Congrats to Jeff Gordon!

I am so thrilled. After a very long winning drought, Jeff Gordon, my favorite NASCAR driver, won today's race in Phoenix, Arizona. He had an awesome car. He led the most laps and easily passed Kyle Busch for the win. It was a good race, but I was bummed that Carl Edwards crashed out (courtesy of Kyle, by the way).

The important thing, though, is that Jeff won the race. Way to go, Jeff!

Windy Racing: NASCAR and the Weather

Wow, it's windy outside! Looking out at the patio, things have been blown around quite a bit. It could be a lot worse though so I'm okay with it. I fed the dogs early and let them back inside the house. They have little desire to be outside in this weather.

Just turned on Speed Channel to watch the Gatorade Duels that set the field for the Daytona 500 on Sunday. The thing barely started and Ryan Newman just went for a spin. I imagine we'll see more of that before the day is over. Oh my, looks like Newman's team owner and fellow driver, Tony Stewart, may have spun Newman out. Oops!

I have a really nice and comfy chair in my living room that I like a lot but you know what I really miss? The truth is that it's leather furniture, or more specifically, a nice, comfy leather sofa. In high school, a friend of mine had one and it was just sheer heaven to sink down into that thing and take a nap. Unfortunately, I don't really have room for that kind of sofa, but I do keep dreaming about it.

More later!

Time to Go Racing

I love NASCAR and it's revving to go. The biggest event of the racing season, the Daytona 500, is days away. On the pole will be Dale Earnhardt Jr. Considering this is the 10th year anniversary of his famous father's death, it somehow seems appropriate. On the outside pole will be my favorite, driver of the 24 car, Jeff Gordon. These two are teammates now, so it's a good start for their team.

The equivalent of the Daytona 500 to Formula One racing is probably the Monaco Grand Prix. The difference between the two is that F1 is probably more international in scope than NASCAR is. That's on a broad scale. From the practical, it's the type of vehicles that are used and the tracks raced on that are probably the most obvious differences.

Monaco grand prix hospitality deals with a huge number of visitors for this race which twists and turns its way through Monaco, the last home of America's beloved Grace Kelly. It's a course that is difficult to pass on, but it's a prestigious event that the drivers look forward to.

Regardless which sport you are passionate about, it's definitely time to go racing for 2011.

Shanks, Flooring, and Setting Records

Wow, 70+ degrees for three days straight. We've been setting 'hot' records right and left, much to the chagrin of those shoveling their cars out from the snow.

Anyone watch The Commish? I just got the set on DVD and one disk is really wacky. I called the manufacturing and they sent me a replacement, and surprised me with the complete set Renegade with Lorenzo Lamas. I've only seen a few of those shows, so that will be new television. I thought it was super nice of them to do that, too.

I really need to clean my kitchen floor. It's vinyl so not all that difficult. It's showing signs of its wear, though. Laminate flooring is curious to me. I wonder how that would be. I just always want whatever is the easiest to clean. That's my #1 buying concern with most anything.

I watched a couple of Michael Shanks movies on TV over the last couple of days. Desperate Escape and Judicial Discretion were both on. He's a bum in both of them. Well, not a bum, but not pure, either.

Onward onto the next!

Trees and Fiction

So this morning I wake up to find a note on my door from my neighbor. It seems some limbs broke off our very tall and old tree and landed in her driveway, just missing her car. Oops! The thing is that we cleared out this tree a lot last year. It's just that it's so tall. I'm not sure what we're going to do. Tree trimming really isn't in my budget right now.

I'd rather think about writing more of my fan fiction, which has been slightly on hold for a week or two as I work to pay off my Black Friday indulgences (that'll be the one and only time I'll ever do that ... well, maybe).

My fan fiction website is pretty basic. I try to keep it decently attractive, but I must admit that I'm not an expert. I think it takes both creativity and patience.

Okay, well now I'm off to get things done (I hope). Smiles, all!

Verbs and Proper Names

Isn't this a kick? When they came out with the new words and such at the beginning of the year, they also listed 5 words that were used incorrectly. One of these was 'google' as in "I googled it" and "Just google and you'll find what you need."

I have actually laughed at this all year because, yes, I use Google as a verb. I consider it to be like kleenex which was once just a brand name, or Band-Aid, or Q-Tips. These were all brand names that ended up becoming 'one' with the product itself.

In my opinion, the dictionary and word people need to get with the program. Google has expanded. It's a proper name for the business, but it's also a verb, as an action, as in "I google most every day."

Hope everyone is having a great day. The weather has cleared up. I ran a bunch of errands this morning and now am watching The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on DVD.

5-0, CHiPs, and Games Galore

I just finished watching tonight's episode of Hawaii 5-0, and my favorite part was the tag which had Steve and Danny watching a CHiPs marathon on TV and each of them vying to be Ponch. Erik Estrada must love this episode.

Actually, I think it's neat that they had this kind of show. It's actually very realistic in how it was handled, and it was fun to watch. I still say Scott Caan has stolen the show from Alex O'Loughlin.

Anyone a bingo fan out there? I have to admit that I don't play online at bingo sites, but I've always loved to play bingo. We used to play it at home a lot.

I love games like that -- Monopoly, Scrabble, Go to the Head of the Class. Oh, and Yahtzee. How about Battleship? I used to play that with a neighbor all the time.

