Thursday, May 29, 2008

Ah.. seasons....

So I totally get why people say they miss the seasons now.  They are wrong, but I get it.
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See, I was walking the dog today and it's Spring.  The warmth feels fantastic after winter (not just nice, almost orgasmic), the sun shines through the fresh green leaves, where only a few weeks ago there were only empty branches.  It's great.
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It's not "Spring" that people love, it is the leaving of winter.
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I kept waiting for "Spring" or "Fall" and assuming it would be, like, 1/4 of the year (4 seasons, each should last 3 months).  Oh no, "Spring" and "Fall" are the few precious weeks between cold as death and hot as hades.  You guys know what I mean, the few weeks when your testicles aren't playing thermometer ("Get us out of here!!!!") 
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Likewise Fall.  In the Fall people talk about the "crisp" days and windy afternoons.  It isn't all that great, it just feels that way after the sweatbox that is summer where there is humidity.
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So for all the talk about "seasons" I think people really mean that it is great when the weather that they are sick to death of changes.
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Not that there is anything wrong with that.  But those precious days, in and of themselves, are no reason to leave California - which ain't called The Golden State for nothing.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

WaterCube Header

New header from the Olympics site for the swimming and diving. It is done and should be very cool.

Sharon Stone joins the Bat Shit Crazy Brigade


Ah, poor Sharon Stone. She has always been a little nuts, but usually fun crazy, not Bat Shit Crazy. Well recently she joined the BSC Brigade with her comments that the Chinese Earthquake was Karma due to China's treatment of Tibet.
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Bat Shit Crazy, let's blame God (or Karma for you Buddhists) for a natural disaster that killed 60,000 + people. Because, you know, God has nothing better to do than sit around and kill innocent people because someone else pissed him (or her or it) off.
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Sharon take your place next to other recently famous arrivals....


Rev. Hagee (Catholic Church is a whore-church and A Planned Gay Pride Parade started Katrina)
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Rev. Wright (who prefers blaming the US government for things like developing AIDS to kill African Americans)
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and the always there for you
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Pat Robertson (9/11 was God's retribution for feminists, Tornadoes are due to Kansas teaching evolution again, the Americans for Separation of Church and State are to blame for a neo-nazi killing spree - oh the hits just keep on coming)
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And check it out, BSC hits both sides of the aisle in this post!!!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Ed's Memorial Day Picture (Updeated)


You can click on it for a bigger shot. He took this yesterday from the Water Taxi.
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(Updated..)
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Eddie recropped it and likes this one better. He did say that having the plan was important. It is important that we are all still flying (although we can guarantee it isn't on time).

Memorial Day

So, it was a nice, relaxing Memorial Day week-end - and we needed it. We did a bunch of junk, but first just some shots.
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This one is just to blow my mom away (she doesn't like crowds).
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This is the 7th Avenue street fair. They shut down streets all during the spring and summer and have these little street fairs. In some places (like in Hell's Kitchen) the local restaurants participate. And sometimes it is local artists. But this was just a normal street fair, which is kind of like a swap meet. Note the crowds.

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Then today, we took the Trevor dog up to Central Park for a walk.
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Of course we took the subway to get up there. Trevor is remarkably composed on the subway.
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He shakes a little, but we aren't sure if it is excitement of what.
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There are so many sounds, smells and sights that he loves it.
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We decided today, however, that it must be really really loud for the little dog on the subway.
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Anywho, we took the subway up to 72nd, which is a little ways up into the park. From there we walked around the boat pond, then over an 150 year old wooden bridge to "the bramble".
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The Bramble is a 37 acre area that is far from the easy access roads and there are no bikes or skaters over there. So it is very quite. And a lot of birders. Trevor was a hit because he isn't a barker. It was a great walk and we had a lot of fun.
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This Trevor and Eddie on the bridge.
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A view from the banks of the boating river across part of central park.

Friday, May 23, 2008

CryBaby: the Musical

So I went and saw CryBaby the Musical last night. It had lousy reviews, I don't know why. I think if you saw the movie, and expected the movie, you would have been disappointed. But if you went in with other expectations, I think you would like it.
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Part of the reason I LOVED IT was because I got to sit 3rd row, and the choreography was amazing. It is nominated for Best Musical Tony (which I think will go to In the Hieghts) but also for others including Best Choreography which I hope it wins. The dancing and choreography was great.
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Also great was Harriet Harris. She is famous from Despreate Housewives and as Fraizer's Agent on Frazier. She was terrific.



