Wauk Blog Star: September 2008

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

REDFORD'S LOSSES

Here's a press release from the Sundance Channel via Verne Gay's Newsday TV Zone blog (link to the left):

"Sundance Channel will pay tribute to Paul Newman tomorrow with the airing of “Iconoclasts: Redford and Newman” as well as “The Making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” beginning at 6pm ET/PT. These two programs will be airing throughout the week...

Robert Redford also had a quote to go with this: "I have lost a real friend. My life — and this country — is better for his being in it."

Redford just lost his friend and less than two months ago he lost his cousin, actor Jeff MacKay, who played Mac on 'Magnum P.I.' and Corky in 'Tales Of The Gold Monkey'........

BCnU....
Toby O'B

My Bad

There have been some grumblings permeating throughout the peleton of the S.B.A.D.M.V.V.L. Hammerfest recently, and unfortunately Mongo is at the center of the controversy.

Apparently, Mongo's circulation is so good that it causes me to perspire just a little bit more than most people...and as a result, the riders behind me are treated to a constant shower of said good circulation.

If truth be told, and it is...I sweat like a convict working a chain-gang...in Alabama...wearing a flannel jumpsuit...after six cups of coffee...in July!

Tango'd their way in to my heart they did....

I have never seen anyone dance Tango in real life.

About as close as I got is watching
So You tThink You Can Dance

{little embarrassed, kinda blushing, is it hot in here?}
ahem.

I completely fell in love with my couple as they danced their first dance: a Tango.
They look like they have been dancing together for many lifetimes.
It was....magical. I am moved by stuff like this because it is just the ultimate display of love, simple love. Two souls dancing together.....UUGH! It almost makes me sick, lol!
Let me start from the beginning:

{A Tango Wedding}

Here are my lovely ladies drinking water. When the bride emailed me a few weeks ago asking if I would not only show up of course as her DOC, but also, if I could fill in for her florist, I was super excited because my Indie Bride wedding really left me wanting to do the flowers for another outdoor wedding and with the season fast approaching it's end, I thought I would have to wait till next year. So ever since that email I have been searching for the right flowers to encompass everything that she requested in a bouquet

Not perfectly round
Garden-y
Pops of yellow
Orchids( because her she and her husband share a love of Orchids)
Pink, but not pale pink
Textured, but not off the hook
Wispy and whimsical
Oh! and blue with a nice collar.

Whew! :)
So I have been looking around the flowermarket and finally settled on this recipe:
Yellow Billy Buttons, 4 different Statice variations and colors, Orange Vanda Orchids, Yellow Oncidium Orchids, Pink Cymbidiums, Lavender Dutch Iris, Hot Pink Fancy Roses,PInk and Blue Berries, Galax leaves, White and Purple Scabiosas, yellow and hot pink Rununculi, and Pink Altromeria.

These are two of the arrangements that would sit at the guest book table and by the fireplace.

I slid Paper Source Ribbon in "Lake" at the base of the neck to tie in the colors to the linens.

The venue was gorgeous!
I would recommend the Marin Art and Garden Center to anyone.
Here is one in action outside. Doesn't it just POP out against all the green?!

Why yes those are pink and blue berries you see. :)

Here is the Brides Bouquet sitting at the table in a Mason jar.
The best compliment she gave was this:
"I knew it was going to be good, but this is gorgeous!
Every time I look at it I see something new."
YESSS!
She got me.
That is exactly the reaction that lets me know I am on the right path in life.
If I can bring someone a bit of happiness through my expression in floral art, then I'm good.
She probably doesn't know that what she said to me will stay with me all my life. :)

I'm certainly not going to let flowers go to waste so I brought extra jars with me and after the cake lady placed what she needed on the cake I used the left overs on the back tables.

Then Jen( my lovely, brave, very-hot-in-90-degree-weather assistant) and I set up the centerpeice. Lemons in a low bowl with blossoms on them. How refreshing and bright they were against the blue linens. Check out her table numbers.
Don't tell me they aren't adorable! Haha, they are so cute naming this table Orchid.

Here is her DIY guest board for the guests to sign in advice and wishes for the couple.
There also is the Maid of Honor Bouquet.

