Friday, March 10, 2006

Let it be known that the following is spoiler heavy. Since it’s three days after the “live” airing of TAR9 this week, I feel no need to hide the goods. So let us begin:

1. The Bums - absolutely disgusting guys - loathesome. I mean really, their obsession with sex and their general laziness (in life although they seem to be working hard enough on The Race, which aggravates me because I want them gone) makes them really unattractive despite their physical good looks. Their mothers must be horrified to know they raised such jerks and to see it displayed so prominently on national television. We hates them.

Oh, and never, ever call Phil “woman” like that again. Bad form. You are so not funny. And I am so not kidding.

2. The Hippies - we loves them. They are dippy but good at The Race.

3. MoJo - Although I hate when teams wear cutsie shirts with their team name (the first rule of The Race is that you are not allowed to name your own team, the audience will bestow the appropriate moniker, thankyouverymuch), I’m impressed with how well they worked this week.

4. The Danis - we hates them, too. Too much pink and see #3 about the team name thing. And they fell for the charms of The Bums so that lowers their status with me as well. Ugh.

5. The Oldsters - won’t make it much longer if they continue as they have. Although I like them and do hope that they get it together.

6. The Love Nerds - how can you not love the Love Nerds? I mean really. They are happy, sunny, smiley people and are managing to do well in The Race. We loves them.

7. The Philiminated - call me grateful to have the screaming end with the going home of the sisters.

8. Tasks - pretty good. I wouldn’t have made up the fire escape although rappelling down would have been fun. Neither would I have been able to make that rope climb up the waterfall. Two climbing events was tough. I liked that the teams that opted to make ethanol did well and managed to stick with the pack that opted for the seemingly faster rope climb.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention Lake. He’s got Colin’s “intensity.” So far he hasn’t gotten too much screen time, but I fear we may have “My ox is broken, part duh” this seaon with this one.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

I’m not sure if I prefer the Creepy Burger King or the oddball rodeo “buckin’ chicken” commercial. Buckin’ chicken makes me laugh.

He’s having a good couple of days and was moved to a regular hospital room today. Mom said he sounded stronger and chipper. Good news.

We appreciate your prayers. God is faithful.

Is it bad form to fall asleep while getting a manicure?

Because I did.

And then Tim the nail guy almost had a panic attack when the gel wasn’t drying properly (getting shiny). So I told him not to sweat it and just use a clear top coat to make it shiny and call it a day. After some protesting back and forth, that is what he did, albeit very reluctantly. Customer service and all that.

He only charged me about half so I tipped him very well for his troubles.

And I got a nice little nap in the process.

So now I’m really behind because I didn’t see LOST last night because I was at church. Who knows when I will catch up. In the meantime I have a few things to say about other TV items:

24: What’s with the killing off of people we love?

The Unit: Beau and I watched this new show and liked it well enough that we’ll probably watch it again. LMC over at The Llama Butchers put together his take on the pilot episode.

AI5: I saw the ladies the other night - Mandisa is my top pick for this season. I did not see the guys last night, but I saw a clip of Taylor Hicks on Fox & Friends this morning and he looked like he was excellent. I love his style, but I fear that he’s not pop enough for the audience and while he’ll go far, he won’t win.

The cold is progressing nicely. It’s been a long time since I was so congested that I could not smell anything. Evidence was when I smeared a dab of Vicks under my nose and I couldn’t smell it. Not one bit. But I could feel the hot-cold of it in my skin, which was sort of nice. I slept in the recliner again last night and slept well. My fever is finally gone, I think and I am feeling a little better. So that’s good news.

I’m supposed to go to our new small group tonight, but I may stay home to rest after being out last night. I’ll see how I feel when I get home later.

And that ends the boring post of the day.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

I’m at work today despite my lingering fever and cold. I just can’t take anymore time off this week.

Since I was out Monday and Tuesday, I’m swamped today.

Did not watch TAR last night - will try to watch it tonight or tomorrow. So until I watch it the recap will be delayed…sorry.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

We all went to see Granddad today. Jaynee and CootieGirl drove down last night from NJ. So after I finished donating blood at the lab for my physical next week, I picked up Beau from home and we met my mother, Jaynee, and CootieGirl at my parents’ house to caravan to the hospital.

We didn’t spend much time with Granddad - he seemed to tire easily, but he was in good spirits and happy to see us all. Beau and I had to wear masks because we both have our colds, but I was happy they let us in to see him. My Uncle Bill arrived while we were there, too.

It was a tough visit on one hand. On the other, I’m so glad we all went. He was happy to see CootieGirl, who being not quite 3, isn’t allowed in the ICU. However, a nurse opened an exit door that led to his window and she peered in at him from outside, blowing him kisses to make him better. Very sweet.

We left Mom at the hospital and I was supposed to then meet up with Joanie and CH for wedding stuff, but my cold has moved into the full congestion phase and I’m zonked. So I’m headed to bed for a nap.

Monday, March 06, 2006

We took care of the appointment at court, got some lunch, and then came home. I took my temp and it was still high, so I decided to stay home for the afternoon. I don’t want to be prohibited from seeing Granddad tomorrow because of my fever. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if they do keep me out of his room because of it.

Thanks for praying for us. We really appreciate it.

Granddad made it home safely on Saturday, but took a turn and went back into the hospital yesterday. He’s in intensive care and not doing well. The doctor was pretty straight with my mom, telling her that he has a leaking heart valve and kidney failure and that he doubts my granddad will be released. Not good news at all. They are doing minimal testing today to evaluate his heart.