Thursday, May 22, 2008

Yaba Daba Dubai


If you have 20 Million Pounds, and want a piece of a private island with only 65 residences in the Persian Gulf, have I got a deal for you.
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And yes, that is a private spa tub on the roof (on the roof deck) and an infinity pool above the ocean, and a 3 bedroom 4 bathroom house.
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To no one's surpirse, Scooter Want.

American Idol: The Good The Bad and The Hilarious


Well, my pumpkin was happy. He wanted David cook to win. I honestly thought the Cook-ster didn't have a chance against uncomfortable child progeny Archuleta. But I am glad Cook won. The best take on Archuleta is from Salon:
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This is all a roundabout way of saying that 2008 should have been David Archuleta's year. He has the most unforced vocal technique since -- excuse me while I dry-heave -- Josh Groban. He is sweet and milky and blackhead-free, and he is utterly inhuman, like something you'd encounter on Disney's "Small World" ride. (Paddle! Paddle!) "Archu-Dee-two," one blogger has called him, and I would have to agree, except that I can't help envisioning a time when Archuleta breaks out of the workshop and goes on a rampage through the surrounding countryside, hot-wiring cars and breaking kneecaps, with Miley Cyrus in tow. To quote the title of his favorite song: "Imagine."



As for uncomfortable, I cannot even find pictures of Amanda Olymer from the show last night. When I do I will post them. This poor girl was forced to strut around in the matching Idol outfits with people from the show which obviously loathes ( am guessing both the show and the people) and sing little Brady Bunch Variety Hour numbers with them. Not only that, she has a strong voice, so they made her sing a lot! But they couldn't make her smile. Or wear a dress. She was the only girl in pants. Repeatedly.
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They also had David Hernadez come back and sing; you know, the cute Latino guy who did nude male lap dancing in Phoenix. From what I see on the web site, neither David H nor Amanda O are on the "Idol on Tour". And David H supposedly has a contract with the record company. So it was only poor rocker Amanda O that was forced to humiliate herself one more time for no real purpose except Clyve Davis' zeal to force his puppets to sing and dance (FASTER! FASTER!).
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It showed.



And then came Maude. Let me say this first of all. I love Donna Summer. I love Dona Summer's new album. Lynn pointed out that Donna, looking like a elephant in a python, had to be walked down the stairs with helpers - a la Debbie Reynolds towards the end.
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And Ed pointed out that at her weight, even black isn't slimming. AND, if you are doing a song called Stamp Your Feet (S.beat.T.A.M.P.beat. Stamp.beat. Stamp your feet) you shouldn't wear white orthopedic shoes with your black pant's suit (assume it was a pant's suit, but it could have been a black paint tarp).
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I, on the other hand, was ready for poor Donna to fail. Donna, a huge talent musically, has NO stage presence. Never has. She stands forlornly, bouncing unrythmetically to some beat that has nothing to do with the song, face frozen in time - singing like an angel. Sometimes a horny, inappropriate angel, but an angel none the less.
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Only one thing could have made the moment less comfortable. And we got it. They made Amanda Olymer "dance" around her!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Pics of Suzanne over the week-end


So this last week-end Suzanne was out visiting us. We had a really fun time with her. Here she is with Eddie at one of the street fairs.


Okay, so we went to a great art show (no pics allowed) and say some amazing stuff. Then, wandering to get a cab, we see this weird little show at a gallery. These are all "mythological" creatures, but the cool thing is they are made entirely (except maybe the eyes) from used car tires! I think you can select the picture to get a better view, but it is all old car tires.

Cool beans!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Gas Prices Fell in April?

