Thanks to BobbyG!!!

Having a mellow day. Tomorrow is more cake and ice cream with the family - stepson, granddaughters, etc. But I've been getting nice birthday wishes from all and wanted to send a special thanks to BobbyG for the Smilebox card she sent me and for the wonderful birthday post on her blog, which you can find and enjoy here. All my favorites from LOCI. :-)

Will post more later. Just wanted to share that wonderful post and pics and send a very heartfelt THANKYOU!!! her way.

What Can I Say? Maureen Dowd Rocks!

I've posted about Maureen Dowd before because she's my favorite columnist. She does not disappoint and this week, she's come out with another winner. I love her biting wit and the way she totally gets after that awful Sarah Palin. Here's her latest entitled Sarah's Secret Diary. It will give you a good laugh to start your weekend. :-)

She also wrote another one entitled Now, Sarah's Folly. I have a lot of catching up to do in reading everything from friend sites to favorite columnists. Think I'm going to spend the weekend reading Maureen Dowd. She always makes me feel better.

Here's hoping Sarah will sink into obscurity. Somehow I doubt that but maybe, she'll be on her way to being the female Jerry Springer. All her fans are of that ilk anyway. The "I don't know who my baby daddy is" crowd. Or "My mother stole my boyfriend" or....well, you get the idea.

Btw, anyone who says Sarah is being treated badly and people are being mean spirited and hurtful to her needs to remember the mean spirited and hateful attitude she inspired and condoned and even encouraged during the presidential campaign. She can dish it out but can't take it. It's best she go away and stick to those who think she's wonderful. The rest of the country doesn't want her. You reap what you sow and she's reaped a lot of bad feelings and negativity. If I never hear her whiney-ass voice ever again, it won't be too soon.


[NP: Television - Marquee Moon]

Escaped the Birthday Ad....I Think

Today was Friday for me. Taking off tomorrow and Monday and the ENTIRE weekend. I was being very good about keeping my birthday quiet. Dennis in circulation asked me yesterday if I had celebrated my birthday yet and I told him it was none of his business and if he mentioned it to anyone he was a dead man. So I was concerned but no one said anything. My instincts told me I was lulling myself into a false sense of security.

My husband threatened to send a stripper. I told him I'd rather have chocolates - unless it was either Vincent D'Onofrio or Johnny Depp or....well, let's just leave it at those two for now, I was not interested in seeing any naked men. And besides, it would remind them that my birthday was coming up!!!

Didn't need to be in the office until about noon. I walked in and saw no signs. Those embarrassing signs that say "Everyone Wish Marsha a Happy 50th Birthday!" or "Guess How Old Marsha Is! Ask her!" and other things we do normally. I was feeling a sense of relief. The circulation guys said a normal 'hello' and not the smart-ass "Hey, you old fart!" greeting they give to people who hit landmark birthdays of 30, 40, 50 or 60.

With a feeling of confidence, I walked up to the front office and saw black streamers over my desk and this cake:

It's black balloons and the figure in the middle
is the Grim Reaper - for those who can't make it out.

Along with a card. Now most people would feel great and happy but I was suspicious. Where's the embarrassing ad with the photo of me looking angry enough to kill someone? (I always look like that in photos that's because that is my usual expression when someone takes my picture)

Wow, it was a miracle. They were just being nice! In their warped way, of course.

It was nice. No police tape around my desk, no unplugged keyboard or mouse or anything. So we had cake (don't forget to rinse out your mouth after eating black frosting or you will look really diseased and weird) and I was relieved. No embarrassing photos on my computer either. That's another thing you get surprised by.

The day progressed and as I was heading out of the office to start my weekend, someone told me to make sure I read the Saturday paper - the date of my actual birthday. Now I have to spend two days worried about what's going to be in it. They're evil people. I bet they won't even run an ad, just letting me worry about it because I'm not going to be there for four days. Bastards. I love them all - well, not all, but most.

So the weekend begins! May it be Palin-free and boycott Time for putting the self-serving, quitter on the cover. I'm actually pissed off about that. Renegade? I think not. She's just a QUITTER!!!


