A DYING HISTORY

I LUV the FALL!!!! Hubs and I have been taking scenic drives the last 2 weekends looking for pumpkin patches, picturesque landscapes and non-strenuous activities. SO, far we have been to 3 pumpkin patches and 2 battlefields …. Bushy Run and Fort Ligonier …… catching up on history. Which brings me to the fact that I … nor HUBS for that matter … ever heard of either of the battles fought here in school …… scratching head …… Moreover, I noticed not very many people were visiting these historic sites like they used too. Could this be because the years between the pilgrims landing and the Revolutionary War are glazed over in our classrooms? I know in my history classes, other than mere mention of the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s War, the focus of elementary school American history appeared to be on the coastal cities of the east.

Take for example Fort Ligonier. When I was young kid I remember visiting this place at least twice ... I've been there 3-4 times as an adult .... but never put much importance in it since my history classes were void of mention. Both times ….. it had to be the late ‘60’s early 70’s ….. this place was packed with adults and loads of other kids. Not yesterday. Apparently, the disassociation of it continues in schools.

It’s sad really because of the importance both of these sites had on shaping the city I grew up in as well as the colonization of mid-western America.

Visit these sites AND CATCH UP! Hey, its where George Washington got his start! FYI - He crossed the Monongahela 21 years before he crossed the Delaware ………………………….
French and Indian War, Pontiac's War, Bushy Run Battlefield, Fort Ligonier

THE BIG BASHES

Catching up on all the birthdays/events this month …… Happy Birthday to Daddy …77 …. HUBS …. 51 …. Daughter …. 22 … Baby Brother ….. 43 ….. “Scott” Nephew …. 30(?) …. “Craig” Nephew …. 19 ….. “Lewis” Nephew … 14 …. “Carson” Nephew …. 9 and Happy 28th Anniversary to my Friends V & J …. Did I miss anyone??????

I'm YOU ??????

I saw snippets of Christine O'Donnell's new "campaign" ad where she says, "I'm not a witch, I'm you ...... shiver ... NO ... you are not me! ..... you're weird and creepy. I don't know much about Ms. O'Donnell but, I CAN tell she likes to mug for the cameras. Look Christine, let's get something straight I like my lying politicians to look me straight in face and try to act sincere, not all pouty and bobbling their head around like a flirty little teenager. Geeze ... she reminds me of Bristol Palin!!!

MY BAD ...........

I can’t believe it's almost been a month since I wrote something !!! Got a little side tracked.

Let’s see I went to New Jersey to see my brother’s new baby …… T-bird (my younger brother nickname) jr is above. Oldest daughter and my mom came and we hung around Cape May a bunch. Hit the beach, shopped, took my mummy to the lighthouse for a photo opp …. Mummy loves lighthouses ……, bought fudge, lunched and of course went on a ghost walk!!! Eeeah, it was okay. That’s alright, because a few of my Ghost shows premiered this past month too so, I get my Ghost “fix”. I’ll review the first and second week of “Ghost Advntures” in the next few days ….. I PROMISE!

ANOTHER REASON TO HATE (and not shop at) WALMART !!!

THE GREED OF THIS COMPANY IS UNMEASURABLE!

Today, I was searching some information on my car accident and insurance paying for hospital bills and I came across this story about a little practice of “Balance Billing”:

“One of the more unsettling cases happened in 2007, when Walmart successfully sued an insured employee whose car was hit by a semi-truck, leaving her with brain damage and permanently in a wheelchair. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the woman received a settlement of $417,000, after attorney fees and expenses, which her husband planned to use for her care. But when Walmart sued for recovery of $470,000 it had made in medical payments, a judge ruled for the retailer.
Walmart's health insurance coverage, like many companies, allows the company to recoup the medical expenses it paid if the person receives a settlement in an injury suit. The judge agreed, and the woman and her family lost its settlement.”

The story appeared in major media (click: CNN ) AND I somehow missed this story .... talk about silly and dim as a nightlight ....... as the decision to side with WALMART went all the way to the Supreme Court and greedy, greedy, a scourge on our American society, greedy Walmart won each an every time ....... who is running this company???? I'm not religious but if there is an evil Satan anywhere he has to be the CEO of Walmart.

By the way Walmart made 90 BILLION the year before! 90 BILLION !!!

CAN YOU GUESS WHICH ONE IS ME?

I saw this story today about the FBI reopening a case on a little missing girl named Beth Gill. I looked at the picture of the little girl at 2 years old before she went missing and thought "huh ... that almost looks ......... like ................. me." NO, NO .... its NOT me folks and the years do not match but, my heart stopped for a minute though. The one on the right is me at 2 years old and the one on the left is Beth who the FBI now believes is a victim of a kidnapping.

It gives added thought to the saying 'but for the grace of God it could have been ......'

I remember when I was kid all the many, many little girls gone missing in the '60's. This was before the exposure of pedophiles, high tech-CSI, and the numerous security cameras around. Seeing the return of missing children of late, lets hope Beth finally comes home!

IRRITATING CRAP MY HUSBAND DOES with my stuff ...the working title..

The God of Organization (or G.O.O.) drives me up a wall every pay day. We … unlike many married couples I am surprised to find ….. do NOT share a checking account. We each have our own in which our respected pay checks are directly deposited to. We do share the household expenses. He pays his assigned bills, I pay mine. There are some “unexpected” expenses he takes care of and he puts the money in the savings account so, I pitch in a little cash on pay day. AND I MEAN PAY DAY! I think he believes if he does get it out of me fast he won’t see it at all ……. Geeze, you would think I was going on a trip without him …hmmm …..well I guess he does know me!

