Pilobolus

Pilobolus is the name of a dance company that has mixed inventiveness with humor and thrived, even with the name, for more than 30 years.

Pilobolus started as an experimental troupe of Dartmouth students back in 1971, and they've broken all the rules, with great success, ever since.

They call themselves "the dance company for those who don't like dance... and for those who do."

Three Consecutive Months In Bed

Jewelgurl reader Mandi sent me a link to a most interesting newstory and asked whether or not I might be able to do this.

Before I ever had my experience with Cancer, my answer would have been "Yes!! Absolutely!! So easy!! What a vacation!!"

Now I say............."No Way!!! Absolutely not!!! That would be so hard!!! What torture!!"

I spent last July and August laying on my couch.

20 out of 24 hours a day were spent laying on that couch.

My mind became vacant and numb ( some from medicine and I am sure some from lack of stimuli ) I began to waste away and lost 40+ pounds, much of this was muscle that I was no longer using and I am still trying to rebuild.

I became depressed and would suggest my family take me for car rides even if I slept through them. I would say.......... "it was different scenery to sleep through and I need a change."

After reading this article I believe they would have even more challenges to endure than I ever did. Hygiene and grooming would have to be done while laying down. No thanks.

After spending extending periods of time laying down and in the same position muscles would seize up and you may develop spasms. A nice hot soak would feel so good but I am assuming they have to make do with a bed bath. I am also assuming that they would have to use bedpans to take care of their business. That wouldn't work for me. I am potty shy at the best of times and would end up severely constipated.

Sure they get to listen to music, watch DVDS, read, etc. but do they get to feel the wind at their back, the light spray of summer rain or the warmth of sunshine cacading down on their toes. $10 an hour is not enough to live with these limitations. I will never give up my freedom without a fight to live life Full. I want to dance, leap frolic and play.

You can follow along with the journey here. Thanks again for sharing Mandi. How about any of you? Would you do this? Leave answers in comments.

Crazy Photo Shoot

A foolhardy photographer takes snaps of a Grand Canyon sunset, after casually leaping between rock columns to reach a precarious perch 3,000ft up.

Then we learn it was not quite as crazy as it seems.

Earthquake & Big Brother

Here's video footage of the Los Angeles-area earthquake hitting the "Big Brother" set.
There are plenty of "ohmigod" exclamations, aimless scurrying and of course Jessie taking off his shirt. I wonder if they will show this on Thursday evenings episode.

Jennifer & Violet

Jennifer Garner who recently announced her pregnancy is looking lovely as ever as he shops with her daughter.

Christian The Lion

Tell me this doesn't make you tear up.....just a little.

Rebecca Romijn, wife of Jerry O'Connell is pregnant with twins, their rep confirms.
Romijn, 35, and O'Connell, 34, started dating four years ago and got hitched last July.
"They haven't told that many people," a source tells me. "Rebecca wanted to wait until she was done shooting Ugly Betty."
The twins, due this winter, will be the first babies for the parents-to-be. Source: Us Weekly magazine.

Barron Trump

Donald Trump and his wife, Melania made a cute little boy.

My Thoughts On Big Brother

Today when I went to work I was taken to task by one of my peers. "Where was your update on Big Brother last night? I'm not interested in how your beach day went with your family." From one TV junkie to another I totally understand her frustration and am going to post my thoughts below.

I find it funny that April is so happy that Keesha won HOH. Wasn't there a time when they hated each other?

Michelle and Jerry really over reacted to Stevens parting words when he left the house.

The house is full of really odd conversation. First is Michelle revealing all the pig parts she and other Portuguese people love to eat, and then she describes a pig festival in which dead pigs dressed as a bride and groom are hung up by their necks as people dance with them.

Then April and Ollie have an even odder conversation about self help books, road signs and relationships. Is there really nothing else going on in the house to show us? Ugh!!!!!

Rennys screeching during the food competition was highly irritating and painful to my ears and the whole sock matching competition seemed to go on forever.

