I am officially a TV critic!

This weekend the husband and I went back to Universal Studios (second trip in two weeks). As we were leaving Islands of Adventure, we noticed an obsucre little sign about reviewing tv shows, and a woman with a clipboard, we asked what this was about, and she told us that NBC (NBC and Universal are owned together) is looking for people to review a possible new show. We fit their desired marketing objectives, and we were shown inside to a small room with alot of "tv watching" stations. I got to sit in a very comfortable chair with a "chair diaper" aka plastic sheet (to protect the chair from my "water ride" clothes).

I put the headphones on and I started to watch the newest NBC comedies. Drew was also watching, but at his own separate station. He later informed me that the cast were mostly Reno 911 cast members. While watching the show, I was given a "Like" button, a "don't like" button, and a "tune out" button. I was instructed to use the tune out button anytime that I thought I would turn off the tv or change the channel, and of course the like and don't like buttons as appropriate.

At the end of the show we were asked many questions about the different characters, the different story lines, and the scenarios that were set up. The questions were relating to like/dislike, relatability, humor, etc.

Of course, we also answered many questions about our tv watching habits, including the shows that we watched regularly and more questions about our demographics. I was even asked to participate in an additional survey! (This is probably because I wrote a paragraph for all my open ended questions.)

It was a fantastic experience, and to top it off, they paid us each $10 to do it!

I am looking forward to the new fall lineup to see if this show made the cut, and if they took any of my advice. Anybody done anything like this before?

Too many months without the men folk....

means that I have to have a different frame of mind when I call one of my girlfriends on the phone. For so long, when I would call them, of course there is a female voice on the other end. The boat has been home a month now, but subtract the vacation weeks, I have only been making these phone calls for a few weeks. It totally throws me for a loops when a male voice answers. I have a momentary pause....who did I call, and who is this answering the phone? For my wonderful San Juan friends, I will try to remember that your husbands are home now, and have every right to answer their telephone.

The Quest for Cinnabon....

I have been craving a cinnabon for a while now. This was originally satisfied very briefly with  Grands Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls w/ Cinnabon Icing, but only with the knowledge that a drive by the Vince Lombardi service station on I-95 would have Cinnabons waiting for me. This plan went to the dogs when we opted for the Tappan Zee Bridge instead of the George Washington Bridge from New York to New Jersey. When we finally made it back to I95 we were well passed the Vince Lombardi. I am sure there were other stops on the NJ Turnpike that was host to a Cinnabon, but it was not the one we stopped at for gas on Monday night, and there certainly were not going to be any other stops before we arrived at our destination.

Tuesday was the day we planned to finish our Christmas shopping. We chose the mall that I remembered hosting a Cinnabon. Though it was no longer present at the Willow Grove Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

Cinnamon rolls are deeply ingrained in my holiday traditions. When I was younger, the family would always sit down for a good holiday movie on Christmas Eve, with an assortment of holiday treats. This assortment always included cinnamon rolls with yummy icing. In recent years we have always picked up a Cinnabon on the way down to his parents house.

On Saturday we trekked down to Baltimore to see David, Becca, and Lucy. We did see a service station that contained the very elusive, warm, and sticky Cinnabon, but we had no plans to stop. We were also on our way to a very yummy Carraba's dinner, so we drove passed. With the traffic (averaging about 30mph) had to drive by many signs very, very slowly.

Today we will venture out again. These our the three closest options.

Plaza @ King of Prussia
160 N. Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-337-9880

Gallery Satellite
9th & Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-0838

Gallery @ Market East 1101 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 592-8551

2010 Census

As an amateur genealogist, I am very anxious to fill out the 2010 census. This will be my first time filling out any census. I will imagine the joy my great grandchildren will have digging my information out of computers some day. I have spent many hours pouring over census forms for years past. Currently the latest census forms available for my perusal is the 1930 census form. The law states that the information can be made available to the public 78 years after census year. The 1940 census data will be available in 2012. This is done to protect the information and privacy of the people on those records.

My only concern is our move date. We will be moving right around the time that the census takers will be knocking on doors. I am afraid that if we don't have a door to knock on (or a mailbox) then we might be missed altogether. I will find a way to fill out the form, even if I have to fill it out with a hotel address. I am sure I will create many unanswerable questions for my descendants if I am living at the Holiday Inn. I have one ancestor that I found twice in one census year. It was very confusing at first, but then I realized that one census was taken in April, and the second in June. It turns out that my ancestor also moved, and was counted in both homes. Amazingly, if he had moved in reverse, he never would have been counted!

