HGTV Makeover - I Want

I got stuck in the HTGV mode Saturday morning. This front of house makeover was particularly interesting because the house has the same basic shape as ours and their Craftsman makeover is exactly what I want.

These people had a huge budget though. They spent $2,000 on four light fixtures. $18K on stone and $22K on the stamped and stained concrete driveway. We don't need new windows thankfully -- theirs cost $36K. No mention on the show what the porch with gable cost.

SNL

Did you see SNL this week? The skit with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Senator Hillary Clinton was hilarious. I actually liked this version of Hillary better than the real thing.

My favorite lines:

Hillary: "I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy."

Palin: "And, I can see Russia from my house."

Hillary: "I believe global warming is caused by man."

Palin: "And, I believe it’s just God hugging us closer."

And my favorite part was Hillary's expression, shown in the clip below, after Palin asks, "...can you believe it?"

September 11, 2001 Remembered

From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 8:52 AM
Subject: CNN Breaking News

BREAKING NEWS from CNN.com

-- World trade center damaged; unconfirmed reports say a plane has crashed into tower. Details to come.

--------------------------------------------------------

From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM [mailto:BreakingNews@CNN.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 9:21 AM
Subject: CNN Breaking News

BREAKING NEWS from CNN.com

-- Second plane crashes into World Trade Center.

--------------------------------------------------------

From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM [mailto:BreakingNews@CNN.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 9:55 AM
Subject: CNN Breaking News

BREAKING NEWS from CNN.com

-- CNN confirms a plane hit the Pentagon.

--------------------------------------------------------

As I sit here this evening re-watching the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the History channel, I'm reminded of the total disbelief, utter confusion and complete horror of that morning.

Everyone in our office that day was frantically searching for information on the Internet. Most of the news sites were unbearably slow because people in offices throughout America were also searching for answers.

Thinking back, it seemed like time stood still for weeks as I tried to make sense of this strange new world where terrorists were able to attack us on our own soil.

So many people lost so much that day -- family, friends, faith, trust, peace of mind.

I can't imagine what those terrorists must have believed in that would make them think these attacks would further their agenda. I can only hope for some enlightenment that would make it possible for such frustrated groups to overcome their hatred and learn that we all have to figure out a way to share this planet in peace.

Jimmy Page Rocks the Closing Olympics Ceremony

I recorded the closing ceremony on our new Comcast DVR, but I have no idea how to get the recording off the DVR and onto my computer. I think NBC would frown upon my posting of the video anyway.

Jimmy Page and some random British singer (yea she's probably popular over there, but I have no idea who she is), popped out of the top of a double decker bus and rocked out Whole Lotta Love. Too bad they couldn't get Robert Plant for the gig.

I popped over to Ross Halfin's blog to see if he's posted any photos, but I guess I'll have to wait until he gets back from China.

I came across his blog a few months ago and find that I both admire and despise the guy. He's a famous rock photographer and he is so good at what he does that he can get away with being a total tool and still make a decent living. He rags on just about everyone and doesn't seem to care. But, you can't deny that he's a great photographer.

I Blame the Olympics

Thursday night, shortly after the US relay teams both dropped the batons, my 17-month-old family room TV went completely black. The only way to shut it off was to un-plug it from the wall. I guess it was just worn out from all of my Olympics watching over the past couple of weeks.

I thought I found the deal of the century when I bought this 36" TV from Value City for about two hundred bucks. Sure, the box was stamped "refurbished" in large red type, but that didn't stop me from bringing home the half-ton set for my viewing enjoyment.

I didn't really care that it wasn't one of those cool new flat screen TVs, heck it was only two hundred bucks. I was a bit worried when I had to poke out the back of my armoire to get the monster TV to fit since the picture tube was so deep.

We'll now it's the worlds most expensive door stop -- sitting in the garage while I figure out how to get rid of it.

Friday night we headed out to the Osceola mall and bought the largest (and cheapest) TV that would fit in our armoire. We have about 1/16" clearance on each side of the TV inside the cabinet.

I think I'll splurge on the extended warranty on this one. I don't want to have another expensive doorstop when this one bites the dust.

New Olympic Sport

More thoughts on the Olympics

Both the US men and women relay teams dropped the baton today which means they don't get to advance beyond the first round. No medal for you!

I can only imagine how many times they've practiced and run other races in which they've successfully transfered the baton. And, the one time that it really, really, really counts, they drop the baton.

Nobody that will watch this tonight on the NBC reply will be more disappointed or more upset about this than the athletes themselves. They will probably relive this race in their minds, over and over again, in the years to come; always with a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs.

Tomorrow is another day. This, too, shall pass.

Olympics

I've been watching quite a bit of NBC's coverage of the Olympics lately. A few observations...

It's easy for me to shout, "oops" when a gymnast makes a slight wobble, but I know there's no way that I could even lift my own weight up onto an uneven parallel bar, much less flip around one.

Shawn Johnson has a million dollar smile and is as cute as a button. I'm sure we'll see her on a box of Wheaties soon.

Nastia Liukin should not get as many endorsements as Shawn Johnson, even if she is a better gymnast, because she often has a nasty scowl on her face.

It was very sad to watch her father speaking to a judge about the tie-breaker scoring instead of watching her receive her medal.

And, I thought it was sort of creepy that her dad kissed her on the mouth after every performance.


Watching Eli and Peyton Manning play Hungry Hungry Hippo in the NBC football commercials makes it worthwhile to stick around to actually watch the commercials.

I was disgusted by the pompous behavior of Jamaican runner, Usain Bolt -- thumping his chest and declaring himself the winner, before he even crossed the finish line, during the 100 meter dash.

Watching the NBA superstars play basketball at the Olympics is much more exciting than watching a typical game because they play hard. I seem to recall the 2004 Dream Team biting the dust because they took their normal lackadaisical game to the Olympics.

No matter how high the divers score, I can never tell if they're perfectly straight when entering the water.

Dara Torres, the 41 year old female swimmer, gives hope to middle-aged women everywhere. But, somehow I don't think that my semi-weekly 30-minute workouts at Curves will get me anywhere near as in-shape as Dara.

Watching the Brickyard 400 in Comfort

We purchased six tickets, at $60 each, for the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994. We loaded up the van with friends, food, beverages and camping gear and headed down to Indy for a weekend of racing. We'd been to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway many times before to watch open wheel racing, but never before had the old Brickyard felt the rumble of NASCAR.

It's been about four years since we saw the race live in Indianapolis. We finally gave up after ticket prices reached $120 each. Watching the race from the comfort of our TV room is a very different experience from watching it at the track. There is no line for the rest room. Food and drinks are much cheaper and we have a view of the entire track; not just the front stretch.

I've been watching too much TV

I haven't left the house since I arrived home from work Friday.

It's just too cold outside so I've been hanging out in my comfy chair, in front of the TV, wrapped in my softest blanked, with a computer on my lap.

The TV is mainly on for background noise while I work on my computer but every once in a while something will catch my ear and I'll look up.

Over the past few hours, I've seen a couple really bizarre TV commercials. I can't wait until summer when I can turn off the TV for a few months and spend time in my garden.

• The annoying music in this Dolce & Gabbana ad (warning, not safe for all audiences: NC-17, maybe R) caught my ear. After watching it, I still can't figure out who they're trying to target and what they're trying to sell (tennis shoes, clothes, watches???).

• This Holiday Inn commercial caught my attention because I couldn't figure out why they were sort of mumbling/humming an REO Speedwagon song. I did a quick search on YouTube to view the entire commercial and found it hilarious!

We're Brothers Forever - The Video

"We're Brothers Forever."
Lyrics By: Renaldo Lapuz

I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing the songs, the music that you love.

We're brothers 'till the end of time
Together or not, you're always in my heart
Your hurt, your feelings in you will worry no more.

The Next American Idol

Can't wait for the video to show up on YouTube. This guy ROCKS! The judges loved him so much they got up and danced with him.

The song went something like this...

I am your brother. Your best friend forever. Singing the songs that you love.

I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.