hangin' it up now

dear bill -

I had hoped to be up until 12:30 am ET - and if I figured it
right that would be when your show starts.

But I am getting tired so I don't think I will make it.


but I'm gonna be wondering bill - what was it like?
walking out there on the stage of the Waikiki Shell
- with Diamondhead for a backdrop - people jumping
to their feet and applauding wildly - because you are Bill Maher.

Did someone drive you around sightseeing today?
I hope you went to the Arizona Memorial.

I remember thinking when I was in Hawaii that the
air was like velvet.


gdnt bl~lv su~tgthr frevr

didja know?

The Waikiki Shell is:

~located in Honolulu, Hawaii

~seats 2400 people - with a lawn capacity for an additional 6000


On New Year's Eve (tonight folks) Bill Maher will be doing
standup comedy to a sold out crowd.


the outrageous, inimitable, incorrigible, ever lovin' Bill Maher




what i wouldn't give to have a front row seat

i only have eyes for you

was written way back in 1934 by Henry Warren and Al Dubin.


Tonight we hear it sung by The Flamingos.

: ]


Are the Stars out Tonight?

I don't know if it's Cloudy or Bright


'cause I only have eyes for You, dear


The Moon may be High (?)


But I can't see a Thing in the Sky


'cause I only have eyes for you


I don't know if I'm in a Garden
Or on a crowded Avenue

You are there, I am here
Maybe millions of People go by

But they all disappear from View : (





and I only have eyes for you







: o )  u r gnna do grt

reflections on 2011

~the year I tried to make Contact

ducky happy new year - no blog to leave this on

roberta flack

I can't believe Roberta Flack is 74.

According to google she was born in Black Mountain,
North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia.

She won a full scholarship at Howard University in
classical piano at the age of 15 - making her the youngest
ever to enroll there.

You know the rest...

Killing Me Softly With His Song is a good one of hers
but I like this one too...


the first time ever i saw your face

three new year's poems

Last night, while we were fast asleep,
The old year went away.
It can't come back again because
A new one's come to stay.

                                 ~Rachel Field



Should auld acquianctance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquiantance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' Kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

                             ~Robert Burns (1759-1796)


New Year's Day--
everything is in blossom!
I feel about average.

                        ~a  haiku by Kobayashi Issa

quotes for the new year

~Cheers to a new year and another chance to
get it right this time.

                                         ~Oprah Winfrey


Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

                                ~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850


~The proper behavior all through the holiday season
is to be drunk.  This behavior culminates on New Year's
Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're
married to.

                                  ~P.J. O'Rourke

on living on an estate

This is a bit offtopic - I know - but sometimes on the internet
they show where the Rich and Famous live - you know - like
Celebrities.

And sometimes I check it out - to see if I can pick up any
decorating tips.

I'm not really the type of person that needs to live on an
Estate - cause I like to do my own housework - seeings
how I'm a traditional idiot housewife and all.

Still - if I did live on an Estate one thing I'd be sure to
have is a lot of really cool trees - and maybe some pink flowers.

Yeah - and even though I NEVER go into the water - you don't
even want to see me in a bathing suit  : ] - I'd have a nice swimming
pool so if people come over they could swim and have fun - you
know - stuff like that.

And since if I lived on an Estate I'd most likely have some Money -
I'd have really nice variagated blue colors of tile around the pool - and
maybe even some blue and white striped patio furniture.


i like blue





jeans

a little night music

~music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim


I actually saw this musical on Broadway.


the defining moment for me was:


Weekend In The Country



talk about your 7 minutes in Heaven



and this



isn't it rich
are we a pair
me here at last on the ground and you in mid-air

send in the clowns


Isn't it bliss?

Don't you approve?

One who keeps tearing around

One who can't move


Where are the Clowns?

Send in the Clowns.


Just When I'd Stopped Opening Doors
Finally Knowing The One That I Wanted Was Yours
Making My Entrance With Usual Flair
Sure Of My Lines

no  one   is    there


Don't you love a Farce?
My fault I fear
I thought you'd want what I want

sorry my dear


But Where Are The Clowns?
Quick Send In The Clowns.

don't bother they're here.


isn't it rich?
isn't it queer?
losing my timimg this late in my career

And Where Are The Clowns?
There Ought To Be Clowns.



well maybe next year





:o)

