Happy New Year

My thanks to all those who have sent me emails this past year...

I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the one about rat shit in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet towel with every envelope that needs sealing. Also, I now have to scrub the top of every can I open for the
same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

Or from the senior bank clerk in Nigeria who wants to split $7 million with me for pretending to be a long lost relative of a customer who died intestate.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes of doing so.

Because of your concern, I no longer drink Coca-Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy petrol without taking a man along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore and Uzbekistan.

I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my ass.

And, thanks to your great advice, I can't even pick up the $5.00 I found dropped in the car park because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

By the way...a South American scientist, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people who have infrequent sexual activity always read posts with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late!

Rosie Named 'Most Annoying' Celebrity ??

From her craft house on Star Island in Miami, Florida...Rosie O'Donnell points to herself in a talky blog. She is referring to the fact that according to a survey by Parade Magazine... 44% of Americans think she is the most annoying celebrity of 2007. One of her bloggers even posted a comment about it:

Debbie writes:

Congratulations on being voted the most annoying celebrity by 44% of all Americans. What an honor! Does this tell you anything?

yes it does

i 2 find me annoying

My Dear Rosie....I choose to look at it this way....that means 56% of Americans DO NOT think you are the most annoying celebrity. Count me in the 56% group.

FOOTNOTE: "If there is anything in the world more annoying than having people talk about you, it is certainly having no one talk about you." ~Oscar Wilde

Remembering Benazir Bhutto

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto, President Pervez Musharraf's most powerful opponent, has thrown Pakistan into chaos just 12 days before elections.

Bhutto died after gunfire and a suicide bomb attack targeted her at a campaign rally outside the Pakistani capital on Thursday, December 27, 2007. As news of her death spread, angry supporters poured onto streets in several cities, burning tires and vehicles. The violence killed at least nine people and plunged efforts to restore democracy to the nuclear-armed U.S. ally into turmoil.

Bhutto gave a political speech Thursday in Rawalpindi to thousands of supporters in her campaign for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections. She was shot in the neck and chest as she stood in the sunroof of her vehicle to greet supporters while leaving the rally. A suicide bomber then blew himself up, killing 20 other people, witnesses said.

"Ms. Bhutto came back from a very comfortable life abroad. She came back to fight these forces of extremism," said a tearful and distraught Farah Ispahani, part of Bhutto's political team. "She came back for this country. She was a real daughter of the soil of Pakistan."

"I hope she's remembered as the greatest daughter this country has ever produced and the first woman prime minister ever elected in the Muslim world," Ispahani said through tears.

FOOTNOTE: A very brave woman in the midst of turmoil. What a terrible, senseless loss.

Happy New Year Challenge

For Christmas, I received the Nike+ sensor to help track the distance I walk / run. It's a neat little device that fits in your shoe. It connects to your iPod and you have the option of listening to music or a voice telling you how you are doing as you run. When you return home, all you have to do is download the information from your iPod to your computer. This was my first walk trying it out and I am very impressed with it.

Happy Holidays

Wishing each and every one a very Merry Christmas. May you have peace, joy and love in your life. Remembering my Mom and Dad at Christmas and all the many joyous times spent with them makes my heart happy and sad at the same time. Christmas is an emotional time of year for some. I know it is for me. Remember to take time to say "I Love You"... take time to say "I Care".

FOOTNOTE: To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

**** Winter Solstice ****

It's the official 'first day of winter'. With temperatures in the upper 60's here in the south, it's hard to get in the holiday spirit. I lived in Virginia for 17 years before moving back home and I have to say that I truly miss the snow. We don't get much snow here. It isn't unusual to be able to wear shorts and a tee shirt on Christmas. Hopefully, this year will be different. We won't have a white Christmas but at least there is a chill in the air.
So.....Happy Winter !

FOOTNOTE:

Lead Or Get Out Of The Way

In 2002, we took the president's word and voted to go to war on faulty
intelligence. What if we took his word again--and found, next year or
the year after, that we had blindly legalized grave crimes?

If this disastrous war has taught us anything, it is that the Senate
must never again stack such a momentous decision on such a weak
foundation of fact. The decision we're asked to make today is not, of
course, as immense. But between fact and decision, the disproportion
is just as huge.

So I rise in determined opposition to this unprecedented immunity and
all that it represents. I have served in this body for more than a
quarter-century. I have spoken from this desk hundreds and hundreds of
times. I have rarely come to the floor with such anger.

