One, Two, Cha Cha Cha

My love affair with "Dancing With the Stars" has only grown stronger this season. Although I question their definition of a star. How many of these names were truly familiar to you before the season started:
Lisa Rinna, George Hamilton, Giselle Fernandez, P Miller, Tia Carrere, Kenny Mayne, Tatum O'Neal, Stacy Keibler, Drew Lachey, and Jerry Rice

I scored 5 1/2 out of a possible 10.
Once they said Master P, I claimed the extra half point.

And yes, I'm making the assumption that you are watching the show because I consider you all to be enlightened individuals and how can you hearts not beat in a syncopated rhythm with each performance?

It's the show that makes me think, "I can do that" and then actually try to during commercials. "Skating With Celebrities" has a similar impact, but the old socks-on-the-kitchen-floor attempts fall a little flat. I've got bruises. The thing is, I think I could learn to dance, but inhibitions won't let me. What's up with that?

So, after disks 3-6 of House: Season 1, my Netflix que includes Ballroom Dancing Basics, Salsa Dancing Guide for Beginners, and CardioSalsa. Unfortunately there isn't a large selection of dance instructionals available, but maybe it's enough to cure my curiosity.

Anybody wanna cha-cha with me?

Hollow Bones

I am not a big fan of birds. In Florida there are descendants of a swan who must live with the knowledge that their ancestor was a child molester. A 4-year-old should be able to enjoy a playdate by the lake without fearing for her Osh-Kosh behind.

I'm over it now tho. Really.

My grandmother is also afraid of birds, to such a degree that the offer of a trip to "go feed the ducks" makes her toss her wallet and keys at the madman who makes the threat. Yet this is also the woman who loves littering her yard with bird baths and houses. I guess a screened in porch offers a sense of security.

Today however, I was charmed silly by a bird. While enjoying a scoop of Ben&Jerry's Caramel Chunk on a bench outside the shop, I watched a pigeon wander into the store and up to the counter, tilt it's head up and appear to read the menu. Deciding he needed to watch his figure, he declined to order, instead taking a loop around the place, inspecting the floor for crumbs and coming back out for a drink from a dripping faucet.

If I'd had my camera with me, he would have simply sat there picking ticks out of his feathers.

Maybe If I Turned It Upside Down....?

I could write 'Pay Bills' in black Sharpie I think.

Listen To Me People

I'm sure I've told you before, but you need to go check out Jennifer Crusie.

Her books
Her website
Her blog
And the blog she shares with Bob Mayer

The book she has coming out in April was written with Bob, with alternating chapters. You get some character driven stuff, and some action/adventure mayhem, with love and man-eating alligators and plenty of snark.

I looked at Bob when we walked in and said, "Does any of this ever blow your mind?" He said, "What?" I said, "You're from the Bronx and I'm from Wapakoneta, Ohio, and we're meeting with an image consultant in a mansion by the ocean. That doesn't seem strange to you?" He said, "Have a root beer. There are cheese sticks in the fridge." - from her blog

"Finally!" says a tap-dancing Jonathan Franzen

Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun, January 13th

Dreamy Sigh

Cary Grant - be still my heart.

I've discovered the classics.
My God, if I could get my dialogue to ping-pong like that....

That Wasn't Me! I Swear It!

In preparation for car buying I spent a few weeks pouring over my credit reports and FICO scores and all that fun stuff. I'm still waiting for my credit score to bypass my SAT verbal, because let's face, which one is more important once you're out of school?

(I could turn this into a post about how numbers define us, but that wasn't my original intent. Hmm.... which way to go from here? Eh, I'm tired, I'll go with the short post.)

As an upstanding citizen, I have no unpaid parking tickets, overdue library books or overdue toll fees. Um, that I know of. And luckily, none that the credit agencies know of either. If I were living in Chicago, Miami, or Portland for instance, it could be another story. Some major metropolitan areas are using collection agencies to chase down city-owned fines. And if the people don't pay up, their credit report can suffer.

That's right. Every unfair ticket, accidental toll booth drive-thru and three week late reference book could haunt you the next time you want to sign your life away on the dotted line of a credit loan. A library fine can cost you up to 100 points on your credit score. A HUNDRED POINTS?!

No, you shouldn't be late in the first place. And yes, if you are, then you should pay the fees in a timely manner. But my God, is $10.80 really worth ruining someone's chances of getting a home loan? Do thieves and car jackers get penalties on their credit reports? Well, they should.

"I'm sorry Mr. Smith, your credit report shows you kept Sex for the Romantically Challenged and How to Get a Date in 30 Seconds or Less for 12 weeks. Your credit score is only 570 now."

"How can I ever put Chapter 8: Back Seat Booty to use without a new car?!"

Expletive Deleted

It was the tiniest bump, so subtle it took a few moments before I asked "Did someone just hit us?"

The answer to that question? Yes. Yes, someone did hit my beautiful new car while I was stopped at a red light. Yes, someone in a dilapidated old Datsun work truck with a metal cage around the grille hit my car and left a dent.

I cursed like a sailor and cried like a baby. It's tiny, barely noticeable, but it's right smack dab in the middle of my 4 DAY OLD bumper. I haven't even taken pictures yet for bragging rights.

The first one's the hardest, but could it also be the only?

Hey Mr. DJ

Pandora.com

If you knew about this and didn't share, then we need to have a talk.

How about A Rate instead?

"Think of it this way: You are 'a rat' to separate. There's a rat in separate, not an e rat. So one who separates is a rat."

I'm pretty sure my English teacher in junior high had some unresolved divorce issues.

Septuagenarian Composer Labor Laws

Is it just me, or does John Williams deserve some time off?
Not that I'm complaining, I do enjoy a movie scored by him, I just feel bad for the guy. Luckily a lot of these were pieces from the movie score, otherwise I think Steven Spielberg should be ashamed of himself. Lucas too.

Munich (2005)
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Designing the Enemy: Tripods and Aliens (2005) (V)
The H.G. Wells Legacy (2005) (V)
Scoring 'War of the Worlds' (2005) (V)
Steven Spielberg and the Original 'War of the Worlds' (2005) (V)
'War of the Worlds': Characters - The Family Unit (2005) (V)
'War of the Worlds': Previsualization (2005) (V)
'War of the Worlds': Production Diaries, East Coast - Beginning (2005) (V)
'War of the Worlds': Production Diaries, East Coast - Exile (2005) (V)
'War of the Worlds': Production Diaries, West Coast - Destruction (2005) (V)
'War of the Worlds': Production Diaries, West Coast - War (2005) (V)
'War of the Worlds': Revisiting the Invasion (2005) (V)
We Are Not Alone (2005) (V)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) (themes)
War of the Worlds (2005)
"Science of Star Wars" (2005) (mini) TV Series
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005/II) (VG)
'Star Wars': A Musical Journey (2005) (V)
Star Wars: Revelations (2005) (V) (from "Star Wars)
The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV) (from "ET") (uncredited)

Guilt Is Seeping From My Pores

I am a negligent blogger. An absentee blogger.

That's what happens when you spend several hours each night doing research for car buying. I think it paid off, because I am the owner of a brand new Toyota Corolla! I'm still slightly nauseous from the whole buying experience, but she is beautiful, and safe - I've got so many airbags they may have put one in the trunk.

So, with a long list of blogging ideas and some time off this weekend, I hope to show my blog I still care and am worthy. Especially since all my entertainment money for the next 5 years is sitting in the driveway. A deluge of blog material coming soon!

Once I get the insurance taken care of.
Ugh. Think I have an ulcer.