I see that the inventor of the television remote control, Eugene Polley, has died at age 96. Coincidentally my remote control died... and about that, I'm not sad. It’s time to hide the remote control, get out in the sunshine and kick my TV habit now that those season finales are finally over. American Idol wrapped up this week, along with Dancing With The Stars and Missing. Thank goodness because I couldn’t handle the demanding schedule of back to back 2 hour specials. Fitting in time to eat, bathe, and brush my teeth was difficult with all those hours sitting on the edge of the sofa in suspense. But at last everything is in place - Phillip Phillips is the new Idol. I wonder if J. Lo will be back? I can almost dance like DWTS champ Donald Driver. Whew! I knew all those television-addicted hours weren’t completely wasted! Finally I can leave the box ...
If you consider yourself a Bostonian, you know what day Prince Spaghetti Day is, you know that it's a "clicka"...not a remote, and you never ever call Boston "Beantown". These are just a few of the gems that I came across recently on Boston.com. It's a fun little trip around the rotary of life in Boston. A rotary you know how to navigate because you are a Bostonian. Click on the link below to see how you measure up. A milkshake and a frappe...do you know the difference?
http://www.boston.com/travel/boston/gallery/you_know_youre_from_boston_when/?
Last year, we had the “Greatest Team Ever”... and we all know how that turned out. This year the Red Sox season is just starting and we already have pitching woes. What's going on here? We apparently didn't show Papelbon enough love...or was it the cash?... and he left us for Philadelphia. Andrew Bailey was brought in to replace him and he is quickly out of action with a thumb injury. Days later, Josh Beckett , perhaps having trouble with a pop top, has a nasty “thumb thing” as well. You've got to be kidding!
This year, as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park and our appreciation of this historic team, somebody should give Tim Wakefield a call....just in case!
Victor Hugo may have written the classic book, but this cast and production steal the show! The 25th anniversary edition of “Les Miserables” is now playing at the Opera House through Sunday... it is NOT to be missed! If you've seen it before, it's time to see it again.
I last saw “Les Miz” when it was in Boston in the late 80's and wondered if this new production could possibly match up. To my surprise, I enjoyed this incarnation even more. The turntable that made it such a physical production is gone, but it has been more than adequately replaced by today's technology of lighting and projections...sets and costumes are fabulous,too. The talented cast of this musical masterpiece is incredible, as is the orchestra. J. Mark McVey stars as Jean Valjean, Andrew Varela as Javert and Betsy Morgan as Fantine. All have exceptional voices and you ...
I realize that the next Leap Day is 4 years away, but the time to act is now! Let's move that day to the end of June. Why would anyone want to add an extra day to a month in the middle of winter? It was a bad idea, and a lousy way to make up for the 6 hours that are somehow lost each year.Let's use a little common sense and move this 29th day of February to a nice warm summer month. July and August have 31 days, so let's give June that additional Leap Day and make it 31 days as well. An extra day of summer. What could be better?Technically, this move doesn't actually make summer any longer, but psychologically it would seem like it. If you were born on February 29th, why not continue to celebrate your birthday on that mythical day as ...
The Oscar Awards are Sunday Night, and my question is this: how excited are you? Do you really care? Do you remember that Eddie Murphy was supposed to host, but backed out late in the game? Do you know that Billy Crystal stepped up and said he’ll do it, for the 9th time.
Billy Crystal just might be the most entertaining thing about this years Oscars ,along with who’s wearing what. Previously as host, Billy stole the show when he opened as Hannibal Lecter, or did the Titanic song parody. And the inserting of himself into scenes from the Best Picture nominees was pure genius. Let’s hope he still has some Magic left.
This year there are 9 movies nominated for Best Picture, and that is way too many. Part of the allure of the Oscars is to see as many of the nominated films as you ...
Gentlemen ... and Ladies, start your engines. But wait....what if that mysterious CHECK ENGINE light comes on? This has to be the dumbest alert message in the world. The first thing that the dealer or a mechanic will tell you is to tighten the gas cap. I've tightened the gas cap and that's never been the problem. The second bit of advice is just to continue to drive, but keep an eye on the light to see if it goes off or starts flashing red. If it turns red, see your dealer immediately!
Stories persist of Check Engine lights that have been “cleared” and sensors that have been replaced and yet that stupid light miraculously comes back on and refuses to go away. What does “check engine” really mean anyway? Couldn't the car makers be a little more precise and give us some useful information. We already have sensor wipers, ...
Valentine's Day is just days away and the scramble for roses has begun. I came across the following info that I would like to pass along to you, just in case you're like me and not up to speed on rose etiquette. Be careful, because the color you send, and the number you send, convey a certain message.
Color of roses
Red - The ultimate symbol of romantic love. Representing true love stronger than thorns, the red rose is known universally as the lover’s rose. White - The white rose is associated with young love. It also symbolizes truth and reverence, and sends a message of loyalty.Yellow - What used to convey jealousy now represents friendship, joy and caring. Pink - This sends a message of gratitude and appreciation.Orange - The orange rose symbolizes enthusiasm and desire -- a good way to express admiration and attraction.Lilac ...
