Ed's Return - and my second review

So, my second review is up  on MusicOMH.  It is a review of Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, which I rather enjoyed.

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I did have to slightly rewrite and expand the mental review iI worked up on the walk home - The show reminds one of nothing so much as an excursion through a 16 year old Graham Norton's wet dream.  (In the US we could substitute "an excursion through a 16 year old Liberace's wet dream").

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But I quite liked it.  Surprisingly.  And not for the gratuitous display of male abdominal muscles.  I mean it was Gay Pride week-end in New York.  I am almost over rippling abs.  At first I felt like a kid in a candy store, then I felt like a 50 year old perv.  In any event, after the 200th great stomach, you just want these boys to put them away.  When everyone has a great stomach, it just reminds you that you don't.

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I went from wanting to work out, to wanting to be bulimic to wanting an ice cream.

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But I digress.

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Anyway, I thought the show was a lot of fun.

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Mein Eddie was suppose to be home when I was done but he was not.  So I checked the flight tracker.  His flight due, to land at 9:00PM, had in fact left at 9:27.  It was a relatively short flight and he was due to land at 11:50.  I wrote my review and laid down - thinking I would grab a half hour of sleep before he arrived.

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At 1:23, I awoke, and checked flight tracker again.  He actually landed at 12:54, which meant a fair amount of circling, but I still though he would be home soon.

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He got home at 2:00.

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Apparently, even though I knew when he was landing, and the computer knew when he was landing, and the flight crew knew when he was landing - Newark Airport did not.  So they landed and had to sit on the tarmac for a while because someone was at their gate (and parked for the night).

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Much later they found a gate and toodled on over, only to have no one there with the little red flashlights to wave them in.  They sat some more.

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Finally off the plan at 12:54, they were on a little 50 seat special, so they had to wait for their hand luggage at the jetway.  That took a while, but finally Ed was off.  And out to the bus to come home.

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Now the bus from Newark is cool because it's first stop is the Port Authority Bus Terminal which is literally on our block.  It is hideously easy.  And it runs every 15 minutes.

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Until 1AM, when it stops running until 4aM.

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Ed was not amused.  He ended up in a cab line that did not move all that quickly at 1:30 AM.

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(Shhhh!  He is still asleep).

PS- Eddie is coming home from Wisconsin ...

Eddie is coming home from Wisconsin today and I should be in a better mood. The weather is clammy and hot, the thunderstorms that roll through only make it clammy, hot and wet; but bringing no relief and I admit I have become.... a little edgy.
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Trevor hates it all too. He longs to go for a walk, hits the front exit and looks at me like this crapfest of weather is my fault.
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Weather! argh.

Not a fan of the smugness...

I was reading the New York Times Opinion section today for a while. I say for a while because at some point (about 10 seconds ago) I was disgusted.
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This morning the Opinion section was a veritable love fest of smugness. The one that put me over the top was the "Good Riddance To The American Road Trip." The author finds the American Road Trip to be passe. He and his family are saving gas and fuel by only taking a 15 minute ferry ride to a private island off Maine.
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Arg!
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There are so many things annoying with the man I want to choke him. 1. The American Road Trip is fun and a way to see the whole country. Not just more residents of the insular self-satisfied denizens of Stick-Up-Your-Ass Maine. I am sure that all Maine-iacs are not like you, but the snobby way you blow off the rest of the country is infuriating.
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There, I feel better.

Kind of a Favor..

So I don't usually ask favors. Okay, I do, but not on the web site here.

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This is where Ed and I keep our friends and family and our extended family up to speed on what is up with us. It isn't a place for donations or anything.

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Except today (tonight). Here's the thing. There is going to be a vote in California on outlawing gay marriage.

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I don't want you to spend money or time or anything. But if, on the off chance, you hear someone say how it is wrong that two men can get married. Just tell them they are wrong. Eddie and I are happy and love each other.

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Ed and I are 14 years of monogamous, happy, boring middle class family. I would love to marry him. I know it sounds stupid

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I know that it is hard. Honestly, it is harder for me. I mean for you it is a simple, "Well I now some guys and they aren't all bad." For me I gotta tell them I am a big homo and I don't fool around, and do the shit they see on TV and DVDs. I am a boring, happy husband.

