Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks to my good friend, Sybil for the nomination and Happy Mother's Day to all of my fellow mothers. We all deserve to be honored as Mother of the Year 2009!

Follow link to watch video coverage. . . .

http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=A8Ki9rbnAfu5TCvmv6lXqjQxODg1NTA-&referred_by=15848124-9Uzw9lx&p=moveon

I Never Knew Larry King Wore Glasses. . . . .

We were probably the last household on the block to still have an old, heavy CRT TV, but tonight we have stepped into the 21st century. That's right, we are now the proud owners of a 37" Toshiba HDTV. And because we are parents that believe in giving everything we can to our children, everything that is, except access to the best electronics, this new high definition beauty has been made to feel right at home at the foot of our own bed. It is sitting high atop the armoire so that we may bask in the glory of its light. And the clarity, oh the clarity. Even without HD Dish capabilities (hey, I said we stepped into the 21st century) it is amazing. But what can you expect when you're used to a TV that was around to display images of the first Gulf War.

Tattooed On My Brain Like a Misspelled Word

Conversation while watching Larry King last night. . . .

Larry King: And when we come back, John Rich, half of the duo Big & Rich talking about the song he wrote for the McCain campaign.

(Goes to commercial playing one line of the new song)

Me: Did you hear that? That one line of song ended in “train”. You know what they’re going to do. They’re going rhyme it with McCain.

Damonn: Oh god, really?

Me: Of course they are. It’s going to be something about getting on the train with McCain.

Damonn: Ugh.

Larry King: We’re back now with John Rich who wrote this song for the McCain campaign. Here’s a glimpse. . . .

(The song plays complete with video of him singing, a neon American flag, hot girls holding McCain signs, and a diamond studded microphone stand): “Get on the train or get out of the way, we’re all just raisin’ McCain.”

Me: Oh sweet Jesus, it’s worse than I thought. It includes a bad pun.

Damonn: Why would they use something so lame?

Me: Because every country song in the last ten years includes a bad pun and the rednecks eat it up. And when they step into the voter’s booth they won’t know the facts behind one single issue but they’ll remember this damn song.

Damonn: Ugh.

Me: This is what its come down to. This is how Obama will lose. To a half-rate song probably written in five minutes on a cocktail napkin. Not to a difference in policy. Not to rhetoric. Not even to negative ads filled with lies. He’ll lose to this damn song you can’t get out of your freakin’ head!

Comments Please

It has been brought to my attention by some readers of this site that they, and perhaps others, are not commenting as much as they'd like because they don't have a Blogger/Google account with which to log in. In the case that this might be true, I wanted to make sure that everyone is aware that they do not need an account to leave a comment.

After clicking on the word Comments at the end of any post, simply choose either the button for Name/URL and type in any name or web address you like, or choose Anonymous to remain completely incognito.

Because even though I may live to regret my request for more comments (not all comments will be nice comments), I would love to get your feedback on the topics of this site. So please, use your voice, man!

The Emerson Address

The Rick Emerson Radio Program
(as mentioned in this Things I Love post)

6/6/6 brought you Horns Across the Hawthorne.

7/7/7 brought you Vanilla Ice, live on stage.

And now, 8/8/8 brings you the greatest event in the history of human evolution… (so says their website)

The Emerson Address.

On Friday, August 8th, 2008, at 2pm, we need every radio, every speaker, and every webstream in existence to be tuned to AM 970, and The Rick Emerson Show will broadcast a live, specially-prepared message to the entire city of Portland…and beyond.No matter where you are…no matter what it takes…at 2pm on Friday, August 8th, find every single radio you can…turn them up, and help us beam our message to every single person in the state…and the world.

One day…one message…and every radio on Earth.The Emerson Address…happening at 2pm on 8/8/8.

Be ready to listen!

I'm Blushing. . . .

Someone referenced my Valentine's Day post at BlogHer.com. It's like when that cute boy says hello to you in the hall. . . . . then reads a poem from your diary in front of everyone.

See the article HERE.

Do You Twitter?

Take a look to the left and you'll notice something new. My recent Twitter posts. What's Twitter? I'm so glad you asked. According to Wikipedia, Twitter is " a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send "updates" (or "tweets"; text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) to the Twitter web site, via the Twitter web site, text messaging or instant messaging."

In short, it allows me to post small immediate updates to the blog via IM, text or email when I don't have time to log on and write a full entry or I just have to let you know what is going on right now. Like when Jamie screams, "Beeg Fuck! Beeg Back Fuck!" across the daycare parking lot in front of at least three parents. Yes Jamie, that's a big black truck. Humiliation like this just has to be shared. Immediately.

