For the record, I didn't see my shadow this morning, so I'm predicting an early Spring!

Icon by starbellys


I missed Countdown with Keith Olbermann on 9/11 because I avoided watching any news since I didn't want to see endless replays of the towers collapsing.  Now I wish I'd watched.  Olbermann gave Bush a sharp rebuke about linking the war in Iraq to the war on Terror, and about the lack of progress at Ground Zero, as well as for playing politics with 9/11.  It was well said, and I agree with him wholeheartedly.  
Crooks and Liars had a great post about it.  Here's an excerpt:

Just as the terrorists have succeeded — are still succeeding — as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero…
So too have they succeeded, and are still succeeding — as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans.


You can read the transcript or watch it from the post at Crooks and Liars, or at YouTube.

Yes, it's time again for 12 of 12.  I've been so lazy lately, that this is all I've managed to make myself post lately.  I apologize to my friends that I haven't kept up with my friends list.  Chad Darnell came up with the idea for 12 of 12.  Visit his page to see his 12 of 12, and links to other blogs that have posted their 12 of 12. 

I'm a very sad mommy.  Last Wednesday, we finally took our younger son, Joey, to get his first real haircut. 

I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of my mom, and let you read her obit.  One day, when I'm feeling up to it, I'll write something more personal about my mom.

This went around a week or two ago, and I'm just getting to it.

*disclaimer*  I think this was meant as a survey of metal, but since it's says '80s rock, I'm gonna answer this in the broader sense of 80's music.

1- If you could sleep with just ONE '80s rock star, who would it be?
John Taylor of Duran Duran.

2- If you could JUST hang out with one '80s rockstar, who would it be and why?
Simon LeBon of Duran Duran.  I met him briefly back in '87, and he seemed like a fun person.

3- If you could SMACK one '80s rockstar, who would it be?
Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran.  I'd smack his hand and tell him to back away from the eyeliner!

4- What are your three favorite non-ballad songs:
Hungry Like The Wolf--Duran Duran
You Shook Me All Night Long--AC/DC
Bad Reputation--Joan Jett

5- What are your three favorite power ballads:
As a general rule, I don't like ballads, especially power ballads, but occasionally I make exceptions:

Save A Prayer--Duran Duran
Verdi Cries--10,000 Maniacs
Never Tear Us Apart--INXS

(yeah, none of them are metal)

6- Which, if any, rock stars have you met in person? 
Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, and John Taylor of Duran Duran.  I met the guys from Erasure while I was backstage waiting to meet Duran Duran...we ate supper with them!  I've met and had dinner with John Lombardo(of 10,000 Maniacs) and Mary Ramsey (who later replaced Natalie Merchant as vocalist for the Maniacs).  that dog.  The Odds (their drummer and I chatted for a bit...he was very nice).  The Cucumbers.

7- Which, if any, rock stars have you spoken to online?
None, but I did exchange emails with John Taylor's assistant.

8- Have you met anyone else associated with the bands (barring other fans)?
My friend Dan has worked as a roadie, road manager, and producer.  He's worked with Bruce Springsteen (roadie), 10,000 Maniacs (road manager, I think), John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey (road manager), The Cucumbers (road manager), The Sun Rhythm Section (Elvis' studio band, as producer and road manager), Elton John, Todd Snider, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Joey Molland, The Odds,  Warren Zevon.  He did something on a Rolling Stone Tour, but don't think he actually worked for the Stones.

9- When/how did you get into any form of metal?
Some guys at school dressed up as KISS and pretended to play some of their songs.  We thought KISS was really cool.  I bought KISS Alive soon after.

10- Other than CDs, what '80s metal merchandise do you own?
Metal merchandise?  Probably a few vinyl albums, maybe a Rush tshirt.  I was into new wave/alternative/punk more than metal.

11- What are your five favorite '80s metal bands?
AC/DC
Def Leppard
Rush
The Scorpions
KISS

Joan Jett would be at the top of my list, but she's not really metal, is she?

12- What are your five favorite NON-hair metal bands?
see #11. hair metal is just not my thing.

13- What's the craziest thing you've ever done that has to do with hair metal?
again, hair metal...not my thing.

14- How old are you?
42

15- Where do you live?
Attalla, Alabama

16- What bands have you seen live?
Blondie, Duran Duran (several times), Sting, Prince, 10,000 Maniacs (twice... once Mary Ramsey got us tickets as guests of the band...Michael Stipe performed that night in Atlanta!), The Moody Blues, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Warren Zevon, The Odds, The Cucumbers, Todd Snider, The Ramones, John Prine, The Steve Miller Band, Starbuck, Wild Cherry, Rod Stewart, Robert Palmer (twice, the first time was on my wedding night!), John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey, The Power Station, The Cranberries, Jethro Tull, Paul Simon(twice, once with Ladysmith Black Mambazo), Kansas, Styx,  Procul Harum, YES, Ringo Starr's Allstar Band, Iggy Pop, The Continental Drifters, Joan Jett, that dog.  There are probably more I'll remember later.

