My dear friend Gary sent me a mixed cd that I've been listening to pretty much non-stop since last week. There are all kinds of great songs on it, but one in particular that is totally stuck in my head.
Soulshine
Lyrics: Warren Haynes
Music: Warren Haynes
When you can't find the light
That guides you through a cloudy days
When the stars ain't shining bright
And it feels like you've lost your way
When those candle light of home
Burn so very far away
Well you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say
Chorus
He used to say the soulshine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Hey now people don't mind
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Shine 'til the break of day
I grew up thinkin' that I had it made
Gonna make it on my own
Life can take the strongest man
And make him feel so alone
Now and then I feel a cold wind
Blowin' through my aching bones
I think back to what my daddy said
He said, boy, in the darkness before the dawn
[chorus]
Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this
But hey, when your world seems cold
You got to let your spirit take control
[chorus]
Braved the cold temps yesterday (in the teens before factoring in the wind chill) to see my first Bdway show since 1998. Me, J, the niece & her boyfriend went to see Avenue Q -- which was as funny as advertised. Even funnier. Any show that involves puppets engaging in oral sex.... you gotta laugh. Alot. The music was pretty good and the set design lovely. After Q we dined ate ourselves silly at Virgils BBQ. It was a really nice day and I always love spending time with my niece. While it was fun to hang out with her when she was little, it's way more fun now that she's a grown up (kinda). But I still won't tell her my blog address. Not ready for that. Hell I only came out to her about smoking cigarettes about 5 years ago.
And in case you're keeping count: 43 days til the home opener.
My view of the snowstorm from a few weeks ago
I've never seen Star Wars. Or any of it's sequels and prequels. I know some of the characters names & the actors that played them but don't have a clue about storylines, meanings and the effect it's had the on the universe. I am a Star Wars virgin. Neophyte. Whenever someone makes a Star Wars reference I don't get it. I can fake it pretty good but really? Don't get it. Wrap your mind around that you Star Wars nerds.
Seven Things to Do Before I Die:
have sex (harder than you'd think apparently)
meet & keep soul mate type of guy (!)
go to all the major league ball parks (and the Grand Canyon)
be perfectly happy with myself (gonna take a while)
eat sushi without gagging (doubt it)
make sure all my loved ones know how much they are loved (sappy but true)
find a cure for whatever I'm dying from (reaching a bit here)
Seven Things I Cannot Do:
math (it's not as easy as 1-2-4)
walk slowly (get the fuck out of my way!)
keep my big mouth shut (even when it's in my own best interest)
crafty things (that's what relatives are for)
carry a tune (I'm hopeless)
play an instrument (ditto)
drive a stick shift (can't & that's all there is too it)
Seven Reasons That Attracted Me to Blogging
Opportunity to write about myself (it's all about me, remember?)
Opportunity to meet new people
Opportunity to do something new
Opportunity to relate to others I would never meet
Opportunity to rant and rave in relative anonymity
Opportunity to share my (warped) view of the world with an unsuspecting public
Opportunity to kill a boring Friday afternoon at work
Seven Things I Say Most Often:
I'm calling about your ad.
Give me a break!
Not for nothing
Get the fuck out of my way!
Fuck You!
Leave me alone!
Thank God It's Friday!
Seven Books I Love:
Lovely Bones
Prep
Are You There God, It's Me Margaret
One True Thing
Turtle Moon
The Pilots Wife
Homicide: A Year in the Life
Seven Movies That I Watch Over and Over Again:
Almost Famous (one of the best movies ever!)
Terms of Endearment (laughing and crying at the same time!)
Coal Miners Daughter (and I don't even care for Loretta Lynn all that much)
Jerry MacGuire (scene stealer: Bonnie Hunt)
Sound of Music (The hills are alive!)
The Song Remains the Same (does anyone remember laughter?)
Shawshank Redemption (thanks TNT!)
Seven People I Want to Join In:
Please share yours.
