YAY! A Meme - Three Choices

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

1. Eat or drink: Eat
2. Blonde or brunette: Brunette
3. Pink or black: Black

YAY! A Meme - Four People I Can Always Count On

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

1. Hubby
2. Cris
3. My MIL
4. My aunt

Shock and Awe

The mind wobbles...

The Lola Shuffle - "The 'Yes We Can' Edition" and Democratic Convention - Thursday

What a night! What a convention!

Highlights for me:

* Jennifer Hudson - National Anthem, she was lovely and she sang it beautfully, I got chills

* Howard Dean - I still love Dean...he's a great guy and for the mostpart has odne a great job as Chairman of the Party

* Bill Richardson - Love him, love him, love him...I want him to be part of Obama's cabinet, he's too valuable to waste

* will.i.am with John Legend - I'll call it interesting...playing an Obama speech and singnig over it; leave it to will.i.am to do something like that

* Sheryl Crow - fantastic as always; changing the words to her hit song "a chage will do us good"

* Stevie Wonder - I cried! He's just so amazing, energy, talent, emotion; and the balk uop singers were fantastic!

* Al Gore - OHMYGOD he just reminded me of what could have been...how different the world would be right now if he were President! His speech was excellent, hard hitting, smart, it had humor, it was perfect. While there were many speeches that were great during the convention, this one may have been the most beautifully crafted, with the most beautiful langage:

The extraordinary strength of his personal character -- and that of his
wonderful wife, Michelle, who gave such a magnificent address and will be such a wonderful first lady for this country -- their strength of character is grounded in the strengths of the American community.

His vision and his voice represent the best of America. His life experience embodies the essence of our motto -- e pluribus unum -- out of many, one. That is the linking identity at the other end of all the hyphens that pervade our modern political culture. It is that common American identity -- which Barack Obama exemplifies, heart and soul -- that enables us as Americans to speak with moral authority to all of the peoples of the world to inspire hope that we as human beings can transcend our limitations to redeem the promise of human freedom.

* Michael McDonald - his "America the Beautiful" made me cry; he's still so handsome...

And then the man of the hour, the year,the decade - Barack Obama - WOW! His soeech was incredible. He came out swinging and he hit all of them out of the park. The entire speech was wonderful, this was just one of the highlights:

This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that’s not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that’s not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that’s not what keeps the world coming to our shores.

Instead, it is that American spirit – that American promise – that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend. That promise is our greatest inheritance. It’s a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours – a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot.

And it is that promise that forty five years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln’s Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.

Immediately afterwards I went online to http://www.barackobama.com/ and volunteered to do some phone banking from home. Tonight I'll probably be calling New Mexico - they're requesting volunteers who speak Spanish for this area - and start working for Obama.

Yes we can! ¡Si se puede!

So now Lola, shuffle one up for the next President of the United States, arack Obama...

1. I Only Wanna Be With You - Dusty Springfield
   
2. People Get Ready - Eva Cassidy (totally random, I swear!)
   
3. Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band
   
4. Un Poquito De Tu Amor - Desi Arnaz
   
5. Because the Night - 10,000 Maniacs
   
6. I Will Remember You - Sarah McLachlan
   
7. Maiden Voyage - Herbie Hancock
   
8. Ray of Light - Madonna
   
9. Swinging on a Star - Bing Crosby
   
10. Hooked on a Feeling - Vonda Shepard
    

Lola ROCKED the shuffle today! Good job!

Have a safe, wonderful long weekend having fun with friends and family!

45 Years Ago Today

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Source

YAY! A Meme - Five Favorite Things in No Order

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

1. Music
2. Wine
3. TV
4. Food
5. Books

Democratic Convention - Wednesday Night

Another great night!

During the Roll Call we witnessed history being made, when the votes cast - in a convention where more than 50% of the participants are women - were either for a black man or for a woman! Think about that - and then contrast it to what the Roll Call at the Republican convention will probably look like.

And then Barack Obama was nominated by acclamation as called for by Hillary Clinton! The crowd roared and the music started: "People all over the world (everybody)... Join hands (join)...Start a love train, love train...".

I truly believe the party is united now.

And then the "minor" speeches began - my highlights: the Women of the House of Representatives; Miami's Mayor Manny Diaz; the phenomenal Madeline Albright; the charming Evan Bayh; John Kerry, still so brilliant and well-spoken; and Joe Biden's handsome son introducing his father with so much love.

