Old, Old, Old New York

If you love history and love Manhattan, check this out. From the New Yorker - discussion and maps of natural terrain of the island. Really cool.

"Queen Hillary, Empress of Mesopotamia"

I love Andrew Sullivan's blog. During the 2004 campaign he had his own blog. He also shows up on Chris Matthew's Sunday show and on Real Time with Bill Mahrer. I used to read Sullivan as the most readable of the opposition; he seemed the most principled. But he's moved over in his thinking; he's a true conservative/libertarian.

I recall vividly in his last book he noted that churches reflected the values of the age. Hence medieval cathedrals resembles royal castles. And contemporary mega-churches resemble shopping malls. Ugh. But he's right.

So here's his current take on ugh-ful Hillary.

Dancing With the Stars Premiers!

Tonight is the premier of the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars at the start of the networks fall season. Not bad for a summer fill in. I’ve watched every season, nearly every episode, religiously. And got others hooked. Niece: “Can we watch that show where the girls throw off their clothes?” Even my older nephews were intrigued by Emmitt Smith who won season three.

Why do I love this show? First of all, I love dancing. Always have. Even in my worst comatose state, I’d watch and catch my thigh jiving to the music. The show evokes Ginger Rodgers, romantic old films. Also those interminable 70s variety shows – Sonny & Cher, Solid Gold Dancers, Donny & Marie (Friday nights at 8 pm), even the Brady Bunch had a variety show for a while. Third, the costumes are fun and the bodies of the dancers unbelievable. Fourth, it’s campy. I just love all of it.

Lots of competitors. Male models, female models, actresses, actors, a millionaire ?, a race car driver – the one married to Ashley Judd perhaps? Marie Osmond looked like she could barely descend the stairs; Cameron Matheson (eye candy soap star from All My Kids) in fact slipped coming down the stairs! Unbelievable. That doesn’t augur well. Also incredible is that Jane Seymour does not look over 30. Is this the same Jane Seymour of television miniseries fame? The Scarlet Pimpernel and Ivanhoe? Kissing Anthony Andrews (a.k.a. Sebastian Flyte) over and over again??

Fox Trot or the Cha-Cha-Cha. Only the women tonight.

First up – Jennie Garth. Kelly Taylor! 90210. She’s now married with 3 kids. Hubbie is also an actor, now on Damages (he’s the witness who has disappeared). Jennie’s paired with the brother of Julianne (woman who taught, danced Apollo Ono to the championship last year). And she’s the first up doing the Cha Cha to Uptown Girl It’s always weird to me when they do Latin dances to slow pop songs. Makes absolutely no sense and detracts from the inherent fun of the dance. She did better than I expected. She moved, she smiled, she looked great. A little cautious. You could tell she was nervous, but hey who wouldn’t be?

Hah, Len Goodman just agreed – she seemed nervous. Bruno called her the ‘yummy mommy’ – he’s the always the one with the pithy quote. Carrie also commended her; she’s always nice. She got 7s from all the judges (out of ten).

Josie Maran. Have no idea who she is. She’s a model who was in Sports Illustrated and apparently had a role in Aviator. The people on this show are “B list” and invariably they become more famous for having been on this show. Her dance partner/teacher called her “deceptively unfit” and took her out for “boot camp.” She looks good but is like Jello and very uncoordinated. But lord she is gorgeous. She was crucified by the judges. Ugh. She got 6,5,5 (Carrie being the nicest).

Sabrina is a Cheetah Girl? I don’t even know what that is. A snipe in the corner indicated it’s some Disney thing. She’s got hip hop in her background I gather and it keeps seeping into her Cha Cha. So her partner Mark decided rather than fight her to incorporate her instincts. Breathtaking performance! How cool to see women who are not model thin kick butt! Laila Ali, Mohammed’s daughter, did the same for women last season – nearly taking the title. Big strong women with body confidence giving riveting performances. Another reason I love this show. This aspect alone is a counterpoint to all the other messages in pop culture women get. Judges chided her for the hip hop aspects but she got 9,8,9 (Len ducking points for the hip hop moves). Now I have to look up the Cheetah Girls.