Are the freaking Olympics over yet? I haven't watched a moment of the Winter Olympics. Actually, I haven't watched any Olympics in recent memory. I'm just so not into it, I find it to be extremely boring. Just writing about not watching it is boring. Maybe it's the networks, yap, yap, yapping all the time or the over-commercialization, blah blah. Plus, I think ice skating is boring. Well, watching ice-skating is boring. I really need to consult my thesarus because I'm boring myself using the word boring so many times. Uninterested, dull, mindnumbing, take your pick. But actually that's how I feel about most network television programming these days. LACKLUSTER. TIRESOME. And right now that's how I feel about this post too.
Brr... old man winter has returned to the nyc area. Can't complain too much since we've had such a mild winter but damn... that wind cuts right through you. Another reason not to leave the house today. The weather has been so crazy, first it's 50 degrees, then we get 2' of snow, then it's 50 degrees again, now it's freezing. The good news is that most of the snow from last week is gone. What a difference a week makes.
Saw Munich last night. To be honest, it wasn't my first moive choice, it wasn't even in my top 3, but nevertheless... as it turned out, it was really good. It was very riveting, totally kept my attention for the 2+ hours. Plus, the lead actor (Eric Bana) was TOTALLY hot!
Yesterday I tripped (over my own feet) and fell flat on my face. First day with the new feet huh? Thank godness it was in the privacy of my own home, with only my cats to witness my total spazness!
I think I'm going to go enjoy a second cup of coffee and some more "Sports Night."
UPDATED:
I hope Emily Quartermaine gets this stupid virus and DIES!
There is nothing I love more than a tv show that makes me laugh & cry at the same time. It happens so rarely, when I come across one that does, I treasure it like it was the Hope Diamond.
My Valentines Days present (from myself, of course!) was the DVD set of "Sports Night." This show, featuring Josh Charles, Peter Krause and Felicity Huffman, and the always outstanding Robert Guilliame, is well written, well acted, well... just great. Of course it tanked in the ratings (cause g*d forbid something funny, intelligent actually was a commercial success) so the networks dumped it after a couple of seasons. It joined the ranks of "My So Called Life" (hello? one of the greatest shows EVER), "Homefront" (does anyone else remember that show) and so many others that didn't stand a chance. How does a stupid stupid show like "Yes Dear" stay on the air year after year while good, quality shows dissappear faster than a gram of coke at Tara Reids house?
BE NICE TO ME
Words/music Todd Rundgren
No catch, no strings
None of the usual things
I'm happy just to lay and look
Let's throw out the book
Now we're off the hook
And please just be nice to me
Won't you be nice to me
So tired, so sad
So sick of being had
By everyone who comes along
Would it be so wrong
If you played along
And please just be nice to me
And would it bring you down if I hang around
Just be nice to me
It's been a long, long time since I felt so fine
And I know your love is fine
I know what's on your mind but
Don't laugh, don't cry
Don't make me wonder why
You're doing what you're doing now
Can't you see somehow
It's the wrong time now
So please just be nice to me
You know I ain't in heat
And it would feel real neat
If you would just be nice to me
Come on think of me
Kinda says it all doesnt it?
"THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH ONE STEP"
The Yankees quest for their 27th World Series victory begins today. I know, I know, it's only the first day of spring training, how could I be thinking about the World Series so soon? Well it's my blog and I can do anything I want to dammit! The journey that begins today (hopefully) will end in a parade down the Canyon of Heroes in October. I will say, for the first time (but not the last) this season, LET'S GO YANKEES!!
1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. I don't know anyone
2. Where was your first kiss? In the staircase
3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property? No
4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? Yes!
5. Have you ever sang in front of a large number of people? Hell no!
6. What's the first thing you notice about the preferred sex? Eyes, smile
7. What really turns you on? A great smile
8. What do you order at Starbucks? No fourbucks coffee for me!
9. What is your biggest mistake? Far too many to list here
10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? No
11. Say something totally random about yourself. I constantly have music in my head
12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? No
13. Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows? No
14. Did you have braces? No
15. Are you comfortable with your height? No, but don’t really have much choice
16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the opposite sex has done for you? Made me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry
17. When do you know it's love? When I can stand to be with that person for more than 24 hours
18. Do you speak any other languages? Nein.
19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon? Yes
20. What magazines do you read? SI, EW, Time, Allure, Esquire, TV Guide (hey, that counts!)
21. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Yes
22. Has anyone you were really close to passed away? Far too many
23. Do you watch MTV? Sometimes
24. What's something that really annoys you? People who walk really s-l-o-w
25. What's something you really like? Planters Peanut Bars
26. Do you like Michael Jackson? The man or the music? No to both
27. Can you dance? Like a spaz
28. What's the latest you have ever stayed up? All night
29. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? No
30. Do you actually read these when other people fill them out? Yes
No more hellish holidays/horrible anniversarys/painful reminders of how I'm an orphan/alone in the world. Finally. Seriously, the time between Thanksgiving-Valentine's Day can't go fast enough for me. Internet, thanks for letting me bend your ear and cry on your shoulder.