She told me to use the miscellaneous items anywhere I saw fit.

Pretty huh?
Again, using left over flowers so that nothing goes to waste. I bought a tall mason jar to use up there a few days before thinking I would put something delicate up there on the Mantle.
I love the "B: and "M"......doesn't hurt that they are my initials!

Here' s the Photobooth that was set up for the guests to take advantage of. Every time I walked by it I encouraged whoever was nearby to take a picture and would just randomly throw them that hot pink boa! They must have thought I was crazy!

So the the couple made their entrance and as they waited around up there after saying a few words they danced!

I took an opportunity to catch a glimpse of her super cute fuchsia high heels!

The day was truly divine for them, the weather started to cool down from the intense heat earlier in the day but it was perfect because it was warm enough to be outside without a sweater or jacket.

Okay.
Break in the story.
These are "confessions of an aspiring floral designer" after all, so rather than skip over it, I'll share. Maybe a bride out there or another DOC can learn from my mistake.

Yes, I know I skipped the ceremony.

But only because that sucker was fast!!!
When they said short and sweet boy did they mean it!
18 minutes people!!!!!

We met earlier in the week to finalize things and I suggested to them they run through the ceremony because I have had couples say the ceremony would run the average 45 minutes. Always 45 minutes.
Well I have some read it through and go an HOUR and some read it out loud to discover it's really only 20 minutes.
I got an email later in the week saying it was more like 30 minutes.
Ok, no prob, let's adjust to finish 15 minutes less than we planned.
Well after I made sure she made it down the aisle, I set my timer for twenty minutes to go and walk the reception area and finish the last touches and find the velum lampshades that were GONE.
I sent Jen with the instructions "Can you go see if they are still getting married?"
She comes back smiling, yes, they are!
Then about 5 minutes later someone comes over and says they are done.
WHAT?!?!?!

My alarm never went off because it had only been 18 minutes since she got to the aisle.
I have never not been there for my bride when she came back down the aisle.
I ran over there like a bat out of hell to find them in the area we talked about them running off to so we could get her bustled in.
I have never been in that situation and I cannot tell you how mortified I was.
I sincerely apologize with my entire heart to the bride and groom.
WAHHHH!

So anyhow
Happy Thoughts, Happy thoughts!
We will move onto dinner.
Since we were ahead of schedule, everything slowed down a bit.
So while the rest of the food made its way to the buffet table.
The couple danced!
I stole a picture of them. I'm like a little spy with my camera, no?
Sage Catering had excellent food! The staff was wonderful!

Then the MOH made her speech during dinner as well as the best man.

Let me tell you about the Best Man.
I always keep my eye on them because they seem to always forget their drinks and are usually scrambling to get something in their hands when they finally finish and say:
"To the Bride and Groom!"
So I'm watching him and sure enough, he realizes he's up, he takes a swig, stands up, claps his hands and takes off without his drink. So I beeline to his table to get his drink and as I am walking up there towards him, he cracked a joke saying
"Hello my name is BestMan and I'm an alcoholic!"
Just as I am within 3 steps from him and so I shove his drink in his hand and keep walking.
He looks down at his hand and at me and at everyone laughing and he starts cracking up!
So thank god he said something funny because usually it's just really uncomfortable for me to just walk up to the BM to give him his glass. :)

Then we moved on to the cake that was decorated so beautifully!
Sally from Forget Me Not Cakes
I cued the bride to change into her pretty tango dress.

Forgive the lighting.

While the cake was whisked away to be cut, the groom explained to the guests that they were going to dance a tango to a special song. I won't botch up the story by attempting to recreate it, ya just had to be there.
I love her expression:
I just married the love of my life......

Then, they started to dance a tango like I have never seen before.
I tried to take pictures, but I couldn't capture the look on their faces.
Eyes closed.
Moving gracefully across the floor, like they have been dancing together all their lives.
Small smiles in the corners of their mouths, faces serene with love one moment, scrunched up with passion the other, peaceful on certain notes of the song.
It was a beautiful display of balance, passion, trust, and love.
Beautiful.

I kept turning around to smile at Jen and say did you see that? After the third time I thought, okay, you look like a little kid. After the fourth time I thought, I don't care. This is sweet.

