My very favorite Christmas Special

The Daily Dalia is taking a holiday break.

So what are you thankful for? I had that question posed to me on Face Book (it is that time of year) so I thought for a second and went with the first thing that popped into my mind…my bed.

I had just come home from seeing The Blind Side and that part of the movie brought tears to my eyes. It’s true…having a bed to sleep in at night is wonderful and just one more thing to add to the list of “what is taken for granted”. How many times are people on vacation and only want to come home so they can sleep in their bed. There are a lot of people in the world who don’t have the luxury of having…their bed.

Speaking of Thanksgiving and The Blind Side…I think it’s a great movie for families to go see around this holiday; especially kids (they might learn something). This is a true story of a giving woman and a boy who was gyped in the “parent” department. The two come together and wa-lah…a heartwarming tale with a happy ending. Michael Oher (subject of the movie) stills plays professional football and I would love to meet  Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mom(Sandra Bullock played her awesomely), she is one tough cookie.

So after you hit the Black Friday sales, take the family to see The Blind Side. My final grade for this movie is an A-

Rumor has it that Adam’s kiss from the AMA show this past Sunday received 1500 complaints (did someone actually count). Did Madonna and Britney’s kiss get the same negative attention or does America have a double standard for same sex kissing on TV? We all know that most people are “OK’ or think it’s “hot” when 2 woman kiss but when 2 men kiss…well that’s a different story. I actually accept Adam’s kiss more because he is gay and Madonna is not.  What do you think-

UPDATE:  Now rumor has it that the person Adam kissed was actually a girl but my arguement still stands.

Am I the only person that has noticed that receipts have doubled or even tripled in length? Am I also the only person that this annoys. I’m really trying to be as green as I possibly can. My big thing now is when I shop I don’t take a bag unless really needed; I’ll put it in my purse or just carry it out to my car. When in the mall I may get one bag but then put all my other purchases in that same bag. But now I need a bag just for all these looooooooooooooong receipts!

Seriously, think of all the paper that would be saved. Here is what I propose-

1. First of all, cut down information that is actually on the receipt, we don’t need to know about online survey’s and a bunch of other crap that people don’t even read or just throw away. If the receipt was ½ the size, right there we are saving many trees.
2. The person should ask the customer if they want or need their receipt. If you buy a candy bar or cup or coffee…do you really always need that piece of paper.
3. All the debit cards should have a link that you can go to on line, put in your “code” and have the capability to print a receipt if you need to at some point.
4. All stores such as Macy’s, Target, Home Depot etc.; they too could have an online site for printing receipts or if you need to return something they can have the capability to scan your credit card and the price tag and get all the information from there.

I do like Macy’s idea for “gift receipts”.  Especially around the holidays people ask for gift receipts (that’s doubling the paper output). Macy’s puts a tiny little sticker on the price tag in case a person needs to bring back. Way to go Macy’s!

I’m all for “every little bit counts” and I really believe cutting out receipts would make a greater impact then you think. The earth would benefit in two ways…by cutting down on paper usage and there would be less litter. It’s a win/win situation.

One week from today is my favorite day of the year…Thanksgiving! Now anyone that knows me knows I said that with sarcasm. I believe I did a post last year on the reasons I don’t like this particular holiday. As a quick reminder or for new readers here is my reason –  it’s a lot of work for a few minutes at the dinner table. That is my readers digest version.

But I am cooking a turkey this year and was wondering what everyone thinks is the BEST turkey. Is it the fresh, frozen, free-range, organic or Lutheran one?? I usually buy the frozen only because I like to shop early and don’t want to be in the supermarket basically the whole week before Thanksgiving. I would assume you would have to buy a fresh one within a few days…in my world waiting that long is procrastination. Once the bird is cooked I usually like to mix all my food together so I don’t think I would know the difference. I hear that fresh tastes more “gamey” and frozen is sweeter tasting. I have never had a free-range or an organic one but I figure a turkey that’s allowed to run around the farm may end up eating something nasty so I’ll choose the one that is forced to only eat corn. The whole process seems cruel either way. (this is why I really need to become a vegetarian).

It doesn’t matter which one you end up choosing…it’s still a day of “production”. And don’t even get me started on the clean up.

Last month was October which I believe is known as “breast cancer awareness month”. Now I may be wrong but I swear I heard that woman should give themselves self breast examinations monthly and have mammograms every year after age 40 unless you have a family history of breast cancer (then it can be earlier).

HOLD YOUR HORSES WOMEN…now some group is saying different. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now says we should not give ourselves self breast examinations and mammograms should be for woman over 50 (unless you have a history) and every other year. I’m, confused and my boyfriend is confused over all this “new” information.

The one thing that stood out the most is that this same group “The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force” had different findings and it was a group of different people. So is it new information or just new people giving us their opinion? All I know is that breast cancer is the #2 killer of U.S. Women. All I know is that my grandmother died at age 49 with breast cancer. All I know is that a family member had breast cancer and luckily she found it early on (in her 40’s) and is alive because she did not wait until she was 50. This is what I know.

I don’t think this should be a subject of confusion which is what is happening at this moment. Women are not sure what the hell to do. I have no faith in what the medical field tells me…I go by my gut feeling. And with this one my gut tells me to continue to have yearly mammograms and do self breast examinations (history or no family history of breast cancer).

Do people still buy CD’s or have they become the “you actually buy CD’s” phrase of the year. I know most people just download albums anymore or like me, I buy “songs”. Hey, it’s a recession so I pick the hit and purchase that. I feel like I’m 7 years old again buying the 45 because that’s all my allowance will let me afford. Only now I’m an adult, the country is in a mess and I’m unemployed hence the purchase of a “single”. I did splurge the other day (it was Tuesday, release day) and actually bought the new GLEE CD…which I love.  (Wow, in this post I got to mention Cher and GLEE…cool).

