Today, I'm off to Cleveland for my mom's surgery and to see my family. Along the way, I will stay with some good friends. Makes me thankful for what I have.

As kismet will have it, the "song of the week" from The Indigo Girls (posted on the Epic Records web site each week until the new album is released), is "All That We Let In", the title track. I won't post all the lyrics here, as they are copywritten, but a few that spoke to me, as I notice these things as well, and am glad, and thankful, for all that I've let in. (Thanks for inviting me!)

"Dust in our eyes our own boots kicked up
Heartsick we nursed along the way we picked up
We may not see it when its sticking to your skin
but we're better off for all that we let in

Lost friends and loved ones much too young
with so much promise and work left undone
when all that guards us is a single center line
and the brutal crossing over when its time

See those crosses on the side of the road
tied with ribbons in the median
it makes me grateful I can go this mile
lay me down and wake me up again

I pass the cemetery walk my dog down there
I read the names of the stone and say a silent prayer
when I get home your cooking supper on the stove
and the greatest gift of life is to know love

and I don't know where it all begins
and I don't know where it all will end
better off for all that we let in"

-- Emily Saliers

Another week, another nice, long weekend (it snowed here, the City pretty much shuts down in that case). . .

Caught a b-ball game this weekend: St. Joe's women vs. Temple & the aura of Dawn Staley. Exciting game. Went into OT. Close all throughout. The Hawks lost, though; but it was a very good match.

Went to the game with my friend Paula and her kids Liza and Noah. Noah is 8 and actually likes to go to the women's games (unlike some of my neighbor's sons, nephews, and even my daughter - who mostly enjoys the mascot and the snack food). Good to see that some boys appreciate the women's game!

So, the 2nd episode of The L-Word was much better than the pilot. Very funny. True-to-life. Flowed well. I somehow pressed the wrong button and didn't tape it, however! (But, it's on again Weds. night, so I'll get to it for those of you on my tape-trading list!)

Speaking of tv shows, how's "Sex and the City" going? Since I switched to Showtime, I miss my straight girls. I just gotta know, when will Mr. Big come back?

Speaking of both of those shows, I was "educated" by My Gal last week when I wondered, out loud, why our friend Kathy (a straight, married woman) would want to borrow my tape of "The L-Word," as she is not a lesbian. The Gal pointed out to me that I quite enjoy "Sex and the City," even though I'm not straight. Touche.

Ok, a few quick things, after a lo-o-o-ong weekend. . .

Yes, I know the Iggles lost. No need to call me to rub it in. So our offense didn't show up at the game. Not surprising to us Philadelphians. We're used to being disappointed -- but, 3 years in a row?!

Thankfully, The L-Word started this weekend, and I was still awake (after the football game) and watched it "live." It was very good. Not gonna be all things to all people; but, enjoyable. While many lesbians are griping about the show on various bbs, I will say this: lesbians in real life aren't perfect, why would you expect them to be on a T.V. show?

Went to neighbor Roger's to watch the football game on Sunday with him and his college roommate Steve. And, what did the Mt. Airy Men serve? Raw carrots, broccoli, crackers, and brie with fig sauce. (Okay, there were hot wings, too; granted, they were the frozen pop-in-the-oven kind, but good and hot!).

Kinda bummed that my suggestion for a new PA tourism slogan wasn't one of the Top 5 currently being voted on at Visit PA. I submitted a catchy little phrase, I thought: stuPENNdous, TREEmendous, outRAGEous, PA.

Had time this weekend to even watch a DVD on our new DVD player... John Sayles' Sunshine State. Very good flick. He might just be my favorite director. Edie Falco rocked! Angela Bassett -- awesome!

It's true. I've been "found out". When I have to do mindless tasks in my office (today, I'm making raffle tickets), I play my CDs and sing out loud to them.

Today, it's none other than. . . the Indigo Girls. Surprise. (Hey, their new CD comes out on Feb 17th, gotta get warmed up for the release!)

So, I'm listening to this new song of Amy's called "Let Me Go Easy" about a friend of hers who died of ovarian cancer and it reminded me of my recent holiday vacation....

...Mostly, the 5+ hours I spent with my dad in the emergency room of the Montgomery County (MD) General Hospital before they finally admitted him, since he had pneumonia, you see. (My brother Sam was not as lucky; he spent about 9 hours there!)

Emergency rooms are icky places. And, since it was a Friday night, there were the usual drunken brawlers and car accidents, as well as many folks with the flu that's been going around, a variety of mental illnesses, and a handful of "older people" with pneumonia-type symptoms like my dad.

This, after I had just spent 2 hours finally seeing an adult movie, and what did I choose to see? "21 Grams" - a film about life, death, family, and love. "21 grams" is supposedly the amount of body weight you lose the exact moment you die (your soul?).

You can guess how weird it was to be in the E.R. shortly after having viewed this film. On top of that, my mom is about to go into the hospital for surgery after having been diagnosed with -- yep, you guessed it -- ovarian cancer.

But, in a wry twist, it's been comforting to listen to the Amy song. About moving on and leaving a legacy and memories and finding peace after long struggles (the woman in the song was an activist).

