Today has been a very laid-back day. We celebrated on Christmas Eve with a dinner for everyone on our branch of the family tree. Ron and I have enjoyed a fire in the fireplace all day long. The Christmas tree lights have been shining all day. I’ve crocheted a good bit on Evey’s afghan. We drove over to Joey and Meleah’s house to feed their dog and let him out for awhile. We attempted a walk - but it was so cold and windy that we came back inside after only a few minutes. Now we’re watching the Titans being thoroughly whipped by the Chargers.

In 2009, I probably only wrote maybe 10 posts altogether. Just checked - I had 33 posts in 2009 - much more than I thought. I used to average three posts a day - and even after the first couple years of blogging, I managed to write at least one post per day. 2009 was a different kind of year, though. With Lily’s leukemia diagnosis last December, I lost any desire to blog about the things I’d spent time on previously. Politics? I had no heart for it. Education? no heart. Social issues? no heart for it either. The only thing that I really WANT to write about is the need for money to fund childhood cancer research. However, that’s like spitting in the ocean. Everyone is interested, but no one wants to talk about it or do anything about it. It’s like all these suffering children are just swept under the rug of conscious thought. Let’s donate to St. Jude and the Ronald Mcdonald House. Let’s collect toys at Christmas to take to the children’s hospital. However, funding for childhood cancers remain only a tiny percentage of the funds provided for research into adult cancers.

So, will I be blogging more frequently in 2010? I don’t know. This blog is too public. I have a private blog that is for only myself - where I don’t have to be concerned with censoring what I write. And I’ve written there occasionally over the past year. Maybe that’s where I’ll concentrate my efforts in 2010.

The only acceptable answer is “YES!” No doubt about that one. There are children and adults battling cancer who have compromised (or non-existent) immune systems. They call it “neutropenia.” Neutrophils rise and fall depending on the body’s reaction to chemotherapy. There’s no exact science to control it. So a child might have enough neutrophils to protect her from germs, bacteria and viruses one day - and then the next day the bottom falls out of her counts, and she’s totally unprotected. Until she goes to clinic for her weekly or monthly blood counts, she doesn’t know she’s so vulnerable and unprotected. They can wear masks and use hand sanitizer religiously but that still won’t protect them from everything.

Now just imagine that this child goes to the grocery store with her mom. In the store is someone who has the flu. Not a bad case - just a little congestion and slight fever. No big deal. The person sneezes or coughs or put his hand on a cart - and one of those flu viruses just happens to find its way to the cancer kid. It’s not likely, but it could happen. It does happen.

So the flu which was no big deal to the healthy person, ends up putting the cancer kid in the hospital. . . or worse. In the past year I know of two precious children here in Tennessee who died because they caught a stupid virus - something that a healthy person would barely notice. But for a child with a compromised immune system, it ended up deadly. It’s not just the immune system. Chemo is so hard on a child’s body. It weakens the heart and other organs. Sometimes the fight that the body must wage against a virus is more than the weakened heart can manage.

And so a child is left fighting for his/her life while the person who passed along that virus has no clue of the damage he’s done.

I’ll be getting the seasonal flu shot AND the H1N1 flu shot. What’s a couple of shots compared to the possibility - however remote - of passing along a life-threatening illness to a precious cancer kid.

I challenge you to watch this video. It is 5 minutes long. Invest five minutes to watch something that is profoundly important. Then DO something about it by following THIS LINK:

Just watch this all the way through. This is the woman that the left would have you believe is “strange” or “unqualified” or “dangerous.” The truth is that Sarah Palin is brilliant, a gifted speaker, a person who lives her beliefs, and she is exactly what the United States needs to get us back on track. With John McCain and Sarah Palin as our leaders, America will once again gain the respect of the world. The left knows this, and Palin scares the crap out of them. She betters Obama on all fronts. That’s why they’ve attacked her so ruthlessly. She shows them for the empty suits they are.

The season premiere of “The Biggest Loser: Families” was tonight. Read about the new teams - four husband/wife teams and four parent/child - and read a recap of the season premier and see a video here.

“The Biggest Loser” is one of my favorite shows, and I’m excited that the new season has started. Although RT makes fun of how the contestants cry all the time, I think the show is inspirational.

Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, the professional trainers of “The Biggest Loser,” are ready to torture into shape a new set of contestants for the show’s premier on September 16th. This season has eight teams of two family members each - four husband/wife teams and four parent/child teams. Bob Harper is the trainer for the husband/wife teams, and Jillian Michaels will take on the parent/child teams. It’s “blood” vs. “true love” or “born into it” vs. “sworn into it.”