It's Super Bowl week and the hype is off the scale! It's like all of the excitement of Thanksgiving and Christmas condensed into one week... especially if you live in a participating city. If you're not crazy about football and don't thrive on every imaginable detail of the game and everything that surrounds it...good luck trying to escape.
Can you take anymore? Don't get me wrong...I look forward to the Patriots annihilating the stinkin' New York Football Giants on Sunday. BUT, can you take another up to the minute report on Gronk's ankle or Tom Brady's Toto Washlet Performance Toilet? And PLEASE... do we need to see another reporter ride the Zip Line in Indianapolis or be told that 7 million people will call in sick on Monday?
I can't take it anymore or wait any longer. I just want to see a great football game on Sunday ...
PATRIOTS WIN! PATRIOTS WIN! PATRIOTS WIN!
Not the prettiest of games. Who would have thought that the DEFENSE would get us to the Super Bowl and not Tom Brady and the offense?
Sometimes... it's good to be lucky...like today! Maybe it was Steven Tyler's singing of the National Anthem.
GO PATS! MHK
The Golden Globe Awards are this Sunday night at 8 on NBC, and here are the winners. How do I know? I don't know how, but I just do. Maybe it's because I love movies, unless they're in black and white..sorry to “The Artist”. I haven't been wrong for as long as I can remember. By the way, who won last year? I haven't a clue.
Best Picture – Drama
Nominees
“The Descendants”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“The Ides of March”
“Moneyball”
“War Horse”
The winner: “The Descendants”. Captivating story, runs the gamut of emotions , excellent
cast.
Best Actress – Drama
Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis, “The Help”
Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton, “We Need to Talk About Kevin”
The Winner: Meryl Streep. She IS ...
It seems that Nancy Quill and I are are riding along on the same musical train about now. I just put together my iPod Top 10 Christmas playlist. Just for fun, I wanted a list that did not include the old time classics, like "The Christmas Song" or Holly Jolly Christmas." I went through the holiday genre of my iTunes library and came up with this Top 10 list. I wonder how your list might differ from mine. So here they are, in no particular order..
All I want for Christmas Is You.... Mariah Carey
Santa Claus is Coming to Town.... Bruce Springsteen
Wonderful Christmastime.... Paul McCartney
Christmas Is All Around..... Billy Mack: from the movie “Love Actually”
Step Into Christmas.... Elton John
Christmas Vacation..... Mavis Staples, from the National Lampoon movie
Last Christmas.... Wham
Christmas, (Baby Please Come Home)..... Mariah Carey
Happy Xmas.... John & Yoko
Beautiful Christmas.... Big ...
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday... right after the 4th of July. Both are big time food- oriented holidays and, of course, both have plenty of sports appeal with football and baseball. On the 4th, there is a special thrill cooking out on the grill. However, when it comes to Thanksgiving, don’t ask me what dish or special recipe I would like to share. Don’t ask... because I don’t cook! The grill is fine, but keep me out of the kitchen. I’m more of a helper. Picking items up from the store [to make sure we have enough fresh Massachusetts grown cranberries!], helping with prep-work and cleaning up afterwards are my forte’.....oh , and EATING, of course.
Around this time of the year, a lot of guys I know brag about their cooking expertise. Cooking is just not for me. I wouldn’t starve to death if left to my own ...
It wasn’t that long ago when I would kid Gay Vernon that she didn’t know who the Kardashians were! Today it looks as though the “joke” is on me. I’m really getting sick and tired of them and it is impossible to get away from the ever-expanding Kardashian Klan. They’re everywhere! Kim, Kourtney and Khloe were mildly entertaining when we first started keeping up with them. They took over TV, the tabloids and even “wrote” a book... but this 72 day staged marriage was just too much alleged reality to bear. Please!
Kim claims that her marriage to Kris Humphries was not a charade or just done for the money. Do you believe that? Did you ever see any sign of real feelings between the two of them on her part? While I’m at it... could her mother be more of a media hound?... or Bruce Jenner look like the poster ...
What is that old New England saying? If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change. Well, I’ve spent all of 2011 waiting for it change…for the better! When is that going to happen? 2011 started with the horrendous back to back snow storms and then moved on to spring floods, tornados, an earthquake, hurricane Irene and a crippling snow storm in October! What did we do to deserve all this? Oh yeah, and the September Red Sox melt-down made for a double whammy almost at the level of a natural disaster for many!
I really shouldn’t complain since my power is finally back on and the house is once again warm. I do believe, though, that I am the only person on the air at Magic that sat in the cold and dark for 2 days. Why me? If your power was out longer, ...
Who took the “trick” out of trick or treating? The days of harmless Halloween pranks are long gone. Soaping windows, smashing pumpkins, or rolling the yard are just not tolerated anymore, and now the town of Belleville, Illinois is imposing an age limit! If you haven’t heard this story, here’s the deal: Trick or treating by high-school teenagers is now banned. Kids over the age of 12 could face a $100 fine or even go to jail. What?
They can’t be serious! Sure, we all get a little steamed when the doorbell rings and a kid who has made no effort to wear a costume still wants a fistful of candy. It’s even worse if he needs a shave. But, to be hauled off to jail? That’s a little too much. How about no costume, no candy?
All of this brings up the question… how old is TOO old to ...
