Thursday, June 29, 2006

Television really sucks

Ok with the danger of sounding like an old timer, I miss the "old days" of television. You know when the television schedule was filled with shows that actually required a writing staff.
Yes I'm complaining about "reality' television. I'm so tired of seeing fame seeking wanna-be's either getting thrown off an island, racing around the world for a fortune, or every possible spin off of "American Idol" you can think of.
Unless you're a fan of "Law and Order" and "CSI", and every freakin' spin off of those shows, there isn't really much to pick from in the drama category. Yes there is "Lost" one of the best shows on television. It keeps you guessing at each twist and turn at what's going to happen next. Then the only other three dramas (in my opinion) worth noting- Bones, House and ER. Bones and House air on Fox and ER on NBC. I like "Close to Home" to on CBS, too but the series is taking a new direction in the fall, so I'm not sure if I'll continue to watch.
As for comedies, I say what commedies? There are only two of note here (again in my opinion), "How I met your Mother" and "Two and a Half Men", both on CBS. Now that "Will And Grace" is over that's pretty much what you have to pick from.
A show that you're probably not watching - "Ghost Hunters" , on the Sci-fi channel. If you like the paranormal and all that goes with it, "Ghost Hunters" is the show for you. It's a professional group from Rhode Island that investigates claims of hauntings around the country. It's good stuff.
Looking at the fall line-up I'm not sure what promise the future holds. I hope there will be some break out comedy that will rival shows like, "Frasier", "Friends", or yes even "Will and Grace".

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

It's a sad day in Super Hero Land....

Ok "Superman Returns" opened in theaters today. But not the Superman of yesteryear that we know. You see this Superman is not fighting for something, it's missing from the tag line.
Superman used to fight for "Truth, Justice and the American Way". Apparently the "American Way" doesn't exisit anymore, at least not from a marketing standpoint.
Since the brilliant geniuses that are marketing this film want to get the most out of the foreign dollar, they've dropped "the American Way" from the superhero's tagline, so they replaced it with "all that stuff". They didn't think it would "fly" with foreign audiences. Who freakin' cares what they think! This is FREAKIN' SUPERMAN! It's unbelieveable how twisted Hollywood is, just for the all mighty dollar. Also, "all that stuff"? Who the heck is the genius that came up with that substitution? Sounds like a pre-schooler wrote the line.
Right now, Joe Schuster, Jerry Siegel and Christoper Reeve are rolling in their graves.
City Council

I went to my first city council meeting last night. I went because there is a change coming to my neighborhood and I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to have a negative impact on us.

Here's something I noticed as we were waiting for our "issues" to be addressed in the night's agenda. 7 men and 2 women sit on the council. Not a single one of them looked a day under 50. Many of them have been on the council for years.
Have we as a city become complacent? Don't we want someone in there that's going to represent our issues? What does a 60 year old man know about what a new family needs in this city? There is a definite lack of places to take young children in this city. We keep building condos, yet we've had a major retail space empty for 4 years. People aren't going to want to live here unless there's something to do.
Also in watching these councilors during this meeting, the majority seemed uninterested in even being there. We elected you to make decisions for this city, at least act interested. There were actually 2 councilors that came up to us, (me and my husband) after the meeting was over to speak to us (I had gotten up to speak and act questions about our neighborhood "issue"). This did make an impact on me to know that at least 2 were interested in what we had to say and valued our opinions. They even told me to call them if we ran into any problems. Did they really care? I'll never know, but at least they put themselves out there.
Maybe it's time for a change. Maybe instead of just going to the polls and saying "My job's done, I voted", maybe more of us should continue to "monitor" what these elected officals are actually doing for us. We should get involved with the decisions that are being made for us.
Take time out at least once to attend a city council meeting or a school board meeting, anything that you know is going to have a direct impact on your life. You may actually learn something in the process.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

I never knew what it meant.....

Ok on occasion I do go to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of things here and there. I always see this sign on the door "Code Adam" , and never knew what it meant.
Yesterday someone told me it's when a child is reported missing in the store, the announce "Code Adam" ( in reference to Adam Walsh, John Walsh, his father apparently worked with Wal-Mart to get this in place). At that point they "lock-down" the entire store. No one is allowed in or out until the child is found and/or the store is thoroughly searched.
Why aren't other stores doing this? Personally I think this is a great idea. Yes it may disrupt your shopping experience, but if it saves a child from being kidnapped and/or killed- isn't it worth it?
Shouldn't big box retailers and even shopping malls follow this example? I think it's way past time to help protect our kids.
I gotta say I'm impressed...

