asolang

Nice weather....who needs it?

2007-08-30T17:17:00.000-04:00

Afterall, there's actually some good tv on this summer!

Trying to get back in the swing of things with a T.V. post.

Thanks to TheBestInventionEver (known to some as TIVO) - I've caught up on some good summer tv this year. I'm still shocked that yes, there is good tv on this time of year. Not surprised to see that the best are all on cable channels. TV God forbid,

First up....

BURN NOTICE

Michael Westen, played the surprisingly charming Jeffrey Donovan, is a covert op spy guy who has been "burned" (hence the spiffy title) and basically cut off. The running theme of the season is spent figuring out who burned Michael and why they're setting him up, not to mention trying to get have him killed from time to time, while Mike spends his days as a do-gooder, using is spy guru techniques to help good people out of bad situations.

Overall, it's fun. It's not edge of your seat Jason Bourne action here, but it's a nice summer escape for an hour. Sassy humor dots the muted action scenes, but it's definitely worth taking a look at. I could do with the actress that plays Fiona, Michaels ex(?)girlfriend and fellow spy. But Sharon Gless plays his mom, and who doesn't miss a little Cagney and Lacey?!?

Thursday nights at 10 est, on USA, it'll be back September 13 after some little tennis competition is over.

MY BOYS

Anyone else a little in love with this show? Sure the sports metephors are WAY over done in each episode, but it's a funny show, so it's forgiven. I think the show gives a better look at real friendship than most of the shows that claim to do so - there's not all the huggy 'i'll always be here for you' moments...and frankly, for me, that's closer to real life. My friends and I are more likely to end a conversation with "Suck it up and stop being a douchebag" than anything else. Being true friends means you don't have to say it that often, ya just know. You call each other childish names and make fun of the mistakes we all make.... just like PJ and the boys.

Mondays at 10 on TBS

RESCUE ME

Ok, Denis Leary is freaking awesome, and if you didn't know that before Rescue Me, you should know it by now. It's in it's fourth season, crazier and better than ever. The drama, the smart assiness (yes, it's a word! to me!). The cast is doing more of their own stunts this year, and in last week's episode there was a single shot of a good five minute scene with tons of dialogue between Lou and Tommy, and I didn't realize it till after the fact that there were no cuts or edits for the entire segment. Not too many actors could pull that off, and not too many shows would dare to try it.

Wednesdays at 10 on FX. Denis Leary is oddly attractive to me, for some reason. Must be the biting cynicism.

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Not summer tv but THE OFFICE IS BACK IN LESS THAN A MONTH!!!!

Check out Give Me My Remote for fun office tidbits, including a wrap up of Season Three and a fabulous spoiler video released by NBC, summing up our favorite characters' summers.

K-9 Team

2007-08-27T22:16:00.000-04:00

So I finally bit the bullet (like it was so tough!) and became an offical K-9 Team Angel today. The wonderful Ms. Kassie sent the name of my official team - handler and mwd, Ethan and Kitti.

!!!!!!

I'm just a wee bit excited. I haven't had a dog of my own in quite some time and now I get to spoil an MWD! And Ethan, can't forget about the two-legged part of the team.

If anyone's adopted a K9 team and has any care package ideas, I'm open to suggestions.

Postcard Books

2007-08-26T13:12:00.001-04:00

One of the fun things we do with Soldiers' Angels is Postcard Books. The goal is collect at least one postcard from each of the states, usually with a message of support/thanks to send to our adoptees.

We're always looking for new ways to compile our cards and sharing ideas. Here is a little collective of different ideas from Angels on what they did to put together these awesome gifts for our Heroes. This will be updated when I get new ones to share:

Click on the thumbnails for the full version

Jane (billpayor1):

Marie (lilmuckieees_mum):

That was a bit of a hiatus

2007-08-26T12:30:00.000-04:00

It's only been.... oh, eight months. Oops!

The new job has kept me busy and I've been a busy Angel in the past few months thanks to the help of several churches in the area that have been doing donation drives for care packages.

We're gearing up for a big Christmas Donation drive, to fill stockings and care packages for our troops. Any local angels (southeast Michigan) that would like to help out, let me know and we'll get together to talk about it. We're planning a packing party with one of the Church groups toward the end of October. I have to order my SA hoody in the meantime! I'm calling it my uniform.

I promise I'll update on a more regular basis now. I swear!

2007

2006-12-24T18:20:00.000-05:00

2007 is already looking up!

Last week, I was offered that position with a new city that I've been salivating over for two months now. This is me - freaking ecstatic! I start January 3rd and am still a little amazed that I beat out 184 people for the job. Me! Unreal....I'm still walking on clouds over this. I'll have a job that I can actually enjoy going to and know that I'm not going to be shit on each and every day. I'll be compensated for my work like everyone else is, unlike where I'm currently at. I'll have HEALTH INSURANCE!

Mangement at my current place never quite understood the concept that it wasn't about the workload (I more than handled that), or the money (although I wasn't getting what I was supposed to, it's still decent money), or the people (I've learned that you can ignore anyone if you try hard enough). It all came down to the insurance. If I was to get sick and, God forbid, end up in the hospital without insurance I'd be in debt for the next 5 years.

I don't think I can begin to explain the amount of weight this has taken off my shoulders. Very few people know the impact this will have on not only my career, but my life overall.

HAPPY DANCE!

In Their Own Words

2006-12-09T22:52:00.000-05:00

This is part of an email I received from a soldier I had sent a letter to last week, and is the only way I can explain when people ask why I do it what I do for our soldiers:

I RECIEVED A LETTER FROM U IN THE MAIL, AND I WANTED TO WRITE U BACK AND EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION.. ITS VERY HUMBLING KNOWING THAT SOMEONE I HAVE NEVER MET, ALTHOUGH THRU 6 SIX DEGREES OF SEPERATION PROBABLY COULD, WOULD TAKE TIME OUT OF THIS FAST PACED WORLD WE LIVE IN TO WRITE ME A LETTER... I WANT TO THANK U, AND IM SURE BY NOW YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THESE SEEMINGLY LITTLE GESTURES MEAN TO SOLDIERS DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO.

I've saved every piece of correspondence I've ever received from any of my soldiers, and will start posting snippets of them here, to show those that maybe haven't taken the step to write and/or adopt a soldier why it is so worthwhile to do so.

