Breakfast in a red state

Hanging out at the McDonalds this morning has certainly been an interesting experience. I never realized how the media in Michigan matches up so clearly with my political beliefs. I mean, sure, I don’t agree with everything…but generally the news and radio doesn’t send me into a fiery rage.

So far I’ve listened to a conversation about Obama propaganda posters, Home Depot and their ‘anti-family’ leanings, the death penalty, farming restrictions and terrorists.

The part of my head that’s a bleeding heart liberal is desperate to teach these folks the error of their ways.

I’m silencing that part with sweet tea. ;-)

Good morning from Arkansas! I'm a bit sleepy still but excited to get out and explore historic Pocahontas...and not so historic McDonalds breakfast menu!

Pizza for dinner that was so big it had to turn sideways to get inside. Used bthrm with a MSU blanket for a door. Fan blowing on me is full of candy. Busy day.

We have arrived in Pocahontas. The apartment is small. Very small. We are on the way to walmart to buy sheets. Saw the hospital were Garrett was born.

Score!! Have seen an armadillo! New goal for the trip is to get my pic with one...does anyone know if they bite?

We will be in Arkansas in 3...2...1! Yay!

Crossed the mighty mississippi river and am now in Missouri.

Sitting at a rest area in Illinois listening to bird song. Totally relaxing!

Fox news is on here at McDonalds. I'll try not to let it ruin my breakfast. :)

There were six different kinds of skittles to choose from at the rest area. I picked the fizzy kind!

Good morning Indiana!

Oh 3am, you are not nearly as interesting as you advertise. I propose skipping you entirely and hitting the snooze till the sun comes up.

Things I’ve learned from my siblings

Halloween edition!

1. Caveman is both a noun and a verb. Example: “Dude…Caveman, you totally cavemaned that chair!”

2. My sewing skills are not as appreciated by my siblings as much as my ability to make lanyards for dinosaur bones. Go figure.

3. “Sharing” means people steal my cookies when I’m busy looking the other direction. S’okay, it also means that I can distract people and steal them back.

4. Hamburger flavored Combos taste like sadness and bad dreams. And mustard.

5. You are never too old for laughter, imagination and a good wig.

Owl you’d like to hear some music?

Craftiness! And even more than that…hand-stitched craftiness! I’m personally not a huge fan of anything that brings my fingers any closer to a needle, but I wanted to fiddle with something while I was watching a scary episode of Stargate Atlantis.

I was able to use leftover fabric for the front, back and lining and then felt for the rest of the bits. I’m still not sure about the closure. The pattern I was working off of used a snap but I don’t know how to attach one of those, so I used a simple flap. It’s not the most effective but it’ll do. If I make this pattern again I’ll probably do a button. Depending on how hard this one is to open and close, I might add a button here. The felt was much easier to work with than I thought and now I really want to go back and find all the tutorials I skipped because they were felt projects. Looking at the pictures, it’s very easy to tell that I could benefit from learning some stitches (and maybe cutting a straight line). But since I don’t really know any stitches, and considering that I was hiding behind a pillow from the scary aliens on the TV, it’s not half bad. I really like the design and while it’s a bit bigger than my mp3 player, I like the size of the owl so who gives a hoot if it’s a bit roomy. I’m ready to load my mp3 player into its new cute little home and stay up all night listening to tunes.

Stephen Cannell 1968 – 2010

A trip through this man’s credits as a writer, producer and novelist is like a trip through awesomeness. His TV shows were entertaining and really, that’s what any writer wants to do…to entertain their audience. During his career he created/cocreated loads of shows including some of the best crime comedy/dramedys around and writing scripts for a bunch of others. 21 Jumpstreet, Wiseguy, Hardcastle and McCormick, The Rockford Files, The Commish, Silk Stalkings, The Greatest American Hero, Renegade, Adam-12, Baretta, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (who’s credits on youtube make me sad that I missed this show!), and of course, my personal favorite of his television work…The A-Team.

  Oh yeah, it doesn’t really get much better than explosions and vans and bad jokes.

He’s also been seen on Castle, as one of Rick Castle’s author poker buddies. In fact, he and Nathan Fillion did a cute video called “Write-Along with Nathan Fillion” for the first season Castle DVD’s. It’s hilarious and totally worth checking out.

A writer’s legacy is measured in how their work stands the test of time. Cannell wrote and produced shows that worked to entertain and excite their audience and in the process, became pop culture icons. So many of the themes, shows and characters Stephen Cannell created are still a part of American TV and pop ulture and that is a legacy to be proud of.