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I Have AAADD!

Pepsi logo (2003-2008). Pepsi Wild Cherry and ...

Warm Pepsi

I thought I was too young to be senile and forgetful, early dementia but then I found out I really have A.A.A.D.D and that explains it all.  Our kids and grandchildren may have A.D.D. but not to be outdone by the younger generation, many baby boomers have their own disorder de jour!

Thank goodness there’s a name for this disorder.  somehow I feel better even though I have it!!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D.Age Activated Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.  As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the shed for the hose pipe etc.,  I notice letters in the mailbox.  I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table.  Put the junk mail in the little recycle bin under the table, and notice that the bin is full so need to take it out to the green recycle box.  So I decide to put the bills back on the table and take the rubbish out.

But then I think,  since I’m going to be near the rubbish anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my check book off the  table, and see that there is only one check left.  My extra checks are in my desk in the lounge, so I go inside the house to the desk where I find the can of Pepsi I’d been drinking.

I’m going to look for my check, but first I need to push the Pepsi aside so I don’t accidentally knock it over.   The Pepsi is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.  As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye-they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I’ve been  searching for all  morning.  I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I’m going to water the flowers.  I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.  Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when I go to watch TV, I’ll be looking for the remote, but won’t remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I’ll water the flowers.  I pour some water in the flowers but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.  So I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.  At the end of the day: The car isn’t washed, the bills aren’t paid.  There is a warm can of Pepsi sitting on the counter.  The flowers don’t have enough water, there is still only one check in my checkbook,  I can’t find the remote, I can’t find my glasses, and I don’t remember what I did with the car keys.  Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I’m really baffled because I know I was busy all day, and I’m really tired.

Do me a favor.  Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don’t remember who I’ve sent it to.  Don’t laugh ~~if this isn’t it you yet, your day is coming!!


If there was ever a day to eat junk food and/or fattening, artery-clogging food, THIS WOULD BE THE DAY!

But wait, not necessarily! Here is a quick and simple and heart-healthy quesadilla – perfect for the game tonight.

GOAT CHEESE AND MANGO QUESADILLAS

4 oz goat cheese room temperature

4 6″ whole wheat tortillas

1 ripe mango thinly sliced

1 jalapeno pepper thinly sliced (seeded)

1/2 red onion thinly sliced

fresh cilantro leaves

Spread the goat cheese on the whole tortilla and then layer mango, onion, pepper and cilantro on one half.  Fold over and brown and crisp in a large skillet over med-hi heat.

Quick and delicious!

Recipe from Martha Stewart‘s Everyday Food

Super Bowl Sunday snack, heart-healthy

Goat Cheese and Mango Quesadilla


 

Sunday Smiles

 

Francesca Clark, Finley Ray Clark

Smile and say Cheese!

 

 

BEST?  BEST?? – Oh what have we come to?  To what depths of mediocrity have we sunk?  TEN!!!  There haven’t been 10 BEST MOVIE possibilities since the 70’s and even then, not all in one year!!!  WHY? WHAT FOR?  What’s this all about?  politics? lobbyists for the producers? $$$???

