West Wing Wednesday

It's the Francis Scott Key... key.

TWW

I'm thinking that when I am 30 I will do the Amy Gardner hair, circa season 3 of The West Wing. Loved her character, such a badass.

Here is how we first got to get to know her:

"Something important" being her latest project of balloon animals... yup, that's awesome.

If any couple could make witty banter look good, it's Josh Lyman and Amy Garner on The West Wing. Love love love.


As a blogger wrote, "She likes dancing to Van Morrison, and doesn’t see why balloon-animals could be considered unprofessional. Amy Gardner is good at her job, and doesn’t worry that other people might not like her. She’s an adult, albeit with a personality that is uniquely suited to annoy the hell out of everyone she dislikes."
Hmmm sounds like something an ex said about me one time, "with a personality that is uniquely suited to annoy the hell out of everyone she dislikes." Me likey as that ex, S, was incredibly accurate in his assessment!

"Because I can't make decisions based on the fact that I like your smooth skin."
{loved. them. together.}


So, did any of my readers watch The West Wing when it was on TV? How about now, as it has rerun marathons occasionally on Bravo (although much less often now that they are the reality TV network).

My Fave Super Bowl Ads

Here are my favorite Super Bowls ads from last night:

Eminem's Keep Detroit Beautiful ad for Chrysler:




Volkswagon's Darth Vader ad:




BMW's Spartanburg, SC plant for the X3 is "Defying Logic":




I normally do not have all three of my fave spots end up as car manufacturers! However, this year I did and I found them all to be great.

What were your favorite three Super Bowl ads?

Top Gear Series 16

This BBC show is my favorite. My family has been watching it on BBC America since it first came on the air. Here is a trailer for the new season, Series 16:



Series 16 starts on BBC America on February 7 here in the States. It will air at 9 pm EST. Afterwards, Top Gear will be showing a new special "Top Gear: USA Road Trip Special". This special included filming in Asheville, NC up the Blue Ridge Parkway. It includes them racing at Virginia International Raceway ("VIR") near my boarding school Chatham Hall - and continuing to race up to New York City. I cannot wait!

If you cannot wait to see the special that includes places in my neck of the woods, please check out this YouTube that magically has not been pulled in over a month since the special originally aired:

Kennedy's Miniseries Pull

What a bummer!

The Kennedy's Miniseries on the History Channel has been pulled from their schedule. I know it caused some controversy on some things, but still, what hasn't in terms of perspective, interpretation and freedom of expression? Especially in film. Isn't that why it isn't just interviews and photos/old video clips... that kind of documentary?

What a stupid thing to blow up in terms of media coverage, magazine covers, etc. and then abruptly pull for "historical fiction." Um, half of the people portrayed are dead, so I am not sure how they check their sources on things like JFK's sex life outside of his marriage anyway! Besides, they have to figure out what happened the day JFK was shot in terms of Jackie's perspective in some way, so why not go for a well-cast dramatization mini-series? If the cast didn't approve of lines or find them unethical, they can request changes, and sometimes those requests are actually considered.



Shame. It seems well done. Maybe it will be like The Reagans and be picked up by Showtime, or possibly even HBO. It is dumb that the History Channel will show crap about ghosts and aliens, and not this show.

Martha Stewart Show

I am not sure if all of my readers like Martha Stewart, but I really enjoy her as a teacher of food, crafts, and homekeeping. She has taught me a lot over the years, and I really appreciate what she is doing in the world of more eco-friendly home products. Her Homekeeping Handbook has been such an asset since I bought it at the beginning of this summer.

She recently moved networks from NBC (where for many DirecTV customers, among others, we could not watch her show due to local programming and the 5th hour of Today) to the Hallmark Channel. She is on M-F at 10am EST, and helps start off a wonderful series of Home shows that run from the AM to early afternoon hours.

