Sunday, October 28, 2007

Love Her or Hate Her ?

I just finished reading Rosie O' Donnell's book, Celebrity Detox.
Love her or hate her, you can't deny that she is a passionate
woman with strong beliefs.
I have been a fan since her days on Star Search.

When Barbara courted her to be on The View, she knew she was getting an outspoken sometimes loud personality who was not going to be managed.
She wanted her, because she knew it would bring viewers who had watched the old Rosie show.
I was one of them.
Prior to that I had not been a frequent watcher of the View, Star Jones turned me off.
When Star left and Elisabeth Hasselbeck joined the group I watched a little more often.
But even her views were so out in space I couldn't stand to listen to her
most of the time.
To call her naive is being kind I think.
When Rosie became a member of the panel, I was a constant viewer, when I wasn't home I taped the show.
It wasn't long before you could see Bill Gedde's heavy hand.
It was obvious he didn't like Rosie.
There were many times he could have broke for commercial and he chose not too.

That final show when Rosie and Elisabeth went at it, I felt Rosie's
pain.
I have been betrayed like that by someone I thought was a friend and I knew she wouldn't be back.
Instead of breaking to commercial, Bill Gedde went to a split screen.
Did he know what the result would be? You betcha he did.
You could see the pain in Rosie's eyes when Elisabeth attacked her.
These things should have been handled off the air, but Bill turned Elisabeth into a pit bull that day.

Rosie does not go into that final day in her book, but she is honest about her hurt.
She is honest about BW and BW didn't like it.
The book is moving and emotional, I cried through most if it.
Love her or hate her, you can't lay this book down without realizing she is a person who cares about humanity, sometimes to a fault.
I love her!!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

One of those Days!

Isn't it frustrating when you go to one of your favorite restaurant's and get lousy service?
After Hubba got home from visiting a friend who is in rehab for a brain injury,
we decided to go do some errands and then have lunch.
It was about 12:15 when we stopped for lunch,we have several waitresses we know,
we have always had good service even when we didn't get a regular.
Today was not one of those days.
After sitting there for about 10 minutes, the host came over and asked if we had been served yet.
He then brought us our beverage and went to find our server,I saw him stop and talk to her and
I realized she was the one who had been standing around for 10 minutes visiting with some friends

"Myself , I said, be patient she is new."

Meanwhile a couple sat down at the booth next us, she went right over and got their beverage order and then came to us.
We gave her our orders, it had now been 20 minutes since we sat down.
I ordered a Reuben sandwich and asked her to bring my fruit to go.
Hubba had his usual salad.
We sat and talked and watched people come and go.
Our server was again visiting.
I then noticed that the people in the booth hadn't got
their beverage yet,
I thought, this will be interesting.
Suddenly she noticed them looking at her and went over and said
"Are you ready to order?"
"We will be when you bring our beverage" said Blond Lady.
She apologized and asked what they wanted again.
I heard one say Hot Tea and the other Coffee.
Ten more minutes went by and I noticed that the two ladies at the table next to us were putting on their coats and leaving, they still hadn't got their beverage.
They stopped at the cashier and I'm sure she got an earful.

It was now 30 minutes since our server took our order,
I said to Hubba " I bet it is sitting and getting cold"
She was again at a table visiting with the same friends
She noticed me watching and said
"I'll go check on that order for you"
She hadn't even noticed the other ladies had left.
Soon she came out with Hubbas on a plate and mine all bagged to go.
"My self I thought, just eat it."
I opened it up and the sandwich instead of hot, was soggy.
It was also soaked in pickle juice,
enough with the patience..I called her over and said "only the fruit was to go and I can't eat this soggy sandwich so just cancel the order."
She looked at me like I was crazy, and said OK, sorry.
That pissed me off even more, and I said "if you haven't noticed your other customers left," she looked over at the table with a stunned look.
I said " honey if you want to keep this job, your going to have to be more observant"
She just walked away.
Hubba was getting nervous, he knows me when my ire is raised.
I told him "don't worry, just finish and we'll leave."
About that time some friends of ours came in and were about to sit at the booth that had been vacated, I said "don't sit there, I'll come over and tell you why when we leave."
Hubba wasn't going to leave a tip and I said, "just tip on your order."
I don't know the girls circumstances and I figured the way things were going she wasn't going to get many tips that day, if she lasted.
When we left, they said they were sorry about our service and they comped my sandwich, which I didn't get anyway.
If the usual manager had been there he probably would have comped the whole thing
It is one of our favorite places so,
we'll go back, but from now on we will ask for certain stations.

