~~She'll loan you her toothbrush, She'll bartend your party~~
EMAIL ME! -- pesadidas[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
HELP ME GET A FREE PHOTO iPOD...PLEASE!!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
COMING SOON...
| Look out, everyone. Zam and I are starting up a TEAM BLOG!
Woo Hoo!!! ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 3:32:00 PM |
Monday, December 29, 2003
MY PRECIOUSSSSSS...
| Three cheers for Smeagol everyone!
Thanks to The Lord of the Rings, I actually got some work done today! Yes, the gang decided that they wanted to watch the first two The Lord of the Rings DVD's today, and so, I, having seen them already, was able to sit and listen while grading papers for 7 hours. That would be 7 hours that I had no intention of using for doing work. That means I am 7 hours ahead of schedule! Yay! But, I must say, there is something about the name "Smeagol" that I like. I can't stop saying it. I won't ever call him "Gollum" because that, to me is no fun. He's Smeagol. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:43:00 AM |
Sunday, December 28, 2003
YOU'LL FIND ME IN THE STACKS
| Whew! I hope everyone had a terrific holiday season--excluding of course, the impending New Year's celebration. I enjoyed my Christmas tremendously this year. The annual exchange was quite excellent, seeing as how the majority of my friends bought me (Yay!!) BOOKS!! Woo hoo!! Yes, I took home quite an abundance of reading material, not the least of which were 2 new Buffy books--Bite Me, by Nikki Stafford, which may very well be the authority on the show (even more so than The Watcher's Guides...although it is only current through season 6), and the new little book, The Quotable Slayer, compiled by Micol Ostow and Steven Brezenoff (Geez, now people can get credit for being a "compiler"?), which is a pocket guide to all quotes Buffy. Eeexcellent. [/Mr. Burns impression] Amongst the other recent acquisitions to my collection: Toni Morrison's new book Love, the collections of Best American Essays 2003, and Best American Short Stories 2003 (I just love these books, and this year, the Essays collection features one by John Edgar Wideman, prize-winning author and father of one of my all-time favorite women's basketball players, Jamila Wideman). Also, the Book of Positive Quotations which I used to use in school, and at one point owned, but somehow managed to lose, has now been replaced by the Suz (she's the bestest), and has been joined in the ranks of my quotation books by The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember, which was on my list of must have's. Yes, throw in the assorted CD's and DVD's (although, I was terribly excited to receive Ellen DeGeneres' Here and Now HBO special on DVD...she's so damn funny, and I got to see her both times she toured in the area, so this is a reminder of a great time that was had), the Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture DVD game, and even a real, honest to goodness Charlie in the Box from Rankin Bass's "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," and that about sums up the gift exchange between my friends and I. More importantly, though, was that as usual, we had a blast on Christmas Eve night, just hanging out, playing some games, and having a few drinks. In the meanwhile, there has been lots o' goings on since our very own G.I. Joe (a.k.a. Jeff) is home for a few weeks before shipping off to Iraq. The Suz, Jeff, and I went to see the new Lord of the Rings: Return of the King yesterday, and it was spectacular. I shall now retreat to bed, and then, return at some point within the next few days to post before this vacation is over. *sigh* And to all, a good night. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 2:19:00 AM |
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
EJ-YOO-KAY-TUD
| I know it's been a while. But I have been über-busy again. After all, it is the holiday season.
Just wanted to share a fun little tidbit I saw today as I was checking my referrers. Someone actually did a search for this: "Mary-Kate & Ashley have chosen to go to collage" Perhaps someone else should consider that same option... But, I had always heard that they were quite talented at decoupage... ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 6:18:00 PM |
Monday, December 01, 2003
SMOOTH SAILING...SORT OF
| Isn't it the greatest feeling to have a smooth drive home from work?
On my way home from school today, I was noticing that since I left quite late (it was almost 6 pm), the traffic heading in my direction was far lighter than normal. What a pleasant drive, I thought. No crawling along at a snail's pace. No sitting and waiting forever at lights. Lovely! Then, perhaps because I was in such a good mood, I noticed that I hit every single green light on the way home! This was momentous! I looked at the clock when I was about 5 minutes from home, and I saw that the light traffic and the perfect timing on all the traffic lights had knocked a good 10 minutes off of my commute. All was right in the world! Until... Traffic came to a screeching halt, and then picked up to a slow crawl when I was about 5 minutes from home. Don't you just hate it when you get caught behind a Mennonite horse and buggy on the road? I know I do. And, no, I am not kidding. The horse and buggy were what was holding up the traffic. The perils of living in Amish country. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:31:00 PM |
Friday, November 28, 2003
HEL-LLLLOOOOO!!!!
| I am so excited, it's not funny.
Jerry Seinfeld is coming to town. What is this world coming to? I can't believe it. First, Melissa Etheridge brings her Live...and Alone tour to the SPAC. Then, Cher makes a pit-stop on her farewell tour at the Soveriegn Center. Godsmack will be playing there tomorrow, as well. And now, Jerry Seinfeld is coming to the SPAC! This is craziness! Rest assured that I will be sitting at this very keyboard come 10 am tomorrow morining, ready to log on to Ticketmaster and get me some tickets. Needless to say, if I don't get tickets to this show, I shall be very "put out." It's gold, Jerry. Gold. [You will all be glad to know, I was able to acquire some tickets for the show--alas, not enough for all, but some.] ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:02:00 AM |
Thursday, November 20, 2003
I WOULD NAME HER ROCK AND ROLL
 I can't get enough of this song: The Seed (2.0).
[Link removed...you snooze, you lose, folks.] It is on this album: Phrenology by The Roots. Go buy it. Now. It's FUNK-A-DELIC. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:32:00 PM |
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
DEELISH
 I was in Philly this past weekend for Tony Amonte Bobblehead Night at the Flyers game. It was fantastic fun, and I had the opportunity to experience two new taste sensations during the visit to the city.
#1: Just when you think the food at McCrossen's can't get any better, they go and add the Tuna & Scallop Burger to the menu. Oh. My. God. This is fantastic. It is amazing. I could have eaten a dozen of them. Delicious. #2: At the game, we (of course) made a few stops at the Red Bell Brewery & Pub, which happened to be just outside of our section of seating. It was then that we came across the utterly amazing Black Cherry Stout that is on tap. When my friend Brian said that if McCrossen's had the Black Cherry Stout on tap, it was conceivable that he wouldn't ever drink Guinness again, I laughed out loud. Bri is as big a Guinness drinker as yours truly, if not a bigger one. I can now safely say that if ANYWHERE around here served the Black Cherry Stout, I would forsake Guinness forever. It's THATgood. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:04:00 PM |
IN HONOR OF OUR IMPENDING THANKSGIVING...
| I shall first say that I am ecstatic that at least one Supreme Court somewhere in this country has finally come to its senses. For that, I am thankful.
Secondly, as Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, let me tell one of the FUNNIEST turkey-related stories I have ever heard. Important Pre-Story Fact: My bestest friend in the whole world, The Suz, has gone through a wonderful transformation over the course of the last year and a half, in the fact that she has lost over 70 pounds. Her whole new attitude towards life and food plays a crucial part in this story. So, it was a few weeks ago when The Suz says to me, "Did I tell you what happened to me today on my way home from work?" Of course, I replied that she had not. What is about to follow is her story. The Suz had had an extra long day at work, and so, had not gotten an opportunity to eat the homemade turkey burger that her kind mother had made for her to accomodate her new ways of eating healthy, which she had packed in her lunch that day. So, being the starved skinny girl that she is, she was eating her burger on her drive home in the car. All was well as she happily chomped away on the burger. That is until... ...she suddenly bit into something HARD in the burger. Like, really hard. After almost driving off the road because of the surprise, she spit the offending "bit" into the palm of her hand for further inspection. Small in size, and covered in turkey, she was unable to make an identification while driving. Pulling off at a gas station, she cleaned off the "bit" to find that it had a metallic appearance, and resembled, as she described it, a bullet. A bullet! [Note: It was at this point in the story that I almost peed my pants.] She then went on to explain that of course, upon seeing this "bullet" in her turkey burger, she immediately began to have wild scenarios of how the bullet had found its way into her ground turkey running through her mind. Certainly, the first thought that anyone would have is the same one that she had: that someone at the turkey plant had committed some sort of heinous crime and was attempting to hide evidence in the ground turkey products. *head slap* [Note: By this point I think I HAD peed my pants laughing.] She took the "bullet" and sealed it in the Ziploc bag that she had carried her lunch in, in an attempt to "preserve the evidence." She quickly drove the rest of the way home to find her mother who had made the turkey burgers to begin with. She related the story to her mother, who, in between fits of hysterical laughter, said, "I think I may know what it is! Let me see it..." [Note: I think this is where her mom peed in her pants.] Her mother returned from the kitchen carrying the pepper mill. The top of the pepper mill that screws on to the handle that turns to grind the pepper had been missing for months. It is small, silver, and shaped like a bullet. Apparently, in her vigorous grinding of pepper into the turkey meat while preparing the burgers, she became a bit over-zealous, to the point of the top of the pepper mill popping right off and falling into the burger meat, unnoticed. The burgers were placed into the freezer for future consumption. And so, there it remained, frozen in time--and in meat--just waiting to be found one day, with one swift bite on the Pricetown Road. Happy Early Turkey Day, everyone. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:50:00 PM |
Thursday, November 13, 2003
COULD WE BE SEPARATED AT BIRTH?