i think i know no finer things than dogs

by Hally Carrington Brent


This poem is dedicated to Lady


~a dog for the ages


and to dog lovers everywhere...
~~~

though prejudice perhaps my mind befogs
i think i know no finer things than dogs
the young ones they of gay and bounding heart
who lure us in their games to take a part
who with mock tragedy their antics cloak
and from their wild eyes' tail admit the joke
the old ones with their wistful fading eyes
they who desire no further paradise
than the warm comfort of our smile and hand
who tune their moods to ours and understand
each word and gesture they who lie and wait
to welcome us - with no rebuke if late
sublime the love they bear but ask to live
close to our feet unrecompensed to give

Beside which many men seem very logs -

I Think I Know No Finer Things Than Dogs.

movies that i will be running all day on my tv in the kitchen

updated as it happens (i wonder how many movies
i can run by from now - 10:30 ET - until 11pm at which time
i start watching CNN NYE coverage)


~John Carpenter's TheThing

~Howard Hawks' Production of The Thing from Another World

~District 9 directed by Neill Blomkamp

I just took this out 3/4 of the way through. 
Got burned out on sci-fi for the day.
and I had lined up stuff like Aliens,
Aliens vs Predators, Predator,
Predators, Invasion of the Body
Snatchers and 2001 - A Space
Odyssey (although I plan to
watch that last one all the way
through early this evening.) : ]

~Ghost Town - starring Ricky Gervais.

I heard him say on Larry King once that he
is an Athiest.  You know Ricky Gervais
created The Office.  But really  I didn't
know that Athiests could be so funny.  I've
always thought of Athiests as mean.
But this is a really good movie. 

Also Greg Kinnear is in it (Good As
It Gets & 8 Below.)  I really like him.
He was great in Little Miss Sunshine -
one of my very favorite movies.

stidh's revised plans for nyd/nye

Today I'm gonna run movies all day on my kitchen flat screen (see my
post following for the list of movies & I will update that list as I put
them on - sometimes with/out sound but always w/ subtitles.  Anyone
wanting to comment on the movies and discuss them - and I would
enjoy that - can do so on my new comment and conversation blog (see
my post where I talk about my new blog)


Other NYD/NYE activities here at stidh:

~there will be no domino tower this year - but instead
I went to the mall last night and bought a 85 piece lego
Clone Troopers Battle Pack that I hope to assemble.
The little clone troopers are soooo cute.

~a jumbo Iron Man activity book

~song lyrics

~poetry

~NY/NYE quotes

~i will kick off my NYE Celebration with a poem about dogs

STIDH'S COMMENT AND CONVERSATION BLOG

I have set up a fourth - and I hope - final blog for the
sole  pupose of commenting and discussion.


About  anything.


I will not be writing on this Blog.


It is just for comments and discussion.



To access it click on my profile and then click on that blog.




Thanks.

new year's eve song lyrics

don't look so sad
it's not so bad you know
it's just another night
that's all it is - it's not the first
it's not the worst you know

we've come through all the rest
we'll get through this
we've made mistakes
but we've made good friends too
remember all the nights we spent with them?

and all our plans
who says they can't come true?

tonight's another chance to start again

It's just another New Year's Eve
Another Night Like All The Rest
It's Just Another New Year's Eve
Let's Make It The Best

It's just another New Year's Eve
It's just another Auld Lang Syne
But when we're through this New Year
You'll see we'll be Just Fine

We're not alone we've got the World you know
And it won't let us down just wait and see

and we'll grow old but think how wise we'll grow
there's more you know it's only new year's eve
it's just another new year's eve
another night like all the rest
it's just another new year's eve
let's make it the best

It's Just Another New Year's Eve
It's Just Another Auld Lang Syne
But When We're Through This New Year

you'll see

we'll

be

just fine





thanks Barry Manilow

thanks Ticker






4 bil~i kno u r gnna pk em in~wsh i cld b thr~
smwhr ot thr is a vry lky hula grl...sry bl~1 jok
~i cldnt rsist~hv th tme uv ur lfe~lv su

STIDH'S BLOGGER AWARDS FOR 2011

BEST  ALL  AROUND  BLOG  AND  MY  PERSONAL  FAVE  -  Truth  101

BEST  PINKO  COMMIE  BLOG (and blogger most dear to my heart)  -  Absolute Marxist

MOST IMPROVED BLOG (and getting better all the time)  -  GEEEEEZ!

MOST CONCISE BLOG WITH LITTLE BOXES - CUBE

BLOG CONSISTANTLY CRANKING OUT THE MOST B*LLSH*T - Joe Politico

STILL NO 1 BLOG AS FAR AS WHAT BLOGS WERE INTENDED TO BE - Isorski's Musings

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG - White Hip Suburban Guy

MOST SOLID AND NICE GUY BLOG - Chuck Thinks Right

BEST RESEARCHED BLOG AND BEST HOLIDAY RECIPES - Ticker's jus' sayin'

BEST NO BLOG BLOG AND STANDS ON THE FRONT LINE GUY - ducky

BEST TRUE TO YOURSELF BLOG - beamish's The Crank Files

BIGGEST BLOG MELTDOWN EVER (but most heartfelt and sincere) - stidh

BEST GOOD TROLLS - Legion

BLOG STIDH IS MOST SCARED OF - The Mean Folks at Z's Blog



B L O G G E R S     R U L E










i love you guys

why I believe that religion should not enter into politics

What does Religion have to do with Politics?


I am a firm believer that one's Faith is just that.

One's Faith is a Personal Issue.

That's why they call it a Personal Relationship with God.

There is a saying that I heard a number a years ago that goes:

He loves each of us as if there was only One of us.

Perhaps this 'religion' thing got way out of hand from the very
beginning.

I don't really know.

But I do believe folks that we are in a bad way here in the US of A.
And we need someone to lead us.  Frankly I don't think it really matters
who it is.  I think what does matter is what the political leaning of the
President is.

For instance - I believe that Mitt Romney would be a fairly good President -
but I don't want him to be because I don't want a Republican to be the
leader of my country.

Why is that you might ask?

It's because I'm an American Liberal and a Good Democrat - and I want
someone in the White House who represents what I believe in.

Now as far as Religion goes - what does it matter what the President's
Faith is?  We need someone who can run our country - someone smart.
Who gives a c*ap whether he gets dressed up on Sunday and goes to
church?  I'd rather see him roll up his sleeves and head for the Oval
Office on Sunday morning - and work on how to get the budget balanced -
how to get all of the Troops home - how to keep our country safe from
another terrorist attack - and the rest of the stuff.

The time has come for us to stop obsessing about whether a President is
'religious' and start choosing our leaders for their competence - for their
ability to lead.

WE  ARE  GOING  THE  WRONG  WAY.

WE   HAVE   MET   THE   ENEMY   AND   IT   IS   US.


But it is not too late to turn around and head in the right direction.


but it will be too late if we don't start doing something and stop
obsessing over the wrong stuff


We were once given THE  RIGHT  STUFF.

It is called the Constitution

The Constitution was given to us by some folks called the
The Founding Fathers.

Those people literally gave their lives so that we would have
something to work with in times such as now.

So why don't we start showing The Founding Fathers that
we appreciate what they gave us and did for us - and stop
b*itching and m*oaning our way into Oblivion?

abortion and senior citizens

A discussion with a family member several days ago yeilded
some thoughts on my part that had never come to my mind
before - but as these thoughts unfolded I - and the person I
was speaking with - both agreed that the subject was worth
discussion.

Here is how it went:

Of course there has been for quite some time now differing
opinions on the subject of Abortion.

This subject almost always focuses on the Right To Life -
for the unborn Fetus.

But what about the Right To Life of those who already have
been living - and sometimes are cast aside - and I'm talking
about old people.

I'm not one for euphemisms - and when a person is in their
90's - they are getting old.

What to do with Old People?

Do we put them in Nursing Homes until they die - visiting
them only occasionally to painfully remind them of the Life that
once existed for Them?

Aren't there cultures that actually have seen that Old People
can be useful when left in the home and are allowed to be part
of the family life - even interacting with the children - should
there be any - and drawing upon their wisdom and experience.


Old People have the Right to Life - surely as much as a Fetus
who has never been Born.

other issues that need to be addressed

I have talked about the things that I feel are the most pressing issues
that are causing concern in Our Country  - in my previous post about
My Plan To Save Our Country - and now I'm going to list some more
things the could use attention.

This list is not necessily in any order of importance - but they certainly
are things that need to be looked at and and reevaluated.

~government involvement in our everyday life

~divisiveness between the two major parties

~how religion should not enter into politics

~looking at a Constitutional Ammendment limiting a President
to one six year term

~sensible but effective gun control

~addressing racism where it exists and how to deal with it

~bulllying

~pharmaceutical companies

~a look at the 5th and 7th Amendments to the Constitution

~should abortion be legislated or is it a personal and moral issue

~thoughtful discussion about our penal system and possible prison reform

~senior citizen concerns

~stem cell research

~is it really anyone's business if the POTUS goes to church on Sunday



I will post more of these issues and discuss them one by one

the music man

Don't ask me why - but tonight I was thinking of the really great
1957 Broadway hit musical The Music Man - written and composed
by Meridith Wilson.

What a great musical.  If ever there was a great musical it has gotta
be the musical The Music Man.

So many good songs:

~Pick a Little/Talk a Little

~Ya Got Trouble

~76 Trombones

~The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl

~My White Knight

~The Wells Fargo Wagon (my personal fave)

~Lida Rose

~Marian the Librarian

~Gary, Indiana

~Finale - aren't finales great?


and this one:


there were bells
on a hill
but i never heard them ringing
no i never heard them at all
till there was you
there were birds
in the sky
but i never saw them winging
no i never saw them at all
till there was you
and there was music
and there were wonderful roses
they tell me
and sweet fragrant
meadows
of
dawn
and dew
there was love
all around
but i never heard it singing
no i never heard it at all
till
there
was
you





i'm ok - for now





:o)

My Plan To Save Our Country

First of all - notice that this is a plan to save Our Country -
not to save the World.

Why - you might ask?

Because as the Greatest Country in the World - we need to
get Our Country back in shape - then we Save the World
~~~

Previously on stidh I posted words like:


~JOBS~DEBT CEILING~TROOP CONCERNS~HEALTH CARE~

INFRASTRUCTURE~EDUCATION - and of course there are Others.


Tonight I am here to say that there are unarguably two words that are of
the utmost inportance in Our Country today:


NATIONAL  SECURITY


Anyone have a problem with that?

Next on the docket would be our National Debt - but that cannot be taken
care of immediately - but rather has to be chipped away at.

Here is my next concern and this is huge  - folks:


JOBS


Now tonight I am not going to reveal how I am going to solve all of our
Nation's Problems (rather I hope to do that on Real Time With Bill Maher
if I'm invited, but first some on Letterman and finally on Piers Morgan.)

TROOP CONCERNS:

takes in bringing ALL the troops home and reassessing the situation.

(again I will reveal this in detail on Bill Maher's show after he resumes it
on January 13th  - that is if the dummies don't completely shut it down
for Heaven's Sake over the stupid Tebow thing)

also included in Troop Concerns is where we want to be in the World
and how we will take care of our really great Troops now and when
they come home and reside as Veterans - and furthermore there will
be an assessment of how much we should be spending on the Military
in General.

HEALTH  CARE - needs to be talked about certainly and we need to
get imput from informed people who care about this and are qualified
to deal with it.

INFRASTRUCTURE - no doubt that this could create jobs and certainly
needs doing before Our Country implodes and goes under.

EDUCATION - this is an easy one folks - we need to examine our Priorities
when it come to Education.  Need I say more - like better pay for teachers
I could go on and on.  I know there are smart, qualified peopld in Our Country
that would help out on this one.


First - if anyone reads this which I seriously doubt - let's have some input
and discussion.

We need to get together - both Liberals and Conservatives - and talk about
these things.

We need to STOP just talking about it and do something as soon as possible.

We need to find someone to Lead us (and I made a good suggestion) which
was promply refused on all fronts - but please folks - the Time  To  Act  Is
Now.


Our  Country  Needs  Us.

Let  Us  Not  Let  The   Founding   Fathers   Down.


They    Gave   Us   Something   To   Work   With.


NOW   LET   US    START     TO     WORK

15 minutes until I post MPTSOC

I've got my notes all ready here to post My Plan To
Save Our Country - but first this:

Sometimes I get really fed up with people - including
myself - you know - because no one reads or comments
seriously on my really cool Blog.

And sometimes I want to just live the rest of my really
cool life out in isolation - you know be a recluse.

And don't be mistaken folks - becuase I could do it.

I play the piano ~ I paint ~ I study Spanish (although
I still can't find Rosetta Stone ~ and I love - absolutely
LOVE Blogging - whether anyone f*cking comments
or not.  And I absolutely love to listen to Simon &
Garfunckel (sp) 's I am a rock i am an island.