Ok, first Bill Gates says he's going to step down from the day to day operations of MicroSoft to concentrate on charitable causes. Then yesterday Warren Buffet says he's going to give most of his fortune away to help those causes too.
It's actually nice to see the two richest men in the world decide to do great things with their wealth rather than sit and count it everyday. You can't take money with you when you die, so then why aren't more (wealthy) people jumping on this bandwagon? What do you need all that money for? It doesn't buy you happiness, as much as you think it does, it really doesn't.
I hope this is a sign of things to come- other Billionaires and Millionaires kicking in their money to help humanity.
Either that or it's a sign of the apocalypse.
Personally, I hope it's the former rather than the latter.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Bad Parenting

Ok I'm going to get a lot of flack for this, but it's time to call out bad parents and make them responsible for their actions.
Now I don't mean those parents that are abusive to their kids- we all know they are bad parents and don't deserve to have children. I'm talking about the little things parents do that just don't sit right with me.

Example #1- I was leaving a store in a strip mall the other day behind a mother and a boy around the age of 8. As they left the store, the boy dashed off to the right and the mother just stood there. "I'll pick you up over there" she yelled to the boy, then proceeded to walk to her car, as the boy ran to another store. WHAT?! Are you kidding? In these days of the "Amber Alert" why in the world would you let your child run off out of sight? When you have a child, take some responsibilty for them . Go to the store with your child- how hard is that?

Example # 2- The screaming like a banshee child. We've all heard them, a child screaming in a store for a toy, piece of clothing, Gameboy, etc. that they just have to have. Or just screaming for the sake of screaming. Parents take that child, escort him or her out of the store and sit in the car or even leave and go home. Don't sit there and hand that child that item to quiet them down. That child needs to know limits. If you're going to scream like that, dear child, you're not going to get anything today. Parents need to stop giving into their kids, that's how brats are made.

Example #3- Kinda is like example #1. Children running around a store with no parent in sight. My mother NEVER let me out of her sight. Almost 60,000 kids go missing every year (NISMART-2). Why would you take that chance? Kids are not toys, they are your responsibility and you need to start acting like a parent and keep your child in your sight at all times. Plus give the employees a break, they are not babysitters.

Example #4- Overcompensating with every gadget under the sun. A 10 year old does not need a cell, phone, a DVD player, a PSP, etc. The only 2 reasons that parents buy these things: A) these gadgets have become babysitters to keep your child out of your hair. You don't need these things. Talk to your kids, go out and do stuff with them. Take a bike ride and have family time.
B) They don't have the time to spend with the kids because of work, meetings, etc. Hello, before you know it, you're child is 21 and headding off to parts unknown. Jobs come and go, your child is forever.

Example #5- Swearing in front of your kids. I'm no saint, but since my daughter was born I insist that everyone around her curb their language. Every phrase out of your mouth does not need to have a swear word tagged onto it. Your kids pick up everything by exapmple, I certainly don't want her to be swearing at people in public when she's five years old.

In the next coming weeks, I'll be adding more.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

For those crying racism.....

I say Zip It! I'm so sick of hearing groups saying that any law passed against illegal immigrants is racism. Really? Aren't you missing the point? These people are here ILLEGALLY. Don't give me the crapy terms "undocumented worker" or xenophobia anymore either. Illegal means breaking the law, and these people should be punished accordingly.
What ticks me off is that thousands of immigrants come here each year, take the path to citizenship, work hard and become legal citizens, just to have the door slammed in their face because all these "undocumented workers" have taken jobs that could be filled by these new citizens.
Then these Illegal immigrants cry because they don't have the same rights. WHAT? YOU'RE NOT A CITIZEN, you don't get any rights.
If I were to go to another country, I'd have to have documentation to enter, then by no means, would I expect that country to bend over backwards for me because I can't speak the country's language. If I chose to like there I would have to assimalate into that that country's culture.

That's not happening here and Washington politicians are sitting on their asses wasting time not getting immigration reform passed. So you know what's happening? City and state governments are taking matters into their own hands and passing laws against Illegals. It's about time that someone is doing something about this "plague".
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for immigration, LEGAL immigration, not these people that can hop the fence, get fake ID's and bleed the country dry.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Why the U.S. will never have a Woman for President

First example- If we can't even keep a fictitious female President (Commander In Chief) in "office" for more than one season, how will we ever accept a real female in that position.

Second example- We live in a "old boys club" country. Do you ever think men will "give up the reins". It's alot of power and they like to be in control- even when they're wrong.

