Krevlornswath Has Gone To Demon Heaven

Andy Hallett - who starred as Lorne ("the Host") on the TV series Angel - died of heart failure last night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles after a five-year battle with heart disease - he was only 33.

Andy's character on Angel was Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan, or Lorne for short. Lorne was a friendly demon, who, when not assisting Angel and his team in the investigation of various and sundry underworld mysteries, served as the host and headliner at a demon bar.

He appeared on more than 70 episodes of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff, Angel, between 2000 and 2004. This is the second cast member of Angel we have lost - Glenn Quinn, who played Doyle in season one, passed away in 2002.

Cutler Eats Humble Pie

Alan Cutler has been an outstanding sports reporter at WLEX for many years and he has been my friend since I've known my husband.

Although I don't agree with the aggressive behavior some reporters use when trying to nail down a comment - and I don't condone Alan's tactics - I do realize reporters are only doing their jobs.

Where is the outcry over reporters chasing Britney, Lindsay, Rhianna and Octomom? I think the American public has 2 sets of standards - what reporters can do to get comments from a huge celebrity and what they can do to get a local news story. I place a lot of blame on all the UK fans who burned the Internet and other airwaves over the past week with continuous speculation of - will he stay or will he go. Alan was only trying to get the story these people wanted to hear.

Billy Gillipsie made the choice to be in the spotlight and with that exposure there comes a price. If Gillipsie had been guilty of swindling UK out of millions of dollars, I don't think the outcry would have been as vocal.

Alan has apologized to UK and the public and I feel he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Everyone makes mistakes - no one is perfect.

Hang in there, Alan - your family, friends and loyal fans are behind you 100%!

Mulch Madness

During the spring of the year is the time I realize I am totally out of shape. After spending the dark months cocooned in relative warmth and comfort, the spring is bringing rebirth.

The problem comes when I decide I can't wait another minute to begin working in the yard - too much to do, not enough time. I am still working on a huge pile of shredded bark in my front yard, moving it from the pile to different areas of my gardens. This pile is now just over a year old because I in no way, shape or form was able to move as much as I wanted to last year.

Why, you may ask? Well - and that's a deep hole in the ground - my plans seem to be bigger than my muscle power. I work mornings and then write all afternoon, so I don't have much spare time, especially during fall and winter when it's dark before 6 o'clock and too cold to work outside. But spring brings us daylight savings time and warmth, so by 5 each afternoon, I'm ready to hit the yard - or rather, the mulch pile.

Ah, but here comes the problems again - after shoveling up and moving 2 wheel barrels full of mulch, my out-of-shape body is screaming, "Please, for God's sake, no more!" I have to stop and rest for at least 15-20 minutes before making another attempt. Attempt number 2 amounts to 2 more wheel barrels of mulch, but the recovery time is twice as long. After 30-45 minutes of rest time, I have to get up and start supper and while supper is cooking, I may get 1 or 2 more wheel barrels moved before calling it a day.

Five wheel barrels a day, 6 if I'm lucky - at the rate I'm going, I may be finished in a year or two. Ah, but here comes another problem - no matter how many wheel barrels I've already moved this spring - and at last count it was 21 and yes, I'm keeping count because I'm anal like that - I am slow to see progress in the gardens, not to mention the size of the mulch pile.

Oh, and did I mention I still have tree limbs to move from the ice storm a few months ago? And dead growth to cut out and remove from the flower beds? And a garden to till up? And, please God, let me make it to April before I have to mow the yard for the first time. And the house needs repairs ...

Too Old to Pull the Plow, Too Young to Die

Sunday's Seven Wonders - Mount Everest

(Mount Everest from Kalapatthar - image by Pavel Novak)

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth, as measured by the height above sea level of its summit - 29,029 feet. The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya mountain range in High Asia, is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone (Nepal) and Tibet (China).


Location within Nepal on the Nepal–Tibet border

The Tibetan name for Mount Everest is Chomolungma or Qomolangma - which means "Saint Mother." The Chinese translation is Shèngmǔ Fēng - which refers to "Holy Mother." According to English accounts of the mid-19th century, the local name in Darjeeling for Mount Everest was Deodungha, or "Holy Mountain."



