Proud to be an American

do you feel more patriotic on this day than other days?
It's not that I feel more partriotic; it's that I am more aware of how I feel.

what makes you proud to be an american?
Current administration aside, I'm proud that our country has always, throughout history, tried to do what was morally just. We are the world's conscience. We are trustworthy. We have domestic ills, like any other nation, but we constantly striving to improve. I am proud that we are a Republic and not a Democracy. In a Democracy, the majority rules. There are no minority groups in a Democracy. In a Republic, the individual is given priority, everyone has a say, not just the majority. One juror can hold up a verdict in a Republic but not in a Democracy. That is what makes our country so great.

have you ever witnessed anything that made you feel you were proud that you are american? I work for one of the largest companies in the world and therefore, I work with people from all over the world. I feel proud that many of them are trying to become citizens. It shows our great our country is.

have you ever witnessed anything that made you feel you were ashamed to be an american? The war in Iraq, end of story, nothing can compare with that.


ok, i've got to throw in a food question. what food is american to you? something from your home town or region would be great. I'm going with hamburgers. There is a place in New Haven that claims to have made the world's first hamburger. There's also a place in St. Louis I think that makes the same claim. Then I heard the one in New Haven was the first to put it on bread so I don't know what the story is. The place in New Haven is really cool. It's extremely small. They put the hamburges in these vertical grates and slide it into a slot where the fire is. It's hard to explain. It is served on white bread and there is no ketchup so don't bother asking. It is a unique experience.

TV and other stuff

1. what is your all time favorite t.v. show? Gonna have to go with 'I Love Lucy'
2. what is the one cookie you can't pass up? homemade chocolate chip
3. what is the one movie that you were dying to see and still haven't seen? Really want to see 'Strangers with Candy'. I loved the TV show and just to see my old pals again with be fun.
4. what do you write with? with a pen - I do the crossword puzzles in pen too
5. do you do most of your research about anything or everything online or do you use other resources? mostly online
1. make your dream dessert. I'm not big on dessert but I'll say cheese cake with strawberries on top.

What color is your everyday dish service? Describe. They are white with little flowers around the edges.

Or do you say 'Dishes? how about my fave paper plates?' I use dishes.

When alone, do you serve yourself, or eat out of a plastic container or carton? I always put what I'm eating on a plate.

Do you have more than one set of dishes? Yes, I do have a second set that has lots of grapes and flowers. Even though I gave a simple description, just know, they really are pretty. I also have a partial set that I wish was complete but I've run into some detours. The pattern is called Orchard Gold. It's from an English company called Aynsley. I was told they are no longer imported to America so I started picking up pieces on ebay. I later learned that the amount of lead that is used is greater than what is legally allowed in the state of California. Granted, I don't live in California but who knows if they have the right idea or not. If I didn't absolutely love this pattern, I would just scrap the idea but since I do, I'm not sure what to do.

Do you have them easily accessible for special occassions, or are they too much trouble to bother with? I can get to them easy - they are in the buffet in my dining room.

Would you ever part with these special occassion dishes or would you rather they stay in your family? No special attachment to them.

location, location, location

What state or part of the country do you live? Connecticut

What state/country were you born? Connecticut

How large is the town/city where you live? about 110,000 people

What form of local government do you have (i.e., mayor, town council)? mayor

Is your town/city noted for anything? Some years ago, we were number 300 in the country's top 300 cities. My thought was - at least we made it into the top 300. I've also been told we were the armpit of Connecticut. Seriously, we used to be considered the brass capital of the world because of all the brass factories. They still call it 'the brass city'. Most, if not all, the factories have closed but apparently, we're sticking with the name. We are also noted for corruption. Our last mayor is now in prison for doing bad things to little girls. Another ex-mayor, that already spend like 7 years in prison for shady deals, just got arrested again for some type of mafia dealings. Also, our ex-governor, who recently spend a year in prison for accepting bribes hails from our fair city. Hey, at least we're noted for something, right?