If I don't run to the bank and withdraw the cash for him to hold on to, he badgers me and then I have to tell him to STFU till I do. His answer to this martial strife: give him my bank card and he’ll take it out. SO, he has taken the liberty of removing my debit card and “helping himself”. The last 2 pay days he did just that but, guess what he forgot? TO PUT IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I pay everything with my debit card …. I mean EVERYTHING! So for two weekends I have been standing at a check-out in a ditsy blonde, heart thumping, pressure rising, emptying my purse on register counter panic. Last Saturday I drove home to get my debit card sitting on the entertainment center while my groceries were de-thawing in a closed grocery aisle …. Why was the card there? ….. Oh it was so I could take the card and check my check register …… this is when I “gently” .... as in gentle as a riled tiger .... explained that is what the little white slip under the card was for …. Let me introduce you G.O.O. its called the receipt!!!!!!! My card is in another place in my purse.

I'm NOT one of the "People of Walmart"

That's right ...... NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD, do not look for me on that web site you will not catch a glimpse of me!
I WON'T, DON'T, CAN'T, SHOULDN'T, WOULDN'T shop at Walmart. As a matter of fact, Walmart could close down and I would not miss them. They came to my area about ten + years ago and the first time I went in .... Christmas season no less ..... I could not wait to get the hell out! Since my harrowing experience that one Christmas season in the late '90's, I could probably count on one hand ... okay maybe a few fingers on the other hand too ...... the times I've been in a Walmart. My apology to those that shop there on a regular basis ..... but I never felt so high class flutin' in all my life. I know, I know .... BEEEOTCH! .... I gladly accept the diva crown and title.

MORE REASONS I DISLIKE WALMART ..........
By the early 2000's I was in an engineering school ethics class .... yes we engineers have ethics .... part of the class was a mid-term paper on an chosen ethical subject within the construction industry. I chose commercial and residential urbanism fleeing to the suburbs ..... I was channeling my influence from a Harvey Milk speech, I know, I know.... In my web searches for fault w/ structural designers stripping away virgin forests while brown sites vacated by former industries sat empty and forlorn in cityscapes ..... I'm getting off my soap box now ...... information of another recently exposed wastefulness in the construction industry caught my eye termed: "disposable architecture". The term was derived by the building practices of Walmart. Walmart may have not invented "disposable architecture" but they sure perfected it. In case you are unaware of the term, disposable architecture refers to the commercial practice of building structures to last roughly 20 years. 20 years is when the life cycle of significant ... i.e., expensive.... building components need replaced. Instead of replacing them Walmart tears down the whole building, throws it in a landfill and constructs another usually close by. Have you noticed the incomplete nature of the warehouse edifice of your local Walmart? Little drywall and paint, no completed ceilings, inexpensive flooring, exposed steel framing, electrical wiring, ducts, and pipes, and when was the last time your local store remodeled the public restroom? Probably never and they don’t plan on it either because the toilet warranty has long expired and using yellow caution tape over the door of a stall is much more cost effective. Of course other Brands now subscribe to this practice too since it works so well for Walmart.

Of course ... warning .. hopping back on the soap box.... the long laundry list of Walmart atrocities that happens behind those cheap doors in that disposable building is probably more shocking to the general public: Low wages, preventing full time w/benefits putting a strain on public welfare healthcare system, contriving on how to close small local businesses, sexual and racial discrimination, child labor violations, uses of known foreign sweatshops ..... THE LIST GOES ON ..... all of it to provide cheap products while maximizing profits. WHAT OTHER COMPANY CAN YOU NAME THAT HAS MADE SIX PEOPLE BILLIONAIRES AT THE SAME TIME? Which brings us to the Bill Gates billionaires pledge .... yes I know it took me a long time to get to this point. There was much background to my dislike .... not one of these six billionaires have signed it. Think about it: Half of 22 billion (Christy Walton's est. fortune) is 11 billion .... she would still have 11 BILLION !!!!!!!

No ... Christy I know I'm done with Walmart .... gee I still hope you can still buy that next non-essential thing.

BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO JOHN CAZALE

Now, if you have to ask WHO? ... then you are giving away the fact you are not much of a 1970's classic movie buff ... and you will not be on MY "Phone a Friend" list ...... Look at the face you know you know it.

John Cazale co-starred in five feature films in his movie career: “The Godfather”, “The Godfather II”, “Dog Day Afternoon”, “The Conversation”, and “The Deer Hunter” …... actually 6 if you count the footage used of him in "The Godfather III" …. all best picture Oscar nominees. Often cast as pathetic, paranoid, feeble character he was praised for being known to entice audiences into believing him as a pitiful loser in the depth of instability beyond his control. One of his best friends … since they were teenagers …. was Al Pacino who described him: "When I first saw John, I instantly thought he was so interesting, everybody was always around him because he had a very congenial way of expressing himself." Though …. in my opinion …. not the most handsome of '70's film stars, in person his attractiveness was known to be in his kind, caring and gentle manner not shown in his movies.

At the age of 42, the height of his illustrious short-lived movie career, engaged to a then relatively unknown young Hollywood beauty and "Deer Hunter" costar Meryl Streep, he was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. He died before the film was released in 1978 with Streep by his side. The roles he could have created .... and we will never see.

"P.A. CUPCAKES" ... OR you won't see this on TLC!

I read on YAHoO! a few days ago that the cupcake fad is waning. About time! I never got this fad. Cupcakes are just little cake. WHO WANTS little CAKE? I mean, I consider myself a cake connoisseur. Cake is MY dessert of choice. Not really cookies, pies, ice cream or even … yes get ready to feel the earth shake …. Cheesecake. Oh, don’t get me wrong I’ll eat all that stuff but, I’m really hoping for a 2 inch slice of 4 layer cake with an inch of icing on top.