  1. INCEPTIONI already reviewed this movie way back when it was released.  I think it belongs in the list of nominees if only for its bizarro concept.  It was confusing at times and you didn’t know what was the dream-like altered state of mind and what was real.  MMMmm who knew INCEPTION’s fantasy versus reality would only be the beginning of a movie season filled with UN-reality!  See prior blog INCEPTION-What’s All the Twitter About? .
  2. THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT: Warmly received at Sundance , Ms. Cholodenko’s third feature has the same narrative motor as Laurel Canyon and High Art sexual attraction! The first two were obliquely personal but this one draws more directly on Ms. Cholodenko’s life.  She co-wrote the movie with Stuart Blumberg, who interestingly enough had been a sperm donor in his youth – “art imitating life”??
  3. THE FIGHTER: David Russell’s Best Picture nominated film is NOT another Rocky or Cinderella Man.  It is the true life story of Mickey Ward,  a welterweight boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts.  Most movies about athletic conquest lend themselves to the dramatic side of cinema but The Fighter is more like a dark comedy about the delusions and realities of fame, fortune and success in America. Definitely “a contender”.
  4. SOCIAL NETWORK: Another film I previously reviewed, see prior blog, The Social Network .  You know,  this was a very entertaining movie.  In this day and age who under the age of _____ wouldn’t want a peek into the founder of Facebook’s life.  I know I was interested and I am most surely a woman of a certain age.  Facebook is everywhere and that buzz alone could usher it into first place.   I love the movie and the story and I love Jesse Eisenberg but Best Picture?  It was my understanding that the Best Movie winner should really be a BEST movie, not just a popular one.
  5. BLACK SWAN: Even the director  says the movie is weird!  A dark fantasy about a ballerina whose pursuit of perfection takes her to the edge of madness, death and perfectly choreographed oblivion.  The louder the score, the more intense the craziness – definitely the love-it hate-it movie of the year.
  6. THE KING’S SPEECH: It’s a good film, it doesn’t take you as far as it should, that’s my main problem with it.  The performances are brilliant and convincing and that alone may be enough to win the big prize.  Read my review in a prior blog post. The King’s Speech or Rather the Lack Thereof.
  7. TRUE GRIT: Joel and Ethan Coen; that says A LOT.  Let’s face it – they wouldn’t have made it if they didn’t think they could do it differently and maybe better.  Casting is great, the story is great, and as far as the acting; Hailee Steinfeld makes an impressive debut, Matt Damon didn’t get the nod for his part and Jeff Bridges, while always a favorite, might have taken this role over the top sometimes.  It’s in the top four as far as I’m concerned.
  8. TOY STORY 3: The third installment of what has become the Toy Story Trilogy, spaced out over 15 years.  Pixar is genius and in this movie, many more technological innovations are at play (no pun intended).  The movie is warm, touching and sweet yet it’s about plastic and polyester doo dads, stamped and molded.  There’s the genius; about our consumer economy, the ups and downs of our materialistic way of life as told through the eyes and mouths of the commodities themselves.  Genius YES, Best Picture NO.
  9. 127 HOURS: Between a rock and a hard place was never so true.  I only watched this movie because it was nominated, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I love watching movies and ALWAYS get caught up in the story, I NEVER remember “it’s only a movie”, although Peter does remind me sometimes when I am freaking out in my seat over some horror. Sooooo after covering my eyes during the big scene, my take on the film is this:  If I didn’t know it was a true story, I would find it hard to believe. Aron Ralston was a warrior, a young man in incredibly great shape and of a strong mind. Note that I didn’t say sound mind.  I found Danny Boyle‘s split and triplex screens a little overdone and although I understood why he kept shooting this inside of the water bottle, I think we could have gotten the message with less footage.  James Franco performed the equivalent of several Shakespearean soliloquies.  I wonder if it is harder to act alone? This is not a BEST Picture but Franco is very very good and although I don’t think he can beat out Colin Firth, you never know…..
  10. WINTER’S BONE: I wish I had been able to see this movie before I wrote this blog but as life would have it, I didn’t-Thursday came and I wanted to put the TEN nominated films in my Thursday’s Top Ten and sooooooo I will try to catch before we get into Oscar countdown and my predictions.
  11. Between a rock and a hard place, James Franco, Danny Boyle

    Good but not Best

Most people on Facebook put a photo of themselves up on their web page.  Sometimes they put a picture of themselves and another person, but how many people do you know who don’t have their own page (but do have their own FAN CLUB on FB) AND are either the DP (designated person) representing the Facebook member or are the OP (other person) in the profile picture?

Interesting question, isn’t it?

Let me present the profile pictures of at least 5 known Facebook members using the One and Only You Know Who!!!