Marie Osmond. She’s paired with Jonathon. Many of the ladies are fans of prior seasons (Jennie admitted too). Marie knew a woman hadn’t won since the first season (General Hospital soap star Kelly Monaco) She did a fox trot to another 70s artist; recognized it couldn’t name it. “Classy yet sassy” – Bruno. She is a performer; played right to the judges. Gosh – is this the same person who wore those spandex unitards? She’s still wearing purple and still looks very 70ish, but I’ve got a fond place in my heart for her. Hers was the first music cassette I bought (an album with her brother). 7,7,7 for scores. Same as Jennie, who actually danced better. Her mannerisms are the same – quirky and strange – and I even remember them.

Mel B. a.k.a. Scary Spice. She’s paired with Maxim. Probably a winning combo. Her boobs are huge! Maybe from breastfeeding Eddie Murphy’s child. If it weren’t for that timing I’d be sure she’d had surgery, but I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Leopard print dress with strategic holes and backless. This woman has confidence (huge boobs!). She’s a performer too and she can move. Beautiful woman (except for the disproportionate huge boobs).

Tonight is the premier of the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars at the start of the networks fall season. Not bad for a summer fill in. I’ve watched every season, nearly every episode, religiously. And got others hooked. Niece: “Can we watch that show where the girls throw off their clothes?” Even my older nephews were intrigued by Emmitt Smith who won season three.

Why do I love this show? First of all, I love dancing. Always have. Even in my worst comatose state, I’d watch and catch my thigh jiving to the music. The show evokes Ginger Rodgers, romantic old films. Also those interminable 70s variety shows – Sonny & Cher, Solid Gold Dancers, Donny & Marie (Friday nights at 8 pm), even the Brady Bunch had a variety show for a while. Third, the costumes are fun and the bodies on the dancers unbelievable. Fourth, it’s campy. I just love all of it.

Lots of competitors. Male models, female models, actresses, actors, a millionaire ?, a race car driver – the one married to Ashley Judd perhaps? Mel from the Spice Girls Marie Osmond looked like she could barely descend the stairs; Cameron Matheson (eye candy soap star from All My Kids) in fact slipped coming down the stairs! Unbelievable. That doesn’t augur well. Also incredible is that Jane Seymour does not look over 30. Is this the same Jane Seymour of television miniseries fame? The Scarlet Pimpernel and Ivanhoe? Kissing Anthony Andrews (a.k.a. Sebastian Flyte) over and over again??

Fox Trot or the Cha-Cha-Cha. Only the women tonight.

First up – Jennie Garth. Kelly Taylor! 90210. She’s now married with 3 kids. Hubbie is also an actor, now on Damages (he’s the witness who has disappeared). Jennie’s paired with the brother of Julianne (woman who taught, danced Apollo Ono to the championship last year). And she’s the first up doing the Cha Cha to Uptown Girl It’s always weird to me when they do Latin dances to slow pop songs. Makes absolutely no sense and detracts from the inherent fun of the dance. She did better than I expected. She moved, she smiled, she looked great. A little cautious. You could tell she was nervous, but hey who wouldn’t be?

Hah, Len Goodman just agreed – she seemed nervous. Bruno called her the ‘yummy mommy’ – he’s the always the one with the pithy quote. Carrie also commended her; she’s always nice. She got 7s from all the judges (out of ten).

Josie Maran. Have no idea who she is. She’s a model who was in Sports Illustrated and apparently had a role in Aviator. The people on this show are “B list” and invariably they become more famous for having been on this show. Her dance partner/teacher called her “deceptively unfit” and took her out for “boot camp.” She looks good but is like Jello and very uncoordinated. But lord she is gorgeous. She was crucified by the judges. Ugh. She got 6,5,5 (Carrie being the nicest).

Sabrina is a Cheetah Girl? I don’t even know what that is. A snipe in the corner indicated it’s some Disney thing. She’s got hip hop in her background I gather and it keeps seeping into her Cha Cha. So her partner Mark decided rather than to fight her to incorporate her instincts. Breathtaking performance! How cool to see women who are not model thin kick butt! Laila Ali, Mohammed’s daughter, did the same for women last season – nearly taking the title. Big strong women with body confidence giving riveting performances. Another reason I love this show. This aspect alone is a counterpoint to all the other messages in pop culture women get. Judges chided her for the hip hop aspects but she got 9,8,9 (Len ducking points for the hip hop moves). Now I have to look up the Cheetah Girls.

