Wednesday, March 29, 2006

How have I turned into an asshole?

You know my city has turned on me. I mean, I love LA. Like I love Palm trees and used to love Disneyland. In that weird ass, too- much kind of way that chesseheads love Wisconsin.

Add to that, I am a big ass liberal (which is probably a pre-req for loving LA). I don't mind paying taxes for schools. I called my state rep to argue in favor of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants that otherwise meet California State College entrance exams. I know that the only way to stop illegal immigration is to fine employers (last year exactly 0 (ZERO) were fined in all of the US!). If I lived in the ass end of Mexico and getting to LA would make life better for my kids, I would go too. I don't freak out at Spanish Billboards and I have the Ranchero station programmed in my car. I kinda like it sometimes.

So why does TV broadcast images of my city marching with Mexican flags screaming California Hates Mexicans.

How does this city suddenly decide that I don't belong.

How do I not feel (even if I never say it) "if that is what you think, grab your flag and get your ass out"?

47

Well, I am 47 today.

Hurrah.

And at work. I don't know why I am at work. I never go to work on my birthday, but this one was what-ever. I'm old. I think I am going to ignore them after this.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Curiosity killed the frog

So the other night, Eddie and I are engaging in the preliminaries of an appropriately adult diversion (if children can navigate through that sentence - then they know what we are talking about anyways).

Well, Ashford was in his dog bed. Hastings, as usual, thinks that this is an unfortunate habit which Eddie and I have; so he goes into the bathroom, where he practices a form of denial (if I can't see it , then it isn't happening).

Trevor, on the other, decides to watch.

This is disconcerting and throws me off my game. Trevor is tossed off the bed, and he jumps back up. Reoccurrence returns the same result again. So we retrieve a toy for the pup to play with. Fortunately, it seemed to work. Trevor played with the toy on the floor. Unfortunately, we picked a toy frog which, by squeezing, Trevor could make go "Rebit Rebit". He got better at this too, so as our amorous adventures proceeded, the "Rebit"ing increased in frequency.

Let me just say, it is hard to stay on your game in such an environment. But, after a while, the "Rebit"ing stopped, and we proceeded apace. Until we looked at the foot of the bed. Where Trevor was perched on the comforter, frog in mouth, intently watching us. When caught in this pose, he smiled, squeezed the frog and said, "Rebit".

We kicked him out of the bedroom and enjoyed ourselves. When we let him back in an hour later he had, in true Terrier fashion, crapped right outside the door to let us know he was annoyed to have missed the floor show.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Go Bruins!

Well, one cannot pretend that UCLA won the game last night. We stole it away from a team that played better for 39 minutes and 40 seconds.

But a win is a win baby.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Does "the Cold War" Ring a Bell, Mr. President?

(From Salon Magazine)

Wednesday in West Virginia <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060322-3.html>, President Bush provided a rather sloppy view of history. Speaking in the city of Wheeling, Bush said: "The first lesson is, is that oceans can no longer protect us. You know, when I was coming up in the '50s in Midland, Texas, it seemed like we were pretty safe. In the '60s it seemed like we were safe."
Uh, is it possible that Bush: a) never saw one of those designated fallout shelter signs that were posted on the facades of thousands of buildings across America in the 1950s and '60s? b) has forgotten completely about the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962? c) has never heard the musical jingle "Duck and Cover," produced by the U.S. government and aimed at American children? d) is unaware of why treaties such as SALT and START were negotiated? e) believes the Cold War pitted Coke against Pepsi? f) all of the above?
Just wondering.

Freedom of Religion

So it took me a while to understand how the Afghanistan constitution can support freedom of religion, but still put that guy to death (Abdul Rahman - <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11973510/>) for becoming a Christian. A news radio explanation filled me it (and now I will fill you in).

Apparently BEING a Christian is okay, and converting to Christianity from something other than Islam is okay. However, converting FROM Islam is a no-no. Not the act of conversion (which is protected), but in converting you are insulting Islam.

Insulting Islam is a capital offense.

Clear as mud. And obviously worth our on-going support in dollars and lives.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Holy Moly (Really)



Well we made it. It was my Grandmother Donna's 90th birthday. We had quite the party at our house in the desert. There were a lot of folks at the party. It started on Saturday around 1PM, and didn't end until 8 hours later. Then we got up and went to a brunch at Las Caswaylas (not how it is spelled).

My grandmother, my mom and her husband Nick, my sister Tiffany and her husband T and my little brother Quintin all stayed at our house. It was a fun. In, you know, a car wreck kind of way.

