Big Brother-Jeff's Got the Wizard Power

After missing several episodes of Big Brother while on vacation, it's easy to catch up on all the high school drama. Russel is still hateful, Chima is still the diva-B, Jordan is still naive, Natalie is still skankie, Kevin is still a queen, Lydia still has tats, Jesse is still a meathead and Jeff is still in charge. He's either really dumb or really smart as he uses the coup d'etat (he didn't even know how to say it), therefore, I really didn't think he understood the power. But apparently so, as he had the guts to use it to over throw Chima's two nominees, Russel and Lydia. I was slightly torn that I wanted Russel, the snake to go. But Jeff's taking over and putting Jesse and Natalie up against each other has to be one of the smartest, boldest moves ever the in Big Brother house. That was absolutely brilliant. I was hoping the house would be smart and vote out Natalie, because lord help the house when Chima and Natalie get together, they are going to create havoc. If Jesse would have stayed, at least he plays with some integrity. Natalie and Chima are the pit bulls of the house. It's a good thing for Jeff that Michelle won HOH, now at least he has a chance to stay if wimpy Michelle isn't brain washed by Chima and Natalie. And what was up with Jesse's interview with Julie, yes Jesse you are bitter just admit it, you got played at that's that! Didn't Julie look great in that polka dot outfit, even if she did look like a birthday balloon.-Single D

The Bachelorette-Jillian Picks

I was gone for the finale, so I got the spoiler in the grocery store splashed across a mag that Ed was already cheating on Jillian. No matter, I knew it was going to be good, but I was so mad that I didn't know the "After the Rose" was the following night and I didn't get to see it. I knew it was going to be Ed, the big goofy I'm back dude. I knew it wouldn't be Kiptyn, although Jillian was foolish not to pick him, marrying him promised a life of luxury and all the good things money can buy, but then it's not about money, right? Kiptyn just wasn't whole heartedly into it. He just seemed so nonchalant about the whole thing. I knew Reid was going to come back, but if he was trying to woo her back, shouldn't he tried to dress a little bit better. He had that rumpled disheveled look like he just stepped off the red eye. Jillian looked like she was torn there for about one second and maybe played an enee, menee, minee, moe thing in her brain, but it was too sudden and she had already had her life planned as Mrs. Ed. Too bad, Reid was definitely my pick, hey Reid call me! After she and Ed said their I love you's, my daughter said, that was so romantic and mocked wiped a tear from her eye. Ya, well see how long that one is going to last. Oh hey, the place where they Jillian stayed, the Hapuna Prince on the big island, is absolutely fantastic along with it's sister property, the Mauna Kea is the place to stay in Hawaii. Good choice!

Rumor has it that the producers are already thinking about offering the next Bachelor to either, Kiptyn, Reid or Jake. My bet is on Jake, Kiptyn is too independent to do it again, Reid too shy, but Jake, Mr. Perfect, the women would be lining up for him! Can't wait!-Single D

European Summer Vacation Part 3

In the previous post were the things I hate about traveling and being in Europe, but there are a few things that I absolutely love, that when I come home after bemoaning that I hate being there, that I'm always tired, that my feet hurt and that I'm spending way too much money, somehow the trip becomes romanticized in my mind and I forget all the trouble it is to travel. Curious, it's like birthing a child or so I've heard, you never remember the pain, you only remember the good stuff as one gazes fondly at the vacation pictures, well that's what traveling in Europe is like. My favorite city this trip, London. I have been there many times and London just keeps getting better and better. I can remember when we first went there many years ago when it was a foodie waste land. Now great food can be had at the pubs and even at Gatwick-eat the fish n chips at the food place on the second level. I love the thought of high tea, all those scones and cakes, yum! My memory failed me this time, in that I thought Fortnum and Mason was right across the street from my favorite department store, Harrod's but it is actually in Green Park. This time we had tea at the Richleoux. It was a nice break for my feets. Tea and scones with Devonshire cream, heavenly. I love the Dutch double salty licorice. Ya I know, my mother liked licorice and I like licorice, the saltier the better. I love the European architecture, the magnificent cathedrals, the quaint towns, the sidewalk cafes, and the great coffee. I love the chocolate, pastries, cookies along with the fantastic cheese and meat stores. Yup, I'm a foodie. I love the breakfast buffet that comes with the hotel rooms. I love how you can be in one country in the morning and by lunch in another. I love how on the tube there is a guy playing his accordion or how one can be shopping and all of a sudden the sound of the most beautiful church bells will ring. But mostly, I love how I feel when I get home after an exhausting trip, grateful to live in America, it's a privilege that we take for granted each and every day. God Bless America!-Single D

