1955

A crusty old Sergeant Major found himself at a gala event, hosted by a local liberal arts college. There was no shortage of extremely young, idealistic ladies in attendance, one of whom approached the Sergeant Major for conversation.

She said, "Excuse me, Sergeant Major, but you seem to be a very serious man. Is something bothering you?"

"Negative, ma'am," the Sergeant Major said,

"Just serious by nature."

The young lady looked at his awards and decorations and said, "It looks like you have seen a lot of action."

The Sergeant Major's short reply was, "Yes, ma'am, a lot of action."

The young lady, tiring of trying to start up a conversation, said, "You know, you should lighten up a little. Relax and enjoy yourself."

The Sergeant Major just stared at her in his serious manner.

Finally the young lady said, "You know, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but when is the last time you had sex?"

The Sergeant Major looked at her and replied, "1955."

She said, "Well, there you are. You really need to chill out and quit taking everything so seriously! I mean, no sex since 1955! Isn't that a little extreme?"

The Sergeant Major, glancing at his watch, said in his matter-of-fact voice, "You think so? It's only 2130 now."

Bombing in Indonesia

I have been reading some commentary on the bombing in a meat market in Palu, Indonesia. The bombing is said to have targeted Christians.......was it at the bacon stall? Sorry, immature infidel humor.

Taking a bath

Someone sent me a video clip the other day. It was a commercial showing a woman taking a bath. She walks down the hall of a clean house to her clean, well appointed, huge bathtub. The robe drops to the floor and she sinks into the bubbles. I was soooooooo jealous!!
I wanted a bath last night. So, first I had to clean the table, put the clothes from the dryer onto it, put the towels in the dryer and load the washer. We have to be responsible here! Then it's off to the bathroom where we dump Ajax in the tub to scrub it 'cause I'm not bathing where those stinky boys shower unless there is lots of scrubbing. Once the tub is scrubbed and the dirty towels are off the floor and the floor and I clean the sink and hey! while I'm at it let's scrub the toilet (I've got the gloves on what the heck), I'm ready to go fold the clothes, and take mine to my room. Now I will gather up what I want in the tub since I can't leave my stuff in the bathroom, too many boys and their friends, etc. In other words my bathroom sees too much traffic to leave the good stuff in there. I gather together the latest issue of Foreign Policy, candles, my robe, my new dead sea salts from Ahava and a bag of M&Ms. As I pass through the kitchen I grab a bottle of Pom....pomagranete/blueberry juice because there just isn't enough sugar in my system this week! Drop all that in the bathroom and go to move the laundry along. Now I have fresh clean towels. I am ready to close the bathroom door and lock it. Meanwhile, kids have been coming and going....into the kitchen for food, into the living room to the computer, upstairs to Frankie's game of spades. In other words a typical evening. Although no one is allowed into the bathroom now that it has been cleaned. Candles are lit, bath is run, door is locked. I am in! It only took 97 minutes, but it was worth it.

Lazy Friday Afternoon

I should be working. I'm not. I am reading stuff online. Telling jokes to my coworkers. I just got a late Christmas present........I am floating on air. You are the best Southie-boy!

Recently freed German hostage

Ex-hostage's Iraq return angers her rescue team
Source: Times Online (UK) (12-28-05)

****My comment below****

THE German Government angrily rebuked a former hostage yesterday who is determined to return to Iraq despite being held captive for three weeks by a Sunni gang.
Susanne Osthoff, a 43-year-old archaeologist, announced this week on al-Jazeera television that she would go back to her work in northern Iraq, trying to set up a German cultural centre in Arbil.


Angela Merkel’s new Government, which regards the freeing of Frau Osthoff this month as its first foreign policy triumph, is furious. It made huge efforts to secure her release and is widely believed to have paid a ransom.

It has now blocked all funding for her project and has told her that she should leave the region immediately. She is believed currently to be in Jordan, with her 12-year-old daughter, preparing to return.

*****Hey, Angela, how does it feel to do the right thing and get this crap in return. Now you know how George Bush feels every day. Heck, how most American feel!******

Girl's Night

When I am being good, Thursdays are yoga class, then an Atkins friendly dinner with the girls.

