The Dahn Report Catchall Contest starts in less than twenty-fours hours. You are eligible to enter the contest if you have ever posted a comment on The Dahn Report since its inception in December of 2007. If you have never posted a comment here you can still participate in the contest by posting a comment anywhere on The Dahn Report before 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time on August 1, 2009. First place in the contest wins a fifty dollar gift card, second place wins a twenty-five dollar gift card. You can choose your gift card from several offered. For the official rules of the contest and to see your choice of gift cards go here:
http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2009/07/just-one-week-to-go-before-contest.html
I am postponing Update Day until Saturday or Sunday. I think DR is going to need us more then. Today is her last day with her Mom before her Mom moves to Arizona. That makes me think she will have more time and more to share then!
Today there is no trivia. You all need to get your game faces on for the contest starting tomorrow. It won’t be easy. Before talking about Top Chef Masters just some comments. I didn’t go to the comedy class this week because of the heat. At 7 the night of the comedy class it was 107. You just cannot imagine the difference in the heat and the body’s reactions to the heat when it is 107 instead of when it is 95. At 107 walking to your car you can dehydrate. Even though the car is air conditioned it is still hotter in the car than normal. It just didn't seem very smart to go out under those circumstances. Thank God it cooled down to 95 yesterday and 90 today.
The punch lines for yesterday? What is a computers first sign of age? Loss of memory. What is an astronaut’s favorite place on the computer? The space bar. What does a baby computer call his father? Data. What happened when the computer fell on the floor? A slipped disk. Or Pat’s answer, it crashed. The answer to the trivia questions? What company is credited with having the first successful computer with a mouse attached? Xerox but then Apple took to a new level. Which company is credited with the first laptop? Radio Shack was the company. The individual who invented the laptop was Adam Osborne. What does JPEG stand for? Joint Photo Graph Expert group.
This week’s Top Chef Masters started the championship round. The show started out with twenty-four chefs and now is down to six. The six are as follows:
Oprah’s personal chef Art Smith
America’s most noted Mexican chef Rick Bayless
Hubert Keller award winning virtuoso of both classic French cuisine and healthy cooking.
Asian fusion chef savant Anita Lo
Author and master of Italian cooking, Michael Chiarello.
Suzanne Tracht creator of the modern steakhouse.
The things I learned about life on Top Chef Masters this week was to respect your competition, be on time but don’t be too early, and it is hard to improve upon certain things.
The elimination challenge this week was to recreate the signature dish of a competing chef. That would be like an artist repainting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Art Smith had to create Suzanne Tracht’s signature dish and visa versa. Michael Chiarello had to recreate the signature dish of Rick Bayless and visa versa. Hubert Keller had to recreate the signature dish of Anita Lo and visa versa. The diners that would be judging the dishes were former Top Chef Masters contestants.
The winner of the week was Anita Lo’s lobster and truffle cappuccino with 24 stars, A close second was Rick Bayless with 23 stars. Hubert Keller was a little farther behind with 21 ½ stars. Michael finished fourth with 18 ½ stars. Art barely survived to live another week with 15 stars. Eliminated because she finished to early with her dish and the cold plate failed to impress either the judges or the diners, scoring just 14 ½ stars. Suzanne was sent packing.
I really liked Michael better this week, the sappy story about his mom won me over. I was glad a woman won this week however I am rooting for Hubert to win the prize. He won me over when he cooked the pasta in the shower. A little offbeat, being a little offbeat I can relate to him.
Hope this day brings you joy and happiness. What’s is cooking today? Are you ready for the contest tomorrow? Expect any surprises in the contest? Newbies don't be shy post a comment and give the contest a shot! The winner of the last contest was a first time poster!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Art Of Communication
The blue reflectors along sides of the streets are called “Zot Dots” and named after a California Highway Patrolman that invented them. Every time you see one of those blue reflectors on the street you will see a fire hydrant. The reflectors are there to help the fire department find the fire hydrants.
Today is computer trivia. What company is credited with having the first successful computer with a mouse attached? Which company is credited with the first laptop? What does JPEG stand for? The next set of questions are bonus questions and aren’t trivia. What I am looking for in the following questions is punch lines not correct answers. What is an astronaut’s favorite place on the computer? What is a computer’s first sign of age? What does a baby computer call his father? What happened when the computer fell on the floor?
I seriously considered calling the post today “Justifiable Homicide,” However, I took some nice pills this morning so instead of the jugular today I am going for how a class that I took years ago relates to the comedy class I take now and how the two classes relate to an incident at a dinner out with mom, sis, brother-in-law and moi. For the time being I will ignore that it was insinuated at best that I almost killed Mom and at worst almost sent her to the hospital but because quick actions were taken I was saved from the guilt. For the time being I will ignore that had I said something similar to the relative in question it might be sometime after the year 2200 that I would be spoken to again. For the time being that I will ignore that when I apologized to mom for my apparent downfall (I always apologize, even if I don’t think I am at fault just to keep the peace) I learned she had fallen twice in the last twelve days because a relative wouldn’t listen to the struggles she had with things like rises in the pavement. Nope I am going to ignore that and talk about effective communication today.
I’ve been recalling lately a class that I took in college titled “The Art Of Communication.” It was a required class so that I could get my minor in psychology. The basic theme of the class is that we are all to anal when it comes to correct grammar. That the purpose of communication is that the person that you are talking to receives the message that you are sending. The message being received correctly is more important than how it is sent. That what happens often in communication is the message is changed in the middle of the stream by someone correcting your grammar or interrupting you. Combine that with last week’s lesson from the comedy class about agreeing with your stage partner and it made for an interesting take on that dinner out that I mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Mom was catching me up on her trip Utah. I have a relative that corrects everything everyone says and disputes everything you say. If you say blue, that person says yellow. Here are couple of examples:
Mom: “I told Ty my oranges on the bus story and he thought it was so funny that he told it to his dad..”
Said Relative: “He didn’t tell it to his dad he told it to his mother.”
Mom: “He told me he told it to his dad.”
What was the message Mom was trying to send me? She was sharing a story that she told Ty to let me know how well her and Ty related to each other. But it the middle of the stream the message was changed to something so immaterial as to who Ty passed the story on to. What could have been a fun moment between a son and a mom now became memorable only because of an argument. Instead of remembering how well Mom and Ty related I will remember how well the relative and my mom didn’t.
Later on I was sharing some of the things that I did while Mom was in Utah. I was telling Mom how fun the comedy class was and how much I learned from the scenes where you had to agree with whatever your stage partner said.
Me: “Yes, Mom. I really enjoyed the class. The thing that was so fun about that if you agreed with everything you partner said eventually the scene turned into very fun self-depreciating humor.”
Said Relative: “You mean defecating humor”
Me. “Self-depreciating.”
I was trying to share a story with Mom to let her know I had fun and learned something valuable. Instead of remembering that message I will remember being corrected and how much I really wanted to respond with the sarcastic “I don’t think I meant self-shitting humor.” What could have been a memorable moment of sharing was turned into a not so memorable biting of the tongue.
So do you have any problem relatives? Does it bother you when people correct your story or grammar and change the message you are trying to send? Am I making to much out of it?
Today is computer trivia. What company is credited with having the first successful computer with a mouse attached? Which company is credited with the first laptop? What does JPEG stand for? The next set of questions are bonus questions and aren’t trivia. What I am looking for in the following questions is punch lines not correct answers. What is an astronaut’s favorite place on the computer? What is a computer’s first sign of age? What does a baby computer call his father? What happened when the computer fell on the floor?
I seriously considered calling the post today “Justifiable Homicide,” However, I took some nice pills this morning so instead of the jugular today I am going for how a class that I took years ago relates to the comedy class I take now and how the two classes relate to an incident at a dinner out with mom, sis, brother-in-law and moi. For the time being I will ignore that it was insinuated at best that I almost killed Mom and at worst almost sent her to the hospital but because quick actions were taken I was saved from the guilt. For the time being I will ignore that had I said something similar to the relative in question it might be sometime after the year 2200 that I would be spoken to again. For the time being that I will ignore that when I apologized to mom for my apparent downfall (I always apologize, even if I don’t think I am at fault just to keep the peace) I learned she had fallen twice in the last twelve days because a relative wouldn’t listen to the struggles she had with things like rises in the pavement. Nope I am going to ignore that and talk about effective communication today.
I’ve been recalling lately a class that I took in college titled “The Art Of Communication.” It was a required class so that I could get my minor in psychology. The basic theme of the class is that we are all to anal when it comes to correct grammar. That the purpose of communication is that the person that you are talking to receives the message that you are sending. The message being received correctly is more important than how it is sent. That what happens often in communication is the message is changed in the middle of the stream by someone correcting your grammar or interrupting you. Combine that with last week’s lesson from the comedy class about agreeing with your stage partner and it made for an interesting take on that dinner out that I mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Mom was catching me up on her trip Utah. I have a relative that corrects everything everyone says and disputes everything you say. If you say blue, that person says yellow. Here are couple of examples:
Mom: “I told Ty my oranges on the bus story and he thought it was so funny that he told it to his dad..”
Said Relative: “He didn’t tell it to his dad he told it to his mother.”
Mom: “He told me he told it to his dad.”
What was the message Mom was trying to send me? She was sharing a story that she told Ty to let me know how well her and Ty related to each other. But it the middle of the stream the message was changed to something so immaterial as to who Ty passed the story on to. What could have been a fun moment between a son and a mom now became memorable only because of an argument. Instead of remembering how well Mom and Ty related I will remember how well the relative and my mom didn’t.
Later on I was sharing some of the things that I did while Mom was in Utah. I was telling Mom how fun the comedy class was and how much I learned from the scenes where you had to agree with whatever your stage partner said.
Me: “Yes, Mom. I really enjoyed the class. The thing that was so fun about that if you agreed with everything you partner said eventually the scene turned into very fun self-depreciating humor.”
Said Relative: “You mean defecating humor”
Me. “Self-depreciating.”
I was trying to share a story with Mom to let her know I had fun and learned something valuable. Instead of remembering that message I will remember being corrected and how much I really wanted to respond with the sarcastic “I don’t think I meant self-shitting humor.” What could have been a memorable moment of sharing was turned into a not so memorable biting of the tongue.
So do you have any problem relatives? Does it bother you when people correct your story or grammar and change the message you are trying to send? Am I making to much out of it?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I'm Hot
This is truly one time when I can say that I am hot and actually be telling the truth. The all time record for high temperatures in the Portland area is 107. It was 106 yesterday. Today it is predicted to either tie the all time high or break it. Yesterday the lowest the temperature got was 74. That tied the all time record for the highest low temperature of any day in the history of Portland. Today the highest is predicted to be 107, the lowest 75. Tomorrow 102/75. Friday 98/72. In the paper next to each day's temperature is the notation "very hot." No kidding. Saturday it is 92/67 and the notation changed to "hot." This is the longest stretch in the history of our city that we have had over four consecutive days with temperatures in the triple digits. I'm going to suggest that if anyone of you have close relatives or friends in the Portland area that you call and check up on them. Different people react to high temperatures in different ways. I just think it would be nice to make sure they are handling the heat.
The heat has kind of fried my brain so there won't be a long post today. Just a short one. Depending on how I feel tomorrow, there may be a post titled "Justifiable Homicide." Family dynamics and all.
The answers to yesterday's word scamble:
DESPERATION - A Rope ends it.
THE EYES - They see.
GEORGE BUSH - He Bugs Gore.
THE MORSE CODE- Here come dots.
SLOT MACHINES - Cash lost in me.
Today just one question. On most streets every so often you will see blue reflectors on the road. They will either be near the center lane or like in Oregon all the way to the side of the street. What do these blue reflectors indicate?
Stay cool! Any suggestions on how to handle the heat?
THREE MORE DAYS TO POST A COMMENT ON THE DAHN REPORT SO YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST STARTING 7 AM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME AUGUST 1, 2009 AND MAYBE WIN A $50 GIFT CARD!
The heat has kind of fried my brain so there won't be a long post today. Just a short one. Depending on how I feel tomorrow, there may be a post titled "Justifiable Homicide." Family dynamics and all.
The answers to yesterday's word scamble:
DESPERATION - A Rope ends it.
THE EYES - They see.
GEORGE BUSH - He Bugs Gore.
THE MORSE CODE- Here come dots.
SLOT MACHINES - Cash lost in me.
Today just one question. On most streets every so often you will see blue reflectors on the road. They will either be near the center lane or like in Oregon all the way to the side of the street. What do these blue reflectors indicate?
Stay cool! Any suggestions on how to handle the heat?
THREE MORE DAYS TO POST A COMMENT ON THE DAHN REPORT SO YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST STARTING 7 AM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME AUGUST 1, 2009 AND MAYBE WIN A $50 GIFT CARD!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Heat Wave, Pictures From DR, & I Made A Woman Cry.
The answer to yesterday's who am I was Bob Crane.
We have been having a heat wave in Portland with temperatures yesterday hitting 103, today a predicted 105, tomorrow a predicted 105, and then cooling down to 98 on Thursday. This is really unusual for Portland. Usually we have nine days a year over 90, we are already at fourteen or fifteen. I’m avoiding coffee during the heat wave (caffeine dehydrates you), drinking a lot of water, and sleeping downstairs. Even though I have air conditioning heat rises and it is usually hotter upstairs then downstairs.
If you remember DR’s mother is moving to Arizona on August 1. DR has been making her a shawl. It is an absolutely beautiful shawl. The two pictures following are of DR’s Mom and then the second picture is of the handmade shawl. Remember to enlarge the pictures just click them on. Isn't DR talented?
I don’t know what is more beautiful the shawl or DR’s Mom.
Well, I made a woman cry last week. But I think it was a good thing. Remember there is a checker at the grocery store Mom and I go to that just treats Mom with a tremendous amount of respect. She is always giving us free stuff. I wanted to show here how much I appreciated how she treated us and thank her for it. One time when I went into the store the clerk told me she loved green earrings. Kaye that reads here and posts sometimes makes jewelry. I bought two pairs of earrings from Kaye. I bought a thank you card and wrote “just wanted to thank you for your always cheerful nature, the tremendous respect you show my mom, and how nice you always treat me.” When I went in the store and gave her the earrings, she read the card, tried the earrings on and cried. She said she had been a checker for over twenty years and nobody ever did anything like that for her. I was so pleased that she loved the earrings and so grateful for Kaye for her amazing talent in making the earrings! The pictures of the earrings follow:
Today we are going to do word scramble. I give you a word or phrase and you rearrange the letters in word or phrase to form a phrase that relates to that word or phrase. Although I have a guide for the answers there really is no right answers. A couple examples:
DORMITORY letters rearranged Dirty Room
PRESBYTERIAN letters rearranged Best In Prayer.
ASTRONOMER letters rearranged Moon Starer
OK, here goes; DESPERATION, THEY EYES, GEORGE BUSH, THE MORSE CODE, SLOT MACHINES.
Hope you stat cool today!
We have been having a heat wave in Portland with temperatures yesterday hitting 103, today a predicted 105, tomorrow a predicted 105, and then cooling down to 98 on Thursday. This is really unusual for Portland. Usually we have nine days a year over 90, we are already at fourteen or fifteen. I’m avoiding coffee during the heat wave (caffeine dehydrates you), drinking a lot of water, and sleeping downstairs. Even though I have air conditioning heat rises and it is usually hotter upstairs then downstairs.
If you remember DR’s mother is moving to Arizona on August 1. DR has been making her a shawl. It is an absolutely beautiful shawl. The two pictures following are of DR’s Mom and then the second picture is of the handmade shawl. Remember to enlarge the pictures just click them on. Isn't DR talented?
I don’t know what is more beautiful the shawl or DR’s Mom.
Well, I made a woman cry last week. But I think it was a good thing. Remember there is a checker at the grocery store Mom and I go to that just treats Mom with a tremendous amount of respect. She is always giving us free stuff. I wanted to show here how much I appreciated how she treated us and thank her for it. One time when I went into the store the clerk told me she loved green earrings. Kaye that reads here and posts sometimes makes jewelry. I bought two pairs of earrings from Kaye. I bought a thank you card and wrote “just wanted to thank you for your always cheerful nature, the tremendous respect you show my mom, and how nice you always treat me.” When I went in the store and gave her the earrings, she read the card, tried the earrings on and cried. She said she had been a checker for over twenty years and nobody ever did anything like that for her. I was so pleased that she loved the earrings and so grateful for Kaye for her amazing talent in making the earrings! The pictures of the earrings follow:
Today we are going to do word scramble. I give you a word or phrase and you rearrange the letters in word or phrase to form a phrase that relates to that word or phrase. Although I have a guide for the answers there really is no right answers. A couple examples:
DORMITORY letters rearranged Dirty Room
PRESBYTERIAN letters rearranged Best In Prayer.
