Language Arts

One morning this week, I was listening to the radio and heard one of our government officials talk about threats on "the homeland".

Maybe because I just finished reading a novel about Nazis in World War II, the phrase "the homeland" really bugged me. I know we've been using this phrase for years, but for some reason it stuck with me.

I went out to the web today to see if I could find out who said it. Everyone appears to have said it. Well, many people currently in leadership. (Including President Bush, in an early July visit to Cleveland.)

(I also wound up on a page exhorting me to join the GOP. When I hit the back arrow to go back to the google search that landed me there, I couldn't. Can the GOP (or, more accurately, extremist factions thereof) disable the back arrow on my web browser, too? But I digress.)

I am not a citizen of The Fatherland. I mean, The Homeland. I am an American.

(And on another note, a yoga teacher friend told me that 24 will have a female president next season. Hmmm. Will she be stupid, or evil?)

Blonde Toady Sighting

Well, since 24's inauspicious season finale, I haven't been watching much TV either.

However, last week I had a pretty bad bug and wound up on my sofa in front of the TV for 3 days, mostly asleep. Other than catching up on General Hospital (which was much better back in the day of Rena Sofer!) I was also awake late at night when Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip came on.

I watched maybe one episode of The West Wing (also created by TV auteur Aaron Sorkin); that rapid repartee and feel-good White House staff just didn't hook me.

Studio 60 probably wouldn't hook me either. I was too sick to move off the sofa, and quite awake having slept probably 18 of the prior 24 hours.

I wasn't too sick to operate the remote. But I got sucked in when I spied the Blonde Toady, also playing an attorney -- and one with connections to a Blackwater like security firm that might swoop in and rescue the kidnapped brother of one of the show's TV stars.

Maybe she was given witness protection and transferred to another network?

The Adventures of ManPurse: Jury Duty Part 1

Yes, ManPurse and I traveled to downtown Chicago yesterday for Jury Duty. As I walk into the Dirksen building I see many many TV crews and cameras. I walk and think to myself, "ARGH, why don't you read/watch the news "M"? Why? Why? Why?" Each "why" is punctuated with a heel of my palm slapping my forehead! Once in the Juror's Lounge, I start to eavesdrop since evidently some major trial has begun or is about to begin. I hear a fellow at a table near by mention Joey "the Clown" Lombardo of the Chicago Outfit. Mr. Lombardo is known as "The Clown" for his quick wit. (Side note: please don't call us "M" the clown or "A" the clown. Clowns scare me even if we are darned witty if we say so ourselves! And this was the extent of my research. I have no idea what this clown is accused of nor do I wish to find out!)

So I sit there thinking, "I'm so sequestered in this jury." It's 9:30 AM. I keep quiet and mostly to myself while reading Janet Evanovich. She mentions Jimmy Curtains (a fictional mob boss) in the book, you see Jimmy, it's curtains for you!. I can't get this Clown guy out of my head. They call names... phew "m" isn't called in that lot of people. I continue to read and read and play with my crackberry. I e-mail The Hubby, I e-mail "A", I e-mail work, I e-mail Mom. The worst part about the waiting -- there is no one with whom I'm comfortable sharing my witty comments. I had several. Sigh. I let the witty comments pass and I chuckle softly to myself. I start reading again and realize that I'm going to finish this book by lunch if I don't play with my crackberry some more. I e-mail Mom to ask if she would be willing to get me #8 in the Stephanie Plum series. She says yes. MOM ROCKS!

The next group is getting called. I'm juror #9 or so. We go to the court room and I'm looking at the defense table. I see a man that looks like a scarier version of the Dearly Departed Dad from Six Feet Under and think it's possible that is a mob guy. I think that I'm going to be swimming with the fishies in some new cement boots! Luckily the judge states that the case is for a bank robbery. And the mob guy turns into a defense attorney. Phew. To make this long story a little shorter.... They ask questions... Do you work for a local, state or federal police department? I raise my hand. Any family members police officers or were they in the past? I raise my hand. Any other time constraints? I raise my hand. Needless to say I think that my extensive police knowledge got me out of it. PHEW. I am dismissed for the day

One guy got out of jury duty by saying his wife is an attorney and he is now cynical. The Judge stopped him and was disgusted by this man. He basically called him a bad citizen. I found myself not wanting the judge to be disappointed in me. So when he asked me if I could be impartial even though work with the PD, I respond with "I think I can." I didn't want to be called a bad citizen! What is silly is it wasn't the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I'm looking at the accused and thinking that he made some really bad choices and that is how he ended up there. Therefore, I have already thought that he is guilty. Sigh. I'll try to be less judgemental if I go back.

