The GUILD 12-21-2002 Final Stretch to Christmas

[Iowa Granny]

Good Morning, Gal! We're having our kids here this afternoon and evening. I've got to get busy. If I don't get back in here, I want to wish everyone a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

[mountaineer]

I'll ditto the president's message and wish all of you a happy, blessed and safe Christmas.

As we have no younguns, we'll be tending to the parents today and - weather permitting - tomorrow. I'm fixing dinner now to take to the f-i-l this afternoon. The forecast is for at least 2-4 inches of snow and maybe ice for tonight, so we'll just have to see if we can get to my mother's tomorrow.

But hey! We still can laugh at our favorite H'wood sillies:

BARBRA Streisand's shocking sense of entitlement is the stuff of legend at a movie theater near her Malibu mansion. A former employee at the Mann 8 Agoura Hills Cinema Center says Streisand has a reputation for demanding free tickets, popcorn and soda.

"More than once she showed up and demanded to be let in for free," says our source. "One time last summer she said, 'Do you know who I am?' when she was charged for a ticket. The guy behind the ticket counter said, 'Of course I do. But it's our policy to charge everyone.' Then she demanded to see the manager, who let her in for free."

Our source says celebs like Will Smith, Britney Spears, Pam Anderson, Wesley Snipes and Hulk Hogan have all plunked down $9.50 to watch a movie at the Malibu Canyon Road cinema without incident.

"Some of them would ask if they could go into the movie after it started to avoid fans, but nobody except Barbra ever said, 'I'm not going to pay,' " says our source. "I think now there's a standing order to just let her in for free."

But Streisand's spokesman, Dick Guttman, insists she always offers to pay. "It's not unusual for a star to call ahead and reserve access," he told us yesterday. "A few weeks ago, she called the manager, Joseph Lapore, and asked to reserve tickets for her and some guests.

"He offered to comp her but she said, 'That's not necessary.' But he insisted. Theaters in Malibu issue passes to a lot of the stars. It's just a courtesy. Some people can negotiate crowds easily but Barbra's fans are very enthusiastic." Page Six

Andrew Cuomo gets screwed by Clinton and goes back for more, according to Page Six:

ANDREW Cuomo, who has gone off the public radar since he quit the gubernatorial race, is putting together a book for Random House on what's gone wrong with the Democratic Party. [Where do we start?] Cuomo is soliciting political heavy hitters - including former president Bill Clinton and former Texas governor Ann Richards - to write essays on how the Dems should regroup.

"It's all about getting back in the good graces of the Democrat. It's about networking," said one politico. "This is basically a suck-up."

Seeking a bipartisan outlook, Cuomo has also asked GOP strategist Peggy Noonan and departing Rep. J.C. Watts to contribute. The book should be out by next fall. Cuomo, who is already weighing another run for governor in four years, also wants essays from presidential hopefuls Sens. John Edwards and John Kerry - two men who could surely help Cuomo if he decides to make another try for Albany. Don't be surprised if the most articulate essay in the book comes from his dad Mario Cuomo, whose eloquence is undiminished.

[Fiddlstix]

Be sure and
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J

Click Here for Christmas Graphics J

[lodwick]

Thoughts and prayers up for you.

[lodwick]

[lodwick]

Another perfectly good waste of trees in the offing from Cuomo. Thanks again for bringing us what we need to know.

[lodwick]

Thanks for the tunes and the link. Very nice.

[lodwick]

[Endeavor]

This just in -- rolly polly man in sleigh being pulled by a shiny-nosed reindeer just spotted half way across the Atlantic Ocean. Believed to be headed towards US East Coast.

All you east coast kiddies get the milk and cookies set out for Santa - and don't put another log on the fire.

That is all. (MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!)

[Iowa Granny]

Merry Christmas, to you, E. The hubbub has subsided here and I am resting a bit before I tackle the major clean up.

I am waiting to hear from Miss Marple regarding the James Bond marathon that my guys have found.

Wondering about all the freepers in the snowbelt (which doesn't include Iowa).

A bit of concerning news from here: Mom called at noon to tell me that she had called an ambulance for my stepdad last night around midnight. (I have 2 step brothers within 3 miles of her front door, and she didn't call them to go with her). She spent the night at the hospital with Stepdad and returned home about 7:30 this morning.

Last I talked to her, there was no diagnosis,, severe pain in his lower abdomen. I will check with her in a little bit as to any additional info.

