Movies

I looooooved the "Sex and the City" movie!  It was extremely funny (which is why I always liked the show), and there were a lot of twists I wasn't expecting.  I read a review saying it was predictable, but I didn't find the film predictable at all.  And they started off with a little background for those of you who hadn't seen all the shows.  Thank you VERY much to my sweet hubby for taking me and staying for all 2.5 hours -- that's right -- 2.5.  It was actually longer with previews.  

Movie II:  My mom and I watched "Atonement" on DVD.  Even though this was an Oscar nominee, I found that a lot of things about it fell short.  It took a while to figure out the plot, and once I figured it out, it should have been done much better.  For one thing, I'm tired of movies where we're supposed to believe two characters are in some great romance when they show us very little of them together - don't just tell us two movie characters are in love, and then expect us to be saddened when they're torn apart - show us first, so we actually believe it.

Of course, maybe I'd like it better on second viewing.  We were watching on a tiny TV in the middle of the day.  That takes away some of the ambiance.

Quick rant

I find it a little distressing that news organizations are asking people to "post their own photos" of the crane that collapsed in NYC.  Aren't there enough photos already?  What could be accomplished by more voyeurism?  I could understand if more photos would add to an understanding of the extent of the tragedy or elucidate more of what caused it.  But there are enough photos of this particular incident without some neighbors showing off how they sat there and gawked.  Then they are calling the people who post these photos "citizen journalists."  Journalists find out things; don't just take and post 100 shots of a tragedy without adding to public understanding in some way.  

In case you're interested

Book publishing stats just came out (how many books are published per year, etc.)

Notable parts of this release:

"Based on preliminary figures from U.S. publishers, Bowker is projecting that U.S. title output in 2007 increased slightly to 276,649 new titles and editions, up from the 274,416 that were published in 2006."

[This is all books (textbooks etc.) published in a year. It does not include "on demand" self-published books.]

"There were 50,071 new fiction titles introduced in the U.S. last year, up 17% from 2006, and the number of new titles in the category in 2007 was almost twice what it was as recently as 2002." 

"Similarly, there was a 19% rise in new literature books last year to 9,796, which followed a 31% increase in new literature titles in 2006."

"Adult fiction continues to be a reliable category in the U.S. book publishing industry and one of the niches that a number of publishers have counted on through the peaks and valleys of the past several years," said Gallagher. "On the other hand, it's noteworthy that juvenile title output, which makes up more than one out of every 10 new books introduced into the U.S. market, was down again slightly last year and has now seen steady erosion in each of the last three years since its Harry Potter-influenced peak in 2004."

Okay, so if you've got a novel, it could be one of the 50,071 titles published next year.  However, I guess that includes romances and paperbacks...so I'm not sure which chunk of that number includes regular mainstream fiction.  And what does the separate "9,796 literature books" mean?  New editions of The Sound and the Fury?  Or regular (non-genre) adult fiction?  I'm not sure.  In any case, there's room for new books, but even though the numbers may seem like a lot, they're not.  Because there probably are five zillion people working on books right now...

It's blinding!!

The first night of "Manhattanhenge," when the setting sun aligns with the street grid of Manhattan, was tonight.  (These were taken at 14th Street and Sixth Ave.)

The view probably will be better tomorrow IF the weather cooperates - be in NYC from around 7:30-8:15 and look west.

Why your rejection slips should be light this week

Most of the literary bigwigs are either already in L.A. or preparing to go to L.A. for:
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/

Last year I got some nice souvenirs when I went to the one in New York.

Anyway, if you have a manuscript sitting on an editor's desk, don't expect to hear anything this week!

Tomorrow, tomorrrrrroooowww...

Tomorrow is a better day to view the Manhattan Solstice than Friday, because there might be clouds or storms on Friday evening, according to Joe Schumacher over at Gothamist.

Good news, everyone!

Manhattanhenge, or the Manhattan Solstice, takes place this Thursday and Friday.  It's when the sun perfectly sets with the grid of NYC streets, and has a cool orange effect.  Check out this link!!

Rap you need

Any men who are dating should watch this m-----f----- video, yo!

Bands

It's always interesting to listen to people's conversations at baseball games.  At the Iron Pigs game, some people behind me were saying they were going to see a concert involving the bands Great White and Firehouse.  I thought they were joking at first.  I never heard of Firehouse, but I knew of Great White, and I thought they were just lying that they would be playing with a band called Firehouse.  It seems awful strange.

Hog wild

Last night, we went to Allentown, Pa. to watch a game of the minor league Iron Pigs.  According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Pig iron is a crude form of cast iron poured from the blast furnace."  Anyway, it's a clever name for the team in that former industrial town.  Their mascots are "Ferrous" and "FeFe."

It was a 90-minute drive (all on highways w/no traffic), and that area of Pa., just over the Jersey border, is a neat place to visit.

I had to try the only real specialty they had in the ballpark:  the "Big Porker" sandwich, with shredded pork on a roll.  They also had pork on nachos, which didn't draw me.

We enjoyed the fireworks after.  

Coca Cola stadium

Woman wearing a "pig nose" ($3 in gift shop)

"pork nachos"

Hubby is in shock!!!

....over what a human life is worth.  

This morning, he happened to see these two stories, in this order, on CNN.  He believes this should be blogged, and is still aghast at this.

See for yourself:

Story 1

Story 2

I ask you:  Which is worse??

Response

A friend responded that those little dogs can be pretty vicious.  Yeah, I know, and I guess that's probably what the poster is trying to say - even an innocent-looking dog can bite.  But maybe they shouldn't have chosen the sweetest expressions possible.

To follow up on the other part of my post, the one about Emily Gould's upcoming NYT Magazine article cover, she is getting all sorts of hate comments about it on her own blog, EmilyMagazine.com, at Gawker, and there were like 700 at the Times Magazine so they closed comments!  Some are supportive, too (including from older men who find her hotttt).  Anyway, get ready for more onslaught when it hits the streets on Sun.

Beware of attack Chihuahua

This poster has been hanging in my local post office all month in honor of Dog Bite Prevention Week, which just ended.

It always gives me a little laugh.  Look at the dogs they choose to use to illustrate this.  In the upper left, a shiny-eyed Weiner dog that probably is no higher than the mainman's shoe.  Bad weinerdog!!  Look at the actual photo of the very guilty-looking weinerdog.  Definitely has the makings of a Stephen King novel.

Also, may I direct you to the dog to its right.  A vicious, angry terrier.   It practically has a ribbon in its hair.