If you have a daughter or son in college, or simply living away from home, you know how much their trips back home can mean. No matter how grown up they are, there are some things that remain the same. When our daughter, Christy, first went off to college in New York, she would come home for the occasional weekend visit. She would entertain us with some stories about her room mates and activities.... and, of course, bring along her dirty laundry!
Years later, living in London, and getting her doctorate degree, she is still arriving with…you guessed it…dirty laundry! However, I will admit that is not her standard routine. Just before her flight home last week, she called and said her washing machine had broken while she was packing. She asked if it was ok to bring along some laundry. Ha! Of course it was...just hoped that she wasn’t ...
It’s always fun to meet with friends over the weekend, share a nice meal and catch up with what happened during the week. One of the questions I’m always asked is, "What stars did you interview this week?" I’ll have to admit that it’s fun to drop a few celebrity names here and there. When we feature these interviews on Morning Magic, we only air a brief portion and invite you to hear the entire interview on the Morning Magic page of our web site. This past week we spoke with Anjelica Houston about her new movie "50/50", and how a few years ago she ended up playing a role that she thought Cher should have performed. Boston’s funniest Presidential contender, the witty Jimmy Tingle, talked to us about his new movie…yes movie, "Jimmy Tingle’s American Dream", that opens this weekend at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge. Have you ever ...
It’s always fun to meet with friends over the weekend, share a nice meal and catch up with what happened during the week. One of the questions I’m always asked is, "What stars did you interview this week?" I’ll have to admit that it’s fun to drop a few celebrity names here and there. When we feature these interviews on Morning Magic, we only air a brief portion and invite you to hear the entire interview on the Morning Magic page of our web site.
This past week we spoke with Anjelica Houston about her new movie "50/50", and how a few years ago she ended up playing a role that she thought Cher should have performed.
Boston’s funniest Presidential contender, the witty Jimmy Tingle, talked to us about his new movie…yes movie, "Jimmy Tingle’s American Dream", that opens this weekend at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge.
Have you ever ...
Being an avid Red Sox fan, you might think I would do nothing but complain about the disastrous end of the season. The month of September was nothing but pain and anguish. The best team ever turned out to be the team with the biggest end of season collapse in baseball history! But, my complaining doesn’t end there. Not only have the Sox caused me a lot of suffering and grief, but I also have a cold...for a week already. I know you’re thinking... big deal, get over it! That’s part of the problem. When the Red Sox go down in flames, there’s always someone who wants to listen, offer advice and share the pain. However, when your head is about to explode with sinus pressure, your eyes are watering and you can’t stop sneezing…no one really cares. Suddenly, you’re a Red Sox fan in Yankee Stadium! I am left ...
Being an avid Red Sox fan, you might think I would do nothing but complain about the disastrous end of the season. The month of September was nothing but pain and anguish. The best team ever turned out to be the team with the biggest end of season collapse in baseball history! But, my complaining doesn’t end there.
Not only have the Sox caused me a lot of suffering and grief, but I also have a cold...for a week already. I know you’re thinking... big deal, get over it! That’s part of the problem. When the Red Sox go down in flames, there’s always someone who wants to listen, offer advice and share the pain. However, when your head is about to explode with sinus pressure, your eyes are watering and you can’t stop sneezing…no one really cares. Suddenly, you’re a Red Sox fan in Yankee Stadium! I am left ...
This year’s event will feature one of the best ever lineups of Celebrity Chefs and Boston area restaurants. Celebrity Chefs include: Mayor Tom Menino, Governor Deval Patrick, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, Senator Scott Brown, Mike Wankum/Ch 5, Joe Amorosino/Ch 7, Jonathan Elias/Ch 4, John King/CNN, and of course, Vince Wilfork, and many others. There will be plenty ...
Where were you and what were you doing when you heard the news of the planes striking the World Trade Center Towers? Obviously, it’s one of those moments you never forget. Did you see it as it happened? Or, did you learn about it minutes or, maybe even hours later? Regardless of when you heard, it is a moment you’ll never forget.
Morning Magic was well underway. The TV monitor was on in the studio and that’s when I saw the first pictures of the fire in the north tower. First reports said a small plane had crashed into the tower, but with the massive fire erupting, the reality of the situation was quickly revealed. Gay Vernon was on air giving us the latest update, and as we recapped and expressed our disbelief, we both saw the second plane strike the south tower!
Now 10 years later, it’s still a ...
How many times have you seen something on TV, the internet or in a catalog, and thought, "Wow that looks great"? You order it and then wait patiently for it to arrive. That special day comes, you open the package, and it looks nothing like the picture! Yuck!
However, things are looking up. A huge box arrived at our house a few days ago, and the anticipation was almost unbearable…ok, so I exaggerate a little bit. The Penzinator’s new bed from Orvis, with memory foam, no less, was inside. It looked fantastic, and even better than the picture, because it had her name, "The Penzinator", emblazoned across the back.
Penz immediately scampered over and claimed her new bed, bypassing the old faithful shearling she slept in for years. A very successful purchase all around. What have you ordered lately? Did it look like the picture?
Wouldn’t you feel better if "The Donald" just sat all of those guys in Washington down around the conference table and said, "you’re fired"? How disgusting and unbearable was it to go through this whole debt ceiling thing? I’m not siding with one party or another because I think both of them humiliated the U.S. and themselves. SHAMEFUL!!!