But tonight - dear readers and commenters - I was
cleaning off my desk and found this - for me to
use at just the right time - and I think the time is now:


no man is an island entire of itself

every man is a piece of the continent

a part of the main

if a clod be washed away by the sea

Europe is the less

as well as if a promontory were

as well as a manor of thy friends 

or of thine own were


Any Man's Death Diminishes Me


Because I Am Involved In Mankind


And Therefore Never Send To Know


For  Whom  The  Bell  Tolls



It  Tolls  For  Thee.




thank you John Donne - I owe you.







:o)

MPTSOC

I've gotten so many responses from Bloggers wanting
to come to my NYE Party that I've got a lot of work to
do.

So I'm gonna start posting My Plan To Save Our Country
(as promised) tonight - then I can get my house in order
tomorrow for the party on Saturday Night.


I'll be back at 7 pm ET to do just that.



Now - folks - you may think I am crazy - and you may think
this stuff I've been posting about Bill Maher is way over the
top - but MPTSOC - I can assure you - is for Real.


So check it out - Please.

New Year's Eve Blogger Bash at STIDH's House

Now you can take this as a joke - or you can show up at my house
at 6 pm on NYE (see my post telling Henri the Squirrel how to get
here.)


The NYE Blogger Bash will only last until 1 am ET cause if I don't
get to bed by shortly after that I can't do my housewife job the next
day.

WHO  IS  INVITED?


~any blogger that has ever read or commented on my Blog

~LIBERALS

~CONSERVATIVES - who must check their handguns at the door

~bring a guest

~BYOB

~BYOC (caffeine)

~vegetarian snacks will be provided - we can order out other stuff if you
are willing to pay for it

~VIETNAM VETERANS are welcome.  My husband is a Vietnam Veteran
and will be gone to an IU Cupcake bb game for a couple of hours but when
he gets back I know he would love to trade war stories with other VV.

~Bill Maher will not be here as he is doing standup comedy in Hawaii so
no one has to worry about that (we can hit on him all night - get out all those
pent up feelings about him and how he has let us down and insulted us - and
furthermore that he is not an athiest)

WHAT WILL WE DO?

~I have a black glossy grand piano (sorry folks it's a Baldwin :()
but anyone is welcome to play anything on it after I try to play Fur
Elise by heart and kill Libestraume

~If you bring a small canvas you can use my paints and brushes etc
and can do a small painting which we can dry with fans before you leave

~We can run movies (I have a large assortment of those) all evening on the
kitchen flat screen and the big one in the basement

~Sports if they are on can be watched on the basement tv

~Fire pit on the back patio where people can talk and smoke or just
relax (not me I'm an inside girl)

~Political Discussions (with civility) can take place in my Study

~Ping Pong table in the basement and let me tell you folks I'll take on
anyone cause I've been practicing

~Blogging - Want to check your blog?  Laptop in the kitchen and a PC
in the basement


Have I missed anything?

Any bloggers coming from a distance and need a place to stay - we have
a guest room w/ bathroom in basement and a couch;  a sofa bed in the
living room - so we can put up a few people.


RSVP  anytime

or

just show up - I'm easy.


I'll be here all evening and I'll be listening for the doorbell.


Oh - and did I mention the domino tower which we can build and
push the first one over at midnight as we watch A. Cooper and K.
Griffin in the Big Apple.


Dress -  Optional (just kidding)  I never wear anything but jeans


:o)

Up Next here on STIDH

I'm gonna work around the house until 4pm ET -
then I'll sit down and write the Invitation for my
Blogger Bash on NYE.



see ya then

wednesday and thursday on stidh

Tomorrow afternoon:


Invitation to a NYE Blogger Bash at My House


All Day Thursday:


Details of My Plan To Save Our Country (MPTSOC)






ya won't want to miss any of this







goodnight bill

:o)

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

SCREENPLAY BY COLIN WELLAND

MUSIC BY VANGELIS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER (the late) DODI FAYED

PRODUCED BY DAVID PUTTNAM

DIRECTED BY HUGH HUDSON
~~~

in alphabetical order:

HAROLD ABRAHAMS

ERIC LIDDELL
~~~

the following description of Chariots of Fire
is made up of single words found on the back
of the dvd case:

~QUEST

~HONOR

~CHALLENGE

~INSPIRING

~TRUE

~IMPACT

~ROUSING

~MASTERPIECE

~WITHIN






BEST PICTURE




personal message for bill:

way to go bill u made msn.com
i printed out the really cool picture
of u turned out nice the other one
was getting worn out didn't know
u r an athiest

i was wrong

I thought at least it would not start until after the
Holidays.


but there is no doubt in my demented bipolar w/out
medication mind...



That It Has Already Started.





the storm clouds are rollin' in folks and it's gonna be
a big one




take cover or take the tim robbins shawshank postion:




standing tall right out in the rain with arms reaching for the sky






I know what position I'm gonna take.





catfight : ]




: o)

Johnny Depp I Apologize For Saying Secret Window Is A Stupid Movie

is there no end to the apologies that I have to make?




will  I   E V E  R    LEARN ?







:o)

two movies i watched while it snowed

moon and secret window

~i heart sam rockwell

~and johnny depp

~moon has good shots of the moon - desolate too

~also there's some good stuff on the Psychological Implications
of Living in Isolation on the Moon for Three Years

~secret window is like moon in that it was hard for me to catch on to -
seeings that i'm inherently stupid and a traditional idiot housewife

~sam rockwell does some good fast solo dancing in moon

~i didn't like the part in SW where he kills his own little dog but he
makes up for it in the end where he really goes crazy


moon was written by nathan parker
and directed by duncan jones

secret window was based on a novel by Stephen King i shoulda figured
that out and screenplay and direction by David Koepp (men in black)





hey i ran 'em both by w/out sound and am still working on the pantry
and frig


message for bill:  I checked the weather and it will be around 80 degrees
on NYE and NYD - so pack yer shorts and enjoy a luau (sp)

WEATHER BULLETIN

hey all you people out in LA who will no doubt be wearing shorts
today - here in so. indiana we are getting snow and oh my gosh
the flakes are so big and beautiful - it's coming down fast & furious


i may go out and make a snow angel later





right after i clean out the pantry & frig




:o)

as promised

Instead of writing about the movie Troy - as I said I would -
I'm going to do a review of Brad Pitt's acting in that movie.

scene by scene:

~in the beginning when Achilles fights the big guy - outstanding

~sword fight with Patroclus - over the top

~scene with Julie Christie - loved it

~staring over the water and then they show one at a time all those
beautiful ships - absolutely stunning and up there with the best

~meeting with Hector in the temple - impressive


I could go on and on but...

~dying after Paris shoots Achilles in the heel - give me a break here
brad cause i laughed my *ss of at that one


