The Oprah dilemma: narrowing down favorite things

Today was the last today to enter the "Favorite Things" give-away and now it's too late. Having had every intention of entering, somehow something always came up, time passed and I missed my opportunity to meet a well-known celebrity.

Having retired from TV, Oprah, she-who-doesn't-need- her-last-name supplied, is doing the speaking tour circuit. Nothing wrong with that since everyone from former presidents and politicians to lifestyle gurus and media celebrities are doing it. Ms Winfrey will be delivering her take on the world and dispensing advice as only Oprah can, in our corner of the planet.

Have to admit that I watched her TV show regularly in earlier years and on-and-off after that, depending on the subject. Reading the promos for her appearance here, I checked the ticket prices and sort-of tucked away the information in one of those "got lots of time to decide" things. Eleanor, thy name is procrastination.

In order to help promote her arrival and talk, our local newspaper and sponsors ran a "Favorite Things" contest. For the uninitiated and during her reign, Oprah put aside one day per year on her show for a super giveaway with accent on the super. Audience members who were lucky enough to get tickets for her favorite things show, were the recipients of a plethora of products ranging from eletronic goods, clothes...you name it, chances are it was featured on the show at some point.

The promotion for her appearance here includes a "full day VIP experience to an evening with Oprah." Included in the package is the grand prize being a salon experience, a shopping spree, dinner, limo service, meet-and-greet and premium tickets to the show. The only pre-requisite to entering the contest was to send along a photo of one's favorite object(s).

In the way of an excuse, there was the dilemma as to determining and narrowing down my favorite thing. Maybe, a photo of my favorite jeans might have been an option, or my new pair of 'killer' suede shoes so named due to their toe pinching quality, then again there's my large-ish new purse that has the capacity to hold my umbrella and a host of other "must-take-along-and-have-with-me" objects.

As an artist, I could have sent along a photo of my favorite "10-hair-painting-brush"used to paint fine lines for flowers and the like, or even a picture of one of my paintings but narrowing down the one to send would be an issue. If nothing else, maybe she would be interested in owning an Eleanor original. 'masterpiece.' Then again, playwriting rates high on the favorite list so the cover sheet of one of my plays could have been an option.

As I've frequently bemoaned, it's always the could-haves, would-haves and might-have-beens that get you in the end! Ain't that the truth.

The Royal Wedding List - minus my name

This makes it really official now and I must accept the reality that somehow, someway, my name did not make the royal wedding list and my invitation is not in the mail. Inject big sigh. Here I went out and bought a hat replete with fake-ish feathers and fruit and now am wondering when I'll ever wear it. It's not the type of hat that one would wear say...at a ball game, nor at the beach, so for now it will be stored away in a box in my cupboard in the event of another royal nuptial. There's always Prince Harry and gossip has it that he's seeing Chelsea Davey somewhat seriously. For the record, I'm putting in my name for a royal invite. Pass it along.

Wonder if Donald Trump was invited. Anybody know? Or Oprah? Don't see their names on the list. Also, if anyone reading this knows any of the people listed below, you could hint about the invitation over-sight. Just so they know for next time.

In any case, while cyber surfing came accross "the" official list and just in case I missed it, let me know if you see my name there. Talk about name-dropping...

If I had been invited, I would have wanted to make a statement with a hat. These definitely say...something, especially the "Spirit of Africa" model.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqGblSTYBOU&feature=related


Prince William and Catherine's List

Viscount Althorp - William's cousin. The son of Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer.
Miss Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe - Stunning friend of William.
Miss Helen Asprey - The couple's personal private secretary.
Mr and Mrs Rowan Atkinson - Comedian and Mr Bean actor, and his wife Sunetra.
Mr Harry Aubrey-Fletcher and his wife, Hon. Sarah Louise - William and Kate's close pals.
Miss Annabel Ballin - Party planner is a friend of Kate's.
Mr and Mrs David Beckham - Footballer and his pop star wife Victoria.


Guests

Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davy (my hope for the next royal wedding invite)
Doctor Holly Branson - Daughter of tycoon Sir Richard.
Mr and Mrs Fergus Boyd - William's flatmate at St Andrews University.
Miss Jessica Craig - One of William's former girlfriends.
Mr David Dugmore and Mr Roger Dugmore - Safari park owners from Botswana.
Mr Mark Dyer and his wife Amanda - One of Prince Harry's best friends.
Mr Ben Fogle and wife Marina - TV star and a friend of both William and Kate.
The Lord and Lady Jane Fellowes - William's aunt. The sister of Princess Diana.
Alexander Fellowes - William's cousin. The son of Jane.
Eleanor Fellowes - William's cousin. The daughter of Jane.
Miss Rosie Farquhar - One of William's former girlfriends. An actress.
Mr Rupert Finch - One of Kate's former boyfriends.
Miss Alicia Fox-Pitt - One of Kate's oldest friends.
Ms Daniella Helayel - Kate's favourite fashion designer.
Miss Olivia Hunt - A former girlfriend of William.
Emilia d'Erlanger and David Jardine-Paterson - Emilia is Kate's old schoolpal. William and Kate went to couple's wedding last year.
Mrs Tiggy Legge-Bourke and her husband Charles - William's former nanny.
Mr and Mrs James Lowther-Pinkerton - Part-time private secretary to William and Harry. Captain Jack Mann - The polo-playing son of British mercenary Simon Mann.
Mr Willem Marx - One of Kate's former boyfriends.Lady Sarah McCorquodale and husband Neil - William's aunt. Princess Diana's older sister.
Miss Emily McCorquodale - William's cousin. Daughter of Sarah.
Mr George McCorquodale - William's cousin.Son of Sarah.
Miss Celia McCorquodale - William's cousin. Daughter of Sarah.
Mr Harry Meade and wife Rosie - Showjumper.
Mr and Mrs Edward Milbank - Old friends of William.
The Hon James Tollemache - Childhood friend of William.

