You Have To Be Kidding Me!

Let's flashback to Tuesday of last week. I had been to the grocery and spent a bazillion dollars getting all ready for our guests. It was hot and oh so humid. I think the dew point was 194 1/2 % or so, or maybe it was just me. Came home from said grocery and put away a bazillion dollars worth of groceries. At this point I wanted to lie down and have a nap but I, being the brilliant masochist that I am, thought, gee, why don't I go out into the heat/humidity and clean my van! It will be used for chauffeuring our guests around town and it needed a good brush up. So I spend a good hour on it and quit just before I completely dissolved into a puddle of goo. I come in all sweaty and dirty and vile and decide that I will throw the first of the laundry in the washer, have a glass of iced tea and sit down for a bit. After all, I have over 24 hours until my guests arrive. Right? Plenty of time to clean and fluff and bake and cook a few things to put away. RIGHT? I pour the tea, not into the glass but straight onto the floor. Now I need the mop. I am standing there with sweat still running down my face. Oh and there is also that annoying trickle that streams steadily down my spine. You know the one right? Get the picture? No make up, dirty sweats with the torn pocket, barefoot and my hair is plastered to my forehead. Pretty huh? The dirty clothes are in piles all over the kitchen floor, the couch has been stripped of it's cushions and pillows so I can get in there and vacuum up every strand of pet hair. All the beds have been stripped of their sheets, the towels removed from the bathroom for washing and the cleaning accouterments out and at the ready. Now, back to that iced tea puddle slowly spreading in front of my refrigerator. I retrieve the mop and begin. "Kipper! Stop barking! I already have a huge headache. I do not need that!" Kipper does not listen, he is much too busy barking at the people getting out of the car in front of the house. This I do not see...I am blissfully unaware of the impending doom. For a full 1 1/2 minutes more I assume that Kipper is madly barking at a neighbor out for a walk. Sadly, no. The door bell rings. And where is my husband you ask? Working late, which he rarely does, so he can get ahead before our company arrives. After all, we still have over 24 hours. Dan? At a conference in Cincinnati for the day. Grace? Splashing about in our neighbor's lawn sprinkler. We have over 24 hours to go...no worries. The door bell rings again. I head to the door with mop in hand, determining that I need not open the door for anyone but the closest of family or friends due to the condition of the house and my personal appearance. I peek. I see a family of German citizens who my husband has told me were arriving on Wednesday night. This is Tuesday afternoon. I panic. I think I may have blacked out for several seconds. I cuss out my husband. I actually consider NOT opening the door and hiding in that cool, dark near by coat closet. I ask God why! I have been a good girl right? The door bell rings again. That closet looks awfully inviting. I open the door. The next hour is a blur. A sweaty, embarrassing, I do not speak German blur. I do, however, remember calling my husband 5 or 498 times on his office and cell phones. No answer. For 3 1/2 hours no answer. Argh. Only another woman can truly appreciate how awful this was. I survived. The guests survived. Bill? The verdict is still out on that.

Boy! Am I Tired!

Gosh but I am beat! Our company left late this morning and the house seems so quiet tonight. It was a sweet week but I do not think God meant for a chubby 52 year old to be on the run as much as I have been for the past 2 months! This has been the busiest Summer in years...fun and loaded with great memories, but whew. I could use a nice, long nap. I promise to provide you all with some giggles over my husband's little faux pas (That is a kindly word for it!!) last week and a few stories from the past 6 days but I will save it for tomorrow! Tonight I want to do 3 things. First off? I want to apologize for not being able to visit or leave comments on your blogs like I should do and LOVE to do. I do hope I will be forgiven and I can get back to more normal blog behavior in the near future..okay...for what passes as normal behavior for moi. Ahem. And second? I want to warmly welcome those of you who are new visitors/commenters here at Rabbit Run! I am tickled to see so many new names and hope we can get to know one another better in the months to come. And Third? How wonderful to see that so many of you have played Susie Q's little game! I have taken a peek at so many fun lists and it surely did make me smile. Comments will be forthcoming on your posts...eventually! I promise! I am sure I am missing some birthdays, anniversaries and special times while being such a dizzy blogger....again, apologies to you all. I do so enjoy posting special wishes to you on those occasions. I miss blogging with regularity and visiting you all daily. It is a pure joy for me to do so. This Summer tizzy can not last forever right? *smile* Oh, and I leave for Jamestown, New York on Thursday. Talk about crazy....Wait! Did someone just call me crazy??

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

A Note From A Silly Billy

Or, should I say, a very, very bad husband. NO worries...Susie is fine! I am not writing because she is ill but to let you know where she has been! We had guests from Germany arrive early Tuesday so she has been swamped with cooking and entertaining and chauffeuring. On this note, when she gets back online, ask her to tell the story of her "Silly Billy" (IE Bad, very bad) husband. A little hint? I had the wrong day for the arrival of our friends. Yep. They arrived one day earlier than she expected and while Dan and I were away for a few hours. She tells this much better than I so I will let her do the honors. Needless to say, I should be doing penance for years for this one! I hope all is well with you. My girl is always talking about each of you and adores you all. I thank you for all the love and friendship you show my Susie. I will now slink off into the sunset (Even if it is before sunrise!) where all bad husbands go. Cheers! Bill (AKA Silly, Bad, Very Bad, Billy)

Play Susie Q's, "My Favorites" Game!

