Look Out For the Tumbleweed

Dallas is getting some major wind gusts today. DFW reported the wind-speed (is that a term?) at 53mph and delayed flights. It is strange getting weather warnings on television for strong wind; they forewarn of poor visibility due to the dust swirling in the air. I keep expecting to see tumbleweed rolling down our street.

SAG Awards

Thank God the Screen Actor Guild Awards are on television tonight. It's been a long movie award season drought due to the WGA strike, which hopefully will be negotiated and a new agreement signed prior to the Academy Awards. I miss the gowns, jewels, and glamor that comes with these shows, not to mention the overlooked movies that are highlighted and catch our attention. The current red carpet coverage is dull; it makes me pine for the days of Joan Rivers yakking to/at the actors.

Media Ignoring John Edwards

At first I thought it was just because he came in second in the Iowa Democratic Primary/Caucus or whatever it is called. I watched the results on CNN and they downplayed the second-place showing of John Edwards. But as the weeks pass, I'm beginning to notice that the media finds it difficult to even acknowledge that there are three people in the Democratic race. What is the cause of this media-bias against a candidate? Unfortunately, the media is owned/controlled by corporations that are concerned with their bottom-line and John Edwards is running on a campaign focussed on closing the gap between the rich and poor in the US. He has also been critical of health insurance companies, and the way that some big corporations have disregarded their employees, oh, and he wants to get rid of Washington lobbyists. He is also not accepting donations from the aforementioned corporations. Big corporations dread a John Edwards presidency, hence he is the invisible candidate in the eyes of the media. There must be other people out there that realize the huge void in Edwards media coverage, right?

Nip/Tuck: Gina, Gina, Gina

Last night's Nip/Tuck episode really freaked me out when they showed Gina accidentally falling from her highrise rooftop while having sex with Christian. What a total surprise! I had heard that a character was going to die this season, but the writers really wanted you to think it was going to be meth-addicted Matt or poisoned Julia (can't believe the doctors did not test her for toxic substances). Not once did anyone suspect Gina was going to die. I can still see her character falling while calling out to Christian.

Giants? Really?

Still cannot believe that the Giants beat the Packers. The game was in Green Bay and the arctic temps favored the home team. What other team could play in -2F (windchill of -23F) weather? Now the Giants will be playing the Patriots in the Superbowl. Hate to say it, but I will be rooting for the New England Patriots. Anybody but the Giants.

Simmons Out of Apprentice

The only reason Hubby and I have been watching Celebrity Apprentice for the past several weeks is because of Gene Simmons, and now he is gone. We think he purposely did not bring Nelly back into the boardroom because he really no longer wanted to be part of the show, and we can't really blame him. This show is going no where fast and the Apprentice has grown tired. Haven't watched it since Trump installed his son and daughter to oversee the two groups as I'm not a fan of nepotism. Gene Simmons was truly enjoyable to watch as he has a natural acumen for business, and he really doesn't care what people think of what he says or does.

Smokey Elephant

In preparation for yesterday's James McMurtry gig at the White Elephant in Fort Worth I drank copious amounts of coffee. It certainly pepped me up but with a certain edge...Very edgey at the beginning of yesterday evening, and lets just say that James McMurtry music is not mood enhancing. But, all turned out well as Hubby, his colleague, made our way to the Fort Worth Stockyards.

The White Elephant Saloon is an experience in itself as this place has been around forever, or so it seems from the decor and ambience. Straw cowboy hats, with each owner's name attached, are nailed to the ceiling, and photos of visiting celebrities from the world of country music and hollywood are framed on the walls -- apparently Michael Keaton made his mark at the pool table here in the early 90s. Very smokey place, but cigarettes seemed right at home at the saloon although I was surprised at the amount of cigar smokes in attendance. The guys around us were friendly and very big James McMurtry fans.

As for James McMurtry himself, he did not disappoint and turned in a fine performance. It is amazing how he sounds exactly the same singing live as he does recorded. A musician rather than an entertainer his efforts to interact with the audience were hindered by the testy sound equipment, which seemed to slide as the evening progressed. The only downside was the sound quality towards the end; lots of feedback...or maybe he's veering towards an edgier sound.

