KOEB: April 15, 2005 HAPPY TAX DAY! OR NOT.

[Gogi]

Thought I would start the thread tonight since I did my taxes two months ago.

:loveya: KO, wherever you are!


At this rate the only way anyone named Olbermann will be on Countdown would be if Keith married Alison. Alison Olbermann, sounds like a '60's song title.

'Jennifer Juniper', 'Alison Olbermann', yep!

[stepnw1f]

1. I Payed My Dues

Now that's patriotism.

[Catchawave]

2. That makes me a "patriot" too :)

Hi Step :hi:

[Gogi]

3. Wow.

The others in our merry band must be racing to the post office. Hi Catch! Hi Step!

[Catchawave]

6. It's still early here....they'll be a'comin' soon :)

Usually I don't look for KOEB til about 8:15pm, but when I signed on tonight, your post was on top of the Latest page...so kewl!

[Gogi]

9. By the time I finish watching Countdown it's 8:00 CST here.............

and there are a gazillion posts.

Good news:
The doctors office is going to pay for my eyeglasses.

[gkhouston]

194. They damned well should. The morans. :-)

Glad you didn't have to hassle 'em for weeks over it. If you're like me, they're bifocals, which means they aren't cheap. Glad someone else is picking up the tab.

[Catchawave]

4. Hi Gogi....

You must've gotten a refund ! We just mailed ours yesterday :cry:

For Keith :loveya:

I swear, Monica was wearing a maternity top last night !?!

[Gogi]

5. I did'nt notice.

Do you think KO will pay another stealth visit tonight?

[WhirlyGirl]

20. Catch, I thought she was taking on that look, too . . .

. . . but I don't have a good track record for predicting such things.

Maybe it's true, if you noticed it also.

Gidge! - one for you :loveya: and one for the maybe-baby! :loveya:

[Catchawave]

67. For some reason, her blouse was very loose,

not typical for news bunny attire :) Sorry, I've got to stop watching IMUS...acckkkkk.

[WhirlyGirl]

71. Don't follow the Imus ref . . .

. . . but I thought she had that look about the face. That would be too sweet: Gidget's child!

:loveya:

[sparky_in_ma]

70. NO!

It can't be.:cry:

[WhirlyGirl]

75. Sparky, why are you sad?

. . . She may still be able to surf -- until the 6th month or so!

[sparky_in_ma]

78. She was to be my

back up in case Alison didn't want me.:cry:

[WhirlyGirl]

82. But she's already. . .

. . . taken!

Gidge was married last summer. Not to Moondoggie -- to a young financier.

[sparky_in_ma]

87. I didn't have a problem with that.

But once she's married and a mom it's different.

[RevCheesehead]

92. as it should be.

(repeats to self: "no more Sparky sympathy...")

[WhirlyGirl]

98. Okay . . . then you've got ...

... scruples -- of a sort!

[sparky_in_ma]

104. Very high ones

in a low sorta way.:smoke:

[gkhouston]

196. meaning you wouldn't dream of committing adultery with Gidge

but you'll go on fantasizing about that terrorist attack on Wall Street? :eyes:

[sparky_in_ma]

7. Keith can not marry Alison

She's mine.:loveya:

[Gogi]

14. OH,and I want you to have her Sparks!

They got more new, goodlooking young chicks in today! It would reduce the temptation by one.

:loveya: KO

[sparky_in_ma]

26. I'm always willing to do my part for the KOEB

O8)

[WhirlyGirl]

8. Gogi, I love your opener!

:hi:

[Gogi]

17. Thank you, Whirls.

I thought about trying my hand at writing a song but you'll be glad to hear that I shelved the idea!

[WhirlyGirl]

28. Hey, I'm always four-square in favor of creative efforts!

. . . Let's hear ya wail, man! (Beatnik KO here)

[Patsy Stone]

10. Hey, everyone!

The airlines should have started offering the opportunity for Mile High Club membership years ago. Maybe they'd be in better financial straits today.

:hi:

[Catchawave]

16. Hi Pats, Hi Whirly....

Happy April 15th...Can this country be saved :)

[Patsy Stone]

30. Of course it can

and we're gonna help. :)

"I gotta hop." - *

[WhirlyGirl]

32. NNNGU!!!!!

[sparky_in_ma]

21. : )

I never had the nerve.:scared:

[RevCheesehead]

23. heh - it's the "I hit a mattress" photo!

Good evening, Pats. How's your driving lately? :)

[Patsy Stone]

33. :)

I'm always happy when I make it here incident-free. I believe it's time for a cocktail. Happy Friday, Rev. :hi:

[WhirlyGirl]

38. Hi, Rev and SwissBob!

. . . That's got to be the most dissipated KO ever looked in his life!

[RevCheesehead]

42. ya think?

Maybe it's a preview of the second-to-last chapter of Gull Bay. :evilgrin:

[Catchawave]

11. Alison tonight......

I love her, but not the same...no Fri news quiz either....I'm in such withdrawl...LOL.

:loveya: Keith, wherever you are!

[WhirlyGirl]

12. Hi, step, Catch, Sparky & Patsy!

. . . Sparky, can you set me up with my usual 7&7?

[sparky_in_ma]

15. Sure Whirly

:toast: (my internet connection is working so far tonite.):woohoo:

[WhirlyGirl]

24. Yum! You always make them full-strength :-)

. . . Hope your connection holds out!