Check out the beagle on the left, and then down below in the middle, that nasty, nasty pug with the googly eyes and tongue lolling out.

I'm sooo scared!

Women who blog too much

If you have time to kill, read this young former Gawker editor's tale of how she gave away too much on her blog and eventually realized that it's not a good idea to put your whole private life on the internet.  Yes, I do agree.  This is appearing in the Sunday Times, but it's already on the internet and has some people posting nasty comments about her.

T.G.I.F!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(Yes, I know I am shirking my duty to write something.  Well, I have other things to tend to.  But have a good one.)

True colors

HUBBY: The sun is out.

ME: Maybe there'll be a rainbow.

HUBBY: You're such a girl.

Why do you have to be a girl to appreciate things that are beautiful?

I think men would appreciate rainbows more if they weren't so darn afraid of their manhood being questioned!

Clarification: Hubby points out that he does appreciate the beauty of rainbows, and he was only saying that it was a "girly" thing for me to say that there'll might a rainbow right after he said the sun was coming out after a rainy day.

Rutt's Hut

My Hubby is turning into quite the hot dog connosseur.  When he saw Rutt's Hut profiled on the Travel Channel a few weeks ago, he had to go.

This establishment opened in 1923 and serves deep-fried dogs. He ate three and pronounced himself "satisfied."

There were a lot of other tasty delights on the menu, and at inexpensive prices.  There is plenty of space inside, and families were sitting down to enjoy their meal.  As opposed to the sit-down dining area, the bar area was sort of an old-man place (as the photo below reveals.)

I simply ordered a Greek Salad. Hey, maybe I'm a party pooper, but other people must order them too, otherwise they wouldn't be on the menu, ok??

A while ago

A while ago, a reader from a nearby town sent me an e-mail on how to fix my phone.  I promised that in return, I'd link to his blog.  Here is Snake Oil Sam's quite interesting blog.  Political opinions expressed here are all Sam's own!

Catching up

Long time, no bloggin'. How am I going to keep my 32 remaining readers (that's the highest it ever gets on the counter) if I don't blog at least twice a month?

Let's see. What is there to say...

Raining

Today's theme song should be "The sun'll come out tomorrow" from Annie. And speaking of Annie, here's a very clever scene (two entries down), posted on my friend's blog. Look for the "billiard ball" heading.

Mets

Hubby and I (and friends) saw the Mets play last weekend. They won!! Yeah! It got cold toward the end of the game, and I paid $7 for "vegetarian chili." It really hit the spot. Okay, it was just beans in sauce, but it was a good portion. Highly recommended if you want something healthier than a shriveled hot dog.

If this keeps up, we may just go to another game next month!

You know it's a recession when...

Tuesday, I came into my office and found an umbrella on my floor. I realized that a job applicant had left it the day before. She must really want me to call her back in for a second interview!

I thought you're only supposed to use that "leave something behind so they have to call you" trick for dating, not job interviews. Definitely some sort of recessionary tactic.

At least she didn't leave a bra.

College

My college reunion is tomorrow (not saying which year. Boy, I'm old). Every time I thought about going, I felt like I was forcing myself. I realized I didn't want to trek down there all that much.

I still have memories of loneliness whenever I go back there, of just studying in my room. It's not like it reminds me of great things. The main reason I wanted to go was to see what people look like now - older, hairless, toothless, etc. (OK, probably not toothless.) The main people I wanted to see were actually at my wedding last year, and none of them are going to the reunion either (they have similar feelings to what I had).

Plus, there are no events this weekend that interested me. Usually, they do pretty cool panels on politics, writing, etc. None of them interested me this year. There's a party Friday night for my class, and Friday doesn't work for me, and I don't really want to go to a boozefest anyhow. Finally, parking was going to suuuuck. My hubby has seen the campus already when we went for football games, and I enjoyed those visits more.

I decided that curiosity about gossip wasn't enough of a reason to go. There were a few things that would have been neat: Introducing the Hubby to people who haven't met him; seeing people faint because I have short hair now. But I did some of that at the wedding already, and I just didn't feel like going down there.

Often, when people skip a reunion, they regret it later, wishing they had gone. Well, my college was big and not very intimate, so I don't think I'll feel I'll miss much. I went back to the fifth reunion and saw people then. And there will be a reunion of staffers from my college paper some time in 2009, and I'm curious about that one. That one might be worth attending.

Tough times

Besides the fact that these are tough recessionary times, and people are rioting around the world just to get rice and wheat, it seems like natural disasters are occurring all over the place, suddenly tearing families apart and killing many. If you have people in your life who you love, hug them and keep them close. I know that I sure will.

That's all. TGIF. Have a good weekend!

Nerds at heart

Someone pointed out to me a New York Times article that ran this weekend. In it, it mentions a singles site called "Nerds at Heart." I think my remaining single friends -- the nerdy ones, or those who love nerds -- can benefit from this site. So far, their activities are only in Chicago. But can NYC be far behind?

Responses

I got some interesting responses to yesterday's entry.

Someone e-mailed to tell me that fruit can make you fat. Yes, anything can, but if you reach for fruit instead of a cookie, you're making progress.

Someone else sent an e-mail congratulating me on the diet, and putting various words like "black and white cookie" in small type. Thanks a lot, Satan! (Actually, I have to remember to link to this person's site soon, like I promised...)

And last but not least, a third reader (Blogfan Sam, actually) asked if Jennifer A. is now a "Cougar." Well, I don't think she was really on the prowl; her publicist was. And she isn't really old enough. Nor searching only for exclusively younger men.

He also said that serious musicians would rather play music than anything else. OK, but if you sleep with someone, be kind enough to not think about rushing off to play guitar two seconds later. Show a little respect and caring!!

(I'm sure John Mayer reads this blog and will heed my words.)

Anyway, I promise my lovely hubby that we don't have to hang out in CVS again tonight. Unless I find out that, like, Joan Rivers just announced she's dating Zach Efron.

Random thoughts

Quote of the day

"Sweetie, if you want to buy the magazine, buy the magazine. Because I don't want to spend my whole evening...in CVS...okaaaaay?"

-- The Hubby, reasoning with me

He's quotable AND cuddly!

Gossip

The magazine article I was reading was about Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer dating.  How did that happen?  Neither of them was in a tabloid for a week, so their publicists got together?  I'm a romantic and all, but this one makes me cynical.  Anyway, since he is nine years younger than she is, I do have to encourage that.  But I also read once that he said after he has sex with a woman, all he can think about is leaving to go play guitar.  Ewww, scummy.

