Saturday, April 16, 2011

WANNA LAUGH?!?!?! - Riddle Edition

1.  Often held but never touched, always wet but never rusts, often bites but seldom bit, to use me well you must have wit. What am I?


2. What belongs to you but other people use it more than you?


3. You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat?


4. The man who invented it doesn't want it. The man who bought it doesn't need it. The man who needs it doesn't know it. What is it?


5. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?


Answers, (spelt backwards...) :)
1. eugnot, 2. ruoy eman, 3. na rae fo nroc, 4. a niffoc, and 5. eht rettel m

STICKY SWEET

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

"Eating chocolate will sometimes induce a euphoric state of bliss. That's why people sing around a campfire after they've eaten s'mores."



HAM STRATA IN THE EATERY



Marion Pellicano Ambrose

I recently enjoyed a casual brunch at my friend Helen’s. She served the following delectable dish and everyone begged her for the recipe. It’s a wonderful breakfast or brunch casserole, but  can serve it to spice up a BBQ or simple supper!  The secret-southwest style shredded hashbrowns! Yum!

Helen’s Cheesy Ham Strata
5     eggs
3/4   cup milk
1/2   cup chives and onion cream cheese, softened
1/2   tsp. ground mustard
1/4   tsp. salt
1/8   tsp. pepper
2  cups  refrigerated southwest style shredded hashbrowns
1  cup  shredded cheddar cheese
1/4   cup diced red bell pepper
2/3   diced cooked ham
1/2   cup progresso panko crispy bread crumbs
1/4   cup parmesean or asagio cheese (1oz) 
1     Tbsp. butter, melted


RENT YOUR OWN COUNTRY


LIECHTENSTEIN FOR RENT!

Did you ever want to feel like a King or a Queen? Ever want to name the streets in your town after yourself? Want to have your own money with a picture of yours truly on it? How about a giant carving of yourself in the mountainside?

If sipping wine in a castle while you are wowed by your very own fireworks display is right up your alley and having a mayor present you with the keys to your own city, this might be the vacation for you!

You would have to understand that on this trip there would be no gyms, hot tubs, fireplaces, elevators or smoking, but for a mere $70,000 a night (two night minimum) this could all be yours!'

If you were to rent the country of Liechtenstein, it would apparently accommodate only 450 to 900 people. It has 500+ bedrooms. It takes about six months from when you first have the idea to the actual implementation of the event. Larger groups should book at least a year in advance.

New Hampshire As Per Tony

Tony Walker

I'm back baby!!! What a crazy time last week. Wakes, funerals, school plays, & a business trip all in one week!!!

I tried to keep up on my Lounge duties but I don't think I came through. Sorry about that Barbara & Dawn. Thanks for your support & patience. But now I am back & ready to rock.... and I am horny as ever!!!
I am proud to report that I can be trusted on a business trip. Not once did I make any moves on the women I was with. I hardly made any perverted comments! I can't believe it either. But if Boyle was with my I probably would be having reattachment surgery right now.

Anyway.... the trip went real well. Drop Dead Comedy totally kicked New Hampshire's ass. We received a standing ovation from our audience & had a great time.
However, I do have one complaint.... THERE IS NOTHING TO DO IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!!!!
Are there any New Hampshirians reading this? If there are, I need you to explain what there is to do there!!
After our show we went back to the hotel to clean up. We decided to go out, have some drinks, eats, & party it up. We got to "T Bones" on Perkins Road in Derry at 1215AM. The place closes at 1230!!! This was a Saturday night!! It was the only place around open past midnight!!!

When I got home I voiced my complaints to a friend of mine who grew up in New Hampshire. He told me he once went to watch a Monday Night Football game at a bar. Right after kickoff the bar announced that it was last call! What is wrong with you people????

Boy are we spoiled in NY!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

SOUL FOOD


Barbara Ward-Finneran



The future will arrive one day at a time. 
Much how we must live. 
All you ever really have is now. 
The current moment to be the best you you can be - the person who knows their aspirations - knows what's important and then gives it all they got to give. 
The future belongs to those who dare to dream it and push to prepare for it.

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Designs, LLC
All Rights Reserved

WANNA LAUGH?!?!?!


A famous heart specialist doctor died and everyone was gathered at his funeral. A regular coffin was displayed in front of a huge heart. When the minister finished with the sermon and after everyone said their good-byes, the heart was opened, the coffin rolled inside, and the heart closed.

Just at that moment one of the mourners started laughing. The guy next to him asked: "Why are you laughing?"