[RevCheesehead]

13. Actually, it sounds like a cousin of mine.

Howdy, folks, and happy Friday! :hi:

for the missing KO: :loveya:

[sparky_in_ma]

18. How was your meeting last nite?

and how is your mom doing?

[RevCheesehead]

35. hi there, Sparky.

Mom is good, and should be going back home tomorrow.

Church meeting was - well, honestly confrontational. I had to take 'em to the woodshed. Told them their actions and words were not acceptable Christian behavior. A Truth-Telling night.


So - cheer me up, cheezy buddy. (please?)

[sparky_in_ma]

37. Oh My

You were spanking last nite?:spank: On a lighter note, I showed Hope my tools last nite. (made you smile.)

[RevCheesehead]

44. you are such an exhibitionist

you must know that I like that in a person. :)

[sparky_in_ma]

46. Can't help it

I'm such a flirt.:evilgrin:

[Catchawave]

25. Hi Rev, Hi Sparky.....

This Hi stuff is "hard work" whew.

Merlot for me Sparks :beer: <----that's about the right size glass!

[sparky_in_ma]

27. Wow

you sure put that down quick.:o

[Catchawave]

47. LOL.... I *paid* taxes.....

I just hope the muti-gazillionaires are paying their fair share too!

...pour me another barkeep :beer: :patriot:

[sparky_in_ma]

49. : )

:toast: (I paid a few weeks ago):-(

[SharonRB]

19. Hi, Gogi

and everyone else. I got my refund two or three weeks ago.

[sparky_in_ma]

31. Hi Sharon

Good to see you back up.:D

[SharonRB]

41. It's good to be back.

I missed you guys. How about a celebratory Cosmo?

http://re2.mm-b.yimg.com/image/1239373256

Okay, how come this isn't working?

[Catchawave]

34. HI Sharon....

REfunds are good !

We've been paying for the past 20 years, it sucks. Much easier when I was sending it to Jimmy and Bill :)

[SharonRB]

45. Hi, Catch!

Refunds are great! We used to always owe, but the last couple or few years we've been getting money back.

I used to file much earlier when my daughter was in college and I had to file the dumb FAFSA form. Now I put it off, even when I get a refund, but I went to the accountant at the beginning of March.

[RevCheesehead]

39. she's baaaaack!

Yea!!!

Snark away, sister, snark away.

[sparky_in_ma]

43. I don't know if it's a local commercial

or not, but I am sick of the enzymte commercial. If I see Bob and his happy partner one more time. (commercial was just on for"natural male enhancment.)

[RevCheesehead]

48. spoken like a true man

who is comfortable with his tools and keeps them in perfect working order. ;)

[sparky_in_ma]

52. I really hate

the damn grin on his face. x(

[RevCheesehead]

68. just think of it as

superficial sex for superficial people.

[Clark2008]

106. Yoo-hoo, Sparky...

I want a margarita tonight.

Need a summery drink after 80-degree temps and yard work. :)

Can you spot me one?

:hi:

[sparky_in_ma]

108. I never would miss spoting you.

:loveya: :toast:

[Clark2008]

112. Extra salt, please...

:)

Makes my mouth pucker... and for some unGodly reason, that reminds me of summer! :rofl:

[sparky_in_ma]

114. : )

Your mouth always puckers in summer? Cool!:D

[Catchawave]

147. 80 in TN ???

We've had a friggin Nor-easter (45mph winds) today, wind chill was low 40's...and beating the blooms off my spring flowers and trees :(

I'm so jealous.

[SharonRB]

Hi, Rev

The only problem with being back now is that I can't see the TV from the computer. I got used to really watching while I couldn't be online.

[RevCheesehead]

74. "Dear hubby:"

"We need to get a portable TV in the computer room." :)

[SharonRB]

101. The TV is easy if it were on the networks

We have no way to get the cable in here and the small TV is too old for cable -- it's an old Sony with a dial!

[WhirlyGirl]

148. Sharon, you should've seen the set-up we had the Friday night when ...

. . . my husband put his little 13-inch TV in our computer room, so I could blog during the 2-hour special Countdown.

There was coaxial hanging over doorknobs and taped to the floor so it wouldn't get tripped over! Next day everything was back in its normal place, unfortunately -- so I'm in the same crazy dilemma you are, running back & forth between the upstairs landing and the computer room. <puff-puff!> :crazy:

[SharonRB]

150. At least I don't have to run up and down the stairs

But I miss a lot of the dialogue on the show. I don't think it's worth doing all that coaxial cable stuff every night. Plus, as I said, our little TV is too old anyway.

[WhirlyGirl]

155. I was actually thinking of getting (don't laugh, now) a BABY MONITOR ...

. . . so I could at least get the audio up in the computer room!

Oh well... all this running back & forth is keeping me fit!

The Countdown Workout Hour!
(Where's seito, with a workout smilie? Hey -- where's SEITO???)

[Clark2008]

22. Tax day was Feb. 1 for me - since they always owe ME money

Heh - the one time of the year it pays to be a single parent. ;)

:hi: all!

[Catchawave]

29. Hi Clark !

Refunds are good, you've earned it this year!

[sparky_in_ma]

36. Hmmm

They keep turning me down when I try to claim Jamie. Cats are people too.:(

[Gogi]

51. My cat is black.

It might be bad luck to try and claim the destructive little beastie!

