DVD Recommendation: John Adams

One of the best gifts we received this past Christmas was the HBO miniseres, John Adams on Blu-Ray DVD (thanks Mom!) We also gave a copy to Shane's parents and to my Mom. We finished the final two episodes last night and then started watching the special features, including the "Making of John Adams." We originally watched the 2008 miniseries when it was on HBO, We had watched the first five parts of the show with Shane's parents while we were in Florida.

The series, starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by David McCullough, which I had previously read. This really is a truly amazing series that I highly recommend, especially now that you can get the DVD for under $20 on Amazon. It is really worth it if you have any interest at all in American history. This is a gritty, realistic account of a flawed man who did some great things. I loved it and will watch it over and over. Also, I think if you like the series, this is one of the rare instances where reading the book after the movie would be worthwhile. The book is obviously much more detailed and just as interesting. I am considering reading it again myself.

Virtual Run From DC to Punta Gorda, FL, Day 1

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to to do a virtual run from my home in DC to our possible new home in Punta Gorda, FL. It is just a bit more than 1,000 miles. To run that distance in a year, I have to run an average of 2.75 miles a day. Today was my first segment of that run and I ran 10K (6.25 miles) on the treadmill at my gym. I wanted to get a bit of a cushion in so that if I miss some days down the road, I can still make my goal. If I had started at my house in DC, the distance I traveled would have taken me across the Potomac, into Virginia, past the Pentagon and down Interstate 395 (the Shirley Highway) to Glebe Road. Less than 1,000 miles to go. The map below shows the start near my house in South East DC and my finish today in Virginia.



Goal: Approximately 1,003 miles from DC to Punta Gorda, FL

Required Daily Distance: 2.75 miles

Actual Run Distance Completed Today: 6.25 miles

Total Distance Run in 2010: 6.25 miles

Today's Run Time: 53 minutes

Total Run Time: 53 minutes

My Virtual Distance to Punta Gorda: 996.75 miles

What date will I get to Punta Gorda?

I am also trying to improve my strength by doing push ups. I downloaded an application for my iPhone called 100 Pushups. It is designed to help you work up to doing 100 push ups a session, three to four times a week. I thought it would be fun to keep track of the number I do throughout the year. Goal for the year? 10,000.

Today's Push Up Total: 25

Push Ups in 2010: 25

Another one of my goals for the year was to weigh less than 165. I hopped on the scale today and weighed 178. Only 13 pounds to go, but with Christmas cookies and candies putting temptation in my way, for me, losing weight is not a cake walk (so to speak). Did I mention that Shane got me 5 boxes of Hot Tamales for Christmas? Four boxes remain.

My 10 Predictions for 2010

I thought it would be fun to try to predict what the coming year will bring. Here is what I think will happen.

1. I agree with Newsweek magazine's prediction that President Obama will do "nada" on gay rights. Though he could end the policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell (at least temporarily until permanent legislation is in place), he won't expend any political capital on doing the right thing. I hope I am wrong, but we can see by his first year in office that change is not coming soon. As Kate Clinton noted, he is a thin man with a lot on his plate.

2. The economy will continue to slowly improve with the Dow hitting 12,500 by year's end.

3. The Washington Nationals will have a banner year and not finish in last place of all teams in baseball.

4. I will run a marathon in less than 4 hours -- more than 20 minutes better than my previous personal record. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, I have to run a marathon in 3 hours and 30 minutes at my current age. I know I'm not near that.

5. Academy Awards will go to Mo'nique, George Clooney and Meryl Streep. The Best Picture winner will have the word "up" in the title.

6. Our purchase of a house in Florida will finally occur, but soon after, Al Gore's prediction of sea level rising due to global warming will also come true, making our house a giant aquarium.

7. The 2010 election will result in Democratic net losses in both the Senate (7 seats) and House (22), but will retain majorities.

8. TLC will develop a spin-off channel completely dedicated to reality shows about dwarves with sextuplets. My mom will be in heaven.

9. Celebrity deaths will include Elizabeth Taylor, Don King, John Gosselin, Betty Ford, Jerry Lewis, Bob Barker, Annette Funicello, Alex Trebek, Michael Richards, Sen. Robert Byrd and both remaining Golden Girls. Yes, I went there.

10. Same-sex marriage will become legal in Washington DC, and a certain runner with a blue sponge will tie the knot in May.

Furry Happy Monsters -- Happy New Year!

"Come on Monsters, you don't have to cry. We can be happy!"