I know this past summer I took off a month of writing the Daily Dalia and re-posted the “best of” but I wouldn’t do the same ones AGAIN…I’ll wait till I’m rich and famous for that. How about these artist’s put out “The Second Best Of”…like the side B of a 45. Cher…you are more than welcome to use my great idea.

The adorable KURT on GLEE!

Last week Glee had their best show ever! There was a “diva off”  on who could sing “Defying Gravity” the best. What I found very interesting is that  Chris Colfer who plays Kurt on the show brought the idea to the producers. He was telling them how when he was in high school he wanted to sing his favorite song (Defying Gravity) at the high school talent show but was not allowed because it was a “girl” song.  WTF

What does that mean…a “girl” song. In the lyrics they don’t mention a vagina, a menstrual cycle or giving birth to a baby. What this song is all about is taking that leap and not letting anyone hold you down…defying gravity. Why would a school say “no” to a boy singing it. Yes, in Wicked a girl sings it but so what. My god, when will all this madness end on girls vs. boys…men vs. women. We are all created EQUAL; plain and simple!

Please everyone, continue to fight for these rights. I don’t care if it’s singing in a high school talent show or getting married to someone of the same sex. We ALL have to continue to fight for our rights of equality. Here are the words to the song…is this a “girl” song?-

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by
The rules of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap…

It’s time to try defying gravity
I think I’ll try defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down

[GLINDA]
Can’t I make you understand
You’re having delusions of grandeur?

[ELPHABA]
I’m through accepting limits
Cuz someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I’ll never know
Too long I’ve been afraid of
Losing love, I guess I’ve lost
Well if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost

I’d sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I’m defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down!

Glinda, come with me. Think of what we could do -together!

Unlimited
Together we’re unlimited
Together we’ll be the greatest team
There’s ever been – Glinda!
Dreams the way we planned ‘em

[GLINDA]
If we work in tandem

[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
There’s no fight we cannot win
Just you and I, defying gravity
With you and I defying gravity

[ELPHABA]
They’ll never bring us down!

Well, are you coming?

[GLINDA decides to stay behind.]

[GLINDA]
I hope you’re happy
I hope your happy now that your choosing this -

[ELPHABA]
You too–
I hope it brings you bliss

[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
I really hope you get it
And you don’t live to regret it
I hope you’re happy in the end
I hope you’re happy my friend

[ELPHABA]
So if you care to find me
Look to the Western sky!
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly
And if I’m flying solo
At least I’m flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me!

Tell them how I am defying gravity
I’m flying high, defying gravity
And soon I’ll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!!

I couldn’t go the day without saying “Happy Anniversary” Sesame Street. 40 years ago today (November 10, 1969) one of the most creative shows started. Not only creative, but a show that is so well scripted and it’s only goal is to enrich the lives of children. I remember watching as a child and being totally entertained without really knowing it was an educational show. Later on I still enjoyed watching it with my children. Now no offense to Mr. Rogers but I always thought that show was so corny…Sesame Street was more “real”, even with a big yellow talking bird.

Speaking of Big Bird, can you believe the same man, Carroll Spinney, has been playing him along with Oscar the grouch for all 40 years. Jim Henson personally chose Mr. Spinney when Sesame Street began. Jim Henson; now that’s a life I was very sorry to see go so early. I can only imagine what his genius mind would be doing now if he was still alive.

Did you know that Sesame Street is the most researched show in TV history. Independent researchers have done more than 1000 studies on the program. On test showed that teens who watched SS in preschool had higher grades and spent more time reading then teens that missed the show as a child.

I remember one part of the show I loved. They would randomly pick a number each show, for instance – 4. It went like this – 1, 2, 3, 4…….4,4,4,4 lets sing a song of 4…how many is 4. Then they would show you 4 dogs and then 4 balloons or 4 trees. C’mon, does anyone remember that??

Well anyway, happy 40th Sesame Street…keep on counting! (one of my favorite clips)

Sorry but November 8th is too late!

November starts the “Christmas” ads that start filling up your daily paper…you can put your weights away and just lift the Sunday paper. I had to laugh yesterday though…I’m not sure I would buy a mattress from Ortho. They actually advertised that they were “extending” their Halloween sale and they had pics of jack o lanterns in the ad. I assumed that their entire advertising department was all laid off so this was their desperate attempt at “creativity”. I mean c’mon…do these Ortho people not know that Veteran’s day is this Wednesday. Do they have something against veterans or will that sale be the next weekend?

I started to look at the catchy phrases that stores are using to lure us in this holiday season-

Sears – Life. Well Spent

Home Depot – More saving. More doing

Walmart – Save Money. Live Better

Target – Expect More. Pay Less

 If I was a company this is what my slogan would be – Spend what you can afford. I think that’s awesome! Remember Miracle on 34^th Street when Santa would send the customers of Macy’s to Gimbel’s (the competitor) and people then loved Macy’s because it showed “they cared”. Well my slogan says I care.

One more note on Sunday’s ads…can you believe at Toys R Us that you can buy Candy Land for $3.99 with a $2.00 rebate. I think Ortho should have had kids playing Candy Land on one of their beds, saying something like – Candy Land, $1.99. New Mattress, $499. Kids being happy…priceless. Oh wait, that’s been done. But it’s still better than an after Halloween sale…LAME.