So expect more in the near future.

A couple more while I'm here:

Well let me start out by saying thank you for being involved in the "Soldiers Angel's". You are doing more for our troops than you could ever imagine. You lend a friendly ear where there sometimes isn't. I commend you for what you are involved in.........Thank you all again from the bottom of my heart and God Bless each and everyone of you. Please keep up to great work.

------------------

Well, I enjoy helping out here buy you and my fellow supportive Americans are my main reason for being here. I will make a large frame with your card and the dozen or so others and I will hold on to it until I have a family so they can see it when they ask about Iraq and the U.S.

----------

I must start off by saying thank you. I thank you for the taking the time out of your busy schedule to correspond with a stranger thousands of miles away from home. Receiving mail while out here is kind of like getting a hug from your secret crush. As every day goes by you find yourself waiting and anticipating these moments. I don’t get much mail. My family loves me but they don’t exactly know how to show it, I guess. At mail call, I usually don’t stick around to see other people’s faces light up as their names are called but today I was the one issuing out the mail. There was a box and a letter. The box belong to someone else but the letter was mine, all mine; from you.

That, y'all, is why I do it.

Bread and Tennessee!

2006-11-26T14:41:00.000-05:00

I've been a blogger lately. With the holiday and some changes made at work, I've been busy and frankly, a little lazy with this place. I finally got some pictures back from the Tennessee/Wedding trip at the end of October, I'll throw some of those up here later today.

My charger for my laptop decided to just quit working and I had to spend 45 days on the phone with HP to get a new one. Or maybe it just seemed that long.

I recently became a mentor for Soldiers Angels and I'm super excited about that. I get to welcome lots of new angels to the (most addicting) program and help guide them along their way until they get settled in. I love sharing in that new angel joy and excitement, and it helps keep me motiviated to keep writing and sending and to stay all jazzed up about it. Sometimes we hit dry spells where we may not hear back from our official soldiers or anyone else for that matter, and the motivation to do it all starts to slip away. Then you get that one note or letter or email, or hear of another angel getting one and you get all geeked about it again.

My no-knead bread is ready to come out of the oven! Best bread ever!

UPDATE: This no-knead bread recipe (courtesy of Lotsofco) that has been sweeping the internet (the one that originated in the NYTimes is fan-freaking-tastic. So easy and the bread is AWESOME! The link is to his adapted version of it, and I'm in love with this bread. I've baked three loafs in four days and have another one rising as we speak. Addicted? Maybe just a little. Check it out:

And a few pictures from Tennessee:

They Have Names

2006-11-18T14:36:00.000-05:00

I've added a new link to the right that I stumbled across on SA New York's blog. It's They Have Names, and it stands as a reminder that for every single number and statistic we see on TV, there's a person, a life, and family behind that.

It's not easy to read. It's not easy to read some of their own words before their lives were lost, to hear from their families and friends stories about the type of men they were, to see their faces smiling and happy with their families - their families at home or their families in the desert. But read it. Each and everyone and revisit as it grows.

Remember them. Honor them.

Don't let them be just numbers.

Don't allow us to become numb to the idea that each and every day, American blood is shed and lives are lost. Whether you agree with the reasons they are there or not isn't the point.

They are there.

They are proud to be there.

They have names.

Updates

2006-11-17T18:46:00.000-05:00

Posting has become irregular again. Sorry about that. I'll try to be good from now on. Let's see...updates:

Soldier's Angels:

Getting in the full swing of the holiday time here. Actually I'm a little behind where I'd like to be, as far as getting things packed and mailed out. I have a box of stockings ready to go and bought a couple dozen small bags to stuff with goodies this weekend. I want to get them out soon so they're not late. I should be ok if I mail them next week, but I think I got spoiled with (what other angels said) was a really great year for military postal systems in 2005. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this year is the same way.

Work:

Moving to yet another new department starting Monday. I should say 'back' to a different department, as I'll be back where I started. I was told in that the department is a mess and they need me there to clean it all up. This is the third time they've done this to me in two years. And while they may try to disguise it as a compliment, it's not. It's a "here...we don't want to deal with this and everyone else will give us shit about it if we try moving them there so...you go!" Nice.

TV:

THE OFFICE! How awesome was Lazy Scranton? Classic Office. It was great to have the band back together. Finally! Jim and Pam finally reunited and not all is well. Some folks seem to be upset about the way this is playing out, but it's kept SO real that it's perfect. It's the first time it's felt like an actually documentary to me....in that the characters are doing things that real people do. Unlike the beet farm and Cousin Mose - while funny, not realistic. I heart this show. "This isn't even a stop watch. It's a digital thermometer." I've FINALLY convinced a couple of the folks at work to start watching it and they LOVE IT. And that makes me happy! I'll finally be able to make obscure references and have someone understand them. (See the previous post for a perfect example)

GREY'S ANATOMY! I missed the first twenty minutes or so (with the supersized Office being
on and all) so I'll have to re-watch it when it airs again tonight. I don't know if it's me or what but the show hasn't been so "MUST SEE" this season. Poor George and his daddy though...heartbreaking. I'm almost afraid to see how that's going to play out for our poor Georgie. Props to T.R. Knight for showing a million emotions without a single word when he had to tell his dad, or more accurately have Christina tell his dad, that he had cancer. Will Burke operate on his dad? Will the tremor cause a serious problem and major fallout? Will Burke finally be found out? Will McSteamy try to sleep with every female he sees? (I think we can safely answer that one with a yes)

Ok...so maybe I am drawn into it this season. Speaking of McSteamy, I know he's supposed to be the anti-mcdreamy, but if they want to make the character a long term thing, they need to give him a human side - more than just the hints that we've seen.

ok. I'm done obsessing about fictional people now.

At least here on this blog.

Afganastanannis

2006-11-14T22:45:00.000-05:00

Somewhere Michael Scott is planning another Casino Night. Just because he can.

Blankets of Hope

2006-11-11T12:27:00.000-05:00

Find out more about Blankets of Hope and how you can help here.

