A Couple of Videos

A few days ago I posted some pictures of that very beautiful boy, Paolo Nutini, and happened to mention he also sings. I DID go out and get his CD as soon as I could and I am loving every minute of it! While I don't think there is one song on it that I don't like, here are a couple that are on the top of my favorites list. Enjoy!








He has got an absolutely amazing voice--can't wait till he comes out with a new CD.

Book Game--Again

Almost one year to the day, I posted the rules for the Book Game. It went over quite well, so I thought I would revive it again. A very fun and easy meme, I hope everyone gets into this. If you decide to play, let me know in the comments.

Here are the rules to the Book Game:

1. Grab the nearest book
2. Open the book to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences (#5,6,7) on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it. Just grab what is closest!

If you decide to play, copy and paste the rules into your blog. Then, follow the rules and put your book passage following. Easy and fun!

--This selection is from Grave Peril, Book Three of The Dresden Files

--"I have your permission to come out?"

"Yep," I said, "for the purposes of this mission only. And don't waste time prowling around in women's locker rooms again."--

(Full disclosure: The nearest book I had was Hockey For Dummies--I thought that was a little TOO much, so I moved a foot over and came up with Grave Peril, instead. I just didn't think I could get away with ANOTHER hockey reference. :))

Celebrate

13 January is:

RUBBER DUCKIE'S BIRTHDAY!!

Ottawa 3, Detroit 2

Watching last night's game, I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. After seeing that game, Detroit has to get it together or they WON'T win the Cup this year. I'm afraid we got to see a preview of the Cup finals and it wasn't a pretty sight. Despite the end score, the game was not a close match--the Wings played very poorly the first two periods. Hell, they were down 2-0 going into the third and THEN scored their two goals. It could have gone into a shoot-out--which I despise, but still...--but they allowed ANOTHER power play goal right at the end. Oh, well.

That first power play goal that Ottawa got in the first few minutes of the game REALLY seemed to disorient the Wings. They let the Sens dictate the play and play DETROIT'S game, for crying out loud! It just was quite disappointing. They better put on their big boy panties and get it together for the next game--maybe they are in for one long winning streak. I can only hope. Two games at home and then a three-game road trip before the All-Star game--a good win streak if they can pull it off.

Celebrate

Holidays/observances for 12 January:

National Marzipan Day
Penguin Awareness day

I Think I Know

It finally dawned on me, I think I am having a reaction to my blood pressure medication. This happened to me the last medication I was on--my doctor increased my dosage and I felt like I was walking through Jell-o for a month. (It takes me a while to figure some things out. :)) The side effects don't seem to hit me right away, but they rather creep up slowly--this is why I don't realize what is going on at first. Well, I have been so tired lately and I couldn't understand why--now I know it probably is my medication. The doctor increased my dosage when I saw him the end of November and I have been taking the higher dosage for about a month. My numbers have been great--just like they were the LAST time my meds were messed with--but I am so damn tired that I can barely push myself around the house. I will continue my meds through the weekend, at least, and re-evaluate next week. I see my doctor the beginning of February, but I don't think I'll be able to make it till then, though. :D

Celebrate

Holidays and Observances for 11 January:

National Step In A Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day
International Thank You Day

OZZIE!!! We Hardly Knew Ya!!

Okay, so it isn't Ozzie's fault completely for the loss tonight, but gee whiz! He gave up 5 goals and let in two shoot-out goals--the Wings lost 6-5. Definitely, the pucks were making some very strange bounces tonight--for BOTH teams. This is only Ozzie's second loss in 11 games, so it's not as if he is doing a horrid job of it, but it is sad that he had to lose tonight after having such wonderful days lately.

Everything wasn't bad, though. Z got his 27th goal tonight and had an assist. Filppula got his 14th of the year--way to go Baby Boy! Drake got his second, an unassisted short-handed goal. It was nice to see. Cleary got a goal and two assists and Datsyuk got an assist, so all in all, a job well done. They just have to do a bit better on Saturday when they play Ottawa.

YES!!!!!!!

It has been announced that Ozzie WILL replace Luongo on the All-Star team! After the way he has been playing this year, it is so nice to see him getting rewarded. Even though he is 'technically' the back-up goalie, he definitely hasn't played like one. Hell, he is at the top of, or near the top of, every one of the stat lists--well, except for shut-outs--so he SHOULD be getting the praise. This means that four out of six of the starters on the Western All-Star team are Red Wings. If they can't win the Cup this year, they never will be able to do it.

Go Ozzie?

Roberto Luongo has pulled out of the All-Star game--his wife is pregnant and he wants to spend the All-Star break with her. This just might be the opening needed for Ozzie to be picked as his replacement. YAY!