Friends

TV star Ben Fogle and wife Marina
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Alphapress
Miss Arabella Musgrave - William's first girlfriend.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland - Land-owning peer.
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson - "It Girl" is the daughter of Prince Charles's pals Patti and Charles.
Mr Guy Pelly - Party organiser and close friend of William and Harry.
Mr Guy Ritchie - Director of films (and Madonna's-ex) including Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
The Earl Spencer - William's uncle. Princess Diana's brother.
Lady Kitty Spencer - William's cousin. Earl Spencer's daughter.
Lady Amelia Spencer - William's cousin. Kitty's twin sister.
Lady Eliza Spencer - William's cousin. The twins' older sister.
Mr Thomas van Straubenzee - William's closest friend.
Mr and Mrs Hugh van Cutsem - Another of William's close friends.
Mr Edward van Cutsem and the Lady Tamara Grosvenor - Hugh's brother.
Mr William van Cutsem - Third van Cutsem brother is also very close to William.
Major and Mrs Nicholas van Cutsem - Fourth brother, a soldier, shares military bond with William.
Sam Waley-Cohen - Gold Cup-winning jockey.
Sir Clive and Lady Woodward - World Cup-winning rugby coach.

The Queen's List
CROWN Prince of Abu Dhabi.
THE Aga Khan.
QUEEN Sofia and Crown Prince Felipe of Spain.
CROWN Prince of Bahrain.
KING of Bhutan.
SULTAN of Brunei.
KING and Queen of Bulgaria.
QUEEN of Denmark.
KING and Queen of Greece.
SHEIK Al-Sabah of Kuwait.
PRINCE Seeiso of Lesotho.

Invite

King Siaosi of Tonga, left, and the Aga Khan
GRAND Duke of Luxembourg.
KING and Queen of Malaysia.
PRINCE Albert of Monaco.
PRINCESS Lalla Salma of Morocco. PRINCE Frisor of Holland.
KING and Queen of Norway.
EMIR of Qatar.
KING and Crown Princess of Romania.
PRINCE bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.
KING of Swaziland.
PRINCESS Maha of Thailand.
KING Siaosi of Tonga.
CROWN Princess Victoria of Sweden.
CROWN Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia.
KING of Cambodia is yet to reply.

The Political List
PRIME MINISTER David Cameron and wife Samantha.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Nick Clegg and wife Miriam.
CHANCELLOR George Osborne and wife Frances.
OPPOSITION LEADER Ed Miliband and fiancée Justine Thornton.
FOREIGN SECRETARY William Hague and wife Ffion.
HOME SECRETARY Theresa May and husband Philip.
PM David Cameron and wife Samantha
Ed Miliband and fiancée Justine Thornton
CULTURE SECRETARY Jeremy Hunt and wife Lucia.
CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF General Sir David Richards.
CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.
CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF General Sir Peter Wall.
CHIEF OF AIR STAFF Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton.
VICE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF General Sir Nicholas Houghton.

Middletons' List
The Hon Brian Alexander - MD of The Mustique Company.
Mr Gregory Allen - yoga teacher.
Mr Alexander Bridport - banker.
Mr Richard Benyon - Tory MP.
Mr Tim Billington - horse breeder.
Ms Jeanette Cadet - head of rentals, The Mustique Company.
Mr Basil Charles - Mustique bar owner.
Mr John de Blocq van Kuffeler - chairman of Provident Financial.
Mr Martin Fidler - butcher.
Mr John Haley - landlord of Middleton family's local.
Mr & Mrs Anthony Henman - parents of tennis player Tim.
Mr Timothy Hirst - B&B owner.

On the list
bar boss Basil Charles
Kate's uncle Gary GoldsmithMr Gary Goldsmith - Kate's uncle.
Mr John Madejski - Reading FC.
Mr & Mrs Torquil Montague-Johnstone - the Middletons' neighbours.
Ms Philippa Naylor - designer.
Mr Ryan Naylor - postman.
Mr Roger Pritchard - MD, The Mustique Company.
Mr & Mrs Chan Shingadia - shopkeepers in Middletons' village.

Cutting the grass, mower or less

It's Spring, when a man's or woman's thoughts usually turn to...mowing the lawn. After a long winter's nap buried snugly under a blanket of white, nature compels grass to do what grass usually does. Grow it does and then some.

