The happiest of Happy Birthdays to Little Yogi. What a wonderful way to celebrate, Yogi. Sounds like you enjoyed it as much as he did, and that's great. Mr Aussie/Montana is a Gemini too, so I know what they're like, (both of them!). I'm a Cancerian, and both the little Aussies are Leos (yikes!). And happy belated birthday to suctionprints! Hope you had a great day.

Yogi, as I said in my previous posts, we are going to take the boys to see the new Harry Potter film. However, it has been classified here as M - parental guidance recommended for those under 15. I know it didn't receive such a harsh classification in the US and other countries, so what do you think? My 11 year old would be fine with it, having read all the books, but do you think a 3 year old would be okay with it? Or is it just too violent for one so young? He has watched the others on video.

Hey Dodo - that's great about the show at the Fringe Festival. Let us know when you know.

My computer got a bad thing today? last night? Probably not going to be on for a bit....just got home from the grad party for the kids which well but am exhausted. To eat & to bed.

Hi everybody!! A very happy birthday to Little Yogi!! Guess what? Birdboy's birthday is today too! My baby just turned 19, and Birdgirl turned 21 two weeks ago. So both of my kids are Gemini. I'm Aquarius and Birdman is Virgo.

PiP I didn't realize you meant that the kitty only yowled when you went inside. I guess I was having flashbacks of my harrowing experience with a cat in heat! Does the kitty let you pick her up and pet her? Or can't you really do that, being allergic and all?

PeachyAussie I'm glad to hear that your little ones are well enough to want to go to see Harry Potter. Believe it or not, I've never even read the books! I hear from a lot of people that they're really great. And I'm very glad the weather's been kinder to you lately, I felt so bad for you in the middle of that heat wave last winter. (It feels strange typing heat and winter in the same sentence!)

Dodo I don't want to jinx you or anything so I'm just gonna [whisper]hurray! hurray! hooray!![whisper] I'd love to see you in a play or movie, it would be really interesting to see how much of your own personality comes out in the character that you play. Anyway, good luck!!

suctionprints that article was great! I'm not familiar at all with your work, but do you cover other things as well, or are you strictly rock-n-roll? Shortly after I turned 30 I kinda got stuck in a musical time-warp, I love classic rock. I'm really hoping I get a chance to see Aerosmith and Van Halen this summer.
Birdboy plays bass guitar and he's starting to get a band together with some of his friends. He's really into the heavy metal/headbanger stuff. I actually liked some of the music he used to listen to, like Korn and Coal Chamber and even some Marilyn Manson (as long as I don't have to look at Marilyn, I don't mind listening to some of his stuff). I like to listen to Birdboy play classic rock on his bass too, he's pretty good!
Hildy, any word on when that 3-ingredient book of yours will be hitting the bookstores in the local malls?

Cat mystery is solved. He (a neutered he) belongs to my neigbors that live down the road from us. She didn't really say that she wanted him back or to keep him. She said he can come back if he wants to, but if we want him to go away just stop feeding him. She said he's all up on his shots and is neutered.
Aussie, the third film is a lot scarier than the other two. Especially the part when the werewolf is fighting with Sirius and the dementors are very scary in my opinion. But it's up to you, if you feel your children can handle it, go and see it. It's a very good movie. (But not better than the book.) Here it's rated PG, parental guidance strongly suggested. Hollywood Video Review says

I'm a Taurus, the sign, not the car.

I have to agree with PiP, aussie girl, this Harry Potter is very dark, mainly because of the dementors. Mr. Yogi says that he found Chamber of Secrets more scary because of the spider (he and Ron both,) but I don't think the big spiders hold a candle to the dementors. I definitely agree with you, aussie girl the film will be perfect for Big Little Aussie, the theatre was filled with children his age. But unless Little Little Aussie is one tough cookie, I wouldn't probably take him until you had seen it first to judge if it's OK. There are always some tough kids that can handle this sort of thing from a very wee age, but I did hear some children briefly crying in the theatre this time, even though I didn't see any under about 8 or 9.

Happy Belated Birthday to birdboy, Birdlady! How cool that our sons were born on the same day!

Because suctionprints and heidihug had such cool celebs born on their birthdays, I went to imdb.com to check my birthday. What I learned: Virgos do not make great actors and actresses. Seems like we are better at behind the scenes work. The only names I recognized easily were Charlie Sheen and Eileen Brennan. Charlie Sheen seems very un-Virgo to me so he must have some powerful other forces in his chart. His biography is fraught with domestic violence issues and substance abuse, which seems messy indeed by finicky Virgo standards. I don't know much about Eileen Brennan. She seems OK.

