Point NOT well taken Judge Chin...

Bernie Madoff...luckily a name I don't know well except for what I have heard in the media since his Ponzi scheme came to light. This, of course, becuase I am not savvy enough to ever have any money to invest and therefore would never have enough money to have it stolen. Anyway, I digress...

I had to laugh when I read that he was sentenced to 150 years in prison.

He was sentaced to prison becuase he was charged and found guilty of "investing" and losing billions of dollars of other peoples money. Something that we have become all to familiar with over the past 10 years. Greedy, sleezy people who have feasted off of the hard work of others and have, for all intents and purposes, gotton away with it. The man has already taken enough money from people, and having him live out his days in a "cozy" federal prison, still living off other peoples hard earned money doesn't seem right. But the law is the law and he will pay for his crimes. Do I wish that we could make him live penniless and on the street, struggling to survive, not knowing how he was going to get his next meal so that he could have a small dose of reality, yes I do. But I trusted that the Federal judge overseaing this case would find a suitable punishment that fit the crimes, even if I wanted him to "be creative."

But, realistically, as much as I think this 71 year old man should, in fact, live out his final days in prison, do we really think that it is necessary to impose a 150 year sentace. I mean, come on, the guy did apologize. ...

No seriously, atone for your sins or not, 150 years is just simply ridiculous. What was this federal judge thinking? Madoff has become a symbol of judicial excess, punishment handed down out of frustration and annoyance, of a man paying the price not just for his own crimes but for the crimes of others who came before him.

The sad thing is, his attempt to show that this type of action will not be tolerated is falling on deaf ears. Does this judge truly believe that the financial elite are really going to start playing nice and follow all the rules. Hell no. If anything, they will think, "Well Madoff is taking the lion's share so we should be safe for a while ." Great, just what we needed. Thanks Judge Chin, Thanks alot.

Oh Joy.....

Look at you sitting there, so beautiful and wonderful.  Shiny and delicious.  Your legs go on for miles.  I twirl you around and around.  Wishing that you would last just a little longer.  Once you are gone, you are gone for ever.  Then I will be sad.  

You are my glass of wine and I love you.  

Butcher, BAKER, Candlestick maker

So I have never hacked away at meat, and I can't say that I have made any candlesticks to date, but I can safely say that I can add Baker/Cake Maker to my name.

In an all out risky move to help a family friend, who was caught in a pickle with their wedding cake, I decided to step up to the plate and offer to make the darn thing. With 4 days notice.

As I am not a master cake maker, this may have been a dumb idea. However, I do have the good fortune of have one of my closest friends (miss Erin) be a trained pastry chef. Yay me. Since she could not make the cake herself she promised me that I was creative enough to give it a go, so I did. She gave me the quick run down on the dos and don'ts of Cakes 101 and I was off.

So, three days, three tiers, and a whole hell of a lot of frosting and fondant later we have....wait for it...wait for it....

Jack Frost nipping at your...Freezer Drawer???

Lord Love A Duck. The freezer is frosting again. Why? I ask..why?

Today marks the 4th time that the lovely Sears technician will be entering my humble abode to try and fix my Frostey McFrosterson freezer. All the parts have been replaced and he has tried everything. My hope is that today with be the day the freezer is declared...... a LEMON.

My Master Protection agreement (as the fridge is less than 2 years old) will cover the replacement of the fridge if...and only if.... after 4 visits for the same problem, the problem persists. Well, judging by the 1/2 thick layer of frost in my freezer, I would say it is pretty darn persistent!

Now we wait...

5K and Free Beer. Nice!

Yup, that title is correct. Last weekend I ran my first 5k up in Boston with my friend Leanne. She convinced me that is was necessary part of training for the triathlon so I reluctantly committed and said I would do it.

I am lucky to be alive, but I finished it, successfully, and ran the whole way. Go me! May seem like an easy feat for most, but 3.1 miles on one lung has proven to be the biggest challange of this Traithlon experience.