My grandparents loved card games like Canasta and other board games like Chinese Checkers. I admit I love that game a lot.

I guess I'm feeling a little nostalgic, but there's nothing wrong with that!

Custom cards and Shanks Independence

I was going through some things recently and found some old business cards I'd had printed up. You know, I love business cards, even if you don't really have a business. Years ago, a friend and I made some up just as a joke for a friend. I guess that started it. I've made up all kinds of cards in the years since to use for my collecting and groups that I was a part of it.  I've used real photographs, pre-printed designs that the printer had available, and even created a few pieces of artwork, primitive as they might be. Those were the days!

I've been watching Stargate SG-1 and having memory flashbacks. ThisTV is airing the 2-part Evolution show. I remember that it was the weekend between the filming of Part 1 and Part 2 that I first met Michael Shanks, who played Daniel Jackson on the series. There was a big deal at this convention over whether or not he was going to come clean shaven or not. He had actually been told not to shave because of the nature of the storyline, but he also knew his fans at the time preferred him clean shaven. That time, he chose us and dealt with the producers when he got back.

That's Michael -- very independent, very stubborn, very much his own person. You just never know what he'll do next. :}

It's Almost Time for NASCAR and F1

Racing is about to kick off again for NASCAR over at Daytona in Florida. I'm hoping for a good season, but I'm already sick of hearing about Jimmie Johnson, and I actually haven't read a thing about him. I just don't like the guy, and he may be a good driver, but he's a lousy teammate. My goal for 2011 is to ignore him as much as possible when the season begins and focus on the drivers who are both great drivers and great teammates -- Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards.

Formula 1 will kick off soon enough, too. The Speed Channel is actually going to air their F1 coverage in HD this year. They have all but four of the races as I recall, so there will be a lot of viewing possible.

For me, NASCAR is the more exciting and entertaining of the two circuits. F1 is getting better, but they still have a ways to go in getting the 'race' into their racing.

Redemption and Girl Scout Cookies

I just heard the neatest story on the news. A convenience store owner (it's a gas station and convenience store) had a young man come into his store earlier this month. The young man handed over a note that essentially said that as a teenager, he'd robbed from the store practically every day. He said he'd changed now, that he'd become a Christian, and that he felt compelled to do the right thing. So, along with the note, he handed the owner $200 which is what he'd valued his thefts at. The owner was impressed, accepted the money, and wished the young man well. That note now resides on the counter for current teenagers to see, to realize they do have a future and that stealing isn't necessary. Isn't that a great story? Way to go to the young man making good on his past mistakes.

I also heard that the Girl Scouts have new packaging for one of their cookie offerings this year. I'm not sure why they didn't do it for all of them. I don't really think the American public would have rebelled at the new, more eco-style packaging. Rather, I think it's worth applause. Now if only the price were affordable. Unfortunately, cost has made them out of my league now.

More on Today

The rainy drizzle has stopped, allowing the dogs some time outside, and I'm still watching Here's Lucy and enjoying it, but I decided to come back and ramble some more about today's happenings.

Lately, my browser is crashing a lot and I haven't been able to figure out why. It's really frustrating. One of the things I did to try to eliminate problems was make sure that all of my extensions and plug ins are up to date. All but two were, and I don't think those are responsible. I need to figure this out, though.

While looking around, I came upon Java PDF. I wish I'd found it earlier because my sister has been looking for exactly this kind of information. Better late than never, I suppose. I've been curious about how to make PDFs, too. Maybe now I'll learn.

For those wondering, my hands are a lot better, but there's still some lingering redness, though very light, and the itcy scaliness is still around but nowhere near what it was at its worst. I had no idea it would take so long to get totally over that contact dermatitis. Part of me wonders if I've developed some little something about dust. I just emptied out the dust trap or whatever you call it for the dryer and it feels like my hands have reacted to that a little. Weird.

Until next time, smile!

Rain, Photos, and Here's Lucy

Its drizzling rain today which is better than when it pours. Still, I actually have gotten a lot done, tossing out some trash, doing some housecleaning, and making calls to people saying 'take me off the mailing lists.' Honestly, there is just too much junk mail out there. The poor trees.

While going through some things, I ended up looking at photos and remembering some fun times in the past. I really feel lucky to have had some treasured experiences -- a couple of great cruises, lots of celebrity events, meeting and sharing time with Patrick Swayze, having some fun at conventions with Michael Shanks, traveling around the USA, and so much more. Having the pictures to look back on is just awesome.

The photo world has changed a lot now, too. These days photo printing is more technological, sharp, and easier in some aspects. Remember all of those 35mm rolls of film? I still have some, but I'm not sure there is any place to get them developed anymore. Everything is digital now it seems.

Off I go to watch more of Here's Lucy, a show I haven't seen in years now. I'm really enjoying it, though.

Brown Takes Away Cell Phones and other News

It's been an interesting news day in California, and it began with Governor Jerry Brown signing the order to take away roughly 48,000 cell phones from state employees. He even turned in his own phone. I love this. I'm all for it, and the move to reduce the driver's pool. It's time the state government learned how to operate like the rest of us. I suspect that all of their car use isn't necessary, not in this age of videoconferencing and other technology.

Go Jerry!