Laugh Of The Day

How Bread was made in the 80's

Drinks

1. What drink wakes you up best in the morning? Coffee

2. During the day, what do you drink to keep going? Tea


3. Do you drink the recommended 8 glasses of water per day? Why/why not? Yes


4. What are the ingredients of your favorite mixed drink? (Doesn't have to be alcoholic!): Vodka and Cranberry Juice


5. Are you a coffee drinker? How do you take your coffee, if so? I like coffee with flavored cream.......mmmmm....hazelnut.

Madonna Needs To Eat

I think this may be the most unflattering picture of Madonna that I have ever seen. I think she needs to give the Pilates a rest.

A Day At The Beach

Today our family packed up early and headed to the Coburg Beach to take advantage of the nice weather. It was clear blue skies right up until our departure after dinner.
I have lived within the vincinity of this beautiful beach for the past 13 years and have never set foot upon the grains of sand until today.
The kids had a great time boogie boarding and Garth and I were able to chill out and relax while soaking up the rays.
There was a bit of excitement during the afternoon as I heard a man yelling from the water to get a blanket. I looked up from my magazine to see an older gentleman carrying a little body in his arms. Garth and Brooke have said they have never seen me run so fast.
A quick assessment was done and there was a pulse and respirations but he was quite listless and not very responsive. The man placed him into recovery position. 911 was summoned and while we waited, the Coast Guard arrived on site within seconds and then police and then paramedics. The young lad became increasingly responsive as time wore on and was eventually transported to the local hospital for further assessment. Oddly there were no lifeguards on duty nor parents in attendance and I still wonder why a boy of that age is hanging out at the beach unsupervised. Lucky for him that a retired firefighter happened to be watching him as he kept wading out further and further with his young friends.

My Dad Should Be A Talent Scout For Shows Looking For Talent

My Dad sent me some more clips from Americas got talent. This lady has a strong set of pipes on her and I sense happier and easier days are ahead for her. She is going to soar......................



I wonder if this guy seounds the same as he did 11 years ago or if his voice is better than ever.

200 Have And Have Nots

Everything that I have done is in brackets. It’s long but I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to copy and paste and leave yours in the comments.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. (Slept under the stars)
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. (Changed a baby’s diaper)
5. (Watched a meteor shower)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. (Climbed a mountain)
9. Held a tarantula
10. (Said “I love you” and meant it)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. (Watched a lightning storm at sea)
14. (Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise)
15. (Seen the Northern Lights)
16. (Gone to a huge sports game)
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. (Grown and eaten your own vegetables)
19. (Looked up at the night sky through a telescope)
20. (Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment)
21. (Had a pillow fight)
22. (Bet on a winning horse)
23. (Taken a sick day when you’re not ill)
24. (Built a snow fort)
25. Held a lamb
26. (Gone skinny dipping)
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. (Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar)
29. (Seen a total eclipse)
30. (Ridden a roller coaster)
31. Hit a home run
32. (Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking)
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. (Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment)
36. (Loved your job 90% of the time)
37. (Had enough money to be truly satisfied)
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. (Gone on a midnight walk on the beach)
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. (Alphabetized your personal files)
48. (Ever worn a superhero costume)
49. (Sung karaoke)
50. (Lounged around in bed all day)
51. Gone scuba diving
52. (Kissed in the rain)
53. (Played in the mud)
54. (Gone to a drive-in theater)
55. (Done something you should regret, but don’t)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. (Gone without food for 3 days)
61. (Made cookies from scratch)
62. (Won first prize in a costume contest)
63. (Got flowers for no reason)
64. (Been in a combat zone)
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. (Read - and understood - your credit report)
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. (Called or written your MP)
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. (Won money)
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. (Eaten sushi)
84. (Had your picture in the newspaper)
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. (Changed someones mind about something you care deeply about)
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. (Taught yourself an art from scratch)
94. (Killed and prepared an animal for eating)
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. (Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language)
97. Been elected to public office
98. (Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream)
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. (Dyed your hair)
103. Been a DJ
104. (Rocked a baby to sleep)
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. (Brought out the best in people)
108. (Brought out the worst in people)
109. (Worn a mood ring)
110. (Ridden a horse)
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. (Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe)
113. Buried a child
114. (Gone to a Broadway)
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. (Shot a basketball into a basket)
117. (Danced at a disco)
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. (Ridden a train)
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. (Eaten caviar)
125. (Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need)
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. (Pieced a quilt)
129. Lived in an historic place
130. (Acted in a play or performed on a stage)
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. (Gone roller skating)
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. (Learned how to take a compliment)
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. (Written a fan letter)
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. (Lied about your weight)
156. (Gone on a diet)
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. (Written a poem)
159. (Carried your lunch in a lunchbox)
160. (Gotten food poisoning)
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. (Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks)
164. Gone to the opera
165. (Gotten a letter from someone famous)
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. (Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books)
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. (Saved someone’s life)
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. (Laughed till your side hurt)
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. (Been a cashier)
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. (Joined a union)
187. (Donated blood or plasma)
188. (Built a campfire)
189. (Kept a blog)
190. (Had hives)
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. (Made a PowerPoint presentation)
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. (Know CPR)
197. (Ridden in or owned a convertible)
198. (Found a long lost friend)
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a local newsletter