You can see the last three updates from this page or click on "What was I doing earlier?" to see a complete history. And if you don't happen to have your own life you can even subscribe to get my latest updates as text messages on your phone. How intrusively 21st century is that?

Things I Love

In the fall of 1999 a new drama depicting the inner workings of the White House and the staffers that make it run debuted on NBC. The previews looked interesting and I recognized a couple of faces (Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe) so I decided to give it a try. I remember being pleasantly surprised enough by the first episode that I was present for the second. By the third episode of The West Wing Damonn and I were hooked. For the next four years* Wednesday nights at 8:00 were reserved for POTUS (President of the United States), our newly minted nickname for our newly designated favorite show. We watched in silence, hanging on every word, using only commercials (in our pre-Tivo days) for discussion and commentary. As the seasons passed, Josh, Sam, Leo, C.J. and Toby became as familiar to us as the people at our own jobs and President Josiah Bartlet came to personify my ideal president. He became my POTUS.

Nearly ten years later, I am again drawn in by the wit, humor, passion and patriotism of this same cast of characters and mesmerized once again by the masterful writing of Aaron Sorkin – without whom, The West Wing surely suffers. And I just recently became aware that Mr. Sorkin is also the wordsmith of two more of my favorites, The American President and A Few Good Men. Not to mention Sports Night and Malice. Is there anything this guy writes that isn’t brilliant?

All seven seasons are now available on DVD, the second of which I just finished yesterday. The final episode of this second season, The Two Cathedrals, might just be the best hour television has ever seen. I have included two segments of it below along with another one of my favorites from Season 1. All of them are good examples of the writing, acting, and direction that make The West Wing one of the Things I Love the most.

As segment from The Season 2 Finale. After the death of a long-time friend, President Bartlet confronts God in his own house.




The final minutes of the Season 2 finale. President Bartlet walks to a press confrence moments after announcing an administration scandal. Dire Straight's "Brother In Arms" is the perfect song choice to portray the loyalty of his staff as they head onto the battlefield of re-election and scandal.



One of my favorite moments of Season 1. The Religious Right get shown the door by President Bartlet.


*The West Wing aired for seven seasons (1999-2006) but we only watched for four. The start of the fifth season coincided with the novelty and relentless schedule of a new baby (Adam) and the fact the Aaron Sorkin was no longer writing for the show. Somehow those Wednesday nights became less and less of a priority.

Happy Birthday Mr. President. . . .

In my email this morning I found this. Apparently they missed the memo about my switch to the Democratic Party. But I'm glad they did because although I won't be shelling out the $62+ plus for our dear president, I do have a few words I'd like to pass along.

And one question. . . . how exactly will Mrs. Bush be "presenting" an ecard? Maybe that's code for saying he doesn't know how to use Outlook.


Dear Tiffany ,

In a few short days, President Bush will celebrate his 62nd birthday. Don't miss out on your opportunity to wish the President a Happy Birthday by signing the RNC's eCard today.

As this is the last birthday the President will observe in the White House, our Party wants to make this an extra special occasion. Mrs. Bush will be presenting our President with this birthday greeting from steadfast supporters like you, Tiffany . To be included in this unique celebration, please click here.

And if you can, please consider commemorating President Bush's 62nd birthday with a gift our entire Party can share. Your secure online gift of $62 or whatever you can afford -- $1,000, $500, $100 or even $25 -- is essential to electing John McCain and Republicans up and down the ticket.

It will take the collective commitment of every Republican to retain the White House and regain our majorities in the U.S. House and Senate. Your special donation will help fund the vital campaign services our candidates need to run strong campaigns and win.

Please add your name to the RNC's virtual Birthday eCard for President Bush today. Thank you for your continued generous support of our Party and our cause.

Sincerely,



Robert M. "Mike" Duncan
Chairman, Republican National Committee

P.S. Tiffany , this is your last chance to join the First Lady in making this an extra special birthday celebration for our President. Please take a moment right now to sign the President's Birthday eCard. Thank you.

Please Stand By. . . .