Celebrate!

Have a wonderful 10 January! Today is:

Volunteer Fireman's Day
National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

(I found a couple of websites that list ALL of the weird and wonderful celebrations by day. Don't know if I will do this EVERY day, but just often enough to be fun.)

Funky Days

I have been feeling a bit funky for the last few days--I'm hoping things are straightening out. Don't know what's going on with me. Oh, well.

On Monday, K had his yearly physical and I had my mammograms. Be still my heart--another time I got felt up! While I would REALLY like to be at one of K's appointments, he doesn't want me there. I do totally understand him not wanting me there WHILE the exam is being done, but it would be nice if we both could sit with the doctor and discuss what is going on. All in all, things are going fine for him--one of his numbers is slightly elevated, but nothing to be concerned about. K asked for a referral to a nutritionist--about time--and told the doctor I think he needs a colonoscopy--which he DOES need. I should get a referral fee if I have to continue making suggestions about his health. :) I'm still waiting for the doctor's office to call and set up the appointments--can't figure out why they didn't do them while he was there.

For some reason or other, I was so tired on Monday night that I was in bed before 9:30. That was all well and good, except for the fact that I got up at 4:30 AM on Tuesday and couldn't get back to sleep. I was able to get my grocery shopping, etc, done before noon yesterday--could actually be a first for me! :) Then for some reason or other, I couldn't get tired enough to go to sleep last night! My sleep cycle is SO screwed up I don't think there is anything that can be done about it.

While in the grocery store yesterday, I managed to attract one of my little old men. When I say this guy was old, I mean OLD--one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel old. Yup, he decided I was ripe for the pickin' and had to try and flirt with me. ICK! It took me a little while to get away from him--he insisted on having a conversation with me--he was a bit spry for his age. Old men and drunks: my fans.

C and the baby are doing fine--they were sent home on SUNDAY morning! Before having my hysterectomy, I always thought women who had C-sections were taking the easy way out. HA!!! I cannot imagine WHY they would send a woman home to a houseful of kids--AND with a new-born--so soon after having surgery like that. Although, she ASKS to be let out as soon as possible. Knowing her, if there was a way to do it, she would get right off of the operating table and go straight home. Quite something, she is.

The weather probably has something to do with my funky feeling. We have had record high temps in the last few days and the snow is melting like crazy. Of course, it couldn't last and we are expecting snow and colder temperatures through the weekend.

Wings Overload

Today there is a shitload of news about the Wings, so here goes.

I know it sounds like a broken record, but the Wings won last night. They beat Colorado 1-0. Hasek had the 79th shut-out of his career. Datsyuk scored the goal with Holmstrom assisting--surprise. While he wasn't COMPLETELY back to normal, Homer was looking okay his first night back. Maltby is definitely going to need a few games before he's back to form.

With his first shift of the night, Chris Chelios became the second oldest to ever play the game, at 45 years, 348 days old. Only Gordie Howe was older at 52 years, 2 days old. And they BOTH were Red Wings! WHAT do they have in the water? Anyway, Cheli claims he will NOT try to beat Howe's record, but the man is phenomenal, so I will believe it when I see it. And to top it all off, he even got into it with McCormick for cross-checking Lidstrom. Unbelievable. He's out there night after night playing against guys who are only a couple of years older than his oldest kid AND he is doing a good job! Again, unbelievable. Goes to show, a person can do just about anything s/he puts his/her mind to--just work hard enough and good things will come to you.

The Wings signed Osgood to a three-year extension today. Way to go Ozzie! He is just such a sweetheart--not nearly as strange as most goalies are. :) When his contract is up, he will be 38 years old--NOT as old as Hasek, but getting up there, for sure. I don't really see Ozzie sticking around longer than the next three years--I doubt if if the knees could last any longer. Hopefully, he will be named to the reserve list for the All-Star game. He deserves all the praise for playing such an amazing year.

And Darren McCarty is trying to make a comeback. Hmmm.

The next game is on Thursday with the Wild.

Just Not Fair

The starting line-ups for the All-Star game have been announced and Detroit dominates the West. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Lidstrom are all playing and Babcock will be coaching. It sucks big time to be a fan of another team, doesn't it? I don't think I could have a bigger smile on my face if I tried! :)



--The Red Wings All-Stars: Coach Mike Babcock, forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom. (MANDI WRIGHT/Detroit Free Press)--

Another Picture

moar funny pictures

FINALLY!!!!!!