I worked as a waitress when I was in high school it isn't an easy job, and it doesn't pay that well.

I hope she gets her act together, because there are many out there to replace her if she doesn't.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Our Senator-My Friend Paul Wellstone 1944-2002






Besides Paul and Sheila Wellstone, their daughter Marcia, and three campaign aides - Mary McEvoy, Tom Lapic, and Will McLaughlin.
Bright lights that went out that awful day.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Old Friends are like Old Shoes!

Finally we have gotten some sunshine and I can't believe how much energy it brings
with it.
Thankfully I had cleaned the house and was ready for anything,
Because with the sunshine, came some old friends.
George and Donna were our neighbors more then 30 years ago.
They moved to several different communities over the years while George bought, ran and sold Hardware stores
Eventually they settled in Fargo ND, now he buys, remodels and sells houses.
Because of the slow housing market he is now renting his latest fixer up.
Over the years we have touched base many times and it is so strange that even if we haven't talked or seen each other in years, once you sit down and start talking, it is almost like they still live next door.
They were in the area for a funeral and decided to check out the old neighborhood.
We went to dinner and caught up on kids and G kids.
One story came up when we were looking at pictures of their grandson by their youngest son (Greg) who is a clone of his father, red hair and freckles.
Shortly before they moved Hubba was having a driveway poured, Greg was watching on his side and then spotted the kids on the other side and took off across the driveway leaving deep footprints.
When he saw what he had done he ran for home leaving everyone laughing as he scampered away.
After the driveway was repaired, Hubba went to get him, and he wouldn't come to the door hiding in his bedroom he shouted, "I dont want to tee him"
Eventually he came over with his dad, his big eyes couldn't believe there were no footprints.

It was a good visit and it is so good to see them both looking the same, with maybe a few lines, but not much else.

Old friends are like old shoes, they always fit the best.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Soup for my Soul

Though Autumn is my favorite season,
I am not very fond of the gloomy weather we are having right now.
I haven't seen the sun for several days and it is getting to me.
All I want to do is crawl on the couch,
with a book and snuggle under a blanket.

What I did do today was go down into my husbands den
and catch up on Bill Maher shows.

Last week his guests were Paul Krugman, Tucker Carlson and Joy Behar.
Even Tucker Carlson had trouble keeping a straight face trying to defend this
administration as it slowly tries to shreds the Constitution.

I don't agree with a lot of Bill Maher's stands , he is a libertarian
and he believes
"that all persons are the absolute owners of their own lives,
and should be free to do whatever they wish with their persons or property,
provided they allow others the same liberty."

I do believe we are a country of laws and maybe there
are some people who do need
protection from those that think we don't need laws.

What I do like about Bill is, he is willing to admit
when he is wrong, as he has about his support of Ralph Nader in 2000.

He is also willing to have both sides of the argument on his show,
and has no problem telling them they are full of it,
if they say something ridiculous.

I am looking forward to his show tonight.

But first I have to get up off my "chair" and
head to the kitchen and make some soup.
That is my catharsis when I am feeling as gloomy as the weather.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Windbag Diplomacy!

Since I handed off my cold to Hubba,
I was feeling so much better this
morning when I got up.
Usually I go to mass on Wednesday morning and
several of my friends meet at Panera afterwards for coffee.
But today I was meeting my cousin/friend for lunch,
tomorrow she and hubby are off to
Florida for the winter.
In some ways I am envious that she can pick up
and go because she isn't married to a workaholic.
But then I don't think I would want to leave my home for months at a time.

I digress, what started as a good morning, ended when Ellen was interrupted
by a G. W. press conference.
This mans voice just turns me into a screaming meemie, and what comes out of it blows my mind.
Worse are the softball questions the media throws at him.
Only a couple brave souls were willing to give it a chance.
David Gregory, NBC and Martha Raddatz ABC tried their best with their questions, but were shot down.
It is obvious, that the majority of them are more concerned with getting picked to answer a question, then they are to getting at the truth.
It is the reason we are in the middle of the Hornets nest in Iraq.
If they had been seeking true answers in the beginning almost 4000
of our kids would still be alive and 20,000 or more would not be looking at life long injuries.
It was bad enough that Matt Lauer over the last couple days would spend a hours on National TV discussing Larry Craig's sex life, instead of questioning what is going on in Washington.
I have lost all respect for him and other so called journalists who don't
tell the important stories,
but only want to talk about the latest scandal.

