Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Update - Here a chair, there a chair...

Ahem, I know everyone has been waiting with bated breath for an update; on tenterhooks, and all that jazz. No, no, please. I apologize for the delay. Drum roll please... -- well, it's still here.

So far, it's been used as:

1. An elderly persons' rest stop.
2. A rubbish bin.
3. (possibly) A litter bin for piddles.
4. The "can" in kick the can by the kiddies.
5. A springboard onto my steps by my own cat.
5. A point of ridicule/source of amusement for all and sundry.

I'm going to put it on the street this weekend to see if I can drum up business. I'm going to put a sign on it that says "Needs A Good (or Bad) Home." At the end of the weekend, if it has not been adopted, I and a couple of accomplices will don woolly hats pulled low over our faces and it'll wear "cement shoes" and "sleep with the fishes," as it were.

Wish us luck!

Monday, February 25, 2008

Up the Dubs!


Congratulations to my fellow countrymen and women - and those involved that have discovered that Ireland, and particularly Dublin, creeps into your veins - on the success of their film "Once."

No doubt they invested their blood, sweat and tears - and all of their cash and a lot of craic - getting it to the screen. It undoubtedly paid off, because last night they snookered the Academy into giving them the award for Best Original Song ("Falling Slowly").

Fair play to you, lads. Bula Bus!!!

Here's a trailer:



And awwww. Thank you, Jon Stewart, for letting Markéta Irglová have her moment:



Isn't it funny how her Czech and Dublin accents have collided?! Lovely. I hope the success and media this film and song have garnered now with this award, goes a bit of a way towards more widespread tolerance as times continue to change in Ireland - for all the new people, from all different places, finding new homes and lives there, just as the Irish have over the years, elsewhere. At the end of the day, we all just want to feel we belong.

Sláinte.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

"Hold on to your f**&@ing hat!"


I'm sure you've all seen those ads on television for this medication and that. Usually (while trying to mind warp and fleece us), and depending on the drug being hawked, generically attractive young, middle aged and/or elderly people, unrealistically mind you (particularly the geriatric generic), are seen running through meadows, rock climbing, looking depressed, awaking in crisp white sheets with crisp white curtains blowing lightly in the breeze and... well, you get the idea. At close of the commercial there's always a rolling set of possible side effects, a scroll as long as the cast and crew credits of any Hollywood blockbuster. This laundry list of horrors seems always, at least to me, much, much worse a fate than the condition the medication is prescribed for.

As if these all aren't bad enough, I personally find the ones targeted specifically at "women's issues" and "feminine hygiene," etc., even more grating and ridiculous. The ones where (at least in the US) the women are all very gentle and softspoken - the kind of voice used only if you were completely Stepford, drugged up to the eyeballs, or trying to placate a nutjob who is brandishing a gun at a WaMu (that name change still doesn't make them 'cool' by the way) - so annoying and patronizing. What the #%@* do they take us for?

Well, last night I was watching SNL (Saturday Night Live) - it was the first show back since the WGA went on strike, so my tuning in was a combination, I'm sure, of extreme lack of new telly material and the fact that Tina Fey was hosting - reunited once again with her pal and comedy cohort, Amy Poehler.

Now, I love Tina Fey and I love her show "30 Rock." And Poehler never ceases to crack me up ("Blades of Glory" anyone?), so I had to at least check it out. Anyway, just as my age started to reveal itself and I was starting to fade, the following skit came on:



I don't know whether I was just severely lacking and in need of a good giggle, or should be prescribed some of that there Stepford medication, but I absolutely rolled. Their dead-on parody was lulling me, as it was meant to do - between the wig, the use of pink on black and white and the gormless music and hopped up tones and expressions of the women - until around .40 seconds and then kapow! When I saw the... ah well, if you haven't seen it, I don't want to spoil it for you. Just take a look.

I'm so glad this ended up on youtube.

(Wonder if she found that hatchet at one of those 'provide for the needy' outfits. Yes, I'm still grumbling)

(and if the fascist bastids remove the above, try here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fQL2q-wjAsg )

P.S. Her Clinton/Obama bit was really hilarious too.

ETA: For anyone with an interest in political satire (and Female Power! Ha! I'm talking more about Tina in this instance), here it is:

Monday, February 18, 2008

This is no Blanch... that's for sure. And more's the pity!


Remember when "poor" meant "I'll take it!"? Or you could leave something outside, even accidentally, and it was gone in five seconds flat? Mmm, me too.