Yesterday, I went to two picnics and I thought what could I make. You guessed it ….. if the fad is hitting the skids I’ll make sure it goes out with a bang! Now to start I couldn’t just buy 1 box of cake mix. I bought 3 PLUS 8 container of icing …. Yes 8! That is NOT a typo. I found out early that a can of icing only covers 10 cupcakes iced gourmet style …... a bag of toffee pieces, instant coffee packs, colored sugar, confectioners sugar, cream cheese, chili laced chocolate bar, gourmet chili pepper, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, food coloring, peanut butter, raspberry fruit preserves, and flavoring extracts. I mean isn’t the many varieties you can create part of the craze? So, between two days, and 10 hours …. including the shopping for the ingredients …. I created:

• Red Velvet & Cream Cheese


• Chocolate & Chocolate


• Espresso & Toffee


• Vanilla & Peanut Butter


• Vanilla & Orange


• Sunset Red Velvet & Orange


• Vanilla & Chocolate


• Almond & Raspberry


• South American Hot Chocolate

…. Now I really hate this fad! But to my surprise when I brought these confections to my two events everyone swarmed over them like I just set down a platter of jewels and said help yourself. I think the fad is still going strong YAHoO! Me on the other hand, am officially over it!

IRRATATING CRAP MY HUSBAND DOES …. OR how he plans to collect my insurance policy …. A WORKING TITLE …..

Its almost eight months now since my husband rear-ended a car in front of us. The airbag prematurely deployed and broke both bones ….. in half …. in my right forearm. SO, there I was …. The Martha Stewart of PA … with a broken hand/arm 2 weeks before Christmas! Picture this: instead of Rockefeller Center it was Dan an Roseanne Conner’s hovel! I wasn’t happy BUT ….. Did I blame him? … Did I scream at him for this unnecessary grief …. Did I put arsenic in his chocolate chip cookies? … that I still made by the way …. NO …. I was THE model of constraint! That is until yesterday ………….
THE PRELUDE ……. Since the accident, if I’m in the car with him, I admit I have been critical of his driving …. slow down! …. You just rolled through that stop sign ….. you are following too close …. You just cut that guy off …. You are driving in the middle of the road …. Oh, its not like any of this is new. He has been driving this way since I met him …. I just never said anything! Two days ago he was literally a couple of feet away from having the passenger side hit ….. I was the passenger and YES we have side air bags …… all so he could cut in front of a car and be first.
THE INTERLUDE ….. Yesterday, he cut across a yellow line … there were 3 lanes on the other side, 2 turning one straight ….. just beside a car going the OPPOSITE direction …. Who was probably thinking what an ASSHOLE …… ALL so he could make a left turn into McDonald’s. Since I almost got killed for a BIG MAC, I could not let it go and said: “Look at this! Now he is crossing double yellow lines!”. He lost it! He started screaming at me that I had to stop it! He turned out of McDonald’s and started speeding home. At the first red light he stopped. I got out of the car ….. I did not care how far I was from home …. Or the fact I had thongs on, ouch! …. or how busy the road was, I’d show him I was the master of my own destiny and my next broken limbs! He sped off. Oh, he did come back for me but, in true “drama Queen” style I would not get back in the car. That’s right …. on a busy suburban residential street we had a screaming match as he drove by trying to get me in … fun times! I finally got in … NOTE to self: Do not try to walk 2 miles in thongs ….. the ride home was chilly and it wasn’t the AC!
THE FINALTUDE ….. If you invite us anywhere make sure there is enough parking for our TWO cars. I’m flying solo from now on!

DO BEARS EAT THEIR YOUNG?

WHAAAAT?!?!? I think the real story here is not the fact they got RE-engaged. They’re young and they’re obviously stupid …. as the oh-so- true saying goes ….. Bristol seemed to have it more together than her “Baby Daddy” with her "abstinence" .... how's that going for ya by the way .... message tour and all. So how does a girl … she is still 19 …. with a seemly bright future of 15 more minutes of fame ahead of her, get re-engaged to her unemployed High School drop-out dated Kathy Griffin .... no offense to Kathy ..... who told the world her mother referred to her infant brother as “my retarded baby” EX-flame? Well, like I said in the beginning young and stupid isn’t the real story. The real story is how do you inform your self described “grizzly bear” … or is it a moose? Its some Alaskan animal she's hunted down … of a mother, you are marrying this guy? Why you announce it in OK magazine of course!!! UH DUH!

THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP

Ho Hum … I haven't written anything all week …… what to write about, what to write about …. I could snark about Lindsay’s jail sentence ... Tee hee hee hee … okay done! …. Tell you how sweltering I am in this heat wave ….. drip drip drip ………. Re-hash the latest on the exploits of Casey Anthony ... I can't wait till that trial starts and the state of Florida fries your ass. I knew there were reasons to like Florida! ..... I could bitch about everything BP should be doing … Oh yes that reminds me :

Text: “wildlife” to 20222.

I could talk about work …. Let’s see

Tuesday, 1 a-hole contractor told my inspector (who was asking the contractor why he did not show up to begin his work that day) he had a gun in his car and he hasn’t used it for a while ….. he is forbidden on site now.

Wednesday, I got a called from a irate urbanite commuter demanding that I close down my road project immediately and reopen all lanes because it is making him late for work ….. Aaahhhh its called protecting MY road crews and the general public from morons like you who neglected to plan ahead and …oh I don’t know …. leave earlier!

Friday, MY consultant (who works for me!!!!!) asked me to take meeting notes … seriously in my male congested profession there are some who still think I’m the F’ing secretary …….. AND you thought I was going to get all technical on my work rant didn’t you?

HAPPY 4TH TO ALL MY FELLOW SUBJECTS ......