Then there was the report about the smart meter issue. It really didn't conclude anything, though. Requested by a couple of politicians in response to complaints, the report said there wasn't a correlation between the meters and health issues reported by homeowners. At the same time, it said more study was necessary.

Now that was waste of energy, in more ways than one.

And Michael Douglas says his tumor is gone. I'm not a fan per se, but for anyone, this is good news. I also hope that he moves forward in becoming a better father to his son, who really needs a dad who is present in his life.

Congratulations, Michael.

Swayze Checks, More SG-1, and Just Rambling

It's the wee hours and I couldn't sleep so I got up to surf around on the computer while watching some classic shows on DVD. Right now I have Branded on. That was the 2 year military western series that starred Chuck Connors. It's pretty good.

Part of my surfing earlier was for office supplies and equipment. I was just looking to see what was out there, for things like file folders, notebooks, and checks. It's the kind of thing you have to stay on top of to make sure you don't run out.

I love getting customized personal checks, too. I have had all kinds during my life. I had ones with Patrick Swayze on them for a time. Those made for great conversation pieces. Of course, there have been some scenic checks and dog ones, too. It just gives paying the bills some pizzazz.

A few other odds and ins: the dogs are getting used to their new outdoor automatic water filler, and that's making me happy big time. I saw two fun episodes of Stargate SG-1 tonight. I really do miss that show when it was at its best. Finally, it's still cold as can be -- low 40's during the day. Brrrr!

Brrrr, it's Cold!

I am so glad that I don't live in the snow trodden areas of the country. I can't imagine what that would be like. It's cold enough here where it's low 50's during the the day and in the 30's at night. The good news is that this cold won't last long.

I'm watching an old western on DVD right now. It's called The Restless Gun. I've only just seen one episode until now. John Payne is the star. He's probably best known as the lawyer and romantic lead for Maureen O'Hara in Miracle on 34th Street. I haven't seen enough yet to see if I like it.

What I do like are automatic water feeders. Why didn't I try these out before? What a convenient item to have. I acquired one for the dogs for inside the house over the holidays and that has been so terrific that I just got them one for outside. They are still getting used to that one, but they are using it. This makes me a happy camper.

Speaking of happy campers, it's been fun to see some of the vintage year episodes of Stargate SG-1 on the SyFy again. I saw Enemy Mine the other day and just roared when Jack told Daniel to go to his happy place.

Have a great day!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Everyone. Here's hoping that 2011 is better than anyone can imagine!

Just a reminder for classic TV lovers, AntennaTV is now on the air. This is an over the air FREE channel. Some cable systems will pick it up, but this is a great new station offering 24/7 of classic TV like Father Knows Best, Dennis the Menace, The Flying Nun, Gidget, Here Come the Brides, The Three Stooges, and more. Forget TV Land; get AntennaTV!

Stargate Universe Dies; Is there hope for an SG-1 Movie?

The Stargate Universe was dealt a blow when SyFy confirmed cancellation today of Stargate Universe. Personally, I'm thrilled. I didn't like that show at all, and I do blame it for keeping the Stargate SG-1 movie from getting done.

Is the Stargate legacy finally over? Or will fans, maybe, just maybe, now get the long awaited SG-1 movie? This was to be the swan song in a way, a team movie that would heavily weigh on Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O'Neill. It was to be one final romp, the way fans want it, through the universe.

The only thing I fear about such a movie is what the unpredictable producers might do with the 'ship' element, that being the relationship between Jack and Sam Carter (Amanda Tapping). I would hate to see anything devoted to that. Even 30 seconds or a mere mention would be too much.

What I want to see is the team, exploring. I want to see Jack and Daniel (Michael Shanks) with their caring friendship that had them sometimes butting heads, but being best friends. I wish Jonathan Glassner would produce the movie.

It may be time has marched on, but with the end of SGU, it gives fans just a hint of a prayer that maybe this promised movie could get made.

Swayze Fans Go Big

I just love this little piece of history. Fans of Patrick Swayze, who died from pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009, set a world record on the 14th in 2010. The record is for setting the most comments on a single Facebook page. The number was a resounding 10,260. This is an official Guinness World Record.

Swayzemaniacs Rule!

Holiday Joy

I'm sitting here watching the last episode of Larry King Live. He sure has a lot of name power on in this hour. It's been amazing.

I've also been thinking about the holidays and all the traveling that friends are doing. Wouldn't it be neat to find some cozy chalet to visit and perhaps spend a nice Christmas in? I've never done that, but I think it would be awesome.

The season has been full of so many inspirational moments, with people jumping in to help out their fellow human beings. That's been needed since we've had some horror in the news as well.

All of that makes me yearn for that holiday chalet even more!

Doggie Reminder for the Holidays

Just a quick note while I'm thinking of it. Poinsettias are pretty, but for older pets or those more sensitive, they can be dangerous. From the ASPCA, the short version is:

Poinsettia

Scientific Name:

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Toxicity:

Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats

Toxic Principles:

Irritant Sap (latex)

Clinical Signs:

Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity.

Smiles and Laughter

Last night I watched the Fallen and Homecoming episodes of Stargate SG-1. These are the first two shows from the 7th year when Michael Shanks returned to the series after having been gone, well, in a way, for a season. It was also the two parter that, thankfully, resulted in Corin Nemec's Jonas Quinn character leaving forever (except for one show later on).

