Read this today in an article summing up the Olympic Games in Athens…
…”We had a good, respectable Games — there were no catastrophes,” said one local observer, Theodore Papazoglou. “We had so many improvements to our city, the venues, the new tram, the metro, the airport. We have become more modern and up to date. Like San Francisco, I would say.” …
Well, the Olympics are over – no more “almost” gratuitous shots of Michael Phelps and a crazy Irishman taking out a running Brazilian. I tuned in to what most people watch: swimming & gymnastics. Though I didn’t see any of the men’s gymnastics (not as “dramatic” as the women’s)…what’s up with Paul Hamm? He won the gold medal due to a judging error, miscalculation, whatever you want to call it. Now he’s refusing to give the gold medal to the rightful winner, saying that he “felt like he was the champion.” Um, whatever. Now you, Paul Hamm, look like a selfish foolio that’s been snubbed by Wheaties to be on the famous orange box. Hamm needs a lesson from Lima (who finished the marathon with a Bronze). Though I think that the Italian that won the marathon was being a bit full of himself saying that he would have taken the gold anyway, protestor or not, but that’s another story for another time.
In other news, Posh & Becks are expecting their 3rd child.
The VMAs were on last night – I think (at least, I hope) that MTV got their point across that the young people (I watched the show, am I still considered a “young person”?) need to vote this election. Then again, I can’t stress that enough either: Vote people! Vote! (Yes, I’ve already re-registered at my new address.)
We be homeowners now! Got the keys to OUR house last night!
Here’s a couple of pix of Lucie at SBC Park this past Saturday
This past Saturday was the 8th Annual San Francisco Giants Dog Days of Summer. To benefit the San Francisco SPCA, many baseball fans were able to bring their pooches to the ballpark for an afternoon of fun! Saturday included: a parade around the field prior to the game against the NY Mets, Dog Costume Contest (we didn’t participate, this time around), a souvenir leash, a goodies bag, and of course, special “Dog Zone” bleacher seats.
We arrived late, as expected, but were able to make it in time for the parade on the field. Sylvain and I were just amazed at the number of dogs at this event…I think that there were about 600 dogs and their people!! It was a fun time had by all! Lucie enjoyed eating hot dogs and popcorn and meeting new friends. She even got up on the bleachers to watch the game. She was probably wondering why she couldn’t run and play with her ball on the big grassy field.
Sylvain, Lucie and I left the game exhausted and sunburnt (Sylvain & I), but we’re looking forward to next year!
(Pictures from the event have yet to be developed, check back later for pix.)
Sunday, I went to a cooking class with my gal pals, Niki, Genevieve and Jenny. Asian Appetizers, yum! We tried Singaporean Samosas, Indonesian Sate, Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Shrimp, and Chicken & Shitake Potstickers. Everything was so good, I can’t wait to try to make these at home – neither can Sylvain.
So, we signed the loan papers at the title company Friday morning. So, we should get the keys to our new house by Wednesday at the latest. OUR NEW HOUSE! Are we kidding? Stay tuned for the contractor and remodeling stories…
Also, in other news, I received a letter from Amanda. She is back from winter vacation: she visited Mozambique and Durban, South Africa, got her haircut, and ate plenty of Thai food. The workload this session is a bit more since two other teachers have quit. But she is doing well and having a great time!
Okay, I’m going to incriminate myself here…I know I watch way too much MTV (but with what’s going on in the world, who can blame me?): Osbournes, Newlyweds, The Ashlee Simpson Show, Pimp My Ride (my mom is a HUGE fan of this show), Real World, Cribs and the various award shows. I was a cable-deprived child and I’m catching up now. Anyhow, I digress…my point is, Ashlee Simpson is not too bad: she’s a bit Courtney, a bit Alanis and that’s not too bad. A bit “pop” and very catchy, but not too bad at all.