Happy Independence Day! Okay, so we found out this week Thomas Jefferson made a little itsy bitsy mistake on one of the famous icons of freedom ..… it happens! But before ya get your patriotic drum a strummin’ tomorrow, let’s talk what REALLY took place in the summer of 1776 ….. WARNING: Reading further you about to have another American myth blow out of the water! I'm a stickler (i.e, nit-picker, annoying, control freak) for the facts, that’s why I’m here …… The Second Continental Congress actually voted to declare independence on July 2nd, 1776 … that’s right you should have had that day off, eaten that burnt hot dog and watched fireworks yesterday …….

Even John Adams wrote to his wife on July 3, 1776:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” See Wikipedia.

On July 4th, the final wording of the Declaration of Independence document was approved and sent off to the printer. A carefully hand written version was produced and the famous signing with John Hancock exclaiming: “There, I guess King George will be able to read that!” …. Ahh another myth for another day …….. most likely took place on August 2, 1776.

Ironically, the July 4th signing myth became so encroached in American folklore that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in their later years forgot what day they signed it and believe the 4th. Maybe promoting the myth even more? They both died the same day: July 4th, 1826 .... the myth's 50th anniversary.

IT'S NOT QUITE THE JETSON'S ......

The "Transition" from Terrafugia ... a privately owned company ... promises ... and I quote:

"Every pilot faces uncertain weather, rising costs, and ground transportation hassles on each end of the flight. The Transition® combines the unique convenience of being able to fold its wings with the ability to drive on any surface road in a modern personal airplane platform. Stowing the wings for road use and deploying them for flight at the airport is activated from inside the cockpit. .... and ending with my favorite summation ...... This unique functionality addresses head-on the issues faced by today’s Private and Sport Pilots."

Exactly how many "Private and Sports Pilots" are there? What a crock of overpriced marketing effort! Let's face it, this "personal airplane platform" is not for us common folk. Its for the special people of the world who have more money ...like $194,000 ... than they know what to do with and need ..... ah, errr .... or shall I say desire a new TOY!

Let's examine this "marvel":

• It seats 2 ... yes ... that's TWO. Let's do the math: that's the pilot and 1 other person ...... more than 1 is a party, right?


• The convenient cargo area holds skis, fishing poles or golf clubs ... oh that's where the sports come in. I need this thing to play golf! .... You use this to "fly" over that rush hour traffic to the club house or lake. Don't stay over night though there was no room for the suitcase.


• As a "Sports" pilot you are only required 20 hours training to fly over people's head. How comforting.


• You still need a 1700' runway to take off from. BUT, if the weather is bad you can't fly just drive the thing. Let's see you drive it to the runway, a thunderstorm moves in, you then have to drive anyways. I can see the convenience!!!!


• It cruises at 115 mph. I do that on the Interstate in my Kia!


• It gets 23 miles to the gallon ... oh wait so does my Kia!

Then there are the promises/info they don't say:

• How environmentally friendly is the "Transition"? Is it more harm than good?


• How far above the ground/altitude does it fly? I see many a potential accident into utility lines maybe?


• Who services this thing? My on staff flight crew that lives in my garage now?


• Where do I take off from. Do I need my own specialty runway or will the airport where small private jets fly into/out of let me use theirs?

All I know is, I've been promised the Jetson's lifestyle since I was 10. My house is still on the ground, my Kia is not jet propelled, my computer is not doing the cooking and there is no "Rosie" the robot cleaning my house. Ho HUM ...... I guess it has to start somewhere.

THE FIRST SWASHBUCKLER TO STEAL MY HEART ...

Yes ... There was a swashbuckler I swooned for before Johnny Depp ever donned a pirate swagger ..... ERROL FLYNN .... I knew Errol Flynn's birthday was Father's Day and I meant to post it! Better late blah blah ....................

In my Happy B-day post to Johnny, I noted that over the shoulder pose that made my heart go pitty pat. I now know why! ..... I'm a sucker for a swashbuckler you see ...... I was at least 10 years old when I saw Errol ... as Robin Hood .... swing across my TV set and say: "Welcome to Sherwood!" in that jovial sarcastic wit. He instantly became my first movie idol but unfortunately I would need a time machine to meet him ... Ho Hum ............ maybe its why I don't drool much over the living idols, my true star struck meeting will never be!

"I do what I like."

I read his autobiography, "My Wicked Wicked Ways", in my late teens and found his was born in Tasmania ... I always thought it was a made up place where cartooned devils were said to live. Damm those Buggs Bunny cartoons were more educational than I thought! ........ oh and he was a little wicked too!

One of his first roles was Fletcher Christian whom Flynn is ironically the great-great-great-great-grandson of.

"It isn't what they say about you it's what they whisper."

The saying "In like Flynn" was coined after him referring to his acquittal in a statutory rape trial.

"Women won't let me stay single, and I won't let myself stay married."

His favorite and most often cast with actress in early movies .... 9 times .... was Olivia de Havilland ... who also admits to having been in love with him and he admits he with her by their second movie ....... but love never went beyond the screen.

His favorite side kick was Alan Hale. Yes, that would be the father of Alan "the skipper" Hale of Gillian's Island fame.

Flynn was rumored to be nominated ... and had been initially announced where he was interviewed on his nomination ...... for an Academy Award for his role in "The Sun Also Rises". The nomination simply just disappeared.

"My job is to defy normal."

Errol Flynn was a self described adventurer before stardom, did most of his own stunts in movies, a womanizer, had malaria, tuberculous, Buerger's disease, an alcholic in liver failure, a chain smoker with thrombosis, 4F because of his weak heart, considered Fidel Castro a close friend and when he died in 1959 at age 50 he had a 17 year old mistress that traveled the world with him on his beloved yacht. The autopsy revealed he had the insides of a 75 year old.

last words: "I've had a hell of a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of it."