It's possible...
 except for the fact that she is a short, skinny girl of Cuban descent who is 3 years younger than I am.
[Editor's note: The term "short" is in no way used in a negative sense; it is merely a word of comparison meant to illustrate the vast difference in height between Zam, and a giantess like myself.] (Happy now, Zam???) That kind of says, "Nope," to me. Nonetheless, it is highly possible that we share a brain, even though we live half a country apart. It's freaky weird how similarly we think, at times. Anyway, the point is this: PDawg and Zam have been bandying about the notion of starting a team blog. Yes, you heard right--a TEAM blog. That means you will get twice the humor, twice the wit, and twice the sarcasm, all for the same low low price of...zero! You can't beat that! So, stay tuned to both of our sites for future notice of the Blog-in-Development.  By the way, any suggestions for names? I'm stuck on the Chang and Eng theme.
¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:17:00 PM |
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
SWEET GEORGIA WHO??
 I am sitting here with ESPN on my TV, wondering what the hell has happened to the team that was once the Harlem Globetrotters.
The Harlem Globetrotters used to be a wonderfully amazing thing for me as a kid. Coming from a big basketball family, these dudes were truly magicians on the court. I loved any opportunity I got to watch them play. The first few whistled notes of "Sweet Georgia Brown" could conjure up images in my mind in a split second... There were guys who could spin basketballs on their fingers, skulls, feet--you name it. They could "thread the needle" and pass like no others I had ever seen. Basketballs seemed to have minds of their own, travelling up one arm, behind the neck and down the other arm, only to come to a rest in the palm of the guy's hand. Sometimes it looked like they had those basketballs on strings, they could do such amazing tricks with them. They never lost a game. Those Washington Generals could NEVER seem to defeat the Globetrotters. They had some kind of crazy win streak that was like 25 years, and yet the Generals kept coming back for more humiliation. And I DO mean humiliation. (After all, with names like "Curly," "Reece," and "Meadowlark," the Globetrotters needed to be able to "walk the walk," so to speak...) Let's not forget that they got seriously spanked by the Globetrotters virtually every time they played. And, as if being beaten wasn't humiliation enough, they also had all the little "pranks" that they would pull during the course of the game to entertain the crowd, and make the Generals and the officials look like asses. My favorite was the "bucket of confetti/bucket of water" trick. A Globetrotter would fake out a person in the crowd by threatening to throw what appeared to be a bucket of water on him or her. Of course, after several minutes of hyping up the "bucket" it would turn out to be filled with confetti. The trick would be applied again to the ref, who would play along and pretend to be unafraid--having seen the confetti version earlier--only to be doused with a (gasp!) real bucket of water. Crowd participation was huge, too, with these guys. I would love it when they would pull a little kid from the crowd, bring him or her out onto the court, stand him or her at the foul line with a basketball in hand, and say, "We want you to make a basket..." Then they would turn said tyke around 180° and say, "Down THERE," and point at the hoop at the opposite end of the court. The look on the kid's face was always priceless. *sigh* Good times. So, anyway, my point is, what the hell has happened to those days? Where have all the Globetrotters gone? Tonight, ESPN was televising the 'Trotter's game v. Syracuse University, the defending national champs. The Globetrotters beat the Orangemen, as would be expected, but what was definitely not expected was the lack of any entertaining whatsoever on the part of the contingent from Harlem. I may as well have been watching Syracuse play UConn, because there was no difference. Isn't the whole point of watching a Globetrotter game to see the shenanigans and tom foolery that goes on? After all, isn't that what got them the guest spots on "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" and "Gilligan's Island"? What is this world coming to? ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:06:00 PM |
Thursday, November 06, 2003
HEY YOU GUYS!!!
| Ok, so I just found out that today is Blog It Forward Day.
Basically, it has been christened as such by fellow blogger, Buzz. Here's the concept of the whole thing in a nutshell: You have a blog. You have blogs that you read on a regular basis. You post about several of your favorite reads in an effort to get the word out about said favorites. You then drop a comment over at Buzz's to let everyone know that you "blogged it forward." Simple. So, here are my forward blogs...
Now, go. Check them out. Really. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 9:43:00 PM |
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
HAIRY SITUATION
| I hate shaving my legs. It's the most annoying thing ever.
First of all, it's a pain in the ass. Secondly, I never have enough time in the morning during my shower to do a proper job of it. I always end up missing spots, or not shaving at all because I am rushed. I am not one of those hairy nature loving feminist-types who refuses to shave. No, I am simply the type who shaves when she has time. To remedy this situation, I am contemplating the purchase of a rechargeable electric razor. I think this would be a good option for me because of the ease with which I can use it. If I need to shave in a hurry, there it is, in its charger base for me to grab and quickly remove unsighly hair. Also, I don't have to be taking a shower to shave. It can be used wet or dry. Those are just some of my thoughts. Any of you girls out there have an opinion? Good thing? Bad thing? C'mon. Help a hairy sister out. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:57:00 PM |
FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN WAHOO, NEBRASKA...
 Congratulations to David Letterman, who became a proud papa Monday.
The talk show host joked: "I don't know, maybe I shouldn't have done this. First thing I took him home and dangled him over the balcony," a reference to pop star Michael Jackson briefly dangling one of his children over a balcony. Typical Dave. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 9:38:00 PM |
Monday, October 27, 2003
Sunday, October 26, 2003
MY NAME IS PDAWG, AND I AM A PANDA-HOLIC...
| A few weeks ago, I was reading some of my most favoritest blogs, and as I perused Joelle's home, I came across a link which she had billed as "the cutest thing ever."
Of course, I am not one to turn down a peek at cuteness, much less the cutest thing EVER. So, I clicked the link. It has now been about 2 weeks, and I have been unable to stop watching. Honestly. I have been glued to this thing. The other night, I was actually paying more attention to this panda-cam than I was to the hockey game that was on TV. There is something most definitely wrong with this picture, folks. The thing is, I can't stop watching because I am afraid that as soon as I turn the thing off, the baby panda will do something. Most of the time, the activity of the little bugger is relatively limited. I am usually online at night, at which time, he is usually asleep. Hence, not a whole lot of activity. But, every now and then, the little guy stirs in his sleep. Sometimes, he actually wakes up and crawls around. If I am lucky, the mom will show up and interact with the baby. THOSE moments are like hitting the panda-cam jackpot. It's gold, Jerry. Gold. Anyway, I have gotten several other people just as addicted as I am, and so, I don't feel badly for watching so much. There are others out there who are now FAR worse than I am. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:33:00 PM |
ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING
| Halloween will soon be upon us.
In honor of the day, FX will be running 10 hours of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Make sure you check in for at least some of the marathon. It's the best show on television. [And, incidentally, for those of you who are devoted fans of the show, you will be glad to see that now FX is showing re-runs of all seven seasons of "Buffy," and that season 7's "Lessons" kicks off Monday morning at 7 am.] Woo hoo! ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:23:00 PM |
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Monday, October 20, 2003
SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED
| If nothing else, I learned a little bit about myself this weekend.