ASTRONOMER letters rearranged Moon Starer
OK, here goes; DESPERATION, THEY EYES, GEORGE BUSH, THE MORSE CODE, SLOT MACHINES.
Hope you stat cool today!
Monday, July 27, 2009
500 DAYS OF SUMMER
Yesterday’s answers. Thanks to Pat’s and Connie’s research there were two numbers associated with Hitler. I was going for 888, they found that 555 was also related to him. Sides on a stop sign. 8-10 depending on you calculate it. Squares on a checkerboard. 64. Pints in a gallon. 8. Passing go on Monopoly. 200. The Devil. My brother’s post office box in his address, 666. Today’s who am I appears at the end of today’s blog entry.
In my opinion 500 Days Of Summer is this year’s Slumdog Millionaire. An independent film with fairly unknown actors and actresses that takes audiences by storm. The only thing that will keep 500 DAYS OF SUMMER from winning an Oscar is its to early release date. Historically films released late in the year have a better shot at Oscars because often the voters forget about really good films that came out earlier in the year. The synopsis from Moviefone: “This is a story of boy meets girl, begins the wry, probing narrator of '500 Days of Summer,' and with that the film takes off at breakneck speed into a funny, true-to-life and unique dissection of the unruly and unpredictable year-and-a-half of one young man's no-holds-barred love affair. Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the boy, still believes, even in this cynical modern world, in the notion of a transforming, cosmically destined, lightning-strikes-once kind of love. Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the girl, doesn't. Not at all. But that doesn't stop Tom from going after her, again and again, like a modern Don Quixote, with all his might and courage. Suddenly, Tom is in love not just with a lovely, witty, intelligent woman - not that he minds any of that - but with the very idea of Summer, the very idea of a love that still has the power to shock the heart and stop the world. “
Marvelously directed by basic unknown Marc Weber (Three Doors Down, Jesse McCarthy - Up Close), quirkily and expertly written by relative unknowns Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (both of Pink Panther II fame), and wonderfully acted by former child actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt,(Third Rock From The Sun, River Runs Through It), the beautiful daughter of Oscar nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous) and a great supporting performance by Geoffrey Arend (Killing Zelda Sparks).
There was a lot to like about this movie. Its real take on a love affair. Its true to life ending. The cinematography. The amazing off the charts musical soundtrack. But my favorite was a split screen scene where Tom is going to reconnect with Summer and on one side of the screen is how he is expecting the meeting to go, on the other side of the screen is how the meeting really went. Inventive and right on.
Two footballs for the music. One football each for Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschannel. And Geoffrey Arend. One football for the cinematography. A minus one football for to much drinking in the movie. Total five footballs.
Today’s Trivia:
On a late night in 1978 I was murdered. I was discovered bludgeoned to death with a weapon that was never found (but was believed to be a camera tripod). Although one suspect was tried and acquitted, my murder remains unsolved. Born July 13, 1928. I went on to become an American disc jockey and Emmy Award-nominated actor. I dropped out of high school in 1946 and became a drummer, performing with dance bands and a symphony orchestra. That same year I enlisted in the Army Reserve. I was a colonel and a hero on TV if not in the army. My acting ambitions led to my subbing for Johnny Carson on the daytime game show Who Do You Trust? and appearances on The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and General Electric Theater. I went on to star in a TV series from 1965 to 1971, a series that finished in the top ten in ratings its first year on air. Greg Kinnear played me in a movie about my life and murder. Who Am I?
Do you believe like Tom from 500 DAYS OF SUMMER that you aren’t complete until you find the one? Or do you believe like Summer from the movie, that true love doesn’t exist? Or are you somewhere in the middle?
FIVE DAYS UNTIL THE CONTEST STARTS, POST A COMMENT BEFORE THE CONTEST STARTS YOU CAN BE AN ENTRANT!!
In my opinion 500 Days Of Summer is this year’s Slumdog Millionaire. An independent film with fairly unknown actors and actresses that takes audiences by storm. The only thing that will keep 500 DAYS OF SUMMER from winning an Oscar is its to early release date. Historically films released late in the year have a better shot at Oscars because often the voters forget about really good films that came out earlier in the year. The synopsis from Moviefone: “This is a story of boy meets girl, begins the wry, probing narrator of '500 Days of Summer,' and with that the film takes off at breakneck speed into a funny, true-to-life and unique dissection of the unruly and unpredictable year-and-a-half of one young man's no-holds-barred love affair. Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the boy, still believes, even in this cynical modern world, in the notion of a transforming, cosmically destined, lightning-strikes-once kind of love. Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the girl, doesn't. Not at all. But that doesn't stop Tom from going after her, again and again, like a modern Don Quixote, with all his might and courage. Suddenly, Tom is in love not just with a lovely, witty, intelligent woman - not that he minds any of that - but with the very idea of Summer, the very idea of a love that still has the power to shock the heart and stop the world. “
Marvelously directed by basic unknown Marc Weber (Three Doors Down, Jesse McCarthy - Up Close), quirkily and expertly written by relative unknowns Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (both of Pink Panther II fame), and wonderfully acted by former child actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt,(Third Rock From The Sun, River Runs Through It), the beautiful daughter of Oscar nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous) and a great supporting performance by Geoffrey Arend (Killing Zelda Sparks).
There was a lot to like about this movie. Its real take on a love affair. Its true to life ending. The cinematography. The amazing off the charts musical soundtrack. But my favorite was a split screen scene where Tom is going to reconnect with Summer and on one side of the screen is how he is expecting the meeting to go, on the other side of the screen is how the meeting really went. Inventive and right on.
Two footballs for the music. One football each for Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschannel. And Geoffrey Arend. One football for the cinematography. A minus one football for to much drinking in the movie. Total five footballs.
Today’s Trivia:
On a late night in 1978 I was murdered. I was discovered bludgeoned to death with a weapon that was never found (but was believed to be a camera tripod). Although one suspect was tried and acquitted, my murder remains unsolved. Born July 13, 1928. I went on to become an American disc jockey and Emmy Award-nominated actor. I dropped out of high school in 1946 and became a drummer, performing with dance bands and a symphony orchestra. That same year I enlisted in the Army Reserve. I was a colonel and a hero on TV if not in the army. My acting ambitions led to my subbing for Johnny Carson on the daytime game show Who Do You Trust? and appearances on The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and General Electric Theater. I went on to star in a TV series from 1965 to 1971, a series that finished in the top ten in ratings its first year on air. Greg Kinnear played me in a movie about my life and murder. Who Am I?
Do you believe like Tom from 500 DAYS OF SUMMER that you aren’t complete until you find the one? Or do you believe like Summer from the movie, that true love doesn’t exist? Or are you somewhere in the middle?
FIVE DAYS UNTIL THE CONTEST STARTS, POST A COMMENT BEFORE THE CONTEST STARTS YOU CAN BE AN ENTRANT!!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Ugly Truth Is A Lie, The Ugly Rant Is The Truth.
Before my review of THE UGLY TRUTH and my ugly rant about the movie let's take care of blog trivia first. The answer to yesterday's questions in order were Maria Sharapova, Woody Allen & Meryl Streep. Today is a number test. I make a statement and you tell me the number. For example, Blind mice. The answer would be three. Sides on a stop sign. Squares on a checkerboard. Pints in a gallon. Passing go on Monopoly. The Devil. Hitler.
Before telling you how much I hated this movie because of its message, just the facts. The screenplay was by Nicole Eastman (new), Karen McCullah Lutz (The House Bunny, Legally Blonde) Kirsten Smith (The House Bunny, Legally Blond) and directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde). I should have read their bios before going to the movie. The movie stars (and is produced by) Katherine Heigl,Gerard Butler, Bree Turner & Eric Winter among others.
The basic plot line : Abby Richter (Heigl) is a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.
The movie did have one or two funny scenes but what I hated about this movie besides it being extremely predictable, out of sequence scenes and poor lines, was that it was a lie. The Ugly Truth Couldn’t be farther from the truth for this man. The message it sent was the exact message that allows men to act rudely, be insensitive, and get away with things because “we are men we are supposed to act this way.” The movie’s message was that men are pigs and women have to lie about who they are to get a man. And because men are pigs the best way to attract us is to push your boobs towards us.
It is this kind of ridiculous message that allows stories like the beautiful ESPN sports reporter Erin Andrews being unknowingly filmed in her hotel room and the nude photographs of her being posted on the Internet. Men get away with things like that because we are pigs so why shouldn’t we do that? The truth is the guy that took those pictures and posted them on the Internet should be castrated but as long as movies like THE UGLY TRUTH place men in that box of “all men are pigs” idiots like the jackass that violated the privacy of Erin Andrews will never suffer any consequences because they are just being men, after all. Bull.
I also hated the message of THE UGLY TRUTH because it is a difficult message (and a box hard to break out of) for a sincere man truly looking for the one, truly looking for someone to share the rest of his life with, to overcome. Women that buy into to the message that men are pigs go on first dates showing maybe to much cleavage. Then if the man doesn’t look (prefering too find out how the woman really ticks) he is placed in that box of either of being gay or heaven forbid and even worse put into the friendship material not romance material box. That is why THE UGLY TRUTH is an ugly lie. There are many men out there, me included, that would prefer you cover the cleavage for a couple of dates, talk with us, tell us what makes you laugh, tell us what makes you tick, tell us what you want from a relationship, and if we connect on a mental and higher level, trust me the physical side of the relationship that follows will be amazing and bonding.
Total Footballs for THE UGLY TRUTH. None.
End of rant. Any comments about my out of control rant? Agree? Disagree? Tomorrow a more real movie, the wonderful 500 DAYS OF SUMMER.
Before telling you how much I hated this movie because of its message, just the facts. The screenplay was by Nicole Eastman (new), Karen McCullah Lutz (The House Bunny, Legally Blonde) Kirsten Smith (The House Bunny, Legally Blond) and directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde). I should have read their bios before going to the movie. The movie stars (and is produced by) Katherine Heigl,Gerard Butler, Bree Turner & Eric Winter among others.
The basic plot line : Abby Richter (Heigl) is a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.
The movie did have one or two funny scenes but what I hated about this movie besides it being extremely predictable, out of sequence scenes and poor lines, was that it was a lie. The Ugly Truth Couldn’t be farther from the truth for this man. The message it sent was the exact message that allows men to act rudely, be insensitive, and get away with things because “we are men we are supposed to act this way.” The movie’s message was that men are pigs and women have to lie about who they are to get a man. And because men are pigs the best way to attract us is to push your boobs towards us.
It is this kind of ridiculous message that allows stories like the beautiful ESPN sports reporter Erin Andrews being unknowingly filmed in her hotel room and the nude photographs of her being posted on the Internet. Men get away with things like that because we are pigs so why shouldn’t we do that? The truth is the guy that took those pictures and posted them on the Internet should be castrated but as long as movies like THE UGLY TRUTH place men in that box of “all men are pigs” idiots like the jackass that violated the privacy of Erin Andrews will never suffer any consequences because they are just being men, after all. Bull.
I also hated the message of THE UGLY TRUTH because it is a difficult message (and a box hard to break out of) for a sincere man truly looking for the one, truly looking for someone to share the rest of his life with, to overcome. Women that buy into to the message that men are pigs go on first dates showing maybe to much cleavage. Then if the man doesn’t look (prefering too find out how the woman really ticks) he is placed in that box of either of being gay or heaven forbid and even worse put into the friendship material not romance material box. That is why THE UGLY TRUTH is an ugly lie. There are many men out there, me included, that would prefer you cover the cleavage for a couple of dates, talk with us, tell us what makes you laugh, tell us what makes you tick, tell us what you want from a relationship, and if we connect on a mental and higher level, trust me the physical side of the relationship that follows will be amazing and bonding.
Total Footballs for THE UGLY TRUTH. None.
End of rant. Any comments about my out of control rant? Agree? Disagree? Tomorrow a more real movie, the wonderful 500 DAYS OF SUMMER.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Counting Down To The Contest Start Date.
Just one week to go before a contest starts right here on The Dahn Reprt so if you have never posted a message on The Dahn Report get your buns in gear and do so by 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time on August 1, 2009 so you can enter the contest!
The contest will start on August 1, 2009 at 7 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time and will end August 5, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time. Anyone that has ever posted a comment on The Dahn Report or anyone that posts comment on The Dahn Report before August 1, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time will be an eligible participant for this contest. Eligible participants will be allowed one entry and one entry only. Because this time only one entry is allowed the ante is upped. In addition, unlike in the past, you will not be informed of the right answers until the contest ends. All entries must be emailed to williamjdahn@aol.com before the end of the contest. The winning entry will get to choose their $50 gift card from the following gift cards: Starbucks, Baja Fresh, Red Robin, Outback, Macy’s Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Home Depot. Second place will get to choose a $25 gift card from the aforementioned gift cards. The test will consist of twenty-nine questions covering BUT NOT LIMITED to trivia, who am I, where am I, what do these three things have in common, things about me posted here, and other subjects. You will not be able to Google some of the answers. Each question will have a point value placed with it, the entry with the most total points finishes first, the winner with the second most points finishes second My answers are final. While you may argue the answers the argument will fall on deaf errors and my answers are and will be the official ones. If two people tie for first there will be a coin flip, with the earliest entry getting to choose heads or tails. The loser of the coin flip will win the second prize. If more than two people tie for first Scabble playing tiles reprenting the first letter of the entrants name will be put into a bag and the winners will be drawn from the bag. The first drawn tile will be second place. The second drawn will be first place. Again, first Scrabble tile drawn will be second place. The second Scrabble tile drawn will be first place. The winner of the contest will be announced right here no later than midnight Pacific Daylight Time on August 8, 2009. POST AWAY, STUDY UP.
The answers to yesterday's stumpers:
Is it legal in California for a man in California to marry his widow’s sister? He is dead, dead people can't marry.
Some months have thirty days, how many have 28? All months have 28 days.
If there are three apples and you take away two, how many do you have? Two.
How may animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark? None Moses didn't have an Ark Noah did.
A farmer has seventeen sheep and all but nine die. How many sheep does the farmer have left? Nine.
Today's questions are some brief Who Am I's:
I was born in Siberia, Russia, on April 19, 1987. I have been playing tennis since I was four years old. I won the Wimbledon title at the age of 17. Known for having a strong backhand, I have also won the Grand Slam singles title thrice. I have been ranked among the top 10 players in the world since 2004. Towards the end of 2006, I was the highest paid woman athlete in the world. Who am I?
Born in New York City in 1935, I was christened Allan Stewart Konigsberg. I’m a film director, actor, comedian and writer. I have also dabbled in jazz music. I am best known for my films which have a mixed style of satire, wit and humour. I am also a three-time Academy Award winner and have also won several foreign film awards. Who am I?
I am an American actress and have worked in theatre, television and films. My debut performance on stage was in 1971’s The Playboy of Seville and my film debut came with Julia in 1977. I have been nominated 14 times for the Oscars and have won the Academy Award twice. I have also been nominated 21 times for the Golden Globe awards and have also won the BAFTA. Who am I?
Yesterday I went to The Ugly Truth, which was a lie, today I am going to 500 Days of Summer, and either tomorrow or Monday on the blog depending on mom responsibilities I will post a review of both movies and discuss this week's Top Chef Masters.
May this be a great today and may you always know who you are! Are you ready for the contest? What is on the agenda for you today?
The contest will start on August 1, 2009 at 7 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time and will end August 5, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time. Anyone that has ever posted a comment on The Dahn Report or anyone that posts comment on The Dahn Report before August 1, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time will be an eligible participant for this contest. Eligible participants will be allowed one entry and one entry only. Because this time only one entry is allowed the ante is upped. In addition, unlike in the past, you will not be informed of the right answers until the contest ends. All entries must be emailed to williamjdahn@aol.com before the end of the contest. The winning entry will get to choose their $50 gift card from the following gift cards: Starbucks, Baja Fresh, Red Robin, Outback, Macy’s Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Home Depot. Second place will get to choose a $25 gift card from the aforementioned gift cards. The test will consist of twenty-nine questions covering BUT NOT LIMITED to trivia, who am I, where am I, what do these three things have in common, things about me posted here, and other subjects. You will not be able to Google some of the answers. Each question will have a point value placed with it, the entry with the most total points finishes first, the winner with the second most points finishes second My answers are final. While you may argue the answers the argument will fall on deaf errors and my answers are and will be the official ones. If two people tie for first there will be a coin flip, with the earliest entry getting to choose heads or tails. The loser of the coin flip will win the second prize. If more than two people tie for first Scabble playing tiles reprenting the first letter of the entrants name will be put into a bag and the winners will be drawn from the bag. The first drawn tile will be second place. The second drawn will be first place. Again, first Scrabble tile drawn will be second place. The second Scrabble tile drawn will be first place. The winner of the contest will be announced right here no later than midnight Pacific Daylight Time on August 8, 2009. POST AWAY, STUDY UP.
