Daily/holidays

(1) What are your pet peeves during the holiday season? I can't think of anything off hand. It really takes a lot to annoy me.

(2) Besides your family and friends what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? My health, my job, the pups and my kittie, that the Democrats won the House and Senate. I'm thankful for my cyberpals on the internet too.

(3) What holiday shows are you looking forward to watching? I like to watch 'The Christmas Story' as many times as I can on Christmas Eve/Day. For as long as I can remember, every year I check the T.V. guide for 'The Bells of St. Mary'. Don't know why I love that movie so much but I always have.

(4) Do you shop the day after Thanksgiving? No. I need to shop as close to Christmas Day as possible. I work better under pressure.

Daily Topic - TV/Movies

1.) Your favorite [movie] scene in a park. I'm going with 'The Wedding Planner'. I absolutely love that movie. Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey are in the park and they're showing a movie. I think that is so cool. They start to dance and then it starts raining. I also like how Jennifer, her dad and his pal play Scrabble in that same park. I even love when Matthew and Jennifer meet there at the end of the movie. Did I ever told you how much I like that movie?

2.) Imagine you're invited to the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes nuptials -- what gift would you bring the happy couple? A restraining order for Katie perhaps? She'd have to sign that, huh? Ok, I'll go with something from the vintage Emily Post Collection. I'm thinking something along the lines of Wedding Etiquette 101. They said people were yelling at them to stop their never ending kiss. Grrrooooossss.

3.) Who is your favorite middle initial actor? Michael T. Weiss. I love, love, loved the show 'The Pretender'. Cheers to Michael J. Fox too. I hope they find a cure. My oldest brother Billy has Parkinson's disease as did my dad and his brother. I was so upset when Rush poked fun at Michael J. Fox by acting him out and saying he must have been off his medication. I think it's the opposite. When my brother's medication is working best, he has extra movements like that (although not nearly as severe, thankfully). When he's off his medication, he can hardly move at all. How people like that get their own talk show is mind boggling.

4.) Robert De Nero role you were most surprised the actor took? I always thought Robert De Niro needed to be more discerning with his movie choices. My first pick is the American Express card commercial. The first time I saw the commercial, I thought it was so cool until the ending when it showed Robert De Niro's name. I think it cheapened him. As far as a movie is concerned, I'm going with Stanley & Iris. That movie was filmed in the city where I live, although I lived in a nearby town at the time. It was cool seeing my city in the movie but the movie was too simplistic. Speaking of parks, the parks in the movie are beautiful but they're not ours. I think those scenes were filmed somewhere in Canada.

5.) Which movie set in a high school had the cast that looked way too old to be playing high-school students? Grease is probably number 1 but did you ever see that movie 'Hollywood Nights’? I haven't seen it in years but I recall that movie was hysterical. I didn't think any of them looked like high school age, especially Tony Danza. I looked it up. He was 30.

Turkey Recipe

Here's what you need:

1 Turkey Breast

1 jar of Peanut Butter

1 knife (can substitute spoon)

1 baking pan

1 oven

Place the turkey breast on a flat surface. Open the jar of peanut butter. Scoop out lots of peanut butter. Rub it all over the turkey breast and I do mean all over. Place the turkey breast in the baking pan. Place baking pan in oven. Turn oven to a temperature of your choice. Cook until done.

If you could be any age again for one week, what age would you be? For today, I'll say 13 years old. I went to a Catholic school that was so small that my classmates were practically family. I'd like to experience that once again. I'm sure I'd say something totally different if asked this question tomorrow.

Are you sentimental? Considering all the stuff I save, I'd say yes.

Define boredom. It's a feeling you get when you are not physically or intellectually stimulated.

What TV character are you most like? Who writes these questions? They're much too hard. I hate to skip a question but I can't think of anyone.

You are offered $1 million for the following act: Before you are ten hand guns - only one of them is loaded, but you’re not told which one. You must pick up any one of the guns, point it at your forehead, and pull the trigger. If you live, you’ll be a millionaire. Would you accept the risk? Nope, don't think I could do it.

Tell us something we don't know about you. Every car I've ever owned, except one, has been red.

1. What's your favorite Thanksgiving dinner side dish? Stuffing with lots of gravy

2. What's your favorite pie? Pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Otherwise, it's Apple. Strawberry Rhubarb is yummy too.

3. Do you have a fireplace? Do you use it? Is it gas or do you burn logs or wood in it or something else? No, but I'd like to get one.

4. Are you a parade watcher, football watcher, or other watcher when it comes to TV on Thanksgiving? Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade watcher to the max.

5. If you could take a post Thanksgiving dinner walk with someone famous (dead or alive), who would you pick? For post Thanksgiving dinner, I'll pick William Bradford, who was governor of the Plymouth Colony. I'd also like to talk with one of the Native Americans so I can find out what really went down that Thanksgiving day.

6. How do you like your cranberries? Jellied or whole? Jellied

7. How's the weather in your area today? It was a little chilly this morning but it looks beautiful out now.

Did your parents sing to you?

My mom died when I was young so I don't recall her singing to me. My sister told me that my mom used to sing that same song 'Que Sera, Sera' to her.

I recall it as the opening song to 'The Doris Day Show'. I remember it used to be on Monday nights at 9:00. I used to have to go to bed at 9:00 pm so the only part I ever caught was that opening song.