Link Of The Day

I have been enjoying this website that posts some notes that are found in shared spaces. Most aren’t really passive-aggressive even by our generous standards. Some of these notes are really more aggressive in tone, and some of them are more passive..... polite, even ...... but they all share a common sense of frustration that’s been channeled into written form rather than a direct confrontation.

Test Your Knowledge of Old School 90210

Before the new class of West Beverly High students take over the zip code, take this quiz to test your previous 90210 knowledge. I scored 70%.

Song Of The Day: Wouldn't It Be Nice By The Beach Boys

Fill in the blanks

My answers are in brackets.

1. Holidays in the summer are.............. (a great time to visit with family and friends.)

2. (Chicken, sausage, hot dogs, vegetables and shish-ka-bobs)...................... are my favorite things to grill.

3. My thoughts are ...........(completely random.)

4. (Going to the Coburg Beach)............is what I'm most looking forward to this weekend!

5. My favorite book so far this summer is............(My Sisters Keeper.)

6. (Well rested with the smell of coffee brewing)............is the best way to begin a day.

Your turn.

Movie Review: Dark Knight

I took in the Dark Knight Sunday afternoon as the skies were grey and dark leaving me feeling full of doom and gloom.
There is nothing I can say that has not been said about how fantastically fabulous this film is.
Here are some of my random thoughts.......
Heath Ledgers portrayl of the Joker was AMAZING!
The tongue thing that he did was so creepy.
The disappearing pencil was great.
I dislike Bale's Bat-voice. I found it very distracting. I don't remember it being that distracting in Batman Begins.
The Joker is probably the darkest of Bat's rivals, so where will they go from here?

If you have not seen Dark Knight.........What are you waiting for?

My Thoughts On Big Brother 10

The thing that excited me the most this week was Julie Chens choice of outfits last night. She was aglow all evening in a bright orange outfit with mismatched tones.
Jessie proves to be a tool once again during his goodbye speech to Steven.
I wonder what Ollies father thinks of this part of his "showmance" with April. (NSFW)

Song Of The Day: Free Fallin' by John Mayer

Link Of The Day

This Blog is amazing as April offers the most ecclectic archive of MP3s. I love stuff like this. She is a clever and funny writer as well.

Long Way Down With Ewan McGregor

In the original documentry Ewan McGregor shared the details of the 20,000-mile motorcycle trip he took around the world with best friend Charley Boorman over 115 days. I found the whole journey completely engrossing and look forward to the release of Long Way Down which will screen for one night on July 31st.

This second journey took them from Scotland to South Africa in 2006 and was turned in to a television show which will be on Fox Reality starting on August 2. This one night theatre showing of a super condensed version of that series is being used to generate proceeds that will go to charity.

Carmencita

Natalie Portman has transformed herself into a Bollywood princess for a starring role in her boyfriend’s new music video.
The 27 year-old is dating Venezuelan-American folk singer Devendra Banhart, who is heating up the Spanish charts with his single “Carmencita.”
Banhart plays a prince who must use his snake-shooting eyes, knife throwing prowess and "rebellious beard" to save the a beautiful princess. Real-life girlfriend Natalie Portman plays the damsel in distress, and clearly has some fun with the role.

RIP: Estelle Getty

I was away from Television and computers yesterday at a girls cottage getaway. I just heard this sad news this morning.

