17 Years and Counting . . .

June 23 was our 17th wedding anniversary. Rick and I celebrated by going to one of our favorite get-away locations: Bardstown, Kentucky. Our regular bed-and-breakfast of choice (Beautiful Dreamer) was booked up, so we tried a new one: A Rosemark Haven. Rick and I couldn't decide if it sounded more like a scary movie location or an insane asylum! It turned out to be neither, although the owner told us about the upstairs room that was roped off being the children's playroom back in the 1800s. We just knew that a little red ball was going to come bouncing down the curving staircase during the night and scare us out of our wits.



We had a fabulous weekend that included an historic carriage ride tour of the city, a romantic dinner, and a morning of browsing in local shops. Our schedules don't allow us to go away too often, so this was a much needed treat!

Yes, I'm a Hasselhoff Fan

I've always had my secret television shames:

• I watched Days of our Lives from the time I was four years old until my early thirties
• As a middle and high school student I stayed at home on Friday nights so I could watch Dallas with my parents
• As a married adult in my late twenties, I watched Beverly Hills, 90210
• Baywatch was in my top ten list for years
• My mid-thirties were all about 7th Heaven
• Wife Swap is part of my current "must see" list

So, I suppose that my secret admiration for David Hasselhoff should come as no surprise. He is often the brunt of media jokes and is sometimes brushed aside as a B-list player. But I know the truth -- David Hasselhoff has true talent. From Knight Rider to Baywatch to his gold and platinum albums in Europe, The Hoff has proven to be a man of many strengths. One of my favorite music videoes is his 2006 "Jump in My Car." Watch the video below and you, too, will become an admirer of "The Hoff."

Hasselhoff vs. Piers and Sharon

On Tuesday's episode of America's Got Talent David Hasselhoff stood up for decency in his decision to oust "Boy Shakira." Unfortunately, the other two judges (Sharon and Piers) gleefully sent the flamboyant cross-dresser on to the next level. How could Piers and Sharon send much worthier acts packing but encourage the deranged antics of some sexually confused deviant? I know that shows like this are all about fun and riling up a few folks, but what kind of message does their decision send to those truly talented contenders who just missed the mark? Boy Shakira not only missed the mark, he wasn't even in the same playing field.

Get info about the show at http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/
Watch episodes Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. EST on NBC.

Merry Christmas?

Rick's favorite Mexican restaurant is Los Palmos, just up the road from us. The food is authentic, and the owners, waiters, and anyone else who works in the establishment speak Spanish, with only a smidgen of English words in their vocabulary. Thus, ordering can often be a challenge. Many has been the time that the wrong item was brought out because of the language barrier (Rick once received a Coors Beer after ordering a Diet Coke). Rick has dutifully tried to learn Spanish words (particularly those related to food) in order to improve his dining experience there. He orders "agua" instead of "water." He orders "dobles frijoles" instead of "double beans." He's been quite proud of his language accomplishments so far.

Last week, however, Rick came home with a "to go" order and asked me, "How do you say 'Good Night' in Spanish?" I replied, "Buonas noches."

"Rats!" Rick said. "When I left Los Palmos, I turned around and confidently and loudly yelled "Feliz Navidad!"