I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

3monstmama

If I could watch the wedding by getting up at 4am, I'd be watching. . . .but alas, I must awaken at 1am---blech!

Saw Charles and Diana get married live while visiting England.  Fun to see a royal wedding--not so fun to see what happened next.  Hope the best for William and Queen-to-be Kate. . . .

Glad otter is well but very sad about her boat. 

INMHO, the neverending hullabaloo about the birth certificate now followed by the hullabalo about college is predicated on racism.  Period.  No one has ever raised that issue because the presumption is that a white person in this country was born here and is a citizen.  No one goes around looking for wicked white canadian border jumpers even though they are here.  We only look for brown people.  The new demand for transcipts is even more obnoxious.  For crying out loud, look at Bush2's grades and yet he got into Yale and no one thought twice.  No one even asked about Reagan, no one asked about Roosevelt or Eisenhower or Nixon---we took them at their word.  Whats the one difference between every president before Obama---oh yea, bunch o'white guys. . . .

Medigal

If they knock off my favorite "only" Soap Opera I watch for these rich people getting married I will really be ticked off!  It's going to cover the news for days if not weeks so why can't they just have a "special" on it for any one interested.  I'm too old for "Fairy Tales" any way.  I wish them the best but sure would love them to do it in "private" and make a tape of it for any one really interested.  I'm not a "wedding" person and only attended my own because I had to.  No coaches and fancy gown etc. Just a quickie uncival one and an old (I really mean "old" car) to ride off in as long as it started!

bluedahlia

Linda, glad you're safe.  We had some nasty weather here too but no downed trees.  Glad Otter is OK too.  Things can be replaced.  Kadeeb check in please.

They cancelled All My Children and OLTL.  Do you watch those Medipal?

I was into soaps until they cancelled Another World years ago....then I was done with them.  I do watch the reruns of Passions, but that's on a pay to view channel.

River_Rat

I'm glad to hear that Otter is ok and I hope Kadeeb checks in soon.  I'm also worried about BinVa.  Has anybody heard from her?

Medigal, I got married in my parent's living room (my uncle was a preacher), didn't even buy a new dress wore the one I wore for graduation.  And it wasn't a shotgun wedding, waited over two years to have my first child.  I just wasn't into showy weddings either.

Now that I said that I have to admit that I am taping the "Royal Wedding."  My daughters remember when Diana got married and I think my little granddaughters might want to see a bit of this one. 

Medigal

Blue: No I have never watched All My Children or OLTL.  The only one I have ever watched is Days of Our Lives cause I just love the old Mafia like daddies (Stefano & Kiriakis).  Stefano is the origianal "Mia familia"! guy.  He even throws in some Italian or Scicilian words every now and then.  I got interested about 30 years ago and stopped and returned when we moved to KY and got stuck in this tiny apartment.  It amazes me that "I" have aged but none of the actors on the show have!  They still look like they did 30 years ago!  Now that's great cosmetic surgery if I do say so myself! DOOLS is my only soap.  Do not want to waste time getting interested in another since most of them seem to use each other's plots from what I have seen when peeking in on them once in a while.

Bren-2007

Hi River ... I'm here!  I've been out of town visiting my grandsons in San Diego and just got back.  I had such a wonderful time ... I really miss my family now that I'm home.  Sure wish I lived closer to them.

We were under a tornado warning last night, but the storm passed just a bit east of me this time.  We did have heavy winds and rain.  It's gorgeous out right now .. sunny and breezy!

Don't think I'll be up at 4 a.m. to watch the pageantry on T.V.  I think it's pretty cool though, and looking forward to seeing her dress.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

Bren

River_Rat

Bren, I'm glad to see you here!   I hope you had a nice long visit and got plenty of hugs.

According to CNN:

"Shortly before 6 a.m. ET, bridesmaids and pages will arrive at Westminster. ...Then, a big moment: The bride and father of the bride will arrive at Westminster... By 7:15 a.m. ET, the couple will be legit, and Westminster Abbey bells will ring...The newlyweds then will travel via carriage a ways for a day filled with an official lunch, dinner and Buckingham Palace balcony waves."

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/04/28/royal.wedding.guide/ 

So maybe you can catch the ending.  

I have no idea why the text moved down a line. 