Does your town hold any type of annual festival? They have an arts festival that completely changes character from year to year. Not sure if they are even having it this year. We also have certain clubs, churchs and ethnic groups that put stuff on. I've been going to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel's fair for as long as I can remember.

Hollywood

Rumor has it: Matt Damon as a young Captain Kirk in a new Star Trek movie. Thumbs up or thumbs down? Thumbs up. If he plays it over the top like William Shatner, I think it would have to be categorized as a comedy though.

What's your favorite Dustin performance? Tootsie
Ugh! I'm not a big fan of Dustin. He was good in Tootsie and The Graduate and a few more but I'm just not a fan of his. This may sound crazy but ever since Rain Man, that's the way I see him and I'm always surprised when he acts any other way. I suppose that shows what a good actor he is but either way, I just can't get beyond that. Strange, I know. I saw 'Meet the Fockers' and was so disappointed. It so lacked originality. They went the easy route and made the parents sex therapists (or whatever they were). Those type of jokes are so easy to make. Not much thought went into the script.

Julia Roberts is one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood -- which of the top ten is most worth the money? You know, I always thought Jodie Foster was a good actress (Yikes, here I go again) but I thought she was so bad in Anna & the King (or whatever the name is). Whenever I know someone is talking with an accent, I obsess with it. I listen and critique every word. I thought she did REALLY, REALLY bad with her British accent. A little while after, 'Silence of the Lambs' was on and I noticed Jodie had some kind of weird accent there too. Ok, other than that, I do like her and I would be most inclined to see a movie that she was in than the others so I'll give her number 1.

However, I don't think she would be the highest paid actress. My guess is Jennifer Ansiton can garnish the most money at this particular point in time. She's been big news ever since the break-up plus the movie 'The Break-Up' was a big hit.

Not sure but I think Reese Witherspoon would be next. I didn't see 'Walk the Line' but I thought she was great in 'Legally Blonde'.

I liked Charlize Theron in 'The Cider House Rules'. I agree that too many movies kind of cheapens her.

Angelina Jolie - don't think I've ever seen her in anything except 'Girl Interrupted' and she did do a good job in that movie.

Drew Barrymore - I don't think she deserves to be high on the list but she did play in one of my favorite movies, 'Boys on the Side'.

Julia, Nicole, Renee and Cameron - are somewhere toward the bottom. Thanks and Happy Monday.

What would you do

1. if you won $1000 what would you do with it? Take a few friends out to dinner and make sure I spend it all.

2. what is your least favorite outdoor activity? Waxing the car.

3. what is the one chore you would pay someone to do? Clean my house, which I already do pay someone to do.

4. if you won $100,000 what would you do with it? Pay off my house, donate some, invest the rest.

5. what is your favorite indoor activity? Um...you're going to have to use your imagination there.

6. have you ever gone fishing on a small boat , charter boat or by the docks? I've been deep sea fishing on a chartered boat a few times.

7. what is your idea of a perfect vacation? Somewhere with a beach and bottomless drinks, hand delivered.

8. if you won $1,000,000 what would you do with it? Pay off my house, take a trip around the world, donate some, invest the rest.

Movies

1.) Do you like to stick around during the end credits at a movie theater? When I'm at the movies, I don't watch them because I'm ready to bolt after sitting there for 2 hours. When I'm home, I nearly always do. Sometimes I want to catch an actor's name or who sings a particular song but what I always want to know, is the location where the movie was made. Also, if it's an older movie, I like to see the year it was made. Plus, I like to laugh at some of the descriptions of the extras.

2.) Summer TV series (new or returning) you're most excited about? I enjoy watching SYTYCD, although last week was the first week I watched the entire show. I also enjoyed 'America's got Talent'. I did miss most of the show but what I did see, I liked. New episodes of 'Reno 911' are coming to Comedy Central. Yippee! That show cracks me up from beginning to end. I missed a lot of 'Treasue Hunt' but that looks like it might be good too. I never tape anything so I'm always flipping back and forth between 2 or sometimes 3 or 4 channels, talking on the phone or reading or online so I end up missing a lot.