European Summer Vacation Part 2

We have been to Europe many times and I came back from this trip stating that if I never went back to Europe I wouldn't miss it. I hate the long plane rides as I stated before in the previous post. I hate that I can't get use to the time change, hey, nine hours is a lot to get used to. And the older I get, I know, the harder it becomes for me. It used to be that it would normally take about a day and a half. We would land, get to the hotel, sleep a bit and then wake up for a nice dinner and then take to bed and the next day I'd feel refreshed. Not this trip. This time it took me nearly 6 days to adjust. The hotel in Brussels was kind enough to let us check in early, although I did make a stink that the room was dirty and the carpet was soiled. A call down to the front desk and they have us move to another room, right when the roll away was coming through the room door. The next room was much better, but lacked the robe and the chocolate covered strawberries. Never mind, I brought my own light wrap and who needs strawberries, they were just attracting flies in the other room. The front desk said they would deliver robes which they never did, I guess they already had had it with the American tourist in room 749. Gee I only alienated them in less than 30 minutes! Well, heck they had signs in the room that stated 100% satisfaction guaranteed, but that's another story. Yes, I had jet lag for 6 days, my sister in law said that I should take a good sleeping pill, which we forgot to bring.

I hate paying for toilets. Sure Mr. Clean at the airport is really clean, but come on 1 euro to pee? Pretty soon it will be charged on whether you have to pee or poop, 1 euro pee, 2 euro poop!

I hate foreigners or in this case natives that hate our American guts. Like the time in Germany, when I approached a worker in a train booth to ask for directions. He was wearing sunglasses so I couldn't tell if his eyes were open or shut. Uh, hello, excuse me. In a heavy Sssgerman accent he said, "First! We say Good Morning, then, we ask the question and then we say Good Day!" Well, excuseeeee ME!

When we were in Rome a few years back, my sister in law was buying water in a small store. When she came out she said the man said the word "puta" to her or something like that. "What does that mean?" she queries. "Puta" I say incredulously? I march back into the store and then in my best Spanish influenced Italian, tell the sour Italian man that I know what that word means, and promptly tell him "a pox on both your houses"! I quote Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It was the only thing I could think of at the time.

I hate being sweaty all the time and feeling like grime at the end of a twelve hour day of sight seeing. I hate it when my dogs swell up like giant sausages and blisters the size of Mount Edna erupt on my toes.

I hate the stink, but I do have to say, Europe has gotten better in terms of their bathrooms, more sanitary and better toilet paper. I hate paying for water in restaurants, but here too, they are becoming more Americanized and some places do give free tap water even with a little ice!

I hate paying $7.00 for a coke (Paris), ask before you order and never, ever give in when the waiter tries to rip you off by charging you for something you didn't order! That happened to us in Ostende Belgium a beach resort. The restaurants are crazy expensive and a rip off. We ate at one place, Andy ordered a nice roasted chicken, my daughter a hamburger (more like a sausage burger, they like pork there) and I ordered the safe pork kebab which was 10 euros. When the bill came, he charged me 17 euros for it. I said I didn't order the large one. He then in a heavy French accent said, then why didn't say it wasn't the big one that you ordered. I told him, I didn't know the one given to me was the BIG one! He finally backed down and said the words, "well it's my fault". Your darn right it's your fault! I didn't want to say, that I didn't even like that terribly dry kebab thingy anyway!

But mostly I hate, hate, hate it when I take bad summer vacation pictures!-Single D

Summer Vacation-2009

This year we had the opportunity to take our daughter to see some of Europe's famous landmarks, before myself and husband become too infirmed to travel. According to my daughter, we're practically ancient. Doesn't help that I always ask her when she goes to her friend's house if I look older than her friend's mother. To which she mostly replies yes, but there is that one time when she says I look younger. Ah ha! So I do look younger than some of the other mothers!