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Maybe it's dumb, but the only way we are going to chance people's opinion is to let them know that you know somebody who is a boring old regular happy guy - who just happens to be in relationship of 14 years with another boring guy.

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We care about our family and friends. We send presents to the nieces nephews and cousins. We are, in all accounts, normal. Except for the gay thing.

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Honestly, when the vote is over you can go back to not making waves. I will. But Zela made her entire evangelical church be okay with me and Ed. If a 85 year old woman can stand up to her church groups in Orange County - well, just telling someone that it is okay shouldn't be a giant struggle.

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Thanks. I'll shut up now.

Don't Pee into the Wind...

(Pulled directly because I couldn't say it better)..
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Just this week, a group of Republican senators re-introduced the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution, which, as we know, would ban gay marriage.
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This isn't especially surprising. Republicans are looking at the political landscape, and they're feeling awfully discouraged. The polls look bad, the base looks depressed, and fundraising looks iffy. Rallying the far-right troops with an anti-gay amendment to the Constitution -- even though it has no chance at even getting so much as a hearing -- might be helpful to the conservative movement.
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But the funny part is looking over the list of the 10 original sponsors. Most of the names are predictable -- Brownback and Inhofe, for example -- but there are two others whose names stand out: Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho).
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Yes, two of the principal sponsors of a constitutional amendment to "protect" marriage include one far-right Republican who hired prostitutes and another far-right Republican who was arrested for soliciting gay sex an airport men's room.

Stop it Larry, You're Killing Me.

Here is the thing. I have stayed away from politics, haven't I. I have been good. I have been trying not to go off.

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Having said that, let me say that the current administration's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is off the hook crazy.

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The US BLM has put a moratorium on Solar Power Plants on federal land. If you have driven through Nevada, Arizona and much of California, you MUST question this.

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The BLM has a backlog of 130 projects and more have been requested. They have said that they want a comprehensive review of the impact ont he land. That review will take at least 22 months.

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Perhaps this makes sense, right. I mean a bunch of mirrors in the desert where no one lives, and not on any park land may have an impact. I will give them that. But it shouldn't take 2 fracking years to figure out.

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And that 22 months seems starkly different than the Zero Months of review for the lets drill the hell out of the ocean. So, we have companies lined up (130 deep at LEAST) to build solar power plants and free up oil and gas for other uses.

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I know of no explanation for this except Bush and Cheney are oil men and Haliburton isn't getting any of this solar power action. Honestly, I am at a loss to explain it. I have driven past the plants in Nevada and California. Does anyone know why this is happening? The New York Times, the (conservative) Economist and all others know of no answer.

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Any reasons. Buhler?

Some Won hates Wenaa Fwis

This is Rene Fris. Rene is the "Mentor" of the hairstylist of "Shear Genius". If you haven't seen Shear Genius (on Bravo TV) then you haven't lived.

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In Shear Genius a bunch of drama queen hairdressers are given 2 challenges a week, and then someone is sent home. Typical Reality show crap, in another words.

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But the challenges are are funny. Last night they had to do 1 hairstyle blindfolded (the cutters!). Then they had to do a challenge in which the models brought a picture of a celebrity. In this case, the celebrities were cartoon characters. It was funny.

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But the reason for this post is to point out that one of the writers must HATE Rene Fris. Rene is kind of the Mentor, commentator during the cuts. He isn't a judge, he is just there to help.

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Rene is a famous Danish Hair Guy. Apparently he was also on of the Fab 5 in Europe for the "Gay Eye For the Straight Guy". He has a bit of a lisp. No problem really. He also has a heavy Danish accent. Again, no real problem. But put them together and you have a bit of a Danish lisp. He has a bit of one the same way that Prince Charles has a bit of a horse face.

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Well, last night as he was revealing the models to the stylists (they are always stylists, never beauticians or barbers), I think one of the writers decided to be mean to him. The line was "Clients reveal your celebrities", said in breathless anticipation.

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Rene dutifully got excited and exclaimed, "Cwients we-veaw yoay cewebeties"

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It sounded like Swedish Elmer Fudd. laughed so hard I had to go pee.

