Alison Kent's Blah Blog

At one time, I would’ve considered that an oxymoron. Much like jumbo shrimp. But right now I’m hooked on two or three shows that really do it for me in the way of story. Last night I watched an episode of Navy N.C.I.S. that I’d captured back in November – and I will dare anyone to offer me an example of a more intriguing character than Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs. I am caught off guard every week by how well-written and true to character the episodes are. I’ll expound a bit on the November episode in a minute (click the “more” link), but had to share another case of twins. Joel Gretsch, who was on the episode, and who looks so much like Mark Valley of defunct Fox show Keen Eddie fame (recently resurrected on Bravo!).

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Anyone remember it? That final episode with Michael J. Fox? And the song they played as he left? I’m feeling much the same today . . .

I try to say good bye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not near

Edited to add:

But then riding home on the bus last night (about which I will soon be writing a LONG entry directed at my fellow bus riders!), I was listening to Matchbox 20’s Soul from More Than You Think You Are, and felt so much better with this . . .

We all know there’s always something tearing you apart
It’s always so much longer than you counted on
And it hits you so much harder then you thought
But you don’t worry, you don’t worry
Cause darling, you’ve got so much soul
Darling, you’ve got so much soul

(By the way, this is all pretty weird because I RARELY listen to lyrics! I’m all about the music and the voice!)

Some people may joke that men don’t think with their heads when it comes to sex, but a study in monkeys suggests the brain plays a significant role in the decision to mate, researchers reported.

The head of Little People of America isn’t pleased with the twist in the new Fox reality show “The Littlest Groom.”

The Dim Sum of All Things

What is this supposed to mean? Tell me, someone, please tell me!

parkland beep barbiturate chrysler sarasota sedimentary autistic cyclotron deterring confer grass poetry averred langmuir compressor toothpick afresh coupe curie pyrotechnic chromatography hopple bragging beaten czech irreverent grip brigade connector dyke metamorphosis micronesia avail alvin diagnosis south bloke i’d sod arragon angiosperm atropos directorate raspberry surge squatter ares longhorn weapon yuh merriam beam moll toilet cowpea mathematician oligarchic strove bluebonnet tarzan circus cotangent bathos keyboard long ban derogate damon asher tony montmartre tess blackfeet confess cell cook arrogant bartlett snobbery spiegel sew oncology halfway detour respectful allele canterbury hendrickson befell coarse cortland excusable

He’s 100 years old.

Oooh, but we’re spiffy!

Here is where the Playboy party will be held.

Now, as much as I’ve ragged on the city over this whole shebang, I do know that there are dozens of small businesses, female-owned & minority especially, who are benefitting in a very big way. And that’s really what it’s about. And, for fun, here is a series of photos showing the new MetroRail system and some of downtown’s renovations.

Will there be enough pretzels? Houston’s Spec’s Liquor bought an extra four tractor-trailers of beer and 6,000 cases of champagne to keep fans in the suds.

Here’s some cool stuff on the Reliant Stadium, the NFL’s first with a retracting roof.

And I heard the funniest thing on one of the morning talk shows yesterday. (I don’t listen, but for some reason the husband believes he is in charge of the radio when he’s driving. As if!) The host was giving instructions for driving in Houston. Now, this is NOT going to be funny to anyone who doesn’t live here or hasn’t visited here and had to drive in the city. I probably don’t have all of them and would just link if I could find one, but I can’t! So, here ya go – and, first and foremost, it’s pronounced Houston, not Uston.

1) No one but a native Houstonian is allowed to attempt the pronunciation of Kuykendahl Road.
2) All directions will begin with, “Start on the 610 Loop,” which has no beginning and no end.
3) When you’re on the 610 Loop, you must maintain a speed of at least 85 m.p.h. or risk being pulled over for impeding traffic.
4) All unmarked freeway exits go to Louisiana.
5) If you miss your exit, just exit where ever you want to; follow the ruts other divers have made between the freeway and the feeder which is how we show the DPS where the exits should have been in the first place.
6) If you stop at a yellow traffic signal, you will be rearended.
7) If you are first in line at a red light, count to five before pulling away or you will be T-boned.
8) Morning rush hour begins at 5:00 a.m. and ends at 11:00 a.m.
9) Noon rush hour begins at 11:00 a.m and ends at 3:00 p.m.
10) Evening rush hour begins at 3:00 p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m.
10a) Unless there is flooding (what we call “ponding”) in which case it extends to 3:00 a.m.
11) The major freeways in the Houston area are the North Freeway, the Gulf Freeway, the East Freeway, the Katy Freeway, the Eastex Freeway, the Southwest Freeway. Of course, those are also I45N and I45S, 59N and 59S, I10E and I10W. You have to figure it out for yourself!

John Kerry’s first appearance in Doonesbury.