As I get older, I have less and less tolerance for traveling. Especially less tolerance for the airplane ride that seems to last an eternity in coach. Going there is not so bad, since you have the trip to look forward to, but coming home, during the last 2 hours of the 13 hour trip, I was practically pitching a fit, wanting to scream and jump out of the plane, not to mention that we had another 4 hour plane ride to look forward to once we landed. I had no tolerance for the French lady sitting in front of me, when only 10 minutes after take off she reclines her seat all the way into my lap nearly knocking down my water bottle. I fumed and stewed until I couldn't take it any more. I'm always a courteous passenger and never recline my seat all the way especially on a 13 hour plane ride. Nothing like trying to eat food out of a tray with a seat in your face. After about 2 hours, my daughter decided she needed to go to the bathroom, so I grabbed really hard on the seat back and pulled it down viciously. The French lady looked at me with contempt, to which I answered her unspoken glaring comment with the reply, "that it is really hard to get out of the seat because it is so narrow because someone has their seat all the way back!" If before she didn't speak any English, she knew what I was saying and promptly adjusted her seat forward and there she remained for the remainder of the flight, not even getting up to go to the bathroom or eat for 13 hours. She must have the kidneys the size of a large bathtub. From then on, I was very careful not to disturb the nice French lady. Careful Madison, don't grab the seat when making your way to the bathroom!

Coming back home is always easier to adjust to the jet lag, because you're flying during the day and once at home, I force myself to go to bed at a normal time. Going to Europe on the other hand is much harder, since I don't have the comfort of my bed and had to sleep sitting up. My mother used to sleep sitting up in her bed, something about her herniated ulcer. Me, I need, I crave comfort. Who can sleep in coach? I don't care if they give you a sleep mask and ear plugs. Where's my down pillow and sleep number bed? It's no wonder it took me 6 days to overcome my jet lag in Europe, I didn't sleep a wink on the plane!-Single D

Big Brother-Revenge of the Nerds

Isn't the revenge of the nerds supposed to be sweet justice? Nerds rising up against the bullies and winning? And justice prevails in the land? Well not in Big Brother this season, as the head of the nerd herd, Ronnie shows that he is just a vile and cunning as the bullies we love to hate. Ronnie makes Russell, ole hommie, look like the sweet brother of a merry maid. It was so villainous of Ronnie to promise the "good" side of the house that he was 99.9% sure he was going to put up Russell for eviction after our hero Jeff won the POV. Whew that was close tho, who knew the hommie could count change? When Jeff was putting fistful of pennies into the bucket, I so totally thought he was going to go out like Ronnie and his quarter estimate. Come on, does $500.00 worth of quarters look like a 100 dollars worth of quarters? Ronnie sure threw that one, he's not that dumb, but he must think the audience is. What a jerk. Sure it's just about the game, but to throw innocent Jordan, who wouldn't hurt a butterfly under the bus and nominate her for eviction up against Laura was just despicable! Sure Ronnie knows that Laura can see right through his scheming. Big boobs does equal big brains. She was on to Ronnie before anyone else, she just didn't have the brains to play along with him and keep her mouth shut because there are people in the house not to be trusted, like Chima, and that other athlete girl, whatshername. I just hope whoever gets HOH next go round, gives Ronnie his due because I want to see him squeal like a stuck pig that he is!-Single D

Big Brother-Season 11

It is high school all over again and this time it's in the Big Brother house. Athletes, brainacs, offbeat (hey let's not sugar coat it, rejects, losers, dead beats) and the popular group. Wouldn't you know, the athletes win the first HOH which brings back the biggest athlete meat head from Season 10, Jessie. I hated him back then and I hate him even more now. The hate is in direct proportion to his ever increasing growth of his muscles and lack of neck thereof. I'm sure Big Brother is planning to utilized all of the teen angst from pimple popping to prom dates. And of course what better way to start off with than a zip popping word challenge which clearly showed who could spell and who couldn't, brainacs! Of course the meat heads win this one with the word "shotgun", we clearly know where Russell's head's at. Hey, isn't his hommie gang missing him right now? Russell and Ronnie getting into it was like watching a pit bull go up against a poodle. Ronnie might be in the brainac group but he is acting like he should be in the dummy group the way he is playing the game. And what's up with him being the champion of "Persuasive Talking"? He didn't display any persuasive talking when Russell was all up in his face. He was practically wetting his pants.

And poor Laura, aren't you sick of hearing her say "because of my large boobs". Hey she's the one that got Godzilla size breast implants. If she's not saying that, she displaying them, (ok, maybe I have breast envy, since I have none! Yah, yah, I admit it!)

I keep forgetting that BB is on three nights, so I've missed some of the screaming matches. Too bad they voted off Braden even if he did just graduate from "Ridgemont High" yesterday. Well, it's back to surfing dude.

