Elise Sereni Patkotak

Some publication has apparently paid a gabillion dollars to print the first pictures of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s babies.  Am I the only one who thinks all babies look pretty much the same at that point in their development to everyone but their parents? I mean, that publication could have run a stock photo of any baby. Who would have known? More importantly, who would have cared?

What is it about Alaska that attracts weird people to move here to run for office? Why don’t they just stay where they’ve been living and run for office there? I mean, at least John Lindauer actually lived here once. But Vic Vikers?  Please make him and his annoying beyond words ads go away.  I have no problem with the concept of taking back Alaska from corrupt politicians, but I would politely like to request that it is taken back by an Alaskan. Geez. At least when this happens in New York State, they get people like Bobby Kennedy and

Go to http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/world/middleeast/27addiction.html?scp=2&sq=iran opium&st=cse and read how the repressive government of religious fundamentalists in Iran handles drug addiction.  They are more than light years ahead of us. How humiliating.

I don’t know what’s worse, the inane chatter from the commentators during the Olympic games which makes EVERYTHING sound like only the Americans count or the painful overdose of political ads about mines and candidates and wolves and….STOP IT! STOP THE MADNESS!  Commentators….just shut the hell up and let the athletes do their thing. Accept that other countries might have athletes who are competing and may actually win. Stop saying that a gymnast who is number fourteen after four rotations has a shot at a medal. We are not idiots. We know he or she doesn’t. Show us competitors from

Well, I now know that thunder and lightning also freak out Blondie.  I’m ready now on New Year’s Eve for a sixty pound dog to try to leap in my lap when the fireworks start and try to claw her way under my skin for protection. But I must say I was totally unprepared for the same reaction when the first thunder clap sounded.  You really don’t know the meaning of being startled until a dog…did I mention she weighs in at sixty pounds…runs across a run and tries to leap into your lap as you sit at your computer. 

I’m watching the Olympics the other night and there is good old George W, the man who’s still our president, having a good old time watching the swimming. And all I could think was, “Really? Is this how irrelevant you have finally become? We are at war. Our economy sucks. People are losing their homes. Some have no idea how they will heat their houses this winter. Many have no way to pay for the medical care they need to save their lives. And you sit in China watching the Olympics as though none of this has anything to do

You should keep old friends around for a lot of reasons. And this is one of the best. When you can’t remember the name of someone from the old neighborhood or the name of the nun that taught you in fourth grade or where the piano recitals were held for Mrs. Kramer’s students, she’s there to not remember with you.