Facebook, Justin Berti, Finley Ray Clark, New York City

Justin B - Facebook Profile Photo

Finley Ray, Boston, Newbury St

Tom C - Facebook Profile Photo


Joel Berti, Finley Ray Clark, Facebook profile

Joel B - Facebook Profile Photo

Chiara Berti Clark, Finley Ray Facebook

Chiara B - Facebook Profile Photo

Finley Ray, Lori Press, Facebook

Lori P - Facebook Profile Photo


Peter and I watched Black Swan the other  night and about half-way through it I turned to him and said, “well isn’t this just a nasty little movie”.  Meaning it was getting darker and darker as Nina slip-slided into the black abyss of madness.  But as we know Aronofsky likes dark movies;  after all he has directed such onyx gems as Pi, Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler.

His movies are also intensely personal, hinging on the performance of its lead.  Fortunately for all of us, as in the recent movie, The Wrestler and Natalie Portman in Black Swan, we’re not disappointed.  Portman took on an extremely difficult role. She dropped 20 lbs to attain the bone-protruding physique of a ballerina, learned to move her body with the grace of a dancer and portrayed a mad young woman.

Her mental illness was apparent right from the beginning of the movie.  She was driven to perfection,obsessive AND had a crazy mother.  The two of them lived in a strange and reclusive  symbiotic world.  Barbara Hershey was clearly living in a distorted reality and her dashed ambitions as a former ballerina found fertile ground in her daughter’s vulnerability.

So in the end, it was not a movie about Swan Lake, it was not a movie about the life of a ballerina, it wasn’t a movie about a stage mother and an aspiring daughter – No! It was a movie about madness and the disintegration of a person.  A theme not unknown to movie-goers;  think  The Shining, Taxi Driver, The Aviator and A Beautiful Mind.

Here’s a question/thought;  It was extremely difficult at times to discern what was real and what was not in the movie similar to Inception and is that a good thing or a bad thing?  Should the audience walk out of a film wondering what they actually saw?  True, it makes for discussion post viewing but……?  Would love comments on this!

 

Natalie Portman, Swan Lake, Aronofsky

I AM the Black Swan

Official White House portrait of Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon Johnson

CONSPIRACY THEORY WEDNESDAY

WELL, WELL, well, here we are…at the end of the long and winding road, having worked our way through a tangled, convoluted web of detail to the conclusion of the conspiracy theory known as COUP D’ETAT. We’ve found ourselves on the streets of Chicago, New York and in Texas, Cuba and Russia.  This is the 35th and last installment; it’s taken nearly 9 months to reach it, sort of like giving birth to a new truth!

For those of you who would like to go back and re-read some of the steps we took to get here, you can do so by clicking on Conspiracy Theory Wednesday in my category column on the home page.  For those of you who are still dis-believers, I say, “Go to another source, use Google and type in the names, places and incidents that have been chronicled here these past many weeks and you will SEE that herein lies the truth.

Lyndon Johnson‘s political career was mired in corruption.  In 1946, he got a local official to certify 200 fake ballots, literally stealing the election to become U.S> Senator by 87 votes.  In 1949, a tv newsman investigating Texas votee fraud was killed.  In 1952, his assassin wwas found hanged in his jail cell after he offered to reveal teh location of the missing frudulent ballots.

Two scandals rocked Johnson’s vice-presidency.  First was his involement with Texas wheeker-dealer Billie Sol Estes, who frudulently colledcted millions in federal agricultural subisides for non-existent cotton farms.    In 1985, Estes testified that Johnson had ordered the death of Henry Marshall, who had been investigating the scam.  Then came the exposure of links between Johnson aide Bobby Baker and Irving Davidson, the Murchisons, the teamsters, and Carlos Marcello.  It is alleged that during the 1950’s  Senator Johnson recieved $500,00 in cash from Marcello’s racing wire and slot machine profits in return for killing anti-racketeering legislation.

Johnson’s long time mistress Madeleine Brown claimed Johnson told her Kennedy’s death was “ordered by American oil men and the CIA“, and he knew of it in advance.  Whatever the truth of these allegations, within hour s of becoming president, Johnson made Texas officials halt their inquiry and turn all their evidence over the FBI, thus putting the investigation into the hands of his old friend, J. Edgar Hoover, who promptly stopped FBI participation in the Attorney General’s probe of Baker’s mob ties.  In January 1964, Johnson made Hoover FBI Director for life.  Later, his Executive Order 11652 locked assassination evidence in the National Archives until the year 2039.