Meg

Tomorrow is day my beloved doggie Meg was born (well, in 1985).  She lived until March 24, 1999.  Even though I don't try to believe dogs have all human traits, Meg WAS very emotional and sensitive and truly loved me, my brother, and mom.  One day when she was a wily puppy, she was running around, making me chase her, and I was trying to catch her so she wouldn't be hit by a car.  She kept escaping, so finally, I sat down on a log and put my hands over my eyes and pantomimed like I was crying.  She immediately ran over to me.  She thought I felt bad and wanted to comfort me.  She also loved to be hugged.   I miss my Meg!

Writing

I hesitate to comment on status of things I' m working on (or not working on), lest some agent or someone see this.  So...no books coming out in the near future.  Maybe someday.  Who knows?

Eating

Summer's coming, so I'm back to the low-fat diet where I usually shed my few extra winter pounds.  I don't care about skipping meat, so this isn't as hard for me as another diet might be.  The key is to just have things at work to munch on - carrots, yogurt, and the like.  Soon, cherries will be back in season.  Full of sugar, but still better for you than a muffin!  (Probably.)

That's all she wrote

So, all is well.  Can't complain.  And summer is coming!  Several baseball games are in my future.  

Just so I don't forget

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattanhenge

Not trivial

The Anonymous Blogger shared his memories of trivia today. The final one at the Baggott Inn is tomorrow night.

Co-eds

The Hubby showed me this article about how students at some colleges (including my alma mater) are now allowed to room with a student of the opposite sex.

I think this is a bad idea, while he thinks I'm overreacting.  I just think that it will cause all sorts of problems.  What if a couple is in a relationship and one pushes the other to take the next step and become roommates, and the other is not ready?  It can put pressures on a relationship that shouldn't be there at that age.   And what if couples DO room together, and break up - that will cause a real problem.  And what if a guy and girl who are "just friends" room together, but one half of the duo really has designs on the other?  That can create some uncomfortable situations.  Also a lot of jealousy.  And what if the roomies end up drunk and decide to fool around, just because they're in the next bed, and then regret it in the morning?

Yes, maybe I am overreacting.  But I just think this adds to the pressures of school.

The Hubby believes that these kids can be trusted to be adults, and a lot of those who choose this option are friends, not couples.  Still, it sounds like a bad idea to me.

Oh, the photo of the traffic cones has nothing to do with all this, but I took it recently because I just liked the colors.  The flowers have been falling off the trees around here.

The dudette abides

Joderama has posted not one, but TWO new entries on her blog!  She's right -- most of the things she sees in L.A., I've never seen.  Who would have thought that a place could be weirder, in terms of people-watching, than NYC.

She also invents a new term:  Wii-sick.  (Rhymes with seasick.)  She searched the Web and couldn't find any other mentions.  So please credit Jodi whenever you use it.  And please also repeat the term to anyone you know who has a Wii, especially when it causes soreness, panic, or any other symptom.

Thanks and God bless.

On an unrelated note, the Hubby and I got to take a free cruise around NYC today as part of a press junket.  I get remarkably few free things for someone in the news business, but the cruise was pretty nice.  Someday I'll write an entry listing the precious few free things I have received in my life as a newspaperwoman.  Maybe I can categorize them:  Best, worst, weirdest, etc.  And then there's biggest waste of taxpayer money (the Xmas tree ornament I got from the postal service.)

Helpful blog entry

Stamps are going up to 42 cents on May 12, the day after Mother's Day. However, you can buy those "Forever Stamps" at the post office now for 41 cents each, and they will STILL WORK!!!

What are you waiting for?


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legal notice

It is a policy of this blog to occasionally take photos of cute bulldogs. Therefore, if you do not like pictures of cute bulldogs, please turn your attentions away from this blog. Thank you.

New 'puter

We got a new computer and downloaded recent photos onto it, so I wanted to put up more photos, but it takes Blogger so long to put them up.

However, I did want to post this photo of the area in our living room that we cleaned up and organized for the new computer.  

We got this computer desk at Office Depot for under $100.  The only problem is, the screen is so big on the computer and sometimes you have to drag the mouse across the whole screen to click on the tools on top, and there isn't room on the desk to drag the mouse far enough without bumping into the keyboard when I'm dragging it to the left.  I bet I'm not the only person to deal with this problem.  I actually prefer smaller computer screens because of it.  Or I guess I need a bigger mouse area.

Anyway, here's a photo of the area - so nice to have it all neat!

Update:  The Hub suggests that I actually post a photo of the desk WITH the computer on it.  Okay, soon!  (First, have to take said photo.)

Today's bulldog photo

"You ain't enlisting, son.  You'll work guarding the back  yard,

just like your father."

So right now, the hubby is watching "Spaceballs" and shouting dialogue from it and I'm supposed to know what he's talking about.  If it was a film about cute dawgs, I'd know.

Thanks

I'm writing this before trivia, but in advance, let me say thanks to everyone who came out tonight!  I know some old friends and longtime trivia folks are coming, and it's going to be great to see you all.  And to give you some extra treats.

It's six years since trivia started, and it's been so wonderful to meet so many nice people, some of whom have become close friends.  Even in New York, you can find a nice community.

I hear that another new trivia night may be starting soon, and there's also the Drinking and Thinking night nearby at Dempsey's -- I'll have to publish info on that soon.

Doggies

The Hubby sent me this link today to warn me about an unfortunate experience Natale Portman had while petting a strange dog.  Since I pet strange dogs, he wrote "Let this be a warning to you."

Point taken.  But  do you think I should also not take photos of strange dogs, like this cuddly pair I saw this morning?  What do you think??

I think that's a great idea...for me to poop on!!!!

Senior 'nerd' writes in

I got this e-mail last week and kept meaning to post it.

By the way, don't forget to come see hubby and me hosting trivia tonight!!

Dear [Addled],
Thank you for Carrie Pilby! I am a 60 year old woman, retired from teaching, living in an "active adult" community in Florida. We have a library in our neighborhood where residents donate their old books and, after hunting through the shelves for something worth reading, I came upon your novel. I thought at first, that the book was probably directed toward a much younger audience, but decided to read a few pages anyway, in case it was any good -- and besides, I love teenagers, having been a middle school teacher. And I love "young adult" literature as it is usually well-written with interesting characters and tight plots. Teens don't continue reading a book once it bores them!

