CBS' New Series - Windfall

OK.....it was bound to happen........a copycat.......

"As the temperatures start rising in June and July, NBC plans to have viewers singing, "Summer days, drifting away, to uh-oh those summer nights."
On Sunday (Jan. 22) morning, the Peacock network set out its plans to fill the summer months with original programming, mixing in both new drama and a variety of alternative offerings.

NBC has saved the midseason drama "Windfall" for a summer slot. The FOX transplant focuses on a group of 20 friends who split a $386 lottery prize and are surprised to discover that instant wealth doesn't necessarily bring instant happiness. Luke Perry ("Beverly Hills, 90210"), Jason Gedrick ("Boomtown"), Lana Parrilla ("Boomtown"), Sarah Wynter ("24"), D.J. Cotrona ("Skin"), Jon Foster ("The Door in the Floor"), Alice Greczyn ("The Dukes of Hazzard") and Jaclyn DeSantis ("Road Trip") star in the series, executive produced Laurie McCarthy ("CSI: Miami").

Who ARE these people anyway??? Are they as cute as I am?

Memorial Day

My cousin's name is on this wall. He was a helicopter pilot. He was ready to go home having finished his mission. He flew one last mission to go home early. He died on Easter Sunday. God Bless You Pat C!

A Great Sunday

Hey y'all! Today is the first day in a long time that I awoke refreshed. I felt actually rested! I have already gotten so much accomplished! I'm about to get into the shower, throw on my jeans, head to the mall for a wee bit of shopping. I've got five postcards to mail to soldiers, and I've already ordered four boxes of cookies to go to soldiers and one special care package from Crabtree and Evelyn for a lady soldier. I have a birthday gift to buy and a trip (wink) to Victoria's Secret for a friend. But who knows? Maybe I'll treat myself too! I'm going to bake a chocolate marble pound cake today too! I haven't decided what's for dinner, but I am making something new and good! Thank you all for your support. It's meant the world to me.

Now My Yorkie!

Can you believe it? Now Maggie, my Yorkie, is sick! She is not dying, but she has a temperature and is going to have to take loads of medicine for 30, yes, 30 days. She is miserable. She is so miserable and lonely that she took her toys to Tigger the fierce two month old kitten and tried to play with him. At least he didn't spit and paw her. He wasn't interested. I think she misses her sweet big brother. She even grabbed her toys and growled with them trying to show Tigger how they played. She finally just gave up. I know how she feels. I am still dragging myself to finish things. Tired. Sad. Ready to go to bed at night. Every single thing is such an effort! I had to drag myself to the shower this afternoon. When I finally did, I did give myself a great toning spray on my face as well as a mint mask. I still feel like crap. Is this what depression feels like?

Kittens and Guilt

OK, it's time to share a little something more intimate. You see, I got a little orange tabby male kitten the Saturday before my blessed Balto died. It's just that poor Balto with his excitability, his epilepsy, his heart condition and being 92.2 pounds wasn't completely cuddle-able. My poor Yorkie is going through dreadful skin allergies and flaking and bumpy. I was yearning for something tiny, alive and holdable. Don't ask me how I ended up with a CAT! I'm not even a cat person. But Tigger....he called out to me. He needed me; I needed him. Five short days later - Balto died. I cried wondering.......did the kitten do him in? Did his big heart finally give out from the competition of his Yorkie sister and now a male kitten? I finally confessed my guilt to my vet. "No, no, WFW, you mustn't think that. Balto lasted so much longer than we thought he ever would." I love my kitten. He is a purr box. He cuddles with me. I still wonder......what did Balto think? I still miss my dog.

Business Trip

Hey y'all! I had to go to Tampa on Tuesday and just got home last night. It was an orgy of EATING. I took my team and customers to Bern's Steak House in Tampa for dinner. Well, I rarely drink for various reasons; but as the "leader," I picked up the initial bar tab. Over $200 for 12 people! Then we took a tour of the restaurant - very interesting! The kitchen, the meat area, the salad area, the wine cellar. They had wines from the 1800s! They actually sell bottles of wine worth $10,000!!!!!!! OH........MY..........GOSH........Even with my windfall, I am NOT spending $10K on WINE! Anyhow, I had the smallest filet mignon which comes with - get this - french onion soup, salad, baked potato, onion rings, assorted vegetables AND bread! Followed by more drinking! Then.....we had to reserve the DESSERT ROOM. Yes, private rooms for DESSERT. It was .....over the top. I had a chocolate souffle' with hot fudge sauce. Yes, it was awesome. The dinner tab was $642 and the dessert tab was over $200. I was afraid my corporate card was going to MELT. It didn't. The next day was filled with meetings, then lunch at a Spanish restaurant, just under $200!!!!!! I frankly found both restaurants way too dark for me. The food was good.....but still! WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!! And I'm a classy gal I think......but Applebee's is good enough for me. LOL..........The trip did help my grief process. I'm glad to be home!