In 1865, the mountain was officially given its English name by the Royal Geographical Society after being proposed by Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India. He chose to name the mountain after Colonel Sir George Everest who was a Welsh surveyor, geographer and Surveyor-General of India from 1830 to 1843. George Everest opposed the name suggested by Waugh and told the Royal Geographical Society in 1857 Everest could not be written in Hindi nor pronounced by "the native of India."

Although I have never had the desire to do such extensive hiking, Mt. Everest has two main climbing routes - the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet - as well as many other less frequently climbed routes.

The southeast ridge is technically easier and is the more frequently-used route. This trek usually begins at Base Camp located at 17,700 feet on the south side of Everest in Nepal. Climbers will spend a couple of weeks in Base Camp, acclimatizing to the altitude. The next stop is the Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 21,300 feet, then Camp III at 24,500 feet. From Camp III to Camp IV - South Col - it is another 1,500 feet. Once climbers reach South Col, they enter the "death zone," typically having only a maximum of two or three days where they can endure the altitude for making summit bids. Clear weather and low winds are critical factors in deciding whether to make a summit attempt. If weather does not cooperate within these short few days, climbers are forced to descend, many all the way back down to Base Camp.

During the 1996 climbing season, fifteen people died trying to come down from the summit, making it the deadliest single year in Everest history. Eight of them died on May 11th alone. The disaster gained wide publicity and raised questions about the commercialization of Everest. On May 14, 2005, pilot Didier Delsalle of France landed a helicopter on the summit of Mt. Everest, implementing a "hover landing", and avoiding the risks of relying on the snow to support the aircraft; he took off again after about four minutes. China routed the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay over Everest, going up the South Col route and back down the North Col route, on the way to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Earth Hour

Okay, it's time to sign off - at least for an hour. It is time for the annual "Earth Hour," so we'll be turning off our lights, TV, computers and such for at least one hour. I'm going to be reading by candle light.

Go on, go turn your lights off right now. We'll resurface in about an hour. Who knows, maybe hubby and I will make use of the darkness - it is Saturday night after all.

Let's Be Friends

My friend Julia - A Piece of My Mind - awarded me with the "Let's Be Friends" Award:



Julia is from Halifax, Nova Scotia and we have been bloggy friends for about a year now. She is a:

Champion of the Arts and write historical and paranormal fiction, as well as poetry. She loves to showcase creative works by artists of all stripes. She also blogs at Miss Make A Movie.

Go check her out - you'll be glad you did!

Thanks, Julia!

Happy Birthday, Marie

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY,

CAROLYN MARIE HUFFMAN!!!

My middle baby is a quarter of a century old!

Gillispie Press Conference Transcript

After careful consideration - realizing there are people who might enjoy reading this - I've decided to post the transcript from Mitch Barnhart's Press Conference. The following is the press release from John Hayden, Asst. Director Athletic Media Relations for UK:

University of Kentucky
Press Conference Transcript
March 27, 2009

UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart
Opening Comments

“Hello everyone, thanks for coming on short notice. During my tenure here at Kentucky, I have watched and appreciated the passion Kentucky fans have for our basketball program. This is a cradle-to-grave love; it is deeply rooted and creates a sense of pride across the Commonwealth. Kentucky basketball influences when weddings are held and causes its followers to get in a car and drive 12 hours to Omaha on a Monday night. I also understand this rich and proud basketball program belongs to the people of Kentucky and its millions of fans around the world. Coach (Adolph) Rupp started something that is now bigger than any one person. Coaches, players and administrators get the privilege of serving this program simply as caretakers for a brief moment in its history. I will continue to maintain the principles we have established since coming here, most importantly ensuring the quality of the student-athlete experience. It is my responsibility to ensure that the University of Kentucky continues to be a special place in the hearts and minds of our fans across the nation, and that the right pieces are in place to return the basketball program to a championship level and continue those proud traditions of success.

