Children's Songs

Inspired by Dixie Peach’s post today I will translate some of the songs I learned in Spanish as a child. The grade school I attended taught the core curriculum in English, but some of the other courses such as Good Manners, Religion and Music were taught in Spanish - so most of the children's songs I knew were in Spanish. Hell, I learned "Itsy Bitsy Spider" in its entirety when I was in my 20s!

Anyway, here are some numbers from my childhood Hit Parade...

Estaba la pájara pinta
sentada en su verde limón.
Con el pico recoge la paja,
con la paja recoge la flor.
¡Ay Dios! ¿Cuando veré a mi amor?
¡Ay Dios! ¿Cuando veré a mi amor?

Translation:
There was a colorful bird
Sitting atop her green lime
With her beak she picked up the straw,
With the straw she picked up the flower.
Oh Lord! When will I see my beloved?
Oh Lord! When will I see my beloved?

************************************************************
Tengo una vaca lechera,
no es una vaca cualquiera.
Me da leche condensada,
¡Ay que vaca tan salada.
Tolón, tolón. Tolón, tolón.

Translation:
I have a milk cow
It isn’t just a regular cow.
She gives me condensed milk
Oh what a sassy cow!
Tolon, tolon.
Tolon, tolon.

*************************************************************

Soy un chino capuchino mandarín chín chín.

De la era, de la era, del Japón pón pón.

Mi coleta es de tamaño natural al al

Y con ella me divierto sin cesar.

Al pasar por un cafetín tín tín

Una china me tiró del coletín tín tín

"Oye china yo no quiero discutir" tir tir.

"Soy un chino capuchino mandarín" chín chín.

Translation:
I’m a Mandarin capuchin Chinese man, an, an
From the time, from the time of Japan, an, an
My ponytail is of regular size, ize, ize
And with it I enjoy myself endlessly.

As I passd by a coffee bar, ar, ar
A Chinese girl pulled on my ponytail, ail, ail
"Look Chinese girl I don’t want to argue", yu, yu
I’m a Mandarin capuchin Chinese man", an, an

*************************************************************

Un elefante, se balanceaba, sobre la tela de una araña.
Como veía, que resistía, se fue a buscar a otro elefante.
Dos elefantes, se balanceaban, sobre la tela de una araña.
Como veían, que resistía, fueron a buscar a otro elefante.
Tres elefantes, se balanceaban, sobre la tela de una araña.
Como veían, que resistía, fueron a buscar a otro elefante.
(etc.)

Translation:
One elephant swung on a spider web.
When he saw that he didn’t fall, he went to look for another elephant.
Two elephants swung on a spider web.
When they saw that they didn’t fall, they went to look for another elephant.
Three elephants swung on a spider web.
When they saw that they didn’t fall, they went to look for another elephant.
(etc.)

*************************************************************

OK - that was hard! I kept trying to make the translation fit the rhythm of the song - it didn't work! Trust me they're much better in Spanish - and when you're six!

The Lola Shuffle - The "Get the Damned Spice Girls Song Out of Hilda's Head" Edition

Come on Lola...help a sister out...gimme something that can rid me of the demonic noise in my head (Yo, tell me what you want, what you really really want...AAAHHH!).

1. Easy - Lionel Richie
2. Life in the Fast Lane - The Eagles
3. Fooled and Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop (there's a name you don't hear every day!)
4. Porcelain - Moby
5. Don't Stop Me Now - Queen (my favorite Queen song!)
6. She's Out of My Life - Michael Jackson
7. A Whiter Shade of Pale - Sarah Brightman
8. Angie Baby - Helen Reddy (this song is really creepy)
9. My Immortal - Evanescence
10. Back on the Chain Gang - The Pretenders

Friday's Earworm from Hell

So, I'm waiting for hubby to finish getting ready for work, minding my own business, not bothering anyone, watching Good Morning America. All of a sudden I see none other than the Spice Girls! They are scarier than they used to be. Particularly "Posh Spice" who not only has new pneumatic boobs, but has dyed her hair platinum! So they're being interviewed about their *Reunion Tour* and then it happened. My newly awake, still tender little brain is accosted by *the song*. So now, what's bouncing through my head?

"Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really
really really wanna zigazig ha. "

OK I *so* don't "really wanna zigazig ha"!

As I told my friend, just hand over the letter opener so I can jab it in my ear repeatedly!

I thought I'd share the joy, 'cause I'm generous like that..:)

Game Night!

Tonight I’m hosting Game Night at my house. This is something we came up with to replace our participation in a book club of which I had been a founding member and participated in for 10 years. Due to personality issues, many of us left the book club, but those that left decided we wanted to continue socializing on a regular basis – we had truly become friends. So Game Night was born. Only one Game Night participant wasn’t part of the book club, but she might as well have been.

Tonight there will be five of us, but we can sometimes be up to nine. We’ll be playing charades. The food is pot-luck and there’s always lots of wine as we find it enhances any game-playing activity. Actually, we find it enhances pretty much all activities.

We’re quite the boisterous, animated group – so it promises to be a fun, laugh-filled night with wonderful women. Just what the doctor ordered.

TRANSLATION – Esta noche soy la anfitriona de una Noche de Juego. Noche de Juego es algo que un grupo de amigas inventamos para reemplazar nuestra participación en un club de libros del cual yo fui fundadora y en el cual participé por 10 años. Debido a conflictos de personalidad, la mayoría renunciamos del club pero decidimos que queríamos continuar viéndonos regularmente, pues nos habíamos convertido en buenas amigas. Y de ahí la Noche de Juego nació. Solamente una de las participantes de Noche de Juego no participó en el club de libros, pero no importa.

Hoy nos reuniremos 5, pero a veces somos hasta 9. Esta noche vamos a jugar a las Charadas o Dígalo con Mímica. Cada una trae algo de comer y tomamos mucho vino, pues hemos descubierto que el vino mejora cualquier juego. En realidad, nosotras creemos que el vino mejora todas las actividades.

Somos un grupo bastante bullicioso y animado – luego promete ser una noche divertida, llena de risas y mujeres fabulosas. ¡Justo lo que necesito!

Hoy No Tengo Mucho Que Decir

Hoy no tengo mucho que decir. Nada me ha llamado la atención como para comentarlo. Llevé a Mami al médico, de no ser por Alzheimer's está muy bien de salud, aunque muy flaca. Fue un trauma - para mi, no para ella - la que estaba lista para un médico era yo. Pero ya no lo tenemos que volver a hacerlo otra vez por un año - si Dios quiere. Mañana trataré de ser mas interesante.

TRANSLATION: Today I don't have much to say. Nothing has drawn my attention enough to comment on. I took my mother to the doctor for a check-up. Except for the Alzheimer's she's perfectly healthy - albeit very thin. It was a trauma - for me not her - and I was the one ready for a doctor. At least we won't have to do this for another year, God willing. I'll try to be more interesting tomorrow.

Book Review - "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

After reading Sedaris' Naked, I was a little wary because I really didn't like it. But I did like Holidays on Ice, so I gave him another shot.

I loved this book. It was funny, smart, interesting and easy to read. This guy's mind is twisted in all kinds of weird ways, but it makes for entertaining reading. The book slows down a bit when he describes his French lessons, he goes into too much detail, but the details are funny so it's not too bad.

I definitely recommend the book - it's fabulous! As a matter of fact, as you see on my "What I'm Reading" area, I'm now reading his most recent book (2005) Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.

"Cultivo una Rosa Blanca" by José Martí

For today's Language Week entry, I'm posting a poem by José Martí , a Cuban patriot, poet and statesman. While it's definitely not my favorite poem in Spanish, or even my favorite Cuban poem, it is a poem every Cuban child and practically every Cuban-American child raised in Miami memorized at some point during their childhood. I have no retention at all for poetry, yet this poem is ingrained deep in my cerebral cortex.

