The Village

I finally saw M. Knight Shyamalan's The Village.
creepy...And it even gets creepier as the movie goes on!
I DID like it better than The Signs.
His movies are very thought provoking, so for my family I do not recommend this movie as that none of you chose to be thought povoked when watching a movie; you all chose to just be entertained.

All This Rain & Not Enough Snow

Our weather forecasters, here in the Pacific Northwest, say though we've had lots of rain, that our snow cap is still short of normal by 33% or more. That the snow we are getting is too powdery & thus isn't giving us the necessary thick cap we need to sustain us through the summer.

Building Postage Stamp Style Homes

I cannot believe it!
The property adjacent to me has put in two 2-story homes on the yard property; the house & it's shed are still intact!
Not only that, they are both already sold!
I can only hope they don't have dogs or children, because there is no yard to speak of!
I cannot believe the homes they are selling these days on postage size lots!

The Last Dive

I had read Shadow Divers just recently; about the dive wreck divers working with John Chatterton who found a German U-boat 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey & until they were able to prove the number of the boat, called it the U-Who.
Well there was a Father-Son Dive team that had dived with them on 2 occasions and the last took their lives.
The Last Dive tells the story of Chris and son Chrissy Rouse.
This book is written by Bernie Chowdhury who was also a diver on many occasions with the Rouse's and John Chatterton. Bernie adds some of his experiences, as well as, his accident with not decompressing and getting the bends in which he was AirVac'd via the Coast Guard to a hospital with a decompression tank.
This book has all the mystery and thrills of deep wreck diving and cave diving and you don't have to decompress afterwards!

Wonderfully Rainy Rabbit Day!

Unfortunately for the little Easter Bunny celebrants it is raining up here in the Pacific Northwest, has been continually throughout the weekend.
Glad it is though because we really need it!
It had been so dry for so long folks were worried we'd be in a drought situation and have to ration water on odd/even days to water our lawns and wash our cars!
I suppose the Easter Egg hunts are being performed indoors and I hope the little tots and their parents enjoy their celebration anyway!

Mary-Kay's New Microdermabrsion Kit

It is interesting that I contacted my Mary-Kay representative about the Microdermabrasion kit before it was available!
They became available on the 10th of this month and I pre-ordered it.
I am so glad I got it because it is easy to use and works like a gem!
L'Oreal's can only be used in the AM where Mary-Kay's can be used anytime and where L'Oreal's 2nd step is only an SPF 5 lotion, Mary-Kay's is nourisher that feeds the skin with rich anti-oxidants, a 3 tea-complex.
You may decide to try a Microdermabrasion for yourself and if you do I recommend Mary-Kay's.

SPAM

I am sick to death of SPAM!
The worst is the offensive stuff,
not the Viagra, I could care less if these
stupid marketers know if I am male of female.
What really gets me are these stupid
Christian Dating ones!
I mean! How rotten do you have to be to think everyone believes the way you do!
There are other religions out there!
I am so offended that they would assume everyone is Christian!
Let's get over this!

Myself and Then Some

I just finished Lauren Bacall's book Myself and Then Some. She wrote the body of the book some twenty-seven years ago and reprint it with the addition title "And Then Some" this year.
I loved it! I have to say out of all the Autobiographies I have read and there have been plenty, this was the finest.
I learned more about her and her theatre work and film work, besides friends and loves.
A very good book for one who enjoys learning about the Silverscreen era and those who are still around to talk about it!

Movie Review

I got a chance to see "Connie & Carla" & "Troy."
Connie & Carla is just cute! Silly, fun with all the tricks! If you need to smile & just have fun then this movie will do it! Just plain fun!
Troy was good, not Great, but Good! I felt the soundtrack over-ran the voice track in several areas and found the thrumming to be recognizable from the soundtrack of a Biblical movie, maybe Ten Commandments.
I remember doing a version of this in theatre in College and to see it done on film is great. The movie didn't delve as deep as I would have liked, yet had it we would have really gotten into the depths of the Iliad for which it was used for the lines of the film.
The one-on-one sword fights were best!

My Local Veteran's Park

Here I am a Veteran & I had never been to my local Veteran's Park. Of course I have only lived in this area for two years.
I was very impressed with this small yet cozy piece of land donated to the city on the understanding it only be used as a park.
There is a huge marble sign engaging the visitor's eyes that this is the Veteran's Park and that of course means ALL Veteran's. It has the brass seal for all five military departments. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force & Coast Guard.
On four short walls encircling this marble cast are stamped bricks with the names of various Veterans and there service, time & war(s). Some are Bricks labeling a group or organization. My VFW District has a Brick and so does my Military Order of The Cootie Pup Tent 1.
There are many from WWI & WWII and there is a special area that are bricks for our heros of today returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
As I walked through this area, accompanied by my VFW District Commander, I found myself walking memory lane on my own experiences during Bosnia & Kosovo. The Missions, the Friends & experiences for good and bad.
I'm glad there is a place like this for all to take their own walk down memory land. We should never forget, as we say in the VFW: All Gave Some, Some Gave All. They should not be forgotten & the community needs to know the cost of Freedom, because Freedom isn't FREE!