3.) Favorite film appearance by the devil? Guess that would have to be 'Animal House' when the angel and the devil go back and forth.

4.) Strangest summer movie casting? Well, I learned from checking up on your actor of the day, that Kevin Kline is going to be Guy Noir on 'A Prairie Home Companion'. That seems odd to me. I hope they get the right person to play the woman in 'The Ketchup Advisory Board' segment. She's my favorite character.

5.) What's your opinion on the new surge of westerns on TV and features? Westerns are like sports to me. I would never watch them on my own but if I were with someone who wanted to watch one, I'd watch it and probably end up enjoying it.

How I live

- Do you live in a house or an apartment? I live in a house.
- Which room in your house/apartment is the messiest? Probably the kitchen.
- Is there one room you feel has to be clean? Bathroom
- What's your least favorite chore? How successful are you at getting someone else to do it? I hate all chores but I'll have to go with mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges. I live alone so I can't pawn it off. I used to pay to have it done but since I pay someone to clean the inside of my house, I figure this is the least I can do. I've been doing it so far this year but I'm not sure how long that will last.
- What's your favorite place to relax (besides the bed)? In a big oversized chair in my living room.
- Where do your pets sleep at night? Pups sleep on the bed with me. They switch places all night long. Kittie sleeps downstairs. Pups chase her too much.
- If you have a yard, who does the yard work? Guess that would be me.
- Who usually picks up the mail? Gonna have to go with me again.

Whatcha all doin' for the weekend? Nothin'. I'm working all weekend. We gots ourselves some good weather though.

Xmas Shopping in July??

. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? If so, how much is done? No, I work better under pressure.

2. Do you make a list and a budget? Can't say I do.

3. If you shop early, do you wrap early? Don't do either.

4. Do you gift wrap or use gift bags? I usually wrap them.

5. Do you still send out Christmas cards? When do you start writing them out? Very few and when I do it, along with everything else in my life, it's at the last minute.

6. What's your favorite Christmas cookie? And if you want to share the recipe, please do so! It's never to early for that! I like the ones with the Hershey Kiss in the middle - peanut blossoms.

More 4th of July

Are you staying home or going away? Staying home.

Where are you going? To work. I hope to do something after work though.

When do you pack? Absolute last minute

Do you make lists? No, never. I'd only lose the list anyway.

If you're married or have a SO, do they make lists? N/A
When do they pack? N/A

If you're staying home .. will you BBQ? No

Do you BBQ hot dogs, burgers .. of something else? N/A

Do you watch fireworks displays? I do most years but I probably won't this year.

Do you set off fireworks (I wont tell, honest)? No need to, my neighbor sets enough off for the whole neighborhood.

Are your pets afraid of the noise? No, but break out the lawnmower and forget it. One day one of my pups leapt into the basement window which has like an 8 ft. drop. My other one usually goes to the front door, jumps up and let's himself in. It's so funny to watch.

The View

I'm at it again. I have no idea why I'm spending so much time on a show that I never watched more than 5 minutes of until last week when I saw Babs give her sob story about Star's betrayal.

As far as the Rosie/Tom Cruise thing is concerned, I knew Rosie's orientation and thought that the whole thing was ridiculous. However, I also knew that Rosie was obviously not comfortable or ready to come out so I understood why she did it. She did what she felt was best for herself and the show at that particular point in her life and I don't criticize her for that.

As far as Star is concerned, she should have either kept her mouth shut about her weight loss, well, as quiet as she can possibly be since it was so obvious, or she should have come completely clean. She should not have misled the public.

Are both deceptions comparable?

I think not. The stigma that is associated with being gay can't be compared with getting your stomach stapled. People are not going to damn you to hell for getting gastric bypass surgery.

Rosie's blunder was due to fear of discrimination while Star's was paint herself in a better light. I don't understand the big deal about telling the world you got your stomach stapled but I can understand the hesitation in coming out.

Rosie talking trash about Star is a whole different story.

