Tom Wolfe

I am going to a writer's conference in Boston this weekend and Tom Wolfe will be the keynote speaker. Anyone got any suggestions as to what I should ask him? Anyone dare me to spill juice on his white suit?

Why is this commercial jingle in my head?

When it says Libby's, Libby's, Libby's

On the label, label, label

You will like it, like it, like it

On the table, table, table....

Movies I Am Excited to See

These movies are on my "must-see" list for the next few weeks:

* Syriana

* Rent

* Pride and Prejudice

A great series of stories by my friend Antigone

My friend Antigone Barton, quirky individualist and reporter extraordinaire, won 2nd place in the NABJ contest for a series of articles on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Palm Beach County, Fl.

Read the series here.

U2 concert in NYC last night (Nov. 22)

Took Amtrak to NYC last night to catch yet another U2 concert. After meeting Bono last month, I felt like I had to see the group perform one more time. So I bid for a ticket on Ebay, which was luckily sold by a nice U2 fan. However, the seat turned out to be pretty crappy. Oh well.

On the train ride up, I sat next to a college student who hunched in his seat and talked on his cell phone the whole way. He would like an XBox 360 for Christmas, as well as a digital camera. During the conversation, he tried to persuade the person on the other end that "what's two pages between friends?" Hmmm.

My friend Lisa met me at Neptune, a tasty Polish restaurant on 12th Street. We had pierogies and stuffed cabbage. Yum. Even better, I did not throw up, which is how I spent most of Sunday (from a stomach bug, alas, not from too much fun). Two waitresses took our order. I am not sure if both were new or our order (MANY pierogies) was too complicated.

Around 9 p.m., Lisa drove me to Madison Square Garden to see U2. SHRIEK!!!!! But it was gray and rainy and kind of icky and I felt kind of icky. Sigh. Found my seat, which was in the LAST row of the HIGHEST section, BEHIND the stage. Oh well. This way, I could look at Bono's butt. Although I found myself staring more at Adam's butt. You know, I don't stare enough at Adam and I should.

At first I was seated next to a giggly gay foreign man, who seemed to be hitting on his companion. The concert started. My view was partially blocked by the wall to my left, the ledge above me and the very tall people in front of me. Sigh. Then the pot smoking started. Hello. That went out in high school. Well, not MY high school, which was all girls, conservative and Catholic, but you know what I meant. So there I was, in a confined space, smelling bad pot. (I am not a pot aficionado, but this stuff didn't smell too good.)

Watched the concert. Look at Bono and Adam's butts. Got to see how Bono really can NOT dance and how he hops a lot. The group still had a lot of energy, considering they have been on tour for months. They played "I Will Follow," one of their earliest hits, which they don't perform too much.

Bono sang the song dedicated to his father, Bob, who died not too long ago. Every day for 10 years, Bono's father would greet him by saying: "Why don't you take off those stupid, fucking sunglasses?" So Bono did, in his dad's honor, while he sang "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own."

He brought a little blond boy on stage during "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and chased Edge all the way around the oval on another couple songs. I hoped he wouldn't slip and hurl himself into the audience. Bono is not the most graceful of men.

Neither were the drunk, loud, rude girls who decided to switch seats and stand next to me. (The giggly gay man had disappeared. I know not where). "Bonooooo!!!!" they slurred, as they bumped into me and swayed. I couldn't take it anymore, cursed them off, jumped over the rail and found another seat. Next to some cute guys. And in fact, it was a BETTER seat.

The best part of the show, for me, was Bono singing "With or Without You" while hugging and dancing with a young woman from the crowd. Sigh. Someday that will be me. But remember, I love him but not in a CREEPY way.

George Clooney's new movie is out - "Syriana"

My Fantasy Boyfriend, George Clooney, is starring in ANOTHER new movie. This is the one where he hurt his neck doing a stunt and injured his spinal cord, causing him to have blinding headaches!

He was at a premiere party in NYC the other night. Sadly, I was not there. But this article in the New York Times gives a lovely description, including how middle-aged women offer to leave their husbands for George and how sometimes he feels like a monkey.

Meanwhile, Kenny from New York, a friend of a friend, went to the Four Seasons hotel bar on Nov. 17. George was there! He stood about five feet away from Kenny. Of course, I demanded details of Kenny. Apparently, George was wearing a black shirt and sport coat (similar to what he wore on "Letterman" last night). He "stands out in a room," I am told. More importantly, if Kenny were gay, he said "I'd do him."

More questions about "Lost"

Okay, after watching last night's episode, I ponder even MORE questions:

* Why do The Others only take "good people" and how do they determine that?

* Why don't The Others wear shoes?

* Who had the glass eye in the Dharma bunker?

* Does Ana-Lucia ever smile?

* Why did Goodwin say the kidnapped survivors are "in a better place?"

Follow the little rolling balls

This is strangely addicting. It could make me mental.

Maryanna Senek-Brandt

This entry is dedicated to Maryanna Senek-Brandt, otherwise known as Mara. We went to the same high school and college and she sang in the Villanova Women's Glee Club with me. Mara died on Thursday of cancer at the age of 39. I didn't know she was sick.

Mara was two years older than me and we kept in touch only sporadically over the years. She was one of those friends whom I always thought I would get in touch with when I had more time.

She was quirky and an individual. I admired that about her, when so many people at our high school and at Villanova just wanted to conform. She loved to write and even put me into one of her novels that she wrote in high school.