Where are those nimble fingered tea-leaves when you need 'em? You know, the ones who would rob your tires while your car was in motion? What happened to that class of fella? Have things changed so much in the world, that you can't bank on those things that meant the most? The things that you held dear? Where is the justice?!!!

And also, along with the old, good-time crooks letting us down, it would seem the poor of 2008 are a different breed of poor, than the days of yore, poor. Apparently, the needy are not so needy these days. And those who work to help the poor and needy are not in the market for a really nice--free--chair; they'd rather sit on the floor and/or would prefer to waste gas to come in person to view, sniff and then turn their noses up at said chair.

Let's see, it all began when I was hoodwinked by a really good friend (who shall go unnamed), into taking a really nice chair. Let me make this clear, this is no crappy chair; this chair IS nice. I just don't have any space for it. And so, it sat in my living room awaiting an even newer new home. Bearing this in mind, I spent a few days vigilantly swatting my cat and her claws away during the daylight hours, but at night, she would have her wicked way with the chair's arms. Still, I persevered. Still, it remained nice.

After a week, and having cleaned my apartment from top to bottom, I got tired of the chair eating my living room. I moved the chair outside of my apartment, pinning it with a really nice--and wordy-- note. So far, everything about this situation is nice. But, no go. I went online and booked a pickup with a group that --sounds like-- 'Starvation Barmy' (AlvationSay Rmyay, pig latin, for the Americans) and knew my chair troubles would be over within four days, the soonest it could be picked up. I was jubilant. In the meantime, I left a note saying if anyone wanted it, they were welcome to it, thinking I could always cancel the pickup if necessary. I'm that much of a giver, you see.

No go. The chair sat there. Tuesday rolled around and while I was making my coffee, I heard the pickup guys outside. I ran to the loo and a minute later, I head to the door to view the empty chair-shaped space. I thought. Well, the chair was still there, along with a note that said "We don't want your effin' chair." It didn't really say that, but that's how I read it. A preprinted note said it was not acceptable for, tick, tick, a couple of reasons. Reasons I honestly couldn't get my head around. A small stain at the back of the chair - the part of the chair that's usually pushed against a wall-- or with a little elbow grease would be a distant memory-- but nope, apparently the poor would rather sit on the floor. Denied. If I had the space, I'd take this chair in a second. What am I saying, I did take it... (damn you, **** *********!)

I have to say, after this I turned into a maniac. I kept my eye on the window and if tenants of my building, or visitors of tenants, even glanced the way of my apartment/chair, I would be out that door chasing them down, twisting arms and giving my pitch. Still no takers. Furthermore, I had to fend off next door's cat--who's in heat for the first time-- from taking a piddle on it. I'm exhausted. There's now my briefest of notes to date, attached to a sheet over the chair in thick black marker, stating "FREE CHAIR," just like that. I don't know whether I actually meant "This chair is free" or "Free this poor chair!" My imagination is working overtime. I believe this chair has now grown a pair of eyes and is sporting a smirk. And it's smirking in my direction. I find this chair ceases to be as nice as I once thought. I think I might now hate this chair.

So there you have it. My only recourse now involves a hatchet and the dumpster... and let's just say, I'm looking forward to it. Now if only I could find a hatchet. Wonder if the organizations for the poor have any of those? Maybe I'll go look at their collection of hatchets, sniff and turn my nose up at what they've got, 'cause you know, there's a scratch on the handle or something. Yep, that's the ticket. That'll teach 'em.

Screw you, sounds like "Starvation Barmy" and "IllWill."

And friend, who shall remain nameless, never mind, I still love you. However, if you visit me while this chair sits here, I will somehow break off a kitty-scratched arm and I will forcibly beat you with it. Das righ'. XXX

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Fiona Lily



May all your carrots taste like cupcakes and all your shoes have magical ballerina powers :)

Happy Birthday, sweet and funny little girl.



We love you much, much more, even, than you love Smyth's Toy Store :)

Thursday, February 07, 2008

"Do you use a big wreckin' ball?"

This little Dublin girl means business. She's not too hot on her school. And with a prank call, she's determined to enlist the help of a demolition company to take care of the situation. Very funny. I love how they're all just crackin' up!



Thanks to Sharon for telling me about it. Ah, it'd make you miss the craic at home, where a laugh is just a laugh and all that jazz. It also reminds me of Conor for some reason. :)

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

And one for the road...



For more, check out:

http://millerandgreen2.blogspot.com/

and:

http://millerandgreen.blogspot.com/

Let's hope LA can get back to (ab)normal soon.