I had to throw this together after answering the favorite cartoon character question in my previous post.  I heart Norbie!

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
My phone bills...landline or cell phone, take your pick.
2. What's the best place to eat a romantic dinner?
*snort* I'm married with two kids. Like I'd know.  Anywhere, sans children.
3. Last time you puked from drinking?
Me?  Are you kidding?  Never been that drunk.
4. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?
See #3.
5. Name of your First Grade Teacher?
I had two, one in California, Pat (don't remember her last name...we called our teachers by their first names.  It was Mountain View, CA, 1970), and in Alabama, Mrs. Pate, I think. Jeez, that was 36 years ago.
6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Sleeping
7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An Astro-Physicist.   I had a crush on Carl Sagan *giggle*
8.How many colleges did you attend before you settled on the one you graduated from?
Two.
9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
It matched the yoga pants I wanted to wear.
10. Gas Prices! First Thought?
Bush and Cheney are assholes.
11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you, where would you go and who would you take?
San Francisco.  I'd take my sons with me.
12. First thought When the alarm went off today?
Can I stay in bed a while longer?
13. Last thought before falling asleep?
Kissing the person I'm crushing on.
14. Favorite style of Underwear?
push-up bra and boy shorts
15. Favorite style of Underwear for the opposite sex?
boxer shorts or boxer briefs
16. What Errand/Chore do you despise?
I hate planning meals, making a grocery list and grocery shopping.
17. If you didn't have to work would you?
I'm a stay-at-home mom, and really, I miss working outside the home.  I miss the adult interaction and feeling of accomplishment, the validation.
18. Get up early or sleep in?
I have kids...I get up early most days.
19. Your Favorite Cartoon Character?
The Angry Beavers....Norbert is my favorite.  Damn, now I need an icon!
20. Favorite non sexual thing to do at night with a girl/boy?
I can't decide...holding hands or cuddling.
21. A secret that you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?
It wouldn't be a secret then, would it?
22. What was your First Car?
A yellow 1973 Mercury Capri
23. Your Best Your Mamma Joke?
I don't really like those jokes.  Did I tell you the one about the three engineers debating the nature of God?  ;)
24. Your Favorite Lunch Meat?
Turkey
25. What do you get everytime you go into a convenience store?
Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper
26. Beach Or Lake?
Beach
27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
I think marriage changes as our society changes.
28. Who do you stalk on myspace/livejournal/etc.
I'm a flirt, not a stalker.  Just ask a couple of my friends at MySpace.  ;)
29. Favorite guilty pleasure?
Dark chocolate
30. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
I can't think of one right now.
31. What's your drink?
Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper
32. Cowboys or Indians?
Cowboys.  Although, even as a kid, I always felt the Indians got a bad rap.
33. Cops or Robbers?
Cops
34. Do you cheer for the bad guys?
Sometimes, when the good guys are really annoying.
35. What Hollyood star do you think resembles you best?
I've been told I look like Jennifer Grey(Baby, from "Dirty Dancing"), before she got the nose job. My husband says I remind him of Jennifer Aniston, but I think it's my hair (he likes "girlfriend hair").
36. If you had to pick one which cast member of Lost would you be?
I don't know the show well enough to choose one, although I think Naveen Andrews is hot.
37. What do you want when you are sick?
It depends on what's wrong...sometimes I want to be left alone, sometimes I want my mom.
38. Who from High School would you like to run into?
Either one of my two former boyfriends...just to see how they're doing.
39. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
NPR, I think.  I don't listen to the radio much since I got my iPod.
41. Stiffler or Oz?
Who?
42. Norm or Cliff?
Neither
43. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?
The Simpsons
44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
I'm gonna take the fifth on this one.
45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
N/A
46. If you could get away with it who would you kill?
I don't think I could kill anyone, even if I could get away with it.
47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Richard Quest or Anderson Cooper
48. What famous person would you like to sleep with?
Ravi Kapoor, I guess, if he was "in character."  Maybe Sanjay Gupta, but I'd have to insist he not speak.  He's hot, but his Midwestern, gee-whiz temperment really irritates me.
49. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No
50. Last book you read for real?
Misquoting Jesus, by Bart Ehrman
51. Do you have a teddy bear?
Yes, along with a koala, a panda,and a polar bear.  But my favorite toy animal is my groundhog.
52. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
I don't think I've ever brushed my teeth in a strange place.
53. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Napa Valley...I love visiting wineries, and going to wine-tastings.
54. How many times a day do you text?
Once or twice a week.
55. at this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
Yeah, I'm gonna take the fifth on this one too. 
56. Do you go to church?
Yes.
57. Pencil or Pen?
Mechanical Pencil.  I was a Math Major!
58. Describe your favorite Day?
I can't think of a particular day offhand, but it'd be a day I went shopping just for fun, treating myself to a meal at a trendy resturant.
59. How do you take your coffee?
Double shot nonfat mocha.
60. How many jobs have you had?
Six
61. What would be your "dream job"?
Writer for Rolling Stone...politics or music critic
62. What do you want to achieve in life?
Happiness, love.