Then when the song was over they invited the best man and maid of honor for a dance and when the music started they made the crowd laugh by dancing Boy/Boy and Girl/Girl, hehe.

Then it was time for me to pack it up and leave.

I thanked the Couple and said goodbye.

{And they lived happily ever after}

OUT OF THE JUNK DRAWER.....

After seeing Captain Awesome's "junk" in the shower, a traumatized 'Chuck' Bartowski was eating "Nuts & More" cereal.

But there's more to the joke than that......

The commenters at Alan Sepinwall's blog "What's Alan Watching?" (see the link to the left, Super Troopers!) are some of the most knowledgeable televisiologists I've ever "hung out" with (no "junk" involved). And Pamela Jaye added this tidbit o' trivia:

"Apparently it's a cross-network cereal, as Cristina has also eaten it, on 'Grey's Anatomy' - twice."

I'm taking her word for it. As a fictional product that enriches the TV Universe, "Nuts & More" can now link 'Chuck' to 'Grey's Anatomy'.

Someday I'm going to get the necessary pics that shows the breakfast cereal which links 'My Favorite Martian' to 'The Courtship Of Eddie's Father'!

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Indigenous Peoples celebrate failed scam 'bailout'

INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION OF FAILED U.S. “BAIL-OUT” OF WALL STREET
WE ARE HOPING THAT COLONIAL LAND SCAMS ON TURTLE ISLAND WILL COLLAPSE FOR GOOD
MOHAWK NATION NEWS
Sept. 30, 2008. All is not lost. There is a good side to the economic “melt down” of the bankers’ attempts to continue their enslavement of the people. Thanks to the senators who refused to bail out these crooks, maybe we can save the planet. The U.S. dollar is going south hot on the heels of the U.S. reputation. These swindlers believe that anyone who doesn’t have independent wealth has no claim to even the smallest crust of bread. The indigenous way is that nature provides to all. We have a right to the food we need.
We never surrendered our territories. Every square inch of Turtle Island is Indigenous. We are so glad the gluttony for our territories and resources may come to an end. We Indigenous are still here to issue our warnings. European colonial incursion into Onowaregeh, Turtle Island, began with fraud and continued for 500 years, to the peril and detriment of the Indigenous peoples.
Read article:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/09/indigenous-celebration-of-failed-us.html

BIG BANG BAG O' ZONKS!

When Sheldon had to splain how he was able to pack so quickly on the season premiere of 'The Big Bang Theory', he told Leonard, "It's my pre-packed disaster evacuation bag. It’s recommended by the Department of Homeland Security and Sarah Connor." ("The Bad Fish Paradigm")

I love this kind of Zonk! The writer of the episode knew he didn't have to beat the audience over the head with who Sarah Connor was or what TV show/movie she's in, etc. This gives us plenty of leeway in disabling the Zonk.

Because the "Terminator" movies and the TV series 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" were not mentioned by Sheldon, we can make the assumption he was talking about the actual woman.

Sheldon probably spends a lot of time on the internet, and he's probably come across websites that deal in revolutionary themes - survivalist manifestos, the Anarchist's Cookbook, that sort of thing. I don't think Sarah Connor herself would have posted about the do's and don'ts of survivalist preparedness, but her advice to others while she was hiding out with those South American rebels might have been passed on via the web.

And that's how Sheldon would have stumbled across the information... information... information.....

Zonk terminated!

BCnU!
Toby O'B

COMING SOON: "CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS"

On the trip to the train station last week so that I could get back to Toobworld Central, my brother and I were talking about old TV mini-series. I mentioned my favorite, 'Centennial' and how I now owned the DVD boxed-set; the two-part TV movie 'Vanished', based on a novel by Fletcher Knebel and starring Richard Widmark with an all-star cast; and 'Captains And The Kings', based on the novel by Taylor Caldwell.

'Captains And The Kings' came up because of a blackmail sequence near the end of the original movie version of "All The King's Men", which we saw on TCM that Wednesday night. It reminded me of a scene between Richard Jordan and Henry Fonda in the mini-series.