[sparky_in_ma]

56. Jamie isn't destructive at all

She is such a sweet little girl. (on my lap now so I have to say that)

[Gogi]

80. Female kitties usually aren't..............

my furberry is a tom. He was almost feral when I got him and won't allow anyone, even me, to pick him up. I was really surprised when he turned into a lap kitty!

[RevCheesehead]

55. indeed they are.

my kids met their new V-E-T today (spelled out in case Oreo comes lurking over my shoulder). It was a rough day, and I escaped with a few minor scratches.

[sparky_in_ma]

66. That commercial is on again!

:grr: Damn he must be small!

[RevCheesehead]

88. hmmm.... how to distract Sparky....

:think: ripable bodice, thigh-highs, commando...
How about every time you see smirking Bob, you think of me instead??
(ok, that was lame, but hey - whatever works!) :loveya:

[sparky_in_ma]

95. Bob would have to

pop a few pills .:silly:

[Gogi]

40. Hi Clark!

Have any good job interviews or leads today? I know what you're going thru, I had to go to employment services years ago after suddenly losing my job and it sucked. Scary business when you're disabled or have a kid yo support.

[Clark2008]

50. Not a fantastic opportunity, but did find one and sent in my resume

It would be making the same as I was, so it's a wash.
Haven't heard back, yet, of course - I just e-mailed the resume today.

I heard that more people are leaving from where I used to work - seems they seem to be only laying off females! And - the females left there are, um, gettin' out while the gettin's good.

[Berry Cool]

54. "In case of vacation, break glass."

Gee, I hope the glass doesn't have to be broken again anytime soon!

Alison promised Keef's return Monday. She better not be lyin' to us!

[sparky_in_ma]

58. Alison would never lie

:loveya:

[WhirlyGirl]

60. Hi, Berry!

. . . Well, we're getting used to the ups-and-downs of the man's vacation schedule, but I think he's locked in for Mon.

[Catchawave]

153. I heard that too Berry....

..also it's the beginning of the Pope Conclave thingy week, no wonder MSNBC gave Keef a few days off to enjoy himself, it may be long hours for him next week!

I just figured this out :silly: Then again, I could watch KO read the yellow pages for hours too !

[Gogi]

64. Well, other than the paycheck, does'nt sound like much of a loss.

I've only worked in hospital medical record departments which are majority female. How do men get these unsupervised jobs? I watched some male MoDot workers move like molasses one day, not a supervisor in sight , and you know they make more than both of us did together in one year!

[Clark2008]

77. Who knows.

Same ole stereotypical crap that's gone on for centuries.
In this case, most of the support staff is female and the managers are male. Basically, they're cutting the support staff, which happens to be primarily female and making it miserable on the support staff still there.
They're just looking out for the f*in' stock options, if you ask me.
They have a product they've been trying to push - it's a decent product - but it simply won't sell in this area and they won't realize that. They're putting all their eggs in one basket and the basket's starting to come unraveled - so, rather than change their business plan, what do they do? Lay off staff and force others to leave.
:eyes:
Oh - and all the managers are Republicans, too. Imagine that!

[Gogi]

99. Well, my yearly income dropped like a rock when I went on

SSDI but at least I don't have to put up with management crap anymore. There are always compensations, just difficult to find them sometimes.

[Catchawave]

167. The bottom line should be...

you're happy :) Probably why I'm a Democrat, I just think we all need to learn to get along with less...without the stigma of keeping up with the Joneses, so to speak.

Believe it or not, there's alot in the same boat here in DU Happyville, it helps to know you're (generic) not alone.

[RevCheesehead]

102. that's interesting.

Keep your ears open for an anti-discrimination suit. At the very least, the fact that people are leaving should give you some satisfaction.

[WhirlyGirl]

53. "Lando's LOVE CHILD"???

[Berry Cool]

59. Oh, and I hate tax day, because I have to pay

You wouldn't think writing would pay that well, would you?

[WhirlyGirl]

65. Ah, a WRITER! What kind of writing do you do - nonfiction, or news? LOL!

[Clark2008]

83. Heh!

:7

(In old crotchedy voice): I remember the good ole days, back all of 6 years ago, when news writing was about getting out the truth.

;)

[sparky_in_ma]

91. And you had to

walk two miles, through waist deep snow,uphill both ways, just to write it. :D

[WhirlyGirl]

110. Well, at least we know there's ONE man striving to keep that tradition ...

. . . alive, against all odds. He is a true guardian of the American Fouth Estate! :patriot:

For News Kahuna Keith - :loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya:

[RevCheesehead]

133. Hey, WG

How are you doing tonight? :hi:

[WhirlyGirl]

138. Just keepin on . . .

. . . keepin on! :hi: back atcha!

[RevCheesehead]

145. glad to hear it.

Have you had a chance to anagram KO yet? There's much more to be discovered, I'm sure!

[WhirlyGirl]

152. No additional work on Keith's name (I've been wanting get back to ...

. . . researching the origins, too) -- but I read some of the others' anagrams of their own, and they are PRICELESS!

There was one with commentary after each permutation, had me laughing so hard this afternoon! :rofl:

[RevCheesehead]

162. Laughter truly is

the best medicine (even better than snark). :toast:

[WhirlyGirl]

163. Laughter . . . and ...

. . . LOVE!

