I made a huge error. I said Matt was in the bottom three of American Idol. Wrong. It was Anoop.
It still should have been Kris.
Sorry about that.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
American Idol
Did you know part of the world did not see Adam's total performance or see Simon give him a standing ovation? Tuesday night the show ran long and DVRs weren't set for extra time. ( After missing an ending of AI years ago, we always set our TIVO for 10 minutes more. )
We worried that Adam wouldn't get the votes, how would AI handle it fairly? If he were low would he get an automatic save because of the screw up? Well, he was the first one saved. And they didn't bring up the glitch. So he must have had lots of votes.
And the bottom three: Scott, Matt, and Lil. I can't stand Matt, but he is and was so much better than Kris, who was awful Tuesday. Lil was poor on Tuesday and Scott was boring and just mediocre. Again America put someone there who shouldn't have been, Matt.
Who went home? Scott. He is weaker than the others. No star potential. His blindness was not why he should go home. His blindness kept him on longer than he should have been. There are incredible blind musicians. But they have personality, depth, something extra.
Hopefully Lil received a scare and will up her game. She has just been sliding through.
Adults vote! The Teeny Boppers are putting the cutest in the top. They aren't voting for talent.
We worried that Adam wouldn't get the votes, how would AI handle it fairly? If he were low would he get an automatic save because of the screw up? Well, he was the first one saved. And they didn't bring up the glitch. So he must have had lots of votes.
And the bottom three: Scott, Matt, and Lil. I can't stand Matt, but he is and was so much better than Kris, who was awful Tuesday. Lil was poor on Tuesday and Scott was boring and just mediocre. Again America put someone there who shouldn't have been, Matt.
Who went home? Scott. He is weaker than the others. No star potential. His blindness was not why he should go home. His blindness kept him on longer than he should have been. There are incredible blind musicians. But they have personality, depth, something extra.
Hopefully Lil received a scare and will up her game. She has just been sliding through.
Adults vote! The Teeny Boppers are putting the cutest in the top. They aren't voting for talent.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
April 8, 2009: Lunch and Monsters
Today we celebrated 42 years of marriage. Most of it has been very good, even excellent in some cases. Marty's brother asked us one time how we had made it this long. Our answer was we had never been mad at the same time and lots of luck. Marriage is not easy, but well worth the trouble, heartache, and work. I am a very lucky woman. And Marty is a lucky man.
Today we went into San Francisco for lunch and whatever else we found to do. We ate at Foley's an old time SF bar. We like the food, love the Bloody Mary's, and hate the noise. Liquor and food always wins out.
We then went to see Monsters vs Aliens. It was 3D on an IMAX screen. This movie is way too good for children. The animation is fabulous. The lines in it are laugh out loud. It pays tribute to lots of movies: Dr. Strangelove, ET, Attack of the 50 foot Woman, The Blob, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Many others were there in music, jokes, fleeting scenes. Lots of fun things. One character was named General W.A.R. Monger. This is very cleverly written.
We checked out the spa in the Hilton. I had a gift certificate for a Swedish massage. I wanted to find out details, are appointments required etc. Thanks Luis and Richard. We then walked down to the Golden Gate Theatre to use a gift certificate to buy tickets for Spamalot. Thank you Phil and Lee.
We finally walked to BART (train system) and headed home. We got back to the car and Marty headed to the Berkeley Bowl to buy seafood for supper. He bought oysters, prawns, and scallops. We had a lovely meal.
As we were cleaning up we realized we had forgotten to do the ONE thing we wanted to do. We had such a fun day we forgot to go to Macy's to see the flower exhibit. I guess we will have to go back into the city and see the flowers.
It was a lovely 42nd anniversary.
Today we went into San Francisco for lunch and whatever else we found to do. We ate at Foley's an old time SF bar. We like the food, love the Bloody Mary's, and hate the noise. Liquor and food always wins out.
We then went to see Monsters vs Aliens. It was 3D on an IMAX screen. This movie is way too good for children. The animation is fabulous. The lines in it are laugh out loud. It pays tribute to lots of movies: Dr. Strangelove, ET, Attack of the 50 foot Woman, The Blob, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Many others were there in music, jokes, fleeting scenes. Lots of fun things. One character was named General W.A.R. Monger. This is very cleverly written.
We checked out the spa in the Hilton. I had a gift certificate for a Swedish massage. I wanted to find out details, are appointments required etc. Thanks Luis and Richard. We then walked down to the Golden Gate Theatre to use a gift certificate to buy tickets for Spamalot. Thank you Phil and Lee.