My public service announcement....for your grandchildren and future genealogists of the 22nd and 23rd centuries....FILL out your CENSUS form.

The perfect outfit...

...is now sitting in my closet. Well, actually it is on the bed. If it is anything like the other clothes on the bed it might be there for a couple more days. The important thing is, it is now in my possession. My own personal rules dictate that it be weather appropriate, and functional for (semi) everyday wear. My outfit meets both of these requirements. Homecoming is still a long ways away, but it is nice to accomplish these little milestones. It helps to make it feel like it is coming sooner.

I was amazed at the last homecoming about the outfits I see people wear. I mean really, there is no reason to wear a "hoochie-mama" skirt in forty degree weather. I have less issue with shoes, but I really don't see the purpose in six inch heels on the pier either. I could really care less what other people wear, but I just don't understand why some women think that homecoming day is the perfect day to show off the boobs or the behind. Your sailor knows what these look like, he will enjoy being home regardless of whether he (and the rest of the crew) get a showing of "the goods." So why not find a cute (and warm) outfit, and save the peep show for home?

Waiter Blogs

I will say this now before I say anything else. I have never worked for tips. I stumbled upon a random waiter blog, only to discover a unique little microcosm of the universe, filled with disgruntled workers. While I always knew that these people existed. I dread the thought of eating in a restaurant where they could possibly be working. I have never worked in this industry, I do have a great respect for the people that do. I know that it is hard work, but I absolutely hate the feeling that I am am being held hostage for my money at the evening meal. I also have this same horrible sinking feeling about movers. Sometimes I worry that unless I start flashing them twenties, then all my favorite items are going to missing or broken when my truck arrives at my destination.

So back to the waiters...I can understand the complaints about people showing up five minutes before closing. Truly though, the restaurant industry knows that if you close at 10pm. People will show up at 9:58 and expect to be seated. So therefore the restaurant owner/manager will publish closing time accordingly. If he plans to have staff in the kitchen and servers until midnight, then published closing time would be safe at 10pm. If the restaurant owner/manager wants his staff out enjoying their evenings by 10pm sharp, then the last seating should probably be somewhere about 8:30. This is not rocket science.

It blows my mind that they are proud of the vengeful things that they do to customers. I know that people can be rude and inconsiderate, but everybody has to deal with things about their job that they hate. There is a little something called accountability. Every person has different opinions on how a tip should be given and how to calculate a tip. The husband is very generous with his tips. I am slightly more sensitive to the tip/ service relationship, but never leave anything less than standard. I just hope that I am never served by any of the bloggers below!


http://bitterwaitress.info/wp/

http://allprowaiter.blogspot.com/

http://waiterrant.net/

Holiday Craft Fairs

I love visiting holiday craft fairs! Today I went to one in Hartford with one of the other San Juan Ladies. We found some wonderful treasures, and I have found some wonderful gifts for various occasions. When it comes to gifts, I love to find unique items that cannot be found in big box stores. (I hope my recipients feel the same. ) Regardless of weather I am shopping with a specific purpose in mind, its always fun to go and see the unique items that crafters and foodies can come up with.

Wheel thrown pottery is one of my favorite items. I always love the different types of pottery, and am almost always too week to keep from purchasing something. The good thing is, that pottery is usually only found at the big expo-center-esque type fairs.

Update 11/18 Pictures of a couple of my finds....

Home Buying Tips

Hopefully we will soon be proud homeowners. We are looking forward to our move to Jacksonville, and a very welcoming real-estate market. I have a great family who has of good knowledge to share about the process and specifics about the Florida markets, and I do feel much more informed and mentally prepared to start this process. It is still very overwhelming. If the husband were around I would probably not be such a worry wart, but he will be home soon enough!

I have been very busy looking at online listings, and making lists of building features, and other dream items for our first home. I would love to hear real life lessons about that home purchase, and shoulda - woulda- coulda's. Please share your lessons learned!

Veterans Day Genealogical Ponderings

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In Europe Veteran's Day is known as Armistice Day. It is bittersweet to celebrate this holiday. The great war did end, but another horrible war would soon follow, and the war to end all wars was followed by more sick and twisted ways to humiliate the adversary and torture the enemy.

My family has a proud history of military service. A great many ancestors have served their country, and I am happy to be serving in my own way. (I feed a very sexy sailor, during the six months he is not deployed.)

I do have one ancestor which I have not yet discovered the details regarding his military service. Russell Jefferson Rawls is my great great great grandfather. He was born 1836, and he died 1886. There are no records of service in the confederate army, but he fathered no children between 1882 and 1886. (Years with no births usually indicate a child who passed, or an absent father). He was noted member of the community, and his father was a military leader also. Many family genealogists before me have not yet uncovered the mysteries around his military involvement, but maybe by next veteran's day I will have another clue!