But you know what Brad - I owe you because you helped me get through
a really tough night  and I thank you for that.
~~~

And now for two final messages:

To God  - Thanks more than you'll ever know for dangling me over
the edge tonight and forcing me to get out all those pent up feelings that
I've been holding inside - and then bringing me safely back - as you
always have.

To Bill (eyes only) - A while back I read on your website where a woman
said, 'Bill, I love you so f*cking much.  But the thing is Bill - I really do love
you so f*cking much.

don't miss the last post of the night here at stidh

I've got to get some work done so I'm gonna do just that.

Then at 11pm ET - unless Bill shows up in the meantime -
I'll be back for my final post of the evening:


How I Forgive Brad Pitt for Troy

but folks what a movie





don't miss it




(private message for bill:)

whatcha doin' tonight bill - man everyone's up in arms
about that tweet - you know the one where you mention
tebow and satan -----and Hitler

manthatwasgreat



:o)

one more thing

Bill - when you do come be sure to ring the doorbell
because I don't have time to sit around waiting cause
I've got work to do.


Thanks Bill.





i'll feel better when i know you are coming

stidh has lost it

Ok Folks.

So I lost it.  So I've gone off the deep end.

So what.

I've been under a lot of stress with the move and all - and then
the Holidays.

And so what if Bill Maher doesn't even know I exist.

I'm leaving the porch light on till midnight tonight - just in case.

And the night after that - and so on.


I'll never give up on Bill.

Everybody knows that I'm in love with him.


And I've made it very clear on my blog that I'm stupid and crazy -
so what do I have to lose.

See - and anyway I've got so much work to do because 'they' are coming
back tomorrow and here I 'm sitting watching the stupid Brad Pitt movie
Troy.


In closing I would like to say:

Bill - I love you and you can come here ANYTIME.

This is my house.


and for all you other people - Would It Kill You To Comment?





:o)

more song lyrics

i loved you once in silence
and misery was all i knew
trying so to keep my love from showing
all the while not knowing that you loved me too

yes loved me in lonesome silence
your heart filled with dark despair knowing love would flame in you forever
and i'd never never know the flame was there


Then one day we cast away our Secret Longing

The Raging Tide We Held Inside Would Hold No More

The Silence At Last Was Broken


We Flung Wide Our Prison Door

Every  Joyous  Word  of   Love   Was   Spoken



come on bill please call me - or better yet just show up at
the door

i'll be up tonight until midnight you can come on over
my husband already went to bed and anyway the only
thing he cares about is IU basketball - if you know any
of the players or the coach just mention that you could
arrange for him to meet them - and you're in

please bill i'll be waiting for you



bill you can come here anytime


please bill i love you and i can't stand it anymore



:o)

my third blog

If anyone is interested in Classical Piano - I have started a new
Blog called:

Sue's Classical Piano Seminar


to access it:

www.suehanesclassicalpianoseminar.blogspot.com


If you like ro play Classical Piano Music - or even just talk about it -
then you are invited to check it out.

I will be talking about Fur Elise for the next few posts.


Now although my Classical Piano Seminar is about Classical
Piano Music - any comments are welcome - be it about my politics,
my art or Bill Maher.  NO COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED.

So welcome one and all.



:o)

a true story

There is a book I've been reading - not a new release - in fact it was
published in 1994.

I'm like this with some movies too and at first I didn't connect with
this book - but I've stuck with it and you know what?

It's good.

I mean really good.

I especially like the Buck/God exchange on pages 165-166.

But there is one thing that I'd like to know - and I'm pretty sure -
but it would help be really sure as I read it...





billareyoubuck?
:o)

down time here at stidh

I've got about 24 hours until 'they' come  back for the final assault.


And - dear readers and commenters - I'm at a loss as to how I should
spend my time:

~clean up the kitchen

~try to make sense out of the huge mess in my Study

~finish taking down the Nativities in my bedroom

~watch But I'm Not Wrong nonstop

~a few odds and ends jobs


and the winner is:


watch But I'm Not Wrong on my little dvd player while I do all of the above
things






:o)     :O)     :0)

which of the above do you think should be my official Bill Maher logo to sign off
all my posts from now on?






jus'   wonderin'

christmas cleanup

Although Christmas Day is not officially over I took advantage
of the time that the Others were gone exploring the Large
Liberal University Campus near which I now find myself
residing.  Last night after the Candlelight Church Service
the campus was virtually deserted.  Only one small group of
students did I see and felt tempted to run over - but not on
Christmas Eve for Heaven's sake.

Today I found myself vacuuming up layers of brightly colored
glitter - which really enhanced my Christmas displays.

I sucked that stuff right up my Shark Navigator Ninja vacuum
cleaner- and let me tell you folks - it was a sight to behold.  For
there is a clear plastic section in the middle where you can see
the dirt.  But this time that plastic section looked like a multicolored
snowcone had exploded inside of it.

Reminded me a children's book I had read called The Littlest Snowman
written by Charles Tazewell  - pictures by George De Santis.

Charles Tazewell also wrote The Littlest Angel - which I believe is the
more famous of the two children's stories.
~~~

In a nutshell - The Littlest Snowman is about a snowman who eats a lot
of different flavors of ice cream and - to make a long story short - the
North Wind blows him all over town - giving the town 'the most beautiful
Christmas Eve it had ever seen.'
~~~






And I do hope that all the glitter will not clog up my SNN vacuum cleaner.

: ]

a christmas thank you note

Dear Jesus -

Thank you so much for the nice Candlelight Church Service last night. 

As I was just mellowing out to Silent Night hot wax dripped on my fingers -
so that was a bummer.

The pastor told a cute joke and his Christmas message was very meaningful -
about how God showed his Love for us by making Himself Vulnerable through
the Gift of the Christ Child.

And the Clarinet Player at the beginning was awesome.


but....JESUS - was it really too much to ask for...you know... a light snowfall
as we came out of the church? 

But it is a beautiful day here on your Birthday.


Thanks Jesus for everything you did for me this year - and that was Legion.


Most humbly Yours,

Sue

P.S.  I really like the Presidents' Pez Set with Founding Fathers and the movie Pollock.

I must say I was not happy with Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook since his review of
Religulous was less than glowing.  I just don't think he got Bill's point.  But I did.

Not to seem ungrateful - Jesus.   Just wanted to be honest.

By the way - Jesus - what did you think of  Religulous?

What's that - you say you liked it?

it's christmas eve day - time to talk about....

you know dasher and dancer and prancer and vixen
comet and cupid and donder and blixen


but do you recall....


The Most Famous Reindeer of All?


Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Had a Very Shiny Nose

And if You Ever Saw Him

You would Even Say it Glows


All of the Other Reindeer

Used to Laugh and Call Him Names

They Never Let Poor Rudolph

Join in Any Reindeer Games


sounds like bullying to me folks
rudolph couldn't help it if his nose was like that when he was born - now could he


Then One Foggy Christmas Eve

Santa Came To Say:


Rudolph With Your Nose So Bright

Won't You Guide My Sleigh Tonight


Then all the reindeer loved him

as they shouted out with glee:


RUDOLPH  THE  REDNOSED  REINDEER


YOU'LL   GO    DOWN     IN       H I S T O R Y!




ok now that's more like it




:o)

it's not too late...

tomorrow is Christmas Eve -


just say:





MERRY       CHRISTMAS!!!!!





ELIJAH 6 YEARS OLD @ 2011

stidh's best of christmas - 2011

~best most beautiful and meaningful Christmas cd - Josh Groban Noel

~best fun Christmas Party cd - Elton John - and there are Others

~best all time fun version of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen

~best ever Christmas Music Ever - Handel's Messiah (Christmas Part)

~best Operatic version of the Best Christmas Song hands down - O Holy
Night sung by Placido Domingo & Pavarotti over at Ticker's Blog

~best and most fun Christmas Activity - Decorating Christmas Cookies

~best way to spend Christmas Eve - Candlelight Church Service (not a rally)

~best Christmas Gift Ever - Jesus (just my opinion :O))

mission impossible 4

~really good


~cat fight


~best actor - Jeremy Renner


~stunning desert scene


directed by Brad Bird
~~~

These song lyrics are dedicated to Tom Cruise:



Hey Tom - What didja see when you were sittin' up there
on the top of the World?

Did you see Who You Are?

You liked what you saw - didn't you Tom?


And Tom - I would like to apologize for every time - and they
were Legion - that I made fun of your 'religion.'


on a clear day
rise and look around you
and you'll see who you are


On A Clear Day
How It Will Astound You
That The Glow Of Your Being
Out Shines Every Star


you'll feel part of  -

every Mountain Sea and Shore

you can hear from far and near
A  World  You've   Never   Heard    Before


and on a clear day

On   A   Clear   Day


YOU   CAN   SEE   FOREVER


AND   EVER


AND       EVER     




MORE.








and if MI4 doesn't get an oscar nod then I'm not
a traditional idiot housewife





:o)

another visit to the book store

This afternoon my 12 year old g-daughter said to me,

'Wanna go to Barnes & Noble?'

I said, 'Sure."

When we were on our way I said, 'First do ya wanna stop at
a real bookstore (see my post on the bookstore) - my favorite one?'

'Sure,'  she said.

As we walked in I told her I would introduce her to couple of
old friends - that I met on my previous visit there.

First we met up with Oscar - a black 23 year old cat.

Then Cheech - a friendly chihuahua.

And there were a couple of  Others.

After she petted the bookstore pets I paid for a little paperback
called Don't Quit Your Day Job.

Now the reason I bought this particular book is that it caught my eye
since one of my commenters said to me recently - Don't Quit Your Day Job.
And it looked like it might have some easy stuff in it to read.

As we started to leave something else caught my eye:

A stand containing books that are on the New York Bestseller's List -
so I checked it out.

Now the guy who has been at the checkout for both of my other visits
there didn't seem to remember me
but I said to him -

'I know of a book that was on the NYTBSL a couple of weeks ago.

He said, 'Oh yeah, what's that.'

I said, 'Bill Maher's New New Rules.  It's really good.'

He waved his hand and gestured to somewhere else and said:

'Oh I have it somewhere over there.'

As he got up to show me I said:

'Never mind.  I have a copy already.'

He sat back down and I was proud of myself for not making a scene
like I did the day it came out at Barnes and Noble - and they had trouble
even finding it - and about how it was pricey.

I checked it out to make sure he wasn't just saying that.


Then we went on to B & N where I got myself a couple of Stocking
Stuffers and a Josh Grobin Christmas cd for under the tree.