Now that she is on Hallmark, I am really happy, as I haven't been able to watch her show for the past two years. I have missed a lot of great episodes, but yesterday I saw one that was one of the funniest I have ever seen. It was actually a "Bonus Episode" that aired on Monday at 4pm (so during the Oprah show). It had an opening that was hysterical and featured Martha Stewart and Darcy Miller (her Editorial Director of MS Weddings) wearing gorgeous gold outfits for the "Glitter" segment. I cannot believe no one has this on YouTube yet! Anyway, they open the show with a big, black shimmery confetti pinata, and proceed to FAIL at cracking the pinata open for the entire 5 minutes of the opening segment. At this point they are hysterically laughing and out of breath, so Martha's producer comes and has to RIP IT OPEN for the thing to actually work.

To make up for it, I found a few of my favorite clips of Martha Stewart on YouTube that are hysterical:

As a sidenote: I DIE everytime I see the clip with incredible glass maker DALE CHIHULY and she completely ruins a perfect glass orb. And then asks, "is that bad?" [its around 0:32] And her April Fools-ing her set staff. So messed up hahaha. Lastly, Conan O'Brien on the Martha Stewart Show. I mean, really, how did they figure that out? Him looking like Fabio is amazing.



More Bloopers:


Martha's BFF Snoop Dogg comes by to make Mashed Potatoes:


All photos and videos original property of © 2010 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

Working on my fitness

{Frisbee Dog is fun because it makes you twist your waist - a lot - I am sore today!}

So earlier this summer when M and I first got engaged, he asked me how I felt about us getting 2 flat screen HDTVs for Christmas instead of our normal gifts. Natch, I have no probs with that as they would be great and are much-needed additions for our home, satellite dish, stereo system, etc. etc. We are trying to upgrade our homes look and while we have perfectly nice, functional televisions, the price and benefits are great. We will likely move the TVs into the other rooms of our house as we only have DirecTV in the living room and our MBR at this time.

ANYWAY, so M wanted to do that. I decided to go ahead and do something I have been wanting for a while, the Wii. I didn't get it when it was brand new for 2 reasons: 1. the price would have to drop at some point, and 2. our stereo system is black so I wanted a black Wii. Well, I got my wish, so I this week went to Target and got the Wii, Wii fit plus, and a couple games for Mike and I to share (not including Wii Sports, Sports Resort, and the fit programs) so we can hang out with friends and have another option when we socialize.



Let me tell you, after buying that stuff and using it for a few days - it is way more impressive than I thought. I am very happy with the Wii, and the people at Target who helped me out. The products really do give you a workout, and I monitor it on there which is incredibly convenient! I have already dropped 2 pounds in just 3days use! Because we live in such a rural area, a gym is not convenient for me. The ones in the 30-mile radius (yes, we are 22-30 miles from any kind of civilization with a gym) start at $40-50/mo which is dumb if I can't use it anytime I want between work and school. So, the Wii is cost-effective, too.



I am very happy with it, and if anyone has been holding out, spend the extra $99 and get the Wii Fit Plus! Right now, Target gives you a $20 gift card for buying the Wii Fit Plus or two regular games. Fabulous!



I found an inspiring website: http://www.workoutwithwii.com/content/view/38/1/. Admittedly, I am not overweight, I am actually close to a perfect-average weight range, but for the wedding coming up in just over a year - 435 days to go! - so I just need to tone up and just indulge less. I have a very lovely hourglass figure and can wear a sample size 6 and/or 8, so I don't want to be much smaller than that!

Photos: Nintendo, digitaltrends, fareastgizmos

Is this thing on?

Did anyone else watch Season Four premiere of Mad Men on Sunday night? If so, then you will recognize this clip!:



Mike and I got home from the beach in time to watch it! Yay!

Loved the fashion - they are heading into the more colorful period of the 1960s.



I am so happy Joan has her own office, don't know why it took them so long to upgrade her lifestyle like that. I am assuming this means she is still married to that failure of a doctor?

I wonder if Peggy, with her mod look, is still seeing Duck? Or is she going to finally hook up with Don in some awkward drunken hot mess that I've been predicting for ages (esp since that hot lady shot him down in the back seat of a cab, ZING!)



