07/20/08 Picture of the week

Picture of the Week

Picture of the Week 6/29/2008

Hey folks, hope your weekend got off to a good start. As for me, mine has turned out to be quite a sad one. I just learned today that my priest passed away. He served at our parish all through my childhood and gave me my first communion. He was the kindest, sweetest, gentlest man you'd ever want to meet. When you think of what a priest should be, that was what he was like. He was the kind of priest who made it seem like anything could be forgiven. If you told him you had killed your mother, he probably would have said, "don't do it again!"

He had retired quite a while ago, but I would run into him from time to time. The first time was at the local Ladbrokes. I went there once a year to bet on the Kentucky Derby. When he saw me he got this shocked and appalled look on his face and said, "what are you doing here?" Without missing I beat I shot right back, "what are you doing here?" Realizing that I had a point he let out a little chuckle. He also worked at the local food pantry (aka soup kitchen). Every once in a while I would see him at the grocery store when he would stop to pick up food to take to the food pantry for the poor. Usually it was in the parking lot where I would run into him and he would always stop and greet me with an enthusiastic, "Chrissy, how are you?". He was one of only a few people who called me Chrissy. (They are all gone now too). Then he would give me a big hug.

I guess there won't be anymore hugs for me.

God Bless him! He will always go on in my heart. Hopefully, the tears will not.

From a holy man to an angel, enjoy the picture.

screen cap courtesy of Sahira, merci beaucoup!

Picture of the Week 6/22/2008

Hey Folks, hope everyone is having a great weekend. It was a fantastic week of AC360. It sure is good to have Anderson back. It's just not the same without him. Sorry, guys. I call em as I see em.

How do you like the new AC website? I have to admit I miss the blue. The most important thing though is having Anderson blog. I miss his blogs. I know we all give up our New Year's resolutions a few days after we make them. But I really wish he would keep his since it affects us. No one else cares if you stick to your diet, get healthy, or organize your house. His resolution though.... well, we like his blogging. Blogging or no... it's good to have him back safe and sound after his travels through Africa.

Now it's time for the picture of the week. Enjoy!

screen cap courtesy of Sahira, merci beaucoup

Picture of the Week 6/15/2008

Happy Father's Day! I wonder if it is a bittersweet time for Anderson, missing his dad and all those father/son moments children are entitled to. Perhaps it is no big deal to him as he was so young and didn't have all that many days to celebrate his dad. I know Anderson would make a great daddy and hopefully one day he will have the opportunity. I know there surely are a few out there who would be honored to make it a reality.

For me, I am conflicted about the day. When my dad was here, Mom always suggested what to get him for a gift. I'm not sure if she was afraid I would forget or ignore the day, or if she was just being helpful. Either way, we had a cake and gifts and celebrated the day. Now I would rather ignore the day but the retail industry doesn't let up on the reminders. I knew Father's Day was soon but I didn't know exactly when. I was fine with that. However, the death of Tim Russert took care of that blissful ignorance. Time after time, they mention how he was taken just a few days before Father's Day and how much more tragic that makes his passing. I didn't watch his program all the time, but I happened to catch the one where he was talking about his book "Big Russ". Tom Brokaw was on and more or less interviewing him. It was a well done and riveting program as he talked about his father and the father/son relationship. It's nice when someone that so loves being a parent gets the opportunity. I sometimes wonder why God lets so many of us who truly want to be parents and would cherish their babies endlessly, are denied the chance. Hopefully, that will change.

It's an odd thing, our relationship with our parents. No matter how good or bad, close or distant, demonstrative or not,we miss our parents when they are gone. Even if we aren't sure if we were loved, or how deeply, we still miss what should have been, what we wanted the relationship to be. It's just a fact of life, our parents are supposed to be there. It is the way it's supposed to be.

Wherever Anderson is, I hope the day isn't too painful for him and that he remembers the good times he was able to share with his Dad. I hope he remembers the love he was given and the sweet memories and that these feel his heart and bring him some comfort. I'm sure his dad is looking down and watching over him.

photo taken by Jeff Hutchens, AC360blog

Picture of the Week 05/18/2008

Time again for the Ander-picture of the Week. I don't where this picture came from but it is really cool. It just shows that no matter where on earth, what ethnic group, or what the style of clothing; he's still sexy and breathtakingly handsome. I believe the french word is "seduisant"! He is definitely that. Enjoy!

if this picture is yours, let me know so I can credit you.