Posts on Father's Day and more are forthcoming but in the meantime please read this. It is from Dooce.com but is written by guest writer, Jim Griffioen of Sweet Juniper. He has managed a group of words that contain more hilarity and truth than I've seen in a month. He had me at "polychromatic pubes" and by the time I got to the phrase "only the faint sound of a unicorn braying hints that someone inside might be struggling to empty her colon", I was willing to bear his third child. You just don't get writing like this on CNN.com

http://www.dooce.com/2008/06/13/rite-passage

Mid-Life Crisis

Watching these guys on stage is like watching your dad - and sadly, now our husbands - relive their high school glory days. You just know its going to end up with Advil and Aspercreme. It's over guys. It was great, but its over. Accept it and move on.





And if you're interested, here's their new song, Summertime. Just as sad, you just don't know all the words. The peek-a-boo belly shot that Donnie gives us halfway through is especially naughty!

Lost In Translaton. . . .

I'm not usually a pirate. I don't steal music or make illegal copies of movies, but we did order a set of 25 Disney movies from Ebay that have been quite obviously copied illegally by one Asian country or another. And its not because we don't want to pay the $22.99 for each movie, its because we can't pay the $22.99 for each movie. They're only available about every 15 years. And since I'm not sure Adam and Jamie will be that interested in Fox and the Hound when they're age twenty, Disney can just bite me on this one.

But along with this special "international" version of Disney movies comes a few surprises. Like, the subtitles. Suprisingly they aren't in Chinese. What they are is a hillarious attempt at English slang which ends up being more entertaining than the movie - at least for the adults. Sometimes the mistakes are understandable. Sometimes they simply make up their own dialogue to go along with what they think is happening in the movie. Other times. . . . well, check out the stills below captured from the timeless and endearing tale of Disney's Lady and the Tramp.

This Just In. . . .

Here it is. . . . photographic proof. A democratic candidate campaigning in Roseburg* during a primary presidential election. . . . and people even showed up -1600 of them! Man, the devil is wearing ice skates today. Of course, I'm not sure if all these people showed up to see a presidential hopeful or just to witness a real, live black man.

Click HERE for the story. And HERE to watch the speech!

* For those of you not in the know, Roseburg, OR is my very conservative, very republican hometown.

Things I Love . . .

Although time just doesn't allow me to listen as much as I'd like, Rick Emerson and the crew at AM970 in Portland really are fantastic. They aren't the typical "drive time" radio personalities with funny voices and try-too-hard skits or the in-your-face political fanactics, in fact they pretty much destest those. What they are is hard to explain, but if you are between 25 and 45, have at least a vague knowledge of the pop culture of your youth and today (and enjoy making fun of it), wouldn't be offended by a segment titled "Penis Watch" and don't care about the difference between a primary and a caucus well, then Rick Emerson may be right up your alley.

Listen live Monday thru Friday 11:00am - 3:00pm on AM970

OR

Get a recap of the previous days show at 10:00am weekdays

OR

Download the podcasts of previous shows by clicking HERE.

Why?

New Kids on the Block reuniting

Story Highlights
Boy band New Kids on the Block one of biggest acts of late '80s, early '90s
Boston-based group's hits included "Hangin' Tough"
Group has new material; Donnie Wahlberg "had no interest [in] nostalgia tour"
BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- They may be pushing 40, but the New Kids are returning to the block.
The boy band New Kids on the Block, which sold 70 million albums in the 1980s and early '90s, has reunited and plans to release a new album and go on tour. The reunion comes 20 years after the release of the group's multiplatinum album, "Hangin' Tough."
"The fan response to this has been incredible," band member Donnie Wahlberg told the Boston Herald.
Wahlberg said he was persuaded to get back together with his former bandmates -- Joey McIntyre, brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood -- when they decided to record new music. Wahlberg said he wrote 80 percent of the new material with McIntyre and Jordan Knight.
"I had no interest going out on a nostalgia tour and singing the same material," said Wahlberg, 38.
But he added: "We absolutely will do the old songs for sure."
Producer Maurice Starr formed the group in Boston in the 1980s, hoping to recreate the success he had with another teen group from Boston, New Edition.
At the height of their popularity, New Kids sold out world tours, marketed millions of dollars in merchandise and spawned a Saturday morning cartoon.
The group disbanded in 1994. Wahlberg has acted on television and in movies, while Jordan Knight, McIntyre and Wood released solo albums. Jonathan Knight became a real estate developer.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Find this article at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/03/people.newkids.ap/index.html

Numbers

An article that touched me. . . .

The Real Meaning of 4,000 Dead - TIME

Justice Failed. . . .

