Go Susan!

Susan Boyle.

Sorry, I don't watch these shows. I do watch "The Amazing Race" because it takes me places that I'll never have the opportunity to visit. I caught a glimpse of Susan on a news clip.

Watch here!!

Be near Kleenex. Unbelievable. She comes from a Scottish village, is unemployed, single, & lives with Pebbles the cat. She's 48 & never been kissed. That will change (if she wishes). On that site also is a recording made 10 yrs. ago of "Cry Me a River." Wow. What a voice!

Looks can be deceiving, can't they? How much does society revert to looks? Must be an awful lot if Sue has no job & has never been kissed. The audience began laughing at her & finished by giving her a standing ovation which she richly deserved.

63,063 Views Today!

I started this blog on a suggestion March 15, 2006. In April I tooled around a bit & added a counter. 63,063 page views TODAY. Small yeah! #11 on the state's most influential political blogs. I am actually the only local blog (not counting Prov.) making the top 11. What does this mean? Absolutely nothing. I am a legend in my own mind- LOL!

Daffodils in bloom!

I'd post my garden pic if I could find my camera. I'm going to have to break down soon & buy one. My house faces south & I have a bunch of bulbs planted by the foundation. Almost 60 outside today!

Yahoo!!!

District 12's "Adamsville Phil"

**2nd UPDATE: This is from last year, but I like it. BTW, the groundhog saw his shadow- 6 more wks. of winter
**UPDATE: Here is the Projo update on Phil who has now struck out on his own. Currently Phil is sleeping under the Gardner's barn. Will he peek out?


Here is last year's blog entry.
Bummer, he saw his shadow!




In case you missed this hilarious article on "Admasville Phil" (a Little Compton groundhog-except Adamsville HATES being part of Little C's voting district)) here it is and here is another pic & another article, and my person fav. I'm still laughing on this dreary day. He couldn't possibly have seen his shadow so Yeah! for an early spring. Go Phil! The groundhog owner is Lee Gardner, former Norman Bird Sanctuary director. Thanks to Projo & Sakonnet Times for info & pics.

Food Donations Wanted!

Annual Pay It Forward Event!
January 19 - February 16, 2009
30% off

Ki-Ra Salon's Pay It Forward Event starts next week. Bring in a bag or two of nonperishable food or hygiene products and receive 30% off any services or retail totaling $25.00 or more. All donations go to a LOCAL food bank. Please help make this our biggest year ever.

6 W. Marlborough St., almost next to Cardines Field in Newport.

How did I find out about this salon? I complemented Sen. Paiva-Weed on her hair one day. No I know that she is a curly-top and it was a very hot, humid day. The kind of day that sends curls into outer space- I mean frizz central. But she was perfectly coiffed- smooth, flat, and neat. The secret was- Ki-ra. If you ask them, they'll tell you (and I agree), it's not just the cut, it's the products that you use. So you'll see me now- curly BUT controlled. A happy camper am I. Now that I know the secret (ah, sometimes change IS for the better), I alternate salons. Keeping it local & spreading the wealth.

Nobody Reads my Blog

Ditto.

http://web.me.com/aaronandpatty/What_the_Duck/Comic_Strips/Comic_Strips.html

Blood Types & Personality

This is an interesting read via Huffpost. "Like astrology, the scientific community often dismisses blood type as an indicator of personality, but that doesn’t stop its popularity in Japanese women’s magazines, where blood type horoscopes are published. In Japanese video games, blood type is commonly a dimension in character creation. In fact, some Japanese might even be shocked if a foreigner didn’t know her blood type."


There are four major bloodtypes: O, A, B, and AB. I am B which translates as: independent spirits with strong personalities. Me???


I am B+ (9% of the population) and personality-wise-"You're a rugged individualist, who's straight forward and like to do things your own way. Creative and flexible, you adapt easily to any situation. But your insistence on being independent can sometimes go too far and become a weakness." Right on! As my dad used to say, "You'd cut off your nose to spite your face." It's taken me years to realize what-the-heck he was talking about and I still can't stop. I attribute it to BOTH Portuguese & Irish genetics. I've never stood a fighting chance combined with being a first-born.


