**Update on a Previous Post**

I wanted to thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for Big Daddy's nephew and to let you know that his time in the IDF has come to an end. He's officially just a plain old Israeli civilian now. And I imagine that there's still a certain amount of inherent danger just in that, but at least he is out of harm's direct path. Thank you all for your good juju. Let's continue to pray for peace in the region.

In Style

So have you seen the photo on facebook with all the little cartoon faces that you're supposed to tag with people you know? "Goody Two Shoes" "Ladies Man" "Grumpy" "Most Dependable" I got it from Elijah, who tagged me as "Most Stylish" which I thought was really sweet — and quite observant — of him, until I realized that he probably has no idea of my "style" and just figured I'd be good for that one because he knows I like to wear $500 shoes.

If you're tagged in one, then you're supposed to grab it and tag it with people you know. And I noticed that several of Elijah's friends who followed suite didn't tag anyone for "Stylish." (I also noticed that they all tagged Alex Francis for "Drama Queen," which I imagine was starting to piss her off a bit. I bet she was all "OMG! Ya'll! Everyone's tagging me for DRAMA QUEEN! I AM SO NOT A DRAMA QUEEN! YA'LL!!! NOW MY LIFE IS RUINNNNED!!!")

Then I got to thinking...do they even elect "Best Dressed" in high schools anymore? (I know when that sentence started you were expecting something a little more Carrie Bradshaw-ish, but this is really what I was thinking.) When I was in school in the 80s, we actually cared about looking put-together and stylish. I'm pretty sure the Senior Class of '84 single-handedly kept Max Factor in the black with all that fluorescent purple eye liner we used to wear. But how do you elect a "Best Dressed" when everyone's got on jeans and hoodies with flipflops?

Now I'm trying to remember exactly what the Best Dressed girls at my high school wore, but you can bet it probably included big neck bows and shoulder pads. Plaid wool skirts. Boots. Add-a-bead necklaces. Whatever — the title definitely went to someone who didn't wear jeans every day. And to a guy who wore button-down oxfords, Duckheads and loafers. Elijah occasionally wears khakis and button-up shirts to school, but do you ever see girls in skirts?

I gotta get my hands on a yearbook and figure this out.

Getting My Mojo Back (Crocodile Pumps optional) (But suggested)

I was totally planning to post my review of Jen Lancaster's new book Pretty in Plaid and in fact have most of it written, but part of what I wanted to talk about really pounded me right between the eyes and I decided to write about that and finish the review tomorrow.

Because I was really touched by the honesty and openness with which Jen wraps up her latest book. The last chapter, about her job at the HMO, and the Epilogue are really heartfelt and personal. At least they were to me.

I'm very quiet for a moment while I figure out my next move. If I punch him — oh God, do I want to punch him really hard with my big silver ring — I'll end up in jail. If I scream back at him, I'll get fired...
As I listen and transcribe, I notice I'm sinking lower and lower and lower in my seat. I'm practically cowering at the end, and I'm shaking all the way to my shoes. I kick them off in case my feet start terror-sweating.
Then I step outside myself and really examine the situation.
Hold on, this isn't who I am.
I'm not a coward.
I'm not a patsy.
I'm certainly not a punching bag, even if the blows are only verbal.
I will not be bullied.
I look down at what I've written in quivery handwriting and I decide I've reached my limit. That's enough.
I wad up the paper, then put my shoes back on and stomp on it before tossing it in the trash. Then I open a Word document and begin to type.
Dear Human Resources,
It is with regret that I'm tendering my resignation...

Because, no, motherfuckers. I am not your punching bag. This is not me. I'm not a coward. Granted, Jen had the advantage of living in Chicago right at the onset of the dot-com boom, so new jobs were hers for the taking. (And granted, all that didn't turn out so good for her in the long run.) (Well, in the long long run it did, I guess, since she's a published author now. But if you've read all her books you know what I mean.) On the other hand, I have the disadvantage of the country's worst recession since the Great Depression, so I kind of have my attachment to food, shelter and electricity keeping me here.

