"A sunbeam in the abyss"

Matt Zoller Seitz, from The House Next Door, writes a moving piece on his sometime acquaintance Owen Wilson: "I will say that when I read news stories expressing incredulity that a well-liked comedic actor might be depressed enough to try to end it all, I wonder what planet these writers are from, and if they've ever spent time among the humans that populate this one. Tempting as it may be to seize on cheap ironic contrasts between an artist's life and work -- and comb his career and personal life for harbingers of suicidal intent -- the process is usually reductive and sometimes insulting. Of course that hasn't stopped the media from trying."

As usual, Mike says it better than I ever could.

From Should've Asked Me: "I have been stunned that anyone is prepared to accept Michael Vick's 'contrition.' He apologized for doing something that was 'immature.' Immature?? Immature is making prank phone calls. Immature is ordering multiple pizzas for a stranger. Killing dogs with your bare hands is not immature. It's sadistic and sick."

Do not let that man ever play a professional sport again. EVER.

Now I can't get that No Doubt song out of my head.

Monster spider web spun in Texas: "'At first, it was so white it looked like fairyland,' said Donna Garde, superintendent of the park about 45 miles east of Dallas. 'Now it's filled with so many mosquitoes that it's turned a little brown. There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in those webs.'"

Creeee-py!

Headline of the Day

Friends of You-Know-Who need not apply:

"Job opening for attorney general with credibility"

To sleep, perchance to dream.

Wednesday is Unbearably Cute Day. Sorry.

If I cover my eyes, maybe you'll go away.

Actually, just one quick post.

How weird and sad is this:

Police log: Owen Wilson tried to commit suicide.

I hope he's able to get the help he needs.

Oy!

Real life is kicking me in the butt right now, but I'll be back soon to regale you all with my rapier wit and brilliant insights. I promise!

It's been too long.

Just six short months until we're together again, Desmond!

Putin the Pinup?

Photos of bare-chested Putin create stir: "Komsomolskaya Pravda reported that women who visited its Web site posted comments on Putin's 'vigorous torso' and said they 'were screaming with delight and showering (him) with compliments.'"

Uh, not really my cup of tea, no. And probably a little bit more than I needed to know about Vladimir Putin.

Naked Pug!

Marty, originally uploaded by gina64.

Marty

Daisy gets some lovin'

Gettin' some lovin', originally uploaded by gina64.

Mickey at Bear Cove

Mickey at Bear Cove, originally uploaded by gina64.

My family's legacy: Freckles

Zachary, originally uploaded by gina64.

I could just eat him up. Even though he's prematurely gray. Kidding! It's paint, and don't ask.

Brought to you by Levi's: A microcosm of the polarization of America

Have you seen the ad yet? I thought it was kind of dumb, to be honest:



But then I saw the gay version on Logo:



At first I thought I was seeing things, but then I remembered what channel I was watching. It's still a dumb ad, in my opinion, but it's pretty brave, too.

For proof of just how brave it is, check out this article and the scary comments. I'm amazed at how quickly the discussion was distilled down to a debate between what appears to be the only two moral and political factions operating in this country anymore: ultra-liberal, anti-war bleeding heart atheists and Bible-thumping, far-right, anti-gay conservatives. I mean, I'm pretty close to being one of those bleeding-heart liberals, but I also believe in God and believe that religion does have its place in the world. Isn't there any in-between anymore? Why does everything have to boil down to "you're either with us or you're against us?"

Oh, wait, I forgot for a moment who has been the leader of our nation for the past 7 years.

"Australian Woman Killed By Amorous Camel"

I was going to try to come up with a clever title, but I think that one is just fine.

The Camel Had Been The Woman's 60th Birthday Present: "The 10-month-old male camel — weighing about 330 pounds — knocked the woman to the ground, lay on top of her, then exhibited what police suspect was mating behavior, Gregory said."

I love this photo.

Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner seem to be exchanging cell numbers outside of Merv Griffin's funeral. I know it's a private occasion, and it really isn't good form to be taking pictures at a funeral, but I still think this is kind of cute.
(Reuters Photo)

First Sark, Now Veronica!

The Heroes cast continues to grow: First David Anders (Sark, from Alias) and now Kristin Bell, former star of the dearly departed Veronica Mars.

I'm very excited about both of those cast additions, but it makes me nervous the way they keep adding people to the cast. It was already a huge ensemble piece. Will they be spreading things a little too thin? Granted, some characters were killed off in the finale, or have gone missing, so these could just be "filler" roles.

