lyrics }
Streets Of Fire { lyrics } Tour Premiere
Gypsy Biker { lyrics }
Magic { lyrics }
Reason To Believe { lyrics }
It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City { lyrics }
Prove It All Night { lyrics }
She's The One { lyrics }
Livin' In The Future { lyrics }
The Promised Land { lyrics }
Cadillac Ranch { lyrics }
My Hometown { lyrics }
Devil's Arcade { lyrics }
The Rising { lyrics }
Last To Die { lyrics }
Long Walk Home { lyrics }
Badlands { lyrics }

Evangeline Lilly + Dominic Monaghan UPDATE: Back Together Or Just Friends?

April 2008 update on my other blog

March 15, 2008: Evangeline gets together with Dominic /EDIT: now with correct date

photo source

As far as fans of LOST's Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lilly  knew they "quietly broke up in the fall of 2007."

In honesty, we never knew much other than what we saw in photographs as the cute couple frequented the shores of Hawaii catching waves. They were together 2 or 3 years and it seemed as sure a thing as it gets in Hollywood that they'd make it official as Evie is said to be very, very, Christian.

But then at the end of last season LOST killed off Dominic's popular character on the show, "Charlie Pace," and not much later it was reported that Dominic was spotted in a popular LA club, very distraught and in the arms of a woman who was not Evangeline.

The couple, always deeply non-verbal about their relationship or lack thereof issued no statements at any time so the press has just kept guessing and assuming about their relationship status.

Why do we care? Same reason that we have cared for centuries about couples in love. It's LOVE. We all dig it.

Personally, I think Evie is an adorable, spirited Canadian gal and Dom is very talented and charming and well, frankly I was hoping for a fairy-tale ending. (You won't find me rooting for the death of other people's relationships unless they are causing harm to one another.) And though not deeply saddened when I heard rumours of their break-up, I was disappointed that a love story I'd followed came to an end.

Or did it? Above is Evie this past  weekend in Los Angeles about to attend Dominic's photo exhibition at L.A.'s Hamilton Selway Gallery! Full video of collection below:

Now, there is not a single shot of her--a model--in the exhibition and I took that to be an indication that they were not amicably split because Dominic included many actors in his exhibit including those from Lord of The Rings and LOST. Evangeline's absence seemed gaping.

But here she is in a funny wig going to Dom's gallery showing. She looks happy. I'm guessing Dom was happy, too.

If nothing else I hope they've reached a point where they can honestly be friends. I realize that it's rare, but it can be done.
Stay tuned.

More photos of the couple (in happier days(?) after the jump.

"Rockin' Without A Net"

Just finished reading some reviews of
Springsteen both from the first leg of the tour and from this, the second leg. The show tonight will be the eighth of this part of the tour and I'm totally jazzed.
I remain ever hopeful that he will do as he did here:

...play Rosalita.

But my hopes are not high on that count.

"Night" would be great too, but he played it not on 14th, but in the two shows prior.

Maybe I'll get luckier. I'm lucky and happy no matter what because I get to see Bruce and E Street again.

I'm very, very disappointed about no Patti (Scialfa, Bruce's band and lifemate). She wasn't in the last show I saw (in Milwaukee) either. What, she doesn't like Pabst? Kidding. It's my understanding that she is home with the kids--all teenagers I believe, and since I get worried leaving my 15 y.o. for one evening alone--imagine how it must be to leave three teens (obv. not _alone_) for weeks at a time. You are a good mom, Patti: You do the heavy lifting whilst hubby goes out and plays.

Oooh, one more thing I'm jazzed about. Bruce writes out a new set list each evening and they are being published on his site brucespringsteen.net. What a nice FREE memento from the show!!!

March 14 set list is after the jump...

Google's Aggressive Stupidity Continues

cyncity.typepad.com

RealRank weekly Average

519

Today's RealRank: 465

Got half my page rank back but my traffic is twice as high as it was when you dropped me to ZERO!

That's only half you gave back, Google. I was a 4. But you stopped allowing my PageRank to be displayed and dropped me to an misleading and inaccurate Page Rank of ZERO <sniffle> <snort>.

Now today you bestow a Page Rank of 2 upon me?! Ick. That's so bourgeoisie.

Please, take it back. There are more accurate blog/websites ranking system than yours.

Previously: My Blog Is Dead ( Google PageSpank)

You know the old "fool me once saying..."?

Here 'ya go! (after jump)

"There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity"--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Um. Nevermind.

I am such an idiot. I say that a lot—write it a lot, too. Hrm.