1Athena1

Hello, everyone. Glad that we are all here (though some more so than others, but I will save the bad-taste jokes against myself for the privacy of my doctor's office ). 

It is worrisome to see so much news about tornadoes. We are becoming tornado country.

I will probably have to watch a re-run of the royal wedding. I hope Kate's dress is nicer that Diana's.

I am still trying to think of a name to call Trump that will capture his cartoonish, carnivalesque persona. How about Donald Duck?

Otherwise, I am doing well (no one's asking, I know, but we are all over the place topic-wise, which is nice). I finished rehabbing two strained hip adductors (spo.) (overuse from exercise) and I am getting close to my pre-cancer weight, finally, finally.  

BarbaraA

(((((ATHENA))))))

crazy4carrots

Athena, so good to see you back again!  But must you insult Donald Duck?  (Although I did hear that Donald Duck is asking the Easter Bunny for his birth certificate, cuz otherwise, where does the Easter bunny get all those eggs?)

otter

Hi, everybody.  otter has washed up on shore.

I shouldn't joke.  We are fine here.  We were very lucky yesterday -- a nasty, but not-huge tornado carved a path just 5 or 6 miles from our house, killing 6 people in one small town and another person in a lakeshore community.  The U.S. highway just north of us was closed last night because of downed trees and power lines blocking the lanes.  We've heard there is "extensive" damage in our nearest town, which is a charming old community that serves as the county seat.  I haven't ventured out to look.

The worst of the damage from yesterday's storms was scattered across the northern half of Alabama.  Most of the media attention has been on Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, which were in the direct path of what will likely turn out to have been an EF-4 tornado, or possibly even an EF-5.  EF-5's are the super-tornadoes they get in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas -- the kind that strip the bark off trees, pick up sod from the ground and leave bare dirt, suck people out of purpose-built underground shelters, and wipe slab foundations clean of all building materials.

But, many, many towns in Alabama and neighboring states had extensive damage from other, separate storm cells.  Brian Williams just reported that there were 178 individual tornadoes across the southern U.S. yesterday, and 280 people have been confirmed dead. That toll will go higher, because there are areas that are still inaccessible.

If you haven't been watching the news or the Weather Channel lately and are wondering what this is all about, here's a link provided by our local newspaper of some photos they've uploaded.  The photos are pretty shocking: http://www.gulfeast.com/index.php/OAN_Slideshows/single/tornadoes_cause_damage_across_alabama/

Compared to that, the early-morning storm that damaged or destroyed our boat doesn't seem very important.  Blue is right -- "things" can be replaced, but lives cannot. I don't know if we will be able to repair the boat.  Our insurance company might decide the damage is too severe and the cost of repairs too high.  In that case, they'll "total" it; and we won't be able to replace it.  (They don't make boats like this anymore -- at least, not boats dh and I can afford.) 

Here's a "before" picture:

And, here's an "after" picture, showing the dock that was destroyed in yesterday's storm.  Our boat is buried somewhere underneath the pile of wreckage:

It seems petty to be mourning the loss of a recreational vehicle -- a toy, really -- when so many thousands of people have lost their homes or their businesses, or even their loved ones.  We do have to keep things in perspective.

And, I am worried about kadeeb, who lives in a part of the state that sustained the greatest damage and the highest loss of life.

otter

BarbaraA

Oh Otter!!! I am so happy and relieved you and your family are all right! Prayers going up for all the storm victims.

crazy4carrots

(((Otter))) so glad to have you check in with us.  Many people consider their recreational vehicle their second home.  Yes, you're lucky your primary residence was unaffected, but mourning the loss of your boat is NOT petty.  We're all worried about kadeeb too, and keeping fingers crossed that she is okay.  Weather systems are so frightening -- the power of wind (as Idiscovered first-hand today) can be so devastating.

1Athena1

(((Barbara)))

Lindasa - lol! I  do apologize to the wonderful duck.

Otter, so sorry for your neighbors and area, but glad you are here to share the story.