I so hated that Jonas Quinn character. As Daniel (Shanks' role) stated, he was 'upbeat' in what felt like an unrealistic manner. He was always smiling, and that drove me nuts, too. Of course, it's just the manner in which the character was introduced that did the most harm.

Still, I'd love to have a fantasy moment when my hero would just slug those grinning moments and do some damage to those pearly white teeth. It's just fantasy, and after all, Daniel would never approve of such violence. Besides, Daniel was back, and his smile was ten times better.

Smiles are a great thing to have, though. I believe in them big times. They come with laughter and I'm an even bigger believer in laughing. We need to laugh; it's healthy, and that's why I'd never have my hero really punch out Jonas; well, maybe in fan fiction. :}

Choices

Oh my aching back. It's probably a combination of having osteoarthritis and having too much poundage, but no matter why, I hate it when my back aches. Actually, I hate it when anything aches.

I've never done any kind of chiropractic activity, though friends of mine have. I guess the closest I've come to anything like that was a massage at work. Everyone got them as a reward for a job well done one year.

Any time there is something that needs rehabilitating, serious thought should be given to how it's done, rather someone chooses to go to a professional or just hops into a hot tub. Sometimes we do more harm to ourselves than we realize.

At any rate, moving slow and steady works for mild cases, too.

Speaking of moving, I think I'll be moving on over to the bed. It's late, and I'm tired.

Sleep well!

Dreary Day But An Okay Day, Too

It's been a pleasant and calm Saturday around here. It was actually a little bleary outside, but inside, the holiday movies were playing pretty much all day, with an exception or two.

One of those was watching Powder Blue, a movie I'd never watched before, but since Patrick Swayze was in it, I knew that sooner or later, I'd have to watch. Let's just say it's not his finest movie, but I do understand why he participated in the project. His widow, Lisa, was one of four people honored this week at an AARP function. All are active in some medical concern or another. She was in good company as the other 3 were Tony Danza, Henry Winkler, and Joy Behar.

That's about it for now. I'm off to watch more TV and surf the net some more.

Shanks: Pro at Dying

I just had to write a short post on this because I thought it was sensational. If you haven't yet watched Smallville's show from last night called Icarus, it's an absolute must. It's not just that Lois and Clark finally became engaged, but it was Michael Shanks' final portrayal as Hawkman, known as Carter Hall in day to day life.

Shanks best known role is that of Daniel Jackson, archaeologist on Stargate SG-1. Daniel died, didn't die, died, oops, not dead, died, ascended, nope, he's back, died ... well, you get the idea. His 'death' happened so often it became a joke to many.

Well, last night Carter Hall in full Hawkman attire moved on, so to speak, and in doing so he uttered the absolute best line: "I'm a pro at dying." Now come on, any SG-1 fan had to do what I did -- laugh, and laugh hard. It made what happened to Carter so much easier to deal with. This is science fiction: Hawkman will be back.

I just really want to know if Shanks or any member of the Smallville cast didn't have some fun with that line. The beneath the surface meaning of it was just a hoot.

Fess up -- didn't you laugh?

Shanks on Smallville, and more

It's Friday! Everyone loves a Friday because it's the beginning of the weekend. I certainly can't argue with that. What's fun about this particular Friday is that tonight is Michael Shanks' last appearance on Smallville. He plays Carter Hall aka: Hawkman. The episode is entitled Icarus, and it should be a good one.

My latest neat gadget that I'm growing to love a lot -- the personal heater. It cuts back on the central heat bills, is safer than a space heater, and it keeps me warm. It won't heat up a room, but it keeps me toasty, and that is what counts.

Have you heard that Kelsey Grammer is engaged already, before his divorce is even final? I can't even say I was surprised. These days, people don't even bother to be separated first (think LeAnn Rimes). This creates a lot of business for lawyers.

I really wish folks would put more efforts into their relationships. We just give up too easily. Part of it is the mobile aspect of our modern living. That's why I tend to be more traditional. Maybe things are just too easy.

Online Education 101

Have you ever taken a course online or maybe even obtained a degree in cyberspace? There are so many opportunities now to get educated and learn. Sometimes it is expensive, but it is definitely convenient. One has to be smart, though, and make sure they are working with a credible institution.

A family member is now actually teaching for one of the online schools, and so it's been an education seeing what it is like from her perspective. Believe me, these teachers are doing a lot of work on the other end of that webcam.

It's worldwide, too, and students can get everything they need with just a click of a link. It's so cool.

I've never actually taken a course online, but I've investigated it before. It is opening up a lot of opportunities.

O'Hara's Ireland

I'm happily enjoying a view of Miracle on 34th Street at the moment. Actually, I'm listening to some commentary that Maureen O'Hara did back in 2006. I adore O'Hara. I had the pleasure of meeting her very briefly many years ago, and she was just so sweet and nice.

O'Hara lives in Ireland, and I deeply associate the country with her. She's fiery, just like her red hair, and she's done many films that capitalized on that Irish head of steam.

Her commentary on this classic picture is spry, just like she is. I think I'll go back and listen to it some more, and maybe fantasize about staying in one of those Irish cottages.

Sound is so Important

I mentioned earlier that I'd done some Black Friday shopping. One of the buys I acquired was a 19" flatscreen TV. It isn't an expensive one, just one of those things that if it lasts a year, that's good. However, I forgot about sound issues. This I should have learned from my first flatscreen computer monitor, purchased earlier in 2010.