Back in May (I am nothing if not slow and always behind that proverbial eight ball), I asked my blog friends to send in some personal questions. In a few posts in May and June, I answered all but this one.

Our Andi left this comment:

I would love to see a post of your "favorites". As much as I know you dislike posting a "list". It should include things like your favorite song, movie, movie star...like we have to guess at that one, game, sport, book, color, ballet, Broadway show...that you've seen, restaurant, auto, etc...you get the idea. But...you can only name "1" thing for each category...no 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices....my rules.Then...once you create the "favorites game" you have to get 5 more bloggers to do the same thing. I love making rules!!! And you have to create a cute little "I played Susie Q's Game" icon that we can post on our blogs when we play.

Well, I KNOW you all have come to realize how little I like doing lists (A collective moan is heard across the land), but I will do this for Andi because I adore her so. Now, I will include a list of favorites and then ask that you, all my blog friends do the same! If you choose to, here is a little icon that you can click and download. I just KNOW you will want all your readers to know you played Susie Q's game. What? No? Okay, do I have to beg?

I now present, using Andi's guidelines, Susie Q's Game....

There can only be ONE, count it, ONE answer for each question. Aha...you have to pick one!

I myself am very bad at this but let's try it! We will keep it all simple...just one little answer to "My favorite _______ is:" Uh huh. That's it!

I like to think of this game as an exercise in focusing on those sweet things that make us extra happy. We all need *happy* right? Even on a real downer of a day, there has to be *something* that could bring a smile to your pretty face. YOu know...your favorite things! At the very least, we might find out a new tidbit or two about our friends!

~Susie Q's "My Favorite Things" Game~

(And no, I am not channeling Julie Andrews in

The Sound Of Music no matter how much I love her!)

Sport: College Basketball

Game: Scrabble

Color: Blue

Movie: Silverado

Broadway play I have seen: Death Of A Salesman with Brian Dennehy

Broadway Musical I have seen: Rent

Song: And I'm Telling You, Jennifer Holliday

American city I have visited: New York City

Foreign city I have visited: London

Book: To Kill A Mockingbird

Children's Book: Little House In The Big Woods

Classic television show: I Love Lucy

Recent television show: Law and Order SVU

Actor: Brian Dennehy

Actress: Judi Dench

Perfume: Romance

Food: Risotto

Dessert: Crème brulee

Chain Restaurant: Carrabas

Local Restaurant: C'est Tout

Car: Mini Cooper

Condiment: Mayonnaise

Kitchen Appliance: Microwave

Home Appliance: DVD player

Beauty Product: Mascara

Piece of clothing: Jeans

HGTV Show: Decorating Cents

Food Network show: Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives

Author: John Steinbeck

Male Songwriter: Elton John

Female Songwriter: Carole King

Holiday: Thanksgiving

Ballet I have seen: Giselle

Disney character: Eeyore

Flower: Yellow Rose

Alcoholic drink: Frozen Margarita

Non-Alcoholic drink: Iced Tea

Magazine: Mary Englebreit's Home Companion

Animated movie: Toy Story

Television network miniseries: The Winds of War

Season: Autumn

Male vocalist: Sinatra

Female vocalist: Rosemary Clooney

Day of the week: Friday

Household Chore: Organizing Closets

Ice Cream: Chocolate Mint Chip

Candy: M & Ms

Artist: Georgia O'Keefe

Quotation: “We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing.”

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Now, how about YOU playing too?

For the first 5, I challenge:

Andi

Valerie

Lisa

Sheila

Rue

But hey! Anyone who wants to play is welcome to do so! Grab that icon and go!

List, list, list all your favorites. Inquiring minds want to know!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

If Only...If Only

I do hope your weekend is a sweet one! Thank you to you all for such uplifting comments!

I truly just wanted to show others who have received those willy-nilly comments, that they are not alone! Don't worry...I am not quite the worrier I was when I was younger! Advancing age does have SOME perks!

And the downer comments don't bother me in the least anymore. I swear! I swear!

Just popped in to say howdedoo before I head out to get my own copy of this new magazine! I hear they published my article but I am a little uneasy that Bill seems to be on the editorial staff. I might HAVE to worry about THAT!

Love and Hugs to you all,

Susie Q

I Am Worried Silly, Just Sayin'

Ah...pretty Summer flowers. So sweet and yet they headline a not so sweet post.

Pleas do continue on down to read my Fun Foto Post and the Minnesota Wedding post if you have yet to see them...(And yes! That is a shameless bit of post self promotion!) Kipper would also encourage you to pop on back down the blog to read his Ritter's post of a week ago too but that is just him. Hmpf.

This will be a gentle rant. Really, it will be.

One of the dearest bloggers in my circle has received a very unkind comment and this left me a wee bit angry. Okay, so it angered me a lot. Maybe it is just good old me who has yet to understand how anyone gets their assorted jollies by being cruel. Or attempting to be. Free speech is a privilege but does not mean free to be out and out snarky.