"I was thinking about my own funeral" the man replied.

"What's so funny about that?"

"I'm a gynecologist."

FISHNETS, JOBS, CANCER, MY WIFE and TAXES

Tony Walker
There's one topic I've been avoiding here at the Lounge. I've been avoiding it because it's not an easy thing to discuss. I'm the funny guy... the comedy guy.... I can't talk about serious, painful shit. But today something happened and I need to bitch.... I need to bitch real bad. I need to bitch about my cancer and my amputation.

I love reading other survivors' stories and sending them love and support. I make sure I send love and support to the families who lost a loved one to cancer. My super duper business partner lost her mother after a long cancer battle and I think about that a lot. I love talking to other people who have recently lost their leg and telling them they're going to get through it. But when it comes to my own story I get mad as I revisit the darkest time of my life. So obviously I am going to make this long story as short as I can. Just enough to justify my bitching fit.

In 2002 I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer. The tumor was wrapped around the outside of my femur. In October of 2002 (Halloween week to be exact) I entered NYU for my first round of chemo. Every time I went there I had to stay there and get chemo drugs pumped into me for 5 days straight. I missed Halloween with my kids. My daughter was 3 and my son was a month away from turning 2. Just a few months prior we discovered our daughter was autistic so we our lives were crazy already. I did the chemo for 8 months. I lost all my hair, most of which never came back, and I lost 75 pounds, all of that came back unfortunately.... plus a little more! 

LUNCH TIME POLL



Today's news is flooded with the cancellation of two of its long time running daytime soaps, All My Children (AMC) and One Life to Live (OLTL), this follows other major networks canceling shows in recent years. Is this just not the end of these shows but the end of the genre?

Have you ever been a fan of "LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON"? Please share you guilty pleasure with us.

FISHNETS....

Dawn Boyle

Dawn Boyle as Dottie Thorton - Bottom Right
I am about to write about something I rarely speak of. In fact some of my newer closest friends may not even know this about me - here goes...

So last night I was informed that a part of my life is ending. The final and complete curtain call for the cast and show of the soap opera ALL MY CHILDREN. I gotta tell you, makes me a little sad.

I know some friends of mine are going to be shocked about me having any feelings about this at all but for some reason I am having a hard time with letting Pine Valley go. I literally grew up on set. I saw my "firsts of all first" in the dressing rooms. I experienced my first kiss backstage on Avenue of the America's. I got punched in the face on the dance floor at Studio 54 by a cast member who was so hopped up on coke at the Christmas Party they didn't even realize it.

Dawn Boyle; Bottom picture, last column on the right
I grew up fast in Pine Valley. I killed my father. I had epilepsy. I loved hanging out with Donna and Chuck and then Estelle and Benny, when my "Mother" Edna dumped me with them. I longed for an every lasting love with Charlie (Brian Lima) and could not stand Tad Martin (do not remember the originals name). It all ended for me in a hostage situation with another bad mistake my "Mother" made aka Ray Gardner.

My character returned a few years later, 10 years older and not looking ANYTHING like I did - ALL MY CHILDREN was very good to me. It gave me three day time awards and it made me who I am today. Will I be invited to the Series Ending Party...who knows - but for the record I am kicking it up a notch just in case...I will be ready for my close up!




Thursday, April 14, 2011

THE HISTORY OF THE BLOG... PART II

 Barbara & Dawn





We have been "SHAKIN" up the internet,  by bloggin' since February 14, 2011.  Since this is our baby, we will be celebrating "months"... We are two months "young" today.  



Everything continues to exceed our early expectations!  We are thrilled - beyond words, humbled and amazed by the fan following that has developed so quickly.  

The traffic to DRL increases weekly.  At the 16 day mark when "The History of the Blog - Part I" was posted we had over 6,400 views from all over the world. To date, we have over 33,000 views. New countries appear all the time and according to blogger stats come back again and again.   The dream of sharing our voice and vision has been received in over 50 countries around the world.


Amazing connections, cross promotions and new departments have been created.  More are in the works!  (If only there was more time each day!)


The messages of courage and hope that have come out of our "Pink Reaction" that highlights the journeys of the incredible survivors who are part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Body Painting Project (BCABPP).  Doris, Ellen and Pamela your dauntless determination in the face of such great challenge, as well as the willingness share your stories, while creating beauty Born From Darkness and Despairwith photographer, Michael D. Colanero, - makes you heroes in the world of survivors!  We are honored to have helped to give this project more "voice". Special thanks to Gabby who help us discover this amazing group! 