The answers to yesterday's stumpers:
Is it legal in California for a man in California to marry his widow’s sister? He is dead, dead people can't marry.
Some months have thirty days, how many have 28? All months have 28 days.
If there are three apples and you take away two, how many do you have? Two.
How may animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark? None Moses didn't have an Ark Noah did.
A farmer has seventeen sheep and all but nine die. How many sheep does the farmer have left? Nine.
Today's questions are some brief Who Am I's:
I was born in Siberia, Russia, on April 19, 1987. I have been playing tennis since I was four years old. I won the Wimbledon title at the age of 17. Known for having a strong backhand, I have also won the Grand Slam singles title thrice. I have been ranked among the top 10 players in the world since 2004. Towards the end of 2006, I was the highest paid woman athlete in the world. Who am I?
Born in New York City in 1935, I was christened Allan Stewart Konigsberg. I’m a film director, actor, comedian and writer. I have also dabbled in jazz music. I am best known for my films which have a mixed style of satire, wit and humour. I am also a three-time Academy Award winner and have also won several foreign film awards. Who am I?
I am an American actress and have worked in theatre, television and films. My debut performance on stage was in 1971’s The Playboy of Seville and my film debut came with Julia in 1977. I have been nominated 14 times for the Oscars and have won the Academy Award twice. I have also been nominated 21 times for the Golden Globe awards and have also won the BAFTA. Who am I?
Yesterday I went to The Ugly Truth, which was a lie, today I am going to 500 Days of Summer, and either tomorrow or Monday on the blog depending on mom responsibilities I will post a review of both movies and discuss this week's Top Chef Masters.
May this be a great today and may you always know who you are! Are you ready for the contest? What is on the agenda for you today?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Friday! Update Day!
I read somewhere that men shouldn't use exclamation points because they are to femine. As you see in the title of today's post I didn't really pay much attention to the article.
I don’t really have any updates that I haven’t written about on a daily basis so just an update on a trial mentioned in a previous blog post. The some fun stuff for the questions of the day. But first I wanted to mention from their respective blogs that Dona is out of commission. She has a painful shoulder that she took even more painful shots for. Send her some good thoughts, prayers, vibes please. Snug is fighting credit card companies. Mary Z is on the beach watching storms come in. Connie is near Mt. Rushmore anxiously waiting the next trivia contest. They all are missed.
Today I am thinking about taking in one of two movies and then tomorrow see the other movie. I’m not sure I will get to both of them but I am going to make the effort. Today I will probably see The Ugly Truth. Tomorrow 500 Days of Summer. The later is only playing at one theater and it is downtown Portland. Fridays in downtown Portland are usually pretty busy so I’m thinking Saturday would be a better day to make that jaunt. If I go to either I will post reviews about them.
Sometime back I mentioned on a blog post about two parents that were on trial because they didn’t take their daughter to the doctor when she was ill because of their religious beliefs. Their daughter died. The D.A. charged them with manslaughter and child endangerment. Here is a link to that post:
http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2009/07/right-to-believe-right-to-parent-tates.html
The verdict came in late last night. The wife was acquitted on all charges. The husband was acquitted on all charges but one misdemeanor, which could lead to a year in jail for him. The jury was obviously conflicted taking almost five days to deliberate with at one point them telling the judge they were hopelessly deadlocked. At the point the jury told the judge they were deadlocked he sent them home and told them to come back and try again. They did and according to news reports at oregonlive.com the reason they acquitted the Worthingtons was they did think they intended to cause the child harm. You can read the news article of the acquittal here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2009/07/worthington_jury_has_reached_a.html
While I agree with most of the verdict it does bug me a bit that only the husband was found guilty of a crime. Weren't the husband and wife equally responsible for the decision to not take their daughter to the doctor?
Here is today's funstuff:
Is it legal in California for a man in California to marry his widow’s sister?
Some months have thirty days, how many have 28?
If there are three apples and you take away two, how many do you have?
How may animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?
A farmer has seventeen sheep and all but nine die. How many sheep does the farmer have left?
Good luck on the above questions. What do you think of the verdict in the Faith Healing trial? Plus it is time to update me on your life. Tell me everything and anything. Post whatever you damn well please. If you are new post a comment introducing yourself and you can participate in the trivia contest starting August 1
and maybe win a $50 or $25 gift card! The Blog is now yours!
I don’t really have any updates that I haven’t written about on a daily basis so just an update on a trial mentioned in a previous blog post. The some fun stuff for the questions of the day. But first I wanted to mention from their respective blogs that Dona is out of commission. She has a painful shoulder that she took even more painful shots for. Send her some good thoughts, prayers, vibes please. Snug is fighting credit card companies. Mary Z is on the beach watching storms come in. Connie is near Mt. Rushmore anxiously waiting the next trivia contest. They all are missed.
Today I am thinking about taking in one of two movies and then tomorrow see the other movie. I’m not sure I will get to both of them but I am going to make the effort. Today I will probably see The Ugly Truth. Tomorrow 500 Days of Summer. The later is only playing at one theater and it is downtown Portland. Fridays in downtown Portland are usually pretty busy so I’m thinking Saturday would be a better day to make that jaunt. If I go to either I will post reviews about them.
Sometime back I mentioned on a blog post about two parents that were on trial because they didn’t take their daughter to the doctor when she was ill because of their religious beliefs. Their daughter died. The D.A. charged them with manslaughter and child endangerment. Here is a link to that post:
http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2009/07/right-to-believe-right-to-parent-tates.html
The verdict came in late last night. The wife was acquitted on all charges. The husband was acquitted on all charges but one misdemeanor, which could lead to a year in jail for him. The jury was obviously conflicted taking almost five days to deliberate with at one point them telling the judge they were hopelessly deadlocked. At the point the jury told the judge they were deadlocked he sent them home and told them to come back and try again. They did and according to news reports at oregonlive.com the reason they acquitted the Worthingtons was they did think they intended to cause the child harm. You can read the news article of the acquittal here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2009/07/worthington_jury_has_reached_a.html
While I agree with most of the verdict it does bug me a bit that only the husband was found guilty of a crime. Weren't the husband and wife equally responsible for the decision to not take their daughter to the doctor?
Here is today's funstuff:
Is it legal in California for a man in California to marry his widow’s sister?
Some months have thirty days, how many have 28?
If there are three apples and you take away two, how many do you have?
How may animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?
A farmer has seventeen sheep and all but nine die. How many sheep does the farmer have left?
Good luck on the above questions. What do you think of the verdict in the Faith Healing trial? Plus it is time to update me on your life. Tell me everything and anything. Post whatever you damn well please. If you are new post a comment introducing yourself and you can participate in the trivia contest starting August 1
and maybe win a $50 or $25 gift card! The Blog is now yours!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Comedy Equals Relationships & Life
Yesterday’s differences between the pictures; 1. Sign was higher; 2.Window was different; 3. Book was larger; 4. Bush was missing; 5. Shoes were different; 6. Tree limb was missing. Today’s trivia is at the end of today’s blog entry.
Last night was my second week in a row of attending The Farm Team Comedy Sportz Class. I’m not going to talk about me on stage last night, although I did get up and participate in three skits. What I am going to talk about is some of the off stage exercises and on stage exercises. And how they could be very helpful relationship exercises. I didn’t really think about it until at the end of the class when the instructor had everyone tell what they learned in the class and one lady said “I learned relationship tools.” Thinking about that on the way home I thought she was right on. In fact so right on that I would love it if the readers and posters here would try the exercises with their spouses or significant other.
An off stage exercise that was to help you connect with your stage partner and also learn to pay attention to him or her on stage. You had to sit directly across from your partner and stare into each other’s eyes until the instructor blew the whistle. It was a good sixty to ninety seconds, which truly is a lifetime. The urge to look away is overpowering, the connection you feel with your partner at the end of the exercise is amazing.
Negativity and arguments can often kill a stage scene. Negativity and arguments can often kill a relationship. The next exercise was when someone started a stage scene was to not turn the scene into an argument. You had to agree with what the first person said in the scene. Example:
First person: You left the coffee pot on last night.
Second person: Yes, I did.
(human nature is to argue and say no, which leads to yes you did and an argument starts)
First Person: Will you turn it off tonight?
Second Person: Yes.
(human nature is to say I turned it off last night and an argument continues)
If you are in the second role it is very hard fight human nature and always agree. However, when you do not only do you avoid the argument it often turns into very funny self-depreciating humor.
Another stage exercise was “yes, and you once” or “yes, and you always”. You each had to use one of those phrases at the beginning of your sentence, without starting an argument. The subject was polyester.
Scene starts with the lady looking at the stage male partner’s pants
“Yes and you once maybe twenty years someone would think polyester was in style”
“Yes and you always told me I looked stunning in my polyester leisure suit.”
Human nature would be to respond to the first sentence with, something along the line of quit making fun of my clothes, do I have to change, or some phrase that would lead to an argument. It really was amazing how hard it was not to turn the scenes into argument but just as amazing as how the scene became funny and positive trying to avoid an argument.
Today’s trivia:
What is the gestation period of an Hippopotamus?; Which of the following inventions was the first to be patented? A: Chewing Gum, B: Dishwasher, C: Cash Register, D: Rubber Band; When the first Burger King Restaurant opened in 1954, how much did a hamburger cost?; On I Love Lucy What was the name of Fred and Ethel's dog?; On Star Trek who was originally offered the original role of Spock?
Hope you have a great day filled with laughter and sans arguments
Last night was my second week in a row of attending The Farm Team Comedy Sportz Class. I’m not going to talk about me on stage last night, although I did get up and participate in three skits. What I am going to talk about is some of the off stage exercises and on stage exercises. And how they could be very helpful relationship exercises. I didn’t really think about it until at the end of the class when the instructor had everyone tell what they learned in the class and one lady said “I learned relationship tools.” Thinking about that on the way home I thought she was right on. In fact so right on that I would love it if the readers and posters here would try the exercises with their spouses or significant other.
An off stage exercise that was to help you connect with your stage partner and also learn to pay attention to him or her on stage. You had to sit directly across from your partner and stare into each other’s eyes until the instructor blew the whistle. It was a good sixty to ninety seconds, which truly is a lifetime. The urge to look away is overpowering, the connection you feel with your partner at the end of the exercise is amazing.
Negativity and arguments can often kill a stage scene. Negativity and arguments can often kill a relationship. The next exercise was when someone started a stage scene was to not turn the scene into an argument. You had to agree with what the first person said in the scene. Example:
First person: You left the coffee pot on last night.
Second person: Yes, I did.
(human nature is to argue and say no, which leads to yes you did and an argument starts)
First Person: Will you turn it off tonight?
Second Person: Yes.
(human nature is to say I turned it off last night and an argument continues)
If you are in the second role it is very hard fight human nature and always agree. However, when you do not only do you avoid the argument it often turns into very funny self-depreciating humor.
Another stage exercise was “yes, and you once” or “yes, and you always”. You each had to use one of those phrases at the beginning of your sentence, without starting an argument. The subject was polyester.
Scene starts with the lady looking at the stage male partner’s pants
“Yes and you once maybe twenty years someone would think polyester was in style”
“Yes and you always told me I looked stunning in my polyester leisure suit.”
Human nature would be to respond to the first sentence with, something along the line of quit making fun of my clothes, do I have to change, or some phrase that would lead to an argument. It really was amazing how hard it was not to turn the scenes into argument but just as amazing as how the scene became funny and positive trying to avoid an argument.
Today’s trivia:
What is the gestation period of an Hippopotamus?; Which of the following inventions was the first to be patented? A: Chewing Gum, B: Dishwasher, C: Cash Register, D: Rubber Band; When the first Burger King Restaurant opened in 1954, how much did a hamburger cost?; On I Love Lucy What was the name of Fred and Ethel's dog?; On Star Trek who was originally offered the original role of Spock?
Hope you have a great day filled with laughter and sans arguments
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
A Lot of L's
Laundry, Laziness, Leisure, Library, Little bit of work, Lottery, and Look alike pictures are my day in a nutshell.
The answer to yesterday's object was either pen or pencil. Today at the end of the blog there will be two pictures. You have to tell me the difference between the two pictures. There are six differences.
Yesterday was a recovering from slacking day. I had to cancel a dinner date with one of my favorite people because I slacked so much that I needed the evening to work on a work project. I also had a lunch that had been scheduled since before my birthday that was on my schedule. Two restaurant meals in one day is just to much food with me. The dinner is rescheduled for the first week in August. The lunch was with a very beautiful young woman that I have been friends with for years. Her birthday is close to mine so for years we always went out to celebrate our birthdays together. We went to the Macroni Grill in Bridgeport Village in Tigard. We caught up on our lives, how her children and husband are doing, how she is doing with her new job, and what is going on with me. She also told me an act of kindness that she before my birthday so the total acts of kindness for my birthday hit 135. We are going to try to get together a little more often. Next time we are seriously considering meeting at Higgins for lunch. I'm sure that will bring back memories to Mary, Pat, & Bev.
I also did some reading yesterday and finished Catherine Coulter's THE MAZE, two days ago I finished Harlan Coben's LONG LOST. It took me a total of four days to read both books. The were both gripping and among their best work.
Today I need to get my laundry done. I also have to return the books to the library and check out another one. Thanks to working last night I am long into the work project but it still requireas a little bit of work. I'm also going to have some lazy moments, recovering from slacking needs to be a slow withdrawal. Then a leisurely drive towards the coast, a detour for a quiet lunch, and a stop to buy lottery tickets. Powerball is up to 74 million. I can live on that, mabe I'd have to use coupons but I am willing to try.
Here is today's quiz, tell me the difference between the following two pictures. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
How many L's are you life today? Could you live on 74 millions dollars? Would you take the full 74 million over 30 years (about two and half million a year before taxes? or would take the option of getting half of it now?
The answer to yesterday's object was either pen or pencil. Today at the end of the blog there will be two pictures. You have to tell me the difference between the two pictures. There are six differences.
Yesterday was a recovering from slacking day. I had to cancel a dinner date with one of my favorite people because I slacked so much that I needed the evening to work on a work project. I also had a lunch that had been scheduled since before my birthday that was on my schedule. Two restaurant meals in one day is just to much food with me. The dinner is rescheduled for the first week in August. The lunch was with a very beautiful young woman that I have been friends with for years. Her birthday is close to mine so for years we always went out to celebrate our birthdays together. We went to the Macroni Grill in Bridgeport Village in Tigard. We caught up on our lives, how her children and husband are doing, how she is doing with her new job, and what is going on with me. She also told me an act of kindness that she before my birthday so the total acts of kindness for my birthday hit 135. We are going to try to get together a little more often. Next time we are seriously considering meeting at Higgins for lunch. I'm sure that will bring back memories to Mary, Pat, & Bev.
I also did some reading yesterday and finished Catherine Coulter's THE MAZE, two days ago I finished Harlan Coben's LONG LOST. It took me a total of four days to read both books. The were both gripping and among their best work.
Today I need to get my laundry done. I also have to return the books to the library and check out another one. Thanks to working last night I am long into the work project but it still requireas a little bit of work. I'm also going to have some lazy moments, recovering from slacking needs to be a slow withdrawal. Then a leisurely drive towards the coast, a detour for a quiet lunch, and a stop to buy lottery tickets. Powerball is up to 74 million. I can live on that, mabe I'd have to use coupons but I am willing to try.
Here is today's quiz, tell me the difference between the following two pictures. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
How many L's are you life today? Could you live on 74 millions dollars? Would you take the full 74 million over 30 years (about two and half million a year before taxes? or would take the option of getting half of it now?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I'm A Slacker
Here I was working on a work project yesterday and got to thinking I really didn't want to work so I tubed the work project and took off for the Oregon Coast for a day trip. I had a really nice time. Nice drive, nice scenery, great lunch - hot turkey sandwich, nice read, and I didn't flip one driver the bird! I actually gave some thought about driving to LA to attend a comedy event but just didn't think I was quite ready for that long of a trip, especially since it is so hot up and down the West Coast. I really am getting better and I do think had I known about the event just a few days earlier I would have gone!Then I could have planned for a head set for my cell phone (California bans the us of cell phones while driving) and gotten a haircut, etc. It is amazing how much I have improved mentally in just such a short time, things that used to intimidate me now kind of excite me.