Mara had a son that she loved. She was an attorney, who worked for the state government because it was a steady job, but it was never who she really was.

--

Here is her obituary:

Maryanna E. Senek-Brandt, 39 of Shirley Lane, Boiling Springs, died Thursday, November 10, 2005 at the Harrisburg Hospital.

Born on December 13, 1965 in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Helen Pisieczko Senek.

She was a 1983 graduate of St. Basil Academy; 1987 graduate of Villanova University and 1990 graduate of Dickinson School of Law. She retired as deputy chief council of PA State Employee Retirement System. She was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Carlisle and also a member of the PA Bar Assoc; Villanova Glee Club. She loved writing short stories and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed singing and playing the piano.

Surviving are her husband of 15 years, Gary E. Brandt, Boiling Springs; son, Jake N. Brandt, Boiling Springs; step mother, Ann Senek, Jenkintown, PA; step brother Ronald Strykowski, Mt. Laurel, NJ; step sister, Elaine Shannon, Ardsley, PA; uncle and aunt, Joe and Ann Senek, Philadelphia, PA.

A Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday November 15, 2005 in the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Marsh Drive, Carlisle with the Rev. William J. Waltersheid as celebrant. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There will be no viewing or visitation.

Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home, 219 North Hanover St., Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3211 North Front St., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

I am a winner! Who knew there was a lottery in the Netherlands! Oh I am sooooo lucky!!! HAHAHAHAHA!

GOOD NEWS FOR YOU !!! 
CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON !!! 
 
FROM THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, 
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PAYMENT DEPARTMENT. 
RESOURCE CREDIT TRUST. 
 
DAYZER LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL. 
 
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today 9th of November 2005 of your selection as one of the 35 winners of the promotional, DAYZER LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL NETHERLANDS held recently as part of our YEAR BONANZA.You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of Euros 850,000.00 (Eight Hundred And Fifty Thousand Euros ) in cash credited to file REF NO.GML/2551256003/11. 
 
We the Dayzer Lottery International Netherlands is by this program, Launching our model computer balloting lottery draws, developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the ever-growing number of participants in our various lottery programs. With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time. 
 
After randomly selecting 15,000 participants from an initial database of 300,000 emails all participants were selected through a computer ballot system from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, USA and South America as part our International Promotions Program, which was conducted in view of launching ourselves into the Sweepstakes Industry Worldwide and zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the winners of the Grand Draw prize. 
 
To ensure a smooth collection of your winnings, the transfer of your prize is to be handled by our claim processing officer. You are to contact the claim processing officer assigned to you, by phone and email respectively within two weeks of receiving this notice. Please find full contact details below: 
 
MR. THOMAS GILBERT 
CLAIMS PROCESSING OFFICER 
TEL: 0031 613 240 961 
EMAIL: dayzersresult005@netscape.net 
 
Find all relevant winning lottery information below: 
Ref No: GML/2551256003/11 
Batch No:14/0017/IPD 
serial No: GMLA2-003 
Ticket No: 12099 
Lucky No: 425448/7785. 
 
Also send your Name, Address and Country of Residence when replying your claims officer. Remember, you must contact your claim officer not later than two weeks of receiving this notification. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. 
 
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to Quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your 
correspondences with your agent. Furthermore you are seriously advised to keep all winning lottery information and numbers from the public in 
line with our company security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by unscrupulous individuals. 
 
Congratulations once again from all members of staffs and thank you for being part of our Promotions program. 
 
Yours Sincerely, 
 
MRS. HELEN VAN LAN. 
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR, 
DAYZER INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY. 
 
.......................................................................................................................................... 
 
The Dayzers Lottery Promos Awards is proudly sponsored by the Dayzers lottery Netherlands, Microsoft Corporation, the Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell computers, Mckintosh and a conglomeration of other international IT companies. 
 

Judith Miller retires from the NY Times

You all know that I totally supported her cause over the summer - her opposition to the federal government compelling her to testify about her source, for an article she never even wrote. I wrote her in prison and everything.

But I also must say that I think it is time for her to be going from the New York Times.

Anderson Cooper eats the same food for dinner every night

According to this article, he eats pesto pasta every night. It used to be a veggie burger, but he switched. He eats granola bars too and can apparently fall asleep anywhere, in any circumstance. I wish I had that gift.

Woman hides parrot in her bra

All I gotta say is, that is SOME bra!

London paper says Clooney involved in alley spat

This just in from faithful reader, Joe D. of Alaska. It is a link to a story from a London newspaper about how my Fantasy Boyfriend, George Clooney, was penned in by the paparazzi and felt that the security at a London nightclub may have been, um, inadequate. I think George was provoked!!!!!!

7:46 p.m.

Aha! George Clooney is emphatically DENYING that this story took place!!!

Anderson Cooper gets new job at CNN

This article in the New York Times says that "America is Embracing Anderson Cooper." Um, I might like to, um, embrace Anderson Cooper.

I do feel bad for Aaron Brown, though. He is quite talented and has done a great job anchoring all the crises of the past few years.

This reporter interviewed George Clooney!

SHRIEK! So jealous! Of course she did a nice job and he is as wonderfully articulate as ever. Sigh.

Bono in Time magazine

Excellent column by Bono in this week's Time magazine about the need for aid to Africa.

Photo by Mike Hutchings/Reuters