...having just finished reading the UNABRIDGED version of "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown, I thought this post appropriate.

-b

 

p.s.  Sue Smith and I are celebrating, too.  Guess why?

-b

-b

“Katie Rees has been relieved of her duties as Miss Nevada USA 2007,” said Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, which owns the Miss USA pageant and others.

Shugart made the decision to jettison Rees, but pageant co-owner Donald Trump supported it, said Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton.

It's hard to be pretty.

Even harder to manage pretty people.

-b

 

Well, finally, we're dialoguing about the important issues this Christmas Season. Here at 7th Row, we will not avoid the controversial ones, either. (Today, anyway.) Read about the incident here. Rosie, Trump fire away over 'Miss USA'





This is exactly why we have standards for Miss USA. It's kind of like how God has the Ten Commandments. The guidelines aren't there to punish us, they're there so that we may have a better life. Abiding by the Ten Commandments helps us all live a more peaceful life, and, living by the Rules of the Miss USA Crown do the same.

Now, as we consider this awful fued between Rosie and The Donald, are we learning a valuable lesson? Is this what the pageant is all about? Miss USA is there to parade around on stage in a bathing suit and high heels promoting world peace, and now, as the crown sits on its delicate silk pillow tarnished by too many martinis and trashy NYC nightclubs, two of our citizens are wounded this holiday season.



There, there, Tara. We all make mistakes.

To quote Barbara Walters, "We cherish them both and hope the new year brings calm and peace."
..and an end to the war in Iraq
...and an end to the genocide in Sudan
...and some type of resolution with North Korea
...and an end to world hunger
...and an end to cancer
...and an end to...

-b

I'd like you to consider "The Flash."



...and the fact that I want this for Christmas.



-b

We breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"Trump lets Miss USA keep crown!"--

Published December 20, 2006

 

Whew.
-b

Joel and I stalked Amy Grant through the Green Hills Mall. We're spending the night in jail.


We've decided not to use our one phone call. We're staying in jail overnight for the testimony.

-b

-b

I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" over the weekend. I cried...again. My brother hates this show. He says it's too depressing. I think he's right. The whole movie is sad till the last five minutes. I'm just not sure that's enough of a payoff anymore. Five minutes of happiness after all that gloom.




Well, at least Clarence got his wings, eh?

-b

Refer to the ninth day...

-b

with more presents left to buy and Nashville traffic, I present:



Candy for grown ups!

-b

Only ten days left!

This nice gentleman has recorded an entire record of Christmas sounds for you. Have you gotten your copy yet?



He even sings, "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful." It's not scary at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhXApLbbOHY

-b

Even in a bind, boys and girls, you still cannot substitue corn OIL for corn SYRUP.



Don't ask June how she knows.

-b

Only 12 more days till Christmas, boys and girls!

This is from the abc.com website:

Celebrate the Love of a Lifetime by purchasing this special, commemorative ring available exclusively at Sears!

General Hospital's Luke and Laura's love will last a lifetime and this is your chance to be part of it. Now you can celebrate their everlasting love and a love of your own with Luke and Laura's Ring.

Now you too can own Laura's ring, as seen on-air...



This sparkling ring has a radiant cut octagon cubic zirconia, plus accenting side cubic zirconia's set in sterling silver. The ring is available in sizes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. It's the perfect symbol of the love between Luke and Laura, and it's available exclusively at Sears or online at Sears.com.

The hot "General Hospital" couple are celebrating 25 years of marital bliss...minus various disappearances, deaths and traumatic family problems...

Delicious...

-b

I was at BBMP today writing with Sue. Joel was writing in the next room with Daniel Kirkley. Daniel showed us his new video to his first single, "My New Dawn." It's coming to a station near you and I will be requiring you to request it at a later date (once it has been released.)

Meanwhile, Joel Lindsey wore cowboy boots today. I told him I was going to post it. I don't think he thought I was serious. But, if you knew Joel like I know Joel, well, you'd understand.

-belinda

I don't know anyone who lives here in Nashville who dresses like a cowboy. I know that's what everyone thinks about the residents of Nashville, but we don't. So, when my aunt told me that she needed western wear on her visit, I spent two weeks asking everyone I know if they knew where you could buy it here. I was afraid I was going to have to drive them to Austin (yes, Texas) when it finally hit me: go to the touristy area of town. They are the ones who buy this stuff. SCORE!!!!

All this cowboy stuff over the weekend reminded me of one of the weirder things I've seen in Times Square in NYC. This gentleman apparently makes his living hanging out and letting tourists take pics of themselves with him. I stood across the street from him once observing...and wanting to see if he actually can sing or not. The most I heard him play was maybe a line of a song so I couldn't really judge it. He did seem, however, to make a killing with strange women continually coming up to him, placing money in his boot and then having their friend take a picture. We do odd things as tourists, don't we?



I'm kind of glad this isn't my lot in life...

-b

Wayne convinced me to go to the Brian Setzer Orchestra show last night at the Ryman. I didn't know he was still around. I just remember "Stray Cat Strut" from when I was younger. (I learned last night that song is a "VH-1 Classic.")



It was more fun than a Diet Coke and bag of low-fat Cool Ranch Doritos. If they come around you, go. Just go.

I get bored easily. VERY EASILY. For example, I subscribed for two years to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center Broadway Series. I paid x amount for 10th row seats to every show and I recall 2 shows for which I stayed for the whole show. I mostly left at intermission. So, when I say that I enjoyed every minute last night...didn't count down to the oh-this-is-finally-the-last-song moment...it is just huge. It was absolutely terrific and fun and campy and musically fantastic. I've officially kicked off my personal Christmas season!

-b

p.s. Mr. Setzer's hair is seriously huge and bouncy. If he didn't put on such a terrific show, it's all you would look at. But, it's a terrific show so you actually forget about it.