Many many thanks to fellow Soldier's Angel Shelley who is ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL and offered to pay shipping on these blankets so I could get them out to our wounded. Half were store-bought double-sided fleece, personalized with some iron-ons and things. The other half are no-sew tie blankets.

crossing fingers

2006-11-10T14:54:00.000-05:00

So I haven't mentioned it here too much, but my job is horrible.

Let me take that back - my job is not so bad, I actually enjoy the work. However, all the bullshit that surrounds the job makes it damn near unbearable at times. I'm not one of those "i don't like that my desk doesn't have a window" type gals, or "she looked at me funny AND took the last cup of coffee!" gals either. There's been a TON of things that I cant even begin to explain here without turning this post into a novel. Most of which, when I tell anyone about, garner a "what th the f@#k is going on in your office?!?" reaction from people that don't work there, and a "Why am I not surprised they're F@#*k*%g something else up?" from those that I do work with it.

Basically....I need to get out. Soon. It's to the point where things are so bad that it's affecting my life outside of work, and I won't have that.

Unfortunately, the Michigan job market is not at it's best right now. I've been sending out 20-40 resumes a month and haven't heard much back. Just about everyone I know looking for a job has experienced the same thing.

Anyway.... back to the crossing fingers part.

About a month ago, a friend of mine at work told me that her husband, a firefighter for another city (I work for a small municipality) had a job posting for a clerk and asked her to pass the information along to me.

First step was to go down, apply, and take a typing test. Only those that passed the typing test would move on. Typing is not a problem, and I passed their minimum requirement by 15 words per minute.

Next step was a written test. Everyone that applied and passed the typing test was to take the written test. 104 people took the written test.

I just got a letter in the mail saying that I was in the top 20 scores of the written test, so that means I get an interview!!!

*happy dance*

They'll give everyone a score at their interview, combine that with their test score, and the top five combined scores will then interview with the department head that the job opening is in.

So any good wishes/prayers would be much appreciated! I'm so bad at interviews but I want this SO bad I can taste it.

Christmas Card Drive for Wounded Soldiers Update

2006-11-05T19:36:00.000-05:00

We're up to 150 cards folks, with a few more weeks to go. Any takers? Leave a comment or drop me an email for more info.

Play Me Some Mountain Music

2006-10-17T19:37:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I leave for vacation. Heading to the Smokies for my brother's wedding on Saturday. I haven't been to Tennessee since I was a kid so I'm looking forward to it. I have my cooler and cds all ready to go for the long ride. I'll be staying just outside of Gatlinburg for the week, coming home and then turning around the next day to head to Ohio for the weekend.

I'll be passing right through Ohio to get back to the Land of the Hand, but I need the BESTEST FRIEND before I can go to Norwalk.

No blogging or light blogginf for the next week.

Holiday Card Drive for Wounded Soldiers

2006-10-15T15:41:00.000-04:00

More info HERE

Day One:

Don't you want to fill it up with lots of cards for our soldiers injured and away from home?

I did!!!

It's a start. Now I'll anxiously checking my mailbox everyday for more cards to add to it.

Total count: 12 cards.

FEELS SO GOOD!

2006-10-14T22:22:00.000-04:00

The Tigers are in the World Freaking Series.

Yeah....that feels damn good to say!

Collecting Holiday Cards for the Wounded

2006-10-14T09:45:00.000-04:00

There's never a ton of money lying around during the holidays, but this year's looking especially bleak. That doesn't match with my overpowering need to do something extra for our troops again this year. I won't be able to afford to put together any extra packages this year for anyone other than my officials, so the best way I could think of to help would be to offer my mailbox as a landing spot for christmas cards for the wounded if it's needed.

I have emails in to a few people about this. I haven't heard back yet but figured since the holidays are approaching so quickly it would be best to get started as soon as possible. So let's get writing angels! I plan on shipping whatever cards are recieved on December 1st. That gives us a month and a half to get as many cards together as we can. As soon as I get all the details straightened out, I'll post more info. Spread the word, we want to reach as many of our soldiers as possible. They all need our support of course....I know there's lots of card drives going on right now. But picture not alone being stuck away from home and your family for Christmas, but having been injured on top of that? Let's get writing angels! I picked up a box of cards yesterday, so we're ahead of the game with 25 cards for the wounded! Come on angels, they need our support!

Obviously I don't want to post my home address here on the site, and will be obtaining a p.o. box this week. I will update this post as soon as the new mailing address is available.

If you would like more info, email me or post in the comments and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Don't forget!

2006-10-13T19:26:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder to everyone:

Operation: Love from Home is still underway. Send in your christmas/holiday cards for our troops away from home.

His cappa was de-tated from his body!

2006-10-13T17:03:00.000-04:00

Last night's episode of The Office was, in my opinion, the best so far this season. It felt like a return to the past couple of seasons, jam-packed with the funnies and a million quotes. It was great to see Ryan have a little more focus during the grieving ball game thingy. His delivery of his 'story' was perfectly executed. "My cousin, Mufasa..."

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Over on ABC, as we expected, Meredith picked McDreamy. But now that Shepard's concerned about hurting Meredith again, will he allow her carry through with any sort of relationship with her?

The Addison/Meredith conversation was a nice touch, even if Meredith was higher than a kite.

Callie & George. Callie and McSteamy! Rawr! That was a nice little twist to the whole situation. If any female on this show can handle him and give him back as much as he dishes out, it's Callie.

Thoughts?

Glass Ballerinas & Gunfire

2006-10-12T14:46:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lacking of posts lately. I have a trip to Tennessee for my brother's wedding next week and I've been a busy bee getting everything ready for that. I'll be leaving Wednesday after work and hopefully able to drive straight through without needing too much sleep. It's only an 8 or 9 hour drive so I'm getting all my cds ready and packing lots of caffiene.

It's Thursday. That means The Office and Grey's are on tonight!

But last night....

It took me a minute to recall what exactly happened on last night's show. Since it was less than 24 hours ago, and this used to be my "water cooler" show, I'd say the show was kinda....'eh' again. I'm not sure what's missing, if it's the dividing up of all the original characters, or the complete lack of the majority of them. I love Sawyer (I'll take some Josh Holloway anytime) but the waiting till the third episode of the season to even show Locke, Hurley and the crew? Bleh. I still have high hopes for the season though. Especially since there's a rumor that Nathan Filion may make an appearance later in the season. Rawr.

