tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35733432011-07-31T01:13:14.770-04:00Random rantsMagpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.comBlogger3671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-32839769441618357732009-08-06T15:16:00.000-04:002009-08-06T15:17:37.468-04:00

But if the men had been portrayed as more high-spirited, it might have taken on intriguing dimensions. Both husbands are, frankly, a little boring: They’ve been assigned their supporting roles in their marriages and are reluctant to question the singlemindedness of their wives.Ebert on "Julie & Julia"Gee, that sounds like the wife/girlfriend role in oh, just about every other movie made. I’m sure

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-46274539976202218802009-07-06T12:48:00.004-04:002009-07-06T12:54:19.427-04:00

Thoughts upon watching Journey's "Separate Ways" videoNext time I strut around a warehouse, I'm definitely wearing white heels and a black leather miniskirt.Air keyboard is just lame. Sorry.Wait, when did Derek Smalls become the drummer for Journey?Wow, Steve Perry is going to burst a blood vessel.Journey - Separate WaysUploaded by analogue. - See more comedy videos.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-65818909590316601832009-06-23T08:08:00.002-04:002009-06-23T08:15:32.586-04:00

Danny Sullivan's tweet: "steve brill who started clear is heading up that company to save newspapers. good luck with that"Struck me as odd, because I don't think of him as "Steve Brill who started Clear," I think of him as "Steve Brill, founder of 'American Lawyer' " or "Steve Brill, founder of 'Brill's Content' " or "Steve Brill, who created Court TV," so the idea of him doing a publishing

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-24954384218710921972009-05-27T17:55:00.003-04:002009-05-27T18:02:27.338-04:00

OK this is for Carmen.Because no good parent would let their kids watch TV when they could be feeding them donuts!This one I can't find a cliup of but here's the synopsis: Two moms are spying on their kids, who are playing outside on a swing set. Whew, how tiring trying to watch them. Suddenly, they get an idea! Cut to: kids running around Chuck E Cheese while the moms have a soda. Thanks Chuck E

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-27470250903705823292009-04-30T09:58:00.006-04:002009-07-06T12:55:50.266-04:00

At state-mandated career seminar, which would be very useful if I lost my job in 1985. Instructor told us we should always come by the office, because the web site "can't be updated at the last minute" e.g. the day before. Also asked people in the session to explain LinkedIn; she's never used it "because I have a job." But she's a "certified resume writer," so there's that.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-73424764173847537012009-04-20T16:09:00.004-04:002009-04-20T16:31:09.663-04:00

So last week, the Heffalump's teacher told us she had been having some issues lately with general grouchiness and crabbiness, which, um, yeah, sorry about that. Those are my genes, and she should be over it in about 20, 25 years (or at least have learned to keep it all in an internal monologue). In the meantime, feel free to tell her to stuff it, pipsqueak. (Or "redirect all that great energy and

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-44358792814335980172009-04-15T08:42:00.001-04:002009-04-15T08:42:10.122-04:00

Testy test

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-14682290907163082942009-04-06T12:05:00.002-04:002009-04-06T12:07:29.165-04:00

I saw this commercial the other night, and was only half paying attention. Then I had to rewind the DVR a few times to make sure it was really going where I thought it was going.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1086179040610792792009-03-10T07:50:00.000-04:002009-03-10T07:50:05.666-04:00

So over the weekend, I got some bizarro texts on my phone. A string of three messages announcing the "sad news" that the prime minister of Zimbabwe had been in a car accident and his wife had been killed. LawyerMan and I were like "huh that's odd," I deleted them, and didn't think about it again until I picked up the paper the next day and saw that the PM had, in fact, been in a car accident, and

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-18806887335983929172009-02-13T08:29:00.005-05:002009-02-13T08:56:18.945-05:00

As part of my severance package, my company gave me "career transition" assistance. First, weeks of phone calls, where no one can pronounce my name, or even actually answer the phone, for that matter. Every call goes to a machine, and I get a call back a few days later. I finally get scheduled (after massive confusion), and schlep into Boston for the meeting.So the meeting kicks off when the

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-81784550371973173552009-02-02T17:29:00.002-05:002009-02-02T17:31:26.999-05:00

It's going around Facebook; I'm reposting here (for posterity, clearly).25 random things about me1. While I am very short (5 feet, 1/2 inch), I am not the shortest person in my family.2. I have an intense, and some would say irrational, dislike of walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, the Boston Marathon, and basically anything that ties up traffic in the name of charity or a race.3. I can do a cartwheel

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-15742907577370996532009-01-26T17:42:00.003-05:002009-01-26T19:13:58.205-05:00