Well, your book was a revelation to me! I AM Carrie Pilby at 60! I wish I were as bright as she, but I do have that nerdy personality that wants to learn new things and becomes fascinated by each bit of knowledge the world reveals. I am just bright enough to have that "black-white" thinking that plagues Carrie in her quest to understand hypocrisy, and I must admit that I still am often disappointed by people's actions. The world is rife with hypocrisy, and I have had to focus on motives rather than actions as Carrie learns to do.

Her acceptance of herself at the end of the novel was wonderful--a perfect ending. As a senior who tries to fit in--even at this age--it was a good lesson for me to relearn. I don't enjoy "doing lunch" every day with others who want only to gossip, and I would only join Red Hats if someone put a gun to the head of a loved one. Yet I am not a snob at all. I love people but just don't seem to have the same interests. It was a good time to reaffirm my own self-acceptance and realize that nothing was "wrong " with me . In fact, I feel quite excited today and look forward to some "projects" that I have wanted to start but have been putting off in order to socialize more. Hooray for the Carrie in all of us! And thank you.
Sincerely,
[Senior]

The Hills

For anyone else who watches: Lo is secretly in love with Lauren, isn't she? She gets jealous whenever Lauren even mentions a boy. (Just a theory.)

Florida

(That was several weeks ago...it's warmer there now.)

We were in Ft. Lauderdale.  It was gorgeous (well, it was a bit chilly some days, but mostly beautiful.)

A few things before I forget

The Hubby and I are hosting trivia this Tuesday. It's one of the last trivia nights at the Baggott Inn, and we'll have a few extra prizes, as well as ample boxes of Nerds candy for all!!! Come and play.

Also, happy Passover, to fellow Jooz. Please check out The Anonymous Blogger's annual "Passover Parody." Well done, friend, well done.

Finally, if I haven't returned your e-mail, I will soon. It's nothing personal. Cheers!

T.G.I.F.

With our new computer, I downloaded some iTunes songs onto my iPod so I could listen on the treadmill. One of them was Kanye West's "Stronger." So now I am aware of this lyric:

"You said you'd do anything for a Klondike/
well, I'd do anything for a blonde dyke."

Come on, West. You couldn't do better than that??

Update: I just found this blog entry calling the whole thing sexist.

Polygamy

Why are so many people up in arms about the polygamist sects out West? Seems to me that polygamy can solve a lot of problems. How many times have you heard a girl say, "Oh, too bad he's married," or "Oh, I hate that he's already got a girlfriend" or "All the good ones are taken." Well, this would solve the problem!! Let men marry lots of women! We've all heard about the 4,000-to-1 female to male ratio in New York City, right? How to solve this? Let each man marry 4,000 women!

Write your congressman about this. Except, let's make it not apply to men already married. Because I'm not sharing my adorable Hub with any single girls. BACK OFF, biotches!!!

I mean it.

'The Hills'

Okay, I often express my disdain for reality shows. I find a lot of them exploitative. But someone (who shall remain nameless) got me into watching "The Hills" on MTV, which chronicles the dating and professional disasters of a group of young women (early 20s) in L.A. I know some of you watch; admit it. Here's what is a little silly about it, though. How come all the people on the show who hate each other just happen to end up in the same clubs, restaurants, and -- yes -- computer classes as each other every night? On every episode, every one of the characters just HAPPENS to appear at the same club, and then they all fight with each other. Talk about staged...

Update: The abovementioned person "who shall remain nameless" wants to point out that he no longer watches to the extent that I do, and wouldn't watch at all if I hadn't gotten completely hooked. Okay, "anonymous," your dignity is restored. ;)

Photos

The technical difficulties I referred to a few months ago are supposed to end today, and I may be able to post a few pictures taken in recent weeks. So watch this space.

Writing update

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a satirical essay I was revising to submit somewhere. I predicted that it would probably take them only a few minutes to reject it. Well, it actually took them a half hour. But I do have the editor's name, so if I think of anything else good, maybe I will try again. Good ideas for satire -- that haven't been done to death already -- are hard to come by. But ya never know.

Thanks

The Hubby prodded me to post today because I haven't posted lately. So thanks, Cutie!

Mets blog

My friend Phil has started a Mets blog. Please go read and comment on it, because so far, there's only one guy commenting (although said commenter seems to be a brilliant sports anaylst).

Mailbag

I got behind and didn't get a chance to put in Blogfan Sam's response to an earlier entry. Pretty busy today but I wanted to say, Thanks, Sam!

Sam wrote:

I hope I'm considered one of the six (I still check in every day)... You know if you ever find yourself without anything to say, you can always wake up, put clothes on and go to work.

Hey, good idea....

Does this make Dan Brown almost as popular as God?

I got this in an e-mailed publishing digest today:

Harris Interactive surveyed American adults to find out "What is your favorite book of all time?" The answers:

1. The Bible
2. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
3. Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
5. The Stand, by Stephen King
6. The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown
7. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
8. Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown
9. Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
10. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Hmmm, judging from #1, #3, and #4, too much sci-fi/fantasy on that list. (Ha ha, just kidding.)

Hello everybody (all six of you)

The Hubby complained that I didn't post today. Well, I didn't have much to write...except that he is wonderful. And if I wrote that, you would all barf. Well, all six of you, anyway.

I remember that back in the '90s, when the internet was kinda new, there was an internet list going around of synonyms for "throw up." Some of them were standard (puke, hurl, yak, etc.) but some of them were elaborate: "Call Ralph on the big white phone."

On another note, a friend e-mailed me and pointed out that I still have not posted my photos from Florida. I'm waiting until we get a new 'puter to download them onto, and that's still a week or two away. But I'll post some photos when I'm all set up, I promise.

Speaking of computers, I'll be needing Microsoft Word for Mac. I suppose I should buy it...

Well, how 'bout that. I did have something to say after all. I bet you are much more enlightened now.

Joyce Maynard

There was a New York Times story last week on the "second home" of one of the writers I admire, Joyce Maynard. I really like the photo of her writing as she gazes out on the waters of Guatemala. I'm glad she found some peace after years of tumultuous relationships (including one with J.D. Salinger, which she wrote about in the memoir At Home in the World, which I keep harping on.)

Anyway, read the story here.

Happy April Fool's Day

ha ha! gotcha! it's really april 2!

College story

When I was in high school, some of our teachers told us how hard college would be. They said that if a professor didn't like our term paper, he might tear it up in front of us.

I had no reason to doubt this. And of course, it scared me. I wanted to keep being babied at school, like always.