THE NINE

I was hoping to not like this show, my tv-watching schedule didn't need any more additions. However, I can't help it. If you're looking for a show that's strictly plot driven (your "24" and such), I don't think this would be a great long term show for you. The mystery of what happened within those 52 hours in the bank will slow being revealed, sure...but I think the strength of this show is going to be the character development and the writer's making us root for each of them. The mysteries of the robbery can only last so long, and after that you're left with the characters that we've gotten to know - all of which have caught myinterest. Except for the DA chick...I'm not a fan of her for some reason. Was the chief of police lying to Nick about everyone's past? Yes Egan Foote had a gun, but how are we to know to if it was registered or not? Do we think that Franny had pills of E in her purse? Or are they using the obvious bonding between the nine against him, to keep him from speaking out against the Burea? And what's up with Bailey Salinger killing the robber at the hospital? Bailey! The show's scrumptious.

I was expecting a Best Buy on the other side of island

2006-10-05T17:41:00.000-04:00

Lost

Was it the greatest episode of Lost ever? Nah. Was the first five minutes kinda totally awesome? Absolutely.

I was a little confused in the very beginning, having mistaken the woman that turned out to be Juliette for first Jack's wife, then Desmond's girlfriend from the photo...but it all made sense after the reveal. Give me a break....it's been several months and I missed the recap show last week.

I'm interested in the ways the Jack, Kate and Sawyer are all being treated so differently. Also a a little disappointed to not see ANY of the rest of the castaways this show. Not even Hurley, hiking his way back to the camp. But I guess that'll be next week's show.

And what's up with the girl in the background?

Was that on the broadcast? Did I miss it or was it not shown?

(Go to abc.com to see the original....Number 33.)

A Tale of Two Cities

2006-10-04T19:04:00.000-04:00

It's Wednesday. That means Lost come back on for it's third season and all the questions!!! Where did Faux-Henry take the three main characters (well...main, in my opinion anyway). Why's Sawyer in a cage? Will Hurley tell the rest of the castaways that they were taken, even though he was told not to? Who, if anyone, will die this season? Will this be the year that Lost jumps the shark?

Let's hope not. Because really... a girl needs some Sawyer in her life.

Thursday Night TV

2006-09-30T23:26:00.000-04:00

Yeah I'm two days late (but can you really be two days late when this will be a new weekly feature?). Since it's my blog and my rules, I say, no, you can't. These won't be recaps, just me gushing about how much I love love love these shows and the characters and the drama - OH THE DRAMA!

So Thursday night is slightly ahead in Asolang's Favorite Night of TV race. All the other nights are so jealous! But really, how can it not be winning when there's The Office, Grey's Anatomy, ER (yes I still watch it!) and much much more!

Let's begin, shall we?

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The Office

Oh how I love me some Dundler-Mifflan. I have a confession to make - I've never seen the original BBC series. I know, I know....I deserve to be scolded for that. But I get some points back for being head over heels in love with this version though, right? The writing is beyond smart and the cast does BEYOND fantastic each and every week. Rain Wilson/Emmy Snub. That's all I'll say about that.

Anyway, this season's episodes.

This may seem odd after the above gushies about the show, but is it just me or is this season almost a little...sad? Not pathetic sad, but tug-at-your-heartstrings-sad? Is it the lack of Pam/Jim interaction? The lack of Jim/Dwight shenanigans? Or is something else missing? Maybe that's the intent - to keep us yearning so badly to get the band back together and have things the way they were. This episode seemed heavy into laying the groundwork for future episodes, moving the plot along type things. Which is fine, that's necessary from time to time. Perhaps laying the ground work for an eventual merger between the two branches? I'm not sure how that would play out, as I love the Office how it is, but a little shakeup with the "employees" probably couldn't hurt.

Speaking of sad things - poor Michael and his lack-o-party. Sitting in the room with the techno and blacklights.

And was it just me or was there a "p--" after Jim walked into Dwight's room and said "I gotta call p--someone." I didn't record the episode to go back and watch it again but I thought it was there. Any thoughts?

Highlights -

"Oh please let it be urine."

Fun jeans.
How much do I love the 'extra' cast members? "You're gonna have to put out." "Yeah, you're gonna have to put out."

Here's what I love about this show - even when it feels a little bit off, it's still one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. How can you not love a show that includes "Ain't no party like a Scranton party..." ??? LOVE IT!

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Grey's Anatomy

Oh Seattle Grace. Here's my thing with this show. I love the show, I love the storylines, love the heart and the drama and the comedic bits. Love it.

Not a fan of Meredith.

I heart McDreamy. Who doesn't have a crush on George? And Finn? And Bailey!

I know I'm not necessarily alone in that so I won't go into it. But let's move on....

George, I love ya, but what world do you live in to think that Meredith "I need to eat a cheeseburger" Grey's panties would fit Doctor "I'm a real woman!" Callie? The jealousy was cute though.

And Callie? How much do I love her? Seriously. I hope the writers let the George/Callie relationship go on for awhile. It's fun to watch and it's a nice parallel to Meredith and her non-relationships with Derek and Finn.

Sara Ramirez? She rocks. Fearlessly dancing in her underwear on a show with millions of viewers? That takes a lot.

Speaking of Derek....the non-kiss in the stairwell made my stomach knot in that good way.

Addison - I thought she was great and realistic this episode - finally coming to terms with her marriage and trying to drown it in anything she could get her hands on - but the freaking hat was driving me INSANE! I couldn't get around it and found myself all distracted during her scenes. Well...all but one scene that is....

If you had to judge strictly from that cap, it's like McDreamy and McSteamy had a McMoment.

I'm hoping Eric Dane (McSteamy) is around for at least a few more episodes. He heightens the drama and....really.... clothing shouldn't be an option for the man.

Oh, and this picture -

Totally makes me want Izzy/McDreamy to happen, or least flirt with the idea, down the line.

Highlights:

McSteamy literally surrounded by steam half-wearing a towel.
Derek's non-reaction reaction to the above.

I heart it all!

Bear Determined to Deficate in the Woods

2006-09-30T16:30:00.000-04:00

The Daily Show on the NIE.

Watch.

And on the Clinton interview.

Watch.

Good times. You gotta love this show.