I still miss Beesie. I posted about it in this forum ("Growing our friendships...." BEESIE, if you can hear me.....")  

rosemary-b

Oh otter. Glad you are okay but really sorry about the boat.

bluedahlia

((((((Otter)))))))

Alpal

Otter - so very sorry about your beautiful boat. I feel guilty about bitching about all the tornado warnings and sirens here for the last week. We never got anything except tons of rain. We were very lucky. I'm afraid I became immune to them. Part of the problem is that the Nat'l. Weather Service changed the definition of warning. For as long as I remember a warning was issued only when a funnel cloud was sighted. Now a warning is issued if there is rotation in the clouds,and can be issued for many counties at a time. This change has resulted in many more warnings. I assume this change is nation wide.

bluedahlia

I've been watching the Royal Wedding.  It was absolutely beautiful!  Her dress was perfect.  Just enough to take one's breath away.  I loved every minute of it.

BarbaraA

I even liked it but wondered about the tremendous amount of $ spent for this. Seems rather extravagant in these times.

bluedahlia

I'm sure it was costly, but think of all the business it brought to the area.  The pubs alone will be making a killing.

BarbaraA

You have a good point.

rosemary-b

Yes Allison the change is nationwide. I drove home during a tornado warning the other day in partly cloudy weatther because the possibility existed in the far corner of our county.

I did not watcth the wedding, only their kiss on the balcony. I love her dress.

A BBC reporter quoted a woman from New York who said it was like Paris Hilton only better and the US should have a royal family. I guess she was doing her nails during History class.

AnnNYC

((((((((Otter))))))))  So glad to hear you're safe -- and I'm sad about your boat -- besides the loss, I think it's scary to see the destruction of something where you've spent so much time -- lucky you weren't there, but scary that it's so close.

((((((((Kadeeb)))))))) -- hope you're okay!!!!!!!!!!!  Hope we hear from you -- sending out my prayers.

208sandy

Barbara A - the cost of the wedding was picked up by Prince Charles and Mr. Middleton - the cost of the security however was on the government - of course the whole reason the country is still a power player is their monarchy and it brings in tons of tourists ($) year after year - they'll be in Canada for a week in July - looking forward to it - loved the dress, the kiss and hated Fergie's girls outfits, makeup etc.

Sandy

BarbaraA

Baked ziti with garlic bread and salad. Yum

River_Rat

It's Friday and lately Friday has meant gluten free veggie pizza.

I just read the most fascinating piece.  It's a long piece and not suited to everyone.  You have to be a bit of a geek, be willing to challenge your views and get into the weeds of foreign policy.  For my fellow policy wonks:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/02/110502fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all 

rosemary-b

Spaghetti with meat sauce and veggie blend. Made by DH. Always tastes better when I don't have to cook. Oh and red wine, as reccomended by dr and chocolate as reccomended by the Easter Bunny.

208sandy

R_R - Great article - need to restart the New Yorker - stopped subscribing years ago 'cause I didn't have time to read it (but now I do).

Sandy

Medigal

I just finished watching the Royal Wedding and was completely confused until I called my DD and got the facts from her.  Kate got her ring and I was appalled that she forgot to buy even a cheapo gold band for William!!  Everyone knows the rings are the "ties that bound" so how come she didn't get to tie him?  Well DD says the British give the men the "right" to refuse to accept and wear the right and it was all over the news that William had already said he was not going to be accepting the ring.  What?? This beautiful specimen of a woman agrees to be his wife and wear his ring but he can't wear her ring?  Sorry but I always had great respect for the British and feel they can have whatever traditions they want but imo, you don't fool around with this marriage thing.  I bet even the Bongo Bongos of Africa accept rings from each other even if they have to wear them in their noses!

Also, they made a big deal about the KISS on the balcony and this guy just gives her a "peck" on the lips.  What does he think he married, a chicken??  I am already worried about these two.  I was waiting for his mom Diana to appear out of the clouds and smack him on the head!  No ring and a peck for a kiss.  The honeymoon may make history at this rate!

Sorry if I am disappointed with this ceremony but even tho I know the British are more "stoic" than Americans, a wedding is a wedding!  All those millions of dollars spent and all he can give the camera is a "peck".  This gal sure must love this guy to bind herself to him for eternity.  The good part was that the Queen Mom, as usual, looked great.  I just love her and I have a feeling she will be around for a long time.  I wonder if her hubby wears a ring??  I don't wear one but then again, I am not wed to royalty.  Now if I had the Queenship in my future, I might be willing to put it back on.  No chance!

CherrylH

Medigal,

who are these Bongo Bongos who apparently wear nose rings????