I love an exchange of ideas. I love hearing other folk's opinions. I respect that. I love that! That said, none of us will ever totally please everyone. Impossible.

But here is a memo to all those who feel they MUST smack at others with words...it takes a small person to indulge in such play. Why read a blog if you do not enjoy it? D'uh.

Life is too short for that eh? Why do some feel the need to tell a blogger off and regale them with

all the reasons they hate their blog? Are they so devoid of self esteem?

And, if said surly bloggers are only looking for *soul mate* bloggers who perfectly mirror themselves, well, how sad would that be? How does one grow intellectually, creatively or spiritually in this way?

And, just why do many of those who unleash their hostilities on others, do so anonymously?

Yup, we all KNOW why. Under that cloak of anonymity they feel strong. But we all know better don't we?

To chastise someone for being proud of where they live is silly. To snarl and fuss because a blogger eats in a healthy manner and exercises regularly is odd. If you hate those who do, you are so gonna LOVE me right? (I'm just sayin'...)

Some of us are more, well, gifted shall we say, financially. Some of us are not. Some are better traveled, have better careers, are better cooks and are just plain better lookin' than some others.

Some bloggers live in bigger houses, have bigger gardens (with fewer weeds), drive bigger cars

(Only in America would this be a real issue!), why even their dogs are bigger! (Now, if you want a big cat, I offer up my chubby Lucy. Just sayin')

Should I only desire blog friends who live in one room flea bag hotels, suffer the heartbreak of psoriasis and hangnails, gain weight by gazing at the labels of soup cans, raise hoards of dust bunnies under their beds & order pizza every night because their cooking has been declared a world health hazard by the FDA? My self esteem might rise a few notches perhaps but how inspiring would this be? Besides, I too have the occasional hangnail. *sigh*

To paraphrase Sgt. Esterhaus from Hill Street Blues., "Let's all be careful out there...careful with one another." There will never be true peace in this world if we, as women (and the few men who read my blog) bloggers can not even treat one another with kindness.

Now, here is where I fess up and say I too have received a few, dizzy fizzy comments and emails.

I used to let it bother me but no longer. I am getting too old to let such things ruin a good day.

And, if I am awake, breathing and able to get out of bed, it IS a good day.

I have even received one or 32 emails in which the writer felt he or she needed to point out my short comings. Let's discuss some of the best tidbits shall we? Oh, and I have also included the exact spelling and grammar used in said tidbits...ahem.

Pay attention now class, there WILL be a test.

"You thnk you are so funny but you are NOT!"

"The music on your play list is awful. Get rid of it!"

"Your pictures is not so great. Stop showing them or I wil not come here no more."

"You will burn in Hell for adultress behavor."

(This was in reference to my crush on a certain actor. Bill laughed himself silly. Should I be offended? Not by the email, but my husband's laughter?)

"If you had to adopt kids, God must hate you. God gives babies to those He loves."

I know, I know...we ALL know how ridiculous THIS is!

"You could be a little pretty of you lost weight."

But I wanted to be a LOT pretty...gee whiz.

"I won't be back because I thought you were a good Christian and you are not!"

"I will not come here anymore because you are too Christian for me."

Like I said, we can not please everyone can we?

And we are only scratching the iceberg's tip of some of the fun I have read!

I will admit I worry about keeping the bloggers I have come to know and love, well, keeping you all happy. When a post receives only a few comments, I often worry that it was too wordy, too silly, too boring...too, too, too.

I worry that if I am unable to leave comments on other blogs, will they stop coming by to see me?

I worry that if I do not get around to welcoming a new commenter, they will stop coming by.

If a blog friend has not left a comment in awhile, I worry that I have offended them, bored them, run them off in some way.

Worry IS my middle name (Okay, so you all know it is really Ellen but Worry is more apt.)

I thrive on worry.

I worry that if I don't post enough photos about my house, those who adore home decor (Me included!) will stop coming. I worry that if I post more photos of my home, those who are bored by home decor will stop coming. Huh? Yeah...I know.

So there you have it. I worry and it is silly. I KNOW it is. I am who I am and I write what I write. I guess I can only hope I don't bore everyone but if I do, it is just me being me right?

I worry, I do worry, I have worries, I will worry, I might worry. Worry, worry, worry.

If I ever write anything that a fellow blogger does not agree with, I welcome their comment. I may well learn something. I welcome being told I have been offensive if I have...but there are right and wrong ways to

complain. I doubt that any of us would wish to outright offend anyone, especially our dear friends. I worry about that.

I might even worry that this post will leave some of you scratching your head and asking yourself why you bothered to drop by at all.

None of us are perfect. None of us get out of this life without some pain, worry, stress and sadness. No matter the size of your home, dog or bankbook, those things will find you.

To dislike someone because they live differently, dress differently, speak differently is silly. To dislike someone because they have a different color of skin, worship in a different manner,

read different books or watch Dancing With The Stars when you don't is, well, even more silly.

Silly, silly, silly. Monty Python had wonderful routines about silly people. I would include them but those who find Monty Python ridiculous would be offended. *silly smile*

So, in memory of Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, be careful out there...be careful with one another. I will worry about it if you don't...*grin* I'm just sayin'....