Haven't warmed up to anyone yet, I just can't get passed their looks, they look all freaky to me. Boy I must be getting old! The other Donna was liking Lydia, I couldn't get past her clown red mouth crying after she had been nominated, ya think a girl all tatted up would have a harder shell. Didn't she ever think she'd might get nominated for eviction? Oh yeah that's right, she's not in the brainac group. The house better watch out for her, the offbeat girl is not to be trusted.

All the high school antics brings back my old school days. And yes, I wasn't always in the popular crowd, what!? I must confess, I did start out in the dorky group but being a fast learner, I knew the place to be in high school, was in the popular crowd where I started out in cheer and later became Queen of the Sweetheart dance, with my date, Gordon Asaoka. Gee, I wonder where he is now, probably some famous artist (he was very talented, I just didn't care for rice). -Single D

The Bachelorette-2nd Chance Fantasy Suites in Maui

I don't know, it seems at this point Jillian is trying too hard to fall in love. What's left? Kiptyn, whose nice but non-committal attitude isn't sounding the wedding bells and Reid, whose my favorite remains elusive as well. Every time she tries to bring up the "L" word, love, Reid starts acting like he's seventeen and in high school. Her best bet, big goofy Ed. Gawd, what was he wearing on the catamaran? Did he steal Daisy Duke's swimming shorts? He's so seriously in love, that he flew his parents out to Maui to meet Jillian, this and his declaration of his undying love wins brownie points with her. However, once in the fantasy suite, he failed to perform. He was weeping in his pillow like a dejected lover. Guess he should have taken his Viagra before he went to the fantasy suite. Of course, Jillian has concerns that will this be a constant problem later on. Hey, I'd want to know if my man had performing problems, remember Kristin Davis's character in "Sex in the City"? During the rose ceremony, she had second thoughts and had to ask Ed if he was really attracted to her, because he sure didn't show it. How humiliating! Jillian decides to keep Ed over Reid (I'm assuming that Reid performed ok, no shocking scene of the bedroom lights suddenly flicking on). Looks like Ed will have to prove himself to her if he gets the chance. Maybe his shy turtle syndrome was due to the fact that his mom and dad were on the same island as them? In the limo on his way out, Reid is like maybe I should have told her that I liked her, well dud? Every girl wants to hear that you love them, why should she waste time. Looks like maybe Reid tries to make a comeback on the finale. Too late. I'm thinking she's leaning toward picking Ed because he's so smitten with her and why not take the sure thing. Looks like she might get her wish afterall and marry her best friend, because that's what he will be if he doesn't resolve the bedroom issue.

During the entire episode, all I could hear in the back ground was my daughter saying, "Is that all they do on this show is drink alcohol?" No dear, they do visit some very nices places! -Single D

The Bachelorette-So Long Wes!

Finally, Jillian gets the serious goods on Wes, my question is why did it take her that long? Wes got what he wanted (as he said in the limo on his way out, the only bachelor to make it to the final four with a girlfriend!). How evil, how despicable, how self centered! I have read some hopeful comments that what Wes said on the show was taken out of context, but it didn't appear that there was any editing on Monday night's episode, where Wes finally shows his true colors and it's all about Numero Uno (himself). A couple of blunders, like when Jillian asked Wes, what he said to Jake and Wes replied, I told him about my girlfriend, er my ex-girlfriend. Freudian slip and he all but said that it's only about him and his career. Would he consider moving away from Austin? Aw come on, we knew the answer to that. Wes got what he wanted, the hometown date so he could show off his group on TV and the free trip to Spain, which by the time he got there it seemed like he was so over the show and her. He even said he through with the acting. He wasn't into her in Spain and finally it got through Jillian's thick noggin that he's not here for her. Geez, she could have taken Jake to Spain, poor guy! So it's good riddance and good rubbish, hope his career crashes and burns. So what if he has a number one single, it's in Chihuahua Mexico for heavens sake!

Well enough blog time on Wes. I'm really beginning to like Reid's personality, witty, sarcastic and self deprecating. I love that in a guy. Lastly she really does have three really nice guys, but I'm thinking Kiptyn is not really that into her. Her best bet, Ed or Reid. She definitely has the hots for Ed, they couldn't keep their lips off each. And not doing the fantasy suite was a good thing, bully for her.