Not a good week for the animals

This week sure has not been a good one for the animal kingdom. I am so glad I missed the Preakness yesterday. I don't know what I would have done if I had seen poor Barbaro pull up yesterday. When I was a teenager, I had a horse. You may think that a horse isn't as lovable as a dog, but they have personalities too. I loved Barbaro. I had him picked as a Triple Crown Winner. He loved to race, and he loved to win. You could tell it watching him on the track. In fact, yesterday, apparently, he bumped the gate trying to get out which did not lead to his injury. I am so hoping they can save him. A broken leg in two places is not good for a horse. He has been taken to the top equine center at the University of Pennsylvania. I'll be praying for him. My Balto wasn't prospective Triple Crown Winner, even though he was a registered AKC dog, he never would have won a dog show. All he really wanted was to be loved........and that he was.

Saturday

I awoke this morning feeling braver. Today, I thought, I'll be able to think of him and not cry. Today, I will remember how ill he was and not be sad. Today, I will be just joyous for having him. All it took was seeing his medicine on the window sill and his dog bowl to make me break down again. I made to MAKE myself do errands. I can barely concentrate on TV or books or anything I typically enjoy. I keep thinking.......I'll never touch him again. I'll never hug him again. I'll never see that unconditional smile again. My heart is simply broken.

The Day After

I have cried so much in the past 24 hours that my eyes hurt. Little memories come back to me. I know you're not supposed to feed them "real food" but before I knew that, whenever I cooked spaghetti, I gave him some. He LOVED it. He also loved McDonald's cheeseburgers - Happy Meals in particular. Once I was soooo sick and had no dog food and all I could do was drive through McD's and order cheeseburgers. I got three and he gulped them down in one bite and lurched happily to the floor.

I don't know when I'll get his ashes back. He's being privately cremated. I do know I'll sprinkle some in his special spot, some by the fence where he ran with his friends, and my friend, Barney, has offered to use his gardening talents and make a "Balto" garden with flowers. Maybe I'll spring for one of those yard ornaments - tasteful - of him.

This picture reminds me of him. I know he's in a better place. I know he's where his physical ailments cannot bother him any longer. But I still miss my baby and my buddy.

He's Gone

My beloved Balto is gone - today, Thursday, May 18th. One loud clap of thunder around 4:30 pm followed by the strong gale wind as if sweeping his soul to heaven. A few raindrops fell like angel tears long enough to extricate him out from his special spot. I was so glad I thought to get a few locks of his beautiful Pekoe red coat as I said good bye to him. I kissed his side. Truly, there could have been no animal nor human that bore his burden so cheerfully and well. Good night Sweet Prince.

Happy Mother's Day

Hi all. I've been really ill for a week. I had two major events this week and got through them even with my illness. I'm feeling better today. I've missed you all. Hope you are well. Tonight I'm going blog visiting.

Happy Mother's Day!

Cinco de Mayo

It's international week here at the Windfall Woman blog. (I'm beginning to sound like my friend, Call Me Snake, http://cambridgeguy.blog.com/. He is always saying, "We're featuring a new ..... here day."

See how long it's been since I've posted? I'm rusty on my skills as to how to insert a link in a chain of words.

Anyhow, do you know the significant of Cinco de Mayo? I'm ashamed I did not other than eating Mexican food and drinking margaritas.

So if you don't know, here you go:

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some recognition in other parts of the Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16.


Myself? I'm celebrating with my monthly group of girlfriends at........an Inn. Forgot it was Cinco de Mayo today! Oh well.....

At any rate, we're all about education here at WFW.....that and.......LOL.....spending money. Have a great day and TGIF and Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Exercise and mental health

Because of my dratted foot, I hadn't been exercising. No exercise makes for a stressful and/or depressed WFW. This week I've been able to get back to my walking/running. Today I added my abdominal work. I've started my belly dancing classes. Let me tell you something, it's HARD. My favorite thing that I've learned is bouncing on my heels while I am swiveling my hips. It makes me feel like a pro! LOL......Today I took my customer to lunch. It was just okay. She really likes this place. They had nuts on virtually every entree', and I am allergic to nuts. I don't know if it's the exercise or belly dancing or what.......but all of a sudden, men seem to be noticing me more. Am I like giving out "hey, I'm a belly dancer" vibes? This guy at my customer's office walked back and forth in front of my car three times then happened to be at the "grille" we visited. He boldly came up to my customer and said I think I've seen your friend before. She did NOT introduce me. I thought, "Of course you've seen me, you walked around my car three times." LOL......