:loveya::hug::rofl::grouphug::loveya::toast::hug::loveya::rofl::grouphug::loveya:

[Patsy Stone]

57. Chicks dig it, Obi-Shawn

I am soooo sure. Although making a Honda Del Sol into an X-wing complete with an R2-D2 really doesn't make it sound like chicks digged him much to begin with. I mean, that's pretty time consuming isn't it?


Nerd Alert!!! :)

[sparky_in_ma]

61. Let me use the mini

that would be a serious magnet.:thumbsup:

[Patsy Stone]

73. Aw, sparky...

Of course you may. Are you sure you're up to Simon's magnetism? :)

Comes complete with a John Kerry sticker, too.

OMG. Did you just hear the parents of that kid who was murdered at the Pony League game describe the other kid as "very quiet". Didn't we do this already?

[sparky_in_ma]

76. *sigh* we do this all the time.

I have a DU sticker also.

[Patsy Stone]

90. I'll remember if they ever ask me

to tell them you were psychotic to start with. "Oh, he HATED Buckwheat! All he ever did was talk about how much he wanted to kill Buckwheat." :)

[sparky_in_ma]

97. Thank You

I told my friends to say the same thing if they were interviewed.:D

[Patsy Stone]

62. That's so nice, Uegene Safken...

Mouth-to-beak resuscitation. LOL! He might have thought about soup, too. :)

[RevCheesehead]

111. ROFL

:rofl: soup! Oy!

[Catchawave]

160. LOL....and I'm a PETA fan too...that was still

funny. But I want my farmers to have compassion, dernit.

[Greylyn58]

63. Howdy Fellow KOEBers

even if the main man isn't here. Hope everyone had a great day.

:hi: everyone. Happy Friday!!! :grouphug:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: for our missing Keith




Howdy from Sheridan AaaaaaaWoooooo!!!

[SharonRB]

69. Hi, Grey and Sheridan

Nice to see you.

[sparky_in_ma]

72. Hi Grey

:hug:

[SharonRB]

86. Hey, Sparky

In case you need help with that Cosmo...don't know if this will work, but if not go to the link.

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=cosmopolitan+drink/v=2/SID=e/l=IVS/SIG=126pbg9hc/EXP=1113698237

Edit: Nevermind -- this doesn't take you anywhere near the photo I took the properties from. Darn! I used to be a pro at this and ever since we got DSL it doesn't work.

[Catchawave]

125. Hi Grey....and fur kids....

cute photo :hi:

[Greylyn58]

Thanks

that's Sheridan with my beloved Fritzie. When my husband and I split, he kept her and I took Sheridan. It was like splitting up the kids. I miss her, but where I was moving I was allowed only one pet and Sheridan was my baby, so Fritzie stayed with my ex.

She was 9 years old when Sheridan first arrived. He grew up with her and to this day, Sheridan tries to love every cat he sees.

[Catchawave]

158. So sweet, unconditional love is wonderful...

when people roll their eyes how my dh and I managed to stay together for 35 years, quite simply, and honestly:

Neither of us wanted the kids, but both of us wanted the dogs. Sad, but true. Right now, I think we're hanging in here over the remaining 14 yo doxie girl. Then I think I'm moving back to Brooklyn!

[Catchawave]

79. Ahhh, kid sports.....

It's the parents (generic) I want to throttle.

So sad about the baseball boys, just tragic.

[sparky_in_ma]

81. Violence comes to easily

it seems.:-(

[WhirlyGirl]

89. There was a college athletic director on TV tonight who said proudly ...

. . . "I'm not a good loser!"

I answered the television, "Do you watch the news? You already ARE a loser!"

[Catchawave]

105. My kids spanned the kids sports world....

I think I stayed grounded because one was with Special Olympics, so I had little patience for idiot parents in the so-called "normal" world.

[WhirlyGirl]

116. Yes, that's got to give you a better perspective on what sports is/are ...

. . . really all about: :grouphug:

[Gogi]

107. So good of him to admit he's not good at something!

*-h*le!

[WhirlyGirl]

169. Yeah, Gogi, that Dennis Leary song keeps popping into my head when I ...

. . . see guys like that. x(

[Sydnie]

84. Hello All!

I made it before it was all over tonight. Yeah ME!

Hope everyone has had a great week. I have missed you ALL!!

Where is Keef now? Come home Keef. :loveya:

[WhirlyGirl]

93. Hi, Sydnie! KO's in the stands, or smoozing w/ the players.

. . . :hi:

[Catchawave]

94. Hi Syd !

Great to see you :hi:

[Patsy Stone]

96. Hi, Syd!

Happy Friday! We missed you too. :hi: :toast:

[sparky_in_ma]

100. Hi Syndie

:hi:

[Catchawave]

85. Good, Barnicle agrees with me.....

Actually, mothers of figure skaters are the most dangerous in the world....LOL. I could write a book!

[Berry Cool]

103. What a great leadin, Catchawave! Do tell about the skaters' moms!

Otherwise this is a pretty depressin' night. Didn't even get Michael Jackson Puppet Theatre and at least that's another chance to hear Keef as he phones in the voices from a remote undisclosed location...uh, I mean a baseball game.

Oh, and Greylyn, love the new pic of Sheridan!

[Catchawave]

120. Hi Berry....

I'd have to start a thread in the Lounge to talk about Skating moms, I need sticky floors. Heh.

[Greylyn58]

144. Thank you

see my message above about this new pic.