Trying Martha Stewart's meatloaf recipe tonight, and realized half-way through that I didn't have enough ketchup, so I ended up squeezing about 1/4 cup out of a big pile of leftover fast food packets. I somehow don't envision Martha doing this (maybe in prison?)UPDATE: recipe is tasty, but waaaay to wet and soggy. It was not so much a loaf as a meaty mush ball. But a yummy meaty mush ball, topped

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-39597045683274629112009-01-12T17:58:00.001-05:002009-01-12T18:00:04.666-05:00

I keep mixing up Amy Adams and Isla Fisher. Also, I don't think Tracy Morgan is actually acting on 30 Rock.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-8812551160940035222009-01-07T11:54:00.003-05:002009-01-07T12:33:59.578-05:00

When I was a girl, the rule was, you shoveled your driveway and the sidewalk in front of the house as far as your property line. I don't know if that was the law, or just the custom, but all the kids at the local elementary school walked to school, so it made sense. There was always one house where they didn't bother shoveling the sidewalk, and we would always make it a point to throw snowballs

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-13612995575905326082008-12-25T09:32:00.001-05:002008-12-25T09:32:39.912-05:00

This is a testy test.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-61967242481074388892008-12-25T09:06:00.003-05:002008-12-25T09:13:16.297-05:00

I keep thinking that this is an opportunity for change. As part of my aforementioned massive laziness; I would have happily kept doing the same thing, as long as it worked, for as long as I could. I am not the sort of person who would seek out the new, and as long as the current was acceptable. So having change forced on me is really the only way it was going to occur.And I am, I admit, extremely

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-53672007171900638802008-12-23T14:57:00.002-05:002008-12-23T15:04:48.909-05:00

Why are the books on the "to be shelved" carts so much more interesting than everything else? Why do all the chick-lit books have women's feet on the cover? Seriously, if the cover shows a woman from the waist down, I can guarantee its a "hilarious romp about one woman's quest to rescue her life *and* find love!" Also. I realize I am prone to irrational grouchiness about certain unimportant

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-34875029112773235012008-12-22T18:23:00.003-05:002008-12-22T18:38:26.553-05:00

I can kind of see how you get used to this; how you slip into a routine of gym, errands, picking kids up and dropping them off her and there. Of course, it's only been a few days, and there's been a backlog of errands to keep me busy, and I'm still so grateful for the relaxation that its kind of like a vacation. I sat on the couch today for an hour and read a book! Heavenly! I always used to put

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-69682431242398524022008-12-18T07:17:00.000-05:002008-12-18T07:27:35.299-05:00

So, yeah, that happened. I told LawyerMan that I'm going to join the (truly vast) ranks of moms in our town who go to the gym, lunch and Bloomingdales all day and then complain about how busy and tired they are :-)One of my friends was saying the other day how you can use this as an opportunity to "find your passion" and I'm thinking, "awesome - now, how do I turn lying on my ass and making

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-35911226207508115082008-10-22T10:03:00.000-04:002008-10-22T10:06:30.008-04:00

Listening to my music library ordered by song length. Starts out with a lot of Beach Boys and Beatles, and will end with, let's see, looks like U2.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-72290498063691750502008-05-28T09:20:00.000-04:002008-05-28T09:25:42.795-04:00

I watched part of the HBO film Recount the other night. My memories of the 2000 election are indelibly mixed with the Little Ballerina's birth; I was induced on election day, and she was born after a c-section at 8 o'clock the next night. Seriously, my uterus started to hurt a little bit while I watched.What was the most interesting to me were the clips from the news shows on election night and

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-26243113204414556352008-04-29T14:26:00.000-04:002008-04-29T14:39:18.262-04:00

So, the whole Miley Cyrus/Vanity Fair brouhaha is leaving me decidedly nonplussed. Frankly, I just don't find the photo in question all that scandalous. It's of her bare back, i.e. the same thing you would see if she were to wear a halter, or a bathing suit. I'm unclear why this is supposed to be so outrageous.And even if I was shocked and appalled by the notion my daughters seeing a 15-year-old

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-83401632968974654352008-03-27T13:36:00.000-04:002008-03-27T13:59:40.505-04:00

(this one is for Carmen)Is it just me, or does Fergie's new song sound totally like it belongs in a Disney movie? You know the type of song I mean: there's a point in every Disney film when the hero or heroine stands alone and sings at the sky about how "Now is the time!" "I'm finding my dream!" "My destiny is here!" She'll be a Part of Your World! Actually, it's A Whole New World! There's *