Alison Sweeney is the host again. I don’t know what Caroline Rhea is up to these days, but she’s been gone from “The Biggest Loser” for awhile now. The show has a new gym - a much larger one that is split down the middle with Bob having one side and Jillian the other.

I’m not the only one who loves the show. “The Biggest Loser” series is now produced in 25 countries now - and airs in over 90 countries. There are five “The Biggest Loser” books currently listed on the New York Times best-selling books. It is one of NBC’s top ranked shows.

First we’ll look at the married couples - Bob’s Group.

Vicky and Brady (the brown team) are from Houma, Louisiana and have two children. Their four-year old daughter is already weighs 63 pounds - outweighing her 7-year old brother. Vicky and Brady came in last in the first challenge and received a two pound penalty. So they were the last to weigh-in after the first week. They must have lost more than 31 pounds altogether to stay “above the yellow line.” Vicky started off at 246, and Brady started off at 341. Vicky lost 19 pounds and Brady lost 28 pounds. Their total percentage of weight loss was 7.67. So - even with the two pound penalty - they came in first place for the week.

Philip and Amy (the red team) are from Greenville, S.C. They have an autistic son. They’re real estate agents who work together. Amy gained her excess weight after her son was born. Taking care of him took up so much energy that she would just sit and eat in the evenings. Amy started off on “The Biggest Loser” at 229 pounds, and Phil started at 331 pounds. The first weigh-in Amy lost 16 pounds and Phil lost 23 pounds for a total of 39 pounds - and a percentage of 6.96.

Ed and Heba (the orange team) are newlyweds who hope to have children in a few years and don’t want to have them when they’re so overweight. Ed is a chef who runs a catering business - and ends up eating all day long. They started out with Heba weighing 294 and Ed weighing 335. First week, Heba lost 12 pounds and Ed lost 17 pounds - for a 4.61 percentage weight loss.

Adam and Stacey (the green team) are from Washington, D.C. and have been overweight their entire lives. They work together. They started off a little cocky on the show, though - sure that they’d win and acting a little dismissive of some of the other contestants. Adam: “We are stronger than any of the other teams. One of us WILL win. I can promise you that!” Stacey started off at 221 pounds, and Adam at 340 pounds. First weigh-in, Stacey lost 9 pounds and Adam lost 19 pounds for a total percentage weight loss of 4.99.

Now let’s look at the parent/child teams - Jillian Michael’s group:

Tom and LT (Little Tom) (the gray team) form a father/son team that came in as the heaviest team. They’re from Boston, Massachusetts, and they’re both cab drivers. Their entire family is overweight - father, mother, sister, brother, uncles - anywhere from 350 to 550 pounds. LT started off at 357 pounds, and Tom started off at 314 pounds. First weigh-in, LT lost 18 pounds, and Tom lost 24 pounds, for a total percentage loss of 6.26. That’s 42 pounds lost altogether in one week.

Amy and Shellay (the purple team) are a mother-daughter team. from Detroit, Michigan. Amy, the daughter, started off at 239 pounds, and Shellay, the mother, started off at 216 pounds. Amy lost 17 pounds for the first weigh-in, and Shellay lost 12 pounds for a total percentage of 6.37.

Michelle and Renee (the pink team) are mother and daughter from Dallas, Texas, and they’ve been estranged for six years. Renee is divorced from Michelle’s father, and the divorce left some scars for Michelle. When Renee left, she took Michelle’s sisters, but Michelle stayed with her dad. She said she ate to cover up the pain of her feelings of rejection. They are hoping to become closer through “The Biggest Loser” experience. Michelle started off at 242 lbs. and Renee started at 267. First weigh-in, Michelle lost 17 pounds, and Renee lost 14 pounds for a total percentage of 6.09.

Jerry and Colleen (the yellow team) is a father-daughter team from Cleveland, Ohio. Jerry is a police sergeant who has trouble even doing his job because of his weight. The team started out at a disadvantage because Jerry has so many physical problems that he can only exercise for 30 minutes each day. So on the first challenge Colleen had to run up a mountain by herself. However, she’s a go-getter, and she won the challenge which guaranteed them immunity for the first weigh-in. Starting weight: Collen - 218, Jerry - 380. At the first weigh-in Colleen lost 10 pounds and Jerrry lost 17 pounds

So the teams go through the first week’s weigh-in and the results put two teams “below the yellow line” - two married couples. Ed and Heba (the orange team) - Adam and Stacey (the green team). Adam and Stacey should go home because of their attitude. And they do. They were laughing at the “last chance workout” and gloating about how they felt they had it in the bag. Guess they didn’t. Buh-bye, Adam and Stacey.