[Catchawave]

109. Wholphins and Belugas !

Countdown loves the animals! They need to get that Beluga baby back out to sea fast...they need to catch him and give him a quick ride south!

[Patsy Stone]

113. Martin... Your voice

Is the most perfect Easy Listening radio station voice EVER!

"That was the 101 Strings Orchestra..."

[WhirlyGirl]

170. Or NPR.

[Catchawave]

115. Paris and Nicole....

I didn't think that would last either ...OYYYY.

Ryan Seacrest has a star on the Walk of Fame?....could you just hear that "honor" being cheapened, not to mention the real estate.

[sparky_in_ma]

119. That's so sad

I thought Nicole and Paris were such a good, intellectual couple.:crazy:

[Patsy Stone]

131. Your agent buys one for you.

It's now just about publicity. What, really, would one "honor" Ryan Seacrest for?

Poor Paris and Nicole. I sure hope they work it out. We'll be losing one of the best comedy teams since Martin & Lewis. It would be tragic.

[RevCheesehead]

117. OK, have I been missing something lately?

Or has MSRNC been deliberately avoiding the DeLay stuff?

This is why I hate it when Keith is gone: all the so-called "news" stories turn into Oddball and Tabloid TV.

It's annoying.

[sparky_in_ma]

122. I agree with you

They stay away from heavy stuff when he's away if they can.

[RevCheesehead]

128. what worries me

is that maybe they've been pressuring Keith to skip the "hard news." I just don't care for this kind of format. Lightweight infotainment.

[sparky_in_ma]

132. I bet when he gets back

he'll cover it. In full snark.

[RevCheesehead]

140. now that's

what I'm waiting for! :bounce:

[Gogi]

118. Now, Alison, don't be such a temptress!

Doing a story on the mile high club will only 'inflame' the natives. Buck naked, foreplay, someone restrain Sparks!

:loveya: KO, come back all is forgiven! (Is there a doormat avatar?)

[Patsy Stone]

123. Didn't you think that the story would be better

then just people bichin' about how they don't want them flying out of their airport.

And I like the flight attendant explaing the rules of the Mile High Club. :)

[sparky_in_ma]

127. She was perfect with that story.

:rofl:

[Patsy Stone]

136. It was the smile that made me crack up

and how damn happy she was to be talking about it. LOL.

[WhirlyGirl]

126. LOL - Gogi, you're full of snark tonight!

. . . :rofl:

[sparky_in_ma]

130. Oh my

Where's the "ties that bind" when you need them.:D

[Sydnie]

121. Rev, Clark, Sparky -- ?'s for you

Rev, How is your mom? I have been thinking about you and her for days, hoping that things are improving.

Clark, How goes the job hunt? Anything that interests you out there?


Sparky darlin', can you point me to the check in to the meet up thread again please? I have announced that I will NOT be working... I am just waiting for it to sink in for them that I really, really mean it this time! So, I hope to be there for lunch or dinner at least. I need details! Thanks

:grouphug: It feels good to be home!

[sparky_in_ma]

124. Hi Syndie

Here's the link. Hope to see you.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3043038

[Berry Cool]

142. Hah, so Alison thinks she can go Keef one better with paper-pitching?

I noticed she blew herself up a little origami ball and pitched it at the camera...

Sorry darlin', it's just not the same!

Hm, from what she says it doesn't sound like Keef is doing any special coverage of the papal election, just covering it on Countdown. Which means he had no excuses to take so much of this week off except for BASEBALL!

Is this what a whole non-election baseball season is gonna be like now? Anyone watching back in '03 regularly (I admit I was not yet)? Did he take a day off every time an umpire yelled "PLAY BALL!"? Because if that's what he usually does in a non-presidential election season, it's gonna be a cruel, cruel summer...

"Hi and welcome to Countdown. I'm Alison Stewart, filling in for Keith Olbermann, who is taking the summer off 'on sabbatical'...Keith will be back with us in the fall..."

No, no wait. That was just the nightmare I had last night. Sorry.

[sparky_in_ma]

146. She's trying

but I agree, it's his show.

[gkhouston]

192. maybe our bad boy

is hoping to hop to another network within the next year or two and is trying to set up a possible successor. Face it, if he suddenly left, a goodly chunk of the "Countdown" audience might drop the show altogether. This way, he gets his baseball, Alison gets some valuable experience whether KO stays or goes, and if he does go, she's got a better chance of retaining some of the current "Countdown" audience. She's warming to the role and I'm warming to her, although I don't make as much of an effort to catch the show when she's on as I do when Keith's at the desk. With her, the humor tends to come across as forced. It's like she's trying too hard to be cool.

[Sydnie]

149. Bowling? ROFL Ok, I'm game!

Thanks for the link -- see you there! :loveya:

[Clark2008]

141. Hi Sydnie!

:hi:

Job huntings still on the sparse side, but better than it was when I was first looking after my separation nearly four years ago.

How are you, today?

[Sydnie]

159. Tired but hanging in there

Work has been a real drag and this is just the first week of the three from hell! I can't wait for this to be over. Covering for someone else PLUS a huge special project that just begun has me unable to sleep well too.

Then tonight, my downstairs toilet decided to spring a leak... another emergency visit from the plumber on a Friday night. $$CACHING$$ Sometimes I think I work so hard just to keep this old house from blowing away.

I can't win for losing. LOL

But, as I tell my kids, if that is the worse thing that happens all day, we're doing great, right?

