2008 memories

So... as the year draws to a close, what about 2008 am I thankful for?

Besides the usual family, friends and good health rap, I thought I would take the time to give props to some of the things that kept me sane and made me happy in 2008...

*The Twilight Series/movie/soundtrack - I would be utterly remiss if I didn't mention how much I have enjoyed finally discovering this pop culture icon.... reading the books (twice), seeing 'Twilight' brought to film, and discovering music acts I didn't know before on the movie's soundtrack.



*Curlin - Despite Big Brown's herculean efforts to win the Triple Crown, I was more impressed with the steel horse Curlin becoming the sport's biggest moneymaker. Team Curlin!


*OBX vacation - What can I say - always a high spot of the entire year! Mini-thanks to the Orange Blossom cafe in Buxton for their stellar Cranberry Orange Muffins, and to Ocracoke Island beaches- simply the best.

Hatteras Light


Orange Blossom Cafe


Ocracoke Island


*My unemployed husband- While most people wouldn't be thankful for that, I am happy that he got the much-deserved break from the hard labor and the bullshit he put up with for nineteen years at his low-down, outsourcing, butt-wipe former employers.
And a extra thankful shout-out to him, because when the wife is away at work... the hubby builds things. Many things! Thanks for my new window seat w/bookshelves most of all, honey!


*Sour Cherry jam from Stonewall Kitchen - Delish! On a crescent roll, a piece of homemade bread - or just to lick off the spoon.




*Bond, James Bond - Daniel Craig rocks my world as 007.



*Oliver's first full year - The little scamp is the world's most loving kitty-cat - and he's mine



*Riding the Harley - The freedom can't be replicated in any other way. Those who know, know.



*My iPod - not a day goes by that I don't listen to my iPod for at least 2 hours. Most work days, it's at least 10. It takes a licking and keeps on... playing the soundtrack of my life.



*'Fringe' - Best new show of 2008, hands down. Makes me miss 'The X-Files' less.



Best returning show? 'Criminal Minds'. Consistently outstanding.


'House' comes in a close second.


(While I'm on the tv kick, thanks for LOST, Bones, American Idol, Sons of Anarchy, Nip/Tuck, CSI, and repeats of MASH, too. You have all made my couch very happy. )

*Strawberry milkshakes from the Dairy Queen. God knows I've consumed a boat load of them.


*David Cook, Paramore and Iron & Wine - Cheers to the first rock winner of American Idol, the band fronted by live-wire youngster Hayley Williams, and the folksy Samuel Beam (a.k.a. Iron & Wine). Mini shout-outs to Ingrid Michaelson, Flyleaf, Blue Foundation, Plain White T's, and The Black Ghosts - all of which I just discovered this year.








*Subway cookies & Mountain Dew - rarely at the same time, but both are always delicious.


*Bath & Body Works 'Twisted Peppermint' cream - cause it just smells so darn good.


*Our new 40" Sony Bravia Flat Screen - my movies look so much better! Johnny Depp in HD - always a good thing.


*Speaking of Johnny Depp - Because they'll never be a day that I'm not thankful for him....

(whoo-hoo!)

*Exedrin - Curing headaches since 1960. More importantly, my headaches since at least 1998..


*My brother's senior recital - A real class act.


*Dexter - My recent discovery of Dex has me contemplating a subscription to Showtime. Almost as much as True Blood makes me want to get HBO. Thank heavens for Netflix.



*Netflix - See above. Keeping me satisfied 24/7, 365.



*The Pittsburgh Steelers - Say it with me, people: The. Best. Defense. In. The. NFL. (period)


*'Supermassive Black Hole' by Muse - Mini-thanks to Stephenie Meyer for introducing me to this song. It just makes me rock out. My favorite song of the year.
Runner up: Decode by Paramore




*My hubby's Shepherd's Pie - the main reason for my 10 pound weight gain when my hubby was off work.



*Bloodhorse.com - Keeping me in the know about my addiction to Thoroughbred Horseracing.
My most visited website.




*Vampires - Because this was the year of the vamps. 'Bout time they get their due, those blood sucking leeches. Face it, they suck (but in a good way;)

Is it just me, or are vampires getting better looking??

*Books: I've read way too many to name here - but a few faves might include the aforementioned Twilight Series, Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain, 99 Coffins by David Wellington, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Hex Marks the Spot by Madelyn Alt, Bitten & Smitten by Michelle Rowan, The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff, Dead Until Dark (and the rest of the Sookie Stackhouse series) by Charlaine Harris...

*DVDs: a few of my favorite dvd rentals/purchases from this year: 30 Days of Night, P.S. I Love You, The Other Boleyn Girl, Rogue, Iron Man, The Strangers, Atonement, I Am Legend, The Mist, The Visitor, and The Dark Knight...

And as far as movies on the big screen: Loved Twilight (of course) and Quantum of Solace. Liked The Ruins and Nights in Rodanthe, Tolerated Saw 5.


See? I have alot to be thankful for this year - how about you?

Merry Merry!

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas day!
We spent the day at Mom & Dad's with Max (above)... He's my parent's dog.

Isn't he the prettiest - excuse me - most handsome dog?!

More photos later. Have a good holiday weekend!

Zen Sarcasm

I got this email from my favorite uncle and found it much too funny not to share.
I only wish I'd thought of these myself - they are so me.

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

(Thanks for the e-mail, Shawn :)

Absolutely a RIOT!