So, I'm pleased with the TV, but the sound is just weird. What I need is a good pair of TV speakers to augment it and make it more normal and pleasing to the ear. What I like about this site is that they give reviews on speakers for various types of televisions, like plasma and LCD. There's even a wireless category, so it's completely up to date.

Speakers can sometimes be overlooked; that is, until you turn on that new television. I'm glad to have this site to go to now to help me make a decision on what kind of speakers or speaker system I need to purchase.

Happy Holidays

I hope everyone has survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I actually shopped a bit myself for the very first time on those days. However, I did it from the comfort of home.

I'm adding a ton of reviews and such over on Bukisa, so please use the box on the right hand column of this page to check out the latest.

Don't forget to utilize the Amazon banner at the right to shop as well. It definitely helps me out.

December 10 is Michael Shanks' final guest spot on Smallville, and it promises to be good and emotional both.

Until later!

Frustrated with Palin's Influence

I have to tell you that as much as I was pleased to see Jennifer Grey move to the finals of Dancing with the Stars, that I was also shocked and dismayed to see Brandy voted off. Sarah Palin's covert mission to get her daughter to victory is a sad state of affairs.

Look, I think Bristol has come a long, long way. She's a ton better than when she started, but she is not better than the others in the top 3 nor is she better than some of those already voted off. She's been in the bottom 2 for something like 7 weeks. That says something.

Mama Palin isn't doing her daughter a favor, either. This is a real travesty. I don't blame Bristol except that I think she is starting to buy into the trash that she is being given from Mom and dancing pro, Mark Ballas. It's enough to make you wonder if something is going on between the dancing team besides dancing.

Brandy deserved to be in the finals, along with Jen. It should have been those two battling it out. Instead, it very well could be a joke, and if Bristol wins, it is a joke.

On another subject, one of my favorite websites just launched a new logo for their home base. It just really drives home how important logos are to company identity. When you're online, it's even more impressive if the logo changes to match holidays and such.

A logo is like a big billboard. Do it right, and travelers will seek you out. Do it right, there's always the guy down the road.

Finally, my contact dermatitis is still hanging on a bit. The swelling is pretty much down, but my hand is still a nice deep pink shade, and I have to say that it itches like heck sometimes. Now I think I have a tooth about to explode in achy breaking style, too. When it hits, it hits.

Until next time!

Lighting the Shanks Way

It's Monday and it was an incredibly pleasant day -- mid to high seventies in this part of the world and not far away, it was even low 80's. Unreal weather!

The result was a nice, bright house, which is always good. I wish I could figure out a way to light my living room. The place has never had any overhead lighting, and lamps just aren't feasible. Track lighting would be ugly, but I've always wanted something better.

Right now, I have a floor lamp by one chair that does some good, but that still leaves the rest of the room with deplorable lighting conditions.

Maybe one of these days I'll get to a store somewhere and be able to find some decent lighting. Any suggestions out there? Of course, my budget is just about zilch, so that puts a damper on doing much of anything.

By the way, for Michael Shanks fans, he has several things popping up on TV in the next few weeks. Take a look at my post over at DTV about it. I'm quite excited.

Be back with more later!

The Tablet and More

It's 4 a.m. and all is well. I may be tired, but I don't seem to be falling asleep, so here I am, typing away on my desktop computer. What would life be like without computers?

It's hard to believe that we now have a generation of kids who don't have a clue what life was like without computers. This must be how adults felt at the turn of the century as new contraptions like phones and cars became a staple of everyday life.

I remember well my first computer, purchased long before the Internet was active like we know it today. There was access, though, to databases and such. I recall paying for a couple of services back when I had my Kaypro. Anyone remember Kaypro? That thing rocked for its day.

Now we laptops, notebooks, and netbooks. Tablet computers are the newest thing. I see those advertised and can't help but wonder if they are as cool as they look.

Then there's the future. Who knows what it will hold!

Today's News

I've just finished watching the results show for Dancing with the Stars. Bristol Palin was saved again. Look, there is no way that on her own she has that kind of fan base. This is all her mother, and I don't buy Bristol's innocent act that she has no clue what is going on. If she really thinks that way, she has one very huge ego.

Donny Osmond had one of the best organized 'vote for me' when he was on, and that came from 50 years of performing. Bristol had a baby while unwed. That's her claim to fame. This is all Sarah Palin's doing, and she's lying if she denies it.

That's my two cents on it. Bristol should have been gone at least 4 weeks ago.

On the NASCAR front, I was glad to see that Kyle Busch was fined for giving the finger to a NASCAR official. While I didn't buy his average apology after the race, his statement since then seemed more sincere.

I was also glad to see that the Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton fight didn't rank a comment, penalty wise. Have at it, boys!

I had a phone call from someone wanting to know if I wanted to invest in gold. Uh, sure. One problem: I need the money to invest with. That was my chuckle of the day.

That's it for this check in. Come back soon!

Dermatitis Update

My contact dermatitis is better, but still there. I can't describe to everyone just how nasty this has been. My right hand especially has been effected. It ballooned so much. I was so scared I went to urgent care, even though I don't have any health insurance. Fortunately, the medication has taken the swelling down significantly.

