Weekend

Wow, many many many college football upsets this weekend. Oklahoma went down, Florida went down, West Virginia went down, Oregon went down. But at least for now, I am tied for first!

Ladies poker night was fun, but I was definitely feeling a sugar-rush from all of those frozen concoctions last night. Ugh. And the coffee/omelet combo was not a great idea, either. Ugh again. But it was great catching up with friends, though I hope the nice weekend is not an omen for another crazy week ahead. I could not deal with that.

Lions look like they will win, too 3-1.

Busy Week

I feel like I have worked pretty hard this week. Unusual, right :)

A few things that have caught my attention:

--I bought the Rogue Wave CD. They were on the Spiderman 3 Soundtrack, and I noticed that a lot of the stuff I like on itunes recommended their CD. I give it a B; it starts out good. Lake Michigan is a quality track.

--I watched the Season Premiere of Bionic Woman; it's not bad. I want to check out Pushing Daisies, and that will be it for the new TV. And I thought the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy was a huge improvement; Shonda wrote the episode. It wasn't as mopey, and it moved along before the shark jumping ferry episode.

--I am hosting Ladies Poker night tomorrow night. The boys played yesterday and made a huge mess. We will be more lady-like, and have much better food/drinks.

--Another big reason that I am not a leftie: Hillary's big plan to offer $5K for every baby born in the U.S. Isn't this just inviting illegal aliens into the country?

Latest Readings and Football!!

Last weekend, I finished Amity Shlaes' The Forgotten Man. It was a great account of the New Deal, how the Great Depression really wasn't cured by it, and how capitalists (like Andrew Mellon and others) were screwed by the reigning socialists of the time. On that same point, I read over the weekend Milton Friedman's classic Free to Choose. If I could have learned economics from him and Thomas Sowell, I think I would actually get it. Well, 90% of it. That bond question on the ISI quiz makes no sense to me, though it was ripped right from the book. Well, I did get an A- on it; not too bad!!!

So I am going to start Jay Winik's latest, The Great Upheaval. I've never read very much on that era in France or Russia, so I am looking forward to it.

Well, the Lions got blown out by the Eagles, and my college football picks stunk. However, the Cowboys are off to a great start, defeating the Bears and moving to 3-0. And a certain someone won his fantasy football game. It was a relaxing weekend, just hanging out, reading, getting a couple of workouts in despite the sore knees. Today I should take it easy...

Not quite Fall...

The first day of Autumn is tomorrow, and it's 83 degrees. Tomorrow will be even warmer. I guess that is why Banana Republic is ditching its Fall clothes already to get ready for their holiday collection. I got two new work shirts, a going out shirt, and new jeans for $166. Not bad. I do need a few more work things, but today I mostly wanted to rely on my rebate from AT&T. Though I may go back to the downtown location, just in case I change my mind...

I tried the Zen of Zin last night from Ravenswood. Pretty good. I am sure it will be finished off tonight.

GRRR Louisville.

It is nice to be here on a Saturday, and not have anywhere to go or anyplace to be. I am so tired of rushing around.

Dad should be getting back from Germany right around now. I got a postcard from him yesterday; I really look forward to hearing how his trip went.

I applaud Romney's attempt at calling out the GOP on its flagrant spending, ethical lapses, and irresponsibly immigration policy (or lack thereof), though I am thinking more and more it will be Romney. I can see as a #2 on the ticket; who cares about geographical balance. And I think it will be Hillary/Obama. That is my early guess.

Revelations

Shimmy is Alice Brady, and Timmy is Arthur Blake. Of course, there is a certain amount of skepticism about this reveal, although I do find the entire Old Hollywood storyline so intriguing. Anyway, I at least have a new blog to read.

Bye Sara on Top Chef, leaving Brian, Casey, Dale, & Hung.

Got Paste the other day. The song that stands out to me most is Crowded Hour, by Augie March. There are a couple of others, too, of course, though this CD isn't as great as some of the others have been.

So the knees were sore this morning, and yesterday they were fine. What gives?

I cannot believe that SMC hosted Tim Wise on campus. This guy--who makes a living on calling white conservatives racists and Jim Crow supporters--is another reason why I won't financially support the school. Why should I give them money to support programs that bring speakers to campus, give them a forum without opposition, labels conservatives hypocrites, calls Ronald Reagan a phony hero, and basically labels any black conservative an oreo (even if he doesn't come out and say it). Because political beliefs are black and white, right? I am embarrassed SMC has sunk this low. I doubt they'll respond to me.

Family News

I found out on Monday that in about 8 months or so I will become an aunt. That is very exciting, though I am still a bit bittersweet about that. This is when it is tough to be living so far from family. Well, it will be a new chapter and new generation for my family.