Operation: Love from Home

2006-09-30T15:52:00.000-04:00

Don't forget that Operation: Love from Home officially kicks off today. Send in your cards and letters for our troops away from home for the holidays.

Scratches all down my back

2006-09-30T13:56:00.000-04:00

As much as I tried to avoid it, I can't help but love Buckcherry's "Crazy Bitch".

So Masculine...

2006-09-27T19:40:00.000-04:00

Michael Scofield and Jazz Hands....who'da thunk?

(via bestweekever.tv)

Catcalls!

2006-09-27T19:24:00.001-04:00

This is awesome.

On Notice....

2006-09-27T18:57:00.000-04:00

The Post is the only place I've seen this, and yeah it's Page Six and all, but assuming it is true...

Disgusting.

Whether you love, hate or even if you don't know who he is (which really is a shame, see some of the posts below), the fact that a writer from the New York Post - where you may recall in 2001 lost some of it's own employees due to actual anthrax through the mail - makes light of a situation like this is simply disgusting. Whatever issues Paula Froehlic may or may not have with Olbermann and his political views and commentary does not - DOES NOT - give her or anyone the right to laugh at a situation such as this.

Whether they gave him a lollipop on the way out isn't known.

Hilarious. Yes, her sarcasm just makes me giggle. Afterall, federal crimes are pure comedy gold! In case Ms. Froehlic needs a reminder - making threats through the mail is a federal crime. Not to mention the fact that anthrax letters - real or fake - are commonly recognized as a form of terrorism.

I won't even take issue with the fact she refers to his show as on-air schtik, we can agree to disagree on that. But let's put this is all into perspective.

This is a federal crime. There is no two ways about it. To make light of it in anyway or to poke fun at Olbermann's completely understandable and realistic reaction, there is no excuse for that.

Olbermann hits it dead on. Again.

2006-09-26T20:38:00.000-04:00

Read it. Then read it again. Put your political feelings aside for the shortest of moments and read it as someone with no agenda in either direction. Then watch it.

Watch it here . (via freakgirl)

And finally tonight, a Special Comment about President Clinton’s interview. The headlines about them are, of course, entirely wrong. It is not essential that a past President, bullied and sandbagged by a monkey posing as a newscaster, finally lashed back.

It is not important that the current President’s "portable public chorus" has described his predecessor’s tone as "crazed."

Our tone should be crazed. The nation’s freedoms are under assault by an administration whose policies can do us as much damage as Al-Qaeda; the nation’s "marketplace of ideas" is being poisoned, by a propaganda company so blatant that Tokyo Rose would’ve quit. Nonetheless.

The headline is this: Bill Clinton did what almost none of us have done, in five years. He has spoken the truth about 9/11, and the current presidential administration.

"At least I tried," he said of his own efforts to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. "That’s the difference in me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now. They had eight months to try; they did not try. I tried."

Thus in his supposed emeritus years, has Mr. Clinton taken forceful and triumphant action for honesty, and for us; action as vital and as courageous as any of his presidency; action as startling and as liberating, as any, by anyone, in these last five long years.

The Bush Administration did not try to get Osama Bin Laden before 9/11.

The Bush Administration ignored all the evidence gathered by its predecessors.

The Bush Administration did not understand the Daily Briefing entitled "Bin Laden Determined To Strike in U.S."

The Bush Administration… did… not… try.—

Moreover, for the last five years one month and two weeks, the current administration, and in particular the President, has been given the greatest "pass" for incompetence and malfeasance, in American history!

President Roosevelt was rightly blamed for ignoring the warning signs — some of them, 17 years old — before Pearl Harbor.

President Hoover was correctly blamed for — if not the Great Depression itself — then the disastrous economic steps he took in the immediate aftermath of the Stock Market Crash.

Even President Lincoln assumed some measure of responsibility for the Civil War — though talk of Southern secession had begun as early as 1832.

But not this President.

To hear him bleat and whine and bully at nearly every opportunity, one would think someone else had been President on September 11th, 2001 — or the nearly eight months that preceded it.

That hardly reflects the honesty nor manliness we expect of the Executive.

But if his own fitness to serve is of no true concern to him, perhaps we should simply sigh and keep our fingers crossed, until a grown-up takes the job three Januarys from now.

Except… for this:

After five years of skirting even the most inarguable of facts — that he was President on 9/11 and he must bear some responsibility for his, and our, unreadiness, Mr. Bush has now moved, unmistakably and without conscience or shame, towards re-writing history, and attempting to make the responsibility, entirely Mr. Clinton’s.

Of course he is not honest enough to do that directly.

As with all the other nefariousness and slime of this, our worst presidency since James Buchanan, he is having it done for him, by proxy.

Thus, the sandbag effort by Fox News, Friday afternoon.

Consider the timing: The very same weekend the National Intelligence Estimate would be released and show the Iraq war to be the fraudulent failure it is — not a check on terror, but fertilizer for it!

The kind of proof of incompetence, for which the administration and its hyenas at Fox need to find a diversion, in a scapegoat.

It was the kind of cheap trick which would get a journalist fired — but a propagandist, promoted:

Promise to talk of charity and generosity; but instead launch into the lies and distortions with which the Authoritarians among us attack the virtuous and reward the useless.

And don’t even be professional enough to assume the responsibility for the slanders yourself; blame your audience for "e-mailing" you the question.

Mr. Clinton responded as you have seen.

He told the great truth un-told… about this administration’s negligence, perhaps criminal negligence, about Bin Laden.

He was brave.

Then again, Chris Wallace might be braver still. Had I — in one moment surrendered all my credibility as a journalist — and been irredeemably humiliated, as was he, I would have gone home and started a new career selling seeds by mail.

The smearing by proxy, of course, did not begin Friday afternoon.

Disney was first to sell-out its corporate reputation, with "The Path to 9/11."

Of that company’s crimes against truth one needs to say little. Simply put: someone there enabled an Authoritarian zealot to belch out Mr. Bush’s new and improved history.

The basic plot-line was this: because he was distracted by the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Bill Clinton failed to prevent 9/11.

The most curious and in some ways the most infuriating aspect of this slapdash theory, is that the Right Wingers who have advocated it — who try to sneak it into our collective consciousness through entertainment, or who sandbag Mr. Clinton with it at news interviews — have simply skipped past its most glaring flaw.