I am a simple person. I like simple things. A nice Oktoberfest beer will keep me happy for hours. Guinness will keep me happy forever. I'm not fussy when it comes to drinks. I don't need anything fancy that has to be mixed and swirled and chilled and garnished and all that other crap. Put a glass under the tap, and pull the handle. That's enough for me. However, this past weekend in Philly, I decided that I needed to see why martinis are all the rage. James Bond has been drinking them for years. I saw at least five people order them in the bar where we were on Saturday alone. I figured, what the hell--I'm in the city. No better time than now to order a "fancy" drink. I like vodka drinks, and I lurve me some olives. Makes sense...should be right up my alley. So, I ordered a dirty Grey Goose martini, thinking that the olive juice would help tame the taste of the straight vodka... ...$10.00 later, I am choking down a martini because I refuse to waste the $10.00 I just spent. Now, I will say this: it was worth the $10.00 I paid because that stinking drink gave me insta-buzz. I could not believe how immediately drunk I felt. I now understand what all the rage is about. It's like liquid crack. Still, I just don't see the appeal of the traditional martini. It wasn't tasty to me at all. Perhaps it is all the years of beer that I have consumed. I think the martini is definitely an acquired taste. Personally, I don't think I want to acquire the taste for that. It's a really expensive taste, and one which I don't particularly enjoy, might I add. The martini is for serious drinkers. I will stick to my beer, but at least I can say I gave it a shot--well, more like several shots, all in one glass. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:32:00 PM |
Monday, October 13, 2003
PDAWG DOES PHILADELPHIA
| Just to let everyone know, I will be heading down I-76 this weekend and spending some quality time with my friend Brian who lives in the city. I am so psyched to go. It seems like it has been forever since our last jaunt down to Philly for a visit. Last time we were down was when we went to the Flyers/Red Wings game last season. That would have been in January. Yikes. It HAS been a while.
Since then, much has happened; not the least of which was the untimely passing of Bri's cat, Murphy. The poor guy. Brian took it kinda rough, but has since been wrangled into adopting a new kitty. So, this visit's priority will be to see the new feline. Can't wait. I hear he's a cutie. Not much else is set in stone for the weekend, other than a trip to Chinatown for dinner. We have all been craving some Chinese food, and so, that will probably be Saturday. Friday night is a definite McCrossen's night. Good ol' "Tiger" Ed will be tending bar at McCrossen's Friday, and it is always nice to spend some time hanging in the neighborhood with all of the usual characters. McCrossen's Tavern, for those of you who may not be familiar with the establishment, is a wonderful bar/restaurant located at about 20th & Spring Garden in Philadelphia. Many a Guinness has been had at this place. It was also the spot where Steve Buscemi came in and sat down next to me and 3 of my friends at 1:00 am on a Saturday night. We were very drunk, and the only ones in the place, and my friend kept saying in a VERY loud, drunken whisper, "That's Mr. Pink! It's Mr. Pink! Guys! Look, it's Mr. Pink!" *sigh* Good times... Yup. I can't wait to spend the weekend again. *grin* ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:48:00 PM |
TAKE THY BEAK FROM OUT MY HEART
 Halloween is rapidly approaching...
How disappointed am I that I will be missing THIS? I shall speak of it nevermore... ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:20:00 AM |
HELLO, VICAR...
 I went shopping today, once again, for things I don't really need, and whilst I was browsing the DVD's at Barnes & Noble, I stumbled across this little gem.It was sooooo not a planned purchase. But it was soooooo a purchase that I have literally been waiting years for. I snatched it up immediately. I love Britcoms. Specifically, The Vicar of Dibley and Absolutely Fabulous. The reason: French and Saunders. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders have to be two of the funniest people on the planet. Together, they spent years performing their comedy skits, and they also have produced numerous comedy specials which are now available on DVD, and are some of the most hilarous pieces of comedy around. It was during their years together that they developed the idea for Absolutely Fabulous, and the original skit can be seen on their DVD, "Gentlemen Prefer French and Saunders."  Ab Fab is a wonderful series, and today, in addition to my purchase of my Vicar set, Susan also purchased copies of Absolutely Fabulous--Absolutely Special, which contains the two Ab Fab specials, "The Last Shout" (Saffy's wedding) and "In New York" (the search for Serge), as well as 2 of the French and Saunders DVD's.I, myself, am more of a Vicar fan, and so I was elated to purchase my set. Now I have something to hold me over until December when Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fifth Season is released. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:02:00 AM |
Sunday, October 12, 2003
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
| Ah...it's hockey season.
I love me some hockey. And, this season, several of us have taken the plunge--we splurged and signed up for Center Ice® (available through your local cable provider), and we can now watch every single NHL game this year. Already, it has taken its toll. Friday and Saturday nights were both spent *gulp* at home watching hockey. I will be getting absolutely NO work done this year until April. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:53:00 PM |
Monday, September 29, 2003
WHY DO I EVEN WATCH TELEVISION?
| Ok, so I watched the finale of "Temptation Island 3" tonight. Quite frankly, I am ashamed that I did, but I felt that I needed to see it through to fruition since I had invested so much time in it to date.
Allow me to say this: this edition of the show was the worst yet. Yes, I began watching "Temptation Island" during its first season because one of the "Temptresses" was from my town. But, that first season was so crazy and wild and just, well, raunchy, that I was hooked. The second season rolled around, and although I didn't want to watch, I had been so mesmerized by the initial season, I tuned in despite my own logical objections. The second season was OK compared to the first--not terribly stinky, but not overly fantastic, either. THIS season rolled around, and I was giddy with anticipation. I was sure that the show would redeem itself after a lackluster 2nd season. No such luck. I wanted to slap these people. They were total idiots. Well, not everyone, but, quite a few. Namely, I'd like to focus on the doofus, Michael. This guy is an idiot. On the first show, when all the tempting girls were giving bracelets to the 4 girlfriends to indicate that they were attracted to their boyfriend, guess how many Michael's girlfriend got. ZERO. She got ZERO many. Hmm...is that some foreshadowing? Apparently, it was as if the girls had thrown down the gauntlet to this lunkhead. He took it upon himself to MAKE them find him attractive. What a schmuck. From the minute he was separated from his girlfriend, Michael was (in his own words) like "a kid in a candy store." He was all over various girls and acted up quite a bit--especially with the in-the-pool activities and dancing. THEN, once he found a girl who liked him, he ditched her the next day to "connect" with another. He had a progressive string of chicks by the end of the whole thing. He was caught on tape, several times, "talking dirty" with one of the chicks, and FOX actually had to blur out his hand gestures during the talk. What a charmer. Apparently, though, he seemed to have forgotten all of this was being recorded for his girlfriend to see, because when the time came at the end to make a final decision, he was quite confident that he and his girlfriend would be getting married. I haven't laughed so hard in a LONG time as when he said that. That poor girlfriend of his was SHOCKED to see him behaving in such a manner. Shocked enough to dump his ass at the end of the show! And to top things off, MICHAEL had the nerve to be angry with HER! He refused to talk to her and stormed off. Did he forget what he had done for the previous two weeks while he was away from her? He wanted "credit" for not picking the girl that he was REALLY attracted to (dirty talk girl) to go on the final date. What a maroon. Amazing how incensed I can become over this. I want "The Amazing Race" back. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:33:00 PM |
| Hey, yo. Check out this article about Dr. Michael Adams and his book Slayer Slang: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lexicon.
¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 6:25:00 PM |
Sunday, September 28, 2003
I COULD BE A GREAT STAR
 They used to say that Stevie Wonder was a musical genius. And, I'll go along with that one. Steveland Morris, aka Stevie Wonder is a musical genius. But, move over Stevie. There's a new kid in town.