My translation of the poem, of course, doesn't do justice to rhythm and meter, but hopefully conveys the spiriti of forgiveness and generosity of spirit.

"Cultivo Una Rosa Blanca" - José Martí

Cultivo una rosa blanca,

en julio como en enero,

para el amigo sincero

que me da su mano franca.

Y para el cruel que me arranca

el corazón con que vivo,

cardo ni oruga cultivo:

cultivo la rosa blanca.

********************************

TRANSLATION:

I nurture a white rose

in July as in January,

for the true friend

who offers me his loyal hand.

And for the merciless one who wrenches out

the heart by which I live,

thistle nor thorn do I nurture:

for him, I nurture a white rose.

Sign of the Times

This is today's Miami Herald editorial cartoon, by Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist Ed Morin.

The Lion Will Sleep Forever

"Lion Sleeps Tonight" Singer Dies


El cantante Hank Medress que, con el grupo The Tokens, popularizó la canción "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" en 1961 murió de cáncer a los 68 años.

Aunque la canción es más vieja que yo, me acuerdo que yo la oí frecuentemente a través de los años, y siempre me gusto. La repetición de “weemoweh, oweemoweh, oweemoweh, oweemoweh” me llamó la atención desde chiquita.

El cantante se fue, pero la canción perdurará.


TRANSLATION: Singer Hanker Medress, who, along with the group The Tokens, popularized the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961, has died at the age of 68 of cancer.

Although the song is older than I am, I remember hearing it frequently played throughout the years, and I always liked it. The popular “weemoweh, oweemoweh, oweemoweh, oweemoweh” refrain caught my attention when I was little and still makes me smile.

So, the singer has left, but the song remains.

It's weird writing in my Blog in Spanish. I find myself writing more formally, less conversationally. What I'm doing is writing in Spanish and translating it to English. Maybe tomorrow 'll switch it around and write in English then translate to Spanish.

Language Week 2007

¡Hola! Dixie Peach turned me on to Language Week 2007, click on the link for the details. So, yeah, I'm up for it - but I'll be cheating. Unlike Dixie, who will be writing in a language that was truly foreign to her, I will be writing in Spanish which in reality is as primary a language to me as English.

Technically it starts tomorrow, but I'll start today.

Mi amiga Dixie me informó sobre un reto donde del lunes 25 de junio al viernes 29 de junio tengo que escribir en mi Blog en un idioma que no sea inglés. Por supuesto escogí español, pues me es muy fácil.

Aunque nací en New York, mi primer idioma - y el único que hablé hasta los 6 años cuando empecé en el colegio – es el español. Me siento perfectamente cómoda hablando, leyendo y escribiendolo. Mis padres y mi escuela primaria hicieron hincapié en que lo aprendiera completamente. Gracias a esos esfuerzos, además de poder desenvolverme completamente en dos idiomas, tengo un negocio secundario donde hago traducciones – en ambas direcciones - profesionalmente.

Durante la semana escribiré un par de párrafos en español todos los días.

TRANSLATION: My friend Dixie told me about a challenge that involves my writing in my Blog daily - between Monday June 25th and Friday June 29th - in a language other than English. Of course I chose Spanish because it is very easy for me.

Even though I was born in New York, my first language - the only one I spoke until I was 6 years old and went to school - was Spanish. I feel perfectly comfortable speaking, reading and writing it. My parents and my elementary school made a point that I learn the language completely. Thanks to those efforts, not only am I able to fully function in two languages, I have a side business where I do translations - in both directions - professionally.

During the week I'll write a couple of paragraphs in Spanish every day.

A Day at the Mall

I went to the mall today!

???

So, where are the 76 trombones and 110 cornets close at hand? (props to Meredith Wilson composer of "The Music Man".)

Oh, wait maybe y'all don't know that I don't *do* malls anymore. So for me to actually go to the mall is HUGE. Ah...that's better I can here the cornets now - the deserved parade has begun. Thank you.