Malaysian Grand Prix

It was a Hot day for the GP race!
Boy did the tyre ruling become a problem!
Kimi Raikonen learned that first hand when his right rear tyre blew shooting chunks of rubber along the track to cause further troubles for other racers.
This FIA rule sucks! Along with the others!
Well with Alonso in his Renault, taking the win; he certainly will have an outstanding homecoming in Spain for the next race! He is considered a National Hero too! Alonso is also the youngest racer and is 13 years younger than the oldest racer this season, being Michael Schumacher, who came in 7th.
With a total of 3 pit-stops, one for the blown tyre, Kimi Raikonen still made it into the points by finishing 9th.
Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher are bringing Toyota's name onto the scene, having finished in the points categories and Jarno in Second place!
With the tyre ruling issue, who else but me is looking at the fact that all tyres used , less Michael Schumacher on Bridgestones, were using Michellins!

My Best Friend's Birthday!

Tomorrow is my Best Friend's Birthday and I so hope she has a Wonderful Day!
There is something so special about this one day in the year because it is entirely centered on YOU!
How cool is That!
In Italy, each day of the year has a Saint afixed to it and many chose one of those days as well, usually because their names are the same. They then celebrate is as their NAME Day!
So they have found a way to celebrate their life twice a year!
I think we all need to feel special and celebrate is!
Cindy, the Malaysian GP may be tomorrow, but you will certainly be on my mind!
Happy Birthday!

The Weaker SEX We Aren't!

I cannot believe that in this day and age the term of women being the weaker Sex is still at large!
For those of you who think this way just remeber this:
Ginger Rogers did EVERYTHING Fred Astair did and she did it backwards and in heels!
Get over yourselves men!
We can even procreate without you by going to a sperm bank.
You are wearing us thin on your massive ego trips.

So Scott Peterson gets Death & Blake gets CLEARED!

No surprise for most of us that have suffered through at least one man in their life that was a Sociopath.
The funny thing is Blake getting off. I can't say I followed the full length of the ordeal, but after O.J.,
I thought our society learned something.
Maybe he should be cleared! I am happy about Scott's verdict though!
What are your thoughts?

Spring IS on the horizon!

Nothing like the smell of the first cut grass of the season to make you realize Spring is on the horizon!
The flowers are beginning to bloom and there is the promise of new life in the air!

Letter From My Congressman

That's right folks!
I feel special and pleased that my Oregon Congressman (Dem) David Wu-whom I DID vote for-replied to my letters-note the plural!-regarding Bush's plans to reduce the budgeting for the VA.
Not only am I happy to know he is not in favor of this plan, I am so happy his office took the time to explain, in detail, this proposal and their intentions on failing it.
Write your polititions if you have a gripe!
You'll find out quickly if they deserved your vote!
David Wu deserved mine and I am happy to note he is serving his state by having the same visions we have!

The Good Earth

I just finished reading "The Good Earth" written by Nobel laureate Pearl S. Buck.
What an outstanding book that fills you with the tempo of pre-revolutionary China and its culture.
Boy if any housewife wants to feel better about her own life, she should read this book!
The woman are considered slaves and you certainly wouldn't want to shame your husband by giving birth to a slave!
The dramatic consequences the lead the main character to desire to own land is a truism to date.
It is hard for a thief to pocket land and take it away!
I highly recommend this book as a Very good read!

Acid Reflux & Aspirin

I don't have Acid Reflux, but I have had the chronic symptoms. I have read so many books on healthy eating and appropriate food supplements and vitamins that I found the little St. Joseph's Aspirin coming up time and again.
So I decided to put them into my daily supplement and vitamin regimen.
I found I had these acid reflus symptoms later in the evening, when lying down.
Recently I was reading my one and only magazine I subscribe to and read it religiously, Discover and found an article dealing with this subject. I found that, at my age and having no heart troubles or other health issues that needed the daily dose of Aspirin, that I was actually doing more harm than good!
Since I dropped the Aspirin from my daily regimen I have had very little if any of those symptoms.
I hope this information assists others!
You can find the article in Discover magazine, February 2005 issue, page 22 & 23.

Old Men & Their Need of Power

What is it about old guys & power?
It seems I am coming across this a lot!
Old Farts who were in position of authority & are not now, yet still stake claim on the power.
I am speaking of this from a VFW point of view.
I am female, younger by a generation or more & wasn't drafted to go to war, I chose to serve & there happened to be wars I served through and for.
Well..I am having a shakedown with one particular member of my VFW Post; mind you, I AM the Post Commander! That's right! These guys elected me Post Commander last year and yet this one guys is disrespectful.
The embarrassing thing was that he spouted of disrespectfully during a meeting with visitors from another Post!
So now other know what an A**hole he is too!
The Visiting Post Commander pulled me aside after the meeting and told me what he would have done. At 6.7 and 360 pounds and MALE;
I would have done the same, but I am young, newly retired from the Navy & FEMALE!
I don't want to piss this guy off and lose him as a member, I want him to learn a lesson and get on with it!
I felt I did right and at the next meeting I intend to apologize to the members for not having taken a stronger role of authority and I will let them know I plan to in the future.
I think this will let both them and the jerk know I will not tolerate this nonsense on my watch!
Everyone says this jerk is like this because he was Post Commander before me and just doesn't want to lose the power.
Why are these guys like this?
Are they that insecure?
They really do need to get a life!