Bulldogs!!

Cal State Fresno won the NCAA Baseball Championship.  Good for them.  They are totally an underdog.

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The weird thing is that Baseball is a double elimination tournament, meaning which means that if you lose one game, you still get to play until you lose another game.  Cal State Fresno did this the hard way.

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In the first regional they lost to UCLA, but then won in the losers bracket and came back to beat them two games in a row.  Only to lose to Stanford in the next round, and be ranked very low in the national round.

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In the national round, they went to the finals unbeaten, but lost the first game to Georgia in the final by 1 run.  Then, in the second game, they were down by 5 runs, only to come back and win the game.  By the tie breaker I would be exhausted, but that is why college teams don't play 49 year old men.  CSFresno won the final game handily to become the lowest ranked team in any sport to win a college title.

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Good for them.

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By the way, Cal State Fresno was such a nothing team that for a while they were almost renamed the Cal State Fresno Raisins after a bunch of animated Raisins that were big in commercials.  Fresno is the Raisin capital of America.

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For those of you out of the country, Americans has a preoccupation with naming non-discript cities the "Capital" of something locally produced as a source of pride.  Gilroy is the Garlic Capital of the World, Fresno is the Raisin Capital of the World, Baraboo (Wisc) is the Circus Capital of the World, Eau Claire is the Horseradish Capital of the World, Okeechobee (Fl) is the Speckled Perch Capital of the World.

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So if you want a Speckled Perch with horseradish and garlic - well be prepared for a taste of Americana.

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Go Bulldogs.

.. Everything you need to know about life...

The picture below is of Robert Montgomery, Joan Crawford and Charles Ruggles from "No More Ladies." I believe you can learn everything you need to know about life from films made from 1938 - 1944.
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Case in point.

During a particular uncomfortable pause in a conversation (in No More Ladies) Charles Ruggles must excuse himself from a tense room. He calls his dog and then says to Robert Montgomery, "Come on Rover. My mother always told me to take a nap in the afternoon to restore my vitality for the serious business of drinking at dinner."
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A fine exit line.

Thoughts on a View and Buildings

So today I was walking out of the Time Warner building – and I saw this view as I walked out of the building. This is one of the things I love about this city, it is still new enough that views pop out at me unexpectedly.
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This, by the by, is Colombus atop Colombus Circle, looking East along 59th / Central Park South.
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Once you get used to a place, you tend to overlook the local beauty. But today has nice weather, sunshine and so everything just looks a little cooler. And New York is still unexpectedly pretty to me every now and then. (effect New Yawk Accent for remainder of paragraph) I mean you sit in the subway and you want to strangle the guy next to you who WILL NOT SHUT UP!, and then you fight the nasty old ladies to cross the street (I got the LIGHT here!) and the moms with the double wide strollers in Whole Foods -oh my gawd, you wanna scream. Then you come out into the daylight and a scene like this. Well, I tell ya - it tears ya up. It does.
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By the way, the geography of this city is all vertical. I think it is interesting; the cool buildings in LA are mainly horizontal. See below, the Airport Theme Building, The Disney Concert Hall, The Getty Center, the Dorothy Chandler. They are designed to organically interact with people at a street level (you could say at a car level, should you wish to be dismissive).
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But the buildings in New York, the Flatiron, the Chrysler Building, The Empire State, they all interact at the macro level. You need to see them from a distance where they are impressive pieces of Corporate Dominance. Don’t get me wrong, they are also quite beautiful, but their very design is to impress – and those that don’t impress are supremely functional (how many workers can I get onto a single city block?).
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So for a person from LA, the view of New York from the front seat is dull (with the exception of Times Square which is like the Ginza, a monumental nod to visual overload). And vice versa, for someone from New York, the view of downtown LA is supremely unimpressive.
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It’s funny to me that the most organically inviting new buildings in New York are either condos or the IAC building (pictured). Designed by an Angelino (Frank Gehry) for and Angelino (Barry Diller and his Interactive Corporation) located in New York.

Or maybe just intersting to me.

Energy Policy, Offshore Drilling and the Problems of Over Partisanship

Here's the thing. In a lot of cases our country is so partisan that an intelligent discussion cannot happen because of the assumption that Democrats believe one thing and Republicans believe the opposite.