[NP: R.E.M. - Imitation of Life]

Better Late Than Never

You know how things get when you're turning 50, the mind is the first thing to go. So somehow, despite having mentioned it and realizing that July 5, was Kathryn Erbe's birthday, I went and forgot to do a birthday post. Last year I even made a slide show! *sigh*

So in lieu of anything remotely creative on my part - and I use the word creative rather loosely as it's not what I consider my forte, my forte being smart-ass comments that occasionally get me in trouble - I've asked untapdtreasure if it would be okay to post her tribute video here. I just saw it last night because despite the fact that she sent it to me on June 30, I didn't get around to watching it until then. Thought I 'd share it with anyone who still stops by here.




So a belated happy birthday to my favorite actress. I love it that my favorite actor (Vincent D'Onofrio for anyone who happens to not know me or have read my blog at all until this post) and actress were both born around the same time of year I was. :-)


[NP: Nothing except the nightly news]

I've survived the weekend....barely

So there were fireworks and family and food and mosquitoes. Lilly stayed over Saturday night and spent most of Sunday with us. It's nice that she's 8 because she can pretty much do everything by herself and is quite self-sufficient. She even went to run errands with me because she's big enough to not have to be in a car seat. The loading them in and out of the car in a car seat is really rough on old Grandma Marsha.

We were at Wal Mart, getting candles (and because Lilly wanted to decorate a cake for her dad, a second cake to go with the German Chocolate cake he requested for his birthday) and as we were heading out, we stopped by the crossing from the store to the parking lot. The driver of an SUV motioned us to cross, so grandma took Lilly's hand and we hurried across. Lilly looked at me when we got to the other side and said, "Wow, Grandma, I've never seen you run before." Yeah, well, grandma didn't even run a lot when she was Lilly's age so it's not surprising, was my reply. She gave me one of those looks children give adults when they think they're nuts and we went on our way to the Chinese buffet where she went crazy - and grandma let her - and grandma discovered the girl loves sushi. Yes, I know sushi is Japanese but around here Asian is Asian and you get your food where you can. Now if only they would combine Korean food with it - Kalbi ribs I miss you!!! - I'd be very happy.

Grandpa had a bout of diverticulitis so he was not in an eating mood. Lilly was adorable, though. She kept asking grandpa if he wanted shrimp or a fortune cookie or anything.

By the time we ended the day with cake and ice cream, I was ready for work. lol

Hated being outside Saturday night for the fireworks. Mosquitoes were out full force and I am a mosquito magnet. But the fireworks were great again this year. Stars, stripes, happy faces even.

So it took me a couple of days recovery to get this posted.

Have so much I want to say, so little time. May be blogging more this weekend as I am having a four day weekend to recharge my batteries and spend time at home in hiding, hoping the co-workers will have forgotten this is my 50th birthday upcoming. Most of us are ill or have ailing family members for some reason so we've been missing birthdays or just doing cards. No embarrassing ads or too much sabotage of work spaces. Of course a couple of people who have payback in mind from my enthusiastic participation in their birthday surprises claim they marked my birthday on their calendar. Here's hoping they don't see until my birthday, which will be on a Saturday so the chances are good, they'll miss it. Keeping my fingers crossed in anticipation.

Hope to be blogging happily over the weekend. I really miss venting. lol


[NP: John Mayer - Waiting for the World to Change]

Happy Birthday America

May not be able to do much online tomorrow. It's the Fourth of July as it were. I must say it's the first time in several years that I'm actually proud to be an American again. We've got Jimmy's 32nd birthday - I've felt incredibly old ever since he turned 30 - to celebrate. His birthday was the same day as VDO but since it was a weekday, we're holding up the cake and ice cream for the weekend. Now that we live close to the park where the fireworks celebration happens, we just have to take lawn chairs out and watch. It's nice.

So on America's birthday, I would like to just share a very heartfelt thank you to all who supported President Barack Obama. Don't let the naysayers get you down. It's tough going these days in an economy he inherited from conservatives who seem to think the same old same old should fix the problem it caused in the first place. I'm not 100% with him on all issues but I am on most and I am quite certain, the only thing the Republicans can offer us would be more of the narrow-minded, selfish, xenophobic arrogance that got us into the mess we're in right now. Barack Obama is our best hope and on the anniversary of the birth of our nation, I wish him well and hope he overcomes the nastiness of Washington, D.C.