But that doesn't mean I have to be your punching bag.

Madness (and it's not even March)

The stories of children's sports leagues — and the inexcusable adult behavior that often accompanies them — are legendary. Here's mine:

Basketball Mom, The Teen Years
For several years, Elijah played rec ball in the Germantown league. They don't have a division after 14 & under, so this year our coach entered us in the Collierville league, which includes a 16 & under class.

There are four teams in our class: Us (the Rebels), the Jazz (who also transferred over from the G'town league), the Cougars (which comprises several kids that Elijah goes to school with [they're constantly trying to recruit him to come play on their team]) and the Dragons.

We started out the season just beating the pants off the other teams. The first time we played each team, we won by like 20 points. After we beat the Jazz the first time, the coach made the comment to our coach, "Thanks for running up the score." Which, we only have eight kids on our team. I'm not sure what he expected us to do exactly. Play with four? That Jazz coach is a bit of a hothead I think, although I say that with no offense intended, as our own coach — a big guy with white hair — is often referred to as "Bobby Knight" by the other parents.

The susequent games were quite a bit different. The Jazz coach mapped out plays specifically to beat us. (They didn't, but the game was a lot closer.) The Dragons brought in 6'4" stringers! Yes! Players that can dunk! Into a rec league! We lost that game. It was a close one and our coach was pissed. It was the last game before the tournament began. We were still the #1 seed, but he was concerned about them bringing in players for the tournament.

I mean, it's totally not fair to the kids, right? Or the parents. WHO PAID $100 FOR THEIR KIDS TO PLAY IN THIS LEAGUE. Did the stringers pay $100? I think not. Which means the guy running the league should've been at least a little pissed too.

So last night the tournament starts. First game — Jazz vs. the Dragons. In addition to the 6-foot tall dunker, the Dragons coach has brought in TWO MORE over-6-feet players that none of us has ever seen before.

And they're just wiping the floor with the Jazz players. Eventually, down by about 15, the Jazz coach just LOSES HIS SHIT. He pulls his guys off the floor and says, "We're not playing like this." And he goes to the guy running the league and he's just SCREAMING at him. But the guy running the league calms him down and convinces him to finish the game. After the game, the league guy goes over to the Dragons coach and asks him how many of the players on his team did he start the season with. And he replies, "Two." TWO. So the league guy makes the Dragons forfeit the game! Which was so very awesome.

Then we beat the Cougars and now we'll play the Jazz next week for the championship.

And what do you suppose that our kids learned from this lesson?
A) Cheaters never win
B) The squeeky wheel gets the grease
C) Dunking in a rec league will get you a technical
D) What goes around comes around
E) Are you kidding? They're 15. They're patently opposed to learning anything from adults.






PS -I'm on page D2 of USA Today.