Shadow Divers

I just read a great book titled - Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II - written by Robert Kurson.
I am not necessarily a WWII history buff, but I am a Scuba Diver & enjoy a good true story.
This book keeps you on the edge of your chair & seems to have limitless suspense.
I enjoyed the thoroughness of their painstaking research that finally lead them to name the U-boat they found, in 260 ft depth, 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey, at the first years of our new millennium.
I am now planning on reading further books, one on the Father, son team who had done a dive with Chatterton to the U-boat and unfortunately events took both of their lives.
History is still being found and rewritten and this book attests to the new discovers that are out there.

Angels In America

What a fantastic mini-series. No wonder it won 5 Golden Globes, 1 for Best Miniseries and the other 4 for best and best supporting actors and actresses!
I watched it completely through and was impressed with the with the scripting Mike Nichols did with the original play to create this miniseries.
The set designs and Ann Roth did a spectacular job with costuming.
A very though provoking yet entertaining work.

Movie Review

With Ocean's Twelve released on DVD and hoping to see it soon, I watched Ocean's Eleven. Having been a fan of the original Ocean's 11 with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., I hadn't really wanted to see this version.
I was interesting and of course changed to be relevant in our time, but the old Brat Pack spice just wasn't in it! Maybe because Clooney and company needed history to gain their own spice!
I am looking forward to seeing Ocean's Twelve and hope some of that spice between the characters was found. Good group of actors I might add.
I also saw Shattered Glass ;about Stephen Glass, the youngest Journalist who worked at The New Republic magazine and had the support of his colleagues. We find out his stories are fiction when a new Editor questions him on his latest piece. The fact-checking finds that there a holes in his work and as the story unravels we find this turns the tide and who we first believe this Stephen to be is not at all true.
What a surprising movie! It really makes you think and wonder.

Australian Grad Prix - Formula One Season Begins!

The first race of the season began with very new rules from FIA. As one team member said "Once a bubble, always a bubble!" There are NO Tyre changes allowed in F1 this year with only one exception of one tyre per team with no explanation and no penalty from FIA.
Also - The Engines are sealed by FIA and in 2 weeks these same engines have to qualify at the next race!
We all know this is to reduce the amount of Ferrari presence on the Grand Stand!
Giancarlo Fisichella held first position throughout the race with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello holding 2nd.
Fernando Alonso took, after holding through the race, 3rd. So it was a Renault - Ferrari - Renault finish!
David Coultard, with his Red Bull - the old Jaguar team - took 10th. We will see how Coultard and Red Bull will do together on their first season.
On the 15th from last lap, Michael Schumacher had engine trouble and with no assistance was finished for the race, he had come from last row to 10th place when he then had engine trouble.
This was a good first race and with no rain to trouble tyre changes, we will see what happens in 2 weeks at the Malaysian Grand Prix, it's high speed runs and tight turns will certainly be trouble with no tyre changes!

The Best New Book I have Read In Years!

Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II, by Robert Kurson, is the best read I have experienced in years!
I highly recommend it!
It has all the true items of a suspense Novel and yet is a true story!
Even if you have never dove into the ocean or wanted to. Even if you could care less about German U-boat Sailors.
This is a story of True care and Comradeship that goes beyond a lifetime and beyond borders!

Calendar Girls

What a simply cute movie about this true story!
They make me proud to call myself Woman!
To have utilized a little nudity with flare and style and then to find so many women who have had cancer felt a connection with these women.
Funny how we can connection to others and not know it!

Because of Winn-Dixie

Kate Dicamillo wrote this cute little Novel in 2001 & set it to interest 10-12 year old girls.
Having heard it was just made into a movie & one of my favorite musicians was playing the part of the clerk in Gerturde's Pet Shop-(Dave Matthews!), I had to check this book out!
It is a cute little book that you can read in a couple hours or less and is just delightful!
I think the best way to read it would've been in a hospital reading it to sick lilttle patients!
Bringing this little story to life on the screen means even more people will enjoy it! It is a lovely story about friends in all their varieties & how we all indeed have sad memories, but can still care & love.

Getting A Little More Rain

We are getting a little more rain!
I do hope the sky opens up and pours on us soon!

Little Things That Are Hard To Find In A Store

Have you ever noticed that there are little things you just can't live without and yet are difficult to find when you are shopping for them!
Well today I was looking, in a department type store, for a fingernail scrub brush. You know those silly little plastic brushes you use when you have been out working in the garden or on your car, to clean the crud out from under your fingernails.
I couldn't believe that I had such a difficult time finding one!
Just as I asked a clerk who asked another and they both shrugged their shoulders, I wondering into the grocery store and finally found it!
Is it me or are some of these things hard to find!