Yesterday was the 40TH anniversary of man's first landing on the moon. My who we are questions were in honor of that date and were the men that were in the spacecraft that historic day. In order the answer to the Who Are We's were Michael Collins, the man who stayed in the spacecraft, Edward Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, and Neil Armstrong the first man on the moon.
Today we are going to try a stumper. Not a trivia a stumper you tell me the object I am describing:
This is the specification for the most incredible, sophisticated planning and communications tool yet invented: It's portable - so light don't even notice it your pocket or brief case. Its life is more than one-hundred times greater than the current best re-chargeable power-packs. It is extremely durable - if dropped from 50 feet onto concrete it'll be good as new within a minute or two at the longest. It's so intuitive that anyone can use it immediately without training. You can use it on a plane - even during take off. It uses a remarkable data input method as fast as an experienced qwerty keyboard operator, and yet requires no keyboard skills. It handles graphics as easily as text and can even handle 3-D modeling and complicated calculations. It is compatible with any paper output, even a bus-ticket or a table napkin, and is universally adaptable to any reader format. It is completely wireless, already available all over the world, thanks to a distribution network greater than Microsoft's, and comes in hundreds of model variants to suit all styles and egos - you can even get gold-plated ones. It costs a fraction of a penny per day over its lifetime, and if you lose it, its inherent unbreakable security will leave no trace of confidential files or personal history. Replacements are no problem because you can afford to keep a couple spare with you all the time. What object am I?
OK, now that I am behind in work I must get my arse back to work!!
Have you ever been a slacker?
Yesterday was the 40TH anniversary of man's first landing on the moon. My who we are questions were in honor of that date and were the men that were in the spacecraft that historic day. In order the answer to the Who Are We's were Michael Collins, the man who stayed in the spacecraft, Edward Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, and Neil Armstrong the first man on the moon.
Today we are going to try a stumper. Not a trivia a stumper you tell me the object I am describing:
This is the specification for the most incredible, sophisticated planning and communications tool yet invented: It's portable - so light don't even notice it your pocket or brief case. Its life is more than one-hundred times greater than the current best re-chargeable power-packs. It is extremely durable - if dropped from 50 feet onto concrete it'll be good as new within a minute or two at the longest. It's so intuitive that anyone can use it immediately without training. You can use it on a plane - even during take off. It uses a remarkable data input method as fast as an experienced qwerty keyboard operator, and yet requires no keyboard skills. It handles graphics as easily as text and can even handle 3-D modeling and complicated calculations. It is compatible with any paper output, even a bus-ticket or a table napkin, and is universally adaptable to any reader format. It is completely wireless, already available all over the world, thanks to a distribution network greater than Microsoft's, and comes in hundreds of model variants to suit all styles and egos - you can even get gold-plated ones. It costs a fraction of a penny per day over its lifetime, and if you lose it, its inherent unbreakable security will leave no trace of confidential files or personal history. Replacements are no problem because you can afford to keep a couple spare with you all the time. What object am I?
OK, now that I am behind in work I must get my arse back to work!!
Have you ever been a slacker?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Who Are We?
No emotional wringing posts today, just a mention of a very talented man and a who are we trivia test. The answers to yesterday's test appear at the end of the blog entry.
Frank McCourt author of Angela's Ashes died July 19, 2009. A uniquely talented individual who was published after retiring as teacher in New York City. The original publication of Angel's Ashes was 25,000 copies but then went on to sell over four million copies. Intelligent, Funny, witty, he will be missed.
I was Born in Rome, Italy, on October 31, 1930. Married to the former Patricia of Boston, Massachusetts. Three grown children (two daughters, one son). My hobbies include fishing and handball. I graduated from Saint Albans School in Washington, D.C.; received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1952. Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Presented the Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1969. I chose an Air Force career following graduation from West Point. I served as an experimental flight test officer at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California, and, in that capacity, tested performance and stability and control characteristics of Air Force aircraft--primarily jet fighters. As pilot on the 3-day Gemini X mission, launched July 18, 1966, I shared with command pilot, John Young, in the accomplishments of that record-setting flight. These accomplishments included a successful rendezvous and docking with a separately launched Agena target vehicle and, using the power of the Agena, maneuvering the Gemini spacecraft into another orbit for a rendezvous with a second, passive Agena. My skillful performance in completing two periods of extravehicular activity included the recovery of a micrometeorite detection experiment from the passive Agena. Gemini X attained an apogee of approximately 475 statute miles and traveled a distance of 1,275,091 statute miles--after which splashdown occurred in the West Atlantic, 529 miles east of Cape Kennedy. The spacecraft landed 2.6 miles from the USS GUADALCANAL and became the second spacecraft in the Gemini program to land within eye and camera range of the prime recovery ship. Although I was a the command pilot of another famous flight I am often the forgotten one. I rode instead of walked. Who Am I?
Sometimes men hate being second and alhtough I was a bit disappointed at not being first I really didn't hate being second at this one major point in history. I was born January 20, 1930 in Montclair, New Jersey. After graduating from Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey in 1946, I turned down a full scholarship offer from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and instead went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I obtained my famous nickname because my sister just couldn't pronounce brother. I liked the nickname so much it became my legal first name in 1988. I graduated third in his class at West Point in 1951 with a B.S. degree. I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. I flew 66 combat missions in F-86 Sabres and shot down two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 aircraft. The June 8, 1953 issue of LIFE magazine featured gun camera photos taken by me of one of the Russian pilots ejecting from his damaged aircraft. After the war, I was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and next was an aide at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He flew F-100 Super Sabres as a flight commander at Bitburg, Germany in the 22nd Fighter Squadron. I then earned my D.Sc. degree in Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My graduate thesis was Line-of-sight guidance techniques for manned orbital rendezvous. On completion of my doctorate, I was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Space Systems Division in Los Angeles, and finally to the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Edwards Air Force Base. I set a record for extra-vehicular activity and proved that astronauts could work outside the spacecraft. I originally was proposed as the first make this historic step but due to the physical positioning of the cred it was easier for a crew mate to get the glory. In March 1972, I retired from active duty after 21 years of service, and returned to the Air Force in a managerial role, but my career was blighted by personal problems. I struggled with clinical depression and alcoholism in the years following my famous flight career. I helped create the rap single and video, "Rocket Experience". I have been married three times. With my first wife I had three children. I married my current and third wife on Valentine's Day in 1988. I have won the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and three awards of the Air Medal. Civilian awards and decorations include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, and the Harmon International Trophy. I also made a guest star appearance in an episode of animated sitcom The Simpsons entitled "Deep Space Homer. I also received the 2003 Humanitarian Award from Variety, the Children's Charity, which, according to the organization, "is given to an individual who has shown unusual understanding, empathy, and devotion to mankind." Who Am I.
Don't confuse me with a former hocky player with the same name. I was born August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. I married twice and had three children. Sadly my first wife died of pneumonia, related to her weakened health from cancer, on January 28, 1962. I married my second wife in 1994. Among other things I have been a test pilot, university professor, and United States Naval Aviator. While I am remembered for being first on that famous day, it was also a last for me. I am a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. When I was in the United States Navy I saw action in the Korean War. I was only the second person in my family to attend college. I was also to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), but the only engineer I knew (who had attended MIT) dissuaded me from attending. My college tuition was paid for under the Holloway Plan; successful applicants committed to four years of study, followed by three years of service in the United States Navy, then completion of the final two years of the degree. At Purdue, I received average marks in my subjects, with a GPA that rose and fell over the eight semesters. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University in 1955, and a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California in 1970. I hold honorary doctorates from a number of universities. My call-up from the Navy arrived on January 26, 1949, and required me to report to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. This lasted almost 18 months, during which time I qualified for carrier landing aboard the USS Cabot and USS Wright. I first saw action in the Korean War on August 29, 1951,as an escort for a photo reconnaissance plane over Songjin. Five days later, I was shot down for the only time. While making a low bombing run at about 350 mph (560 km/h) in my F9F Panther, My plane was hit by anti-aircraft gunfire. The plane took a nose dive, and sliced through a cable strung about 500 ft (150 m) up across the valley by the North Koreans. This sheared off an estimated six feet (2 m) of its right wing. I was able to fly the plane back to friendly territory, but could not land the plane safely due to the loss of the aileron, which left ejection as his only option. I planned to eject over water and await rescue by navy helicopters, so I flew to an airfield near Pohang. Instead of a water rescue, winds forced his ejection seat back over land. Armstrong was picked up by a jeep driven by a roommate from flight school. Over Korea, I flew 78 missions for a total of 121 hours in the air, most of which was in January 1952. I received the Air Medal for 20 combat missions, a Gold Star for the next 20, and the Korean Service Medal and Engagement Star. I was chosen first to make a small step with a golf club in hand because I was because co-workers were buzzing about me not having as big of ego as on of the rest of the crew. In the fall of 1979, I was working at my farm near Lebanon, Ohio. As I jumped off of the back of his grain truck, my wedding ring caught in the wheel, tearing off my ring finger. I calmly collected the severed digit, packed it in ice, and managed to have it reattached by microsurgeons at the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Known for small steps and giant leaps, Who Am I?
Yesterday's answers. The liquid inside young coconuts be used as a substitute for plasman. Although some say this is a myth Donkeys have been said to kill more people annually than plane crashes or shark attacks. Oak trees should be fifty years or older before producing acorns? Wrigley Spearmint gum was the first product to have a bar code. The King of Hearts is the only king not to have a moustache in a regular deck of playing cards. Venus is the only that rotates clockwise. Walt Disney was afraid mice. Pearls dissolve if you put them in vinegar? Turtles can breath through their butts.
Hope this day is a great day for you and you know who you are! Anything exciting going on today in your neck of the woods?
Frank McCourt author of Angela's Ashes died July 19, 2009. A uniquely talented individual who was published after retiring as teacher in New York City. The original publication of Angel's Ashes was 25,000 copies but then went on to sell over four million copies. Intelligent, Funny, witty, he will be missed.
I was Born in Rome, Italy, on October 31, 1930. Married to the former Patricia of Boston, Massachusetts. Three grown children (two daughters, one son). My hobbies include fishing and handball. I graduated from Saint Albans School in Washington, D.C.; received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1952. Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Presented the Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1969. I chose an Air Force career following graduation from West Point. I served as an experimental flight test officer at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California, and, in that capacity, tested performance and stability and control characteristics of Air Force aircraft--primarily jet fighters. As pilot on the 3-day Gemini X mission, launched July 18, 1966, I shared with command pilot, John Young, in the accomplishments of that record-setting flight. These accomplishments included a successful rendezvous and docking with a separately launched Agena target vehicle and, using the power of the Agena, maneuvering the Gemini spacecraft into another orbit for a rendezvous with a second, passive Agena. My skillful performance in completing two periods of extravehicular activity included the recovery of a micrometeorite detection experiment from the passive Agena. Gemini X attained an apogee of approximately 475 statute miles and traveled a distance of 1,275,091 statute miles--after which splashdown occurred in the West Atlantic, 529 miles east of Cape Kennedy. The spacecraft landed 2.6 miles from the USS GUADALCANAL and became the second spacecraft in the Gemini program to land within eye and camera range of the prime recovery ship. Although I was a the command pilot of another famous flight I am often the forgotten one. I rode instead of walked. Who Am I?
Sometimes men hate being second and alhtough I was a bit disappointed at not being first I really didn't hate being second at this one major point in history. I was born January 20, 1930 in Montclair, New Jersey. After graduating from Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey in 1946, I turned down a full scholarship offer from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and instead went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I obtained my famous nickname because my sister just couldn't pronounce brother. I liked the nickname so much it became my legal first name in 1988. I graduated third in his class at West Point in 1951 with a B.S. degree. I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. I flew 66 combat missions in F-86 Sabres and shot down two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 aircraft. The June 8, 1953 issue of LIFE magazine featured gun camera photos taken by me of one of the Russian pilots ejecting from his damaged aircraft. After the war, I was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and next was an aide at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He flew F-100 Super Sabres as a flight commander at Bitburg, Germany in the 22nd Fighter Squadron. I then earned my D.Sc. degree in Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My graduate thesis was Line-of-sight guidance techniques for manned orbital rendezvous. On completion of my doctorate, I was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Space Systems Division in Los Angeles, and finally to the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Edwards Air Force Base. I set a record for extra-vehicular activity and proved that astronauts could work outside the spacecraft. I originally was proposed as the first make this historic step but due to the physical positioning of the cred it was easier for a crew mate to get the glory. In March 1972, I retired from active duty after 21 years of service, and returned to the Air Force in a managerial role, but my career was blighted by personal problems. I struggled with clinical depression and alcoholism in the years following my famous flight career. I helped create the rap single and video, "Rocket Experience". I have been married three times. With my first wife I had three children. I married my current and third wife on Valentine's Day in 1988. I have won the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and three awards of the Air Medal. Civilian awards and decorations include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, and the Harmon International Trophy. I also made a guest star appearance in an episode of animated sitcom The Simpsons entitled "Deep Space Homer. I also received the 2003 Humanitarian Award from Variety, the Children's Charity, which, according to the organization, "is given to an individual who has shown unusual understanding, empathy, and devotion to mankind." Who Am I.
Don't confuse me with a former hocky player with the same name. I was born August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. I married twice and had three children. Sadly my first wife died of pneumonia, related to her weakened health from cancer, on January 28, 1962. I married my second wife in 1994. Among other things I have been a test pilot, university professor, and United States Naval Aviator. While I am remembered for being first on that famous day, it was also a last for me. I am a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. When I was in the United States Navy I saw action in the Korean War. I was only the second person in my family to attend college. I was also to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), but the only engineer I knew (who had attended MIT) dissuaded me from attending. My college tuition was paid for under the Holloway Plan; successful applicants committed to four years of study, followed by three years of service in the United States Navy, then completion of the final two years of the degree. At Purdue, I received average marks in my subjects, with a GPA that rose and fell over the eight semesters. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University in 1955, and a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California in 1970. I hold honorary doctorates from a number of universities. My call-up from the Navy arrived on January 26, 1949, and required me to report to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. This lasted almost 18 months, during which time I qualified for carrier landing aboard the USS Cabot and USS Wright. I first saw action in the Korean War on August 29, 1951,as an escort for a photo reconnaissance plane over Songjin. Five days later, I was shot down for the only time. While making a low bombing run at about 350 mph (560 km/h) in my F9F Panther, My plane was hit by anti-aircraft gunfire. The plane took a nose dive, and sliced through a cable strung about 500 ft (150 m) up across the valley by the North Koreans. This sheared off an estimated six feet (2 m) of its right wing. I was able to fly the plane back to friendly territory, but could not land the plane safely due to the loss of the aileron, which left ejection as his only option. I planned to eject over water and await rescue by navy helicopters, so I flew to an airfield near Pohang. Instead of a water rescue, winds forced his ejection seat back over land. Armstrong was picked up by a jeep driven by a roommate from flight school. Over Korea, I flew 78 missions for a total of 121 hours in the air, most of which was in January 1952. I received the Air Medal for 20 combat missions, a Gold Star for the next 20, and the Korean Service Medal and Engagement Star. I was chosen first to make a small step with a golf club in hand because I was because co-workers were buzzing about me not having as big of ego as on of the rest of the crew. In the fall of 1979, I was working at my farm near Lebanon, Ohio. As I jumped off of the back of his grain truck, my wedding ring caught in the wheel, tearing off my ring finger. I calmly collected the severed digit, packed it in ice, and managed to have it reattached by microsurgeons at the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Known for small steps and giant leaps, Who Am I?
Yesterday's answers. The liquid inside young coconuts be used as a substitute for plasman. Although some say this is a myth Donkeys have been said to kill more people annually than plane crashes or shark attacks. Oak trees should be fifty years or older before producing acorns? Wrigley Spearmint gum was the first product to have a bar code. The King of Hearts is the only king not to have a moustache in a regular deck of playing cards. Venus is the only that rotates clockwise. Walt Disney was afraid mice. Pearls dissolve if you put them in vinegar? Turtles can breath through their butts.
Hope this day is a great day for you and you know who you are! Anything exciting going on today in your neck of the woods?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Mom Update, Trivia Returns.