In my family, we are all about the fish. My father and brother, born on the same day, are Pices, and almost all my sibs, including me, married Pices. Very weird. Except one sister who married a man who was born on my birthday. I seem to get along exceptionally well with people born in Cancer, aussie girl. The whole month is filled with birthdays for me. What date is your birthday, aussie girl?

Best wishes to skagirl for a speedy recovery to her computer woes. I hate, hate, hate it when that happens.

How did you do that search, Yogi? Being a Leo (all about ME, people!) I naturally want to see who is lucky enough to share my birthday.
We're having a birthday party this weekend, too, for my father, who is turning 80 on Monday. We're making a 19 foot tall pink flamingo for his front lawn. I'm sure he'll be touched.

There's a good database for that at IMDB. This gives you today's date, but there's a pulldown menu on the middle of the lefthand side that gives you whatever you want.

I'm a Virgo as well; September 12. Among the names I've heard of born on that day are Maurice Chevalier, Irene "Aunt Liz on Another World" Dailey, George Jones, Linda Gray, Barry White, Peter Scolari, Nina Blackwood, Ben Folds, Mary Kay Adams (Guiding Light and other soaps), Darren E. Burrows, Paul Walker, Benjamin McKenzie, Jennifer Hudson from American Idol, and Robbbbbbbbbbbbb from Survivor: Thailand. Not to mention Heather Hooters.

Aussie girl, I took my two boys who are 9 and 6 to see HP3, and they really enjoyed it. They did think that it was scarier than the last 2, and I am pretty sure that the 6 year old closed his eyes at some points. He is a tough kid (he watches all 3 LoTR movies) who doesn't scare easily, so you may want to reconsider taking the youngest.

I am a virgo, born on September 5th.

Wow, it's becoming Virgo Central around here!

OK, so the latest on the Neverending Job Application:

The HR guy I got saddled with was an incompetent idiot.

I just called, and was told he was on vacation until next Wednesday(!). So I explained the situation (it was a different receptionist), and got a different guy. I told him the whole story from the beginning--I was hired, then I wasn't hired, then I had to wait a week for the second interview, then I had to go in person over a week later to get any news, and I'm STILL waiting. He apologized profusely, got my information, and said he'd call the 2 managers and get back to me by tomorrow at the latest. It sounds like what happened is I just slipped through the cracks. He also said that interviewing with some other managers in case these 2 already made all their hires could be a possibility, but we'd just take it one step at a time. I also found out for my planning purposes that the next training session starts a week from Monday.

But man, it was so nice talking to someone who sounded competent, gave me a specific time frame, and didn't make me feel like a nuisance! I wish I could have had this guy from the beginning instead of the other moron.

So hopefully I'll have good news by the end of the day tomorrow!

ETA: Yeah, TraceyBee, I just saw that in the Commercial Thread. Me too.

Aw, man, guys - Ray Charles died today. That makes me very sad.

Happiest of birthdays to yogi cub and birdboy!

yogi - your shower sounds absolutely delightful. I can't wait to see your oodles of photos.

I've been at a conference for the past couple of days. Listening to welfare reform strategies and outcomes really fired up my blood. (Really, it did - I got passionately angry about a couple of things, just because I'm an incredible wonk.)

Hi everybody! A very happy belated birthday to birdboy! So Birdlady, both your kids are Geminis? How do you manage to cope with all 4 of them? Heh. And yeah, it was strange to be going through a terrible heatwave when you guys were all in the midst of a bitter winter, the seasons being reversed and all. We seem to be having a very mild winter, which is just fine by me, as none of the houses are heated.

My birthday is 4th July, yes, don't laugh. Maybe that's why I have such an affinity with America and it's wonderful people. I have celebrated two birthdays in the US, one in Dallas in 1987 and another in Montana two years ago. So nice of y'all to put on the magnificent fireworks and celebrations and all!

Yogi when is your birthday? And Hildy my Leo sons' birthdays are the 14th and the 20th of August. When's yours?

Thanks for linking that site, Dodo. I didn't really find anyone I had heard of, except possibly someone called JJ Dalton - please tell me I do not share my birthday with Jonny Fairplay! And Dodo, I really hope that things work out well for you re the job. It must be so maddening for you. Perhaps it's time to just let it all go, sometimes I do that when something just won't go. And then things just have a way of working themselves out.

