I have to create a new blog since I can't see any comments past a certain amount [aka blog comments are still bugged].
Here is part 2!
I have a couple of things on my desk and drawers I am willing to get rid of so check back in the comments over the next week for little things here in there! Check the comment for the latest.
Some people were confused last time. Just be the first to say YOU LIKE... whatever I mention. That's all I am looking for, really. 
I still like this story about the first space rendezvous (between Frank Borman and Jim Lovell in Gemini 7 and Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford in Gemini 6) and the first musical instruments ever to be played in space. Schirra and Stafford smuggled some little bells and a harmonica onto their spacecraft. After the historic rendezvous on December 15 1965, Stafford reported seeing a mysterious object that looked like a satellite in a polar orbit, then he said the pilot of the Command Module was wearing a red suit and he and Schirra played Jingle Bells on their smuggled instruments. And here is another piece of trivia about Gemini 7: a CapCom played I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus for the crew one day because Lovell's daughter Barbara requested it (apparently it was supposed to encourage him to come home soon).
I tend not to discuss local news in this blog, mostly because 90% of my readers aren't from Chicago or the outlying suburbs, but there is something that has been dwelling on my mind:
We Downers Grove residents tend to associate the fourth weekend in June with Heritage Fest. Launched in 1982 to celebrate the town's sesquicentennial, Heritage Fest is a three-day party held on the streets of downtown Downers. To some degree, it's a miniature version of the Taste of Chicago; there's carnival rides, live music, and all sorts of delicious yet nutritionally-challenged cuisine. It's a cherished community event and a profitable one to boot, so I was quite shocked to learn that the village had cancelled Heritage Fest for 2010.
I first heard about the cancellation on Facebook about two weeks ago, thinking that this was some goofy rumor. Early last week, however the decision to skip Heritage Fest for a year --and maybe more-- became a reality. Apparently the village has a $4.5 million budget shortfall, and something had to give. (Yes, the population of DG is just under 49,000, but we're still considered a village for zoning purposes.) For a generation of Downers Grove residents who have expected Heritage Fest every June like a morning sunrise, it's as shocking as it is a sad indictator of the economy. As this article implies, the tourism that Hertiage Fest brought to Downers Grove and the sales tax revenue it generated will be deeply missed. The village council has left the door open to private sponsorship or even a fundraiser, though I'm doubtful that anyone will chip in the amount of money needed to keep the festival going.
In the end, losing Heritage Fest may not necessarily be the end of the world. The success of our festival inspired other towns in the western Chicago suburbs to launch their own hometown fiestas, or if they already had one, to at least up the ante. I guess driving two towns over for elephant ears will make do for a year, though it won't feel the same. Plus, it's not like this was the only event that the village council chose to cancel; our annual ice sculpture contest was benched for 2010, and the National Cycling Championships will also have to find a new home next year. Nevertheless, it's a depressing sign of the times when nobody can afford to have fun. Then again, maybe God is punishing the village for booking Foghat for the 2007 fest.
Next week: the year in music, 2009.
One of the joys of running, especially through a town, is there's always something different to find: an old hat or scarf discarded, money, new graffiti. Sadly, even new vandalism even makes the list. But then there's unexpected things, as happened this Saturday morning. As I strode along a shiny, laminated piece of paper caught my eye. I bent over to pick it up to discover it was someone's INS-issued Resident Alien ID card. They're actually so low-tech as to look phony. Anyway, good luck Felipe Ixmata Ajtzalam, hope its loss doesn't cause you too much trouble.
I also decided it was time to get a new harness for Baxter for his walks into town. He gets so excited, especially when he knows he's near a place that puts out dog treats, that he tugs so mightily that we often get home for me to find he's got a few bloody chafes from the friction, and then he has scabs for days afterwards. I'd seen a friend on Facebook have pictures of their dogs in a mesh-type harness that also has tons more surface area to spread out the force from struggling. So, I took him to a new dog store in town and got him fitted, and I think it'll be a good $22 investment. He was perfectly happy to pose with it when we got home, especially since I also let him pick out a toy while we were there and the owner tosses in a little bag of liver biscotti with every purchase.
I've moved back to one of my favorite gaming franchises, Ratchet & Clank and their new A Crack in Time installment. You can always count on the series for a strong performance that never strays far from what's made it a success (remember how Jak & Daxter took but one sequel to ruin itself?), but always adds enough little quirks to make it different enough to want to keep coming back. I've played several hours, and Ratchet and Clank are still separated. The time-manipulation mechanic Clank has is fun, between being able to record and playback yourself (such as open a door with a pressure switch) while you then are able to do something you otherwise could not (like go through the now open door). Given all the destruction the game often focuses on, his power of smacking broken items so that time reverses and they fix themselves is also a neat twist. The spacecraft controls have taken some getting used to, but all-in-all I'm very happy with the game, which as usual pokes fun at videogame and sci-fi tropes, and is bright and shiny enough for a child to enjoy, but set to 'hard' difficulty is not a cake-walk for an adult.