I just love Rufus Wainwright. The man has a voice that is so strong and so true, it's fantastic. I know this because I first heard Rufus perform live when he opened up for Tori Amos a few years ago. From the moment he opened his mouth to sing, I was in awe. The dude almost didn't need a P.A. system. He's THAT good. He also writes his own music. And it is brilliant. Huge orchestral arrangements and symphonic accompaniments. Amazing. I bought his 2nd album, "Poses," right after we saw him in concert. I am surprised I haven't worn it out yet. It is one of the best albums I have ever owned. EVER. Every single song on it is excellent. Beautiful music, poetic lyrics, and that amazing voice. For two years, I waited patiently for a 3rd album from our Rufus. Last week, my patience was rewarded. The release of "Want One" was a highly anticipated event for me, and I was hoping that I would not be disappointed. I was not. Go out and buy this album. Now. Run, don't walk. It's THAT good. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:40:00 PM |
Saturday, September 27, 2003
THE LATE SEPTEMBER DOGS
| What is there to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon in late September? (I'll let you think about that for a second.) I asked myself that very question and I could come up with only one answer:
Not much around here. September has been a weird time of year this year because the weather just can't decide what it wants to do. I can never tell how I should dress because the weather will change every half hour. When I woke up this morning, it was cool out, so I put on a long sleeved t-shirt. By 1:00pm, however, it was so freakin' humid I couldn't stand it. Then, around 3:00, with a background of BRIGHT blue skies and puffy white clouds, I looked out the window to see it pouring down rain. This is crazy. It's like living in New England.  So I popped my copy of "Once More, With Feeling" into my DVD player and kicked back to watch. Yes, that's right. I said DVD. I am such an insane "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" freak that I bought a copy of the promotional DVD that was sent out to Emmy voters in Variety magazine. I bought it on eBay from a truly wonderful seller, although, it did cost me a pretty penny. But, it was worth it. I bought mine early on, before all the jackasses out there started copying the DVD and selling the copies. I got the real deal, and I treat it as if it were made of gold. But, I am not deterred from watching it. And I watch it often.
It had been several months, though, since my last screening of OMWF, and as I watched the episode in its entirety again today, I was reminded of just how good season 6 of the show actually was. It got a bad rap because of its dark and depressing nature, but the more I watch the shows, the more I begin to notice the layers and intricacies inherent in the whole story arc for the season, as well as the individual character arcs. OMWF is one of my favorite episodes that the series has ever produced, as it is for most fans. How can it NOT be? The whole idea of Buffy: the Musical is brilliant, the songs are truly catchy and well-sung by the cast, and the premise is totally plausible, all the while furthering the plot and the story arc for the season. Yet, another one of my favorite episodes, "Tabula Rasa," is often overlooked, perhaps because it appeared in the shadow of OMWF. Tabula Rasa was the next episode to air after OMWF in season 6, and it is a roller-coaster ride of emotion for all involved--the characters and the viewer. After I finished OMWF, I dug through my VHS tapes and found my copy of "Tabula Rasa" and popped that in the VCR. I hopped on the emotional roller coaster and watched. It amazes me every time I sit through the episode. This show makes me want to cry, then makes me laugh out loud, before it brings me back to the point of tears as Willow sits in tears on the bedroom floor, Tara packs her bags to move out, and Giles boards an airplane to head back to England for good, while Michelle Branch sings "Goodbye to You" at the Bronze. What a great show. So, I suppose that late September is good for something. There's never a wrong time for a Buffy-thon. However, it is not conducive to getting any school work done. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 4:48:00 PM |
Thursday, September 25, 2003
IF THEY MATED: PART 1
IF KATE JACKSON AND DEMI MOORE MATED.
  THIS would be the result. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:39:00 PM |
TO THE LADY IN THE LIGHT GREEN HYUNDAI ACCENT WHO DRIVES ON RTE. 12 AT 7:25 AM. EVERY MORNING...
| ...THE GAS PEDAL IS THE ONE ON THE RIGHT!!!!
I think you will find, Ma'am, that your car will move faster when you simply press on that right-hand pedal, thereby accelerating YOUR car, and consequently allowing MY car, which is situated BEHIND your car, to also accelerate. This simultaneous acceleration will also allow both YOU and I to arrive at our respective places of employment sooner than if you had not pressed the right-hand pedal slightly harder than usual. *sigh* I hate country roads with no passing zones when you are late in the morning. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 5:08:00 PM |
| Ok, so I don't know if I want to actually say this, for fear of jinxing it, but...there are honestly some good-looking shows for this television season.There are a few currently in progress which I watch and enjoy, and some new seasons will be kicking off this week. Yee Haw!
By far, the best new show that has been introduced this year is "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." I LOVE THIS SHOW. I cannot get enough of those guys. They have more one-liners than anyone. And they are all so adorable. This past week's episode featured the BIGGEST project for the poor guys yet. He truly was hopeless when they started with him, and he ended up slightly less hopeless by the end of the show, but, nowhere close to fixed. I love those guys. Also on my list of shows I watch are "Temptation Island 3" (one of my guilty pleasures--I got hooked when I tuned into the first show to see a girl I went to high school with who was one of the final date-goers), "The Bachelor" (I cannot WAIT to see what happens on this one--WTF is with the dramatic ambulance?!? Did someone hyperventilate after seeing Bob kiss another girl?), "Extreme Makeover," and I think I will break down and succumb to the gravitational pull of the final season of "Friends." Everyone seems to be under the thrall of the 11th season, and I too, have fallen victim. It is like I am caught in a tractor beam and it is sucking me in. Aside from that, I watch very little TV, unless it's a "Buffy" or a "Seinfeld." No matter what, though, nothing can replace the "Buffyverse"--"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel." BtVS is the all-time greatest show in the world. Thank goodness for DVD sets. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:14:00 AM |
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
| I totally have to stop blogging before bedtime. Last night I had a crazy dream that I was on some sort of "Thelma & Louise"-esque mission with Mac from Go Fish. It was totally bizarre, and freaked me out when I woke up because I never remember my dreams.
I think that blogging is becoming more of a priority for me and less of an afterthought. It's crazy, but I actually find that during the day when things happen, I am constantly plotting in my mind how I will blog about the events. My inner monologue has become one big blog narration. It's scary. Especially since I have a readership of about 3. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:59:00 PM |
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
DAVE ROBERTS, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?
 I have been on this planet now for a little over 29 years. I have no recollection in recent years of a deluge of the likes of the one I saw today driving to work.
I seriously thought I was going to have to get out of my car and paddle. This past FRIDAY was supposed to have been the hurricane. That was NOTHING compared to this morning. And, there was virtually no indication from the weather "experts" to give me even the tiniest inkling that the rains were going to be of borderline Biblical proportions. "Yes," they said, "it will rain." Never did they say, "Check your survival kit and make sure you have hip waders in your glove compartment." My normal 20 minute drive to work took me nearly an hour this morning. In most professions, this may or may not be a big deal. But, I'm screwed if I don't get there before the kids do.  I hate coming into school 10 minutes before the kids. I feel so flustered and unprepared. This morning, I walked into my classroom at 7:57 am. The doors open for the kids at 8:05 am. I was a wreck.
Thank goodness my coffee pot has a timer that I set the evening before I leave. My ready and waiting piping hot coffee was my only saving grace this morning. It wrapped its warm arms around me and gave me a hug that said, "Don't worry about the apocalyptic-sized amounts of rain outside. You're here now. Drink me, and you will feel better." And I did. But I am still sore with Dave Roberts...Angel's dad or not. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 5:46:00 PM |
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
QUEEN OF SPAIN OR WEEZIE JEFFERSON?
That is all I have been hearing about. The storm the size of Texas. 125 mph winds. 45 foot waves. It shall bring death and destruction. There is even talk of closing school. WTF?!? I mean, really. Should I be building an ark? People act as if the apocalypse is upon us. Should I be worried? Am I ill-prepared because I haven't gone and bought a supply of milk, eggs and bread for the next 2 weeks? I mean, come on...when it all turns out to be not as bad as the weather guy has been telling us, then what do you do with all that bread, milk and eggs? Contrary to popular belief, there is a limit to how much French toast one person can eat.  I don't know who to believe. Every weather guy around here is telling us different things. I believe I have narrowed it down to this: If David Boreanaz's (Angel) dad, Dave Roberts, tells me to batten down the hatches, I'm battening down. Anyone who is within two degrees of separation from a "Buffy" character is A-OK in my book.
¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:48:00 PM |
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
 Just a reminder for those of you who have not yet rushed out to your local music outlet. The new album from Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan's other band, A Perfect Circle, is in stores today. It's called "Thirteenth Step" and it is GOOOOOOOD....
Maynard rocks. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 6:14:00 PM |
Thursday, September 11, 2003
BREATHTAKING
| On a lighter note...