Reproduced from Salon's "How the World Works", because the world doesn't anymore....
Fun and games with inflation numbers
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported some inflation numbers Tuesday morning that spooked investors in early morning trading. At first glance, the numbers are confusing. The BLS says that wholesale prices for finished goods rose 0.2 percent. But if you subtract energy and food costs from that figure to get the so-called "core inflation rate" the number jumps up to 0.4 percent. The BLS also reported that the average wholesale price of "finished energy goods" fell by .2 percent in April.
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How can that be? Everyone knows that the price of a barrel of oil and a tank of gas are breaking new records practically every week. How the World Works paid $4.21 a gallon on Sunday in San Jose, Calif., setting a new personal record.
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The truth is, wholesale prices of finished energy goods actually rose by 2.9 percent in April, and the U.S. government will admit this if pressed.
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How to explain this paradox?
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The inflation figures released on Tuesday by the BLS are "seasonally adjusted." Usually, gas prices jump by a significant margin in April, in concert with the kickoff of the summer driving season. Since the BLS's goal is to figure out how much prices are rising or falling beyond what normally occurs in a typical year, every April it automatically factors in a big jump in gas prices, and then compares what is happening to what typically takes place.
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But this year is no normal year. Gas prices rose so much earlier in the year that even though they continued to surge in April, they did not rise, in percentage terms, as much as they usually do, which means that when the BLS factored in its normal seasonal adjustments, gas prices "fell."
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Up might be down, and down might be up, but on the New York Stock Exchange, investors aren't fooled -- one reason why the Dow Jones industrial average had sagged more than 200 points by noon, Eastern time. Another reason: bad quarterly numbers from Home Depot, Staples and Target -- all telling the same story: consumer distress.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Great Great Play

Suzanne was here this week-end and we hung out with her.
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We did a lot of fun things... We went to Taste of Tribeca, the 9th street (Hell's Kitchen) Food Fair, a couple of amazing art galleries and saw Xanadu.
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But one of the most fun things we did was see the revival Boeing Boeing.  It is a silly farce about a guy juggling 3 "Air Hostesses" in Paris.  A single man runs his life by a strict timetable with the help of his maid (Christine Baranski).
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I think farce is impossible to do on the stage well.  But after this show I will amend this to say "almost" impossible, because this group totally pulled it off.
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Mary McCormack (below with Christine Baranski) stole the show as the Lufthansa Hostess with an over developed sense of right and wrong and angst.
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It was GREAT.

Friday, May 16, 2008

My Nephew (well.. after the Marriage thing)...UPDATED

(Updated with new picture of the race at the bottom)

So the handsome young man between his father and uncle (the monkey in the middle) is Sean. Sean is Ed's nephew.
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He is a great guy (he used to be a great kid, but he is growing up). He is a freshman on the JV Track Team (for youse in England - this is quite a feat. He is a 1st year High Schooler on the 3rd/4th year team.)
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And he is good. We will turn to Grandpa Don for the play by play. (PS Don was an amazing Track and Field coach at University of Wisconsin at Stephen's Creek, that was what he was put in the Hall of Fame for, so he knows of which he speaks....) (and yes, I know it is Stephen's Point.)
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This might be a bit long, however, it is important.
Yesterday Jo and I had a chance to go to the conference junior high track and field championships in South St. Paul. There were some quality young boys competing for that level and age.
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Sean ran a 800 in a 4/800 relay, we did not see it. I guess it was ok,not sure no one was jumping up and down.His next race was the two mile which he had run once before therefore he had established a time to beat. Remember that Spring sucks for track and field meets in minn. Today was perfect. In the mid 70's very little wind and just a great day for mom/dad,Jo and I. Faith had a dance thing to get ready for.
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Upon my arrival I asked John where Sean was? "He is doing his science homework in the middle of the field" and just enjoying the day. For your information, Sean has a history of doing his homework or reading a book between events. So that was cool. I am surprised he never had a book at the basketball games.
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The two mile was coming up and Dad and I were wondering why he wasn't warming up just a little, he had complained of some cramps throughout the season, so warming up a little would have helped.
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The story, he goes to the starting line- lines up in the back of about20 runners. And there off in the first turn he stumbles around a bunch of guys all trying to position themselves, (remember two mile race-8laps), completion of the first lap and in my opinion his eyes or expression was "Gosh 7 more laps. On the back stretch of the second lap he moves up a little and tries to run with the top group. Much what we all say as coaches and parents. I mean if you going down, go down from up front, right? Finishing the second; lap Sean is about 30 yards out of the leaders, on the third lap he catches the top 5 and DOES NOT SIT BEHIND THEM, BUT CONTINUES AND HAS A 20 YARD LEAD at the completion of the third lap. Oh God when do the others go after him?