That's all for today. Thanks for reading, everybody!
We're meeting with my husband's family on Friday for our Christmas celebration. His sister that moved to Florida will be here. She hasn't been here for Christmas since she moved a few years ago.
I wanted to show you this list: AOL's Best TV Shows of the 2000s. See if you agree.
Doubt
I ask you, will your heart know sorrow
If I'm driven from this place,
Or will you shrug, indifferent
To the loss when my endurance fails?
Will keen edged regret make you bleed
From the raw hole my absence tears,
Or will casual disregard fill you up
When I'm too feeble to fend off care?
Will you taste bitter tears-
Not just your own, but mine as well,
Or will you laugh dry eyed
As I stumble brokenly away?
And will the fact that I doubt you,
Both in justice, and in pity,
Wound your heart as deeply
As your words have wounded mine?
The Puppeteer
It must be lonely where you live-
The puppet master who makes us dance
To feed your delight in life's game,
Only, when weary, to be discarded
Like the broken toys of childhood left behind
When a newer, brighter thing shines.
Sometimes in your play you prompt us to speak,
Your lips moving in time with ours,
Manipulated into a sameness of mind
Which does nothing to prove our individuality.
But tell me, don't our lauds ring hollow
When they are only what you tell yourself?
And yet if we don't, but criticize instead,
Your puppet's unexpected voice is perplexingly vexing!
You know what really yanks my chain?
Lots of things, actually. But my big beef for 2009 is the number of neglected guides sitting under inactive editors. It seems that some people are keener on acquiring guides than they are on looking after them.
It's not a question of being MIA. Editors who simply stop visiting are eventually dismissed under the ReportMIAEditor protocol. Some editors are occasional visitors, not logging on often enough to meet their obligation to consider submissions within seven days, but often enough to avoid sanction. That means unseemly delays while we wait for the apprval of submissions, but thar's only really inconvenient when a show is currently airing.
Some editors, whether occasional or frequent visitors to the site, seem to have stopped submitting to guides they edit, often on the day they were awarded the editorship. That may be fair enough for guides to old shows that are substantially complete, but there are many guides to currently-airing or recently-ended shows that are in a very sorry state.
I do a lot of credit consolidation work and this prompts me to visit a number of guides each week. A surprising number of recently-added guides to recently-aired shows have no editors. Elsewhere, editors preside over guides to older shows that are no more than skeletons, despite the ready availability of the information needed to knock the guides into shape; guides to currently-airing shows that haven't had an episode guide added in months; plagiarised, mis-spelled and synopsis-free episode guides; guides for which no writer, director or cast have been added since the current editor took over. For good or ill, it has long been the case that the presence of an editor appears to act as a deterrent to potential contributors, many of whom apparently prefer to submit to editorless guides.
The activities of some editors has certainly put me off submitting to guides they edit. Those who reject valid submissions, post or approve plagiarised synopses, add episodes that don't meet the two out of three criterion, add "coming soon" summaries, add show stars but not guests, or just the odd guest, to episodes. I've been holding back from carrying out essential repair work on many of these guides in the hope that someday, TV.com staff would enforce the Problem Editor protocol. It seems that no amount of transgression merits any kind of sanction, however.
Happily, I've just completed the latest phase of work on guides that I edit. I've still to add some production credits to some, and to sort cast and crew lists for others, but I'm happy to let that duty take a back seat while I do grunt work on some of the neglected guides to British shows. Shows like... Can I mention them here? The editors in question know who they are, and which guides I mean. You'll see a lot more in the way of submissions from me from now. Enjoy!
Just months after Guiding Light went off the air, word comes out today that As the World Turns will go off the air in September, 2010. I have never really been that big a fan of ATWT, but it is so sad to see another soap go off the air. The industry is slowly dying and it makes me sad!
I still miss the shows that have gone off the air, Santa Barbara, Another World, Passions, Sunset Beach, Ryan's Hope, Loving/The City, Guiding Light....!
Expect to see some exclusive photos from the taping here on my blog that no one else will have.
Watch this space!
~~~~~
Rob Spera directing "Risky Business" with Jim Clemente advising (lower right corner).
~~~~~
So it is that time of year when we already have enough going on, and articles like this one remind me of the pile of work on my desk. Backed up as usual on my books I really need to get motivated, but I want to get my Christmas shopping done first.