I think I have come up with a hockey team name. It's "Seinfeldian.": "Schmoopey's MAN-HANDlers." Coming soon...the "sock-asin" story. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 7:17:00 PM |
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
| RELEASE THE HOUNDS
I just wanted to share the world's coolest website with everyone. It's called BookCrossing. The whole concept makes me all tingly inside just thinking about it. Here's the dilli-yo. You have old books that you've read. They are sitting on shelves or in boxes collecting dust. Rather than have them take up space and go unread, why not share them with the world? Go to BookCrossing and register your book. Or books. You get a unique ID number for YOUR book. Then you either handwrite the ID number in the front cover of your book with a message explaining the concept of BookCrossing, or you can print nifty labels from the website which you then affix in the front cover of the book. Then--here's the cool part--you RELEASE your book. That's right. Release it. Go to a public place. Or a not-so-public place. Leave your book there for someone to find it, and (hopefully) read it. They can go online and enter the book's ID number and leave an entry as to where they found the book and their experience with the book. You can track your book's whereabouts and see how it is doing. You can also "hunt" for books near you. Locations are broken down first by country, then state for those of us in the USA, and even town/city. People will leave a name of a place, an address, or just a vague clue as to where they left their book. It's up to you to find it. For example, just browsing the places here in PA, two books were recently left in Gettysburg. One at Devil's Den, and one at Little Roundtop. Imagine walking the Battlefield, taking in all of the history and stumbling across a book, only to find a BookCrossing label in the front cover...and then you know...it was waiting for you to pick it up and read it. And then it's your job to release it again for someone else. Cool. So, sooo cool. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:39:00 AM |
| WHAT'S IN A NAME
Here is the challenge: Name my Fantasy Hockey team. I am at an impasse. I don't want to keep my team name from last year because half the fun of playing Fantasy Hockey is seeing all the team names. My friends are so witty. So, I need help. I've been straining my brain for some sort of pop culture reference--Seinfeld, Buffy, Simpsons...whatever. Hit me with your best shot. And quickly. I have got till Saturday. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:24:00 AM |
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
| CHAOS BLEEDS This past weekend was a very Buffy oriented one for me. To start, I watched a few episodes of Angel Season 2 on DVD. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to watch very many due to the issues mentioned in the previous post. Far too much work to allow for sufficient Angel watching. I also went out and splurged after reading an article in "Playstation Magazine" about the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds game. "PSM" gave the game a rating of 9 out of 10. This is not something that they hand out to just any game. Of course, I would expect nothing less, seeing as how the first game for XBox was absolutley great. (I have an XBox for the sole reason that the first Buffy game was produced ONLY for XBox--yes, I'm a freak.) So, I bought the new game, and it's very good as far as the game itself goes. However, while the addition to this game of Amber Benson doing voiceovers as Tara is fantastic, I am a bit disappointed that not only does Sarah Michelle Gellar NOT do voiceovers (no surprise--she didn't do the first game), but neither does Emma Caulfield as Anya, or Alyson Hannigan as Willow. Granted, Emma wasn't in the first one because that game was set before the arrival of Anya on the show, so the disappointment is less in that case. But, Aly not coming back for round 2 and doing the voice of Willow is hard to take. She developed such a distinct cadence to Willow's speech that it is impossible for another actor to duplicate it and it comes off sounding stupid. The final Buffy-related item that arrived this weekend was my season 5 cast poster. On a similar note, I am apparently not the only one who is becoming addicted to Buffy. I have gotten one of my colleagues hooked. I loaned her my season 1 DVD's so that she could start watching from the beginning, and she told me Monday morning that she basically spent her Saturday watching all 12 hours in a row because she JUST COULDN'T STOP. I love it. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 6:47:00 PM |
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
| THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Well, as most of my counterparts are already back at school, I am savoring my last few days of summer vacation by...going in to school to get my room ready. Whoopee. I must say that I do enjoy the start of the school year. All new paper, notebooks, pencils, and doing things like handing out books, giving a new look to the old room, etc. However, the one thing that I absolutely HATE about getting my room ready for the new year is BULLETIN BOARDS. I freakin' hate putting up my bulletin boards. It is impossible to put up those LONG sheets of paper in a nice smooth line all by yourself. And I am so damn anal retentive that if there is even the slightest wrinkle in the paper, I notice, and I must fix it. Bulletin board papering can take me up to 2 hours. It's insane. And that's just getting the initial paper up. Then there is the scallopy trim that has to go around, and also, let's not forget the actual content of the board. For that, I have to laminate colored paper to contrast the board, and then go punch out the letters from the laminated paper on the letter press. Then, I must aesthetically arrange the content so that it is pleasing to the eye. I hate that I am so anal about stuff. But, I hate bulletin boards more. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:29:00 AM |
Friday, August 22, 2003
AMAZING RACE...AMAZING GUYS
 I am so psyched that these two ended up being the big winners of "The Amazing Race 4."  Even though at times Chip was incredibly annoying, these two guys did a wonderful job of showing the world just how determined, and how focused they could be, while at the same time, never once losing sight of the fact that they were partners, they were there to enjoy themselves, and above all, that they love and respect each other.
But, it is true--that Reichen was my favorite. He's just cute as a button. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:04:00 PM |
Thursday, August 21, 2003
| BRAVO FOR BRAVO
I must say that as "The Amazing Race 4" comes to an end tonight, I was about to be both sad and worried.  I was going to be sad because the total number of shows that I watch on a MUST SEE basis was about to become ZERO. Since "Fame" ended, "The Amazing Race" was really the only other show I watched every week. I was also going to be a bit worried because it didn't seem that I was going to be able to find any other gay guys on TV that were as cute as Reichen from "The Amazing Race."
Was I ever wrong.  I just love "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." It is my new MUST SEE show. It is freakin' great. I hate being "trendy" and watching what everyone else in America is watching, but, I started watching this from day 1, and I loved it. Now all of a sudden, it's the rage, and the Fab 5 are EVERYONE'S favorite. THAT will be the one annoying thing about this show. But, that is minor compared to how much I love these guys.
Jai is the cutest little thing, and Carson makes me laugh like no one else can. I think Kyan is absolutely gorgeous, and there is also something inherently attractive about Thom--not to mention that he probably works the hardest out of the 5 since he is always doing some sort of physical labor in his quest to reinvent the living quarters. And Ted...well, I feel a sort of bond with Ted. He seems to be a lot like me. I love these guys. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 4:19:00 PM |
| HOW CAN I EVER REPAY YOU?
A huge thanks goes out to Zam for blogsitting while I was gone. She did a great job, and upon my return, in my state of delirium, reading over her posts was one of the few things that made me laugh out loud. She's a real class act, and if you haven't checked out her cute little blog, be sure to do so. And, if you're a single dude in Houston, TX, you had better get on the stick, since you're time to score with Zam is running out. You've only got about 2 more years before she turns gay. Click on the link and then scroll down to the Aug. 14th entry to see what I am talking about... ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 3:55:00 PM |
| BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN
Yes, it is I. I am "back." I think. I am coming around after a nasty bout of (as Zam so eloquently put it) "the Carribbean Death Bug." All I can say is I KNOW I didn't drink the water. How the hell does this stuff always seem to happen to me?!? I was the only one of the four of us to get sick. I waited 5 days before going to the doctor. Yes, stupid, I know. But, in my defense, the doc did say when I was there that these types of things are "what we call 'self-limiting', meaning that they will usually run their course and disappear on their own. But, " he added, "we can chase them away." Yes, please do. Chase away. And, so, it is now that I sit here, having come to know the wonders of Cipro™. Drugs are good, and I am on the mend. Not quite 100%, but getting there. Pictures will follow in the photo album soon. I'm back. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 3:52:00 PM |
Sunday, August 17, 2003
| SICK AS A DAWG...
For as hard as I tried, I fell victim to the island curse--violent diarrhea. My posts will be short and sporadic until I am back to 100%. Suffice it to say, I am still alive. Rock on, ya'll. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:20:00 PM |
Thursday, August 14, 2003
| ADVENTURES IN BLOGSITTING
With this post, I conclude my duties as sitter to this blog. PDawg will be back tomorrow, and I request that you all join me in giving her a hearty welcome back. Thank you, and goodnight. “If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber’d here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream…” ~ Puck ¶ Ξ zam Composed at 11:18:00 PM |
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
| STAND BY FOR TRANSMISSION...