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-12520282010933509782008-03-03T11:25:00.000-05:002008-03-03T11:33:51.034-05:00

In a wonderful new trend, the Little Ballerina has taken it upon herself to get the Heffalump up and dressed on the weekends, and bring her downstairs to watch TV while they wait for us to wake up. (I tried to get her to feed the little one too, but she keeps saying she wants company, and she might spill the milk, and she's afraid of the stove. Wimp.)Anyway, so we stumbled downstairs this weekend

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-4620889033288488872008-02-14T09:09:00.000-05:002008-02-14T09:13:14.202-05:00

I saw "Raiders of the Lost Ark" with my dad when it first came out. And I can remember yelling to him to come quick when I heard that music and saw the first trailer for "Temple of Doom." As soon as I hear those trumpets, it makes me want to saddle up a horse and go riding off for adventure.Harrison Ford may have aged, but my heart will always belong to Indy.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-34583151659264896282008-02-05T14:33:00.000-05:002008-02-05T14:46:51.598-05:00

is Will Ferrell for Bud Light.LawyerMan and I have been walking around saying "Bud Light. Suck One." for two days now.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-10186174971067499732007-12-14T11:35:00.000-05:002007-12-14T11:45:47.063-05:00

OK, just watched this trailer, and my first thought was -- well scratch that, my first thought was "OMG, OMG, CAN I GO SEE IT NOW?!?!?"Ahem, my second thought was, seriously, how perfect is Meryl Streep? What doesn't she do, and doesn't she do perfectly? She's adorable here. I want her to be my mom. (No, not really Mom.) (Yes, really.)Normally, since I'm a truly petty person, this much amazing

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-3696711339312425872007-11-26T09:10:00.000-05:002007-11-26T09:13:29.219-05:00

Saw Gone Baby Gone the other night. Amazing, well-done film. Acting, directing, everything. But my god, was that depressing. Terrible people doing horrible things to one another. I had the same problem with "Mystic River," which I was supposed to read for a book club, but couldn't finish because it was just too depressing. On a side note, I had no idea they said "f***" that much in Dorchester.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-24939422050542574982007-11-05T13:07:00.000-05:002007-11-05T13:09:31.978-05:00

The Little Ballerina's birthday is coming up, and is of course the subject of much discussion around our house. She was born the day after Election Day, 2000. The other day, she started asking me about that.LB: So that's the day everyone votes, right?Me: Yes, honey.LB: Did you vote?Me: Yes.LB: Who did you vote for?Me: Gore.LB: Did he win?Um, well.I settled on "It was a tie, and the judges said

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-14355684485812422012007-10-26T09:25:00.000-04:002007-10-26T09:30:42.075-04:00

So, in the latest chapter of "I am the worst parent ever," the tooth fairy forgot to come to our house the other night.Now, I think the Little Ballerina has been suspicious of this dental sprite for a while, but she doesn't want to jinx the steady flow of cash. (Seriously, this kid has lost more teeth then the NHL. She's been living on a diet of oatmeal and scrambled eggs for weeks). But, oh, it

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-57905605965237087882007-07-26T07:44:00.000-04:002007-07-26T07:47:32.725-04:00

A premise: guilty pleasures no longer exist. In this age of ever-present irony and deep appreciation of camp, it's no longer necessary to hide your passion for tacky stuff.Geeky 70s stuff has been out of fashion long enough that it can now be appreciated for its true worth (accept it, those ABBA guys had a brilliant way with harmonies) .A passion for tacky 80s stuff can be passed off as an ironic

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-73222689822213889362007-07-02T10:23:00.000-04:002007-07-02T10:23:05.403-04:00

OK, am I insane for being particularly irked about this?Apparently, during the President's recent visit to Maine, a reporter for a Rhode Island TV channel had his press pass taken away after he shouted "Mr. President" at the entourage."A member of the president’s entourage pointed at Holbrook after he first tried to get Mr. Bush’s attention. The man then ripped the pass from Holbrook’s belt after

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-90121145610243348432007-04-04T11:30:00.000-04:002007-04-04T13:25:05.086-04:00

There's an article in Slate about new versions of the Haggadah, teh story book Jews read every year at Passover seder.The author touches on the more than 3,00 versions known to exist, and ponders whether new versions will end up changing the holiday.Towards the end, he mentions the Maxwell House version "filled with the "little kitschy scribbles" others find objectionable." Maxwell House claims

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-59547866917878224522007-03-20T08:59:00.001-04:002007-03-20T08:59:41.748-04:00

On the one hand, it raises the possibility of another Bridget Jones book. Yeah!On the other hand - I do not like the way that plot is shaping up.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1166472593834379492006-12-18T15:09:00.000-05:002006-12-18T20:16:31.820-05:00

We had relatives over for Hanukah this weekend and I picked up a few bags of chocolate coins for the kids. I was unpacking them and putting them next to the dreidels when the Little Ballerina walks by."Oh I know what that is, it's a dreidel! We did those in Hebrew school!" she says."So how do you play?" I asked."It's a Jewish game," she said. "And whoever gets the most guilt wins!"