McMurtry is true to himself and his music -- he follows his own path, and therein lies his strength. Those who have discovered his tunes appreciate his music and crafted storytelling. We had a great time and enjoyed his gig. Hopefully we will have another opportunity to see him perform in the upcoming months.

January Days

Today is an absolutely dreary day due to a lingering overcast sky. Yesterday I made a pilgrimage to North Park and had a fill of retail therapy. January may be full of overcast skies but it is the month of major retail sales as shops try to rid themselves of winter clothing and accessories. Why shop in December when the markdowns happen the next month. Found a great flared skirt and black trousers at Nordstrom, so many racks and so little time. The racks at Macy's can be overwhelming as everything seems scattered.

Going to the White Elephant Saloon in Forth Worth tonight to see singer James McMurtry perform. Hubby was introduced to his work through a colleague, and we listened to McMurtry's music on a road trip to Austin last October in preparation for a November performance in Denton --which was eventually cancelled. This could turn into an adventure tonight..

How To Look Good Naked

'How To Look Good Naked' is a new half-hour television show on Lifetime starring Carson Kressley, that fabulous stylist from Queer Eye. I watched two episodes on Saturday after saving it on Tivo and I love it. The show deals with average women of average weight -- those who fashion themselves after models may view them as fat -- who have self-esteem issues. Carson Kressley shows how their self-perception is askew as most view themselves as two or three sizes than they really are. He helps them accept and love the size they are, while also showing how to wear clothes to flatter rather than hide their figures. In the end, he gets each woman to pose 'naked' (their private 'bits' are tastefully covered) and proves that the way to look good naked is to have confidence and love the body you're in. Of course, having strangers compliment you while your photo is projected onto a building is a huge ego boost for any woman. Love yourself and the rest will follow.

Cowboys Blown Away on Sunday

The Cowboys played so well in the first half of yesterday's play-off game with the Giants. Marion Barber was outstanding and the team really seemed to be on a roll, a victory seemed to be within reach. Unfortunately, they were blown away by the Giants in the second half. They seemed like a completely different team. Romo kept getting hit, which is not a good thing -- you really don't want your QB getting knocked off his feet. Meanwhile, it seemed like none of the receivers could catch the ball or hang onto it. There is always next year, but which team will I cheer for now that both the Cowboys and the Colts have been knocked off?

Test Drive

Yesterday Hubby and I took the car to the Classic BMW dealership to check out the new models and talk about buying at the end of the lease. The dealership isn't new but it is a new location with a snazzy new building. Big change from the old one on US75 in Richardson. Lots of glass and chrome in which to showcase the shiny 2008 models. Hubby and I got wacky and, on a whim, took a new X3 model for a spin. Wow, great ride for a small SUV. It felt like I was driving a car, although Hubby insists that it doesn't hug the curves as much as the 325 but I didn't think it was that bad. My only complaint was that the bumps on the road were more pronounced than in the car, but this could have something to do with the X3 being higher. Think we're going to keep our lovely, little 325 and buy it at the end of the lease. I want to keep it until it's a vintage car and has tons of character, much like the old porsche David Duchovny's character drives in 'Californication'.

Get The Popcorn Ready

He's back. Better get the popcorn ready because T.O. is playing for the Cowboys in today's playoff game against the Giants. For some bizarre reason T.O. likes to shower himself in buttery popcorn after he scores a touchdown. Whatever...as long as he scores touchdowns he can do whatever he wants to do with popcorn.

Hubby and I are ready for the upcoming Cowboys vs. Giants game later today. I've got my Marion 'The Barbarian' Barber t-shirt on and will have my giant '#1 fan' finger ready. It's great news that Marion-the-barbarian will start in today's game. Hopefully this will make an impact early on in the game. Love how he plows through the guys trying to tackle him and how he actually pushes some of them away while running with the ball. What I really want to know is why his parents named him Marion.