After I got dismissed, ManPurse and I went to PotBelly's for lunch. After that we went to the Bean in Millennium Park and to visit the Lions at the Art Institute of Chicago. We didn't have time to go in since I wanted to catch the train to get home before the storms came.

Here is an article I just found... http://dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=324042 Apparently I'm not out of the woods yet. But I'm not reading up on the trial just in case something happens and I have to return on Thursday or Friday! I think know that ManPurse will keep me safe. If not, call The Hubby or Jack Bauer if you don't hear from any of us by Friday and tell them to bring a jack hammer to get my new cement booties off!! LOL Also made an important note to myself: If you stop at the 7-11 to get the Double Big Gulp, hit the potty BEFORE you get to the court room. Yes, that commercial Gotta Go Gotta Go Gotta Go that features the woman with the overactive bladder was running through my head as they were interviewing the 40 prospective jurors! Better yet, skip the 64 ouncer and get the 32 only! I am learning!

Again Thanks to the Momcierge for getting the book. I finished the one I had and am starting the one you got me tonight! :-D

Jack Bauer...Father of the Year

Check out this article from Reuters, note the GREAT line at the end (second from the bottom). Man purse is on an adventure today, playing with the Mob. I doubt there will be pictures though. MP also has a new mode of transportation that will be making it a better global citizen, pictures by Wed.

http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/entertainment?type=entertainmentNews&w1=B7ovpm21IaDoL40ZFnNfGe&w2=B98K91vD3DOpBfHFgSYFOC7&src=blogBurst_entertainmentNews&bbPostId=B6twJ6V9GO5HBCgYQGpNw60GB3SvjtmQI2v8AlfKcxxEMgV&bbParentWidgetId=B7qpFaBI8p0qz884R72s5WFg

TV (lack thereof) and ManPurse

We have been enjoying our quiet nights without TV. We haven't turned on the TV more than three times since the end of May. Twice to watch a movie and another time to watch the weather Channel (which did turn into the Discovery channel to watch "How it's made". Who knew that was how aluminum foil was made LOL) I'm going to be curious if our electrical bills are reduced due to less electronics running.

Check back soon. Manpurse is going to be going on another adventure soon!

Definition of Manpurse (in part courtesy urbandictionary.com)
Manpurse or Man-purse [man purs]: What Jack Bauer carries on the show 24. It's like a purse, but it is rather manly, hence the name manpurse. Also known as a man bag
Examples:
Oh man, look at that manpurse.
OMG THAT IS JACK BAUER'S MANPURSE
Metrosexuals often use man purses.


Added after we veiwed the comment from Overpriced Designer Man Bag (Thanks for the comment!!):
Question asked in the comments.... Would Jack lose appeal if he carried a Prada man purse?

Perhaps he would lose a little appeal from this Blog's creators for spending close to what it costs to feed a small family for well over a month. Although, it looks durable with many pockets for the medi-interogation kit. As we know Jack needs something that can take a licking and keep on ticking. Perhaps he would be saving money in the long run by purchasing a more expensive bag. Friends of the 24 Blog, we look forward to your comments!

Military personnel LOVE 24

Don't we all. This was on Yahoo! news bites

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/02/19/070219fa_fact_mayer

PS Where is Keifers Kate, we are starting to worry that she is in China looking for the circuit board and Phil. We may have to set up a perimeter so that we can pursue and engage!

Take care all, I really should get back to work here........

Just a quick check in

Well, I am still processing the whole what is Jack going to do now? Is he going to jump? Is Awwdrey going to get better? Do we really care?

Anyway, I found this photo and I think he went to my brother's school of photography (not quite the photo up the nose that my bro ususally takes -- "There is a photo of that on every roll." Don't leave your camera out... you too will have a photo of his nostrils!)

Keep it real!

Memorial Day

"This is the use of memory:
For liberation -- not less of love but expanding
Of love beyond desire, and so liberation
From the future as well as the past."

-T.S. Eliot
"Little Gidding", III
The Four Quartets*

*by way of the Barbara Stoler Miller edition of The Bhagavad-Gita

Season Recap: OK, Now That I've Washed the Dishes...

Now, for the recap.