All in all - a fun little shopping trip.






When we got back home and I walked into the kitchen I noted that no one had cleaned up the
mess from the Cookie Decorating brouhaha so I'm going to work on that now.





after all this is my house and i am a housewife

christmas fun

That's it for me.

I've had my one hour of Christmas fun - but now it's over.

The Christmas Cookie Decorating Thing was my idea.


~I bought all the stuff.

~I made a really great Christmas Cookie Collage (see my art blog post
on getting to know me for a picture of the collage)

~I forced everyone to go into the basement to watch the really great
Christmas Cookie Video - thanks ticker

~Then I mixed up three cans of frosting:  red green and blue.


but my job is done having fun



as Albert Einstein said:  genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work







back to work

perhaps i was a bit hasty

I thought I knew about and could play many of your wonderful
dreamy nocturnes - and I am best at the slow expressive stuff.

But last night - Chopin - I happened upon your Nocturne - Op. 27
no. 1 in C# minor and - well - it is so beautiful and amazing.

My family is here for Christmas so I won't be able to get back to
it  - probably until they leave - but this is what I'd like to explore:


~the timing

~the notes themselves

~the way you go from 4 #'s to 4 flats and back again but then it is
major in the end

~the dynamics


I could go on and on but you know what - this is like playing Lost on the
piano.


Chopin - I'm sorry that I suggested that you were a little less than a Master because you only composed for the piano.


If you will forgive me I promise not to kill this wonderful nocturne of yours.








and chopin  i have a great picture of you when you were despondent  with your head on the table
while you were composing one of your etudes i just wish i knew which one it was
                                                            

DID IT REALLY TAKE EIGHT SOLDIERS TO KILL DANNY CHEN?

Either way he's dead.

Even if they harrassed him and caused him to commit suicide -
they are guilty as h*ll.

Let's get right on it and put them behind bars and move on.


And let's not obsess that they are 'soldiers' and let it reflect
on our Troops - the Good Ones.


Are these stupid bullies and hazers ever going to learn?


They sure won't if we don't get in there and find out who
they are and punish them.


Let's stop this now - in the memory of Danny Chen.

a christmas greeting

MERRY  CHRISTMAS  LIBERALS



Merry   Christmas   Conservatives






merry christmas bill





you too chakam




hang out the holly
put up the tree before my spirit falls
fill up the stocking
i may be rushing things but deck the halls again now

for we need a little christmas
right this very minute
candles in the window
carols at the spinet

yes we need a little christmas
right this very minute
it hasn't snowed a single flurry
but santa dear we're in a hurry


So Climb Down The Chimney
Turn On The Brightest String Of  Lights I've Ever Seen
Slice Up The Fruitcake - hey that's me
It's Time We Hung Some Tinsel On That Evergreen Bough


for I've grown a little leaner

grown a little colder

grown a little sadder

grown a little...older



and i need a little Angel
Sitting on my Shoulder

NEED    A    LITTLE    CHRISTMAS    NOW



For we need a little Music
Need a little Laughter
Need a little Singing
Ringing through the rafter


And we need a little snappy
'Happily Ever After'



WE     NEED     A     LITTLE     CHRISTMAS     NOW







jerry herman thank you so much for that


:o)

The Final Chapter of Renascence is on my Art Blog - by mistake : [

the best gift of christmas

I know all you folks enjoyed reading the two short stories I
have posted thus far.

And I can assure you there will be Others.
~~~

But for me - as short stories go - it always comes back to this:


O. Henry


What a special person he must have been to write something so
beautiful and meaningful - and so full of Truth.



The Gift of the Magi.



Della


Jim



She sold her hair to buy a chain for his watch.

He sold his watch to buy the combs for her hair.



'Isn't it a dandy, Jim?  I hunted all over town to find it. 
You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now.
Give me your watch.  I want to see how it looks on it.'

'Dell,'  said he, 'let's put our Christmas presents away
and keep 'em a while.  They're too nice to use just at
present.  I sold the watch to get the money to buy your
combs.

And now suppose you put the chops on.'




The Magi, as you know, were Wise Men - wonderfully
wise men - who brought Gifts to the Babe in the Manger.
 
They invented the art of giving Christmas presents.

Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones,
possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case
of duplication.  And here I have lamely related to
you the uneventful chronicle of  two foolish children
in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other
the greatest treasures of their house.

But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be
said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. 

O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest.
 

Everywhere they are wisest.



They are the Magi.

on gettin' jiggy

The best part of  the wedding is the reception.

People work so hard to get a wedding just right and then
after the toasts and speeches they get rid of all the wedding
planning stress by dancing.

And this is the really fun part that I like about weddings.

This seals the deal.

This tells whose wedding is the best - by how good the
dancing is at the reception.

the fast dancing


like in Steel Magnolias.
~~~

Now I have never liked fast dancing.

Never.

I've never been good at it and now I'm too old.

But I LOVE to watch other people dancing fast and having fun.

for me fun is doing stuff - and then watching other people dance fast - see


And I tried to find some song lyrics to express how I feel about that feeling.

This is all I could come up with.

These song lyrics are not about Christmas  - and they are pretty high on the richter
scale as far as being mushy and over the top.

but this is a really cool song


and I'm pretty sure that I could dance to this song - even as a gray headed old lady


it's late at night and we're all alone
with just the music on the radio
no one's coming no one's gonna telephone
just me and you and the lights down low

and   we're

Slow dancing, Swaying to the Music
Slow dancing - just me and my Girl (?)
Slow dancing, Swaying to the Music
No one else in the Whole Wide World

just you  girl (?)


and we just flow together when the lights are low
shadows dancing all across the wall
the music's playing so soft and slow
the rest of the world so far away and small

when    we're


Slow dancing, Swaying to the Music
Slow dancing, just me and my Girl (?)
Slow dancing, swaying to the Music
No one else in the Whole Wide World


hold me oh hold me
don't ever let me go

As We Dance Together in the Dark
There's So Much Love in This Heart of Mine
You Whisper to Me
You're the One I Thought I'd Never Find and Now We're


Slow Dancing, Swaying to the Music
Slow dancing, Just Me and My Girl (?)
Slow Dancing, Swaying to the Music

No One Else in the Whole Wide World



slow dancing swaying to the music
slow dancing just me and my girl (?)
slow dancing swaying to the music

no one else

in


the


whole



wide




world

DIDJA SEE MITT ROMNEY DO THE TOP TEN ON LETTERMAN TONIGHT?

What a Guy!


Why I'll bet President Obama was watching and thinking:


D*mn - why didn't I think of that?


: )

mizz anonymous - click on jus' sayin' on my links and listen to the sunday music and then tell me if you still think that o holy night is 'just a christmas carol'

renascence con.

long had i lain thus craving death
when quietly the earth beneath
gave way and inch by inch so great
at last had grown the crushing weight
into the earth i sank till i
full six feet under ground did lie
and sank no more - there is no weight
can follow here however great
from off my breast i felt it roll
and as it went my tortured soul
burst forth and fled in such a gust
that all about me swirled the dust

deep in the earth i rested now
cool is its hand upon the brow
and soft its breast beneath the head
of one who is so gladly dead
and all at once and over all
the pitying rain began to fall
i lay and heard each pattering hoof
upon my lowly thatched roof
and seemed to love the sound far more
than ever i had done before
for rain it hath a friendly sound
to one who's six feet under ground
and scarce the friendly voice or face
a grave is such a quiet place

the rain i said is kind to come
and speak to me in my new home
i would i were alive again
to kiss the fingers of the rain
to drink into my eyes the shine
of every slanting silver line
to catch the freshened fragrant breeze
from drenched and dripping apple-trees
for soon the shower will be done
and then the broad face of the sun
will laugh above the rain-soaked earth
until the world with answering mirth
shakes joyously and each round drop
rolls twinkling from its grass-blade top
while overhead the sky grows clear
and blue again after the storm?
o multi-colored multiform
beloved beauty over me
that i shall never never see
again! spring-silver autumn-gold
that i shall never more behold!
sleeping your myriad magics through
close-sepulchred away from you!
o God i cried give me new birth
and put me back upon the earth!
upset each cloud's gigantic gourd
and let the heavy rain down-poured
in one big torrent set me free
washing my grave away from me!



By the Way - Thersites - did I mention that
this one's for you?

my art blog

is now up and running - but I will be adding more details such as
titles and dimensions throughout the rest of the day.

Also I hope to get my Abstract Paintings up and my Works in Progress.