Hopefully Ed will win out, since he will need someone to support him now that he probably doesn't have a job any more. Oh by the way didn't Seville look awesome? That whole not speaking Spanish thing with her and Reid when they were in the food shop was absolutely hysterical, see I love it when a guy can make me laugh. -Single D

A Digital Camera Review

Thankfully this past weekend is finally over. I was deep into shopping therapy for some reason, guess you can only deprive yourself for long enough and besides, my husband was not on these shopping jags. Great diversion if you are arguing. When we fight, I shop, ALONE! I don't want him saying things; like why do you need that or that's too expensive! So what did I buy? A very cute zebra striped purse that has a peace sign in rhinestones on the front. I know a bit young for me. When my daughter saw it she said some of the girls in school have that purse. This same one? Well, similar she replies. Oh well, I've always had a penchant for zebra print and besides, I love it. It's not a Kathy bag, love those, but it's tickles my purse fetish anyway.

Next I bought a piece of luggage because we are going to Europe in a few weeks and I remembered our last trip there, we were lugging around big cumbersome square pieces of luggage that were really hard to maneuver around the trains and on the foot paths in Venice and everywhere else we went. By the time we got to Venice, we were so desperate to ditch those heavy square boxes on two wheels, that we sold them to the Sengal street vendors selling knock-off purses, which buy the way, never ever buy knock-off from them, you might end up with a Louie Vuitton purse with the initials of XL, or a Fendi with logo of LE. It's that bad there and they do not do refunds!

So I bought a 30" 360' roll around that can be pulled sideways. It's great, but I'll let you know how that works there on the trains.

Mainly my shopping quest was for a new digital camera, since the one I have is four years old and simply from the stone age. I went into Best Buy only knowing two things, it had to be slimmer than my old Fuji and it had to take really good videos. After all, I hate carrying a camera and a camcorder (not to mention that I would have to buy a new one, since the one I have is more than 6 years old and is the size of a small piece of luggage). In the camera section of Best Buy, I read the specs not really knowing the difference between a 1 mega pixel and a 12 mega pixel when a sales person comes up to me. I ask him which one takes video, he says all of them. Wow, the digital world is amazing. I say to him which one takes video that is formatted for the large screen, not your tiny square on the screen with audio that sounds like it's coming from a tin cup. At first he was going to try them out, when another person said that the only two cameras that are wide screen are two models of the Canon, which are in HD video. Good, only two to chose from, that narrows it. Now based on the look and size, I chose the one that has the largest viewing screen in the back and that is the narrowest and smallest and that is the Canon Power Shot SD960-IS 12.1 MP. The sales person says that Canon is also the most user friendly. Great sold! Never mind that I never did any price comparison, gee I hate it when I make rash decisions. But in this case, I'm happy. Back at home I make quick work of reading the instructions, sounds easy enough, takes great crystal clear pictures but the true test will be the video. My daughter and I make two test videos and hook up the camera to our HD TV. Playback was awesome! I was so happy! The video's HD is so crisp and clear and the audio is perfect. The camera kit provides you with the cable for TV hook-up so it's a breeze to watch the video on the wide screen. For all of you looking for a camera with great video capabilities, you can stop the search and buy this one. After I remembered that I didn't shop around, I called Best Buy to ask them if they still honor their best price deal which they said yes, for 30 days. At work, I shopped online and found that Walmart online on their Site 2 Store website, that camera was $299.98, same as I paid, except with one exception, Walmart's came with the 4GB memory card included in the package, which I paid for separately at Best Buy for $17.99. Oh well, if Best Buy won't honor it because it's different packaging, I'm still happy because now I need only carry my camera to my daughter's violin recitals and take videos and pictures!-Single D

