GRETA, FRIEND TO THE MISSING

Is it just me, or do you think that Greta Van Sustren should remame her show "On the Reoord" to "The Missing Persons Network"?

MOVIES THAT MAKE YOU CRY

We did this topic a few days ago on the radio, and I forgot about one very, very good movie. MAN ON FIRE - with Denzel. IT GETS ME EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!!!!!!

TOO YOUNG TO DIE

He was 23 years old. He was an offensive lineman for the 49ers...and he's dead.

Thomas Herrion, who played in college at Utah, was on the field for San Francisco’s 14-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a touchdown with 2 seconds left in the game. After the game, he was noticeably winded as he walked off the field, but didn’t look much different than teammates who played beside him at game’s end. He collapsed in the locker room and about 3 hours later, died in the hospital.

The death comes a little more than four years after offensive lineman Korey Stringer of the Minnesota Vikings died of heatstroke during a training camp practice when the heat index soared to 110.

I think the question will come rather quickly...how much did this kid weigh? I'm told he was over 6' tall and more than 300 pounds. YIKES! That's huge. That's considered obese, unless, of course, you're an offensive lineman for an NFL team. Or is it?

Come on, these guys are big. And they're not solid as a rock. They're fat. FAT. Obese! And eventually it's going to take a toll on a body.

I gotta go back on my diet..pass me my diet coke.

SIX FEET UNDER - IN MEMORIAM

Tonight's the night, kids. The final episode of SIX FEET UNDER. From the creator of AMERICAN BEAUTY (Alan Ball) this brilliant HBO series takes it's last breath...

My favorite part about this show was the first scene of each show -- someone had to die. These writers came up with the most outrageous scenarios ... like the woman who thought the rapture was taking place, but it was a bunch of blow up porn dolls that had accidently gotten loose from the back of a pick-up truck. She ran out in the middle of the street and was hit by a Mac truck.

Regardless, I guess eventually it had to end.

By why did Nate have to die? Why?

I guess someone had to die. It just makes sense. That's what makes this show so brilliant.

So yet another Sunday night friend goes away.

Now what am I going to do on Sunday nights?

(oh yeah - Desperate Housewives starts soon)

IT MUST BE A GIRL THING

I'm in total "chick movie" mode. I'm waiting for the final - FINAL - episode of Six Feet Under and the movie SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson is on the ol' television.

She's is sooo brilliant in this movie. Here's a woman who is not exactly a young thing, but honey she is in her prime!!

So there's this scene where she and Jack break up (Harry is his character in the movie). She just sobs for weeks and weeks. I MEAN SOBS. But she (as a writer in the movie) creates some of her best work through the experience.

I can't help but laugh everytime I see this scene. I HAVE SOOOO BEEN THERE!! I remember a time when this handsome young man broke my heart into a million different pieces about 10 years ago. His name was Craig (i'll leave off the last name just in case he ever visits the blog). I remember being so overwhelmed with sorrow. It's true, I'm a drama queen.

I remember laying face down on the floor in front of my fireplace at my little townhouse in Hendersonville, TN. I remember taking my fists and beating the floor with them over and over again. "WHY GOD - WHY???" HOURS WENT BY...I do mean hours. I sobbed out loud for hours. Isn't that silly? Over a guy?

But the pain was very real.

And suddenly this song just poured out of my soul. I'll admit, not the best lyric ever; but a very real lyric for me at the time. Imagine the sound of an old Appalachian hymn ... and these words:

My heart is a barren land
Blown away like grains of sand
Sweet Jesus come and rescue me
And lead me on to the water flowing freely...

Roll on, river, roll on
Roll on, river, roll on
Sweet water flow
And quench my thirsty soul
Roll on, river, roll on.

Sometimes I lose my way
And I can't go on another day
Sweet Jesus show me where to turn
And quench this fire, Lord, that burns...

The song was recorded a year later.

I guess the moral of the story is this. I remember the pain, the sobbing, and the bruises on my hands from beating the floor. But out of that misery came a little song. And out of that little song has come a connection between the wounds of my heart and people I've never even met whose hearts are breaking right now.

Thank you, Craig..I'll never forget you.

IT ONLY RAINS ON A CLOUDY DAY

I love cloudy days. I love days when the rain is just moments from pouring.

I love cloudy Sunday mornings...

It's the perfect kind of day for staying inside, under the covers, and rolling over to say "good morning" to the one that you love....or at least to the one you love being with at that particular moment.

It's the perfect kind of day for spooning. It's the perfect kind of day for complete silence in the room...with the exception of the sound of the one next to you breathing.

It's the perfect kind of day for sweet, sweet kisses and the whisper of "I'm glad you're here."

I love cloudy Sunday mornings...

BLACKS GET SACKED

Interesting article in Sunday's State Journal Register. The Mayor has removed from a committee charged with increasing the number of minorities in the police and fire departments two African American members...Lt. Rickey Davis and Ralph Harris. Why? Mayoral Spokesman Ernie Slotagg says it's because of statements made a year ago -- A YEAR AGO?? -- that were apparently during a "closed" meeting.

Slotagg says, according to the meeting minutes, Davis or Harris stated they were unwilling to help with recruitment efforts because "they felt their credibility would be hurt in the black community if they could not tell the black community that the city was going to hire a specific number of African-Americans."

Davis and Harris deny making those statements.

This whole thing concerns me. I have many, many questions.

1. If this was an issue, then why has it taken a year to remove these gentlemen from the committee?

2. Why was this a closed meeting? Are there not sunshine laws in this state? County? City?

3. If it is necessary for the meeting to be closed, then why isn't the audio recorded to ensure that there is NO room for error or interpretation in what is being said. I'm assuming a "closed" meeting is of the utmost importance. I would then also assume that accuracy is also of the utmost importance. Relying on written minutes leaves too much room for error.

4. Do the discrimination lawsuits have anything to do with this latest action by the Mayor's office?

My first inclination is to believe the Mayor's office at this point only because of an interview between my colleague Jim Leach and Ralph Harris, president of the Black Guardians here in Springfield. From that interview Harris revealed that he did NOT participate in meetings with the city about recruiting and other racial issues that seem to be plaguing the city.

I remember walking away from that interview thinking that the Black Guardians are all talk and no walk.

If these gentleman present the same attitude that I heard during that interview, then the Mayor has probably done the right thing in removing them from the committee. (please note, the replacements on the committee are two African Americans)

But I do go back to my original question -- at issue is a statement that was allegedly made A YEAR AGO?????

'Splain that one to me, Lucy.

THE PRESIDENTIAL MIDDLE FINGER

GO W GO!!

So, it's the first day of the congressional recess and what does President Bush do? Exactly what he said he would do...appoint John Bolton as U-S ambassador to the UN. For five months Bolton's appointment has been blocked in Congress, so the President decides, THE HECK WITH YOU GUYS... I'LL DO IT MYSELF.

I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT!!

But I do have to ask the question. Will this now cause problems with the senate confirmation hearings for John Roberts? I mean, the Democrats don't like to be ignored. (insert Glenn Close audio from Fatal Attraction here -- I WILL NOT BE IGNORED, DAN)

WHIP IT OUT

Okay -
I can take the constant criticism from my colleague Jim Leach, but when I hear Molson and Lee say one of my topics is a "non-issue"... I have to ask... THIS FROM A SHOW THAT DISCUSSES BURPING AND THROAT MUCUS?

Breast-feeding in public is an important issue, one that people on both sides are passionate about.

Funny how the boys from Noon-3pm took this non-issue and made it at least a thirty minute one on their show.