Third example- People say women are too "unstable" and "emotional". "What would happen when she's PMSing"? Are you serious? Most terrortists and serial killers are male- isn't that a bit unstable? Emotional? Take two people with the common cold- a man and a woman and let's see who's the bigger baby. I think we all know the answer to that one.

Ok we're also smarter. Blow yourself up and 100 virgins will meet you in heaven- no woman would fall for this. We all know there's no way you could even round up 100 virgins in this day and age! Also we wouldn't tease someone who had sunglasses on when it was overcast. Brilliant move Mr. President.

We are a country fearful of change. It's always been status quo to have a man as President. It would probably shake this country to the core if a woman is elected to the highest office in the country. I hope to see that happen one day, who knows maybe it'll be my daughter that gets elected. One never knows!

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Things That You Should do...

Ok here is my list of things you should do everyday. You'll have a better life, I guarentee it.

1. Sing in the car like there's no tomorrow. Before you get into your car, bring your favorite CD or your MP3 player with you. Then sing away. Who cares what the other people think when they see you. You're in a car, what's the chance you'll ever see those people again. Plus, you'll be having much more fun then they are.

2.Laugh at something every day. Who cares what it is- a joke, a rerun of your favorite sitcom, yourself, someone falling down ( laugh first, but then help them up). Just laugh- it will make you feel better. We're too serious as a whole it's time to lighten up.

3.Tell someone that you love them. It doesn't really matter who you tell. Time is fleeting and you never know when your number will be up. Plus it makes the other person feel good.

4.Go outside and look at the clouds and/or the stars. Alot of us go through life looking at the ground. Look up, it's quite a show up there.

5. Pick up the phone and call a loved one or friend just to talk. In this day and age of e-mails, IMs and text messaging we no longer are connected to each other. "LOL" is not equal to actually sharing a laugh with a live person.

6. Be kind to someone you don't know. Hold the door for someone, let them pull out in front of you when you're in the car. We've become a people of me,me,me. Do something for someone else. You'll both be surprised at how good it makes each of you feel.

7. Unplug. Turn off the TV, the computer and the PSP. Enjoy the silence, better yet, go outside and enjoy the day!

I'll be adding more soon. Try these out for now- see how much better you end up feeling.
Do you think if he had a Son...

Do you think that if President Bush had a son enlisted in the military, the the war in Iraq would still be going on? When it doesn't affect you directly you say "Aw that's too bad" and move on. If he had a son over there (not likely because he'd probably grant him a pardon), you'd better believe we'd be done over there. He keeps saying "we need to stay the course". What the hell is the course? Saddam's out of there, and the Iraq government is pretty much in place.
We hear again today two more soldiers were found killed and brutially tourtured. When does it end? How many other families have to be torn apart before he brings these soldiers home?
I know it's Cliche......

But mean/rude people really do suck!
Let me give you an example. A couple of weeks ago I went out with the baby to a store. Now when we left the weather was fine. The minute I hit the parking lot- BAM- downpour, a really heavy one that can make your car float away.
Ok, so I get the baby out of the car, I'm cradling her in one arm while holding on to the umbrella with the other. Do you know not one person let us cross from the parking lot to the store! People, you're in a car! You're covered and protected! I'm not asking for the world here, but a little common courtesy would have been nice.
All I'm saying is people think- next time you see someone caught in the rain (figuratively and litterally), be kind and let them cross- one day it might be you.

Monday, June 19, 2006

The Kid From Brooklyn

Ok have you checked out this website yet? Another fine expression of freedom of speech. Please be advised, he does use a lot of foul language, but it is very funny! He's very honest and that by me is the best way to be. You may not agree with hin, but at least he has the guts to tell it like it is!
www.thekidfrombrooklyn.com

Sunday, June 18, 2006

God Bless Geno's Steaks and Casa D'Ice

It's nice to know the first amendment is alive and well in Pennsylvania.

First I want to commend Geno's for wanting people to order in English. Hey it's America, speak the language. For the idoits that are thinking of suing him - Shut up, go home and eat a burrito! If you can't say the work 'cheesesteak", you don't deserve one.

Second, someone in my family sent me an E-mail about this restaurant called Casa D' Ice, also in PA, but on the western side. The owner, who is also Italian, has put up a number of wonderful colorful commentaries on his sign outside. They have a web site and you should check it out. It's nice to know that someone in this country has the guts to tell it like it is and not be all PC about it. Would I eat there? You betcha every night of the week if I could!