Hi mathteacher, thanks to yours and everyone's advice on the new wizard boy movie. I remembered the last movie's scene of the spiders, that scared the hell out of me! I think it would be best to take Big Little Aussie, and wait for the video to come out for Littlest Aussie, so that I can fast forward the scary bits. Where are you from, Mathteacher? My 11 year would love your name, it's what he wants to do when he's older - teach math, to university students, no less! He's a math genius.

TraceyBee, I just saw that on the news too.

Babalu what's a wonk?

Hi, AussieGirl - good to see you. A "wonk" is like a nerd, but it's usually used to refer to someone who has an inordinate interest in public policy.
Which I dont, really, except in my own little narrow sphere of welfare reform.

I can't wait to see HP3 and Shrek2. I bought the original Shrek on DVD recently and haven't even had time to watch it yet. I have seen it, but there's a 16-minute 3D short included (with 4 pairs of 3D glasses), and I'm a sucker for 3D if it's done well. I'll let you know how it is!

I am from Washington. About halfway between Olympia and Seattle. My nine year old wants to be a math teacher, and I used to teach high school math.

I am very tired. I will come back tomorrow and be more social.

OK, so I have some bad news. That new HR guy did indeed get back to me promptly this morning, only to tell me that at this time, they would not be able to hire me but would let me know if that changed in the future. And that's it. I tried to get more information--could I interview with other managers? Is it that there are no longer any openings period, or was there a specific problem with me? Was there any feedback as to why that I could learn from for the future?, etc--but he just kept on repeating that phrase over and over like a robot.

I'm utterly flabbergasted. I have no idea how it got from my first interviewer hiring me on the spot to this, and I'm really upset both at the rejection and the not knowing why.

I've sent an email to one of the other agencies I've interviewed with saying I would like to start, but it's now been over three weeks and I don't know if they would want me anymore. (As a reason, I said that an important project came up at my present job and I would have felt irresponsible leaving in the middle of it.) Also, I had sent this guy an email shortly after our interview with some additional questions and he had never responded to it, so I don't know.

I am curious--are there any steps I can take to get a better explanation as to what happened? I mean, obviously I don't think I can sue them for anything (as much as I feel like it!!!), but is there any sort of action I can take about this? Because I'm extremely upset and I feel at the very least they owe me a more specific explanation.

Dodo, I'm so sorry. It sucks, but there's probably nothing you can do. Unless you had something in writing, you didn't have a job offer. Even if you did have a job offer, in writing, accepted in writing, with all the benefits, salary, etc., spelled out, the job can be pulled. I know several people who had jobs lined up when they retired from the military, only to find out a few days before they were supposed to begin that the job no longer existed.

The companies will, most likely, tell you nothing. This is simply because they don't want to be sued. If they let out even a hint of something that could possibly be construed as a "prohibited hiring practice," you could probably find a lawyer who would sue them, and they don't want to deal with it. So, you get the canned response, over and over.

As I said, it sucks.

AussieGirl, I'll remember to sing Happy Birthday for you on July 4th! You're the only one I've ever met (erm, maybe that should be "met" or "typed at") with that birthday. Other than, you know, my country.

Dodo I'm so sorry that things didn't go well for you. But I'm telling you, I don't know why but I just have a feeling that something really terrific is waiting for you, just around the corner. Call it intuition (and of course it's not always dead on), but I just really think that great things are coming your way. Didn't you say that there will be another opportunity with the same company in just a few weeks? Maybe the next time will be the charm. Or maybe you'll be discovered with your acting endeavors! Anyway, hang in there!

Dodo, I strongly suspect that what went on there has nothing to do with you. It's probably no comfort, but that's my guess. It sounded like you got the original thumbs-up from somebody high up enough that there's really no such thing as you not being good enough to hire after that. It sounds to me more like somebody gave the job to his damn cousin, or they decided to take back some ex-employee, or some crap like that. Happens all the time. Usually nothing having to do with you.

Like everyone else, I obviously am guessing, but that's my feeling.

Thanks, everyone, for all the support. And I think you're all probably spot on about what happened and why I couldn't find out anything.