Of course, as usual, I'd wear whatever Betty wears, even if she is a hot mess right now. She seems like a horrible mother to me, and I love how Sally retaliated in such a hysterical, immature way. I will retrain myself from the psychoanalysis of THAT situation.




Photos from: LA Times, Esquire, Esquire, stylelist.com (but really owned by AMC)

Letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. President,

Please stop blaming the media so much. I want you to LIVE down there until this problem is solved. I want you to throw crude oil all over the Executive Management Board of BP and the Board of Directors homes in BP - in Europe - so they can understand what the smell, the heat, and the ugliness that this spill is doing to the mental, emotional, and physical livelihoods of millions of people on the Gulf Coast from West Cote Blanche Bay, Louisiana to Tavernier, Florida. I want you to YELL and be unprofessional because this IS the WORST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER that this country has even been through, and it may be the WORST the WORLD has ever been through, because it hasn't ENDED YET! I am pretty sure that by August, which is SO optimistic of BP by the way, who wants to sit on their asses and look professional and clean and neat as a pin in their coordinated outfits - not covered in slop and muck and waste like those they employ and DO NOT PAY, this spill will be much worse than any other man-made disaster that I can wrap my head around, excluding maybe Agent Orange ecocide in Vietnam, Chernobyl, Bhopal, or Minimata Bay.

I am an environmentalist. I am a economic conservative. This is not a time to be conservative financially. I want a Gulf Coast again. This is not the La Brea Tar Pits - but they WILL BE if we do not do EVERYTHING we can to fix this problem. Right now, we are not doing everything.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Mr. President, I am disappointed in you. I am disappointed that you are not being emotional over the devastation, you are being emotional over the 24 hour news cycle that is this world today. We are a country, a world, of technology, so you need to get over that. You are supposed to represent our people, but you continue to appear unattached and distant. "I feel for you" isn't going to cut it in meetings anymore. You need to make things happen, and you need to GET RID OF YOUR SLACKS AND OXFORD SHIRTS. Put on some jeans, some coveralls from the Tractor Supply, and get your hands dirty. Connect with the Gulf Coast. Please.


How to help:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/04/bp-oil-spill-aftermath-help/

Numerous organizations are mobilizing to lend a hand in the devastating aftermath of BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

For simple, safe ways to donate or volunteer to help affected areas contact one of the following well-established charities and beware of online scammers.

• Greater New Orleans Foundation: In response to the recent disaster, the foundation is opening the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund to make emergency grants to nonprofit organizations helping the victims of the oil spill and help address the long-term economic, environmental, cultural effects of the disaster, and strengthen coastal communities against future environmental catastrophes by investing in solutions.

• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is joining with partners at the local, state and federal level to begin registering volunteers to assist with spill recovery efforts and collect donations toward those efforts.

• National Park Foundation’s Disaster Recovery Fund: Give to the “National Parks Disaster Recovery Fund” online or by texting “PARKS” to 90999 on your mobile phone by July 1st. Your money will go directly to the parks impacted by the Gulf oil spill.

• Gulf of Mexico SeaGrant Programs is supplying the most current information about the disaster and for volunteer opportunities in the region.

• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is a group of organizations with a history of on-the-ground work in Louisiana, and combining efforts and experience to implement an effective volunteer response and make a real difference in the BP Oil Spill recovery efforts.

• The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is working with Matter of Trust to collect donations of nylons, hair and fur, which can be used in making booms for containing oil.

• Catholic Charities is providing food, rent and utilities aid and is currently in need of volunteers to help outreach to families who work in fishing-related industries affected by the oil spill.

• Second Harvest Food Bank: is working in concert with Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Louisiana Department of Social Services and others to ensure that men, women, children and seniors are afforded the meals they need during these trying times.

• The BP Volunteer Hotline has set up numbers if you need to report injured wildlife or damage related to the spill. You can also request volunteer information at 866-448-5816.