Everyone in Dallas this week was upset about Tony Romo going away last weekend to Cabo with Jessica Simpson. What's the big deal? The players are allowed to take time off and relax, right? What I find weird is that she brought her parents along for the trip. Yeah, she's 27, divorced, and brought her parents on a weekend trip to Mexico with her boyfriend. Am I the only one to find this weird behaviour? Hubby has a theory that Jessica's father has set up the relationship to generate publicity for his daughter's fading career, while Romo gets to date Jessica Simpson. Also, I have a sinking feeling that it was Joe Simpson who took the photos of Jessica and Tony (Tonica or Simpsomo, take your pick) while in Mexico and sold them to the tabloids. Whatever...as long as she does not show her face at Texas Stadium during play-offs. Now, if they can position the Cowboys cheerleaders in Eli Manning's way so as to distract him...

Unleashing Your Inner Monica Gellar

Remember the character Monica from the television show 'Friends'? She was addicted to cleaning and keeping her life neat and tidy. Okay, you could refer to her character as anal retentive. This afternoon I have been unleashing my inner Monica Gellar and have been cleaning like a mad woman.

Cleaning is great therapy. I was feeling a bit mopey and decided to start cleaning, and I just couldn't stop. As the cleaning progressed so did my spirit. Bizarre, I know, but there is something to be said for being busy and making one's home look better. Maybe it's because of the repetitiveness of the cleaning that makes it therapeutic; or maybe it's because you can put all your aggravation into scrubbing and take it out on the floor. Really can't explain it, but cleaning is my therapy. Try unleashing your inner Monica Gellar.

Post Holiday Blues, Part 2

Tried to shake the post holiday blues with some retail therapy yesterday afternoon. It's amazing how some retail time boosts the spirits. The only drawback was that I woke up this morning feeling wiped out and I feel, well, blah. Maybe I should go out for another walk since the clouds have disappeared and the sun has emerged. Or, perhaps I really should finish the home re-org. thing since the office is full of boxes.

Beer Blog

Hubby just informed me via instant message that he and a co-worker want to start a blog about beer. Should I be worried?

Post-Christmas Funk

This past Sunday Hubby and I took down the Christmas tree and decorations and now I'm in a post-holiday funk. Don't know why but this seems to happen every year after everything is down. It's the after Christmas blues, I suppose. Guess Christmas wouldn't be special if we kept the tinsel up all twelve months. Got to shake the blahs. Perhaps getting organized will do the trick...or a little retail therapy, although I don't think Hubby would give me a thumbs up on the latter item. Hopefully the Cowboys will win this Sunday and that will perk up my spirits and make January bearable.

Britney Madness

Obama and Huckabee both claimed victories in Iowa last night. Meanwhile, over on the west coast Britney Spears had a major meltdown. Guess which event is all over the radio and television in the United States? Yep, it's that totally crazy Britney Spears. Apparently she actually does want the kids despite missing depositions and having a couple of lawyers resign over her lack of cooperation in trying to gain custody. A three-hour police stand-off may get her media attention, but what does it say about her parenting skills? Hopefully her children will not be emotionally scarred by last night's events. Personally, I don't think she really wants to be a mother because she really has not made an effort to clean up and get her act together. Britney is a train wreck and unfortunately the media will not turn away. Hopefully she will get the help she requires to turn her life around before it's too late.

Air Canada Blues

Oh, Air Canada, if only you had more competition...

Hubby and I flew Air Canada to the Great White North for Christmas Holidays. Must admit that we used air miles and did not pay for the tickets. Loved the personal video screens for each seat and that Air Canada flies out of Terminal D at DFW -- the shiny new terminal. Hated Air Canada's customer service. Guess we're used to flying American Airlines, where everyone now uses self-check-in and so waiting to check-in is usually no more than five minutes. At DFW, Air Canada had no one working the self-check-in desk the morning we flew, and so we waited 30 minutes to check-in while watching people breeze through American Airlines check-in. The other bizarre thing is that after showing picture identification and a boarding pass, Air Canada attendants' require that you show your boarding pass yet again when you enter the airplane. This results in a line and delays boarding. Why show your boarding pass on the plane yet again? Most people know where their seats are, and if not, the seats are marked. Also we experienced a couple of passenger trying to switch seats while people are boarding. This should only be allowed at the desk prior to boarding.