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Take energy policy. Generally, Republicans want to drill in Alaska and off shore and Democrats want to be sure we don't. They want to move to wind and solar power. Republicans wants to hand out cash to oil companies. Republicans, as you know, hate animals and all living things. Democrats, as you know, love animals and all living things except people. See - the arguements are framed to fit a partisan debate - not framed to arrive at a solution.

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It's kind of like when you send a work document around to reviewers - and everyone has something crappy to say about it. No one does the work (because they might have to take blame) but it is easy to throw stones.

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It wasn't always like this. And it isn't good like this. Energy policy should really be a policy for the good of the all the people in the United States (and my assumption is that this would be good for the world's population - but I guess we need to prove that).

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Maybe there is a way to drill off shore and in Alaska that is safe. Let's admit that and work forward. By the same token, drilling - no matter how safe - isn't an energy policy. There isn't enough oil for the world even if we open up everywhere in the US to drilling. Let's admit that and work forward.

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We should still, actively pursue alternative renewable fuels. The cost of oil and the future cost of global warming make it imperative we find cleaner ways to generate energy.

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An acquaintance of Ed's recently raised some amazing thoughts about offshore drilling. Let me start by saying I don't know if he is a Democrat or a Republican, but the issues he raises are neither. They are about US jobs, the results of offshoring our wealth to Dubai, how we contribute to international problems because we buy oil from regimes we wouldn't otherwise support... a lot of things... It was thought provoking to me.

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As most of you know I am somewhat quiet and reserved and I do not usually voice my opinions openly. Nonetheless I feel compelled to ask to to consider signing the petition accessed via the website posted below to allow access to US energy reserves.

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It frankly strikes me as a severe case of NIMBY that we allow the rest of the world to drill for oil and extract coal at whatever cost to their local ecologies to feed OUR thirst for oil but will not allow that activity in our back yard. I would suspect that this country, with a history of significant citizen and activist oversight, would be one of the more advanced areas in which to pursue energy exploration in an ecologically sensitive manner than most other major energy supplying areas of the globe. Therefore I believe that exploration and exploitation of energy reserves in our country to feed our thirst for energy would be in the best interests of global environmental health. Additionally, why should other localities suffer environmental risk and damage to provide energy for the US?

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Many would argue that we should conserve, rather than drill. I do not see the two as mutually exclusive. We should certainly conserve for well documented ecological reasons. We should exploit the reserves of our own country to remain economically viable.

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Expansion of this industry in the US would spur domestic capital investment and create sustainable jobs which would by definition by geographically anchored in the US and thus not subject to exportation to other countries. The dollars poured into our gas tanks would go to making our nation more energy independent and create an economic engine to fuel (no pun intended) a broadbased growth in our economy.

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I recently returned from a trip to Dubai. It is mind numbing to see the frenetic pace at which our economic wealth is being transferred overseas and converted to indulgent and ostentatious development, while the US continues in a state of economic malaise, if not decline.

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I recognize that many of us are on political issue overload. Some of us thrilled for the slate of nominees proffered to us for the presidential election, some not so thrilled. Some of us concerned about Countrywide mortgages being granted to members of congress at "VIP" terms, some not. The list could go on ad nauseum. I do not see this as a political issue, although I am sure it will be turned into one. I see this as an American issue. With every dollar we ship overseas to access energy we lose a measure of economic vitality and, importantly, engage in some degree of political malfeasance. Who gets arms, who gets beneficial trade status, who gains political stature on the world stage is related, I believe, in some fashion to who has oil.

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So dear family and friends, political biases and agendas aside, please read the petition and consider the value to you, your families and your country of signing it.

Lion Doctor

So Emilie is the wife of Mike Chaplow. Mike used to work for Eddie in Universal and they are still friends. His wife is a regular old vet.

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Well, I guess not a regular old vet, she must be really good.

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Mike sent some pictures and this description of what happened.

