Just a little type A

Free pancakes at IHop

Free short stack of pancakes at IHop today.  Find your closet IHOP.

Puberty and Cheerleaders

At the San Diego Sockers soccer game last night when the announcer introduced the San Diego Sockers Cheerleaders, the Little One grimaced and said, "Cheerleaders?"    I guess puberty has not yet hit....

San Diego Sockers

 

Took the boys to the San Diego Sockers game tonight against the Tacoma Stars.  What a game it was!  When the Stars got the first goal, we weren't sure how the game was going to turn out. But the Sockers came back to get a few goals, leading 6-3 by halftime.  The fourth quarter was dicey, especially when the Sockers got 2 penalties, resulting in the removal of two players, leaving only 3 and the goalie.  Despite playing two men down, the Sockers ended the game 9-4 and a 34 game win streak - the second longest win streak for a US professional team.  Go Sockers!!

 

Home Buying Leads to Divorce

Does buying a new home lead to a divorce?  

For Ali Edwards and Heather Armstrong aka Dooce, that seemed to be the straw.  It wasn't immediately after they closed escrow but within a year.

Slow down a minute and take a deep breath and unwad those panties from that bunch. I'm not saying that because they each bought new homes, it caused their divorces. 

I'm wondering about the effect of making major life changes when something else is going on in your life.  People who have babies in attempts to fix their major, that sort of thing.  And no, I'm not pregnant nor are we going through any major life changes.

The announcement earlier this month by Heidi Klum and Seal regarding their divorce

Are buying new homes, having babies, and other things people do when their marriage is in trouble, a way to try to fix the problems?  Or is it a way to appease a spouse and assage the other spouse's guilt?

Just curious about the rational behind the action and wondering what everyone else thinks.

 

Everlasting Love

Valentine's Day, it's all about love, giving your love in the form of gifts and receiving gifts. At least if we believe the hype that they (the proverbial they) want us to believe.

Let's buy into the hype and do that. Let's receive those gifts of love today.  

"Greater love have no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  John 15:13  It's one of my favorite Bible verses; Jesus, willing to give us everything.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8  He knew what we were/are, yet He still gave all.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16  He asks so little in return, that we simply believe, and accept Him for who He is, Lord, Savior, Everlasting God, Prince of Peace.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  Revelation 3:20   He is a gentleman, not willing to barge in where He's not wanting, waiting patiently for us to invite Him in.

Will you accept His gift of love today?

 

DOA

Did you know that an Apple Magic Mouse can die?  Neither did I, but apparently they can and mine did. It only took 45 minutes on the phone with tech support, running through a barrage of tests including replacing batteries, etc., and a visit to the Apple store, to confirm that yes, indeed, my Magic Mouse was DOA.

And the weird thing, when I went in to the Apple store, it took all of 1 minute to diagnosis the problem, 

Cool Apple Employee: "So, what seems to be the problem today?"

Me: "My mouse isn't working. I've already spoken with tech support and run through a bunch of tests including Command - Option - P - R, but that didn't work."

Cool Apple Employee: "Great. We'll get you a new mouse."  turns to another Cool Apple Employee and hands him my mouse and says, "DOA."

So I'm guessing this is not an uncommon problem.  Next time my cursor is locked in position at the left corner of my iMac, I'll know to avoid the 45 minutes of trouble shooting and just head to the Apple store for a new Magic Mouse.

 

SMASH

 

Smash, the upcoming show on NBC about a musical based on Marilyn Monroe, produced by Steven Spielberg debuts after the Superbowl, but passengers on American Airlines flights have been watching the first episode for the couple of weeks.

When I saw the advertised previews on television, before my twelve flight mileage run, I wasn't too impressed.  While I love musicals and the creative genius of Steven Spielberg, I'm not a big Marilyn Monroe fan.  So I hadn't planned on watching SMASH.

However, being a captive audience in an airplane for 9 hours changes one's opinion.  

The first few flights I caught bits and pieces without sound in between naps.  Since I couldn't figure out what was going on, about two weeks ago, I decided to watch the first episode in it's entirety.  And I was/am hooked.

While Marilyn Monroe features prominently, as the musical being developed is based on her life, Smash isn't about Marilyn, it's about the characters, their interactions, and the internal dramas of each.

We are quickly but without feeling rushed introduced the characters adn their struggles, starting with Karen Cartwright, played by Katharine McPhee.  Karen is a newcomer, trying to break into showbusiness, her parents disapprove, but she is supported both financially and emotionally by her boyfriend Dev Sundaram, played by Raza Jaffrey.  His love and support gives her the confidence to succeed.

Ivy Lynn, played by Megan Hilty,  has been relegated to being in the ensemble, yet to land the starring role. 

Ivy is the yin to Karen's yang.  Karen is the innocent, girl next door, Ivy is the bad girl, the hard knock kid, who has no one in her corner.  When she calls home to tell her mom she got a callback, she doesn't get the approval she craves and needs.  

Debra Messing plays Julia Houston, a songwriter who promised her husband, Frank, played by Brian d'Arcy James, she would take the year off so they focus on their adoption efforts.  Julia breaks her promise to her husband when the musical evolves from a casual suggestion by Julia's partner, Tom Levitt's assistant Ellis Tancharoen, played by Jaime Cepero.  It is because of Ellis, the musical takes off, in more ways than one.

Tom Levitt, played by Christian Borle, has his own demons. Tom is a gay man who can't remember the names of his partners and has a hate-hate relationship with the director, Derek Wills, played by Jack Davenport.  

Finally, we have producer Eileen Rand, played by Anjelica Houston, who is going through a vindictive divorce and may or may not have money to fund the production.

Smash is worth watching.

 

 

 

Back in Black

"Back in black 
I hit the sack 
I've been too long I'm glad to be back"

Stealing a few lines from AC/DC.  

Black as in black American Airlines Executive Platinum card - my last one expired 2/11.  This isn't my card, but my new one will be arriving soon.

And all it took was 12 flights from San Diego to Los Angeles to Chicago and back in the same day with just an hour layover each way, thanks to American' DEQAA (Double Elite Qualifying miles) systemwide promotion that ended on January 31st plus DEQ11 (Double Elite Qualifying Miles LAXORD).  Only a few delays, and thankfully despite some snow, I made it home every night.

Now to reap the benefits...