Seriously, I haven't really shopped at a mall in years. Online shopping and catalogs are my method of choice for credit card abuse, usually late at night as most are *open* 24 hours. However if I don't have to actually buy anything, I'll go to Dadeland Mall here in Miami 2 or 3 times a year to just walk around, impulse buy and have lunch.

That's what I did today. It was great. I only had one moment of a semi-panic attack due to the gabillion people - many of them with empty strollers (what is *that* about?) - getting in my way and *milling about*. Other people milling about make me nervous. So I did what anyone having a semi-panic attack would do - I had a shot of Cuban coffee. What? You wouldn't do that? Oh well, whatever.

First I went to JC Penney, a store I hadn't been to in forever. It's nice. I tried on brown capris. I'm experimenting with brown, supposedly the "new black". I usually just go with the *old black*, which is, well, black. They were nice but I didn't buy them.

Still in Penney's I went in search of a new purse for work. I'm one of those women who carries the same purse to work, regardless of what I'm wearing, until it falls apart. My until today work purse is at the falling apart stage. You know how some purses have different sections divided by cloth? Well two of my sections have now merged because the cloth kinda died. So I got a new one - it's really nice and it was on sale! YAY! The sale was in fact so good that I got myself a *second* purse for informal outings when I don't want to carry a tote. Then I bought two pairs of gold-toned hoop earrings - they're not gold, but they're for sensitive ears, we'll see how that goes. They were 50% off so I spent $14 on both pairs - not a major investment risk.

Then walking around I came across one of those in the middle of the mall stalls that sells computer stuff and...the heavens opened and the angels sang...I saw the Dell 3007WFP , a 30 inch wide screen digital monitor! I'm not usally a computer gadget geek, but this was a thing of beauty. And so as to lure me all the more, one of the programs installed was my guilty pleasure - World of Warcraft. Oh how glorious was the Kingdom of Azeroth in 30" digital fabulousness! At this point I called my husband, also a WoW player, and told him all about it and said I really wanted one of these (my birthday *is* coming up after all) - the man actually said no! So what if it costs $1700 including taxes? I ask you, does unmitigated consumerist joy really have a price? Apparently it does for hubby.

I got over my disappointment and went for a late lunch. I tried the food court but there were too many people, it was too loud and I didn't want to deal with it. Instead I went to one of the full-blown restaurants. I'm not sure of the name because they're replacing another restaurant and the old name is still up. Anyway, it was Italian and lovely. I requested the coldest spot in the place (hello perimenopause!), and was seated immediately. Right away the waitress brought an ice cold glass of water, a plate of focaccia with balsamic tomatoes and onions and a basket of crusty bread and butter. I ordered beef carpaccio with arugula, portobello mushrooms and wedges of parmagiano cheese and to drink a glass of prosecco . It was all delicious! While I lunched, I read David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day" which is hysterical. Then for dessert I had zabaglione with fresh strawberries served in a caramelized sugar bowl! Beautiful and delicious.

While I waited for hubby to pick me up, I got my mom's birthday present - Julio Iglesias' Greatest Hits - she'll love it.

It's been a great day - I slept in late, exercised, shopped, ate great food and am spending a quiet Saturday night with the hubster. All is right in Hildaland.

I'm TOTALLY ROCKIN' - Sari said so!

YAY!

Sari tagged me for a Rockin' Girl Blogger award! WOO HOO!

The rules are: "If you get tagged, grab the pretty badge up top (because you deserve it!) and then list five women bloggers who are TOTALLY ROCKIN’."

I have a lot more than five I can tag, but I didn't want to repeat someone already tagged by Sari, and I try to follow the rules! ;)

I'm tagging the following Rockin' Girl bloggers:

• Cris from Gimme Patience


• Toni from Something Different This Way Comes


• Robin from Poppy Mom


• Katya from Observations of a Librarian


• Natalie from Six Essential Nutrients

Rock on Sistah Friends...

The Lola Shuffle - The "Happy Birthday Cyndi Lauper" Edition

Happy Birthday Cyndi! Continue spreading love, music and acceptance with your True Colors tour - the world needs that energy right now!