Mom lives about 25 miles from here, and it is 20 more miles on to Iowa City. Step Dad is at Mercy Hosp., but they are good about transfering patients to the U of I medical facility if there is a need, so we feel he is in good hands.

I'm off to the kitchen to finish up the clean up, then I will tackle the wrapping piles in the livingroom. The girls wanted to help me with this, but they were heading on to another Grandparent's home and I told them to go ahead. How much time can it take to sort thru all the wrapping to be certain we didn't throw anything important away?

[Endeavor]

Sheesh Gran - hope Stepdad has nothing more than a bit of indigestion.

So you guys didn't get the snow over your way? We are still getting it - it is absolutely beautiful out - still, quiet, that eery reflected light that you get with a good snow. Have a fire roaring in the fireplace and am sipping amaretto - there's a cat in my lap, literally on my arm as I type this so any spelling anomalies are attributed to her ("Stinky").

My family's all in Texas and its nice and quiet here - I am enjoying the peace. As to what can be lost in the wrapping paper? Shoot Gran, with your crew, all kinds of stuff! There's several of you. One year I lost a dinner ring that my grandparents had given to my mother and which my mother had given to me - a beautiful setting of diamonds. To this day, we don't know how it disappeared but alas, it was never found and we went through all the wrapping and trash multiple times. So, peruse that wrapping paper with an evil eye.

I hear Santa's still several hours away - good thing because I've yet to put out the cookies.

[mountaineer]

Happy Christmas to you. Prayers for stepdad, IG. It's a lousy time to get sick!

And to you, E (and kitty), may you have a toasty, warm evening inside while the flakes fall outside. So far here it's just a bit of frizzle, but now they're saying we'll get 8 inches of flakage by tomorrow. As long as we have coffee in the house, I'll be snug and content to stay at home.

[Endeavor]

Hey, how was FIL? Glad you guys are safe and tucked in before the snow hits.

[mountaineer]

It was a nice visit. I baked a pumpkin pie and roasted a turkey breast this morning, so all we had to do up at FIL's house was cook potatoes and the veg, warm everything up, toss a salad and dig in. The only way we can be sure he and the BIL are eating right is to prepare the food ourselves, as they tend to eat too many meals at a fast food place.

[Iowa Granny]

Sounds like a fantastic meal, mountaineer.

Stay safe, stay snug. I'm reading elsewhere that this storm is already a killer. Just stay put if at all possible.

Just talked to Mom. Stepdad is still in considerable pain. They are trying to lower the pain level, but have yet to get to the root cause of the pain. I am feeling guilty for telling her they probably won't do anything but sedate him tomorrow, and will go to work investigating the cause on Thursday.

They were suppose to be here for dinner tomorrow. We may eat early and go to the hospital to sit with Mom a bit.

[lodwick]

God bless and keep you with this one Gran. I know that you will do what needs to be done, and G*d knows what will be done in his time and in his way. Take good care Sweets. Please keep us posted. JL

[Iowa Granny]

Thanx JL. I have a very uneasy feeling about this. Stepdad celebrated his 90th bd in Oct. Mom is quite worried. Just a lot of things not adding up. His heart checks out fine, he had a bypass 20 years ago.

In your prayers, ask for enough self control for me,,, for me to keep my mouth shut. This is not my Dad. The man has four grown children,, all closeby. My role is to support my mother in all of this,, I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

[lodwick]

Jheesh Gran - that reply made the monitor go bad for me...as with my father-in-law, only a month ago, we do that what we can do. And that's not much. Sometimes it's only a hug and a kiss on the cheek, or just sitting there and quoting bible verses and remembering times gone by and talking to our loved one. Let G*D guide and lead you, and listen to His Holy Spirit.

We'll all get together in the Great Bye and Bye.

[Aggie Mama]

Thank you so much.

[Aggie Mama]

IG, I wish the best for your stepdad and mom. It's not the easiest of situations, but I know that you will handle everything with love and class.

To the rest of you with snow. I'm so jealous! Although, I just stepped outside to hide some boxes in the trash and I looked up and saw the most beautiful, crisp night sky. I haven't seen so many stars in a very long time. It's one of those skies that makes you think about how tiny we really are here on earth. **Sigh**

We had dinner over at my mom and dad's tonight. The kids were absolutely terrific, and it's so nice to see them make my parents so happy. =) They were showered with all kinds of cool gifts, and 2 year old DD kept saying "Wow, look at that" to every gift she opened. My parents are always so generous to us. I hope DH and I will be able to do the same for our grandkids when we are that age.