Best traits: Creative and passionate. Animal-loving. Optimistic and flexible, Strong

Negative qualities: Wild, Unsociable, Critical, Indecisive, Unpredictable and Unforgiving, Forgetful, irresponsible, individualistic.


"You Have A Type B+ Personality. You're a pro at going with the flow, You love to kick back and take in everything life has to offer. A total joy to be around, people crave your stability. While you're totally laid back, you can have bouts of hyperactivity. Get into a project you love, and you won't stop until it's done. You're passionate - just selective about your passions (Personality test)


Enjoy the links & find out about yourself (theoretically-speaking).

Foolish Statements

I couldn't resist from these from Projo:


“Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.”
— Brooke Shields
“The cool thing about being famous is traveling. I have always wanted to travel across seas, like to Canada and stuff.”
— Britney Spears
“This is still the greatest country in the world, if we just steel our wills and lose our minds.”
— Bill Clinton
“I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.”
— Dan Quayle
“I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don’t always agree with them.”
— George H.W. Bush
“I think that gay marriage should be between a man and a woman.”
— Arnold Schwarzenegger
“During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.”
— Al Gore
“So, where’s the Cannes Film Festival being held this year?”
— Christina Aguilera
“Is this chicken or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says Chicken of the Sea.”
— Jessica Simpson
“Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?”
— George W. Bush

Local/State Government Leaders Speak

Tonight I watched the Council leaders from Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, & Tiverton, along with Senate Majority Leaver Paiva-Weed for an hour discussion with Sheila Mullowney of the "Newport Daily News." It was on for a little over an hour & will probably be repeated on Cox Ch. 18. It was filmed by the CATV volunteer group. You will see a write-up in the "Daily News."
This was about as interesting as watching dirt for an hour. My husband lost his "Modern Marvels" program and was not happy about it. The high point of the show was when he went into the kitchen & opened a bottle of cold champagne. He mixed it with a touch of Butterscotch schnapps & served two glasses. Yum.
The program went slightly over the hour & I quickly switched to "Ugly Betty." Ah, a few laughs and actors who moved & had expression on their faces. Relief.
Now I realize that a lot of time & effort went into this program for the 20 or so of us who watched it- mostly relatives, if they remembered. Less you think I have no expertise in this direction, let me remind you that for 30 yrs. I "entertained" classrooms of kids who really wanted to be doing something else besides what I wanted them to do.
Change the formal format. It doesn't work. Perhaps just a semi-circle of chairs. Maybe even a single table with all participants. Change-up the questions. Have some that require longer answers & some requiring short responses. You're not going to be able to cover everything, so why even try? Have some fun. Don't have all reponses in a predictable fashion. Encourage participant's interaction with each other rather than having everything channeled through the moderator. Perhaps they even have questions for each other. How about one controvertial topic that they all don't agree on?
Set design/arrangement is everything. Strive for less formality. This will require participants to actually interact, to move, to register some facial/body emotion. The call-in format didn't work (no one called in). Ask for e-mails if you like. Before you can call for audience participation, you actually need an audience.
So here is the rest of my advice. Remember, besides being a teacher, I was librarian & a story-teller & kept my audience's attention or I died. This is what you need to know:

1. WEAR MAKEUP. I don't care if you're a guy. Under strong lighting your facial features washout. Wear colors. Top marks to Louise Durfee of Tiverton here. She looked super with lavender & white. You are trying to draw attention to your face, so do it. Women, wear jewelry. Men do not have to wear ties, but need jackets & collared shirts/polos/sweaters. Take your cue from the host. Ask beforehand what he/she is wearing if you like. Check out the background set color so you don't disappear.
2. MOVE. Smile, frown, laugh. Top marks to Sheila who looked as if she was actually alive. Use your hands, move your head. Do NOT look down constantly at notes. We don't want to see the top of your head. Water bottles are okay.
3. USE THAT VOICE. I know that you have one. Again, top marks to Sheila. High-low, soft-loud. Speak slowly. Forget the um's, uh's, & ya know's, although this whole group did quite well here. Pregnant pauses work. It shows us that you're thinking or have an important point to make.
4. KISS (Keep it short, stupid). After a minute I draw a blank with quiet monotones. So did some of the other participants (!). Make your point & stop. You can even look directly into the camera- very effective.
5. SMILE. Laugh. Only Sheila did. I've seen cheerier wakes. Use lip color, have your teeth cleaned.
6. Fix your hair. Use a shine serum. Get a cut. No gleaming pates. Shine your nails or buff them out, forget the polish. Shave pior to the show.
7. PRACTICE. Remember KISS. Have a short list of points you'd like to make. Sheila & Teresa Paiva-Weed had the advantage here. They were clearly more comfortable in the setting.
8. STAY ALERT. No spacing out. No slumping. Sit up straight & tuck your jacket under you- it keeps it from bunching. Button up that jacket. You never know when the camera may be watching & there were some rather strange moments. Remember, you're having a GREAT TIME or don't expect us to!

That's it. Not so difficult. Please, don't waste our time or yours. The film/camera people do a great job, so use their talents! Remember to thank them or they just might focus in on that sneeze. Oh, and bring a handkerchief/Kleenex, just in case.

To the Narragansett Indians: A Modest Proposal

From Raw Story comes the following report:

A delegation of Lakota leaders delivered a message to the State Department on Monday, announcing they were unilaterally withdrawing from treaties they signed with the federal government of the United States, some of them more than 150 years old.

The report goes on to note that the newly-independent Lakota state would "issue its own passports and driving licences, and living there would be tax-free -- provided residents renounce their US citizenship".

This could be the answer to the Narragansetts' little smoke shop problem. All they have to do is announce that they are withdrawing from the treaty they signed with Roger Williams back in 1638 and resuming their status as an independent nation, and they can sell all the tax-free smokes they want -- and also do pretty much anything else they feel like doing.

I should point out that since Aquidneck Island and the rest of the East Bay were acquired from the Wampanoags rather than the Narragansetts, our area may be the only part of Rhode Island to remain in the United States if the Narragansetts set up on their own.

Dec. 7, 1941

Remember Pear Harbor Day. And, yes, I own the sheet music. My mom was a piano player.

National Blog Posting Month

It's National Blog Posting Month. A post a day barring - stuff. Yeah, this counts. Check out their web site.

Cat Tricks

I have a black cat & she plays this trick on me every Fall, sometimes Spring, too. When I sit in my chair at the computer, she likes to walk back and forth across my chest-tummy area. This also involves marching, while swinging her tail in my face.
She is an outside cat, so she's been wandering with her cat friends in the bushes. Unfortunately, there is poison ivy out there. I know this to be true as she then transfers it to me. I've had it on my face & arms. This time it's my upper chest below my neck. The itching is driving me crazy!
I feed her, clean her box, put up with her howling to the vets & still she does this. I guess that cats just plain have no respect. No wonder Holly, the wonder dog, likes to chase her. Next time, I'm just plain NOT stopping her.

Why I Love Being Retired

People used to ask me all the time how I liked it. They don't any longer. Here is why:

Question: How many days in a week? Answer:6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday

Question: When is a retiree's bedtime? Answer: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

Question: How many retirees to change a light bulb? Answer: Only one, but it might take all day.

Question: What's the biggest gripe of retirees? Answer: There is not enough time to get everything done.

Question: Why do retirees count pennies? Answer: They are the only ones who have the time.

Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire?Answer: NUTS!

Question: What do retirees call a long lunch? Answer: Normal

Question: What is the best way to describe retirement? Answer: The never ending Coffee Break (although, as a teacher, I never had one). Recess (and I don't mean recess duty!).