Anywhooooooooooooooooooo, as if I was not already nervous that I would not be able to finish the race, let alone run the whole way....race day comes and we are informed that perhaps Leanne was mistaken in her portrayal of the race as a "beginner route." Yeah, so, like, it was NOT beginner. In fact, when we were talking with a group of runners (know as the Thirsty Turtles) they laughed when they heard me say that it was my first race....not their idea of an easy start.

No Joke, this was a very hilly course, on asphalt, at noon, in 82 degree heat. I kid you not. SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER Hot out and I told Leanne it may take me an hour to finish (no seriously...I am really slow and average 15 minute miles.) Their are 80 year old men who pass me power walking when I am running on the track. Like I said, running is NOT my best skill.

When all was said and done, I guess the adrenaline of 2200 runners helped me out a bit. Who the heck wants to be passed by a guy with two kids ina stoller and a man with a cane. Not I said the fly. Needless to say, I crossed the finish line at 39:32. But here is the actual breakdown.....With so many people running, it took me 3 minutes to actually cross the starting line (slow folks get bumped to the back of the pack to start). The clock runs from the time of the gun, so they subtract your cross time with your time to the start line. Sooo for all of you math slugs like me...that would be 36:32 for my actual time. Respectable for my first, but I have a long way to go until August :)

The best part....it was the Corrib Classic Pub Crawl 5K Road Race. So you cross the finish line and get....FREE BEER. ALLL DAY. FANTASTIC! We had burgers, hotdogs, oh and did I mention. FREE BEER. I might just fall in love with running afterall.

Doug (our Thirsty Turtle), Leanne and I

Goooooooooo National! No Good Stinkin' Orioles

So while in DC over the holiday weekend, Jay and I went with my friend Jen to a nationals game at the new stadium. My goodness did they do it up right! It was a beautiful stadium and it had absolutely gorgeous views. Loved it! We were up so high you could barely see the game, but the skyline was amazing and the stadium was just so nice. Honestly, I think my favorite part of the whole game were the racing presidents. If you have not seen this in person it definately warrents a visit. Mascots dressed as Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt chase each other around the field. At one point they were attached by the Eagle and then by the Oriole. Tackeled flat out. Faannnnnntastic! All in All...well worth the visit.

Pictures to come on this one. I seem to have misplaced my memory card :)

Ode to Belgian Beer - A Pictoral Journey

The Beginning

Mmmm Beer

10 years and it still tastes great!

The Best Bottle Opener Ever
Voila!

The Middle

We start them young...

The End

And Here is to Feeling Good...All The Time!

~Fin~

When Did Coffee Become Crack?

When did it become okay for "not having your morning coffee" to be the excuse for everything. really? Is that a valid excuse for life? Last I checked coffee was not an illicit substance and it did not have the addictive qualities of crack, yet people walk around as if it does... I see glassed over eyes, people twitching, some folks get really cranky and snappy. Next thing you know I will hear people whispeing under their breaths as they walk by "hey man, you gotta dose". How have we let it get this far gone. Really.

I am sorry if you have not had caffiene this morning. I am also sorry that you have allowed yourself to become a complete poopy head because you have not had your morning coffee. However, please do not tell me that you are completely incapable of doing your work, forgot to walk the dog, couldn't find appropriate work clothes, can't do the laundry, have to leave the dishwasher full, couldn't possibly drive into the city simply becuase you have yet had your daily cup a joe!

You mean to tell me that this small little cup of hazelnut heaven is the complete ruler over your life and functionality and without it you are a giant pile of mush. Hmmm, I am thinking that this excuse would not go over well with a boss who was delivering an annual review. When asked why you couldn't meet your sales goals you say " well....I blame it on the damn coffee man...it is consuming my life. I need help." If it won't fly there, gimme one good reason as to why it she fly anywhere else. Hmm. come' on!