• Oxfam America is working to help affected communities with financial assistance, as well as protect local wetlands and marshes. Oxfam also has an online form to "Ask your Senator to make BP clean up their mess"

• Louisiana Serve Commission is helping mobilize and train volunteers in response to the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

• Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service: All oil and oil-contaminated materials will only be handled by trained, paid workers and not by volunteers. To apply for these jobs, go to the MS Department of Employment Security website and click on Oil Spill Jobs. Registered volunteers will also be contacted as needed.

• Volunteer Florida encourages everyone to get connected with a local organization. Volunteers can support these organizations throughout the oil spill and beyond through appropriate activities such as Coast Watch, pre-oil landfall beach cleanups, fundraising, and meeting other needs of responding organizations.

• Alabama Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives provides information on volunteer and donation opportunities.

Only funny VMA Moment

This was great. Tom Cruise is weird, but this s$%t was funny!



Okay, yes, admittedly, these are songs from the early 2000s, but lets try and remember Tom Cruise's character Les Grossman is a late 40s, early 50s guy and wouldn't give a crap about when a song came out.

Yes, I know this is backwards...

Oooooh snap

Grey's Anatomy... anybody watch? I love it. Definitely a fan. Seriously intense. Seriously? Seriously, intense (ha ha ohhh Izzy Stevens).

Babies documentary

I WANT TO SEE THIS!!

Too cute for words!





Here is a short featurette, too:



Love for your child is universal! So wonderful

Hilarious

My advisor showed us this short video clip in class yesterday. HILARIOUS!!



teehee

The Deal from Seinfeld, Season 2

One of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld, which was based on an actual experience "transaction" that co-creator Larry David had with a female friend. David was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award (Outstanding Writer in a Comedy Series) for this episode, which garnered 22.6 million viewers on May 2, 1991. "This" equals their friendship and "That" equals sexual intercourse. I love this show, but I think this episode is one of my favorites, as it also includes the storyline on George and the male masseuse who makes him question his sexuality...

[All clips property of NBC]



Elaine: You got something on your mind?

Jerry: No. Things pop into your head. You?

Elaine: Things occur to me from time to time.

Jerry: Yeah, me too. Well, you can't expect to just forget the past completely.

Elaine: No, of course not.

Jerry: I mean, it was something we did. Probably about, what? Twenty-five times?

Elaine: Thirty-seven.

Jerry: Yeah, we pretty much know what we're doin' in there. (Points to bedroom)

Elaine: We know the terrain.

Jerry: No big surprises.

Elaine: Nope.

Jerry: What do you think?

Elaine: I don't know. What do you think?

Jerry: Well, it's something to consider.

Elaine: Yeah.

Jerry: I mean, let's say we did.

Elaine: What if.

Jerry: Is that like the end of the world or something?

Elaine: Certainly not.

Jerry: Why shouldn't we be able to do that once in a while if we want to?

Elaine: I know.

Jerry: I mean, really, what is the big deal? We go in there. (Points to the bedroom) We're in there for a while. We come right back out here. It's not complicated.

Elaine: It's almost stupid if we didn't.

Jerry: It's moronic.

Elaine: Absurd!

Jerry: Of course, I guess, maybe, some little problems could arise.

Elaine: We, there are always a few.

Jerry: I mean, if anything happened, and we couldn't be friends the way we are now, that would be really bad.

Elaine: Devastating.

Jerry: Because this is very good. (Points back and forth between them to indicate friendship)

Elaine: And that would be good. (Points to bedroom)

Jerry: That would be good too. The idea is combine the this and the that. But this cannot be disturbed.

Elaine: Yeah, we just wanna take this and add that.

Jerry: But of course, we'd have to figure out a way to avoid the things that cause the little problems. Maybe some rules or something.

Elaine: Huh.

Jerry: For example, now, I call you whenever I'm inclined and vice versa.

Elaine: Right.

Jerry: But if we did that, we might feel a certain obligation to call.