Question: What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as aretiree? Answer: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

Question: Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but misses the people he used to work with? Answer: He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

Question: What do you do all week? Answer: Monday to Friday - Nothing. Depends. Whatever I feel like doing. Sometimes I need to go to the store or exercise. Walk on the beach & look for sea glass. Read. Watch old movies. Write on my blog or read others. Saturday & Sunday I rest. I'm exahusted.

Hiatus

I have some elective surgery at RI Hosp. I will be on hiatus until feeling better. Good thoughts, prayers, etc. are much appreciated.

First Day of Autumn

The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time.... Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World....- Mabon by Akasha



The morrow was a bright September morn;
The earth was beautiful as if newborn;
There was nameless splendor everywhere, That wild exhilaration in the air, Which makes the passers in the city street
Congratulate each other as they meet.- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



Happily we bask in this warm September sun, Which illuminates all creatures...- Henry David Thoreau

Last Day of Summer

That's today!



Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.- Henry James



Blessed be the Lord for the beauty of summer and spring, for the air, the water, the verdure, and the song of birds. - Carl von Linnaeus

Perseid Meteor Showers Tonight Through Monday

Thanks to the R.I. Reporter for the reminder & the link.

These meteor showers are supposed to be the best ever due to the presence of a new moon -makes the sky darker. This actually isn't saying much since in the past few years cloudcover has blocked them. But tonight looks good while Sun. is very iffy. Mon. works, too.

It needs to be very dark, 10 p.m. or ever later. The showers increase as you get closer to dawn. Use a recliner. And Most Important- Have those wishes ready!

You Know You're Getting Older When ...

"The AARP is turning radio programmer and concert promoter, sponsoring shows by the likes of Rod Stewart and other faves of the baby boomer generation, in an effort to counteract the music industry’s focus on the 18-34 demographic."

Here are some suggestions for revising their hits with new lyrics. They include:

Herman's Hermits--- Mrs.. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker

Ringo Starr--- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends

The Bee Gees--- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip

Bobby Darin--- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash

Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face

.Johnny Nash--- I Can't See Clearly Now

Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver

The Commodores--- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom

Marvin Gaye--- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts

Procol Harem--- A Whiter Shade of Hair

Leo Sayer--- You Make Me Feel Like Napping

The Temptations--- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone

Abba--- Denture Queen

Tony Orlando--- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall

Helen Reddy--- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore

Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To

Willie Nelson--- On the Commode Again!

Short Americans & Why It Matters

There have been a few interesting articles out lately citing a new study on height and it's relevance to society. "The study found that partially because of lifestyle, America has the shortest population in the industrialized world."
For 2oo years Americans were the tallest, but have lost that advantage for the past 50 years. Why should this matter? "A nation's average height is about more than bragging rights. Historians have found height to be about the best single indicator of a nation's success, reflecting not just wealth but overall health and well-being."
Who are the tallest - the Danish who have gained an inch in height for the past years. The average height for men is six feet while for women it is 5'7. " It seems that Americans stop growing earlier than the Dutch due to our high calorie diet which suppresses the human growth hormone. 160 years ago the Danish were 2" shorter than American.
"Scientists have pinpointed two secrets to Holland's soaring population.
First, the Dutch have some of the world's best healthcare, particularly at the stages of life that really make a difference for how tall we end up -- prenatal and the early years of childhood.
Second, they spread the health around. The most well-off Americans are tall, but less-privileged groups across all races bring down the average."
The average height for Japanese men is 5'7 while for American men it's 5'10" and 5'3" for women. "Despite the growing pains, it's nearly all good news for the Dutch. Tall people have lots of advantages: They earn more, they are elected more often, they are luckier at love and they live longer. That's another way America at number 28 in the world for life expectancy just doesn't measure up -- certainly not to the soaring Dutch."
"We conjecture that the U.S. health-care system, as well as the relatively weak welfare safety net, might be why human growth in the United States has not performed as well in relative terms ..."
Not that it matters At All, I am 5'8", my husband 6', & both sons are 6'3, maybe 6'4. It's hard to measure when they're that tall.