During my sophomore year of college, I took an English course on poetry. I was not a poetry fan by any means, but it was a required course for the English major. I had to pick one of the poems we'd studied and write a seven-page paper on it. I had some trouble figuring out what to write. In the end, I decided to write about Coleridge's use of weather in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (low-level weather junkie that I was.)

Days later, I sat on my bed with the Norton Anthology open to the Rime, and I tried to write this paper. Problem was, my theme seemed very flimsy, and I really didn't think I could fill up seven pages talking about it. The poem itself was not even that long.

But I pushed myself to write. And write. I felt like I was forcing each word. I quoted looooong passages from the poem (double spaced, of course). I also made sure I used as large a font as I could get away with.

I thought to myself, "This is the worst paper I've ever written. I barely believe my own thesis statement. I'll either fail, or I'll get an A and have a great story."

Anyway, the day came to hand in the paper. I went up to the professor's desk and handed it in with the others.

But I saw a chance to do something to help myself. Someone else was handing in a paper, and her title page said:

SHELLEY'S CLOUDS.

And get this -- she had actually taken a pen and drawn clouds all over her title page.

I couldn't believe it. Back in high school, my teeechurs were telling us that professors would tear up our papers if they weren't perfect, and here was a girl at an Ivy League school actually drawing clouds all over her English paper. (As an aside: A girl in another English class of mine one day brought a stuffed snail to class, for no reason at all. She just said, "I brought a snail today." Then we went on with the discussion on Virgil's The Aenid.)

So I made sure I slid my paper right UNDER the paper on clouds that had clouds drawn on it. (At least she didn't use construction paper or oaktag for her cover.)

A week later, I got the paper back, and I had gotten an A-minus. Of course, maybe it actually was a good paper. I dunno. Maybe I was graded on a curve.

Quotable

"I don't think I would want to keep up with the Kardashians."

- Hubby, 03/29/08

People can be soooooo disappointing

I just looked around at some blogs, and there were few updates. How boring. So it's my responsibility to fill in the gap.

Let's see. What can I think of to tell you about?

Many years ago, I worked in a fast food restaurant. I didn't really have too many people to talk to. This one time, they hired a new boy who was a year younger than me. My thoughts were the same as any other young dateless girl stuck in a fast food uniform: "Yay! New boy."

Soon enough, he came over to me and held up a hamburger bun, which he had squeezed all around a French fry. "What do you think this is?" he asked.

"A metaphor for man's suffering," I said, displaying my boundless wisdom.

"It's an asshole taking a shit!" he said, then laughed to himself and went to go show it to someone else.

Ah, well.

Rule of life

Always save receipts. Even if it's for, like, fruit. You never know.

I got a bill yesterday for something I had paid for five months ago. Luckily, I saved all my receipts from last year rather than throwing them out right away. So I could prove I paid. (I paid in cash, so there was no credit card backup).

Just a little lesson. Or maybe the lesson is not to pay in cash...but if you do, get a receipt and save it!

Writing

I get these daily e-mailed digests for writers. Today, one of the writers on the chick-lit one contributed this:

I might have the best agent story. Way back, when I first started trying to write, and before the internet and email were well established, I had an agent who was.dead. Yep. He'd died the year before and I'd been represented by his secretary all that time. Argh!

Why does this not surprise me?

Monday will be a special day

50 percent off Easter candy!!

Combonym of the day

Squarrel - n. - An argument with a squirrel.

(I'm sure you'll get to use THAT one every day.)

Almost spring

Thursday is the first day of spring.

Just thought you should know!

Are we done with bad weather, or will we get any surprises?

Hard to tell. The weather reports this winter were not too accurate.

McGreevey and friends

Just when all eyes were on New York's disgraced governor, a former McGreevey aide brings the attention back to Joisey by claiming that he used to have threesomes with the guv and his ex-wife, in order to enhance their sexual relationship. These special Friday nights would start at, of course, T.G.I.Friday's. Then they added their own special dessert.

I am so proud to be one of the first few people blogging this. Now please let me go throw up.

The writin' life

There's this silly essay I worked on for a while about two years ago, then didn't do much with for a while. I vowed recently to just revise and finish the darn thing - it's only three pages long, but I just couldn't get it right. So I revised and revised. The Hubby was kind enough to read it too.

Anyway, I'm probably submitting it to a publication next week. However, I'm anticipating that this thing that took me a few years to finish could be rejected in just a few minutes.

C'est la vie!

Unacceptable

The world has far too many reality stars who take up far too much space on the news.

Therefore, I do not want to read about or see any more of Spitzer's [alleged] ho. I don't want to see her singing on American Idol. I don't want newspaper articles on her. I don't want her to become a celebrity. By the way, if she admits to a crime, shouldn't she be going to jail instead of getting publicity? I don't care if she does or doesn't get arrested, but I just don't want any more newspaper space wasted on her. I'm all for entertainment news, but a day of her is all I can take.

Newspapers, please stop writing about her. Thank you.

Oh, I almost forgot - TGIF!

Update: No, I am not jealous of her!!

Updates

THANK YOU!!! Blog reader Snake Oil Sam e-mailed me to tell me to take the battery out of my phone, then take the chip out, then put them back in. I tried it, and it worked!! My phone is now operational again. I don't have to trek down to Radio Shack, consider buying stuff, or worry about re-inputting my numbers. Thank you so much, Snake Oil Sam! And to anyone else whose phone has the same symptoms, now you know how to take care of it.

Meanwhile, a friend wrote to me: "Remember how in the first season of 'Gilligan's Island' poor Mary-Ann wasn't even mentioned in the theme...reduced to an insulting and downgrading 'and the rest'? I think that's when the trouble began." Well, thanks for plagiarizing me! Just kidding. This person hadn't read the blog, obviously. Also obviously, half the people in their 30s thought of the same joke about Mary Ann. Sigh.

One final note. This past weekend, someone asked me how I got the idea for Carrie Pilby, since she's nothing like me. This caused my Hubby great laughter. Oh well.

Hello!

We just got back from sunny Florida. It was lovely! Of course, it was warm down there (duh), but there were enough breezy periods where I had to wear a sweatshirt too.

There was time for a long walk on the beach (and I mean loooong...I think we almost ended up in Cuba), visiting cute babies-in-law, a dip in the pool, and a visit to a Mets spring training game in St. Lucie. They didn't do so well in the game we saw, but they won the next game they played.

Oh, and I got to walk around the Sawgrass Mills Mall, a very large outlet mall. The Hub was quite patient.