It would be great if Lola shuffled up some Cyndi, but you know how Lola can be...

1. It Ain't Me Babe - Bob Dylan (one of my favorite Dylan songs)
2. When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues - Martina McBride (fun song)
3. How Deep is Your Love - The Bee Gees
4. Casey Jones - Grateful Dead
5. Chan Chan - Compay Segundo
6. The Winner Takes It All - ABBA
7. You Sang to Me - Marc Anthony
8. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
9. Every Morning - Sugar Ray
10. Mother and Child Reunion - Paul Simon

Have a great weekend everyone - try to show your true colors!

One Word Answer

I stole this from Katya because it's a meme and I love memes. Rememebr you can only answer using one word!

1. Where is your mobile phone?
Purse

2. Relationship?
Wonderful

3. Your hair?
Brown

4. Work?
Yes

5. Your sister(s)?
None

6. Your favorite thing?
Reading

7. Your dream last night?
Mystery

8. Your favorite drink?
Coca Cola

9. Your dream car?
Jaguar

10. The room you're in?
Cubicle

11. Your shoes?
Flats

12. Your fears?
Many

13. What do you want to be in 10 years?
Happy

14. Who did you hang out with this weekend?
Hubby

15. What are you not good at?
Much

16. Muffin?
No

17. Wish list item?
Stereo

18. Where did you grow up?
Miami

19. The last thing you did?
Espresso

20. What are you wearing?
Pants

21. What are you not wearing?
Hat

22. Your pet?
No

23. Your computer?
Dell

24. Your life?
Fine

25. Your mood?
Better

26. Missing?
Sleep

27. What are you thinking about?
Meeting

28. Your car?
Avalon

29. Your kitchen?
Ugly

30. Your summer?
Hot

31. Your favorite colour?
Red

32. Last time you laughed?
Today

33. Last time you cried?
Weekend

34. School?
Great

35. Love?
Absolutely

If you want to play, please leave a note in my comments.

Dixie Peach has this meme on her Blog, and said we could take it if we wanted to, so I did.

1. What were you doing ten years ago?
Ten years ago I planning my wedding.

2. What were you doing one year ago?
I have absolutely no idea.

3. Five snacks you enjoy
a. Cheese doodles (puffy) and onion dip
b. Wheat Thins Toasted Chips and caponata
c. Mixed Nuts Lightly Salted
d. Cheese (pretty much any cheese)
e. Sour Cream and Onion Pringles

4. Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
Considering I have a freakish memory for songs, I know way more than five - I'll list the first five that come to mind:
a. Me and Bobby McGee
b. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
c. Yesterday
d. We've Only Just Begun
e. Dancing Queen

5. Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
a. Set up trusts for my nieces
b. Buy a house
c. Set up a scholarship fund at my high school
d. Take a cruise around the world
e. Make a contributions to several charities

6. Five bad habits:
a. Procrastination
b. Impatience
c. Eating carbs
d. Not exercising enough
e. Too much TV

7. Five things you like doing:
a. Watching TV
b. Reading
c. Hanging out with friends
d. Going to museums
e. Eating out

8. Five things you would never wear again:
a. Spike heels (what the hell were we thinking?)
b. Gauchos
c. Baby blue eye shadow
d. Anything peach colored
e. Corduroy anything

9. Five favorite toys:
a. Easy-Bake Oven
b. Lite-Brite
c. Colorforms
d. Jigsaw puzzles
e. Board games

If you want to play, leave a note in my Comments!

Happy Fathers' Day

My Dad!

My wedding day

In New York City - one of his favorite places in the world

Happy Father's Day Papi...I miss you every day.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Fathers' Day Weekend" Edition

This one's for you Papi...I think of you every day. Lola, do your thing!

