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.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

On this day...


58 years ago, my Nana and Grandad got married.

Oh, how they've loved each other. Oh, how they've loved us.

And oh, how I've loved them.

Monday, January 28, 2008

"I didn't do nuffin'!"


I've been thinking about the different jobs I've held. Some were short and therefore not so sweet; some were like chocolate. But swirled within each of 'em was some ingredient I could slag off. Here are a few of the most slaggable offerings (in no particular order):

1. Being 'called,' via intercom, loudspeaker and ol' school style through hallways, to trudge all the way up to El Jefe to retrieve a coke from the fridge in said Jefe's office within arm's reach of El diab... I mean, el jefe.

2. Riding around every day in a limousine (torture beginning at 6:30am) with a blind in one eye boss-man. And having to sit. right. by. him. (pat, pat) and take notes.

3. Being yelled and screamed at in a PMS-24-hours-a-day fueled rage for being stupidly full of initiative.

4. A futile attempt at strong arming me, by the new fat and lazy female director, to chase a female porn star down "La Croisette" to 'drum up interest' and in turn, leave my pride at the Carlton. Futile. God loves a trier.

5. Very first job. Office affair. Not mine. "Easy Single" sandwiches in the toilet cubicle. First job. 'nuff said.

6. Perfecting a blank expression witnessing boss burping, farting and sliding off leather chair while using dictation machine. Boss also perfected blank expression.

7. Having begun a job two weeks earlier, I get reamed a new one for something he told me to do a month previous. Now, I'm the first to admit my mathematical failings, but those numbers just don't add up. Oh, have I mentioned he was schizo? No? Right.

more to come...

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Help the hungry and have fun too!

I stumbled across this website and it's great! It claims to provide free rice (through its advertising hits) to those who need it and it's a word game too. Be careful, it can get addictive :) and it might even make you smarter ;)

Hopefully, it does what it says. Hopefully. I did a bit of research and apparently it's been mentioned on the BBC and NPR and at this point, seems legit. Either way, if you've got some time to kill, it'll definitely help with the ol' vocab.

http://www.freerice.com

Photobucket

Friday, January 18, 2008

Keep both feet in the one sock, ladies!

Fearing I hadn't laughed enough today, my dear friend Katy sent me this; it's from an actual 1955 Good Housekeeping article. Click below (but do so with ladylike intention) to view it in all its informative and graceful glory... just be careful not to pull a muscle, that's indelicate.

"Not written by..."


Funny, very tongue-in-cheek, blog by a couple of striking writers (David Letterman show, David Spade Show, etc.) blogging about what they're not writing while the guild is striking.

They asked what (really bad stuff, heh) everyone else is not writing during the time, so I sent one in and they posted it. Check it out here if you want:

http://millerandgreen2.blogspot.com/

Their original post is here, some funny stuff:

http://millerandgreen.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 14, 2008

I'm friggin' screwed

Einstein's brain:
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Speaking of relativity, the only thing me and Al have remotely in common - the hair:
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For more interesting wiki-skewed tidbits on Da Man:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein's_brain

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

If a tree falls in a forest...


Anyone out there?

Blogging sucks! Down with blogs! So sayeth me!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

And the Saints coming marching in...


Yes, just as there was that hint of Halloween in the air, that hot lady Santa Ana threatens crisp nights with her elbow and promises to come to town beginning this weekend, presenting us with the usual Indian Summer.

With her she brings static cling, door handle shocks, late suntans, fires, the twirling of fans and the hum of air conditioning. And hair that resembles fork lightning - oh wait, that's just mine :)

It's looking like a beach weekend. Get your boogie boards and sunscreen ready, kids!

Friday, October 12, 2007

My brain hurts!


which is nothing really new :)

Click on the chick. Do you see her twirling clockwise or counter clockwise?

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Where's that old git Merlin when you need him?


I've decided it might be time for me to start caring again, about how I look. I think I'm well, WELL overdue for a physical overhaul. As I think about this, my mind drifts to all the other things that I need to be less wishy washy and stupid about.

