kvetch kvetch kvetch

Well, I just spent what seemed like hours on the phone with one of those impossible travel sites where once you make your reservation it takes forever and infinite patience in case, god forbid, you have to make a change or question something. You go through the intermidable voice message list, get a real person from India who insists on calling you by your first name and then is unable to figure out how to get you to the Supervisor without putting you on hold for minutes or cutting you off! I HATE THIS!! This time I hung up and they actually called me back, which was nice except it accomplished nothing because the new and cheaper price that was available was NOT for me since it was more than 24 hours from my initial purchase.
I know I know...too much information. But I liked it so much better in the old days when there were just people on the phone who seemed to actually know what they were doing.

me on the today show again...

here's my clip on the Today Show...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23809817#23809817

enjoy and if not...don't tell me!!

Shpritzer

Ok, I may as well weigh in on Governor Elliot Spitzer as much as everyone else is. First of all, I don't see why prostitution is illegal between adults! Second of all, perhaps he and his wife had some kind of arrangement.
But mostly what a putz! How dumb can you be when you are a former Attorney General about the financial transactions.
However it does smell a little political doesn't it? The Feds investigating a bank transaction that then led them to a prostitution ring...so they were on his case originally? Well, this country is so provincial when it comes to these matters. The President of France had another family! I do think however that when men in the public, ie. pols do fool around they have got to do it with an equal. You know the old rule...don't fool around with anyone who has LESS to lose than you!

money can't buy you....

So today they released the Forbes list of the richest people in the world. And of course I scrolled through looking for my Mr. Adequate Plus!!! Yikes! These guys (mostly guys) have money
but money cant buy them looks!
Ok, ok, that is so superficial on my part. But if you are a Billionaire, can't you find a better way to dye your hair than magenta? or corn yellow? And speaking of yellow, guys...get those teeth bleached!
I'm sure there are some lovely, philanthropic great human beings, and most of them are married anyway. The cute ones are 23 and no, I'm not that much of a "cougar." (Though I play one on the radio.)
For real, my little radio show called The Cougar Hour, which is ten minutes, is now being tested on a
station in Sacramento. I'll keep you posted on its progress.
The purpose is to make the term "cougar"...ie. older women who date younger men, less tacky and more
acceptable. We have our needs too, kids! From Mary Tyler Moore to Demi Moore, women are marrying younger guys..in the previously mentioned, 15-20 years younger! It might not work for everyone but it's
an option.
What do you think?

here I am on the Today Show...

Just click on the link below.
there might be a little commercial for perfectmatch first but i'm coming...! ha!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23145793#23145793

Back from Florida

Well, it's fun in the sun! Really! Nothing better than driving with the top down..of the car that is. I went to visit a friend who has a place in Singer Island, near Palm Beach. I hit some golf balls, badly, hit some tennis balls, well...and got some sun and lovely walks on the beach. There is something to that Ion theory. The water sure calms me down. Some shopping does too!
And then came back on a nearly empty plane which was the best. Sleeping on one row all to myself. Life is good. (Oh, no men, but what else is new.)

Goodbye to a great "broad"

Suzanne Pleshette passed away today. I knew her from the old Bob Newhart Show. I was one of the writers. She was really great. A "Broad" in the best sense of the word. Funny, warm, real as they come. A little potty mouth and risque and terrific. I used to tease her by saying "a Pleshette was a small Plesh."
Don't smoke, kids...really. Don't!

Guilty pleasure...?

There is nothing as delicious as playing hooky! And the best thing to do is sneak off to an afternoon movie
alone!
Although, in my case, I am not working or in school so I am not playing hooky from anything.
However, today I went to see There Will Be Blood.
And there was.
Yikes!
At first I thought what a marvelous spectacle. What majesty in the scenery and the sound and
of course Daniel Day Lewis is quite an actor. His fingers act! His eyes, his smile very powerful.
Then, I hate to say it, but in an effort to be an epic, the movie gets ponderous, slow and very
very long. Not to mention self indulgent.
As to the end...well, one doesn't need to feel satisfied by an ending in a movie perhaps, but this
was rather stunted. It felt too abrupt, and not worth waiting for so I guess "unsatisfying."
But you decide for yourselves and let me know, won't you? I came home and had a drink!
And I don't even drink.

how sad

I never write about the ridiculous Hollywood wrecks...these kids who had too much and have too little brains or parental control. The Lindseys, the Nicoles, et all. As for Paris...she deserves anything that occurs to her. She is beneath contempt and her parents...well...enough said.
But during Xmas I was at a party with a relative of Britney Spears. I pulled her aside and said that I really felt she was in some danger and that they should not ever leave her alone. I said that those surrounding her might not have her best interests at heart and I was worried she would come to a very sad end.
The relative assured me they were on top of things.
Then later that night I read she had had a meltdown with a camera, and now this horrible image of her being taken to the hospital in restraints.
The poor girl looked dazed and confused as the horde of vultures surrounded her stretcher, cameras flashing.
How much more are they going to be allowed to do to drive this kid to her demise? Why are we who watch and buy the magazines (I do not by the way) contributing to the death of a young woman.
Isn't it time to stop. Didn't we learn anything after Diana's death?

Great vacation!

