That's the description of the slow excavation progress taking place on my desk these days.  I made some good headway today, cutting the stack of stuff in my in-box by about half.  That's progress!

I also hit the gym for an hour today, wrote 1300 words on the novel and finished the laundry.  Phew!  (Oh, and made a very interesting soup from the YOU on a Diet book.  Tomato based, spicy lentil.  Yum.)

Out from under is apparently also what needs to happen with the grubs living in my planters--according to research last night that's what the crows are after.  So later this week, I'll take a little jaunt to the hardware store, figure out how to get rid of non-jungle (I hope) grubs, thereby hoping to get rid of crows.

Although I appreciate the offer of Hal's dog, it's just not practical for a front yard crow infestation.

Saw an excellent interview with Fareed Zakaria on "A Daily Show" (which is, I guess, what they're calling it during the writer's strike) today.  If you get the Comedy channel, it's definitely worth tuning in to see Jon Stewart (even sans writers) during the silly season of Primary Politics.

Personally, I'm still leaning towards Edwards.  Me and 10% of the other registered, likely-to-vote, Dems in California.  But there's still a few weeks to go.  I probably won't vote until next Monday (mail-in ballots are THE way to go).  In the meantime, however, I would LOVE it if the proposition ads would stop!

They're more annoying than the crows!

We have a crow problem.  Every morning and evening, there are about 100 crows that fly through our neighborhood.  That's not the problem, of course.  The problem is they land in our yard and dig up the bedding material around my lovely new landscaping.

Which means that every day I sweep bedding back into the landscape areas and shake my fist at the sky.

I've tried sprinkling cayenne pepper on the bedding.  That worked for a couple of days.  Until it rained.  Then the birds were back to their digging.  I put some new cayenne down this morning, thinking that recent digging indicated the pepper's only effective for a day or two.  And the buggers were at it this afternoon.

Any other suggestions?  According to the Humane Society, I need to negotiate with the crows.  I'll be searching the web later.

As to Propositions, I am done with the California Voter's Guide.  Mosey on over there and check it out.  Arguments, disagreements, salient points and any other sort of feedback needs to be done via the blog for now.

The wonderful Weebly folks are getting back to me on how to have comments on non-blog pages.

My dinner's a cookin' so I'll sign off.  Wonder how crow cooks up?

After an INTENSE afternoon watching the Chargers and Colts (Bolts and Colts!) go after each other, I am thrilled to say that the Chargers were victorious.  I think the last time the Chargers got this far in the playoffs, Dan and I were newlyweds! 

Impressive win given that two of their key players were out for most of the 3rd and 4th quarters and another played hurt all game.  I think our QB Rivers is finally growing into the football player his ego has always advertised.

Backup QB Billy Volek led a scoring drive that gave us our go-ahead touch down and the Defense held off the Colts to cinch the win.  I am stoked!

So happy in fact, I had to go to the gym to burn off the excess energy brought about by game stress.  It was probably one day too soon to go back, still fighting off a tiny bit of sinusitis, but my waistline thanks me.

I did do quite a bit of research on Props 94-97 while I was waiting for the game to begin today.  I have to say I am solidly on the fence.  So I will do a bit of wrap up tomorrow and may end up with a sort of "vote yes if you believe X and no if you believe Y" recommendation.

More on that tomorrow.  Promise!

Up until about 10 minutes ago, I had my day all planned out.

8:00  Drop Dan at the airport
8:30  Starbucks for my Latte
9:00  Brian here to wash/detail cars
11:00 Lunch with Lynne
2:00  Workout
3:00  Blog

However.

Lynne just called to say she's under the weather.  I am feeling a bit punk as well due to a sinus inflammation that really, really wants to be a sinus infection.  So I'm taking Lynne's cancellation as a sign from above (even tho she's agnostic...hmmm...ah well, I can still take it as a sign) and am going to have a day of reading, resting and hydration.

If I'm feeling especially energetic this afternoon, I'll go for a walk in the local park and research the last four propositions for my Voter's Guide.

Tomorrow?  It's all about the Chargers, Baby.  Go Bolts!