Face it, the Democrats aren't helping matters any. The politics as usual thing doesn't set well with me and both sides are playing politics as usual. I'm not happy about that one bit.

Ah well, we will hopefully come out of this stronger and smarter. This time let's not forget the lessons of history. The last time we had a depression, we decided government oversight and regulation was in order. Then came the "Republican revolution" where business was allowed to run unfettered and unchecked. Alan Greenspan even admitted he was mistaken in thinking the private sector could regulate themselves. It was some kind of group insanity in the banking sector that allowed things to get as bad as they did. It was because of the lack of government oversight.

So Republicans who say the private sector can help everything from health care to this economic meltdown, I say you need to study history and pull your heads out of the sand. Welcome to the real world where the Bernie Madoffs of the world ruin the lives of people so they can maintain some kind of ridiculously wasteful life of over consumption. Live and learn and stop being so flippin' stupid. Deregulation DOESN'T WORK! When given the opportunity, greed will cause entire industries to behave badly.

Here's hoping the American public will realize that we have to suffer a little before we can come out of this and it's not President Obama's fault. I hear the blame landing on him already. The right is becoming more and more hysterical and are probably self-medicating to make themselves feel better. Doesn't Rush Limbaugh look like he's back on drugs? Lost all that weight and he's saying really stupid things. I mean downright crazy things. It's outrageous even for him.

I have faith that things can turn around in this country. We just have to keep the faith and believe that some how, cooler heads will prevail. Write to your elected representatives and tell them to get with the program. We need all kinds of reform and don't let your fear of change scare you. Seriously, can it be any worse than it is now?

Well, okay, so if Sarah Palin were anywhere near Washington, maybe. Watch out world. The moron just announced she's resigning as governor of Alaska so she can promote her own retard self better. Okay, that's not what she said exactly. But that's my take on it. God help us all if she ever gets close to the presidency. That would be so scary, I won't even bother saying I'd leave the country because no matter where on earth you are, if that simp gets into office - which I highly doubt as she's not learned a thing from her mistakes - we're all in BIG trouble.

I thank God that we have a competent individual in the White House. I'm thankful that he's thoughtful and inclusive. I'm quite comforted to know he has a world view, not a myopic America only view. Because in the end, we've become very globalized in modern times with all our technology and you can't go running around bullying the rest of the world while proclaiming how we are the best country on the face of the planet.

Sure our light has dimmed a bit but I see it starting to shine once more. I see that hope in the face of modern America - Barack Obama.

So happy birthday America. We now have a chance to make ourselves better.


[NP: Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight]

Ladies Man Indeed!!!

Eames and Goren back in fine form
[Photo from USA LOCI site]

So the latest Goren and Eames offering was just the thing I was waiting for this season. Goren and Eames being Goren and Eames with the perps being somewhat important but with the focus firmly where I'd like it to be from now on - right on my favorite detective team.

The title was most appropriate for Vincent D'Onofrio, who is 50 years young today. It was most appropriate that the best Goren and Eames episode of the season was aired this past Saturday. Kathryn Erbe celebrates her birthday on the fifth of July so it's also fitting for her. I wish I had the time to do a proper birthday post for my favorite actor this year but alas, I can just be happy about the latest LOCI episode.

For anyone who hasn't seen this episode yet and doesn't want to know what happens, please stop reading now.

The focus was on Eames' past this time.
It allowed Goren to be the strong one.
I LOVED IT

So Eames' past comes up in this one. We learn a lot about our Alex Eames. Perhaps we also learn why she seems to keep people at arm's length? She got close to someone shortly after the death of her husband and that went very wrong. She probably hated having been so vulnerable to someone who turned out to not only be a jerk but crazy and murderous as well.

I loved Goren in this. He was in fine form as he went after the perp. There was just enough in here to keep both shippers and non-shippers happy. Love the way Goren was worried for Eames and the way they interacted. Even when fighting they were getting along a lot better than when they fought before.

Goren was being a bit of his old self. Playing the perp and suspects in his own unique way. Laughter! He laughed! It was great. He was touching things and being nosy in that Goren way.