I have all twenty-nine questions ready to go for the contest starting at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time on August 1, 2009 right here on my blog where anyone that has ever or will post a comment on the blog by the time the contest starts can enter. The questions will cover three in common, trivia, current events, who am I, where am I, questions about me from the blog, Jeopardy and other things. I tried to pick questions that were hard to Google so be prepared. Post a comment now on The Dahn Report and you can compete with the regular posters for a $50 and a $25 gift card!Now that I have the contest completed we can go back to daily or every other day questions. Today's questions come from an email from Kaye, meaning she can't play today. The questions are at the end of today's blog entry.
Tomorrow will mark one week of Mom being gone. She is doing amazingly well. They have taken a couple of day trips in Utah. At Mom's request they drove the fourteen hour trip in one day. She was a little stiff the day after the trip, well duh. But she recovered in one day. Now here is the surprising thing. Either Mom or Sis has called every day. I've done a great job of letting go. I've called twice and once it was a required call due to an emergency. The emergency call was the day after Mom left when I got a call from my Aunt, really my second mom. She had just spent five days in the hospital. They didn't call Mom while my aunt was hospitalized because they didn't want to worry her and they didn't know Mom had went to Utah. They called me in a panic since they couldn't get ahold of mom. My aunt's lungs filled with water, they had misdiagnosed the problem she was having a couple of months ago as bronchitis, so they had to drain her lungs and put her on an oxygen tank. When my aunt called she was home but still on the oxygen tank, and it is up in the air whether she will have to keep the oxygen tank the rest of her life. I called Mom to catch her up and tell her to call Velma. Prayers, good thoughts, and good vibes my aunt's direction would be appreciated. The other time I called was this morning. Just a catch up call.
How am I doing? I'm glad you asked. The first week has been one of baby steps, healing mentally, healing physically, and stark realizations. I didn't really realize what having the responsibility of a parent could really do to your mental and physical health. I did realize it on some level just not the depth of it. Especially mentally. After one week I am sleeping better, my stress level is down, these unrealistic but constant fears that I have had for a long time have subsided. They haven't gone away but they are on each day getting less and less. The fears have gone from such a high level to such a low level in such a short period of time that I am going to suggest that if you soon get the responsibility of an elderly parent or have just recently become responsible for an elderly parent that you seek out counseling on a weekly or monthly basis. I will admit this is a case of do as I say not as I do but do gain from my experience. I am also going to suggest that your elderly parents also seeks counseling on a weekly or monthly basis. Another case of do as I say not as I do. But again gain from my experience. Now on to the questions of the day?
Today's questions:
What can liquid inside young coconuts be used as a substitute for?
Watch your ass because this animal kills more people annually than plane crashes or shark attacks.
How old do oak trees have to be before they began producing acorns?
What was the first product to have a bar code?
In a regular deck of playing cards what is the only king not to have a moustache?
What planet is the only that rotates clockwise?
What rodent was Walt Disney afraid of?
What do pearls do if you put them in vinegar?
What reptile of the Testudines group can breath through their butts?
Kaye's answers are final. Hope this is an enjoyabe Sunday and really because I don't want to be legally liable this is a cover my arse warning, please don't try breathing through your butts.
Tomorrow will mark one week of Mom being gone. She is doing amazingly well. They have taken a couple of day trips in Utah. At Mom's request they drove the fourteen hour trip in one day. She was a little stiff the day after the trip, well duh. But she recovered in one day. Now here is the surprising thing. Either Mom or Sis has called every day. I've done a great job of letting go. I've called twice and once it was a required call due to an emergency. The emergency call was the day after Mom left when I got a call from my Aunt, really my second mom. She had just spent five days in the hospital. They didn't call Mom while my aunt was hospitalized because they didn't want to worry her and they didn't know Mom had went to Utah. They called me in a panic since they couldn't get ahold of mom. My aunt's lungs filled with water, they had misdiagnosed the problem she was having a couple of months ago as bronchitis, so they had to drain her lungs and put her on an oxygen tank. When my aunt called she was home but still on the oxygen tank, and it is up in the air whether she will have to keep the oxygen tank the rest of her life. I called Mom to catch her up and tell her to call Velma. Prayers, good thoughts, and good vibes my aunt's direction would be appreciated. The other time I called was this morning. Just a catch up call.
How am I doing? I'm glad you asked. The first week has been one of baby steps, healing mentally, healing physically, and stark realizations. I didn't really realize what having the responsibility of a parent could really do to your mental and physical health. I did realize it on some level just not the depth of it. Especially mentally. After one week I am sleeping better, my stress level is down, these unrealistic but constant fears that I have had for a long time have subsided. They haven't gone away but they are on each day getting less and less. The fears have gone from such a high level to such a low level in such a short period of time that I am going to suggest that if you soon get the responsibility of an elderly parent or have just recently become responsible for an elderly parent that you seek out counseling on a weekly or monthly basis. I will admit this is a case of do as I say not as I do but do gain from my experience. I am also going to suggest that your elderly parents also seeks counseling on a weekly or monthly basis. Another case of do as I say not as I do. But again gain from my experience. Now on to the questions of the day?
Today's questions:
What can liquid inside young coconuts be used as a substitute for?
Watch your ass because this animal kills more people annually than plane crashes or shark attacks.
How old do oak trees have to be before they began producing acorns?
What was the first product to have a bar code?
In a regular deck of playing cards what is the only king not to have a moustache?
What planet is the only that rotates clockwise?
What rodent was Walt Disney afraid of?
What do pearls do if you put them in vinegar?
What reptile of the Testudines group can breath through their butts?
Kaye's answers are final. Hope this is an enjoyabe Sunday and really because I don't want to be legally liable this is a cover my arse warning, please don't try breathing through your butts.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
"Go Baby Go"
He shouted on as the spaceship with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edward Aldrin on board took off for the moon. His tears on air as he announced the assasination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. "Those Thugs" he said of those disrupting a Democratic National Convention. He covered the World War II battle of the Atlantic. He lands in 1944 with the Allied troops in North Africa and takes part in the Normandy invasion. He drops with the 101st Airborne division in Holland as part of the Third Army at The Battle of The Bulge. He was the chief corresondent of the Nuremburg Trials. He covers the first televised political convention. After he visited Vietnam in 1965 his criticism of the war helped turn public opinion against it. He covered Watergate. Once voted the most trusted man in America. Still voted the most trusted newsman even after retirement. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Jimmy Carter. The first non-astronaut to receive NASA's Ambassador Of Exploration Award. He resides in The Televison Hall of Fame. If there is a heaven he resides there now.
His words are etched in the history of almost every major event in the last sixty years. Here are just a few examples of his historic words(from the Oregonian at Oregonlive.com):
On The Vietnam War:
"We have been to often disappointed by the optimism of the American Leaders, both in Vietnam and Washington, to have faith any longer in the silver linings they find in the darkest clouds. It seems more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate. It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out, then, will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy and did it the best they could."
On Man's first landing on the moon:
"Whew boy ---- There he is, there's a foot coming down the stairs---- Armstrong is on the moon - Neil Armstrong, 38 year-old American standing on the surface of the moon, on this July 20, Nineteen-Hundred and Sixty-nine."
Covering the funeral of JFK:
"It is said that the human mind has a greater capacity for remembering the pleasant than the unpleasant. But today was a date that will live in memory and in grief. Only history can write the importance of this day. That's the way it is, Monday, Nov. 25, 1963. This is Walter Conkite, good night."
Good night, Walter.
His words are etched in the history of almost every major event in the last sixty years. Here are just a few examples of his historic words(from the Oregonian at Oregonlive.com):
On The Vietnam War:
"We have been to often disappointed by the optimism of the American Leaders, both in Vietnam and Washington, to have faith any longer in the silver linings they find in the darkest clouds. It seems more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate. It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out, then, will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy and did it the best they could."
On Man's first landing on the moon:
"Whew boy ---- There he is, there's a foot coming down the stairs---- Armstrong is on the moon - Neil Armstrong, 38 year-old American standing on the surface of the moon, on this July 20, Nineteen-Hundred and Sixty-nine."
Covering the funeral of JFK:
"It is said that the human mind has a greater capacity for remembering the pleasant than the unpleasant. But today was a date that will live in memory and in grief. Only history can write the importance of this day. That's the way it is, Monday, Nov. 25, 1963. This is Walter Conkite, good night."
Good night, Walter.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Your Update, Sleeping, & Top Chef Masters
Since I've been updating you on my life everyday this week I'm not really doing an update about me today. I will just give some minor information about myself and let you do your updates.
I usually don't sleep that well, I usually wake up every two hours. Last night for the first time in ages I slept five hours straight. I hope this is the beginning of better sleep patterns.
My act of kindness for the week was done at The Dollar Tree. When I checked out I gave the checker a ten dollar bill, it was the only ten that I had on me. She gave me change for a twenty. I didn't discover it until I was almost half way out the door. I went back and told the checker. She was sure I gave her a twenty. I asked her to check to be sure. She opened the drawer and sure enough there was a ten in the twenty tray. I gave her the extra ten bucks back. She was so grateful she almost cried. She said thank you about ten times.
On to Top Chef Masters, the series on the Bravo Channel. Five well known chefs compete for charity. The winner each week gets ten grand for their charity, the winner for the season gets one hundred thousand smackaroos for their charity.
I always learn something about life when I watch Top Chef or Top Chef Masters. What I learned this week is to work hard and don't watch the clock because if you spend time watching the clock instead of working you may not meet your deadline. I also learned that some skills that you haven't used in a very long time don't go away and when you do use that skill it comes right back to you (as someone looking for the one, I sure hope that is true of sex.) I also learned that when some men use charming phrases my reaction is that is just BS you jerk, yet when I use the charming phrases it is just me being honest and appreciating the beauty of women.
The celebrity chefs competing this week and their charity:
Rick Moonen owner of Rick Moonen RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay In Las Vegas playing for The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fisherman’s Association.
Nils Noren Vice President of Culinary Institute of Arts at The French Culinary Arts playing for The Friends of The French Culinary Institute.
Lachlan M. Patterson owner of Fresca Food & Wine in Boulder, Colorado playing touchingly for The Denver Children’s Hospital.
Michael Chiarello owner of Bottega Restaurant & Workshop returning to the restaurant scene after years of being on television to play for Clinic Ole.
The chefs compete in two challenges. The Quickfire Challenge and The Elimination Challenge.
The Quickfire Challenge was to turn junk food into fine dining. Michael with the killer smile won the Quickfire Challenge with four and a half stars by turning fish and tarter sauce into swordfish meatballs with fisherman’s sauce. Rick spent so much time looking at the clock that he didn’t finish his dish ending up with no stars.
The elimination challenge was to cook a three course mini-meal for one hundred people. Now remember these are chefs that usually supervise the cooking for one hundred and have tons of help doing it. Now they are out there all by themselves cooking for 100 of Top Chef’s biggest fans. Rick recovered and won the elimination challenge with 17 stars with his okapaka ceviche, branade of scalloped shrimp, and preserved lemon custard. He just couldn’t overcome getting zero stars in the Quickfire Challenge. Michael charming some ladies into helping him put a dish together finished second in the elimination challenge with 15 stars with his shaved Brussels sprouts salad, spicy prawns, and balsamic marinated strawberries. Because Michael got to add his four and half stars from the Quickfire challenge he won the night with 19 ½ stars.
Truthfully I just thought Michael was a little to smooth and wanted him to lose. OK, I admit I am jealous because I’d give a million dollars to have his looks, his smile, and his talent. However, I really wanted Lachlan to win because I loved that he was playing for The Denver Children’s Hospital to pay back for the help they gave his daughter.
What’s cooking? This is the day you get to do whatever you want on the blog. Post whatever you want, vent if you need to, share joys, ask questions, share thoughts, tell how your elderly are doing, tell us what is up with your children, tell us your most hidden secrets, events attended or attending, confess is you so desire, introduce yourself if you want, or just post because you feel like it. The blog is now yours.
I usually don't sleep that well, I usually wake up every two hours. Last night for the first time in ages I slept five hours straight. I hope this is the beginning of better sleep patterns.
My act of kindness for the week was done at The Dollar Tree. When I checked out I gave the checker a ten dollar bill, it was the only ten that I had on me. She gave me change for a twenty. I didn't discover it until I was almost half way out the door. I went back and told the checker. She was sure I gave her a twenty. I asked her to check to be sure. She opened the drawer and sure enough there was a ten in the twenty tray. I gave her the extra ten bucks back. She was so grateful she almost cried. She said thank you about ten times.
On to Top Chef Masters, the series on the Bravo Channel. Five well known chefs compete for charity. The winner each week gets ten grand for their charity, the winner for the season gets one hundred thousand smackaroos for their charity.
I always learn something about life when I watch Top Chef or Top Chef Masters. What I learned this week is to work hard and don't watch the clock because if you spend time watching the clock instead of working you may not meet your deadline. I also learned that some skills that you haven't used in a very long time don't go away and when you do use that skill it comes right back to you (as someone looking for the one, I sure hope that is true of sex.) I also learned that when some men use charming phrases my reaction is that is just BS you jerk, yet when I use the charming phrases it is just me being honest and appreciating the beauty of women.
The celebrity chefs competing this week and their charity:
Rick Moonen owner of Rick Moonen RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay In Las Vegas playing for The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fisherman’s Association.
Nils Noren Vice President of Culinary Institute of Arts at The French Culinary Arts playing for The Friends of The French Culinary Institute.
Lachlan M. Patterson owner of Fresca Food & Wine in Boulder, Colorado playing touchingly for The Denver Children’s Hospital.
Michael Chiarello owner of Bottega Restaurant & Workshop returning to the restaurant scene after years of being on television to play for Clinic Ole.
The chefs compete in two challenges. The Quickfire Challenge and The Elimination Challenge.
The Quickfire Challenge was to turn junk food into fine dining. Michael with the killer smile won the Quickfire Challenge with four and a half stars by turning fish and tarter sauce into swordfish meatballs with fisherman’s sauce. Rick spent so much time looking at the clock that he didn’t finish his dish ending up with no stars.
The elimination challenge was to cook a three course mini-meal for one hundred people. Now remember these are chefs that usually supervise the cooking for one hundred and have tons of help doing it. Now they are out there all by themselves cooking for 100 of Top Chef’s biggest fans. Rick recovered and won the elimination challenge with 17 stars with his okapaka ceviche, branade of scalloped shrimp, and preserved lemon custard. He just couldn’t overcome getting zero stars in the Quickfire Challenge. Michael charming some ladies into helping him put a dish together finished second in the elimination challenge with 15 stars with his shaved Brussels sprouts salad, spicy prawns, and balsamic marinated strawberries. Because Michael got to add his four and half stars from the Quickfire challenge he won the night with 19 ½ stars.
Truthfully I just thought Michael was a little to smooth and wanted him to lose. OK, I admit I am jealous because I’d give a million dollars to have his looks, his smile, and his talent. However, I really wanted Lachlan to win because I loved that he was playing for The Denver Children’s Hospital to pay back for the help they gave his daughter.
What’s cooking? This is the day you get to do whatever you want on the blog. Post whatever you want, vent if you need to, share joys, ask questions, share thoughts, tell how your elderly are doing, tell us what is up with your children, tell us your most hidden secrets, events attended or attending, confess is you so desire, introduce yourself if you want, or just post because you feel like it. The blog is now yours.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Farm Team Comedy Class.
No Trivia for the next few days. I need a break while getting the contest ready. The answers to yesterday's trivia appears at the end of today's blog entry.
A little background. Comedy Sportz 101 was the class that I took last fall. The eight week class concentrated on learning techniques. The exercises taught you how to listen on stage despite distractions, improved your memory, helped with teamwork, teambuilding, and got you used to the stage. The followup three week class taught you the improv games that they actually play in their performances. Then comes the Farm Team Comedy classes. These classes are to refine your talent and prepare you to perform if you so desire.Comedy Sportz has performances on Friday and Saturday nights for the professionals. Sunday evcening they have Farm Team shows that are unpaid performers. They often get their paid talent from the Sunday afternoon performances. The class last night was to teach you the games for their Sunday afternoon shows and to refine your stage skills. The talent level in the Farm Team classes is way higher than it was in the eight week or three week classes. In the eight week and three week performances everyone in class *has* to get on the stage. In the Farm Team Class you get on the stage whenever you want. Your choice.
Last night it was new improv games. I was mostly an observer but did get on stage a couple of times. There were only two people there from my class. They did tell me that one person from our class had already been in a farm team show. And it was the person that I would choose as the least likely to be the first.