“This is not a place I thought we would be at this point, or one that I would want to be. However, after long and deliberate discussions, President (Lee T.) Todd and I have decided we must charter a new direction for the University of Kentucky men’s basketball program. Unfortunately there are times when a situation and the people involved do not create the right chemistry or right fit. It is our belief that is where we are and where we find ourselves with Kentucky basketball today. For that reason, we decided to not bring Coach Gillispie back to lead our men’s basketball program. We firmly believe that moving in a different direction will be in the best interest of everyone involved with this program. It is my responsibility, and I understand that, to hire the coaches, a coach that embraces the fans and the national attention at Kentucky and is committed to the principles of our program. The University of Kentucky and its dedicated and passionate fans deserve a coach that understands that this is not just another coaching job. We obviously did not achieve the results we all desired on the floor this season. Those results can occur when you are trying to grow a program, we clearly understand that. However, it is as important to represent the Kentucky program and the basketball program, more specifically, in a manner which best utilizes our incredible tradition, assets and platform.

“It is my evaluation that we have not done all we can to manage the entire scope of the program and all that we expect. There is a clear difference in how the rules and responsibilities overseeing the program are viewed. It is a gap that I do not believe can be solved by just winning games. It is a philosophical disparity that I do not believe can be repaired and again, the chemistry is just not right. These situations are always very difficult and individuals and their families are traumatically impacted. I’m sorry for that. I would like to thank Coach Gillispie and his staff for the effort they gave the last two years. Billy has a great passion for the game of basketball and I truly wish him and his staff the best in the future.

“So now we must move forward. We will share some of the details of the search process as they develop and as we can. We understand the challenge and importance of finding our next caretaker for this very special basketball program. It is to be done with great concern for the welfare and image of the student-athletes, administration and students of the University of Kentucky, its fans and the people of the Commonwealth. Like everyone else who loves this program, we desire for Kentucky basketball to be a part of the championship picture every year; that is our goal. We will work to that end while representing the University of Kentucky with pride and professionalism. Thanks and I’d be glad to answer a few questions…”

John Hayden
Asst. Director Athletic Media Relations
University of Kentucky
859.257.8429
www.ukathletics.com
GO BIG BLUE!!
GOD BLESS THE USA!!

It's Raining - So It Must Be Time To Read

Shucky-darn ... the rain has ran me inside yet again. I'm not complaining, mind you, because I enjoy the rain - but I was wanting to move a few more wheel barrels of mulch again this afternoon. Ah well, best laid plans.

So, instead of playing in the mulch, I'll get to finish reading my book. It's a great first novel and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

The Girl She Used To Be

by David Cristofano

"On my fifth day in class, the teacher asked each of us in turn to spell our name for the other students... It sure would've been easier to spell May Adams, but wouldn't you know, without even giving it a second thought, there I was, unveiling myself to my teacher, her aide, and seventeen other first graders."

M-E-L-O-D-Y-G-R-A-C-E-M-C-C-A-R-T-N-E-Y

And so, the story of Melody McCartney - aka May Adams, Karen Smith, Anne Johnson, Sandra Clarke and many others - begins. At the age of six, Melody and her parents are the only witnesses in the brutal killing of an Italian restaurant owner. Scooped into the Witness Protection Program, the government promises to keep the family safe.

The "Billy Idol" monologue in the bar with the college guy was hilarious - I'm talking laugh out loud, pee my pants, make the dog look at me strange, funny! (see page 102).

Hopefully, I'll have my full review posted before the weekend is over - I'll keep you updated.

Billy Who? Give Me Gurney

(Photo by Andy Staples of Associated Press)

If you live in Kentucky, the recent buzz has been: Will Billy stay or will he go? My question is, Billy who?

That's right, I'm not a UK basketball fan - I'm not any type of sports fan. Ah, maybe that's not true - I do enjoy the Kentucky Derby and it is called the Best 2 Minutes in Sports.

Okay, so Kentucky didn't contend for the "big dance" and was demoted to the NIT - what the "he ... double hockey sticks" is the NIT? Now any chances of going any further were thwarted Wednesday night by some game with Notre Dame I can't tell you anything about. See why some people have called me anti-Kentuckian?

Now all the hub-bub surrounds the apparent head honcho of the UK Wildcats, Billy Gillispie - will he stay another season at UK, or will he be forced to leave by disgruntled sport fans? The question is up in the air, but I'm sure it will make the front page of the papers as soon as the decision is made.