Melissa Etheridge sang, strong and clear - she sang a medley comprised of "God Bless America", "The Times They Are A-Changin'", "Give Peace a Chance" and "Born In the U.S.A." - as always she rocked!

Then there was Bill. He's still got it. He looked great and he said what he had to say and what we needed to hear. And he did it with his usual wit and charm. I miss him.

And finally the speech of the night - after being unanimously nominated Joe Biden accepted the nomination for Vice President. Michelle, Hillary and Bill...talk about a hard act to follow! His speech was like him - gritty, funny, a couple of misspeaks but most importantly heartfelt and honest. He's the perfect counterpoint to Obama's smooth style.

Even Obama showed up at the very end - he looks rested and ready and happy.

Each night of the convention I feel more optimistic and more inspired. Tomorrow night will be the culmination when Barack Obama accepts this historic and timely nomination.

I can't wait.

YAY! A Meme - Six Things You've Done Today

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

(FYI, I'm answering these on Tuesday 8/19 at 11:00 PMish and pre-posting!)

1. Had breakfast
2. Did my Internet stuff
3. A full day's worth of work from home
4. Had lunch
5. Watched TV
6. Had dinner

Democratic Convention - Tuesday Night

A great night!

Hillary was phenomenal! She looked fantastic (not too many people can pull off *orange*!), she spoke flawlessly, said everything she had to say and then some. Her reference to Harriet Tubman, seemingly out of nowhere, was perfect, hell she even said she was McCain's friend.

Her most important point, of course, was - and I'm paraphrasing - "were you in this for me, or for the cause"? That, at the end of the day, is what is most important. The candidate is merely the tool, what matters are the ideals, the values, the people.

Also, despite all that has been said about her and Bill's relationship - if you watched him watch her, how do you not see love? It's a relationship I don't understand, but time and time again, I see genuine love between them.

Fabulous!

In addition to Hillary there were other high points:

• Kucinich was great - his enthusiasm, his ideals, his belief in the possibilities is inspiring - "Up with health care for all! Up with education for all! Up with home ownership! Up with guaranteed retirement benefits! Up with peace! Up with prosperity! Up with the democratic party! Up with Obama/Biden! Wake up America! Wake up America!"


• The Women of the Senate segment was awesome - we really have some astounding, talented women in the Senate - I liked them all


• Governor Brian Schweitzer from Montana was a blast! He energized the crowd and in a plain spoken way hit all the important points about the need for energy independence

Another great night. As James Carville (who I love!) said: "It's a great night to be a Democrat!".

'Toon Tuesday

Democratic Convention - Monday Night

I thought it was a wonderful beginning.

I was watching mostly C-SPAN so I got to see most of the non-star speeches, which were very interesting, but Pelosi, Kennedy and Michelle rocked the house.

Pelosi did a wonderful job enumerating the successes of the Democratic House despite the fact they were facing the possibility of Dubyuh's vetoes.

Ted Kennedy slayed me. CNN had been saying that the trip had been difficult and that even though there was a speech written for him he would probably be too sick to speak, I was expecting him to come out in a wheelchair and all frail and sickly looking - but he looked great! I had already started crying during Caroline's introduction and throughout the tribute film, by the time he came out I was a wreck - I cried the whole way through. God bless him!

And then the Michelle film, her brother and finally Michelle herself. Phenomenal speech, fantastic delivery, amazing presence. I've liked her all along, and tonight I like her so much more. Just compare and contrast her to Laura Bush - and Cindy McCain...so much more *real*.

Tomorrow we have Hillary - I can't wait!

YAY! A Meme - Seven Things You're Wearing

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

(FYI, I'm answering these on Tuesday 8/19 at 11:00 PMish and pre-posting!)

1. Brown Birkenstocks
2. Top
3. Shorts
4. Glasses
5. Panties
6. Hair thingy
7. Watch

YAY! A Meme - Eight Have You Evers?

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

1. Have you ever dated one of your best friends? No
2. Have you ever been arrested? No
3. Have you ever skinny dipped? Yes
4. Have you ever been on TV? Yes
5. Have you ever kissed someone and regretted it? No
6. Have you ever had a sex dream about someone you knew? Of course
7. Have you ever been a patient in the emergency room? Yes, a million years ago when I broke my foot in Key West
8. Have you ever been in a fist fight? Never

Ladies and Gentlmen - the Democratic Party Ticket for 2008

I'm happy.