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

I'm taking my Daddy and my God of Organization .....aka, husband ...... out to an early dinner. Hope your "daddy" has a nice day with you too!

Let's play "WHERE IN THE WORLD IS JORAN SAN DER SLAGO" >>>>>>>

Aaaaaaaaa ... NOPE .... one sociopath suspected serial killer still in a Peruvian jail cell ................ not much of a game anymore!

Let's just recap his travels from recent previous episodes:

• Holland - January/Feb 2008 - throws glass of wine in face of Crime reporter on TV for calling him a liar. Same reporter catches him on tape admitting to being present at Natalie Holloway's death and dumping body at sea.
• Bangkok, Thailand - 2008 Attends University, drops out, buys coffee shop, accused of selling Thai women to prostitution ring, fails at selling coffee.
• Macau 2009 - At Texas Hold 'em Tournament .... after claiming he is now a professional gambler by trade .... brazenly tells people who he is when they don't recognize him.
• Aruba - February 2010 - Attends Father's .... and allege accomplice in murder cover-up in 2005 ..... funeral.
• Aruba - early May 2010 - meets with FBI for $25,000 partial extortion payment. Admits to killing Holloway and burying body with the help of father
• Bogota, Columbia - Spring 2010 - Two women disappear at the same time Joran is staying/frequenting the same Casinos and where he was seen with them both.
• Lima Peru - late May 2010 - telling casino employees he is trawling for women, gambling, losing, drinking, can't pay hotel bill, tries to con money out of former girlfriend in Aruba via text, meets, kills and robs Stephany Flores Ramirez, flees country ..... He's not in Aruba anymore ....
• Chile - June 2010- Arrested and claims 2 bandits robbed and killed Flores in his hotel room ... too bad, so sad, he was unaware of the hotel's video camera
• Peru - June 2010 - caged in famed prison sharing cell with his new "girlfriend" a Colombian assassin.

At some point he traveled back to Europe, other parts of South America and Asia ... but I missed those episodes.

STUPIO "IRRITATING CRAP MY HUSBANO OoES!" .... a working title

Can you tell? My 4th letter of the alphabet key is broken. Guess by who?

Now I am going to have to try & type wor .... ahh .... errr ...... sentences without that letter. This will be interesting ....... Two weeks ago the GO or LOR ...okay the MASTER of Organization spills water into the thing with the keys, knows it will not work & was trying to fool everyone by not warning them .... trying to make us think we broke it .... However, the towel for your phalanges from my bathroom, beneath the key thingy is what gave me the tip off! So, he fesses up & we go key thingy shopping the next afternoon.

First, he tries to get me to pay for it .... its a little game he likes to play at the cash register to see who gets out the money first. He unfortunately won this time ....... I chose the item & walkie' out the entrance of the store to the car not wanting to play. Tonight he shows me the "4th letter of the alphabet" key & says "FIX". I say , "Why, I'm taking it back. We just bought it." Master of Organization tells me we can't ... he threw away the receipt!!!!!!! WTF?????? Master has receipts from the house painting from like 8 years ago. He has the receipt from the washer & thingy that blows air on your clothes "set" we bought 6 years ago, the receipt from when we bought the computer 3 years ago, etc .... you get the picture ... but he throws away a receipt from something he buys 2 weeks ago?!?!?!?

I know how to get even! I'll tell him about the $250.00 purse I bought tonight. Afterall, I'm not saving money for computer accessories.

DON'T FORGET THE GULF WILDLIFE

Text "WILDLIFE" to 20222.

You will see a $10 donation added to your phone bill everytime you send it. You can do up to five times.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY .....

I 've hardly EVER been overwhelmingly star struck by a movie star. Never had the urge to join a fan club. Never was such an urber fan crazed psycho that I would faint at the sight of any celebrity. As a matter of fact, there are very few movie stars that I would go out of my way for to go see their movie. Johnny Depp, however, is the exception ..... there are always some.

I did not even realize I was fan till that one certain nonchalant glance over his pirate costumed shoulder. I can not firgue out what it is about that pose but he had me at Yo Ho Matey!

Happy 47th Birthday Johnny!!! You are only getting better!

HELP THEM ... God can only do so much. We already know BP is incapable!

This morning I saw on television BP CEO Tony Hayward and his latest attempt at good PR. He looked out at the American public during his paid face time and said BP takes full responsibility … how blessed of you! …… and they are going to make everything right …….

HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS RIGHT ?

You plan on resuscitating these dead and dying animals do you .... Tony?

For those of you that can you can donate to the efforts of helping these defenseless creatures by texting "WILDLIFE" to 20222 or if you live near or are planning to spend time in the area click here and here for volunteer information.

Van der Sloot wanted by Interpol

According to the Associated Press Joran Vander Sloot is currently being sought by Interpol with a warrant for his arrest in connection with a murder of a woman in Peru on May 30. May 30 is also the five year anniversary of his involvement in Natalie Hollaway disappearance in Aruba.

Van der Sloot is suspected of fleeing Peru by land into Chile. Stay tune ..........

Happy Birthday Norma Jean

After all these years she is still in the news ... this past week for some unpublished photos with JFK .... The eternal epitome of sexy. Having the measurements of 37C-24-35 earned her the first cover of Playboy .... Hugh Hefner actually also owns the burial vault next to her. Her beauty regime included Nivea cream and jogging. She had an IQ of 168. Through her father she is related to seven U.S. presidents. When Veronica Hamel and her husband bought Monroe's house in 1972, they found "standard issued FBI" bugging devices all through it when they remodeled.

Although her movie career was practically over and she was gone before I could realize who she was and the timeless icon she was to become, I always thought of her as a comedic actress. That is until I saw Bus Stop. I will always remember her as vulnerable romantic Cherie.

There will never be another Marilyn.