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1165514891523269342006-12-07T13:08:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:05:45.713-05:00

According to this report, three women showed up to the annual White House Christmas party wearing the same $8,500 red Oscar de la Renta dress as Laura Bush.The worst part? That is one ugly dress. They look like a matching set of couches taken from the hotel lobby.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1163538285326802412006-11-14T15:55:00.000-05:002006-11-14T16:04:46.040-05:00

you forget how freaking big Disney World is. Take two kids? Sure! We took them a few years ago when they were just babies, and everyone had a blast! They're older now, they'll appreciate it more! It's the Little Ballerina's birthday! It will be great!Except the Heffalump can walk and talk now. (Although all the talking she did was "Mommy, uppy. Mommy, carry me.") And Little Ballerina is, shall we

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1162564112362212422006-11-03T09:22:00.000-05:002006-11-03T09:28:38.160-05:00

So I have to go to a Bar Mitzvah this weekend, and I realized the dress I was planning on wearing requires a slip, a black one. And I only have a white one.No problem, I think, I'll swing by Victoria's Secret tonight and pick one up.Then I went to their web site. Notice that the page has nightgowns, "sexy chemises," rhinestones, appliques, glitter, ruffles, and on and on... but no actual

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1161874172726809382006-10-26T10:47:00.000-04:002006-10-27T00:16:04.506-04:00

Wouldn't it have been great if Oprah ended the interview by yelling out:"You get an orphan!" "You get an orphan!" "You get an orphan!" "And YOU get an orphan!"OK, yes, I know, I'm going to hell.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1161180911114935682006-10-18T10:06:00.000-04:002006-10-18T10:15:41.876-04:00

This is soooooooo Jappy, but honestly? A nice pair of shoes can really make my day.The box arrived from Zappos yesterday: Gold peau de soie d'orsay pumps with a jeweled vamp and a 2-inch french heel. Stuart Weitzman. They fit perfectly, they were on sale ($378 marked down to $78! How could I not buy them?) and they're possibly the most beautiful things I have ever owned. They're probably too

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1159889657578058642006-10-03T11:31:00.000-04:002006-10-03T12:18:28.260-04:00

Via Overmatter1. Grab the book nearest to you...no cheating!2. Open to page 123. 3. Scroll down to the fifth sentence.4. Post text of next 3 sentences to your blog (or in the comments section, as I'd like to know what everyone's reading these days -- or sitting near, anyway.)bat-ter2 (bat' er) n. Baseball the player who is batting or whose turn it is to bat 2 Cricket BATSMANI am a loser.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1159358383839145032006-09-27T07:57:00.000-04:002006-09-27T17:24:12.120-04:00

So I heard on the radio that Byron Nelson died, at age 94.And my first thought was "Wow, the guy from Real People was 94?"

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1158594230402355632006-09-18T11:39:00.000-04:002006-09-18T11:43:51.156-04:00

So I'm chatting with the guy in the next office, and I asked him to let me know if the music I was playing on my computer bothered him."Oh what are you playing? Did you bring in a CD?""No," I said. "It's this streaming radio thing from XM."So he asks me about it, and I showed him how it works (AOL has a deal with them apparently) and he says something to the effect of "wow that's pretty cool,

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1156945789364977062006-08-30T09:42:00.000-04:002006-08-30T09:49:49.666-04:00

So, I put the kids to bed last night and was flipping through TV while running on the treadmill, when I came across this amazing movie.Just look at the cast list: Hilary Swank, in her pre-Oscar, 90210 era, and Jenna von Oÿ, (6 from Blossom) as girls pledging a sorority; with Sarah Chalke from Scrubs; the one who played Justine on Angel; and Carrie Brady from Days of our Lives as the evil sisters

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1156274091498385552006-08-22T15:12:00.000-04:002006-08-22T15:14:51.923-04:00

TVSquad has a post on best TV characters prompted by lists from, among others, Joss Whedon.Some of mine. I'm just gonna list women here, because, well hell, it's my list:Susie Greene on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The mouth on her! I love it.Murphy BrownChloe on 24. I would love to be able to be that bitchy at work.Livia on The Sopranos. Mostly for the "Poor you" line reading. The peak of the show,

