No blog since the Inaug

Man, it is just tiresome, the continual talk of financial ruin, driving 45mph to and from work because the roads are bad. Unending task completion at work. Shoveling. It's a good thing I have a few bright spots in my life. You know who you are.

The Big is nearly apoplectic that he can't use the yard as his litterbox. He goes out daily and marches from the front to the back and I let him back in.

Update on the mom saga: she was going to move in the old folks apt. complex but the one she would get isn't ready until the middle of Feb. so now she feels stuck in the trailer for another month but I told her I would fork out some rent money if she needs it for the new place. So I don't have to go down tomorrow and help her pack.

The line-up for Wheeling has been released and while it's big, we've seen all those people recently or enough. I keep waiting for the release of the Madison Ribberfest line-up, but no dice. It's on my birthday weekend.

Just holding on until Mexico. One week from tomorrow. I tried on swimsuits last night and while it wasn't a beauty pageant, I've seen worse. And those boys in Mexico will bring you a beer to your beach chair no matter what you look like. Smiling.

I went to buy the new books by Wally Lamb and Chuck Pahliniuk but they're both still only in hardcover and too heavy to tote to the beach. So I bought a handful of stuff at GFT instead which I'm sure will be plenty amusing.

Lyle and Judy's Inauguration Party was a fun time. It was a huge crowd and I shoulda worn some red, white and blue.



At least they had those festive hats which were big enough for my giant head.

I missed Calvin Cooke at GFT and Anthony Gomes at FFB. And my upcoming show is way outdated. Sigh.

So I had ordered this luggage from Overstock.com and it was no better than the one I have in the basement so I sent it back at my expense and then they charged me for it being scratched so just now I had an online chat with a service rep and they gave me all my money back. Just a lesson in don't let the man get you down.
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MLK weekend

Well, it was pretty quiet and I didn't do any National Day of Service stuff that I heard a bunch about on NPR this afternoon.

Friday on the way home from work I stopped at Churchill's and got a bunch of stuff. Kielbasa that I made yesterday. Some fancy cheese. Some guacamole the consistency of wallpaper paste. English muffins. Local honey. Grouper in chipotle marinade which was very tasty. I don't know what else but it came to $67. Saturday I spent $90 at Meijer. So I should have a ton of food.

Saturday night Amy and I played Casino Yahtzee which was a ton of fun! We must play more.

Did not exercise one bit other than shoveling. Was very sunny but about a high of 18 both days. Talked to Annie today for an hour.

I've decided to return that luggage I bought because it is not appreciably smaller than that one bag I have that sometimes they let me take on board and sometimes make me check.

Sunday night I talked to my daughter on the phone for an hour. Watched Singin in the Rain on Netflix online. Did not watch Before Night Falls.

Today I tanned which I have 5 more of. Went to the St. Julian's Fitness where they transferred my gym membership and they do have classes so I will start going there. Yes I will. One thing they have is Zumba which is just dancing around but I did a five-minute one off You Tube and was tuckered out. How fit can I get in 3 weeks? Tried on my shorts which are tight but what am I going to do? They don't have shorts at the Goodwill this time of year.

I also made the lasagna Bolognese in the Cook's Illustrated sample magazine I got in the mail. It's in the oven. It took the better part of 3 hours to do this and it seems that it will be bland. There are no spices in it. None. Not even garlic. And you make two sauces: one with meat and milk and canned tomatoes and the other, a Bechamel with MORE milk. Plus at the end I had way too much sauce left over. So I froze it.

So now, I have to go back to work tomorrow and my house is a mess because I got a bunch of stuff out to look at and haven't put it back.

And tomorrow at last is 1/20/2009, when we will be rid of the Dubya. Although Helen Thomas on NPR today called him Bush 3.

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Slogging through

Today, my daughter calls who has been sick since Friday. With a sore throat. We agree she should go to the doctor in case it's strep. The doctor says her throat looks as if it's been burned by hot liquid. So whatever. He gave her some soothing throat balm and an optional prescription for antibiotic which she has declined.