Estelle Getty, best known as Bea Arthur's sarcastic, purse-swinging mother Sophia on The Golden Girls was 84. Getty also popped up in Mannequin, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Mad About You and several other films and series in the '80s and early '90s.
In 1993 Getty starred in her own fitness video,a remix of the video was somewhat of a hit on YouTube. You can see it below:

High Tech Dog Tags

If Jedi, our dog ever disappeared, I'd be devastated. she has tagsand has been microchipped but now I see there is another option. This high-tech dog tag stores your dog's pertinent information on a USB drive in a little waterproof case.

If someone finds your dog they can just plug the tag into their computer for contact information, medical history and more.

Just In Time For Christmas

Mattel is releasing "Hitchcock Barbie" in October.

Looks like there is also going to be a dominatrix Barbie in September

The Ongoing Saga Of My Hair

My husband is not a fan of my newly acquired curly hair. I will often find him looking at me with a look of amusement on his face. This always prompts me to ask........"What?"

Tonight he told me I look like cross between Willie Aames, John Schnieder, Roger Daltry, Chris Atkins, Patrick Swayze from Point Break and Will Farrell. God he's good for my self esteem.

I tend to think I look more like this guy.

My Thoughts On BB10

Brian, the first evicted houseguest fell victim to one of the classic blunders.........getting overly confident and telling everyone in the house he was the world’s smartest man.

I have to agree with the gay cowboy Steve, Jessie the new HOH is a tool.

He really needs to get over himself as he finds issues with anyone who does not reinforce his delusions of grandeur that he is the centre of the universe........"You didn't say hi to me Angie, You didn't respect me Dan and you didn't come see my HOH room Steve."

It’s apparent how divided the house is. Dan, Steve, Angie and Keesha on one side, everyone else on the other. With Renny and Jerry in between.

After watching how Renny dresses and grooms herself over the last few episodes I believe she is Manic

Snake Attack

I bet you jump.

Helpful Household Tips I Bet You Did Not Know

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won’t have to pick the little “stringy things” off of it. That’s how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

Even more tips….

1. Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the st ore, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar
and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Broken Glass Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can’t see easily.

6. No More Mosquitoes Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

7. Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn’t hurt the plant and the squirrels won’t come near it.

8. Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

9. Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don’t dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right
out.

10. Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

11. Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It’s cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It’s also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn’t like when you tried it in your hair…

12. Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2″ with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

13. Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it “home,” can’t digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don’t have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

I have been checking out a new web series called “Imaginary Bitches."
The webisodes feature ex-”All My Children” star Eden Riegel as a quirky girl who makes up a few imaginary pals to take the place of her no longer single friends who prefer to bitch about their partners.
In the first episode of the show Eden, the main character, has a one night stand and is desperate to talk about her night with a hunky waiter.
When she calls her friends, they are all occupied with their spouses or kids.
To release her excitement she makes up two friends. Katherine and Heather become her always-there friends. You can catch the rest of the series at ImaginaryBitches.com

The James Brown Collection

James Brown's belongings are being auctioned at Christie's.

The suit on the left fetched $4,750. What kind of footwear would you wear with that getup?

Attack Of The Tomatoes

This site demolishes any webpage in a variety of formats............. wasps, tomatoes, spilled coffee, cream pie, dog poop, worms, chainsaw, you name it. Link here to watch Jewelgurl take a beating from some tomatoes.
I wasted a lot of time on the website called NetDisaster.com

Cool Fire Rescue System

A Day At The Peterborough LiftLocks

Today Garth and I took the girls to Peterborough on a sightseeing boat cruise that goes through the worlds tallest lift locks. The weather was cooperative, the captain of the boat was informative and humorous as he shared his knowledge of the area. What a great way to spend the afternoon.

Cory Feldman And PETA

Corey Feldman appears in a PETA advertisement.

I Hope Spielberg Watches YouTube

Mathieu Ratthe is a Canadian filmmaker who dreams of directing an adaptation of The Talisman, the 1984 fantasy novel written by Stephen King and Peter Straub.
The only problem is that Stephen Spielberg has held on to the rights for nearly 25 years, and the story has never made it to the screen.
Ratthe decided to film a demo for the film and post it on YouTube.