I want to show rather than tell, and I have some nice photos, but they probably won't go up for a week or two, due to busy-ness and technical stuff. So...the baseball diamond and the beach will be yours to ogle next week.

Speaking of technical stuff, my cell phone broke. Well, there's nothing on the display, although it lights up and turns on. So if you called me and left a message, I didn't get it. Please e-mail me or call me at home. (And if you didn't know I had a cell phone, well, I haven't given my number out that much, because of things like the fact that they break, but I should have the phone repaired or replaced by the end of the weekend.) I'm also just catching up on e-mail now, so I apologize if I didn't get back to you.

Brief news

Apparently, while we were away, some interesting news events occurred:

-Eliott Spitzer came out of the closet as a heterosexual!

-"Mary Ann" from Gilligan's Island was arrested for pot use. I bet she needed it, due to lingering resentment over being called "and the rest" at the end of the Gilligan theme in the older episodes. That always really bothered me, too. I'm glad they eventually changed it to "The Professor and...Mary Ann..."

-I feel like I need a third thing here for the list. But what can compare with a prosecutor-turned-governor paying $4,300 for a call girl...and Mary Ann lighting up a fattie? Was the bong made out of a coconut and some bamboo? Skipper! Professor! What are these strange plants by the lagoon?

Wow, I'm tired. At least I got through some of my e-mail, so that's good.

Combonym of the day

Youngry -- adj. Young and hungry. Example: "An agent should be youngry."

Crickets

On Saturday, two things were being given out for free in NYC. Near Macy's, representatives for Tic-Tac gave us some new sour apple Tic-Tacs. They weren't so exciting to suck on, but I liked the tangy flavor once I bit mine.

On 42nd Street some people representing the Food Network were giving out free packets of dried crickets in salt and vinegar, as a snack. It was meant to publicize Andrew Zimmern's show where he eats weird food.

The Hubby and I unwittingly each took a pack, and then threw ours out at a nearby trash pail. The crickets probably would have just tasted like any other dry snack with salt and vinegar, but I wasn't into it. I did consider bringing it to work and leaving it on the table in the kitchen just to hear people's reactions, but I didn't want to carry the dried crickets around that long.

If you would have wanted them, sorry. Maybe next time you're in the big city, you can get equally lucky.

Bet you wish you'd thought of this in eighth grade

This story will totally get picked up nationwide by the AP.

Smile

Hello. I am an omnipotent martian who transformed into a computer screen. Right now I am directing your computer keyboard to have sex with your fingers. I can tell you like it because you're smiling. Shame on you, pervert.

Readers

I haven't gotten any Carrie Pilby-related e-mails in more than six months, but I got one today. That was nice!

Subj: Official: Fan Mail

Dear Caren,

I was meandering around a little used bookstore in my neighborhood the other day and picked up a copy of your CARRIE PILBY novel along with a stack of other novels. I caught the flu over the weekend and have done nothing much...other than sleep, moan-n- groan, and read your book. I just finished it today and felt really compelled to write to you.

Brilliant! What a fun and refreshing read...and very deep insight, with just the right amount of delightful wit! Thank you (and Carrie Pilby) ever so much for helping get me through the flu! It was deliciously better (and more healing!) than a bowl of chicken soup!

My best regards,

Amy
Writings by Amy home <---little shameless self promotion never hurt!

Snowy colonials

(see below, and thanks again to the hub for his patience while I took these.)

Ooh, preeeetty

We were in Connecticut this weekend, and the snow had piled up higher there than here, making some of the colonial houses really beautiful. The Hub was kind enough to stop while I took some photos. So I will post some later so you can enjoy them too.

But the way, so many people make fun of New Jersey, but at least it's easier to spell than Connecticut. What's with the silent "C"?

It snew!!

Trivia Night

My Hubby and I hosted trivia tonight. Thanks to all our friends and trivia vets who came out!!

As usual, the generation gap reared its head. We asked the teams to write down Madonna's first 10 top-40 hits. Some of the teams could only think up 7 or 8 Madonna songs. Doing the math, people have to be at least 21 to be in the bar. If they were 21, that means they could have been born as late as 1987. 1987! Madonna's first 10 hits were between 1983 and 1986.

So I guess asking those young 'uns to name them was like asking me to name Wings' first top 40 hits, or something. But still, Madonna's still around doin' her thing.

This subhead's just six words long

In other news, the folks behind the six-word memoir book are quite good at getting publicity. This week, they rated an article in the New Yorker's "Talk of the Town" section. Almost all the sentences in the article are six words long. Pretty impressive.

It's probably getting so much attention because a) it's a good gimmick, b) it includes a lot of literary people who no doubt have connections*, and c) it's fun.

[*a good number of whom once worked on the U. Penn school paper, like myself...]

Check out its Amazon rank. Damn, I coulda used a rank like that! (No, I don't get any royalties from my six-word contribution.)

Moms are funny

In other news, recently, my mom asked me if it's true that they're not selling records anymore. (Moms are funny like that.) She also said the following: "My mother wanted to name me Amy. My father wanted to name me Annie. (Pause) Nixmary is not a nice name."

And finally

Combonym of the week:

Wrestless -- When you're so antsy, you want to wrestle.

Happy V-D!!!!

I mean, Valentine's Day, of course.

P.S. Hi cutie!!

Weather or not

Conversation from yesterday morning, getting ready for work in the chilly darkness:

Me: Do you know when it's not going to be so cold?

The Hubby: In June.

Well, thanks.

New expressions I thought of recently

(and are probably all over the internet already because it's hard to be original)

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die...t."

"Put that in your pipe and choke on it."

Update:

Like I said, it's hard to be original. About a thousand other people have thought of the same thing.

At last

A beagle has won the Westminster Dog Show. They are wonderful pets, very sweet, playful, and have long waggy tails. Some other breeds don't have long tails, and I'd hate to get a dog without one. Part of the fun of having a dog is knowing when he or she is happy.

An article sent to me by The Hubby says this: "His tri-colored image certainly drew a nationwide following, and that will surely prompt a spike in beagle adoptions. Wilkerson had one bit of advice for anyone planning to get one as a pet. 'Better have a fence,' he said."

There are plenty of beagles in shelters, so it's good if people adopt them - as long as they (and I say this for any dog) intend to be good dog owners for up to 15 years, not return their dog to the pound in two years because of some change in circumstance.

The man is right about having a fence. They love to be chased. My beagle used to slip out of her collar when she was a pup and make us chase her around the development. She also would run in front of cars. Luckily we always caught her.