So, while most of Kentucky is complaining about Bill G, my attention has been more on Gurney Norman. Go ahead, say it - Gurney who? As a true Kentuckian, I can tell you Gurney Norman is Kentucky's new Poet Laureate for 2009-2010. Now that's what I call supporting Kentucky!

The Kentucky Poet Laureate is appointed by the governor to promote the literary arts in Kentucky through readings and public presentations at meetings, seminars, conferences and events, including Kentucky Writers' Day. Way to go, Gurney!

--Kinfolks: The Wilgus Stories
--Divine Right's Trip : A Novel of the Counterculture
--Book One From Crazy Quilt: A Novel in Progress

The Morning After LOST

Season 5, Episode 10 - "He's Our You"

Everyone on the island is at risk when one of the survivors decides to go against them and take matters into their own hands.

Are you a hostile?

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

Well, we start out this week with glimpses of Sayid's childhood in Tikrit, Iraq. He was killing things as a little tike - hehehe! We also get to see the ruthless side of Sayid. I knew he was bad, I just didn't want to see it. When Sayid kills the last person on Ben's list, Ben tells him mission accomplished - all of Whidmore's people are dead.

This episode filled in many of the holes in Sayid's story. In the flashback, Ben finds Sayid to tell him Locke is dead. Also tells him that thugs are outside of Hurley's institution. Ben wants Sayid to kill the "bad men". Ben is one manipulative dude! Now we know how he came to be on Ajira Flight 316. The only problem is, this was the 10th episode of the season and I still don't understand why the Oceanic 6 had to return to the Island.




Young Ben tells Sayid to be patient - I may be able to help you. Ben gives Sayid a sandwich and a new book, A Separate Reality by Carlos Castaneda.




Now I'm scared - Sawyer has things under control. In Sawyer's attempt to "save" Sayid, he tasered Sayid in the groin - ouch!!

William Sanderson (Larry from the Newhart Show - remember "I'm Larry; this is my brother Daryl and my other brother Daryl") is the Dharma torturer - he is the "He's Our You." Sayid is tied to a tree and force-fed "truth serum" - he was spilling his guts!!

Whoa moment: Flaming Dharma van! Yikes! Kaboom!! Sawyer to Jack: "Three years, no burning buses. You're back ONE DAY..."

Ah ha moment: I never thought I'd feel sorry for Ben - his dad was an animal!

What the hell moment: The past 2 episodes have only covered one day!!

Hubba-Hubba moment: Sayid and Ilana - before she beat the crap out of him!

Holy mackerel moment: Sayid shot young Ben - did not see that coming!

Funniest moment: Hurley's in the house and he's in charge of the food again!!

What I missed: Again I ask: Where are Rose and the other castaways? Where are Sun and Frank? Will we ever learn where Aaron is? What has happened to Desmond and Penny? Where is the resurrected Locke?

Famous last words: "You're all going to die! I'm from the future."

All in all, another excellent episode!

Way Back Wednesday - Top Gun

Top Gun is a 1986 American film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired by an article written by Ehud Yonay for California Magazine entitled "Top Guns." The film stars Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer and Tom Skerritt.

The film follows LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Cruise), a young Naval aviator who aspires to be a top fighter pilot in the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, which trains the top 1% of all Naval aviators. Maverick gets his chance to attend the school after one pilot drops out, allowing him and his RIO (Radar Intercept Officer, the "back seater" in the two-man F-14) LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Edwards) to train with the best. The film opened in America on May 16, 1986 to good reviews, the aerial scenes being most notably praised. Similar praise followed soon afterwards when the film broke records at the box office, becoming a mega hit. The film accumulated over $350 million worldwide, and broke home-video sales records.

I remember this film so well because it was released the summer I started dating my hubby. I saw this film 5 times in theaters, and I've lost count of the number of times I've seen it since it was released on video.

Crapola

I just got this email from my hubby:

We were just informed that all employees in the corporation, top to bottom, will be taking 5 (unpaid) furlough days from April 1 thru June 30. That means one day off, unpaid, every pay period. Don't know yet if we'll be able to schedule the days or be told when we will be "off". Possibly more later.

Just when I thought the yucky economy might just miss my family - wham, bam - hit hits us in the wallet!