Lets hope that Mr. Spielberg views the clip and recgnizes the potential of Mathieu Ratthe.

Laugh Of The Day

Elton, Ben & Jerry

Elton John has been honored with a Ben & Jerry's flavor.

Buffy Verses Batman

Buffy is about to beat Batman in RedEye's "best superhero" tournament. I know Buffy has fans but c'mon.......

Feist On Seasame Street

Watch as Feist performs a reworked version of 1234 on Sesame Street and at the end of the video I bet you are smiling.

Dog Whisperer

My Garden Zombie Eats Annoying Children

We have this nighbourhood kid who can be annoying as hell.
She comes to call on the girls at the weirdest times.......8 in the morning and 9 at night. She has some anger issues that she takes out on my girls.
I do not want to directly want to tell the girls that they cannot play with her. I think it is best to sit back with a watchful eye and let things be revealed themselves over time.
Brooke and Alley will then decide when they have had enough.
Maybe if I plant this lawn ornament it will subtly scare her away.

I Bought It On E-Bay

Cleaning Myths

Don't use dish washing liquid to clean your car. Plastic cutting boards as opposed to wooden cutting boards. Do you think washing items frequently gets rid of dust mites? What is the validity of the 5 second rule?

Laugh Of The Day

This Boy Has Talent

Get this dude a Tama drum kit. It starts slow but by the end........Wowza!!

Song of The Day: Pocketful Of Sunshine By Natasha Bedingfield

You can even sing along karaoke style to this cheery little ditty.

Another Celebrity Couple Split

Americas sweethearts Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman are calling it quits.
Wow, maybe she really was f***king Matt Damon after all.

My Thoughts On Big Brother

I think I like more people in the house than I usually do.

I have to agree with Sheila.......this lady can go.


I don't care what the dude calls himself......a mixologist is a still a bartender.


Dan tells us alot about himself when he is in the diary room saying that he’s not concerned with behaving in a way contrary to his religious beliefs because he can just go to confession and “get that taken care of.” How convenient!!!!


I found it funny when Renny said she found it appalling when Great Grandpa Jerry AKA HOH gave Aprils breasts a grope.......like she is a good role model for appropriate behaviour.


Those cars in the first competition were sweet although I was disappointed that the mixologist won.


I think it will be funny to watch Jerry start voguing all over the house with his arms crossed sign that he made up with Brian. I think he could haven chosen something a little more discreet.

A Bad Day At The Bank Drive Thru

http://view.break.com/534959 -

Cute Birthday Greeting

My gal pal Heather sent me this cute E card today and I loved it enough to share its cuteness. Thanks Heather for brightening my day.

Today I Turn 42.

Because I turn 42 today I give you 42 random, pointless, trivial (and perhaps a little bit interesting) facts that you may or may not know about me...

1. My middle name is Darlene

2. My parents names are Ray and Fay

3. Some things I wanted to be when I was a child.....teacher, an actress, a wife & mother.

4. I've had 2 open heart surgeries, 2 C-sections and 2 sinus surgeries. (Double your pleasure. Double your fun.)

5. I got my ears pierced when I was 12.

6. I love sunglasses and have more pairs than I ever need.

7. One of my life dreams is to spend an extended period of time exploring Europe.

8. I lived in South America for 2 years.

9. One thing I have absolutely no interest in ever doing is bungee jumping.

10. I could never give up Cheese.

11. I have been known to laugh at inappropriate times.

12. I have a bit of a potty mouth (which I am working on improving)........thats bullshit actually.

13. I steal pens from anywhere that offers free pens as I am always buying them yet there is never one around when I need one.