Had it been true that Clinton had been distracted from the hunt for Bin Laden in 1998 because of the Lewinsky nonsense — why did these same people not applaud him for having bombed Bin Laden’s camps in Afghanistan and Sudan on August 20th of that year? For mentioning Bin Laden by name as he did so?

That day, Republican Senator Grams of Minnesota invoked the movie "Wag The Dog."

Republican Senator Coats of Indiana questioned Mr. Clinton’s judgment.

Republican Senator Ashcroft of Missouri — the future Attorney General — echoed Coats.

Even Republican Senator Arlen Specter questioned the timing.

And of course, were it true Clinton had been "distracted" by the Lewinsky witch-hunt — who on earth conducted the Lewinsky witch-hunt? Who turned the political discourse of this nation on its head for two years?

Who corrupted the political media?

Who made it impossible for us to even bring back on the air, the counter-terrorism analysts like Dr. Richard Haass, and James Dunegan, who had warned, at this very hour, on this very network, in early 1998, of cells from the Middle East who sought to attack us, here?

Who preempted them… in order to strangle us with the trivia that was… "All Monica All The Time"?

Who… distracted whom?

This is, of course, where — as is inevitable — Mr. Bush and his henchmen prove not quite as smart as they think they are.

The full responsibility for 9/11 is obviously shared by three administrations, possibly four.

But, Mr. Bush, if you are now trying to convince us by proxy that it’s all about the distractions of 1998 and 1999, then you will have to face a startling fact that your minions may have hidden from you.

The distractions of 1998 and 1999, Mr. Bush, were carefully manufactured, and lovingly executed, not by Bill Clinton… but by the same people who got you… elected President.

Thus instead of some commendable acknowledgment that you were even in office on 9/11 and the lost months before it… we have your sleazy and sloppy rewriting of history, designed by somebody who evidently redd the Orwell playbook too quickly.

Thus instead of some explanation for the inertia of your first eight months in office, we are told that you have kept us "safe" ever since — a statement that might range anywhere from Zero, to One Hundred Percent, true.

We have nothing but your word, and your word has long since ceased to mean anything.

And, of course, the one time you have ever given us specifics about what you have kept us safe from, Mr. Bush — you got the name of the supposedly targeted Tower in Los Angeles… wrong.

Thus was it left for the previous President to say what so many of us have felt; what so many of us have given you a pass for in the months and even the years after the attack:

You did not try.

You ignored the evidence gathered by your predecessor.

You ignored the evidence gathered by your own people.

Then, you blamed your predecessor.

That would be the textbook definition… Sir, of cowardice.

To enforce the lies of the present, it is necessary to erase the truths of the past.

That was one of the great mechanical realities Eric Blair — writing as George Orwell — gave us in the novel "1984."

The great philosophical reality he gave us, Mr. Bush, may sound as familiar to you, as it has lately begun to sound familiar to me.

"The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power…

"Power is not a means; it is an end.

"One does not establish a dictatorship to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.

"The object of persecution, is persecution. The object of torture, is torture. The object of power… is power."

Earlier last Friday afternoon, before the Fox ambush, speaking in the far different context of the closing session of his remarkable Global Initiative, Mr. Clinton quoted Abraham Lincoln’s State of the Union address from 1862.

"We must disenthrall ourselves."

Mr. Clinton did not quote the rest of Mr. Lincoln’s sentence. He might well have.

"We must disenthrall ourselves — and then… we shall save our country."

And so has Mr. Clinton helped us to disenthrall ourselves, and perhaps enabled us, even at this late and bleak date… to save… our… country.

—

The "free pass" has been withdrawn, Mr. Bush…

You did not act to prevent 9/11.

We do not know what you have done, to prevent another 9/11.

You have failed us — then leveraged that failure, to justify a purposeless war in Iraq which will have, all too soon, claimed more American lives than did 9/11.

You have failed us anew in Afghanistan.

And you have now tried to hide your failures, by blaming your predecessor.

And now you exploit your failure, to rationalize brazen torture — which doesn’t work anyway; which only condemns our soldiers to water-boarding; which only humiliates our country further in the world; and which no true American would ever condone, let alone advocate.And there it is, sir:

Are yours the actions of a true American?

I’m K.O., good night, and good luck

That's What She Said...

2006-09-20T22:19:00.000-04:00

The Office starts anew tomorrow night. Happy dance!!

Officially moved...

2006-09-19T21:06:00.000-04:00

So I've been extra quiet around here lately. I moved into a new place this weekend and am still sorting through everything. Still getting settled in and searching for through boxes for things I need but other than that, it wasn't too bad of a move. No arguing, limited stress (as limited as moving can be, that is) and I didn't get any paint on the new carpet!

No one has any idea how big of a victory that last one is for me!

My New Boyfriend

2006-09-13T16:09:00.000-04:00

I've made it a point to stay away from the political side of ...well, everything here and in other places surrounding my Soldiers' Angels activities. Mainly because there are A LOT of people involved that love Bush and think everything his administration is done is right and well...

I don't.

Keith Olbermann has said it better than I ever could. Read this. I played the video as I read along and found myself wanting to marry Keith Olbermann by the time he was through.

(Link via Freakgirl)

When I tell people that I'm involved in Soldiers Angels, they usually assume (most incorrectly) that I'm a big republican supporter or lean toward the right, etc.

Again I'll say, I don't.

I can do both. I can disagree with SO SO MUCH of the actions and words of our government while sending out care packages and writing letters to deployed troops. I can do both and know that I'm not being hypocritical or playing both sides or any of the other nonsense that I've heard.

I can do both. And I do both proudly.

See we get to live in a place where it's ok to disagree with your government. It's ok to voice your opinion in opposition and it's ok to yell it from the mountaintops if you want.

That's the beauty of it all.

I'm going to stop before a full on political rant comes pouring out now. Like I said above, I've tried to stay away from that aspect of things and I won't start now, but I had to share this video.

Today....

2006-09-11T21:42:00.000-04:00

I'm not going to do a big post about today, what it means to me, how I feel a bout it, the effect it's had on the world, on my world....

There's plenty of people that have said anything that I would say in far more poetic and moving ways.

Besides...there's not enough words in the world. Not enough.