OK, I have had THE emotional rollercoaster of a day to end all days. So I decided to take the afternoon off because between the bad news bouncing around in my brain and Ms. I DON'T HAVE AN INDOOR VOICE cow-irker bouncing around in my eardrums, I so needed to get out of there. When I went in to tell my boss I wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home, he told me he was laying me off because due to lack of business, he can't afford an assistant anymore, and my last day would be next Friday.

So I'm going home hyperventilating with visions of being unemployed for another two years dancing around in my brain, only to get home to find an email from the second choice firm saying, "Yes! We remember you and we'd like you to join us." I emailed them back to tell them I could start even sooner than anticipated, they called me back, and I start training Monday the 21st at 9 am!

So....I got a job and there won't even be any gaps in employment! But all this happened in the space of about 3-4 hours, mind you. I'm going to be meeting my friends soon for a drink. Or 23.

Have a great weekend!

Dodo!!! How great for you! Congrats!
On a completely different note, I am such a klutz. I was ironing some clothes and was finished and set the iron on the counter to cool. Then I wanted to make brownies. I reached up in the cabinet to grab some ingredients and when I brought my arm down, I burnt my elbow on the very tip of the hot hot hot iron. It of course had to blister. I wish I wasn't so clumsy cause it hurts.

Dodo, Congratulations, mate! I went from feeling a lot of sadness reading your last post to....feeling so bloody glad for you! Knew you could do it, mate. But what a day you had! My God, you sure deserve those 23 drinks. But to celebrate with! Yeehah!

PiP if you can, put some lavender oil on that burn. It works like a charm. Put it on neat (in case you don't have that word there, it means undiluted). Greatly reduces the pain and minimises scarring too. But if the blisters are broken, don't use it there. Anyway, hope it's better by now.

mathteacher I think you posted in here before, ages ago? I have a terrible memory sometimes. Hope you got some rest.

Hey, Babalu, how was Shrek? Would you believe I still haven't seen it? The kids had it here on video a few months back, but I didn't have time to see it then. Looks like it's back to the video store, I've heard it's great. And thanks for the explanation of "wonk" - I truly have not heard that word before.

And hey, Miss Alli! Nice to have you posting in MM!

Yay for Dodo! A roller coaster indeed! That was a nice post, Miss Alli, and I'll bet your explanation was spot on.

AussieGirl, you've got to see Shrek! It's very, very entertaining and has several hilarious digs at the Disney juggernaut. Don't get me wrong, I love many things Disney, as well, but it's funny to see the rivalry.

It's an absolutely gorgeous day here in the upper Midwest after weeks of rain - I think it rained something like 29 out of the past 36 days here -so I'd better get some weeding done while I've got the chance.

As suctionprints says, later taters. Or as I sometimes say, see ya soon, ya big baboon.

Aussiegirl, it is entirely possible that I have posted here before, but I am not sure. I posted in the episode threads quite regularly since Survivor is the big family bonding event. The boys even made me rent the fist season so they could watch it. We are all eagerly awaiting Vanuatu.

I agree with Babalu. Shrek 2 is an awesome movie. It has some jokes that the kids are probably going to miss completely, but there is plenty for them to laugh about, too.

I must go move the sprinklers around again. Have a great weekend, everyone.

Hey All!
Hope you all had a great weekend--we celebrated our Dad's birthday with all due pomp and circumstance (which is to say, none) and a lovely time was had by all.
Dodo, I hope you had quite a few palliative cocktails to make up for your day on Friday. Yeesh! Talk about action-packed!
Oh, and Aussiegirl, I'm July 28th. What's a nice Leo like me doing hanging round with a bunch of Virgos? I ask you!

And Geminoid Metallions, thank you!



Yup, that's probably the case. Heh, one thing about HR in the public sector, and baba and Tracey can probably back me up, is that we can give you better rationales for why we hired our cousin over you.

dodo, tell me you have an offer letter in your hand. Because I don't know if I can go through this again. ;)

Minneapolitans: TWoP Con this Saturday. We love lurkers!

I went to see the reunited MC5 (or as my clever friend puts it the MC 3-7) and Zebulon Pike in the same night. I had super-good earplugs on, and my ears were still ringing yesterday. Yikes. Besides rocking so hard I cannot stand it, Zpike has the best merchandise. I got this elaborate, gorgeous letterpress concert poster for $5 (I've see other posters get snapped up for four-five times that much and not even be in this league), and their logo T-shirt which is so death metal and Catholic I cannot stand it. It's got this gothic lettering with a heart in the middle (from their album cover And Blood was Passion), dripping blood. But in an elegant, understated way, of course.