14. I never finish my coffee or tea.

15. I spend too much time on facebook.

16. Getting a grocery cart with a wonky wheel, or one that leans one way drives me crazy.

17. I despise word verifications.

18. I have tendency to pull up the bottom sheets when I sleep driving my husband crazy.

19. I find clowns scary.

20. I love libraries.

21. I don't know how to text message and have no desire to learn.

22. Since having Cancer, I tell people I love them much more freely than keeping my feelings inside.

23. One of my life goals/dreams is to learn to surf.

24. I once had to go for a interview before a judge because of how many speeding tickets I had.

25. Now, I drive slower than most on the highways.

26. I used to love eating grilled cheese and peanut butter.

27. I give my children a few days off of school each year to spend leisure time with Garth and I.

28. I am not good at math and find it a struggle to help my daughter with her grade 5 math homework.

29. I never leave my house without checking the weather forecast.

30. Goodbyes are difficult for me.

31. I am terrible at telling jokes.

32. I have never seen an episode of 24.

33. I make killer brownies.

34. I'm a really good listener. Everyone tells me this therefore I know. Just because I don’t actually call my friends, I'm very good at listening to them.

35. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

36. I like to play chess.

37. One movie I could watch over and over again is......"Uncle Buck"

38. I was 29 when I got married.

39. I am allergic to Ibuprophen.

40. I like being the only one up in the morning.

41. I participated in a Caesar Salad making contest with some friends and my salad was voted best-tasting.

42. I love canoing.

Song Of The Day: I'm Yours By Jason Mraz

This song is pure joy!

Link Of The Day: Buffet Libre

Link here for a website that may appeal if you are an '80s music lover and indie-rock afficionado.
So far, the site has accumulated 60 covers of '80s songs by various indie bands and they are all available for free download.
An added bonus is that the site even links to YouTube videos of the original versions.

Let's Cook S'mores

As summer nights cool down, it's fun to be able to extend your time outside and stay warm while cuddling up by the fire and roasting marshallows.

Currently I have the firepit featured on the right.

But, Oh how I would love this one.

Laugh Of The Day

Go ahead......reach in and grab a can.

Big Brother House Tour With Juli Chen

The retro kitchen is kind of cool but the rest of the house looked like a bad design challenge from some sort of interior design show.

I Guess I Won't Be Making Salsa

More than 1,000 people now have become ill from salmonella initially linked to raw tomatoes, a sobering milestone Wednesday that makes this the worst foodborne outbreak in at least a decade. Adding to the confusion, the government is warning certain people to avoid types of hot peppers, too.

Unique Baby Names

There has been some recent discussion of odd baby names.

The newest in that trend is little Sunday Rose Kidman Urban who joins the long line of Suri, Apple, Coco and Rumour. While most of these names make us shake our heads the parents are very pleased with what they have chosen. Here are some more strange celebrity names.

Free Slurpee Day!!!

Every July 11th (7/11), 7-Eleven offers free 7.11 oz Slurpees all across Canada.

Deal Of The Day: Stevia Sample

Stevia Sweet is a zero-calorie sweetener made from the stevia plant. Stevia Sweet offers an all-natural, healthy way to improve the flavour of your favourite foods and beverages.

Link here to order a free sample of Stevia Sweet Sweetener.

More Gems From My Dad

I love that my Dad shares these clips with me. He watches the program "Americas got talent" and then shares the best bits. It works well with my time management regime of trying to fit everything in.

First up is Kyle Rifkin and all I can say is what an amazing set of pipes he has.


This clip of 11 year old Victoria Jacob kind of grossed me out. I also want to know how her male siblings feel after Mom has pretty much told everyone on national TV that Victoria is their golden child.


Then there was this guy from So you think you can dance. He has some pretty impressive moves.


All of that is well and good but nobody can top my new Reality TV crush.......this guy has stage presence and he is from Toronto to boot.

Peach Pit Owner "Nat" to Star on 90210 Spin-Off

90210 spin-off is getting another familiar face.......Peach Pit owner Nat!

Big Stars To Appear On Elvis Costellos Variey Show

Elvis Costello has signed on to host a new Sundance Channel TV show, "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With ...," which will be produced in conjunction with Elton John's Rocket Pictures production company.

The show, which will feature 13 one-hour episodes, will air on CTV in Canada and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.

Blue Jays Rock The 4th Inning

It is now 8:22 and Garth and I tuned in late to view the game. It was 8:00 when we settled into watch the game. It was the bottom of the 4th inning and the score was 1-0 for Baltimore. In 22 minutes the Jays got 7 runs. Woo Hoo!!!!!