Marie Osmond. She’s paired with Jonathon. Many of the ladies are fans of prior seasons (Jennie admitted too). Marie knew a woman hadn’t won since the first season (General Hospital soap star Kelly Monaco) She did a fox trot to a another 70s artist; recognized it couldn’t name it. “Classy yet sassy” – Bruno. She is a performer; played right to the judges. Gosh – is this the same person who wore those spandex unitards? She’s wearing purple and still looks very 70ish, but I’ve got a fond place in my heart for her. Hers was the first music cassette I bought (an album with her brother). 7,7,7 for scores. Same as Jennie, who actually danced better. Her mannerisms are the same – quirky and strange – and I even remember them.

Mel B. a.k.a. Scary Spice. She’s paired with Maxim. Probably a winning combo. Her boobs are huge! Maybe from breastfeeding Eddie Murphy’s child. If it weren’t for that timing I’d be sure she’d had surgery, but I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Leopard print dress with strategic holes and backless. This woman has confidence (huge boobs!). She’s a performer too and she can move. Beautiful woman (except for the disproportionate huge boobs).

Tonight is the premier of the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars at the start of the networks fall season. Not bad for a summer fill in. I’ve watched every season, nearly every episode, religiously. And got others hooked. Niece: “Can we watch that show where the girls throw off their clothes?” Even my older nephews were intrigued by Emmitt Smith who won season three.

Why do I love this show? First of all, I love dancing. Always have. Even in my worst comatose state, I’d watch and catch my thigh jiving to the music. The show evokes Ginger Rodgers, romantic old films. Also those interminable 70s variety shows – Sonny & Cher, Solid Gold Dancers, Donny & Marie (Friday nights at 8 pm), even the Brady Bunch had a variety show for a while. Third, the costumes are fun and the bodies on the dancers unbelievable. Fourth, it’s campy. I just love all of it.

Lots of competitors. Male models, female models, actresses, actors, a millionaire ?, a race car driver – the one married to Ashley Judd perhaps? Mel from the Spice Girls Marie Osmond looked like she could barely descend the stairs; Cameron Matheson (eye candy soap star from All My Kids) in fact slipped coming down the stairs! Unbelievable. That doesn’t augur well. Also incredible is that Jane Seymour does not look over 30. Is this the same Jane Seymour of television miniseries fame? The Scarlet Pimpernel and Ivanhoe? Kissing Anthony Andrews (a.k.a. Sebastian Flyte) over and over again??

Fox Trot or the Cha-Cha-Cha. Only the women tonight.

First up – Jennie Garth. Kelly Taylor! 90210. She’s now married with 3 kids. Hubbie is also an actor, now on Damages (he’s the witness who has disappeared). Jennie’s paired with the brother of Julianne (woman who taught, danced Apollo Ono to the championship last year). And she’s the first up doing the Cha Cha to Uptown Girl It’s always weird to me when they do Latin dances to slow pop songs. Makes absolutely no sense and detracts from the inherent fun of the dance. She did better than I expected. She moved, she smiled, she looked great. A little cautious. You could tell she was nervous, but hey who wouldn’t be?

Hah, Len Goodman just agreed – she seemed nervous. Bruno called her the ‘yummy mommy’ – he’s the always the one with the pithy quote. Carrie also commended her; she’s always nice. She got 7s from all the judges (out of ten).

Josie Maran. Have no idea who she is. She’s a model who was in Sports Illustrated and apparently had a role in Aviator. The people on this show are “B list” and invariably they become more famous for having been on this show. Her dance partner/teacher called her “deceptively unfit” and took her out for “boot camp.” She looks good but is like Jello and very uncoordinated. But lord she is gorgeous. She was crucified by the judges. Ugh. She got 6,5,5 (Carrie being the nicest).

Sabrina is a Cheetah Girl? I don’t even know what that is. A snipe in the corner indicated it’s some Disney thing. She’s got hip hop in her background I gather and it keeps seeping into her Cha Cha. So her partner Mark decided rather than to fight her to incorporate her instincts. Breathtaking performance! How cool to see women who are not model thin kick butt! Laila Ali, Mohammed’s daughter, did the same for women last season – nearly taking the title. Big strong women with body confidence giving riveting performances. Another reason I love this show. This aspect alone is a counterpoint to all the other messages in pop culture women get. Judges chided her for the hip hop aspects but she got 9,8,9 (Len ducking points for the hip hop moves). Now I have to look up the Cheetah Girls.

