Golden Globes

Bob's recap HERE expresses my thoughts on the show perfectly.  We are as one on this.  Scroll on down.  You'll get there.  Also his post on Jodie Foster's speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award reflects my feelings as well; HOWEVER, after what he wrote, I hope he was being ironic when he tagged her fashion commentary with the adjective "lesbian" on there.  Knowing Bob, he probably was.  We can hope but won't have to since he'll let us know.

Part of Jodie Foster's speech confuses me.  Is she retiring from acting?  Will she still direct?  Is she retiring from show business entirely or what?  Not clear on that part.  She seemed nervous and rambled through some of it.  She referred to coming out but primarily to her desire for privacy.  The part about her family was touching and moving.  I'm sure this was hard for her, and it showed.  I've always admired her.  She has remained loyal to her friendship with Mel Gibson, who was at her table and looked stunned and unsure of where he was and what was going on. 

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were hilarious and got some good zingers in there.

Tommy Lee Jones was not amused.
 

Good show. 

Gnu Attitude

This is going to be a year devoted to taking care of myself.  I'm still recovering from heart surgery and going to cardiac rehab for it.  I'll add to that with some other exercises and weight loss.  However, I'm going farther!  I had a facial today for the first time in my life.  Yes, Maddie, imagine how my skin needed that!  I've been getting massages, manicures, and pedicures periodically and will get into a regular routine, I hope.  OK, I'll try.  So healthy habits and pampering!  Bring it on!  It's time!  All that enthusiasm made me tired and hungry.  See you later. 



 

My Family

My daughter and her kids and my son, his wife, and their son came down yesterday for fun and games.  We went to eat at the Mexican restaurant where I used to play trivia.  Yes, I do plan to go back and play again.  Then we came back to my house and played "Apples to Apples" and "Family Feud."   Lots of laughter and loudness!  Since our reunion, I've gone to my daughter's the day after Christmas for the last ten years.  However, this year they came here.  I'm not ready to drive a few hours during holiday traffic yet.  It really does take a long time to recover from this surgery! 

Another reason, I haven't had them here was the condition of my house, which looked like a hoarder lived in it.  I really did feel much worse than I realized.  After my helpers cleared out numerous trash bags filled with clothes, papers and stuff that filled my brother's truck several times to take to recycling, Goodwill, and/or the dump, my house was ready for company.  I couldn't have healed after I got home from the  hospital if it had been the way it was.  Such a relief!  That's why I'm not a hoarder because I wanted the clutter gone and am thrilled to have space again! 

So they were all here together for the first time.  It was great!  From the left, across the table and back up to the front:  My son Brian, older granddaughter Kelsey, daughter-in-law Melissa, daughter Kathy, older grandson Luke, younger granddaughter Kari, youngest grandson Brendan.  This is at the restaurant.   

Holidays

How was your Christmas?  Any plans for New Year's Eve?  I've made a few goals (instead of resolutions).  More on this later.  What about you? 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all!  Hope everyone is safe, warm, and loved!  That's what it's all about.  All my best to you and yours this holiday season! 

Tribute from The Voice

Star Trek Trivia

The name of the USS Enterprise in the original draft for the Star Trek TV series was the USS Yorktowne.

Pranks

I don't like practical jokes and am not sure why they are called that.  I've never thought it was funny to intentionally embarrass people or make them look like fools.  I put up with them from people who pulled them on me and laughed or shrugged or whatever it took to move on because when pranksters know they can get to you, they are encouraged to do more.  The few times I tried to reciprocate and pull a prank, it sort of fell flat since I don't have the attention span to orchestrate anything strategic or complex.  Besides, that's not how I want to spend my time.  Pranks and put-down "humor" both seem mean-spirited to me.  What motivates them?  Do you think it's funny?

The nurse committed suicide who was the object of that prank played by the Australian radio show DJ's.  The head of the station approved airing the piece.  Something should be done to punish them.  I don't know what, but something.  Maybe they should all be fired.  I don't know.  What do you think?


 And, no, I never watched it.  

Spare Joey Trivia

A kangaroo mother holds a reserve embryo inside of her after her first baby has crawled into her pouch.This serves as an emergency back-up baby, should the first one die prematurely.

Nashville

I've been watching the series Nashville mostly because it's filmed there, and it's fun to see familiar places and to try to figure out where some of the scenes are shot.  The Tennessean (Nashville daily paper) keeps track of the show and lets us know information about it, such as where they are filming and some inside stuff.  I also watch it because I like Connie Britton and loved Friday Night Lights, which she was on.  Callie Khouri created and produces the show.  She writes episodes and won an Oscar for screenwriting Thelma and Louise.  T. Bone Brunett, multiple Grammy winner and brilliant, is the executive music producer of Nashville.  I just recently learned that they are married, which I think is so cool!

They filmed at the actual Bluebird Cafe for the pilot but built an identical set when the show was picked up.  The Bluebird is a vital part of the Nashville music scene.  It's actually called a listening room, and customers/audience members are supposed to be quiet and listen during performances.  They are asked to be quiet and if they don't, are asked to leave.  Strict!  It shows respect for performers.  I like it.  Sometimes several singer/songwriters perform in the round and take turns singing their songs.  Their banter is fun to watch.

I'm glad Nashville is shown fairly accurately in many ways.  There are some things that fit in more in other places like L.A. since we don't have paparazzi bothering stars around here.  They are left alone and can go most places without incident.  They take their kids to school, grocery shop, eat out, and other regular things.  They cover that in the show except for the young country pop performer (Hayden Panettiere) who was dating a pro football player.  There seemed to be just one photographer who got them, though.  That seems about right.   It's mostly a night-time soap opera that is a lot about the music business and politics in all its forms. The actors do their own singing and have released an album.