Elaine: Well why should that be? Oh, I have an idea. I have an idea. No call the day after that.

Jerry: Beautiful. Let's make it a rule.

Elaine: All right, sir.

Jerry: Now here's another little rule. When we see each other now, we retire to our separate quarters. But sometimes, when people get involved with that, they feel pressure to sleep over. When that is not really sleep. Sleep is separate from that. And I don't see why sleep got all tied up and connected with that.

Elaine: Okay, okay. Spending the night is optional!

Jerry: Well now we're gettin' somewhere.

Elaine: What about the kiss goodnight?

Jerry: Tough one. You're call.

Elaine: It's...

Jerry: Fine. Well.

Elaine: Well.

Jerry: You ready?

Elaine: Ready.

Jerry: So think you can handle this?

Elaine: Definitely. (Runs into bookshelf)

[later on in the episode]



Jerry: ...So how's the job situation goin'?

George: Still lookin'. It's pretty bad out there. What about you?

Jerry: Nothin' much. I slept with Elaine last night.

George: Oxygen! I need some oxygen! This is major.

Jerry: I thought you'd like that.

George: Oh, this is huge!

Jerry: I know.

George: All right, okay. Let's go, details.

Jerry: No, I can't do details.

George: You wha?

Jerry: I can't give details.

George: No details?

Jerry: I'm not in the mood.

George: You ask me to have lunch, tell me you slept with Elaine, and then say you're not in the mood for details. Now you listen to me. I want details and I want them right now. I don't have a job, I have no place to go. You're not in the mood? Well you get in the mood!

Jerry: All right, okay. We're in the apartment watching TV.

George: Where are you sitting?

Jerry: On the couch.

George: Next to each other?

Jerry: No, separated.

George: Time?

Jerry: About eleven.

George: Okay, go ahead.

Jerry: So she's flipping around the TV, and she gets to the naked station.

George: Oh, see? that's why I don't have cable in my house. Because of that naked station. If I had that in my house, I would never turn it off. I wouldn't sleep, I wouldn't eat. Eventually, firemen would have to break through the door, they'd find me sitting there in my pajamas with drool coming down my face. All right, all right. So you're watching the naked station.

Jerry: And then, somehow, we started talking about, what if we had sex.

George: Boy, these are really bad details.

Jerry: It pains me to say this, but I may be getting too mature for details.

George: Oh I hate to hear this. That kind of growth really irritates me.

Jerry: Well. I'll tell you though. It was really passionate.

George: Better than before?

Jerry: She must've taken some kind of seminar or something.

George: This is all too much. So what are you feeling? What's going on? Are you like a couple again now?

Jerry: Not exactly.

George: Not exactly. What does that mean?

Jerry: Well, we've tried to arrange a situation where we'll be able to do this once in a while and still be friends. (George laughs hysterically and stands out of his seat)

George: Where are you living? Are you here? Are you on this planet? It's impossible. It can't be done.(He sits back down) Thousands of years people have been trying to have their cake and eat it too. So all of a sudden the two of you are going to come along and do it. Where do you get the ego? No one can do it. It can't be done.

Jerry: I think we've worked out a system.

George: Oh, you know what you're like? You're like a pathetic gambler. You're one of those losers in Las Vegas who keeps thinking he's gonna come up with a way to win at blackjack.

Jerry: No, this is very advanced. We've designed at set of rules that we can maintain the friendship by advancing all of the relationship pitfalls.

George: Sure, all right. Tell me the rules.

Jerry: Okay. No calls the next day.

George: (To himself) So you're havin' the sex, next day you don't have to call. That's pretty good. (Back to Jerry) Go ahead.

Jerry: You ready for the second one?

George: I have tell you, I'm pretty impressed with the first one.

Jerry: Spending the night. Optional.

George: No, you see? You got greedy.

Jerry: No, that's the rule. It's optional.