What a fantastic reality show we could have had if Donald Trump had stepped up and put an end to it all. Not possible ? During the Panic of 1907, JP Morgan did just that…not with Congressmen, but with the captains of industry of the day. Morgan literally locked them in his library of his New York City home until they came up with the finances to bail out a terribly troubled sector of our economy. Rockefeller and Carnegie money was involved, too.
Come on Donald… you frequently tout your greatness. The ...
Some people never complain or seem to mind when circumstances are less than desirable. Ok, they just never complain! Not me...I think of it as a coping device and it always makes me feel quite a bit better. I try not to complain to the point of being annoying, because I know that I become annoyed when I hear constant complaining from someone else. Does that make sense to you?
Am I complaining about the incredibly hot and humid weather? NO! After last winters’ nasty, continual storms that made my life one miserable commute after another, I’m not saying a thing. No complaints from me. There’s no shoveling, no treacherous 4AM drive to work, no huge heating bill and no horrendous ice dams. I love this heat! Bring it on...humidity and all. Uh oh...wait a minute. I need to cut the stinkin’ grass...but I’m not complaining. It just sounds ...
Think about this for a minute... the 4th of July may just be the very best holiday of the entire year! OK...Christmas is a hard one to top, but there is an awful lot of pressure wrapped up in this most wonderful time of the year extravaganza. The expectations of a perfect holiday are overwhelming and costly.
The 4th of July, however, means warm weather, picnics, parades, the Pops on the Esplanade, fireworks, food and more food! What could be better? And, you don’t have to buy that special gift for anyone and everyone. It’s a great time for the beach, baseball, boating, camping or whatever outdoor activity you enjoy.
This Saturday at Six Flags from 3-5, we will be showing off the luxurious car that we’ve had so much fun driving! It was my first time in years driving a Chrysler with a V-8 Hemi engine and Amanda’s first time ever. We’d like you to see what all the excitement is about. Plus, you can enter to win tickets to Six Flags and we’ll be giving away a fantastic family vacation for four worth $4,000! Come see us on Saturday at Six Flags!
How many times have you heard that "your call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance"? How many times have you been completely frustrated by the lack of quality customer service that you received? It’s easy to complain about bad customer service and it seems that there is plenty of opportunity to do so these days. Do you remember "back in the day" when things were very different?
It only takes one bad or one good experience to make a permanent impression. Recently, I had an incredibly positive encounter with...NSTAR. I know it sounds shocking, but the short story is this: I bought a surge suppressor for my home theatre system that shows a digital read-out of the actual voltage in my house. Normal household voltage is 120 watts and I was constantly below 110 watts. I called NSTAR with my concern and 20 minutes later Rod, the technician, ...
What was the last promise you made to yourself and how long did it take before you broke it? Last week, after American Idol, I made a promise to myself that I would not watch another season finale. Besides...what was left? I had been held captive long enough! Dancing With The Stars, Survivor, The Apprentice...I just couldn’t take anymore. The Bruins then spectacularly win game 7 of the playoffs against Tampa Bay... here we go again! This is a series that’s been a long time in the making, and I bet we’re all sticking around for the finale of this one.
I don’t want your friends and co-workers to think that you are a complainer, so let me do it for you. We had a winter for the record books and deserve [?] much better weather than we are experiencing right now. I know we have been fortunate to not have an earthquake, tsunami, tornado, flood or hurricane…but, a little warmth and sunshine don’t seem like too much to ask for at this point of springtime after the ice dam winter! Continually damp, dreary and dismal days do not promote good mental health. We have yet to completely turn off the heat at our house…even though we did have the air conditioning on for a few days two weeks ago when it did turn hot and humid! Neighborhood walkers are still wearing parkas with hoods up…a few are still wearing gloves. It’s just not right! Please let me put away the ...
Twas the day before Easter…I knew it was trouble
With temperatures rising, asphalt did bubble.
I’m going to stop trying to tell this story in a poem because I can tell it’s not going to work. Here’s the deal. Easter always conjures up memories of family and friends, sunrise services, delicious meals and, of course, Easter eggs and baskets of candy. This, however, is not a typical Easter memory, but one I’ll never forget. It was the hottest Easter weekend on record in New England and the temperature was over 90 degrees on both days. I was delivering a 75 pound chocolate Easter bunny in an MGB convertible! The bunny was headed to Dorchester to a radio contest winner, and part of the prize was that I was to deliver it personally. Great idea, huh, except for the extreme heat and the fact that MGB’s do not have air conditioning! ...
How many times have you heard, "the Red Sox are gonna ruin my summa"? Well, now it seems they’re out to ruin my spring. I’m just not going to let that happen. This is a great time of the year in Boston. The Bruins and the Celtics are in the playoffs this week. The Swan Boats will be launched on Saturday. Monday is Patriot’s/ Marathon/Red Sox double-header day with lots of good food and plenty of festivities for all ! After what seemed like the never-ending, snowy, icy winter, it is finally time to begin enjoying the great outdoors once again. Buds are popping out, crocus and daffodils are blooming, the grass is getting a little greener and trees will once again have leaves. Which brings us to POLLEN! Oh no! Pollen is one thing I could really get along without…who needs the runny nose, watery eyes and headache? The ...