I turned off the TV and went to my lunch, the 20 minute drive calmed me with the help of some soothing music.
I had a good visit, wished her well on her trip and headed home.

I just wish that this mess in Washington could end as easily.

I firmly believe this war would end tomorrow,
if the national media really wanted it too.

They are a sorry bunch, that Washington Press corp..

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Holy Vikes!!

Vikings beat Chicago?

No "#%$#" !

I wouldn't have bet on them.
I haven't been much of a fan ever since they traded
Randy Moss.
But I did watch most of today's game, and watching Adrian Peterson,
I just might have a new Randy.
I am not going to jump on any bandwagon yet.
I am just going to watch and enjoy.

Next week they play Dallas, and that isn't going to be easy,
especially when The Goddess of the Universe is using her magic down in Texas..

Dallas lost today, but hey they were playing against Brady and Moss.

Sorry Granny!!

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Ross makes me laugh!

I woke up yesterday with a hateful cold.
I feel so lazy..
If you didn't catch Ross the Intern on Leno
last Thursday, here is the segment.
He is so funny and makes me feel good..
Enjoy

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Trust me next time !

A couple weeks ago I convinced Hubba it was time to retire his old recliner.
Like an old pair of shoes he was very reluctant, but finally agreed and we went shopping.
We found 2 matching rocker recliners and ordered them.
I then decided I wanted the living room painted walls and ceiling.
I told Hubba we needed to find some one to do it,
"No", he said, "I can do it."

Granted he is a perfectionist, but a little slower these days.
OK, I went to get the paint.
He started on Thursday and painted all day, it was obvious to me when he finished it needed another coat
So on Friday he got more paint and redid the walls.
He could not see the areas he had missed so I had to point them out and
Saturday after he finished the ceiling I took the roller and redid areas he missed
again.
His vision is excellent, but his color concept isn't and he doesn't see different shades of the same color.

Now that it is finished, he said next time we'll find someone.

Men are funny, just like kids sometimes, you can't tell them anything.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Autumn

Fall is my favorite time of year, sitting out on the deck Hubba and his bud
built for me several years ago.
Brisk fresh air, no bugs..

When I was a young between age 7 and about 14, we lived in a house with a large porch
in the front.
I loved that porch and have always wanted one..but in a community with zoning laws, the best I could get was a small deck on our rambler.
It starts at the side door by the kitchen and wraps around the front of the house to the front door.
I know, most people build their decks on the back of the house but,
I love it, I designed it and I now have friends and neighbors wishing they had done the same thing.
I read there on good days, and at night I sit out there talking to friends that are no longer here.

The past year I have had to adjust to the time I spend out there.
We have new neighbors, Hispanic from Honduras, good hard working people.
A mother, daughter, her boyfriend and child and several relatives.
They work different shifts so the cars are in and out of the driveway, which is right next to ours.
So I am constantly sliding down into my chair when the cars come around the corner.
I have had to adjust the time that I sit outside at night.

I am a night person,I like being up when everyone else is sleeping.

I long for the good old days, when the neighbors were in bed at 10:00PM.

Monday, October 01, 2007

Ken Burns "The war"

Like millions of others,
I have been glued to the tube watching Ken Burns
unbelievable documentary about WW ll.
Seems even back then the Military was not completely honest with us.
The propaganda doled out in the John Wayne movies made us look like.
"The good guys in the white hats" rushing off to save a damsel in distress.
Granted it was a war we needed to fight.
But hearing that some of our service men pulled the gold teeth from Japanese soldiers
and that some of them enjoyed a little torture when they took captives, made me a ill.

Kudos's to Ken Burns for this gem, it should be required watching in every school in our Nation.
Especially now as the self proclaimed King prepares to engage with another country,
(Iran) thus expanding the War.

Who he is going to use to continue this fight is a mystery to me.

Anyone have an answer??