~thanks for your patience and interest - i hope  : ]



Sue's  Art


http://www.suehanesart.blogspot.com/

MPTSOC

Due to the Holidays I will be posting more on My Plan to Save Our Country

on Wednesday Evening, December 28th.


At this time I will be going into more Detail.

DAVID EMANUEL HICKMAN

IMMIGRATION

king should have been capitalized

ENVIRONMENT

It still holds that I have discontinued Blogging.

But without a comment section it isn't really Blogging -
and I will not be having one on this Blog -for now.

I will be continuing to post  My  Plan  To  Save  Our  Country.

I may also post more Christmas Stuff and Song Lyrics.

I reserve the right to send Personal and/or Cryptic messages
for whom they are intended.


My Art Blog could be up and running by tomorrow evening as
a guy from the Geek Squad is coming to help me.

I will have a comment section on my Art Blog.


Thanks.

The End

Kenny Rogers said this in his song from The Gambler:


'Ya gotta know when to hold 'em - ya gotta know when to fold 'em...'


And that said   - stidh is gonna walk away - head held high - from Blogging.


It's been a good run - lots of fun and lessons learned.



But folks - if you think stidh was a prolific blogger - wait until you see my
paintings -


which will appear on an all new blog called:


SUE'S  ART


My art blog should be up and running on Christmas Day - or very soon
thereafter -  and I will be posting all the info as soon as it is ready.


So check it out.

frosty the snowman

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN WAS A JOLLY HAPPY SOUL

WITH A CORNCOB PIPE AND A BUTTON NOSE

AND TWO EYES MADE OUT OF SNOW


FROSTY THE SNOWMAN IS A FAIRY TALE THEY SAY

HE WAS MADE OF SNOW BUT THE CHILDREN KNOW

HOW HE CAME TO LIFE THAT DAY


HE LED THEM DOWN THE STREETS OF TOWN

RIGHT TO THE TRAFFIC COP

AND HE ONLY PAUSED A MOMENT WHEN


HE HEARD THEM HOLLER    STOP!


FROSTY THE THE SNOWMAN HAD TO HURRY ON HIS WAY

BUT HE SAID  GOODBYE   SAYING     DON'T YOU CRY


I'LL BE BACK   AGAIN     SOME      DAY


thumpity thumpity thumpity .....






hangin'   it   up    now

renascence con.

i saw and heard and knew at last
the How and Why of all things past
and present and forevermore
the Universe cleft to the core
Lay open to my probing sense
that sick'ning i would fain pluck thence
at the great wound and could not pluck
my lips away till i had drawn
all venom out - ah fearful pawn!
for my omnicscience of soul
all sin was of my sinning all
atoning mine and mine the gall
of all regret Mine was the weight
of every brooded wrong the hate
that stood behind each envioius thrust
mine every greed mine every lust
and all the while for every grief
each suffering i craved relief
with individual desire  -
craved all in vain!  and felt fierce fire
about a thousnad people crawl
perished with each - then mourned for all!
a man was starving in Capri
he moved his eyes and looked at me
i felt his gaze i heard his moan
and knew his hunger as my own
i saw at sea a great fog bank
between two ships that struck and sank
a thousand screams the heavens smote
and every scream tore through my throat
no hurt i did not fell no death
that was not mine mine each last breath
that crying met an answering cry
from the compassion that was i
all suffering mine and mine its rod
mine ptiy like the pity of God
ah awful weight!  Infinity
pressed down upon the finite Me!
my anguished spirit like a bird
beating against my lips i heard
yet lay the weight so close about
there was no room for it without
and so beneath the weight lay i
and suffered death but could not die.



Ok.

That is it for tonight - and I'm not even half way through it.

(darn - i know i saw a typo in there but i can't find it now - sorry)


I'll finish it before Wednesday - I promise.


but I don't want to end the evening on this note - so
I'm posting a chreeful Christmas song in my following post.

renascence by edna st. vincent millay

all i could see from where i stood
was three long mountains and a wood
i turned and looked the other way
and saw three islands in a bay
so with my eyes i traced the line
of the horizon thin and fine
straight around till i was come
back to where i started from
and all i saw from where i stood
was three long mountains and a wood
over these things i could not see
these were the things that bounded me
and i could touch them with my hand
almost i thought from where i stand
and all at once things seemed so small
my breath came short and scarce at all
but sure the sky is big i said
mile and miles above my head
so here upon my back i'll lie
and look my fill into the sky
and so i looked and after all
the sky was not so very tall
the sky i said must somewhere stop
and sure enough! i see the top
the sky i thought is not so grand
i most could touch it with my hand!
and reaching up my hand to try
i screamed to feel it touch the sky
i screamed and lo! infinity
came down and settled over me
forced back my scream into my chest
bent back my arm upon my breast
and pressing of the Undefined
the definition on my mind
held up before my eyes a glance
through which my shrinking sight did pass
until it seemed i must behold
immensity made manifold
whispered to me a word whose sound
deafened the air for worlds around
and brought unmuffled to my ears
the gossiping of friendly spheres
the creaking of the tented sky
the ticking of Eternity.


This folks is stidh's favorite poem - and that is only the
beginning of it.

I may post more of it tonight  - if I can get it done before
SNL starts I will.

This poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay is so beautiful and
meaningful that it took me several years to even begin to
understand it - and even then I'm not sure exactly what
she is talking about.

Kinda like watching Lost.



I once toyed with the idea of memorizing it.



heh heh



Say has anoyone else read it?

Because I think it would be great for discussion.

Tell you what I'll open up the comment thing and well - have at it.

a christmas letter

This is the time of year that letters are written to Santa by hopeful children.

Mostly written by children wanting toys and stuff.

Here is a letter written in response to a letter written by a little
girl to someone - but not Santa:



Dear Michelle:

I was glad to get your letter about trying to stop the Russians
from bombing the North Pole and risking the life of Santa Claus.

I share your concern about the atmospheric testing of the Soviet
Union, not only for the North Pole but for countries throughout
the world; not only for Santa Claus but for people throughout
the world.

However, you must not worry about Santa Claus.  I talked with
him yesterday and he is fine.  He will be making his rounds this
Christmas.

                                                           Sincerely,
                                                           John Kennedy

                                                           October 28, 1961

a poem called a christmas carol

Christina Rossetti is very special to me.


And especially this - with or without the music.



in the bleak mid-winter

frosty wind made moan

Earth stood hard as iron

water like a stone


snow had fallen snow on snow

in the bleak mid-winter


Long ago.


our God Heaven cannot hold Him

nor  Earth sustain

Heaven and Earth shall flee away

when He comes to Reign


In the Bleak Mid-Winter

A Stable-Place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty


Jesus   Christ


Enough for Him whom cherubim

Worship night and day

A breastful of milk

And a Mangerful of Hay


Enough for Him whom angels

Fall Down Before

The Ox and Ass and Camel


Which   Adore



Angels and Archangels

May  Have  Gathered  There

Cherubim  and  Seraphim

Thronged  the  Air


But   Only   His   Mother

In  Her  Maiden   Bliss

Worshipped   the   Beloved

With   a   Kiss



What   Can   I    Give    Him

Poor   As   I    Am?

If   I   Were   A   Shepherd

I    Would   Bring   A   Lamb


If   I   Were   A   Wise   Lamb

I   Would   Do   My    Part -


Yet   What   I   Can   I   Give   Him



Give   My    Heart

just a really cute and nice christmas song

I saw mommy kissing santa claus
Underneath the misletoe last night

~she didn't see me creep
~down the stairs to have a peek

She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep.


Then I saw mommy tickle santa claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white

 ~what a laugh it would have been
~if daddy had only seen

Mommy kissing santa claus last night.


I saw mommy kissing santa claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night

~she didn't see me creep
~down the stairs to have a peek

She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep.


Then I saw mommy kissing santa claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white

~what a laugh it would have been
~if daddy had only seen

Mommy kissing santa claus last night.

the democrats

This post is about a book I bought at Key West a few years ago.

Now when I am in my Tourist Mode I am always hot to buy something.

or as my mother always said:  is that money burning a hole in your pocket?


So on the last day there  - I saw my last chance to buy something at this really
cool museum - I think it might have been connected with Harry Truman - who
spent vacations at Key West when he was President.

I remember looking and looking and trying to find something to buy.

And this is what I came up with.

The Democrats - From Jefferson to Clinton
(updated with a forward by Jimmy Carter)

by Robert Allen Rutland

A couple of times I got it out and opened it up:   hard

In the center of the book are some good political cartoons and
in the front a nice picture of Thomas Jefferson.