Memorial Day ... A Day to Remember

I know I said I would try NOT to post the same thing as any of the other blogs I read but this is an exception ........ Pictured is Christopher Barton. He is the son of another blogger from another site I read often ..... I don't think she reads here but it doesn't matter ........ From what I read he died in Afghanistan on Monday, May 24, 2010. His mom goes by the name This.Army.Mom and has a site she writes on ... it may have been a Facebook .... about him. I visited it once when she left a link on TheDirtyDisher blog site.

I personally do not know this woman but, I could tell she was very proud of him. I don't think she will mind he is on my site too. I believe she would want as many people as possible to know what her son gave for his/our country. A scholarship has been set-up for that purpose .. click here.

Here is wishing the Barton family well and wholeness and peace!

An example of selling your soul?

Aside from being brought up in a 408 acre English county side manor, Fergie claims to have struggled financially on her own in her early 20’s. It did not stop her from enjoying a jet set life style then and undoubtly, high living became the norm more so than the exception once she married a Prince. Her divorce settlement from same said Prince was based on her husband’s professional income as a Naval Officer. Netting her with the mere pittance of alimony worth roughly $22,000 a year …. Sounds a little low to me! What about child support in this country? ……. I don't know that. Is it what led her to overwhelming debt and "selling" out family members?

In some ways, I say its her own fault but then again …… think about it …. her ex-husband of 10 years is a millionaire prince, a billionaire queen for a mother in-law, and her daughters are princesses! How did she end up with the settlement income of an US office worker? Even though she had every opportunity to cash in on her notoriety …. AND she did ……. her actual spending never matched her overall earnable income. Her “stock” fell as the years went by and income opportunities were far and fleeting. What is a former scandalous Duchess to do? Keep being a scandalous Duchess of course! Hence her “selling” out her children’s father’s … and supposed close friend … private life. What else could/can she do but be “Fergie”? Fergie who is now a long way from that 21 year old girl that once had the fortitude for monetary struggle and that fun loving shot of vivacity into an aging royal family known to have a penchant for a stiff upper lip. Maybe they … the royals ….. should have thought far ahead enough that at $22,000 a year, what she would become is a bitter, looking for a little revenge, aging, raging redheaded woman.

WHAT DOES STOP A PACK OF FAME HOUNDS?

Apparently ..... the Secret Service can! The Salahis ….you remember the obnoxious fame-seeking husband and wife that crashed a State Dinner last November …… were stopped outside … this time …. the White House last night (Wednesday). Another State Dinner was in progress .… where they were once again NOT INVITED ….. in honor of the Mexican President. The hounds were stopped for running a red light and turning into the Ellipse parking - a restricted area! Though there is no proof of it, undoubly the Secret Service caught them before they could try and make a run for it to the check-in gate. This time the crash attempt included a pack of friends in tow ….. AND cameras! Cameras? Oh yes … they got their reality show in case you did not hear. They are now part of the cast/circus in Bravo’s “The Real Housewives Of Washington DC”!

Just what every disgusting fame hound needs to lap up and gorge on any scrap that falls into their disgusting filthy; self-serving; notoriety hunting dog bowl: a reality show ….. YUM! Seriously, what is wrong with Bravo? The couple is still under investigating for their first attempt and could be charged, fined or jailed. I like the last option the best! If it comes to light that BRAVO’s production company knew this …aka … the cameras ready in position … they too should be held as an accessory in putting the life of the President in danger. At the very least, since they tried it again, criminal trespass!

With the Salahi’s attempt to put the lives in jeopardy of every statesman at this dinner by showing every probable terrorist how to accomplish an assassination attempt on high profile Politicians aborted, what would any fame seeking whore bitch hound do? Why go to dinner with their entourage of loser wanna bes at a restaurant ……. literally 2 blocks from the grounds of the White House ….. instead.

Eat up hound dogs! If fame is your master. Then remember the hunting dog sometimes gets his tail accidentally shot off by its huntsman!

****************VOTE!********************

In many states the primaries are tomorrow and according to the AP: "all the primaries testing tea party clout and veteran senators' ability to survive". Tea Party clout? ....hmmmm ... According to the New York Times (via Wikipedia) : 18 % of all Americans consider themselves in favor of this movement. Of that 18% the majority is "white, male, married and older than 45." They are "wealthier and more well-educated" than the general public, and hold conservative views on a range of issues. Although most are registered Republican, they tend to be more conservative than Republicans at large.

Waaaaaaaait a minute ..... aren't these the very people that got this country into the mess it is in right now? And in a year a half of a new administration they expected all the mess to be gone when it took the out going admin 8 years to create the world chaos. Where were they, oh say, eight years ago ......I know ....I know .....(raising hand) .... I know.

Anyways for good or for the bad its your right so get out there tomorrow!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!

"People have grown fond of me, like some old building."

Probably my most favorite actress of all times .... Katharine Hepburn. 4 time Oscar winner, lover of many a famous man and a true stalwart Connecticut Yankee. She worked well into her 80's and lived till she was 96 years old.

"I don't regret anything I've ever done; As long as I enjoyed it at the time. "

With my mom ... who made me into an old movie buff .... I had to first see Kate in either “Stage Door” ….. with Ginger Rodgers, Adolphe Menjou, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden and Ann Miller … or maybe it was “Bring Up Baby” ….with Carey Grant …. Either way she out shown them all …. Yes even Baby! ... and made an impression on me early in life.

"I find a woman's point of view much grander and finer than a man's."

She wasn’t typical poster girl pretty only because she did not want to be. Though blessed with classic features she chose to be more remembered for speaking her mind and negotiating things on her terms. She exuded an unorthodox ultra feminine feminist style with strength and self-assurity that could never be captured in a pinup girl of the times. I always had the feeling men were slightly afraid of her. Still it made her all the more attractive.