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Not!!!! Sean continued to break away, maintains a sold lead for the second mile, does not panic, stay yards ahead, relaxed and wins the race by 20 yards. So we have a conference champ in the family today.
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The sad part, his season is over. The look on Sean face was great, however the looks on John, Sue and Jo face was priceless. Needless to say I was track side most the race telling him to say relaxed and focus. His first comment to me was "did I run fast enough? I asked him why he did not just stay with the group and as a "seasoned" runner" he said the pace was to slow and I felt comfortable. Young runners don't normally say these things with such little experience. His first and last lap were the fastest of the eight per Dad.
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So as we all celebrated, I reminded Sean again the "cat is out of the bag". I think he has great potential as a runner. His first love is soccer. One final comment. "so much for warming up. don
Picture added of Sean at the end of the race. Smoking the competition.

Back when I was young...


Back when I was young, mothers had to make their kids Halloween costumes!! Men wore tights and girls wore purple. Yes- that is I (Scooter) as RobinHood and my babysiter's daughter Cindy as Maid Marion. Two Aries joined at the theme and forced to attend school together. If I don't look too happy it is because I knew Maid Marion was going to be mean to me at school.
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This was the last year we dressed in tandum (we previously had done I Dream of Genii and Major Nelson) -as school events turned ugly when we would break into a fist fight. So they next year I got my wish to go solo.
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Careful what you wish for.....
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My mother, who worked as a receptionist for a doctor at the time, was tired of my Pinoccino nose falling off all the time. After about the tenth time of it falling and me whining that without the nose I looked stupid, she put surgical glue to keep it on.
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For those of you that don't know, surgical glue is like freaking Bondo. After pulling, tugging and cold cream, we finally put me to bed with the nose so it would wear off. One night's sleep later - no dice. Then lighter fluid that didn't help. By this time I, never a patient child, was (perhaps) jumping and screaming to get it off, get it off!!! Mom finally just yanked the nose, and the accompaning layer of skin, off.
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You little brats don't know how lucky you are to have store bought costumes now adays....

Thursday, May 15, 2008

California comes through (Updated)

So... yeah!
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I don't know if you have heard (and in England probably not), but the California State Supreme court has ruled on same sex marriage. The State Court held that same sex couples had the right to be married in California.
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What is interesting is that this court has 6 Republicans and only 1 Democrat on it, it is a cautious court as a rule.
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So far in California there have been 2 proposals that passed the legislature to make same sex marriage legal (both were veto'ed by Arnuld and he noted that the State Supreme Court was going to rule anyway). Now the State Supreme Court ruled.
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There is an initiative to overturn this and pass a constitutional amendment (which may or may not fly - the California process doesn't usually let initiatives take away a basic right - for example you couldn't pass an amendment to prohibit African Americans from getting marriage either). In any case Governor Arnuld has already come out against the proposed initiative. That is the is the leading Republican who says it would be wrong to discriminate in marriage (of course he can't run for President or run for another term - so he can be honest).
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So maybe a wedding....
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Update: Here is Arnold's quote after the release:
I respect the Court’s decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling.
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I must confess, I worry about the timing a little. Once we had finally dropped this as a campaign issue, it rises again right before the 08 election. But maybe it is finally over as a wedge issue. Hopefully.
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maybe?

Toe Ta Lee Cool

Ohmygod, these are like, so totally cool. I got the Link through cool hunter.



Apparently they are from some German company "bauraum" (which I think means treehouse in German).



They are deach done after the company visits your site (which is a little touchy feely).



And you KNOW they have to be too expensive, but they are SO fun.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

My vote is inappropriate..

The ad for Beyoncé's House of Deréon for Childern....

I don't think big red high heels on a 7 year old are appropriate. That's my 2 cents. And the pick feather boa and the ho stance in the upper picture is just wrong.

No suprise these pictures have been taken off the Dereon web site.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Tony Nominations: can they replace the Oscars in Scooter's heart

Of course I know that your first question is, Scooter has a heart? Yes he does, and it has always beat for the Oscars.

Now you know I was annoyed at the Oscar choices this year. And this city (New York) treats the Tony's almost like Hollywood treats the Oscars. Only it is a little more snobby, self-referential and smug. And, like the Oscars, they tend to be predictable if you watch the tea leaves.

For Lisa, a lot of London transfers were nominated (Best Play: Rock N Roll, The 39 Steps; Best Revival: Sunday in the Park with George).