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Pics from Emilie going to the LA Zoo on Sat to do an ultrasound on its female lion because it hadn't eaten in about 10 days, and the zoo vets couldn't find anything with their basic tests. She ended up finding fluid in a sac around its heart, which she proceeded to drain. They're still not sure what caused it, other than just old age since it's at least 19 years old, so it may recur. Weighs about 280 pounds.

Not Just a Klutz

What amazes me is not just that I am a klutz.  No, I am a world class professional klutz.

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Let's say you, a klutz in training, brought a bottle of water into the room to drink.  You might spill, drop it and pick it up before too much runs out.

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If you are thinking ahead, you might put the top on so not too much slips out.

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But if you are Scooter, woo hoo, wait for it.  I know I am klutz, so I was putting the cap back on the water bottle.  But Trevor thought the cap was a game so, he jumped up at the bottle.  I lifted the bottle up by the cap, and of course, the bottle flew off and i was left with the cap. ..  But this isn't enough for me.  No, the bottle went flying and I tripped (over the dog) and stumbled into the room. The bottle flew down and wedged itself, upside down of course, between the wall and a case of wine.  The second case down, so I had to move a case to get to the (now empty) bottle.  The water has weakened the wine case, so it tore as I moved it to reach the water bottle.

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So, for the price of your one water spill, I get a sopping wet floor, a torn wine case, a stepped on dog (still trying to get the bottle cap) and a couple of wine bottles - unbroken - on the floor.

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And that, ladies and germs, is a world class klutz.

What exactly is a Mermaid Parade

So you, like us, may wonder what the Mermaid Parade of Coney Island is all about. Well, Ed, Randy and I went today - and I still couldn't tell you exactly.
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As the picture above shows, it is a family parade - where the people of Coney Island make their own costumes.

Some of the Mermaids - and their Thrones are a little over the top. There were Mermaids, Sea Creatures, Vampire Mermaids, etc.

There were also a lot of outfits that I might not consider appropriate for children, but it didn't seem to phase anyone. The young lady above had sea shells pasties pastied strategically.
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If you want all the pics from Ed's camera - go here.

Kind of a dream come true for yours truely

I cannot begin to explain how so cool this is for me. My book is listed at Amazon (here is the link). And yes, I know that $26.99 is not cheap, but what can one do?

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I have a freaking book on Amazon.

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How cool is that? ... Yeah!!!!!

Something I should have seen long ago

So due to some shenanigans there is a TV and a DVD in the office.  It (really) is Ed's fault, but I take full advantage.

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I love an old movie in the background.

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Today I saw "Dinner At 8:00" for the first time.  Yes, I know it is a classic and I should have seen it long ago.  And the scene to the left is famous (Jean Harlow a knock out and Marie Dressler, an old stage star, talk on their way to dinner..)

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JH: I read a book the other evening

MD: (stumble and double take..) you did what?

JH: Yes, it was the funniest kind of book.  Do know know it said that in the future, machines will replace humans in all jobs.

MD: (looking Jean Harlow up and down - and she is dressed is a shear gown)  Oh my dear... that's something you'll never have to worry about.

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See, like I said, I thought i knew it.

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Well I watched it today in the background and it is really really good.  Much more drama than I expected.  All about the problems of the Depression, has beens and people standing up for what is important.

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I liked it.

Apparently I was sadly alone in my CryBaby Opinion

Well, that was quick.  Apparently I was nearly alone in my opinion of CryBaby the Musical.

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I quite enjoyed it.

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And you know, I sent Gail to see it with her friend and they liked it too.

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I guess you had to enjoy dance to really like it.

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Oh well, I guess that means there won't be a CD and I will never hear "I want to kiss you with tongue" again.

Unusual Arguement Dennis

Okay, I admit that I like Dennis Prager. I know, I know, he is a pretty conservative crazy ass talk show host, but I like him. He tends to go on a little bit about the whole moral thing - and he defines "moral" very conveniently, but in general I agree.

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But with his latest article, I think he might have rounded the bend. I don't know if this will be the Republican line or not, but it is odd. After years of complaining that young people today don't pay enough attention to politics - he is now saying that it's too bad young people like Obama and can vote.

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Really.

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I quote:

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We regularly hear about Barack Obama's appeal to youth, about how he has been able to excite and mobilize a generation of young people to become politically involved, his rare ability to excite young people, and about how many new voters will register (and vote Democrat) as a result.