For those of you not keeping track (shame on you) - our resident Dawg o’ the Blog has been away on vacation this week and has left me, Zam, in charge of the entertainment. Somewhere over the Caribbean satellites are linking, computers are coming to life, and fax machines are regurgitating entire reams of paper, so that I may bring to you all of the dirt on PDiddy’s island get-away. My spies report the following regarding the events of the last couple of days: - An evening at a strip club called Privates of the Caribbean - PDawg staring out to sea mumbling, “He’s out there. I can feel it.” - On a cruise around the islands, PDawg kept insisting that the captain take her to Tenille - When PDawg asked the cruise director where the lifeboat was, he pointed to a fat guy - Never stopped throwing up - Never stopped sneezing - An unfortunate incident involving a Dominican midget and some bar-b-q flavored Corn Nuts - Nightly entertainment – cockfights ¶ Ξ zam Composed at 10:22:00 PM |
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
| THE FRIDAY FIVE
In true PDiddy fashion, I bring you The Friday Five…on Tuesday. I have responded to these five questions as they would pertain to PDawg’s life, or how I best thought that she would answer each question. We’ll see how close I am when she returns… 1. What's the last place you traveled to, outside your own home state/country? The Caribbean. 2. What's the most bizarre/unusual thing that's ever happened to you while traveling? Wow…so many to choose from. My life is a virtual sitcom of bizarre and unusual events. Hmm…well, there was that one time we were all backpacking in the Swiss Alps and got caught in the blizzard. *chuckles* We panicked and ended up eating Roger’s left buttock before realizing that the snow had stopped and the storm had only lasted ten minutes. Ha ha ha…good ol’ Rog. Man, what a sport! I wonder how the little half-ass is doing these days… 3. If you could take off to anywhere, money and time being no object, where would you go? 1982. 4. Do you prefer traveling by plane, train or car? Actually, I prefer traveling by unicycle. It’s environmentally friendly and leaves both of my hands free to eat and operate a cell phone without being a detriment to other travelers. 5. What's the next place on your list to visit? That’s a no-brainer -- Ocheyedan, Iowa: ”Home of the Mound”. ¶ Ξ zam Composed at 11:00:00 PM |
Monday, August 11, 2003
| BLOGSITTER
While the proprietor of this blog is off on a Caribbean vacation (no doubt laying poolside with some sort of umbrella drink in hand as we speak), I have been left behind to blogsit. Fear not, gentle reader, for you are in good hands. Unbeknownst to said proprietor, my spies have been dispersed throughout her Caribbean resort. Disguised as bellhops, waiters, bartenders, and one fat calypso player, they are ready, at any given moment, to report on the (mis)adventures of our very own, Pdawg Q. Blogger. I’ve already received word on how the trip has gone thus far: - At the airport, Pdawg spoke loudly of having drugs and/or bombs on her person just for the cavity searches - The plane made an unscheduled stop in Colombia to pick up “supplies” - Lavish hotel lunch buffet turned out to be three bags of Doritos and a quart of Pepsi - Not only is Kathie Lee there, but also that elephant that tramples people - The locals keep mistaking Pdawg for Xena, Warrior Princess - Brochure boasted that the resort was subject of a "60 Minutes" expose - Nearly incited a riot at a cantina when she attempted to order “eggs-over-easy” in Spanish - No matter what Pdawg orders from the bar, it tastes salty - Repeatedly annoys companions by insisting they all speak pirate (arrrr…) More to come… ¶ Ξ zam Composed at 1:07:00 PM |
Friday, August 08, 2003
| THE TEARS OF A CLOWN
My one remaining reality TV addiction for the summer has been The Amazing Race. I have to admit that of the final four teams, there was not one that I disliked. As a matter of fact, I rather liked all of them and was having trouble deciding in whose corner I should be. Last night's episode almost gave me an aneurysm. My two favorite teams were both in peril. I had decided that, of the four teams, I would have to hope that David & Jeff were eliminated. Unfortunately, it quickly became obvious that that was not going to happen, as they immediately went for the Fast Forward. The race came down to the fact that my #1 team, Reichen & Chip (well, mostly Chip) screwed up big time by not reading their instructions carefully. Rather than travelling on foot, they chose to drive, and were assessed a 35 minute penalty for the infraction. If my #2 team, Jon & Al (better known as The Clowns), arrived at the pit stop before the 35 minute penalty had expired, Reichen & Chip would be eliminated. If they did not, The Clowns were done. I was a wreck. Either way, one of the two teams I was pulling for was going to be eliminated. Sadly, The Clowns did not make it. The final reflection that these two guys offered at the end of the show almost reduced me to tears. What a genuine and truly wonderful pair of guys. Jon seems to be a great husband and father, as his love for his family was quite evident. They may be clowns by profession, but by golly, they are seriously terrific men and human beings. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:35:00 PM |
I just read this article. THIS man is my President (as well as the rest of the country--since he is the one who actually won the popular vote). Al Gore totally ripped Dubya and his administration a new one in his speech at NYU. Apparently, it was quite a speech. I wish I could have been there to hear it. Especially the end: Gore said there was a time when he blamed Bush's advisers for the problems, but "obviously I was wrong. ... I've just about concluded that the real problem may be the president himself, and that next year we ought to fire him and get a new one." Amen, brother...Amen. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:12:00 PM |
Thursday, August 07, 2003
| SLEDGE-O-MATIC
I know things are bad in California, what with the recall election and all. It's bad when Arnold Schwarzenegger is running for governor. It's worse when Arianna Huffington is running for governor. You've hit rock bottom when Gary Coleman throws his hat into the ring. But, when Gallagher is also running... Others who have filed with the state in order to receive campaign documents include the melon-smashing comedian Gallagher, comedian D.L. Hughley and Angelyne, a model who made herself famous in southern California by putting her picture on billboards. I can see it now: he'll whip out the Sledge-O-Matic, and just like John Henry, with one fell swoop, California will finally crack off and drop into the ocean. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 4:31:00 PM |
| YOU ARE SOOOOOO GOOD LOOKING
Why is it that every time I step out into bright sunlight, I have to sneeze? I know this happens to other people, too, but none of the "other people" seem to be members of my inner circle. My friends give me that "yeah, whatever, you wack job" look everytime we exit a store or house or whatever, and I sneeze because it is sunny. My reason for bringing this up is because I will be spending a few days in the carribbean very soon. Will I be sneezing up a storm while I am there? Will it be as if I have some bizarre allergy? I suppose not, as long as I don't keep going from sun to shade and back again. Oh well. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 3:54:00 PM |
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
| ALL GEMINIS TO THE RASPBERRY HATS!
Just FYI, and for your browsing pleasure, I found this nice article about my favorite member of the Scooby Gang, Alyson Hannigan. 