While I hate to lose Biden's strong and experienced voice in the Senate, I think he is a tremendous asset to Barack Obama. Not only will he have his vast knowledge and experience to offer, but Biden can also serve as Obama's "attack dog" - and I say that in a good way. Obama's personality is not conducive to defending himself from the Republican smear machine, but Biden - oh yeah, Biden can take it and throw it right back.

It's all good.

YAY! A Meme - Nine Lasts

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

(FYI, I'm answering these on Tuesday 8/19 at 11:00 PMish and pre-posting!)

1. Last Beverage: American Coffee
2. Last Vehicle Ride: Two days ago
3. Last Movie Seen: "49 Up" (Netflix)
4. Last Phone Call Made: This morning I called my boss
5. Last CD Played: Green Day "American Idiot"
6. Last Bubble Bath: Don't remember
7. Last Time You Cried: Some time during the weekend when I watchd "Little Women"
8. Last Kiss: About 2 hours ago
9. Last Concert You Attended: Bon Jovi, 2007 (or was it 2006?)

The Lola Shuffle - "The Fay, Fay, Go Away!" Edition Edition

Alright already! Fay, you've been here for like a week - move on to the lovely Atlantic Ocean and leave us alone! Last night we were being hit by your outer bands - enough!

OK Lola, hit us with some non-stormy music...

1. Who Am I (What's My NameName)? - Snoop Dogg
2. Open Arms - Journey (GAG!)
3. I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
4. Camino Verde - Los Chavales de España
5. Have a Nice Day - Bon Jovi
6. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson (a classic forever and always)
7. She's Got a Way - Billy Joel
8. That's Life - Frank Sinatra
9. The Way You Move - Big Boi/Outkast
10. In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening - Bette Midler (we could sure use a cool, cool, cool evening in Miami! This is agreat song and interpretation)

I wish for you a cool, dry and safe weekend!

Book Review - "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

OK, so I haven't been Twilight's target demographic in three decades (silent scream) but I loved it! I got totally sucked in (pun intended).

Meyer weaves a wonderful story with characters that are intriguing, yet despite being vampires are somehow familiar. Obviously, being a "young adult" novel, the writing is simple and straight forward, no complicated symbolism or language - just good storytelling.

We are introduced to a unique "family" of vampires through Bella's eyes. As a matter of fact, the whole book is in Bella's voice. First person narration is difficult to write, yet Meyer never messes up - good writing or good editing, or both.

Along with other younger "fanpires", I have a crush on Edward Cullen...no it is not sick, he's over 100 years old! But he is oh-so-romantic.

I've already started reading New Moon the next book in the series of four. I'll let you know how I like it.

YAY! A Meme! Ten Firsts

It's been forever since I posted a meme. So now, I'm going to do a bunch of them in a row. I got this from Tere over at A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In Between, only she did them all in one shot, I'm going to string them out...if you want to do any of them, let me know in my comments please!

1. First Best Friend: Glenda
2. First Hamster: ICK! It's a glorified rat - I never had one
3. First Piercing: Ears - I was like 4 months old - like a good Cuban baby girl
4. First High School Crush: Joseph C.
5. First CD: I know I held out on the whole CD instead of vinyl thing for a while, but I don't remember the first one
6. First Car: I don't drive (gasp!)
7. First Love: Artie P.
8. First Stuffed Animal: No idea!
9. First Concert: David Cassidy - I was 8 years old
10. First Time Drunk: It was under parental supervision! I was 12 years old and it was New Year's Day, my whole family was at a friend's house for a pig roast. One of the adults had the brilliant idea of putting a Sangria pitcher in the Florida Room wit the kids...it tasted like really good Kool Aid! Have you ever gotten drunk from sangria? It ain't pretty.

'Toon Tuesday

The Lola Shuffle - "The Michael Phelps Edition"

Seriously people...look at him. Oh my!

Lola dedicates this shuffle to him...swim Lola swim...