Contents:

The Eight Chapters are entitled:

The Jeffersonian Genesis
An Era of Feelings - Good and Bad
The Jacksonian Revival
Democracy or Slavocracy?
Waving the Bloody Shirt
Cleveland:  Honest and Lucky
New Freedom, New Deal, and New Problems
The Care of Human Life and Happiness


I'm thinking this could bring about some good Discussion.


Who wants to start?

clementi vs mozart

Muzio Clementi (1752 - 1832) - was a celebrated composer, pianist, pedagogue,
conductor, music publisher, editor and piano manufacturer - acccording to google.

Anything you want to know about Mozart you can find out by watching Amadeus.

In the Wikipedia biography at google about Clementi I read some pretty mean
things that Mozart said about Clementi -  like how he was not really very talented.
But then Mozart is undisputably a genius when it comes to writing music so he
probably didn't really care what he said about anybody - especially when it
concerned music.

This morning I thought I would sightread - which is a strong point for me - one
of  Clementi's Sonatinas - op. 36 no.4 in FM.  Now keep in mind that a sonatina
is like a Sonata - except easier - you know on a smaller scale.

I sailed through the first movement - Con spirito - and the second movement -
Andante con espressione (this type of thing is what I'm best at) and at that point
I'm thinking piece of cake.

Wrong.

The third movement - Rondo  - subtitled Allegro vivace was more challenging for
me.

Now let me say this about things that are allegro vivace.  I was never meant to play
anything faster than andante.  But I cannot stop trying.  I want to play fast and furious.
I want to play all of Liebestraume - even the tiny notes.  But I simply can't do it without
spending a lot of time on it and at 66  I really don't have time to spare.  And anyway - I
never play anything without making mistakes - you know - killing it.


So what do I do about that?  I simply study it - and then I play fast and furious or passionate -
as best I can - and kill it.  For me that's as good as it's gonna get.  But I don't mind becuase
I can still get an idea of what the composer was trying to say.


So back to Clementi's Allegro vivace movement.  I thought - if I work on this I could
play it.





But then I thought why spend time working on Clementi when I could just as easily
kill Mozart.

the nutcracker

What I really like about life in 2011 is that for an inside girl
like me -  well I can experience the finest in life right here in
my own kitchen.

It's not even 10am on Saturday morning and I am sitting here
watching The Nutcracker on my flat screen.

Thrilling to the music of the incomparable Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky
while unbelievably talented ballet dancers leap and dance around in
ways that only they can.

And you know what folks?   They make it look so easy.

As if they hadn't spent hours on end since they were 3 - hours
of rigorous practice at the bar - thinking that they would break
into the big time only to find out that there is someone better than
they are.

I'm not really a ballet person -  Opera is my thing.


But does it really get any better than Ballet - why with piano
you use your hands -  and ok your arms too - but in ballet you
f*ing use every muscle in your entire body.




:]

NATIONAL SECURITY

the elephant in the room

Tropic Thunder.

This movie is offensive to two mainstream groups in our Country.

~our troops

~the mentally challenged


and there is a good deal of  sleazy 'trash talk' in it



But let me tell you folks that if you just skip to the part where a small
group of actors are dropped into the jungle in Vietnam - thinking they
are going to be filming a war movie....well if you do that you are in
for a treat - of seeing genius comedy.  And another thing you can do
is keep the subtitles off until you get to the best parts.


Some of which are:

~Ben Stiller - who not only wrote Tropic Thunder along with Justin
Theroux and Ethan Cohen - also directed this movie and stars in it.

~Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus - When I can bring myself to
take my eyes off of Ben Stiller because he is so great in Tropic
Thunder I cannot bring myself to take my eyes off of Robert Downey
Jr. as the blonde Australian actor playing a Black troop.

~the Black guy - Just kidding because Brandon T. Jackson is great as
Alpa Chino and a closet Gay.

~Jack Black - I really do like Jack Black.  : )

~other actors that are good are Jay Baruchel as Kevin Sandusky and
young Brandon Soo Hoo as Tran.

~honorable mention goes to Tobey Maguire for appearing in the
clip at the beginning with RDJR - sure to bring a smile to your
face I know it did mine


But that's not all Folks - for in Tropic Thunder lies a real treat
supplied by one of my favorite actors:  Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise appears as Les Grossman but it's not just that
hilarious role that does it for me but rather Tom Cruise's
dancing in the end - which brings back fond memories
of an early moive of his in which he does a similar
sort of thing.


The defining scene for me is:


the You People exchange between Robert Downey Jr. and
Brandon T. Jackson






: ]

the christmas song

While googling the lyrics for The Christmas Song I saw that it said that:


'Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire is definitively The Christmas Song.'



I thought hmmm... - who is in charge of saying what the Christmas Song is?


But no matter - for has there ever been a more mellow and beautiful song
that fires up the imagination at Christmastime?


chestnuts roasting on an open fire
jack frost nipping at your nose

yuletide carols being sung by a choir
and folks dressed up like Eskimos


Everybody knows a turkey - unfortunately
    and some Mistletoe

Helps to make the season Bright

tiny tots with their eyes all aglow

Will find it Hard To Sleep Tonight


They Know That Santa's On His Way
He's Loaded Lots Of Toys And Goodies On His Sleigh

And every Mother's Child - is gonna spy


To See If  Reindeer Really Know How To Fly



and so I'm offering this simple phrase

To Kids From One to Ninety-Two (hey my mom's 96)



although it's been said - many times many ways
merry christmas to you



thanks mel torme for writing the music
and thanks to bob wells for writing the lyrics with mel torme

what is stidh going to do today?

Thanks for asking.


I'm going to concentrate on finishing up the decorating and try
really hard to focus on that.

The time for obsessing is over.


Here's what I need to concentrate on:


~doing something really Creative on the inside of the hutch:
     I have all the materials I need and I know what
     I'm going to do  - and when I'm done the hutch 
     has a light on the inside at the top that I can turn
     on and stand and admire my Creation

~cut up thousands of pieces from shiny white garlands to
look like snow in my Forest Scene/Nativity setup in my
bedroom
     This is not as time consuming as it sounds - but once
      I do that this that will be completely done

~finish putting ornaments on the Tree
      I may not completely finish that by the end of the
      day since even after the ornaments are all hung I
      will no doubt change some of them around until
      the tree looks perfect - to me

~the family room in the basement
      a lot of work to be done as far as decorating but
      it won't be that hard since it is best not to obsess
      in any area where the g-kids are allowed to run free
      and after all the family room in the basement is their
      designated area




that's about it - I have  12 hours - now I just need to get
started

home alone

During my Despondency Period I tried to express my feelings
aobut Aloneness - through writing.

And this is what I came up with - you People who are not only
reading my Blog but have stopped commenting altogether.


Alone is not just about being Alone - for one can be Alone
when One is with Others.

and this gem

Alone is not just being Home Alone - but rather that no One
is Coming.


I've moved on  - and this post is really about - one of the
undisputably best Christmas movies Ever.

In this Movie you can find:

~the Adorable and Incorrigible Kevin McCallister

~the memorable action verion of Run Rudolph Run

~the inherent stupidity of the Burglars

~the bits of  wisdom and lessons to be learned sprinkled here & there

~and my personal fave when Kevin and the next door serial killer meet
and have a meaningful talk in the church

and much more
~~~

HAVING TROUBLE COMMENTING ON MY BLOG?

I shut off the thing that allows comments yesterday because I got
fed up that no one was commenting - and it also hurt my feelings.

I will be turning it back on before too long.

Frankly - I will continue writing posts - with or without comments.

Anyway - answering comments takes a lot of time since I always
answer every comment - and do so with a lot of thought.


So - anyone who wants to comment here is welcome to do so.

After I start allowing comments again.



A WORD OF WARNING: 


if i turn the comment thing back on and still don't get a reasonable
amount of commets - even one every couple of days - i will turn it off again -

for good.

whatever happened to erica jong

I googled her to find out.

Looks like she is a couple years older than me and lives in New York City.

Like some actors are born to act in one particular movie - Erica Jong's 15
minutes of fame seems to have centered around her popular book Fear of Flying.


I loved that book.

It was funny but at the same time true.

And part of it really was about her fear of flying - most notably :


where she says that she couldn't relax while in the air because she
was too busy concentrating on holding up the plane


And that's exactly how I used to feel.  I'm much more relaxed though than
I used to be while flying.


I bet she made a lot of money off of that book she wrote in 1973 - and since
then she is enjoying life in the Big Apple.






good for her

how to make the best of the christmas season

~go with the flow  - get out there and shop to buy all of the presents you need to get and stop worrying
about paying off the plastic in January

~go Christmas Caroling at a nursing home.  Old people really enjoy this and you will be a better person for it

~spike the egg nog

~stop and ponder on the beauty and meaning of the Nativity Scene in front of a local small town Courthouse

~deck the halls with boughs of holly

~watch jingle all the way

~tell a loved one that you have been neglecting that you love them


and much much more

IF ANYONE HAS A BETTER PLAN OF THEIR OWN NOW IS THE TIME TO COME FORWARD WITH IT

remakes and sequels

There can be sequels to movies that work:


Godfather 2 is one.

Jaws 2 - although certainly not of the caliber of Jaws - works for me.


and there are others.


Then there are remakes:


The Day The Earth Stood Still is a Remake - not a sequel - and I really didn't
like it at first but now I do.  And since I am a Deep Thinker - albeit inherently
stupid and a traditional idiot housewife :)  :]  :} - I found it chock full of meaningful
stuff.
~~~

Sometimes books can have sequels.