Well, whatever happens, I'm looking forward to the show's return in just a few weeks!

(I do wish 'Veronica' could bring her dad with her, though)

And I thought I was cheating by using an air mattress.

The rich go 'glamping': "The Bondicks, who live in a sprawling home on the edge of a state park outside Boston and hire a personal chef at home, shelled out $595 a night -- plus an additional $110 per person per day for food. It's a hefty price to sleep in a tent, but the perks include a camp butler to build their fire, a maid to crank up the heated down comforter at nightfall and a cook to whip up bison rib-eye for dinner and French toast topped with huckleberries for breakfast."

What's the point, I ask? Just stay in the lodge and leave camping to the rest of us.

I wish I was back there.

Our site, originally uploaded by gina64.

Exeter Elms Campground, Exeter, New Hampshire

I'd love to try to sneak in one more camping weekend before the weather starts to turn too cold.

Pug on Vacation

Mickey, originally uploaded by gina64.

Mickey, chillin on the beach in Maine.

It's very difficult to weed a patch of wildflowers.

It's very difficult to weed a patch of wildflowers., originally uploaded by gina64.

These poor souls gave their lives to the cause, so I brought them in to brighten up the kitchen.

I don't know the story behind this photo.

But it's sad and pretty, at the same time.

AP Photo from the floods caused by Erin in Texas.

I need to know what to wear to a meeting with my attorney re: the custody of my children

How about I ask Britney for advice?

What's that in the corner of my living room?

Oh! It's my TV!

Actually, I have been watching stuff (which I'll do another post on), but it's amazing how drastically my TV-watching drops off once the regular season ends.

OK, so summer is winding down and it's time to start thinking of rejoining our favorite TV shows, and maybe even catching a few new ones. The Futon Critic has an awesome Fall Grid, as usual, and I've pulled the premiere dates for the shows that I like and the new ones that I think I'm going to want to see. If your favorite show isn't on this list, make sure you check out the grid for yourself.

I've broken the list down by day. Next to the show is the date and time of the season/series premiere and the network on which it airs. New series are in red.

Monday

Heroes - 9/24 at 9:00 PM (NBC)
Aliens in America - 9/24 at 9:30 PM (CW)

Wednesday

Pushing Daisies - 10/3 at 8:00 PM (ABC)
Back to You - 9/19 at 8:00 PM (FOX)
Bionic Woman - 9/26 at 9:00 PM (NBC)

Thursday

CSI - 9/27 at 9:00 PM (CBS)
The Office - 9/27 at 9:00 PM (NBC)

Sunday

Viva Laughlin (new) - 10/21 at 8:00 PM (with a special preview on 10/18 at 10:00 PM) (CBS)
Dexter - 9/30 at 9:00 PM (Showtime)

Four huge favorites are not returning until 2008:

2008

24 - Sunday, 01/13/08 at 8:00 PM (FOX)
American Idol - Tuesday, 01/15/08 at 8:00 PM (FOX)
LOST - Wednesday, 02/06/08 at 10:00 PM (ABC)

Battlestar Galactica will be returning in 2008 as well, but there is no date for the season 4 premiere yet. However, there will be a special 2-hour movie that will air on SciFi on 11/24/07 that will delve deeper into events that took place during season 2, I believe. The storyline from the season 3 finale will not resume until season 4 begins.

Another new show I've heard good buzz about (Colleen!) and won't air until 2008 is The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I believe it's supposed to premiere some time in January.

I also wanted to mention Futurama, which I have totally fallen in love with and I have watched all of the episodes on Cartoon Network. It was cancelled in 2003, but they are making new straight to DVD movies that will air in half hour chunks on Comedy Central, beginning some time in 2008 (February, I believe). I'm so excited! (God, I'm such a dork. Or a geek. Or both, maybe)

My TV plate is going to be VERY full in 2008.

Don't forget to mark you calendars!

Hannah Banana

Hannah Banana, originally uploaded by gina64.

Hideaway

Hideaway, originally uploaded by gina64.

Our cabin, on one of the foggy days we had this year. If you look closely, you can see Zachary on the rocks.

The kids at Bear Cove

At Bear Cove, originally uploaded by gina64.

Indiana Jones, you sure know how to show a woman a good time.

Karen Allen is back as Marion Ravenwood in Indiana Jones 4! Yay!

And gosh, doesn't she look fantastic?

No FREAKING Way.