One would have to ask themselves, “Why”?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Love & Heartbreak Cover

Image via Wikipedia

Every couple of weeks I remind everybody about the origins of  the Six Word Memoir and/or the Six Word Project.  Last week I printed an excerpt from the Smith Magazine website and surprise of surprises, I got a comment from LARRY SMITH himself!!! I am so excited that he noticed the blog and our own little Six Word Memoirs.

Please read his comment on last week’s Monday blog; he invites all of us to visit the site and leave a Six Word Memoir. Let’s do it!!!

Here are the contributions from some of my most faithful readers – love you guys!!

Snowing again,when will it stop? – Susan Celtic Lady

New York is the Frozen Apple – Gail

White, white…nothing here has color! – Susan

New York City here I come? – Weez

Snow, sleet, rain, my brain drains – Me

Sorry for you readers in California and Texas, I know it must seem like we have a one track mind here in the Northeast.  It’s not us who has it, it’s Mother Nature.  Snow is the only thing on her mind lately.

And from the book, Not Quite What I Was Planning, Six-Word Memoirs by writers Famous and Obscure.

I did ask to live backwards – Helen Gynn

Forest peace, sharing vision, always optimistic – Dr. Jane Goodall

Bespectacled, besneakered, read and ran around – Rachel Fershleiser

Supported the sublime with uncurbed enthusiasm – Jeff Newelt

Followed white rabbit, became black sheep – Gabrielle Maconi


The government of Egypt may have severed the digital communication between Egypt and the rest of the world, but Egyptians all over the world are standing up in solidarity for their country.  Here in the United States, there were protests and rallies in all the major cities; New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles.

In front of the United Nations, Egyptians and sympathizers gathered in protest over the situation in Cairo. Take a look at these photos, they are the Faces of Protest.

United Nations, New York city, Cairo Egypt protest, Egyptians

Wearing your National colors!

Photo by Murray Head

Egyptians, protest, United Nations, New York City, Cairo

Citizens of the world

Photo by Murray Head

Cario protests, Egyptians, United Nations, New York city

Red White and Black

Photo by Murray Head

Muslims, Egyptians, Cairo protests, United Nations NYC

Hear Me World

Photo by Murray Head

Egyptians, Cairo protest, United Nations, New York city,

The Face of Protest

Photo by Murray Head


The Northeast is getting slammed this winter with snow storms, blizzards, snow lightning , you name it and we’ve gotten it.  This past Wednesday night we had yet another snow storm.  By morning 19 inches had fallen in Central Park.  Central Park is Manhattan’s emerald jewel in the summer  and alternatively a sparkly diamond and an iridescent opal in the winter.

As my regular readers know, many many of my Fab Foto Friday photos are taken in Central Park.  There’s just so much to see at any time of the year.  The birds, the flowers, the trees, the ponds, the landmarks, the bridges, the kids, the artists, the playgrounds, the picnicker, the runners, the skaters, the mimes, the jugglers, the acrobats, the break dancers, the gardens, the sculpture, the boats and ever so much more!

This Friday (and yes I am once again a day late) our Fab Fotos are from Central Park in all its beauty enhanced by 19″ of snow! This is what life in the City is when it snows!!!

Central Park, Bethesda Fountain, blizzard Jan 2th New york city
Bethesda Fountain Stands Alone

Photo by Murray Head

Central Park, San Remo, bow bridge, new york city, snow storm Jan 27th

The San Remo Bow Bridge Central Park

Photo by Murray Head

snow storm, central park, new york city,

Footsteps in Freshly Fallen Snow

Photo by Murray Head

Central Park, new york city, sculpture, snow mantle

Bundled Up Against the Storm

Photo by Murray Head

escape, going over the wall, Central Park, New York city, red coat doggie, snow storm

Escape! Going Over the Wall

Photo by Murray Head

central park, new york city, snow storm snow man, January 27th

A City Slicker

Photo by Murray Head