When I got home, this e-mail was waiting for me from TV Shows On DVD:

We've added a news item for "Captains and the Kings (mini-series)" to the site. Here it is:

The Classic 1976 Drama Miniseries is Coming to DVD in January - 1:05 PM 9/29/2008 "Captains and the Kings" is on the way to DVD, and we've got the release date and cover art for you in the TVShowsOnDVD News!

Here's the cover art for 'Captains And The Kings'.

Suze Orman says that I should lay off using the plastic and bring down my debt in these perilous financial times and I'm going to take her advice. But right after I order this, a Toobworld holy grail!

BCnU!

Toby O'B

TODAY'S TWD: PLATO'S RETREAD

The Greek philosopher Plato is the last in the triumvirate of historical figures whom Paul Newman portrayed on 'You Are There'.......

Plato (428/427 BC – 348/347 BC), was a Classical Greek philosopher, who, together with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophy. Plato was also a mathematician, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the western world. Plato was originally a student of Socrates, and was as much influenced by his thinking as by what he saw as his teacher's unjust death.

Plato's sophistication as a writer can be witnessed by reading his Socratic dialogues. Some of the dialogues, letters, and other works that are ascribed to him are considered spurious. Although there is little question that Plato lectured at the Academy that he founded, the pedagogical function of his dialogues, if any, is not known with certainty. The dialogues since Plato's time have been used to teach a range of subjects, mostly including philosophy, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, and other subjects about which he wrote.

The trial of Socrates is the central, unifying event of the great Platonic dialogues. Because of this, Plato's Apology is perhaps the most often read of the dialogues. In the Apology, Socrates tries to dismiss rumors that he is a sophist and defends himself against charges of disbelief in the gods and corruption of the young. Socrates insists that long-standing slander will be the real cause of his demise, and says the legal charges are essentially false. Socrates famously denies being wise, and explains how his life as a philosopher was launched by the oracle at Delphi. He says that his quest to resolve the riddle of the oracle put him at odds with his fellow man, and that this is the reason he has been mistaken for a menace to the city-state of Athens.

Here's an interesting look at the Cult of Plato.....

Aliens from another world came to Earth and were caught up by the teachings of Plato, which they took with them when they departed the planet. However, by the time the crew of the starship Enterprise met those same beings thousands of years later (in the 'Star Trek' episode "Plato's Stepchildren"), those values had been corrupted by their long-lived petty cruelties.

Others who have played Plato in Toobworld are Peter Needham in "The Apple", an episode of 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', and J.G. Hertzler in the "Double Time" episode of 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch'.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Monday, September 29, 2008

Sounds of the Longest Walk Northern Route

Sounds of the Longest Walk

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

There's about 500 audios from the Longest Walk northern route from the talk radio show on Earthcycles http://www.earthcycles.net/ In honor of those who walked, here's a few of the best days of interviews and songs.

--Fallon Stillwater, Paiute Shoshone, with songs by Miwok walkers and Savage family CD:

http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?24 .net/journal/index.php?24
Paiute tanning and gathering with Wesley Dick:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?23

--Longest Walk, Lake Tahoe to Cave Rock, Nevada
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?18

--Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Colorado, songs and talk by Montrose mayor:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?47

--Colorado: Ben Carnes, interviews on Leonard Peltier; interview with 1978 walker David Velarde, 3/30/2008:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?56

--Sand Creek Memorial: Remembering the massacred Cheyenne and Arapaho:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?60
Marty Chase Alone, Oglala, representing the Red Cloud people and a Tiospaye of the Big Road Band, "Wiping the tears," at Sand Creek:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?63

--Yankton SD. hog protest, with Lakota songs
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?82

--Cimarron, Kansas: Govinda's pick of a great cow song, "Cows are fun ..." since this is slaughterhouse and feedlot country. This is one of the best shows. There's an interview on Maori Sovereignty with Sharon Heta and Michael Lane walkers from New Zealand. It includes an interview with walkers Sony and Justin, who talk about Kansas, cows and rain:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?68

--Walkers respond to attack by Columbus, Ohio, police, and AIM song at Ohio Capitol:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?105 earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?105
More walker comments on police attack, from camp at Raccoon State Park:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?113

--Interviews with Navajo, Lakota, Menominee, Euchee and other walkers on May 6, 2008, Knob Noster State Park, Missouri:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?87