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Fun Foto Friday

Ah, another Friday! I missed posting a photo last week so need a little catch up huh?

I hope you will indulge me for continuing to play Jason's Brown's ballad Someone To Fall Back On, even during Fun Friday. I am so in love with him and his music now and this song, in particular, is on my lips all day. So, for just a little longer...it will remain at the top of my play list.

Now, Fun Fotos!

Since I was unable to post last week, here is the Foto I WOULD have offered up. I present, me, my dear friend P and her brother D. No, not a recent picture but I have not changed a bit. OKAY! It is P who has not changed a bit...and I have changed a *little*. OKAY! (Gee you guys are strict!) I have changed A LOT!

This was taken in 1973 at the 1950/1960's Dance that we, the members of the Wilbur Wright Drill Team, put together. What fun it all was...and yes, P has not changed a bit. *I* have. Happy??

Sheesh.

A Fun Foto from 1998. I HAVE changed since then yes and I like THIS part of the change. My hair is totally different, my glasses, etc. I LIKE that change. Some of the others? Not so much but let's not dwell on those shall we? SHALL we?? Ahem.

This is me with Gary Sinise. Yes, THAT Gary Sinise. And yes he has changed too but all for the better right? I hate that about men. Why IS that? They get more sexy and distinguished and I get, um, okay. Let's move on shall we?

I was part of a group that held a fundraiser for The Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. Gary and 2 friends & fellow actors, Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry co-founded this amazing place as teenagers in the 70's. In the years since, the Steppenwolf has received unprecedented national and international recognition from media, theater critics, and audiences alike. While Steppenwolf continues to live up to its many accolades, the company has never lost sight of its original vision. Today Steppenwolf remains committed to producing dynamic and exciting theater. Often called "In your face" style theater...dynamic and sometimes wild, The Steppenwolf served as the career *stepping stone* for fantastic, well known actors such as John Malkovitch, John Mahoney, Joan Allen, Laurie Metcalf, Austin Pendleton, Gary Cole, Kathryn Erbe, Glenne Headley and, of course, Kinney, Perry and Sinise. Each remains a part of The Steppenwolf and, along side the other extremely gifted members of the ensemble, continue doing some amazing work there.

I can never say enough about Gary Sinise. He is a true gentleman and an actor of immense talent. The gang at The Steppenwolf were such a joy and so welcoming. I will never forget them.

It was a fantastic weekend of glorious theatrical performances, raising money for this phenomenal theater, laughter, fun and friends. Daniel and Bill were with me there and also enjoyed their Steppenwolf weekend in Chicago. The memories made that weekend will never fade.

I hope your weekend will be a sweet one...be good to others but never forget to be kind to your self as well. You deserve that!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Wedding Memories

Someone asked me today, "Was it a traditional wedding?" I had to pause...no, not in the strictest sense of the word. But yes, the ceremony was traditional, yes, yes it was. The music was glorious! Very carefully and lovingly chosen by the bride and groom, there were songs and hymns that meant so much to them. Beautifully performed by dear friends and family, each piece was truly uplifting. The first 4 selections featured here on my blog were a part of their wedding. I do hope you will be able to listen to at least one or two of them. I have been unable to get them out of my head for days now...the first selection was written and performed by a young man who is doing astonishing work on Broadway. Someone To Fall Back On is such a beautiful ballad that it brings tears to my eyes....

Was it traditional? No, not in dress or style. The young couple and the wedding participants are all lovers and students of art, music, fashion, film and theater. Amanda and John chose to have a traditional ceremony with their own personal style stamp. It was great fun, happy and truly a joyous event. The bridesmaids each wore a different bright color...red, orange, Kelly green, blue, yellow. The colors were represented in the flowers the bride carried and again on the cake. They are such a lovely couple and pretty darned good lookin' too eh? The groom's parents are dear friends from our military days. Bill was stationed with Rich at US Transportation Command, Scott AFB in Illinois. Rich has the best sense of humor and never failed to make me laugh myself silly. 8 years ago, while out running, Rich suffered a heart attack. He was medically dead for several horrific minutes. An RN came to his aid and was able to resuscitate him just before the paramedics arrived. Thanks to the wonderful care he received, Rich is with us today. Sadly however, he was left seeing only shadows, unable to walk and suffers

tremors and seizures intermittently. Still, that wonderful smile and that sense of humor remain intact. He is my hero.

The groom's mother, Sandy, is one of God's angels walking on this Earth. I thought she was special before Rich became disabled but now? She is a hero in any one's book. She has loving cared for Rich, as well as for her 3 children, with fierce devotion. I am proud to call this beautiful woman my friend. Someone else of whom I am pretty darned proud...my son Daniel. Dan was one of John's groomsmen. Here he is with Alexandria, the adorable bridesmaid with whom he was paired. She is a bundle of energy and such a bright spirit. Ah...my girl. This was a child who had previously refused to dance at a wedding. You should have seen her at this one! Grace was right in there, dancing her little heart out with all the young people. This is a picture of Grace with Chris, a sweet young man who was so good to our girl and yes, I would say she developed a wee crush on him. Uh huh...those days have begun! It was a wonderful wedding weekend. We were there for the rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and the reception. Was it traditional? Not in the strictest sense of the word but it was filled with all the things that a wedding should have. Joy. Laughter. Happy tears. Exuberance. Life. Sweet moments to remember always. Much happiness to you John and Amanda. Thank you for making us a part of your special day.