Let's start with Official Recognition!  Ken (my brother-in-law) shared with me that one of his reviews got mentioned at an official movie website.  I'm so happy for him that I wanted to link everyone up!  The movie is Honeydripper (which I have not seen).  The review link is on the page and here.

As for golf, I had my first round since we got back from Hawaii in December.  9 holes with my friend, Renee'.  I shot 10 over par and had 3 pars, two bogies and the rest double bogies.  A bit better than my index would lead me to expect but I was chipping and putting really well today.  Part of the credit goes to Dan, who bought me a new attack wedge for Christmas.  It worked very nicely.

And Tagging...well, I checked in with Cindy's blog yesterday and found out that she'd been tagged by our friend, Todd.  So I went to Todd's blog to find out what the rules of the tag were and lo and behold, I'd been tagged too.  Quite some time ago.

Apparently I am to:

"List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to. If you want."

First, the songs:

At This Point In My Life by Tracy Chapman
Your Heart is For Breaking by Anne Heaton (words only in this link)
Face of a Faith by Nellie McKay
L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole
Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts
Mercy Now by Mary Gauthier
Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat by Carbon Leaf

As to tagging?  How about Mom, Erik, Hal, Deanna, Dale, Bev, and Dotty--all folks who I know read the blog at least occasionally!  Y'all don't have to post it on your blog tho...just answer the question in the comments section below.  If you feel like it.  <gg>

Off to pack now!

Nope, not talking about bridal things (although I am excited to be going along with my niece and sister-in-law when they look at her potential wedding dress next week).

The something new is Twitter.  You'll see it in the sidebar of my blog--a little nano-blog about what I'm doing that I will update as I get used to the concept.  Twitter is a social networking website that allows people to update their locations, activities and general state of mind via the internet.

You follow people.  People follow you.  You talk about what you're up to.  You read about what they're up to.

The last thing I tried along these lines (introduced to me by my friend Erik, as was twitter) was an SMS (Short Message Service) program based off my cell phone where strangers kept trying to befriend me.  I found that vaguely creepy.  Plus, I got text messages all day long.  I soon deleted it.

In Twitter, I have two people I follow (and who follow me).  I'm enjoying seeing what they're up to when they update and posting little snippets of my day.  We'll see how it goes but so far, it's a 5 out of 10 as new tech experiences go.  God forbid I ever do Facebook!

Something old?  I'm following someone the old-fashioned way as we go to visit our friend in prison tomorrow.  The visit will be on Friday and we'll be back Friday night so Dan can head out to be with Dotty and Dick this coming week after her knee surgery.  He's going to be one tired guy!

I'll try to remember to take the right clothes, appropriate shoes, see-through purse, dollar bills for the vending machines, etc.  19 more visits and a pick-up.  LORD willing.

No twittering from prison.  Nor blogging.  So I'll see you in a few days!

No, I'm not writing a review of the movie with the same title as this blog. 

Think of this more as a warning for those who might be tempted, as I was, to see the movie version of Sweeney Todd--The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.  It's not that I didn't enjoy the movie...it's just that when you see it, there will be blood. 

(Lots of it.)

I saw the original Sweeney Todd on Broadway on my first trip to the Big Apple with my mother.  We saw a friend of hers, Joaquin Romaguera, in the role of Pirelli.  It was an amazing production.  Angela Lansbury was able to capitalize on her comedic skills while not ignoring the menace of Mrs. Lovett (who is just fine baking people into pies).

Len Cariou, likewise, was a revelation.  He brought such incredible heartbreak to a role of vengeance personified.  Joaquin had an amazing voice and did wonderful things with the role of Pirelli.

BUT, I am not reviewing that show...I am reviewing the current film, directed by Tim Burton.  I went with full expectation of being disappointed and repulsed.  (I'd read reviews emphasizing the blood...and they just about did it justice.)  I was repulsed.  Burton's vision is substantially darker than the original musical (1979), and he clearly intended not to turn away from the blood.  Not to treat it with the wink of a train whistle as the stage production memorably did.

With that said, I was not disappointed.  Johnny Depp did more with this role than he's done in years (which is not to say his recent work has been poor--just that this is a pinnacle).  His voice was adequate but his acting was superb. 

