Fresh, flavorful greens. Spicy chopped B-B-Q and juicy ribs. The best (bar none) macaroni and cheese in the world… the way Mom used to make it in the 60’s… oven baked with a crispy top and REAL cheese. Jimmy Carter knows what I’m talking about. It’s the best BBQ joint in the Washington DC environs. It’s Levi’s… and it’s in a strip mall on the corner of Oxon Hill Road and Livingston in Maryland, right off the D-12 bus line. And all for only $7.95. Levi’s gets my BEST OF DC award! J
I can also tell you that the metro in Washington DC is clean and fast. And everywhere I went, people were very willing to help out this first-time DC tourist. Bus drivers who wished us a good day or a great week-end. Riders thanking drivers. Natives taking the time to show me how to use the fare machines, or giving me hints about riding the metro.
I had a FABULOUS time in DC, although I never went to a single monument or museum. That’s for next trip. Expect several blog entries about the experience, for there is too much to put in just one.
I can tell you that the Book Expo is everything they tell you it is, and then some. And although I didn’t get some of the autographs that I wanted, I got many that I never even expected. And a photo with Jay Bush and Duke!! Chocolate chip cookies with Famous Amos, and a photo with him as well! It was a talk show host heaven, with authors everywhere.
UPS makes all its profits for the year at the Expo, for someone in the organization many years ago figured that people couldn’t carry all the books they were picking up, so they created “Attendee Shipping.” Thousands of boxes are set out on tables in a back area where people come in from time to time to load them up with their prizes. Then you get them taped up and in the assembly line to be shipped. Granted, UPS isn’t the only one making a fortune. The trucking company (Freeman) gets $25 a person “handling” charge. You do the math. They never have to work another day all year. And my 25 pound box will be trucking its way to me next week.
Next time… Oasis spa and their brilliant idea, the Colonel’s Posner, and my new best friend, Dr. Susan Bartlett.
Ciao Bella!
XX
P
ps.... I know it's sad, but it was Elliott's time to go on American Idol. My prediction still stands... it will be Taylor Hicks as the next American Idol. I think he was a definite long shot when the competition began, but he has shown the style, the "It" Factor and the charm of a winner. Yahoo for Taylor and his harmonica!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
American Idol, Allison and Washington DC
First of all... Happy Birthday Allison! Is it 35 this year?? I hope you had a wonderful day! You would certainly love Washington DC over the next few days! It's the annual Book Expo, and there are thousands and thousands and thousands of books here, as the biggest book trade show in the nation is being held this week-end.
It's my first time in the nation's capitol, and I'm having a great time! Today I spent at PMA University, meeting people and finding out what will be expected of me tomorrow when I am on a panel to talk about media training. I met lots of GREAT people, including my new best friend, Paulette.
Tomorrow evening I'll be having dinner with Brigadier General-select Posner and the lovely Colonel Posner. We'll be in Pentagon City. Then Friday morning I will go to the opening morning of Book Expo. I'm hoping to hit the Smithsonian in the afternoon. And somehow, I want to make it to the International Spy Museum!
Wow... so much to see here. So much to do. I'm defininely going to have to come back!
And tonight Elliot Yamin left American Idol. When you watched the show, was there any doubt who had the true magic... the true star power? To me it was abundantly evident that Taylor Hicks is the next American Idol. He rocks, he rolls, he has the right energy and he has the X Factor. Yay for him!!
Hope your May is going well. I'm having fun riding buses and metros and not knowing where the hell I am going. And I find that very exciting!
Ciao Bella!!
XX
P
It's my first time in the nation's capitol, and I'm having a great time! Today I spent at PMA University, meeting people and finding out what will be expected of me tomorrow when I am on a panel to talk about media training. I met lots of GREAT people, including my new best friend, Paulette.
Tomorrow evening I'll be having dinner with Brigadier General-select Posner and the lovely Colonel Posner. We'll be in Pentagon City. Then Friday morning I will go to the opening morning of Book Expo. I'm hoping to hit the Smithsonian in the afternoon. And somehow, I want to make it to the International Spy Museum!
Wow... so much to see here. So much to do. I'm defininely going to have to come back!
And tonight Elliot Yamin left American Idol. When you watched the show, was there any doubt who had the true magic... the true star power? To me it was abundantly evident that Taylor Hicks is the next American Idol. He rocks, he rolls, he has the right energy and he has the X Factor. Yay for him!!
Hope your May is going well. I'm having fun riding buses and metros and not knowing where the hell I am going. And I find that very exciting!
Ciao Bella!!
XX
P
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
American Idol Predictions - revised
I keep getting a lot of hits from people who are searching for "American Idol Predictions." Hey... why not give the public what they want?? Plus... if it drives up MY traffic, we're all winners!
Here's what I think.... (and I've got it sorted out in my brain after this lunchtime's convo with Beverly and Brandon).....