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All this seems to be true. The question, however, is whether it is a good thing for the country and not just for Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.

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The answer is that it probably is not. With a few exceptions -- and those exceptions are usually those rare cases when young people confront dictatorships -- when youth get involved in politics in large numbers, it is not a good thing.

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Why you ask does he think this? It is a valid question. I think the real reason is that he is afraid they are going to vote Obama into the office. He struggles for a reason that makes him not look like a cranky old Republican.

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For those of us who view the late '60s and '70s as the beginning of a downward spiral for American society, however, the mobilization of many young people on behalf of Barack Obama is not encouraging. It is only the latest example of young people getting excited as a result of their unique combination of naivete, lack of wisdom, romantic idealism and narcissism.

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Most adults throughout history have recognized that young people are likely to be unwise given their minuscule amount of life experience. After all, most adults, even among baby boomers, believe that they themselves are wiser today than 10 years ago, let alone than when they were 20 years old. It is remarkable, then, how often adults romanticize youth involvement in politics -- "Isn't it heartwarming to see young people getting involved?"

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Actually, for a wise adult, it is not heartwarming.

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For a change I don't feel like the crankiest old man in the room. Nothing to make you fell young like the rant of the elderly.

The Eagle Cliff Falls and the Taugharnock Falls

So this week-end on our trip to Rochester and to see Jocylen and Les, we stopped at two state parks for a little look and see and hike.

This is Taugharnock Falls. Take a look at the people along the bottom for a sense of scale. It was cool. And the river bed (pictured below with Trevor and Ed) was very flat and hard - almost like concrete. The stream didn't so much wind down but continue to cascade down a number of low drops.

This was "Eagle Cliff Falls" in Mountour Falls park. This was a smaller fall, but the cayon it carved was much smaller, so it had an intimate feel with it. You can see Trevor and I in the picture below sitting above and in the creek.

It was a nice time and we had a lot of fun. Trevor too!

Pics of Niagara

So this week-end Eddie and I went to visit our friends Jocelyn and Les in Rochester (New York).

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On the way we stopped and looked at waterfalls, took hikes with the Trevor dog and generally had a lot of fun.

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We used NeverLost (tm) from the Hertz and Eddie loved he didn't have to ask me for directions.

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In Rochester we hung out with Joc and Les and their puppies. They have 2 really nice Golden Labs that Trevor LOVES.

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On Saturday, Ed and I and Joc drove up to Niagara Falls. It was Eddie's first time.

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The picture on the left is from the Niagara Falls Ferris Wheel. Eddie loved the picture of the falls on the top of the picture and the dragon in the pool at the bottom of the picture.

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The picture below is Joc and I in front of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side.

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Also, just in case you didn't know, Canadian Geese are not really called Canadian Geese. The are actually called Canada Geese. That is because the species is the Canada Goose, not the Canadian Goose.

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Not a big deal to us, but a big deal in .. you know.. Canada.

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Here are the rest of the pictures.

Speedy's Review of The Happening

So Sean (the nephew - nickname o' Speedy) watched The Happening. And he has reviewed it here for me.
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Before I get to my review if you wish to see this movie (The Happening) and don"t want to read the spoilers simply remember that I thought this movie was horrible and that it doesn't deserve the six to fifteen dollars required to get into the theatre.
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The worst movie of all time, so far.
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The tagline for this movie is "We've Sensed It. We've Seen The Signs and now... It's Happening" exactly what is happening I'm not sure but it certainly isn't a good movie.
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This movie The Happening by M. Night Shyamalan is about some seemingly other worldly force killing off the human race, but instead of aliens or a kid who can talk to ghosts; this movie is about a random force of nature.
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The plants attack us. The main villain in this movie is not a terrorist attack or an alien invasion it is in fact plants. Plants have suddenly gotten very pissy and have started giving off a toxin that reverses or disables the ability for the human brain to make good or protective decisions. In other words the plants make people commit suicide. This concept might make a good movie if the movie had good acting and a good director, neither of which this movie have. It is hard to believe that a movie can make an award winning actor like Mark Walhberg act so badly. This movie was horribly written, horribly acted, and horribly filmed. It would be more entertaining to watch a horror film on SciFi or to pull out an ingrown toenail.
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The suicides in this movie, though disturbing, were badly acted. When the people are about to kill themselves they simply stop moving... then kill themselves. While watching the movie I could see X's marked on the ground where the film makers wanted the actors to stop before they did themselves in. I know that suicide isn't a funny topic but this movie was down right "HORRIBLE".
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This movie could be and should be marked as a comedy for there were more laughs from the audience than screams of terror (there were actually no screams, it wasn't scary at all). The scariest part of the movie experience was when I knocked over my bag of popcorn and had to go get more.
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I hope this is not a sign of things to come (no pun intended) and that we can simply write this movie off as a good director trying something new. I give this movie a 2 out of 10. The first five minutes weren't that bad.