As I said, Star was wrong but what business is that of Rosie's? There is obviously some reason why Rosie did it and it's not because she's annoyed that Star lied. Perhaps she feels the audience will like her better if they dislike her predecessor. I really don't know.

Rosie would have been better off shutting her trap about Star.

Barbara/Star Jones

First off, Babs lost a lot of credibility when she admitted, on air, no less, that she would have gone along (read: lie) with whatever reason Star gave for leaving. For a well-respected journalist to admit that she would lie, even if it is to help a friend (?) save face, is a VERY bad idea.

Secondly, Babs is upset because firing Star only makes her look bad. As co-producer (?), she had to have been involved in the decision, however small. If Star lied, Babs comes out smelling like a rose but telling the truth, pins the blame on Babs.

Yeah, there may be more to it but either way, at this point, Barbara is not looking good.

4th of July

1. do you hang your flag out in honor of the day? No, but I really should get one.
2. does your town do a local firework celebration? will you be going or can you watch it from your home? Yes, they have them at the baseball stadium clear across town. I think I can see them in a distance. I used live near the stadium for a number of years and was able to see them from my house.

3. do you or your neighbors shoot off fireworks? how do you feel about it? My neighbor is a pyro. He lights them off all year round. It only gets worse this time of the year. I generally don't mind it except he has this one that goes off like a machine gun and every time, I go to answer the door or get the phone. I can never remember what the noise is.

4. do you have any special plans for the day? I have to work. Not sure what I'm doing afterwards.

5. are you going to any 4th of july bbq's? Again, I'm not sure what I'm doing.

6. if so are you bringing something? 7. do you have any favorite recipe you'd like to share? something you enjoy bringing to an outdoor outing? I just about never cook so I don't have favorite recipes to talk about.

I saw Santana on Jones Beach years ago. It was so cool being right on the beach. I would love to see another show there.

The View

I don't watch 'The View' so I don't know how much of a difference it will make without Star being there.
However, I do know Rosie's personality and I can't understand for the life of me how she got that gig.

I used to like Rosie until my friend went to see her show and said what a biotch she was.

I see her dominating the conversation and acting like it's her show and the other girls are her underlings.

Did they say why Star's contract wasn't renewed? She said she feels like she's been fired so I don't think it her decision to leave. If so, it looks like they chose Rosie over Star.

Well, Rosie destroyed one magazine, now let's see if she can destroy a TV show.

Indoor games

- Would you rather watch a great movie you've been wanting to see or read a book by your favorite author? I like to read but if I had to choose, I would probably watch the movie. I usually read and watch T.V. anyhow.

- Do you have a favorite board game? Life or Clue

- How about a favorite card game? For two people, it would be Spit. For a bunch of people, Setback.

- Do you ever watch the Poker championships on T.V.? Yes, I did when they first started airing them. I'm bored with them now.

- If you had a chance to make a word up in Scrabble and not get caught, would you do it? You betcha. I've tried it but that darn dictionary always gets in the way.

Supernatural

Do you have any belief at all in the supernatural? Yes, I do. I just don't know to what degree.

Have you ever had an experience that had supernatural overtones? Silly things that I thought were supernatural but I'm sure weren't.

Do you believe in life after death? Yes, I do believe that this body is a vehicle for our soul. The big question is where do we go.

Do you think it's possible that the dead can communicate somehow with the living? I'll just say I've never seen or read anything that has convinced me either way.

Do you think there is really such a thing as a "psychic gift?" I'm not sure. One time Sylvia Brown (popular author/psychic, in case you didn't know) was on 'Montel' and they featured this woman whose son had died. It was supposively an accident but the woman thought there was more to the story and that her brother was somehow involved. I assume Sylvia didn't know about the brother. Sylvia came up with 3 names, which they didn't actually air. They then fast-forwarded like 6 months and the woman said that her brother was arrested for his son's murder. Her brother was given 3 names at birth and those were the 3 names that Sylvia gave. I thought that was pretty good.