Why the heck is Elliott in the competition at this point in time? Yes, he can sing. But when you closed your eyes and listened to him last night, did you really think you would hear any of his songs on the radio? NO. He is a bar mitzvah singer. He is a lounge singer. But he doesn't have the charisma and "it" factor to be the American Idol. (and I like you, Elliott. But not in this job).
Chris... I have to agree with Simon's assessment last night of "A Little Less Conversation." It had no energy, no punch, no excitement. Until the end. And then you rocked! You lead with your rocker side, but your real strength FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC is when you soften down for ballads. You're good. But I think you need more general appeal.
Katherine... Wow. She's got the pipes. She's got the looks. She's got the "it" factor. But she's still a little inconsistent. She will fare well out of this competition, because someone like Tommy Mattola will give her a contract. She will guest star on sitcoms. She will grace the cover of magazines. But she's not quite the American Idol yet. There have sure been glimpses of it throughout the season. More so with her than anyone else.
Honorable Mention.... Paris. She should never have been kicked off. She is, by far, the best singer of the competition and the most versatile. (Mandisa was kick-ass, too. But you know she was voted off because she was heavy. Too bad. We need new role models). Paris could sing. But she's just 17, and she's a little like Fantasia in singing style. And the public wants different. (or at least the producers do. I wonder how much they influence who stays and who goes???) Look at all the American Idols winners so far. They are all different from each other in style and looks.
Which is why Taylor will win. And because he is a heck of a blue-eyed soul singer. I love Taylor. He is my favorite for many reasons. Because he loves to sing. He loves to perform. He gets into the music and the music gets into him. He feels what he sings. He was an underdog going in (hey.. let's have an old guy who dances weird in the top 12! Okay) And he has surprised the heck out of the producers, I am sure.
So go for it Taylor! Knock us out. And put "In the Ghetto" on your first album. That was HOT!!
Now... let's see how America votes tonight. (and lemme ask ya... how many times do you think the general public votes? Does each person vote 1 time? 12 times? 50 times? 'Cause they don't have a way of only letting a number vote once. So once again... it's WHO you know.... :)
Ciao!
Pam
Here's what I think.... (and I've got it sorted out in my brain after this lunchtime's convo with Beverly and Brandon).....
Why the heck is Elliott in the competition at this point in time? Yes, he can sing. But when you closed your eyes and listened to him last night, did you really think you would hear any of his songs on the radio? NO. He is a bar mitzvah singer. He is a lounge singer. But he doesn't have the charisma and "it" factor to be the American Idol. (and I like you, Elliott. But not in this job).
Chris... I have to agree with Simon's assessment last night of "A Little Less Conversation." It had no energy, no punch, no excitement. Until the end. And then you rocked! You lead with your rocker side, but your real strength FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC is when you soften down for ballads. You're good. But I think you need more general appeal.
Katherine... Wow. She's got the pipes. She's got the looks. She's got the "it" factor. But she's still a little inconsistent. She will fare well out of this competition, because someone like Tommy Mattola will give her a contract. She will guest star on sitcoms. She will grace the cover of magazines. But she's not quite the American Idol yet. There have sure been glimpses of it throughout the season. More so with her than anyone else.
Honorable Mention.... Paris. She should never have been kicked off. She is, by far, the best singer of the competition and the most versatile. (Mandisa was kick-ass, too. But you know she was voted off because she was heavy. Too bad. We need new role models). Paris could sing. But she's just 17, and she's a little like Fantasia in singing style. And the public wants different. (or at least the producers do. I wonder how much they influence who stays and who goes???) Look at all the American Idols winners so far. They are all different from each other in style and looks.
Which is why Taylor will win. And because he is a heck of a blue-eyed soul singer. I love Taylor. He is my favorite for many reasons. Because he loves to sing. He loves to perform. He gets into the music and the music gets into him. He feels what he sings. He was an underdog going in (hey.. let's have an old guy who dances weird in the top 12! Okay) And he has surprised the heck out of the producers, I am sure.
So go for it Taylor! Knock us out. And put "In the Ghetto" on your first album. That was HOT!!
Now... let's see how America votes tonight. (and lemme ask ya... how many times do you think the general public votes? Does each person vote 1 time? 12 times? 50 times? 'Cause they don't have a way of only letting a number vote once. So once again... it's WHO you know.... :)
Ciao!
Pam
Thursday, May 04, 2006
My friend Allison
Allison asked me to come see her about a week ago. So yesterday, as the sky was storming and hail was falling, I went to see Allison. She had a special surpise for me.
Allison had secretly been working on a prayer shawl. She told me that several times she almost blew the secret by posting it on her blog! The shawl (or throw) is blue and white and full of love. Here's a picture of it for you to see how lovely it is.
I met Allison at the Women's Day Out event in Portales last year, and got to see her again this year. And I was so very honored that she would make such a beautiful and thoughtful gift as this for me. Thank you, Allison. You are beautiful and kind. And I will treasure this very, very much.
It's been a very good week.
Ciao,
Pamela
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