I have to say thank you to Sgt. Hook for the kindest of mentions. I’ve been trying to learn my way around Site Meter, and discovered that of the last 100 visits, perhaps half or more of them came through his blog.
Sarge, your support of new bloggers is a gracious thing. I’ll remember and pass the favor on as I spread my wings.
If you haven’t been to visit Sgt. Hook’s blog, you must! He’s a remarkable military man, and an incredible “human bean.” *G*

I discovered today that Anna Paquin, who won an Oscar at 11 for her role in “The Piano,” has continued to act. I don’t know where I’ve been the past ten years. She’s been in more than thirteen movies since she did “The Piano.” I’ve actually seen her in “Finding Forrester,” (my famous lack of memory creeping in here), and I have a copy of the movie “Amistad” which I’ll watch now. What caught my attention was that she also plays “Rogue,” a mutant, in the “X-men” movies.
Now I have TWO reasons to see the “X-men” movies: Anna, and Hugh Jackman. THERE’S a man who’s easy on the eyes. He played a pretty role in “Kate and Leopold,” but he plays “Wolverine,” another mutant.
Jamie….you can have Toby Keith…..I’ll take Hugh!

Lately I’ve been reading a lot of political and militarily oriented blogs. I’m astounded at how far I’ve let my knowledge of current events slip. After all, I was once married to a political science teacher, and my life was filled with a constant flurry of newspapers, radio and TV news, canvassing, elections and government activity.
But that’s another story for another day. What I wanted to tell you about was a new site that I just discovered for those of us who are acronymly challenged:
acronymfinder.com
YEAH!!! Now I don’t have to ask dumb questions!

Did you know that Fellowes has created a shredder that will shred CDs, paper clips, and credit cards? (Model PS70-2CD $180). Since we now store so much of our personal information on CDs, I suppose this is a wise thing. Pardon my ignorance, but isn’t it possible to erase a CD?? That would be a lot cheaper than shredding the suckers.
For those of you on a tight budget, the Royal MD 100 “Media Destroyer” is only a hundred bucks.

When you are upset or ill, do you have a favorite food that soothes?
When I was a child, any time one of us was ill Mother would give us cream of tomato soup and Seven Up (a clear soda for those of you non-US readers). That’s an odd combination. Chicken noodle soup would have probably been better for us, but Mother detests chicken noodle soup, so tomato it was. I’m sure the warmth from the hot liquid helped.
Today, the only thing I wanted to eat was a grilled cheese sandwich. It’s not on my diet, but the diet is in abeyance until I feel better. I doubt I have to worry about gaining weight, feeling like this.
When my husband is ill, ice cream is his comfort food. I know others who prefer chocolate, but most of the peope I know go for starchy things. I wonder if there’s a genetic reason for that? Maybe the body needs more fuel to fight the bug, and the starchy things are an easy source.
What’s your favorite comfort food?

I found this brief question and answer in the Chicago Tribune Parade, for August 3, 2003, page 2.
“Q. I read that Eddie Vedder and his group, Pearl Jam, bought 1400 square miles of endangered rain forest in Madagascar to compensate for the 5700 tons of greenhouse gas that will be created by the band’s U.S. tour. Who will it help?–Chuck S., Mesa, Ariz.
A. They didn’t buy the land but did give an undisclosed figure to Conservation International to protect that rain forest. It will help the 16.5 million people on the Indian Ocean isle of Madagascar and the five members of Pearl Jam, who hope to lure thousands of environmentally sensitive fans to concerts by convincing them that the band is politically correct. Sounds like a lot of gas to us.”
I’d like to know who came up with the figure of 5700 tons of greenhouse gas, and how they determined that figure?! I assume they figured in the vehicles used to move the tour from site to site, and maybe even figured the cost due to the electricity they are going to consume for sound, lighting and air conditioning. But did they add in the effects from beer drinking concert attendees? I wonder what else they might have missed.
And, since when is a band concerned with being politically correct? It’s lovely that they are helping to save the rain forest, but it’s an odd way to generate press coverage for a tour.

I’d be really happy to tell you that it is a computer virus, or even a garden pest, but it’s one of those upper respiratory thangs.
Yesterday morning, I had a scratchy throat when I woke, and felt better after breakfast. By 10:00 in the morning I was sneezing, and coughing, and by early afternoon those coughs started around my navel and came through like freight trains loose on a downward grade.
I won’t go on about how rotten I feel, but I want to warn you that something nasty is out there. Take every precaution you can to avoid this. Have the kids wash hands frequently, and avoid playdates with anyone who has a sick family member.
If you catch it, a doctor friend has recommended Vitamin C. I’ll tell you that hot chicken noodle soup and hot tea are very comforting. Go stock up on tissues. This is one time when you will want the tissues with aloe. Your nose will thank you!
And, Hook…..don’t even suggest that this is my penance for butt watching!