At the end, they showed Adam and Stacey today. Today Stacey weighs 175 pounds, and Adam weighs 286 pounds. They both looked great in their “after” photos and talked about their goals for the finale in a few months.

All in all, a good premier. The biggest problem with “The Biggest Loser” is how long they draw out the weigh-ins. It must work for them, though, considering the success of the show. Come back each week for a recap of that week’s show.

See a video of “The Biggest Loser: Families” below.

Project Runway is one of my favorite shows. Check here for constant updates to tonight’s show - as it happens.

Heidi walks out and lets Suede (last week’s winner) decide whether or not to keep his model from last week. Suede speaks of himself in the third person - and Suede keeps his previous model. Then she tells them to go back to their apartment and Tim Gunn will meet them there to take them “out on the town.”

Of course they don’t go “out on the town” in the usual sense. They don rain ponchos and boots and head outside in the rain with Tim where they get on a double decker tour bus that lets them off in small groups at four different places. They’re given cameras to take pictures of whatever inspires them. Then they make their way back to their apartment where they go to bed and prepare for the next day.

The designers that are left are: Shayne, Stella, Daniel, Emily, Jennifer, Jerell, Joe, Keith, Kelli, Kenley, Korto, Leanne, Suede, and Terri.

Next morning, they have 30 minutes to look at their photos and select one to be their inspiration for whatever they make today. Then they’ have 30 minutes and a budget of $100 to buy fabric at Mood.

Is anyone else totally annoyed by Stella? And Suede - always talking in third person.

They’re all back now and working on their designs.

Blayne is strange - looks at Kenley with big staring eyes and says, “I’m gonna eat you.” Weird.

Stella’s inspiration photo is of a blinder on a horse - because that allows her to work with leather. So she’s hammering grommets into fabric and getting on everyone’s nerves with the loud hammering. Her response, “If you don’t like it, get the f*** outta here.” Such class.

Everybody rushes to finish - and they all make it out on time for the runway show.

Sandra Bernhard is the guest judge.

Keith’s is first. It looks wild.
Blayne is next. Black dressing with different colors pieces hanging off.
Joe’s is next. Nice dress. Black skirt with a stained glass looking top.

Emily’s is next. Another black dress with a colored ruddle down the front.
Leanne is next. I like it - layers of black.
Jennifer is next. It looks like a materinity dress - shiny black.
Jerell is next. Pretty green gown with lots of ruffles.
Kellie’s is next. Lots of string - another black dress.
Daniels’ is pretty - kind of a gold green dress.
Kenley’s dress has lots of colors - with a purple bubble on the side.
Suede’s dress is shiny taupe color.
Stella’s dress is biker pants with a midi-top.
Korto has a black jumpsuit. So so.
Terri’s dress is strange. Black pants with a backless dress over them.

The top three and the bottom three:
The judges love Kenley’s dress - retro 80’s.
Michael Kors describes Keith’s dress as “Toilet paper caught in a windstorm.” Nina Garcia says it’s sloppy.
They all like Terri’s dress - the right attitude.
Emily’s dress is supposed to look like a streak of like. Nina says the ruffles take over the dress. Michael doesn’t like the placement of ruffles.
Leanne’s inspiration came from a planter grate. Sandra likes it. Michael Kors like the idea of separates. Heidi says she would wear it in a heartbeat.
Jennifer was inspired by a clock - and has a touch of surrealism. Michael doesn’t get the surrealism. The hem sewing doesn’t help. Nina says it’s okay but on the boring side.

Top Three: Kenley, Leanne, Terri
Bottom three: Emily, Keith, Jennifer

Terri is in.
The winner is Kenley.
Leanne is in.
Keith is in. So it’s down to Emily and Jennifer.
Emily’s look was distracting.
Jennifer’s dress was boring and matronly.
And the person going home is Emily.

Are Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson lesbian lovers? According to Samantha’s brother, they definitely are. See photos and video here.

Mark Ronson, Samantha Ronson’s brother, has endorsed his sister’s relationship with Lindsay Lohan. He describes them as “cute together.”

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are seen often together - holding hands, laughing. It has been noted that they frequently dressing alike.

“Nashville Star” is really lame this year. There isn’t anyone with real star potential except for possibly Melissa.

Here’s tonight’s show wrap-up.

First to be called is Coffey. How this guy got so far along in this competition is only explained by the general weak nature of talent in this year’s contestants. He’s simply awful. There’s no chance he will ever be a successful country singer, and yet each week enough people vote for him. It’s amazing really. He’s singing an original song. Totally forgetable and unremarkable.