Living Blogging the Oscars, 2009

7:02 - Kate Winslet looks beautiful, but why the drab color? I wish she had chosen something more vibrant.
7:03 - Amy Adams - a red-head chooses red! Risky? She's been chastised at the last two awards shows forShe Doing her hair being first too messy and then too stern. She will please all those critics tonight.
7:05 - Love Taranji's necklace! Beautiful smooth hair & soft make up. She looks stunning. Go girl.
7:06 - ABC wasn't taking a chance on being snubbed by Brangelina the way Ryan Seacrest was at the Globes (SAGs?). They put Tim Gunn on 'em. Although all he gets to do is compliment them and they move on.
7:07 - What're They Doing There (WTDT) #1 - Hannah Montana
7:09 - How long is this pre-game show that they're interviewing Valentino? We got like 30 minutes. You can't fill that with A-list stars?
7:10 - that Good Morning America lady looks like a halfback in that dress. Bitch's got some shoulders, yo.
7:11 - that guy seriously asked Mickey Rourke who he was wearing?? Did he think it was designer?
7:12 - WTDT #2 - the happy couple from High School Musical.
7:14 - the GMA lady just handed Viola Davis a wadded up tissue. Gross.
7:15 - Miley Cyrus just said that she hopes she'll be here next year for her movie. Uhh, reality check: No. Just NO.
7:16 - Anne Hathaway looks...safe. Nothing bad. Nothing special. Her make up is pretty but completely unoriginal.
7:19 - Red carpet shows should not include film montages. Just as a general rule.
7:20 - Anyway, don't act like we don't all KNOW the winners were leaked this year.
7:21 - Meryl Streep also chose basic gray. I'm gonna go out on a limb here & bet that the Best Actress winner will be onstage in GRAY.
7:22 - Penelope Cruz looks like she's wearing her mother's wedding dress. Although I like the BANGS!!
7:23 - Jack Black's wife is a lot hotter than he is.
7:23 - Marisa Tomei is wearing a record number of pleats. I don't know what to think about that. Love the color though.
7:25 - "I've got a great idea! Let's fill some time with the show's production and music designers!" "Sir, it's only a 30-minute show." "So what? It'll be grand! And it's never been done before!" *Sigh*

Okay...on with the show...

7:32 - at least if Hugh Jackman sucks as the host we can enjoy his accent.
7:35 - wait...did Anne Hathaway change dresses? I kinda think she looked better in the "safe" dress.
7:37 - that's all they could do for The Reader? I'm a little offended, frankly.
7:43 - Whoopie's wearing a leopard-print caftan. Is this in place of showing a movie clip?
7:46 - I can see your bra, Goldie.
7:48 - Supporting Actress goes to Penelope Cruz. I have the Vicky Christina Barcelona DVD upstairs. I guess I'll watch it now. (I picked Taranji)

Thinking about moving over to Twitter now b/c publishing is too slow.

Bang, Bang (My baby shot me down)

So I've been seeing a lot of BANGS again (or, as the British like to call them "fringes") and everywhere they've been described as "edgy" and "rock-n-roll" and I really like the look. As well as the description. Because if I can't be IMPOSING at least let me be EDGY.


The thing is, my hair is in a growing-out stage. That being "it looks too long when worn straight" and "it looks too short when worn curly." (At this length, my curly hair looks like Madonna circa 1985. All I need is a scarf to tie up into a big old bow. And an armful of plastic bracelets. And a belt buckle that says 'Boy Toy' in rhinestones.) The result is that I constantly end up pulling it back in a ponytail holder because it's just kind of BIG and it gets on my nerves being all up in my grill all the time.

Only I don't really like my hair when it's all pulled back. That's some kinda lotta forehead, yo:


Some edgy, rock-n-roll bangs is totally the answer right?? I LOVE hair pulled back with just bangs.



I kinda debated this internally for a couple weeks. Because what am I supposed to do with them if I do wear my hair curly? I even considered writing to Hair Thursday to ask their opinion.

Then today I said fuck it & stopped by the salon.

I went over to Grant, who was trying to give this lady a blow-out (which man, he HATES to do. I never even ask him to blow mine out) and this lady was on her cell phone, so Grant's just standing there with the brush in one hand and the blow dryer - turned off - in the other and frankly, with his smart-ass mouth I'm surprised he's taking this. But at least that meant I could talk to him.

"I want you to cut some bangs. Do I have to make an appointment for that? Or can I just, like, come back at the end of your shift?"

(Heh. See how I did that? Basically what I said was "If you don't make me make an appt and pay for a full hair cut, I'll put some cash in your pocket.")

He said, "Actually, sit down - I have a gap in my schedule after this. I'll do it in a minute."

So he cut my bangs and I gave him the eight bucks I had in my pocket and the deed was done.

I don't have any photos though. Except these:

Self Awareness #4

(I was going to call this post "Self Awareness #356, but then I realized that, even with all my self-absorption, I've had relatively few self awareness moments. I actually remain rather self-deluded. So I think Self Awareness #4 is probably just about right.)