Usher & Son On Cover Of Essence Magazine

In this issue Usher talks about the ups and downs of being married, the choices he’s made, and being the best father he can be to his son, Usher Raymond V. His baby is too cute. I love the hat.

Cast Addition To Fifth Season Of Rescue Me

Michael J. Fox may be joining the cast of to Rescue Me.

Summer Tv Sucks

As far back as I can remember TV has had an active role in my life.

Some people might be ashamed to admit this but I am not.

Episodes and periods of my life can be defined by the television I watched.

I grew up watching Seasame Street, Uncle Bobby, Captain Kangaroo, Mr Dressup, Romper Room, Tiny Talent Time.

These shows evolved into the Donny & Marie Show, Sonny & Cher, Battle Of The Network Stars, Thats Incredible.

I remember Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Magnum PI, Different Strokes, The Cosby Show, Who's The Boss, Growing Pains, Facts of Life, The Wonder Years, Family Ties, Dukes Of hazzard.

There were times you could even catch me watching episodes of the Price is Right during the morning hours. I went through an afternoon soap phase of watching The Young & The Restless and Days Of Our Lives.

I still reflect fondly on Friends, Seinfield, Mad About You, Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, Party Of Five, 90210, Once & Again. Now I can be found watching Lost, big Brother, American Idol, NCIS, Family Guy.........but I must say.........now that summer is here there is nothing to watch.

Summer TV Sucks.

I need to stock up on some new box set of televison programs to watch. Any suggestions?

Superhero Tournament

This has been a huge summer for superhero movies, so it makes sense that someone would launch a tournament to determine one hero to rule them all.
Link here to vote for your favorite superheroes of all time. It is only the first round and voting for this round will end on Friday July 11th. My tried and true favorite has always been SpiderMan.

The Cast Of Big Brother Revealed

Big Brother Season 10 is set to premiere on CBS Sunday, July 13th and the cast has been revealed.

Following its July 13 debut, Big Brother will move into its regular thrice-weekly broadcast schedule -- with Tuesday night episodes airing at 9PM ET/PT beginning July 15 and Wednesday night episodes airing at 8PM ET/PT beginning the next night and serving as the tenth-season's live eviction show.

After reading their bios........my pick at this stage is Jerry, he's 75, a married great-grandfather, and a retired marketing executive. He is in great shape and has never missed an episode of the show in all nine previous seasons. He's also been a fan of the live feeds.

I'm sure my opinion will change over the course of the season.

Song Of The Day: There She Goes

It's a double play day........Enjoy!!!

Tongue Twisters

I can barely say these in my head......

-Clean clams crammed in clean cans.
-Six sick hicks nick six slick bricks with picks and sticks.
-I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won’t wish the wish you wish to wish.
-Stupid superstition!

-If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?
-Santa’s Short Suit Shrunk
-Who slit the sheetThe sheet is slitWhoever slit the sheet is a good sheet slitter.

-I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.

-Seventy seven benevolent elephants

-Red Buick, blue Buick

And the list goes on.............

Song Of The Day: Blue Monday By New Order

This song has had many covers done but I still enjoy the original gem of 1983.

Swearing In American Sign Language....NSFW

American Sign Language, the sign language used by the Deaf Community throughout most of North America, has a rich vocabulary of terms which include profanity. Within Deaf culture, there is a distinction drawn between signs used to curse versus signs that are used to describe sexual acts. In usage, signs to describe detailed sexual behavior are highly taboo due to their graphic nature.

Weekend Recap

This has been a relaxing weekend and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

Friday evening I came home from work to find my husband preparing an awesome dinner that looked mouth watering.

He had spent the afternoon at the grocery store picking up the fixins for a nice "steak' dinner with a delicious rub of seasonings, some grilled shrimp, corn on the cob and pasta salad with feta cheese.

The dinner was delicious and I kept commenting how tender the steak was and that I hadn't enjoyed one as much in along time. That was when I noticed him and Brooke grinning at each other with a look of shared knowledge. "What" I asked. They both laughed and then revealed that I was actually eating Lamb.

I nearly vomited in my mouth. I hate Lamb.......or do I? What is it that I hate about Lamb? It certainly can't be the flavor as I just spent the last few minutes raving about it. It can't be that Lambs are cute and cuddly because I have seen many a cute cow but that has never stopped me from enjoying a Cheeseburger.

