go green

Kermit has taught us so many tasty tidbits of wisdom.

Always be yourself. Never take yourself too seriously. And beware of advice from experts, pigs, and members of Parliament.

-Kermit

When I was a tadpole there was really only one thing that I collected. I had a file of newspaper and magazine articles on Frogs in Show Business. It was a small collection, but I think it influenced me a lot.

-Kermit

The words say, "It's not easy being green," but the song is about knowing who you are. And in it you hear Jim's message most clearly. He believed that people are good and that they want to do their best and that no matter how or why we might be different from anybody else, we should learn to love who we are and be proud of it.

-Ray Charles

A List Of Good Things About Being A Frog:

- Being Green

- Sitting in the sun on a lily pad

- Having thousands of brothers & sisters

- Going to the hop

- Playing leapfrog

-Having bears and pigs and dogs and chickens as your friends

- Getting kissed by princesses hoping to turn you into a handsome prince

-Kermit

muppet week

I am officially designating this week as the Unofficial Muppet Week. It all started when Jim Henson, without a doubt the most famous puppeteer in history, created everyone's favorite little frog, Kermit. Through television and later through feature films, Henson developed the art of puppetry to new heights of technical expertise and storytelling capabilities, particularly in the ability to create sympathetic, emotional characters with whom audiences, both young and old alike, can relate. Jim and Kermit worked together from 1955 until Jim Henson's death in 1990. With the premiere in 1969 of Sesame Street, the Muppets reached superstardom. Henson 

and his creative team created a number of memorable characters for Sesame Street, including Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird, each with distinctive personalities. Henson’s success on Sesame Street paved the way for his next television production, The Muppet Show, a weekly syndicated variety show hosted by Kermit the Frog with an expanded cast of both new and familiar muppets and guest starring live actors and celebrities. The show was an immediate success upon its premiere in 1976 and was still popular when Henson decided to cease production in 1981 in order to concentrate on greater challenges. His company, by now, had expanded to include a wide variety of children’s programming and educational materials, including books, music, and television shows, such as Fraggle Rock and Muppet Babies. 

His primary creative interest, however, was in motion pictures. In 1979, he had scored a hit with young and old alike with the first big-screen Muppet movie, titled simply The Muppet Movie. The musical-comedy launched a series of Muppet movies, including The Great Muppet Caper (1981) and The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), which has continued into the present. Jim Henson died of pneumonia in New York on May 16, 1990. Over the course of a career spanning more than 30 years, Henson received eighteen Emmy awards, seven Grammy awards, four Peabody awards, and numerous other honors. Thanks to others who share Jim Henson's vision, we are still able to experience the joy and imagination of The Muppets. Thanks for encouraging us to fall in love with a frog.

cupcake haven

Cupcakes. I love them. There is nothing better than these tiny little taste explosions. Everybody loves cupcakes. Someday, when I have a bakery, specialty cupcakes will be what I'm famous for. Until then, I'll just look at all these fun little cupcakes... and maybe try a few of my own.

some like it hot

Tonight Staci, Curt and I got some chinese take-out and watched Some Like It Hot. Wow! What a great movie! Some Like It Hot was voted the funniest movie of the 20th century. And it deserves it too. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are absolutely hysterical! Of course, you can't forget Marilyn Monroe, although, what is with the dresses she wears? Anyway. Here is one of the funniest clips from this incredibly humorous movie. 

valentine's day. what does it all mean?

Some call it Valentine's Day. Some call it Single Awareness Day. What is it about today that either makes people feel really happy and loved or really sad and alone? It's just a day, like any other. And if we are lucky enough to have a significant other shouldn't we be loving them all the time? Not just because Hallmark cards and conversation hearts tell us we should? Relationships take lots of work and there are always going to be some tough times. Just look at all these famous couples. All of them have had their share of struggles and rough patches. Mickey had a bout with jealousy when Minnie went out with Mortimer, Mario is constantly rescuing Peach from the perilous plotting of Bowser, the police were constantly trying to drive a wedge between Bonnie & Clyde, Donald is always trying to win Daisy over despite his speech impediment and bad manners, Sandra Dee and Danny are constantly battling the pressures of social circles, Ricky is always bailing Lucille out of the mischief she gets herself into, Mrs. Pacman's constant worry about Pacman being devoured by ghosts, Han Solo had to work the fact that Leia kissed her brother, WALL-E trying to convince Eve to hold hands, the meddling and conspiracies of the Syndicate in Mulder and Scully's lives, the never ending pursuits of Agent Smith for Neo and Trinity, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl struggling with the everyday trials of raising a family and being superheroes, and Pepe Le Pew is in love with someone who finds him repulsive. The one thing all of these couples have in common? They never give up and they keep working towards love. So whether we're in a relationship or single, I think we can all strive a little harder to be more loving. Happy Valentine's Day!

mickey & minnie romance

In the 80's Disney had holiday specials that they called DTV (Disney television). The best ones were the Valentine's Day specials. Our family was big into recording stuff from tv and the two Valentine's specials became a staple among holiday viewing. Basically, they put Disney cartoons to popular music. This segment portrays one of the longest running romances in the business. 