Wink and a Smile

This cute artwork has been finally appropriately framed. I won't get to hang it until my picture hanger returns, and due to upcoming move, it might not actually get wall space until we own wall space in Florida, but at least now, I can oogle it finished. It was made especially for us by Rebecca at Lovely Yellow Ribbons. She has so many cute pieces. I think everyone should have one in their home.

Thankful Thoughts

There are all sorts of things that people post on facebook to rally their friends to do something. This I thought, was very worthwhile. I am going to post things I am thankful for throughout the month. Aside from the normal...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness I am very blessed!

Today, I am thankful for friends who cook me dinner. It seems like such a trivial thing, but it is such a blessing to eat with friends everyday. There is nothing more depressing for me, than to eat alone, night after night. Working from home, I get to interact with dog during the day, and its nice to have friends to share the evening with.

Fall TV Review

It has been a terribly long time since I started watching new shows on tv. I generally prefer to watch the old ones over and over. But there are a few shows that I have taken a fondness for, along with some ones that I have been watching for a while.....

The Good Wife - This show has Julianna Margulies playing Nurse Hathaway, and Chris Noth playing Mr. Big. Nurse Hathaway is a woman who has been dissapointed by her man, is left now with two kids and an uncertain future. Mr Big is a man who cannot seem to focus on his priorities, and pay attention to the woman he loves. Instead, he is focused on anything else. He wants to be in love, he wants to be a good partner, but it seems somehow he is always falling short. He has made many mistakes. He has hurt the woman who loves him, but can she forgive him? It will take another man to show him what his true priorites are. (Amazingly this is what made George Clooney aka Dr Ross finally admit he was in love with Carol Hathaway.

Yes, amazingly these two actors are both playing roles that they have played before. But now they are playing in the same CBS hour. Though my sarcasm may confuse you. I like the show. I love looking at Mr. Big, but like SatC, I just cannot figure out why he is so gosh darn stupid. Julianna Margulies plays his wife, whom he cheated on and embarrased. She is now trying to reclaim her life, and regain some dignity and purpose. She plays a junior attorney, and she is always the one to save the day. They are setting up another lawyer as a possible love triangle. Will she succumb?

Hank - I like Kelsey Grammer. I haven't decided yet if I like him in this role. He seems a little too "pretty." It seems his character needs a little more depth. Perhaps I just need to give him a few more episodes. I don't like the wife, and the kids are kind of annoying.

Heroes - I started watching this one with the husband last year. We watched season 1 and season 2 in about two weeks, and then caught up to watch most of season 3 on time. I didn't really like the turn that season 3 took, but I am back this year, and I haven't quite figured out what is going on with all the circus people. I am very confused with Sylar and Nathan. I want them to bring back Elle. I know she is dead, but now they found a healer. Do you think they will dig her up and try to get Jeremy to work his voodoo?

Project Runway - Not much to say here. Everyone loves project runway. They are packing in the celebrities this year though. Somehow I don't remember this many in previous seasons, and I don't seem quite as in tune with the characters.


Ones I am ashamed to admit.....

Duggars....they better stop trying to count soon - How can you not watch a family that has more birthdays to celebrate in a year than your child's kindergarten class? The question I truly want answered is how they celebrate birthdays? With 20 of them, they are celebrating birthdays at every other week. And if Josh and Anna keep procreating......I am very much in awe of this family, and their ability to manage their family and finances without going insane. They are self-sufficient, and don't pander to their audiences.

The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders 2009 -  I didn't have to admit to this. But it is so funny watch these girls. Last season, or the year before a girl showed up to practice late and without makeup on. I am still dumbfounded why she decided to go at all. She should have known that would be her last day. Obviously the purpose of this show is to document the tryout and training camp process. It was very amusing some of the girls who showed up for auditions. Kelly Jo said it, and I agree....these girls showed up, and some of them couldn't fit in the uniform if they were half their size. Why do they go? They have narrowed it down to 40 or so for training camp. Now starts a soundtrack of the endless playing of about five dance songs. Its a good thing this show is only on once a week. And for goodness sake, is it really that hard to memorize a couple Dallas Cowboys football stats?

Are there any good shows that I am missing? Tell me what your new favorite is!

Sleep Talking

The husband's email yesterday was very cute. He told me that the ENG reminded him of me (scary)? So, as I continued through the email, I was waiting for the punchline, just as you are now. On board, the husband is in a stateroom with the ENG (Engineer on the boat) and the CHOP (Supply Officer on the boat), and as it turns out Eng also talks in his sleep at night.  He also made it very clear, that much prefers to listen to my sleepy mumblings than those of the ENG. I think its cute.