Well...we’ve been reading and hearing about the ‘best Red Sox team ever’...where are they? I know it’s certainly not time to push the panic button. It’s a very long season, but there is a certain irony going on here. The Sox made those incredible roster additions during the winter, had an injury free spring, and headed to Texas with the best starting rotation in baseball. Our hometown boys were never really in any of the games this weekend. The last three days have proved that old adage to be true...you can never have too much pitching. Let’s all take a breath as the Sox take a day off and make their way to Cleveland for a three game series. Friday will be the REAL opening day at Fenway. Bring on the ‘stinkin’ Yankees! We can still win 100 games this year! Go SOX!
Sometimes, doing absolutely nothing makes for a great vacation…other times you can wear yourself out having fun. Our trip to Rome last week falls somewhere in the middle, since we exhausted ourselves trying to see and do everything on the Trip Advisor Top 10 list. It was worth it! History at every corner is really the best way to describe Rome. There are basilicas, fountains, monuments, breath- taking ruins and incredible architecture everywhere you look. And , oh yes…fabulous food and wine! Rome is like everything you’ve ever seen in a movie, only better when you experience it first hand. If you ever have the opportunity to go, you’ve got to do it. Like all vacations, all good things must come to an end. However, as we boarded the Logan Express to get home, we were greeted by the voice of Bruno Mars saying, "more continuous soft rock is just ...
Are you up for a real challenge? Forget filling out the NCAA tournament brackets in the office… predicting when Charlie Sheen will implode or the date when Tom Brady will get a real haircut. How about this? How long will it be before bachelor Brad Womack and Emily call it quits?…oops, they already broke up! Here is the real challenge. The majority of our yards are snow free at this point, with the exception of the sides of the driveway. When will those monstrous piles of dark ugly parking lot snow disappear? I think the behemoth sitting between Shopper’s World and the Natick Collection will live there until June! Take a look at this picture I took on Wednesday. This mountain of snow/garbage has already shrunk down to half its size! If you know of a bigger one somewhere, let me know…send a photo!
It was Sunday morning… the sun was shining… the birds were chirping and the temperature was in the 50’s. Life was good once again! The Penzinator actually found a small, grassy patch as we made our way down the street during her morning routine. There has been no sidewalk for months now…replaced by impenetrable walls of ice and snow! But, today it was as though winter was over and it was just a bitter cold memory. The walls had actually shrunk down a bit and you realized that the sidewalk would eventually reappear. You could actually see the different layers of numerous storms...it was an archeological dig zone. Who knows what is hidden in these huge mountains of compressed snow and ice? At least I didn’t come across a phantom grocery cart! Have you found anything strange as the melting continues?
A few weeks ago, ABC contacted Gay, Amanda and me about a new show they are doing called "Secret Millionaire". They offered us the opportunity to do something similar right here in Boston. We would volunteer our time at The Home For Little Wanderers and at the end of the day, ABC would give us a $2500 check donation to surprise them with. It worked just as planned. We volunteered, gave them the check for $2500, but the surprise was on us. What a wonderful feeling it was to be able to contribute to the incredible work they do. Giving back, whether it’s of your time or money is so rewarding. So, for the day, we were able to experience that "Secret Millionaire " feeling. You can also share in this experience by watching the premiere of the new show, "Secret Millionaire”, this Sunday night at 8PM on WCVB-TV Channel ...
The contestants for the 2011 season of "Dancing With The Stars" were announced Monday night. Only one problem… where are the stars? Who are these people? The cast includes Kirstie Alley, Sugar Ray Leonard and Ralph Macchio and after that, how many of the names do you recognize? Here’s the rest of the list, just in case you missed it.
Wendy Williams, Hines Ward, Kendra Wilkinson, Mike Catherwood, Romeo, Chelsea Kane, Petra Nemcova and Chris Jericho. Please let me know if I left any "stars" off the list. Maybe dedicated "DWTS" fans will learn to love ‘em, but where’s the "Oh Wow" factor? How about Charlie Sheen? He seems to have some time off at the moment. As of now, the show has only one truly big star…Tom Bergeron!
If you’re a movie lover, you have probably already made your Oscar picks. Even if you haven’t seen all of the nominees, I’ll bet you’re rooting for one or two of your favorites. I’ve seen most of them and thought I would share my winning picks in the major categories. By the way, I’ve never been wrong…..last year, "Avatar" should have won.
Best Picture: I was disappointed when Ben Afleck’s, "The Town", was not nominated but felt relieved when "the Fighter" was. "The Social Network" is a brilliantly told story, but maybe it was a case of too many accolades too soon, because "The King’s Speech" is your winner!
Best Actor: Colin Firth or James Franco? James will host, Colin will win.
Best Actress: I really couldn’t stand the movie, but Natalie Portman dances away a winner.
Best Supporting Actor: No question… Christian Bale. For a while, I thought he ...
