And The Winner Is Jennifer Grey!

And The Winner Is Jennifer Grey!

Jennifer Grey beat Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin to take home The Dancing With The Stars trophy. Yea!!!!! I thought she was the best. It was great to see a senior citizen take out a couple of youngsters on this show.

Who Is Going To Cruise Away With The Trophy?

Who Is Going To Cruise Away With The Trophy?

The Dancing With The Stars finale is tonight. Who is going to cruise away with the trophy? I can't wait to find out. Lots of controversy surrounding Bristol Palin staying while others who seemed to have danced better have been shown the door. Now we are down to the final three: Jennifer Grey, Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin. All along I've been thinking that Bristol doesn't show much dancing talent but I must admit she did a great job last night on her freestyle take of a dance from the show Chicago. I've also been reading in the media that the Tea Party folks have found a way to send a lot of votes Bristol's way. I don't know if this is true or false. Anyway tonight we shall find out who gets the dancing trophy to take home. Who do you want to see win this year?

These Flowers For Hayden Moss

These Flowers For Hayden Moss

These flowers are for Hayden Moss who was the last Brigade member standing and consequently won half a million dollars on Big Brother last night. Hayden was my pick to win the big money. He's from Arizona State and is a former baseball pitcher. And I'm glad that everyone reacted with disgust to Mensa Matty's big lie about his wife.

Transitions

Transitions

This is the time of year when we transition from summer living to autumn living. The light lavender blooms on my lirope grass have changed already from deep purple and will continue to change till as late October and Halloween nears they will be deep black.

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For the past three weeks school children have left vacation behind and headed back to the classrooms. So have millions of college students. Even our little Jack Aidan is heading to preschool twice a week these days.

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The weather has changed too. Here in Virginia we have left the 90 degree temps behind and have wonderful temps in the low 80s and with low humidity! Yeah! And yesterday I awoke to see my first real deep foggy fall morning in Haymarket. It was so foggy that I couldn't see the mountains to the west from my second floor window.

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But what else besides the above events and of course, fall football is telling me that fall is fast approaching around September 21? Why, you know it. It is the wrap up this week of summer TV shows and the inauguration of the new season of fall TV shows. Yesterday I watched on Oprah the launch of her 25'th and final season. Wow, she knows how to surprise and delight her audience. Oprah is picking up the tab for her most loyal viewers to go with her to Australia for eight days. (Jack commented that I should have been a more faithful viewer. LOL!) Tomorrow will be the end and the beginning for me and reality TV. Big Brother has its finale and Survivor begins a new season. I'm rooting for Hayden to win Big Brother and I think The Oldsters versus The Youngsters (30 and under) on this year's Survivor should be very interesting.

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So here's to transitions. Take that cup of morning coffee outdoors to experience the nice fall morning sunshine and to look for the hummingbirds circling the feeders and the butterflies feeding on the butterfly bush. Remember that another transition is approaching soon---the flight of the hummingbirds and the butterflies to warmer climates as our days get cooler.

Big Brother TV Show Tonight

Big Brother TV Show Tonight

Who is going home tonight? Monet or Matt?

I think Monet.

Who will then win the Head of Household Competition?

I am going to make a wild stab and say one of these three guys if it is an endurance event:

Hayden or Brendon or Lane.

Big Brother Is Something Else This Year!

Big Brother Is Something Else This Year!

Jack bought me the live feed for the TV show Big Brother that is airing right now. Wow! What a devilish cast of characters on the show this year.

Most calm and laid back are: Kathy and Kristin.

Most vocal are: Rachel and Britney

Most silent are: Lane and Enzo

The sneakiest are: Britney and Matt

Players playing the game well: Hayden, Kristen, Enzo and Lane

There will be a TV show tonight and the live eviction on TV tomorrow night. Britney and Monet were both up for eviction till Britney won Power of Veto and used it on herself. Then Rachel as this week's Head of Household put Matt up on the block. My prediction for tomorrow's eviction vote: Monet is going to be evicted.