Speaking of Christmas, the tree is up...house is decorated...and shopping is about 50% complete. Several things arrived today via FedEx while others arrived at the gates of hell using the site to store option. The less time I spend in there the happier I will be.
We have had to involve the local police in a few matters around the liquor store. We had a shoplifter, with some help we got her identified. Found out that she was also wanted by Walmart for shoplifting there. We also have a rash of kids (college and local) that think it is cool to try to buy using a fake ID. Well my motto is: you fake it, I take it!! So this year we have turned several over to the police. It would be really nice if they would actually do something about them.
Ok guys I am gonna jet, I have lots to do. Enjoy!!
Later Taters!!
Stu...
I finally made it! I become the editor to The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show . Just in right time prior to this year's show, which will be aired on CBS this Tuesday, 10/9c p.m. Here is some sneak peak for you:
THE VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW 2009
PART 1 -- STAR TROOPER
The show starts with a performance of Black Eyed Peas and Fergie rocks the stage.
Star Trooper represents a sci-fi themed group of lingerie.
Alessandra Ambrosio in pink latex.
Selita Ebanks on high heels.
Liu Wen, the first Asian Model ever on VS.
Miranda Kerr
PART 2 -- ALL ABOARD
This part is about clas.sy travel sty.le
Marissa Miller showcases the $3 million Harlequin Fantasy Bra, which is studded with 2900 diamonds and 22 rubies.
Doutzen Kroes on travel.
Ana Beatriz Barros
New VS Angel Chanel Iman. Will that be her signature pose?
PART3 -- ROMANTIC JOURNEY
This part shows glamorous lingerie.
Alessandra Ambrosio
Marissa Miller
New VS Angel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Doutzen Kroes
Miranda Kerr Front
Miranda Kerr Back
Finale of Romantic Journey
PART4 -- PINK
Colourful collection of VS for younger customers
Behati Prinsloo
Chanel Iman
VS New Face Lindsay Ellingson
PART5 -- ENCHANTED FOREST
Nature themed part of the show...
... is opened by Heidi Klum! Does she look like, if she has given birth to her fourth child one month ago?
VS New Face Candice Swanepoel
Izabel Goulart always lovely
Doutzen Kroes
Ale's Pose
WATCH VICTORIAS SECRET FASHION SHOW ON CBS DECEMBER 1, 10/9c p.m.
I made homemade cranberry sauce, which was a big hit. I took the recipe off a sugar box and used half the amount of sugar. It was so sweet that I can't imagine using any more. Do the people who write the recipes even taste the results?
... yes, I do still exist, I just don't blog anymore.
This morning I stumbled upon a couple of things that got me very excited. Feast your eyes below...
1. So, yesterday we were given the good news that Torchwood looks set to return for a fourth season next year and it seems that John Barrowman (who plays Captain Jack Harkness) has got so excited he's done a little celebratory dance -- to Beyonce's Single Ladies. OK, so maybe it wasn't to celebrate the show's return but it's still pretty darn funny...
2. The Sun reported this morning that Queen musicians Brian May and Roger Taylor are going to perform on The X Factor with the remaining contestants this Sunday. Apparently they're going to play Bohemian Rhapsody while the contestants sing. Oh. My. Days. Much as I dislike the group singing bits, that's going to be amazing, surely? I guess I will tune again after all. Who's with me?
For non us users here is a link to the chat so you can read it.
http://www.tv.com/story/18880.html?tag=main;announcements
The Prisoner remake begins this weekend on AMC. The buzz is that Ian MacKellan is absolutely brilliant. When isn't he . You can view the preview PrIsOnEr. I loved the original cult cla$$ic from the 60's with Patrick McGoohan so I hope they live up to the high expectations. There are so many remakes on both the big and small screens it's mind boggling. Another series in the works is Alien Nation set to come out in 2010 on SyFy. I think with the success of V that there will be more shows revisited.
For the big screen there are so many reworkings of successful films that one wonders where all the originality went to.
The A-Team is arriving with Liam Neeson as Hannibal and Bradley Cooper as Templeton (remember him as Will Tippin from Alias). I'm looking forward to Clash of the Titans, I loved the 1981 original and the trailer for the remake is amazing. TITANS Liam Neeson is in this one too he plays Zeus. Also remakes of Poltergeist, Dune, Tron, Nightmare on Elm Street, Robocop even Short Circuit ... whooa flashback to the 80's or what.
On the series' front Eastwick has gone bye bye, nothing like vultures circling is there. House's mind has some interesting people in it!
So how do you feel about remakes vs originals? Do you have any that you would like to see redone? Or are you totally against them? I don't mind them as long as they are well done. Unfortunately there are some that should be left alone.