OK. So no harm done but I forgot I’m driving to another state to see Bruce Springsteen tonight (Monday). “Forgot” as in was off on the dates by a month! In my defence (there really is none, I know) but...I bought e- tickets—needing to be printed out. They were in fact, but getting “event tickets” online is much different than in person. Or am I the only one left who remembers paper tickets to shows? lol You do not have to understand how excited I am to see Bruce and E Street. This is near the beginning of the second leg of their 2007-8 tour. I’m truly very jazzed but it’ll be on St. Patrick’s Day night which I also just realized. Hopefully getting away from the green beer drinkers after the show won’t be too horrible, Anyway, good seats in a medium size Milwaukee arena. So hello to all. I shall return. Work is very weird and intrusive at the moment. A shot of Bruce will do me good! No Patti, tho! And worse, one of the original E Street band members is still out sick. Founding E-Street organist Danny Federici is still recovering from melanoma but is said to be “doing well.

(That never reassures me.)

LOST~ Season 4, Episode 7 "Ji Yeon" *SPOILERS*

03/13/2008 - "Ji Yeon"

Season 4, Episode 7

First shown: Thu, March 20

Juliet is forced to reveal some startling news to Jin when Sun threatens to move to Locke's camp. Meanwhile, Sayid and Desmond begin to get an idea of the freighter crew's mission when they meet the ship's Captain.

Sun gets a wacky idea to hike to Locke's camp. No one including Kate, who draws her a map seems to have a problem with this. They are however trying to sneak away.

Oops, cog in the machinery time. Juliet, in an effort to stop Sun from hiking to Locke's camp, blurts out to Jin that Sun had an affair. This is Sun's reaction.

Flash forward! Looks like we have another Oceanic 6 survivor!

Jin is quite frantic to get to the hospital...seems obvious why but...

Whaaaaaa? (But think. Remember Panda selling guy saying it was the Year Of The Dragon? (2000)

Possibly using that Golden Pass they got from Oceanic, Hurley is there in Korea to visit Sun's little girl.

Oh no. Not looking good! Hurley says she looks just like Jin, and then tells Sun “Let's go see him.” And that's when we know that Future Jin was actually Past Jin-- it was a flashback, and Jin is actually dead.

Jin's tombstone. Oh, dear. Click to enlarge and see the date of his death.

Sun says she misses Jin.

Who, back at the Island has gone fishing with Bernard and had a good chat about Karma.

Sajid, uh, did you notice that axe in the wall of the ship? Just asking.

*NEW* Preview~ Season Four BSG Video / Letterman Hosts Battlestar Cast March 19 *Spoilers*

OK. Remember to breathe. I just watched the most kick ass video sneak peek preview at E! Thank you, Kristin. Then I visited the Official SCI FI Channel's Site a/k/a Skiffy and found this below.......OMG!!! Ten stars of BSG on Letterman at one time tho' maybe just for the Top 10 List on March 19. I don't care. I'll take it!

From: SCI FI Channel's Site a/k/a Skiffy 12:00 AM, 13-MARCH-08 Letterman To Host Battlestar Cast Ten stars of SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica will make an appearance on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman to present the Top 10 List on March 19.

They include Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Hogan, Aaron Douglas and Lucy Lawless. The show airs at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.
The fourth season of Battlestar Galactica kicks off on March 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT with two back-to-back half-hour specials (recaps). The first new episode premieres the following week, April 4, 10 p.m Eastern.

I just took my first top-down ride this year!!!

Woo-hoo!
I just took my first top-down ride this year!!!
The weather here in the Northwest of Chicago suburbs is superb.
Sunny and mild and I didn't have to go to Florida or :cough: Arizona :cough: to enjoy it.
The upside to top down motoring in this Great Lakes region is that there is only about 4 months of the year where you can be certain that you can't ride top down.
In areas known for their extreme warmth (see above) for me it actually gets too warm to do the top down thing for about that long (longer, maybe--not got the numbers in front of me).
I'm actually going to again try to count the number of top-down rides I go for this riding season.
Why?

Why not?

On the road to Alice's Place.

More New TypePad Themes, These From Tokyo!

One thing I've always admired about TypePad and it's parent Six Apart is it's fluidity. It comes in several forms. One is the fluidity within the template designs which alway keep in mind never impeding the flow of the blogger.

Themes are a really good part of out-of-the box or WYSIWYG interfaces like TypePad's.

I noticed in the last few days on my landing page the beginning of a TypePad announcement about some fresh themes out of SixApart Tokyo (see blurb below). I just now had a real chance to scope it out and get my first look at another batch of new designs. I am a fan of both "the clean look" which is included in this batch and of whimsy, also here. I'm betting there's lots more coming in 2008. I'm jazzed.