For a while, I couldn't even type. The hand is still bigger, but I can make a fist again and type much easier than for the last couple of weeks. It's still a bit red. I actually called the facility today to check with them about it. They say it's normal and to keep monitoring, so as long as it's getting better, that's good. If it doesn't get back to normal in another week or so, I may have to go back.

Insurance is such a hot topic again now, especially after the recent elections. I'm not sure anyone knows what will happen.

Of course, along with health insurance, we have auto, home, life, boat, umbrellas ... wow, the list goes on. Every where we turn there is a place to check out.

I used to work in insurance so I know all about the peace of mind that comes with it and the reasons for having it. Still, sometimes it isn't easy to get and even if you can, there's a price tag.

That's it for this post. Keep on the look out for more. I'm in a typing mood after having been contained for a couple of weeks with that swollen hand!

Question about Window Coverings

I'm really curious about something and I haven't had time to research it, so maybe someone knows the answer. For years, I've been dealing with a super hot portion of my house. Most of my readers know about the turmoil that has presented. Well, slowly, I've done things to help it get to a tolerable level. Actually, this summer I purchased a whole house fan and that thing is terrific!

Still, I know there is more I can do, but my question is about shutters and other window coverings. I know that shutters and blinds etc. are made to keep out light. The room darkening ones help keep the sun's rays out, but are any of these made to repel the heat at all? I'm just curious if there is something out there that I could put up that might make my situation even better.

Summer is over, of course, but it'll be back soon enough, so it's never a wrong time to think about this.

If anyone knows the answer, please let me know.

Falling back and time

I'm back for more ramblings!

My mother loved grandfather clocks and she always wanted one. Unfortunately, we never were able to get one, but I think they are cool, too.

I recall an episode of The Twilight Zone with Ed Wynn that featured one, and that intrigued me. NASCAR has a race that gives away a grandfather clock for winning, too. That's at Martinsville.

Who knows what the future holds. In the meantime, I can surf around and 'cyber' shop.

Speaking of time, did everyone remember to fall back an hour with their clocks over the weekend? I've known people to forget for days. Actually, I still have two clocks to change. Time. It all takes time!

From NASCAR to Surfing

It's been an eventful couple of days. I was really surprised by the NASCAR Texas race on Sunday. It was full of surprises and excitement, only a lot of was off the track, like Kyle Busch giving the NASCAR officials the finger and Jeff Gordon pushing back Jeff Burton after crashing out.

On another topic, anyone watching Dr. Phil? I'm beginning to question the topics of the shows. I just feel like there's been a lot of 'drama' without resolution. It almost seems like it's becoming a soap opera.

Have a great day and I'll chat with you again soon!

Read My Bukisa and Try it Yourself!

Happy Weekend! It's still beautiful out where I am, but they say the rain is coming. Bah humbug! Let the pleasantness continue.

I wanted to take a few moments today to remind folks to check out my ramblings and reviews and such over on Bukisa. I've been writing there off and on for a while, but I'm placing a new emphasis on it now. There you can read my movie and TV reviews, my reactions to products I try, and, much like you do here on my blog, my opinions and responses to current events.

For example, some of my recent additions to Bukisa include:

**Why Buying Store Brands Can be a Smart Move
**$140 million Ways to Lose an Election
**How to Make Decorated Pine Cones
**Sacramento Mayor Shows Arrogance
**Stargate SG-1: Thor's Hammer
**The Actors of Alias Smith and Jones
**The Beast - pilot

Please drop on by and help me out by supporting my writing on Bukisa. It does help.

Also, writing for Bukisa is terrific and easy to do. If you'd like to try it, please use my referral link and write away. That helps me out, too! Just click on the link and check it out:

The Mourning of the Appliances

Who'd believe it? I have to chuckle. Like I said recently, I've had some amazingly nice things happen over the last month, and then I've also had some crappy stuff happen. For example, my compact refrigerator died, and I can't afford to replace that. I figured out workarounds and just decided I had to get use to not having this convenient appliance. Besides, the important thing is that my main refrigerator in the kitchen is still working beautifully.

Okay, so I'm a night owl and in the middle of the night I decided to microwave a Deli creation sandwich. Oh my goodness. You wouldn't believe the sound my microwave made. I thought it was going to blow up. So, now I'm without the microwave. It was a really nifty little microwave, a Westinghouse, that I got on sale a decade or so ago. So, it lasted a long time, but now it's gone, too. I am majorly bummed because I really need to replace it. Oh well. I'll just have to survive without.

Night is over and a new day is dawning. The sun is coming out, and it's supposed to be a nice day, temperature wise. That's exactly what I need.

Now it's time to move onward with the day. Goodbye microwave, hello ... well, who knows! The day is young!

Money Can't Buy California

The election craze is over, and I have to admit to being proud of California that they did not let Meg Whitman buy us for $140 million. Just think what good that money could have done. Warm meals, beds, shoes: how the homeless and needy could have benefited from these millions used for status and power. Like I said, regardless of who the opposition was, I am proud of my state for not being bought by this woman.

Right now, I have more greasy goop on my hands as I continue to deal with this contact dermatitis. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, especially when typing has to be done on my nails practically. Ugh.

I've been going through some things. I have so much junk it's ridiculous. I've had to go slowly, though, because of my hands. At any rate, I came across some business cards I forgot I had. I love business cards. They are great ways to remember places visited as well as for social and business networking.