Saturday, June 17, 2006

PETA, PETA, PETA

Ok I am a liberal and I do love animals, but PETA is a complete thorn in my side.
In their latest attempt to get their message across, they won a charity auction to have dinner with Beyonce. She has a clothing line that uses fur on some of the pieces. During the dinner they "bombarded" her with questions about why she uses fur and why it's cruel, blah, blah, blah.
Ok thanks PETA for ruining it for everyone. Now do you think any celebrity, especially Beyonce will ever participate in a charity meet and greet again. Who suffers, the charities and the fans.
Honestly the tactics they use sometimes are way off the mark. A couple of years ago here in Boston, they actually stood outside the performances of "The Nutcracker". As people exited the theater, if they had fur on, they had the gall to tell the patrons children, to their face, that mommy was a murderer. Nice.
Honestly PETA, stay on you're side of the fence and leave the rest of us alone.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Yes Even I get Duped Sometimes

Ok yes I admit I'm pretty savvy when it comes to knowing what is a good item to buy and what I should pass on. But there is that one product that catches my eye and I think that my life maybe somewhat better if I bought it. Then I end up being wrong.
Hence, the bladeless razor kit. I thought wow, what a great idea. Here you don't have to worry about cutting your legs and you make sure all the hair is gone with this nifty little razor thingy.
That had me for about six months until the lightbulb went on. Duh- a face cloth works faster! Just put the creme on and wipe it off with a face cloth stupid!
So now I'm done in 3 minutes and those bladeless razors are collecting dust in my closet!

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

You know...

I know it sounds like I complain alot about many things, but you know what? I have a pretty damn good life. I have a great husband (minus his faults for being male), that loves me no matter how crabby I get. I am finally blessed with a wonderful daughter that makes every day an adventure for me. I am lucky enough to be able to be with her because I have such a supportive husband. We have a roof over our heads, and two terrific dogs that despite being here first, don't mind me giving my attention to the baby first. Plus I have a handful of great friends that are there for me whenever I need them.
So Yeah I might complain about the world around me and what I feel isn't right, but hey, I can't complain about how fortunate I really am.
What are you kidding?

Ok I just read a statistic from a survey that Travelocity did. 40% of people check their work e-mail on vacation.
Helloooooo. It's a VACATION! If you're that connected to work, you're not taking enough vacations. You work 51 weeks out of the year to get one measley week off and you're gonna check your work e-mail? Really? You need to GET A LIFE! Honestly, there is more to life than work. If you don't stop once in a while to realize that, before you know it, you're 80 and in a nursing home eating pudding!
Work is not life. Life is what happens at 5 p.m. when you walk out that door from work. Eat dinner with your family. That's time you'll never get back again. It may sound cliche but smell the roses, you won't believe how wonderful that really is.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Honesty- The Best Policy?!

When did we become such a backwards nation? Why can't we just be honest with each other?
If someone bothers you - let them know. Don't be all nice and cutesy to their face and then grumble about them behind their back.
I used to care what people thought of me. I don't anymore. Hey you don't like my sarcastic nature, that's fine. I don't need people to like me. I've learned that the people that matter in your life stick with you no matter how crabby you are.
I used to despise the cranky old man that chased children off his lawn. Now I understand him. He worked hard for his house and that lawn, why let some kids ruin it?
We've become a nation so PC, we don't say what we feel any more. That's why the therapy field is booming. This is how comedians are born. These are the people that, given that it's delivered in a punch line, can get away with saying almost anything. And we laugh, because we feel the same way, but are to pent up to express how we really feel to people.
What Happened to Broadway?

Ok myself being a huge theater buff, always look forward to the Tony Awards every year.
Yet every year I see this trend growning, there are less and less "Broadway Stars" and more and more Hollywood celebrities and muscians in lead rolls in plays. It looks more like the Academy Awards rather than the Tony's.
Really, Cyndi Lauper in "Three Penny Opera"? I like her, but a Broadway lead actress?
Oh and a trend you see way to much of on Broadway now- making a movie into a musical. "The Wedding Singer"- really? Is anyone going to see this thing? This year in revivals, in my opinion, were not my cup of tea. ""Sweeny Todd" and "Three Penny Opera", talk about wholesome family entertainment- not!
Thank God for the men from "Jersey Boys". I was so happy to see them win. They are Broadway actors. I loved every second of their speeches, very heartfelt and touching. You know when someone has struggled for the dream, you can see it in their eyes.
I know you're gonna say, hey that's another stupid trend, with the success of "Mama Mia", everyone's cashing in on turning a string of pop songs into a musical. I totally agree, but I feel with the exception of "Jersey Boys", which tells the story of The Four Seasons, that trend should be put to bed also.
Where are all the great playwrights? All the great musical ideas? Please someone come forward and save Broadway!
Babs, really?