1. The Bitch is Back - Elton John
2. Milord - Edith Piaf
3. Sweet Baby James - James Taylor
4. Sway - The Pussycat Dolls
5. Party for Two - Shania Twain and Mark McGrath
6. Fly Away - Lenny Kravitz (speaking of FINE!)
7. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) - The Bee Gees
8. On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe - Bing Crosby
9. You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
10. Everyday - Erasure

Have a fabulous weekend and try to stay cool!

'Toon Tuesday

(click on cartoon to enlarge)

Dubyuh's Olympic Interview

Here's a link to the transcript of Dubyuh's interview with Bob Costas yesterday. Here are some excerpts (bolding by me), followed by my comments:

"Q And winning 101 to 70. Our time here is limited. We'll get to as much as we can. The Opening Ceremonies were glorious. There's much to admire about China's people, China's culture, and its present accomplishments. But this remains an authoritarian state

THE PRESIDENT: That's true.

Q -- with an abysmal human rights record. In the long run, is China's rise irreconcilable with America's interests?

THE PRESIDENT: No. In the long run, America better remain engaged with China, and understand that we can have a cooperative and constructive, yet candid relationship. It's really important for future Presidents to understand the relationship between China and the region, and it's important to make sure that America is engaged with China -- even though we may have some disagreements."

ME - What? Ummmm...what about CUBA???

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

"THE PRESIDENT: ...I've met with Hu Jintao a lot since I have been the President. And, yes, I had a full range -- listen, we agree with them on a lot of things. And we disagree with them on things. And that's the way the relationship is going to be. It needs to be, as I mentioned, constructive and cooperative. "

ME - What? Ummmm...what about CUBA???

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

"Q But given China's growing strength and America's own problems, realistically how much leverage and influence does the U.S. have here?

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I don't see America having problems. I see America as a nation that is a world leader, that has got great values. And leverage is -- I don't think you should look at the relationship as one of leverage. I think you ought to look at the relationship of one of constructive engagement where you can find common areas, like North Korea and Iran, but also be in a position where they respect you enough to listen to your views on religious freedom and political liberty."

ME - Denial much?

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

"Q If these Olympics are as successful as they are shaping up to be, most people believe this only further legitimizes the ruling party in the minds on most Chinese citizens. And even absent true liberty as we understand it, the lives of hundreds of millions of Chinese people are much better than they once were. Therefore, what's the party's incentive to reform?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, if you're a religious person, you understand that once religion takes hold in a society it can't be stopped. And secondly, I think the Olympics are going to serve as a chance for people to come and see China the way it is, and let the Chinese see the world and interface and have the opportunity to converse with people from around the world. This is a very positive development, in my view, for peace."

ME - ??? Uh what? What does religion have to do with anything Bob Costas said? I'm thinking maybe Costas was supposed to ask a question about religion and for the sake of time skipped it, but Dubyuh had already memorized his answers so he answered a question that wasn't actually asked.

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

"Q As you attempt to press these points with them, do you find Hu Jintao not just warm toward you personally, but is he receptive? Do you sense any movement?

THE PRESIDENT: It's hard to tell. I mean, it's -- all I can tell you is, is that it is best to be in the position where a leader will listen to you. I went to church here, and I'm sure the cynics say, well, you know, it was just a state-sponsored church. On the other hand -- and that's true. On the other hand, it gave me a chance to say to the Chinese people, religion won't hurt you, you ought to welcome religious people. And it gave me a chance to say to the government, why don't you register the underground churches and give them a chance to flourish? And he listened politely. I can't read his mind, but I do know that every time I met with him I pressed the point. "

ME: I wonder how the translator for Mr. Jintao handled that answer because it's barely coherent in English.

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

"THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. Yes, there's a great connection. You know, I can remember riding my bike around Beijing in 1975, and it is --

Q Only bikes then, just about.

THE PRESIDENT: -- unbelievable how far this has changed. I mean, it is -- and he feels the same way. And we were honored yesterday when the President, Hu Jintao, invited my dad and me and Laura and my sister and my daughter, my brother, for dinner. It was a -- lunch. It was just a great gesture of kindness."

ME: What?

The mind wobbles...

Great Lyrics of the 80s

Many of you may know that there is a huge part of the 80s that I don't remember - not due to chemical enhancement, I swear - it was just a difficult time in my life and apparently my brain has graciously helped me block most of it out. And I'm fine with that.

