West Side Story - America

Goren's mother is also a fabulous singer and DANCER!! AHA!!!

Completely Different

Something I received via email that made me laugh out loud so share I will:

Subject: The Washcloth

This has to be read, laughed at and passed on. There is not a woman alive today who won't crack up over this!

I was due for an appointment with the gynecologist later in the week.

Early one morning, I received a call from the doctor's office to tell me that I had been rescheduled for that morning at 9:30 am. I had only just packed everyone off to
work and school, and it was already around 8:45 am. The trip to his office took about 35 minutes, so I didn't have any time to spare.

As most women do, I like to take a little extra effort over hygiene when making such visits, but this time I wasn't going to be able to make the full effort. So, I rushed
upstairs, threw off my pajamas, wet the washcloth that was sitting next to the sink, and gave myself a quick wash in that area to make sure I was at least presentable. I threw the washcloth in the clothes basket, donned some clothes, hopped in the car and raced to my appointment.

I was in the waiting room for only a few minutes when I was called in. Knowing the procedure, as I'm sure you do, I hopped up on the table, looked over at the other side of the room and pretended that I was in Paris or some other place a million miles away. I was a little surprised when the doctor said, "My, we ha ve mad e an extra effort this morning, haven't we?"

I didn't respond.

After the appointment, I heaved a sigh of relief and went home. The rest of the day was normal. Some shopping, cleaning, cooking. After school when my 6 year old daughter was playing, she called out from the bathroom, "Mommy, where's my washcloth?"

I told her to get another one from the cupboard.

She replied, "No, I need the one that was here by the sink, it had all my glitter and sparkles saved inside it."

I'm NEVER going back to that doctor ever!!

When Citizens, Politicians, AND the Media Turn Their Backs . . .

I can't write half this well, so I'll just share what I read this morning.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207J.shtml

Farwell Sanibel

They threw us a Good-Bye Mardi Gras parade complete with marching kazoo band!

One Is The Loneliest Number That You'll Ever See...

Added Site Meter for the fun of it. So depressing to start with, but what the heck...

The Green Man of Sanibel

I have to say the Art Fair on Sanibel is very nice. Lot's of talent. Better stuff then Halsted Market Daze. But most of it was out my pocketbook's reach. Some of the art glass was $2000.00 for a wonderful quilted plate. I'm guessing they were aiming for the Captiva market.

But I could not resist this one. It has a metalicized (something very shimmery baked within) green glass frame leaded around the metal bronzed green man. Most spectacular.

BTW, got this big guy from Classic Glass Studios, Custom Stained Glass Art Studios, from Palmdale, FL 33944 or Abell, Maryland 20606 email: classicglassstudios@yahoo.com. The artist was the nicest guy and had some really neat stuff. Alas no website.

Lincoln Said - Because I say So

"You can fool some Republicans named Don Young (R-Alaska) with false quotes all of time. You can fool all Republicans named Don Young (R-Alaska) with false quotes some of the time, but well, you end up proving a fool of all Republicans named Don Young (R-Alaska) all of the time."

As the The Editors pointed out:

On Wednesday, E&P and some political blogs pointed out that conservative Frank Gaffney, Jr., opened his latest column on Tuesday morning with this: "Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged." — President Abraham Lincoln.

He continued: "It is, of course, unimaginable that the penalties proposed by one of our most admired presidents for the crime of dividing America in the face of the enemy would be contemplated — let alone applied — today. Still, as the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate engage in interminable debate about resolutions whose effects can only be to 'damage morale and undermine the military' while emboldening our enemies, it is time to reflect on what constitutes inappropriate behavior in time of war."

One problem: Lincoln never said it. But that hasn't stopped the newspaper, and Gaffney, from refusing to correct the record -- as of Friday morning -- or remove the quote from the top of his column.

And so it goes:

That's one reason Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) cited the quote on the floor of the House on Thursday in the debate over the Iraq war "surge." He took it to be true, apparently. Rep. Young added, referring to Lincoln: "He had the same problem this President has, with an unpopular war. The same problem with people trying to redirect the commander in chief."

Whatever. Here's a more true Lincoln Quote:

'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

Only in New Mexico

Who says there's nothing to write about. A certain native surely should have posed something about this:

Talking Urinal Cakes

RIO RANCHO, N.M. -- New Mexico is hoping to keep drunks off the road by lecturing them at the last place they usually stop before getting behind the wheel: the urinal.

The state recently paid $21 each for about 500 talking urinal-deodorizer cakes and has put them in men's rooms in bars and restaurants across the state.

When a man steps up, the motion-sensitive plastic device says, in a woman's voice that is flirty, then stern: "Hey, big guy. Having a few drinks? Think you had one too many? Then it's time to call a cab or call a sober friend for a ride home."



A talking urinal cake is displayed in the men's room at Turtle Mountain Brewing Co. in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Monday. New Mexico aims to keep bar-hopping drunks off the road by nagging them at a place they're likely to visit just before getting behind the wheel: the men's room. The state transportation department recently bought about 500 talking urinal cakes for various bars and restaurants.