Hot Of The Presses...

A brand, spankin' new publication. Can I interest any of you in a 5 year subscription? Really, I know the editor. I can get you such a great deal...

Created at: FlickrToys

All For Love

This was one of the songs played and sung at the wedding we attended this last weekend. How amazing it sounded with the lovely church's glorious acoustics. The 3 singers were friends of the bride...just a very special moment. More on the wedding soon! Remember to pause the music player at the bottom of this blog to listen. Love to you all... Susie Q

Minnesota Summer...

We got in last night...or this morning I guess I should say. I finally got to bed at 2:30 am, tired and happy. We had a wonderful trip, my Mom had a fantastic visit with her friend, we enjoyed the wedding festivities, Minnesota and just being away again. But gosh is it good to sleep in my own bed (even if it is only for a few hours!) and see the fur babies! Oh how we missed them and they, us. Thank you to my brother who made sure they were waiting here at home for us! Such a sweet greeting! I will have lots of photos and stories to share soon but, for now, the laundry awaits! No, it calls...er...SCREAMS at me! Wendy? Your box will be sent this week....sorry to be so slow! I received a magical box of irish delights from Pat in Brooklyn last week. I will try to get a photo up this week. Pat is so dear and generous. It was like Christmas morning here! Our Deb and Kate just ordered their tickets to see my beloved, Brian Dennehy, on stage in Stratford. They will see him in All's Well That Ends Well. I have turned the most stunning shade of puce green you will ever see! But I am thrilled for them! The reviews for all his Stratford work this Summer have been top notch. Have a wonderful time dear Deb and Kate and please tell me EVERYTHING! Until later tomorrow...I send hugs, much love and happy thoughts to you all.

To enlarge each photo, just point and click !

Me, Mary and Minneapolis Minneapolis Intersection Midwest Sunset

Lake Pepin, Minnesota

May your week be full of smiles!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Mary In Bronze

Flashback to 1970: The actress bolted into town to film the opening sequence of her now-classic CBS sitcom, the "Mary Tyler Moore" show. The snippets show her character, Mary Richards, driving along a freeway and scoping out the Minneapolis-St. Paul skyline, washing her car, riding an escalator and tossing her hat into the air in front of what is now Marshall Field's. That moment has been frozen in time, not only in our psyche, but in a more tangible way a life-size bronze statue of Mary Richards anchored on the corner of Nicollet Mall and South 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis. The city's golden girl Mary Fran Bradley of Stuart lived in Minneapolis when the "Mary Tyler Moore" show debuted. "I worked at WCCO radio, just down the street, when she walked down the mall. I recall she stayed at the Ritz, which was a fancy new hotel at the time. "Minneapolis adored her. It was a wonderful time. It helped put the city on the map," she said. "Up until then, there were no shows set in Minneapolis." The statue still draws crowds. During a recent late-fall day, a gaggle of tourists was snapping pictures in front of the statue. A bartender down the street at the News Room restaurant said tourists — particularly women — gravitate toward it. And chamber of commerce literature still gives "MTM" a mention after all these years. Images from the TV series show Dayton's and Donaldson's department stores in the background; the building where the statue is positioned is now the flagship outlet of classy Marshall Field's. On a recent trip to Minneapolis, I just had to pay homage to Mary. As I approached the intersection with much anticipation, I could hear the sitcom's old theme song dancing though my head: How will you make it on your own? This world is awfully big, girl this time you're all alone But it's time you started living It's time you let someone else do some giving Love is all around, no need to waste it You can have a town, why don't you take it? You might just make it after all You might just make it after all The statue was erected three years ago by the New York-based cable network TV Land and the city of Minneapolis. Its inscription reads, "Who can turn the world on with her smile?" Across the street is the 57-story IDS Center, where Mary was seen on the show riding up an escalator holding a potted plant and dining (with then real-life husband Grant Tinker) at a windowside table in a restaurant. During the summer months, tourists can even venture away from downtown to snap pictures of Mary's original three-story house. The downtown sculpture represents TV Land's second effort to honor cities and towns closely identified with signature television shows by recognizing the site as a "TV Land Landmark." The network's first effort — a bronze statue of Ralph Kramden of "The Honeymooners" — was unveiled last year and now adorns the entrance to New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal. "Mary Richards is an American icon who captured the hearts of millions while playing an enormous role in redefining women in the workplace," said Larry Jones, executive vice president and general manager of TV Land. "By bestowing a sculpture of Mary to the residents of Minneapolis, TV Land can help ensure that the social and comic value of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' is felt for generations to come." Mary made it after all. If you go: WHAT: The statue of Mary Tyler Moore's character from her '70s TV show WHERE: The corner of Nicollet Mall and South 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis INFORMATION: For information on traveling to Minneapolis, call The Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association at (888) 676-6757, or visit http://www.minneapolis.org/. "Mary Tyler Moore" fun facts • The show's lead character, Mary Richards, worked as a producer at fictional and low-rated WJM-TV Channel 12 news in Minneapolis. • The series ran on CBS from 1970 to 1977 and always aired on Saturday nights, mostly in the 9 p.m. slot. • The show's theme song, "Love Is All Around Us," was sung by Sonny Curtis. • Mary Richards lived at 119 N. Wetherly Drive, Minneapolis. • Walter Cronkite once guest starred on the series. • • The series garnered three Emmy Awards as "Outstanding Comedy Series" (in 1975, 1976 and 1977). • Moore, Ed Asner (Lou Grant), Valerie Harper (Rhoda Morgenstern), Ted Knight (Ted Baxter) and Betty White (Sue Ann Nivens) all won Emmys for their performances and the show's writing and directing were similarly honored several times. • Mary Tyler Moore shut down the show in 1977, despite its still-large audience.