Well I'll be........I like Lamb. I am glad he told me after I was done rather than earlier.

In all seriousness, the radiation has changed my sense of taste and it is still interesting to see how my tastes are shifting. I may even start to like green beans.

After dinner I went to the gym for a post feast workout and then home to chill and watch Clover field. It was better than I expected.

Saturday morning, we all slept in until 9:30..........kids included. Sweet Bliss!!

The girls and I decided to go Strawberry picking at Watson Farms. Yummmmmm.

During the afternoon I spent time lounging in the backyard listening to pod casts and working on my tan. I wore my SPF 60 sunscreen on my face. It was nice just soaking up the heat. I love that feeling.

I went to the gym during the evening to get more cardio in and home to watch the movie, "Untraceable." It was another enjoyable movie.

This afternoon was again spent lounging in the backyard. I helped the kids make a fort out of lawn chairs and blankets and I lounged out under the gazebo listening to some newly purchased tunes and finishing my latest read.

I loved this weekend. I nourished my stomach, my body, my mind and my soul.

Google Search Sunday

I always find it interesting to look at my site meter to search terms that got people to this site. This week I had a visits from people looking for David Blaine, Celine Dion, Canadas Wonderland, John Mayer, Elvis Costello, Cineplex Pakistan, Ben Vanderklok, lighthouses but the most popular search item has been Heidi Klum.

Song Of The Day: Fade Into You By Mazzy Star

I first heard this song during a Gilmore Girls episode and loved it ever since.

Good Thing It Is Not 1930

12 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Book Clubs Are Popping Up Everywhere

ABC.com has just announced the formation of a Lost Book Club, which will spotlight titles that have been referenced on the show.

Right now the book-club site shows a list of books that have been mentioned on each season of the series. You can browse the list by season or theme (books that have popped up in the background, address the theme, have been quoted, etc.)

"Also available on ABC.com will be a message board to discuss the titles, a synopsis of each book along with when and how it was referenced in the show and an introduction by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse," a press release states.

Titles include everything from The Fountainhead and Lord of the Flies to Aldous Huxley's Island and Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman.

Song Of The Day: Radio Radio By Elvis Costello

I love this Elvis Costello song that got him banned from Saturday Night Live for a dozen years after he started the scheduled song, stopped it and launched into this one...on live TV, against the producer's orders.

Pixar Movie Quiz

How well do you know Pixar Movies? Take the moviefone quiz here and find out. I did brutal, by only answering 6 correctly.

The Pregnant Man Has Given Birth

Thomas Beatie, also known as The Pregnant Man, has given birth to a girl. Despite published reports, Beatie says the baby was not delivered via C-section. He intends to publish a book about his experience this fall.

If I ever went to Ohio, I'd like to see this building. It is part of the Longaberger Basket Co.
This site has other unusual buildings listed that are scattered throughout the USA.

A New Cast Edition To 90210 spinoff

Can it get any better? I am sooooo excited.

When Candy Design Goes Terribly, Hilariously Wrong

Oh come on, are you telling me the designers of these Lighthouse Gummies didn't see the issue with this shape? I am not buying it.

The Dark Knight Exclusive Trailer 5

The Dark Knight opens in theaters and IMAX on July 18.

30 Things That I Love About Canada

1.) Tim Hortons

2.) The pretty money

3.) Neil Young

4.) Loonies & Toonies

5.) Our Healthcare system

6.) The Rockies

7.) 1 year of maternity leave

8.) Poutine

9.) Mcintosh Apples

10.) Trailer Park Boys

11.) Christmas with snow

12.) Multiculturism

13.) Wayne Gretzky

14.) Our Flag

15.) Hudson's Bay point blanket

16.) Canadian bacon

17.) Maple syrup

18.) Robert Munsch

19.) Terry Fox

20.) Niagara Falls

21.) Alex Trebek

22.) Trivial Pursuit

23.) Michael J. Fox

24.) William Shatner

25.) Toronto Blue Jays

26.) Mike Holmes

27.) Burton Cummings

28.) Barenaked Ladies

29.) Inukshuks

30.) Honest Ed Mirvish