Hope things look up for you (and all of us) very, very soon. :hug:

[WhirlyGirl]

181. Moved post

[RevCheesehead]

143. Hi, Sydnie

Nice to see you back again.

Mom's doing better. She told me on Wednesday that she might be going home Saturday. Still lots of questions for the doctor, though (her regular GP wasn't available when she was in the hospital). Sometimes I think their mantra is "test - bill medicare - release." :puke:

[sparky_in_ma]

151. Need anymore cheering up?

:woohoo:

[RevCheesehead]

157. I'm a bit blue.

My beloved Roo is not well. He used to be a strapping 16-lb cat, with lots of snark. He is now 7.9 lbs, dehydrated, and not himself at all. Through all his growling, the vet said she could hear a very pronounced heart-murmur. And he has a rotting tooth.

These three are all 15 years old. There's not much to do for him, since he's at high-risk for anesthesia.

I'm trying to take it all in stride, but with mom, the church crap, and some other stuff, it's getting to be a bit much. It just seems that many factors are colliding right now.

/emotional dump

[sparky_in_ma]

165. Can they pull the tooth?

Maybe he has an infection from it? I'll lite some candles.:hug:

I'm going to share Sparky's philosophy of life with you, hope it give you a smile.

Every day above ground is a good one, just some are better than others! (it's true, as long as I'm above the ground I got a chance)

I developed this philosophy while living in a basement. My dad built a room in the basement when we were little kids, and it was my room until college. When I was around six I used to stare at the door to the unfinished part, waiting for the monster to come out. He was there, I just never saw him come out.:scared:

[RevCheesehead]

172. no to pulling the tooth

It's too sensitive, and he gets really worked up at the vets. Today he was relatively tame (in comparison to previous visits). It obviously hurts him, and it's loose. She suggested just waiting for it to fall out, but I'm watching him closely. We're also going to try some heart medicine for a few weeks and see how he does.

This is a dramatic weight loss - about 6-1/2 lbs in 2 years. Right now I can't tell if he's really feeling awful, or if he's still pissed about going to the V-E-T (they usually act out after a visit). On the way home, I got some fish and chicken at McD's (our only fast-food place), and we went down to the lake to look at the gulls. Oreo loved it, but the other two hid in their carriers.

You're right about the monsters. I'm keeping them at bay. Yes, that was an intentional pun, because I had a great spiritual revelation at the lake Wednesday. I was standing on the breakwater, and it was very windy (at least 30-40 mph winds). But despite the wind, the gulls were doing something unusual: as they flew, they turned into the full force of the wind, and it looked as if they were hovering in mid-air. No flapping, just hovering - and they were beautiful.

The lesson I took from it was that even though many things seem to be blowing full force, I can either choose to be knocked down by the wind, or turn into it and embrace the unexpected grace that comes. Perhaps I will someday learn how to fly.

[sparky_in_ma]

175. Good lesson.

:thumbsup: During the winter I used to go through some dark days, until I finally learned to get dressed and go to the mall. Just being around people and bright lites improved my mood dramatically. (this was while I was going through a messy break up.)

[RevCheesehead]

176. that would work -

if I left the debit card at home! :)

[sparky_in_ma]

177. I never spent money

except on a coffee. It was entertaining to watch the people and come up with little stories about their lives. ( I have a vivid imagination)

[RevCheesehead]

178. when I was in college

I used to "people-watch" all the time. I spent two years at UW-Madison before moving on to the east coast. Madison is a place to be experienced - it's such a bastion of liberalism! People-watching was my way of interacting with the world (I was quite shy back then. yes, really, I was!)

Good idea, Sparks. I also think that once it warms up, there will be more to see at the beach than the gulls. I can also wade in the water without turning blue.

[sparky_in_ma]

179. Does it ever get that warm there?

I thought you needed winter coats in August.:evilgrin:

[RevCheesehead]

180. maybe not...

I thought it did, but upon further review, it must have been due to KOEB estrogen surges.

The rest of the state had temps in the mid-60's. At the lake, we never got above 55. However, this works to our advantage in July and August, as I hardly ever turn on the A/C (ceiling fans suffice).

[Nothing Without Hope]

182. So sorry to hear about Roo - I have a friend with an 18-year-old cat

who is quite frail. My friend found that feeding her cut-up pieces of meat several times a week - she gets lamb at the local natural food store - really perked her Clara up. Late in her life this cat developed a pattern of eating too much, throwing up, and begging for food often. Now, after initiating the raw meat supplementation - which Clara loves - the cat is no longer begging, is much more active, and seems more content - more herself. She also appears to be gaining back some weight.

My friend and I wonder if perhaps the commercial cat food was missing something important that older cats need. In any case, the raw meat has made a big difference for Clara.

I doubt you'll see this, so I'll PM you with it. Who knows, it might help your Roo too.

[RevCheesehead]

185. I just happened to come back and check my messages.

Roo is finally beginning to move around. He watched me make a salad, and had a few licks of milk.

I read somewhere how cats really do need to honor the carnivore in them. I asked the vet what he should eat, and she said to give him whatever he wanted, as long as he eats something. (do they make kitty "ensure"?)

He did help me eat some peach yogurt yesterday. Perhaps we'll try that again.

Thanks for your concern, Sparky and Hope. :grouphug:

I'm sure he'll be better tomorrow.