Not tonight!

No yoga and a carb-aholic night at Solstice.

Second visit there......carpaccio was excellent, fabulous calimari, good pasta, disappointing molten chocolate cake.

But always fun with the girls, lots of laughs! I took some hits, they are a brutal lot.

On a lighter note

I was in Personal Best Salon last night and I look..........fabulous!

BBC News Hour

I know what you are thinking, but really you have to try it.

This morning had an interesting interview with Jack Straw on Darfur. As well as a story on Western countries withholding aid from Ethiopia because of governmental abuses. How gratifying that it's not just looked upon as our obligation. Don't get me wrong, I do believe St. Luke "To whom much is given, much is expected". We are more fortunate and should help others. However, there is more to it. You can accuse me of a paternalistic attitude, guilty as charged. I simply believe that we owe them more than money. With that money should be guidance. It's a stick as well as a carrot. It's also not a never ending ATM. There are those who would say that we don't draw the line in the same place with other countries, but that's like your kids whining abut each other. Right here, right now, this is the right thing to do. Yesterday we made mistakes, tomorrow we'll make more.

Men.....

....are aggravating.

Christmas candy

I have had so much candy, fudge, brownies, etc.........I am vibrating. If I ever make it back on Atkins, it will take a week for my system to purge all the sugar.

Christmas Presents

While many people who love me have gone to considerable effort on my behalf........so far one of the favorites is from American Movie Classics...........a John Wayne marathon. LOL, Jet Pilot, Commancheros, Hell Fighters. What fun!!

Next of course would be my gifts from Frankie who put forth the effort to go into "Lily's". I know what it takes to cross the threshold into that female domain of scented soaps and creams and make-up. To be fussed over by women he doesn't know and spend his hard earned money. Although to be fair, they do guide him into perfect choices and wrap things for him.

Then there is the present I bought myself. "One Day in September" the documentary about the Israeli atheletes killed in Munich. Everyone should watch it before they see Speilberg's movie "Munich". Then you can see his movie on the proper light and not be subjected to his whitewash of Germany's complicity and Black September's (not to mention Yassar Arafat) horrific guilt.

Merry Christmas

Munich

I really want to see this movie. However, I am very disheartened by what I am reading about the revisionism of the actual incident in September of '72. Interesting article about it in the American Spectator. I remember this, I was 11.

Movie Review

King Kong was toooooooooooooooooooo long. I laughed when I was supposed to be terrorized. I almost dozed off when I was supposed to be moved. I admired the special effects. I think Jack Black was perfect in his role. But Adrian Brody? Please!!! If I were Naomi Watts..........I would have gone for the Captain rather than the screenwriter.

King Kong

Not sure how I feel about this movie, but I want to go to the movies and everything that interests me hasn't opened yet. Besides.......anything to avoid Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc.

Sunday night

Getting ready to listen to the President in 90 minutes. I hope he does well. It's so hard to get complicated issues across to a public used to 30 second sound bites. I get so aggravated with people who want to issue opinions based solely on headlines and blurbs on TV. I am fine with people disagreeing with me, but you have to be able to base it on something. If you haven't read the Duelfer report or listened to him speak to Congress, then don't talk to me aout WMD and Saddam. If you haven't read the 9/11 report, then don't try to tell me what you think about domestic security. If you haven't read the National Intelligence Estimate, then don't talk about Intelligence. If you don't know what FISA is, then shut your piehole about wiretapping.

Election Day

Congratulations to every Iraqi with a purple finger! Kudos to all American and Coalition forces!

Fry Tookie!

Since when do 9 children's books equal 4 innocent lives?

John McCain

I just found out that the other night while I was listening to the lecture on rioting in France, John McCain was right down the street in the 1st Parish church. I am sooooooooooooo frustrated! I would have picked John McCain first in a heartbeat! How did this happen?!?!? I have to pay more attention. This is the great thing about Boston, there are so many great things to pick from.

SecDef Leaving?

