If at first you don't succeed...

... the internet is a strange and wonderful thing. I've been trying to post an article that I found interesting, but the site and link kept screwing up and since my personal help desk decided she needed to go on a honeymoon, I was totally lost.

Anyway, I finally am getting this posted and all's well that ends well. Well, not for some guys. My comment originally was, "I can't even open an envelope with MY nails." Well, I thought it was funny. Most of you guys won't.

Oh no you didn't!

Mr. W: Here. (Handing me some object)

Me: What's this?

W: It's your's.

Me: My what? What the f*** is THIS?

W: An AARP card. I joined AARP for us. It's good until 2013.

Me: What?

W: You get discounts.

Me: I'd rather pay full price. I am NOT old enough to be a member of AARP.

W: Yes you are. You only have to be (he names a number)

Me: GET MY NAME OFF OF THIS!

W: It's a good thing. They lobby for healthcare and stuff. You get all kinds of discounts.

Me: I'm not joining AARP.

W: Too late. You're a member.

Me: You can't do this. Did you forge my name?

W: No, there were no signatures involve.

Actually, there a really nice interview with Martin Sheen in this month's magazine. I read it. I also checked out the gel pads for the kitchen in the ads in the back.

And I am, after all, going to be a grandma in a couple of weeks.

This sucks. (the getting old part, not the grandma part)

But then the really important stuff reminds us...

... how frivolous many of our "priorities" are. Last night Top Chef was a big deal to me. Halfway across the country a bigger deal was happening.

I said in a previous post that one of the things that intrigued me about Top Chef was having a personal connection to the finale site.

I have a personal connection to this tragedy. In the 70's, my husband was an employee of the Mid-America Council of Boy Scouts. His district included parts of Iowa, including the camp location. Lloyd Roitstein was a colleague. That was 30+ years ago. Lloyd is now the President of the Council and its spokesman through this tragedy.

So remind me, dear readers, when I complain that it's too hot, or drivers suck, or my team didn't win, that there are real problems out there.

"Stephanie..."

Pause.

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

WAIT for it.

"...YOU are Top Chef."

I've been a fan of Top Chef since season 2. I got to go back and watch the first season earlier this year when I was sick. I was lucky to get sick during a Top Chef marathon. It is interesting seeing how the show has evolved.

It is fun. Interesting. Exciting. I was nervous waiting for the results last night. Stephanie was my favorite since the first show this season, though I wouldn't have been disappointed if Richard won. I WOULD have been disappointed if Lisa won. She made it much farther than she should have. But then Richard did get a pass on the fish scales. Anyway, as Tom Coliccio says, "you didn't taste the food."

One of the exciting aspects for me was that the finale was in Puerto Rico at the home of Bundle of Joy #2's financee's uncle.

AND the contestants all blog. I say we invite them to cook for us at ConvergeSouth this year.

Here's a program idea. Celebrity Chef strip-off. Let's include that little hottie Bobby Flay, 'k?

We're not NASCAR fans...

...but we follow these folks pretty carefully.


Bundle of Joy #3 works here. As we have learned more about the work they do and appreciate how important they are in the lives of children, we want them to succeed. I hope this new group will provide the financial stability they're looking for so that they can continue their very important work off the track.

If you've never seen the place, do yourself a favor and take a tour. It's amazing!

A little dignity please?

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NRSTAFF/282464659

A friend of mine served on a jury for a murder trial. Afterward she said, “If I’m ever murdered, just let the person go. I don’t want those autopsy pictures of my naked body passed around the court room like they were in this case.” She went on to describe the horror of looking at those pictures, those pieces of evidence.

Where is our humanity? Where is our dignity? Where is our “right to know” greater than someone’s right to privacy?

How is having those pictures out for public viewing going to change anything? Will we think less of the victim? We will think less of the perpetrators?

All I can think of are Eve Carson’s parents. I can’t begin to know what they are going through and I hope I never have to deal with something like this.

I wouldn’t be inclined to “let the person go,” but neither am I inclined to let these pictures go.

Let’s show a little restraint and dignity for a change.