Young Frankenstien and The Little Mermaid got the kibosh and no big nominations, and to add insult to injury Xanadu WAS nominated. Quelle Horrur!! I have seen about 1/2 of everything nominated. And we will see Crybaby before the show (nominated for Best Musical).

But the answer is no, the Tonys aren't the Oscars - but I REALLY hope August: Osage County wins.

Wow.. not so funny


It has been a horrible time in Tornado country, China and Burma (Myanmar) this last few weeks.  I have nothing pithy or funny to say right this minute. This is a hospital in China.
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 I will resume normal funniness later.  
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Monday, May 12, 2008

Can you believe we are nearly at the half way point..

Can you believe we are (ONLY) at the half way point of this election?!?  Talk about interminable.  It started in January and ends in November and most of us were done with it in February.
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And, did you see the end of Survivor?
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It was okay (and great to see Natalie go home), but ultimately less than fulfilling as I wanted Amanda to win.
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And, if you saw it, you saw that Natalie finally made sense.  She was mean and we never understood why.  Now we know.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Hippo Birdie


Our lovie Lynnie turns (age deleted) tomorrow. Happy Birthday Lynn!!!!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Spring Day in New York


So today Eddie and I went to a design house in Kips Bay with Jeff Adler (a friend from New York). Most of the rooms were not that great, but I did love this eat in kitchen area. Clearly, my taste.



After the design house we bumbled down to Tribeca and walked around. Spring in New York is very cool. This was just a pocket park with some folks sitting around.

Dierks' new album


So the guy we saw at Stagecoach has a new album. Dierks Bentley, was great (even Gavin thought he was really good and Gavin doesn't like country).
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Dierks is a good name too. Kind of porn-y, but cool.
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He was fun because he was a rocker and fun to listen too. It was a party.
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Then I went into the city and we visited my old babysitter and her family. It has only been about 30 years since I saw her. It was a lot of fun.
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Once I have time to scan the picture I will show you Robin Hood and Maid Marion - back when mother's had to make the costumes!
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It was a really nice week. I worked from LA on Tuesday - which was not easy. Everytime I leave they update and change the security so I couldn't logon there. It is easier to work from home or from Queens.
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And one more cowboy from the festival. Board Shorts, flip flops and a cowboy hat were kind of the cool guy's uniform.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Back from Stagecoach


So this week-end we went to the Stagecoach Festival at the Indio Polo Grounds. You can see Ed, Gavin, Mickey, Bradley and Ron. It was a great time. We had a lot of fun and heard some great music.
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My favorite was Dirks Bentley on day 1. He was really good, moving and fun at the same time. On day one the Judds also sang (kind of boo de hoo) and Rascal Flats which Bradley and I missed but the rest of the gang loved.
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Of course there was just a bit of cowboy watching.
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That was a little fun too.






Thursday, May 01, 2008

Laura's Movie comes out...



Well, Laura's movie is out soon. Laura worked on this movie and you know in a fight movie there is a lot of make up going on...

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You can't buy it in the states yet, but if you have a multiregion DVD you can get it here.

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Laura couldn't wait for it to come out and is now Dilberting in London at a Legal Office.

Mascot of the Month: Pascal Hens

Well, this month the Mascot of the Month is Pascal Hens.
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As you can see, he is not the Mascot of the Month because he is a cute himbo.
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No, Pascal is however an amazing handball player. I don't know much about handball (as played in the Olympics), but I have tickets to a bunch of rounds, so I am looking into it.
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Handball is played on a basketball-ish size court, with a soccer like goal. It is 6 on 6 with a seventh person being a goalie.
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For more information see the NBC Olympics Web Site.
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Pascal Hens is part of the German team that is suppose to be great.
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I guess you are allowed to dribble 3 steps or hold the ball 3 seconds before you have to get rid of it. It ends with high scoring games (24 - 22 and the like).
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It looks like it will be a lot of fun to watch. All the teams haven't been selected yet. So far, I think the qualifiers are Germany (world champion), China (host), Kuwait (Asian Qualifier) and Denmark (European Qualifier) are in.
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There is also quite the scandal between Korea and Japan, who have played a couple of qualify games and do overs that the Asian board is ignoring.






You may ask when I learned to like handball. Well, you will remember I was a fan of Kjell for a while.

Kristian Kjelling is pro now and I don't think Norway is going to the Olympics.
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However he was the youngest professional handball player ever. What surprised me about that is ... there are professional handball teams?