--International Indian Treaty Council Human Rights Forum, with comments by Andrea Carmen, Lenny Foster, Ute youth walker Adriano Buckskin and others, in Illinois:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?88

--The AIM song led by Calvin Magpie, Cheyenne Arapaho, powwow songs and talk, at the Cahokia Mounds Powwow in Illinois on May 10, 2008
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?89

--Songs and speeches on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol at Harrisburg, including Mohawk and Tuscarora drum song, on June 30, 2008:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?118 118 ournal/index.php?118

--Craig Luther, Navajo, sings at Greenbelt Park, Maryland (by the tree 2008-7-10); Shoshone: Darlene Graham, Shoshone speaks on traditional healing and Janice Gardipe, Paiute and Shoshone, sings a

n honor song for the walkers:
http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?125

Listen to Keith Secola's NDN Cars online. Secola was among the performers at the Longest Walk Concert in DC:
http://www.secola.com/

Earthcycles is produced by Govinda Dalton. Longest Walk talk radio cohost is Brenda Norrell. Photos: Photo 1: Carl Bad Bear Sampson drumming outside Newmont Mining at Longest Walk prayer and protest in downtown Denver/Photo Brenda Norrell. Photo 2: Michael Lane with daughter/Photo Brita Brookes. Photo 3: Luv the Mezenger arrested by Columbus, Ohio, police who attacked Long walkers unprovoked/Photo Marie Littlemoon. Photo 4: Longest Walk northern route at Cahokia Mounds/Photo Brenda Norrell. Photo 5: On the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol/Photo Brenda Norrell. Photo 6: At the drum, Janice Gardipe, Paiute Shoshone, with Darlene Graham, Western Shoshone/Photo Brenda Norrell.

As long as the paloma bowls are ok, I am too...

oh sweet jesus.

I met my YouTube bride today to pick up wedding stuff to take with me on Saturday for her wedding. Pretty important stuff, menus, place cards, GLASS bowls, GLASS, flutes, Paloma's nest bowls.

{here}

Ya know, pretty important stuff that should be handled carefully!!!!
Here's why I'm emphasizing the glass and my point.
As I am driving to my studio to drop off these precious items thinking about how I always feel a little anxious being responsible for the brides stuff in case something happens to me or my studio.

I GET INTO A FREAKING ACCIDENT!!!
HORROR.
As I am exiting the freeway that ramp always has a bit of traffic because it's by the Bart station and so it backs up. Well I start to slow down to to hit the brakes as I get closer to the car that's about to stop in front of me, I stop and look in my rear view mirror and notice the truck behind me safely comes to a stop as well, look ahead again, immediately hear squealing tires, a bang and then feel a car smash into my car.

What went through my mind?

My beloved kids???
My love, my friend, my husband??
My precious back and how I kinda like walking upright???

NO.

I thought:

HOLY SHIZZ, where are those Paloma bowls and those glass bowls BETTER not be broken!!!!!!!

A DOC has to have her priorities straight..........haha, just kidding. I knew I was fine but my main concern once I realized OK, I'm alright it's just a fender bender, was all the glass items in my trunk. Everything was fine, thank goodness, I triple checked and finally calmed down to realize that the fabulous Paloma's Nest were in the front seat next to me. But for a second I did freak out because the wedding is a week away and there was no way to replace those nest if something did happen.
*Shudder*
Thankfully all is right with the world and I let the other drivers live once I figured out everything was ok.....................

Thanks, Mom!

For the beautiful appliqued tablecloth and napkins. You know it will be put to good use when entertaining. I love the colors, and the edging on all the pieces is lovely lovely lovely!

Sneak Peek

The stamping on the curtains is going along well. I have one of the four panels almost done and from here on out should be able to do a panel a night, getting them hung this weekend. I'm on a roll with getting projects done; there should be a gas shortage more often, keeping me home crafting.

This evening before I hit the sack I'm going to start working on the scarecrow. It's going to be a she. And I have an idea for hair that just might work. She's all sketched out and should be the crowning touch on getting Chateau Gahan ready for the Fall. And just wait 'til you see what Harleigh and I are doing for Trunk-or-Treat at our church this year . . .