"Bob Cage and his daughter Laisha, 10, reach about 180 feet in the air as they ride the 'Human Slingshot Ejection Seat' bungee ride at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls, Mont., Friday, Aug. 3, 2007. The ride features two high strength bungee cords tied to a steel cage which rocket the riders 180 feet straight into the air. The Montana State Fair continues through Sunday. (AP Photo/Great Falls Tribune, Robin Loznak)

I'm glad I didn't start watching this one.

"John" washed up at HBO: "Labeled by critics as 'strange,' 'weird' and 'unlikable,' 'John' never clicked with viewers despite a strong marketing campaign and such well-known leads as Rebecca De Mornay and Bruce Greenwood."

I do have friends who watch, so I feel badly for them, but this news does give me some hope that perhaps now Milch will be able to make those Deadwood movies they were all talking about when the show was canceled.

Excuse me sir, I think you dropped this.

Japanese biker hits safety barrier: "He felt excruciating pain, but did not notice that his right leg was missing until he stopped at the next junction, the paper quoted local police as saying."

If Christopher Walken Had a Cooking Show.

I wouldn't miss a single episode.

I just wanted to quickly mention the passing of Merv Griffin this weekend.

I want to thank him for keeping me company every day after school during the 70s. Because of Merv (and Mike Douglas and Dinah Shore) I knew way more about the likes of Tony Randall, Burt Reynolds, Don Rickles, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Buddy Hackett than any 12-year-old should have.

RIP, Merv.

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Bloggers' Take on Rove's Resignation

Karl Rove has announced his resignation from the White House - leaving President Bush without a brain - saying he wants to spend more time with his family. Men who crave power as much as these guys do not leave at the height of it in order to "spend time with my family".

Heading out.

I'm off to New Hampshire for the weekend. We'll be setting up in the pouring rain. Yay.

Have a good weekend, everyone! I promise this place will be hoppin' once I get back!

West Quoddy Light

07-17-2007 096, originally uploaded by gina64.

I have to apologize for the lack of any real content here since I got back from vacation. Besides being sick for a week, things are just kind of quiet. I'm working on a post or two, though, that I will have up before the weekend.

And that brings me to the weekend...I'm going away again, this time on a camping trip to New Hampshire with my sister Mary and Hannah and Zack. It's been a long time since I've camped - I mean really camped, in a tent - and I'm looking forward to it. And maybe I'll have more photos to share!

The boys on vacation

The boys on vacation, originally uploaded by gina64.

They loved it up there. A nice long walk every day and some major snuggles with me, and they were in heaven.

A good day for a book.

07-17-2007 024, originally uploaded by gina64.

If it stays for more than a couple of days, which it often does, the fog up there can become a bit claustrophobic. After 3 days of it, I put the pugs in the car and drove down to Schoodic Point for a morning cup of tea and a quick walk on the rocks.

Now, the whole point of Schoodic is the spectacular view and the crashing waves. The fog was so thick, however, all I could do was listen and imagine. It was enough.

I miss that son of a b -- !

(Cover the kids' ears!)

A foggy day.

07-17-2007 046, originally uploaded by gina64.

Everywhere you look, there's a photo waiting to be taken.

07-17-2007 079, originally uploaded by gina64.

Why would you want to be anywhere else?

Why would you want to be anywhere else?, originally uploaded by gina64.

Maine Wild Rose

Wild Rose, originally uploaded by gina64.

The coast is crawling with them.

Easternmost Pugs in the Continental United States

Easternmost Pugs in the Continental United States, originally uploaded by gina64.

The boys and I took a drive up to Lubec and West Quoddy Light one day on our vacation. It's such a beautiful place! A photographer's dream.

I'd like to go back next year and maybe hop over to Campobello Island and FDR's summer place, while I'm in the area. It's only about an hour and a half north of our place, an easy day trip.

We always head south, where all the action is. It was nice to do something different.

Diagnosis

Doctor says it's food poisoning. Sheila's sick with it, too. Sicker, in fact.

We're waiting on the lab results on which of those microbes was the culprit. Once we know that, I'm hoping we'll know exactly what it was we ate that made us so sick. I thought maybe it was the lobster we had Friday night, but the more I read about this online, the more I realize it could be any number of things we ate during the week.

Since I'm feeling better, the doctor didn't prescribe any antibiotics for me yet. Hopefully, the test results won't come back positive for something that requires medicine.

What a way to end a vacation!

Hippos and dogs! Living Together! Mass Hysteria!

And I thought the pugs were spoiled.

They're kidding, right?

This is "Breaking News"?

Still feeling sick and sort of cranky, as you can see.