After our weekly trip to Lowe’s, we stopped at Sears because Sylvain needed some tools for the chevelle project. I went upstairs to check the prices of the home appliances and see if there was much of a price differential with Lowe’s. (Not too much of a difference, but much more selection.) I saw that they sold Dyson vacuums there and prodded Sylvain to come check them out with me. We had thought of getting one after I read that they make a vacuum accessory that targets pesky pet hair – and if you’ve seen either of our cars or our couches, you know that it is truly pesky pet hair. Well, after a demonstration from salesperson – we were pretty much sold! I felt a bit anxious afterwards, since the Dyson is not exactly the most affordable vacuum out there. On the way home, I was envisioning Sylvain cursing the darn thing and blaming the Brits for a horrible design. After I had assembled it and we started vacuuming, we were amazed & disgusted by how much dust, dirt and pesky pet hair it had picked up! So, instead of cursing it, we were praising it and Sylvain called it “true engineering” and to leave it to the Brits to come up with a design like this…
So, this morning, the California Supreme Court decided that dear Gavin had overstepped his authority and nullified the 3000+ gay marriages that took place. If marriage is really & truly based on love…who’s to say that two people who are deeply in love and committed to each other cannot be recognized as “married”?
I was hoping that the dictionary was going to support me on this, but it’s a toss up…
Main Entry: mar·ry
Pronunciation: ‘mar-E also ‘mer-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): mar·ried; mar·ry·ing
Etymology: Middle English marien, from Old French marier, from Latin maritare, from maritus married
transitive senses
1 a : to join as husband and wife according to law or custom b : to give in marriage (married his daughter to his partner’s son) c : to take as spouse : WED (married the girl next door) d : to perform the ceremony of marriage for (a priest will marry them) e : to obtain by marriage (marry wealth)
2 : to unite in close and usually permanent relation
intransitive senses
1 : to take a spouse : WED
2 : COMBINE, UNITE (seafood marries with other flavors)
– marry into : to become a member of by marriage (married into a prominent family)
In other…strangely related…news, the governor of New Jersey stepped down today, amidst corruption allegations and admitted to having an affair with another man. I thought of the Julianne Moore movie, Far From Heaven – which I have yet to see in it’s entirety. But I give props to McGreevy for having the courage to come forward and tell the truth…but I don’t think that he should have left office.
In recent trips to the grocery store, be it your “normal” store like Albertson’s or Safeway, or even the “posh” stores, Mollie Stone’s, Andronico’s, there are aisles and special displays for low-carb foods: cookies, pasta, bread, soup, you name it, some company has developed a “low-carb” something or other. I am not one for these “fad diets” – I’ve seen people bounce from one diet to another, their weight yo-yo-ing and am not convinced that these diets are the solution to weight loss.
Came across an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer where the AP reported that the low-carb craze that has swept the nation, hasn’t quite made it across the pond – well, except for the UK, but they don’t consider themselves part of Europe, now do they? Anyhoo, it was echoing what I AM a proponent of: everything in moderation and exercise. Though, I have been lagging on the latter (I am making a conscious effort to get my butt moving these days…thanks to G’s marathon, I’ve been inspired to and am starting to re-train myself to run and build up my endurance). I think I do a pretty good job of “everything in moderation”.
They also note that Europeans like to walk everywhere – which is pretty evident. Sylvain has been here a bit too long and prefers to drive to the sushi restaurant that is only 7 blocks from our house. We’ve walked a few times, though…in our new ‘hood it will be more challenging, as the coffee shops and eateries are UPHILL. But I owe it to myself to try…
Of course, I’m sure that dubya didn’t MEAN it that way…
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” – speaking to top Pentagon brass, Washington, DC, August 5, 2004; reported by Reuters.
Here’s another one of my favorites…
“The problem with the French is that they don’t have a word for entrepreneur.” –repeated to an audience in Brighton, UK, by politician Shirley Williams, according to London Times arts writer, Jack Malvern. Reported in the Washington Post, July 10, 2003.
For a good laugh and more bush-isms, click here.