Mary Richards Statue - Life-size bronze statue inspired by the Mary Richards character on the sitcom THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW/CBS/1970-77. On Wednesday May 8, 2002 at 7:00am about 3000 onlookers braved early morning cold (43 degrees) as Larry W. Jones, the General Manager of cable channel TV Land along with Mayor R.T. Rybak, Councilmember Lisa Goodman unveiled the eight-foot bronze statue of Mary Richards as composer Sonny Curtis performed a special rendition of the series theme song "Love is all around." A metal placard at the base of the statue reads: "Mary Tyler Moore - Who can turn the world on with a smile? Presented by the people of (TV LAND Logo). On hand for the dedication was 64 year old actress Mary Tyler Moore who played the role of Mary Richards - a single, independent woman (and symbol of women's liberation) who worked as a newsroom producer at the fictional WJM-TV station. The eight-foot statue was created by Milwaukee, Wisconsin sculptor Gwendolyn Gillen. Built and installed for a cost of $150,000, the statue stands on Marshall Field's side of the Nicollet Mall at Seventh Street in downtown Minneapolis in the exact spot where Mary Richards threw her hat in the air during the opening sequence of each episode. At the end of the ceremony, Mary Tyler Moore recreated her famous hat toss for the crowd of fans. Earlier that morning Mary had done numerous hat tosses for the many photographers on hand to record the historic homage. About 1,000 tams had been distributed to the spectators for a massive toss but when the time came to toss the hats, nobody wanted to throw their tam away. During the event Mary Tyler Moore gave satellite interviews to such TV anchors as ABC's Diana Sawyer, NBC's Bryant Gumbel and CNN's Paula Zahn. Upon seeing the statue Mary Tyler More told newscaster Paula Zahn "She did a very good job on all of that, too. I think I look a little too tan, however." Not everybody was happy with the idea of a statue. Detractors of the celebration commented "Why is TV Land putting up this statue? Is it marketing? If it's marketing and the mayor is buying into it, then we are complicit in marketing the TV Land network (Minneapolis-Issues commentator Tim Connolly) and "It's like honoring a unicorn. It's honoring something that doesn't exist." (Clay Steinman, a communication studies professor at Macalester College in St. Paul). This was not the first time TV LAND had dedicated a statue to a TV character. In August, 2000 the TV LAND network erected a 1,000 pound eight-foot bronze statue of Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden character from the sitcom THE HONEYMOONERS at New York City's Port Authority Bus Station on 42nd Street in Mid Manhattan. The network, which is owned by Viacom Inc., is also considering statues of Joe Friday, (played by Jack Webb) on DRAGNET, for Los Angeles, and Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry (played by Andy Griffith) on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, for Raleigh, North Carolina (in lieu of the fictional town of Mayberry).

Mary's Place

~The House at 2104 Kenwood Pkwy 55405 Minneapolis, MN ~

Who can turn the world on with her smile? Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? Well it's you girl, and you should know it With each glance and every little movement you show it Love is all around, no need to waste it You can have a town, why don't you take it You're gonna make it after all You're gonna make it after all How will you make it on your own? This world is awfully big, girl this time you're all alone But it's time you started living It's time you let someone else do some giving Love is all around, no need to waste it You can have a town, why don't you take it You're gonna make it after all You're gonna make it after all!