In other news...

--Timmy/Shimmy to be revealed. While Shimmy has to be Alice Brady, there is still alot of speculation as to the identity of Timmy. Arthur Blake was bandied about because his DOB/DOD could fit, but who knows.
--I've been listening to the KT Tunstall new CD online. So far, I do like it, though it hasn't gotten the greatest reviews. It just has to be a fun, bouncy CD. Not everything has to be a work of art. At least it isn't crap like that Gimme More song by Britney Spears.
--I dropped the ball, and I should have bought Thanksgiving tickets weeks ago. Now the price is climbing. Grr. There are also times I wish family could come to me!
--I've been taking it easy on my knees this week by not running. They feel better, but I will probably take one more night off. The weather is nice and mild, so I hope to hit the Rock Creek Trail a bit more. I do need to get some new running shoes; perhaps I will finally make it to Fleet Feet, since that places gets such good reviews. I do have that $100 gift card/rebate to spend. But I also need some new fall clothes!

Weekend Wedding

The wedding was very nice this weekend. It rained a bit on Friday, but at least it wasn't a torrential downpour. Lou Malnati really is the BEST pizza. Yummy, I could have eaten an entire pie. And then there were fruit pies, yummy!

Jenny was a beautiful bride, very emotional. Their vows were so full of heart. The after-party was about as informal as anything I've been too, though it certainly proves that you don't need a lot of $$ and all of the trimmings to have a party like that. Even the couple of toasts were just right.

I drove a new friend back, Doug. He was good company for the drive. Then off to Birmingham via BWI. The Ashcroft event was really neat--heck, I sat with Senator Sessions, Judge Pryor, Justice See, a US Attorney. I was a bit blown away. The word there is not pro-Giuliani, but no one seemed to have a strong feeling toward any of the candidates.

So our new AG will be Judge Michael Mulkasy. Even if he's solid--which by all accounts he is on the war on terror--I can't say I am thrilled.

This and That

--I'm still obsessing over the identity of Timmy. Everyone is surmising that Alice Brady is Shimmy; there doesn't seem to be another Oscar winner in the Studio era who disappeared shortly after winning. The last Noah's Ark clue suggests that there might have been a second AB--the one who played silent roles. If not her, I am stumped. I added the link to my phone so I can check for updates over the weekend!

--I'm heading to the Northern Neck of VA for JL's wedding. It should be fun. Then off to Birmingham for the big John Ashcroft dinner. I'm looking forward to meeting him.

--After running 6 miles at the gym on Wednesday, I realized I have to ease off of my knees for a few days. My legs are just sore. I worked out 6 days in a row. I need to ease off the obsessive working out a bit. I'm plateauing, and always hungry, and sore!!! Hopefully I can get in a walk or something, though, over the next few days.

--Opinion Journal nailed its editorial on Harry Reid's threats against Ted Olson. Bring on a fight! The base is all W. has left.

--I hope Newt Gingrich is wrong, but he makes too much sense. This is why I can't make up my mind on a candidate to support.

Bye-bye CJ

Oh no, CJ was my favorite on Top Chef! I really thought it should have been Brian; the guy has done nothing the last few weeks, and he seemed pretty cocky last night.

So I'm rooting for Dale and Casey now. Hung is too arrogant, Sarah I just don't get very great vibes about, and then Brian. Though I would have happily eaten all of that airplane food they prepared; that is so much better than the nothing Northwest usually serves. Though I guess I would have to start getting first class tickets, right?

9/11: Six Years Later

As usual, Jonah Goldberg is spot on.

This might sound unfair, but if George Bush had been a better president, John Edwards would never have dreamed of calling the war on terror nothing but a bumper sticker. As it stands right now, if any Democratic candidate other than Joe Biden or maybe Hillary Clinton (!) gets elected we will bug out of Iraq so precipitously it will be indistinguishable from abject defeat in the eyes of the world. And under any of them, the war on terror will become a glorified Elliot Spitzer style legal campaign. That is not a sign that President Bush has adequately led the country or prepared it for the struggles ahead.

Football, Adams Morgan, and New Music

--I went to my first Adams Morgan Day yesterday, which is shameful, since I've been in the area for nine years, and living in the area for two. But it always coincides with the first NFL weekend of the year, and someone's obsession with the Cowboys usually prohibits my attendance at said festival. The day was hotter than it should be for September--90 and humid--which slightly dampened my good time. But I had the chance to pick up some chicken on a stick and check out some of the artsy vendors. Very neat. I miss the festivals from St. V's when I was a kid, with the tasty carnival food and games and music. No polka on 18th Street, but it was a neat event. A little too crowded, but a good time.