The Bachelorette-Hometown Dates

I know, you were screaming at the TV set, weren't you? Screaming that Jillian, you're such an idiot, right? I couldn't stand last night's episode. It's apparent why Jillian isn't married, she falls for the wrong guy and in this case it's Wes. Never mind that you sent home the perfect man, never mind that he came back to warn you about Wes, never mind that Jake even knew the name of the girl that Wes was involved with, Laurel, never mind that you didn't even stop to think how much bravery it took for Jake to do that, and with narely a thank to boot. Why is it that women want what they can't have? Seriously, she knows that there's something he's holding back, she even said that, but she still is clinging to the idea of them. Well, I hope she gets what she deserves and that's certainly not Jake. He too good for her! Jake should be the next bachelor in my book. Hey Jake, where do I sign up? Call me! Of the four hometown dates, marry Kip and you'll be set up for life. Wasn't his parents home beautiful? We used to live in Carlsbad, right next door to Encinitas and let me tell you, it's heavenly. Perfect weather, perfect homes, perfect beaches (except don't go too near the power plant on the beach). Marry Reid (from Philly) if you want to be the all American suburban housewife. Marry Jesse and you'll inherit a winery and land in Carmel. How enchanting is that? Kovack Bros Winery, it's right out of Dennis Quaid's Parent Trap lifestyle. Marry Mike and welcome to the mid-Cali family right next to Magic Mountain. And marry Wes and it's hicksville white trash trailer living, in search of the next big hit and a cheating husband. Let's see, looks like she's leaning toward the trailer and a strumming on the ole banjo kinda of guy. I bet he was hoping to make it to the hometown dates just so his band could play for a TV audience, well, I'm glad they mostly did a voice over their music. What a snake! Well, she'll deserves him! I was so mad that she didn't get rid of Wes, I was screaming at the TV, throwing my slippers and candy wrappers. She couldn't hear me, but I'm sure my neighbors got an earful. Hopefully, there's maybe a small glimmer of hope with the reappearance of Ed. What, did he tell his boss to take this job and shove it? He never did tell us, but Jillian seems smitten, hopefully, he'll start working on his chances since she did keep him around, but cut lose, Jesse and Mike. Those two were definitely not her type anyway, she goes for dark haired guys, notice? She's not into blonds hence the letting go of Mr. Perfect. Next it's on to Spain, can't wait since that is the place we plan to vacation at the end of July!-Single D

Sidebar-supposed photo of the mysterious Laurel, owner of an Austin boutique and previous girl to ex-bachelor, Brad Womack. Humm, curious...

Michael Jackson

It is always so shocking when a celebrity that one has grown up with dies. No matter how or the circumstance. It wasn't enough that early in the day, Farrah Fawcett had succumbed in her heartbreaking battle against cancer. Her chronicles of her struggle was brave and courageous. I grew watching "Charlie's Angels" who didn't? She was really beautiful. The true love story between her and Ryan O'Neal is touching and poignant. And so when on the heels of her death came the shocking news that Michael Jackson had died I know a collective gasp could be heard around the world and in a moment, time stood still just like those other gut wrenching days of past; 9/11, the death of Princess Diana, the assassination of President Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy.

Although I was very young, I remembered being in Hawaii when news came of President Kennedy being shot. In elementary school, we were on a field trip to the sugar cane factory when the news hit. Everyone on the bus started to cry, first the adults and then the kids. I guess the kids were crying because the adults were crying. When Bobby Kennedy was shot, I remembered I was sleeping on couch in the living room in California (something was wrong with my bed and it was getting fixed). I remembered that my dad came in and turned on the TV set. Never mind that it was late and he had the news on, I knew something bad had happened. Strange names like Sirhan Sirhan and Jack Ruby filled the room.

Years later, on 9/11, I was getting ready for work when my husband came into the bathroom and said that a plane had crashed into one of the twin towers in NYC. We lived in Carlsbad, California then, I remembered I watched Good Morning America as I ate breakfast while they were showing the tower on fire. I remembered I had the news on in my car on my way to work in La Jolla, when Peter Jennings on the news had said another plane had crashed into the other tower, I was like what was going on? And then Peter Jennings, his voice incredulous said, the build has collapsed? I couldn't imagine what he was talking about. As I got into my office, all the TV's were on, people were standing around watching, shock and horror on their faces. We were all told to go home and so we went, sad and terrified.

And so, I know this too will be a day that will freeze in time as Pop Icon, Michael Jackson leaves this world. It will be one of those things of where were you when. I think I heard it best when someone on TV said, was it Hemingway that said, "Show me a hero and I'll show you a tragedy."

No matter what the world thought of him, his bizarre life, his strange actions, he will always and forever remain an American Icon.-Single D

Doubt-DVD Movie Review

I love any movie that has the great Meryl Streep in it, especially one that has Meryl donning a nun's outfit. Being a lapse Catholic, I secretly love all things Roman Catholic, from "Thorn Birds" to "Sister Act". Any movie with religious undertones pique my interest and so I waited anxiously for "Doubt" to make it's way into Blockbuster. I rushed in for several weeks only to find that it was out, gee must be a really good movie since it's such in demand. Finally, several weeks later there it was on the shelf! Victory! I take it home, plan the weekend around it. Don't bother me, I'll be watching videos this weekend! With the lights out, popcorn popped and water glass filled with ice, I sit. My daughter is in the other room, watching "Bunny House", I hear her laughing. Meryl plays the part of the sour nun perfectly and is the stereotypical nun I remembered from the days that my poor brother had to attend parochial school. Nuns that would whack knuckles at any laughter that ensued in class. Commit this to memory, there will be no laughter in class!