I haven't hung out with this side of the family much, and I didn't realize the family dynamics. Let me say there are LOTS. Too many to go into here, but I had a really good time. And Donna had a really good time. And I got to hang out with my mom. My mom had a good time with me (a really good time with everyone else? I am not so sure).

See how happy we are. More dirt later.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

I'm Touched.... No Really

So I have been with Citi for 5 years now. Today I got my 5 year plaque.

It was framed off-center.

The corresponding note (Addressed to Jerry) includes the comments "On behalf of the leadership at Cit, I express our appreciation for all you've done and thank you for your years of dedication."

Signed on March 19, 2006 by a guy that left the company last December and now works are Barclay's Bank in London.

I am touched.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

1 Down, 1 To Go

I suppose the topic line could be read incorrectly. Let me rephrase; We are halfway through family visits we have been looking forward to.

Eddie's Mom and Dad were out last week-end. We all had a great time (except the Jacuzzi!). Eddie bar-b-qued steaks one night, and we had Mexican food the next. We watched "Walk The Line" (Reese was really really good).

Jo gave Lynnie a little crocheting refresher course (and a trip to a way-to-expensive yarn shop!). And we had a nice visit.

Friday, my Mom and Nick are coming out to the desert with my Mom's family (including Aunts, Cousins, Brothers and my Mom's Mom) for a birthday party / family reunion for Honey (my Mom's Mom). Since I haven't meet a lot of the family (and haven't' seen those I know for 20 years) it should be fun. The only variable is now the weather. It looks to rain next week-end. That puts a crimp on the "Pool" part of the Pool Party.

Oh well, hope for sun!

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Married For A Day

(I am not a big fan of posting jokes, but this hit close to home...)

A man and a woman, who have never met before, but who are both married to other people, found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on a transcontinental train.

Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room, they were both very tired and fell asleep quickly...he in the upper bunk and she in the lower.

At 1:00 AM, the man leaned over and gently woke the woman saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket? I'm awfully cold."

"I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, let's pretend that we're married."

"Wow! That's a great idea!" he exclaimed.
"Good," she replied. "Get your own damned blanket!"
After a moment of silence, he farted.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

My Software isn't running in Canada or Russia

Every now and then the Gods of Chance smile upon you.

I don't want to name my company for fear of the wandering bot, but suffice it to say that all of you (and this is not a publicized bog) know where Scooter works.

You may also have heard that this major bank has had some ATM problems in Canada and Russia. What you may not know is that not all of the bank's site use the software we develop here. Some of our businesses decided it was cheaper to purchase our software from other suppliers. So their ATMs do not run our software. So Scooter has not control over these sites what so ever.

And, dear friends, it is in this category to which both Canada and Russia fall. NSP - not scooter's problem.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11714119/

Monday, March 06, 2006

And so We Say Goodbye to Beautiful...

... Los Angeles as the Hunt women leave our fair city. The sun broke through for a few days, but the clouds are coming back and our guests are hightailing it out of Dodge.

We had a lovely time with them. We had a great dinner at White Lotus and another at Vert (although Vert was very slow and some people - not to mention names "SCOTT" - did fill the wait with liquor). We took them around the Kodak Theater area on Friday. And they have a picture with a big Oscar Statue.

Saturday we went to a make up symposium put on by the Oscar nominated Make-Up Directors. Laura does movie make up so whe liked it a lot. It was in the old Max Factor building (now the Hollywood Museum). Boy those make-up guys can yack it up.

Yesterday Eddie took Lynn, Lisa and Laura to Universal and they went in the Prop House and all. I took Jane to the Farmer's Market in Hollywood and we got munchies to eat while watching the Academy Awards Show. Then we all settled in to watch the show. Lynn and Bradley came over. It was fun.

FYI - Lisa won the Oscar Pool!

Anywho, we had a good time with the Brits. Bon Voyage

Friday, March 03, 2006

Sweet Dreams

So now we have the pup.

Last night our friends from England came in for a long week-end. They crashed early (7 hours later for them), so Eddie and I tried to go to bed quietly.

Not easy. Hastings (the old white dog) sleeps on the bed for a while - but he is like a rock. So after an hour or so, we put him on the floor in his dog bed. The puppy sleeps in his crate, but I let him on the bed when Eddie was gone and so he whines to get on the bed. Well, there are people upstairs - and we are afraid the whining will wake them... so we let him sleep with us. Down on the floor, Ashford is snoring and wheezing the night away.

We finally all get settled. I drift off. Just then my bf reaches over and touches my hair. I am expecting words of love. I get this.

"Can you please turn over?"