But since I came to Washington, I have seen six presidents sit in the
White House--and I have never seen a contempt for the rule of law equal
to this. Today I have reached a breaking point. Today my disgust has
found its limit.

I don't expect every one of my colleagues to share that disgust, or
that limit. I wish they did--but had that been the case, we would never
have come to this point.

I only ask them to believe me when I say if I did not speak today, my
conscience would not let me rest.

.....Chris Dodd: Ready to filibuster the FISA renewal containing
retroactive immunity for the Telecommunication Companies that let the
government listen in to our conversations without warrants.

Bill tabled. Congratulations!

FOOTNOTE: And the FCC goes on its merry way.

Freezing......Fog?

From a friend in Lockport, Illinois:

...FREEZING FOG ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CST /8 AM EST/ THURSDAY...

THE FREEZING FOG ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CST /8 AM EST/
THURSDAY.

DENSE FREEZING FOG WILL PERSIST OVERNIGHT. THE VISIBILITY MAY DROP TO
ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS. THE FOG DROPS MAY FREEZE ON SURFACES
CAUSING MINOR ICE ACCUMULATION ON ROADS AND ELEVATED BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

A FREEZING FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING...SLOW DOWN... USE YOUR
HEADLIGHTS...AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU. ALSO...BE ALERT
FOR FROST ON BRIDGE DECKS CAUSING SLIPPERY ROADS.

GOOG 411

How Much Easier Can It Get ?

Dear Mr. President

Rosie and Janette

JaHeRo is a nickname for the morning video blogs posted by Rosie O'Donnell on her website during part of her tenure on The View. O'Donnell, her producer Janette Barber, and her makeup artist Helene Macaulay created unscripted video blogs Monday through Thursday prior to taping, during which they answered user-submitted questions. They became an instant hit with Rosie's bloggers. Since Rosie's departure from The View, we haven't seen much of JaHeRo. Even though we all loved their banter back and forth....the JaHeRo talkies don't have the same dynamics as they once had. Today, JaRo made a little talky blog entry. Helene will join them at a later date for a long awaited get together of the threesome. Apparently Rosie, Janette and Bobby are going to do a CraftyU video for the fans. This should prove to be a ton of fun. Be sure to check it out on Rosie's blog.

Rosie - Blogger's Choice Award

Rosie O'Donnell finally received her Blogger's Choice Awards package in the mail. The package contained T-shirts, koozies, mouse pads, a very large pen and of course....the trophy. As promised on her blog, she made a video of her acceptance speech. In the video, she says will not autograph this trophy for auctioning off for charity....because it means so much to her. She has officially been recognized for all her creativity and hard work regarding her blog. Keep up the good work Rosie. We voted for you and will continue to support you.

Rosie's Craft House

A peek inside Rosie O'Donnell's craft 'house'. Everyone needs a place where they can create. Rosie just happens to have an entire house devoted to her love of art and crafts. Can you imagine what it would be like to have that much space to do whatever you wanted to? You wouldn't have to be concerned with making a mess, getting paint on something that shouldn't be painted, or having someone tell you to 'put that away'. How very cool of Rosie to share a little bit of her world with the rest of us. Thank you Rosie. We look forward to more CraftyU videos.


Update: Second photo...inside her Craft 'house'
in Miami.

Rosie and Kelli O'Donnell - Happy 10th Anniversary

Kelli and Rosie O'Donnell are taking some time to be together in Miami, Florida to celebrate ten years together. As you all know, they flew to San Francisco on February 26, 2004 and were married. Rosie commented that President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages inspired her to come to San Francisco....where city officials continue to perform same-sex weddings. She further stated: "I think the actions of the president are, in my opinion, the most vile and hateful words ever spoken by a sitting president. I am stunned and I'm horrified."
Congratulations Rosie and Kelli...a 10 year milestone!

The Many Shades of Rosie

Rosie O'Donnell has never really been the type to shy away from the spot light. Always funny, sometimes frank, the popular star quietly works unbelievable wonders helping low-income children to flourish and grow.