Talk about having a good attitude...

2006-09-10T18:53:00.000-04:00

It's nice to see that there are still people out there today that aren't willing to sit in the corner and sulk and feel endlessly sorry for themselves when something bad happens.

Jilted Bride Turns Reception into Charity Event.

Kudos to her.

Eleven in years in the making...

2006-09-10T17:40:00.000-04:00

Tuesday. New Bob Seger Album.

This is me, ecstatic!

785th MP Batallion

2006-09-10T15:57:00.000-04:00

I never got around to posting this last month, but I guess it's better late than never...especially considering it's about some of our boys (and girls!) returning home after 14 months! The 785th MP batallion returned home to their Reserve Center in Fraser, Michigan.

(I stole this pic from the local paper)

It's always wonderful to hear about our soldiers returning home to their families, and it's sweeter when you know their 'local boys' too. Working for the city I had the honor of having two of the 785th come into my work about a week after they got home to pick up the support banner we've had up since the day they left, and I was such an honor to be able to personally thank them, face to face, for their service. We chatted about how I accidently stumbled upon one of the officers on anysoldier.com, not realizing that he was from Fraser's 785th until we had written a few times. I mentioned that I'd sent a couple boxes of goodies and some local items (local newspapers, postcards of Michigan sporting stuff, Superbowl memoribilia, etc.) and they both got all excited and gave me a big "THAT WAS YOU?!? I couldn't believe that out of all them, these two standing on the other side of my counter had actually saw what I'd sent, much less remembered it. When they started mentioning specifics (including the picture of their support banner we had hanging outside, with a ton of snow under it and they talked about how they all agreed it was the one thing they didn't miss while being there - shoveling show) that I got all geeked out and realized how much it really does make a difference to send just a few small cards and letters. From my little mail box to Iraq and back again...

Crazy, huh?

Macomb Daily Return Story"

I knew this would happen!

2006-09-10T11:11:00.000-04:00

I said from the beginning I'd be really really bad at updating and sure enough, here I am writing the obligatory "hey...sorry about disappearing for months" post.

Sorry about all that, and whatnot.

Life's been hectic lately, to put it mildly and this area of my life (that being the computer/online aspect of it) got pushed to the back burner. Basically off the stove.

But I'm going to make a true attempt to get better at updating regularly - boring you all to tears with the mundane stories of my life. But don't worry! I'll be sure to sprinkle in some of the tales of my awesome AWESOME experiences through Soldier's Angels and the great people I've met through that. You'll be bored to tears by the time I'm done with you. Promise!

Sunday

2006-04-09T16:38:00.001-04:00

Sunday already...I don't like it! That means I have go back to work tomorrow and that... that's never a good thing.

TheBestFriend had surgery on Friday to have her galbladder taken out. What should have been a routine surgery has gotten complicated and she will have to have another surgery on Monday to stop some bleeding inside. At first the doctors thought it was bile leaking but after poking and prodding her with needles, they found out it was blood. They did some tests today and since they can't find where she's bleeding from, they have to go back in and look for it. She's very nervous, understandabley so.

Please say a few extra prayers for her, if you wouldn't mind. I know she could use them.

B.O.H.

2006-04-08T20:48:00.000-04:00

I promised myself when I started this that it wasn't going to be all posts about Soldiers Angels, but that seems that the majority of my posts have been about the subject. What can I say? I'm addicted. Plus, it's one of the few positives I have going right now... so shoosh.

I've been on a blanket-making spree the past few weeks, for the wounded. Soldiers wounded in Iraq of Afghanistan are usually medVAC'd to Germany for treatment before coming home, with nothing but their torn up and often bloody uniforms. Now some of them will get backpacks when they arrive, filled with necessities (toiletries, phone card, etc.) and a "Blanket of Hope" specially handmade by an Angel that's just for them. I'll snap some pics and throw them up later before I package them up to be shipped out.

Heart-wrenching

2006-04-05T19:17:00.000-04:00

Shocking. Just give me a minute to gather myself here and get over my surprise.

On My Own....

2006-04-02T18:27:00.000-04:00

TheBestFriend and I went to see Les Miserables yesterday at the Fisher, and once again I've fallen in love with this story. It was required reading in my French class in high school, and not something I probably would've picked up otherwise. I'm glad I did.

The performances were wonderful, the music was fantastic, and of course, the story. Jean ValJean and Cosette, Cosette and Marius, Marius and Eponine... poor little Gavroche... Sigh.

I love it.

Ok...

2006-03-30T21:11:00.000-05:00

So I haven't been great at posting much of anything here (already). I know. I get it. I'm a horrible person and deserve time out. I get it.

Life's been... messy lately.

I'm getting screwed over at work on a daily basis and there's not much I can do about it. I've been looking for a job with comparable pay but there's very little opportunity for employment out there right now. Being in the Detroit area, with all the layoffs from the Big Three, everyone's looking for work.

Myself included.

Let me back up by saying that I like my job - or rather, I like the work. I enjoy it. It's all the hoopla and bullshit that surround that I can't stand. I work for a local municipality, and while they'll all claim it doesn't, politics (or more appropriately, politicians) play into every decision made.

I'm tired of being told that there's no money to hire me full-time, officially, and give me the benefits (I need health insurance people!) that EVERYONE else is getting, while they expect me to still work full-time and let them screw me over.

But what to do? File a grievance with the union when no grievance we've EVER filed has gone our way? File a grievance and get shit on even more from management for making a fuss and taking it up the ass quietly like a good little employee?

My immediate supervisor told me today that he is quitting. He's gotten another job offer, accepted it, and gave his notice.

You have no idea how badly I wish I could follow him out that door.

I want to work, I like to work. I don't know how people can stand sitting around doing nothing all day. I guess I don't have the typical 'union mentality' that the laborers all say I should have. Maybe it's because I'm not a laborer. I'm clerical, and working my ass off for a city that doesn't think it's necessary to have even a single fulltime Building Dept clerk, DURING THE SUMMER. Height of construction season. I was ready to scream all less summer becuase it's an impossible task - having EVERY SINGLE THING cross my desk. A year ago, they had two full-time clerks in my department. Now, they won't even hire one.

But I'm not supposed to be angry or upset or feel cheated by this.

