A Pet Peeve

I do not like it when songs I love become extremely popular. Why is that, you ask? Well let me tell you... Once a song becomes popular, radio stations believe they need to put it on heavy rotation. Then I get sick and tired of hearing it, thus ruining a wonderful song. Right now that's what's happening to James Blunt's Beautiful & I'm hating it!

A Pet Peeve

I do not like it when songs I love become extremely popular. Why is that, you ask? Well let me tell you... Once a song becomes popular, radio stations believe they need to put it on heavy rotation. Then I get sick and tired of hearing it, thus ruining a wonderful song. Right now that's what's happening to James Blunt's Beautiful & I'm hating it!

Which Classic Female Literary Character Are you?

You're Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen!
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Thanks to Dianne, I found this cute little quiz. But I don't really think I'm outspoken...

Time to help

The people of Indonesia need our help again. The devastation these people have had to endure is unthinkable. I don't like guilt trips but if you have the extra money laying around to pay for a computer & internet service, then you probably have enough to give a little to help those who've lost everything. Remember, even $5 helps.

If your excuse is that you don't know where to donate money, here ya go. I did some research on charities after the tsunami a couple of years ago & discovered Mercy Corps. I've been very impressed by them but I encourage you to do your own research to see if it's right for you. And just so you know, I'd never ask anyone to do something that I wasn't willing to do myself.

The Trip

I just did the math on the time differences & arrival times for the trip. All the arrival & departure times listed are local times. So when the flight from Cincinnati to Paris says it departs at 4PM & arrives at 6AM, your immediate thought is "no problem, we'll sleep on the plane". Then you do the math... It's only an 8 hour flight. My body will think it's only 11PM and I'm rarely even ready to go to bed at that time.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. We have a hour lay over followed by a 2 hour flight to Prague. So, that means, when we get to Prague, my body will think it's 2AM. And the day's just starting. Since it's just 9AM locally, the plan is to walk around Prague for a few hours... see the Charles Bridge, the castle, and whatever other cool little things we see along the way. Then we still have the trip to Brno after that... It's going to be a long day.

Anyone have any suggestions on the best way to handle this? I've only traveled over multiple time zones once & I was not able to sleep on the plane... even though I had strep throat. Needless to say, that worries me a bit because I've got to be on my toes when we arrive. I'm leaning towards staying up very, very, very late the night before so I'll be so tired that my inner night owl will be forced to sleep on the plane. And then once we land, I'm thinking lots of coffee. Luckily Cindy says the coffee is great.

Yeah for me!

I went to the GEC this evening & picked out seats for next season! It's not the section that Michelle & I really wanted but it was the more practical choice. I tried to make a list of the pros & cons of each section. It ended up being a very short list consisting of good friends vs. money. Ultimately we realized that we can still upgrade to those seats for at least 20 games (approximately half the season) & it still be cheaper than season tickets in that section. And that is exactly what we're planning to do. Once the schedule comes out, we'll make a list of the games we want to upgrade & send it on to our account representative.

Only 4 more months until pre-season...

Sorry... I can't help myself

I just watched the craziest, most exciting period of hockey that I've seen in a really long time. (qualify that with a "that didn't involve the Predators"). Edmonton vs. Anaheim game 3 with Edmonton leading the series 2-0.

The only score prior to the start of the 3rd period was in the 1st period - a fluke goal by Edmonton. Early in the 3rd period, Edmonton scores 3 times in just a couple of minutes. So you think, it's over. But no! Anaheim then scored 3 times in less than 5 minutes. One of which was scored by bouncing the puck off the camera they had placed in the goal which made for a pretty cool camera angle. If that's not enough, both teams went on to score one more goal each. 8 goals in one period. Now that's a game! Go here for more.

I had forgotten that Rem Murray now plays for Edmonton. He played for Nashville last season before being struck with some disease that caused his neck to freeze. While he was still with the team, the doctors were trying all kinds of treatments just so that he could move his head enough to look forward. I guess they finally found something to work & now he's made his way back into the league. I've been looking for a reason to cheer for a particular team.. This seals it... as long as Edmonton's alive in the playoffs I'm cheering for them!

Time for a list

I'm in the process of getting my entire music collection onto the computer... no small task. It's times like this that I notice not just how many CDs I own but what artists I am strangely lacking. So here's tonight's list in no real order:

10 Artist I Like That Are Missing From My Collection

1. The Rolling Stones
2. Willie Nelson
3. George Clinton
4. Queen
5. The Beach Boys
6. Ella Fitzgerald
7. Nirvana
8. Elvis Costello
9. Lynyrd Skynyrd
10. Roy Orbison
11. Britney Spears... just joking

So there you go guys. Feel free to store this bit of information away for Christmas & help me complete the collection - as long as you don't get me #11 ;)

We survived!

Here's the Reader's Digest Condensed version of the weekend.