Dammit = 50, one each for Jack and Ricky, and 48 for members of The 24 Blog
Perimeter = 1
Women Proven to Be Stupid or Evil = 0, unless Chloe has coupled with the Devil, a la Rosemary
Paternity Proven = 0 (including Chloe's baby)
Dead Bauers = None proven (the jury is out on Phil)
Dead Presidents = unknown
Barf Bags Used = 1 ("M" for the tender scene with Jack in a World of Pain)
Silly, Improbable Occurrences (even by 24 standards) = at least 3...Jack leaving Phil alive; Jack on rope ladder, Milo's supposed brother coming to pick up his body
IT Staffers in Hand to Hand = 0...no Kali Eskrima or ju jitsu
28 year old Hotties = 1 (Milo's supposed brother is a stone fox, proof that he'll come back as a bad guy next season. "M" thinks that the bad guys who came for Josh had possibilities.)
Dead Black Men = 0 that we know of
Resurrections = 0
Hair Gel Moments = 1 that we mentioned, although "A" did notice Phil having an issue, but held back ("M" mentioned the Josh messed up Grandpa's Hair)
Times "A" held back = multiple, every time Bauer Spawn whined
Telepathy and Correct Predictions = 2 or more!
Evil Veep Facial Movements = 1 (He smiled and one of his eyes twitched when the corners of his mouth curved up.)

Well gang, we don't have much to say. It was two hours of air and fluff. Nothing really even blew up real good.
("M" disagrees, and thinks that when Jack made a dive for the rope ladder from the exploding oil platform, it was predictable; she was at least pleased that something blew up.)

There were all kinds of last minute loose ends tied up. Karen and BIll exonerated and left to retire to Vermont. (Bill will probably turn the barn into a yoga studio.) Chloe and supposedly Morris are going to be proud parents to spawn of Chloe. ("M" says this might be proof that she is stupid, but I disagree. ) Josh is rescued from Evil Grampa. Cheng, looking a bit like a barbecued chicken, in custody. Evil Veep ready to take a nap seems a bit less evil. Tom has redeemed himself by brokering Karen and Bill's exoneration, and also taken Evil Veep off the hook for conspiracy...

But, loose ends: what about TEYOP? Blonde Toady? Who is Jack's mom? What is up with Milo's brother? Why didn't Curtis' brother come to pick up his body? What about Sandra, Walid, etc. And "M" wants to know where the service for Kumar will be.

What will we do until January?

We had a great time with this, although I have to say that I'll be glad to let go of TV for a while. We had fun with our new friends, and suggest that we come back and give it a try again in January. We've had some thoughts about what we might post during the summer and fall, although probably not terribly often!

"M" and Friends, anything else to add????

Coming soon this summer - More Adventures of Man Purse!

Stand By for the ReCap

A is going to start it after a few minutes of reprocessing.

Excuse me but

I'm going to go throw UP

If she flat lined that would make up for it

Rrrrring! Ring!

Don't answer the phone. Don't answer the phone. Don't answer the phone.

Hmmm.

What is this, and where is it going?

Is he gonna shoot William in the knee or not?

And the Secretary of Defense has no perimeter? No body guards? No guns of his own?

Enter Jack

I'm here to see AWWdrey. LOL Is he going to kidnap her?

Good Work Nadia, Other Than Losing Milo

Maybe Jack is going back to Oil Field Chick.

Who is William on the phone with? Is that Jack outside the window, maybe kidnapping Awwdrey?

Or the Russians? Nope, it is Jack.

Sigh.

M was rightity right

She is PREGGERS LOL aaahhh LOL

"M" Called It!

And the season ends in one life affirming moment.

Let's not ruin it by saying something stupid. Like anything that the writers might put in your mouths might not be stupid? Good call to say nothing.

Tom, You Wily Fox

Getting your way with the evil Veep when he is too tired to disagree.

And then trading it back for the tape recording.

Hey, how is Blonde Toady doing?

Cue the inspiring music

The crisis is over, cue the music for the white house. Oh, the evil Veep needs a nappy!

Hey his face moved A LOT!

Who knew?!?

I knew that Bill was resiliant but a copter pilot? I'm trying to catch up, but I about lost it when Bill laid out the rope ladder! WOW I guess next we will find out about the spawn. We still have a half hour left. And Phil is so not dead! Come ON

Uncle Jack didn't fall he let go. THe Hubby said that he went surfing instead! Jack thought the waves looked too tasty! AHHhahahahah I've officially lost it. That look Jack gave before he dropped. UGH