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How Cool Is That?!?

In the world of How Cool Is That, Scooter has a new entry.

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As you all may remember ("you all may remember" - I can't decide if I am writing to a 3rd grade class or a "last week, on Blossom") Lisa Hunt does theater and movie reviews occasionally in London for a web site.

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Well apparently they are expanding and doing some reviews in New York. Their second review is up here. If you can't be bothered to check out the link and read - well I think I would have to call him a new star in the firmament of New York Reviewers...

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Well, if you don't want to do that, then just take a look at the picture below and the by-line. Is it called a by-line when it's online? Is it an online by-line? Is it an onby-line? Ahww screw it, I wrote it and it is up!

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Yea!

Za Dremz Haus....

For those of you who visited LA when we lived in the Hollywood Hills, you will probably remember this house. We used to take you on the tour of Hollywood Land and this was the castle house.

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Well, it is for sale (and for the mere price of 7.5 million).

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I love this house. It is not to be, of course, 7.5 million is way out of the price range. In fact it isn't even a price range I can see, but I still love the house.

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There are pictures below of the house.

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The first is of it's place on the hill above Lake Hollywood.

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Some of you may remember that because we would walk you down the firetrail to the Lake and it went by this house.

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Apparently it was built for the Hollywoodland Developer. He was a disgusting lech and had a special room built under the entry way. This way he could entertain hislady friends without his wife knowing.

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Now it has been redone on the inside, but the outside still looks like a castle.

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So very very cool.

In this picture, above the house you can see the fire road.

Not the living room, just a view room.

And, the piece of resistance!!!

A Tiki Bar.

(sniff... sniff)

Robin de Jesús and the best line from In The Heights

So, I got the CD to IN The Heights, and I have decided that the best line in the musical is delivered by Robin de Jesús. He has been in a number of shows, and in the movie Camp (also the movies Fat Girls and Pet the Goat). He is great as the younger cousin of the lead (Usnavi).

In the picture to the left he is trying to work his magic on Vanessa, who his cousin has a crush on, but is too embarrassed to ask out. So his characters says to Vanessa, "So, my cousin over there with his tongue hanging out would like to inquire as to what a beautiful woman, such as yourself, might be doing later this evening."

To which she answers, "Does you cousin dance?"

And he says "Like a drunk Chita Rivera."

A drunk Chita Rivera.... Come on, that's classic. Especially because the Heights has a very Latin feel and we are on Broadway. And it's Chita Ri-freaking-vera!

NOT a Schnoodle

One of Ed's pet peeves is when people think Trevor is a Schnauzer. He doesn't understand it (you should hear him, it's funny, "Have they ever seen a Schnauzer? Schnauzers are black or white!"). Truth be I don't think Ed is a fan of little dogs. Don't get me wrong, he LOVES the T-Dog, but in general he isn't a fan of Yorkies or Toy Poodles or yappie little dogs. He doesn't like yappers - and I think somewhere in his brain he sees Schnauzers as yappers.

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So I was walking the Trev Monster last night and this guy stops me.

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And he asked me about Trevor. And all I could think of was that I was glad Ed wasn't there. He says, "Wow! I have never seen a Schnauzer with such cute little poodle hair. Is he a cross?"

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A cross? A... schnoodle? No! Even Trevor was a little offended. He does NOT have Poodle Hair. It's just this damn humidity, he can't do a thing with it.