I'm sorry, but I just had to share this.
It's Twilight in 3 minutes - by puppets.
It's too funny, especially for those who have seen the movie....
Enjoy.

See this film.

The Visitor is one of those 'under the radar' type films that you probably never heard of but you should make it a point to see.

It is an affecting drama, and is one of the best movies I have seen all year.

Walter (regular character actor Richard Jenkins) is a widowed, weary, slightly depressed college professor who is asked by his Connecticut university to present a paper at a conference in NYC. He has no desire to go - he has no zest left for life. He's been teaching the same class for twenty years and has been working on a book that it is obvious he is not interested in finishing. He tries to get out of the obligation to speak at the conference, but can't.

So he heads to NYC, to an apartment that he owns but infrequently stays at. When he arrives, he finds a couple living there. They aren't exactly squatters, they thought they were subletting the apartment from a trusted source . At first the embarrassed couple intend to leave, but after some consideration, Walter invites them to stay until they find a place.

Tarek (well played by Haaz Sleiman) is from Syria, his girlfriend Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira) is from Senegal ( in north western Africa) - and unfortunately, they are illegal immigrants.

Tarek is a musician, a drummer to be exact - and he lived with his mother in Michigan for three years before coming to New York to play his music.
Walter is fascinated by Tarek's skill on the drum, as he has tried taking piano lessons from 5 teachers with no success. It is obvious he loves music, and you find out his deceased wife was a very accomplished pianist.

Soon, Tarek begins to show Walter a few drumming techniques, and Walter starts practicing, really finding a niche - it opens his heart and his soul like nothing for years has been able to do.




One day at the subway, Tarek is arrested for a silly reason (a trumped up charge), and it is obvious at the time that the cops are extra hard on him because of his nationality. Naturally, after his arrest they find out he is here illegally and he is sent to a detention center to await deportation.

Walter goes to the center every day to see his new friend, and hires a lawyer to try to help him.
Tarek's girlfriend is unable to go see him because she, too, would be put in the center, so Walter brings letters from her and puts them up to the glass for Tarek to read.

Tarek's mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass) then shows up at Walter's apartment because she has not heard from him, and she and Walter develop a close relationship as well while trying to sort through the legalities that keep Tarek imprisioned.

It really makes you re-think immigration laws and how things are handled here. How people are treated is unjust and cruel. I realize they are here illegally, and while I absolutely do NOT condone that, this movie puts you on the side of the immigrant. When you see how much they want to be here and that all immigrants are not terrorists, you come to realize, as Walter does, that not everyone is from that axis of evil.

This is a great film, and just goes to show you that people are still out there making really well thought out, independent films with true meaning and integrity.
Not everything has to be a blockbuster.

Highly recommended.

No surprise here

The NFL Power rankings are out and guess who's #1 ??

Whoo-hoo!

Division Champs, again!

Congrats to the Steelers, who snuck past the Baltimore Ravens in the final 43 seconds of the game to win, and cement their place as the 2008 AFC North Division Champs.
The score was a paltry 13-9, a real defensive battle.

To me (and I'm sure to the Steelers as well) - it was just DAMN nice to beat Baltimore, especially on the road.
Their record improves to 11-3.


photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images/ESPN

Special shout out to Santonio Holmes for that outstanding -and quite lucky- footwork (above), reeling that touchdown in at the end of the game. Wow.

Once again, they pulled a win out of their butt in the fourth quarter. I much prefer the 'blow-the-other-team-out-of-the-water' type of game. I get way too nervous when they are behind or nursing a minuscule lead.
But hey, a win is a win. And this was a sweet one.

Now the Steelers are assured a first-round bye in the playoffs. They meet the Tennessee Titans (who lost this week - yay!) next week in another tough one.

One game at a time, guys.
It's only a matter of time.

Too freaking funny!! - A Twilight Christmas!

Marley & Me premiere

The BIG stars were out for the "Marley & Me" premiere in Los Angeles on December 11th, and to me, this is the only star worth mentioning...

Clyde.

He was all dressed up for the premiere, as you can see.



How cute is that???





And here's a pic of Clyde with 'Marley & Me' author John Grogan.
Sweet.

Marley & Me also stars Jennifer Aniston & Owen Wilson, but we all know what they look like, right?

I believe the movie opens on Christmas Day.

My trees for the holidays

Every year I have alot of theme trees.

I actually haven't felt too merry this year (bah humbug!) and seeing as how I was sick over the entire Thanksgiving weekend, I fell way behind on decorating, so I don't have as much out this year. As a matter of fact - I didn't even put up our big 9' regular Christmas tree...

However, I still did my snowman tree and a few others. Here are the results.

Three views, same tree.

*We are using the snowman tree as the 'main' tree this year... I usually have it crammed in the dining room, so it's pretty different with it in our front room. Lots of space.
I've been collecting snowmen for, I don't know, maybe 15 years or more. I have a 6' pencil tree (above) completely and utterly full. Matter of fact, there were a few snowmen who didn't make the cut this year... couldn't even fit them on the back.

I was slightly irritated though, as I couldn't use my traditional snowball lights cause for some reason they all petered out. Alas. So I only have white lights and the pink lights I added a few years ago for some color.

A few pics of some of my favorite snowmen ornaments.

Pretty festive, eh?

*And here's my nautical tree.

I love the seashore, and sometimes I leave this one out most of the year.

A few faves:

And lastly, my favorite tree, my horse tree in my living room.

Yes, I know there's teddy bears under it.. but I needed something to hide the stand!

My favorite ornament, of course.