New Themes: Courtesy of 6A's Team in Tokyo

You may already know that TypePad's parent company, Six Apart, has offices in Paris, France, and Tokyo, Japan.  We love to share knowledge, ideas and resources amongst our international teams, so when our design team here in San Francisco got a glimpse of some of the great themes created by our team in Tokyo, they decided to bring a few over for you to use.

The themes we recently added include:  Green Hammock, Plane Table, Polar Bear, Simple White, The Man, and Twist.

You may already know that TypePad's parent company, Six Apart, has offices in Paris, France, and Tokyo, Japan.  We love to share knowledge, ideas and resources amongst our international teams, so when our design team here in San Francisco got a glimpse of some of the great themes created by our team in Tokyo, they decided to bring a few over for you to use.

The themes we recently added include:  Green Hammock, Plane Table, Polar Bear, Simple White, The Man, and Twist.

QotD: Daylight Saving Time

Love it or hate it, many of you lost an hour of sleep last night due to Daylight Saving Time? Worth It? Do you like it more/less now that Daylight Saving Time occurs earlier (and later) in the year?

Geez, three questions and I'm sleep deprived. You have no mercy, QotD. None.

No I don't like changing time. Just going through the house changing

Antique Clock

the clocks makes me dislike it, nevermind how disruptive it is. And it doesn't* save any energy!

Let's just pick a time and stay with it. Kthx.

*It's official: Daylight Saving Time is a bust. Designed (and recently extended) as a measure to save energy in a period of inflated electricity prices, an in-depth University of California study has now shown that DST doesn't save anyone any money at all. In fact, it's costing consumers extra, to the tune of $3.19 in extra utility bills per year.

QotD: That's So Cliché

Which, ahem, "internets" clichés do you wish would go away already?

Just one. The cliché that Internet communication is "just words."

Anyone who persists in saying that has got their head up their... in the sand.

These mere words are becoming ever more the way people with access to the technology communicate.

Not just on the traditional Internet--texting among an ever-larger segment of the public has taken the place of spoken communication and it's highly unlikely IMO, that we will revert back to the old school talking on the phone. Why? For one, we are enamoured of multitasking. So for example, I can be in a meeting or in a class and be "working" yet at the same time texting whomever. That's not Internet communication per se but Internet communication has helped fuel it and reinforces it by just what I'm doing this moment. I'm not speaking with "you" I'm sitting on this Internet platform called TypePad and I'm typing words. They may not be of grave importance but neither is 99% of what we say.

So if I hear (read) one more time that the Internet is "just words," I shall scream (use ALL CAPS).

Culture QotD: Spring Training

Do you change your workout and/or beauty regime to get ready for spring?

Well I already talked about my face flakiness. You want to hear more?

OK. I'm exfoliating like crazy and then slathering on the intensive moisturizer. I just ordered the super-duper expensive eye cream. It's a major splurge--the one true one that I do for the sake of vanity.

Working out. Well, I walk briskly for about a half hour each night. I've gotten back into yoga. I guess if I have to say I changed anything it was I got really sick and it took a full two weeks to recover. The weather was severely cold so even on week two when I was feeling at about 50% I couldn't walk Raven and because of the dizziness that persisted through the two weeks, I stopped doing yoga, too. I got started again this week. I'm happy about iti but it really doesn't have a whole lot to do with spring or lack thereof.

"This is going to take more than one night."

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?"/ Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."   
~ Charles M. Schultz

LOST: The Other Woman, Season 4, Episode 6 *Spoilers*

03/06/2008 - "The Other Woman"

Season 4, Episode 6

This was a Juliet-centric flashback episode wherein the LOST writer's fell back into their Season 3 device of...filler. Very. little. happened. in this episode and if it were not for the evilness which is Ben it would have been forgettable.
Ouch. I know. This is so disappointing. If you want a blow by blow of the episode you can go to ABC Online Full Episdoes of LOST where they have all kinds of LOST goodies or you can take a look right here after the jump--the story, such as it was is recapped below.

EDIT/ Jungle Whispers are here .

There was a bit of revisionist history as Juliet's flashback revealed much more than what we'd seen before from the Other's perspective when Oceanic Flight 815 went down. Specifically Goodwin, with whom Juliet had an affair also had a wife--the rather harpy-like Harper. When the pieces of the planes fell from view Ben ordered Goodwin to go find the tail section which ultimately led to his death.

Mean, creepy, cat-eyed Harper made Juliet...

...cry when she told her to quit being "The Other Woman" with Goodwin, her spouse.

Harper was not the only mean female in this episode. Charlotte Lewis appears to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Here she is, clonking our ever intrepid Kate over the noggin'.