Marie Osmond. She’s paired with Jonathon. Many of the ladies are fans of prior seasons (Jennie admitted too). Marie knew a woman hadn’t won since the first season (General Hospital soap star Kelly Monaco) She did a fox trot to a another 70s artist; recognized it couldn’t name it. “Classy yet sassy” – Bruno. She is a performer; played right to the judges. Gosh – is this the same person who wore those spandex unitards? She’s wearing purple and still looks very 70ish, but I’ve got a fond place in my heart for her. Hers was the first music cassette I bought (an album with her brother). 7,7,7 for scores. Same as Jennie, who actually danced better. Her mannerisms are the same – quirky and strange – and I even remember them.

Mel B. a.k.a. Scary Spice. She’s paired with Maxim. Probably a winning combo. Her boobs are huge! Maybe from breastfeeding Eddie Murphy’s child. If it weren’t for that timing I’d be sure she’d had surgery, but I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Leopard print dress with strategic holes and backless. This woman has confidence (huge boobs!). She’s a performer too and she can move. Beautiful woman (except for the disproportionate huge boobs). See you can't stop thinking about them and I'm not even male. Precise, fun, energetic. 8,8,8.

Jane. They’re advertising her as a Bond girl. Forgot that. She was. One of the early Roger Moore’s, set in the Caribbean, something about playing cards. Also as Dr. Quinn. Couldn’t care less about that personally; golly if I was her, I’d not want to go down in history for that. She also played that evil woman in East of Eden TV movie, with Timothy Bottoms I think. I’ll have to check up on that. Okay, just did. Wow forgot she was in The Four Feathers (I was 11), Awakening Land (age 12), East of Eden (age 15), Scarlet Pimpernel (age 16), oh right War and Remembrance – she replace awful Ali McGraw as Natalie Henry! (I was then 22). She played Solitaire in Live and Let Die (1973; I was 7, saw it later). No Ivanhoe – ahh – that was Olivia Hussey in that one. She did kiss Andrews again in The Woman He Loved, but it was pursed lips – she played Wallis Simpson.

Her partner Tony is good, I know from previous seasons. Apparently she did too; she squealed she was so excited. She knew she had a good (winning) partner. At 56 she is the oldest woman to do this show. I’m rooting for her. She was lovely. If anything they might criticize her wrists. Some of the arm extensions got cut by her wrists. 8,8,8. Nope, no wrist criticism. Told her to work on her turns.

Jane Seymour – could there be a more English name? Jane? Jane Seymour – the beloved third wife of Henry VIII (one who wasn’t divorced or beheaded. “Divorced, behead, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” Jane is the one who died. Nope according to imdb.com her real name is Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg. That’s rich!

Ah, they introduce the men, who’ll be dancing tomorrow night. They are all in tuxedos. Men in tuxs – they are so riveting in those suits. So handsome and classic. You can put the most awful man in a tuxedo and he’s become attractive. I wish men wore them more often.

Sabrina (26), Mel (24), Jane (24), Jennie (21), Marie (21), Jose (16). Now the viewers vote....

Precise, fun, energetic. 8,8,8.

Jane. They’re advertising her as a Bond girl. Forgot that. She was. One of the early Roger Moore’s set in the Caribbean, something about playing cards. Also as Dr. Quinn. Couldn’t care less about that personally; golly if I were her, I’d not want to go down in history for that. She also played that evil woman in East of Eden TV movie, with Timothy Bottoms I think. I’ll have to check up on that. Okay, just did. Wow forgot she was in The Four Feathers (I was 11), Awakening Land (age 12), East of Eden (age 15), Scarlet Pimpernel (age 16), oh right War and Remembrance – she replace awful Ali McGraw as Natalie Henry! (I was then 22). She played Solitaire in Live and Let Die (1973; I was 7, saw it later). No Ivanhoe – ahh – that was Olivia Hussey in that one.

Her partner Tony is good, I know from previous seasons. Apparently she did too; she squealed she was so excited. She knew she had a good (winning) partner. At 56 she is the oldest woman to do this show. I’m rooting for her. She was lovely. If anything they might criticize her wrists. Some of the arm extensions got cut by her wrists. 8,8,8.

Jane Seymour – could there be a more English name? Jane? Jane Seymour – the beloved third wife of Henry VIII (one who wasn’t divorced or beheaded. “Divorced, behead, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” Jane is the one who died. Nope according to imdb.com her real name is Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg. That’s rich!