My dad used to sing all the time. Not necessarily to me but to anyone within earshot. I do the same thing. I told my brother one time how my neighbors would think I was nuts if they heard me. He said - how do you know they don't hear you? He had me there.

Well, the reason I mention my dad is because he used to sing 'The Isle of Capri'. I always loved that song. Once in a while, I would ask him to sing it and he always would. He didn't even mind singing it in front of my friends. Sometimes he'd even play it on the piano for me.

Shortly after he died, I was putting a sound card in someone's computer at work. They had a Frank Sinatra CD there for me to try. Guess what song was on it? Yep, you got it - 'The Isle of Capri'. I was a little freaked out about it but decided to play it anyways. I hated it. He said it really fast. I still love the way my dad sang it.

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Cooking shows/Movies

Do you watch cooking shows? I used to watch the Frugal Gourmet. I loved that guy until I found out he did bad things to little boys. I also used to watch the Two Hot Tamales because I used to like how they bickered. I don't watch any of them now. Well, other than an occasional Ironman chef or if I come across Julia Child.

If you do, do you have a favorite chef? Like I was saying above, the Frug was my favorite before I got to know what he was all about. I'm going to have to go with Julia.

Do you enjoy watching old movies and if so do you have a favorite? Yes, I enjoy old movies. Not sure about a favorite.

Do you have a favorite actor from the 30's and 40's? Female - Rosalind Russell because she's such a hoot. I love her movies. Male - Cary Grant - because I think he's a hoot and I love his movies too. If you ask me next week, I may have two completely different answers.

Who is your favorite all time comedian? Not sure about a favorite but Steve Wright is killer funny. I also like Bill Engvall with his 'Here's your sign'. That cracks me up.

TV/Movies

1.) What's the best sing-along-to-a-pop-hit movie scene? I'm going to pick 'Tiny Dancer' from 'Almost Famous'. I don't know if you've seen that movie but in case you haven't, I'll explain. The band is riding on their tour bus. They are all upset with each other. Someone starts singing 'Tiny Dancer' and one by one each member joins in the singing and the anger between them starts to go away. It was very well done.

2.) Do you prefer made-for-cable TV shows over network? The problem with cable TV shows is that they don't have as many episodes per year as regular TV. I like the Sopranos. I really liked Six Feet Under and Carnivale. I've only caught parts of Weeds. I'll have to check it out. Bottomline: Individual cable TV shows are better quality but they need more quantity.

3.) What actor or actress, that you never cared for, has won you over due to their newest role? I'm going with Calista Flockhart in Brothers and Sisters. I'm so liking that show and even though Calista is a conservative on the show, I like her character.

4.) What new TV show have you given up on? Grey's Anatomy I only started watching the few remaining shows last year. I figured I'd pick up this year. I'm bored with it already.

5.) What new TV show are you enjoying the most? easy one - Brothers and Sisters. The show could use some improvement. They move the stories along too fast. No one mourns their father's death (happened in the first episode). They need to let add a little mystery and depth to each storyline. Can you tell I watch AMC?

Iraqi Troops

It's pretty sad that the Iraqi troops (not all obviously) are only in it for the money. At that rate, we'll never leave.

I read sometime ago is that there is no penalty for going AWOL. The Iraqi soldiers are free to leave any time. They'll work for a little while to get some money and then quit. The reason they allow this is because it's the only way they can get the Iraqis to join in the first place. How crazy is that?

Who knows how many Iraqi soldiers were trained only to have quit shortly after.

Rummy's gone! Yippee.

Voting

- Will you be voting on Tuesday or have you already voted? Yes, I will.

- How important do you think a person’s looks are when running for office? For the most part, it is experience and the issues, etc. but I think we are more receptive or more inclined to overlook certain things in good looking people. We're only fooling ourselves if we say looks don't matter.

- Did your parents vote on a regular basis? My dad did. I have no idea about my mom but she seems like someone who would have.

- Should voting be compulsory? No. Not voting essentially says that you don't care who wins and you can't make someone care.


- In what type of building do you vote (library, school, etc.)? I used to vote in this tiny library branch at the last place I lived. Now I vote at the elementary school that's about 1/2 mile from my house.

- By what means do you vote? That is, by pulling a lever, punching holes, penciling in your answer, electronically or whatever. In Connecticut we have these old lever machines that are very reliable. Within the next few years we are going to switch to computerized voting which I am totally against. It opens up a whole new world of things that can go wrong. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Daily Topic

1. Did you have a favorite teacher in school? How about a least favorite? Mrs. McCogan was my favorite teacher (1st grade). Sister Theresa-Maureen was my least favorite teacher (seventh grade). She hit me with a spelling book. That'll teach me to have the wrong answer. Now I have to wonder, why were we still doing spelling in 7th grade?

2. Do you believe in the paranormal or not? If yes, what do you believe in? Any personal experiences to share? Paranormal is a very wide topic. I honestly don't know. I have some kooky stories of me and my friends going ghosthunting but who knows how much was our imagination. Bottomline - I'm open to it but need to see if for myself to truly say I believe in it.

3. What is the one piece of advice that you would want to share with teens today? What the best advice you remember getting when you were a teen? Advice? Maybe just that your parents aren't as wrong as you think they are.