It doesn't matter whether they are from plumbers, junk dealers, or action figure vendors, I keep cards for a very long time before tossing them. You just never know when you might need to contact one of those folks.

The dogs are sleeping, and I'm thinking it might be time for me to follow suit. Have a wonderful Wednesday all!

This and That - I'm Back

Wow, what a month plus. I've had some wonderful highs and some really nasty lows. It's been a bit of everything. After being sick for a couple of weeks plus, I recovered nicely only to end up with the nastiest case of contact dermatitis. It has been very painful at times and difficult to type.

In fact, it still isn't easy to type all the way. My hands were extremely swollen. I even went to the doctor which I just seldom do, but I was one scared puppy. Fortunately, the swelling is down, but my hands still have redness and they are very scaley and scabby, which really makes things difficult.

That said, it's time to try to get back out there before people think I've disappeared from life. I posted a bunch of new reviews over at Review Stream in between doing little hand exercises.

It's also election day. I voted via absentee ballot and have it all out of my head now. I can't tell you how tired I am of politics, especially all of those ridiculous flyers and negative commercials. Enough already. Can we get back to regular junk mail, please.

I've also been watching the news and seeing more recalls on everything from cars to baby strollers. Yikes -- that's not a good thing. It's not a condemnation of the equipment really, but it means parents, be sure. Test things out and never assume.

I'm enjoying the new re-think of Hawaii Five-0, so heartily recommend it if you haven't tried it out yet. I also enjoyed Outlaw and The Whole Truth, but sadly, they've been canceled. Oh, and if you haven't seen Jennifer Love Hewitt's goodbye video done a week or two ago on the about to the struck down set of Ghost Whisperer, check it out.

I hope not to be such a stranger, and I hope someone is reading out there! Happy November!

Dreams of all Kinds

It's been a long day, and I have to say that I killed my back and legs by trying to do too much. Ouch! It's enough to convince me to go to bed early and hope that all is better on the morrow.

Hey, when I was coming home from running an errand today I saw someone loading up their RV. I don't know these folks, but I have seen this RV several times over the last few years. How cool would that be to just be able to travel across the USA in an RV?

I'm a big NASCAR fan and a lot of the commentators are apparently big fans of this traveling style as well because they talk about it quite a bit. I do notice ads a lot about RVs and I often think about how neat that would be.

Dreams! They are sweet things, and I have plenty of them. In fact, slumberland dreams are calling me now!

Catching up with the world

There is also so much else going on in the world right now. I am so excited that the miners in Chile should be freed by the end of the week. Is that a miracle, or what? I truly believe that prayers around the world were a factor in the success here. They aren't safe yet by any means, but it's a good deal.

In California, there was the case of a stranger abduction of a little girl. They issued an Amber alert but couldn't post on the freeways because they didn't have a license number. They did, however, have a description of the abductor's truck, and the media aired this story repeatedly.

As a result, a man recognized the truck and saw the little girl inside. He bravely tried to stop the truck and did so until the abductor did stop and pushed the little girl out before speeding off. What a hero! He probably saved that little girl from death. It makes me shiver.

For me, this is insurance season, too. That means it's time to re-up on my automobile and homeowners insurance, as well as my road travel.

Also on a personal front, the dogs are great and continue to give me such joy. I just couldn't imagine life without such unconditional love and joy. My fan fic writing also continues. In fact, I just published a long anniversary story for the main characters.

So, all in all, things are going in the right direction.

Until later, stay safe and I hope you'll come back for more later.

Back for a New TV Season

Welcome to a new TV season, everyone! As Fall has begun to settle in, I've been away. No, not on vacation but I was sick, sick, sick for over two weeks and then I had days of internet problems and a potential router/modem issue. Sheez, none of that was fun!

I've had several new shows that I've been interested in -- Hawaii 5-0, Outlaw, and even The Defenders. The thing with these last two shows is that they have some great court moments, but the little personal issues that surround the real drama are distracting and unnecessary. If they can find a balance, both shows could be keepers.

With my weird schedule of late, I've also spent more time watching shows on the internet. It's not just Hulu that has TV opportunities, but other sites like TV Online as well. Sometimes I'd rather go these sites than watch new shows, especially when you look at what some of the new comedies are. They just don't work for me.

I am admittedly very traditional, and I like having safe TV options, shows to watch for the whole family. We need more of these for sure.

By the way, Outlaw, which stars Jimmy Smits, is on the verge of cancellation, so give it a shot before NBC pulls the plug on it. They are watching the ratings for the next month and will make a decision based on that.

TVs and Other Furniture Issues

It's been a nice day and evening. With the windows open to let in the fresh air, I watched a lot of programming, either live or taped, like the Big Brother season finale, which was pretty interesting, and the current episode of Project Runway which was more confusing than anything else.

I'll tell you what is odd, though, is that so much now I prefer watching shows on my monitor for the computer because it's so dang much clearer than my old projection TV screen. I love that TV, but it's just old and it's not sharp or true to color anymore. I am really hoping to somehow manage buying a new TV at the end of the year. It'll be an up to date flat screen.

Of course, that brings its own problems because I need a table or stand to put the new TV on. I don't want to hang it on the wall and where it needs to go, there really isn't room for it.