--The 'Boys and the Lions both won their first game of the season. Yeah!

--I had to go up to Melody Records to pick up a new pair of earphones, and they had samplers of new Fall music, including from the New Pornographers, Band of Horses, Architecture in Helsinki, Iron and Wine, and some new bands I'm looking forward to getting a listen to. It's from Alternative Distribution Alliance. Very cool, and very worth the hot trek up to Dupont Circle.

A list of the Best TV Shows ever

See here.

The Wonder Years is missing. And I might include A Different World. And Little House on the Prairie.

Though I think it's pretty good. Very excited to see X-Files, Married with Children, Arrested Development, Twilight Zone, & Hitchcock.

Blind Items

Who is Timmy?

And more...

Observations

Bye-bye Howie on Top Chef. Love Anthony Bourdain's column. The self-righteousness of the judges does get a bit annoying, but you know they edit this stuff to make it appear that way.

I'm still suffering through sore throat/mouth issues. Grr. At least my bug bites are healing. I'm almost ready to go for the all-natural organic remedies.

I did have a yummy hummus/feta pita from the Greek deli for lunch, though it was pricey. I have to get a frosty or something for this sore throat. I was definitely craving hummus. I think I'd eat mediterranean/middle eastern food every day if I could get away with it.

So Thompson finally got in last night. Some of the luster has been lost on him. Too much staff turnover. We have Giuliani speaking in November, seemingly. I still like Mitt Romney, though I don't think he's going to win. Maybe as Veep to Rudy. I just don't want to see Hillary or Oprah-endorsed Obama appointing our next Supreme Court justice.

Am loving the Josh Ritter CD. And Chasing Cars is now playing on Radio Paradise. That was the best song of 2006, no thanks to Grey's Anatomy.

So it is an interesting phenomenon that all of these college freshman meet each other at Facebook long before stepping foot on college campuses. I think Sara and I wrote letters, and we may have spoken on the phone once. How different things are now, only 13 years later! We have an AU intern here, and it's been 10+ years since I've been in that program. Yikes.

NFL seasons starts tonight. Indy vs. New Orleans.

Pregnant in Hollywood

So yes, I am totally obsessed with Celebrity Baby Blog. Maybe it's just that little part of me with the maternal urges kicking through, but I think a lot of it is the cute fashion babies have and the gossipy-nature of figuring out how Hollywood families live though.

But with Halle Berry's recent announcement that she is three months pregnant, it struck me how few celebrity babies are born to parents who are married. The news just made a big deal of Michelle & Heath's breakup, but they never got married. And whether it's Drea de Matteo and Scooter Jennings, Nicole & Joel, Scott Baio and Renee Sloan, Brangelina, Tobey Maguire and Jen Meyer (who JUST got married), Poppy Montgomery & her bfriend, Bridget Moynihan & Tom Brady, Naomi & Liev, Salma Hayek & her fiance, Jaime Pressly & her fiance, who is married??? I guess Gavin & Gwen did it the traditional way. Ironically, the biggest cover-up involves happily married Christina Aguilera & Jordan Bratman!! Of course there are others, but all of the headlines are generated by those who are so happy to have a baby together but totally oppose marriage.

I guess it's better than the alternative, right? :)

Labor Day Weekend

I finally saw Knocked Up this weekend, in probably the last theater (Dupont Circle) showing it anywhere near DC, since it's already been out three weeks. It was good, a little too long. Very funny in parts, and very strikingly accurate in the way it portrays couples. A very not-subtle pro-life message. Of course someone would try to talk Alison into the "a-word" (and I don't mean adoption), and she nixed the idea. I still want to see Superbad!

California was a quick trip. Other than an inane experience with Hilton (not going there again!!), the trip to Mountain View was nice. The food at the reception--everything from hummus to Spanish to ravioli to a tasty salad--was terrific. Carolyn was barely showing, and she's about 5 months along. Just an itty bitty baby bump. Though I swear we were the only conservatives there. Her godmother (the SMC/ND grad) almost sneered at me when I said where I worked. And her dad was so disgruntled he moved to Canada!

This was a record fourth CA trip this year. Reagan Library in January, Napa in June, SF in August. I've lost track of my trips this year...Miami & Chicago in February; NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, WV in April-May; Boston and Kansas/Kansas City also in June. Not to mention the trips to Detroit. I will have to look into this tomorrow.

The real big news was U-M losing to I-AA Appalachian State. How embarrassing to lose like that in the Big House. Bye Lloyd Carr.