We had a great New Year's Eve at Archerr's Boyfriend dinner party. The food was amazing, as usual, with gumbo, black eyed peas, pork loin, dirty rice and lots of wine. We did a champagne toast at midnight. See the video at Archerr's website here.

New Year Resolutions--Another Futile Attempt at Self-Improvement

I've only had so so luck with New Year Resolutions. Who doesn't fall short of all their goals? I know I do, but I think I go further with goals, so I make goals. Here's what I came up with for 2010. With a new year comes new hope.

1. Decide whether to say "Two Thousand Ten" or Twenty Ten." I'm sort of leaning toward Twenty Ten.

2. Read 30 Books. This should be a cinch with my Kindle.

3. Run to Florida -- This is not a actual run to FL, but I want to run a total of the distance to Punta Gorda, FL, from DC (about 1,000 miles). That is an average of 2.75 miles per day or 19.25 miles a week. I need to develop a map that tracks my progress.

4. Weigh less than 165 lbs. This is a perpetual goal for me, but I still hover around 180. It could be worse, I guess. I used to be over 200.

5. Run two marathons. I am planning to run The Delaware Marathon in May and another marathon in the fall. I am also running the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April, and perhaps the George Washington Parkway 10 miler, also in April.

6. Get more than 100 Followers on my blog. I currently have 10. Please consider following me. To that end, I'll try to think of something interesting to post.

7. Save money. Suzi Orman speaks and I listen. With the pending purchase of our Florida house, I need to build my emergency fund back up. I have a specific goal in mind, but enuff said.

Happy New Year!!!

Happy Birthday Mary!

Mary Tyler Moore turns 73 today. The above is the theme to the first season of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Today is also the birthday of Ted Danson (62), Jon Voight (71), Patricia Clarkson (50), Paula Poundstone (50), Jude Law (37), and Marianne Faithful (63). Who needs Entertainment Tonight when you have Running With Blue Sponge?

Merry Snuggie Christmas!

I just had to try on my mom's Snuggie. Though it makes me look a bit frumpy, it is very comfy. I must have one!

Never Ending Christmas

Christmas is over, right? Not quite. Since we were going to Florida for actual Christmas, Shane and I went to my mom's to celebrate Christmas with her and my sister and her family the weekend before Christmas. It was also the weekend of the blizzard in DC. I had Friday off, so I took the train up Thursday night (a week before Christmas Eve) and Shane drove up Friday night. The storm came later Friday night and all day Saturday. We managed to drive ourselves and my mom over to my sister's house (about 5 miles away). We had a nice snowy evening, exchanged gifts, ate pizza and desserts, and, thanks to our trusty SUV, we managed to get back to my mom's house Saturday night. We got about 20 inches of snow at my mom's so I shoveled her out and we drove back to DC and shoveled our own house out, including our roof. My back was killing me.

Thursday night (Christmas Eve) Shane and I had to work half a day and then drove to Baltimore to fly to his mom's house in Florida. It was a nice break from the cold and snow of DC. It was nice and quiet until about 11:30 Christmas Eve night. We were getting ready for bed and I thought it was a little stuffy in our room, so I thought I would crack the window. I did not know the alarm was set, so when it started blaring (louder than any siren I've ever heard) I didn't know what to do. Both Shane and I were undressed and Shane's parents were already in bed. By the time I got my pants on, Shane's stepfather was already deactivating the siren. The alarm company called and because they weren't sure what the password was, they called the police. So much for Silent Night. Luckily, they convinced the alarm company to not send the police and we all finally got to bed. Actually, Shane and I went back to bed and didn't hear anything about the police drama until the next day.

It was a very nice Christmas after that. Shane got to spend Christmas with his family for the first time in years, and his grandmother, who just moved to Florida from Maine after a long illness. His Nana is starting to feel better and that was the best present we got.

We came back from Florida yesterday and, since I have off from work all this week (I love use or lose), after going to the gym this morning, I drove back up to my mom's. I am driving her back to DC tomorrow to celebrate our final Christmas with my friend Elaine (with whom my Mom exchanges gifts). The photo above is my mom in her brand new Snuggie as she examines the book light that came with it.

Reply from Sen. Susan Collins Regarding Maine Marriage Vote

Above is the letter (double click to enlarge) I received in response to my letter to Sen. Susan Collins regarding her silence on the recent vote in Maine to uphold same-sex marriage. That vote resulted in Mainers taking away the rights of a segment of the population to marry each other. Haters won the day and Sen. Collins justified it by stating she supports the right of Mainers to voice their opinion on state law via ballot measures, and that she respects the recent decision to overturn the same-sex marriage law.