It’s the canine lover’s Super Bowl...the 135th Westminster Dog Show held in Madison Square Garden this time every year. This is the competition you watch to see the dogs and not the commercials...except maybe for the one with Betty White and her furry friend and the dogs driving cars! All of them are entertaining to watch as they go through their paces. All are beautiful and have lustrous shiny coats. They should since they spend more time in a beauty salon than Kim Kardashian...and are better-behaved! I was hoping that the smooth fox terrier would win for Penzi’s sake...after all, living with a Cairn terrier, we know that terriers rule! However, it wasn’t meant to be. A stately large Scottish deerhound named Hickory took the big prize of ‘Best in Show’. However , in our house, the winner of the night was our own Penzi...“The Penzinator”! I’ll bet you feel ...
Do I have a lot of sympathy for Lindsay Lohan? No, not really, but it does seem that she has become a bit of a human target lately. For her, trouble is like a big pothole in the road ahead and she just can’t seem to avoid it. She’s now being charged with felony grand theft for allegedly stealing a $2,500 necklace from a jewelry store. She claims the D.A. is out to get her for political purposes. Throwing yet another punch is a tanning company that is suing her for over $40,000 for traveling with her and keeping her tan over a 2 year period. Poor Lindsay? Yes, probably so. She’s an actress that can’t act, because that’s hard to do when you’re in the slammer again. Maybe she needs Charlie Sheen’s lawyers!
It’s always nice to hear from old friends...or is it? Stanley and I went to high school and college together and here’s his latest email.
“Hey Mike,
How’s life in the "glacial" state?
Here, in the "sunshine" state, the living is easy!
I know you haven’t heard from me in awhile so I thought I would play catch-up!
We are already a month into the New Year and sadly I have only been able to get to the beach three times since the temperature here refuses to go above 78 degrees.
Because of that, I decided to take a side trip to the Keys and was able to go deep-sea fishing. That was fun.
Oops, gotta go, my neighbor is having a Super Bowl party down on the beach. J
Your turn…so what’s going on there?
Surfs up, Stanley”
Do I really ...
Shoveling, shoveling and more shoveling…have you had enough? You know me, I don’t complain, but this one big storm a week thing is getting a little old. Icy sidewalks, narrow roads, intersections with no visibility, long commutes and missing parking spaces are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. And now… surprise…ICE DAMS!!! If you haven’t experienced this winter phenomenon, count your blessings. If you have, I feel your pain. I know things could always be worse. Ellen Degeneres could be a judge on American Idol and the Jets could eliminate the Patriots in the first play-off game. Oh wait..that already happened. What’s next? Two feet of new snow on Ground Hog Day? HELP!
Hey! Was that you I saw wearing shorts and a Red Sox T-shirt going into the Framingham BJ’s on Saturday? Or, was that you and your friends standing on the corner of Moody Street and Pine in Waltham wearing shorts and a sweatshirt on Sunday? I’m just wondering. Why are we seeing so many people, and not just teenagers, sauntering around at a leisurely pace in t-shirts and shorts in this weather? For the most part, they look like normal everyday folks. But, how can this be? It’s freezing cold…there’s a couple of feet of snow [and ice] on the ground and it’s JANUARY! Even pitchers and catchers don’t report until next month ... in Florida! Maybe it’s just a deep desire to defy Mother Nature. Or, maybe these people are just ‘plain crazy’. Why else would 3 young women shoppers at the Chestnut Hill Mall be wearing flip flops ...
NO way! However, anytime we beat a team from New York, it does feel pretty darn good. Maybe this Rex Ryan ‘war of words’ does make it a little more interesting…this Sunday it will come to an end along with the Jets season! Go Patriots!
Returning to work after a week of Christmas vacation is usually a hum drum experience…the let-down after multiple festivities! Typically it’s a slow week between now and New Year’s Day, but throw in a blizzard and you’ve got some real excitement! It all began after the Patriots game, with the slow ride in from Metro West to the hotel where the Morning Magic crew stays when a big storm threatens Boston. As the storm grew in intensity, it became apparent that the much- talked about ‘Blizzard of 2010’ was the real deal. Flooding, power outages, scores of accidents, and tired backs from shoveling were the order of the day. However, if you lived through the ‘Blizzard of 78’, this was just a puppy. Having been trapped in Boston for 5 days…broadcasting and sleeping in shifts, with very little food [mostly cookies] and only the clothes on your back…now, that was ...
I should have paid attention to all the critics. They watch movies differently than you and I, but quite often they are off the mark in their reviews and you need to judge for yourself. Maybe I’m just easy to entertain sometimes when it comes to movies. In spite of the poor reviews for ‘The Tourist’ starring Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Venice Italy, I went anyway. This movie completely wasted two extremely talented and ‘easy on the eyes’ actors. Was it supposed to be a thriller or a comedy? Angelina Jolie’s character was cartoonish like Jessica Rabbit, but if you are a big fan of hers,this movie is made for you. The camera lingers FOREVER on her exceptionally beautiful face. Johnny Depp, however, had no character development at all and sounded like he was doing a bad Billy Crystal impersonation from ‘When Harry Met Sally’...so disappointing from such a ...
It’s the holidays…that time of year when I spend many days prepping the house and yard for our traditional Christmas display. Now that our daughter is grown, lives in London and will not be home for Christmas this year, it's time to downsize our vast treasure trove of holiday decorations:
9 foot Christmas tree… OUT!
4 foot pre-lit/decorated faux tree… IN!
50 sets of outdoor lights…OUT!
8 white bulb window candles…IN!