Every night I go home with the intent to write. But lately, I've been setting up my laptop in Big Daddy's office, where I watch TV with him — House, Tiger basketball games, The Office/30 Rock, Rachel Maddow, Friday Night Lights. It's been great to actually spend a little more time with him, but I get in there, catch up a little on facebook, and then I typically just stare at the blank slate with no words. It's like my mind is a turtle who has ducked up inside its shell, and no amount of tapping on it will bring him back out again. There's nothing there. I have no words.

Until I go to bed.

And I lie in the darkened room and boom! All the sudden thoughts are racing at me from all directions! Great combinations of words that I didn't even know I had in me! But it's late...and I'm tired...and I have to get up early for work...So I just go to sleep and hope to remember them later.

Last night it suddenly occurred to me — duh. I need quiet. I need no distractions. All the three-pointers and "that's what she said"'s and "It's not lupus"'s are causing my little turtle head to remain hidden where it's dark & quiet & calm. My mind has to not be afraid to come out of its shell. Maybe the writing on those (scripted) shows is so good that it's intimidating my turtle mind.*

So, new plan: go someplace quiet to write and see what transpires.







* I love my turtle metaphor because turtles are COOL. Someday when I have my beach house and my grandchildren come to visit, they can help me feed my little pet turtle who will live on a table by the window where he can climb up on a rock and sun himself. His name will be Theodore. Theodore Turtle.

Dat Man 'a Mine

Dooce has asked us to follow her lead and let the internets know about our significant others.

What are your middle names?
Rebecca Ruth and Earl. All of which are named for people. Mine, for my great aunt & a family friend; his, for his parent's godson who died in Vietnam before he was born.

How long have you been together?
We'll be married 16 years in May. Which is kind of a long freaking time.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Several months. We were part of a larger group of friends and both of us were actually dating other people.

Who asked whom out?
He admitted that he liked me as more than a friend first. I believe I told him to go fly a kite.

How old are each of you?
I'm 42 and he's 39. Or, as he likes to remind me, I graduated high school before he started.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Neither really. None of them live that close. Except my brother, and we don't even see him. Cause we're rude like that.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
We fight about the same things all couples do - sex & money. Cause we never seem to have enough of either.

Did you go to the same school?
Yes, we both graduated from the University of Memphis. Go Tigers.

Are you from the same home town?
No. He was born & raised in Memphis. I was born in Washington DC, where I lived until I was 12, then moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I moved to Memphis in the mid-80s a couple years after high school.

Who is smarter?
Me. (Just kidding.) I'm definitely book-smarter and about more all-around general information. He's much smarter when it comes to numbers, finance, business and the like. For instance, I would never attempt to do our taxes. I wouldn't even know where to start.

Who is the most sensitive?
He is.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Las Tortugas fresh mexican deli. Only because Elijah doesn't like it, so when he's not with us we take advantage of the situation & go visit Pepe.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Big Sky, Montana probably. Or Southern California. My geography is only so-so.

Who has the craziest exes?
Definitely HIM. I would tell you more, but I think it might violate the restraining order.

Who has the worst temper?
He does.

Who does the cooking?
Neither of us, really.

Who is the neat-freak?
Every night when he goes to bed, he gets undressed and drops his clothes on the floor RIGHT NEXT TO THE LAUNDRY BASKET. So you decide.

Who is more stubborn?
We're both scorpios, so this one is a toss-up. I guess he wins because I usually will give in before he does.

Who hogs the bed?
OMG him. He gets 2/3 of the bed and I get 1/3 of it. It's always been that way.

Who wakes up earlier?
I do. I also go to bed earlier.

Where was your first date?
That's kind of hard to pin down. I think our first kiss was after we'd been to see the Malcolm X movie, so I guess it's that.

Who is more jealous?
He is. I don't have the energy to be jealous.

How long did it take to get serious?
Not long. I was pregnant about a month after our first kiss.

Who eats more?
He definitely does.