How do I want it to work out? Mid-June, our busiest time, on a Monday morning - our busiest day of the week - I'd like to just walk out.

Just leave.

No warning. No hints.

Just me. Gone.

But then again...I guess that doesn't make me different from anyone else.

In news shocking to no one...

2006-03-27T18:09:00.000-05:00

How is he not dead yet?

What makes it all worth it...

2006-03-27T17:56:00.000-05:00

I received an email today from soldier named Travis. There are times when we may go for two or three weeks, sometimes two or three months, without hearing from anyone and even though we know we're doing something good just be writing, it can be discouraging after awhile when you hear nothing from anyone.

Then somedays you open your inbox to see an unfamiliar name and the short message you see is enough to make you sit down and write a thousand more letters. The line was short, and it may not have even thought much of it, but it's the simplest words that sometimes get to us the most:

"It was truly emotional to recieve such a response from you."

He went on to talk more about himself, but that one little line gave me more motivation that anything else he could've said.

Thank you Travis.

Writing to our troops...

2006-03-26T17:10:00.001-05:00

Join the Soldiers Angels Letter Writing Team
It will cost you nothing more than a 39 cent stamp. I have to dig out my folder, but eventually I'll be adding bits and pieces of letters I've received from soldiers. Nothing makes me want to write more than a little note saying 'thank you' sent from the Sandbox.

Operation Beef Jerky

2006-03-26T16:44:00.000-05:00

Operation Beef Jerky has been enacted by the House of Jerky to raise $10,000 for the Soldier's Angels Foundation. For every pound of jerky purchased through the www.houseofjerky.net/SA fund site, House of Jerky will donate $10 to help the Soldiers' Angels Foundation continue to provide the love and support our armed forces desperately need.

Soldiers' Angels Foundation is a not for profit organization that is dedicated to ensuring that our military know they are loved and supported during and after their deployment into harms way. With the donations by House of Jerky, Soldiers Angels will be able to continue to provide aid and support not only to our military heros, but also their families. Projects like Blankets of Hope that provides homemade blankets given with love to wounded heroes and Armor Up hich provides Kevlar blankets for under supplied troops are examples of the many beneficial Soldiers Angels projects..

Join Operation Beef Jerky and help House of Jerky support our troops, purchase jerky for yourself, or purchase jerky for any soldier with free shipping to APO addresses. .House of Jerky, the best jerky in any house, is one of our troops most requested items. Go to www.houseofjerky.net/SA fund site today or call (812) 624-0186.

Deployed Family Support

2006-03-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

We have a new team at Soldiers' Angels, geared toward helping the families of the deployed.
Soldiers' Angels"DEPLOYED FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP"

MISSION STATEMENT

Deployment is not only difficult on the soldiers; it is incredibly difficult on the soldier's families. It affects the whole family and friends of the family as well. Although many families have great support systems in place, there are too many families that are not as fortunate. We have identified a need to provide a network of assistance to those who do not know where to turn or who to turn to.Soldiers' Angels has created a project called "Deployed Family Support Group." This team will provide TLC to all family members; (i.e., wives, husbands, girlfriends/boyfriends, significant others, and/or friends) in need of encouragement and support. Support will be provided primarily through E-Mail and electronic communications. Taking care of family members who have been left behind by their deployed loved one is just one small way Soldiers' Angels demonstrates our gratitude for the sacrifices families are making, not only for us, but for future generations as well.

If you know a family member that you feel might benefit from the support of an angel from the "Deployed Family Support Group" please submit their name(s) to Renee Jurgensen at familysupport@soldiersangels.org or deployedfamilysupport@gmail.com .Or you can discuss “Deployed Family Support Group” first with family members, friends, or even our military heroes and have them contact Renee at threejarr@yahoo.com if they would like to sign up for the extra support and TLC that the Deployed Family Support Group provides

Give me a break...

2006-03-23T18:02:00.000-05:00

Seriously?

Seriously?!?

I keep waiting for Ron White to jump out. "Drunk in PubLIC. No, I was drunk IN A BAR."

But what will it be?!?

2006-03-22T18:38:00.000-05:00

What will it be? Who knows...

A place for me to rant endlessly about my oh-so-favorite shows and my oh-so-favorite things in life.

I'm a member of Soldiers Angels and that takes up a good portion of my thoughts these days. It's basically a program for 'adopting' deployed soldiers for the length of their deployment and showering them with the minimum of a note a week and one package of month. I signed up with the idea of adopting one, and am now up to four "officials". There's also different "teams" I'm a part of. LWT (Letter Writing Team- one to write to soldiers you haven't officially adopted, TLC - those that need some extra care, Cards Plus - filling requests for cards/letters for special occassions, Blankets of Hope - providing blankets and backpacks for wounded soldiers, and the E-Squad, providing support via email to our deployed troops.)

It's not about politics or the war or whether or not I agree with it. If I had my way I'd want them all home curling up next to their loved ones and kissing their kids goodnight as they tucked them in bed. But that's not a reality today and while I may disagree with their reasons for being there, they do not have a choice. They signed up knowing the possibilities, and it's heartbreaking to read messages from these guys and girls saying that they're not sure what to expect when they come home - if people are going to hate them or accept them. How sad is that? Most of these kids are younger than I am and have more courage than most people I've met.

But that's enough of that.

I love my soldier adoptees and nothing I've done in my life has felt nearly as rewarding as being part of Soldiers Angels. There's an indescribable feeling to get a note from a stranger thousands of miles from home, thanking me for thanking them. And until you're a part of it, you won't know how that feels. So if you have it in your heart, we could always use more Angels. If you want more info, let me know. I'd be glad to ramble some more about it.

Now I'm off to find a prettier layout...

The first...

2006-03-22T18:29:00.000-05:00

So I'm jumping on board with everyone that already has a blog. Er, jumping back on as I had a little space somewhere before for quite a few years that I called my own. I don't really know why I stopped blogging then. I really have no reason, but I needed a break from it all I think. So I'm back. A new place, a new me, a new name. Wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy in 'real' life? Just start over where no one knows you, no preconceived notions, no reputations, no...anything.

But I'm here now. And I'm not exciting, trust me on that. I'm just an average girl going through a quarter-life crisis, not sure where I stand or where I want to go. But I'm here.

Right now that's good enough for me.