Once again, it has been a while Sorry about that, but I figure most people really aren't that interested in the minutia of my everyday life. Really, it's pretty boring - get up at o'dark hundred, shower, dress, pack lunch, make coffee, collect the bits for my bag'o'tricks, walk the dog, go to work, come home, walk the dog, have something resembling food (occasionally challenging, considering cooking for one it a bit of a pain), walk the dog at least once more, fall into bed, then wash, rinse and repeat for the rest of the week 
See? Pretty boring, no?
Having bored you to tears with the monotony of my days, I do have to admit that there have been some new and exciting things going on I got another cat!
His name is Milo, I was told he's about five years old (though my vet said that once a cat reaches maturity age is difficult to tell, but we stick with five years just for the sake of argument) and he's a rescue. He was found either abandoned or as a lost stray and was taken in by a shelter who cleaned him up and put him up for adoption. When I saw him, someone had already paid his fee in the hopes that he would be taken home by the end of the day Enter me He's a sweetie, he really is. He's been neutered and declawed, so someone at some point loved him, and his only issue was that he's seriously underweight. We're working on the weight issue with a combination of kitten food and regular kibble (Jakjak loves it! little pig that he is) and he's been eating regularly for a couple weeks now. There is something going on with him, he's developed an eye infection which is proving annoyingly tenacious, but hopefully we'll get that cured before I wind up owing the vet too much money.
Other than that, I suppose there hasn't been that much new and exciting. There are a few new shows I'm watching, though none have been entertaining enough to write a rant/review of them. I've even managed to get about 6 eps behind on Supernatural, though that was because I had missed the first ep and had to go find it. I have been recording all my shows in HD this season - figured since I'm paying for the HD pvr box I might as well get my money's worth, and boy, some of the shows are just so pretty, CSI:Miami in particular. I haven't noticed a particular colour theme in any of the eps so far, but the colours are all so pretty maybe I'm just missing it.
I got a new breadmaker yesterday.
I like bread, but I don't eat much of it and when I buy it it often ends up going mouldy, even when I keep it in the fridge. So, I hauled out my old breadmaker so I could make my bread on demand and it stuffed up two loaves in a row. Considering it was about 15 years old, I'm not really surprised that it wasn't working so well anymore. So, it just happened that my grocery store was having a clearance sale on a lot of the kitchen toys they stock, so I got this one (basically an updated version of the old one) for 25% off. I'm test driving it now, while I write this, so here's hoping it all works out well.
I've finished a couple of baby blankets for someone at work - one of our dispatchers had a little granddaughter, and the first blanket was made using mint green and white before she knew what flavour the baby was going to be, so she commissioned a second one in pink after Charleigh was born. Since I finished that last week I've pulled out a sweater that I started a few years ago. It was mostly done, I'd finished the knitting a long time ago, and sewn it together as well as weaving in all the ends. All that was left to do was to was the front border, but I'd misplaced first the yarn and then the pattern. It took a whole whopping two days to finish a sweater I'd had put away for about two years... sigh...
Anyway, that's about it for the excitement in my life - I know, it's not a lot, but for my loyal three, I hope that catches you up 
OK, I just thought I would share this random thought with all of my TV friends. There's quite a bit of talk about NBC's decision to put Jay Leno on each week night at 10 p.m.
Some say it's killing NBC because the ratings are in the crapper. Others say it's killing any of the actual good programming NBC had left, such as Southland.
The argument being that programs that normally have the 10:00 slot because of their more graphic, hard-hitting content, must either soften up to fit in the earlier, family-friendly time slots or get cancelled as was the case with Southland.
Well, all that aside, let me tell you why I'm happy that NBC has taken this huge, somewhat asinine, risk. With Jay Leno on every night at 10, I can cut one whole network from my list when trying to decide what to record on my DVR. There's nothing I hate worse than having 3 shows in the same time slot that I really like. I record two and then, God forbid, I have to actually watch one in real time. Eventually, I end up having to choose between the 3 shows because I don't have the patience to sit for an hour, commercials and all. So with Jay on, the pressure's off! NBC is out and FOX has news. That leaves just CBS and ABC. **poof** Decision made! If not for Jay, I may have never recorded The Forgotten.
It's a much better show than I thought it would be. There are probably a few more I could name, if I sat to think about it. Even better, if I don't like something on ABC or CBS, I can actually expand my horizons to TNT, USA, Lifetime... the list goes on and on!
So thank you NBC for making my life just a tad bit easier at 10:00 each night!
Hey Guys!
It has been a long while since my last blog, just quickly dropping in to the blog area mainly to see how people are, anyone watching any new shows and what do you think of them this season?
Will drop by later for a longer update on things! =)
Later