The funniest game last night was one that I observed. It was absolutely hilarious. It was called Replay of A Weeekend At Bernies. For those of you that don't go to movies Bernie is dead at the beginning of the movie but they don't want anyone to know so they take him everywhere. They dress him like he is alive. Put him in a wheelchair, put sunglasses on him and take him everywhere. In the improve game three people get on stage and do a secene. The referee blows a whistle. The audience votes on which one of the three on stage they want dead. The dead person can no longer talk. They replay the scene from the beginning with one of the two remaining live performers doing the lines of the now dead person. He holds the dead person up like a dummy etc. Then the whistle blows. The audience votes which one of the two remaining performers they want dead. Then the secene is replayed with the one remaining performer playing all three roles. It is absolutely a riot.
The two games I played were Password and Roses Are Red. Now remember everything is unscropted, unplanned. In Pasword. Six one stage. Two Teams. One from each team go outside. The audience shouts out seven words. The two members from outside come back in are the "guessers", the other two are the clue givers. One word clues only. I don't remember all of the clues, I just remember the one that I got a laugh on. I didn't think it was funny but some else did. The phrase was War And Peace:
My clue giving partner: Book
Guesser: Clue
Me: Movie
Guesser: Reds
Partner: Long
Guesser: Gone With The Wind
Me: Longer
laughs
Guesser: War And Peace
In Roses Are Red every statement has to start with "Roses Are Red". The audience then throws out a word that has to be used in any phrase that you use. "Wishes"
Me. "Roses Are Red Violets Are Blue I Wished I Still Love you but the doctor said I'm allergic to pencillian."
Laughter.
I really enjoyed the class. I am going to go next week. I may be mostly an observer for a couple of weeks but eventually I will participate in several skits.
Here are the answers to yesterday's questions:
What president became a U.S. Senator after he left office? Andrew Johnson.
What president returned to the House of Representatives after he became president?
John Quincey Adams.
Who was the first president to shake hands instead of bow to people? Thomas Jefferson.
Who was the first president born a US Citizen? Martin Van Buren
Name the president that boxer Jack Dempsey was named after? Wm Henry Harrison.
This president was arrested while in office for running over an old woman with his horse, but his case was dropped due to insufficient evidence? Franklin Pierce.
Who was the only president never to marry? James Buchannon.
Who was the first president to use a telephone in office? Rutherford B. Hayes.
Who was the first president to hold a press conference? Woodrow Wilson
What president married his fifth cousin once removed and was a seventh cousin once removed of Winston Churchill? FDR
Hope your day is filled with laughter.
A little background. Comedy Sportz 101 was the class that I took last fall. The eight week class concentrated on learning techniques. The exercises taught you how to listen on stage despite distractions, improved your memory, helped with teamwork, teambuilding, and got you used to the stage. The followup three week class taught you the improv games that they actually play in their performances. Then comes the Farm Team Comedy classes. These classes are to refine your talent and prepare you to perform if you so desire.Comedy Sportz has performances on Friday and Saturday nights for the professionals. Sunday evcening they have Farm Team shows that are unpaid performers. They often get their paid talent from the Sunday afternoon performances. The class last night was to teach you the games for their Sunday afternoon shows and to refine your stage skills. The talent level in the Farm Team classes is way higher than it was in the eight week or three week classes. In the eight week and three week performances everyone in class *has* to get on the stage. In the Farm Team Class you get on the stage whenever you want. Your choice.
Last night it was new improv games. I was mostly an observer but did get on stage a couple of times. There were only two people there from my class. They did tell me that one person from our class had already been in a farm team show. And it was the person that I would choose as the least likely to be the first.
The funniest game last night was one that I observed. It was absolutely hilarious. It was called Replay of A Weeekend At Bernies. For those of you that don't go to movies Bernie is dead at the beginning of the movie but they don't want anyone to know so they take him everywhere. They dress him like he is alive. Put him in a wheelchair, put sunglasses on him and take him everywhere. In the improve game three people get on stage and do a secene. The referee blows a whistle. The audience votes on which one of the three on stage they want dead. The dead person can no longer talk. They replay the scene from the beginning with one of the two remaining live performers doing the lines of the now dead person. He holds the dead person up like a dummy etc. Then the whistle blows. The audience votes which one of the two remaining performers they want dead. Then the secene is replayed with the one remaining performer playing all three roles. It is absolutely a riot.
The two games I played were Password and Roses Are Red. Now remember everything is unscropted, unplanned. In Pasword. Six one stage. Two Teams. One from each team go outside. The audience shouts out seven words. The two members from outside come back in are the "guessers", the other two are the clue givers. One word clues only. I don't remember all of the clues, I just remember the one that I got a laugh on. I didn't think it was funny but some else did. The phrase was War And Peace:
My clue giving partner: Book
Guesser: Clue
Me: Movie
Guesser: Reds
Partner: Long
Guesser: Gone With The Wind
Me: Longer
laughs
Guesser: War And Peace
In Roses Are Red every statement has to start with "Roses Are Red". The audience then throws out a word that has to be used in any phrase that you use. "Wishes"
Me. "Roses Are Red Violets Are Blue I Wished I Still Love you but the doctor said I'm allergic to pencillian."
Laughter.
I really enjoyed the class. I am going to go next week. I may be mostly an observer for a couple of weeks but eventually I will participate in several skits.
Here are the answers to yesterday's questions:
What president became a U.S. Senator after he left office? Andrew Johnson.
What president returned to the House of Representatives after he became president?
John Quincey Adams.
Who was the first president to shake hands instead of bow to people? Thomas Jefferson.
Who was the first president born a US Citizen? Martin Van Buren
Name the president that boxer Jack Dempsey was named after? Wm Henry Harrison.
This president was arrested while in office for running over an old woman with his horse, but his case was dropped due to insufficient evidence? Franklin Pierce.
Who was the only president never to marry? James Buchannon.
Who was the first president to use a telephone in office? Rutherford B. Hayes.
Who was the first president to hold a press conference? Woodrow Wilson
What president married his fifth cousin once removed and was a seventh cousin once removed of Winston Churchill? FDR
Hope your day is filled with laughter.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Where I Am At On The Emotional Chart
The answer to yesterday's questions: Jon Bon Jovi was in PAY IT FORWARD. Ernest Hemmingway drove an ambulance for the Italian Army in WWI. Adolt Hitler was Time Magazine's Man Of The Year in 1939. Seth was Adam and Eve's third son. The Century 21 World's Fair Was in Seattle, Washington. Today it is U.S. Presidential Trivia and is at the end of today's blog entry.
This is the third day since Mom took off for Utah to be with sis and her husband. Really only the second day I've been alone. This is the first time since 2001 that I haven't had any responsbility for an elderly parent. I'd be lying if I didn't say it is an adjustment. Where I am at on the emotional chart is that I really like not having the responsiblity of an elderly parent but I'm having a very hard time not feeling lost. I still have responbilities like work assignments, my house, etc. just not the responsbility for someone else. The loss feeling seems to get less by the hour so I am sure it will disappear in a couple of more days. Then I can kick up my heels! Tonight I am going to the Farm Team Comedy Class. If I don't fail miserably I will write about it on tomorrow's blog.
Today I stuck pretty close to home. I worked on the contest starting August 1, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time and ending at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time on August 5, 2009. A contest where anyone that has ever posted a comment on The Dahn Report or posts a comment on my blog between now and the time the contest starts can enter. The winner will win a $50 dollar gift card and the 2nd place entry will win a $25 gift card. They can choose their prize from the following gift cards: Starbucks, Baja Fresh, Red Robin, Outback, Macy’s Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Home Depot. Right now I am 18 questions, researched and finalized, and tested. Be aware there will be at least five questions that you can't Google.
I also did my walk. Did some reading. Some housecleaning. Some thinking. Some Healing. All in all a good day!
On to the trivia.
What president became a U.S. Senator after he left office?
What president returned to the House of Representatives after he became president?
Who was the first president to shake hands instead of bow to people?
Who was the first president born a US Citizen?
Name the president that boxer Jack Dempsey was named after?
This president was arrested while in office for running over an old woman with his horse, but his case was dropped due to insufficient evidence?
Who was the only president never to marry?
Who was the first president to use a telephone in office?
Who was the first president to hold a press conference?
What president married his fifth cousin once removed and was a seventh cousin once removed of Winston Churchill?
Hope you are having a day where you don't feel lost and that every one is treating you in a presidential way!
This is the third day since Mom took off for Utah to be with sis and her husband. Really only the second day I've been alone. This is the first time since 2001 that I haven't had any responsbility for an elderly parent. I'd be lying if I didn't say it is an adjustment. Where I am at on the emotional chart is that I really like not having the responsiblity of an elderly parent but I'm having a very hard time not feeling lost. I still have responbilities like work assignments, my house, etc. just not the responsbility for someone else. The loss feeling seems to get less by the hour so I am sure it will disappear in a couple of more days. Then I can kick up my heels! Tonight I am going to the Farm Team Comedy Class. If I don't fail miserably I will write about it on tomorrow's blog.
Today I stuck pretty close to home. I worked on the contest starting August 1, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time and ending at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time on August 5, 2009. A contest where anyone that has ever posted a comment on The Dahn Report or posts a comment on my blog between now and the time the contest starts can enter. The winner will win a $50 dollar gift card and the 2nd place entry will win a $25 gift card. They can choose their prize from the following gift cards: Starbucks, Baja Fresh, Red Robin, Outback, Macy’s Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Home Depot. Right now I am 18 questions, researched and finalized, and tested. Be aware there will be at least five questions that you can't Google.
I also did my walk. Did some reading. Some housecleaning. Some thinking. Some Healing. All in all a good day!
On to the trivia.
What president became a U.S. Senator after he left office?
What president returned to the House of Representatives after he became president?
Who was the first president to shake hands instead of bow to people?
Who was the first president born a US Citizen?
Name the president that boxer Jack Dempsey was named after?
This president was arrested while in office for running over an old woman with his horse, but his case was dropped due to insufficient evidence?
Who was the only president never to marry?
Who was the first president to use a telephone in office?
Who was the first president to hold a press conference?
What president married his fifth cousin once removed and was a seventh cousin once removed of Winston Churchill?
Hope you are having a day where you don't feel lost and that every one is treating you in a presidential way!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Second Day
The answer to yesterday’s question was Portland almost Boston, Oregon. Today’s trivia is at the end of this blog entry.
The second day I was a little lonely but I adjusted. Started out the morning with breakfast and reading The Oregonian. Then did my walk. Stopped and did some grocery shopping. I really didn’t need any groceries but I wanted to talk to the checker that is always so nice to my mom and get an inkling what kind of things she likes. She treats Mom like a queen and is always giving Mom and I free things, I just wanted to return the favor with a surprise little gift. Looks like some green ear rings are in her future. Then I went and got my car washed. After the car wash I came home for lunch and some serious reading. Read about twenty chapters of the latest Catherine ICoulter novel, KNOCKOUT. Not a bad book, just weird. I also did a little housecleaning, some weeding, and some shoe shopping. Then the biggie. I went to a private showing of 2010 models at a local Ford dealership. It was by invitation only. They served food. I don’t really need a new car but I didn’t really want to cook dinner so it seemed like a match made in heaven. Plus anyone there could enter a drawing with the prize being a new 2010 Ford Taurus. I find out September 15 who won the car. I can only hope.
Less then a hundred people were there. They had one 2010 model of each car. They were all impressive. As much as I was impressed by the Fusion Hybrid I was even more impressed by the 2010 Taurus LTD. The feature I liked the most was the BLS System with Cross Traffic Alert. BLS means Blind Spot Information System. It warns drivers of vehicles approaching their blind spot by illuminating an indicator located in the exterior mirrors. BLS functions while driving and also alerts drivers of another vehicle entering the blind zone. Cross Traffic alert operates while the car is in reverse and warns the driver of approaching vehicles when backing out of a parking spot. The other feature that interested me was The Collision Warning With Brake Support. It is an active safety feature that utilizes radar technology to monitor traffic ahead and alerts the driver with a visual “heads-up” display on the windshield and audible warning tone which also mutes the audio system. When a slower vehicle is detected, Brake support goes into a three phase response to help the driver stop quickly. There are ton of other features that were enchanting,like the automatically adjustable seats, but the BLS and TCWWBS systems were my favorite.
OK, now that I have described the car that I am going to win on September 15, 2009, let’s play trivia.
What Rock Star Heartthrob played Ricky Mckinney in the movie Pay it Forward?
What Nobel Prize winning author served as an ambulance driver for the Italian Army during World War I?
Who was Time Magazine’s Man of The Year in 1939?
Who was Adam & Eve’s Third Son?
Where was the 1962 World’s Fair, also known as Century 21 held?
What do you think of the new car features? Hope you had a great day today filled with love, happiness, reading, and free food!
The second day I was a little lonely but I adjusted. Started out the morning with breakfast and reading The Oregonian. Then did my walk. Stopped and did some grocery shopping. I really didn’t need any groceries but I wanted to talk to the checker that is always so nice to my mom and get an inkling what kind of things she likes. She treats Mom like a queen and is always giving Mom and I free things, I just wanted to return the favor with a surprise little gift. Looks like some green ear rings are in her future. Then I went and got my car washed. After the car wash I came home for lunch and some serious reading. Read about twenty chapters of the latest Catherine ICoulter novel, KNOCKOUT. Not a bad book, just weird. I also did a little housecleaning, some weeding, and some shoe shopping. Then the biggie. I went to a private showing of 2010 models at a local Ford dealership. It was by invitation only. They served food. I don’t really need a new car but I didn’t really want to cook dinner so it seemed like a match made in heaven. Plus anyone there could enter a drawing with the prize being a new 2010 Ford Taurus. I find out September 15 who won the car. I can only hope.
Less then a hundred people were there. They had one 2010 model of each car. They were all impressive. As much as I was impressed by the Fusion Hybrid I was even more impressed by the 2010 Taurus LTD. The feature I liked the most was the BLS System with Cross Traffic Alert. BLS means Blind Spot Information System. It warns drivers of vehicles approaching their blind spot by illuminating an indicator located in the exterior mirrors. BLS functions while driving and also alerts drivers of another vehicle entering the blind zone. Cross Traffic alert operates while the car is in reverse and warns the driver of approaching vehicles when backing out of a parking spot. The other feature that interested me was The Collision Warning With Brake Support. It is an active safety feature that utilizes radar technology to monitor traffic ahead and alerts the driver with a visual “heads-up” display on the windshield and audible warning tone which also mutes the audio system. When a slower vehicle is detected, Brake support goes into a three phase response to help the driver stop quickly. There are ton of other features that were enchanting,like the automatically adjustable seats, but the BLS and TCWWBS systems were my favorite.
OK, now that I have described the car that I am going to win on September 15, 2009, let’s play trivia.
What Rock Star Heartthrob played Ricky Mckinney in the movie Pay it Forward?
What Nobel Prize winning author served as an ambulance driver for the Italian Army during World War I?
Who was Time Magazine’s Man of The Year in 1939?
Who was Adam & Eve’s Third Son?
Where was the 1962 World’s Fair, also known as Century 21 held?
What do you think of the new car features? Hope you had a great day today filled with love, happiness, reading, and free food!
Monday, July 13, 2009
My Lifetime Match
The answer to the Jeopardy quiz and today’s easy question appear at the end of today’s blog. The first day went well. I got at Mom’s and said my goodbyes and then waved as Mom, Sis, & B pulled out of the driveway at 7 AM this morning. The rest of the day: I picked up a work assignment at the firm that bought my business, then had a nice quiet lunch at home, ran to the post office to mail Mom’s handicap certificate to Utah (they called and let me know they forgot it), had a nice dinner at a restaurant while reading a book, and then took some tests on Facebook.
Here is the link to the test I took, “who is your lifetime match": http://apps.facebook.com/who-is-your-l-hihbbi/?start=1&target=home&_fb_q=1
This my result:
“William took the Who is your lifetime match? quiz and the result is They are born between September 24th - October 23rd
People better watch out! A true enchanter, you have several tricks up your sleeve to cast them under your spell. You're a regular player in the seduction game. Passionate and spirited, you fall in love in no time but you tire of it quickly. You need time to find the love of your life but when Cupid's arrow hits you straight in the heart, you give your body and soul to that lucky soul. You only have eyes for them and do anything to make them happy... in the beginning at least! You're not the kind of person who likes to receive orders and you make a point of demanding your independence. Overall, your love life doesn't stick to any kind of routine and your partners sometimes struggle to understand you. When you team up with these you will make a most delicious duo, they are laid-back and luscious which is completely contrary to the rough and tumble you.This twosome are so terrific for each other they're bliss to behold. Assertive you will teach them to stand up for themselves more and not act like doormats, so no one can stomp all over them. Togetherness can be terrific, everyone's unique in some way or another. Here there is often a strong physical or emotional attraction between you both. A lifetime match indeed!”
