annzeepark914

Well, that's a shocker. I hope this marriage works out for Katia. In other news, a cookbook featuring recipes donated by a wide variety of skaters is going on sale (no idea $) as a fundraiser for the 1961 team memorial. They provide a list of the skaters who donated: Chock & Bates, Natalia Mishkutenok, Caryn Kadavy, Elvis S. & wife, Nathan Barthalamay, Scott Hamilton, Kitty Caruthers, Carla Urbanski, and others. Reading the list was like old home week. Most I never heard of. Sorry I don't have all the info here.

I bought a squirrel proof bird feeder about 8 years ago and it works. They're too heavy for the little levers that birds perch on (that open the doors for birds to access seeds). Our residents squirrels tried to access the feeder for several years (& several generations!) before they *finally* got the message. Then...the raccoons discovered the feeder. We now have some humongo raccoons in our little cul de sac. They must be getting stuff at other houses as well as ours. We see them late at night, perched on the deck rail, munching away. When we rap on the sliding glass door, the muncher swivels around and glares at us with that special look that says, "*what* do you want!?!" Raccoons are so fortunate to have those little hand-like paws. The raccoon pulls the feeder towards him/her, cleverly presses down the perch, and hoover's away for a long time (while the other raccoons patiently wait their turn). But this feeder truly is squirrel proof 😁🦝💪

I agree. Cannot have pink inside a burger and yet I like my steak medium.

I've been cooking with Mural of Flavor on everything for years. It's from Penzeys. Stews, soups, casseroles, chops, burgers, etc. Even those frozen meals in a bag (Bertolli). I talked about it so much that my friends started using it.

So which network news do you think highly of?

Skate America weekend reminded me of the old days. Put everything on hold! I gotta watch my favorite sport. Back in the Dick Button days, this much skating time was normal. Speaking of DB, I can still "hear" him making comments when skaters did things that drove him nuts. "Hanging laundry" when a skater's arms kept flying up throughout the program. "Looks like a broken leg" when a layback spin was done improperly. I'd love to hear his comments re: current skaters' skills. A lot of skate fans thought he was too harsh. But at the next event, those skaters who were singled out returned with improved skating skills.

Starr Andrews??? I wonder why they didn't get Amber Glenn. Oh well...it's good to have this competition since we're not getting Skate Canada this year (or the event in France). Nice to see Ilia Malinin and Audrey Shin competing.

Well, if something momentous happens, CNN is the network I put on immediately. I think they do a good job of covering the news, especially Jim Acosta, Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer.

Whitney Houston's voice has always been fingernails on a blackboard - so high pitched and sharp. Queen (and I certainly didn't see the movie as I knew I'd have a hard time listening to them). Just too irritating. Jennifer Lopez. Nasally voice. One time I saw her and her ex-husband singing together at an awards show. She began singing first, a few bars. Then her ex started singing and it was such a shock, the difference...hearing a real, gifted singing voice. She should've been ashamed to be on the same stage with him. Johnny Cash. That voice, IMO, is like mud. It was tough watching the Ken Burns country music special as Cash dominated almost the whole damn series. ABBA. I never really appreciated their music until I saw Mamma Mia. The cast singing ABBA songs made those songs come alive. I think it was the two female singers' operatic voices that turned me off...way too OTT soprano. Wish I'd purchased the musical's soundtrack.

Curried shrimp on basmati rice.

Lucky!!! How does one get to do that?

Lucky!!! How does one get to do that?

Maybe I'm weird, but I liked having the cardboard cutouts (and the recorded applause). It would've been awful without them. I really didn't notice them much. I thought I saw that the Russian event was still on. I wonder if any Americans will go.

Don't you hate it when someone answers their own question? I do.

I previously posted this joke on my facebook page and "friends" thought I really had a death in the family! I believe it originally was "my dad" and I changed that (thank goodness!).

My uncle died when we couldn't remember his blood type. As he died, he kept insisting for us to "be positive," but it's hard without him.

What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus? "Can I hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand?"

We did too. A few weeks ago I had an 8:00 AM dental appt and was driving over there around 7:30 AM. All of a sudden, WHOOSH! A small red car came out of nowhere and flew past me (I was on a state highway but in the city outskirts). He had to have been going 100 mph. I wish the police would concentrate more on catching these jerks. Where do these people get the idea that the roads are theirs to do as they please?

My pet peeve (and this may be the second time I've mentioned it) is the obnoxious car commercials aimed at the young and thoughtless, like Toyota's commercials shown over and over ad nausem Friday and Saturday during Skate America. It shows 20 somethings, male and female, racing each other in SUV's in a downtown area and on a highway while Hey Ya is playing (and now the song is stuck in my brain). There have been other car commercials recently (I'm thinking BMW but not positive) that also show speeding, not watching the road, having a great ol' time. All I can think is pretty soon we'll be dealing with these airheads having fun with their new cars as we try to avoid them hitting us. Why are these car ads, showing irresponsible drivers, allowed on TV?

Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers. If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?"

I finally saw the weeknight warrior episode today. Everyone's food looked good. Of course I enjoyed watching a chef make veggie/cheese quesadillas the way I do--including a dollop of sour cream on top. I should let Alex know that homemade salsa is good on top of that sour cream.

A maybe replacement for Tab *might* be Zero Coke. I dislike Diet Coke as it always tastes watery to me. But I was never a Tab fan--so who knows if Zero will be an ok replacement.

For some reason, I like it more now than I did years ago. Plus, after listening for several hours to some of the dreck skaters use, it's a welcome relief. I was even glad to hear the old war horses, Carmen & Rachmaninov, tonight.

Just some thoughts: it's strange, but I found myself watching pairs last night after a long gap. I used to love pairs (back in the Natalia/Artur, Sale/Pelletier days) but it got boring to me later on. Last night's programs were fine, despite bobbles, cause this has not been a typical training year for any of the skaters (all disciplines). Interesting to see Max Naumov, son of Shishkova and Naumov (remember those day?). The music at this competition has mostly irritated me, esp the men's SP (excluding Vincent's & Nathan's--they were the highlights). Just now though I have to admit it was wonderful to hear Carmen during K/O's LP and Rachmaninov during Cain/Leduc's LP. Yes!!! Knierem/Frazier win gold and after only training together since last spring? They looked so solid and steady.

I like the syrup with Texas Pete and chopped bacon--yum!! Good luck with getting through the wedding. They're fun but a lot of work.