Upside Down Cats

Wondering what NaBloPoMo is? Read this to learn all about it and why (and how) I'm participating!

What a difference a  year makes - #4

2009: Had I known about this song, it would have become my theme song for the year.

2010: Today I'm sharing an apropos song by my new favorite band, The Weepies. We had the pleasure of seeing them in concert last Saturday night and since then I've been listening to a lot of their songs. I came across this one and it fits my NaBloPoMo theme to a "T" so I am sharing it today. It made me feel a couple things: less alone in the experience of feeling a black cloud was following me around and optimistic that, like a storm, it would indeed pass.

It's a tremendously powerful thing to hear your own emotions in music and lyrics. Music is a language of its own.

Listen to the Weepeis tell you how we felt in 2009.

Paul Newman was one of the first men of whom I took notice. He was everywhere during that time between Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting. Little prepubescent Gina was completely infatuated.

I was far too young to actually see those movies, but I certainly was aware of them - and their handsome stars! Several years later my friend Elaine and I watched Cool Hand Luke on TV one afternoon. We drooled over Paul like a couple, well, teenagers.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...it was the sparkle in his eye that did me in!

Continue reading "Paul And Me" »

Yesterday I was faced with a long, boring car ride to Ravinia, a not-so-local music venue to see - well, to be honest - hear the fabulously entertaining Lyle Lovett. Scott's brother and sister-in-law gave Scott tickets to the concert for his birthday, and we had a wonderful time. We thank them greatly for a beautiful evening.

But that car ride is interminable! Thankfully I was merely the passenger, so I made the best of my ample free time by planning the meals I plan to cook this week. Behold the fruits of my labors...



Italian Chicken "Stirfry" w/ Broccoli Florets & Red Peppers over Penne Pasta

Beef Kabobs w/ Red Peppers, Vidalia Onions & Cremini Mushrooms & Couscous w/ Garlic & Walnuts

Hot Dogs, French Fries & Mixed Greens Salad

Sub Sandwiches & Homemade Potato-Corn Chowder

Orange-Honey Glazed Mahi Mahi, Rice Pilaf w/ Toasted Almonds & Oven-Roasted Asparagus w/ Garlic

Biscuits & Sausage Gravy & Fresh Fruit Salad



Not a bad use of some spare time, huh?

George Carlin and I share a birthday - well, the day, not the year. That fact has always made me feel a special kinship with him, as fellow members of the May 12th Club. It's silly, I know, but I feel the same connection to Emilio Estevez, Katherine Hepburn, Yogi Berra, Burt Bacharach, Tom Snyder, Stephen Baldwin, Bruce Boxleitner, Billy Squier, Gabriel Byrne, our dear friend Stacy and, of course, Florence Nightingale. It never ceases to amaze me how much I have in common with each and every one of these intelligent, charming and talented people!

George has been among my favorite comedians - and public people - all my life. What a multi-faceted talent! His blend of sharp, insightful and fearless comedy makes me laugh and think simultaneously. He is responsible for a large part of my sense of humor and world view. It should come as no surprise that he appears on the guest list for my fantasy dinner party along with a plethora of other fascinating people.

Continue reading "George On My Mind" »

Friday was impromptu movie day at my home daycare. The children had seen a commercial for the movie E.T. all week on a station we watch regularly. They were enthralled by the commercial itself and asked if they could watch the movie when the network showed it. Unfortunately, it was going to be on at 7 P.M. which is after my daycare closes.

But hey! I have E.T. on videotape. Yes, videotape. I refuse to be ashamed of still watching the gazillion videos I own, so don't even start on calling me a technology dinosaur...

I was glad to be able to indulge the children's desire to see the movie during the course of the daycare day.

Continue reading "E.T. Revisited" »

I am usually a bit insecure about expressing my musical opinions. My Sweetie, Scott, at his blog, My Thermos, posts about music on a regular basis and with well-deserved confidence. As for myself, I lack the brand of conviction he possesses in his musical knowledge and taste.

The truth be known, I am probably every bit as opinionated as he when it comes to music...I just don't feel I have the "cred" to back it up, so I generally keep my mouth shut...

Today all that changes.

I have - for the first time in my life - mustered the nerve to proclaim my own choice for...

The Greatest Song Ever Written...

Continue reading "While My Ukulele Gently Weeps" »

Before we get any farther into the New Year, I would like to acknowledge some of the celebrities who passed away in 2007.

This is in no way a complete list of celebrity deaths...it is merely a list of those with whom I am familiar and will therefore miss at least a bit now that they are no longer here to entertain.

Since I am youngest in a large family, I was exposed to television and movies that were considerably before my time by my older siblings, parents and grandmother. I come from a family of TV and movie trivia buffs, too. These things must have rubbed off on me, explaining why so many of these older personalities are familiar to me.

I can't think of a better example to illustrate the depth of my trivial knowledge than the following list of deceased celebrities with whom I am familiar:

Continue reading "Farewell, Familiar Faces..." »

I am sad to be the bearer of this grim news, but the awful truth must be told...

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is dead.

Continue reading "Requiem For A Reindeer?" »

This is the next-to-last day of NaBloPoMo! I'm almost finished with my month of posts on the topic of things for which I am thankful. When I originally made my list of 30+ things for which I am thankful to blog about, today's was one of the first I committed to writing. Since I'm choosing my topics - for the most part - at random from that list, I've been looking for daily inspiration as to which one to choose. I've been waiting, and waiting, and waiting...I'd nearly given up on this one altogether!

I'm happy to say, however, that the inspiration arrived last night, from the unlikely source of Law and Order: Criminal Intent... It was just a snippet of a song, but it was exactly the example for which I'd been waiting!

I wanted to include a clip illustrating precisely what I mean when I say I am thankful for soulful saxophone!

Continue reading "There's Nothing Better Than Good Sax" »

Yesterday my NaBloPoMo offering discussed my relationship with my family. Before I wander too far from the subject of family, I want to include my favorite lady in the whole world in my list of things for which I am thankful. Here on day 27 of National Blog Posting Month, I'd be privileged to introduce you to my Grandma Bessie.

Continue reading "She Was Just Grand(ma)" »