Many Blessings

To you and your family...

The Name Is Bond...

So Mr. Fairway and I, along with our friend Joe, went to the movies today to see that wonderful, heartwarming holiday film...Quantum of Solace. Okay...so maybe heartwarming isn't quite the word to describe this action film. And I'm not sure "wonderful" describes the movie either. Let's face it...explosions, gunfire, dead bodies, blood aren't things I prefer to see. Give me a movie like Mamma Mia any ol' time. Still, I wanted to spend the day with the guys so I let them talk me into going to see the film.

Now I've been a James Bond fan since I watched Sean Connery swagger across the screen in the first Bond flick "Dr. No" in 1962. Of course I was under the age of 10 and didn't quite understand all the sexual references but I did love the intrigue and mystery of Mr. Bond. I can still remember asking my friend Myra to come to the movies with us and being turned down. Oh...she wanted to come but her older sister convinced her folks that the movie was far too "adult" for her and so we went without her. I have to give my parents credit...they knew my younger sister and I would enjoy the action parts of the movie while ignoring the parts which were too mature for us. How right they were.

And now that brings me to current day James Bond. I know much has been written about how Daniel Craig fares against the likes of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. Personally, I enjoy my Bonds dark and slightly sinister rather than light and charming so he more resembles the Bond I like. Still...I just didn't feel engaged by his character today. I'm sure much of that has to do with the screenplay (thin at best) but I just couldn't seem to make a connection with his Bond. And, if I have to be honest, Bond will always be the debonair, handsome Sean Connery that I first saw on the big screen so many years ago. Sigh...

Fa-La-La-La-Not!

Ack! Yesterday I was driving in my car desperately changing my radio's pre-set buttons looking for some soothing music to keep me company. I pushed the button for one of my favorite "easy listening" stations and was confronted with a terrible realization...they've already started their "all Christmas music all the time" programming! How can that be? Geez...we haven't celebrated Thanksgiving yet, the Macy's annual parade is still a few days away and December doesn't come for another 9 days. Yes...I know I can simply avoid pressing that button until I'm ready to hear "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." but you'd think the radio powers-that-be could at least wait until after Turkey Day to bombard us with Christmas holiday cheer! Bah! Humbug!

I've Done Things!

I found this meme on A Blog in the Rough and decided to give it a whirl. To participate, just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold or color (mine are in red) all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!

I HAVE...

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

WOW...I have done things!!!

Back For More...

Hey...wonder where I've been? Me too. I was all gung-ho to start this blog but then, after a few posts (and the election), I suddenly lost my gusto. But I'm back and hopefully I'll find my blogging voice once again.

During this little "hiatus," our country managed to elect a new President (hallelujah) and I managed to survive the wonderful emotions that accompanied this incredibly historic event. Now I'm sorry that we didn't take up our friends' offer to accompany them to Washington D.C. for the inauguration. They had the foresight to book flights and hotel accommodations way in advance figuring they could always cancel should the "other team" win. Now they are going to be there amongst the huge throngs of spectators expected for the event. I am soooooo jealous.

This isn't to say that Mr. Fairway and I haven't been thinking about doing a little traveling. In fact, we just booked a 14-day cruise to the Baltics scheduled to sail in mid-June. I tell people that we're doing our very best to stimulate the economy although, to be honest, I am feeling a little uneasy about spending so much money during this economic meltdown. As retirees, we are on a fixed income and, unlike previous post-retirement travels, I no longer have a part-time job to help supplement our savings.

And when I look around the house and realize how much work needs to be done (new windows, new kitchen, new bathroom, new paint, etc.), I get even more nervous. Still...I keep telling myself that we need to travel while we are still healthy and the economy will surely turn around since it always seems to run in cycles. Am I crazy or am I just doing my very best imitation of Pollyanna?

Count My Vote

Mr. Fairway and I just got back from casting our ballots. While there were no long lines at our polling place, the room was bustling with voters...more than we've ever seen before. The church where we vote actually plays host to 2 separate voting precincts and both sides of the room had polling booths filled with voters with others waiting their turn. We live near a university and the number of young voters was amazing. There were voters who were asked for photo I.D. so we knew they were first-time voters and we were thrilled to see them.

I have to admit that I actually had tears in my eyes when I marked my ballot for my Presidential choice. Those are the same tears I shed when, so many months ago, I watched Barack Obama announce on a very cold wintry day his run for the Presidency. And now I anxiously await the results of today's election. While I am cautiously optimistic, I never take anything for granted and I will be glued to the television tonight awaiting the final outcome. Whatever happens this evening, I am proud to call myself an American on this Election Day.

Election Day Prep

So here it is the Sunday before Election Day and I still haven't gathered up our Election Day gear. Normally Mr. Fairway and I go with just our filled-in sample ballots to the polls but this year, with the expected long lines, I will be packing a backpack filled with "stuff" to help us survive what we anticipate might be a few hours wait.

In our backpack will be the following:

Our completed sample ballots

Water bottles

Energy bars

Reading material

Crossword puzzle books

In addition, we will sling over our shoulders the portable golf chairs we've had in our closet now for a few years.

Mr. Fairway thinks I'm nuts to go to all this preparation, but, having seen on TV news the long lines in states with early voting, I'm not taking any chances. Not even a line around the block will keep us from casting our ballots this Election Day. I'm hoping to help make history on November 4th and nothing will stand in my way.