"Huh?" I ask. Obviously not what I expected.

"You are snoring. right. in. my. ear."

I felt bad for him. I snore and don't realize it. Ashford is snoring and wheezing, the puppy is trying to dig a hole in the bed to sleep in, Hastings is making that smack smack sound old people do when they fall asleep. Eddie, who was thrilled to be back from New York yesterday, longs for just a little piece and quiet.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Can't Be In Too Bad a Mood

So today I am wearing a BRIGHT, neon greenish/yellowish shirt from Habba Dive in Australia. It is an obnoxious shirt - granted.

But the good news is you can't wear it all day and stay in a bad mood. Too many people like to comment, make fun of or compliment the shirt. You have to get involved with people and that always makes me smile.

So, I forget the rank, enjoy the sunshine - and the South African that runs the cafeteria makes fun of Aussies for even making a shirt like this. And the day gets better.

PS - my excuse. The Brits are coming and I have to pick them up at LAX. The shirt makes it easy for them to find me.

See the problem here...

See the problem here is that neither the white house, nor the press corp nor anyone else much seems to care the Prezdent is a fat freakin' liar. He says that "No one could have anticipated the breech of the levees in New Orleans", which was why he stayed on vacation, then went to San Diego on a fund raiser, went back on vacation before flying over the scene.

But now a video de-brief from the day before the hurricane hit shows that everyone anticipated it. It shows how serious Katrina was and how desperate that FEMA was for help. It shows his Bushness sitting there pretending to listen to a briefing where a GIANT FUCKING HURRICANE WAS GOING TO DESTROY AN AMERICAN CITY. AND IT DID THE NEXT DAY. And then his Bushiness said he had no idea it was going to happen.

He is either a liar or an idiot.

It was 1 day. It's not like the briefing that said Bin Laden was determined to attack America - and it took over a month. This was 1 day later. Now granted, his Bushness was busy raising money in San Diego and cant' hold 2 different thoughts in his head - but that is why he has a staff of .. oh .. twenty. So he doesn't forget things like, you know, a giant hurricane that is bearing down on 1 million citizens.

But no one in the country seems to care. These are the same Republicans in Congress who impeached Clinton for getting a blow job. So hundreds of people died in new Orleans and the President lied about it. Okay - not a problem. Possibly illegal wire-taps - and the President / Congress won't appoint a special counsel? Not a problem.

Can you image the outrage if this was a Clinton. Hell, you already have the radio right calling Hillary "too angry" to run for President.

See, I try not to talk about it because there isn't anyway to make this funny. It is sad. The man we elected to be our highest government official lies to us constantly. He wiretaps us. He takes our taxes and waste them on schemes that help business, but not people (and if you think I am wrong take 3 minutes to investigate the mockery that is Medicare Drug Benefits - your taxes directly from your pocket to Glaxo - do not pass Go, do not buy from Canada).
When people speak out against his team, he outs CIA agents. He promises to fire anyone involved - then doesn't. And no one cares.

Clinton might have lowered the standards we hold a President to, but Bush has removed any standards at all. There are no Ethical, Moral or Legal standards that this administration is not willing to break, remove and lie about in order to expand their power and profit. And good people try to justify it. I don't think Republicans are bad. I do however think it is a sad scene watching them justify what is going on. Why we shouldn't look at it deeper. America is a sadder and poorer place because of these people.

And I am just trying to watch my ass so I don't get arrested.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

New Stupid Ass Word for the Week

So I just heard the stupidist new marekting word. "ManWagon".


Apparently it was dreamed up by a Marketing Whiz who decided that "Stationwagon" sounded to girlie. But the "Magnum" ... it's not girlie. It's not for weenies. It's a V8. It's a Hemi baby. it's a.... wait for it.... ManWagon.

Uhhh ... okay.

Fellicty Huffman Mascort for the Month


Well, it's new Mascot for the Month.

This month it is Fellicity Huffman. Since the the votes are already in for the Acadamy Awards, I will not be influencing the outcome :-). I have loved Ms. Huffman since Sports Night - a wicked good show - delt an early death by ABC (who reaplaced it with night 4 of Who Wants to be a Millionaire!). Apparently Showtime tried to buy it, but the show committment was too long.

Fellicity disappeared after that with only the occasional TV Movie of the Week. Apparently she got the show Desperate Housewives and the move TransAmerica the same week. She is AMAZING. I love her.


Above she is pretty in Sports Night and Desperate Housewives. Below is her look in TransAmerica (as Stanley / Bree). It isn't just the make up. She makes you believe she is Stanley trying to be a Bree.