Here's everyone's favorite Disney Dog, Pluto, and his romantic struggles. I sure like the cute little Daschund, Dinah, more than the rag-a-muffin looking mutt he's into. And I'd pick Pluto over Butch any day.

25 tidbits

I never do things like this, in fact I'm usually against them, but something changed my mind about this when I was "tagged" on Facebook. I think it's because I could say whatever I wanted and didn't have to just answer stupid little questions. Enjoy and if you haven't already done it, consider yourself "tagged".

25 Random Things About Me

1. I think our lives should have background music that randomly starts playing at all the right moments.

2. If I had my way, I'd never wear the same pair of socks twice.

3. My favorite bands: Pink Floyd and The Beatles.

4. I absolutely love playing video games. Even the super macho need-to-blow-stuff-up kinda games, like Halo and G.R.A.W.

5. If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be New Orleans Street in Disneyland. Or Seattle.

6. I hate hate hate snow tubing. Everyone else seems to really enjoy it, but personally, I'd rather eat my shoe.

7. Cary Grant is my favorite actor. I'm even a card carrying member of The Cary Grant Swooning Society.

8. I've had 5 broken arms in my life.

9. I really enjoy cleaning; put on some great music and just clean clean clean.

10. When I was little, I use to tell my mom that I wished I'd been born in the 60's so I could've been a hippie.

11. I have 2 tattoos. And I like them.

12. I love to have parties. Sometimes I make up reasons to have parties, such as "Celebrate Your Inner Child Party" or "Neil Diamond Tribute Party" or "Harry Potter Halloween Party" or "Indoor Camping Party" or "Blue Bayou Party" or "New Year's Eve Mocktail Party". I think you get the idea.

13. I grew up watching The Muppets and still love them. It doesn't get much better than The Great Muppet Caper. Love that Charles Grodin singing his love to Miss Piggy!

14. When I was little, I went through a big Wizard Of Oz phase and watched it every single day. I was even a flying monkey on a float for the big 24th of July celebration parade here in Bear River.

15. After Disneyland, camping is my favorite kind of vacation. We have a little tent trailer and love to go whenever we can. We've even been known to "camp" in the backyard.

16. I believe in naming my vehicles; if you give them love, they'll give you love. FJ Cruiser= Samson. VW Beetle= Dalila. Previously mentioned tent trailer= Rizzo.

17. My favorite kind of fruit is a pomegranate. Yes, they can be a bit time consuming, but oh so worth it.

18. When I was a kid, I won a belt buckle for being the best mutton-buster. And by "the best" I mean being able to hold onto that sheep for the longest amount of time.

19. Softball is my favorite sport to play.

20. I absolutely love dogs! We have three: two Boxers, Duke and Jada, and a mini schnauzer, Maggie. Follow their adventures at http://dog--blog.blogspot.com/

21. I have a green thumb and love it! Gardening is one of my favorite past times.

22. Cold cereal is the staple food of life. It's all you really need.

23. I have a VERY extensive collection of Micro Machines, they were one of my favorite toys when I was a kid.

24. Orange is my absolute favorite color! It's just so fantastic!

25. I have a "People I'd Like To Fight List" and the top 3; Yoko Ono, William Shatner and Martha Stewart. And you better believe I'd win!

paul's still got it... and the diamond for that matter

The music event of the year took place last night and I think it was one of the best Grammy's to date. Among the twenty some-odd number of live acts, two music legends gave stellar performances and proved that they "still got it". Sir Paul McCartney gave an amazing performance of "I Saw Her Standing There" and Neil Diamond performed his classic "Sweet Caroline". I became acquainted with both of these rock gods at an early age, in fact, Paul was my first love... and you never forget your first. He still has the style and charisma that made him a favorite of the Fab Four. John and George would be proud. The Diamond. What more do I have to say. Neil has been performing "Sweet Caroline" for fifty years and it's still a favorite among young and old alike. 

hello mr. grant

He could be smooth, classy, and debonair, dressed to the nines with a look and a line to both mesmerize and hold at bay any female around; yet, his cool exterior could also spontaneously evaporate, leaving behind a tumbling, bumbling bespeckled paleontologist or a brash, energetic newspaper editor with a lightning-fast wit and an unshakable deadpan. In the history of movies, only Cary Grant has managed to combine charm, chaos, charisma and gothic good looks into such an unique and universally appealing screen personality. From screwball comedies to romantic dramas to suspense thrillers, he created characters who were simultaneously singular and familiar. One of Grant's best film was An Affair To Remember; the magnificent chemistry between him and co-star Deborah Kerr has made this film one of the greatest love stories ever told on the silver screen. 

As V-Day approaches us, instead of hoping for flowers and chocolates indulge yourself into something that is sure to deliver. Some  of Grant's other incredible films to put on your list of must see: Charade, That Touch Of Mink, Operation Petticoat, North By Northwest, Notorious, Arsenic And Old Lace, Holiday, The Philadelphia Story, His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby. Now, here's a little eye candy for you to enjoy, one of the best scenes from An Affair To Remember.

superbowl XLIII

AFC Champions.

NFC Champions.

Halftime Show.

The obvious favorite, the underdogs with an "old" quaterback, and The Boss. Superbowl XLIII is sure be entertaining... and don't forget all the delicious "football food".