1. I Can't tell You Why - Eagles
2. Like U Crazy - Mates of State
3. Jazz Man - Carole King
4. City of New Orleans - Willie Neslon
5. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - ABBA
6. Makin' Whoopee - Ella Fitzgerald
7. I Don't Love You Much Do I - Guy Clark and Emmylou Harris(A beautiful song I heard on a commercial for Nature's Own Bread)
8. Mexicali Blues - Grateful Dead(HA! Papi would love this song!)
9. Talkin' Bout a Revolution - Tracy Chapman
10. Cry! Cry! Cry! - Johnny Cash (WOW! My father *loved* Johnny Cash. When I was little he and I would always watch the Johnny Cash Show on TV)

Lola did great considering she and my Dad never met! Happy Fathers' Day!

A Joy Meme

My friend Troy posted this meme. I need to remember happy things today, so here goes:

Ten Joys (in no order)

10. Laughing at stupid stuff with hubby
9. Tasting something for the first time and having it be delicious
8. Waking up thinking it's a week day and it turns out to be Saturday
7. Exploring a new place
6. Getting together with my girlfriends, be it for dinner, coffee, cards, wine, to talk about books, or just to hang out
5. Long drives (with me in the passenger seat of course)singing along to really good music on the radio
4. Ladybugs
3. Really cold Coca Cola - no ice, in a frosted glass
2. Finishing a book that is so good you want to know what happens next
1. Napping ;) with hubby while it's storming outside and the air conditioner is turned down real cold

So, tell us 10 of your joys! Leave a note in my comments, so I can check them out!

I Want to Go...

Let's all run away to the Kerouac Festival – 50 Years of “On the Road” in Boulder, Colorado.

I loved "On the Road"...obviously my intro to the whole Beat scene. Afterwards I read several of Kerouac's other work, a biography and then graduated to Ginsberg's poetry.

I love the idea of running away for a few days to listen to people talk about Kerouac talking about running away.

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..."
-Jack Kerouac, "On the Road"

Process Flow Diagrams - the Devil's Work

As some of you may know, I'm a Technical Writer in the IT field. That means I primarily write procedures - usually for software - for end users as well as technical personnel. I also write release notes for some inhouse software, configuration documents, etc. Lately however, my boss has asked me to start doing process flow charts - something like the image above - using a product called Visio.

This is a problem for me. First, because I think verbally not visually. And secondly because I'm somewhat obsessive. Really - I was diagnosed, medicated and *therapped* (went to therapy for) mild obsessive disorder. So, an endeavor that consists of lines, arrows and aligned shapes isn't really good for me.

See, I *HAVE* to get the arrows and lines or "connectors" perfectly straight and the same length as well as getting all the shapes aligned perfectly. Seriously. No matter how long it takes. Not because anyone is forcing this perfection - it's all me. No one else really cares as long as the information is there and in order. Never mind that you have to zoom the diagram to 200% to see that the lines aren't perfect, *I* know they're not perfect and that's enough.

It's awful.

About my Blogging

Rocks in My Dryer , one of the Blogs I read regularly, has a cool questionnaire about the blogging experience. She got it from Don’t Try This At Home

So, let's give it a shot.

How did you start blogging?
I knew about Blogs and would occasionally read them when tey came up on searches. Then I found an od virtual friend, Dixie Peach had a Blog, and I got inspired! I looked into blogger and it looked easy enough and I went for it.

Did you intend to be a blog w/a big following? If so, how did you go about it?
Not at all...I couldn't imagine anyone would be interested. Once I got going I sent a n e-mail to some friends, but didn't expect much. Then whenever I read a blog I liked I would ask if it was OK, to add them to my list of Blogs I visit. Then they started visiting. And last month, I actually met a reader who recognized my name from my Blog - and she said she enjoyed it. She was a fan. How exciting!

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?
I started the Blog to get back to non-technical writing (that's what I do for a living). I had been trying to journal for years and never stuck to it. I've found it much easier to stick with this.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?
No, because my Blog has never had a focus...it's deliberately random.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?
I can't think of anything.

Do you make money with your blog?
Nope...

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?
My husband knows and reads it. My friends know and some of them read it. But my extended family doesn't know.

What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?
Just do it and stick do it, don't let your Blog languish. Comment on other people's Blogs - the writers like it and you can get new readers. Also, use Randomizer to find new Blogs.