"I never realized until lately that women were supposed to be inferior."

I like to think I’ve learned to imitate her sarcastic wit and intellectual charm I admired. I can only hope to imitate her long life, ageless/timeless beauty, undisturbed way of existence and the respect she attained.

"If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased."

MOTHER'S DAY WISHES

Happy Mom’s day! I just came home from having Brunch with my Mom. Pretty much the rest of day I plan on doing nothing …. Just the way I like it!

I hope you all have "nothing" days too.

little petty "IRRATATING CRAP MY HUSBAND DOES"…. a working title

I grew up with a dishwasher in my childhood home. My husband never did. SO, I tell “Fred Flintstone” …. he’ll go back to “God Of Organization” (G.O.O.) later …. even Wilma had a Wooly Mammoth that high pressure hosed down the dishes. You can say when I married him (G.O.O) I was dragged back to beyond the Ice Age … based on the Wooly Mammoth sighting in Wilma’s kitchen!

For years he gave me the same sad excuse … from some stored away book of excuses on Mt Olympus probably …… as to why we could not install a dishwasher in our present kitchen. My favorite?: “We’re moving.” …this is another rant for another time ….. so why put more money into a house we are leaving? 10 plus years later … you guess it …. I’m still here.

3 years ago I decided since “We’re moving” a dishwasher would actually be a selling point. Without any more discussions with G.O.O. I bought the dishwasher and hired the people to install it. He wasn’t happy and thus the real reason came forth … he saw no need for a dishwasher. And the battle began. He won’t use it!!!!!!!!!! He would rather wash the dishes by hand and dry them gulp! with a towel …. I don’t what it dried before hand either, yuck ... yuck .... yuck ……. He has actually taken dirty dishes that I put in, out of the dishwasher and washed them. I have been reduced to sneaking the dishes into my appliance and turning it on before I leave for work in the morning, all so he doesn't try to do them while I'm gone.

I thought I had a good pile of dishes this morning but he rushed in and washed them! He is a sick man!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOPANGA

No she is not a legend or even one of my favorite actresses that I usually honor. I just remember when my oldest daughter was a high school freshman everyone at school noticed the resemblance she had with Danielle Fishel. SO, of course everyone called daughter “Topanga” …. Fishel's character on “Boy Meets World” ….

I went to school one time to pick her up from some rehearsal/practice. I could not find her so I asked one of the students if they saw her. The upper classman look at me puzzled and said no he did not know who she was. Then it dawn on me ……. "TOPANGA!" …. “oh, Topanga!” …… he knew exactly where SHE was!

Sometimes it doesn’t have to hit home. Just come close ….

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Yesterday afternoon I was texting my daughter in New York, trying to get her work schedule from her so she could hook up with one of my oldest friends ...and her daughter ... who happened to be in NYC this weekend. My daughter’s job is in Times Square and my friend had tickets to a Broadway show that evening. I don’t think they got together.

My daughter left work at 6PM and was home before they found a fire bomb rigged SUV … somewhere around 6:30PM ….. parked on W 45th St …. between 7th and 8th Aves … in front of the Minskoff Theater ... where The Lion King is playing ... less than a block from my daughter's place of employment. I haven’t talked to my friend yet but, I assume she made her show, even though the theater she was attending was two blocks away from the SUV. All too close for comfort!

The accelerate laden SVU was reported to authorities by the Times Square street vendors who noticed it parked there and were instantly suspicious of it. It was smoking by the time police arrived but did not detonate. It is another instance where we have to be reminded even though we live in the greatest nation in the world we must be alert to those that would do us harm for that very reason. It reminds us that ordinary everyday people have to watch, be aware and are willing to be compliant in reporting the unusual.

You know you never stop worrying about your kids no matter what age or how far. Far is a scary place to be when your kid needs you. Ordinary everyday people assisted me yesterday. Next time I’m in New York I may feel the overwhelming need to own a couple T-shirts and designer …????? … purse!

THIS IS SICKENING BEYOND WORDS ........

Photo Credit: Reuters

The oil spill off the coast of Louisiana is sickening beyond words right now. Although look forward to later I am formulating a few in my head right now for a future rant.

"Irritating Crap My Husband DOES!" ...the working title..

If you have not heard of it, there is a Twitter account called: “Sh*t My Dad Says”. The owner of the account, Justin Halpern, only tweets …. well …uh … shit his dad says! A simple yet novel idea ….. soooo novel Justin, now has a book and a TV series pilot in the making.

Not that I’m trying for a book and a TV pilot I’m just …. aaahh ... ummm… borrowing the concept .... yea that's it ...that's what I'll tell his lawyers when they call .... I’ve been thinking of adding an occasional commentary based on the Halpern twitter, to my own blog. Originally, I was going to go with “Trash My Daughter Talks” but I’ve shifted my focus on “Irritating Crap My Husband DOES!” …….the working title …… I may use the “Daughter” stuff at a later date.

Since I have gone back to work, my husband has been trying to “help” out …. even though he did not when I was working before ….. with the house work. SIGH! I don’t wanna be a beeotch about it but he is rousing me into a diatribe fest. HE actually is “Mr. Neat Nik”, "Mr. Organization", "Mr. Everything Put Back In Place" ….. way more so than me. BUT then he has the added talents of "Mr. Delegate", "Mr. I’m in Charge Now", "Mr. List", "Mr. Reminder" …. Mr. PAIN!

First case in point: I can live in a scattered mess as long as the surfaces (carpets, hardwood floors, furniture, etc) underneath them are clean/sanitized/washed/dust mite/dog fur FREE! My “scattered” system works for me …… I KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING IS! For some reason the “God of Organization” (as hubby shall be known as) can’t believe that. He feels that it is muuuuuuch better to take everything and put it in 1 BIG PILE. Better yet, take that pile and put it somewhere else … like a drawer or in a place I would never EVER EVER EVER look! Let me tell you … ONE big pile does NOT work in the “scatter system”! He is really F’ing up my things to do/ filing system!

