HAPPY NEW YEAR

(sigh)

Happy New Year to all of you who made a difference to me in 2008, and you know who you are! But in case you're modest, here's to ya'!

For the special friendship we have and the fun you add to my life: Diana, Nancy, Becky, Linda S., Elaine
For the bond we still have after all these years: Linda M., Jill N., Bobbie Lee, Ginger, Lou, Kitty, Peg, Jan, Judy D.
For the hilarious emails: All of the above but ESPECIALLY Tom P., Tim G., Jill N., Diana and Randy
For the frequent reminder that there's still decency in the world: Barb
For the intellectual stimulation: "Mr. Kong"
For giving your best counsel, time after time: Betty
For the commisseration: Tom M.
For showing me the way: Harriet
For "being there": Pat and Gerald
For the reality checks: Terri
For listening: Almost all of you, but Diana, Nancy and Becky in particular
For all of the above and everything in between: Bill

Cheers!

THE YEAR IN SAN FRANCISCO

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It just wouldn't be right to go without a year-ending post on the left coast zombies in San Francisco. Just take 90 seconds to reflect on SOME of what's transpired in that city during the past year.

There were the usual nutso antics, such as the Bark and Whine extravaganza for pets and their owners; the obscene Gay Pride parade; the stupidity of the local government deciding to issue ID cards to residents without a gender being named since it may be "confusing" to all the transgenders; and the nude bike rides through the city.

But San Francisco has also adopted legislation providing for legal shoot-up clinics to be funded by taxpayer dollars. Surely there's a better way to deal with the exorbitant rate of AIDS infection than this enabling of illegality.

A kindergarten teacher took her class on a "field trip" to city hall to witness her lesbian "marriage."

An effort to legalize prostitution was thankfully voted down, but the fact that it was even considered makes me shudder.

Worse yet, San Francisco has become an infamous sanctuary city by not just allowing illegal aliens who commit heinous crimes to remain there but by steadfastly refusing to turn them over to federal immigration officials. For some reason, the city has adopted a "kiss my ass" approach to the rest of civilized society and to law enforcement in particular.

The city, famous (infamous?) for its "tolerance," has NO tolerance for our military, having refused to allow the Blue Angels to perform over the city and by kicking out military recruiters. They also banned ROTC from the public high schools. This kind of stuff makes me crazy. I cringe at what's in store for 2009.

(sigh)

BOOKS OF INTEREST

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For those of you who read regularly and are looking for suggestions, here are some books I've read this year and found interesting:

For Insight: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain; Kite Runner by Kaled Hosseini
For Inspiration: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch; The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck; Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish
For Chills: 7th Heaven by James Patterson; The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre
For Info: Barefoot Contessa, Back to Basics by Ina Garten
For Intrigue: The Lazarus Project by Alekandar Hemon
For the Exotic: Dangerous Laughter by Steven Millhauser
For Thought Provocation: The Dark Side by Jane Mayer
For Understanding the Mind of a Certain Individual: A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity by Bill O'Reilly
For Virginia Readers: Scorched Earth by David L. Robbins
For Fun: Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen; The Appeal by John Grisham
For Laughs: Obama Nation by Jerome Corsi

Enjoy!

ANTHONY BOURDAIN

(sigh)

Television being what it is -- a cesspool of crotches, profanity and illegal uses of a variety of substances and metal objects with triggers -- has pretty much turned me off. While there are a handful of interesting and literate shows, the majority of offerings are "not ready for prime time." They're amateurish, vulgar, senseless, embarrassing and overall unwatchable.

That said, the Travel Channel has a terrific show in Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. This isn't a travelogue per se; it's an adventure seen through the eyes of a fiftyish writer and chef. Bourdain isn't your usual host -- he's cut from a totally different mold. He's a little irreverent, a little bit bad boy, but always kind and accepting and appreciative of the unusual cultures, habits and foods of the places he visits. His treks don't follow the usual tourist maps -- he's almost always searching the underbellies of cities for the way the natives actually live day-to-day. His trip to Egypt totally ignored the Pyramids as he was disgusted at the tourist traps they have become.

Bourdain himself is an accomplished chef and writer. His first book, Kitchen Confidential, was an expose of sorts of the restaurant business in New York, a topic not many would find an interesting read but was actually a page-turner. The success of that book opened up opportunities for his current show, which has been going strong for quite a while. The show's success lies in the places he visits -- Indonesia, Laos, Uzbekistan, for example -- NOT places like Hawaii, the Bahamas or Paris. It's all fascinating.

Check it out.

GRATITUDE

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About this time every year the sentimental horn of plenty arrives at my house and proceeds to infuse me with gratitude. Gratitude from the obvious to the silly, but gratitude nonetheless. This year is no different, but I notice that the older I get the more philosophically DEEP my gratitude becomes. That's not to say that my gratitude doesn't still extend to Haagen Daz coffee ice cream, because it does......it just means that there are more "reflective" items on my list than indulgent ones. So, for what it's worth, here's my list.

In no particular order of importance, I'm grateful and say thanks daily for

Haagen Daz coffee ice cream

my wonderful, caring friends

the fact that I no longer have hot flashes

whatever writing ability I possess because it provides a wonderful release

sweet tea

my children and grandsons, all of whom keep me young

not being Nancy Pelosi

Duke basketball

Moet Chandon champagne

a life filled with wonderful experiences with wonderful people

the SOUTH and its hospitality, culture and FOODS

that I'm female and don't have to worry about erectile dysfunction

financial stability

a terrific guy to share my life

Now there have been dark moments the past several years, but THANKS to a lot of people who cared, I made it through them. And I believe I came out a calmer, more appreciative person. (I know, I know. Some will question my use of any word involving "calm.") But I AM and I know I am. For that I'm also grateful.

(sigh)

DOO WOP

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Tonight I watched two hours of Doo Wop on PBS and enjoyed listening to all the oldies I grew up dancing to, making out to, singing along with. You know -- the songs that actually had lyrics (like shee bop shee bop, do wa diddy diddy dum diddy do) and absolutely no "F" bombs or other profanity. What a joy!

Funny thing though.

The folks in the audience looked

O
L
D !!!!!!!!!

(sigh)

CHRIS MATTHEWS

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If you even know who Chris Matthews is, you're most likely feeling as I do: this guy needs to put a sock in it and forget about running for Arlen Specter's (R-Pennsylvania) Senate seat in 2010. Not that Arlen Specter holds any appeal for me, but Matthews is such a partisan blowhard that the thought of a Senator Matthews makes me cringe. He has a show on MSNBC where he interrupts and overtalks any and all guests, even worse than Bill O'Reilly. He is an arrogant egotist who needs to learn the meaning of constructive debate rather than employing his overbearing personality to steamroll those with conflicting opinions.

He belongs right up there with Al Franken.

(sigh)