How can Donald leave me like this? In mid-war? Although I am giggling at the thought of Leiberman taking his place (don't get me wrong Gordon England is a good guy). Can you imagine how the jihadist will feel when we but a Jew in charge of the War on Terror? Excellent!

Why Is Paris Burning?

This was the title of the lecture I attended last night at the Kennedy School of Government. It was very interesting, although I am sure I would have enjoyed it more if I spoke French. Two of the speakers were ethnically African Frenchmen. Their accents were thick at times and one speaker occasionally lapsed into French. You could tell who spoke French in the audience.....they would laugh when it happened. On the other hand, there were two professors there I found to be very engrossing. One specialized in riots! Who knew there was enough subject matter there to specialize in? Overall the tone was very liberal and apologist. The problem was lack of transporation, yet the rioters managed to arrange transportation when they need to get from one riot scene to another. The problem was poverty, yet they all had cell phones and designer hip/hop clothes. It was the usual baloney about social problems. My problem during the riots was this; I didn't know who to root for!
Overall for me...........Why is Paris burning? Who cares?

Tonight's lecture

was in Harvard Square at the Coop. Author/poet Susie Davidson discussed and read from her book "I Refused To Die" It has stories of Boston area Holocaust survivors and soldiers who rescued them. Not enough history for me, lol. Too much poetry. But overall I liked it.
Funny part for me was after the lecture I was waiting for the author to sign my books and she noticed an Al Franken book behind where we were standing. She commented that he was good. I was surprised. I am always surprised when Jewish people are anti-war. I know you can't generalize....but if some dictator was hellbent on wiping out Irish people in Ireland.....you better believe as an Irish American (Boston Irish Catholic to be precise), I'd be all for whoever was fighting that dictator!

Political Compass

This is my new favorite thing! It takes just 5 minutes. It's fun and somewhat revealing.

www.politicalcompass.org

There are a few pages of questions and then it graphs your answers.

Go try it and come back and tell me your numbers.

Darfur

I went to a lecture tonight. It was presented by the Ford Hall Forum at the Old South Meeting House. Very interesting. Very informative. Very moving.

http://www.savedarfur.org

http://www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org

http://www.fordhallforum.neu.edu

http://www.savedarfurma.org

Good Night and Good Luck

Tonight's movie was Good Night and Good Luck. An enjoyable night except for the people who talk as though they were in their living room. I did not need to shush them.......someone beat me to it. I liked the movie and the actors.

Jarhead

I did not get to see Jarhead. My 17 year old son heard from a friend that there is a scene in the movie showing the main character masturbating. My son felt he would be uncomfortable watching that scene sitting next to me. LOL, I know that I would have been uncomfortable! So instead we went to see...............Chicken Little! A good time was had by all.

Movies

Just got in from seeing "Derailed". It was OK, not too, too predictable. Tomorrow night the spalpeen and I go see "Jarhead".

French Rioting

Here's my problem.......who do I root for? LOL. But to be fair, I like Sarkozy......if he were a little older I would suspect he was fathered by a downed American fighter pilot in WWII......but he was born in '55 not '45. Still there is hope he will be the next president of France. I think we could deal with him a little easier than Chirac or de Villepin.

Bill Kristol

I watch this guy on Fox News Sunday and he is just amazing. Since Rove is sidelined, the administration should listen to this guy, I really feel he has his finger on the pulse.

New SCOTUS nominee

Good deal! Not my first pick.....but I am happy.

Plamegate

The more I read, the more I don't get it. no one in the Bush administration could have been indicted for outing Plame. Why did Scooter lie. It's driving me crazy!

October 30th

Today is a picture perfect fall day in New England. Warm, sunny........I could never live anywhere else. Today is what we slog through the snow, rain and damp for.

John Adams

Today is the birthdate of the 2nd (and best) President of the United States.