OK I totally understand that all the profits are going to charity, but $700.00 a ticket?
How do you ever expect the people that really want to go see you, to ever see you? Honestly the only people that will see Barbara on this next tour are the elite rich and the poor slobs that put the tickets on their credit cards, which won't be paid off until they're dead.
Why can't she be generous to her legions of fans that have stuck by her for decades and give them a break?
I guess I'm just really disappointed, because again I won't we able to take my mom, who is one of those fans to see her. It sucks to be a commoner!

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Will we ever see the sun again?

Ok after serious flooding in May, it seems like the rain never ends. When it's rained the past couple of weeks, it's non- stop for days. Then we get maybe 1 day of sun if we're lucky. Man this has been a terrible summer so far. Yuk

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Ann Coulter needs to eat a doughnut!

Maybe that's why she's so cranky. Have you seen her? She's a walking advertisement for a stick.
Ann, eat something maybe then you won't be so bitter.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Family Values my Foot!
I am so sick of politicians touting the phrase "Family Values". Oh so you think gay people shouldn't get married because there are no "family values"?
How about this. Most of the women I know that were pregant along with me had to juggle career and their pregnancy almost up until the time they were to deliver. Why? Because they only have (with luck) 3 months off to give birth and be with their newborn. Most of them worked right up until the time they were supposed to deliver so they could make sure they spent time with their new baby.
How's that for family values? So a woman who is the one that carried that child is punnished by only having really a miniscule amount of time to spend with her new child, before having to return to the workplace.
Why not allow her to have more time with that child? Say 9 months or even a year? Allow her to recieve half pay while she is out. That first year is so filled with milestones and great moments and a majority of mom's are missing out on that. I can't imagine missing those moments and it's unfair to those mom's that have to. I'm one of the lucky ones. We are fortunate to "get by" on what my husband makes. Yes we have to make sacrifices on lots of things, but it's worth it.
So you politicians with you're "family values" speeches- maybe you should actually look at families and help them out more.

Monday, June 05, 2006

When Did I Contract the Disease?

Did you notice that when you have a major change in your life, some people disappear like you contracted a contagious fatal disease?
Take marriage for instance- once you're married most of your single friends disappear. Sure there are a few that will stick around because they become family and love you no matter what. But the majority just don't have anything in common with you any more and jsut sort of fade into the sunset.
Then there's the baby. So all the "new friends" you made after you got married, seem to scatter like dust. Again there are the select few that stick around because maybe they have kids too and give you a world of advice. For the most part though, your circle of real friends you can count on one hand.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Who cares about Angelina?
Ok I gotta get this off my chest. Who freakin' cares about Angelina and her new baby? Honestly, she flies to Africa to have the baby, big whooppee do! Women around the world have babies every day. People get over her- enough is enough already.
Thank God for Blondes!
Ok I was watching the National Spelling Bee last night on TV. When it came down to the final two I was thrilled it was 2 girls. But I was secretly rooting for that blonde girl from New Jersey. Not that I have anything against Canada- I love it there. I for once wanted to put to rest the "dumb blonde" theory. When she won- I secretly jumped up and down for the fact that a blonde- from New Jersey - had won. See we're not all dumb and some good things do come out of New Jersey.
You know when youre young everyone asks you "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Did you ever notice no one ever answers " I want to be a parent"?
We all have these great aspirations and goals we set in our lives. But when you plan out your life, things may not go as you want them to.
I wanted to be a theater director. Went to school for it, was in many productions, even directed a few shows on a small scale. I tried very hard to make this dream come true, but sometimes life just happens. You get married, get a job, have bills, etc. , etc. Things fall by the wayside, in order for you to "get by" and "live life".
So sometimes you go from job to job not being happy or finding your "niche" in life. Then something happens that puts it all in perspective.
For me it was finding out I was pregnant with our child. After 8 years of marriage and being told by the medical community that it would never happen- miralces do occur.
I did have a trying pregnancy and an even more trying delivery (emergency c-section after 22 hours of labor). In the end it was all worth it. I delivered a beautiful girl on November 11th.
I am fortunate enough to have the privledge of being a stay at home mom now.
It is by far the most difficult job I have ever had, but it is the best one I've ever had also. I have a boss- my 6 month old daughter. I definitely keep longer hours than any other job out there. But, there is no better job than being a parent. When that baby looks up at you and smiles, or laughs at you because they think you're the funniest thing around- there's nothing like it. No reward or raise from a "normal" job can compare. I feel like now I've found my "niche" in life. I'm really happy for the first time and am very content with the way life is now.