I Watched The Bachelorrete Last Night

I Watched The Bachelorette Last Night

I always like these shows at the beginning of the season when the star that is looking for a spouse is just going out on dates. But towards the end of the show's run I get a little sick to my stomach watching the star do some heavy making out with one person one night and with another person the very next night. Jack doesn't like this either. He thinks it is just a tad "slutty".

But oh what a tangled web we weave on these shows. There are more twists and turns then this wisteria vine is weaving up above. Last night the one to leave Ali went of his very own volition which was a big surprise to Ali. Frank wanted to leave Tahiti and return to Chicago and his former girlfriend that he just couldn't get out of his mind. If is any consolation, Ali, the other woman is not as cute as you.

Honestly, I think you are more likely to find a spouse on either Big Brother or Survivor then on either The Bachelor or The Bachelorette

Do You Watch Big Brother?

Do You Watch Big Brother?

I admit that I am in hooked. I've watched every season since summer of 2000. This year Jack bought for me the live feed so I'm watching more and blogging less. My brother's granddaughter in Ohio, Nicole Gariety Keller, is also hooked with the show. She thinks that Annie is this year's saboteur. I don't know. Why was Breadan brushing his teeth as soon as the lights went out? What was Andrew doing lying down on the floor when the lights came back on in the house. And why is Blond Britney staring at people all the time? How come the blond sheriff couldn't get out of the caramel if she is a crack police officer. Lots of candidates for saboteur. Jack thinks that it is a fellow because it sounds like a man's voice but maybe they have a show cast member deliver the messages to the house guests. Who knows. We will all have to just stay tuned to the show and learn more.

Feel free to leave a comment and chime in on the activities of Big Brother.

News Flash: Survivor Is The Best

News Falsh: Survivor Is The Best!

I Love Survivor--My First and Favorite Reality ShowI like all the remaining players. I expecially like these three guys: Mick, Jaison and Russell. And Natalie rocks! We need to watch out for Brett. He is running under the radar.

Down to the Nitty Gritty

Big Brother

We Are Now Down To The Nitty Gritty:

The Final Five Houseguests

Ok, I admit it. All summer I have been following the Big Brother reality show on TV that is hosted by Julie Chen. It comes on Sunday night for nominations for evictions, Tuesday night for power of veto over evictions and Thursday night for the actual eviction of the houseguest. And yes, I will also admit that I have watched every summer since it first was broadcast in the summer of 2000. The summer of 2000 is when I also got addicted to the the reality show Survivor which is hosted by Jeff Probst. I love these two reality shows and simply cannot miss an episode each season. And I still remember some of the unforgettable characters from each season of Big Brother like Will, Chicken George,Evil Dick, Jessie, Rennie, etc.

This year's most despicable houseguest was from Ohio---that cocky little Ronnie who stirred up the house at the beginning of the season. I am afraid Ronnie gave Ohio a bad name so I was glad to see him evicted. And then there was Chima who got expelled for breaking the house rules. Chima, Chima, Chima! You crazy crazy girl! I was happy to see her go too. Jessie and Lydia were not favorites of mine either so I was glad to see them walk out the door this season. Russell was wild and loud at times but I kinda liked him. Jeff should not have nominated him last week. Tonight I think Jeff has now overplayed his hand and will be nominated along with Michele.

Well, the truth is I know he and Michele have been nominated because I have found a secondary Big Brother website that tells you in advance what is going to happen on each televised show. I know, I know! It is really really bad when you are so attached to a reality TV show that you have to find out before the show airs what is going to happen when the show does air.

But I'm not going to change my addiction stripes now. There are much worse things that I could be addicted to like alcohol or drugs or food. Can't an old lady like me have at least one bad habit in life? By the way, Jack is addicted too so don't call our house tonight when the show is being broadcast. We will be glued to the TV and won't be able to take your phone call.

Today On Oprah

Today on the Oprah Winfrey show she will be featuring people famous from the '90s and where are they now? Like Tanya Harding. Like Lorena Bobbitt. Lorena Bobbitt? Yes, you remember the Manassas lady that used a knife to remove a part of her husband's anatomy and then got in her car and drove down the road to Centerville, VA where she threw it out the car window. This happened around the third week of June of 1993.

