Alice & Faith's Rosie Adventure

Yep, that is Rosie, me and Faith together at the AC Moore craft store in Framingham, MA! What a long day we had; long lines, friendly people and finally, a chance to meet and talk with Rosie, who I totally enjoy. It all started at 5:15 am on Saturday 5/31 when I woke up. After showering and letting Hannibal out, I was off. First to the bank as I had about 57 cents on me, then onto Faith's house and then 95 north to 128 into Framingham. We had a nice ride, only running into a couple of stupid drivers, only getting a tiny bit lost (we actually passed the AC Moore store as it was at the rear of Shoppers World) and arriving at the store at about 8:25. We got our red tickets, which meant we would be in the first group of people to meet Ro. We were told to return about 11:00 so off we went to find a place to have some breakfast. After our very filling breakfast we went to Trader Joe's, which I had heard of, but never visited. It's a little like Whole Foods, (which I've never been to either,) but it was fun. We found some cereal called Joe's O's, which Faith bought for her Joe.

Then we went back to AC Moore and the wait for Rosie began. We got in line a few minutes before 11:00 and we waited and waited and waited and then we waited some more. Thank goodness for the other people in line. We all had Rosie in common, so it really was a fun time and nobody got grumpy, including me. And, of course, there was the one crazy Rosie stalker fan! She looked strange to begin with and her actions and words pretty much put us all off and made us very wary of her, enough so that one of the girls in line notified security. Surprisingly, Faith was able to get her in a picture, which I will post soon.

Once Rosie got to the store, all babies, elderly and handicapped went to the front of the line, which was sort of frustrating. While I understand how Rosie feels, she doesn't want them to have to stand in line - but those of us who aren't babies, elderly and/or handicapped stood in line for hours (or sat, as I did) it was a very long wait.
Once we did get to the front of the line, it got pretty exciting. I thought it was strange to hear her voice in person - while it sounds the same, it was different. We watched Rosie interact with the ladies in line ahead of us and, just before us, a small boy named David. He wouldn't approach Rosie as his sisters did. And he wouldn't smile either. So Rosie approached him and gave him a beanie baby type stuffed animal.

I was next and Rosie explained to me that he had a brain injury from a car accident. I can't remember everything we spoke about, but we did cover the color green, which is my and her favorite color - as well as the color of her eyes. She has the most beautiful green and hazel eyes that don't show up when she's on TV or in movies. They are very distinct. She's very pretty also, not just attractive, but pretty and I suspect that she will become beautiful as she gets older.

She signed my Crafty U book, as well as a poster of her art that I brought with me, and we hugged and she gave me a kiss on my cheek. Faith took a few pics and a woman photographer there took the picture of Rosie, me and Faith.

All that waiting in line suddenly vanished from my mind and having met Rosie, my mission was accomplished. It was great to meet Rosie, she was everything and more than I had expected.

But the real gift that day was the time that I spent with Faith, my best friend for almost 35 years, since we met at the beginning of 12th grade in the fall of 1973. I'm so glad to have shared the day with her and completely appreciate the support and help that she gave me, her enthusiasm for our road trip, and the pictures that she took. She is the best!

Prosecution of George W. Bush For Murder

by Vincent Bugliosi (who has never lost a murder trial)

I really like this plan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH40oSzdvYc&feature=email

Rest In Peace Harvey Korman

Harvey Korman was a part of everyone's life if you grew up in the 70's, as I did. He passed away on Thursday and that makes me sad.

He, along with Tim Conway, Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence made us laugh so loud and so long. And his role as Hedley Lamar in Blazing Saddles is classic.

Click here for one of the best and funniest clips ever on TV:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q9T8i4FkNVo

Why Would Anyone Do This

The other day I saw a few moving type trucks in the driveway of my deceased landlord's house. The trucks were being packed up and at first I thought that Cheryl, his widow, might be moving out. Patrick could hear people moving things out upstairs from his apartment where there is a florida type room. But then I saw a furniture delivery truck making a delivery so I couldn't really figure out what was going on.

Today as I was bringing Patrick home from his dentist appointment I saw Cheryl outside, so I decided to go speak with her and get the low down on just what was going on.

It seems that Gordon's son came to clean out his fathers stuff from the house. Cheryl said that they took everything that wasn't hers. Everything!

They took the living room set and the dining room set. They cleaned out the attic and the basement. They took her bed and her dishes!! Yes, you read that correctly. They took her bed.

Yes, her marriage bed that she shared with the husband that she is still grieving! And it is all going to be auctioned! They don't need the stuff, they just want her to move out so they have made it difficult for her to stay in the house. As she is telling me this, my eyes started to tear up, I felt so completely sad for her and her helplessness. They didn't even offer to leave anything or to even have her buy it from them.