Her very impressive resumé includes stand-up comic, television, film star, theater, and best selling author. She has been in the spotlight for being a strong woman known to speak out and stand up for her beliefs...most notably, issues regarding gay rights and the war in Iraq. However, there is a softer side to Rosie O'Donnell...the one that's dedicated to helping children in need. Rosie's For All Kids foundation has given more than $26 million in grants to various child related programs. Her foundation has overseen the building of 27 Cutie Patootie® daycare centers for low income areas througout the United States. It has also spent $3million aiding Gulf Coast families after Hurricane Katrina and funded Rosie's Broadway Kids...a non profit program that brings music and theater to New York public schools. Without her program, these kids would have no exposure to the arts.
She is to be commended for all she so selflessly gives.

Elf Yourself

'Tis weeks before Christmas
And all over the world
People are giving
Elfing a whirl.
Watch these three nuts
Dance for you
Who will be next?
I haven't a clue.

Click here to watch.

Dancing With The Stars

There was speculation that Marie Osmond had staged her fainting spell in order to secure votes from devoted fans. Mel Brown, of the Spice Girls, was criticized for having prior dance training. She and her partner Maksim Chmerkovsky delivered flawless ball room dances time and again.
But, in the end, it was Helio Castroneves who waltzed away with the big tacky silver trophy ball.
There are now rumors of an off stage romance between Helio and his dance partner, Julianne Hough. Only hours after the finale aired, he confirmed his break up with fiancé, Alette Vazquez.

Tis The Season

It's that time of year again. I received my first official 'you've been hit by a snowball' email....so, let the games begin. As a little jump start on the Season....Rosie has been scrooged. Just click here to watch her dance. Looks kinda weird but still...funny.

Happy Thanksgiving

As we gather around the Thanksgiving table, let us all remember to be thankful for the little things in life.

New Look For Rosie's Blog

Change is inevitable. And so it is with Rosie's blog...a new look. There have been lots of people who have complained about the changes. Some say it's too hard to navigate. Others just plain don't like it. I think it suits Rosie. There are some new features....A 'Crafty U' section....Lots of blogger photos. It has the cutting edge design of a remote control on the right side. Everything is still there people. There's even a 'search' button...She's made it fun to take a look at whatever you want to look up. Give it a chance and see how you like it.
Sent out in her newsletter:
r blog
a place
where u can find me
and
i can find u
where i want 2 b

today
rosie.com
still me and u
on a nice nu canvas
more color
texture
and stuff

we heard u
yes u

more 2 c
art
picks
photos
videos
& crafts too

and don’t forget 2
visit the shop
nu merch
love tees finally
peace 4 all--even baby sizes
my art on a poster

so check out rosie.com
then share ur thoughts
we'll b here

peace

rosie

Rosie's Speech At Hunter College

Rosie's Next Book Signing

Will there be another book signing any time soon?
One of Rosie's fans asked this question in the Celebrity Detox section of her blog as posted below:

sharon writes:

do u have any more book signings lined up

after the holidays

I'm waiting for her to come a little closer to South Carolina to get mine signed. I heard a rumor that she might be coming to Atlanta. That's close enough for me.
Check back for more details. I'm sure there will be many more signings.

Nip / Tuck

On Tuesday November 20, 2007....Rosie O'Donnell will reprise her season 4 role as lottery winner 'Dawn Budge'. Be sure to tune in to FXNetwork for what is described as a series of unfortunate incidents for Dawn Budge....leaving her in need of cosmetic surgery to repair some 'facial disfigurements'. If you are a Rosie fan...this is a chance to see her amazing work on television again.

A Tribute To Martha Kostyra

Martha Kostyra

September 16th, 1914 - November 16th, 2007

As posted on her blog, Martha Stewart's mother, affectionately known as 'Big Martha', has passed at the age of 93. Our condolences to Martha and her family. Martha Kostyra was frequently seen on Martha's television program. Such a delightful lady, she often joked that she taught Martha everything she knows. She will truly be missed.

Rosie Wins Bloggers Choice Award

It's no surprise that she has been voted 'Best Celebrity Blogger'. She continues to be outspoken in her beliefs and challenges everyone to read, question and learn. One of her most famous lines is..."If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention." I couldn't agree more, Rosie.

As posted on her blog today:

Posted by ro on November 17th at 1:45pm

i have won the bloggers choice award
this thrills me 2 no end
ya see this blog thing
is the future

ya got something to say
to show
to give away
do it

its an amazing medium
2 work in
here and now
real not perfect

it is freedom
creating in cyberville
blast some music
move - make something

thanks 4 getting it
when the trophy arrives
i will do a talky acceptance speech
as if it were an oscar

2 me - it is
same same same
peace out peeps
off to find shady

only love

Animator vs. Animation

This is the neatest thing I have seen in a long time. An animator faces his own animation in deadly combat. The battlefield? The Flash interface itself.
A stick figure is created by an animator with the intent to torture. The stick figure drawn by the animator will be using everything he can find - the brush tool, the eraser tool - to get back at his tormentor. It's resourcefulness versus power. Who will win? You can find out yourself.
Check out the animation here.
Alan Becker, the creator, spent three months perfecting this.

