Murphy's Law

So, yesterday was ugly, gray, and cold (for LA) with rain in the forecast for last night and today. So, about noon yesterday, I spoke with the other YW leaders and we cancelled our trip to Disneyland--to be postponed until later this Spring. It rained cats and dogs last night; but, of course, the sun shone all day today. My girls were NOT happy! But, had we not postponed, it would have rained today...

Proud to Be an American

Evan Lysacek is a class act! In addition to his amazing performance on Thursday night in men's long program, his interview last night during the Olympic coverage was humble and mature. It's too bad that Evgeni Plushenko can't show the same respect for his sport and the other competitors in the field!

Hopeless Romantic

I admit that I am a hopeless, sappy romantic; and, I LOVE chick flicks. Thanks to my friend Barbara, I got to see this one at a screening on the Warner Bros. lot last night. It's so much fun to be on the lot...makes me feel way more important and connected than I am. I guess I just choose my friends appropriately. ;) Anyway, I digress...Valentine's Day is a pretty good as far as chick flicks go...some predictability, some surprises, and you CANNOT beat the cast! It was also fun that it was filmed entirely in the LA area...it's always fun to recognize the sites as they pop up on the screen.

One of the things that is fun about the WB screenings is that they always do an intro with insider information about the movie. This movie was all about being green. It was fascinating to hear how much they did with solar panels, biodiesel and recycling. Here's an article about it:

"The production is among the first in the film industry to consciously “go green” in a major way and try to lessen its environmental impact.

Executive Producer Diane Pokorny was largely responsible for spearheading the project’s green initiative, which extended from director and cast to the entire crew. It encompassed virtually every aspect of production, including the use of reusable set pieces, solar-powered lighting, hybrid or biodiesel vehicles, solar and biodiesel generators, and biodegradable plates and utensils at craft services. The crew even composted or recycled 25 tons of waste. Every member of the cast and crew was given his or her own reusable stainless -steel water bottle, eliminating the need for thousands of plastic bottles during the production.

'Every department was very proactive about coming back to us with ideas on what they could do, and we also had the strong back of Warner Bros, which was key. We met with [Warner Bros. Pictures sustainable production manager] Jon Romano about how to make the entire production more environmentally responsible,' said Pokorny. 'It’s not only about making a difference now; it’s about creating technologies and methods that will continue to be improved upon for the next movie. And so on. It was exciting for everyone involved in the film because they could see the tangible differences they can make.'

...Warner Brothers estimates that it reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 67 metric tons. Filmmakers explain that the solar generators increased the costs, but otherwise the movie did not cost more to make.

'There are a lot of things wrong with our environment, so to ‘go green’ seemed to be a very good thing. It’s not that big and effort; if we could do it, others can do it,' Marshall says."

Amazing Race

I love this show; but this season, I'm particularly excited that this team is playing...I know, I'm a geek...I just loved them on Big Brother, so it's exciting to see them on the race. However, there is going to be a contest between Jordan and the Miss Teen contestant for who can say the stupidest thing on The Race! Seriously, girls...you do nothing for showing the intelligence of the female portion of the human race!

Oh yes I am...

Stay tuned...after way too much time figuring out the "system" on my part, my young women did a service project for the Burbank Temporary Aid Center (we made 302 sack lunches for the homeless) and I'm taking them to Disneyland on Saturday...should be a wild and crazy day!

Not enough hours in the day!

I LOVE the Olympics. Perhaps its watching people accomplish tasks I don't even dream of accomplishing. I mean, I can't even skate around an ice rink once without something (or someone) to hold on to; so, the idea of things like triple or quadruple toe loops is unfathomable to me. Don't even ask about my abilities on skis...I've been once and it wasn't pretty! And, the Summer Olympics aren't any better...just ask my mom how successful swim lessons were when I was growing up...I'm not going to drown in the water, but I'm also not going to successfully swim laps using any stroke!

Perhaps its watching the world come together in the spirit of good old-fashioned competition.

I don't know...I just love watching them.

The trouble is that work is suddenly busier than it's been in a LONG time! It's probably the busiest I've been in 3 1/2 years. Or, perhaps I just don't remember how busy I was a year and a half ago because I've spent the last year cutting my hours in an attempt to heed the advice of my annual reviewers by delegating more work and just plain taking time to do other things with my life. So, I'm not just WAY TOO busy, I'm also way out of practice working these kinds of hours. And, I've got about a million other commitments that have taken the place of work. So, I'm not really sure where I'm supposed to squeeze in 6-plus hours of sporting events per days.

Oh, and of course, Amazing Race and Survivor have started in the middle of all of this too.

Ahhhhhhh....the complicated things in life. ;)

Tax Refunds R Us...

It's obscene how much I pay in taxes each year...it seems like a lot when I get each paycheck, but when the W-2 comes, the total number is shocking! I feel only slightly better having now done my taxes and knowing that I'm getting a refund from BOTH the Feds and the State. It's going straight into my savings account, but at least it will be MY money and not someone elses. (I know, where's the Democrat in me when I make these comments???? What can I say, I'd rather control where I contribute my money...can't say the Feds or the State do a very good job when they have control of it!)