Month: August 2008

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The Olympic Fanfare

After a little over a fortnight, the Olympics are over. We, here in the U.S., are just waiting for the closing ceremonies to air on NBC.

I just watched the USA win the Men’s Volleyball gold medal. This Olympic obsession has really swept the country. Everywhere I go, I see people glued to the TV watching the games.

The United Statest can claim the most medals but not the most gold. That honor goes to the Chinese. Now, it’s London’s turn to get ready for all of the pomp and circumstance of the Summer Games.

But before that happens, it’s time for the Winter Games. Vancouver, Canada gets its shot at worldwide exposure. I think where the Summer Games has gymnastics, swimming and diving as some of the most watched events. The Winter Games have figure skating, luge, downhill skiing as the popular events.

The Chinese really know how to put on an opening and closing ceremony. The countdown to the closing ceremony was amazing, fireworks shot up into the sky, counting down to the event. The entire city of Beijing lit up showing off the The Bird’s Nest and The Cube.

I do have to admit I think it’s funny how you can’t get through a commercial break without NBC wanting to sell you their Michael Phelps video. I think his accomplishment is unbelievable but if I see the clip of him screaming and flexing his muscles one more time, I think I’ll ________. (you fill in the blank)

Now, what will fill the Olympic void? The U.S. Opens, the Browns’ season, the Buckeyes’ season, just to name a few. There’s plenty of great sporting events ahead. I can’t wait to see what happens at Flushing Meadows. It’s bound to be an exciting grand slam event.

Goodbye, Beijing!

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Toast To The Trail

I’d have to say the Ohio Canal Corridor’s “Toast To The Trail” was a success. I’m glad so many people turned out for the brand new event.

Everyone had a great time. I didn’t hear any complaints. The Atrium at Blue Point is a great space. People enjoyed the food and the libations on both floors.

Tanya Stella gets kudos for pulling off this event. It went without a hitch. We had something like 150 wine glasses and almost all of them were gone at the end of the night. I think some people may have even left their glasses. I don’t know why because they’re a nice memento of the event.
All of the sponsors also get a big thanks for their generosity and help for making the event a success. I snapped some pictures along the way with my cell phone. Check them out. I had my real camera out in my car but I forgot to get it out before the valet whisked it away. So you’ll have to enjoy the 2 mega pixel quality of my cell.

Mel & Tanya mugging for the camera

And seconds later, taawd got his butt kicked…

Everyone had a good time

I didn’t get to take home the Ingrid Hoegner painting “Row Of Bottles” so I snapped my own shot.

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Hope To See You Tonight!!

Tonight’s the night for the wine tasting fundraiser for the Ohio Canal Corridor called “A TOAST TO THE TRAIL”.

You’re guaranteed a good time. I’ll be there, actually, I’m not the sell. Q104’s Rebecca Wilde emcee the brand new event to support the OCC.

The event goes from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at The Atrium at Blue Point. It is located at 700 West St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland’s Historic Warehouse District.

The price per person is $75.00. You can get tickets at the door tonight. The price is well worth it!

You’ll also have a chance to win some fabulous prizes. Tell them what they could win Johnnie…

Well, Bob, the grand prize raffle boasts round trip Continental Airline tickets to anywhere in the Continental US, a two-night stay at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco, and VIP Vineyard tours in Napa Valley (to be determined based on trip dates). Tickets are $20

There is also a painting by a local artist that will be auctioned off. A new bike, all sorts of wine and the list goes on and on. Back to you Bob!

If you live downtown, you’ll benefit from the work the OCC is doing. Read more about the Towpath Trail.

Hope to see you there tonight!

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Blog Help

Here’s what I’m looking to do to make my blog more friendly.

Right now, you can click on “home” to get back to the homepage but if you click on the taawd’s thought’s header, it doesn’t do anything.

What I’m trying to do is make it so when you click it, your action will do the same as clicking on the “home” button.

I have the site formatted in CSS but I’m not sure how to do it and I can’t find good information on the Internet.

I’d appreciate any help.

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Social Insanity

I have to give credit where credit is due, I was thinking it, Keeping Up Appearance beat me to the punch and wrote about it.

While I was driving around the parking lot (not in circles) at Steelyard Commons after visiting my friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart, I started to think how infrequently I use myspace anymore. Yeah, I already wrote about myspace vs. facebook but this social networking stuff is getting out of hands.

Right now I have:
myspace – I started somewhat for my job then it blossomed into a crazy addiction
facebook – I started because just one of my friends had it, now I have more than 100 friends
plaxo – I started because just one of my friends had it, I can’t tell you the last time I logged on.
linkedin – I started it because I thought it was the professional myspace. I still don’t get its use.
vox – I started it because just one of my friends had it and to comment on a blog.
yahoo360 – I don’t even know if it exists anymore, I don’t even know if I have a page.
twitter – I can’t update my myspace, facebook and twitter status at the same time. People apparently want to know what I’m doing, like “hey, I’m going to Steelyard.”