WOW. OK, so if there is anyone out there born during that time reading this and wants a free trip to Oregon to meet with a pleasant dude, email me! Of, course I must warn you that I’m nothing like described in the above blurb. Am I? The ones that know me does that sound like me? It doesn't to me.
And speaking of tests on Facebook the other test result was cheap pickup lines to use. Mine came out: "Do you have a map? I am lost in your eyes." Yea or Nay?
The answers to Jeopardy are in capital letters following the question. With this feature a motor vehicle’s power can be transmitted to both axles. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. After liberation form the Nazi forces in 1945, this nation declared its government the Fourth Republic. FRANCE. It’s a unit of four inches used in measuring the height of a horse. HANDS. Alcacus, Arion, Sappho, & Terpander were the 4 ports of this island. LESBOS. From the Greek for “four faces”, it is a geometric solid with four faces. TETRAHEDRON. FINAL JEOPARDY - CATERGORY IS FROM THE LATIN: Derived from the Latin for “to walk”, this word is often printed backwards to be seen in rear-view mirrors. AMBULANCE.
The winner was Pat with 12,000 points. DR also had 12,000 points but she slipped to second because she didn’t put her answers in the form of a question and Pat did. The shame of it all, Dr.
Today’s question. I was founded by two men, one from a city in Maine and one from a city in Massachusetts. Had the coin come up heads, I would be named Boston,. Google Pettygrove and Lovejoy and you may find the name of this West Coast City. What was I named when the coin came up tails?
If you haven’t found your match, I hope you do soon. And now that I know what pickup line to use and who to use it on, I may find my match soon!
Here is the link to the test I took, “who is your lifetime match": http://apps.facebook.com/who-is-your-l-hihbbi/?start=1&target=home&_fb_q=1
This my result:
“William took the Who is your lifetime match? quiz and the result is They are born between September 24th - October 23rd
People better watch out! A true enchanter, you have several tricks up your sleeve to cast them under your spell. You're a regular player in the seduction game. Passionate and spirited, you fall in love in no time but you tire of it quickly. You need time to find the love of your life but when Cupid's arrow hits you straight in the heart, you give your body and soul to that lucky soul. You only have eyes for them and do anything to make them happy... in the beginning at least! You're not the kind of person who likes to receive orders and you make a point of demanding your independence. Overall, your love life doesn't stick to any kind of routine and your partners sometimes struggle to understand you. When you team up with these you will make a most delicious duo, they are laid-back and luscious which is completely contrary to the rough and tumble you.This twosome are so terrific for each other they're bliss to behold. Assertive you will teach them to stand up for themselves more and not act like doormats, so no one can stomp all over them. Togetherness can be terrific, everyone's unique in some way or another. Here there is often a strong physical or emotional attraction between you both. A lifetime match indeed!”
WOW. OK, so if there is anyone out there born during that time reading this and wants a free trip to Oregon to meet with a pleasant dude, email me! Of, course I must warn you that I’m nothing like described in the above blurb. Am I? The ones that know me does that sound like me? It doesn't to me.
And speaking of tests on Facebook the other test result was cheap pickup lines to use. Mine came out: "Do you have a map? I am lost in your eyes." Yea or Nay?
The answers to Jeopardy are in capital letters following the question. With this feature a motor vehicle’s power can be transmitted to both axles. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. After liberation form the Nazi forces in 1945, this nation declared its government the Fourth Republic. FRANCE. It’s a unit of four inches used in measuring the height of a horse. HANDS. Alcacus, Arion, Sappho, & Terpander were the 4 ports of this island. LESBOS. From the Greek for “four faces”, it is a geometric solid with four faces. TETRAHEDRON. FINAL JEOPARDY - CATERGORY IS FROM THE LATIN: Derived from the Latin for “to walk”, this word is often printed backwards to be seen in rear-view mirrors. AMBULANCE.
The winner was Pat with 12,000 points. DR also had 12,000 points but she slipped to second because she didn’t put her answers in the form of a question and Pat did. The shame of it all, Dr.
Today’s question. I was founded by two men, one from a city in Maine and one from a city in Massachusetts. Had the coin come up heads, I would be named Boston,. Google Pettygrove and Lovejoy and you may find the name of this West Coast City. What was I named when the coin came up tails?
If you haven’t found your match, I hope you do soon. And now that I know what pickup line to use and who to use it on, I may find my match soon!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Going With The Flow, Playing It By Ear
The answers to yesterday's millionaire and a new game, Jeopardy, appears at the end of today’s blog entry. After some of your comments I’ve decided that the next two weeks I am going to go with the flow. I am also going play it by ear. Just exist and be ready for anything and everything! I actually started going with the flow yesterday. I am really appreciating my sister's efforts in getting mom to Utah and her willingness to take Mom for a couple of weeks.
Sis and her husband are a little short on funds due to his job loss and some mutual fund hits. I’m not doing all the great financially but am a lot better off then they are. I wanted to do a couple of things to make their trip both more enjoyable and less costly. I also wanted to do it in a such a way that they wouldn’t feel like I am giving them a handout. I got to thinking, that sister’s birthday is a couple of weeks away. so why can’t I give her some gifts early?
I thought a book on tape would help pass the time in the car, maybe it would make the trip more enjoyable. I wanted to select a book that Brother-in-law, Sister, and Mom would all like. B-I-l isn’t going to be enthralled with romance, the ladies aren’t going to be enthralled with man violent mysteries. The book I chose was TEN BIG ONES by Janet Evonovich. Should keep the ladies entertained with the two hot guys and R entertained with the cars blowing up. Last night we had dinner with T & B who wanted to say good-bye to Mom before she left. I gave the book to sister after dinner, together with a funny birthday card. She loved it!
Then to make the trip less expensive for them I got them a Best Western travel card. Usually when sister comes to visit they drive the distance from Salt Lake to here in one day, there is no motel expense. With mom the doctor advised breaking the trip up into two days which created an extra expense for sister. I found out where they were staying in Boise and did a gift card for the hotel there. Tonight is the bon voyage dinner for Mom. This is when I will give sister a serious birthday card together with the travel card.
I know it sounds weird but doing these two little things made me fell a part of the trip, made me feel better about Mom going, and helped with the doubts.
The answers to millionaire. It was really close but Pat and DR tied for first, Connie and Dona tied for second.
The Liberty Bell has a crack in it. The wives in THE STEPFORD WIVES were robots. Velma is the name of the girl with glasses in “Scoobydoo Where Are You?". And The Island of Bermuda is East of all the states mentioned but due East of South Carolina.
Today we will play Jeopardy. Like Millionaire I haven’t decided whether or not to include Jeopardy in the contest starting August 1, but if I do it will be similar in form to today’s game. Like Millionaire, I used the computer version of Jeopardy for the questions. And like the Millionaire taking me numerous times to get to the 32,000 level, it took me several times to accumulate enough money to get to the Final Jeopardy part of Jeopardy!
Here are the rules. I give the answer, you give the question. And your answers have to in the form of a question. There are five regular questions and one final jeopardy question. The regular questions will each have a point value. You don’t have to answer any question, you can skip a question if you so desire. If you get the question right you get the point value, if you get the question wrong the point value is subtracted from your score, if you skip the question you don’t get the point value nor is the point value subtracted from your score. I will designate one of the questions as “Double Jeopardy”, this question you can skip, or if you decide to answer it you can choose to receive the regular points for the question or double the regular points for the question. Again if you miss the question, the point total you chose will be subtracted from the score.
After the five regular questions, you will be given a final jeopardy question. You can choose the amount of points you want to win or lose, any where from 1 to 6,000 points.
OK. Let’s Play Jeopardy! Remember to structure you answers in the form of questions.
Category is Four.
400 Points:
With this feature a motor vehicle’s power can be transmitted to both axles.
800 Points:
After liberation form the Nazi forces in 1945, this nation declared its government the Fourth Republic.
1200 Points:
It’s a unit of four inches used in measuring the height of a horse.
1600 or 3200 Points, Double Jeopardy:
Alcacus, Arion, Sappho, & Terpander were the 4 ports of this island.
2000 Points:
From the Greek for “four faces”, it is a geometric solid with four faces.
FINAL JEOPARDY - CATERGORY IS FROM THE LATIN - YOU CHOOSE THE POINT VALUE ANY AMOUNT UP TO 6,0000 POINTS:
Derived from the Latin for “to walk”, this word is often printed backwards to be seen in rear-view mirrors.
So do you like to go with the flow or play it by ear?
Sis and her husband are a little short on funds due to his job loss and some mutual fund hits. I’m not doing all the great financially but am a lot better off then they are. I wanted to do a couple of things to make their trip both more enjoyable and less costly. I also wanted to do it in a such a way that they wouldn’t feel like I am giving them a handout. I got to thinking, that sister’s birthday is a couple of weeks away. so why can’t I give her some gifts early?
I thought a book on tape would help pass the time in the car, maybe it would make the trip more enjoyable. I wanted to select a book that Brother-in-law, Sister, and Mom would all like. B-I-l isn’t going to be enthralled with romance, the ladies aren’t going to be enthralled with man violent mysteries. The book I chose was TEN BIG ONES by Janet Evonovich. Should keep the ladies entertained with the two hot guys and R entertained with the cars blowing up. Last night we had dinner with T & B who wanted to say good-bye to Mom before she left. I gave the book to sister after dinner, together with a funny birthday card. She loved it!
Then to make the trip less expensive for them I got them a Best Western travel card. Usually when sister comes to visit they drive the distance from Salt Lake to here in one day, there is no motel expense. With mom the doctor advised breaking the trip up into two days which created an extra expense for sister. I found out where they were staying in Boise and did a gift card for the hotel there. Tonight is the bon voyage dinner for Mom. This is when I will give sister a serious birthday card together with the travel card.
I know it sounds weird but doing these two little things made me fell a part of the trip, made me feel better about Mom going, and helped with the doubts.
The answers to millionaire. It was really close but Pat and DR tied for first, Connie and Dona tied for second.
The Liberty Bell has a crack in it. The wives in THE STEPFORD WIVES were robots. Velma is the name of the girl with glasses in “Scoobydoo Where Are You?". And The Island of Bermuda is East of all the states mentioned but due East of South Carolina.
Today we will play Jeopardy. Like Millionaire I haven’t decided whether or not to include Jeopardy in the contest starting August 1, but if I do it will be similar in form to today’s game. Like Millionaire, I used the computer version of Jeopardy for the questions. And like the Millionaire taking me numerous times to get to the 32,000 level, it took me several times to accumulate enough money to get to the Final Jeopardy part of Jeopardy!
Here are the rules. I give the answer, you give the question. And your answers have to in the form of a question. There are five regular questions and one final jeopardy question. The regular questions will each have a point value. You don’t have to answer any question, you can skip a question if you so desire. If you get the question right you get the point value, if you get the question wrong the point value is subtracted from your score, if you skip the question you don’t get the point value nor is the point value subtracted from your score. I will designate one of the questions as “Double Jeopardy”, this question you can skip, or if you decide to answer it you can choose to receive the regular points for the question or double the regular points for the question. Again if you miss the question, the point total you chose will be subtracted from the score.
After the five regular questions, you will be given a final jeopardy question. You can choose the amount of points you want to win or lose, any where from 1 to 6,000 points.
OK. Let’s Play Jeopardy! Remember to structure you answers in the form of questions.
Category is Four.
400 Points:
With this feature a motor vehicle’s power can be transmitted to both axles.
800 Points:
After liberation form the Nazi forces in 1945, this nation declared its government the Fourth Republic.
1200 Points:
It’s a unit of four inches used in measuring the height of a horse.
1600 or 3200 Points, Double Jeopardy:
Alcacus, Arion, Sappho, & Terpander were the 4 ports of this island.
2000 Points:
From the Greek for “four faces”, it is a geometric solid with four faces.
FINAL JEOPARDY - CATERGORY IS FROM THE LATIN - YOU CHOOSE THE POINT VALUE ANY AMOUNT UP TO 6,0000 POINTS:
Derived from the Latin for “to walk”, this word is often printed backwards to be seen in rear-view mirrors.
So do you like to go with the flow or play it by ear?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Doubts
Not much to write about today except to say that I am having doubts about Mom taking off for Utah on Monday and I am not exactly sure what it is going to feel like Tuesday morning when I wake up completely alone and am responsible only for myself. Anyone have any pointers?
On to the games. Yesterday's answers:
Besides being illnesses what to Hepatitis, Jaundice, and Cirrhosis have in common?
Liver Diseases.
What to the characters Perry Maonite, Rock Quarry, and Cary Granite have in common?
Characters in The Flintstones.
What do a shoulder, A fan, and an ice skate have in common? All have blades.
What to Danke, Tack, & Grazie have in common? All mean thank you.
What to Joe Besser, Jo De Rita, and Shemp Howard have in common? The Three Stooges after the original ones.
Let's try a new game today, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Although I probably won't use this type of game in the contest starting August 1, 2009 if I do it will be something like I am going to try today. There will be four questions. Each will have a different dollar or point value level. In order to get credit for the second question, you have to get the first one right, in order to get credit for the second question you have to get the third one right and so on. You can drop out at any time and take the points but to get the maximum points you have to answer all four questions. If you miss any question you will drop back to the point value of the last question that you had right.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
4,000 Point Question
The Libery Bell has long possessed what well known flaw?
A. Being green in color.
B. Shaped as a square instead of being shaped as a bell.
C. Has a crack in it.
D. Is displayed upside down.
8,000 Point question:
In the movie, The Stepford Wives, what is unique about the wives in the movie?
A. They all appear nude during the entire movie.
B. They are robots.
C. They are sisters.
D. They are teachers.
16,000 point question:
On The Cartoon "Scoobydoo, Where are you?" the girl with the glasses is named:
A. Pat
B. Michelle
C. Thelma
D. Velma.
32,000 Point Question
The Island of Bermuda is directly East of what US State?
A. North Carolina
B. Florida
C. Georgia
D. South Carolina.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is coming back to prime time on ABC in August. You can be a contestant! Go to ABC.COM. Click on "shows", then click on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", then click on "the phone game". You answer a few quesstions, if you get them right you go into a pool of everyone that got them right that day and if they draw your name you get a free trip to New York, and we will all be watching if you get on!
May today be filled withg a million laughs for you!
On to the games. Yesterday's answers:
Besides being illnesses what to Hepatitis, Jaundice, and Cirrhosis have in common?
Liver Diseases.
What to the characters Perry Maonite, Rock Quarry, and Cary Granite have in common?
Characters in The Flintstones.
What do a shoulder, A fan, and an ice skate have in common? All have blades.
What to Danke, Tack, & Grazie have in common? All mean thank you.
What to Joe Besser, Jo De Rita, and Shemp Howard have in common? The Three Stooges after the original ones.
Let's try a new game today, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Although I probably won't use this type of game in the contest starting August 1, 2009 if I do it will be something like I am going to try today. There will be four questions. Each will have a different dollar or point value level. In order to get credit for the second question, you have to get the first one right, in order to get credit for the second question you have to get the third one right and so on. You can drop out at any time and take the points but to get the maximum points you have to answer all four questions. If you miss any question you will drop back to the point value of the last question that you had right.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
4,000 Point Question
The Libery Bell has long possessed what well known flaw?
A. Being green in color.
B. Shaped as a square instead of being shaped as a bell.
C. Has a crack in it.
D. Is displayed upside down.
8,000 Point question:
In the movie, The Stepford Wives, what is unique about the wives in the movie?
A. They all appear nude during the entire movie.
B. They are robots.
C. They are sisters.
D. They are teachers.
16,000 point question:
On The Cartoon "Scoobydoo, Where are you?" the girl with the glasses is named:
A. Pat
B. Michelle
C. Thelma
D. Velma.
32,000 Point Question
The Island of Bermuda is directly East of what US State?
A. North Carolina
B. Florida
C. Georgia
D. South Carolina.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is coming back to prime time on ABC in August. You can be a contestant! Go to ABC.COM. Click on "shows", then click on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", then click on "the phone game". You answer a few quesstions, if you get them right you go into a pool of everyone that got them right that day and if they draw your name you get a free trip to New York, and we will all be watching if you get on!
May today be filled withg a million laughs for you!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday Update
The answer to yesterday’s question which you couldn’t Google but still many of you got was my Mom. Today let’s do a few what do these three things have in common questions.