Have you ever known or met anyone with such a gift? Does Sylvia Brown count? Honestly, I've been to palm readers, tarot card readers, numerologist (ok, I confess, that one was from 'The Psychic Network'), astrologists, and your basic psychic. Not one of them told me anything that was specific to me.

Do you believe in reincarnation? Not definitively but for the most part, I do believe in reincarnation. It's the only way that I can make sense of this world. It's my way of justifying the rich with the poor, the healthy with the handicapped or just simply those whose burden is heavier than most with those who breeze through life (Bushie?).

Ok, one more thing and I'm through. There is some lady in Maine that you can call and she does a reading over the phone and then you send her a check. Well, I called and set up a time. Shortly after, my friend called and when the psychic lady saw that we came from the same place and that my friend knew me, she said, of all things, that I was my friend's mother in a past life and to top it off, the woman said I wasn't much of a mother (gee, thanks, lady). Now my friend says to me ALL the time and I do mean ALL the time, 'You weren't much of mother then, and you aren't much of a mother now'.

I can't help but laugh every time she says it.

Ok, I could babble on and on about this stuff but I'll spear you.

Our nation divided

Yes, it's really something how divided our nation has become especially when you consider how united we were after 9/11.
How to deal with your hubby? I do feel for you.

My brother, who voted for Bush twice, purposely avoids talking to me about this stuff until he has the smallest tidbit of information that leans his way.

He asked me the other day if I heard about the notes left behind by the insurgency about how it's becoming more difficult to get the material to keep up with the bombings. No, I hadn't heard of it but even if I had, what does that have to do with anything? Soldiers are still dying and we're still getting bombed.

He thinks that Bush is showing the world how tough we are but he ignores all the other facts and doesn't see the harm it's doing.

I honestly don't get him.

We are complete opposites and yet amazingly, we don't fight. I think it's because we always stick to the issues and we always back our opinions up with facts. Plus, he shuts up when he knows he's wrong, which does help.

How are we different? He's a conservative and I'm liberal, he's a die-heart Republican whereas I think the hearts have died in the Republicans. He's a born-again Christian and I have a hard time believing in God.

Here's the irony in all this. I am extremely honest but he isn't. For example, there was a certain pump at a certain gas station that had been accidently programmed to charge a dollar less for gas. He calls me and tells me how he filled up his motorcycle and that I should take a ride down there. I told him, I couldn't. It's too dishonest for me. He gave the famous teenage answer of 'everyone else is doing it'. Everyone except me, that is. I can't rip someone off like that.

That is one example but stuff like that has been going on all our lives. I'm always the honest one and he isn't. I guess he is the typical Republican (lol).

fourth of July

do you feel more patriotic on this day than other days?
It's not that I feel more partriotic; it's that I am more aware of how I feel.

what makes you proud to be an american?
Current administration aside, I'm proud that our country has always, throughout history, tried to do what was morally just. We are the world's conscience. We are trustworthy. We have domestic ills, like any other nation, but we constantly striving to improve. I am proud that we are a Republic and not a Democracy. In a Democracy, the majority rules. There are no minority groups in a Democracy. In a Republic, the individual is given priority, everyone has a say, not just the majority. One juror can hold up a verdict in a Republic but not in a Democracy. That is what makes our country so great.
have you ever witnessed anything that made you feel you were proud that you are american? I work for one of the largest companies in the world and therefore, I work with people from all over the world. I feel proud that many of them are trying to become citizens. It shows our great our country is.
have you ever witnessed anything that made you feel you were ashamed to be an american? The war in Iraq, end of story, nothing can compare with that.

ok, i've got to throw in a food question. what food is american to you? something from your home town or region would be great. I'm going with hamburgers. There is a place in New Haven that claims to have made the world's first hamburger. There's also a place in St. Louis I think that makes the same claim. Then I heard the one in New Haven was the first to put it on bread so I don't know what the story is. The place in New Haven is really cool. It's extremely small. They put the hamburges in these vertical grates and slide it into a slot where the fire is. It's hard to explain. It is served on white bread and there is no ketchup so don't bother asking. It is a unique experience.