This situation however, has not overridden my freakish memory for lyrics. The minute the song starts to play I know all the words regardless of how wretched I think the song is and despite the fact that I can't tell most of the 80s bands apart. I pretty much think - and don't hate me for this people! - that with some significantly notable exceptions 80s pop music was pretty much dreck.

However, even within said dreck there are occasional lyric jewels to be found. I recently sat through a video of Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam with Full Force (I mean really people, WTF?), it was the one for All Cried Out. Apparently the song has been remade several times, but the *real* one is Lisa Lisa'a.

ANYWAY, in this most ridiculously over-the-top song there is a lyric that I think is fantastic. See, Lisa Lisa is singing (I'm using the term loosely) about how this guy who she totally loved cheated on her and treated her badly, blah, blah, blah, and apparently the guy has now offered some lame-azzed apology (as sung by one of the Cult Jammers with Full Force). But Lisa Lisa is having none of that nonsense and she delivers THE line:

"Apology not accepted, add me to the broken hearts you've collected"

Seriously - brilliant! She used the "accepted-collected" rhyme! Can you do that with so much conviction? I think not! And, if you listen to the song, the melody even changes - it's all syncopated with emphasis on certain syllables, giving the statement even more conviction:

a-POLOGY-not-acc-CEP-ted-add-me-TO-the-bro-ken-HEARTS-you've-col-LEC-ted

Oh well, I think it's cool.

Do you have any specific lyrics that really stick with you- in a good way? I have tons. I'll try and think of more, meanwhile, tell me yours!

The Lola Shuffle - "The Olympics Edition"

(sigh), I'm not really all that excited about the Olympics this year. The human rights issues and the time difference have prevented me from really getting into it. Except for Dara Torres and the Opening Ceremonies I'm kind of "bleh" about the whole thing.

Lola however, as always, insists on being topical and flow with the zeitgeist, so here's the Official 2008 Olympic Lola Shuffle...

1. Pinball Wizard - Elton John
2. Tennessee Waltz/Tennessee Mazurka - The Chieftains and Tom Jones
3. Love and Marriage - Frank Sinatra
4. I Will Survice - Gloria Gaynor (timeless)
5. Ka-Ching! - Shania Twain
6. Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
7. Holiday - Green Day
8. I Just Wanna Be Mad - Terri Clark (how often these lyrics express my feelings!)
9. Take A Chance On Me - ABBA (Perfect! I'm still on my "Mamma Mia" high)
10. Porcelain - Moby

Have a great weekend and enjoy the opening ceremonies. GO TEAM USA!

Book Comment - "Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky

This is a "comment" not a review because I didn't finish the book.

Suite Francaise (I read a translation) is very well written with beautiful language, but I was never able to get into it. There are too many characters and the pacing was too slow to capture my attention.

Maybe I'll pick it up again sometime.

'Toon Tuesday

I'm Still Here...

I know I've been a lazy blogger lately, just doing 'Toon Tuesday and the Lola Shuffle, or an occasional book review.

I'm sorry - my Blog Muse seems to be on vacation.

Maybe it's the heat.

I'll be back eventually...

The Lola Shuffle - The "Another Fun Weekend" Edition

Hello all...I have a great weekend coming up! Tonight is Game Night with the girls, tomorrow I'm going to learn how to make traditional Cuban Picadillo - you can check the recipe (with pictures) next week at Cuban Home Cooking and Sunday I'm brunching with a friend from work - YAY!

So Lola, shuffle up some happy weekend music!

1. Truckin' - Grateful Dead (Quintessential Dead)
2. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen (Another classic!)
3. Soy - Willy Chirino
4. Give It Up - Cyndi Lauper
5. I Who Have Nothing - Jordin Sparks (when I heard her sing this I knew she would win!)
6. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John - (It's Elton...'nuff said)
7. Real Good Man - Tim McGraw (Home boy sure wears his jeans well...yummy!)
8. Behind the Wall - Tracy Chapman (Amazing song - sung a capella - her voice and the lyrics break your heart)
9. Three Times a Lady - Lionel Richie (Yes, I know it's schmaltzy, but still, it was such a great slow-dancing song during my misspent youth...)
10. I Get a Kick Out of You - Frank Sinatra (Perennial favorite...this is the pre-politically correct version where he sings: "some people they go for cocaine, I'm sure that if I took even one sniff it would bore me terriff-ically too, 'cause I get a kick out of you...")

Great job Lola - everybody have a wonderful weekend!