Mary Richards House - On the sitcom THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW/CBS/1970-77 Mary Tyler Moore played news producer Mary Richards who worked at WJM-TV in Minneapolis. At the end of the day, she returned home to her walk-up apartment (D) in an old Victorian home located at 119 North Weatherly Avenue. Mary marked her territory with a large letter "M" which she mounted on her kitchen wall. Upstairs from Mary lived Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper), a window dresser, who coveted Mare's more spacious accommodations (Rhoda lived in a converted attic space). Their gossipy landlord Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman) dropped in from time-to- time with tidbits about her husband, Lars (an unseen dermatologist). The property used as Mary Richard's residence, in reality belonged to a University of Minnesota humanities professor. Built in 1892 at the cost of $15,000 by architect Edward Stebbins, the three-story, four bedroom Victorian home (plus attic space) with two kitchens and six bathrooms is located at 2104 Kenwood Parkway in Minneapolis near Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. The first owner of the property was Spencer Davis, president of a farm implement company. When fans of the show began to regularly bother the owner, the peeved professor refused MTM producers the right to continue filming her residence. To show she meant business, she hung an "Impeach Nixon" sign on her home. The character Mary Richards soon after moved to a high-rise apartment at 932 N. Weatherly. Exteriors of the Cedar Riverside Plaza at 1610 6th Street South across from the University of Minnesota were used as Mary's new residence. Fans of the show still stop outside Mary Richard's old residence and take snapshots for souvenirs. And, of course, they all throw their hats in the air. As of 1988, Mary Richards' home was owned by Minneapolis Institute of Arts Director Evan Maurer and his wife, Naomi. In March 2004, the Maurer's decided to sell the five-bedroom, six-bath 112-year-old Victorian (6,461 square foot) home for nearly $1.7 Million (Price: $1,695,000) with Coldwell Banker Burnet. The house is now painted taupe instead of the original white. Also, the unfinished attic that was supposed to be Mary's room has since been converted into a a home office space. In 2007, the current owners of the house - Don Gerlach, a high school English teacher, and his wife, Pat - placed the fully renovated property on the market for 3.6 million dollars. TRIVIA NOTE: According to Mary Tyler Moore if you look real close at the silhouettes in the windows of the high-rise building as seen from Mary's apartment balcony, you can see people doing "nasty" things (a.k.a. "The Wild Thing") to each other. Mary admitted that she and other cast members painted the pictures in between filming on the set.

Off To The Twin Cities

Yes, we are off to the land of lakes, Prince, Mary Richards, the Twins and Vikings and the Mall of America. I know I was unable to get around to see you all before I left but PLEASE know that I keep each one of you in my heart and prayers.

I have some posts that will automatically pop up while we are away and I will drop by for visits with you when we return!

I hope you each had a very happy "Brian Dennehy Birthday Day" on the 9th. I am still working on having that day declared a National holiday. Oh why must the government be so short sighted....think of it! Parades and banners and fireworks. Wow.

So, for now, it's off to the land of cooler Summers!

I send warm hugs and

lots of love to you all...

Susie Q

From Kipper's Desk Dudes

This would be me dudes, all decked out for the 4th of July, with my old man (The one with all the bucks for that ice cream. I never carry any cash. No pockets ya know.) and my sissy. Mom is the one behind the camera. She likes it that way for some reason. This lovely lass is Bridget, who I call Gidget. Yes, if you need to know, she calls ME her Moondoggie dude. Cute huh?

Bella loves it when I recite this line from On The Waterfront... "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender dude. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum dude, which is what I am." She's a boxer. Get it? GET IT? That joke slays the crowd every time.

This is Tiki doing her Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard, impression. "I'm ready for my close up Mr. Demille dude."

Aye but here's little Rob Roy himself. Yes, named for the Scottish film of the same name. Me? I think I am much more a William Wallace-y dude....uh huh. Mom says I have a Braveheart don'tcha know.

This is Cee Cee. I taught her not to waste a drop of this deelisheous scream so lap it up and off your face dudette! It was Cee's first time at Ritter's and she declared it Monumental! Dude! It SO is!

Ah...whenever I meet up with sweet Fiona here, this line from Brigadoon runs through me head.

"Why, when I look at you I feel wee tadpoles jumping in my spine." Yeah dude. I am a born romantic.

These are my buddies Sarge and Cookie. Uh huh. Just like characters in Stalag 17.

"I don't know about you, but it always makes me sore when I see those war pictures... all about flying leathernecks and submarine patrols and frogmen and guerrillas in the Philippines. What gets me is that there never w-was a movie about POWs - about prisoners of war. Now, my name is Clarence Harvey Cook: they call me Cookie. I was shot down over Magdeborg, Germany, back in '43; that's why I stammer a little once in a while, 'specially when I get excited. I spent two and a half years in Stalag 17... "

Am I the only one who sees my new pal Coal and thinks of Sister Bertrille? Yeah. Just like in The Flying Nun! Come on now. Is he cute or is he cute?

Little Freda. Freda loves it when I sing Band of Gold to her..."Now that you're gone All that's left is a band of gold All that's left of the dreams I hold Is a band of gold And the memories of what love could be If you were still here with me ..."

You know...Freda...as in Freda Payne? My Mom is always singing those ancient songs. She is pretty old you know.

My buddy Jack here was one of the original singing dogs on that Jingle Bells record. Here he is giving us a little Christmas in July tune dudes! Wail it Jackie boy!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Timmy's in that well again. Look. Timmy must be what? 70 now? Let him get outta that dang well all by himself. I have custard to eat. What? Yeah. I saw Lassie Come Home.

It made me cry. Happy now? It made me cry...sheesh.

The words Wilby Daniels recited from the amulet to transform himself in The Shaggy Dog were "in canis corpore transmuto." My buddy here is named Henry dude, NOT Wilby and if you ask me where that Fred MacMurray dude is, I will so scream!

Does this picture make you get all gooey and ooey dude? Puppies do that to a person huh?

But like *I* make you all gooey too right dudes?