... when 20+ inches of snow has fallen why did you think your stilletto heels were a wise footwear choice?
...why is the line that I'm in is always the slowest moving line in the store?
...why do people assume because I'm single I'm cannot lead a happy and fulfilling life without mating or marrying?
...why does TCTPMS continually change it's policies & procedures and never tell anyone? or more specifically not tell the people that actually have to follow these rules?
is this day over yet?
Jay called to see if I wanted to go out to dinner tonight and I'm like DUDE (ok, I don't really ever say dude unless I'm talking to my nephew who's been called dude since he was born) (and what is with all that dude- calling anyway?) I can't go out tonight, it's Monday, 24 is on.
I've been hooked on this show since S1 & have missed only 1 episode! I've tried taping it (still no Tivo) and it's just not the same. Something gets lost when it's on tape. I dunno, the urgency is missing. Now this show just gets sillier and sillier, yet I can't seem to stop watching. WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. I wanna say "dude (there I go with the dude again) relax, you have plenty of time. You have like, a whole 18 hours to go." My favorite part (besides the graphic violence warning at the beginning) is actually during the commercials. That's when my friend M calls me and we nitpick abou what we just saw. And then after the show we do the post-24 rehash.
If your like me and need your weekly Jack Bauer fix (and I think I'm developing a girl crush on Chloe) check out Dave Barry's blog http://blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_blog/ & also TV gasm http://www.tvgasm.com/archives/24/ for some hysterical re-caps of the show.
And speaking of my nephew (the original dude) how friggin' handsome is he!
I've always disliked Valentine's Day. I don't need a holiday or a reason to tell someone that I love them. If you love someone you should tell them whenever you damn well please, not when Hallmark tells you too.
But now I truly hate Feb. 14th -- five years ago on that day I was woken by my phone ringing early early in the morning -- you know it's never good news when the phone rings that early. It was my mom's aide, calling to say my mom had stopped breathing, the ambulance had been called and I should come as soon as possible. I knew that no matter how soon I got there it would be too late. I knew that no matter what measures were taken she was gone. It was a strange feeling, but an almost peaceful one because I knew that her suffering was over. A phone call from my sister a few minutes later confirmed what I already knew.
As Valentine's Day 2001 dawned, I faced the task of burying my mother, three months after burying my father. My heart was permanently broken and no Hallmark card can ever fix that.
Left work early again, this time for a fun reason. Had lunch with a friend who had twins 10 months ago, I haven't seen her since she had the babies. Went to City Bakery which has the BEST COOKIES EVER. Not only did I get the enjoy the baked goods, I enjoyed my friends company and holding! playing! more holding! and playing! with the two cutest babies. She warned me that they weren't always kind to strangers but no worries here. Those babies took to me like ducks to water. They recognize their own when they see one! Cause I'm nothing if not an overgrown child. It was a long overdue visit, I'm just sorry we didn't get to spend more time together. And that I didn't take pics of those delicious babies. Or get to eat more delicious cookies.
The weatherpeople are prediciting all kinds of snow-iness for the weekend. Got my netflix pix (Hustle & Junebug), got some mozzarella cheese (yummy goodness) and lots of other probably bad for me stuff so I'm all set. Bring it on baby bring it on!
groan...
reasons i feel like shit & am going home early
- woke up 4 am and could NOT fall back asleep
- bad bad gastric things re-occuring
- co-workers & colleagues are dumb ass dickwad idiots who can suck my big fat....
Yellow Bathroom=sunshiny happy (good choice!)
Green Kitchen=ugly sickly (what was I thinking?)