Trina graduated. She called it a "celebration of mediocrity". No one cried... much. No one argued. We had way too much food at the after graduation cookout. The cats do not like that many people in the house. Trina's cat Brooke somehow got stuck out in the garage. We couldn't find her for 5-6 hours. Do you know how hard it is to find small black cats in dark places? We didn't get too much sleep. We were all nodding off during church Sunday. Mom actually snored. It struck me as very funny & I lost it... right in the middle of the sermon. It was so so so hard not to burst out which made it even more funny. I think I snorted a couple of times while tears were running down my face. When there are less than 50 people, it does get noticed... by the preacher. And then I came home.

The End

Happy Anniversary!!!

I know I'm a day late but...

Happy Anniversary Belinda & Marion!!

I'm glad you're my sister & brother-in-law! And Belinda's a saint to put up with you when you become M. Fearghail :) I Love You!!

I'm not sure how it happened

But this cute little girl is graduating high school this weekend. I remember when she was born & I blame her mother for letting her grow up. However, she's become a great young lady & I'm so glad and proud she's my niece. Congratulations Trina!

I can't think of anything better to say so I'll let Will Hoge's Baby Girl say it all.

May the sunlight find your face
Even when the rain does fall
And get back on your feet again
Every time you slip and fall
Keep your heart wide open
And always taking in
And even when it's broken
Be strong enough to fix it up again

And I hope your hands are steady
And never need to make a fist
And I hope that when you're ready
You'll get one never ending kiss
And I hope that deep inside of you
There's a sweet eternal song
And I hope the words are pretty
And that you'll always sing along

And I hope your friends are many
And your laughter's always loud
To help you when you're lonely
And pick you up when you're down
I hope your eyes shine bright love
And learn to see the light
Take the time to listen
Decide yourself what's wrong or right

Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
Be strong in this great big world
Oh little baby girl

Why???

I've always enjoyed shopping. Need to find a good deal on shoes or purses? I'm your girl. Want some home decor or antiques? I'm there. How about some great new music? Happy to help. Want to know the best places to find artisan soaps? Try and stop me. Need a washer and dryer? mmm... not so great but I can be helpful. How about a TV, computer or MP3 player. Now you've lost me.

Nothing stresses me out more shopping-wise than buying anything electronic. I start to read all the specifications and I feel like I may break out in hives. I feel like I'm reading Greek or something written by Charlie Brown's teacher.

I've been looking at MP3 players for my trip. Simple buy you think. Oh no... Once I started looking at them, I thought it would be nice if I could also find something that I could download photos to directly from my camera. Well then I had to try & weed through which of the players show photos and which actually can download them from a camera - all while trying to read Greek. Then I started talking to a few people & discovered that most of these players have an internal re-chargeable battery. Once that wears out then you have to send the entire thing in for a replacement.

I thought I had finally found that fit the bill and sent a link to the web site to the IT guy at work & my friend Anne. I'm thinking great, it does everything I want & is less expensive than the only others that I had found. Only one problem... the IT guy, who apparently reads Greek very well, discovered that you have to buy an extra part so it can download. I read the same web site, I never saw that. So I go back to read what exactly comes with the player... I don't see the battery. Do they just consider the battery as part of the player? At this point I don't know. They sell batteries with the accessories... I start to stress out. Are the hives coming? Why does it stress me out? I really don't know. Anne told me to basically take a deep breath & buy it.

So this is what I'm getting. I'll let you know how it goes... I so need a mall & clothes & purses. I need to get back into my element!

Just slightly late

To all the moms out there.....

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

Music

Here's what I bought the other night:

Snow Patrol - Eyes Open - very cool. If you haven't heard of them, I'd say their sound is a bit like Coldplay but not exactly. I have their last release Final Straw (which has been on high rotation on my CD player for a long time). When I saw that they had this new release and it was on sale, I actually bought it without listening. It's slightly less atmospheric as Final Straw. If you just want to check them out by sampling a couple of songs of this CD listen to "Hands Open" and "Set The Fire To The Third Bar". The later is a duet with Martha Wainwright & absolutely haunting. Right now, I'll give this 3 stars out of 5 (it may eventually grow to 4 ).

KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope -Wow!! They've played a couple of her songs on my favorite radio station, I just didn't have a name to put with the songs. This album was at one of the listening stations & I'm glad I found it. The reviews I've seen are saying Beth Orton & Sheryl Crow. I get the Beth Orton comparison a bit but that doesn't help most people. I don't really get the Sheryl Crow one except that they both use a lot of acoustic guitars. KT's voice is much more soulful. I might actually make more of a comparison to Jennifer Knapp. Anyway, check out "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree", "Suddenly I See", and "Stoppin' The Love". I'm already giving this one 4 stars!