If you want to share you Blogging experience, go to Don’t Try This At Home and add your link to her page. Also, let me know in my Comments section, please.

Weekend Bullets

Lots of random stuff happened over the weekend...it was nice!

• Got my hair cut for the first time in like 2 years. I got bangs and a bob. The foot of hair they cut off was donated to one of the organizations that makes wigs for cancer patients.
• Had lunch with hubby at a local Mexican restaurant...chicken mole enchiladas, yummy!
• Saw several movies at home, on TV: "You, Me and Dupree" - 110 minutes of my life I'll never get back; "Tristan and Isolde" - loved it!; "Children of the Corn" - horribly bad movie, still scares the crap out of me, I think this movie is why I'm afraid of large groups of children.
• Sunday night we had or Culinarily Adventurous Girls' Dinner with four girl friends at a nearby French restaurant - it was great! For appetizers we shared a platter of French cold cuts and pate and we also had mussels in a cream sauce - delicious. As an entree I had steak tartare which was fantastic and we shared 4 desserts: chocolate crepes, profiteroles, chocolate fondant lava cake and goat cheesecake. All awesome. We selected a nice bottle of Bordeaux, and then we found out they're half price on Sundays - so we ordered another one!
• And then...the Sopranos finale! I'll admit my first reaction was - "Shit, the cable went out!". Then when I realized it hadn't, it was "WTF?" But then as I thought more about it, I realized it really was a brilliant episode and a fantastic ending. Kudos to David Chase!
• After I went to bed I got a really bad stomach-aches and didn't sleep at all, so I stayed home from work today and slept in late. My stomach is still a bit off. Must've been those onion rings the Sopranos enjoyed at the end of the show. :)

What did you do this weekend?

The Lola Shuffle - The "Longest Week Ever" Edition

I'm in a funky mood today - I hope Lola can cheer me up.

1. Still Crazy after All These Years - Paul Simon
2. Let the River Run - Carly Simon
3. The Party's Over - Willie Nelson
4. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall
5. Are We the Waiting - Green Day
6. Rehab - Amy Winehouse (Awesome song! Awesome voice!)
7. Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Kiki Dee and Elton John (OK, as ridiculous as this song is, it does make me smile - good job Lola!)
8. Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks (another smile!)
9. Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks
10. Turn the Beat Around - Gloria Estefan

Lola did OK...have a great weekend!

Unacceptable

I'm going to try and be coherent, but I'm so upset I'm having trouble writing.

I just turned on my PC at home and read: Leading Human Rights Groups Name 39 CIA ‘Disappeared’ Detainees .

The article tells us:

In the most comprehensive accounting to date, six leading human rights organizations today published the names and details of 39 people who are believed to have been held in secret US custody and whose current whereabouts remain unknown. The briefing paper also names relatives of suspects who were themselves detained in secret prisons, including children as young as seven.

(bolding mine)

As young as seven? This is not what the US is supposed to be. This isn't us, or rather it wasn't us.

If you read the article you'll see we're not talking about some bogus, no-name radical left wing organizations. We're talking Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, etc.

Almost as disturbing is the fact that while something of this magnitude is made public today, what have we been hearing about ad nauseam? Paris Hilton is out of jail. The current administration is allowing unconscionable human rights abuses to occur and the media is feeding us Paris frickin' frackin' Hilton.

Yet there are people who still claim the mass media is a "tool of the left"! Bullshit.

What more can Dubyuh and this administration do to destroy everything this country is supposed to represent? How can anyone still support this administration?

I don't know how this is going to end, but it has to end.

"The Sopranos" - How I Would End It

The Sopranos ends next Sunday. Another terrific show gone.

If you watch how would you end it?

I would have Meadow get killed by the New York gang. In her shock and anger and grief Carmela finally puts her foot down and tells Tony - in danger himself - that it has to end once and for all. Tony, despondent at his little girl's murder, along with the death of his closest associates and family, decides to turn state's evidence against the New York gang - giving the government enough information to destroy them. The family then join the witness protection program.