Came accross an interesting piece in a news article.

Here's something for people who kvetch about how fast their lawns grow and how difficult it is to keep up with cutting them/it/the grass.

Seems that the British are now adopting - wait for it - wallabies as pets to trim their lawns. A wallabie according to Wikipedia, is "any of about thirty species of macropod (Family Macropodidae). It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name."

Now you know but let's get back to this new craze that could be sweeping England.

According to the article that I found, wallabies don't come cheap at a cost of £150 for males and £650 for females. Notice that the females are considerably more expensive than the male wallabies whatever that means.

Let's say...people (in this case Brits, but their popularity could spread) really take to wallabies and slowly they replace sheep. Slowly, sheep will lose their place as the official grass nibblers of the hills, replaced by the interloping Australian marsupials. A time could arrive down the line when sheep will have to fight for a piece of land, just like the days in the old west. There will be public appearances on talk shows like Oprah and Ellen with their human spokes-people showing un-sheared sheep suffering from over-wooliness syndrome. Facebook campaigns to save-the-sheep will emerge. The craze could spread accross the ocean at our doorsteps and it won't be long before wallabies will become a public fixture on weekends cutting North American lawns.

"See you got a new lawnmower," a neighbor will say to another, setting up the scene. "Nice model. I got a new one too."

At which point the neighbor-Mr. wallabie-owner will lead out his new living model mower while the other neighbor watches in stunned silence.

It's a possibility!

Somewhere down the line there will probably be a public outcry with animal rights protesters decrying the use of wallabies for human usage as barbaric and detrimental to the wallabie's health. At that point wallabies will lose their appeal and sheep will retain their former glory.

By the way anyone looking to keep a wallaby should have enough land for them to roam, at leat a half an acre with fences at least 5ft high to ensure they can't jump for freedom.

I mean, really. What next? Trained angel fish? For the record I tried training my angel fish without any success. Stubborn breed I'm told.

Hello? Anybody out there in space?

One wonders what aliens or non-human species living far (far) away in other galaxies (humming "Star Wars" theme) think about we humanoids of planet earth. Obviously, if they have the ability to study us from great distances, it would indicate a superior intelligence or at the very least they are far more advanced scientifically and technologically-speaking. Why they would be interested in us in the first place is another question worth pondering.

Being the curious earthlings that we are, we'd like to know who, if anybody, is "out there." To this end, messages were recently sent to a planet twenty light years from Earth in the hope that they will reach intelligent alien life. A giant radio-telescope in Ukraine transmitted 501 photos, drawings and text messages that usually track asteroids. The target is any planet deemed capable of supporting life.

Replies, which were compiled by Bebo, a social networking website, invited the network's 12 million users in the form of a competition, to send messages they would like extra-terrestrials to receive. Perhaps somebody - pure speculation on my part - sent the message: 'ET - phone home." Then again, maybe they didn't...

According to reports topics included the environment, politics, world peace, family relationships, Oprah (just kidding) and other stuff.

After being launched at 0600 GMT Bebo's mission commander Oli Madgett said the message "passed the Moon in 1.7 seconds, Mars in just four minutes and will leave our Solar System before breakfast tomorrow".

The beamed messages will be sent 120 trillion miles into space. Organisers hope the hi-tech package will reach its target - the planet Gliese 581C - in early 2029.

Rumor - strictly an unsubstantiated one - has it that when informed about the project, Sarah Palin said she can see Gliese 581C from her home in Alaska.

Read the entire story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7660449.stm

If you want to send your own message via Bebo, here is the coordinates:
http://www.bebo.com/Search2.jsp?SearchTerm=a%20message%20from%20earth

DR. PHIL - PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF

I dunno... There was a time when Dr. Phil McGraw was first introduced to TV audiences as a guest on Oprah, he was a quiet, down-to-earth psychologist with a gift for gab. For what ever reason and probably his cute-sy, down-home personna/charm and southern drawl, he got his own TV show. However, as time went on and his popularity grew, there was a distinct change in his personna and his ego. It grew. A lot.

For the last couple of seasons he has turned into a pseudo Jerry Springer, encouraging people to cry and reveal all their deep, dark family secrets for everyone to see.

What happened to medical ethics?

He had already touched upon Britney Spears's problems in an earlier show, diagnosing and assessing her from afar. So it's not surprising that he showed up when Britney was hospitalized on the weekend. According to various sources he was asked to intervene by her parents (yes there is a daddy Spears!). He was reported to have talked with her for an hour and there was even a rumor that she could be a guest on his show.

Not.

Once that didn't work out, he turned his attention to the Spear parents. The latest word by the good doctor himself, is that the Spears family show idea has been cancelled because the situation is "too intense." To say the least but then it was "intense" before he tried to book a family member.

Although Dr. Phil's show has lots of viewers and good ratings, having any member of the Spears family on his show would have caused his numbers to go through the roof. Oh well... Just goes to show that even TV docs can't do miracles.

Meanwhile, after demanding to be released from hospital, there have been reports of Britney out and about with the new (and married) paparazzi friend, Adnan. Guess a girl hast'a do what a girl hast'a do.