George: I know less about women than anyone in the world. But one thing I do know is they're not happy if you don't spend the night. I could be a hot, sweaty room with no air conditioning and all they have is a little army cot this wide (Displays with French fry) You're not going anywhere.

Jerry: I think you're wrong.

George: I hope I am.

[even later]

Jerry: You know, we never had one fight before this deal.

Elaine: I know.

Jerry: Never.

Elaine: Ever.

Jerry: We got along beautifully.

Elaine: Like clams.

Jerry: It was wonderful.

Elaine: A pleasure.

Jerry: So I think we should just forget the whole deal, and go back to being friends.

Elaine: I can't do it.

Jerry: You what?

Elaine: I can't do that.

Jerry: You mean it's... (She nods) No this. No that. No this or that. Oh, boy. What do you want?

Elaine: This, that, and the other.

Jerry: Oh, sure. Of course, you're entitled. Who doesn't want this, that, and the other?

Elaine: You.

Jerry: (Starts to correct then realizes) Well...

[near end of episode]

George: Those birthdays. I told you. They're relationship killers. If a relationship is having any problems whatsoever, a birthday will always bring it out.

Jerry: I never should have made up those rules.

George: What is it about sex that just disrupts everything? Is it the touching? Is it the nudity?

Jerry: It can't be the nudity. I never got into these terrible fights and misunderstandings when I was changing before gym class.

George: You know what this means? I can't see her anymore either.

Jerry: Why?

George: It's break up by association. Besides, she's mad at me anyway because of my birthday present.

Jerry: What did you end up giving her?

George: 91 dollars.

Jerry: Sorry about that.

George: So what're you gonna do?

Jerry: Well, if I call her, there's no joking around anymore. This is pretty much it.

George: So, maybe this should be it.

Jerry: Could be it.

George: She seems like an it.

Jerry: She's as it as you get. Imagine bumping into her on the street in five years with a husband. And she tells me he's a sculptor, they live in Vermont...

George: We'd have to kill him.

Jerry: We'd get caught, I'd get the chair.

George: I'd go to prison as your accomplice. I'd have to wear that really heavy denim. Go to the cafeteria line with the guy who slops those mashed potatoes onto your plate. Go to the bathroom in front of hundreds of people.

Jerry: Plus, you know what else.

George: You better call her.

Wait.. what?

Wait, so am I related to Tinsley Mercer Mortimer???!?!? Doesn't her Dad sell carpets here in VA or something like that?

Then the knives really come out: "Tinsley talks all the time about being related to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. I'm sure 18 million Americans are related to them," Devorah said. "Some live in trailer parks and some live on Park Avenue. I never run around saying that my Uncle Nelson was one of the top executives at the third-largest oil producer in the world. Or that when my grandmother died, the sitting president of Venezuela went to her funeral. I've never used that, and I've never played that up. She created this socialite persona.



Good ol' TJ

Seriously, if that was true, it would crack me up to no end. Especially since, even though Devorah "Rose" is clearly a unique individual and a Tinsley frenemy, she has a point. There are a lot of us old VA bluebloods who are "related" to TJ and the Madisons, the point is to what extent that person is truly related. For example, I am part of the DAR for my Dolley Payne side, which has to provide documentation. I am related to TJ through one of his nieces, America Delaware Jefferson (born 1834) of Pittsylvania Cnty, through my great-grandmother, whose maiden name was Jefferson. She married James Fontaine Minter.



From the New York Post article by Annie Karni
Last Updated: 9:33 AM, March 3, 2010 // Posted: 4:34 AM, February 28, 2010
http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/local/manhattan/menaces_to_fBNqP0TdcVg8O5acibXQ6K

Your thoughts? Tiger's new ad

I want to know y'alls thoughts before I speak about mine:

Giving Back

Property of Variety


By now, if you haven't heard that Roger Ebert has been suffering, and now in remission, from thyroid cancer - then you live in a hole. Or, you aren't a real movie fan.