The Pelican Inn: My YouTube Bride

So by now you know that I always name my brides

Indie Bride
Tango Bride
Orchid Bride
Daisy Bride
Blue Bride
You Tube Bride
Google Bride
Peony Bride
Stargazer Bride
Uber Blue Bride
Wild Child Bride

using a distinct detail that allows me to keep details in order, keep names separate because I have three Michelle's I'm working with for example, and mainly so that I can blog about my weddings without divulging names and whatnot. They are silly little names that keep things right in my head and it works for me. :)

Here are some of the details of my YouTube bride.

It's coming up and it's going to be at the Pelican Inn

Pelican Inn
10 Pacific Way
Muir Beach 94965

Seriously, it is the cutest tudor style house EVER!
16th century country side truly awaits you.

I'm so excited to see how the place looks with all the wedding flowers and personal touches the brides is incorporating into the wedding.

Look at all the mailboxes lined up at the entrance of the little town{?}

This is the front of the house where the bride and groom will be tying the knot.
Can you just hear the birds signing ala cinderella???

This long table just really made my mind spin with the possibilities of different center pieces and candles. It's dark and romantic in there and I *love* the vibe it gives off. I swear, I wanted to book a room and cuddle up next to my husband and share a pint of something!

Here's is the outside area to eat and it's going to look magical once the sun sets and the lights start twinkling.

Here is the shot of my ride home. I just love the City. There is no place like San Francisco and on a clear night like this, the City looks amazing.

Even in traffic.

When you are not supposed to be taking pictures.
While driving.

Anyhow!
Stay tuned for the details of the wedding next weekend! :)

TODAY'S TWD: NATHAN HALE

I'm not sure it will work out, but I'm going to try for a Paul Newman-related Tiddlywinkydink every day this week. We'll see how it goes.

Paul Newman played three different historical figures on 'You Are There' - Brutus, Plato, and Nathan Hale.

There have been several portrayals of Nathan Hale on television over the years:

Kevin Anderson (I) (Nathan Hale)

. . . Hale the Hero (1992) (TV)

Brandon De Wilde (Young Nathan Hale)

. . . "Young Rebels, The" (1970) {To Hang a Hero (#1.4)} TV Series

Paul Newman (I) (Nathan Hale)

. . . "You Are There" (1953) {The Fate of Nathan Hale (September 22, 1776) (#2.1)} TV Series

Jeremy Slate (I) (Captain Nathan Hale)

. . . "Great Adventure, The" (1963) {The Story of Nathan Hale (#1.5)} TV Series

The TV movie starring Kevin Anderson should probably be considered the official standard bearer

for Hale's life in the TV Universe, as it may be more detailed. But I always have a soft spot for those portrayals of historical figures in scripted TV series, when they interact with fictional characters. So I'm also leaning towards De Wilde's Nathan Hale in 'The Young Rebels', especially as the episode doesn't really interfere with established facts. The three main characters, members of the Yankee Doodle Society of spies and saboteurs, act on the periphery of the historical account.

Here is a biographical thumbnail sketch of Nathan Hale, courtesy of Wikipedia:

Nathan Hale (June 6, 1755 – September 22, 1776) was an officer for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Widely considered America's first spy, he volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission, but was captured by the British. He is best remembered for his speech before being hanged following the Battle of Long Island, in which he reportedly said, "I only regret that I have but one life to give my country."

Hale has long been considered an American hero and, in 1985, he was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut (my home state).

You can read more about him at his Wikipedia page.

That episode of 'The Young Rebels', "To Hang A Hero", shows Nathan Hale giving the full quote as "I am well satisfied with the cause in which I have engaged. I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country!"

In Toobworld, his sacrifice inspired the parents of Nathan Bridger ('Seaquest DSV') to name him after Hale. (However, this show probably takes place in an alternate dimension, perhaps the one that is home to Jeremy Slate's portrayal of the Revolutionary War hero on 'The Great Adventure'.

Coincidentally, Newman and De Wilde appeared together in the movie "Hud".........

I've always been honored that I share the same birthday as Nathan Hale, separated by 200 years......