By the way, don't forget to vote in the April Picture of the Month Poll. I'll leave it for a few more days before I post the results. http://andernation.blogspot.com/2008/05/april-picture-of-month-poll.html
Here's another puzzle for you as well. http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/24139F6F4E7?m=D025092D44.71181A2&z=6

Picture of the Week 5/11/2008

Sorry for the delay, but it was worth waiting for. I'm sure many of you have seen this one before. It is from Anderson's layout in Vanity Fair. If I remember correctly, it was taken by Annie Lebovitz. She is an amazing photographer, even when the subject isn't as amazing as Anderson. I don't think it's possible for Anderson to take a bad picture. If one exists, I haven't seen it!.

A bit off topic, if anyone knows the music played during the Valspar paint commercial, could you let me know. It sounds very familiar to me, but I can't think of where I heard it before. I know, it's a strange request.

Now for the picture of the week.

Picture of the Week 4/27/2008

Is it just me or do the weekends seem longer when Anderson is off? After 2 days without him, I thought we could use a smile, so I picked a picture where he's smiling. Hope it holds us until Monday. Enjoy!





Here's something to pass the time on your Sunday afternoon.
http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/8F1394FB3D0?m=D025092D44.71181A2&z=6

Picture of the Week 04/20/2008

Rita provided such yummy pics, it inspired me to find an equally yummy one for the picture of the week. Hope you like it.

Picture of the Week 4/13/08

Time for another picture of the week; well, it is a bit late. I could stare at this forever. Can this man even take a bad photo? He kind of looks like he's tired of waiting. What he's waiting for, I have no idea. Love the photo anyway. Enjoy!

image from Outside Magazine


Here's another puzzle; I love this picture. It just makes you want to smile!
http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/00138EDE132?m=D025092D44.71181A2&z=6


Hope you all had a good weekend.

Picture of the Week 4/06/08

Another week has passed so it's time again for our special of the week Anderpicture and puzzle. I noticed Anderson ended the program with a "have a great weekend", but no "see you Monday". So if we end up with an Anderless week, I'll try to post a new puzzle everyday. I suppose we could spend the extra two hours we have exercising in honor of Anderson's boycott of Kelly's exercise segment! Anderson could consider himself lucky, at least belly dancing wasn't part of their fitness repertoire! In case you missed his appearance or the first 15 minutes like I did, here's the link to his stalker story, if you have the stomach for it that is. I warn you, you many find it disturbing. I mean it may get to the point where he won't even say hello to anyone and you'll hate to even think about approaching him and finally getting to meet him if you haven't done so up till now. Anyways, here it is if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pcSVu2ZoCM

screen cap from the Tonight Show



You will find this week's puzzle here; http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/9E1387D3100?z=0

Picture of the Week 3/29/2008

Sorry to be so late with the picture of the week but blogger was being temperamental last night. At 4:00 AM I gave up. I also have another puzzle for you. Enjoy!

http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/F11377C4500

image from Claremont website

So another dismal Saturday has come and gone. It's cold and gloomy here. It seems Mother Nature either is suffering from PMS or is bipolar. She can't decide if it's winter or spring; so we alternate from one to the other. I love winter, but I hate this back and forth. I would like a little sunshine please. Speaking of sunshine, wasn't Anderson great Friday night on AC360? What was going on with that guy from Time Magazine? He said something about "you can only bring it up in non-polite company, which is how I consider you," what was that all about?? Anderson not polite? Au contraire!! Also, many thanks to Erica for bringing about an amazing Anderson belly laugh. He has the best laugh in the world. No Anderson, it is not, I repeat "not annoying"!
I don't even want to mention Wal-Mart and their despicable behavior. I think they should be the new "they who shall not be named". I think a boycott is an excellent idea. I've read on the blog how so many say they can't afford to shop elsewhere. Other than the prescriptions and a few items here and there, the one near me isn't that cheap. Their grocery prices are downright ridiculous. It's cheaper to go the regular grocery store or wherever they have sales. Anyway, they should be ashamed of themselves. I hope Anderson keeps on this story and maybe eventually they will be shamed into doing the right thing. What scares me most is if she has to go on welfare and stay in a nursing home paid by medicaid. I've had relatives stay in one of those and it's horrible. They are extremely understaffed and their treatment borders on neglect. Now for some sunshine to end this post; the picture of the week and a new Anderpuzzle for your Sunday afternoon.

