American Gladiators

Back in January 1989, a truly classic television show appeared in syndication - American Gladiators. It came on every Saturday morning and pitted everyday, but quite athletic, individuals against the "Gladiators" in athletic contests. The entertainment value was definitely high. Malibu (pictured) was my favorite gladiator, but he unfortunately was only on the first season. I also like the first Lace quite a lot. But really, all the gladiators were cool. The competitors were quite impressive. ESPN Classic shows AG every evening M-F at 7pm, so I have been able to share this wonderful part of our culture with my kids.

With the writer's strike, my tv viewing is just about nothing right now. So imagine my joy when I found out that NBC is revving up AG again! Sometime in the dead of winter, I will be able to witness the next reincarnation of this classic "reality" show and I am sure, will not be disappointed. Tune in!

Poet and didn't know it

Sonny Boy had an assignment yesterday in Social Studies. Students were to write a poem about slavery. (Please bear in mind that he has always had close friends of a variety of races and is really concerned with racial justice, but his need for humor took precedence yesterday.) The poem went as follows -

I am a slave sitting under a tree
I wish I was free
Oh, look there's a bird!
He just dropped a turd!

He said the class (very diverse group of students) all thought his was the best. 13 year old taste...

My day yesterday

Just need to share what my last day of Thanksgiving break looked like -

*wake up, shower, eat breakfast, rush family out door for church
*teach rowdy senior high Sunday School class
*try to worship while Hubby and Sonny Boy kept elbowing each other and snickering
*go to Costco with family and shop for basics among the hordes of people
*let kids have Churros from Costco for lunch
*go home, change clothes, dust - while Hubby is leisurely watching Duke game
*fix real lunch of pasta and homemade cheese sauce
*do laundry
*write notes
*clean house some more
*pet kitty with injured foot
*take dogs for intense walk in cold
*make homemade vegetable soup and homemade mayonnaise rolls (Granny's recipe)
*fuss at children about getting work done
*eat dinner and force kids to eat veggies
*eat leftover pumpkin pie (yum!)
*fuss at children about studying
*go to grocery store
*use "discretionary money" for peppermint hot cocoa at Starbucks in grocery store (definitely high point of day)
*have Starbucks worker force free muffin on me (yum!)
*go home, unload groceries while fussing at daughter to get in bed
*fuss at son to finish getting read for week
*make homemade pumpkin pancakes for breakfast couple times during the week
*pack kids' lunches
*iron my clothes
*clean kitchen
*fuss at son to get to bed
*watch Iron Chef America's holiday dessert battle (yum! yum!!)
*bed

Bon Appetit

Our house is decorated in antique hand-me-downs. Just about every piece of furniture has come from a family member who has died, moved to smaller quarters, or bought something better. The one big exception is the tv armoir - which came from Big Lots and took me 7 and 1/2 hours to put together.

Our dining room table and chairs were no exception. My parents had used them for a number of years before we inherited them close to 19 years ago. They became a safety hazard in recent years. The table leaf was missing, and the table might decide to separate with very little provocation. The table had a center base, and one side of it was slanting so that I never put heavy dishes on that end. The chairs had been glued, screwed, nailed, etc. - but still literally kept falling apart. Dinner time was always an adventure at our house.

But Santa came a little early by making a stop at the sale aisle of World Market. The pictures give witness to our beautiful new table and chairs. A little assembly required - Sonny Boy and his best bud were up for the job under my supervisory skills. Of all the things for which my family and I are thankful, a safe place to eat tops the list this year!

Some Things for which I am Thankful...

*my family
*my house
*my job
*good health
*good friends
*dark chocolate
*tennis
*Jane Austen
*Harry Potter
*really sunshiny days
*dark chocolate with almonds
*music
*cuddling pets
*dark chocolate with rasperries
*lots of books
*Colin Firth
*LL Bean gift certificates from my mom
*sunflowers
*dark chocolate with blueberries
*farmer's markets
*old houses
*dark chocolate with dark chocolate

Elizabeth Gilbert and Eat, Pray, Love

I had a very wonderful treat last night. The school where I work was hosting Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-selling book Eat Pray Love. I remember seeing the book about a year ago and thought, "Yeah right - I want to read one more person's soppy navel-gazing time of enlightenment." So I ignored it.

Then I kept reading good reviews, including my beloved reviews in Entertainment Weekly. (and it is rare I don't agree with those) I found out she was coming soon after I began working here in August and thought, "Gotta read the book." I did. And I will read it again. And probably again. Simply one of the best spirituality books I have read for this day and age (right up there with Kathleen Norris' Dakota and Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies.) The book is entertaining, witty, insightful, engaging, profound and beyond interesting. I couldn't wait to see Liz Gilbert.

And not only did I get to see her - I was one of the lucky few who had dinner with her last night. She is exactly the person she appears in the book - so down to earth, smart, interesting, and fun. I really wish I could have gone out and had a couple beers with her and talked half the night.

So go find the book and get ready for one of the best reads you'll have this year.

Greensboro - Hippie Town yet?

For loyal readers, you know my chagrin two years ago at election time when a local writer said Greensboro was a granola town. I realize my perspective on this issue has been tainted by years of living in Asheville - a truly unique city. However, friends (both old and new) in Greensboro have pointed out that it is granola in comparison to much of the surrounding area. Hmmm...I'll keep my judgment somewhat reserved for right now.

But anyway...it's two years later, and I am quite happy to report that Greensboro elected its first black mayor yesterday! And not only that, she is a woman. Yvonne Johnson is well-qualified and has many goals and ideals I can actively embrace. I was not thrilled about the result of our District candidate to City Council, but overall feel pretty good about the At-large results.

Making progress...