Ah, they introduce the men, who’ll be dancing tomorrow night. They are all in tuxedos. Men in tuxs – they are so riveting in those suits. So handsome and classic. You can put the most awful man in a tuxedo and he’s become attractive. I wish men wore them more often.

Sabrina (26), Mel (24), Jane (24), Jennie (21), Marie (21), Jose (16). Now the viewers vote....

Precise, fun, energetic. 8,8,8.

Jane. They’re advertising her as a Bond girl. Forgot that. She was. One of the early Roger Moore’s set in the Caribbean, something about playing cards. Also as Dr. Quinn. Couldn’t care less about that personally; golly if I were her, I’d not want to go down in history for that. She also played that evil woman in East of Eden TV movie, with Timothy Bottoms I think. I’ll have to check up on that. Okay, just did. Wow forgot she was in The Four Feathers (I was 11), Awakening Land (age 12), East of Eden (age 15), Scarlet Pimpernel (age 16), oh right War and Remembrance – she replace awful Ali McGraw as Natalie Henry! (I was then 22). She played Solitaire in Live and Let Die (1973; I was 7, saw it later). No Ivanhoe – ahh – that was Olivia Hussey in that one.

Her partner Tony is good, I know from previous seasons. Apparently she did too; she squealed she was so excited. She knew she had a good (winning) partner. At 56 she is the oldest woman to do this show. I’m rooting for her. She was lovely. If anything they might criticize her wrists. Some of the arm extensions got cut by her wrists. 8,8,8. Nope, no wrist criticism. Told her to work on her arms.

Jane Seymour – could there be a more English name? Jane? Jane Seymour – the beloved third wife of Henry VIII. One who wasn’t divorced or beheaded. “Divorced, behead, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” Jane is the one who died. Nope according to imdb.com her real name is Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg. That’s rich!

Ah, they introduce the men, who’ll be dancing tomorrow night. They are all in tuxedos. Men in tuxs – they are so riveting in those suits. So handsome and classic. You can put the most awful man in a tuxedo and he’s become attractive. I wish men wore them more often.

Sabrina (26), Mel (24), Jane (24), Jennie (21), Marie (21), Jose (16). Now the viewers vote....

A Must Read and a Must See

A must read - Abramhoff is unrepentant (with his tailor!) - read to believe: Abramoff's Tailor-Made (Law) Suit

A must see, apparently, is this at the Kennedy Center: A Journey Worth Taking

Fascinating debate on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit and Columbia University speech.

Canon Wars Redux

Anyone who teaches &/or loves literature or who teach other subjects, even – this essay is worth a read. (and may be of particular interest to those with whom I shared Stanley Fish’s piece on composition; Fish comments on the ‘canon wars’).

I wrote and spoke in support of some of Bloom’s ideas 20 years ago at my undergraduate school and got ripped up for it (so ended any academia utopia notions and aspirations for me), so I really enjoyed this evaluation 20 years later.

“But many young professors aren’t interested in teaching outside their narrow specialties, nor are they generally prepared to do so.” And though I don't always like Philip Roth, I often admire his writing, and boy did I agree with his character's analysis and dismay!

If you have thoughts, please be sure to share your comments.

Why Obama Must Beat Hillary

Another reason I am repelled by the prospect of Clinton's candidacy. She has three qualities in common with our current ruler (listen to John Dean discuss the difference between governing and ruling).

Hillary Clinton is

1. excessively private (secretive)
2. demanding of loyalty
3. arrogant and self-righteous

To me, though a Democrat and therefore to me she's on the right side of the issues, these qualities of hers do not bode well for me or give me any comfort to ameliorate that the stagnation will end and her 'leadership' will get us out of the slump which has slipped even lower since Hughes wrote in 1990.

Two articles on Clinton: cover article in Newsweek (nothing new, but sets forth qualities above) and an article in the New Yorker (Obama's problems with the Clintons (psychodrama of the Baby Boom generation," "the effect of the polarizing Clinton years was a stronger conservative movement that eventually 'would take over the United States government.'). If you only read one, read the New Yorker.

Frederick Buechner on Gerard Manley Hopkins

I found Hughes too depressing, so I put it down. And picked up Frederick Buechner's Speak What We Feel. When I was fifteen, my pastor introduced me to Buechner with the gift of a book by Buechner when my pastor confirmed me. In this text off my mom's shelf, Buechner discusses 4 writers who affected him - Gerard Manley Hopkins, Mark Twain, C.K. Chesterton and Shakespeare. I know my mom's favorite poet was Hopkins.