Do You Hulu?

Okay, I'm a TV addict - I freely admit it. I have certain shows I absolutely love and can't think about missing. VCRs and DVD players have been great for recording and playing back programs, so I was ecstatic when we finally got a DVR. No more VHS tapes or discs - now I can record my favorite shows and watch them anytime I want.

Because I'm an insomniac, I typically watch a lot of TV at night after my family has gone to bed. Makes for some "hard to get up" mornings, but then again, I've never been a morning person.

So, imagine my surprise when I discovered Hulu.com! What is Hulu, you may ask? Hulu is a website offering commercial-supported streaming video of TV shows and movies from many of the biggest television networks and movie studios. Hulu videos are currently offered only to users in the United States. And get this - the name Hulu comes from Mandarin Chinese hulu translated as "holder of precious things."

Although Hulu has been up and running for almost a year (March 2008), I did not learn about this neat site until this year's Super Bowl. I know, I know, I'm not a sports fan - I'm one of those nuts who tapes the Super Bowl and then fast-forwards through the game just to watch the commericals! Voila` - Hulu!!

The first commerical I saw starred Alex Baldwin - mooshy, mooshy ...



Since the original commerical, several other TV stars have done Hulu commericals: Eliza Dushku, Homer Simpson, and Family Guys' Seth McFarlane.

Now I can watch many TV shows from my childhood - Starsky and Hutch, Saturday Night Live, Flipper, Lost in Space and Buck Rogers - as well as newer shows which are now off the air - Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Hulu is also great for catching up with current shows you may have missed, or forgotten to program the DVR for - Fringe, Legend of the Seeker, Dollhouse, House or Lie to Me.

Just when you thought television couldn't get any better, along comes Hulu. How do they do it? 'Cause:

They're aliens and that's how they roll ...

Sunday's Seven Wonders - Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia. Four hundred species of corals, both hard corals and soft corals can be found on the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. The Great Barrier Reef supports a wide diversity of life, and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. CNN has labelled it one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Queensland National Trust has named it a state icon of Queensland.




The Heart Reef





Blue Starfish in the Reef




Thirty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef, including the dwarf minke whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, and the humpback whale. Six species of sea turtles come to the reef to breed – the green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, flatback turtle, and the olive ridley. Salt water crocodiles live in mangrove and saltmarshes on the coast near the reef. Forty-nine species of pipefish and nine species of seahorse have been recorded on the islands, as well as seven species of frog. The islands of the Great Barrier Reef are also known to support 2,195 known plant species.

The Morning After Bones

Salt in the Wounds, Season 4, episode 17 (#75)

Brennan and Booth investigate the death of a 16-year-old pregnant girl who was found buried in a pile of street salt. During their investigation they uncover a high school "pregnancy pact" between the victim and some of her fellow volleyball players.

Because this week's murder victim was a young pregnant girl found in a city salt heap, Cam takes over the forensics of the case and overrules Bones. Cam has an idea on how to "rehydrate" the body, so she refuses to let Bones de-flesh the bones. Interesting dynamic going on between Cam and Bones.

There was a brand new intern this week and he was truly different from any of the other interns. Vaziri was a Musslium and a strong character of faith - he set a good example for everyone. Bones was frustrated because he had to stop and pray 5 times a day, but he was a nice counterpoint to Dr. Soroyan without being too annoying.

Booth and Bones were almost pushed to the background in this episode because more of the supporting cast was on stage. Dr. Sweets and Anglea went undercover to gather info on the suspected murderer, Cam showed more of her hands on skills instead of just being the boss, and Hodgins and Anglea ended up once again in the Egyptian Room - I'm not saying any more about this because it will be a true spoiler, but just let me say, I've waited for this episode all season. Oh, did I forget to tell you? Roxie broke up with Anglea!

Although Booth and Bones had to interview a girl's volleyball team about a pregnancy pact, we didn't have as much of the lively banter between the 2 main characters. I did think it was sweet of Booth to take the teenage "father" to task and try to set him on the right path and instead of ending the show with a personal exchange between Booth and Bones, we have Bones watching Booth from the sidewalk.