Etch A Sketch

Brings back a lot of childhood memories. I remember being fascinated with my first Etch A Sketch. Spending many hours, meticulously creating my masterpiece was not unusual. Then, I encountered my first experience with 'delete'....I accidentally turned it over and all my hard work disappeared.

This online thing is cool as well... the lines are almost as hard to match up though.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

My Baby

She is a toy poodle. An old, faithful friend. She was 14 years old in July. I'm not really sure when her real birthday is but we celebrate it on July 4th. She was a rescue pet. My son adopted her when her owner wanted to have her put to sleep because her hind knee caps are inverted and therefore she was not 'show dog' material. How sad to know there are people in the world who would dispose of an animal as if it were yesterdays newspaper and never give it another thought. She is such a sweetheart. Temperamental and spoiled rotten. She gets upset when she smells 'people food' and you don't offer her a taste of whatever it is. Forget about any kind of doggie treats. Her favorite treats are Doritos, a slice of cheese or ice cream. I'm afraid she won't be around very much longer. She used to be solid black. Now she's beginning to show signs of aging. Her coat is turning gray and she's lost many of her teeth. I don't think she can see as well as she once did but her hearing is still very good. She has arthritis in her hind legs and sometimes she hops around on three legs. She used to like to go outside and run. Now, all she does is walk around for a few minutes and then wants to come back inside and lay in her bed. She needs to have her legs massaged daily and I do that for her. I tell myself that if/when something happens to her, I won't have another pet. That's probably not true. I love animals and this pet has been such a joy.

Rosie and Marion

What a shame that programs such as Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood only show snippets of 'their' spin on Rosie O'Donnell. This little video shows what a loving person she really is. Makes me smile too, Kelly.

Rachel Ray Overkill

Oprah Blunders of 2007

Hitting the #11 spot of Top Blunders is none other than Oprah's wonderkid, Rachel Ray.

You can't walk down the isle of your favorite supermarket without seeing Rachel Ray's face plastered on the side of cracker boxes....among other items.

But, with all the deals comes a lot of backlash. Most people can't tolerate the perky self proclaimed chef, who was called a "bobblehead" by Travel Channel personality Anthony Bouradin.

I, personally, like Rachael Ray. She is so full of energy and seems to be down to earth. Perhaps those who can't stand her are a tad jealous of her huge success.

My Kid Painted This

No, he wasn't 4 years old, he was 14. This was his first attempt at oil on canvas. I tried to encourage him to continue with his painting however, he found his niche in photography. It is his dream to become a professional photographer. I think he has talent in both areas. Had he devoted himself to the canvas, I believe he could have produced some great pieces. But, I'm his mother, so I suppose my opinion is biased. Encourage your children to pursue their passion....even when they take a decidedly different path than what you might hope for them.

Deal Or No Deal ?

As Rosie posted on her blog

msnbc
one hour
live
following keith olbermann

we were close to a deal
almost done
i let it slip in miami
causing panic on the studio end

well
what can u do

2day there is no deal
poof
my career as a pundit is over
b4 it began

just as well
i figure
everything happens for a reason
bashert - as we say

and on we go

Rumor has it that msnbc wanted Ms. O'Donnell to sign a two year contract. She only wanted a one year contract. It would seem that msnbc would have given her the opportunity to find out if the show was a good fit for her/them.

I can't say that I am happy about this. Even though Rosie is OK with it, her fans are just a tad bit disappointed. She has a huge fan base, many of whom travel great distances for a chance to meet her at a book signing and have their photo taken with her. She spreads yellow to all and Rosie...we send it back to you.

Tinnitus Habituation

Do you suffer from Tinnitus, the constant ringing in one or both of your ears?
I have found these suggestions helpful in dealing with the noise in my left ear.

1. Visit your ENT. Excluding Tinnitus caused by an acoustic neuroma at least
brings some peace of mind. When your ENT says "learn to live with it"
take him/her seriously.