It was one of those media moments where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when the news broke via radio or TV. I was driving down Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield, VA when I heard it on the radio. Wow, some interesting local news that kept getting more interesting. First, came the shock over what Lorena had done to her husband in the wee hours of the morning. Second, came the surprise that she was driving with you know what in her hand. Third, came the new surprise that she threw you know what out the window into a field near Centerville, VA. Fourth, came the new shock that police hunted in that field and found that husband's missing part. At this point I can distinctly remember that I almost drove off the road I was listening so intently to the news report.

When I finally arrived at my school the faculty which was 90 per cent female at the time had only one thing on their minds---this story. Luckily it was the very last day of school so the students were just coming in to pick up their report cards and to say goodby to everyone.

After school ended before midday our school faculty headed to Bennigans Restaurant at Springfield Mall to have our end of year faculty luncheon. Again, everyone was abuzz about Lorena Bobbitt and what she had done to her husband. Soon someone mentioned that they had seen it reported on all the major TV morning shows and that the news wires were abuzz with the story. Someone else mentioned that truth is often stranger than fiction and wasn't it a real play on words that the husband was called Mr. Bobbitt. How puny can you get with this story.We were all adding our two cents to the story when someone looked out the window and spotted one of newly inaugurated President Bill Clinton's cabinet members approaching our restaurant door. Sure enough in walks Robert E. Reich, President Clinton's Labor Secretary. At any other time we would have been thrilled to have seen a cabinet member in our midst but not today. Oh, forget Robert Reich. Let's just get back to discussing the antics of Lorena Bobbitt. And so we did just that.

Well today you can relive all the memories of this '90s news story along with some others if you take time to watch Oprah this afternoon. She is on at 4:00 P.M. in Haymarket, VA.

Final note: the follow up trial of Lorena Bobbitt in the city of Manassas was probably the most exciting event to hit Manassas since the first and second battles of Bull Run during the Civil War. Sleepy little Manassas had reporters from all over the world flocking to the courthouse to cover that trial.

Michigan State Heading To Final Four

My late brother, Harold Gariety, was an avid Michigan State Spartan fan and sports recruiter. He would be so delighted to learn that Michigan State will be heading down the road 90 miles to Detroit to be a part of the Final Four.

These photo I took in 2007 while returning from our cross country trip to Seattle and Alaska. This is the Michigan State football stadium. Harold made sure that all his brothers and sisters had a chance to attend a football game here while he was attending Michigan State University. When we did so I remember staying at the student run hotel on campus that is the focal point of Michigan State's Hotel and Restaurant Education program.

Speaking of hotels did you watch Celebrity Apprentice last night and get to see Joan Rivers as hotel concierge and the rest of the ladies cleaning toilets, sinks, and shower stalls? Obviously these rich ladies never clean up after their very own house guests or else they wouldn't have gone bananas over finding a hair in the bathroom or on the bed. There are worse things in life for throwing a banana fit.

I won't even comment on the men's team and poor Dennis Rodman who got fired this week. Dennis will be on The Jay Leno Show this week so maybe Jay will ask Dennis about his bizarre behavior on Celebrity Apprentice. I thought Jesse James did a fine job of playing spokes person for the men's team in the boardroom.

News Flash: I want to thank the Anonymous Commenter on yesterday's blog post who explained more than me about all those white bicycles in the city of Manassas on Sudley Rd. This person pointed out that the bikes are rearranged into a gigantic white Christmas Tree for the holidays and that in the summer time they sometimes sport sun umbrellas. So that means that the bicycles are not welded down. But how they stay up and how they are not stolen or vandalized in some fashion I do not know. We will have to post more photos of this strange Manassas phenomena sometime in the future. In the meantime thank you Anonymous Commenter for your enlightening comments.