Thanks to Hubby for sending it my way. Yay for beagles!!

Combonym of the day

ENDORPHANAGE -- N. A gym.

Combonym

Monopulative - Able to monopolize a conversation in order to manipulate.

This memoir's just six words long





I have a contribution in this book that just came out. Probably my smallest contribution to a book ever. It's a book of six-word memoirs.

Apparently, they will be having a reading at KGB bar soon, where some of their more famous contributors will read their six-word memoirs. (If you click this link, look on the right.) It promises to be...well, short.

R.I.P. Amy Vining

Disclaimer: This entry is of interest to practically no one, except those who watch, or once watched, General Hospital. Hubby and all men: You may turn away from the blog and go back to your Giants parade.

Anyway...

Shell Kepler, the actress who played Amy Vining on "General Hospital," has died at the age of 49. No cause of death has been released as of yet.

She hasn't been on the show in six years, but I remember fondly her gossipy, funny young character. I grew up watching "GH" right after school, mainly because my mom always had it on. For a little while during the early 1980s, the storylines and dialogue were quite brilliant.

I remember in particular one time that Luke Spencer, who was on the run with Laura, called the hospital to get some information. He was trying to do it secretly, but who should pick up the phone but Amy Vining, who was a nurse and also Laura's sister. Amy blurted out, "HEY, EVERYBODY, IT'S LUKE!"

I guess the actress ended her TV career a few years ago to do charity work or something.

It's funny - I bet I could still turn on GH today and know half of the characters. So Amy Vining was part of my extended TV family.

Rest in peace, Ms. Kepler. http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=%22amy+vining%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

Hot links

Jane was kind enough to forward me this NY Times story about the slowness between getting a book deal and actually seeing your book come out, and all the things that happen afterward...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/books/review/Donadio-t.html?ex=1202706000&en=bb0d330fad7dc58d&ei=5070&emc=eta1

TAB sent me this link to an article about the TV show "The Greatest American Hero" being made into a movie. It's one of my favorite TV shows of all time, which TAB knows. Who wouldn't love seeing a hapless teacher of problem high school kids suddenly get a super suit...and not know how to use it?

http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/02/01/the-greatest-american-hero-headed-to-theaters/

to give credit, Neil C. also sent me an article on the casting for the movie.

Jon B. sent me some more three-letter male names with two vowels, in response to a recent blog entry:

Lee.
Lou.
Ray.
Avi.
Uwe.

Very good, Jon B., but should we really count "Ray?"

Anyway, I linked to all three people's web pages, so check them out.

Story

A sad story from the Times about hearbreak and hope.

'King' sized

I just saw Reese's peanut butter and banana cups in a store. I looked them up, and apparently, these Elvis-tribute cups have been out for quite a while.

Hmmm, I'm all shook up.

Have a good weekend, all.

Couple of things

A few years ago, I interviewed young writer Marty Beckerman for a story I was writing for a now-largely-defunct literary website. The story was about why Generation Y didn't have any literary spokesmen. In the story, I said Beckerman's book was well-written, but it presented a bleak view of his generation. Despite that criticism, he was very mature about it and took it well, and has written some stuff that I've really found great.

Anyway, he sent out an inspiring e-mail today, which is also posted on his blog, so I guess it's public. Despite having been through the literary ringer with a book he wrote, it's finally going to get published. You can read his announcement on his blog, but it starts off thusly:

Dearest Acolytes,

I am overjoyed to announce: in September 2008 Disinformation will publish DUMBOCRACY: Adventures with the Loony Left, the Rabid Right and Other American Idiots.

I have gone to hell and back for this book.

Retard Nation was originally supposed to hit stores in early 2006. For legal reasons I still can't disclose the entire story of what happened, but essentially I received one of the hardest ass-f**kings in publishing history....

Every writer wonders at what point they should give up on a book they hold near and dear to their hearts. But sometimes, if it keeps getting rejected, you just have to realize that it doesn't mean to other people what it means to you. Other times, you just realize that editors all have different opinions, just like readers do, and just because some of them don't like it, doesn't mean you shouldn't keep looking for the one who DOES. You have to be persistent, while still understanding the realities and taking other people's advice to make the book better.

There are books I've given up on, and others I've rewritten and rewritten. I think I mostly made the right choices. I'm really glad Marty stuck to his guns. He is a great writer and a good guy, and I'm looking forward to reading his book. His struggle is actually inspiring, so if you are a writer, check out his blog entry.

TV news

So are any of you going to watch "Lipstick Jungle" on TV next week? I'm going to watch at least the first 10 minutes to see if it really fills the void that "Sex and the City" left. Although I didn't relate to the SATC crew, I definitely laughed with them (and sometimes at them) and found the show funny and smart. Some of the "Lipstick" women are married, so we won't have the bad dates to laugh at...but hopefully it will actually be a good show. We'll see. My hopes are not high.

You may be wondering whether I'm going to torture my poor hubby with this show. Good question. Well, I mentioned that I'd like to give it a shot, and he didn't run screaming into the river. So he may actually watch some of it with me, bless his poor, patient heart. It probably won't be that good a show. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Social networking

I forgot to mention in my blog entry on cyber-networks the other day that I DID end up staying on Facebook.com, but I changed my profile to note, "I am hardly ever on here. So please don't be offended if it takes me a while to get back to you." Still, I get frequent e-mails to my regular e-mail saying someone on Facebook "poked" me or asked me to get into a virtual mud-fight, or some other weird thing that I'd actually have to log in and then download a program for. Of course, it's really anti-social of me to complain about this when I should be happy that any gives a darn about whiny old me. So THANK YOU to everyone for your pokes, etc., etc. I just don't want you to be offended if they sit in my in-box for a while.

Today is hump day.

Will you do your part??

Why or why not?

Huh??!?!?

In response to Monday's entry, James from college writes:

When I was a kid I used to think that when people talked about the “good old days” it was ancient times. But I graduated from High School 19 years ago, and I remember my commencement and most of high school like it was yesterday. 19 years before I was born it was 1952. 19 years before I turned 10 was 1962. When I was 10 if someone talked about 1962 it was like the Mesozoic era or something. Kennedy was president. Men still wore hats. American cars were king. Gas was 22 cents a gallon. If you think about it, though, it wasn’t really that long ago. Even from today.

