Monday, April 30, 2007

FluffyButts!!

This is the rescue group from which I adopted my sweet Toby. FluffyButts is having an online auction, so check out the goods and perhaps place a bid on an item or two - the funds raised help rescue doggies from evil puppy mills or unfortunate life situations (like Toby's) and provide the critters a safe, loving environment & any needed medical care.

Who doesn't love a FluffyButt?


Fluffy Butts auction site

Thursday, April 26, 2007

I watched PBS!!

Yes, this does qualify as blogworthy news. I haven't watched 90 consecutive minutes of PBS since my childhood. I am aware that this is sad. Of course, back then I only had 4 channels to choose from. Yes, I mostly enjoy the immature toilet humor, sports and crime shows, but sometimes I try to be intellekchoouhl.

Last night I committed 1 1/2 hours of my life to viewing Bill Moyers Journal. For those who didn't watch it, I highly recommend it. "Buying the War" asks: How did the evidence disputing the existence of weapons of mass destruction and the link between Saddam Hussein and 9/11 go largely unreported?

"Four years after 'shock and awe,' the press has yet to come to terms with its role in enabling the Bush administration to go to war on false pretenses," says Moyers in the documentary.
And he concludes: "The American number of troops killed in Iraq now exceeds the number of victims on 9/11. We have been fighting there longer than it took us to defeat the Nazis in World War II. The costs of the war are reckoned at one trillion dollars and counting."

It was very interesting and at times so upsetting that it made my tummy hurt. (Please do keep in mind that at one point I was shopping for new ring tones - I suspected that I was the only person on Earth who was simultaneously watching Bill Moyers Journal AND listening to the Verizon Wireless version of Air Supply's "All Out of Love".)

The show's regular time slot will be Friday evenings (Jon Stewart is the guest 4/27). I am not really good at describing things, so much like my review of the 2005 movie 'Roll Bounce'...just watch it!

-P

Naps: "Can I get a size 9 please? Now, ahora"
Bernard: "Hey, calm down 'fro magnum!"

-Roll Bounce, at the skate counter

PS: Is it possible this is the only blog entry on earth mentioning both Bill Moyers and a 1970s-esque roller-skate jam/competition coming-of-age comedy? Probably not.

Friday, April 20, 2007

HAPPY 45TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!


45 years ago today, my parents got married. 45 years! Wow, that's a long time. Go buy some sapphires. Congratulations to Ma'n'Pa!!!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Drinking for Charity

There are many reasons one drinks alcohol. It could be to relax, socialize, it mixes well with food, alter reality due to one's sorrows...and it can also be for charity!! In Iowa, I drank for the American Heart Association via John's Grocery's BeerFest. Here in California, I drank for a group of charities: Surfrider Foundation, Wounded Warriors and Friends of Scott via Stay Classy.

The site was Pacific Beach "PB" - the location for a lot of my twenty-something imbibing. I visit PB often now, but usually to exercise and eat at my favorite place: Taco Surf. {I can't believe I have not posted here about Taco Surf yet!!} It was a nice day to be around thousands of people wearing the same t-shirt (one's ticket in to the various bars taking part in the pub crawl) and a lot of money was raised, but a drunkard twentysomething I am no longer. Thank goodness!

What made the day memorable (besides seeing Pali in rare form) was the cover bands! First up was The Cured. They were pretty good, but I am not sure why the Robert Smith guy was wearing a hockey jersey (???). Then, Hollywood U2. They were fun as well and the alcohol had really kicked in for most by this point. Last, and certainly not least. The topper of the day. My new most-favorite cover band: the all-female AC/DC representin' ThundHERstruck!! They totally rocked! It was fun to watch guys look up at them in enthusiastic admiration. I really want to see them again. If they come to your city, please pay whatever they charge. My civic duty is done.
-P
*
Pam Beesley: "I don't think it would be the worst thing if they let me go. Because then I might..."
[pauses]
Pam Beesley: "Its just, I don't think it's many girls' dream to be a receptionist. "
-The Office

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Coastal California Trip!

Hooray!

I have always wanted to drive up the coast of California - and regretted that I did not do it the first time I lived in CA. One more life journey completed!!


My pal Ali ("Pali" as she loathes to be called) and I drove from San Diego and stayed our first night at her generous friends' lovely home in Tustin (aka, "The OC - we saw several plastic surgery failures out in the wild!).


We then drove to Santa Barbara and enjoyed the amazing scenery (mountains, ocean, boats/harbor and delicious food!). We asked the locals for info regarding Oprah's Oprah-sized mansion in nearby Montecito, but had no success finding it.


We then continued our drive up the coast - we did encounter some fog, but that's okay. As Southern Californians, you have embrace the "whatever" attitude.




We spent our next night in San Luis Obispo. We had an early wake up time to tour the Hearst Castle at San Simeon (if you ever get the chance to tour Hearst Castle....do it!!) The coastal fog that we hoped would burn off, did not but Baby Bing (our wheels) got us there safely. The tour bus took us up, up, up and we soon were above the fog that crept up just to the coast. Hearst Castle is incredible! We learned about the pretty amazing architect, Julia Morgan, who designed the "ranch" with WRH. What a woman! I'll post pictures from Hearst Castle later...don't sue me for copyright infringement, man!


After the fun tour, amazing views and purchased gift shop goodies, we continued north along the 101 and enjoyed what views Mother Nature would grant us. The picture below shows Ali's lack of vertigo-induced heebeejeebees that I experience:

We eventually arrived in Carmel, the town Clint Eastwood used mayorize. Carmel loves its canines! We had afternoon tea and treats, petted about 100 dogs and briefly checked out the beach (it kinda looked like what one might see in San Diego, so...) We continued on to Monterey and enjoyed the rather touristy (hey, that's what we were!) Cannery Row. Our next stop...San Francisco!! We were fairly sleep-deprived and road- warrior-dirty, but we soldiered on and ate delicious kobe beef sliders and fancy-pants carnitas tacos with the beautiful, stylish types in the city of Coopers and Prius(es?), while wearing hoodies. The next day we enjoyed a wonderful brunch of dim sum w/my pal Henry and Pali's kind-sleeper-sofa-generous friend Brian. Then it was time to return to San Diego, the route via 5 south was much less scenic, but it got the job done. $3.39 per gallon of gas be damned!!

One more amazing photo from a great trip!
-P





Ralphie: "I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!" Mrs. Parker: "No, you'll shoot your eye out. "- A Christmas Story


RIP, Robert Clark