If I still chewed my fingernails, I would have had them chewed down to the nub tonight. Detroit played at Chicago for the fifth time and they were trying to get their FIRST win of the season. And, FINALLY, they did it, beating Chicago 3-1. Granted, Chicago had seven of their regulars out with injuries, but still...

Z got a goal tonight, Hudler got two assists, but Baby Boy didn't get any points. :( There were only four penalties in the whole game--surprise! I couldn't believe it when Khabibulin speared Kopecky like he did. (Yeah, they called it a slash, but it was a spear if ever there was one.) Khabibulin took the end of his stick and rammed it into Kopecky's groin--almost brought him to his knees. I thought he should have gotten more than two minutes for that, but... I would imagine the league will be taking a closer look at what happened. Thankfully, Kopecky was able to finish the game--hope there aren't any side effects later on.

Now they're off until Tuesday when they play Colorado. The season is going by fast.

This and That...Again

I have mentioned how I am really enjoying the music channels I am able to listen to on the new computer room TV. Well, I have come to one conclusion after listening for a while: The 70s had some VERY BAD music! And I'm not just talking about disco. {shudder} A very bad decade for music, indeed.

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I haven't talked to C since Thursday evening. Does this make me a bad mother/grandmother? To defend myself, I feel as if she can use every moment possible to rest before she has to go home and take care of her household, so I will leave her alone for now. We really don't feel the need to run there immediately to see the new baby--again, they need their rest. Also, we'll see the baby soon enough, either in pictures or in person. I know what it is like there when a person is in the hospital and I don't want to be part of it. The last time The Mother was in the hospital, we were still speaking and I went up there to take care of The Father and her when she came home. She almost died because of a superbug--my internist said she was VERY lucky to be alive--and her hospital room was packed with visitors constantly! The Brother and his family wouldn't leave her alone for one minute--just what a very sick person needs while fighting for their life in the hospital! I just couldn't take being around that, so we will wait for a while to go there.

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Of course, there is another reason why we haven't made the trip: K is working overtime. He is supposed to be on his week off, but is working instead. He worked 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday and went in at 3:00 AM Sunday and will be home around 4:00 PM. I'll be lucky if he manages to eat dinner without falling asleep in his food! He will be off on Monday--doctor appointment--and will work on Tuesday and Wednesday and get back to his normal work schedule on Thursday. Whatever works for him, I guess.

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I saw my GYN on Wednesday and all is well. Everything is staying the same, which means I will continue the HRT. He said the last study he read shows that women in my situation are REALLY benefiting from the hormones, so I will continue taking them. Women who have had hysterectomies at an early age AND started on estrogens immediately are living an average of 2-3 years longer, so that is a good thing. Also, the estrogens seem to be helping the arteries stay 'clean'--another good thing in my case.

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So, we are halfway through the hockey season and the Wings have their best record in franchise history! Of the first 41 games, they won 30--and they added another win today. They continue to be way ahead of any other team in the league and there are a lot of people--even some who NEVER give the Wings any love--who are saying they will probably win the Cup this year. We will just have to wait and see.

Z is still putting up points in every game--it is almost as if he wasn't off. Datsyuk still makes it look easy to do what he does and Baby Boy is still getting HIS points every game, so things are really good. Homer and Maltby will be back on Tuesday, so all is coming together. If they can beat Chicago on Sunday, then we will KNOW that all is right with the world.

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By now, most everyone knows that Britney had a breakdown and was taken to the hospital. What you may NOT know is that Dr. Phil--that idiot--went to the hospital to talk to her. And she DIDN'T ask him to be there! The stories are a bit conflicted, but it certainly seems as if he did this just for the publicity for himself. It would have been one thing if he went in and out without trying to attract any attention, but he made a statement to the press! This is what he said:

"My meeting with Britney and some of her family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention. I am very concerned for her," McGraw said in a statement to "Entertainment Tonight."

Now, am I wrong in thinking that he violated her privacy? I certainly know I would be pissed if someone went public with a statement like that about ME! The New York Daily News story is here and the TMZ story is here. That is, if you feel the need...

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I am starting to expand my musical tastes just a little bit here with the digital music channels I have. One evening I was listening to the channel called 'Adult Alternative' and heard a song that wasn't bad. This, of course caused me to track down info on the singer and what CDs are available, etc. His name is Paolo Nutini--he is a Scottish singer, 19, and he absolutely blows me away! I can't WAIT to get the CD. And it really doesn't hurt that he is so absolutely BEAUTIFUL! (I know, I'm going straight to hell! :)) See if you don't agree.





My stars, a LOT of girls--women, too, probably--will be having VERY inappropriate dreams starring him!