This year’s show is like a group of friends singing around a karaoke machine. Who selected these contestants?

Oh Lord, now John Rich is talking. He’s absolutely obnoxious. Coffeey just called him “the Donald Trump of country music.” Have mercy! At least on “American Idol” Simon is halfway likeable. John Rich is just nauseating. Neither RT nor I knew John Rich when this year’s “Nashville Star” started, and we’ve both just been appalled at his self-righteous and pompous attitude and remarks. I sure hope they get someone else for next year’s show. I could bear his smugness if he had something positive to contribute to the show, but sadly, it’s just all about him and trying to impress everyone with how important he is and how much he knows…which is laughable considering it took this show for most people to even know who he is.

OK, I am not finished with my obligatory ranting about John Rich’s pomposity. Who’s next?

Yea! The only person with the potential to actually be successful in country music - Melissa Lawson is next with her original song, “Ready to Stand.” It’s pretty good. At least it’s memorable. I don’t even remember what Coffey’s song was about after a few minutes.

John Rich just told Melissa Lawson that she has “mega-competition” here. That’s ridiculous! There is absolutely no one else in this competition that comes anywhere near Melissa in talent and potential. Mega-competition. ROFL!

Now the judges - Jewel, John and Jeffrey Steele - are singing medleys of the songs they’ve written. What’s with this? Both Jewel and Jeffrey were both pitchy sounding - just a little off. Okay - he may be obnoxious, but John Rich did the best of the three judges with singing his own songs.

Gabe Garcia is next. He’s probably second to Melissa for talent. I don’t think he will ever be successful in country music because there’s nothing memorable about his voice, but he’s got a nice country voice. He just said, “Hopefully I’ll be a country legend one day.” OMG! Talk about deluded! He’s singing a song he wrote called “Lost Weekend.” Now that’s a catchy little song. Okay - this is my favorite song of the three sung thus far in the show - at least it has a chance of being a successful country song. Very nice song - and Gabe did a good job singing it. I think the final two standing in a couple weeks will be Melissa and Gabe. Melissa should win - but Gave will make a solid second.

So it’s down to Shawn Mayer and Ashlee Hewitt. Who will go home? They both will sing first.

So Ashlee Hewitt will perform her song, “Mike’s Hard Lemonade.” She’s so cute! Her song is cute, too. Reminds me of Taylor Swift’s singing. I dont think Ashlee has a strong enough voice to carry it off, though. I liked her song, though, and she likely will have some success in either sining and/or song-writing. Not major success - but some success.

Shawn Mayer is next with her original song, “I’m Not Looking Back.” She’s on the third line right now, and I only understood one or two words. Talk about lack of enunciation! I think I heard the phrase “one way track,” and “as much as it kills me,” and of course “I’m not looking back.” That’s it. Otherwise, I have no idea what she was singing. Jeffrrey talked about how she has a career in this town - how Faith Hill or Martina McBride could record that song. Maybe somebody who could actually sing the song so somebody could understand it.

So who’s going home? Shawn or Ashlee? I personally think Shawn should go home. But the person going home is . . . ASHLEE HEWITT!

Ashlee is better than Coffey or Shawn. It’s too bad she’s going home tonight. However, I don’t think she could have won. So I guess it doesn’t matter.

The rumor is that Katherine Heigl’s character, Izzy Stevens, will be killed off of “Grey’s Anatomy.” See photos and video here.

Katherine Heigl

The rumor started when Heigl declined an award nomination because she felt that her character ws given a lousy storyline. I agree. Her storyline this past year had her giving CPR to a deer that had been hit by a vehicle. Then they have her as the beautiful doctor chasing after such a wimpy and insipid character as T.R. Knight’s George O’Malley.

I have to admit I’m not a Katherine Heigl Fan. Really good actors make you believe their characters. You don’t see the actor in a show because you’re seeing the character instead. By that measure, there are three actors in “Grey’s Anatomy” that just don’t make it - Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight and Kate Walsh. They are obviously acting on the show - and not doing a very good job of it.

The promos for her movie, “Knocked UP,” looked interesting, and so once it was out on DVD, I started watching it. After making myself keep watching it for 20 minutes, I finally gave up. She is simply not believable as an actress. In the movie she was Katherine Heigl acting like a woman who got pregnant after a one night stand. She simply wasn’t the character.

So will Katherine Heigl leave the show? I don’t care. Her departure sure couldn’t hurt the show, and if they got a really good actor with a good storyline to replace her, then that could only improve the show.