The last scene would parallel the first scene of the series, with Tony in his robe coming out of his house - albeit a more modest one - to pick up the morning paper.

Republican Debate

As an unabashedly partisan, card-carrying Democrat, the sole reason I watched the debate was because my husband is mildly fascinated by Ron Paul.

The only thing that actually made me sit up and take notice was Tom Tancredo's astonishingly hateful rhetoric against immigrants - both illegal and legal! Yep, he actually said he wanted a "time out" on *legal* immigration!

Of course Tancredo is the ethnocentric idiot who, showing a pathetic lack of originality, called Miami a "Banana Republic" so I don't know why I was flummoxed. Maybe it was because I had never heard anyone - other than tin-foil-hat-wearing white supremacists - actually speak against *legal* immigration in this country which is made up of immigrants!

The mind wobbles...

Book Review - "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a really interesting book. She divides her book into 3 sections of 36 short chapters each, based on the structure of japa malas. The book describes Gilbert's spiritual and actual journey after a very difficult time in her life.

The first section tells us about her time in Italy. It corresponds to the "Eat" of the book's title and is the section that describes the pursuit of pleasure. This is the section I most enjoyed and with which I most identified.

The second section describes her time in an ashram in India, corresponding to "Pray" in the title and tells us about her pursuit of devotion. I learned a lot about the process of meditation, but for me it went into too much detail and I found it a bit slow. I think this may be because I'm comfortable with my faith (if not my religion), and not really in *search mode* about this issue.

The third and final section tells about her time in Indonesia, specifically in Bali. This section corresponds to "Love" in the title and which she describes as her pursuit of balance. This is the section of the book where she most gets out of her self and tells stories about others, it was the most narrative part of the book and I found it very entertaining.

Gilbert writes in a very conversational tone and she's very self-effacing and funny. It is an easy read of important and complex subjects.

I definitely recommend the book.

Democratic Debate

CNN broadcast the Democratic debate from New Hampshire tonight. Hubby and I watched, and I hate to say I was underwhelmed, but I was.

First of all Wolf Blitzer, who I usually like, has got to be the worst debate moderator ever. He was awful! He was all over the place, he kept interrupting people and worst of all he was asking sensationalistic questions using a "raise your hand if you agree" format! What are we in second grade?

And then we had the candidates:

• Hillary - looked wonderful, sounded fine but was a bit on the defensive


• Barack - probably the best of the night, but I've seen him better


• Edwards - pissed me off; he was IMO unnecessarily (and uncharacteritically)antagonistic and bitchy; he really turned me off - I don't know if this is a new tactic to appear more aggressive and tough, if so it didn't work with me


• Richardson - disappointed me, he's been my favorite so far but tonight he was unclear and rambling


• Joe Biden - boy was he pissy! He seemed aggravated by the whole thing, but I have to say he made some very good points and is IMO the best informed


• Chris Dodd - although he's been around forever I never knew much about him and I have to say I was impressed; I jut don't know if he can get momentum going for him


• Mike Gravel from Alaska - came across as a slightly crazy cranky old man


• Dennis Kucinich - a great guy but IMO remains unelectable, he's too far to the left at this point

It's going to be a long election...we need to get rid of a few of these people and focus on those who actually have a shot at winning.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Rainy Weekend" Edition

The weather people are telling us we are in for a rainy weekend, so we've pretty much decided to coccoon - possibly not go out at all!

Let's see what Lola offers us for the rainy weekend.

1. Sweet Jane - The Velvet Underground
2. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
3. Wade in the Water - Eva Cassidy
4. Practice What You Preach - Barry White
5. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Willie Nelson
6. Down To the River to Pray - Alison Krauss & Union Station
7. Juke Box Songs - Danny Collet & The Swamp Rats
8. Tell Me 'Bout It - Joss Stone
9. Mockingbird - Carly Simon and James Taylor
10. Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie

Have a great weekend and stay dry wherever you are!