We finally walked to BART (train system) and headed home. We got back to the car and Marty headed to the Berkeley Bowl to buy seafood for supper. He bought oysters, prawns, and scallops. We had a lovely meal.
As we were cleaning up we realized we had forgotten to do the ONE thing we wanted to do. We had such a fun day we forgot to go to Macy's to see the flower exhibit. I guess we will have to go back into the city and see the flowers.
It was a lovely 42nd anniversary.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
April 7, 1967
Memories, memories.
It is a Friday night, April 7, 1967. We are at the First Christian Church in downtown Louisville. Everyone is dressed to the nines, men in suits and the women in dressy dresses, no hats because it is after 5:00. We have a minister, an organist, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, spouses of the wedding party. It is rehearsal night for our wedding.
I had been out of the hospital for less than a week. Threats had been made to call off the wedding because of my health. ( one of my students had given me the measles and I had had complications ). I am run down, I am close to losing it. I didn't know if I could handle the wedding ceremony wars. Can I get through the next 24 hours?
Parents are getting on my nerves. Friends are getting on my nerves. But this wedding is going to go on. I told the doctor if he had to wheel me in on a gurney I was not calling off the wedding. And it was going to be Marty's and my wedding, not a traditional wedding. We had few flowers, mainly greenery with lots of candles. And the music, not our parent's choice. I was going to come down the aisle to the wedding march from the Sound of Music. And we would recess to Trumpet Voluntarie. No singing, just classical music And then I started crying. Marty took over and told everyone what to do, where to walk, and nicely told parents to butt out.
I cried through the rehearsal, through the rehearsal dinner, and through the night. I so wanted to marry Marty but I was terrified of becoming an adult. My Mother stayed up with me most of the night and kept saying we will call off the wedding, it isn't too late. You do not have to marry that boy. And I would cry and say but I want to.
Now think about a woman who would say we will call off a wedding less than 10 hours before the guests arrive. That is a strong protective mother. If I hadn't gone through with it, she would have handled it. That was from a woman I have fought with since day 1 and still do. She does come through in the tough spots. And she was thrilled I didn't call off the wedding. She adores Marty.
It is a Friday night, April 7, 1967. We are at the First Christian Church in downtown Louisville. Everyone is dressed to the nines, men in suits and the women in dressy dresses, no hats because it is after 5:00. We have a minister, an organist, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, spouses of the wedding party. It is rehearsal night for our wedding.
I had been out of the hospital for less than a week. Threats had been made to call off the wedding because of my health. ( one of my students had given me the measles and I had had complications ). I am run down, I am close to losing it. I didn't know if I could handle the wedding ceremony wars. Can I get through the next 24 hours?
Parents are getting on my nerves. Friends are getting on my nerves. But this wedding is going to go on. I told the doctor if he had to wheel me in on a gurney I was not calling off the wedding. And it was going to be Marty's and my wedding, not a traditional wedding. We had few flowers, mainly greenery with lots of candles. And the music, not our parent's choice. I was going to come down the aisle to the wedding march from the Sound of Music. And we would recess to Trumpet Voluntarie. No singing, just classical music And then I started crying. Marty took over and told everyone what to do, where to walk, and nicely told parents to butt out.
I cried through the rehearsal, through the rehearsal dinner, and through the night. I so wanted to marry Marty but I was terrified of becoming an adult. My Mother stayed up with me most of the night and kept saying we will call off the wedding, it isn't too late. You do not have to marry that boy. And I would cry and say but I want to.
Now think about a woman who would say we will call off a wedding less than 10 hours before the guests arrive. That is a strong protective mother. If I hadn't gone through with it, she would have handled it. That was from a woman I have fought with since day 1 and still do. She does come through in the tough spots. And she was thrilled I didn't call off the wedding. She adores Marty.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Weddings, phone calls
Today I had a slow day marrying couples. They were all nice normal people with difficult names. Another United Nations day. I had two couples from India, a Mexican couple, nice white bread names and then the name none of us could pronounce. When I get a name I can't figure out, I always can find a clerk from that country who will help me write it phonetically. Names are important and I try to get them right before I call the couple. But this one no one could figure out. I finally went out to the clerk who had sold the license. She had asked how to pronounce the name and helped me write it phonetically. It was spelled Diacerial. And that would be pronounced Day Sheryl. She was thrilled I got it right.