It's a little heavy on the "American Wedding" stuff, but there is a pretty good section on her days of "Buffydom," and some nice compliments from Joss Whedon. If you're bored (and you MUST be if you are here), give it a browse. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:26:00 PM |
| I HAD SOME DREAMS, THEY WERE CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE
I was reading up on some news headlines this evening when I stumbled upon this link in the entertainment section. Finally, Carly Simon is about to reveal who the subject of her song "You're So Vain" is, after 31 years... For a price. It has got to be a pain-in-the-butt to have to be asked that question over and over and over again...every interview, every time she has to promote a new album, everyone wants to trek back to 1972. She's an amazing singer and songwriter who has produced innumerable hits, and that sometimes gets overlooked. On, the other hand, THAT song (along with the Heinz 57 Ketchup ads which prominently featured her song "Anticipation") is her claim to fame. Well, the song, coupled with the mystery of to whom she is singing. At least she is going to do a little bit of good by finally revealing the identity for a hefty fee of $50,000, which she will donate to "Martha's Vineyard Community Services, which provides child care, counseling, substance abuse treatment services and visiting nurses to the community." Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC sports and NBC Olympics, said he'll never tell once Simon divulges to him the subject of her 1972 song "You're So Vain" after a private performance in about two weeks. Ebersol won the information with a $50,000 bid in a charity auction; he also gets a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She's also being quite shrewd about the whole thing. Ebersol has to sign a confidentiality agreement. He can't tell anyone else. So, the secret remains. Possibly for another charity auction? Imagine...one by one, wealthy Americans will learn the mystery man's identity...while dining on PB & J's. The rest of us will just have to wait until the guy dies. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:30:00 AM |
Monday, August 04, 2003
| HERSHEYPARK HAPPY
Just in case you are in the area, the most awesome rollercoaster in Pennsylvania is located at Hersheypark. Next time you are there, make sure to ride The Great Bear. It's freakin' fantastic. That is all. For now. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:31:00 AM |
Thursday, July 31, 2003
The answer to yesterday's trivia question can be found here. It is one of my all-time favorite childhood memories. Maurice Sendak's Nutshell Library is a collection of his short stories for kids which were IMMENSELY popular with my first grade class. We listened to the "Really Rosie" album, we watched the "Really Rosie" TV special, we sang the alphabet song "Alligators All Around" (which I can STILL to this day sing all the words to), and the months of the year song, "Chicken Soup with Rice" (ditto for the lyrics and tune to this song). And, lo and behold, there was even a song about Pierre, "who only could say 'I don't care'." *sigh* What great memories. Tune in tomorrow when we discuss Marlo Thomas' AMAZING album and film, "Free to Be You and Me." In a land where the river runs free, in a land through the green country, in a land to the shining sea... ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:20:00 AM |
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
| THERE ONCE WAS A BOY NAMED PIERRE
Written today in an email to Zam: So, let me just tell you about the guy who sits behind me in this stinking class... P.S. Bonus points to anyone who can figure out where the post title comes from. Hint: Think elementary school...think musicals...Think Maurice Sendak ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 5:00:00 PM |
| SLACKER
Yes, I realize that my postage on this blog has been lacking. Yes, I apologize to all 5 of you who read this. Unfortunately, this is my busy week. Not only am I taking a 4-day class, I attended a baby shower tonight and I have been helping a co-worker (for whom the shower was thrown) move into a new house since last Friday. I must say that for 2 people living in a small townhouse, this couple has more crap that they own than anyone I have ever met. It is unfathomable to me that all of the stuff we have moved--which is barely fitting into the new house--actually fit in that townhouse. As they cleaned out their downstairs closet, they were finding things that they hadn't seen in years. Old Christmas gifts (old, like, in excess of 2 years) for friends that they had misplaced...in the closet. More blankets and pillows than any human needs. It was insane. Also, on Thursday, I am going to get my book signed by the author. Giddy up. So, probably sometime next week, the posting will get back to a higher volume. Until then, the 5 of you who read this will just have to be patient. Gracias mucho. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:27:00 AM |
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
| LE...WHOOPS!
As my 30th birthday has begun to approach, some of you may recall my recent resolve to get myself back into some modicum of shape. I am proud to say that I am still on that quest, and I have been making a tad bit of progress. Of course, it is just a tad, but a tad is better than sitting on my ass and eating a bag of chips. Well, tonight as I was out for my usual evening run, I encountered something which I certainly have never encountered before. My usual run consists of (basically) 10 times up and down the alley behind my house. Yes, I realize this sounds strange, but, there are several reasons why I do this:
Well, tonight, while I was completing my run, I was just about to make my last run up the alley, and I saw what I thought was my neighbor's cat emerging from beneath the fence in their backyard, and crawling into the alley. This was not unusual to me. Often, the cat will roam around and it will frequently cause the motion detector light by the alley to turn on. The cat is black with some white on its face and paws, and a little bit on its tail, and so, when I saw the shadowy creature squeeze its way out from under the fence, I didn't hesitate to keep running. The cat always tears off at the sight of me anyway, so, I wasn't about to stop. Except, as I got closer, the thing didn't run away. As a matter of fact, it froze in its tracks in the middle of the alley. And, as I got closer, I noticed that the tail was a whole lot bushier than that cat's. And it was a whole lot pudgier, and the big, bushy tail had a nice white stripe down the middle of it. It, however, did not speak with a French accent. Yes, folks, tonight was my close encounter with a skunk. Thank goodness I was as close to my house as I was. I made a direct u-turn and didn't stop running until I was inside the house. Didn't bother to look back to see where little Pepe went. He was still frozen in his tracks when I made my mad dash for the house, but I wasn't about to wait around for him to do his little handstand and take aim. (Just in case you may not have known, skunks stand on their front feet and literally do a handstand when the are about to spray--their butts kind of flip over their heads like a Cirque du Soleil acrobat, and they hit you from that position. So, don't ever wait for them to turn and point their asses at you, cause it won't happen. It's not like in the cartoons.) The funny part of the whole thing is that this COULD have been Pepe Le Pew, seeing as how the bugger crawled out from under the fence of the house where the black and white cat resides. What was going on over there? I didn't hear any serenading. I didn't smell any Eau de Parfum. I didn't see any frantic, yet playful chasing around the neighborhood. There was no French being spoken... It's le mystery to me. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:10:00 PM |
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Well, last night we had the biggest-assed storm that this area has had in quite some time. And, even now, we are still under a flood watch. However, it doesn't look all that ominous today. The threat of rain is supposed to continue throughout the week, but I guess that remains to be seen. In my infinite wisdom, yesterday, I mowed my grandmother's lawn for her, seeing as how the weather prediction for the rest of the week did not seem conducive to lawnmowing. Good job I did it--it was a monsoon last night. Normally, the mowing of the lawn is my responsibility because of my entire family, I am the only one who doesn't have to work a lick during the summer. I understand this. But, my grandmother has a freakin' HUGE yard, and she doesn't have a riding mower. Up until a few summers ago, she mowed her own lawn (that was before she fell one day while mowing, broke her leg, and had to have surgery to fix it), so, at about 60 years younger than she is, I suppose I should be able to handle the task. Which, I can. I have no choice. If I (or someone) doesn't do it, she will do it herself. And that's a great big no-no. She'll be 89 in a few months. Still spry, but not mammoth lawn-mowing spry. It just takes a while to mow that lawn. Even with the mower set on its highest speed, it still takes me a good hour and a half to mow the whole yard. And, with the self-propelled mower basically dragging me along, it's a pretty good workout. The downside is that when it is soooo freakin' hot, the grass clippings all stick to me--ALL OVER. Arms, legs, face, back (cause I usually wear a swimming suit and shorts). Gross. Yesterday, though, was almost the end of my lawnmowing career. As I was mowing the front yard, my already poorly constructed ankle decided to *pop* because I stepped on the edge of where the grass meets the street in an awkward manner. I wish I had a video of it because there I was, hopping on one foot while trying to push the stupid mower back up the small bank of the front yard because I was standing in the middle of the street. I couldn't really put any weight on the bad ankle, and so I hobbled into the garage and sat down for a second. After a minute or two of sweating and manipulating my ankle a bit, I felt a second *pop* and all was restored to order. It's the craziest thing, I know. But, my ankle has pretty much nothing left in it except some bones and probably one tendon that is holding it together due to all of the injuries it has sustained. So, with everything back in place, I went out to finish my mowing. Later, as I thought I was finishing, I stepped in a small divot in the yard and almost broke my OTHER ankle. Another narrowly averted disaster. Then, soon after, I had to avoid a patch of mysterious poop. Whence the poop came, I know not. My grandmother has no animals, nor do any of her neighbors. It was not bunny poop, and it was not bird poop. It was a pile o' poop. It will be a mystery. Lawn mowing is dangerous work, yo. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:20:00 PM |
Monday, July 21, 2003
| JUST LIKE HOMER SIMPSON...
Much like the absence of talking during dinner time may be summed up by Homer Simpson as, "Can't talk...eating," the absence of posting on this blog by me may be summed up as, "Can't type...reading." (Please see What I Am Reading Now... in the links to the right.) I picked up my copy of The Da Vinci Code today, and I have about 200 pages to go. It's just getting exciting now, and I can't put it down! Not to mention, the theories in this book are mind boggling, and as a result, I am sure I will have to look into reading Holy Blood, Holy Grail as well. After all, I already did a Google search for a picture of The Last Supper and Madonna of the Rocks. This book is highly intriguing. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:38:00 AM |
Friday, July 18, 2003
| DRAWING A BLANK...