Funny Picture :D

moar funny pictures

It's A Girl! (which we already knew)

I'm pleased to announce--not as pleased as C, I'm sure :)--that Joy Carolyn was born at 7:28 this morning. She was 7 lb. and 18 1/2 in long. Mother and baby are doing fine. Hopefully, I won't have to have a baby watch again for a long, long time--unless it happens to A, of course. :D

First Thoughts

C saw her doctor yesterday and she is 'closed up tight.' :) The only way that baby is going to be born is for them to go in and get her on Thursday, so... Poor girl. But, the end of the road is in sight now, so she should be feeling better. (This info is from my youngest--haven't talked to C for a couple of days.)

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I get to go for my annual poke and prod with my GYN tomorrow. I am so excited I could just spit. (HEAVY sarcasm there.) I REALLY love having to pay someone to feel me up. (MORE sarcasm.) If I didn't love the doctor as much as I do, this would be absolute torture. Oh, well, I know I will have a good geeky conversation at least once a year when I see him.

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I'm getting so many weather alerts that it is hard to do anything on this damn machine. We are under a heavy lake effect snow and blowing snow advisory. That's fine, except it isn't supposed to be affecting us here next to the lake. About 5 miles up the road from us, 6-9 inches are supposed to fall. That's okay, as long as we are fine here!

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The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres are playing today. Now that isn't too big of a deal except for the fact they are playing outside, on an outdoor rink, in the middle of a football field. Kind of crazy, especially considering the weather. So far today they have had rain/sleet and it now is snowing so hard that it looks like a late-season football game!

I keep trying to watch the game, but every time I put it on the announcers say "Sidney Crosby," so I have to go to another channel. I am SO DAMN SICK of hearing his name. It is as if he is the second coming of Christ. Actually, I am waiting for them to say he can walk on water--after all, he can do everything else! Don't you know, he can help the Penguins score goals even when he ISN'T on the ice! (I've actually heard an announcer say that.) Now, I don't mind the kid--and I guess he has talent, even though he doesn't impress me. I just really hate having him shoved in my face ALL. OF. THE. TIME. I would feel badly for him (he is only 20, after all) with all of the pressure that is on him (he IS being called the 'new face of the NHL'), except for the fact that he is making more money than God and wouldn't have to worry about working a day in his life if his career ended today. So, it works both ways: the NHL is exploiting him and he is laughing all the way to the bank.

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The Wings had their road trip hangover and lost 2-0 to St. Louis last night. (That first game at home after a road trip is really hard on the players.) The score doesn't REALLY explain the game, though. The first goal didn't come until the third period and the second was an empty-netter a couple of minutes before the end, so... Oh, well, they can redeem themselves on Wednesday when Dallas comes to town.

All three injured players skated yesterday, so it's looking good. Maltby won't be in the lineup for a while--he has to get back into shape cause he's been out so long. Homer still won't be back for a couple of weeks--considering this is the second injury to his knee this year, it is for the best. Z MIGHT be back on Wednesday already. An MRI of his back didn't show the same problem he had with the disc last year--THANK GOODNESS--so he doesn't need as much time off. It'll be VERY good to see him back on the ice. The only problem is, Baby Boy will probably lose some ice time and probably won't be playing with Datsyuk for a while. Damn.

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An Announcement: I have NOT taken my Christmas decorations down.

I think I waited long enough for those who know me to pick themselves up off of the floor after reading that. :) I really have no idea WHY I haven't gotten the house back in order--I'm still trying to figure it out. I should start on things today, but if it doesn't get done for a few more days, oh well. (My goodness, am I ACTUALLY starting to MELLOW?!?!?!?!?!)

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I am really loving having the TV in the computer room. And it ISN'T because there is so much for me to watch! Somehow or another, I am getting a bunch of digital channels on this set--most of them are the digital music channels from our cable company. I find myself LISTENING to the TV much more than WATCHING it. EVERY genre is represented on these channels. I like the solid gold oldies--very easy to sing along to, even though a lot of the songs were before my time. (I DO hate the fact that so much of what I listened to growing up is considered 'solid gold oldies.' :)) Right now I'm enjoying the blues channel--nice and mellow. I just may expand my musical taste--who knows.

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Again with the Winter Classic hockey game. The Wings' coach was asked his opinion about the game and said he would LOVE to have the Wings' participate in a similar game. Today's game is only the second outdoor game in NHL history--the first was in 2003 in Edmonton. 73,000 fans were expected at the game today (just a couple of thousand less than the 74,544 best-attended hockey game ever at Spartan Stadium, here in Michigan)--it is being called more of an 'event' than a game. It might happen here in Michigan--after all, if you want to play in crappy weather, you can't find a better place! :)