Who does the laundry?
Why, the one with the ovaries, of course.

Who's better with the computer?
Mr. Tech Support there with two laptops and a desktop in his office.

Who drives when you are together?
I do. He drives like he's the only one on the road and it makes me car sick.

Leave your answers in the comment, or leave me a link to your blog.

Newsbreak: Brush with Reality TV Celebrity

Can I just tell you how excited I am that the girl I used to stand next to in church choir is doing so good on American Idol?

Rude Awakening

So last night, while I was helping Elijah fill out his schedule for his Junior Year (why yes, that totally DOES deserve to be capitalized), it occurred to me that Big Daddy & I will still be paying on our student loans while we are at the same time paying for Elijah's college tuition.

Is that even right? Or is that a common occurrence these days?

(Although, to be fair, we'll probably still be paying off our loans when Elijah is paying for HIS kid's college.)

It doesn't get any better than this! (For book nerds like me, anyway)

The coolest thing happened to me today! Let me start at the beginning:

First, I read this on Jennsylvania:

From the February 16th issue of Publishers Weekly:

Jen Lancaster has signed a major deal for two more books with Kara Cesare at NAL via Kate Garrick at DeFiore & Co. In the first book, tentatively titled My Fair Lazy, Lancaster gives herself the Pygmalion treatment, researching literature and studying etiquette; pub date will be May 2010. A year later, the tentatively titled Involuntary: My Year of Giving Dangerously will detail Lancaster's work with various charitable organizations. Since 2006, Lancaster has published one book a year with NAL, and the first three each have more than 100,000 copies in print. NAL will pub Lancaster's fourth memoir, Pretty in Plaid, in May.

OK ya'll, I have several fave authors, but I only have one fave author-idol. You know, that person whose writing I love and whose career I admire. The published author that I want to be when I grow up.

I've been a fan of Jen's since her first book (Bitter is the New Black). It was so creative and witty - nay, lol funny (a term I use neither lightly nor often) - that I snatched up her second book (Bright Lights, Big Ass) as soon as it came out. Last summer, I saved her third book (the New York Times best-seller Such a Pretty Fat) for my beach vacay. My assessment: Jen Lancaster is the perfect beach read.

Keep that in mind when Pretty in Plaid comes out in May.

Okay, back to today's story.

When I read that news announcement on Jen's blog (see how we're on a first-name basis now?), I was so excited that I did what any good blogger would do: I twittered about it.

Fave author Jen Lancaster signs book deal for 2 more books!! YAY! http://bit.ly/3PLWF

This afternoon I got an email from a well-connected (and nattily attired) friend of mine in the glamorous and secretive publishing industry. [Who may or may not have requested that particular description.] [I never reveal my sources.] He saw my Lancaster-fan status on twitter and offered to send me his advance copy of Pretty in Plaid!

Okay, maybe that's not amazing to everyone but given the fact that: 1) I love books, and 2) I've never, ever been the recipient of the advance copy of anything, and 3) it's an advance copy of the one book that I'm most looking forward to reading...it pretty much makes this my favorite day.

Stay tuned in the near future for my review of the book!

What Valentine's Day looks like after you've been married 16 years

Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
Time: 8:30-something p.m. (During 30 Rock)
Place: His office

Big Daddy: I didn't get you a card or anything, but Happy Valentine's Day.
Me: I think it's tomorrow.
Big Daddy: Actually it's Saturday.
Me: Oh, right. Friday the 13th.

That's all. There is nothing else. Except I won 2 passes to "The Wrestler" from - of all places - my NPR station this morning (Thanks, Justin!), so now I actually have a gift to give Big Daddy. Won't he be surprised.

This may be the coolest thing that's ever happened online to someone I know

So my best friend from high school, Shelley Rickey, my partner in crime, my sister by heart, the girl with whom I shared a language so secret we could carry on entire conversations and no one would ever know what the hell we were talking about, got boing boing'ed yesterday.

Watch the video, because she's pretty fucking spectacular.