Kind of like my favorite Beatitude, from my Catholic childhood, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall have their fill" (upon dying, in Heaven).

Today, a few tidbits from my life. . .

How 'bout them Iggles (Philadelphia Eagles, to you non-fans), eh? Fourth-and-26 and the whole City thought the season was over. D-man to Freddy! Field goal! OT! Brett tosses one up! Dawkins intercepts! Field goal! Put a big "W" on the board, we're hosting Carolina!

And, for the record, Favre gets lucky when he tosses one up like that and his guys catch the ball. I'm sick of hearing already how he (Favre) lost the game; the Iggles defense blitzed, Favre was rushed, we were ready for a "toss-up"!

What's this I hear on NPR about DuPont thinking it might dump some VX nerve gas remnants into the Delaware River? Disposal of the waste products of chemical agents is tricky stuff. I may never drink tap water again! (And I may have to devise a plan to be on the road when they think they'll transport the stuff from Indiana to Delaware!).

While I spent most of my weekend at bat mitzvah parties and catching portions of football games, I did happen to stay up for Sex and the City last night. It was, actually, really kind of boring. Last week's was sooooo good (Carrie taking a "lov-ah" and all); last night was, well... like it's title, kind of "ick-y."

I did happen to catch a bit of that new "reality" show Airline this week; about the trials and tribulations of airline personnel. I feel so sorry for them! Some customers are really mean. I'm flying Southwest in a couple of weeks and think I'll be extra nice to my crew and ticket agents!

And, how about that Paul O'Neill on 60 Minutes last night, saying that Bush II had always planned to invade Iraq, even before 9/11. Hmm. Sadaam. Bush I. Revenge factor. Not a surprize. But, Bushie using 9/11 terrorism and "WMD" as lies for the American people and "excuses" to invade Iraq, now we've got a problem!

Today's topic : Everything I Needed to Know I Learned From "Finding Nemo"

Actually, not everything, but enough.

Like, watch out for those bottom-feeders. Things aren't always what they appear to be (how much did we adults love the sharks-in-recovery?). Just relax and ride the waves, dude.

My favorite, though, just keep swimming. My latest "mantra". [Maybe I should do a mantra-of-the-week, eh?]

Plus, I also love how they made Dory the fish so very "human" with her short-term memory loss. Since my mother, although she won't admit it, experiences similar tendencies, I appreciate that Dory (Ellen DeGeneres, in her finest hour, yet, I'd have to say) brings humor to the situation. You can't help but like her.

I was happy to find out this morning that We, The People, nominated "Nemo" as a Best Film of 2003 for the People's Choice Awards. Since it will never get the Oscar, it's good to know that it's so greatly appreciated and loved by many already. [We don't even own it on VHS or DVD, yet we've seen it about 6 times since X-mas!]

If you haven't seen it yet, get thee to a DVD!

Had dinner with our friends Jon and Claire recently. Jon was noting how his son is now old enough to leave things in his wake, i.e. his socks on the couch where he just sat.

Jon commented on how nice it was to know that, when he sat down on the couch, his little boy had been there recently.

I nodded appreciatively, knowing how parents like to share stories and thoughts about their children and their lives as parents. But, I didn't fully comprehend Jon's emotions until yesterday.

The Banana spent a day in my office over the holidays and kept herself quite busy with her favorite play items -- office supplies like scissors, glue, hole punches, staples and, especially, tape!

I knew she was making pictures and taping together paper and stapling things (I had to continue to refill the stapler for her), and she showed me most of her creations. We packed them up in her backpack before we left and I thought that was that.

So, yesterday, there I was - coming back to my office after lunch and fiddling with my office door key when I noticed a new addition. Among the four or five Banana creations on my door was a new one : a beautifully colored, stapled, folded and rubber-banded (!) item taped to my door.

I had to smile. My Banana had left her mark and I hadn't even noticed. It was comforting to know she had been there. And that she thought to leave me a gift.

Now I understand what Jon was talking about.

Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome to 2004. Let's hope this year brings us all some "peace, love, and understanding", eh?

So, what's on my agenda for the New Year? Well, I can't seem to get cable TV (premium channels) off my mind. Yes, I may actually switch from HBO - even though last night's first episode of "Sex in the City" was soooo funny - to Showtime.

I finally watched the entire video I have of "Earthlings" - an early version of Showtime's "The L-Word" - and I'm pleased to report there actually was more lesbian sex as the video progressed, and pretty steamy lesbian sex, to boot.

Totally worth the switch, I'm thinking.

I mean, Jennifer Beals ! (All us children of the '70s know "Flashdance") A lesbian couple trying to conceive a child sub-plot ! A closeted professional tennis player character ! Funny double entendres and lesbian jokes.

I stick by my original statement that, while it's not a totally realistic representation of lesbian women, television is a fantasy realm. Like "Friends", the "L-Word" women are mostly very white, very cute and thin, have great hair and clothes and cars (hey, it's L.A.!), and never seem to work much.

I like to suspend my disbelief for awhile and just enjoy, don't you?

Plus, it's winter now, and cable TV is a great indoor treat.