My favorite quote of the night came from the chiropractor (murder suspect). Bones tells him he is very informative to not be a "real" doctor and he counters her with, "You're not a real doctor either." The look on Bones' face was priceless.

All in all, another great episode!

Viva La Vida

I have the Coldplay song "Viva La Vida" stuck in my head and can't get it out!!

VIVA LA VIDA
Coldplay

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

The Morning After LOST

Namaste - Season 5, Episode 9, #94

After meeting old acquaintances Sawyer is forced to continue lying to protect them.

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

Oh man, where to begin!! Great episode !! Can we all say Namaste...

We start out with the "2nd" plane crash - was the runway they landed on the same runway Sawyer and Kate were working on when they were held captive by the Others? Probably, I guess it makes sense. Anyway the plane crash survivors are surprised to find Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sayid gone. He now know who the dead pilot was the original castaways found seasons ago.

Dharma Group: Jack's group is surprised to find themselves in 1977. Sawyer is going to try and pass them off as new recruits. When did Sawyer turn so serious? Jin has run off to try and find Sun, but he takes off after a hostile, who turns out to be Sayid. By the way, what was they dome structure the Dharma guy was making in the communication building?

Plane Survivors: Ben heads away from the Beach and Sun follows him - then Frank starts to follow Sun.

Best ah-ha moment: Amy's baby is Ethan Rom! So he was an Island born "Other." Also, when a bloody Lapidus sits up and finds his co-pilot dead, is this the same dead pilot from the plane crash the castaways found in season 2?

What the hell moment: Sun bopping Ben over the head with an oar - way to go Sun!! She is truly ruthless this season! Also, why isn't the Dharma compound Sun and Frank arrive at not where Sawyer and group are? More time travel? And, where did Christian come from?

I don't understand moment: I still don't understand how come Jack and his group ended up on THE Island and how the other plane survivors ended up on the other island, but in a different time.

Best holy mackerel moment: Jack, Kate, and Hurley end up as Dharma recruits! Eye-crumbra...

Hubba-hubba moment: Sawyer takes his glasses off for Kate - I melted...

Funniest moment: "Watch the ribs there, Kong!" Tehe...I've missed Sawyer and Hurley's interactions. Also, I loved Ride Captain ride upon your mystery ship ... as the new recruits are herded in.

Smokey alert: Probably just an animal. Yeah right - that's what they always say!

What I missed Moment: Locke - where the hell was Locke tonight? After his great resurrection, I thought we would at least see him, if only for a minute.

Blast from the past: Dr. Chang - alive and larger than life.

Famous last words: Follow me ...

Best "pay back's a bitch" moment: Sawyer pointing out Winston Churchill read a book a night to think, and then telling Jack he is a reacter, not a thinker - touche`.

Way Back Wednesday - House of Dark Shadows

Okay, folks - anyone who knows me well, knows I'm a Dark Shadows addict. So, it was only a matter of time before I highlighted the Dark Shadows movies on Way Back Wednesday. I've held off as long as I can, but I can resist no longer. Welcome to the House of Dark Shadows.....

House of Dark Shadows is a 1970 feature-length horror film by Dan Curtis based on his Dark Shadows television series.

Dark Shadows producer Dan Curtis began pitching the idea of a movie based on his Gothic soap opera hit sometime in 1968, and it was greenlighted in 1970. Curtis decided to use the original Barnabas storyline as the basis for the film, but to have it run to the conclusion originally intended for the character: that Barnabas would remain evil and be destroyed for his sins.

Unrestricted by TV's censors, the House of Dark Shadows is far more graphically violent than its television counterpart, with dripping vampire bites and bloody stakings. The film was released at the height of the TV show's popularity, to great commercial success.

Seeking a legendary fortune in jewels, the Collins family handyman Willie Loomis opens a hidden coffin in the Collins family crypt, releasing vampire Barnabas Collins from his 150-year confinement. Barnabas makes Willie his slave, then presents himself to the modern day Collins family - Roger, Elizabeth, Carolyn, and David - as a "cousin from England." Barnabas moves into the "Old House" on the Collins estate, where the "first" Barnabas had lived.

The one major difference between the movie and the original storyline from the soap opera is the absence of the governess, Victoria Winters. By the time the film was made, Victoria was no longe a character on the soap opera. Maggie Evans is now the governess to David and she lives in the great mansion of Collinwood.