As the movie tried in all earnest to gain one's attention, I kept waiting for something to happen. I kept waiting for the critical scene, I kept waiting for something interesting to happen. I waited and waited and hoped with the outstanding supporting cast of Amy Adams and Seymour Hoffman surely it had to get better. It had to have more intrigue and suspense. But I was wrong. Sure in the end, there was that kernel of "Doubt", but was it enough to base an entire movie around? I think not. Meryl was superior in her restrained role, Amy great as the novice nun, and Seymour outstanding as the priest accused. But what really happened? Apparently not much. Sure, this coming off the Catholic priest scandal, we are supposed to assume something did transpire, but an entire movie based on conjecture and speculation? I guess that's where the name"Doubt" comes into play. Well, I doubt if I'll put this right up there with "The Exorcist" or "The Seventh Sign". I think Meryl should hang up her habit and that accent that wavered between Bostonian and Southern. No doubt you will not be missing a thing if you pass this one over. I should have watched "The Bunny House" with my daughter, no doubt there would have been a lot of laughter!-Single D

The Bachelorette-Canadian Train Ride

They've got a ticket to ride, but she don't care. I love that Beatles's song. That train ride through the Canadian Rockies looked absolutely fabulous! Had I known you could do that from Vancouver, I would have done it when we were there. Poor Robby, nothing like getting dumped and then left on the side of the tracks tossed out like yesterday's garbage. Man that's cold! The producers are getting ruthless on the dumping. The meaner, badder, bolder the more we watch, typical. Jillian cries that she doesn't like hurting people yet she's ok about leaving them stranded, looking like a fool in the ultimate dump. We got to see Wes's true side and finally the words spoken out of his smarie mouth that he doesn't care about the girl, just the fame. What does she have left? All boys and one bad guy. Does she have to quiz every guy about how serious they are and when they want to have kids? I'm getting sick of her same tired monologue and lame conversations. Thankfully the scenery was breathtaking to take the place of otherwise a wretched evening of bachelorette mayhem. Emerald Lake and Lake Louise in Banff go on my bucket list. Jillian did less crying this time, but she did manage to toss out my favorite guy, Mr. Perfect, Jake, who in the end said it best, "good guys do finish last". Now that she ejected him chosing to keep break dancer, Mike, I'm hoping that she does chose Wes, so there! Goodbye Mr. Perfect, white picket fence, 3 1/2 kids, big house in the burbs. Goodbye to foot freak, Tanner, to which my daughter said "What's wrong with him?". I'm wondering why didn't one of those two throw Wes under the bus when they left. Cowards! If she's so blinded by Wes's bad boyness not to see through his thinly veiled ambition of wanting to become the next big country star, then she deserves to get her heart broken which is surely in the cards for her if she ends up with him. He's so full of it, can't she see he's just playing her for a fool? Wes is like the wolf in the nursery picking off all the good wholesome boys. Looks like from the previews, his band does get some air time just as he hoped for. Hey Wes, go back to Chihuahua, they love you there and take Jillian with ya! I'm not disgusted, I'm not disgusted, oh yes I am!-Single D

A Father's Day Memory

A Family Portrait - I was cleaning out a closet the other day and found this old photograph of my father and his parents, Frank and Mary. They were from the old country of Italy and are the typical immigrant story. This photo was taken on the steps of my grandparents house in upstate New York in a small town called Friendship. I remember spending summers there and seeing my grandparents for the first time and my grandmother touching my face and saying bella, bella. I remembered their house smelled of brown eggs and malt and my dad bringing Grandpa Frank a mysterious bag of hops. Little did I know then Grandpa was a brewmister and brewed his own beer in the cellar. Grandma had chickens in the backyard and grew her own vegetables. I remember the heat of the summers and reading comics in the attic. And when we left for our long car trip back to California, Dad would cry beneath his sunglasses and silently wipe away the tears. When I made a copy of this picture for him, I knew he remember those days and I shared in his longing for them.-Single D