Friday, December 30, 2005

Auld Lang Syne

I guess we all have our own ways of ringing in the new year. Some of us will go out with friends or attend a party and some of us may just stay at home with our eyelids propped open to watch the ball drop on TV. Some folks will just head to bed around 10pm just to be awakend at midnight by rowdy neighbors!

For many years, the U.S. television networks have all had their own New Year's Eve telecasts. Remember Guy Lombardo? Yikes! He was a favorite of my grandparents. Yeah.....they really rocked on New Year's.

My favorite has been Dick Clark's Rockin Eve. He has been a fan favorite for at least 20 years. I am not really sure how long he has hosted the New Year's telecast but it seems that I don't remember too many years that didn't include Dick Clark. With the exception of last year when he suffered a stroke and millions of us thought we would have a stroke too as we endured Regis Philbun for the evening.

This year the show will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark. According to news reports, this is Dick's big "handoff" as host of the yearly telecast. Ryan Seacrest currently hosts the ever popular "American Idol". Now, I don't know about you, but have you seen Dick Clark since he has had his stroke? I am envisioning a "Weekend at Bernie's" type of a broadcast. Dick just standing there and Ryan swinging his arm around and lip syncing for him. Yes......it is a pitiful image.

Now I have not seen a picture of Dick since the stroke. I don't think one has been publicized. Recent news reports say that Dick will not be in a wheelchair during the broadcast and his voice is not quite what it once was but he does sound like Dick Clark. How reassuring is that?

I will be waving a grand farewell to 2005 tomorrow night. Here's hoping that Dick Clark makes it through the broadcast!

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Picture of the Month


Cosmo - Mr. January - Playcat of the Month
(Susan R. - proud parent)

Ode to Rosie

haiku haiku
what does it
mean
to u

so simple
elementary
really

miss ur
verbose
opinions

now left
with
riddle
conversations

life is busy
for u
i am sure

no need
for u
to be
demure

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Christmas Returns

So how did you do with your Christmas presents? Were your gifts met with bewildered looks? Questionable stares? Better yet.........."Oh I absolutely love this! Where did you get it"? In other words......I would absolutely love to take this back to that store because this gift is obviously suited for someone else.

Ah yessss....it happens. And it did happen to me. My father didn't like the gas card I chose for him because his gas station allegiances run deeper than I imagined. My mother was also a bit disappointed with the flannel pajamas I gave her because "Small" seemed to be a bit large. Arguing the point that pajamas do not normally run in "Petites" was a bit more of a discussion than I wanted to have at that point.

I am making notes of this on my blog this evening so I have a written history for next year. For better or for worse, it starts all over again in 365 days.

May I grow a little wiser in 2006.............

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Christmas shopping

I don't know about you but I always struggle with gift buying for a few of my relatives. Either they already "have everything" or I simply cannot gauge just what they would like for a present.

My 75 year old father is a tough one for me. Unlike Tom Cruise, he is no couch jumper. I have found that the less my father says when he opens his present the more he likes it. It has taken me years of buying the wrong present to figure out this reaction. This I know..........hats are not popular but 25 inch TV's are a hit.

Since I cannot buy him a television every year, nor does he need one every year, I think I have managed to find at least one present he will definitely use - a gas card. Most everyone I know, including my father, drives a car. With the price of gas these days (anywhere from 2.14 to 2.25 a gallon in Cincinnati) I figure this will surely be received with little or no reaction which means....he absolutely loves it. I did go out on a limb a buy one more item for him so I feel like I will be relatively successful this year.

So for those of us who still have to shop.......my suggestion to you is to go the easiest route. Grab a gift card for food or gas. The one thing you can be sure of is that we all have to eat and most of us still have to drive.

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 19, 2005

Between the Uprights

WHO DEY!

I know what I have to say will come as a shock to some of you, so I will give you a moment to grab a glass of water or the nearest chair.

The Bengals are going to the playoffs!

Yes....I know it is unbelievable but after 15 years my hometown team is heading into post-season play! It has made things so much more exciting around Cincinnati these days! It is certainly a great day to be a football fan in Cincinnati!

Granted......this is our first year back to the playoffs. Enthusiasm is running high and our guard is up even higher! Nevertheless.......all the little "who deys" in "Whodeyville" are hopeful and excited about the future!

By the way...........for my friends out there who don't know the Who Dey chant. Let me end this note with the proper send off......

Who Dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?

Monday, December 12, 2005

Knockin' on the closet door

This weekend, as my companion and I were driving around town listening to Christmas tunes on the radio, a Barry Manilow Christmas tune came on. This got me thinking.

Why doesn't he come out of the damn closet?

I mean really. Is there anyone in the gay and lesbian community who doesn't think he is the "Queen" of the syrupy ballads? It calls to mind the sad life of Liberace. By no means do I want to read about his demise and watch some 26 year old boyfriend surface to tell us all about the life he had with him. Can you see that happening? Egads

Now, I don't mind Barry Manilow's music. God knows, I sang my share of his songs in high school chorus. He has had great success worldwide. However, let's think about some of his songs. Is "Mandy" really "Randy"? What about that "Weekend in New England" (at some fabulous B & B)?
Is there a closeted hidden meaning in there somewhere? Should I be chuckling out loud when my mother hums "Can't Smile Without You"?

Barry.......listen up babe.....its easy. Melissa did it. Ellen did it. Come on out of the closet........the water is fine and little old ladies will still come to see you in Vegas.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Between the Uprights!

How about those Cincinnati Bengals! They faced one of their toughest competitors this past Sunday when they faced the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals lost their last meeting with the Steelers in Cincinnati several weeks ago. Yesterday, they beat them in Pittsburgh 38-31 reinforcing the fact that they have moved away from the "Bungles" of old.

Many of you may not realize what kind of game this was to the Bengals and the Cincinnati fans. The Steeler fans have been serving it up to Cincinnati faithful for the last five years with their taunts, jeers and overall bad behavior.

Today, the fans in Cincinnati couldn't be more happy about the win. Happy is probably an understatement. The Bengals are finally playoff bound! The first time in 15 years.

WHO DEY!