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Keepin' The Dream Alive

Mini mongo pusher throwin' it down on a street course...It can be done.

Health and Hovid

Advertorial

I've been sent a bottle of "Anti-oxidants" by Hovid, the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in Malaysia.

Quite frankly, throughout my life I've never taken health supplements before! When I was a kid maybe I did chew on those orangey robots vitamins, but that was it.

Mike, however, is always popping vitamin pills.

While I look at him, politely puzzled, he always just says "our bodies don't get enough vitamins".

I guess what he says has some truth in it, coz with all the junk we are eating nowadays, I think it is highly unlikely I am hitting my vitamins quota, and neither are you (if you are not some health nut).

Therefore, health supplements!!

This little bottle that they sent me says "Maxi Bio Absorption" and claims to have this thing called "Coenzyme Q10" in it. What? I don't understand what that is!

Fortunately trusty wikipedia is always around for things that matter (ahem therefore I'm on it, ahahaha!), and I was quite shocked to see how awesome this Q10 thing is!

Skipping the boring parts, in short, it helps:

Mitochondrial Disorders - Dunno what it is but I hope I don't get it.

Migraine headaches

Cancer - as a relief for cancer treatment side-effects and being investigated as a treatment.

Brain health

Cardiac arrest

Blood pressure

And even increased the lifespan of rats who take it!

It's like a miracle thing leh!!

But actually, this Q10 occurs naturally in our bodies (as well as in other things such as chicken leg/pork heart), just that most of the time we don't produce enough, or do not absorb enough of it.

This is where Q10 Supra-Bio comes in. It's absorption formula makes it easy for our bodies to absorb loads and loads of Q10!!

Wait, I hear something...

The pills want out!

These little yellow pills are chockful of Q10 goodness...

I'm gonna eat them!

Ahem.

Today I am going to teach you how to take your vitamins!!

Pose with your pills. No reason. Just do it.

Open bottle. Smell it a bit. Is it moldy?
Check expiry date. 1989? No? 2011? Ok good.

Pick your favourite pill of the lot!

Pop it into mouth! Don't bite, swallow!

Water to flush it down. Plus water is good for you!!

Task finished!

Show love or it won't work for you.

True story.

OK la, those were just lame excuses to cam-whore.

But seriously though... I watched Money No Enough 2 (very sad show leh...), and those of you who have seen it are probably also reminded of the importance of health.

Taking care of one's body is really crucial and people should not take a back seat and take good health for granted.

It is true! If you can't be bothered to exercise, then health supplements should be taken - after all, they are so easy... No effort needed whatsoever.

(Unless of course you are in some desert and water is very scarce so you can't swallow your pills.... But then again people in deserts probably don't take health supplements.)

So, where do you go to if you want to buy some vitamins?

HOVID.SG of course!!

It is no secret I am a big fan of online shopping, and I can't believe now you can even buy health products online!

The steps are really easy - choose your product, register, pay, and if you are in Singapore, you will get your products within one day!

Now that's what I call awesome shipping!

If you have any enquiries, the best thing is, there is a live desk of Hovid staff who are more than willing to answer your questions immediately!

No more need more long emails and waiting for replies (only to realise the person misunderstood your question. Always happens to me).

Hovid's website is exceedingly easy to navigate, and their products range from Teas to Women's Nutrition to Cardiovascular... Got a lot la!

Of course, you have to be very careful and stringent when purchasing consumable items.

Who can forget the Slim10 incidents?!

Therefore, only purchase from the most trustworthy companies!

Hovid Berhad is a listed company based in Ipoh, Perak, and has been around since 1945. It first started when Dr. Ho Kai Cheong founded Ho Yan Hor tea.

Familiar?

It's this one!

My dad and mom love it.

The company has since then grown into one of the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world with over 300 products and distributing to over 40 countries.

I've personally had the pills and I am feeling fit as a fiddle!!

So get your much-needed vitamins today, you couch potato!

If not, get it for your elderly parents/grandparents, you unfilial person!

Click here to buy!

(Also I suspect it is cheaper to buy directly from the production company...)

POSTNOTE: Since so many of you have asked me, my lip gloss is from Chanel and its colour 106. It should cost either $40 or $30, I forgot!