Of course, there’s my very own social networking site, www.taawd.com. I love my blog and don’t plan on giving it up. Thanks for your readership and your comments. They always make me smile.

I read text messages and get e-mail instantly on my phone. Oh and let’s not forget the fact, I actually have a cell phone so you can CALL me.

I have a Yahoo! e-mail account and always will unless they start charging or shutdown.

I have two gmail accounts. I have a hotmail account that’s surely dead now because I never use it. It always had too much spam for me.

Oh and let’s not forget my work e-mail or phone.

I’ll be using myspace less and less because everyone seems to have migrated to facebook. I think myspace got on the widget bandwagon too late. Now they’re offering putting applications on your page but everyone already has their facebook account set up already.

Facebook has become myspace on steriods and seems to be so much more accepted. One of my co-workers told me this morning he was actually thinking about signing up. I’d never expected it of him to say such a thing.

So, if you really want to get in touch with me, I’ve opened up some of the options, it’s only that now, I’m thinking about closing some of them down,

Whew!

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God Bless Betty White

Courtesy: CBS

Is woman not a national treasure or what?

I know this is a totally random post (what else would you expect?)

I’m watching Password via my DVR and Betty White is one of the celebrity contestants. She obviously has a special connection to the show because her late husband, Allen Ludden, was the host of the original version back in 60’s and 70’s. She’s appeared on every version of the show over the years.

At the age of 86, she’s still funny. She joked with Regis Philbin that she slept with the original host of the show. She wonder what he was doing after the show. Philbin responded he’d like her review of how he did after the show wrapped.

I remember her on Match Game, Pyramid and even To Tell The Truth & I’ve Got A Secret with the help of Game Show Network. Philbin called her the reigning “Queen of Game Shows”. She earned that distinction for all of her work over the years on all of the programs. I wonder how much money she’s helped contestants win over the years.

You can’t forget her work on Mary Tyler Moore, Mama’s Family and of course, Golden Girls. She even most recently played a role on Boston Legal.

White is also well-known for her work with animals and zoos.

I’m just happy she appears to be going strong after so many decades in the entertainment business. She’s sure made me laugh many times.

Hats off to ya,
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The Sleep Switch

After being on a day schedule for more than a week, it’s time to switch the body back to vampire mode. You’ll spot me out and about today in my bat form.

I am probably the only person who’s happy that it’s a cloudy day. I need to make myself sleep today throughout the day to start the process.

Of course, my place has two walls that are windows from floor to ceiling. No one warned me when I moved in that I would be working overnights. Summer is rough because the sunlight pours in the windows. Almost every room I have has a large window. There are three places in my place where you won’t find windows, two bathrooms and a closet. My bathrooms have cold granite tiles floors, my closet is oddly shaped, believe me and there’s no way I’m curling up in there.

I’m going to take some advice and buy a sleeping mask. Of course, I feel like I’m giving up some of masculinity in buying it. They need to block out the light. Keep me from seeing sun. When I see light, my body starts the process (think shuttle countdown) of waking me up. I want to make sure I sleep better this time on the overnights. If you check out some of the masks through the hyperlink, you’ll see they’re expensive. If I’m going for a mask, I want it to be comfortable.

Well, wish me luck getting sleep. This week isn’t going to be that bad because I have to work two more days. I’m off Friday which reminds me to remind you about the “Toast To The Trail” again Thursday night at the Atrium at Blue Point. Make sure you check out the Ohio Canal Corridor’s website for more details. Please buy a ticket and support this great cause!
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Another Pet Peeve

I love to share my pet peeves with people because I know they’re probably someone else’s as well.

Here’s my latest one. Getting comfortable on the couch or in a chair, having the comforter over you or the computer at your side. In other words, you are complete in your mission for comfort, then you realize the remote, phone, keyboard or another essential device is over on the other side of the room.

I normally realize this is about to happen after I feel like I’ve reached comfort utopia. I think “God, I am comfortable, thank you!” I think thing, what is it I don’t have? Ah crap!

I don’t have kids that I could ask to get the remote, etc. I don’t have a pet that I could will/wish could get the object for me. Nope, it means I got to forgo my oasis of happiness and get up and fetch it.

Of course, once you leave the center of comfortability, you can never return to it. Something just doesn’t feel right. Why does that cushion feel lumpy? The comforter is out of whack. I can’t get comfortable.

I know what you might think, “taawd, you have to plan better.” Normally when I’m in said situation, I’m not much for thinking or planning. Heck, I do that all day long. I just want to relax and kick back.

I may have to invest in one of the those really long “fetch-it” devices so I don’t have to give up my relaxation refuge. It’s really not the laziness factor just the fact I was so comfortable.

This is my new pet peeve,