[Nothing Without Hope]

186. Yes, cats really are built to be carnivores

The way my friend's Clara reacted, it really seems as if she was suffering from some kind of deficiency disease that was relieved when my friend (who is a superb professional acupuncturist among other things) began giving her the cut-up raw lamb meat. I saw this cat before and after this lamb supplementaton and there was a difference. She had become so frail and listless, now she is much better. I hope you can give this a try. If nothing else, Roo might enjoy it as a treat - Clara certainly does.

Take care, Cheese. And have a good weekend. I posted a nature photo downthread. One of these days I'll have to figure out how I can directly upload images from my own photos. I can post them as links to images, but not yet as the images themselves.

Good night!
:hug:

[gkhouston]

187. have you tried turkey or lamb baby food?

sometimes appeals to sick kitties and no chewing involved. And yes, I do think they have some equivalent of Ensure for animals. :hug: for you and Roo.

[RevCheesehead]

188. that's a terrific idea, GK.

Thanks!
Of course, in this small town, tongues will wag when they see me out buying baby food! :silly:

[gkhouston]

189. Then that will give you something to smile about!

and with the meat-only flavors, they can speculate about the species of the father!

I've done some pretty strange things over the years to feed cats. One of Mary's cats had a nasty sarcoma that took his sense of smell. So we squirted semi-liquid cat food into Beau's mouth and caught live lizards for him since he would still eat food he could catch on the hoof (since he would "know" it was "safe"). LOL, I used to carry "lizard-catching" equipment around in my car in case I saw any good ones sunning themselves while I was out and about!

[Sydnie]

191. It makes sense

If Roo has a sore tooth then chewing might be painful. My kitty, Baby, was just that when I found her abandon by her mother. She still had her cord attached! I had to bottle feed her at first, then move her on to baby food when she needed solids. As she got better at eating, I would mix the baby food into ground cat/fitten food varieties and she could eat it.

Perhaps Roo will like that. If he likes milk, there is also a cat milk available in most grocery stores. It will help get some calories into him without the usual bowel problems cows milk gives to most cats. Or check in a good pet store for a liquid substitute.

What ever it takes to help him feel better, right? :)

[gkhouston]

193. also, the nastiest-smelling cheapest tuna you can buy

is often appealing to cats. The strong odor apparently drives 'em nuts.

[RevCheesehead]

197. Really?

I wondered why they turned up their noses at the Chunk White stuff. I thought, "well, that's mine, and you can have Chicken of the Sea."

What about canned salmon? (I know, beware of bones, but they're finicky eaters and leave the bones in the dish.)

[gkhouston]

198. I haven't tried that.

In general, the smellier the better. Usually we used cheap tuna or sardines. And bleever's right, the stuff in oil would actually be a Good Thing in this case. Worry about the oil when you have your Lard Butt Kitty back. :7

[RevCheesehead]

199. LOL

I wish I could give him some of mine!

He just ate a couple spoons of yogurt. The vet said the bacteria in it is actually good for the stomach. But maybe I need to get regular for Roo and keep the non-fat for me. He also drank some milk (1%), so that's another good sign. :thumbsup:

I'll go buy stinky tuna tomorrow!

[gkhouston]

201. if you're going to get a different kind for Roo

just get the plain yogurt, unless peach was a big hit. You never know -- I had a kitty who would fight me for her share of orange Nehi and angel food cake! Hope the bad tooth comes out of its own accord soon. I know it's not fun.

You mentioned a heart medicine. It's not Cardizem, by any chance, is it? Battlecat used to take Cardizem, but it was the people kind (green tablets) not the generic animal variety (white tablets). Why, you ask? Because when Mary and I tried to give him the green tablets, he'd pretty much walk up to you and open his mouth at pill time. When we tried to give him then white ones, he'd hide under beds as pill time approached. Mary quickly figured out that the green tablets were easily worth the extra money... :-)

[RevCheesehead]

202. nope - it's enalapril.

I just gave him his first dose (1/2 pill). He does not want me trying to force anything inside his mouth. I just gave him some catnip, but he's still po'ed about the pill. :(

Men can be so cranky when they're sick!

[gkhouston]

204. tell me about it!

You're lucky you could get the pill in without too much drama/trauma. I hope he becomes resigned to his fate... or decides it's worth the catnip. :evilgrin:

[bleever]

190. Hey Cheese,

Best wishes for Roos.

Canned food? In tiny cans? Freshly fried egg in a bit of oil from a tuna can? Or just the tuna oil?

:hi:

[RevCheesehead]

195. thanks, bleev.

They all got some sacrificial tuna when we got home, which they gobbled up quickly (sacrificial as in "I'm sorry I made you go to the V-E-T; please forgive me"). All my tuna is water-packed. I wonder if a bit of oil-packed tuna would help him put on some weight.

He has perked up a bit, and is at least sniffing at food. I will pamper him shamelessly (I am quite good at that!).

[Sydnie]

168. Oh Rev, I am so sorry to hear about Roo

I hope that he is feeling better soon. It's hard when our fur babies are not feeling well. :hug:

Glad to hear that your mom might be doing better. I hope that she is home and doing well soon.

What happened with the church folk? They been misbehaving?

[RevCheesehead]

174. oh, just their usual bickering.

it's become so habitual, they don't even recognize when their words are hurting other people. My Sunday School superintendent resigned last night, and she had a few things to say to everyone.