Mom said she had a good conversation with him yesterday about Jesus. We are reassured that when the time comes he will be with my grandmother in heaven. But we are praying for healing, of course.

Beau and I are planning to go visit him in the hospital tomorrow morning.

Beau was fighting a cold and fever this weekend. I managed to get the fever, so I battled that yesterday and will continue the fight today.

Saturday I spent most of the afternoon with Joan and CH at a big flea market. We found a few things for CH’s wedding decor although we have no clue how we’ll use them yet. But they were in the perfect coral color we’re using, so we got them just in case.

After I left them, I met Beau at home and we went to church for a presentation of The Gospel of John. It was a one man show with actor Brad Sherrill presenting the entire book as written in the NIV. It was absolutely fantastic and I highly recommend that you try to see it if Brad comes to your town.

Sunday we were supposed to go to Harrisonburg to visit Beau’s old church. Since I was running a fever and feeling rather poorly, I encouraged him to go ahead without me, which he did. So I dozed and lounged in his recliner all day while he visited with his good friends. I managed to watch about half of season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer during the afternoon. Not every episode, but the one’s Jaynee had recommended. Not bad, but still not a show I would not miss if it were still on regular TV.

Today I have taken the morning off to take care of a thing at the local court. Despite my fever I’ll then go to the office, where The Circus™ has begun. I’ll be taking the whole day off tomorrow to take care of a couple other things as well as go to visit my grandfather in the hospital.

All in all a pretty good weekend, despite being ill.

Friday, March 03, 2006

1. Please continue to pray for my grandfather and his wife. He is being released from the Florida hospital today in order to be brought home to Virginia tomorrow. They will be driven back by her daughter and son-in-law - it’s a long drive and they are anticipating it will be a 14 hour trip. Please pray for their safety and wisdom should anything happen with Granddad on the way.

My mother is making arrangements for their home here in the meantime, although I think the plan is for them to take him directly to the hospital just in case.

2. Beau’s phone interview with the college went well yesterday. They want him to talk to their chaplain and get some references and recommondation letters. So that’s a positive sign and we’re encouraged. Please continue to pray for him in this process - it’s hard for him to not know about his job future. But he’s been a good sport about the substitute teaching and we’re grateful for that small provision.

Thanks for praying. We really appreciate it!

Our small group meets on Thursday nights, but Beau was feeling under the weather and so we stayed home last night. So I got to watch TV. Assume the following contains spoilers.

Survivor Exile Island: Wasn’t Cirie told that she would be the next to go home when Casaya went to tribal? Interesting development there, which makes me happy since I’m on La Mina’s side. I wonder how much they all reek now after the fish throwing/chopping challenge. Beau noted the oddity of Terry gaining strength on exile while the rest of his team crumbles. I believe it’s his Navy survival training - he knows it’s for a short time and not really a big deal for him. They are too dependent on him as their leader and they flounder (so to speak) without him there. Yes, Beau watched it with me and I think he liked it because he didn’t say anything derogatory like he usually does.

CSI: Recorded on the DVR for viewing tonight. Beau was worried that he’d miss it by going to bed early. I reminded him of the DVR. He likes that one, too.

The Office: Was recorded and I watched it when I woke up at 4:30am this morning. Yep, all on my own, wide awake at 4:30am. So I got up rather than toss and turn for the 30 minutes until the alarm went off. Anyhoo, hilarious and sad, as usual. Really this is the weirdest show to me, but I love it.

Without a Trace: This is a great show and I really liked last night’s episode. Anyone else think the boy’s dad looked like a younger Victor Garber?

Last week her boyfriend was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.

Today, the cell phone bandit is to be sentenced.

Alxandria, Va. (AP) - The “cell phone bandit” returns to court Friday to learn her fate.

Candice Martinez was the woman seen in the infamous surveillance video, chatting on the phone while robbing four Wachovia Bank branches in Northern Virginia last October and November.

The now 20-year-old Martinez has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence under an agreement with prosecutors.

The plea deal has no guarantees on jail time. Martinez could face life in prison. But her attorney Michael Davis has said they’re hoping the judge will follow sentencing guidelines of eleven.5 to 12-years.

Martinez is due to appear in Alexandria (website - news) federal court. Last week her boyfriend was sentenced to a dozen years in prison for the bank robberies.

Unrelated, what I want to know is how the AP reporter graduated from J-school? Since when is “eleven.5” proper grammar anywhere? Does the AP not have editors?

UPDATE: She got 12 years as well.

I got this from my sister-in-law by email:

Osama at the Pearly Gates

When Osama bin Laden died, George Washington met him at the Pearly Gates. He slapped him across the face and yelled, “How could you dare try to destroy the nation I helped conceive?”

Patrick Henry approached, punched him in the nose and shouted, “You wanted to end our liberties, but you failed!”

James Madison followed, kicked him in the groin and said, “This is why I allowed our government to provide for the common defense!”

Thomas Jefferson was next, beat Osama with a long cane and snarled, “Evil men like you drove me to write the Declaration of Independence.”

The beatings and thrashings continued as George Mason, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans unleashed their anger on the terrorist leader.

As Osama lay bleeding and in pain, an Angel appeared. Bin Laden wept and said, “This is not what you promised me.”

The Angel replied, “I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you in Heaven. What did you think I said?”

Beautiful.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

So is today a blog holiday and I didn’t get the memo?