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1155574376042416582006-08-14T12:44:00.000-04:002006-09-13T12:37:53.756-04:00

LawyerMan was peering in the fridge yesterday when he calls out."Hey, what the heck are those things in the fruit drawer?""Pluots," I said."What's a pluot?""I don't know. I saw them in the produce section at the market, and they looked cool. The sticker said they were very sweet, so I bought a few."He turned and stared at me "That, right there, is the difference between us. I would never see a

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1155229473375681812006-08-10T13:03:00.000-04:002006-08-10T13:04:52.996-04:00

This is a hoot and a half.Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1155047280720922972006-08-08T10:27:00.000-04:002006-08-08T10:28:01.016-04:00

I have heard the song "Africa" on the radio about a dozen times in the last week or so. Why? How on earth did that get on a playlist? Some of this is due to the Jack radio format, in which "we play everything" is defined as "we play lots of stuff from the 80s" which is fine with me, cause I like the 80s. But I've also been hearing it on random easy listening and

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1154712012047642982006-08-04T13:16:00.000-04:002006-08-04T13:20:12.390-04:00

This site has a pretty cool tool -- you upload a photo and it uses facial recognition software to tell you what celebrities you look like.I got Holly Marie Combs and Kim Basinger. Although I don't think I look like either one of them, and they look nothing like each other, but at least they're pretty so whatever.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1153332767643778602006-07-19T14:08:00.000-04:002006-07-19T14:12:49.130-04:00

Entertainment Weekly has a blog about Madonna's new song. So I cruise over to her site to listen (and, I must admit, it's way catchy. Girl can write a pop song.)But underneath the song, and apparently underneath all the songs she's streaming over there, she's muttering what sounds like Hebrew phrases.I mean, I know she's all into the Kabbalah and everything , but oy, genug already. I think I

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1153228335952508572006-07-18T09:05:00.000-04:002006-07-18T09:12:16.423-04:00

Lately, several of my friends have been going through major life changes. Some have been good, some have been not so good. But my life has been remarkably static. That I think has been one of the big surprises of adulthood -- that everything is more the same than I thought it would be.In childhood, you're constantly working towards a goal. School vacation, the next test, the next grade. Even post

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1152538841116691612006-07-10T09:40:00.000-04:002006-07-10T09:40:45.393-04:00

So, twice in the past month or so, I have been out with a group of women and a guy has tried to hit on 6 or 8 of us, simultaneously.The first time was at the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons. My friends were having drinks, but I was really there for the awesome dessert buffet. Why waste calories on alcohol when you can get raspberry crepes with a passionfruit sauce? We initially thought the guy

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1152532319236892162006-07-10T07:49:00.000-04:002006-07-10T07:51:59.596-04:00

Penalty kicks? This is how you decide a championship? Why not just play rock, paper, scissors?

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1151506395314260232006-06-28T10:47:00.000-04:002006-06-28T10:53:15.706-04:00

This just in: the new issue of O, The Oprah Magazine has a short piece by, oh, Harper Lee.Lee writes about becoming a reader for a special summer reading issue of the magazine. "Now, 75 years later in an abundant society where people have laptops, cell phones, iPods, and minds like empty rooms, I still plod along with books," she writes.What's next, a feature on shopping for curtains with JD

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1150809177680660982006-06-20T09:06:00.000-04:002006-06-20T09:12:58.050-04:00

Error message seen today"I'm sorry, I'm having trouble (doing random computer thing). I'll try again. This is my fault."Poor computer. Who hurt you so?

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1150121831802894452006-06-12T10:12:00.000-04:002006-06-12T10:17:12.103-04:00

Apparently, as you age, you lose the ability to hear high-frequency sounds. According to this piece in the Times, students are exploiting this by using those tones as their cellphone ringtones, so they can secretly use them in class.So, I'm reading the piece, and it says quite clearly "most adults over 40 or 50" can't hear the tones. OK, I think, I'm 34! No problem! Let me play that sample.Nada,

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1148991321302339102006-05-30T08:14:00.000-04:002006-05-30T08:18:00.290-04:00

Now I'm going t have that song stuck in my head all day.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1148472370866373282006-05-24T07:55:00.000-04:002006-05-24T08:06:11.126-04:00

First off, the song rocks. Kudos, Nena, kudos.So, heard the English translation on the radio this morning. What I can't figure out is -- is it just coincidence that the English rhymes really well? Or did they play with the translation to get it to rhyme?"The war machine springs to life, opens up one eager eye,focusing it on the sky,where 99 Red Balloons go by."There's even internal assonance

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1147780006107331662006-05-16T07:39:00.000-04:002006-05-16T10:47:48.713-04:00

I told Little Ballerina the story of Noah the other day, just to prep her, you know, in case we had to build an ark because there's so much rain. For my own amusement, I did about half of it using the old Cosby routine. She didn't get the reference, obviously, but I got a giggle.That's always fun, although sometimes those tricks can backfire. Example: the other day the girls are sitting at the

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1147350627367373172006-05-11T08:29:00.000-04:002006-05-11T08:38:09.133-04:00

Yay, wedges!I was nervous about it, but they fit, and they're cute, and free shiping. Zappos, you have a new customer.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1146835739079309102006-05-05T09:26:00.000-04:002006-05-05T09:30:02.546-04:00

This is the turkey I made for Passover. Just thought I'd put the picture up to prove that I can, in fact, cook a pesadich dinner for 12. And it was fabulous.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1146486521551242202006-05-01T08:21:00.000-04:002006-05-01T08:28:41.906-04:00

Who put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp?Who wrote the book of love?Have you ever really loved a woman? Should I stay or should I go? How do I live without you?What becomes of the broken-hearted? Where is the love?(Why must I be a teenager in love?)Where have all the flowers gone?How many roads must a man walk down?How much is that doggie in the window?Who can it be now?Who ya gonna call?If

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1145891753308320352006-04-24T11:15:00.000-04:002006-04-24T11:15:54.093-04:00

I knew that new Dunkin Donuts theme sounded familiar -- it's by They Might be Giants.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1145624245414042742006-04-21T08:47:00.000-04:002006-04-21T08:57:25.636-04:00

One benefit to having children is that you can impress upon them your irrational likes and dislikes. I love the Yankees, therefore, you love the Yankees. I hate eggplant, therefore you hate eggplant. It's like having your own little Yes-Man. I suppose, this is bad if you're say, a racist, but we're talking nitpicky stuff here. In this particular case: bike races, walkathons, running races, any "

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1143660494205074412006-03-29T14:28:00.000-05:002006-03-29T14:28:14.413-05:00

So couple weeks ago, I got a postcard from my cable company in the mail, and instead of automatically throwing it in the trash, like I do, and every other person on the planet does, I looked at it. The package they were offering to "resident" was cheaper then what we're currently paying, so I figured "what the heck, I'll call and see if I can get a better deal." (Where we live there is actually

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1143552192832917472006-03-28T08:23:00.000-05:002006-03-28T08:23:13.033-05:00

I started a Pilates class on the weekends. I've been trying to exercise more (I've been haunted since I heard a kid at the pool last summer describe someone as "J-'s Mommy, you know, the fat one." I don't want to be the fat mommy.) Mostly I just try to run on the treadmill after I get the girls to bed, but I figured this would be a good way to add something new . I don't know though.Mostly it's a

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1142965779496244352006-03-21T13:29:00.000-05:002006-03-21T13:30:48.376-05:00

So Desmond from the Hatch is really a German secret Agent who knows Jack Bauer? Does this mean the Dharma Initiative are the ones behind the terrorists?

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1142955552257285722006-03-21T10:39:00.000-05:002006-03-21T10:39:12.316-05:00

A columnist in Slate applauds The fabulous decline of Princeton basketball.But with quotes like this -- "For one thing, by neutralizing the advantages enjoyed by the team with superior size or talent in any given contest, it made upsets more likely. For another, when run properly, it's simply a lot of fun to watch" -- one wonders whether almunus Richard Just has ever watched a Princeton game.To

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1142358649780366432006-03-14T12:50:00.000-05:002006-03-14T12:50:49.836-05:00

So Blogging Baby has a post about things the parenting books won't tell you. Humorous Mommy stuff, with things like "You will buy groceries in your pajamas," and "You will pay $50 to take the kids out to a movie and they'll fall asleep in the first five minutes and you'll be thankful." Included in the list is "You will have conversations with other adults about the relative merits of Steve and

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1142272970673538392006-03-13T13:02:00.000-05:002006-03-13T13:02:50.736-05:00

Thanks to Little Ballerina, I've now watched the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical" at least half a dozen times, including the karaoke version, which also includes dance lessons. And have bought the CD.The songs are so damn catchy.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1141910359561934322006-03-09T08:19:00.000-05:002006-03-09T08:23:36.743-05:00

Chloe's pieces were definitely high-fashion, and I loved her work all season, so I'm good with her win.But Daniel's stuff I would buy (well, if I were skinnier. Double breasted jackets are not my friends.) Favorites? The blue brocade jacket, white coat, and the sweaters.Seriously -- I would wear that white sweater and the purple sweater tomorrow. The white one would go perfectly with a skirt I

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1141668427751102372006-03-06T13:07:00.000-05:002006-03-06T13:07:07.790-05:00

Jennifer Garner is nursing.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1141242583389152932006-03-01T14:49:00.000-05:002006-03-01T14:49:43.433-05:00

We had kindergarten orientation for the Little Ballerina last night (the message the school seemed most concerned that we take home: no parking in the drop-off zone!!).But however adorable those tykes may be, nothing can compare to panda kindergarten.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1141070691561285382006-02-27T14:46:00.000-05:002006-02-27T15:04:51.573-05:00

The Little Ballerina is, well, little. She's also remarkably strong and flexible. In short, a perfect gymnast body. She's taken gymnastics for a few years, starting with the Mommy and Me-type movement classes, and moving to a gymnastics studio when she got too big for those. She likes it, and she's good at it. The teachers at the gym are really nice, and great at pushing her to do all she's

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1140810348910663582006-02-24T14:45:00.000-05:002006-02-24T14:45:48.956-05:00

I knew there was a reason I never liked "Full House".As Stephanie Tanner on the 1990s hit sitcom "Full House," child actress Jodie Sweetin portrayed a young, innocent girl who lived in a happy, healthy supportive home....But two years ago, she found herself dangerously addicted to one of the most debilitating drugs, methamphetamine. She said she was unemployed and bored and began simply by

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1140097189980061632006-02-16T08:39:00.000-05:002006-02-16T08:39:50.026-05:00

I was getting pretty sick of watching Princess movies, so I convinced the Little Ballerina to watch a DVD of "cartoons that Mommy used to watch" AKA Schoolhouse Rock.Which is awesome, except now I have the Preamble to the Constitution stuck in my head.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1139857657781718612006-02-13T14:07:00.000-05:002006-02-13T14:11:03.823-05:00

USAToday is reporting that NBC wants to do a version of the Eurovision Song Contest. I dunno. As Americans, we can be pretty tacky, but that's just a whole other level of schmaltziness, there.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1139843767547165542006-02-13T10:16:00.000-05:002006-02-13T10:16:07.603-05:00

OK, so I don't normally watch Grey's Anatomy, but I happened to see part of it last night, and it drove me nuts. (Also, I discovered that my television for some reason thinks that show needs to be broadcast with Spanish subtitles. Just that show though so... whatever.)So apparently, there's some major crisis going on at this hospital and they're all panicky and going nuts and in the middle of it

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1139317223822991222006-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:002006-02-07T08:00:23.863-05:00

Fountains of Wayne's cover of ...Baby One More Time.Yes, that "...Baby, One More Time."It's awesome.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1139256182654843042006-02-06T15:03:00.000-05:002006-02-06T15:04:08.453-05:00

Carmen: There's a seminar this Saturday on how to get a book deal out of a blog. We should go.Magpie: I don't know that I could write a book of "cute stuff my kids said." But yours could definitely be oneCarmen: EVERYONE writes books of cute stuff their kids said.Magpie: and they're annoying. I refuse to contributeCarmen: Yours would be better. Carmen: "My kids are smarter than your kids, sucka.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138992623601647242006-02-03T13:50:00.000-05:002006-02-03T13:50:23.640-05:00

The elevators in my building have little screens that show news headlines and weather and stuff. The writing is a bit quirky.This morning, there was a blurb saying that "The president and Congress will get five more weeks to debate the Patriot Act." My first thought was "oh, did Dick Cheney see his shadow?"

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138716926600442422006-01-31T09:15:00.000-05:002006-01-31T09:15:26.656-05:00

Are cell phones the new lighters? I'm at a concert last night, and at one point I see lots of people waving glowing things in the air. At first I thought, "huh, lots of glow sticks, that's odd." Then I realized people were taking out their cell phones and waving them, the way you used to wave a lighter. Is this a new thing, or am I just an old person now?

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138652953253485722006-01-30T15:27:00.000-05:002006-01-30T15:29:13.280-05:00

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138385358336112182006-01-27T13:09:00.000-05:002006-01-27T13:09:18.346-05:00

Is it me, or does this photocomposite of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt look like Rob Lowe? Not the worst thing, I suppose.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138383282487774762006-01-27T12:34:00.000-05:002006-01-27T12:34:42.550-05:00

Went to CVS yesterday, and there they were, in a box next to all the Valentine's candy: Cadbury Creme Eggs.God, I love those. I could eat about oh, a billion a day.Although I'm disturbed by the "positioning" Cadbury lists: "Dip in the goo to unleash your naughty, playful side!" Dude, it's a piece of chocolate. Don't get all creepy on me.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138295692346606822006-01-26T12:14:00.000-05:002006-01-26T12:14:52.380-05:00

I've been tagged by Carmen. Let's seeFour jobs I've had1. Assistant at a vet. Best part: feeding a newborn kitten from an eye dropper. Worst part: hauling dead bodies out to the incinerator (really, even worse then cleaning out the kennel runs)2. Carvel. Yes, I made Fudgie the Whale.3. Temp job filing asbestos lawsuit claims at a law firm. As boring as it sounds. 4. Internship at ConEd. Cool

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138289884583118192006-01-26T10:38:00.000-05:002006-01-26T10:38:04.633-05:00

Watching Bush press conference just now and I realized he now sounds like he's doing an impression of himself.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138152836967249462006-01-24T20:32:00.000-05:002006-01-24T20:39:31.446-05:00

I just got teary at American Idol. That girl whose mother left her and her father is in jail? How adorable was she?

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1138120709267954202006-01-24T11:37:00.000-05:002006-01-24T11:38:29.280-05:00

The Civil War was neither civil or a war. Discuss.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1137697182752604882006-01-19T13:59:00.000-05:002006-01-19T14:07:45.790-05:00

The Monster at the end of this book was my favorite book EVER as a kid. They had a copy at my dentist's office, and I was actually happy to go the dentist so I could read it.It had become a half-remembered thing "I know I read it at the dentist, I'm pretty sure it involved Grover," until last year, when I was over at my sister's and saw the copy she had gotten for my nephew. I pounced on it and

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1137685519608347082006-01-19T10:45:00.000-05:002006-01-19T10:45:19.646-05:00

Scarlett Johanssen was the best part of Match Point. Not because of her acting (meh), but because she walks around the film wearing a pair of Citizens and, during several scenes, has a decided muffin top.As soon as I saw that I immediately felt good, and dove into the popcorn LawyerMan and I were sharing.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1137594971890076052006-01-18T09:36:00.000-05:002006-01-18T09:37:05.913-05:00

The Lighthouse, by P.D. JamesJames is an excellent writer, I always enjoy her books. But they don't work for me as mysteries. Either her writing is too opaque, or I'm just not quick enough, but when she gets to the end I'm always like "wait, how did he know that so-and-so was the killer? And that the schoolteacher was really his aunt? When did he say that?" I frequently end up flipping back

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1136919603079043932006-01-10T13:59:00.000-05:002006-01-10T14:00:03.090-05:00

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1136903406255050062006-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:002006-01-10T09:30:06.266-05:00

Pandora -- this is so cool.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1136902564557942122006-01-10T09:16:00.000-05:002006-01-10T09:18:34.486-05:00

Forget the cookie, a smell can really take you back. I was perfume shopping last night; or rather, I was trying to find the perfume I used to wear, which Sephora no longer carries (Jill Sander No. 4 -- know where I can get some?)I tried to describe the scent to the woman at Bloomingdale's (spicy, vaguely oriental) and commented that it reminded me of my grandmother -- not that I want to smell

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1136820156300869682006-01-09T10:22:00.000-05:002006-01-09T10:22:36.346-05:00

So on Friday, I picked the girls up, swung by the bakery and got a challah, then went home and cooked turkey tenderloins in a maple-soy glaze, buttered parsnips and broccoli (by special request of the Little Ballerina), and when LawyerMan got home we actually had a whole shabbat meal.I try to cook when I can, but with our schedules, and picky kids (and picky husband) it's hard. When I actually

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1136397065436755302006-01-04T12:51:00.000-05:002006-01-04T12:51:05.500-05:00

For me, 2005 will always be the year when we all learned that Tom Cruise is crazy.TVSquad

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1136384559248783632006-01-04T09:22:00.000-05:002006-01-04T09:22:39.296-05:00

This is a testtesty testy testOK Go

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1135086332611371862005-12-20T08:45:00.000-05:002005-12-20T08:45:32.636-05:00

"I gotta be meeeeeeeeeeee, I gotta be me." This song was on the tape my parents bought to celebrate the first car we had that had a tape deck. (A red Datsun 510, if I recall correctly). The tape also featured Tom Jones singing "What's New Pussycat" which I totally didn't get at the time. He's singing to his cat? Ok, whatever.

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573343.post-1134697069517623752005-12-15T20:37:00.000-05:002005-12-15T20:37:49.523-05:00

 Yay! Couches! 

Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13446674233982261846noreply@blogger.com3