Decorating the “empty nest” for 2010…DONE! I like it!
It looks like today is shaping up to be a very big day for Boston sport fans. It was an Adrian Gonzales roller coaster ride over the weekend.
The media had him putting a Red Sox jersey on and off enough times to wear it out before he ever stepped onto the playing field. Now he is OFFICIALLY a member of Red Sox Nation… and in his words, "ready to beat the Yankees!" And, speaking of New York, it’s the biggest game of the NFL season so far as the Patriots play the ‘stinkin’ Jets tonight at Gillette Stadium. A Pats win on the frozen tundra of Foxborough would be a great way to end the day… and once again silence those New Yorkers.
Oh…that annoying alarm clock is at it again! One of the special treats of a long weekend or vacation is the absence of the 3AM alarm jolting me awake! I know that to most people a 3 o’clock wake up sounds pretty painful…and they would be right. But, regardless of the time your clock radio or beeping alarm tells you that ‘it’s that time’, it’s usually not a welcome sound. It’s such a luxury just to wake up when your body says it’s time. Isn’t ‘sleeping in’ one of the great pleasures in life? I suppose if you got to do that every morning it would become less of a special moment….the old ‘too much of a good thing’ cliché. It was a great Thanksgiving Day weekend, but now it’s ‘time to get up and make the donuts’. Well, maybe just 5 more minutes wouldn’t hurt!
Waiting to see who wins the season finale of Dancing With The Stars is kind of like waiting for Christmas to arrive. I can’t wait for Santa to get here, but I can’t wait for this season of DWTS to be over with! I’m sick and tired of talking about it, hearing about it and even watching it. The Bristol Palin shenanigans have tarnished the old Mirror Ball Trophy regardless of who wins. This season is a joke. If getting a lot of buzz about the show is what the producers wanted, they’ve done their job. But at what expense?
Next season, will you be watching with eager anticipation to see if the best dancers move on to the next level of competition? I guess it depends on who you voted for. One more thing…this is my last DWTS tirade…..for this season!
Gay, Amanda and I went on a Morning Magic Field Trip on Friday to spend quality time with old friends Paul Revere, John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer. Of course, we didn’t actually hang out with them… but with their fantastic works at the Museum Of Fine Arts press preview for the new Art of Americas Wing. The 10 year, 500 million dollar project has finally come to fruition! It was worth the wait. What we saw was over the top exciting, warm and welcoming in 53 galleries on 4 floors with a spectacular soaring glass-enclosed courtyard. Since Malcolm Rogers became the director of the MFA in 1994, it has blossomed every year under his leadership…we are so fortunate to have him at the helm. He also told us yesterday that they now have valet parking, new restaurants and plenty of restrooms on every floor. I would encourage you to ...
Does it seem like someone is always telling you what to do? I feel that way a lot of the time, which is probably a very good thing in my case. For almost 10 years, Amanda Giles has been the Morning Magic producer …and telling me what to do on a daily basis! When I first started at Magic in 1966, there was another talented young woman telling me what to do. This was Robyn Bradley, AKA E.T.Robbins, who kept me in line and eventually helped hire and train Young Amanda to take her place. Robyn left Magic in 2001 to pursue her writing career, and we've kept in touch over the years. I'm happy to announce that she has just launched her author website, where she is releasing an original short story, once a month, to e-readers (like iPads, Kindles, and Nooks). When you have a chance, support a ...
It is fairly common knowledge that phones, remote controls and door handles are items that you don’t want to touch if you’re trying to avoid nasty germs. Now we can add another culprit to the list. A company that makes antimicrobial products just released a study that will send a chill down the spine of parents of young children. The study has come to the conclusion that restaurant highchairs harbor more bacteria than public toilet seats! UGH!!! After taking swab samples from highchairs in 30 restaurants and also from toilets, the average number of bacteria was 147 per square centimeter. This compared with an average of 8 per square centimeter on the toilet seats. Double UGH!!! I always wondered why my grandmother carried a small can of Lysol with her wherever she went..….spraying down all those doorknobs,etc. before she would touch them! Now I totally understand. Maybe that is why ...
The only thing better than watching a pachyderm parade through the streets of Boston is riding on one and being part of the parade. The fabulous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants are in town at the TD Garden. Seeing their pictures in the paper made me think back about my unforgettable elephant ride several years ago. Preparing for the trek from Causeway Street to Faneuil Hall, the trainer had my elephant kneel down as I climbed aboard. As a first time rider, I was in for many surprises. For one thing, there is no graceful way to get up on this huge creature. Their spiky black hairs are just like the bristles of a wire brush and will go right though a pair of jeans. Yow! As my jumbo giant plodded along, she felt it necessary to use her swinging trunk to dip into the puddles along ...
As the giant mutant acorns fall, there is nothing more enjoyable on a Saturday morning than to head out to the deck with a great cup of coffee and the newspaper. All summer long and even now that the days are cooler, I Iook forward to the peace and quiet of my own backyard. This morning, as I was relaxing in my weekend ritual, I spotted a parade of landscape trucks rumbling down the street towing the ever-present lawn machines, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers and weed whackers. There is nothing more irritating than the overpowering sound of an industrial sized mower on an otherwise serene Saturday morning. I’m beginning to believe that it is all about the power. These guys love being in control of your lawn with their massive machinery. They ride around, revving up their engines, wishing that the grass would grow faster so that they could mow ...