This Friday, Joe Bob Duda is playing at the old S. Main school for the salamander meander artist reception. 5-7.

Paul Thorn is at the Ark on March 28. I'm thinking about going. How about you? Let me know. Starvin for Your Kisses. It's a Saturday. Good fun in Ann Arbor.

I got my new luggage and at first I thought it was substandard, too heavy, made in China. But I think it will be fine and it swivels. So bonus. I'll keep it. Because it's Mexico three weeks from Saturday.

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Busy snow day

Shoveled a bunch. We musta got 7 or 8 inches. Noticed that my bamboo fence had a bad sag in one spot so tromped through the snow in the behind the fence and pulled it tight with a piece of vinyl-wrapped wire I had lying around. Put another coat on the fireplace flooring stuff. Filled the bird feeder which is now besieged by fat squirrels. Dammit. Tidied up the computer desk and found an American Express bill that was due Jan. 5 for $21 so now I suppose I will incur a $30 late fee, although I paid it online and none appeared. This is 2 bills in one month that I have overlooked. Must be more organized.

Ha ha had clear liquid confusion. I got a bottle out from under the sink that I thought was vinegar and poured some in a plastic dish to soak my shower head and notice a very strong odor. It was ammonia. Now it's soaking in vinegar so either it will be really clean or ruined.

Big breakfast, laundry, library, returned some stuff to Connie and now sequestered once again in the cozy home.

Four weeks to Mexico

Just hunkering down here for the MAJOR WINTER STORM with snow up 10 INCHES. We'll see when we wake up in the AM. A very quiet Friday night at home, reading through many New Yorkers, drinking wine. Called Miss Annie for a bit but that's all. Made a list of stuff to do around the house like crack caulking and hearth painting. I have one coat on. Needs at least one more.

Earlier this week, I called my mom to see if I should come help her pack up on Saturday to move (which as it turns out would have been a bad idea, travel-wise) and ALAS Karen has not got a check for disability (surprise, surprise) so my mom is stuck there until something happens with that. Grrrrrrrrr.

Didn't do doodly squat the rest of this week at night but it is winter, after all. They are lucky I showed up at work daily, what with the radar being funky on 13abc.com (which is now resolved) and various ad crap having to be dealt with and my continuing campaign to get the newsroom to realize that pretty soon, it will be ALL internet, your linearally programmed news shows are of no importance. Evangelizing is so hard.

Ordered this bag off Overstock.com which should arrive any day now. Tired of lugging my duffel through the airports. In olive, not your usual red or black.

Last night I did an exercise DVD off Netflix. Why do my abs not hurt? Obviously, I am not doing something right. Then I watched two Barbara Stanwyck movies from the 50s, To Please a Lady and Jeopardy, in both of which she gets slapped in the face by a man. Hmmmmm. Not liking this pattern. At least the first one had many fabulous outfits. Here's a pic of Barbara and Clark Gable after the slap and when they are IN LOVE.

Hmm it looks like the Madison Indiana Best Western is out of business and the next cheapest place has no rooms left for the Ribberfest. I better get on this.

Full moon Saturday.

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Happy New Year

Calmness has returned to the home. Aaahhhhhhhh. Went to Fred and Sherry's new year's eve and lost $5 playing cards. Went to Fat Fish Blue Saturday night and saw Liz Mandeville. Earlier that day I shopped at Christopher and Banks and got some lovely items, a black and white jacket and a sort of plaid jacket and a sweater and a mock turtleneck.

Did not make it to Howard's for the Nate Baker extravaganza. Heard it was a BIG TIME.

Did my last radio show for months on Saturday.

Yesterday, went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which was very good. Although it has very little in common with the short story it is based on.

Also painted the hearth with the red bathroom paint and meant to get a second coat on tonight but have run out of time.

Tonight, I made salmon with the chinese five-spice sauce and baked two chicken breasts and steamed some broccoli and made a pasta dish with ham and peas and red pepper sauce and mozzarella. Have not eaten any of it yet.

Wednesday is the annually low attended GNO. May not make it.

Jan. 24, Judy and Lyle are having an inauguration party. Be there.