Sky Watch Friday Meme

Sky Watch Friday

A Towering Figure Above

The Other Trees Reaches The Light

After Viewing This Sky Watch Friday

Go To Here To See More Sky Watch Friday Blogs:http://skyley.blogspot.com/

I am dedicating this Sky Watch Friday photo to the memory of the late Tim Russert who made every Sunday a true Meet The Press Sunday and every presidential election night a great event to watch the man with the white board and pen explain the breaking news by rapidly writing numbers on the board and then scream and laugh and say what a story, what a story!

Tim, we still miss you and we have not found someone to equal you on Meet The Press. I know you would be excited and be thinking about all the new cabinet members you would want to interview.

The Missing Man Formation

I learned yesterday that MSNBC News was operating in the Missing Man Formation for coverage of the presidential election. The Missing Man Formation is the aerial military maneuver in which you can see that one plane and pilot is no longer with us in the sky. I'm sure you have seen it on TV and/or at local military airshows. (By the way, Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio has an airshow to drive out of your way to see.)

Well, Tuesday night the broadcasters of MSNBC were in missing man formation in memory of their deceased broadcaster and news teammate Tim Russert. Tim Russert who hosted Meet The Press Sunday mornings died this past spring. I think everyone can remember Tim shunning the push button high tech world and grabbing his white board and pen to explain what was happening in Florida in the 2000 presidential election.

Tuesday night Andrea Mitchell had Tim's white board and pen by her side. Someone else was wearing a Tim Russert tie with his suit and another had the mass card from the Tim Russert funeral mass in his suit pocket. And they all expressed the same thought that Tim would have been bouncing off the walls and throwing his white board around in wild jubilation over the first black man to be elected president of the United States and screaming what a story, what a story! Tim lived for politics and the presidential election was his superbowl reporting moment. I'm going to dedicate my Sky Watch Friday photo to you.

Home Eviction Coming Soon!

Who will get evicted from Big Brother 10 this evening? Will it be Memphis, the bartender, or Jessie, the weight lifter? I think and hope it will be Jessie. He is so arrogant. I hope he goes tonight. This is a good group of players this year. Keesha reminds me of Evil Dick's daughter from last summer's show. Old marine Jerry doesn't really know how to relate to anyone or how to play the game for that matter. And old Renny is a stitch. I like her. April and Ollie are having a show romance. Bet it dies when the show is over. I can't figure Libra out yet. But she sure is working everybody over lately. Are you watching this show? If so, who do you like? And who do you think will make it to the final four? In my humble opinion the smartest girl got evicted last week---Angie. Jessie got evicted from the house. Michele from Rhode Island is the new HOH.

I'm Hooked On Big Brother!

Every summer I get my kicks by watching Big Brother. Tonight I get to watch the POV challenge to see if anyone takes either Jessica or Jameka off the elimination block. Last week's HOH challenge was so difficult. I think that it was the hardest challenge that I have ever seen on Big Brother in 8 seasons. Holy Cow! I'm surprised that there wasn't any broken bones.
I'm glad that Zack got HOH this week. Zack doesn't say much but what he says isn't loud or rude like some of the other house guests. I'm liking him more. I went on a CBS Big Brother Forum and discovered that a lot of folks don't like Jessica because of her old lady? looks, her blue eye shadow, her squeaky voice and her laziness. Some folks claim that she sleeps all day to get over her hangovers. Others say that she sleeps to avoid doing any cleaning or cooking in the house. As for Eric and Jessica some people are tired of that scene too. I like Eric but think that the powers that be at Big Brother did a dumb thing by starting this America's Player. I don't like it and I think others don't either. Everyone knows that Eric is up to something but they don't know what it is. Eric might get back doored tonight and then on Thursday I think both he and Jess will be eliminated. And that would leave Zack and Jameka with Evil Dick and his daughter, Danielle. This show has always had lots of twists so I don't want to venture who will win the million dollars. Oh, I just remembered something: we get to see Janelle, the winner from last year on the show tonight. That should be interesting. Final thought: Big Brother is better than summer reruns. Of course, I could do something better with my time like reading a good book but I confess that I am hooked to this show.