I will be celebrating my birthday at Yankee Stadium!! Opening Day Baby!!!
*Finally! Something! to be Happy About!*
Football seaon is over! Yeah! Which means Spring Training starts in like less than 2 weeks. Fucking A! OK, it's just pitchers & catchers but still.... I'll take it. I'm just wondering though, how did the offseason go by so fast? It's true what "they" say: the older you get, the faster time goes. Maybe 'cause (knock wood) we've had a pretty good winter weather-wise. Thank godness 'cause lordy I hate the snow and ice. But I digress.
In other news, I got the paint for my bathroom & kitchen. I had to move all the crap out of those rooms (which means I had to move other crap to make room for the displaced crap -- so now there's piles of crap in the weirdest places). Let's hope that this is a smooth & easy process, because I don't the ability to handle any inconvience or disruption to my life. Especially when it interrupts my bathroom time.
Sat. night the family & I went to Friday's for dinner. I can't stand that place, it's always so (fill in the blank) _______________ a. nasty b. disgusting c. gross d. all of the above. Ack!! It's not like I'm a gourmand snobby snob but still.... Clearly my vote in the "where shall we go for dinner" election was not the winner.
While the food and the service sucked, the company was grand. My niece & nephew never fail to make me laugh! I love being with them. I love the fact that I can be my totally goofy self with them and they are totally totally duffous selves with me. Growing up we always had to be on best behavior around the relatives and I definitely did not want to have that kind of relationship (cause really? that's not a relationship, that's an act) with the kids. So we teased my niece about her ample bosom (did not inherit that from me or my sister) and they teased me about being old. After dinner, lots of hugs and kisses and see you laters. And for that my friends I will gladly sit through dinner at Friday anytime. Food for the heart if you will.
She would have been 43 on January 17th. Instead of it being a day of happy birthdays! and can you believe we're this old? it's a day for memories and what could have beens. It's a day for thinking about her daughter (who is the age she was when she died) and the family she left behind. A day to think about happier times and sad ones too. The day she found out she was pregnant. The day she was diagnosed. All the days we sat around, drinking coffee and shooting the shit. The day I said goodbye.
A New York family of baseball fans headed out one Saturday to shop for the youngest boy's birthday. While in the sports shop the son picks up a Red Sox jersey and says to his older sister, "I've decided to become a Red Sox fan and I would like this Boston jersey for my birthday."
His big sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks him upside his head and says, "Go talk to mother."
Off goes the little lad with the jersey in hand and finds his mother.
"Mom?"
"Yes, son?"
"I've decided I'm going to be a Red Sox fan and I would like this jersey for my birthday."
The mother is outraged at this, promptly whacks him around the head and says, "Go talk to your father!"
Off he goes with the Red Sox jersey in hand and finds his father.
"Dad?"
"Yes, son?"
"I've decided I'm going to be a Red Sox fan and I would like this jersey for my birthday."
The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son in the back of his head and says, "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!"
About half an hour later they're all back in the car and heading towards home. The father turns to his son and says "Son, I hope you've learned something today"
The son says, "Yes, Dad, I have."
"Good son, what is it?"
The son replies, "I've only been a Red Sox fan for an hour and I already hate you Yankee bastards!
***********************************************************************************
Osama bin Laden's recent proposal for truce is a direct result of him finding out that Jack Bauer is, in fact, still alive.
Instead of buzzing, Jack Bauer's alarm clock screams out "THERE'S ISN'T ANYMORE TIME!"
Never play "Rock, Paper, Scissors" with Jack Bauer, he can kill you with any of them.
Go to http://www.benjaminmoore.com/PCV/main.asp?u=&p=
and check out the colors currently under our consideration and tell me what you think. Keep in mind both rooms are smallish and get lots of early mornng sun. And everything else in these rooms is white. So c'mon internet, help a girl out. Give me your opinion. I promise not to hold you responsible. After all, I and I alone are responsible for the Exotic Fushia in my bedroom.
Kitchen
Bali
Robin's nest
Beach Glass
Warm Spring
Bathroom
Little Angel
Lemon Grass
Sunshine on the Bay
and yet I still felt the need to blog that I had nothing to say. Let's ponder that for a while.