Now you know.



 Bluebird website HERE. 

Southern Liberals

This article "A New Southern Strategy" by Karen Cox for the NYTimes, echoes my sentiments exactly.  We Southerners are lumped into the same ignorant redneck group together.  During the election I got so tired of hearing about this and the other demographics who don't represent me.  I'm white, over 65, female, and live in a small town in the South.  This means I should have voted for Romney, except that many of my friends, relatives, and acquaintances didn't.  Guess since I'm single, I fell into that group who voted for Obama.  I'm not saying we don't have an abundance of ignorance, racism, bigotry, and fundamentalists here.  We do.  Unfortunately, they are in other regions, too. 

Here's an excerpt from Cox's article:

That we are still using the term “Confederacy” to describe the South and pointing to slave maps says a lot about how hard it is for the region to move beyond its historical reputation, however richly deserved, for one that reflects more current realities.

Voters in Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, Birmingham, Ala., and even Jackson, Miss., gave Mr. Obama substantial majorities, not because they are out of step with the rest of the country but because they are part of the same urban-rural divide that drives voting everywhere.

So if we’re going to apply the term “Confederacy,” then perhaps we can all agree that while a majority of Southern white voters seem intransigent to change, the region is nevertheless being transformed by its changing demographics.

This is a good article and worth reading.  We Southern liberals are capable of critical thinking and making informed decisions. 

Molly Ivins said, " I believe all Southern liberals come from the same starting point -- race. Once you figure out they are lying to you about race, you start to question everything."

The View

First of all, I don't know why I even watch The View sometime because they get on my nerves, but I do it anyway periodically.  I like Whoopi and Joy (in that order) and nearly always agree with them.  Barbara drives me crazy when she's on and gets on my nerves even more than Elisabeth does.  Barbara is all about what all she's done, who she's interviewed, and who she knows.  She interrupts Whoopi more than she does the others and is condescending to her.  I think she's jealous because Whoopi has worked with and knows so many of the guests, who seem genuinely glad to see her.  Also Barbara makes inappropriate comments that are conversation stoppers.  I like the show much better when she's not on it.  Wish she'd quit showing up on there.  

Elisabeth gets a high-horse attitude and smug expression on her face when she quotes Fox News.  Sometimes she is reasonable and OK.  Sherri comes from out there somewhere for her opinions and guidelines for life.  They are another story.   I've been watching The Talk instead sometimes.  They don't interrupt each other.  All that interrupting and talking over each other on The View makes me crazy!  It's so rude, and I can't hear what they are saying when they do that. 

Yes, I know.  If they bother me so much, why do I watch?  No good answer for that except that I like Whoopi and Joy.  Most of the time that's not quite enough though. 

Question

I wonder about those battery chargers for electric cars that I see dotted around all over the place.  Are they free?  I couldn't see a place to put any money in them.

Etc

Hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving with those you love.  I did.  My mother teared up and told me after all that's gone on this year, we could have had a bad holiday and that we have so much to be thankful for.  So true!  My brother and I both gave her a scare with our hearts.  He had more stents after having a heart attack.  He's doing fine now. 

I've been so caught up in my health issues that I haven't been in touch.  I miss y'all and will try to read your blogs regularly again and write on mine.  We managed to forge a bond that keeps you in my thoughts and holds you close.  Thank goodness for that!  I see some of you on Facebook and am in touch other ways, too.  Thanks for hanging in there!  Hugs!

On a lighter note, Tug asked why when I said this lingering cough (going on now for a month) made me concerned about my sternum.  Seriously?  I explained that it takes quite a while for that to heal and knit back together.  It's held with twist ties, which will remain there, of course, but is healing.  He said he just thought if they had me running on the treadmill at cardiac rehab, I was fine.  I explained how long it's been since I ran at all anywhere and that even if I could run, they wouldn't want me to risk it.  Duh!!  He said well they fixed your heart.  I said yes but not the rest of me and did he think I'd become instantly physically fit and younger?  What I do at cardiac rehab is WALK slowly on the treadmill with no incline (2.2 mph right now from slower and will increase speed) for 20 minutes, pedal the stationary bike for 20 minutes with no resistance, do the NuStep (sort of like a sitting elliptical) for 20 minutes, and pedal an arm thing for 20 minutes.  They increase our time periodically based on our heart monitors and blood pressure readings before during and after rehab each time.  I go three times a week.  It's helping. 

This was a rough surgery and takes about a year to fully recover from, I hear.  Hope I never have it again but glad it fixed my problem.  There is still pain on the right side of my chest where it feels as if a rib is loose and not back in place.  Our ribs aren't meant to pull apart in that direction.  I have an appointment with my cardiologist in a couple of weeks and will ask him about it.  It hurts and also has a burning sensation all across that rib and under my arm.  Someone said that might be a nerve.  Whatever, it's still uncomfortable, and I want it fixed.  Not with surgery though!! 

Well, OK.  Let's carry on! 

Golf Trivia

A Dolly Parton is a putt on an especially hilly green. It’s also known as a roller coaster.

Election

Thank goodness!!  I'm so relieved that President Obama was re-elected!  I was a nervous heebie-jeebie wreck until Pennsylvania came through.  After that, it all went quickly in his favor.  For so many reasons I am thrilled!

East Coasters

I'm thinking about you and hoping all of you make it through the storm with no injuries, damage, or inconvenience.  That's a big order but why not? 

Why Not Trivia

Not that he was immature, but Napoleon concocted his battle strategies in a sandbox.

Lack of Imagination Trivia

Former heavyweight champion George Foreman named all of his 5 sons George.

Coal Miner's Daughter

In 1965, at age 30, Loretta Lynn became country music’s first female millionaire.