Well, I'm off to the U.P. where in between negotiating familial minefields, I'm going to be celebrating my dad's 70th birthday. It should be fun. Fishing should also be involved.

I'm actually trying to get out of the rock 'n' roll deal, but that's how I stared at City Pages. While I was on strike, I had a weblog detailing what it was like to be off work. You can find it by clicking through the main website and clicking on Strike! when you get to Twin Cities Babelogue. Thanks for all the wonderful praise! I don't usually get a lot of feedback from readers, so this is most appreciated.

RIP: Steve Lacy, Robert Quine and Brother Ray Charles.

GO PISTONS!!!!! What joy I will have when I am up in Michigan watching the Lakers fall on friendly turf!

Rock hard, ride free taters.

Dodo, what a day! See, though, everything works out in the end, even if you have to put up with all sorts of BS to get there.

suction, I so very much wish I could come to the TWoPcon this weekend. Have a great time! A friend of ours is having what was supposed to be a housewarming party on Saturday, but it is ending up being a goodbye to her house party, because she was renting, and now the owners have sold it and she has to move by the end of the month. She is sad because she liked it a lot, but she knew this might happen when she rented the place. So, all of her friends are going to go there and lend her some moral support. She just got divorced and is struggling to venture out on her own with two kids. I know she'll be ok, but she needs to know that, too.

Hey Gang at Meet Market! And Congratulations, Last Dodo!

Speaking of HR folk, my HR lady, who has been with our company for just a few months shy of 30 years, is retiring on Friday. I have never met her in person, but she has been there for me through countless personal and professional tribulations with a soothing word and sage advice. I am so sad at her leaving, that I went to Tiffany and bought her a crystal box in the shape of a wrapped gift, and on the card I told her that I hoped this gift would remind her of all the gifts that she has given me and the company for these many years. Truly, there is no better friend than a good HR person. They are there when someone is sick to advise on insurance; they are there when you need to hire someone, or more importantly, fire someone, or change your retirement account. I will miss her, even though I wouldn't recognize her if she walked right up to me, but once she started talking, I know I would have recognized her voice....
... sniff

Little Yogi had a grand birthday, and his grandparents enjoyed the festivities as well. We went to see Fiddler on the Roof, which I have never seen performed before. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Very pleasant. Even though Alfred Molina makes a very questionable Jew, he was still charming. After the show, we went backstage and met everyone from the lyricist to the ten year old young fiddler. I've seen two of David Leveaux's plays this season, Jumpers and Fiddler on the Roof. He has certainly been a busy guy! Little Yogi went up to the lyricist and director, shook their hands, told them it was a great play. Then he said, "I enjoyed it. I laughed and I cried." They both smiled at said, "Well, that's exactly what we were after." They were so very kind to my little boy. Sweet.

Let's see if you can guess my birthday.... Papa was a rolling stone, and he died on my birthday.

And Hildy speaking of Papas, you did nothing for your Papas birthday?! Poor Papa Hildy!

The weather this weekend was so gorgeous. I really enjoyed my time outside. It's not even warm enough for swimming, but it's fine for me if we get this for another month.

It looks like all systems are go for my stand-up routine tomorrow night. Anyone in the NYC area can still make reservations. Email me for details. I'm getting nervous now that I know I have enough people coming to be allowed to perform.

Oh yeah, I spoke to Jerri this morning via the Howard Stern show. Details in the media thread.

Well, hello all. Just thought I'd stop by and say hi. I've been registered a while, but only made a few posts. So...hi. That is all. Oh, and I'm Irish and 18 and female and play way too many video games.

That is all.

Hi Chikochamp! Do you live in Ireland now? I so would love to visit there. My son Beep is 16, and he plays way too many video games, too.

Yup, heidihug, I still live here. I've lived here all my life :-)

I want to visit Ireland too! We should go, Heidihug. We could shop for interesting food items and have a pint in the pub, or at the pub, or whatever. I would love to paint some of the landscape. From all I've seen, it's beautiful. I've been to Northern Wales and Scotland, but I've never made it across to Ireland. Where do you live in Ireland, ChikoChamp?

How brave you are, ImissEthan. First, taking on Howard Stern and Jerry, and next doing stand up. I'm very impressed. Not one of those things doesn't scare me a little bit. (I think that was a quadruple negative. Grammar Police! Arrest this woman.)