True Bromance

Perhaps you are not aware of the term "Bromance". I don't see that as unusual. It has slipped into parlance and quickly (oh, so quickly) into annoyance.
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It is likely to be used by young men too dumb to know how stupid they sound and by Esquire Readers who aspire to be Details readers, but think Details paints them as too queer.
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So, Bromance, for those of you lucky enough not to be acquainted with it yet, is a deep male friendship. A statement of non-sexual love between guys.
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The most famous Bromance was (from the picture above) Ben and Ronnie from Make Me a Supermodel. Ronnie had a total crush on Ben and vice versa. The catch was the Ben was straight and Ronnie was gay. And they totally full on mashed during some fashion shoots (yes, the world is going to hell in a hand basket, but more on that below).
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So Bromance is hot right now. And Ryan Seascrest is thinking... What else is hot right now.
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Brody Jenner.
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Like Bromance, you may not have heard of Brody Jenner. This is even more understandable than not hearing of Bromance. Brody Jenner is the son of Bruce Jenner (the Decathalete), but the class of the family skipped Brody. And if you have seen Bruce Jenner's horrible face-lift, you would know there isn't a lot of class available in the first place.
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Brody has been desperately trying to become famous by being famous. Really.
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He has starred in a couple reality shows (one about the Jenner Boys, one just about trying to be famous). He is seen kissing (or sucking the life out of) Paris Hilton, Lindsy Lohan and the rest of the Star Magazine pre-Rehab line up.
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His my space page has him listed as The Price of Malibu (the title of one of his reality shows) and his occupation as Hustler. See, I was right about the class-ee huh?
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Well MTV has a new show (MTV Show) produced by Ryan Seacrest in which 6 "regular guys" from around the country compete to hang with Brody. Brody is looking for (wait for it) true bromance. I particularly like the "regular guy" part, as if Brody is part of a race of new Ubermen.
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And the stay or go ceremony takes place in a (where else) hot tub in the Jenner Pad. Because no one wants a bromance with a fatty.
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Will the last person with a sense of shame please turn off the lights on your way out.

Gail and I saw "Saved"

So Gail and I went to the show tonight. It was a little theater off Broadway called the Playwrights Horizons, where they work with emerging writers.
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We saw "Saved", which is a musical based on the movie "Saved!". The poster is at the bottom to remind you.
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The difference was that this show was rewritten to be less judgemental and mocking of the the Christian school kids. Hard as it is to believe, the show was actually much more honest about the questions people go through in their relationship with a higher power. Sounds corny, and at times it was, but for the most part is pulled it off.
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Primarily due to Celia Keenan-Bolger, who played Mary (the good-girl who tries to make her gay boyfriend become straight by having sex with him once, then getting knocked up, then falling in love with the Pastor's son), Aaron Tveit (who I LOVED in Next to Normal and played the gay boyfriend here) and Van Hughes (who played the Pastor's son).
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The rest of the crew was also great. The Macaulay Culkin character was direct from Xanadu and the Mary's mother was expanded for the show and had a killer voice.
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Gail really like it to.

Celia Aaron Van Hughes
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The Playwrights Horizon works with new ideas (they work-shopped Sunday in the Park with George as well as Grey Gardens) - and I thought the show could use a little trimming. But generally it was really really good.

Original poster.

Honest, no lie...

So I have horrible lower back problems. My lower back hurts all the time.

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I have thrown it out lifting, loading, twisting in he smallest increments, even sleeping. We purchased a hard bed for it, and put a feather topper on top.

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Nothing works.

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Actually, nothing did work. I was ready to try the medicines for constant pain (Celebrex?), or acupuncture or anything.

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Then, about 2 months ago I read an article in Men's Health about how people who go barefoot have such better back and foot health. And, the closest to barefoot are these ugly ugly Nike "Free" shoes.

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Might as well try them, right?

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Cured my back problems. I kid you not. Even now, when my back hurts in the morning, I put these bad boys on and within hours I feel better.
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And yes, I know they are really really ugly. And those pictured are the lookers in the line. But they work like a charm. So, there you go. Works like a charm.

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And yes, I do read it for the articles (mainly).