I never thought Ms. Collins was a bright person and this seals my opinion of her (or whatever staffer wrote this tripe). To accept that a bigoted majority is allowed to take away a minority's civil rights is plainly wrong. As has been argued numerous times, if southern states were permitted to vote on interracial marriage in the 1960s (or even today) it is unlikely many of those states would ever permit such unions. I am certain that same-sex marriage will be a non-issue some day, much like interracial marriage is today (in most of the country). Sadly, haters win again for now.

Sugarland and the B-52s Do Love Shack

Christmas Shoes--Worst Christmas Song Ever--The 12 Days of Christmas

I heard this song on the radio while driving one night and it made me throw up. It is the hokiest song I've ever heard. Maybe I'm just cynical, bit I think it is bad. Leave it to the Mormans to ruin Jesus' birthday.

One of the Best Christmas Songs -- The 12 Days of Christmas

This is from Yo-Yo Ma's holiday CD Songs of Peace and Joy. It features the angel-voiced Alison Krauss singing "The Wexford Carol." Beautiful! Merry Christmas!

The Waltons' Homecoming--The 12 Days of Christmas

This is one of our favorite Christmas shows that we watch each year on Christmas Eve. This predates the TV series and the cast is a bit different. Patricia Neal is amazing as Olivia Walton. It might be that she reminds me of my grandmother, but I love her. Richard Thomas still plays John Boy -- in fact all the kids are the same as the series cast, but only Ellen Corby, who plays the grandmother, did the series of the family adults.

Shane and I use many of the lines from this show in much of our everyday conversation. For example, if one of us suggests we should buy something, the other person usually says, "That's the first thing I'm going to do once this Depression is over!" (Olivia was referring to a getting a phone.) "Favorite line: What were you doing in your room John Boy with the door locked?" I realize this is a long show, but it is worth it.

Grace Jones Sings The Little Drummer Boy -- The 12 Days of Christmas

This is yet another clip from Pee Wee Herman's spectacular Christmas special (available at www.peewee.com). This one features Grace Jones singing The Little Drummer Boy. Get back in the box Grace!

Charlie Brown -- The 12 Days of Christmas

A classic children's holiday that tackles holiday depression... I remember watching it every year as a kid. "Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, your the Charlie Browniest."

Grinch Documentary -- The 12 Days of Christmas

This is a very interesting 1994 documentary from TNT that shows how the Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, was made. Hosted by the late Phil Hartman and featuring Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, and the folks responsible for making the show. Part 1 is above and Part 2 is below. Very cool!

Returning to the Snow in DC

Shane works on our steps.


We were at my Mom's celebrating Christmas over the weekend. She lives in Rising Sun, MD, near the Pennsylvania line in the northeast corner of the state. We made the trek down I-95 this morning to see what the snow situation was at our house. It was deep. We were able to dig out a parking space and dig out the front steps and sidewalk. We then had to dig the drifting snow off the roof (we are afraid too much weight up there will cause a catastrophe) and dig snow off our back deck (also afraid of a possible collapse). After helping my Mom dig out yesterday and this morning and then coming home and digging for a large part of the day, my back is killing me. They said we got 16 inches in DC, but I think it all drifted over to our house!

SNL's Debbie Downer -- The 12 Days of Christmas

Santa gets depressed after surprising Debbie Downer in this sketch from Saturday Nightl Live.

Vomita Lives!!!

You may remember Vomita from an earlier post in June. My sister was looking for a home for this cat with a hard-luck story. My sister didn't find anyone willing to take Vomita, so she still has her. The cats name now is Emesis, which is a medical term for throwing up. The cat had a tendency to throw up a great deal in her youth. She doesn't throw up anymore and everyone refers to her as "Emmy."

Poor Emmy isn't right in the head--a bit downsy I think. She can't stop herself from climbing up on counters and tables. She knocks things over and gets into food. It is a constant battle to keep her out of things she shouldn't be doing. She loves to climb the Christmas tree. She is a very high maintenance. If we're having a family dinner, Emmy has to stay in the basement or she would be walking on people's plates and on the food. Emmy is lucky she was found someone willing to put up with her craziness.

Saturday Evening Snow Accumulation

This was taken at dusk and you can see the foot and half of snow higher on the fence (compare to the photo below taken this morning). I did some shoveling, so some of the snow on the left side of the fence is from piling of shoveled snow. It was certainly a snowy day. We are going back to DC to shovel our house out tomorrow.