The nights I talk in mysleep, are the nights when I am totally wiped out and exhausted. I have been having alot of those lately, but there is no one to tell me what secrets I might be revealing. I was discussing with a girlfriend, what sleep conditions might disqualify you from submarine service. Sleep walking could be a hazard on a submarine?

At the top of the list?

Because I have an "A" name. I am always at the top of the informal lists. I am always getting phone calls from "nowhere." People sit on their phones and dial, people let their children play with their phones and dial. I have a simple request to file me under "M." In school, when I was "Alicia F" I was closer to the top of the alphabet. At the very least I was always in the first half that got to go anywhere (recess, bathroom breaks, etc). Now that I am "Alicia M" I am no longer in the top half, but recess is not quite so important. Iam okay to be banished to back of the room and the bottom of the list.

I will admit I am slightly OCD for the weirdest things. One of them being my contact list in my cell phone. My contacts are arranged alphabetically of course (as are all cell phones), but mine are by LAST name. Yes, I put all my contacts in my phone, last name first. Its because I want everyone to appear uniformly. My old cell phone had separate entry spaces for first and last names. You could choose to enter one, the other, or both. And the phone would display the first five letters of the last name then the first name if both were entered. Because of the OCD factor, I decided I would enter first and last names for everyone. I loved this because the columns were all nice and organized. You have no idea how frustrating it was when I got my new phone (two years ago, yes I am due for another), and 1- There were not separate blocks for the last name, and 2- I would have to manually enter the contacts last name first, and because last names are all different lengths, there would no longer be nice, organized columns. I did eventually get over this dissapointment.

Interestingly (or not), the husband is speed dial #6 on my phone. There is a very practical explanation. A long time ago, he used to be the first "M" name in my list (yes, ordered by last name). So when I wanted to look him up (before he was important enough for a speed dial) I would hit the contact button, then hit #6, to bring me down to the "M" names. (If you are confused, letters M, N, O appear on the six button....continuing on...) Then I had a flight instructor with an M name that would alphabetically supercede the M name that I had grown to love. Huge problem! So this is when the husband was permanently entered into speed dial #6. I could still hit the button that I had used so frequently to hear his wonderful voice. Now to dial to my love only required the push of one button!

If only that was so easy at this moment in time. Alas, I can still dial and listen to his voicemail greeting. Which reminds me, its probably about time I checked his voicemail again.

CNO Open to Putting Women on Submarines

Read Full Navy Times Article Here

I don't quite know what to think about this. Perhaps this is the brainchild of an admiral who didn't have any sons to become the next generation of submariners. On one hand, it doesn't quite seem fair that they should be excluded from the fun times of days without showers, sharing racks, boat smell, NR critiques, but why in the world does a woman want to be stuck in a tin can with 100 other sailors? Eventually the submarine pier will be proportionally populated with skirts, but what good really come of this? Who wants a group of whiny women stuck without makeup and curling irons?

I won't lie. I like that this is still an old boys club. However, the deployment brings enough drama with the rumors that go on about the wives. I suppose these men just don't want to feel left out, and want to start their own adultry rumors. I don't have have any questions about faithfulness in my marriage, but when you go months at a time, eating, sleeping, and not sleeping with the same people stupid things happen. Does this drama really need the assistance of months without sunshine?

The bubblehead makes some good points about it here... Bubblehead's blog....

Clean Crisp Sheets

I love new sheets on the bed. It is so wonderful when they are just slightly crisp from being folded in the closet. When the cold air requires an extra blanket on the bed, it is absolutely devine to finally turn off the lights at night. The bed requires much less "making" in the morning when the husband is not tucked in beside me, and I suppose this is my consolation prize. I am going to bring out the sweaters and the winter clothes this week. Its almost time to use them!

The solution for an amazing day....

This lovely bottle of cider was purchased at the wonderful Holmberg's farmstand. Yes, they still card, but they have nice assortment of apple and pear wines and apple cider. My unrefined palate finds many similarities in the apple wine and the apple cider, but both are amazingly delicious.

As indicated by the warning label. Not for pregnancy. I assure you...not pregnant! Bottoms UP!

Table for One?

Tonight I was really wanting California Pizza Kitchen. The closest one is at Foxwoods. Drew and I would often drive up to the casino for dinner. It is always a fun reason to get out of house. Sometimes we would play a couple casino games. It is always fun going out when the answer to the infamous question, "how many in your party," is TWO. What about for one?