Besides being illnesses what to Hepatitis, Jaundice, and Cirrhosis have in common?
What to the characters Perry Maonite, Rock Quarry, and Cary Granite have in common?
What do a shoulder, A fan, and an ice skate have in common?
What to Danke, Tack, & Grazie have in common?
What to Joe Besser, Jo De Rita, and Shemp Howard have in common?
My update:
Event just attended: We had a family get together last night to celebrate my nephew’s daughter going off to Slovakia as an exchange student. We had a great time playing a game called “Catch Phrase”. The game has a circular thing that stores a timer and several phrases. You sit in a circle. Every other person in the circle is on a team, and the ones sitting next to them are on the other team. You hit the timer and then hit the button that brings up the catch phrase. You then have to give clues so members of your team can guess the phrase. As soon as your team member guesses the phrase you hand the circular thing to the person on your left, who then calls up the next phrase and gives clues. When time runs out a buzzer rings. You don’t want to be holding the circular thing when the buzzer goes off because if you are holding it when the buzzer rings your team loses. My sister, My Nephew’s Wife, My Niece, and I kicked butt. My mom did amazing. I will tell you folks this is very fun, often funny, challenging game!
Book I am reading: DAMAGE CONTROL by J.A. Jance
Books I just finished: FINGER LICKING FIFTEEN by Janet Evonovich, KIDNAPED by Phillip Margolin.
MovieS I just attended: PUBLIC ENEMIES. PROPOSAL
Movies I want to attend: HUNGOVER, THE HURT LOCKER, TAKING OF PELHAM.
Nights at Mom this week: None
Days at Mom’s: Three
Dinners and Lunches out or cooked for or with mom: Four
Number of times going to Mom’s for an emergency because something didn’t work like the telephone: One.
What I am watching on TV: TOP CHEF MASTERS, AMERICA’S GOT TALENT
Guilty Pleasure TV: THE SUPERSTARS, reruns of BOSTON LEGAL
Where Mom is going: Monday she is heading to Utah for two weeks. So I get a real break for the first time since 2001.
What I am looking forward to: Two weeks on my own.
What I have planned for the two weeks: Don’t have a clue. Maybe I will get up some morning and take off for parts unknown. Or maybe I will do a Staycation,
Acts of Kindness: I am sure there were some, I just don’t remember them.
That was my update. Now give me yours.
Besides being illnesses what to Hepatitis, Jaundice, and Cirrhosis have in common?
What to the characters Perry Maonite, Rock Quarry, and Cary Granite have in common?
What do a shoulder, A fan, and an ice skate have in common?
What to Danke, Tack, & Grazie have in common?
What to Joe Besser, Jo De Rita, and Shemp Howard have in common?
My update:
Event just attended: We had a family get together last night to celebrate my nephew’s daughter going off to Slovakia as an exchange student. We had a great time playing a game called “Catch Phrase”. The game has a circular thing that stores a timer and several phrases. You sit in a circle. Every other person in the circle is on a team, and the ones sitting next to them are on the other team. You hit the timer and then hit the button that brings up the catch phrase. You then have to give clues so members of your team can guess the phrase. As soon as your team member guesses the phrase you hand the circular thing to the person on your left, who then calls up the next phrase and gives clues. When time runs out a buzzer rings. You don’t want to be holding the circular thing when the buzzer goes off because if you are holding it when the buzzer rings your team loses. My sister, My Nephew’s Wife, My Niece, and I kicked butt. My mom did amazing. I will tell you folks this is very fun, often funny, challenging game!
Book I am reading: DAMAGE CONTROL by J.A. Jance
Books I just finished: FINGER LICKING FIFTEEN by Janet Evonovich, KIDNAPED by Phillip Margolin.
MovieS I just attended: PUBLIC ENEMIES. PROPOSAL
Movies I want to attend: HUNGOVER, THE HURT LOCKER, TAKING OF PELHAM.
Nights at Mom this week: None
Days at Mom’s: Three
Dinners and Lunches out or cooked for or with mom: Four
Number of times going to Mom’s for an emergency because something didn’t work like the telephone: One.
What I am watching on TV: TOP CHEF MASTERS, AMERICA’S GOT TALENT
Guilty Pleasure TV: THE SUPERSTARS, reruns of BOSTON LEGAL
Where Mom is going: Monday she is heading to Utah for two weeks. So I get a real break for the first time since 2001.
What I am looking forward to: Two weeks on my own.
What I have planned for the two weeks: Don’t have a clue. Maybe I will get up some morning and take off for parts unknown. Or maybe I will do a Staycation,
Acts of Kindness: I am sure there were some, I just don’t remember them.
That was my update. Now give me yours.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Lame Jokes & Google This
The answer to yesterday’s question was Loretta Young. Today’s who am I is titled “Google This” and appears at the end of the today’s blog entry.
Since my creative spirit seems to be on vacation I am doing lame jokes today. The following are from today’s Edge Column in The Oregonian. You can always read the Oregonian at Oregonlive.com:
Did you hear that a boat carrying red paint crashed with a boat carrying blue paint? Both crews were marooned.
A policeman stopped a man who was walking along with an alligator and ordered him to take him to the zoo at once. The next day the policeman saw the same man walking along with the same alligator. “I thought I told you to take the alligator to the zoo” “I did and today I am taking him to the movies.”
Then there was the man that named his two dogs Rolex and Timex. They were watchdogs.
Two jokes from http://www.ajokeaday.com/Clasificacion.asp?ID=22:
Jim and Mary were both patients in a Mental Hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom and stayed there. Mary promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled Jim out.
When the medical director became aware of Mary's heroic act he immediately orderedher to be discharged from the hospital as he now considered her to be mentally stable. When he went to tell Mary the news he said, "Mary, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged because since you were able to jump in and save the life of another patient, I think you've regained your senses. The bad news is Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself with his bathrobe belt in the bathroom. I am so sorry, but he's dead."
Mary replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry."
Next joke:
Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Police Officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, this driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!" So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies -- two in the front seat and three in the back -- wide eyed and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, Officer, I don't understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem? "Ma'am," the officer replies, you weren't speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers. Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly... Twenty-two miles an hour! "The old woman says a bit proudly. The State Police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that 22" was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error. But before I let you go, Ma'am, I have to ask... Is everyone in this car OK? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven't muttered a single peep this whole time, "the officer asks. Oh, they'll be all right in a minute officer. We just got off Route 119."
Now today’s question of the day:
I was born in 1916 and am still alive. I was married for over sixty years to my husband. We had three children, two boys and a girl. The eldest, my daughter is in real estate, but early in her career she was an editor of contracts for Hughes Aircraft. She just finished helping her own daughter finish a novel which an agent is currently shopping. My oldest son is an attorney although he us no longer in Oregon, he claimed fame there by being the first attorney to sue a rapist in “civil court” and win a judgment for the victim. My youngest son is also a professional and is probably the most loyal to me. My two eldest children are happily married but my youngest son has yet to meet a woman smart enough to snap him up. I’ve often said he would be the best spouse of my three children. I like to read and read many books a week. I also like to play games because like books they challenge my mind and keep me active. During my life I have been a teacher. Teaching all grades in a one room school house in South Dakota. I also worked with my husband in two of his business, a roofing company, and a hardware store. Not to mention I also helped my youngest son in his office, he often said I was the best help that he ever had. Before it became to painful for me to hold a paint brush I was a budding artist paintubg under the name Camilla, which is my middle name. While some museums wanted to display my work, I was just to embarrassed to display my art work because I just didn’t think it was good enough. I painted the following picture at age eighty and one of my sons proudly displayed it in his office. The picture is now proudly displayed in his home. I am stunned that he has been offered as much a two hundred dollars for it:
Google This! Who Am I?
Got any new jokes today? Do you like any of the above jokes? If so which one do you like best?
Since my creative spirit seems to be on vacation I am doing lame jokes today. The following are from today’s Edge Column in The Oregonian. You can always read the Oregonian at Oregonlive.com:
Did you hear that a boat carrying red paint crashed with a boat carrying blue paint? Both crews were marooned.
A policeman stopped a man who was walking along with an alligator and ordered him to take him to the zoo at once. The next day the policeman saw the same man walking along with the same alligator. “I thought I told you to take the alligator to the zoo” “I did and today I am taking him to the movies.”
Then there was the man that named his two dogs Rolex and Timex. They were watchdogs.
Two jokes from http://www.ajokeaday.com/Clasificacion.asp?ID=22:
Jim and Mary were both patients in a Mental Hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom and stayed there. Mary promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled Jim out.
When the medical director became aware of Mary's heroic act he immediately orderedher to be discharged from the hospital as he now considered her to be mentally stable. When he went to tell Mary the news he said, "Mary, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged because since you were able to jump in and save the life of another patient, I think you've regained your senses. The bad news is Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself with his bathrobe belt in the bathroom. I am so sorry, but he's dead."
Mary replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry."
Next joke:
Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Police Officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, this driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!" So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies -- two in the front seat and three in the back -- wide eyed and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, Officer, I don't understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem? "Ma'am," the officer replies, you weren't speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers. Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly... Twenty-two miles an hour! "The old woman says a bit proudly. The State Police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that 22" was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error. But before I let you go, Ma'am, I have to ask... Is everyone in this car OK? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven't muttered a single peep this whole time, "the officer asks. Oh, they'll be all right in a minute officer. We just got off Route 119."
Now today’s question of the day:
I was born in 1916 and am still alive. I was married for over sixty years to my husband. We had three children, two boys and a girl. The eldest, my daughter is in real estate, but early in her career she was an editor of contracts for Hughes Aircraft. She just finished helping her own daughter finish a novel which an agent is currently shopping. My oldest son is an attorney although he us no longer in Oregon, he claimed fame there by being the first attorney to sue a rapist in “civil court” and win a judgment for the victim. My youngest son is also a professional and is probably the most loyal to me. My two eldest children are happily married but my youngest son has yet to meet a woman smart enough to snap him up. I’ve often said he would be the best spouse of my three children. I like to read and read many books a week. I also like to play games because like books they challenge my mind and keep me active. During my life I have been a teacher. Teaching all grades in a one room school house in South Dakota. I also worked with my husband in two of his business, a roofing company, and a hardware store. Not to mention I also helped my youngest son in his office, he often said I was the best help that he ever had. Before it became to painful for me to hold a paint brush I was a budding artist paintubg under the name Camilla, which is my middle name. While some museums wanted to display my work, I was just to embarrassed to display my art work because I just didn’t think it was good enough. I painted the following picture at age eighty and one of my sons proudly displayed it in his office. The picture is now proudly displayed in his home. I am stunned that he has been offered as much a two hundred dollars for it:
Google This! Who Am I?
Got any new jokes today? Do you like any of the above jokes? If so which one do you like best?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Announcing A New Contest!
The answer to yesterday’s question is the amazing, lovable, and beautiful Audrey Hepburn. One of the hints in the blurb about Hepburn was about a movie, WAIT UNTIL DARK. For you younger ones if you haven’t seen that movie, go rent it for a night, put your kids to bed, pop some popcorn, snuggle up to your spouse on the couch, and don’t hold the popcorn on your lap because there is one scene in there that will cause you to jump and the popcorn will go flying. It is a movie without blood or bad language and despite that one of the most frightening movies that you will ever see.
I am announcing a new contest on The Dahn Report. It will start on August 1, 2009 at 7 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time and will end on August 5, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time. Anyone that has ever posted a comment on The Dahn Report since its inception or anyone that posts a comment on The Dahn Report between now and August 1, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time will be an eligible participant. Eligible participants will be allowed one entry and one entry only. Because this time only one entry is allowed the ante is upped. The winning entry will get to choose their $50 gift card from the following gift cards: Starbucks, Baja Fresh, Red Robin, Outback, Macy’s Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Home Depot. Second place will get to choose a $25 gift card from the aforementioned gift cards. The test will consist of thirty question among numerous subjects including BUT NOT LIMITED to trivia, who am I, where am I, what do these three things have in common, about items posted on The Dahn Report maybe even about things about me you have learned about me or other posters on The Dahn Report. Because the prize value has been upped the questions may very well be harder than they were on previous contests.
Today’s Who Am I? I was born in 1913 and died in 2000. I was born as Gretchen in Salt Lake City, Utah but at confirmation changed my name to Michaela. I did use the name Gretchen in my first film, but changed my name to an easier name to pronounce after a couple of films. After moving to California both of my sisters worked as child actresses. I won three Emmys, two Golden Globes, and one Oscar. The owner of my The Dahn Report did help prepare my tax return one year when he was working for a CPA firm in the Los Angeles area.
At times in my career I worked hard making sever or eight movies a year. Whitney Houston once starred in a remake of one of my movies. From 1953 to 1961 I starred in a television show that was titled with my name. My sweeping" trademark appearance at the beginning of each show was to appear dramatically in various high fashion evening gowns. She returned at the program's conclusion to restate to the viewer the moral of the story just seen. (My introductions and conclusions to my television shows, which were widely satirized at the time, are not rerun on television because I had it legally stipulated that they not be; because I didn't want to be seen in "outdated" wardrobe and hairstyles.)
I had an affair with the famous Clark during which I became pregnant. I hid the pregnancy at the time and had the baby in Europe. I said the child was adopted and she then took the last name of my second husband, Lewis. I also later had an affair with the actor that the owner of The Dahn Report’s father was often confused with. Spenser was well-known at the time and did several movies with the famous Kathryn.
I am the Godmother of Danny’s daughter, Marlo. After I retired from movies I dedicated my time to charity, often working together with my friend Jane Wyman, My daughter wrote a biography called UNCOMMON KNOWLEDGE, during which she states she didn’t know Clark was her real dad until 1958.
I died of ovarian cancer in Santa Monica, California in 2000. Who Am I?
May this be a winning day for all of you! Are you ready to have a contest that may include questions that you can’t Google?
I am announcing a new contest on The Dahn Report. It will start on August 1, 2009 at 7 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time and will end on August 5, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time. Anyone that has ever posted a comment on The Dahn Report since its inception or anyone that posts a comment on The Dahn Report between now and August 1, 2009 at 7 AM Pacific Daylight Time will be an eligible participant. Eligible participants will be allowed one entry and one entry only. Because this time only one entry is allowed the ante is upped. The winning entry will get to choose their $50 gift card from the following gift cards: Starbucks, Baja Fresh, Red Robin, Outback, Macy’s Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Home Depot. Second place will get to choose a $25 gift card from the aforementioned gift cards. The test will consist of thirty question among numerous subjects including BUT NOT LIMITED to trivia, who am I, where am I, what do these three things have in common, about items posted on The Dahn Report maybe even about things about me you have learned about me or other posters on The Dahn Report. Because the prize value has been upped the questions may very well be harder than they were on previous contests.
Today’s Who Am I? I was born in 1913 and died in 2000. I was born as Gretchen in Salt Lake City, Utah but at confirmation changed my name to Michaela. I did use the name Gretchen in my first film, but changed my name to an easier name to pronounce after a couple of films. After moving to California both of my sisters worked as child actresses. I won three Emmys, two Golden Globes, and one Oscar. The owner of my The Dahn Report did help prepare my tax return one year when he was working for a CPA firm in the Los Angeles area.
At times in my career I worked hard making sever or eight movies a year. Whitney Houston once starred in a remake of one of my movies. From 1953 to 1961 I starred in a television show that was titled with my name. My sweeping" trademark appearance at the beginning of each show was to appear dramatically in various high fashion evening gowns. She returned at the program's conclusion to restate to the viewer the moral of the story just seen. (My introductions and conclusions to my television shows, which were widely satirized at the time, are not rerun on television because I had it legally stipulated that they not be; because I didn't want to be seen in "outdated" wardrobe and hairstyles.)
I had an affair with the famous Clark during which I became pregnant. I hid the pregnancy at the time and had the baby in Europe. I said the child was adopted and she then took the last name of my second husband, Lewis. I also later had an affair with the actor that the owner of The Dahn Report’s father was often confused with. Spenser was well-known at the time and did several movies with the famous Kathryn.
I am the Godmother of Danny’s daughter, Marlo. After I retired from movies I dedicated my time to charity, often working together with my friend Jane Wyman, My daughter wrote a biography called UNCOMMON KNOWLEDGE, during which she states she didn’t know Clark was her real dad until 1958.
I died of ovarian cancer in Santa Monica, California in 2000. Who Am I?
May this be a winning day for all of you! Are you ready to have a contest that may include questions that you can’t Google?
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