So, that means it will also be time to go shopping. Furniture shopping can be fun. I don't want anything too crazy and it has to be inexpensive. It would be nice to have a somewhat slender (by that I mean less than a foot deep) unit to rest the new TV on. If it had a couple of shelves for DVD and VCR units, that would be cool.

I also desperately need a new office chair. The only I have is broken and won't stay in place. It slides down all the time. The bad news is that I can't afford any of this right now, but soon, I do hope.

Friday looks to be a busy day here. Keep it safe, folks!

Cooking and Swayze

Welcome to another Wednesday, and that means halfway through the big work week. For me, it's been a little different. September 14th was the one year passing of Patrick Swayze. I'd met him several times, and he was such a nice, fun man. I miss him, and it's just hard to believe that he isn't still out there making movies.

So, deep breath, and on we go to other things. I've been watching the new Home segment on the Hallmark Channel. This is daytime block of roughly three hours that will be expanding in January. Right now, it's begun with Martha Stewart's show, then some ridiculous talk show by these two thirty-something women who annoy me greatly, and then it has a couple of cooking shows, but the best one is called Mad Hungry, featuring a woman named Lucinda.

I love Lucinda. She's the most likable cooking host I've seen, though I must admit to not really being a fan of cooking shows. However, I have gotten more experimental over the last couple of years, and I am learning some things from her. That says a lot.

Of course, the more involved in cooking like some of these chefs we see on TV, the more complex the shopping becomes, rather you're buying ingredients or equipment, online or in retail stores. For me, I like quick and easy, minimal prep time, and little or no cleanup, and that is not easy to find.

Lucinda cooked up two dishes today that I really think I'm going to try at some point, and that's hard to believe for me. One was an egg/bacon/cheese breakfast sandwich that has a twist to it that her son added and the other is a spaghetti carbonara, and I adore spaghetti.

So, who knows. Maybe I'll tune in some more. She's been the spark of midday for me this week.

That's it for now. Remember Patrick and donate to Stand Up 2 Cancer or the Pancreatic Cancer Network. Patrick's widow, Lisa Niemi, is now an official spokesperson for them.

From 9/11 to a Swayze Remembrance

Hello everyone. First, I would be remiss not to acknowledge this day. 9/11 is a solemn day. Any time I hear that date, my heart sinks. I've watched some of the programs about the tragedies of that day in 2001, and each one makes me feel lucky to be alive to be a part of a nation with such wonderful heroes. So, please pause to remember, and then honor those who lost their lives by moving forward and being the best we can be. Let's roll with life!

There was a story on the news this past week about relationships and it talked a little about how times have changed and how so many people now meet online via dating groups. There are numerous ones of those and apparently these sites are definitely leading to romance and marriage.

I remember when social networking was before the internet as we know it now. People needed to be very suspect and protective when meeting strangers from all over. That's still true, but a lot of the dating sites have more security than they used to. It is hard to meet new people today as well. It was just interesting to me to see this news story discussing it.

Stand Up 2 Cancer aired last night, and I was so deeply touched to see Lisa Niemi there talking about her husband, Patrick Swayze. It caught me a little off guard, and I must admit to shedding some tears when they showed a clip of Patrick from the original telethon special two years ago. He was such a wonderful man. I can't believe he's been gone a year (as of September 14th). He and Lisa had one of the best romances ever.

It is truly a weekend of memories.

Gotta Love Being in Love

Good morning, Campers! It's Thursday, and it's a pleasant day here on the west coast. We're having my kind of weather right now, and I am definitely enjoying it while it lasts.

There is an abundance of romance in the air around here. No, not in our house. Well, there's some of that, of course, but I am really referring to friends and even those in our local media market. Several of the female anchors, for example, are either engaged or pregnant. Something must be in the air of that newsroom

Of course, maybe they are just utilizing their resources. We have a lot of advertising for matchmaking sites. It's not hard to imagine that singles with commonalities want to meet up and end up falling in love.

This world is so crazy that it's easier to go through it with someone special, and happy endings are just the best.

I love love, as they say. Cliche or not, it definitely makes the world go round!

Personalize It!

Recently I was looking at my stamps as I pulled out one to mail a letter. The stamps are in the image of my dogs. They just make me smile big time. Of course, I don't know that anyone else who handles the mail realizes who is in the picture, but I do.

Personalization is something most of us love to see. I haven't often gotten them, but personalized Christmas cards with photographs and such have been most fun to receive. There's something about getting a card with a friend's photo on there that gives it an extra zing.

I also like photo postcards. They really make it special. One of the ways is to pick out that favorite vacation shot and then put it on a postcard and send it around. I did that once, a long time ago.

Okay, I'm a sucker for the personalized things, be it T-shirts, pencils, or postcards. We're so commercial today that when something can add personality to a communication, I'm all for it.

As for my dog stamps, I plan on keeping at least one just for the fun of it!

Mountains and Air

What a day it was today. We almost reached triple digits, but not quite. Meanwhile, it was hard to ignore the troubled east coast with Hurricane Earl beginning to beat down on them. The place to be in my book was the Sierras.

The mountains had the best weather, in the seventies. Now that's my style.   It all evokes images of Yosemite or even Mount Diablo. Peaceful moments, open air, and Mother Nature. That works for me. Wouldn't it be nice to be part of an Ansel Adams photograph?

I'm definitely ready for those hot days to roll on by and let's get back to the fun days of fall.