Picture of the Week 3/9/2008

screen cap courtesy of Sahira, merci beaucoup!

Picture of the Week 03/02/08

Well since I like the screencap that was posted earlier so much I've decided to official make it the picture of the week (even though it's a tad late...oops!) but better late than never right?

Picture of the Week

I know this picture was posted earlier, but it's such a good one I thought it merited being a picture of the week. Enjoy!

screen cap courtesy of Sahira, merci beaucoup

Picture of the Week 2/17/08

screen cap courtesy of Sahira, merci beaucoup!


I'm sorry the picture is a little blurry; the original was clear. I don't know why it transfers to the blog this way. If anyone knows why, clue me in. It's such a gorgeous picture, it's a shame it doesn't show up as clear as the original.

Picture of the Week

This week's picture is from Anderson's 60 Minutes report "Awakenings". There are a few really gorgeous images from this report but they are too big to fit here.
Enjoy!

screen cap courtesy of Sahira, merci beaucoup!

Picture of the Week 1/27/08

Screen caps courtesy of Sahira, merci beaucoup!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Reading the blog yesterday gave me quite a few things to think about. Loss is complicated, whether it's a family member, lover, pet, close friend or other. "OTHER"? you're probably thinking. Yes, other. Have you ever watched a movie or tv program and when the character dies you find yourself crying? How about a celebrity? I'm sure there are many out there you are hurting and desperately sad after hearing of Heath Ledger's passing. I know, I know, we're not supposed to think of people we see on television or on the movie screen that way. "You don't have a relationship with them!" Yes, we've heard that one many times before. And yes, we know we don't have a relationship with them, and we know that. Really! We do know that! However, for some strange reason, we feel something. It may not be a relationship, but they are strong feelings nonetheless.

For me, Heath Ledger didn't invoke really strong feelings or a sense of deep loss. However, other people have. When Johnny Carson died, I cried. I felt sad for days and those tears and feelings come back every time I see an infomercial where they are selling his DVD's. Why? Darn if I know. But the feelings are there. Maybe it's the many nights when I should have been sleeping because it was a school night, but I was up watching the Tonight Show and laughing my head off. Even if I couldn't stay up for the entire program, I always made sure I caught the monologue. I would laugh out loud and totally annoy my parents who had gone to bed. You could've taken bets on which parent would barge into the TV room and tell me to turn that things done and be quiet! Then they would close the door to the room and go back to bed. It happened every night. I'm sure my dad was thrilled listening to me cackle when he had to get up at 7:00 to go to work and Mom had to get up at 6:00 AM to get his breakfast ready. Yes, I'm lucky, Mom is one of those old fashioned moms who was the first one up in the morning, got meals for her family, washed Daddy's glasses for him before he left for work, and waited on us all hand and foot. But I digress. Spending every night watching Johnny Carson for years must have carved out a special niche in my heart for him. Now that he's gone, I've noticed I don't laugh as often or as hard.

Characters can do the same thing to us. I always cry during the episode of Charmed when Prue dies and the one where Andy dies. Now don't confuse him with Anderson, don't even think about it. That Andy isn't allowed to...well, you know. Hear that God? Anyway, I've seen those episodes dozens of times, I know what's going to happen from the first scene of the program and the exact moment it's going to happen. But it still makes me sad and the tears always flow. Mom has mentioned to me that I cry more for people on TV that for my own family. I don't know for sure if it's true or not. Maybe it's just easier to cry for TV characters, you don't feel as self-conscious. I didn't grow up crying easily. I wasn't the one who turned on the waterworks to get her way or get attention. So my tears are usually private, 2:30 AM cuddled under my blanket in bed, my face buried in my pillow. Maybe it doesn't matter who we cry for or why. Maybe when we cry for people we don't really know, maybe we are also crying for all the loved ones we've lost and held in the tears. Perhaps what is important is that the emotions are there and crying lets them out. Maybe that's all that matters.

One thing to remember is to always count your blessings. If you happen to have someone to hold you when you cry, then you definitely have some blessings to count and your are indeed a lucky person after all.

Now to leave you on a happy note, here's a screen cap of a very cheerful, happy Anderson. Enjoy!

Picture of the Week 01/13/2008

Picture of the week 01/06/08