Let's see if I can come up with one.

Oh yeah - Bill Maher's New New Rules is kinda a sequel - and it's really good.
~~~

And there is another remake that just came to my Mind - it's called The Parent Trap.
I just loved the first one - with Maureen O'Hara - and double trouble Haley Mills.


She was so perky singing this song - don'tcha think?


Let's get together yeah yeah yeah
Why don't you and I combi-ine
Let's get together what do you say
We can have a swingin' ti-me

Let's get together yeah yeah yeah
Think of all that we could sha-are
Let's get together everyday
Every way and everywhere
And though I haven't got a lot : ]
We could be sharin' all you've got :0)

TOGETHER


Oh I really think you're swell
Uh-huh we really ring the bell
OO-wee and if you stick with me
Nothing could be greater say hey alligator

Let's get together yeah yeah yeah
Two is twice as nice as one

let's get together right away
We'll be having twice the fu-un
And you can always count on me
A gruesome twosome we will be

Let's get together - yeah   yeah   yeah






kinda corny isn't it





yeah

about making choices

There comes a Time when you make a Choice.

If making that Choice means Standing Alone - so be it.


or to put it another way:



The Coward Dies A Thousand Deaths.

The Valiant Tastes of Death But Once.

                     attributed to William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar




i was born to make this a reality






Seem a bit over the top - folks?



That's me.

I'm Sorry

It's just that I am always so sure that I am Right.

But then I find out that I'm Wrong.

But I'm not Always Wrong.

In fact  - much of the time I'm right.


But you are never Wrong.





: (

THE WAR IN IRAQ IS OVER

and I for one am glad.


No rushing out into the streets?

No infamous picture of  a long unidentified Saillor kissing a woman?


No?


Then how do we mark the end of the War in Iraq?



By Remembering.

By Honoring.

By Learning  - for future reference





and by Knowing.




knowing what - you might ask?





that the War in Iraq took the Lives of nearly 5,000 of America's Finest.

EDUCATION

gay waiters and styrofoam

Since moving here I have found a couple of great places to have lunch.

I have been to one place four times - by myself - three times for lunch and
then more recently for dinner.


The first time I had lunch at this place I knew the waiter was Gay.

How did I know - you might ask?

I just knew.

Since he wasn't very busy at the time we chatted and he introduced me
to a subject that has preyed on my mind ever since.

STYROFOAM.


This nice young waiter who was so easy to talk to - as if  he were a close
friend - told me how styrofoam never goes away.  It is not biodegradable.
He pointed out the containers that they use and that he was putting my
leftovers in were not only recyclable but also microwavable and
dishwasher safe.

Folks - I'm on a Mission here.  I have found a Cause.

Because at the other above mentioned place where I like to have lunch this other gay
waiter told me that his boss  - although Drew has brought the subject of the
styrofoam containers up to him on several occasions - is too 'frugal' to change over
to the biodegradable/microwavable/dishwasher safe ones.

I would like to add at this point that the biodegradable ones are much more
attractive that the ugly strofoam ones - I have really never liked those.

And you know what?

As I paid my bill - Drew asked what my first name was.

'Sue,'  I told him.  'What's yours?'

'Drew,'  he answered.

And then I sat amazed as he said, 'Next time you are in for lunch I'll try to
come over and say hi.'

So on Monday I'm going over there again for lunch and if Drew is working
I'm going to suggest that we put our heads toghether and discuss this problem of
his boss refusing to change over from styrofoam to biodegradable containers.

And I'm gonna tell Drew that if  he is willing to set it up I will be willing to have a heart to
heart talk with his boss.

I have nothing to lose - and the world will be a better place - for you and for me - without
those styrofoam containers sitting around forever in a landfill.

obsessing over the christmas stockings

At our house it's not about the Gifts.

It's about the Christmas Stockings.

Last year - with the move and all - I told my family that I was eliminating
Christmas Stockings.

Well  that got the same reaction that Chevy Chase's boss got in National
Lampoon 's Christmas Vacation when he gave his employees the Jelly
of the Month Club instead of Christmas bonuses.

My elder daughter called me up the next day and spoke up:

'Mom,'  she said bravely.  'You can't do this to us.  We look forward so
much to getting our stockings with all the Good Stuff in them.  I know you
can find time to shop and find the stuff to put in them...'  and she went on
and on.  

And so I did Stockings last year.


Tonight I lined all the Stocking Stufffers on the kitchen counter and made this
elaborate stupid chart to ensure that all eleven people got what they deserved.
Only two of the kids came up short.  Otherwise it looks pretty good.

'JESUS,'  I said to myself.  'Please help me out here.  I shopped three times
today and I'm really tired.   I'd appreciate it if you could just help me make
it through the rest of the evening.'

And so I completed yet one more Holiday Task.






but not without the help of the mormon tabernacle choir why i bet
mitt romney has them over to his house for a christmas party every year.

a beloved christmas poem

Here's  STIDH's  take  on  The  Night  Before  Christmas


'Twas ten days before Christmas and all through the house
not a Creature was stirring - not even a Mouse.

I'm thinking that I'd better get into gear
cause just before I know it 'they' will be here.

So I lined up the stockings and felt like a jerk
well shopping for that stuff is so much like work

And here is the bottom line - dear friends and readers - not
these folks are ungrateful - I mean the whole lot.

They'll smile and seem nice - all the while exchanging glances
but really they're thinking - every year Mom takes chances

That we will go for this Stuff that she buys
one look and well  - makes me want to cry.

Yes folks - even the young ones don't like the toys
and the six year old says - grandma next time - something more appropriate for a boy!

Well let me tell ya - I've had it up to here
and someone else can play Santa next year.


Wait - I'm just kindding I wait twelve months for all this...
cause I'm in my Glory - knee deep in Christmas bl*ss.

christmas island

Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean.

It has 1,403 inhabitants.

There exists on Christmas Island a high level of endemisn - mostly
concerning its flora and fauna - which is an ecological state of being
unique to a defined geographic location.

Christmas Island exists in a tropical climate - high heat and humidity
being moderated by trade winds.
~~~

let's get away from sleigh bells
let's get away from snow
let's make a break some christmas dear
i know the place to go

How'dja like to spend Christmas - on Christmas Island?
How'dja like to spend the holiday away across the sea?
How'dja like to spend Christmas - on Christmas Island?
How'dja like to hang a stocking on a great big coconut tree?

How'd you like to stay up late like the islanders do?
Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe
If you ever spend Christmas - on Christmas Island
You will never stray for everyday your Christmas dreams come true

On Christmas Island your dreams come true.
~~~





thanks lyle moraine

I Can't Say How Happy I Am That I Decided To Start Writing Again About Christmas - and song lyrics

After supper I'm going to post something really special that will include both.

the book store

When we first moved here I found a bookstore I really liked.

On the Square across from the Courthouse.

not like B & N - but a Real bookstore

I didn't have time to buy anything but I went in anyway and told the guy sitting at the desk:

'I'll be back.'


Today I went back and asked the guy if I could look around.

'Sure,'  he said.

But I didn't have to look far because right away my eyes fell on his name:

Hunter S. Thompson.

Now I'm really not into Hunter S. Thompson - but  I read parts of  GONZO
written by Jann S. Wenner & Corey Seymour.

I told the guy that I had liked Gonzo but that was written about Hunter S. Thompson
and I wanted to read something by him.

He went right over and picked out the novel The Rum Diary - telling me that it was
one of his early works before he really became Hunter S. Thompson - you know
what I mean.

I told him that I'd try to get through it - I'm not what you call a prolific reader - and
then I would be back for one of Hunter S. Thompson's later works.
~~~






i'm gonna put him on my Tortured Souls list - not #1 though - because Jackson
Pollock has that spot forever ~ but Hunter S. Thompson will be #3...







right below vincent van gogh