Just in case you decide to defy the latest terrorist alert and travel to Europe, I’d like to give you a little warning. Movie going in London is not the same as movie going in Boston or anywhere else that I know of in the US. On a recent trip we decided to go to the "cinema". We purchased our tickets at the box office, bought refreshments and proceeded to our seats. At least, we thought they were our seats. As we watched the coming attractions, a couple made their way down our aisle and told us we would have to move! We were in their seats! At first, I argued that we were there first. Then, the couple with the accent invited me to look at my ticket stub. What a surprise! It is common practice to be assigned a seat number, which you can request, when buying tickets. ...
Do you think it’s possible that there was an "agreement" made with Michael Bolton when he became a contestant on Dancing With The Stars? Let me explain. While vacationing in London a couple of weeks ago, I was flipping through the London tabloids and noticed several ads for Michael Bolton’s UK tour which begins in November. I began to think that this is a pretty tight timetable for a serious contestant on DWTS. After his humiliating departure this week, curiosity got the best of me. I looked at his website and discovered that he has U.S. concerts booked every other night beginning now through October. Was Bruno’s vicious verbal attack part of the plan to ensure Michael an early departure? Was it all about TV ratings and selling concert tickets? I’ll bet Florence Henderson sticks around for a while, because her dance card is probably not too full!
Last Thursday was perhaps one of the best "Men of Boston Cook for Women's Health" events in recent years. The Codman Square Community Health Center fund raiser under the Gala Tent featured incredible food from local Boston restaurants, fine wines and a lot of familiar local faces putting on Celebrity Chef Aprons for the evening.
Here are some pictures from the event.
I was a server along with Chef Tony Bettencourt and his wife Valerie for the 62 Restaurant and Winebar in Salem.
Yes, Mayor Menino and me in matching aprons
John King from CNN
The "Excitements" with Channel 5's Mike Wankum
Mrs. "E" with Governor Deval Patrick.
Senator Scott Brown
Why are Mayor Menino and I wearing matching aprons? Are you sure you want to know? Well, here’s the answer. Thursday is the Annual "Men of Boston Cook for Women’s Health" event under the Gala Tent at the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester. It’s a grand evening of music, incredible food and a chance to mingle with some local celebrities such as Governor Deval Patrick, Channel 5’s Mike Wankum, Senator Scott Brown, and Channel 4’s Jonathan Elias. We’ll all be wearing matching aprons and serving up signature dishes from Boston area restaurants.
Since 1995, Men of Boston Cook for Women’s Health has raised crucial funds to combat women’s health disparities in issues such as breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS for over 20,000 women in Dorchester. Tickets cost $150.00 but $100.00 of every ticket goes directly to supporting women’s health programs. If you’d like to join in the ...
The wonders of technology never cease to amaze me. Last week while Texan Vince Hunter was on vacation in Connecticut, he was able to see his Dallas house being broken into from 1,500 miles away via an iPhone application called iCam. Hunter's home security webcams showed him in real time as two burglars broke the windows of his home and rifled through his backyard. Hunter phoned the cops, but the thieves had already been deterred by their alarm system. Unfortunately, they'd already robbed Hunter's next-door neighbor. So, if you are going away for Labor Day weekend and leaving an empty house, maybe it's worth downloading this handy app to your mobile phone. For a grand total of five bucks, you can watch live video footage from anywhere in the world. Or, if you are willing to spend a bit more, you can get a WiFi security camera in your home ...
It wasn’t long before a former college player clanged the first wall ball off the Green Monster and received a loud cheer from family and friends. A few hitters later, we saw an 89 year old fan take his swings and round the bases like a youngster. Following him was perhaps the youngest hitter of the day… a 5 year old who swung mightily and then circled the ...
How does Barry Manilow live in such a state of continual surprise, despite his 63 years on the planet? It's not from hitting another high note. And how does Kenny Rogers manage to keep such a straight poker face? It's not from knowing when to hold em or when to fold em. All this plastic surgery on celebs both young and old is making me think there's something to be said for the creased brow of the 40 year old or the eyeball suitcases of 70 somethings. A little nip or tuck is fine, but instead of attractive, friendly faces, an army of pointy noses, ironed out brows, puffy lips and overtucked chins are boring out of our TV screens and tabloids. Ironically, many extreme facial surgery tragedies are suffered by actors who need their facial muscles to convey a pallette of expressions. How can nuanced emotions like humiliation or ...
I've been going to a wonderful little Italian neighborhood restaurant for many years. The décor may have been from the 1960's, but it had that reassuring mom and pop old-world charm. There were generous helpings of all the classics like ravioli and eggplant parm, plus salads topped with a fabulous dressing. The booths may have been covered in garish, squishy plastic and some of the wait staff looked like they might have escaped from the local rest home, but all that formica and crusty senior citizen attitude gave it a real family-run feel. This was before the family decided to 'make a few improvements.' The augmentations to my haunt started slowly – a few new windows, a new bar with shiny stools, a slick new menu with a slight price rise. But now, a few years down the line, my favorite Italian has been ruined by their unbridled ambitions. No ...