Yup, Ritter's Dog Nite takes a lot outta a pup dude. Or a 7 year old like myself. I hope you all enjoyed your monthly visit to Ritter's courtesy

of your buddy Kipper. It is a scene dudes. A REAL scene.

My parents are sending me and my cats to a this place that seriously looks like a kennel dudes. They are going to some wedding in some place where Mary Richards threw her hat. Do NOT ask me who Mary Richards is dudes. All I know is that I do NOT wanna go to a kennel. Even a nice one with TV and a spa. Okay, so they do NOT have a spa. But they do have a TV.

My aunt Abby is going too because my Grandma is going with my family. They say I can not go this time and that so stinks dudes. Think of me in jail for the next 6 days dudes. Not even one Ritter's ice cream cup in sight....sheesh.

Till August...hang loose dudes and dudettes!

Love,

Kipper

May I Have Your Attention?

Let us all take a moment and remember who was born 70 years ago today. Okay, okay. So a LOT of people were born 70 years ago today but I am speaking about one very special person. Mr. Brian Manion Dennehy. Sheesh.

Yes, THAT 70 year old. Star of stage & screen and my night time dreams...but that is another thing all together...ahem.

Would someone cue the music?? *clearing throat*

Happy Birthday to YOU...

From me, Susie Q.

I still think you're a cutie...

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy, happy birthday Brian. I know you are having a blast up in Stratford and garnering rave reviews for your work. Not a surprise to me...you are mesmerizing on stage. Here's to many more years of exciting and challenging work for you and many more years of me pleading with that husband of mine to let us travel wherever you are appearing! Aw, he loves it, he does...but that is beside the point. *I* love it. I LOVE your work. Oh, and I have this teeny, little, tiny, small, wee, minuscule (Why yes! I do so love being redundant.) crush on you.

It is nothing really. I have only had it for, let's see, 30 years or so. I will probably get over it in another 30 years. Or not.

Happy Birthday Brian!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

City Life

~Dayton's stone-faced

summer visitors'

everyday antics

attract a crowd ~

By Mary McCarty Staff Writer

Dayton Daily News Sunday, June 29, 2008 Ever notice the lengths to which we go any more to avoid contact with real, live people? We e-mail co-workers in the next cubicle. We chat on the cell phone while having lunch with a friend. Kids text friends riding the same school bus. I've even heard some explain their aversion for any form of communication except texting: "I don't like to hear the sound of someone's voice. It's annoying." At first blush, downtown's Invasion of the Sculpture People might seem part of the same disturbing trend. For the second consecutive year, downtown's most popular summer visitors have been the life-sized — and, from a distance, lifelike — sculptures of people at work and play. The 20 sculptures in "CityLife '08: A Downtown Sculpture Walk by J. Seward Johnson" are charming and fun, but they're far from the cutting edge of modern art. With their bronzed complexions and bland expressions, they look a bit like Ken dolls whose owners got a hold of some gold spray paint. They're more likely to end up in a Museum of Kitsch than the Guggenheim or the Dayton's own Visual Arts Center (DVAC). But they've attracted fans in unlikely places — among them DVAC executive director Jane Black. "It encourages people to stop and look around, and to use their eyes in a conscious way," she said. "They make people think, 'What comes next?' It opens them up to things that are a little more challenging and indigenous to our culture here in Dayton." They have succeeded in luring people downtown. "I have seen so many people come downtown to look at the sculptures, and then they stop in at our gallery for the first time," Black said. And then, who knows what could happen? "The next thing you know, they'll be into mixed-media abstract conceptual installations," she said, "but nobody starts with that." When the sculptures arrived last summer, Black experienced many "Is it live or is it Memorex" moments: "I would see someone from far away, and assume it was one of those sculptures. And then they would get up and move away. It was freaky and interesting." I find myself looking more closely at the people on the street, wondering whether they're real or not. And I notice things I don't notice when I view downtowners as an anonymous stream of humanity. The Cooper Park lawn outside the Main Library proved a particular puzzler: Was it the guy snoozing in the grass, a newspaper spread over his face? No, it was the mother and son reading a book, their legs crossed. Longtime friends Phil DeVeny of Columbus and Speed Dillon of Kettering admired the sculpture of a husband and wife birdwatching. "They're neat," DeVeny observed. "They give you something to look at." Dillon chuckled over the spectacle of a woman goosing one of the male sculptures — a liberty she wouldn't take, presumably, with a real-life passerby. "They're so lifelike," Dillon said of the sculptures, "but they don't go anywhere." He and DeVeny were off to the Pine Club with their wives to celebrate wedding anniversaries, an outing the sculptures might well envy. It's easy to picture that, because the figures are so lifelike, with a couple of notable exceptions: They are all actively engaged in life, and with each other. And nobody is carrying a cell phone.

Mom, Bill, Dan and I went to downtown in Dayton to view the City Life sculptures. We enjoyed the experience and even got in on the act a wee bit...

Let ME Push her!

Family Secrets Here Daddy, Let Me Help... Gee Mom, I Don't Know...What IS it?

Daddy's Home!

I hope your week has begun with a smile. I send you all many hugs and lots of love.

Susie Q