The introduction talks about the process of writing (opening the vein). Buechner:

"What brings them together here is that in at least one work apiece, it seems to me, each of them wrote in his own blood about the darkness of life as he found it and about how for better or worse he managed somehow to survive it, even to embrace it - Hopkins in the 'terrible sonnets' of his final years...It is at the very end of King Lear, in fact, that the Duke of Albany says, 'The weight of this sad time we must obey,/Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say," and that seems to me to be precisely what Shakespeare himself did in writing this greatest of all his plays and what in their own entirely different ways the other three did after him."

Now I may know be able to discern why Hopkins was my mother's favorite poet. I think I may take this book back with me to DC. I'd like to feel (not understand - that may be asking too much) how to embrace life's darkness, how to turn sadness into masterpieces of writing, even, or simply how to bear the weight as a lighter yoke.

It's Tuesday, September 11, 2007. The day is grey and full of thunder in New Jersey. A contrast in weather to the bright blue of that other Tuesday, September 11.

Robert Hughes on Cultural Decay Then and Now

Robert Hughes was a favorite writer of my mother's. She loved his mind, the series on PBS - The Shock of the New. I found his "Nothing if Not Critical - Selected Essays on Art and Artists," published in 1990 on her bookshelves. The introduction resonated with my sense of decay (cultural, societal, personal). Hughes regarding art:

"In the eighties the scale of cultural feeding became gross, and its aliment coarse; bulimia, that neurotic cycle of gorge and puke, the driven consumption and regurgitation of images and reputations, became our main cultural metaphor...The inflation of the [art] market, the victory of promotion over connoisseurship, the manufacture of art-related glamour, the poverty of art training, the embattled state of museums - these will not vanish...slumps do happen, and we are in one now." pages 6-7

Seventeen years later we're still slumping. Then this a page later:

"New York's loss of vitality as an art center runs parallel to events in the larger culter of politics, economics and mass media. It is part of a general aging of the United States: its stagnation, its willing surrender to ephemeral media images and unargued persuasion. It is connected, not causally but by analogy, to the extraordinary decay of American public life. But it has also been caused by a loss of talent to painting and sculpture, itself connected to a general decline in educational standards." page 8

Unargued persuasion - as the with Petraeus and Crocker continue about Iraq on this anniversary, civic life seems only to have decayed further. Stagnation - nothing is getting done still.

Memories and Meaning of Madeleine L'Engle

I'm still in New Jersey, not feeling strong, roaming my mother's bookcases. I'm actually looking for her copies of the Crosswicks journals, Madeleine L'Engle's essays on faith and family. L'Engle died last week. Her writing molded and cultivated me - not so much her science fiction but Meet the Austins and The Arm of the Starfish - which I read and absorbed as a teenager.

As an adult, I'd read those journals. And it was with Madeliene L'Engle that I began my adult writing endeavor - begun with a weekend with her in Connecticut in 1995. I got to spend a whole weekend with her, writing, talking about writing. I remember discussing with her different authors we felt did believable portrayals of genders not the authors' own. She started me on this path. I got in off the waiting list.

No luck finding the Crosswick's journals but I have pulled a few others off my mother's shelves.

Sister Beatrice's 40th Birthday Party

So this photo was taken on Saturday night, September 8th just as Beatrice's 40th Birthday party was getting underway. Holding my father up would be (from left) Beatrice (40 next week); Eleanor (38 in 2 weeks); Matthew (47); Olivia (35) and me (41).

The party was outside and the air was very hot and humid. Her husband John did a wonderful job and even bought his first pair of designer jeans for the affair (a shopping expedition to the Short Hills mall that included their 4 children, such was the event). No children at the party, though Bea and John's kids were allowed up past their bedtime - until 10 pm. I've no doubt they'll remember the night the rest of their lives, as I still remember my father's 40th.

I'm going to begin again this blog. The site has since been bought by Google. And my mom died in November. Her diagnosis in February 2006 is the main reason I've halted. But I aim to begin again and to do more that just blah blah blah about my life. I hope to add in reviews, political stuff as the campaign gears up, and perhaps even some tales from the online dating front.

497 days until Bush is out. (January 20, 2009)