Vincent is looking pretty good these days. He's playing Goren a little neater. No more shirttails out and looking scraggly. Goren is definitely on the mend. He's very gentle but insistent with Eames.

Love the way he let her arrest the slime ball at the end. Love the way he bumped him on purpose as he headed towards Eames with the handcuffs. I'm sure after the things he said to Eames, Goren wanted to punch him right in the face.

But the old Bobby is making his reappearance. More in control and back in the game.

I love that Alex got to be the one who was emotional in this one.

Now the case file was a bit confusing and certainly not the best. I could shoot a lot of holes in it but because I'm so flippin' happy to have my Goren and Eames back, I'm going to shut-up and just focus on the good.

This is what I want from my Criminal Intent.

Next weekend no LOCI but the following one will feature Nichols and Wheeler. They're still keeping me entertained. I'm quite fond of Jeff Goldblum and his geekiness. But I'm still madly in love with Vincent D'Onofrio. Glad to see the old Goren back, too.

For great birthday tributes, visit the following: The Valentine Cat, The Velocity of Vincent, Team 13 Projects and Life and Vincent. I'm sure there are more but that's all I had time to visit today.


[NP: Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song]

Sunday Musings

Well, it certainly has been an eventful week in the world. Seems the big news is the death of Michael Jackson. Such a tragic figure. I never though the was a child molester as many think he might have been. I think he was just someone who never had a proper childhood and had a very odd existence who thought like a ten year old in certain respects. I grew up along with Michael Jackson in his many incarnations. We're roughly the same age. He's about 11 months older than me. Sad to think that adorable little boy who sang 'I'll be There' and other songs of my youth grew up to be a sad and isolated figure. For all his talent and genius and all he had, he was so miserable.

And of course Farrah Fawcett passed away after her two and half year battle with cancer. She really showed a lot of courage in the end. Sharing her journey and allowing cameras to capture her worst moments during her illness. The loss of her gorgeous hair, which made her so famous in the seventies, and the pain she suffered.

I suppose the above events were actually the good news for Governor Mark Sanford who proved to be yet another conservative hypocrite. Someone commented it seemed unfair that people jumped more on Republicans about illicit affairs than Democrats. I beg to differ as John Edwards wasn't exactly given a pass or anything, nor should he have. But of course there was Bill Clinton who seemed to have - in the long run - suffered no real ill effects.

Why is this? Because when you are pandering to the evangelicals in your party and being holier than thou in your proclamations and claiming some kind of moral superiority, people will really call you on it even more than if you just didn't preach to your constituents about morality as Republicans seem to be prone to do.

And there seems to be Rudy Giuliani as well. Now he's one slime bag who got away with being a slime bag. So maybe Mark Sanford can get away with it in the long run. I hope not. None of these assholes should get away with it but somehow they do.

Why is Tom Delay still showing his smug face on MSNBC? What the hell was Mark Spitzer doing on Morning Joe? And don't even get me started on Governor Blago and his wife. I think disgraced politicians should go away and stay away. I find it pitiful that the Republicans have Newt Gingrich as one of the party leaders again all of a sudden. They just must be desperate.

Republicans in general are making me wonder how stupid are they? Between wanting insert themselves in the middle of the Iran situation (because meddling before worked wonders didn't it?) and saying the private sector can take care of the healthcare crisis they are responsible for creating, I think they've just gone off the deep end.

Democrats are pissing me off because they are selling out already and leaving Obama high and dry on the whole healthcare thing. Also, can Harry Reid be more like a wet dishrag? And could Nancy Pelosi be more shrill? I'm afraid we're going to find out, yes, they can.

Well, on the upside - and this is a stretch - two new episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. One for each team. Guess they're making up for that weekend they didn't have one or something. It's one of those things where I'm happy to have two of them but I'm dreading they'll both be as exciting as watching paint dry. At least the Goldblum and Nicholson one will probably make me smile at least once or twice. Can't say the same for the D'Onofrio and Erbe one.