THIS is why I could not participate in the Blogathon. I am drawing a complete blank. Nothing whatsoever is going on at the moment. So, now, all I have is drivel. I burned a cd today and called it the "Because I Was Bored Mix." Let's see...in the past 24 hours I have done the following:
And, we're up to date. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 3:17:00 PM |
Back when I was a sophomore in high school, the 4th Indigo Girls album "Rites of Passage" was released. There is a song on that album entitled "Virgina Woolf" which is (you guessed it) about the famous author and the connection that Emily felt towards her after reading her diaries. As a 16-year-old kid, obviously, I could not have cared less about Virgina Woolf, the author. (I had not yet blossomed into my English-teachery self at that point.) I listened to the song, enjoyed it, but never thought much about it. It wasn't one of my favorites from the album. It was not until several years later when the girls released their 2-cd live album "1200 Curfews" that I became intrigued by Virgina Woolf. On the live track from the set, Emily prefaces the performance with an explanation of how she came to write the song (her mom is a librarian, she loaned her a copy of Woolf's diaries, she was drawn in by the words of the author). It piqued my curiosity for sure. Yet, I never found the time to learn much more about Virginia Woolf. I was in college, I had sooooo much reading to do for my English courses (surprisingly, none of which included any Woolf), I was playing Div. I hoops...I just never got around to it. (Trust me, there's a point coming here, soon.) Cut to 2003. The major motion picture The Hours is released, based on Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name. (Wait...what's this? Nicole Kidman is wearing a fake nose? Oh...she is supposed to be Virgina Woolf.) Suffice it to say, The Hours was the best damn movie of the year. The last movie that made as much of an impact on me after watching it was In the Bedroom (another film based on a piece of literature--Andre Dubus' short story "Killings"). I am ashamed to admit it, but I violated my cardinal rule about movies for this film--I saw the movie before I read the book. I NEVER do that, but, the film was being shown in limited locations around here and I had to grab the opportunity when it presented itself, or I would have had to wait for video. In hindsight, I am so glad that I did it. But, I am also left with this situation in the wake: The movie re-awakened my interest in Virgina Woolf--as a writer, and as a person. (And here comes the now somewhat convoluted point of this whole thing...) I decided that to fully understand The Hours, I would first have to read Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf. Little did I know what a daunting task this would be. When people talk of Virginia Woolf and her stream of consciousness writing, it is usually classified as "difficult reading." Um...understatement. I am a voracious reader. My friends, still to this day, are amazed at how quickly I can read a book. Average time, 2 days, for a 350 page novel--depending on the book and/or author and how much time I am willing to devote to reading. One of Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta novels would be done in 6-8 hours, max. I consumed all of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on a bus going to and coming back from North Carolina--9 hours each way, 790 pages, give or take a few. The latest, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (870 pages), took me 4 days of intermittent reading. Mrs. Dalloway is about 200 pages long. I have been trying to read this thing for about 2 weeks now. It is killing me because she does write with an incredible style and has some truly amazingly complex sentences and vividly detailed descriptions. Yet, I am finding it soooo hard to read. I want so badly to read this book because already I can see the connections that Cunningham has made to it in The Hours...but it is tough. I will continue to force myself, though. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:58:00 AM |
Thursday, July 17, 2003
| YOU SET YOUR GOALS AND YOU GO FOR THEM
Sorry. I just couldn't resist posting this. When I was 15, this guy would have been the coolest man on the planet. Now, it makes me sad that his aspirations are to go back to school to become, of all things, a teacher (math & science, of course). I can see the scenario... "Sorry, class...I didn't get those tests corrected because I was out in the garage videotaping myself playing Donkey Kong all night in an attempt to break the Guinness Book record for high score." ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 2:13:00 PM |
| AND THE WINNER IS...
Well, the Emmy nominations are out, and once again, it seems that the stupid Emmy voters have forsaken Joss: Moreover, a number of new or almost-new series that have earned critical plaudits and good ratings -- among them "Boomtown," "Without a Trace" and "Scrubs" -- were ignored. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which ended its critically lauded seven-year run in May, went out the way it came in, with zero major nominations. Oh, well. WE all know what a hidden treasure that show was. Come on, Season 5 DVD's. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 2:01:00 PM |
| WHATEVER HAPPENED TO DARWIN'S LAW?
I thought the weaker (and more idiotic) members of any species were, according to the "survival of the fittest" theory, supposed to get themselves killed off more quickly so that the stronger members would help the species to thrive. If this is true, then how is this douche bag still alive and spewing his venomous crap? *sigh* ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:51:00 PM |
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
| INTO EVERY GENERATION, A SLAYER IS BORN...
I have just received the surprise of my life. As I was sitting here idly blogging my summer hours away, I received an email from an address which I did not recognize. Against my better judgement, I opened it because although I had never corresponded with this person, there was something strangely recognizable about the name. If you have been an avid reader of my blog (please stop laughing...there are a few people who come here on a quasi-regular basis), you know that I am quite staunch in my assertion that, for a variety of reasons, there is no better show on television than "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." And, if you have been reading my blog since before I switched to this new design and location, you may recall reading a story about my purchase of a new "Buffy"-related book called Slayer Slang. Suffice it to say that I was a little bit more than excited to purchase my copy of that book. It's every Buffy-fan/English teacher's dream. Ok...so here's the great part. Back to the email. I opened the email to find that it was from none other than Michael Adams--author of the book. He explained that he is working on another article about the use of the term "slayer slang" and in searching the internet for occurrences, he came across my humble little blog. He read my story about buying his book, and thanked me for my positive reaction, and then suggested that if I wanted, we could arrange a time to meet (since I work just up the road from Albright College) and he would sign my book for me! How cool is that? Excuse me while I go pee my pants. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 6:36:00 PM |
| I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR
Since the news from the homefront has been somewhat lackluster here the past few days, I should hate to bore anyone with the minutiae of my daily life. There already is a blog for that. Instead, I choose to go back to the events of the past weekend. After relating the whole story of the picnic to my friend who was in absentia for the soiree, I have--in hindsight--become more irritated than I realized. This lovely picnic was thrown by the girlfriend of my friend Jim*. *Absolutely no names have been changed to protect the un-innocenty ones. Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about female empowerment and that I staunchly spout my "anything you can do" attitude often. THIS, however, is one instance when I totally think that the stereotypical gender roles should have been followed. Ok. Re-reading that last sentence, I need to clarify. I guess it is not the gender roles that I believe need to be followed. It's really more common human courtesy. In fact, that's all it is. Common courtesy. Allow me to explain. Jim's girlfriend was technically the one throwing the party. It was at her house, the majority of the people invited were her friends, and I am sure (knowing Jim) that the money spent on all the food and drinks was primarily hers. That being said, however, Jim invited QUITE a few of his own friends (myself and others included) to attend as well--which we did. Therefore, in some respect, Jim had as much of a vested interest in this picnic as she did. She felt the pressure of being the hostess--and she did a wonderful job, might I add. The drawback of being the hostess is that you never can have quite as much fun as your guests because you are trying so hard to make sure that your party doesn't suck. This, of course, was the case at the picnic. Now, here's where all the normal people in the world (an by "normal," I mean all non-social-neanderthals) would, if they were in a cartoon, have the little lightbulb of realization *blink* on above their cartoon noggins. Rather than getting up off of his ass to help her with the food, the guests, the whateverthehellneedstobedoneatapicnic, Jim chose to perch himself on his lawnchair throne ALL FREAKIN' DAY. Even after numerous thinly-veiled attempts to hint to him that perhaps he should be helping her in some way ("You know, Jim, there seems to be smoke billowing from the grill, and she's kind of busy trying to get the condiments for the burgers and dogs out on the table. Maybe you should check on the burgers before the fire department arrives."), he still would not budge. The only task apparently worthy of his man-skills was the "checking of the keg." For a full hour at the beginning of the party, he made about 35 trips to THE KEG to make sure that the set-up was properly iced, the air pressure was correct and that the brew was flowing cleanly. Yet, if the task was anything other than that, he was glued to the seat. Here's my gripe: if this is someone you supposedly LOVE, wouldn't you want to do everything you could to help make the party a success? And to ensure that your partner had just as good a time as you did? And wouldn't you feel that the whole thing reflected on you as well, since you are part of a recognized couple (which constitues a team of sorts)? *sigh* I suppose I shall never understand the psyche of Jim. Then again, we have long recognized that Jim and his brother are a breed of their own. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 6:12:00 PM |