Well, Dear Readers, finally no complaints from me!I had the best vacation in California. I was in LA for five days at a girlfriend's house and then two days at the beach with another one. I have nice friends. Then we went to Palm Springs to the Marriott Resort at Palm Desert. It was really amazing...a huge place with lots of lakes and swans and ducks. Many pools, great food at the restaurants and of course lots of lovely sun which I love.
In LA I did a lot of lunches and dinners with friends, five pounds worth! I'm dieting now.
Some fun parties and lots of star spottings. Dr. Phil was at a party and I told him a few things I'd wanted to get off my chest. Barry Bonds was there as well, not looking too worried. Also Joe Pesci, the anesthesiologist from Nip Tuck, Tony from Days of Our Lives, and a ton of over bleached, over botoxed, over busted blonds who were everywhere.
All in all a terrific time. Let's hope the New Year is the best for all of us!

Lala land again

Going to LA and Palm Springs for the Holidays...hope to get some sun and a new man wouldn't be bad! Have a happy new year and all good things. ss

boo hoo

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I...oh wait a minute that was "it's my party." well..then forget it, I'll go out and celebrate.

a tip

One of my favorite blogger buddies tells me there is a site that allows one to vent on consumer complaints called Consumerist.com. Oh goodie...other kvetchers! thanks, anne.

P.S. I love Kinko's

So, inspite of the nasty comment a not so Dear Reader posted, the folks at Kinko's clearly did not agree with him! In fact they were so happy I let them know of the problem (below) that they sent me huge box of the paper I'd wanted. A veritable lifetime supply!
Seriously, the excellent customer service response has made a convert and fan of me. Why I might even buy the stock. So again...squeaky wheelers...when things are not up to par, complain in a nice way and you might even improve things for others!
Now as far as anonymous blog posters...well, that's another story.

Squeaky Wheel stuff

Ok, those Dear Readers who know me, know when I get bad service from someone or a store, I don't just accept it! Uh uh. I kvetch, complain and often go right to the top! Like this morning.
I went to the neighborhood Kinko's which I hate because they are always too crowded, unhelpful, and rude. Well this time there were 10 people in line for one cashier!
All I needed was some paper and I was not going to stand in line for the questions about copying, returns, etc.
The paper was sitting right there! So I went to the Fed Ex counter and pointed to it and asked if I could buy it there. The guy, who had ignored me for a while, said "no." Why not?" You have to stand in line," he replied.
I do not do lines.
I went to another guy and asked for the Manager. He kind of ignored me and then when I asked again, he came over. Yes, he was the manager! Huh? Result of that conversation was " you have to stand in the line."
No, why don't you just open a new register? Can't do that. A woman in the line said, "it's always like this. I called the corporate office once and complained."
I stalked out.
I went home and spent about twenty minutes on the Internet finding out who the President of Kinko's is...it's a division of Fed Ex. I called the corporate office, got his assistant and told her my complaint. She was very nice, which made me feel better already and asked if they could call me back with a follow up. Sure..
and lo and behold an hour later the District Manager called and I went through the whole story and he acknowledged they were so busy there (good for them, bad for me) and he would look into the attitude problem, see about adding some registers and send me some free paper. Steve and I are on a first name basis now.
Moral of the story...good customer relations should be rewarded with shopping there and...yes, the squeaky wheel does get the oil...or the paper, as the case may be.

happy turkey

I have been a bad blogger...but keep waiting for the good news to tell you. It's going to be soon, i promise! Have a great day and be thankful for good health and friends. luv ss

happy halloween

I lvoe this Holiday...my little precious guys are going out as Baseball players and I am staying in as a wicked witch! luv to all the ghosts and goblins...

HOW DO YOU SAY OY VEY IN SPANISH?

Well kids, I'm back. With a fever and not the best of memories. Sorry to say, I am too old and almost too rich to do a tour. Too much bus time, a terrible tour leader which can make or break it. The group was fine, made some good friends as I always do. But would only go back to Spain if I were going to Marbella for a week in the sun at some fab club and then on to Barcelona. I took off from the tour there and did my own thing and called some people who knew people and that was great.
One funny thing...well more than one, but this one I"l tell you. Finally at a good restaurant with two couples we saw this stunning couple with a child. And we all said, wow..these are the first really gorgeous Spaniards we saw.
Then the next day I went to a fancy hotel on the beach and they were there...they are from Sweden!And they told me they thought I was one of the better looking 'Spaniards' they had seen. haha
All in all, good to get away but getting up for forced marches at 6:30 is not my idea of a vacation.

You have to see it!!!

Before I left for Spain I saw THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!! It's got an unfortunately dull title " Across the Universe."
It's based on Beatles music, directed by the genius, Julie Taymor. It's a combination of Hair, and the Movin On Broadway musical and an original vision of the sixties and many of our childhoods.
The most glorious photography, brilliant concept and to hear the Beatles songs in new context, sung by new voices is amazing. And it shows how extraordinary their talents were as writers.
Think I loved it? And my cousin in the Mid West who has opposite taste from me loved it. Everyone must see it!!!That's an order and my gift to you.

Spain...

Off to Spain. I always liked the dark, Latin types. Let's see what happens! will let you know...bye for now.
I'd say it in Spanish, but don't know a word. Well, 'Hasta La Vista' comes to mind...but....