2. Accept your situation and commit yourself to doing just what the ENT
has told you. You may need some help but the vast majority of those with Tinnitus
will successfully adjust. Yes, this may take a year or more but remember...
there is a strong likelihood you will succeed on your own.

3. Explain your situation to those with whom you live and work. It is
likely your Tinnitus will affect your ability to discriminate between multiple
sources of sound. This is not to say your ability to hear soft sounds has
been diminished but rather that your ability to hear one conversation
while another it taking place nearby may be. It sure helps if they are
patient with you as you try to understand them in a noisy environment.

4. You all know how important it is to avoid loud sounds. During the
habituation period, it is probably more important to avoid silence.

5. When you are interested in something else, and not concentrating on
your Tinnitus, notice that you are able to ignore it for that period. I think it
important that the noise level you choose to mask your tinnitus otherwise
distracts you.

6. Try using a sound machine. I have a Brookstone Tranquil Moments Sound Therapy System on my nightstand. It has 12 different relaxing sounds that will lull you to sleep. I prefer the sound of ocean waves. After about 10 minutes of listening to it I am in never-never land. Some people find the sound of a radio station, at a low volume, will help to take their mind off the Tinnitus.

Learn as much about your condition as you can, at least enough to know
that there is no cure. Since it won't kill you, it's important to learn to live with it.
Forget about herbal remedies, acupuncture, hypnosis, candles, massage and the rest of the crap out there. Avoid ototoxic drugs.
Just do the six simple things outlined above and be patient. You
will enjoy absolute silence again some day.
*Contributing Editor: Bill Gerrells

Abuse Scandal

After all the good Oprah Winfrey has done for the girls of Johannesburg, South Africa, it has been discovered that a dormitory parent (a person in a 'trusted position') has been accused of abuse. Ms. Winfrey calls it the most devastating experience of her life. What has the world come to? We can only hope that these girls will receive proper counseling and that justice will be served. Ms. Winfrey opened the school in January. Our thoughts and prayers are with the girls. Not only those who suffered abuse at the hands of the accused, but for all the girls.

My New Camera

I can't wait to start taking photos with my new camera. Now, if I can just figure out all the settings on it! For now, I suppose 'auto' will have to do. Too many settings....too confusing!

Child Prodigy....You Decide

Marla Olmstead

There has been much controversy over this tiny tot. She made her first abstract painting while still in diapers and not quite 2 years old. Her big break came when she was 3 and a family friend hung one of her paintings in a coffee shop. By the age of 4 she had her first solo art exhibit. A media feeding frenzy followed, referring to her as a "budding Picasso," a "pint-sized Pollock." In a very short time, this 5 year old has sky rocketed from total obscurity to international acclaim. Her paintings have garnered upwards of $300,000. Some selling for $25,000 each. Yet, the question on everyone's mind is, did she produce the paintings completely on her own or did her father help her? I truly hope she is the real deal. Can you imagine what her artistic talent will be like as she matures? She has already been likened to the great masters of art. A documentary, My Kid Could Paint That
has been released to dispel any doubts. What do you think? Is she talented beyond her years or has she been the victim of parents who want to capitalize on a con game?

Wake Up America

When will we say....Enough Already?
The United States needs a timetable for the withdrawal of the majority of its conventional combat troops from Iraq. For starters, Congress can hold the Bush administration accountable for its many failures on Iraq, from lack of knowledge of the country to its faulty plan to its denial of reality. We all hear about the number of casualties and yet we don't quite comprehend the magnitude of the deaths. What will it take? Perhaps this will open your eyes.

Celebrity Detox

My favorite read, Celebrity Detox, is quickly rising on the
best seller list. If you are a fan of Rosie O'Donnell, be sure
to check out her latest book. You can order it here.
It has been a long time dream of mine to connect with Rosie.
The closest I have come is having her respond to 2 of my posts on her blog. I won't give up. I believe in the theory of Six Degrees of Separation and the power of positive thinking.

SAW IV
Saw IV is nothing like it's prequel, Saw III. It doesn't have a lot of random and somewhat pointless violence like Saw III, it makes you think and had a good twist which Saw III also lacked. If you go to see Saw IV expecting an average, overly violent, torture porn horror film, I guarantee you will hate this movie. Much like the first "Saw" film, you will be pondering over the final twist for hours.
Overall, it's a decent horror flick. Entertaining, with a rather solid script. Keeps you in interested with the usual bloody 'SAW' special effects. I thought it was a little too far fetched in some areas.