When I got home I had several phone messages. The most important one was from lovely Deb in New Orleans. She just wanted to talk. It had been over two months since we had chatted. She wanted to know what was up in my life. I started telling her, sick the whole month of March, this happened, and that. And then I said just read my blog regularly and you will know everything. And she said, "No, I need to hear your voice." And that makes me cry.
When I got home I had several phone messages. The most important one was from lovely Deb in New Orleans. She just wanted to talk. It had been over two months since we had chatted. She wanted to know what was up in my life. I started telling her, sick the whole month of March, this happened, and that. And then I said just read my blog regularly and you will know everything. And she said, "No, I need to hear your voice." And that makes me cry.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Thoughts on love
I heard this on a cooking show yesterday while ironing. I have no idea the name of the show or the cook (she definitely was not a chef).
She was talking about cooking a special dinner with love. And then she said, "You know a man loves you if he lets you hold the remote." But the most profound thing she said was, "It is better to eat soup with someone you love, than steak with someone you hate."
We all have ways to show we love someone. I iron shirts. Marty washes windows. A friend has cut back on entertaining because her husband doesn't enjoy it. A person I know is a dog person, the spouse loves cats. They have a cat, they both love. Another person cooks food she hates for the man she loves. He cooks food she loves. We all do everyday things to show love. These are the important things in a relationship. Not the fancy dinner or flowers.
Well dinners and flowers are nice.
She was talking about cooking a special dinner with love. And then she said, "You know a man loves you if he lets you hold the remote." But the most profound thing she said was, "It is better to eat soup with someone you love, than steak with someone you hate."
We all have ways to show we love someone. I iron shirts. Marty washes windows. A friend has cut back on entertaining because her husband doesn't enjoy it. A person I know is a dog person, the spouse loves cats. They have a cat, they both love. Another person cooks food she hates for the man she loves. He cooks food she loves. We all do everyday things to show love. These are the important things in a relationship. Not the fancy dinner or flowers.
Well dinners and flowers are nice.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Damn, damn, double damn!
Background:
I iron my cotton and linen blouses and Marty's shirts. His shirts are 100% cotton, most are oxford cloth and they must be starched and ironed with a heavy iron. I starch them, sprinkle them, roll them up, put them in a plastic garbage bag, and let them sit over night. Then you begin ironing. Some shirts may take 10 minutes, some 20 minutes. So it is a little time consuming. Why you ask do I do this? Two reasons, I can save a lot of money if I iron and I am better at it than the laundry. I iron out wrinkles, not in.
Now on to the story.
Usually I iron downstairs but Marty was working at home and the TV would bother him . I brought up the over the door thingy that holds 10 hangers. It didn't fit the door upstairs well, but it worked. Today I spent all morning and into the early afternoon ironing. I took a couple of email breaks, but most of the time was getting ready to iron and ironing.
I ironed some blouses for me and I finished nine shirts for him. As I hung the last one up the #*+^ ### thingy fell off the door. All my freshly ironed shirts are in a heap. I swore very ugly unladylike words and nearly cried. Marty was nice and said that's OK they're fine. No they weren't. Every shirt had to be pressed off. Wrinkles had to be ironed out.
I need a "Poor BABY".
I iron my cotton and linen blouses and Marty's shirts. His shirts are 100% cotton, most are oxford cloth and they must be starched and ironed with a heavy iron. I starch them, sprinkle them, roll them up, put them in a plastic garbage bag, and let them sit over night. Then you begin ironing. Some shirts may take 10 minutes, some 20 minutes. So it is a little time consuming. Why you ask do I do this? Two reasons, I can save a lot of money if I iron and I am better at it than the laundry. I iron out wrinkles, not in.
Now on to the story.
Usually I iron downstairs but Marty was working at home and the TV would bother him . I brought up the over the door thingy that holds 10 hangers. It didn't fit the door upstairs well, but it worked. Today I spent all morning and into the early afternoon ironing. I took a couple of email breaks, but most of the time was getting ready to iron and ironing.
I ironed some blouses for me and I finished nine shirts for him. As I hung the last one up the #*+^ ### thingy fell off the door. All my freshly ironed shirts are in a heap. I swore very ugly unladylike words and nearly cried. Marty was nice and said that's OK they're fine. No they weren't. Every shirt had to be pressed off. Wrinkles had to be ironed out.
I need a "Poor BABY".
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Of course they closed. . .