IS WINNING THE LOTTERY A GOOD THING?

Photo Credit: AP

Uuuuuuu ..... HELL YA!!! … but do you believe in the "lottery winner's curse?"

In 2002, Jack Whittaker from W.Va won a $315 million Power Ball. 2 years later he lost most of his friends and family, had over 400 lawsuits filed against his company, became an alcoholic and the granddaughter he cherished and lavished the winnings on was found rolled up in plastic bed sheet dead dumped behind a junked van. Read his full story here.

Jack, by far is not the only one. Many winners find themselves back to where they were ... or worse ... before the win. All over the Internet are stories of suicides, murders, hired hitmen, strangers demanding handouts ... for luxuries yet, not even pretending it was for necessities or a hardship .... charities, con men/ladies, spending sprees ... before the next payout check arrived, it was spent ... lawsuits, backruptcy and faced with the most dreaded creature of them all ... the self-righteous relative .... that see your winnings as their winnings.

Take for example the newest $258 million Power Ball winner this week, Chris Shaw. I like to see people like him win the lottery. Shaw is a 29 year old, living paycheck to paycheck, $7.25 an hour, recently hired convenience store clerk living in rural Missouri. Raised by his grandparents …..orphaned? No one is saying …… missing two front teeth because he could not afford to take care of them, father of 3 kids from two different mothers, and living with another woman who has 2 of her own children.

HO HUM ... this poor schumuck doesn't stand a chance! Undoubtly, the baby Mamas have already hired a lawyer to get their child support payments raised. Nothing wrong with that, every parent should take care of the child they brought into the world. BUT, somehow I picture these women in their new BMW before the year is out ...its all for the kids don't you know! If his parents are still alive ... you know the ones that dumped him on Grandma & Pa ..... they will be coming out of the swamp pretty soon. The women he is living with? Within the next couple of years her story will be that she gave him the money to play the lottery for them "both" or that he "promised" to split the winnings with her. Either way by some means, she will end up with at least half. At least I hope he gets those new teeth out of it all.

THE GROCERY STORE GOT A NEW SHIPPMENT OF KARTES FOR ALL

FINALLY!!!! ... after FIVE …… count them America ….. “5” tortuous weeks of spackled on makeup …. No one else's makeup was so horrendously horrendous, was she doing it herself?…. a wardrobe of Salvation Army bridesmaid dress cast-offs, horsetail wiglets and a black & blue sprain to the profession of ballroom dancing ….Kate Gosselin …. or as you know her better as the “shopping Karte”, “bitch from hell” ... see picture left for dictionary meaning .... or “the frock on the coat hanger” … has been voted off DWTS.

Seriously folks, if she made it through another week, ABC would have had some integrity problems with the show's actual fans and the voting system.

I know I myself first predicted her to be 2nd or 3rd to go but she turned out to be soooooooo dreadful, I couldn’t see how she made it past the second week. The only answer I have is that even her haters club started to vote for her as a form of entertainment and the joke she was becoming in the media everywhere.

Other than the money, I'm not seeing how this help her "career". Being the biggest butt .... and not just on the DWTS .... of late night comedy may have actually hurt her. Her appearance was more scandalous than genuine star power. What credible network … TLC doesn’t count … Remember I did say “credible” ….. will take her seriously. What’s that I hear ….. could be the sound of the nails being hammer in her TV celebrity coffin? Its time Kate you used, abused, and pimped your … and unfortunately your children’s … 15 minutes long ago!

Now go home …. first explain to your kids who you are ….. and have a nice normal life.

SHROUD OF MYSTERY

Photo Credit: AP

Being a student of architecture, I’ve always wanted to go to ITALY! Actually, I formally announced to my husband last month I’m going within the next two years with or without him. Now I have to find someone to go with. I thought maybe my daughters would enjoy the Grand Tour …. at least part of it anyways ...... especially if mom is footing the bill!

Unfortunately, in two years I will most likely miss the opportunity to view a renowned antiquity of the Roman Catholic Church: the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud, to the faithful, is believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. In my ignorance I had always believed it to be almost on constant display in Turin, Italy ..... if you are planning a trip to Italy too, be forewarned ..... Customarily, the Shroud is made available for viewing every 25 years. In the last 12, however, it has been on display in shorter periods: 1998(before that 1978), 2000 and now.

Though never proclaimed by the Catholic Church as authentic, I recall while in first grade the nuns in my Catholic School declaring it evidence to Jesus’ intensive suffering for us undeserving little innocent children …. nuns were always trying to scare us little kids back then …. They(nuns) were never teaching doubt or even mentioning for that matter the Shroud’s historical suspicion of being a medieval forgery. Recent carbon dating tests put the cloth somewhere around the 13th century. Still there are those that insist the tests were compromised by taking the test samples from/near a 15th century patch/repair. There is also the Vatican researcher’s claims ….. through her study of computer enhancements … finding faint writing on the cloth that can be attributed to the time of Christ's crucifixion.

Even if you ascribe to the substantiation of high technology, scientists cannot clarify or duplicate a method of process for reproducing the image of the wounded bearded man in the cloth. So, even if the shroud is a forgery at the very least it is a piece of religious art imitating the agonizing existence and death of a church’s Savior. I want to see it.

Asserting some good advice to the 2 million expected to make the journey to Turin, the Archbishop of Turin tells visitors to view the shroud “with their hearts rather than their minds”. The Shroud is on display at the Turin Cathedral till May 23. No official date when it will be on display again.