Scooter and Cheney

I'm not getting something here..........Scooter is a nitwit for lying about telling the truth. But why is Cheney supposed to apologize for this? Scooter wasn't found guilty for speaking to the reporter. He wasn't found to have leaked classified info. He got into a grand jury room....alone....and was stupid. He is by many accounts a smart man. He had the trust and respect of Cheney, another smart man. I am sure the Vice-President is shaking his head just like I am. How does Cheney word this apology............."Sorry Scooter had a brain infarct."?
I caught Tony Snow on Bill Maher last night..........excellent!!!! Shot down all Maher's misinformation. Told the comedian Billy Connelly to read the Senate Intel report on Wilson and then come back and talk. Awesome!

Saturday night

I have been neglecting this. I have been too busy reading what everyone has to say about Harriet and Scooter, lol. No kids.........M&Ms..........new National Intelligence Strategy from the DNI.........a hot Saturday night for Maggie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Judith Miller

Judith Miller can not remember who told her the name "Valerie Flame" (that's how Plame's name appears in her notes). Big smile.

Iraqi elections described as "bloodless". Bigger smile.

Knowing that when I do eventually get home the boys will be out and I will have the house to myself.......indescribable happiness.

Bummer

I am trying to leave work and run errands. However, I have locked my key in my car.

Stop! I don't want to hear it!

It's been a long day. There was a power outage in the wee hours and with no alarm I overslept. The wait to donate blood because I had missed my scheduled time was more than an hour. I am back on Atkins and crashing. Now, I am stuck here. I am suffering enough without any further comment.

Newport and the US Navy

I am just in from a lovely evening in Newport. I am exhausted!

Tomorrow is the 230th birthday of the Unitd States Navy!

Finale

Finale is one of the best places to have dessert in Boston. Tonight I had the molten chocolate cake and tea. I'm not a big fan of coffee flavored ice cream and I should have asked for something else. Still it was fabulous!!!!!

Saturday night

Once a year my mother and sisters come down to the family cottage and spend a "Girl's Weekend". Tonight we went to the Sun Tavern and had a very nice meal.....lots of laughs.

My parents are trying to clear the house of all the useless crap they have accumulated over the years as well as all the stuff their four children have left. Every item they mention throwing away, one of us objects. LOL. They find us very frustrating.....some things never change. A few weeks ago my mother mentioned a "buttonholer" that had a belonged to her aunt. I was close to Aunt Helen growing up and she has been gone for nearly 25 years. My mother mentioned that it was of no use, but it was a really nice one and she didn't want to throw it out, plus it had belonged to Aunt Helen. She mentioned that she should give it to me....I would appreciate it. Now, keep in mind, I don't sew. Even so, I immediately agreed with her, because I am the repository of useless family knicknacks. I had to go into work the next day and ask what the heck a b uttonholer was. My mother and sisters can sew, knit, crochet, embroider........everything. I have no talent what-so-ever. They made fun of me all night for wanting the buttonholer. They finally concluded that they would put ten craft type things on the table. If I could figure out which was the buttonholer, I could have it.

LOL

I will let you know how I do.

Dubai

Donald Trump has reportedly entered into a deal with a U.A.E. firm to build a "tulip shaped" hotel. How do I get a job with him? I would sell the boys for medical experimentation to live in Dubai..........so I would be willing to work for Donald Trump! Seriously, all I would ask was a living wage, Dubai is the most fabulous place on earth!

Bloomberg

The New York Times reports that Mayor Bloomberg spent 46.6 million of his own money on the mayoral race. I can't think of anything in life I want that bad.

Presents to myself

Got my new sweatshirt from CafePress today..........Uncle Sam in front of the UN logo saying "I Don't Do Global Tests".
People who aren't political junkies like me won't get it........I don't care......I amuse myself.

October 7, 2005

Happy Birthday, Lt. Col. Ollie North!!!!!

Overcast but not raining

Last Wednesday, I was at my son's soccer game where it poured rain. It was very much like standing under a garden hose. I, of course, had nothing in my car to deal with this situation. There were books........and my emergency bag (packed for any last minute stay in a hotel room).......bottled water............CDs..........gym bag with workout clothes.........nothing that was of any use in the rain. I then did something that insured it would never rain at another soccer game for the rest of the season. I bought a giant umbrella, a poncho, and handwarmer packs. Now that I am prepared.......no matter how overcast the day is, how threatening the clouds are......it will not rain.