A little background. Next week we will celebrate 42 years of marriage. In those 42 years we have rarely celebrated outside our home. Our first we had a picnic in the living room. It was 1968 and the race riots in Cincinnati had brought a 6:00 PM curfew for the two state area. The next year I broke my foot and I was 6 months pregnant. I wasn't real graceful on crutches. The next 8 or so years we had a child who had a smallpox vaccination, then bronchitis and pneumonia ( this was a result of severe allergies). Then throw in the years of no money, Marty traveling, being in middle of a move, and I had some health issues that cropped up. Every now and then we went out. Usually we celebrated at home and that was fine. We were together and that was the important thing.
We have reservations next Wednesday at Cafe Majestic. This restaurant is known for wonderful food, being quiet, being romantic, and not horribly expensive. It would be perfect. Except today it was announced, they are closed. I read it on the food critic's blog. And Marty received an email from Open Table stating the restaurant had closed. I am bummed!
So what will we do? Another restaurant? A movie and hot dogs and popcorn? Or will we cook some crab or lobster at home? We are still deciding.
We have reservations next Wednesday at Cafe Majestic. This restaurant is known for wonderful food, being quiet, being romantic, and not horribly expensive. It would be perfect. Except today it was announced, they are closed. I read it on the food critic's blog. And Marty received an email from Open Table stating the restaurant had closed. I am bummed!
So what will we do? Another restaurant? A movie and hot dogs and popcorn? Or will we cook some crab or lobster at home? We are still deciding.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
AND THEN THERE WERE EIGHT
Our not so secret vise, our guilty pleasure, the American Idol result show was on tonight. Ryan divided the 9 into three groups. We looked at them and it did not look like top, middle, and bottom. There were bad in each group. What's up? Well that is what they did, they had a bad in each group. The bottom three were Megan, Allison, and Anoop. OK two out of three is sort of right.
But Allison? She has been there before. WHY? She is a great rocker. She works the stage. She is great. But she doesn't have the following. She ended up safe. People, you have to vote for this girl. She is special. Do not let her be sent home before boring Scott. I am begging you, VOTE.
We have Megan who is mugging for the cameras. And Anoop. Both had been so bad the night before. Either one would be fine with me to go home. It was Megan. The judges were asked if they would save her if she performed well. They said they would not even bother to consider her again. She was to sing one last time as a farewell, not as a try to be saved.
Thank you America.
But Allison? She has been there before. WHY? She is a great rocker. She works the stage. She is great. But she doesn't have the following. She ended up safe. People, you have to vote for this girl. She is special. Do not let her be sent home before boring Scott. I am begging you, VOTE.
We have Megan who is mugging for the cameras. And Anoop. Both had been so bad the night before. Either one would be fine with me to go home. It was Megan. The judges were asked if they would save her if she performed well. They said they would not even bother to consider her again. She was to sing one last time as a farewell, not as a try to be saved.
Thank you America.
Weddings? Yes
I had two, count them, two weddings today. Who gets married on April Fool's Day?
Well the first couple's license was about to expire. It would cost another $84 to get another one. They were an "immigration" couple who have been together 10 years and have a child together. She is Canadian and here on a vacation visa. Right. Anyway she told me they wanted a quickie. I nearly choked. She meant a fast, short ceremony. So I did the 3 legal sentences and one introductory sentence. And then she was disappointed it was so short. No pleasing some people.
The other couple was Chinese. They both had been widowed. He was born in 1937 and she was born in 1945. They spoke no English. He was almost military, in fact he saluted me after shaking my hand. His son translated for them. She buttoned her groom's suit coat and smoothed his hair before the son took some pictures. And then we had the ceremony. They were so in love, and so tender and sweet. They laughed like teenagers during the ceremony.
Love is ageless.
Well the first couple's license was about to expire. It would cost another $84 to get another one. They were an "immigration" couple who have been together 10 years and have a child together. She is Canadian and here on a vacation visa. Right. Anyway she told me they wanted a quickie. I nearly choked. She meant a fast, short ceremony. So I did the 3 legal sentences and one introductory sentence. And then she was disappointed it was so short. No pleasing some people.
The other couple was Chinese. They both had been widowed. He was born in 1937 and she was born in 1945. They spoke no English. He was almost military, in fact he saluted me after shaking my hand. His son translated for them. She buttoned her groom's suit coat and smoothed his hair before the son took some pictures. And then we had the ceremony. They were so in love, and so tender and sweet. They laughed like teenagers during the ceremony.
Love is ageless.
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