Oh we did something, Yogi. There was just no pomp about it. (Apologies to those who have run into this picture already.)
I'd love to go to Ireland, too. I am an inveterate reader of trashy novels, and I loved the Nora Roberts Galleghers of Ireland Trilogy.

Oh my heck! Lawn ornaments are so groovy! I used to love lawn ornaments. I confess that as a young juvenile deliquent in college, I absconded with a flamingo or two in the dead of the night. Purely for research purposes, etc. I bet your PapaHildy had a fabulous birthday. And what a great looking guy at 80 years old!

Come to Ireland with us, Hildy. Well take photographs of flamingos wherever we find them!

Top o' the mornin' to ya, chikochamp! I'm half Irish myself, on my father's side, though all his relatives now live in England. I lurve Celtic music, Clannad, The Corrs, and a lot of Irish musicians like U2, Van Morrison etc. Loreena McKennitt is another - though she lives in Canada now. A friend of mine gave me a CD today, of a group called The Secret Garden. Can't wait to hear it. Do you know of their music? Anyway, welcome. To be sure, to be sure....

Yogi, what a wonderful and thoughtful employer you are! It's great that you appreciate your staff so much. No wonder she's been with you for almost 30 years. I hope you two get to meet in person soon. And I love what your son said to the director and lyricist. Your sweet little guy sure brings a smile to my face a lot!

suctionprints have a great TWoP Con! And iME, hope your stand-up routine goes well. I would love to come see you! If only y'all weren't so bloody far away!

Hildy, your dad looks great for 80! Glad you had a good party for him.

I would LOOOOVE to go to Ireland. We could have a Survivor MM odyssey that involves testing any pints we run across and staying at picturesque cottages.
So I believe I'm going to see HP3 this weekend, a very big deal in my babysitter-deprived life. Whee!

Err, I think I'm back...3 days sans computer is a bad thing, went home for weekend & am exhausted/possibly sick, need to try to catch up on 1000 things before bosslady leaves for trip.

Dodo, excellent news! iMe emailed you back.

Liked Shrek2, btw. Also, I am never moving to the suburbs (long story) and my mother promised that a Chicken dance wouldn't be played at my wedding. Good thing. And limiting the number of polkas, too. Ok, back to work, hugs & smushes.

Let's all go to Ireland together! We can stop in an see Chikochamp, and pretend we are in a Nora Roberts novel as we roam about the country, Hildy, 'cause I am a sucker for her Irish tales also. If Mr HH comes along we will have to hop over to Wales, as he is part Welsh. You don't mind, do you?

I could use a bit of green right now, so this trip sounds most appealing. I love Hildy's idea of staying in little cottages. That would be lovely - waking up in the morning a triping out the front door onto the loam or sod (does Ireland have loam or is that Scotland? No matter. We will trip out onto something green and have our morning coffee in the sunshine (or does it rain all the time, like in London? Oh well, if it's raining, we will have our coffee by a cheery fire. Oh wait. Tea. We will have our mug of strong milky tea by the fire.) Whatever, I like this plan.

What about you, skagirl? We promise to do one polka every day for your enjoyment.

Last night, thanks to Hildy's flamingo photo, I had my favorite reoccurring dream. I am getting married in a big garden filled with pinwheels. Everyone has a pinwheel in their hands. It's so pretty!

I'm all over Ireland. All over it. Like green on a bog. Like head on a Guinness. Like my passport & a change of underoos. All over that!

Snoopy dance for the Pistons. More later.

I don't follow basketball at all, and I'm chortling with glee at the crash-and-burn of the Lakers. Especially after hearing the pundits say things like, "The only way the Pistons will win is if they bore the Lakers to death." Heh.

I loved Ireland when I visited there! I was only in Dublin (plus a day trip to Waterford), in 1987, but I enjoyed it so much. People were very friendly and nice.

On the lawn-ornament front, there's a house on Lake of the Isles Parkway in Minneapolis, a very posh large house right on the lake, that has a whole flock of pink flamingos in the yard. There are several regular-sized ones and a group of chicks. They move around the yard and it's very cute. (Yes, they're plastic, and I assume the homeowners move them around. But who knows? *doo-DOO-doo-doo, doo-DOO-doo-doo* [/Twilight Zone music]

In sucky news, our beloved kitty Sierra is sick. She's been to the vet once (last Friday), the meds they gave her haven't helped, and we're going back tonight. She's off her feed and listless, and she has been hacking/coughing (no hairballs or puke). I've been doing some research with the help of a cat-knowledgeable friend, and I think she may have asthma. I know vets often prescribe corticosteroids to treat kitty asthma, but I'm afraid of side effects. Does anyone else have experience with this?