So, in addition to the 'that kid in "Mask"' (the one with Cher) type makeover I'm going to have to address, I will make a few resolutions in advance of New Year's Eve. I know it's early, but why be predictable?! Anyhow, the reason - I'm hoping to have some of these resolutions down and out and tackled to the ground before the old year is over so I can laugh my way, or at least smirk a little, into 2008.

Here goes, in no particular order (she says, painfully):

1. Get in shape; eat more regularly and more healthily, so I can look in the bathroom mirror without crying salty tears thinking I walked into a Carnival fun house.
2. Write that little pirate story for "Cutthroat Conor of Ireland." Just for him.
3. Make money. Find (gulp) gainful employment.
4. Quit "da fags" (stupid, stupid, stupid! But oh so seductive with its murky mistress red wine)
5. Finish a couple of those stories gathering cat hair and dust.
6. Give Betsy an overhaul. Yeh, Bets, you heard me.
7. Perfect even further my perfect (and make even more 'potent') "Hemingway" mojito (to aid me with #10).
8. Do something for my US little "nieces and nephews" that they can keep forever. Just for them.
9. Make a 5 Year Plan (Ha! I'm sorry, Jackie Lyons, I can't even write that one with a straight face).
10. Track down and ply good ol' H.G. with a "Hemingway" or five so I don't miss anything with my family at any time.
11. (bonus) Hope for the return of creativity - and more importantly, the MIA-for-some-time willpower and drive. And beating someone, anyone, in Scrabulous. And a way to get to the Maldives. Oh, and the Aurora Borealis.

Oh mammy! From the looks of the above, I need way more than just a 'physical' overhaul. Wish me much luck. I'll need it! Especially with the wormhole thing.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Jack be nimble, Jack be gypped!


While me and Stephen were driving west bound down Sunset I had a little flash of a story idea. I have two sweet kiddies around me that are losing (and loosening) their teeth, top and bottom, and I thought of a tooth fairy story with a twist. Hooray.

Then we went into Borders and to my (as usual) horror, the fella that has cornered the market 'interpreting' fairy tales (Wicked! anyone?) had beaten me to it. Tooth fairy tale front and center on the shelves. Denied! Damn him!!!

Sorry Daniel and Valerie :( my gummy little friends.

Aw well, back to the drawing board...

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

The weather's beautiful...


Stephen has his rothar and we've cycled to Main Street for lunch at the Omelette Parlor. Sweet! It's so nice. It's a brain break and a half when he's around.

Marie dropped back the Hippy Tent, so I'm sure we'll be making use of that in the next couple of weeks. Happy flowers and all. Have I said the weather couldn't be better?

Shanny's planning on coming down at some point; looking forward to that. The Three Amigos again, unless Eoghan comes and then it's four. Should I have said the Three Musketeers and D'Artagnan? Either way, you catch my drift. It'll be a laugh however it shakes down.

And more biking. We'll have to try one of the numerous trails, probably Corral Canyon. That's a nice one. Or "Vietnam" as Stephen nicknamed it. I've robbed that one. Anyway, you splash through water, see little families of ducks, complete with their little gaggle of ducklings and we - scratch that - I always get scruffy. Good times, as Katrinka would say. :)

Anyway, that's it for today. Hope all is well where you all are.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Total Lunar Lullaby


I set me ol' alarm clock for 1:45am PST. I awoke all eager and with dogged determination to see something good. It moves sloooow. I spent the next hour nodding off and then waking in a panic to run outside.

Didn't look so "Total" as in 'dramatic' the way I always hope, but there was a 'Blood Moon' - kinda appealed to my imagination and brought to mind witches, paganism, kids stories and that movie with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. And most importantly of course, our existence on a floating ball in space. Scary. Wooo!

The moon was coppery and reddish. It took a good hour until I gave up. Lunacy. I witnessed it. I saw more stars than usual. Then I fell asleep. And for once, slept soundly and didn't hear the world's loudest sprinkler system go off for a change.