Another gripe is the fact that we have to go through security yet again when getting a connecting flight through Toronto. At no time after landing and before going through Canadian Customs did we leave a secure area, and yet we were required to have our carry on bags go through security. Oh, well, an extra layer of security. The worst part of this was the surly security personnel -- the rudest around. Let's just say that after flying for awhile I have a system of where I place my bags, liquids, coat, shoes, and this involves a couple of containers. The surly security woman made me take things out even though everything was ready to go through the security x-ray. After I went through the x-ray and was waiting for my items, I pushed an empty container down to the end to get it out of my way. That's when another surly security person said: "What? Do you work here now?" Okay, I usually push empty containers to the end when waiting for my items because it helps other people along, and most times I'm thanked by the security personnel who are so busy. The guy who went through the x-ray before me was also annoyed by their rudeness and told the security people to "lighten up". I really do not want to make a connecting flight through Toronto ever again.

Oh, but the last straw was our flight back to DFW. Our first flight was from Ottawa to Toronto on Air Canada. Everything was going well and we were on schedule UNTIL the flight crew made the decision to wait for three people who were making a connection. And so we waited 15 minutes for the three people, then we waited another five to ten minutes for their luggage to be put in cargo. In total, our flight was delayed by more than 45 minutes before taking off. So, in order to acommodate 3 people Air Canada made ten times that number either miss their connections or be late for connecting flights. The attendants wouldn't even announce which gates people should go to for connecting flights. Maybe they realized that some passengers had actually missed their connections. A fellow sitting beside me had less than five minutes to get to his flight. Hubby and I walked as quickly as possible to the US connections where we waited fifteen minutes for our luggage, and then proceeded to US Customs where we waited another fifteen minutes. We got there just in time to board. Don't think we'll be flying Air Canada the next time we go home. It really is too bad that there is no competition for Air Canada, because competition is what it needs to get its act together and improve.

ipod Battery Dying

The battery life on our (okay, technically it is Hubby's, but I've slowly staked my claim on it) ipod is slowly slipping away. The first indication was last month when I was out for my daily walk and the battery died after 40-45 minutes. Tried to fool myself by blaming the rainy weather, but today was sunny and it went silent after just over 30 minutes. According to my 10-year-old nephew (I'm trying to be a cool auntie), it's a first-generation and perhaps they have improved the battery-life on the 'new generations'. I really don't know why the batteries must die on these, except Apple will get more bucks from people buying newer 'models', I mean 'generation'. The only consolation is that the latest generation ipod does not have the annoying buttons at the top as they are not user-friendly. Now, I must find a way to justify the purchase of a new ipod to Hubby. If only Apple had discount sales.

Clutter Free Life

New Year's Day and Hubby and I made the trek to Target. We were amazed that some shops were open for business as it is a statutory holiday in the Great White North, so we decided to check out Target. Amazingly the store has already shifted the focus from Christmas to Valentine's Day and spring. We picked up season 3 of Lost to refresh our memory before the new season begins, and we also invested in a couple of storage boxes. Every January I make the resolution to live a clutter free life, and this year is no exception. So, hopefully I will begin to throw away stuff that no longer has meaning...if I don't procrastinate. There must be others like myself as Target had plastic storage boxes for sale throughout the store, and the Rubbermaid aisle was swarming with people. Perhaps it's the thought of starting a fresh life with a brand new year that inspires people to discard past relics. Maybe this is a good time to also discard the grudges, the painful thoughts that plague us and drag us down, and begin the year with forgiveness. Wipe the slate clean and let go of the past and focus on the present. Clutter is not only the physical variety but it is also the thoughts we hold on to that keep us from becoming happy and succesful. A clutter free life is the ideal.

Back Online

Hubby and I arrived back to sunny Texas just in time to shop at Northpark, and then toast in the New Year at a Dallas Stars game. Unfortunately the Stars lost to Nashville, but it was amazing to see the American Airlines Center filled to capacity -- much to our surprise it was their fourth consecutive sell-out. The Stars really need more youth out on the ice, although Zubov plays hard Modano was, according to Hubby "just floating". After the game we gathered with a couple of thousand people at Victory Plaza to watch a local cover band called 'TOP' perform. They were awesome as they played a varied selection of tunes from the last 30 years. Hubby and I 'cut a rug' when they played "Brick House" and Santana tunes. The crowd got the best of me with 20 minutes to midnight and we headed back to the car and had an excellent perspective for the fireworks over American Airlines Center.