Last Night

After work last night, I wanted to buy a book about Scotland. Since I am going there, I thought I should learn a bit more about it. I know, I could just look it all up on the internet, but I'm a bit of a traditionalist and there are some places you just can't carry a computer. So I could go to Davis-Kidd, a local independent bookstore in town. Which happens to be my favorite bookstore in the entire world. Or I could go over to Opry Mills, go to Barnes & Noble & look for a good raincoat in Bass Pro and Sun & Ski Sports at the same time. Being the practical person I am, I chose the later. I found a good but thin book on Scotland which can go in my suitcase. Then, I found a Columbia raincoat at Bass Pro at a very good price.

And then I succumbed. The draw was just too great! I had to go into my favorite store in the entire world - Tower Records (Target runs a close second). I occasionally buy my music online but mostly I go to Tower. Online, I can only hear snippits of songs & have bought my fair share of stinker albums and even stinker downloads. At Tower, I can use the listening stations to listen to an entire CD if I want. And I have to say I have done that a few times. Yeah, you do get a few strange looks. I have to say, going to Tower with me isn't a short, pop in, pop out trip to the store. I actually go around to all the listening stations in the store to see what they have (ok, I tend to skip the classical, & show tunes and if I'm in a bit of a rush I'll skip the country, folk, world, & bluegrass). Now they even have a couple of locations where you can type in a particular album and if it's in the system, you can listen to it.

So after all that, let's just say I found a few good albums to add to my collection. I'll let you know more on that later.

Just as I always known

Nashville's the #1 Smart City to live in the U.S., or at least that's what Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine thinks. And you know, I happen to agree with them.

"Our top pick offers affordable homes, a mild climate and a phenomenal entertainment scene that goes far beyond country."

While you're at it, try this quiz to make sure you're living where you should be living.

Why???

I know that it's said that crickets are good luck & you should never harm them. However, I don't think those people have ever been tormented by one of these little critters. I came home this evening only to be "serenaded" by one & I can't find it. Every time it starts making it's little noise, I try to find where it is only to have it shut up. As usual, Scully is completely useless - you'd think a cat would really want to capture a bug.

How does something so small make such a loud noise??? Trust me, I find this thing, it's a goner!

Sorry

I know I said no hockey until the draft, so I won't actually write anything specific. But if you want to know go here to see who got resigned today with a BIG raise.

The Trip

There's no backing out now. Before I left town on Friday, I paid for our plane tickets. Then on Saturday, I booked the tour we're taking in Scotland. We leave mid July & fly Nashville to Cincinnati to Paris to Prague. Then we'll take a bus or train to see my college roommate Cindy & her family in Brno. After a few days with Cindy, we'll go back to Prague & fly to London. We'll spend a few days in London then take a train to Edinburgh. In Edinburgh we'll take a tour with this company. I have to say, any company that uses Haggis in its name surely has a similar sense of humor. Once we return to Edinburgh we'll fly to Atlanta & then on home to Nashville.

Now all I have to do is reserve the hotel rooms & decide what we absolutely want to see in London. Well & there's the whole thing of training someone to fill in for me at work. I'm very excited but I'm starting to wonder if I'll survive??? I've already threatened Trina that I may strand her in Prague if she's too mean.

Then end of an era

I just finished watching the final episode of 7th Heaven. As I said before, this is one of my favorite shows. Amazingly, I didn't get as sentimental as I thought I would.

Anyway, here's you're spoiler alert. If you haven't watched the episode & plan to do so, do not read any further.


I have to say, it was a very satisfying way to end 10 years. First, I really liked that all the kids made it home. Well, ok, Mary didn't actually make it home - she was just in a dream of what the parents hoped would happen at Simon's wedding and shown talking on the phone. But almost all the loose ends were tied up nicely.

I loved that Simon didn't marry Rose. Granted she was nicer in the end but I never bought the entire suddenly sweet Rose routine. And I didn't like that the audience didn't get to see how they stopped the ceremony.

I liked that Matt & Sarah were finally getting their marriage back on track. I don't know why but I always loved the story line of how they met & married all in the same day. The actors has such great chemistry together that you just bought the whole storyline.

I was also surprised that Carlos & Mary were back together, even though I never understood that relationship. Granted they threw that one out there after the actress who played Mary had left the show full time so there wasn't time to really flesh it out.

But all the babies... please. Can we say overkill? Yes the parents have a set of twins. Did Lucy & Kevin, and Matt & Sarah, and Mary & Carlos all have to be expecting twins?? Seems a little insane.

Then there's the big question that makes you wonder if they're thinking of a spin off show in the future. At the end of the show, Sandy arrives at the reception (if you can call it that) & when Simon asks how her son is, she tells him that they "need to talk about that". And that's where they leave you. All along I thought there was a chance that Simon was the baby's father not Martin. But since Sandy & Rose were friends, Sandy went to long lengths to make sure everyone thought it was Martin's. This sounds more like the basis for an Aaron Spelling show than 7th Heaven ever did.