Fake Spring

Transitional fashion is the hardest kind of dressing there is. The not-hot and not-cold seasons require a certain style that is based on more than just the mild temps. And it's something that is actually quite intangible. The thermometer may read the same whether it's spring or fall, but the fashion is entirely different. One says, "Mmm...cocoa! I can't wait for it to get cold!" and the other says, "Sunshine is glorious! Why, hello there, Mr. Bluebird!" Those are two very different looks.

Now, throw in an unseasonably warm day in the middle of winter, and you've got yourself a real fashion dilemma. Just because it's 65 degrees out, doesn't mean you should pull out your favorite chiffon dress. I mean, you can, if you want to look like you've just stepped out of a time machine, completely unaware that the season in which you have landed IS IN FACT WINTER. Like those people in the airport, fresh off their winter cruise, who got on a plane in Florida where it was 90 degrees but got off in Chicago where it's 5-below. Their skin is too tan, their clothes too lightweight. It's just all so...out of place.

The first and most important rule to keep in mind for transitional dressing is that 60 degrees and sunny is quite delightful, while 60 degrees and overcast is actually rather chilly. Don't be misled by the thermometer! That's what happened to me this morning.

Yesterday, it was mid-60s and sunny, but I didn't realize just how warm it was and I wore a suit with tights and high-heeled Mary Janes. I didn't really need the tights. I could've gone with another look altogether. So today, when the weatherman said "mid-60s," I wore a black skirt, metallic silver tank under a white dress shirt w/ french cuffs, and metallic silver flats (no tights). And guess what? It was rainy and windy and not-a-very-warm 60 degrees. When I went out at lunch I realized that boots sans tights would have been a good look for today. Plus my feet would be dry right now.

So here's my tips for dressing for an unseasonably warm day in the middle of winter:
1. Switch out your turtleneck or sweater for a button-down dress shirt.
2. Wear a brighter- or a lighter-colored shirt, jewelry or a handbag. But don't go all light. It's too much. Save that look for a really warm, sunny spring day.
3. Lose the tights, but don't go full-on naked leg. Winter skin is so not pretty, all pale and goosebumpy. Go with calf boots.
4. Do not attempt open-toed shoes before April. (And a good pedicure.)
5. Ditto the white jeans.
6. Layering is always a good idea as temps flucuate. Try a long-sleeved cotton shirt with a lightweight jacket or sweater. Belt the jacket with either a wide or a skinny belt for an updated look.
7. A lightweight dress with a scarf is very trendy. Just make sure the dress isn't too summery. A jersey wrapdress layered over a tanktop is another good choice.
8. Today is the perfect day for that short-sleeved or cropped-sleeve jacket! Wear it with a tank and a cute, lightweight scarf.

As always, fit is of the utmost importance. If you find that the clothes you wore the last time it was warm no longer fit you, now's the time for alterations, shopping or to take up that fitness program!

TAAA-DAAAA!

Yes! It's me! You didn't recognize me there for a second, huh?

So what do you think?

I was hoping to give you a post that filled you in on what brought this on, but now that I'm here I can't exactly remember how or why this happened. I heard recently that it sometimes takes bloggers up to four years to "find their voice" and perhaps my clock is running a bit slow but I think I'm finally there!

The name I came up with in an attempt to portray who I am. I'm not good at coming up with pithy new words so some sort of punny, single-word title was out of the question for me. I didn't even consider that. I thought, "If there is one thing that describes me in a short but all-encompassing way, what would it be?" Duh. I'm the one in heels.

I didn't create a tagline because let's face it: My tagline IS my title. Bonus.

The web design was done by Karla at Fruition Design, who is super-talented and a breeze to work with and so reasonably priced and you guys should really hire her. The original illustration in my header was done by my good friend Jenifer Alvarez who is an amazing illustrator - among her many other talents - and if you email me I will put you in contact with her.

So please leave me a comment to let me know that you were here, and let me know - how will I recognize YOU?