Stalwart actor Alan Rickman was equal to Depp as the villain, Judge Turpin.  I grow in respect for his acting abilities in every role he plays.  The movie really needed Rickman (and if I recall correctly, beefed up his role from the stage role) to balance Depp.

Which leads me to the perenially overwrought Helena Bonham Carter.  She has some moments as Mrs. Lovett.  But the most affecting moments are the ones in which she most resembles the disarming and dark Sally from Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.  A movie in which, I must say, he captured a dark whimsy that unfortunately eludes him with Sweeney. 

Unfortunately, whether at the behest of her director/lover or due to her own character choices, we never connect with Mrs. Lovett in the movie as one did with Angela Lansbury on the stage.  There are no moments of comedy to relieve the constant slitting of throats.  No moments of lightness to soften the "stinking pit."

She does have a surprisingly good voice, however.

Also worthy of note in the movie is the gorgeous voice of Jamie Campbell Bower as Anthony Hope, the young sailor who rescues both Todd and his daughter.  He is a sweet young thing to look at, but his voice was memorable.

So, all that said, I give the movie a thumbs up for acting, music, filming, sets and costumes.  For those with a strong stomach and the desire to spend a night (or afternoon) in the dark with a demon barber.

You owe me BIG for this one.  (But I suspect the gaming research for props 94-97 will be worse.)

I've updated the California Voter's Guide to include info on Prop 93.

Woohoo!

It's bad enough to be a presidential candidate during primary season.  It's really bad when you spent a bundle to come in third in the Iowa caucuses and when, on the eve of New Hampshire, the polls show you 10 points behind.

But it's got to downright be ridiculous to be on a campaign stop and have two complete idiots stand up and shout "Iron my shirt" to a female candidate for President.  What were these guys thinking?  Were they serious?  Was it a (bad) joke?  Either way, they get my vote for idiots of the day.

Unfortunately, they'll have to share that honor with the folks at the AFP.  Why you ask?

Because they're making a torrent out of a cracking voice and glistening eyes.  Because they're suggesting that Hillary's response to the campaign trail question, "How are you doing?" revealed her to be on the verge of cracking up.  Think I'm exaggerating?  Here's an exact quote:

"An exhausted Hillary Clinton fought back tears and her voice broke with emotion Monday, as the strain of her damaged White House bid welled up and cracked her steely public face."  The headline to that particular lede was "Tears of a Candidate: Clinton's Emotions Flow."

Now look at the video here.

Now join me in asking the AFP to iron my shirt.

By the way, the AP story (Associated Press.  AFP is a the Canadian version of the Associate Press it appears) was only marginally better in its reporting.  Both articles greatly exaggerated Clinton's very warm, very human moment--spinning it into an emotional meltdown.  If people just read the articles, they'll assume she's just "another emotional female." 

It's not like I'm an ardent Hillary supporter...I'm on record as favoring (the fading) John Edwards.  But c'mon!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the 21st Century?

Just got done watching the San Diego Chargers WIN a playoff game!  It wasn't looking good in the first half (0-6; Titans) but we came back strong in the 2nd half.  What a great feeling and over such a simple, relatively silly thing.  As Dan said while we were waiting anxiously for half-time to be over, "we're not curing cancer here."

As to the rest of life?  No real big news there either.  But we did pass a very pleasant 3rd Christmas with Mom, Charlie and Anya, and the two of us.  The promised deluge became a reasonable rainstorm and we remained warm and dry with stuffed stockings, yummy scones and a coq au vin that filled the house with amazing smells.

Mom and I especially enjoyed learning about Charles and Anya's Emergenetics Profile.  This tool is a wonderful shorthand for understanding how others think and behave.  Once again, not a cure for cancer but definitely an aide to understanding of self and others.

Tomorrow it's back to "real life" with 2008 already 1 week under the belt.  I'm looking forward to tackling more words on the novel, having a good workout, spending time with Dan and plowing through the pile on my desk.

Oh!  And I should have another California Initiative up on the Voter's Guide by tomorrow night if all goes according to plan.

I'm off to finish ironing napkins while singing, "We are the Champions."