Funny story – I was at the playground with the family over the past Summer and there were a bunch of kids running around one of those small merry go rounds that you can spin and jump onto. They were pretending it was a time machine. One of the kids said, “If we spin it real fast we can go back to the Dinosaur ages – LIKE THE 1950s.” This kid was probably born no later than 1998 or 2000. [James' wife] and I had to laugh. I always said my parents were dinosaurs. My kids will say it about me.

And Neil wrote to mention the song "1985" by the band Bowling for Soup. Lyrics:

She hates time make it stop
When did Motley Crue become classic rock?
And when did Ozzy become an actor?
Please make this stop!
And bring back...

Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cause she's still preoccupied
With 1985

Network

So, there are all sorts of internet social networks. There was Friendster, which I got off long ago. I just didn't feel like logging in every day to do all the things I was getting e-mails saying I should do (friend someone, do this, do that, etc.). Then I got a MySpace account, since that was the new thing, especially for authors and musicians with something to promote, but I didn't have time to keep getting on and reading my mail and "friending" people (or whatever the MySpace version was) and bla bla, so I deleted that, too.

About two years ago, an old friend asked me to join LinkedIn, so I did. That was a mistake. Now I get emails from people saying, "Why haven't you updated your LinkedIn?" I have other things to do.

Plus, how many passwords and LogIn names can I really remember?

I'm just going to have to start Just Saying No to joining these things, because once I'm on, more and more people or groups find me and then I'm afraid they'll be insulted if I don't log in to resopnd, but there are just too many of them.

Recently, Lori invited me to sign up for GoodReads. It's a way to monitor and comment on what your friends are reading, and share what you are reading. It was nice of her. I signed up, but I haven't read any novels in quite a while, so now it's just a testament to my laziness. And I've been getting emails from some nice people asking me to add them to my links, but I don't even remember what my password was when I signed up for GoodReads. So now they'll be offended and think I don't like them, when really, I just don't feel like trying to fish for my lost password.

Yes, yes, I know. None of these are real problems, and I'm whining. But that's what blogs are for!! Kvetching!

Just for fun

1. Time waster

How many boys' names can you come up with that are three letters and have only one consonant?

Joe
Eli
Abe
Ian
Ali
Uri
Ari

2. Just a thought

In the 1970s, there used to be these bumper stickers on small cars that said, "Don't laugh. It's paid for." And I used to think, "That's why we're laughing."

3. Someday

I should post something about how I refuse to get old. I can be mature and responsible, even wiser. But not old.

One part of this is, I refuse to believe that the "80s" can ever be considered part of the "good old days." And even if today's teenagers consider (for example) Duran Duran an oldies group, I will not believe that I am old because I hit puberty at such a glorious, golden era in pop culture. "Good old days" will always signify the FIFTIES. Period. The '80s are reminisce-able and nostalgic, but not "old days." Teens today like the '80s because of the pop culture. But not because they were quaint, like the fifties always seemed.

I remember sitting in my great-aunt's old house in the 1970s and listening to stories of the good old days, when families would have seven siblings and they'd all sit around the radio, that sort of thing. Yes, those are old days. Not the '80s. It just should never, and will never, count.

Bars...yecchhhh

If anyone out there thinks single life in NYC is glamorous, read this girl's blog entry.

I'm not taking a side. I think there was rudeness all around. I'm just glad the hubby and I don't like bars.

Ladies and gi'nts....

The NY (but really NJ ;) Giants are going to the Super Bowl! Holy cow!

Even certain people who can't tell a football from a bowling ball know about it.

Yay!

News of the day

My hubby was kind enough to pass along this very relevant news item from USA Today. Guess what kind of dog is gaining popularity?

It's a...

Drooly...
Jowly...
Pig-like...
Fat...
Messy...

English bulldog!!

I think they're adorrrrrable. BUT I don't think it's a good thing that they are so popular. They have health problems and short lifespans, and people will spend $1,500 on a bulldog instead of adopting a shelter dog. Yes, they are cute (in an ugly sort of way, of course). But...buy a shelter dog.

Now back to our regularly scheduled weirdness. (Oh wait, this is part of that.)

On another note, someone suggested that the reason I dreamed about Boris Yeltsin is because of all the politics that have been in the news in the last week, like Bill and Hillary. Well, maybe. Who knows, comrade?

Dreams

I haven't posted in a while. What can I post about? How about dreams. The kind you have at night. The fact that even though I have a wonderful, adorable hubby, last night I had a dream in which I was at some fancy party, and Boris Yeltsin for some reason came up to me and asked me on a date! Sorry, but I don't think I was very interested. I don't remember what happened next, and I don't remember anything else from the dream.

All this confirms is that my dreams are pretty useless and weird (although I have gotten some ideas for novels out of them).

I swear, I have never thought of Boris Yeltsin in a romantic way. Actually, I haven't thought much about him at all. I don't know what he was doing in my dream.

When I was a kid, I started writing down my dreams. I wanted to see if I was psychic. I wrote down my dreams, but they amounted to nothing. Sometimes, they stemmed from an unfinished throught I'd had during the day...but they never predicted anything.

One thing I found was that the more I wrote down my dreams, the better I became at remembering what I'd dreampt about upon waking up. I have found this to be true; other people have written about that.

But never did I predict any world event with my dreams.

So, I am not attributing any significance to Boris Yeltsin happening to appear in my dream. And I did not go on a date with him. I don't know why he asked. I'm married, after all.

Just say nyet!

Update

Blogfan Sam writes:

I think you're right about useless dreams. I make it a point to remember details of dreams, even though it is rarely helpful. Last night I had a pleasant little dream of a Christmas morning with family. I got some cool little gifts, but gee, it's already Jan 15th. A little late for Christmas dreams. But it produced an interesting idea for office gifts for next Christmas.

Lori's waffles

I know a few people who are great writers, but rarely write.

For instance, there's my friend Jodi, who updates her blog about three times a year. But those are really good entries!

There's my college friend Regina, whom I can't link to because she doesn't have a blog (as far as I know), although I keep telling her to try out for TVSquad.

But now, at last, Lori from high school has a blog. She writes:

"Ta-daaa! My very silly blog:http://applause4breakfast.blogspot.com/Enjoy! Or not. Totally up to you.-Lori"

Every day, you can see what she had for breakfast. Mmm!

Monday got you down?

Cute puppy!!!

Breaking news!!!

My friend saw a cute bunny at a zoo.

Movie review

The Hubby and I rented "Superbad." How was it? Well, just look at the last syllable of the movie's name.

Weather

It's cold.

Why watch cnn.com when you can get news, entertainment, and weather, all in one convenient blog?