PROs....

• I get to eat what I want, when I want.  This is at the top of the list for a reason. How often to we find ourselves negotiating for the venue for the evening meal? Sometimes it is an absurdly polite argument, of  " you choose, no you choose, I feel like.....but what ever you want is fine." Sometimes the choice is made based on location. I prefer not to drive an hour for dinner, once I have decided I am hungry. The husband, however, likes the adventure of the dining and refueling combination. Other times the choice is made on pure desperation and convenience. I try to avoid fast food if possible, and nicer convenience dining has certainly become easier since the days when we were both broke college students.
• I can pretend to be independant, even when I am feeling like crap. The self help books are full of lies like this. Humans are meant to be in pairs, there is no arguing with this. Since it is possible, that I may be successful at convincing myself that there is no shame in enjoying a meal in the company of me, myself, and I, I will list it in the PROs.

CONS

• It is an unnecessary expense when I could have eaten a bowl of cereal at home. This perhaps the reason that keeps me opening the fridge. It is is so ridiculous to go out and spend money on a meal that I will enjoy the taste, but not the event. In my fridge, I have alot of food. I have tons of food in the freezer. I really do need to get busy eating this food because we are going to be moving soon, and I do not want to throw it away.
• It is slightly embarrassing to sit down alone at a table with two or four chairs. What I said above is full of crap. I cannot convince myself that sitting alone at a table for four will not help me in anyway shape or form. The only place where it is acceptable to eat alone is in an airport, or a hotel restaurant. Perhaps jail in a foreign country would also be acceptable if you are beting detained against your will, and your dining options will not be up to you.

I have four more days this week to decide that I really want CPK. Tonight is spaghetti for one. I have little cups of spaghetti sauce frozen in the freezer which will warm up very nicely in my little dipper crockpot.  What is another good alternative to dining alone (other than take-out)?

Navy Network Information Center

Update: 6/9/2011:  This is probably the post where I get the most hits, and before I get any more crazy comments (which are moderated), I thought I would set the record straight. I have since learned that NNIC shows up ANY time someone is accessing my blog (or anyone's site) from a Navy Controlled computer. Whether that be some admiral in Washington DC, a petty officer on the Enterprise, or a land locked recruiter at his computer in Kansas City, it will all show up the same. So conspiracy theorists, put your theories to rest. No one is stalking you.

I am intrigued. Someone from here has been scoping me out more than once! Apparently they find my ebay purchases and VS PINK pants exciting. I am sure I have been flagged because I occasionally talk about our crazy navy life. Or perhaps the crazy women of the San Juan have started to ruffle more feathers than those of the BB housing office. Perhaps they are worried I am going to divulge national secrets amongst my my musings. No secrets to be had here. I think that is the one thing that I find most annoying...I can ask my husband a question that seams pretty innocent, but the lack of comment and the nasty look that follows indicates that information is not for my ears. I love secrets, and living with a man who has more than me is a royal PITA. Honestly, I could really care less about classified submarine tactics. I just don't like it that he knows something I don't know. (Seriously, if he knew how many licks it took to get to the center of the tootsie roll pop, and couldn't tell me....it would drive me insane!) I will have to live with this disappointment. I will have to be satisfied knowing that he did something very cool or very boring in the time he spends away from me, and thats about it. Occasionally I hear stories about the removing of stateroom doors and san tanks exploding. I get to hear about the mushroom omelets, float tests, and the halo marathons. I suppose these topics are probably the most exciting day to day activities for him anyway.

I will continue to be intrigued that Big Brother is watching...maybe they will leave a comment next time!

Top Gun

Censored! I don't understand. This movie is a piece of cinematic genius. It has an amazing script, a cast that is truly remarkable(prior to going bonkers), a sountrack that that could rule the world, AND  the US NAVY  summer white uniform. Why mess with cinematic perfection to remove those truly wonderful scenes?  It is very dissapointing to watch this movie on the Oxygen channel and be missing every third scene. I suggest a new federal law, that editing this movie shall result in punishment of having to watch those removed scenes repeatedly. On second thought, I understand why the women executives at the Oxygen channel remove those scenes.
For anyone that knows me well enough to pay attention to my ringtones, you know the ringtone that plays whenever the husband calls is Take my breath away. This sound, is truly the most wonderful sound. I am scared that when I replace my phone, I will not be able to download this tone, as the source I have gotten it for the last few years is now not available. I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

So in the midst of my dreams of my sexy submariner, and waiting for my phone to ring, I will dream of navy pilots when they are twenty-something, and have yet to go berzerk.