The weekend came to an end much too quickly. Work has become WORK. It used to be more fun but lately, even co-workers are getting kind of bitchy and quite frankly, it's bad enough working under the conditions we do, I don't need to have bitchy co-workers on top of that. We're starting to split into two camps and that's never a good sign. I'm in no mood for people to get on my case about crap. We're understaffed and overworked and if something doesn't get done because I didn't have time, that's just too bad. Next person who gives me attitude is going to get the question, "So what else would you have me not do instead because I don't have the time to do all the stuff on my plate without going into overtime." Good luck finding anyone who will do what I do for the pay I get for more than a month.

On the upside, I'm taking some time off so the next three weeks are four day work weeks for me. Think I'll use the time to dust off the old resume and find another job. I'll even wear skirts and nylons if I have to. At least I won't have to listen to all the bitching.


[NP: Mary Chapin Carpenter - Almost Home]

Sick of Health Care Debate (Pun intended)

Just so I can have a place of reference for myself when discussing health care reform with morons, here's a few questions to the faulty reasoning put forth by the idiot senators from both the right and left when trashing a public option.


1. Government should not be involved. The private sector would handle it much more efficiently in a free market system.


Right, that's why things are going so well now, eh? The private sector has been handling health care and insurance and guess what? It's totally fucked. Great job. Let the insurance companies police themselves. Just like we did with banks.


2. People shouldn't have to depend on some government bureaucrat to make their health care decisions for them!


Because insurance company bureaucrats are so much better. Bang up job they've done. Denying health care claims to those who need it most. Setting up ridiculous road blocks and making up excuses so they don't have to pay claims. Yeah, they're so honest. Just like those bankers we let run amok with people's money. And of course all those high prices that are nothing short of ridiculous.


3. Socialism is bad. We don't want a system like they have in Canada or Europe.


Because Europe and Canada are like third world countries or something? Because they have lower infancy mortality rates than we do? Because generally their citizens are healthier than we are? I suppose we should toss out social security and medicare and medicaid - for those who think socialism is a bad thing. That way, those of us who think those programs are a good idea and socialism isn't as horrible as the folks on Wall Street say it is, can have access to it and the rest of those morons can not have to suffer 'socialism.'


4. We have the best most innovative health care here in the United States.


Great. What's the point of having it if most of the population can't afford it? Let someone else be cutting edge and innovative. I'll take basic health care I can afford. As one who has had to declare bankruptcy once because of health care costs - and I had insurance - I say screw that and give me medicine I can pay for without having to sell my house.



So that's it for now. I'm sure some politician will come up with something more stupid to say. They always do.


[NP: Smashing Pumpkins - 1979]

It finally happened...

...I actually missed the beginning of a Goren and Eames episode of LOCI. It was Father's Day, the kids were over and the granddaughters were running around. Made a lot of food, ate a lot of food and by the time I got done with my bath and got my happy ass back to the den, it was 9:02 p.m. I forgot the show was going to even be on. My husband has it automatically scheduled to record for me and that's what tipped him off as the television set informed him he was taping a program. He looked and was surprised it was LOCI and he was even more surprised that I was completely unaware.

All good obsessions must come to an end and this one is slowly starting to become a snorefest. I am officially watching just to see Vincent D'Onofrio. Good thing I did. He looked good. Shorter hair, no facial hair - well the stubble but that's Goren's trademark so I expect it. At least I can see all of that gorgeous face so I'm pretty happy. The longer hair was nice when he was younger but as he gets older, I find the short hair to be more flattering.

Case file was okay but not enough to make up for the lack of personal for Goren and Eames. Good thing was Captain Ross got more face time at last!!! Everyone seems to be getting along which is nice but the lack of anything else is boring. I think I'm just done with this format. Been there, done that, next???

Ah well, the only reason I'm glad Vincent is hanging in there with this albatross is because I get to see him more regularly. I live in the middle of nowhere so those independent films he does that I'm sure I'd love if I got to see them, would take forever for me to be able to see.

So, I do hope LOCI goes one more season but if it doesn't, I'm not going to weep. It's a shame when shows that are most excellent carry on longer than they should. Homicide lumbered along one season too many and it was sad. Six Feet Under ended at a perfect time. I was getting a little worn out by all the angst. And it will always be the best show ever on television as far as I'm concerned.

Oh well, life goes on. Right now I'm more entertained by Goldblum episodes but that's because he's new and he got the better writers.


[NP: Neil Young - After the Goldrush]