She knows that they want to sell the house(s)!!! That would not bode well for me and Patrick as anyone who buys these houses will either raise our rents or boot us out, either of which makes me want to cry (for me!) It took me years to find the perfect living arrangement for Patrick and me and I can't imagine having to look for rentals, never mind having to move again! If or when the time comes, I don't think I will go quietly! Which, coincidently, is how Cheryl feels about staying at the house. I'm thinking spite might make her sit tight for awhile and I told her that she should stay for as long as she feels is right. (Which I hope is forever!)

Anyway, I cannot believe that anyone would or could be so cold as to do that to a woman whose husband died the week before Christmas. I can only imagine that Gordon would not be happy about this at all.

Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires

For those of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's, Smokey The Bear was often seen on the TV in commercials telling us how to be safe in the forest. He's kept a low profile lately, and now is making up for lost time. Here he is welcoming folks into the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. He sure is cute!



Smokey The Bear has had many advances over the years, it seems. He now can drive and his ride of choice looks to be an ATV quad. I'm sure that a bear with his high standards has a license and insurance for his safety.

But wait!! It looks like Smokey has a truck!! Wow, he rides ATV's and drives a pick-up truck? You know, there's something women like in a pick-up man, uh, bear! However, it looks like there may be a problem. Or maybe Smokey's just doing a little preventative maintenance.

Holy Smokes!! (Pardon the pun.) It looks like he really has gotten around, now he's picked-up a woman (or has she picked him up?) She really is looking quite pleased with herself and she IS giving a thumbs up!

But Wait!! She's taking Smokey The Bear away, just as he has re-emerged from his self imposed hibernation!! Though he looks like he might be trying to get away. Or she probably laid hard on the gas and he's falling off?

Ah, Smokey, we're gonna miss you. But we hope you have a happily ever after with this woman who kidnapped, uh, took you away.

PS. SMOKEY THE BEAR IS MY FRIEND, JOE, WHO WORKS IN THE FOREST EVERY SUMMER AND HAS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. GOOD JOB, JOSEPH!!

Cute, Cute And More Cute

I get most (90%) of my news on the internet. This started when the idiot was running for president and as only gotten more prevalent as the years have passed. I also rarely watch TV, other than the shows that I record. So, today I read that the Today show had a Cutest Puppy in America contest. And here are the pictures I found. I could not resist sharing them.

This is my winner. They look like polar bears!
This is their winner, he reminds me of Emilee when she wants something from me! And here's all the rest:

Look at the eyes on these beautiful babies.
This is my 1st runner up, so freakin cute!

I'd love to have a dog whose ears stand up!

Wrinkly cuteness.
Sweetness and snow.

He looks like he'll be trouble when he's older!
Is that Hookey or Hannibal as puppies? Could be either!
This guy looks like a stuffed animal!
My nephew Matthew loves Yorkies!

Gotta love a smiling Golden.
I want them ALL!!!!

Memorial Day

America's most recent war dead lie in a quiet patch of ground at Arlington National Cemetery known as Section 60. In that parcel are 485 men and women who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Arlington is one of more than 100 national cemeteries in the United States where there are military graves. Some families turn down the opportunity to have a loved one buried at Arlington, opting instead to have the grave closer to home.
"When you walk down these rows, you learn to respect every single person in this row, not just the person you came to see - every one."

There are more than 290,000 bodies buried here.
Particularly touching are the mementos left at some of the graves -- photographs of wives and children, children's drawings, coins, greeting cards, notes, stones and even unopened beer bottles.
Nino Livaudais was killed in Iraq in April 2003. At his grave is a multicolored, handmade card bearing the message: "You are my hero, Daddy. I am 4 years old, and I miss you and love you very much, Grant."

Snake Oil Execs Go To DC

It looks like the oil executives were up to their old tricks today in front of Senators in DC.

They all look like a bunch of schmucks sitting there, except it is we who are the schmucks paying the ridiculously high prices for gasoline for our cars and oil to heat our homes.

They all raised their right hand and swore to tell the truth - hah. Some truth they told, saying it was supply versus demand that was causing the high prices. Senator Patrick Leahy didn't believe it saying "there’s “a disconnect” between normal supply and demand and the skyrocketing price of oil — surpassing $130 a barrel even as the oil leaders testified — that the industry has yet to explain."

If only they could be forced to lower their prices. As a boycotter, I think that is the only way to make an impact - Exxon/Mobil and Shell should be at the top of everyone's boycott list. They are the industry leaders and, by far, the worst of the bunch.

J. Stephen Simon, executive vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp was asked by Senator Leahy what his total compensation was at Exxon, a company that made $40 billion last year. Simon replied it was $12.5 million annually. So, he shouldn't have any problems paying $4.00 a gallon, if he has to pay anything at all for gasoline.