Wherefore art thou blogger?

So I'm asking myself: What is it I want out of my blog?

To earn money? To earn a living? To have companies send me free stuff?

I don't think so. Although there's plenty of bloggers out there doing that. One girl got a MERCEDES. For reals, ya'll. That rocks pretty hard. But hell, I already got a Benzo. What do I need someone to send me a car for?

I blog now for the same reason I blogged when I started six (? seven? five? IDK) years ago: as a creative outlet. I want to be a writer and I don't believe you can call yourself a writer if you don't write every day.

[Now my job title at work actually IS 'writer' but that's corporate stuff. There's no creativity there. Well, sometimes there is, but not MY kind of creativity. More like how-the-hell-am-I-going-to-make-a-two-page-article-out-of-THAT creativity.]

I don't care if I make money off my blog. I don't really want to pimp anybody's product in order to do so. And frankly, keeping up with all the metrics and analytics and numbers just seems like a lot of hassle. I don't even keep my stats.

One day, I would LOVE to make money off my writing, though. Writing what I want about things I'm interested in. I would like to utilize my blog as one tool for achieving that goal. So to that end, I would like to have more readers. Could you go tell your friends about me then?

And if anyone has any Louboutins they need reviewed, I am open to that. I wear a size six.

Hard Hat Area

First, I just wanted to alert you to some changes that you'll be seeing around the corner ahead. Please proceed with caution.

Second, this may be the most expensive bong hit in history:

Bursting Bubbles since 1997

No, I've never attended a Super Bowl Halftime Show. But I have attended a Super Bowl Halftime Show REHEARSAL. As well as several college bowl game halftime shows & their rehearsals. And here's what I want the world to know:

#1
Yes, it is pre-recorded. People were all in a tizzy about Yoyo Ma & them "not really playing" at the Inauguration - AS IF a cello could stay in tune in weather that's below freezing. You can't say that they're not REALLY playing, because of course that is them on the tape. And in reality, they are singing. And playing their instruments. That's why it all looks so real. It's just that none of the mics or amps are turned on. How do you think Prince played in the rain without getting electrocuted? Wireless? Seriously? Would YOU stand out in the rain with an electric implement in your hands, even if it was wireless? No, the sound you're hearing is coming from a pre-recorded tape. I don't fault them; I imagine it must have something to do with the accoustics in a venue so large.

#2
That crowd of people around the stage? The ones that were all PUMPED UP for The Boss? Yeah, they're part of the show. Prior to halftime, they were probably lined up outside the stadium in the parking lot. If you'll look, you'll see they're all wearing wristbands. And surprisingly, none of them are shooting photos or video on their cell phones. Hmmm...if that were a real group of people all fired up to see an aging rock star, don't you think they'd be shooting it on their cell phone? That crowd of people were at the rehearsal, doing exactly what you saw them doing last night on TV - waving their arms up in the air. And they don't actually get to watch the game.

That said, what did you think of the E-Street Band last night?

Back in Business

Guess what I'm blogging on?

My old laptop.

I was thisclose to getting a cool new netbook. If we could have found one in the store that had both linux operating system & a 6-cell battery, it would've been in my greedy little hands on Friday night. Big Daddy assured me that he could find it online. Saturday morning I woke up and he was all, "I got your laptop working." Huh? He put a new hard drive in it and taa-daa. I'm back in business. A little disappointing perhaps, but at least I don't have to fight Elijah for his anymore.

Big Daddy then spent the day yesterday loading linux on my old laptop. IDK why he felt the need to do that but he promised me it would make my computer super-fast as well as immune to viruses etc. This morning is the first I've been on it, so I'm still checking it out and learning my way around it. This is the trade-off for having your own personal help desk staff in-house.

This afternoon we've got teenagers coming over to watch the Super Bowl. Thanks to my friend Bob, I have this Super Bowl Commercial Bingo to entertain them. For you ladies who aren't interested in football, go here and find your perfect pair of jeans.