Aren't I powerful!!!! LOL

ElBaradei

Ok, I can't be the only one who yelled at the radio when the Nobel Peace Prize was announced. Everyone I brought this up to either didn't know who he was (the sad majority) or didn't care because they felt the Peace Prize process was unimportant. I know there have been picks in the past that I didn't agree with, but this is just ridiculous. When I brought this up to someone whose opinion I seriously respect, he countered with......."Hey they gave one to Arafat!". He said the issue wasn't important enough to get upset about. I disagreed and told him I would talk to people until I found someone who "felt my pain", lol. His answer was that I would be on the phone all day!

Please, please...........someone has to be angered by this. I can't be in this alone.........can I?

Sweet History

Tonight I went to a Bostonian Society event, entitled "Sweet History: Dorchester and the Chocolate Factory". It combines all my favorite things......chocolate, history and Boston. There were interesting speakers, fabulous chocolate desserts. Overall, a lovely evening.

Also, today the electrician showed up to talk about rewiring my house. Lucky me! I have been trying to get someone for months!

Interesting stuff out of New York. When I left the event tonight, there was a transit cop outside. The Old State House in boston is above the State Street Blue Line station. I have been to many events there and I don't ever remember seeing a transit cop there. But is that because they usually park elsewhere (he was parked in the pedestrian mall) or because the news stories had this on my mind?

Rough night

The Red Sox lost.

Tired

I am too tired to type anything coherent, much less insightful.

Harriet??????

WTF, she is 60! Even if he thinks she is going to be great, she's still 60. Plus anyone who gave money to Dukakis, jeez! I couldn't even face my reading tonight, I was so depressed. I was rooting for one of the Ediths.
So I took myself to the movies. I saw Flight Plan with Jodie Foster.........I pronounce it, entertaining.
Going out now to The Corner OnLine and read all their opinions. Then on to The Voice of the Taciturn......I love the Captain.

Just a quick note

Lot's of work lately.......not a lot of time to be here.

Tried to listen to most of the Galloway/Hitchens debate online. It was recorded last month. As a good Irish Catholic girl from Boston.....it's hard to side with the guy speaking in the snotty British accent over the scrapper with the thick Irish brogue. However, Galloway is reprehensible. It's an interesting two hours if you get the chance. The British Newspaper "The Guardian" has a link and you can watch it in Real Player.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1571538,00.html

Once you click on the link, scroll down to useful links.

Sadly, the Red Sox lost. I am off to my sister's house.........where I will console myself with chocolate.

Rainy Day

Today it absolutely poured as I watched my son's soccer game. I was soaked to the skin!

Good news..........congratulations to the new Chief Justice! Dems split, even-steven, 22-22. Very interesting. Who's next? One of the Ediths? Roberto? Priscilla? or a dark horse?


More good news..........the Sox won!!!!!!!!!

Trying this seriously

OK, apparently people have been here to view my blog. I only signed up for this so that I could post comments to other people's blogs. I don't actually know that I have anything to say that would be if interest to others. That aside.........we'll give it a shot.
Today after work I went down to the waterfront with my ex's daughter. She is six and wanted ice cream. As we passed Plymouth Rock, there was a group with signs and passing cars were honking. Earlier, in the town square I had noticed peace protesters. At first I assumed it was the same group. However, it wasn't..........it was a group asking for you to support the troops and "keep our promise to Iraq". I was so pleased and surprised that I stopped traffic to express my approval and appreciation. They are there on Wednesday evenings, and I think I will join them next week.
Now, I have to get back to laundry and dishes.

May 27, 2005

don't know if I can handle my favorite blog "the Corner on National Review online" being off for the weekend.

What Is This?

I was trying to figure out how to add a photo to the profile and I needed it to have a URL. The only was was to post it. So, here is the back of my head. This was taken at the 2007 Milblog Conference while I watched John of Castle Argghhh!!!! discuss clue bats. I didn't want to delete it because I didn't know what would happen to the profile, so I backdated it. You know....I stuffed it in the back of the file.