Jonathan Frid .......... Barnabas Collins
Grayson Hall ........... Dr. Julia Hoffman
Kathryn Leigh Scott .... Maggie Evans
Nancy Barrett .......... Carolyn Stoddard
John Karlen ............ Willie Loomis
Thayer David ........... Professor Stokes
Louis Edmonds .......... Roger Collins
David Henesy ........... David Collins

How Could She??

(Kendall and Zach)

I may have to temporarily boycott All My Children! Okay, I know I probably can't get rid of my Pine Valley addiction that easily, but I am furious with Kendall! I was so glad when she woke up from her 3 month coma, but now I wish she'd go back into one.

(Ryan - easy on the eyes, but no Zach!)

She's kissing Ryan - Ryan! Of all people. How can she do this to Zach?? I would do everything possible to stay in Zach's good graces - Ryan is such a butt!

I guess the bitch really is back!

Sisterhood of the Unraveling Pants

You'll have to excuse me while I brag just a teeny bit - I had another blog post published in the Lexington Herald-Leader today!!

The Sisterhood of the Unraveling Pant is a conversation I had a few months ago with my youngest daughter.

You can also read it on my Bluegrass Moms Blog

.

Ice Cream is Good for the Soul

Someone forwarded me this precious email and I just had to share:



Saying Grace In A Restaurant

Last week, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, 'God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food , and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!'

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, 'That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!'

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, 'Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?'

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, 'I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.'

'Really?' my son asked.

'Cross my heart,' the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), 'Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.'

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, 'Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already.'

Faith and Begorrah

"Faith and Begorrah" - it's St. Patty's Day again! Green beer for everyone!

I'm not an Irish woman - and I don't play one on TV - but I am interested in many things Irish. From what I've learned over ye ole internet, "faith and begorrah" roughly translates to "By God." Begorrah apparently is a made up term used by Irish ancestors as an opening expression, but the word does exist in the English dictionary as an emphatic Irish exclamation.

Saint Patrick's Day is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa AD 385–461), one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17. The day is the national holiday of Ireland. In the United States, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday.



And NO, you can't pinch me - I wore green today !!

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Pink Shawl

I finished knitting the pink shawl I was working on for Amber. Pink is not really my color, but it turned out pretty.

I have now started on a shawl for myself - homespun yarn in meadow green. I love green and so far it is working up nicely.

The Doll's House

Mercer Drama Class presents Henrik Ibsen's
THE DOLL'S HOUSE
A staged reading

A note from the director, Dustin Mosko

I have always wanted to produce and direct this play. Although it was written in the late 1800s, I feel that it touches upon our society as if it were written today. With a high percentage of our population's children growing up with single parents or in the homes of guardians that are not their natural parents, we cannot dismiss the fact that there are problems in our culture's domestic lifestyle.

For me, Nora represents the stong fighting spirit of all women who fight for equality among a world of men. Through the struggles of women's rights I believe that there are still responsiblities that are expected more of women than that of men. At the end of Act III Nora must make the decision that many of our culture's women must make on a daily basis. Will she chose the choice that she is expected to take?

Torvald and Nora Helmer (Dakota Rogers and Bethany Hood)
Mrs. Lind and Nils Krogstad (Amber Tyler and Everett Hood)
Dr. Rank, Torvald, Mrs. Lind and Nora (Andrew Rice, Dakota Rogers, Amber Tyler, and Bethany Hood)
Dr. Rank and Nora (Andrew Rice and Bethany Hood)
THE CAST:
Torvald Helmer ........................ Dakota Rogers
Nora Helmer ........................... Bethany Hood
Dr. Rank .............................. Andrew Rice
Mrs. Linde ............................ Amber Tyler
Nils Krogstad ......................... Everett Hood
Helmer's Children .... Ivar .... Dusty Mosko .... Bob .... Noah Davis
Anne, their Nurse ..................... Laura Vineyard
Helen, their Housemaid ................ Mackenzie Gray
A Porter .............................. Seth Pitman

THE CREW:
Stage Manager ......................... Christine Rightmyer
The Mercer County Senior High Drama Class