My parents asked me one day, quite bluntly, why I thought my hometown of Roseburg was such a horrible place to live. I was a bit shocked by the question and stammered out a response something along the lines of not thinking Roseburg was horrible per se, but wanting my children to have wider experiences and views than I grew up with and felt Portland gave them a better opportunity to do that. This recent news story helps illustrate my feelings.

You can read the whole story (which took place just north of Roseburg) here, but the gist of it is that three punks, apparently taking a break from mailbox baseball, knocked the turban off a Sikh truck driver coming out of a truck stop convenience store. They snatched the turban off this man’s head ran around the building and then sped away with it. They were identified through surveillance cameras and found a few days later. Charges were pressed, but a Douglas County grand jury failed to indict them on more than misdemeanor theft charges even though the law states that any act “committed due to the perception of a person's race, color, religion, national origin or sexual orientation” constitutes an intimidation felony charge. Somehow the people of Douglas County could not see that this man was targeted not as a random prank, but because of his religious attire. They should have asked themselves, would these “pranksters” have snatched the “Never forget 9/11” cap off a different truck driver’s head? Or tore a crucifix necklace from a different patron’s throat? I don’t think so. And think about how this may have played out if these roles were reversed. If a man in a turban had spontaneously and harassingly swiped a Dixie flag do-rag from the head of a trucker? The story would be about how at least one by-standing patron chased and apprehended the suspect and that he is now being held without bail pending a background check for ties to Al-Qaeda. And the whole county would be up in arms about the disrespect and disregard for our first amendment rights and the ability to display/wear articles representing “Southern Pride” and bigotry.

I know, this may seem like nothing more than a man that got his hat knocked off, a couple of idiots that lived up to their potential and then were rightly held accountable for the theft of a five-dollar turban. But to me, as someone who has been to this truck stop many times, who knows these guys, at least figuratively, as people in my high school, at my previous jobs and occasionally, in my family, it is more than that. It is attitude. It is the attitude that they do not have to respect someone that is different from them. It is the attitude that prevents this jury from seeing his turban for more than its monetary value. It is the attitude that will make the truck driver the punch line of their dinner-time jokes rather than the low-lifes that assaulted him. I am aware that these same attitudes can be found in my great metropolis to the north, and I am aware that I can’t protect my children from all acts of bigotry and racism. But I can keep from submerging them in it. And hopefully as they grow up they will see this story for what it is; not a tasteless prank but an act of humiliation.

Money I Hope I Never Get A Return On. . .

One of our local radio stations, 105.1 The Buzz is currently on the air for 28 straight hours holding their annual "Valentine's Day for the CCA" telethon which means that I've spent most of the morning re-applying my eyeliner and thanking the powers that be that cancer is not part of my daily vocabulary. The Children's Cancer Association is "an organization dedicated to providing comfort and compassion through a series of innovative programs and services". Services such as the Music Rx cart that strolls through the halls of Doernbecher's Children's hospital providing cd's, Ipods and instruments to kids. They also organize "Chemo Pals" who are volunteers paired up with kids undergoing chemotherapy. Chemo pals talk, listen, laugh and play with these sick kids and more than anything, give the parents a much-needed break. In the last few years the CCA has also built and completely furnished the "Caring Cabin" located on the Oregon Coast as a getaway for families dealing with cancer. To put it simply these people are the saving grace, the life line between desperation and hope for families diagnosed with cancer.

Besides hourly auction items and making direct donations to the CCA, the Valentine's Day for the CCA telethon is also offering $10 valentine e-cards. This is a perfect alternative to yet another box of chocolate and is a cute way to let all your friends know you're thinking of them as well. I have sent a card to all the young moms in my life and challenge all of you that also have healthy, rambunctious, whining, perfect children to do the same. Please help the CCA make a difference.

Check Yes or No. . .

Oregon isn't even holding a primary election today yet I've been glued to the computer hitting refresh on CNN.com waiting for the results of Super Tuesday to come rolling in. I watch as the percentage of votes rise and the check marks appear projecting the winner of each state. I even signed up for CNN's Political Market which is a virtual stock market based on your predictions of the ongoing presidential race. Yes, I'm a geek and I accept that, but I can't help it. There is something about the politcal process, something about watching a country of 300 million people peacfully cast their ballots to pick a leader of their country from canididates that include varying genders, ethnic backgrounds, religious affiliations and political factions all without a single incident of violence. That in itself is mesmerizing to me.

Worst Quote Ever. . . .

"When the film knocks it up to that final gear. . . Jesus will weep - and you will cheer!" -Harry Knowles, Ain't It Cool giving a review of the new Rambo movie on Fandango.com