I’m so excited! I’m going to take my sister up to the mountains for her birthday this weekend! Our other sister and my 16 year old daughter will be coming with us, as well. I’ve reserved a condo at the same place where my family and I stayed back in May. We absolutely loved it there! It’s so peaceful and so beautiful.

I’m hoping there will be some snow on the ground (we got our first snow two nights ago). Nothing prettier than a fresh Rocky Mountain snowfall! She’ll be able to breathe in nature, relax by the fire and take a heavenly jacuzzi. And so will I! LOL Yay! I can hardly wait!

Technorati Tags: Estes Park, birthday surprises, Rocky Mountains

If you watched Late Night with Conan O’Brien last night, then I bet you laughed your butt off, too, when they were “casting” their alleged campaign made-for-tv movie, didn’t you! It is truly one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Hubs and I were totally in stitches! For those of you who didn’t see it, here it is — enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Conan O’Brien

I was very shocked when I read that headline in news alerts early this afternoon. Shocked, and saddened. I have loved Michael Crichton’s work for such a long time. Not only is his book-turned-movie Jurassic Park one of the most well-known and much-admired pieces ever, but he also authored other best-sellers such as The Andromeda Strain, Sphere and Rising Sun. He is also the co-creator of one of my all-time favorite television shows, ER. His public relations firm announced in a news release that he died unexpectedly Tuesday “after a courageous and private battle against cancer”. He was 66.

As reported by CNN:

Crichton, a medical doctor, was attracted to cautionary science tales.

“Jurassic Park” — perhaps his best-known work — concerned capturing the DNA of dinosaurs and bringing them to life on a modern island, where they soon run amok; “The Andromeda Strain,” his first major fiction success, involves an alien microorganism that’s studied in a special military compound after causing death in a nearby community.

Crichton also invited controversy with some of his scientific views. He was an avowed skeptic of global climate change, giving lectures warning against “consensus science.” He later took on global warming and the theories surrounding it in his 2004 novel, “State of Fear,” which attracted attacks in its own right from scientists, including NASA climatologist James Hansen.

Crichton was a distinctive figure in the entertainment business, a trained physician whose interests included writing, filmmaking and television. (He was physically distinctive as well, standing 6 feet 9 inches.)

He published “The Andromeda Strain” while he was still a medical student at Harvard Medical School. He wrote a story about a 19th-century train robbery, called “The Great Train Robbery,” and then directed the 1979 film version.

He also directed several other films, including “Westworld” (1973), “Coma” (1978), “Looker” (1981) and “Runaway” (1984).

In 1993, while working on the film version of “Jurassic Park” with Steven Spielberg, he teamed with the director to create “ER.” The NBC series set in a Chicago emergency room debuted in 1994 and became a huge hit, making a star of George Clooney. Crichton originally wrote the script for the pilot in 1974.

Though most of Crichton’s books were major best-sellers, he could ruffle feathers when he took on social issues. “Rising Sun” (1992) came out during a time when Americans feared Japanese ascendance, particularly when it came to technology. “Disclosure” (1994) was about a sexual harassment case.

Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, a Writers Guild of America Award for “ER,” and won other awards as well.

“Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand,” the news release said.

A private funeral service is expected.

Rest in peace, Michael, and thank you.

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When it was announced at around 9:05PM (MST) that Barack Obama had officially become the President-elect of the United States, I was instantly filled with joy and unmeasured excitement. I laughed. I cried. Then, a while later, as I sat and listened to him deliver his victory speech, I became overwhelmingly proud of America.

“This is our moment. This is our time — to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth — that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can.”

Yes! Now THAT is America!

I never thought I’d see the day that a majority of Americans would look past color and elect a black man to be President. Never. I began crying again. How stunningly amazing it was! How stunningly amazing it IS! The enormity of what happened yesterday is beginning to settle in, and I am seriously left rather speechless. All I can think about is how exciting the next four years are going to be with a President Obama, and how proud I am to be an American!

If you didn’t see his speech last night, here it is in its entirety:

Technorati Tags: President-elect Barack Obama, Obama wins election