Hehe...I always find it funny the way everyone seems to make a big deal about Ireland whenever I say I'm Irish on a forum...hee. Anyway, I'm from Tipperary - which is right next to Waterford, incidentally.

Never heard of the Secret Garden though, AussieGirl

Why, Chikochamp, it IS a big deal to be from Ireland. And Tipperary, near Waterford? So cool! Ireland is a beautiful country with intriguing history. You are right, though, about reactions; when I tell people I am from Wisconsin, some of them think that is a way-out-there kind of place to live. To me? Just home.

Yay for the Pistons!

Tracey, when I come over to MN later this summer, I would love to see the house with the flamingos. And I hope you find out, and soon, what is ailing your Sierra. I know how difficult it is to have a sick kitty.

I met someone yesterday who has rented a manor house in Tipperary for a vacation in August. It sounds lovely. It's always funny to think that people find the places that you see everyday so exotic.

Now, everybody sing: "It's a long way to Tipperary...". I think a TWoP Con in Tipperary is a great idea!

TraceyBee hope kitty Sierra improves. Poor little thing.

suctionprints, please explain your last post! I am intrigued, but have no idea what you are talking about.

PButtercup I know what you mean. When we take visitors to the beach here, they're gobsmacked at what they see. White sand, blue water, and yes, it is beautiful, but to us it's just the beach. But they say they've never seen such beautiful, pristine beaches, and so uncrowded too.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Joining Aussie Girl in a rousing chorus of "It's a long way to Tipperary"...
Let's all follow skagirl's lead, pack up our underoos and hit the road!

Oh! I want to see the house with the flamigos too, heidihug! Tracey Bee, I see a road trip for the MM gang in the future...

And I'm so sad that your Sierra is sick, Tracey Bee. It's so distressing when a beloved pet is showing symptoms, because they can't really tell you what is going on. Ugh, how I can worry! But I hope that is something very minor and the Sierra is happily purring her little heart out again soon. I will keep a very good thought for your sweet furry friend.

Had dinner last night on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, which I always consider the real little Italy. The food in this restaurant always blows my mind - oh my heck - delicious, succulent, delectable. Plus, the four of us drank three bottles of mind-blowingly excellent wine. (Including a 1988 Amarone!) I am feeling bad this morning. Luckily the other couple was two men, so I'm trying to convince myself that those two plus Mr. Yogi consumed the bulk of the food and wine. My kidneys seem to disagree. They seem to be suggesting that I consumed too much salt and alcohol, which is probably true as I have a pretty strict two drink limit. I have had three liters of Evian since I got home last night. The price I pay for culinary perfection. And I do not lie, it is/was/will always be culinary perfection at Roberto's. But the conversation and conviviality was equal to the incredible fare, so all in all, it was four hours of dining bliss - because what is better than an evening of unparalleled food with charming and interesting company?

So happy that the Pistons won. Now, if only we can trounce the Evil Empire in total and the Mets or the Sox can win the Series, we can all know that Truth has Prevailed!

ETA: Oooh I have The Secret Garden, Aussie Girl. It makes me smile to imagine that we enjoy the same CD on opposite sides of the world. It's a nice one.

Kitty update: the vet took an x-ray last night, and there seems to be a mass in Sierra's lung. We're getting a referral to the U's vet hospital (which is quite good), and will hear from them this morning about getting her in there. They have all the advanced diagnostic equipment to do more tests, and can do the surgery there, if necessary.

HH and yogi, we will definitely have to go see the flamingo house! You can't possibly visit the Twin Cities without that excursion.

TraceyBee I hope all goes well at Kitty Hospital. Will keep my claws crossed.

A University Vet Hospital! That is very uptown. Because I'm a crack investigative type person, I'm guessing it's because the University has a veternary program? Or perhaps all the profs and students at the University are pet lovers? Whatever the reason, I am so pleased that Sierra is going to be getting the extra care she deserves. I will "keep my claws crossed" as well.

I just returned from my gynecological event (It is always an event to me. I dread it so.) I was once again severely chastened for my lack of follow through on the mammography front. I did it once 5 years ago (maybe 6?) and I've never been back. Anyone else out there an avoider? Do you really think it's important? The whole thing makes me so nervous.