I was glad to see that the Senators didn't believe what these greedy men said. The guy from ConocoPhillips said he didn’t recall his total compensation!! That I found extremely hard to believe. Most people know exactly what they make and when your salary is in the millions, there's the status symbol that goes along with it - he knows exactly what he makes.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Exxon’s annual profits increased from $11.5 billion to $40.6 billion in the past five years and there was no explanation for “why profits have gone up so high when the consumer is suffering so much.”

The five companies earned $36 billion in the first quarter of this year. Think about that. You need over 999 million to make just one billion.

The executives, appearing under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee, said they know high prices are hurting people, but they said the cause is not company profits but global supply and demand.

They sought to use their appearance before Congress to argue against new taxes on their industry.

“I urge you to resist these punitive policies,” said Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil. Wah, wah, wah, even under oath, he couldn't be urged to tell the truth.

Senate Democrats recently announced an energy package that would tax “windfall” profits of the five companies. That might have public appeal, Lowe (ConocoPhillips exec vice president) told the senators, but oil companies should not be viewed as “a scapegoat” for high prices. Sure they should! Who else could it be?

That was not what many senators wanted to hear.

You have “just a litany of complaints that you’re all just hapless victims of a system,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., told the executives. “Yet you rack up record profits ... quarter after quarter after quarter.”

“I’m sorry to sound like a victim. I don’t feel like a victim at all,” replied Robertson of Chevron, saying that he was proud of his company’s investments in future supply.

What a bunch of greedy bastards.They're probably all Republicans, too.

Senator Ted Kennedy

We all heard the news today that Senator Ted Kennedy has a malignant form of brain cancer. It is certainly sad news when anyone gets such a serious diagnosis, but this one hits especially close to home for those of us who live in Rhode Island. We have embraced the Kennedy family since the 1950's. And we have all felt the sadness from the repeated tragedies of their family.

While a Senator, John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island. JFK, Jr went to Brown. Patrick Kennedy, Ted's son, is one of two RI Representatives. I actually saw Ted Kennedy on a flight from Rhode Island to DC once. He was very approachable and people enjoyed speaking with him during that trip.

The Kennedy's live just up the road, literally. If we follow Rte 6 east, it leads to Hyannis where they have their family compound. When I lived in Onset, Massachusetts I was lucky to have been able to vote for him! That was 1988 and the ballots were paper, which surprised me. I can remember feeling so honored being able to vote for a Kennedy!

Ted Kennedy's impact as a Senator has an impact on all of us whether we are aware of it or not. He has been a champion of poor people, health care and civil rights.

Let's hope he makes it through this difficult illness.

Whew...What A Day

I left the house today at the unbelievably early time of 8:45 so I could bring my brother Patrick to his dentist appointment. While he was there I sat in my car right on Main Ave and watched a Warwick cop nail people with his radar gun. He'd point that thing and the first car that came along, screech, he was gone after them! Three times he did that in about a half hour. He must be the fastest ticket writer east of the Mississippi!

After the dentist, Patrick and I headed to my doctor's office. Third floor, elevator not working! Seems I got my exercise for today right there in the stairwell.

Then we went to the dreaded DMV. What is it about people at the DMV? They could be the nicest people and as soon as they walk into the DMV they look like low-lifes. I'm sure it happens to me too. I think that they would look like normal people in other locations, but not at the DMV. I wonder if it's just my perception or if others think the way I do. Who knows!?

Patrick got his state ID card, something I've been wanting to do for about 6 or 7 years, but since he works every day and back then I was working, so we just couldn't get it done. This is week two of his vacation, so we finally got it done. I also got my license renewed. It was due to be renewed in June - on my birthday, of course. I always thought that you had to go within the actual month, but I found out today that it's up to 90 days before the expiration. Of course, I didn't take a number and there were lots of people waiting, but the lady was nice enough to renew my license while she processed Patrick's info. I kept the old picture, it is probably the best license picture I've ever had taken and I've had many license pictures taken over the years, believe me.

Then we did other errands; pharmacy, lunch, mail, library, and we finally went to get our recycling bins! I've been using paper bags and an extra wastebasket for the past 6 months for my recyclables, but now we are official!

I used as much gas today in my car as I usually do in a month! We finally got home about 2:30. No nap today, trying to stay up and go to bed when others do, but I sure am tired.

I got my first "friend" invitation on YouTube last night. Somebody with the name godlesspatriot! Sounds like a good match for me. He or she has added one of the funniest response to the Bill O'RALly video that's been making the TV rounds as well as a great George Carlin video that I've added to my favorites - it's about religion. Very insightful and I so agree with him.

You Tube

Okay, so I finally uploaded some videos to You Tube!
They're of Emi, JaeMae and Hannibal.
To see them, go to YouTube.com
In the subject line, type in: lovesdawgs OR you can click here: http://www.youtube.com/lovesdawgs
And there are my videos. Here's a sampling of what you'll find: