Ramblings on a warm Sunday evening...

My .02? I think Bridget Moynahan is much prettier than Giselle! C'mon, Tom!


I got a haircut earlier this summer that, once again, was waaaaayyyyy too short! And I do prefer a somewhat shorter style. I've been letting it grow out, hopefully toward the end of next month I'll have enough hair to work with and will- yet again- try to find a stylist who
A- will do as I ask
B- knows what they're doing.
It shouldn't be that difficult- grrrrrrr...

I've noticed a long-time friend of mine becoming increasingly strident and angry over, well, lotsa things, for awhile now (no, not me- I've always been strident and angry... jes kiddin'!) She'll say she's simply voicing her views, entitled to her opinions; both true. And she is an intelligent woman, and it's not about always having to be Little Miss Sunshine. But too often it just seems as if she never has, or can say, anything good about certain people, casting blanket aspersions and judgments on a variety of topics. We all have our prejudices and bigotries I suppose, and she is entitled to hers... it's just sorta sad to see someone who was mostly a sunny, vivacious, fun person become increasingly embittered, jaded, cynical, and soured.

Two things (among many!) that I wish I either knew more about, or was simply better at doing. One is wine- I've never been much of a wine drinker, and as such I know very little about what wines are good, which wines go best with which foods, etc... But obviously so many people enjoy a glass or two of wine with a meal, with cheeses, as a cocktail, etc... it's something I'd like to become more knowledgeable about (practice makes perfect right?! As Kellie stumbles home from "practice!") and just so I can toss the word oenophile around! The other one- and I've mentioned it before- is dancing. I'm a klutz! It's especially, besides embarrassing, annoying because I'm an otherwise fairly coordinated, athletic gal... except when it comes to dancing (I do OK with the slow numbers...)

It's funny how certain scents and smells can transport you back in time... one of 'em for me is the smell of fresh-cut grass in the late-August sun; it never fails to remind me of and bring me back to late-summer high school sports double sessions...


"'Cause she'll offer her charms to the darkness and danger/Of something that she's never known/And open her arms at the smile of a stranger/Who'll love her and leave her alone..."

THE GAY FLIGHT ATTENDANT (sure to offend several folks- hat tip to Bob ;)

My flight was being served by an obviously gay flight attendant, who seemed to put everyone in a good mood as he served us food and drinks.

As the plane prepared to descend, he came swishing down the aisle and told us that "Captain Marvey has asked me to announce that he'll be landing the big scary plane shortly, so lovely people, if you could just put your trays up, that would be super."

On his trip back up the aisle, he noticed this well-dressed and rather Arabic looking woman hadn't moved a muscle. "Perhaps you didn't hear me over those big brute engines but I asked you to raise your trazy-poo, so the main man can pitty-pat us on the ground."

She calmly turned her head and said, "In my country, I am called a Princess and I take orders from no one." To which (I swear) the flight attendant replied, without missing a beat, "Well, sweet-cheeks, in my country I'm called a Queen, so I outrank you. Tray-up, Bitch."

S-l-o-w-l-y making my way back...

As I've referenced previously, I haven't blogged many of my thoughts and such over the last couple of months (nor have I updated- much- my website, or even spent a whole lotta time online period.) I still have a lot of thoughts, and a lot of opinions, on a lot of topics, which I imagine I'll start offering again before too long. For whatever reasons, I'm still feeling locked into that hurting/healing up mindset, and feelin' a lil gunshy. Not sure why exactly, and I had hoped that it would have passed long before now... perhaps with fall.

On a few lighter topics... my Pats are geared up for another run! On paper (or should that be "on paper"?) this team is loaded! They truly are. This is a team, don't forget (I haven't!) that was less than one quarter away from going to the Super Bowl last season; not to take anything away from the Colts but the Pats just ran out of gas toward the end of the AFC Championship game. The Pats reloaded BIGtime in the off-season; Adalius Thomas and Wes Welker in particular being whom I saw as the best signings. All of the returning veterans seem to be healthy, seem to be primed to make one more real run at another title, and while, yes, I'd prefer to have Asante Samuel signed and on the field, should he continue to hold out, I don't see it as a devastating loss. I'm slightly concerned about depth- and durability of Lawrence Maroney- at running back, but the Sammy Morris signing seems good, and Kevin Faulk still gets it done. You hate to have too-high expectations, but if this team stays reasonably healthy this season, it's going to be difficult to settle for much less than a championship.

I'm not worried about the Sox... yet.

I attended part of the Fisherman's Feast in Boston's North End yesterday- it was really fascinating! I had never been to any of their feasts before (despite one nickname I've had for much of my life, I don't have an drop of Italian blood in me!) and I had always wanted to see one- I luv Italian culture, food, music, you name it. It was pretty cool- the Sunday session starts with an outdoor Mass, later they carry a staute of the Madonna del Soccorso thru the streets of the North End, followed by marching bands, spectators, etc... stopping at various spots throughout to accept donations which they pin to the statue, followed by chants of "Viva!" and singing... it's an almost 7 hour procession! The one thing I missed (which I'll hafta see if I go next year- it was later in the evening) was the Flight of the Angel. But it was a really fascinating, interesting, and fun event... I took some pictures, I'll try and post 'em as I can.

Unanswered Questions/Food For Thought (courtesy of my friend Jim) ...
Ever wonder about those people who spend $2.00 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards... NAIVE!

Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?

If people from Poland are called Poles, then why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

Do infants enjoy infancy as much as some adults enjoy adultery?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one?

If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use. Toothpicks?

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

"I can hear music/I can hear music/The sound of the city, baby/Seems to disappear..."

Thoughts on a Sunday evening...

(after finding out I wasn't the only "girl" in my family who had- has?- a crush on Russ Francis...)
First- if no one ever pays attention to anything I ever write again, pay attention to this. DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING- EVER- FROM BEST BUY. My mom's birthday is coming up, and I wanted to get her a new television, as her old one is starting to go. And I didn't have time nor means to go buy one and bring it to her home. So I- tried- to purchase one and have it delivered via Best Buy. The night before delivery was scheduled, they call and tell me the store sent to wrong set to the warehouse, and that this might make the delivery two days later... unless, of course, I was willing to accept the wrong set. (No.) The two days late thing might have been acceptable, but naturally I wanted to have the delivery charge refunded. The woman I spoke told told me I would have to call the store. OK. So I call the store. First, the customer "service" rep I speak to tells me that the best I could expect was a Best Buy giftcard in the amount of the delivery charge. But more important, when I asked about when the set would be delivered, he couldn't tell me. He said they never should have said it would be in two days, it could be a week, or even more. And he said, a direct quote "This happens all the time." !!! Unless, again, I wish to allow delivery of the wrong set. Now, I'm usually a very patient, easy-going kinda gal (yeah, right!) but by this point I am irate, to say the least. Incredibly stressed, frustrated, angry, you name it. To make a long and tedious story somewhat shorter, after speaking to a third individual, I was able to get the entire transaction cancelled and refunded. I ended up ordering thru Circuit City instead and- unless they f things up tomorrow- my mom should have a nice, new television for her birthday tomorrow evening. We shall see- at this point, I'm not too confident about anything I cannot directly, completely manage and control. (No "Kellie is a control freak" comments from the gallery, you!)

I've let this summer get away from me, moreso than perhaps any other in recent years (and that is saying something.) It's already just about mid-August; I could swear it was Memorial Day weekend just last week. I did end up going out with my sister last Friday night for a bite, a couple of beers, and to watch- some of- the Patriots/Buccaneers game (somehow we got from Matt Light to Russ Francis- go figure! And yeah, I know; watching a preseason football game instead of the Sox? Actually, both were on, we just watched the Pats more. But it was fun; we don't make the time to do that often enuf.) But I have just let too much of this summer get away. There are two things that, for whatever reason/s, I consistently fall short on: budgeting/managing my time better, more effectively and efficiently, and also almost anything involving opportunities, be it utilizing them effectively and efficiently, or simply recognizing them. Sometimes I'm better on the first one, but these past few months now I've been pretty bad (the second part, the opportunities thing, is something I probably should seek help with. I only know that it holds me back far too much, but I seem to be unable to improve upon it.)

I haven't updated- anything- on my website in a lil while now. No new pics, links, etc... The only thing I've kept up a bit on is this... still feeling a bit edgy... perhaps the start of fall will spur some motivation and changes... I don't wanna ramble too much more on personal stuff tonight, so I will end here.

"Little surfer, little one/Make my heart come all undone/Do you love me/Do you, surfer girl..." (missed the free Beach Boys concert last night.)

First Grade

A first-grade teacher was having trouble with one of her students.

The teacher asked, "Eddy what is your problem?" Eddy answered, "I'm too smart for the first-grade. My sister is in the third-grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the third-grade too!"

The teacher had had enough.

She took Eddy to the principal's office.

While Eddy waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the principal what the situation was.

The principal told the teacher he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the first-grade and behave.

The teacher agreed.

Eddy was brought in and the conditions were explainedto him and he agreed to take the test.

Principal: "What is 3 x 3?"
Eddy: "9".

Principal: "What is 6 x 6?"
Eddy: "36".

And so it went with every question the principal thought a third-grade should know. The principal looks at the teacher and tells her, "I think Eddy can go to the third-grade."

The teacher says to the principal, "Let me ask him some questions?" The principal and Eddy both agree.

The teacher asks, "What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?"
Eddy, after a moment: "Legs."

Teacher: "What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?" The principal wondered, why does she ask such a question!
Eddy replied: "Pockets."

Teacher: "What does a dog do that a man steps into?"
Eddy: "Pants."

Teacher: "What's starts with a C and ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains thin whitish liquid?"
Eddy: "Coconut."

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer, Eddy was taking charge.

Teacher: "What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky?"
Eddy: "Bubblegum."

Teacher: "What does a man do standing up, a woman do sitting down and a dog do on three legs?" The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer.
Eddy: "Shake hands."

Teacher: "Now I will ask some "Who am I" sort of questions, okay?"
Eddy: "Yep."

Teacher: "You stick your poles inside me. You tie me down to get me up. I get wet before you do."
Eddy: "Tent."

Teacher: "A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you're bored. The best man always has me first." Principal was looking restless and bit tense.
Eddy: "Wedding Ring."

Teacher: "I come in many sizes. When I'm not well, I drip. When you blow me, you feel good." Eddy: "Nose."

Teacher: "I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come with a quiver."
Eddy: "Arrow."

Teacher: "What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' that means a lot of excitement?"
Eddy: "Firetruck."

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and told the teacher, "Put Eddy in the fifth-grade, I missed the last ten questions myself!"

10 more on shuffle... (cuz it's all I seem up to right now)

I Still Pray- Kasey Chambers
You're No Good- Linda Ronstadt
Cradle of Love- Billy Idol
Fire and Ice- Pat Benatar
Rock & Roll High School- The Ramones
Cold Shot- Stevie Ray Vaughn
Sunday Morning Coming Down- Willie Nelson
All My Love- Led Zeppelin
Jungleland- Bruce Springsteen
The Girl In The Other Room- Diana Krall

"When I cry my tears of sorrow/When my heart will only ache/And if I'm troubled when I'm sleeping/He will hold me until I wake..."