Maybe it's the first step in some serious healing and spiritual growth. They sure got awfully quiet last night. I'm not a confrontational person by nature, and they were a bit surprised to hear me rebuke them (as gently as possible).

[WhirlyGirl]

183. This is a heavy sub-thread.

. . . It made me think of all sorts of things.

One was William Carlos Williams' poem called "Gulls," which we studied in high school. It's very spiritual -- I think you would like it, Rev. The last line begins, "You see, it is not necessary for us to leap at each other, . . ."

Sydnie, we were alway scraping to pay for car repairs, etc., until we got a partial bill consolidation loan last year. Amazing, the amount of money people have in their houses! I never wanted to use the house as collateral but it was getting rediculous. Now we have only a few cards, lots of extra money in savings for emergencies (like plumbers!) and can make bigger payments on the remaining card balances, so those are going down quicker. It was the smartest thing we ever did -- if you don't count buying the house in the first place!

What Sparky said about going out in crowds -- esp. to the mall -- when you're feeling down really is true. Sometimes clerks wanna tell you THEIR problems!

I was thinking maybe the kitty's tooth could be pulled under a kind of twilight sleep, instead of gen. anaethetic. If it's infected and you can get it out, it would be good. And maybe Roo might groove on the medication, you can never tell ...

I'm also glad your mom's doing better, Rev.

Well, that's all, I guess.

[SharonRB]

129. Have a great weekend, everyone

See you all when KO is back on Monday. In the meantime, I plan to get lots of yardwork done and will probably be sore all over again by then.

[sparky_in_ma]

137. Nite Sharon

I've got yardwork too. We can share the Ben-Gay.:-)

[SharonRB]

154. I'm trying to take it slowly and not spend more than a couple of hours

at a time, but I'm really anxious to get it all done. I'm splitting and transplanting some of my hostas into a bed I haven't planted before and they've grown about six inches since last weekend. I really want to get that done this weekend before they get so big they're difficult to split. I think I'll make that bed my number one priority even though I have so much to clean out in other areas of the yard.

[sparky_in_ma]

156. I know what you mean

I can't wait to get it all finished. Any idea on what plant to put in my whiskey barrel? Last year I did an impatients.

[RevCheesehead]

164. Hops?

I'd try to grow whiskey if I could. :)

[sparky_in_ma]

166. Of course you would.

:beer:

[WhirlyGirl]

134. Is the hour over already?-- Alison must be doing a good job!

. . . :thumbsup:

GIVE THIS WOMAN HER OWN SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Berry Cool]

200. She's already got it...it's called COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN!

Grrrrrrr!

Except, of course, it's "Countdown Without Keith Olbermann"! Except for all the ads and the prerecorded bumpers...

Gee, can you tell I'm glad the "vacation" is over or what??

[WhirlyGirl]

203. We'll just have to enjoy the rollercoater ride, Berry, because . . .

. . . there's no telling how much vacay time he has saved up.

PS - If you're starved for a news quiz, here's the jammies! --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=342437&mesg_id=342716&page=

:loveya:

[Catchawave]

135. Great Hour with you guys....

I'm now switching to HGTV to cleanse my brain from all the day's news in the real world :hi: :loveya:

[sparky_in_ma]

139. Nite Catchawave

:hug:

[WhirlyGirl]

161. Nite, Catch. See you Mmmmmmonday when we mmmmmelt w/ Keith!

[WhirlyGirl]

171. Two questions: Numma 1 --

. . . What's the highest number of posts recorded by an individual poster in DU?

[WhirlyGirl]

173. And 2 --

. . . Why do you think MSNBC's website no longer posts new pictures of Keith on the Countdown site?

I told them it kept me checking back, but this seems not to have been deemed a good reason to revive the practice, which was quite regular for a while.

:shrug:

[Nothing Without Hope]

184. Drive-by post and NATURE PHOTO OF THE DAY

Was out earlier at a friend who has cable. We watched most of the Countdown show tonight, the first time I have seen Alison in action. I am sorry to say I didn't like it at all - all MJ and dead children from a burning building in France and humor that seemed forced and misplaced. I suppose I may have to do this :hide: especially if our guys are in the room, but I thought it was awful. Was the show just not up to her usual standards?

Sorry I missed you all. I hope Roo improves and everyone has a good weekend. :hi:

Here's tonight's photo, again not mine (provenance is written on the image). It's of a place called Langdale in Northern England.

[crispini]

205. Anyone still around?

:hi: Just got back from the museum. Nothing more fun than the museum open late. All the cool kids come out to play!

Ok, off to read the thread....

[CC]

206. A fast drive by

before. Gizmo is still improving and walking on all four legs, though he does sway like he is drunk. Was way to long a day (9am - 10 pm) for me and then hurry home to check on the Giz since I don't trust the hub to actually following directions. (And he didn't) I caught the late show but will be happy when Keith is back. Wonder if Keith hit Camden Yards tonight after being at the Nationals home opener last night. The O's squashed the Yankees. They aren't far apart and there is metro to connect them.
Hope everyone has a good night, no one over does it in the garden and everyone has a great day tomorrow.
Thought I would leave a pic of Gizmo aka the MSNBC.com ferret. Will have to find the disk with the screen capture one day.




For the missing & missed Keith whose team was defeated tongiht...

:loveya::loveya:KO :loveya::loveya:


KEEF