Kate survived. Her hair in this episode was very bushy. Kinda puzzling. Maybe it was extremely humid?
Of course, it's a different colour than it was about 100 days ago, when she first crash-landed. I suppose only her hairdresser knows for sure. ;)

John Locke, victim of character assassination by the writers, made bunny for dinner. Ben asked if said bunny had "a number on it." Har. What is it with Ben and bunny wabbits?
In other news, Claire is carrying her "baby" like a sack of potatoes. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

Crisis averted (no thanks to Juliet), so time for a smooch. From what I read most of the people voicing an opinion feel that Jack and Juliet or "Jacket" have no chemistry.

I thought she did really well with Angelina Jolie in "Gia." Maybe Angie can give Matt Fox some lessons.

Prior to sucking face with Jack, Juliet went all Rambo on Daniel and Charlotte at the poison-gas- housing Tempest station.

Charlotte is about to clonk Juliet in a second. There was a girl fight but not much on camera. <sad face>

Ben--all smug and happy. He talked John into letting him "go" in exchange for info about Charles Widmore (which the audience already knew) and the identity of who Ben's supposed mole is on the Freighter. We know Micheal is on the Freighter (Spoiler--see after the jump) and he's probably Ben's "man."

Sawyer's patented WTF? look when he sees Benjy strolling the grounds of Otherville, trilling about seeing them at supper.

Before Goodwin met his demise at the hands of Ana-Lucia--who keeps getting alluded to in S-4--is there something to that or just another of those sneaky writer's tricks? Anyway above is a gratuitous boobie shot of Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliette). Goodwin awaits her on a secluded beach.

Nintendo® Wii Sweeps+Charter High-Speed for Life

What would you think of winning high speed Internet access for life? How about a Gateway modem? Free Installation? Official documentation that you have won and that you will receive the highest speed Charter High-Speed Internet service in the market for life?

Sound too good to be true?

Then right this minute Click Here for a Chance to Win a Nintendo® Wii™!

Get all the details like: The pre-registration period starts on March 5, 2008 and runs through March 11, 2008. The actual bidding will start March 12, 2008 12:00 p.m. CST and bidding will come to an end on March 26, 2008 12:00 p.m. CST. At the commencement of bidding at 12:00 p.m. CST on March 26, 2008, the highest bid will be declared the winner. It’s really that simple!

If you win, you’ll be receiving notification from Charter by telephone and email on or before April 2, 2008. At that time details about the particulars of payment and installation will be discussed with the winning bidder.

Some cool things to know: The winner will receive the highest available speed in the market! If your Gateway stops working you’ll get it replaced by Charter for free! Finally, there is no purchase necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes!

I'm a Flake!

Overnight it seems my entire face has decided to shed and it’s awful. Well, not horrible awful but definitely awful-looking. Actually, I could look at this as a good thing in that it is a signal that Spring is on the way. I’m not sure “how” my face knows this but with the major season changes in these parts from Winter to Spring and Fall to Winter I go through this. And it hasn’t, except for one day last week, even been remotely Spring-like. I go out walking every day and today it’ll be in the low 30’s F and I’ll bundle like I always do but come home to this goofy situation which will continue for about a month before normal returns. 
Nice, huh?

/EDIT Actually, when we walked the Raven late tonight it was only low 20s F. No wind saved it from being an unpleasant walk because we took the Ponds route.

My boys

I think I'll keep them. :)

Go Get 'Em, Tiger?

Are you a go-getter or do you wait for good things to happen to you?
Submitted by sleepybear.

Oh, good grief!

Nuh-uh. Gotta send out the good juju into the world and work your tail off and the good things come as a result.

Anything else is luck. Which I will not turn down. :)

Happy 25th Birthday, Jim!

With love, Mom

XOXO

(I have yet to share the full story of my eldest son even though I've made reference to a few specific occasions. I'll try to get to it later today. Suffice for the moment to say that he's doing way better than one could have dreamt about ... Right now, I'm getting ready to give him a lift to the train station so he can go to a second job in the city. Guess we'll do cake later tonight.)

The Beginning/The End:

Dad, Frank (patriarch), Me, Jim~  Don’t be shocked, I’m deliberately keeping my hair over my eyes here. They’d both been blackened the-night before my trip. :/ Going up there without the person who’d blackened my eyes was the best thing that could have happened for my son and me. It solidified my tentative plan to get out–and that I did 3 months later.

And, so here we land. Jim was the impetus for me to go from being a hopelessly depressed victim to someone that had the lofty goal of becoming a success. He always inspired me to push myself harder, to never quit. Children can indeed teach us so much.