Photo property of Esquire magazine


Regardless, I have always seen him as an admirable, talented individual. How many people can you count that have won the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, when most of their writing (10,000+) is movie reviews? He isn't dry or humorless. He actually writes about the film, its nuances, provides background on the cast and crew, and is honest.

He was on Oprah yesterday, and you should check that out. There are two clips on the website out of a roughly 13-15 minute interview.

He has a blog he keeps now, and you should read it. Yes, he is politically different from me, but I am not closed-minded and am willing to read his opinion as he is highly educated, well-read, and worldly. I have always enjoyed a good debate/discussion.

He has a Twitter, you should follow him.

And if you really want to catch up on lost time, read the Esquire interview that catches you up on everything since 2002. He is The Essential Man.

I joined The Ebert Club today. $4.99 on Paypal. Simple, easy. I am always willing to give back to someone who has saved me money.

This was the comment I submitted to his journal:

Mr. Ebert -

I am a college student who grew up in a film-heavy household with a father who was a Theater major (since Film wasn't an option at W&L in the 1970s). We watched movies every weekend, whether at home or in the movie theater. I grew up watching your show with Gene Siskel with my father when I was small, and it was fun to bond over and look forward to your reviews so we could determine what movies we were going to see next. My entire family was moved to tears by the Esquire story, and I have enjoyed following your website/journal. Yesterday your interview with Oprah was intense and personal for me as my Aunt has suffered from, and survived mouth cancer THREE times, and it made me realize how grateful I should be for my own health. I was more than happy to join the Ebert Club for $4.99, not for the features, but to be able to give something back to you. Break it down this way, all of the good movies you have reviewed I have seen, and at $5.00-9.00 a ticket for movies I may have seen if you hadn't said how "thumbs down" they were, makes even more sense to give back to you. You have saved me a lot of money, and you are an individual whose writing has been inspirational for quite some time.

Thank you

Be Part of the Story

My brother and I in the locks at Colonial Williamsburg, 1995 or 1996.



This ad has been running recently throughout Virginia. I am completely, 100% in love with it's simple message. It is part of our nation's history, there is no reason why every American in their lifetime can't make it to Colonial Williamsburg:



Doors. Have you ever thought about them that way until after this ad? It is just gorgeous. I cannot complain about the colors in those historic buildings, either. Thank goodness for the Rockefellers, hmm?

"In 1926, the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of Bruton Parish Church, shared his dream of preserving the city's historic buildings with philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., and the restoration began.

Dr. Goodwin feared that scores of structures that had figured in the life of the colony and the founding of the nation would soon disappear forever. Rockefeller and Goodwin began a modest project to preserve a few of the more important buildings. Eventually, the work progressed and expanded to include a major portion of the colonial town, encompassing approximately 85 percent of the 18th-century capital's original area.

Mr. Rockefeller gave the project his personal leadership until his death in 1960, and it was his quiet generosity of spirit and uncompromising ethic of excellence that guided and still dominates its development. He funded the preservation of more than 80 of the original structures, the reconstruction of many buildings, and also the construction of extensive facilities to accommodate the visiting public.

In the preservation of the setting of Virginia’s 18th-century capital, Mr. Rockefeller and Dr. Goodwin saw an opportunity to ensure that the courageous ideals of the patriots who helped create the American democratic system live on for future generations." [http://colonialwilliamsburg.org/Foundation/cwhistory.cfm]



This one is called "Streets" I haven't seen it on TV yet:




To look into vacationing at Colonial Williamsburg, please go to http://colonialwilliamsburg.org/

Michael Buble already Married?

Did anyone watch SNL last night?

Michael Buble was musical guest with Jon Hamm from Mad Men as host.

During Buble's first song, he was performing with a distinct, new-looking band on his left hand ring finger. Anyone else notice this?

Over the holiday season, Buble got engaged to his GF, so this ring left me curious...

Forever?

Okay, I promise I will do a "real" entry soon - school is just busy as anything and Homecoming is this weekend and I have serious things to do before all of this happens...

However, a time out for one of my favorite moments in TV ever...