The recorded message ends: "Remember, your future is in your hand."

That last line is what would be known as the classic money quote!

Reminds me of choice graffiti I spotted (but, alas, has been painted over) at Tubby's, down Ft.Myers way: "Please do not throw cigarette butts in the urinal. It makes them soggy and difficult to light." Now that would have been a startling message, coming from "a woman's voice that is flirty, then stern".

You Wouldn't Think NASCAR

Could have a steroid scandal. But that is the only way I can read this:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Michael Waltrip humbly apologized Thursday for his team's role in NASCAR's biggest cheating scandal, saying he was so embarrassed he almost pulled out of Daytona 500 preparations.

Waltrip, who lost two key crew members Wednesday when NASCAR penalized his team for using a fuel additive, said he had to be talked into racing by his wife and Toyota officials who are seething that Waltrip tainted their Nextel Cup debut.

And I thought fuel additives would be legal.

Deja Vu - All Over Again

Are we going to war with Iran?

Just asking.

It all seems so familiar. The heated rhetoric. The pointed denials.

Trust me. I believe this president when he says we have no intention of attacking Iran. Straight shooter, he is. Never one to obfuscate.

Trust me, 'cos I believe in him.

More Kool-Aid, please. Make mine a double. And to quote the Countess DeLave, "Put some gin in it."

Absolut Jackie-The Florida Tour

I was pleased for Jackie to be able to make the southern trip again. She had such a good time in Key West two years ago.

I Hear It's Starting to Snow

Ah! Chicago in February! Always a delight.

Me?

Here!


"OHHH!!! THE HUMIDITY!!!"

Edith Piaf - La Vie En Rose

Primo Piaf!

I Find That I Am Missing...

The snarky commetary of the Rights. I hope have enticed them back, even if they migh have disassociated from l'Francais.

My Last Few Posts

Quit a stream of conscienceness. Thanks SnarkAngel for the initial trigger. Hope you all enjoy!

Edith Piaf - Hymne à L'Amour

For Queen Isabella

Queen Isabella

Just finished reading Alison Weir's latest history tome: "Queen Isabella"

You've got to love the sub title: "Treachery, Adultery, And Murder In Medieval England". Although she left out "Buggery". Must have been to much for British sensibilities.

Actually, it is a wonderful book. Isabella is one of those surprising characters that cries out from the mists of time for vindication. A powerful queen in times when the fairer sex had no power.

Thank you, Robert, for introducing me to Alison Weir. She vividly brings history to life. I await her books like most await Ms Rowlings' Potter's

Those were the days!

Daughter of Phillip IV the Fair of France (of Friday the 13th de Molay infamy for all you Masonic or Da Vinci Decoders). I particularly admired the manner in which she and her l'amore des arms dispatched her enemy and arch rival for her estranged husband's (Edward II) affections, the rapacious Hugh de Spencer (progenitor of the beloved Princess Diana). Tied to a ladder, castrated, disemboweled,and then roasted alive over a roaring bonfire. This guy really did have it coming.

But she also, overthrew a corrupt, hated, regime. Tough stuff for a 14th century woman, queen or no queen.

But then, blinded by love for her beloved Mortimer, helped establish a corrupt, hated regime during the minority of the soon to be great Edward III.

And for that she gets slandered as the She-Wolf of France. Perfide Albion!

Postscript:

Hmmmm....
I haven't seen "the Queen" yet but I wonder, Queen Elizabeth being a direct descendant of Isabella, if the Diana - QEII rivalry might be a tad genetic.

Ute Lemper - Je ne t'aime pas (kurt Weill)

Hat tip to SnarkAngel. I need some Weillian French, before we invade. Best served late at night over hard Liquor: "I Never Loved You"

The Best Business Letter Ever

Ah, those horrid, harried days when I was an Implementation Manager. The hours spent translating sales into products, the customer interventions, the service training, and the documentation, tons and tons of forms, agreements, manuals, and letters.

One day in a particularly daunting epistle describing the Pandora's box containing the contents of the evil forest I had to destroy to set up one favorite customer of mine...

In a profound plethora of wordsmithing, I begged, pleaded, cajoled and apologized, to a perfect conclusion, whereby I signed off:

Sincerely,

Gunga Dean
Implementation Mangler

Out the door it went 'cos Spellcheck failed me again. It wasn't til the customer called me laughing hysterically that I had realized I had done something unique and new; imparted my own subconscious touch of irony to the...

Best Business Letter Ever!

Where Have I Been?

Fullfledged project implementation mode.



But I am 3 days away from this.

YES, THE MASSES ARE ASSES, GUNGA . . .

This is just downright frightening . . .

Molly Ivins Passing

Her final column from 1/17/2007 here:

We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush's proposed surge. If you can, go to the peace march in Washington on Jan. 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, "Stop it, now!"

There's a nice tribute thread here.