My imagination worked overtime. It's confirmed. I'm the definition of a "Moon Child."

Awe inspiring photos of the event, photographed by moi here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5403&l=0300e&id=602237775

Monday, August 27, 2007

"Those who wish to sing always find a song"

I wrote this back in Dublin just before this past New Year's eve, which was a very difficult time. I don't think many that should have caught it, did, so I'm reposting on this new blog. A few months have passed and I think about it, and all of you, often. It's all still so hard, but I'm glad you're all still hanging in with me.
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December 28, 2006

"Those who wish to sing always find a song"

...the above is an old Swedish proverb.

I used to love to sing; can't carry a note, but that never stopped me from belting one out, without notice, at the top of my lungs. And I thought I knew the lyrics to just about everything.

I used to hear songs everywhere and would happily sing along. I heard them in my family; little notes in little voices, in the faces of the kids I love; friends' kindnesses; in the kindness of strangers; in my kitty cat; in places other people didn't notice; in many a joke-filled hour. All this helped fill my repertoire. I sang along - with gusto.

I knew my life had changed on New Year's Eve 2005. I remember the moment. It was instantaneous. I just knew my life would never be the same. And I was right. It was hard to hear anything. An invisible presence skulked around me, stalking me - pulling at me, pushing me down, dragging me backwards, holding on and threatening to smother me until I could barely move or speak, let alone sing - until April of this year, when it engulfed me whole, muffling me completely.

I realize maybe it isn't that I can't find a song, I just haven't wished to sing. I know that I'm surrounded by beautiful notes and music; I'm reminded of that every day in my thoughtful, caring family; my beloved mother, who I know has had the same problem singing as myself; my friends who, and I know even more than ever now, have been humming steadily and unwaveringly to me all along. I hope you all know I tried to hear you. I hope you know how thankful I am.

So we all stand on the edge of a new arrangement, with lyrics yet to be written. Notes yet to be set to music. A new year. Perhaps a song to sing. Perhaps the wish to sing it.

I offer all my love to you all, especially those who have also missed music in their lives and have felt their own kind of silence. May the New Year bring you all health and happiness, with beautiful songs to be found in both familiar and unexpected places. Please sing. I hope to hear more clearly.

Those who wish to sing always find a song. I know she would want me to sing, as she always has; even, or maybe especially, if it's in my own off-key way. I hope to find a song. I hope. And that's the difference.

XXX

Gar's Celebrity Twin

I've said it for years. All the way back when I watched "Gilmore Girls" and this fella played "Jess" - Rory Gilmore's boyfriend.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Every time he was on screen he reminded me so much of my baby bro. It wasn't just the incredible physical resemblance; the character he played often brought Gareth into my living room too. The tough outer shell, with the sometimes prickly "I don't give a crap" air. This all masking the deep-thinking, caring, intelligent and thoughtful person, only the closest to him are fortunate to know.

Sweet. Inside and out.

So, Milo Ventimiglia and "Jess" - thanks for letting me live a little closer to my baby brother when miles and distance wouldn't.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Dangerous When De-Caffeinated


Why, you ask? Well, I can't answer that one.

What I can answer is the following:

In case you've all ever wondered who you should thank for me being very rarely, if ever, without caffeine (hence, not 'dangerous'), well, that would be Stephen. My brother. He is singularly responsible for my always, ALWAYS, having money on my Starbucks card. And I'm forever grateful. No matter what's going on in my life, he, by doing this, makes sure that I always have somewhere to go and something to have - and it prevents me from feeling like a complete and utter bum. And so when I walk out the door of Starbucks carrying my frappuccino or triple grande, I'm always leaving with much, much more than 'just a cup of coffee.' He will never know just how much his best-friendship means to me.

In closing, on those occasions when you find me "putupwithable", let it be known, Stephen's the reason why. Send your gratitude thataway!

Now, I'm going to go have a cup.

Will this thing see the light of day?

That's really the question :)

Tuesday, November 28, 2006