Paranormal Pub has been spooky fun and has quite the following and brought us Robert Rothschild Jr., the ghost hunter.  His and Marion's ghost "stories" have been hauntingly good fun!  Our Eatery has awakened taste buds around the world and created quite the stir in the kitchen.  Deanna at The Unnatural Mother has cross promoted with us, we thank her for her support and promotion of DRL!


John Pasko of the Melbourne Police Department, American Police Hall of Fame, and founder of Families of the Shield, will be a guest writer in the near future as we help to pay tribute to those Police Officers who have made the Ultimate Sacrifice. Stay tuned for tributes to these heroes.  


This month we will be inviting our readers to be writers and submit articles for specific feature topics as well as some departments.  Encouraging others to find their "write" way to think, dream, act, endure and share. Sports enthusiast - get your game on! We will be opening the Sports Bar very soon!  We are now welcoming advertisers to the site and hope our readers will embrace and support them.  


Our fabulous writers, Jillian, Marion, Patty, Tony, Jenn, and Robert  continue to entertain, evoke passion, curiosity & fear, and just good ol' fun that makes you Wanna Laugh. They help keep everyone tuned in and coming back daily for more!   Thank you for sharing your talents with us and the cyberworld.  We are not only blest by your prose you write, the laughter & tears you evoke but by the friendships gained along the way!  Also, a nod of KUDOS to our friends; Laura, Gary, and "Jay"  - your behind the scenes input, inspiration, advice and doses of "sanity" go above and beyond what the words "thank you" can express. All of you - are "the crew" of ROCK STARS here at DRL- we appreciate all the hard work and endless emails, texts, calls, questions, IM chats, and Facebook banter you endure!  


Speaking of Facebook... DRL has a fan page and a friend page - both of which are growing by leaps and bounds. Check them out!  You will find your favorite authors commenting and posting there!


Many, many thanks to our "fans" & "followers"!  You have made over 1,500 comments and we welcome more.  Don't be shy!  We love to get your input and thoughts.  To quote, Jillian, Talk to "us" people!  You make every lost hour of sleep, every very chaotic behind the scenes moment, every tech issue, and every "mistake" and typo, every tear and delirious belly laugh endured in this wild and crazy ride of creating this work in progress --- WORTH IT!  We are learning and growing each day! We just might  be dangerous when we really know what we are doing!!! Ha!


Much gratitude to our families and friends for their amazing support and continued encouragement!


It is our hope that you will continue to be with us here at DRL. 
"The place to hang... While you survive the storm".


As you know we have already decided that we will be throwing a party when we hit 100,000 where we can CHEERS to never pulling the plug! ;)  (We should be more then half way there by this time next month!) Remember "virtually" everyone's invited!!!  


Again, Many Thanks! ;)
Peace & prayers,
XOXOXO,
Barbara & Dawn

PS... Over 30 links built into this post -
Check 'em out to relive the fun, or to get to know us if you are new to hangin' at the lounge!


STICKY SWEET

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B
"THE 12-STEP CHOCOHOLICS PROGRAM: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE!"


"LIFE WITHOUT CHOCOLATE IS NO LIFE AT ALL.
"


"DON'T SEND ME ROSES, UNLESS THEY ARE CHOCOLATE!"


  
      
                        YUM!

YUMMY!

YUM!

YUMMY

WANNA LAUGH?!?!?!



Tony Walker
A boy lives on a farm. Before school he has to go outside & feed the animals. This one day he didn't sleep good so he is in a bad mood.
As he feeds the pigs he is in such a bad mood that he kicks one of the pigs.
His mother is watching through the window.
The boy comes in the house & the mother says, "I saw what you did. For kicking the pig you get no bacon with your breakfast."
That afternoon the boys comes home from a bad day at school. As he is walking up the driveway he sees one of the cows. He goes over to the cow & kicks it.
His mother is watching through the window.
The boy comes in the house & the mother says, "I saw what you did. For kicking the cow you get no milk."
Later that day daddy comes from a bad day at work.
As he is walking up the driveway a cat crosses his path. Daddy kicks the cat.
The boy & his mother are watching through the window.
The boy says to his mother, "Are you gonna tell him or should I?"

PARANORMAL PUB "DUFFY CUT PROJECT"

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Over a century ago, Irish immigrants came to this country looking for a better way of life. Many came because they knew they could find work on the railroads. Such was the case for 57 Irishmen who came from Donegal, Ireland in 1832. When their ship, the John Stamp arrived in Philadelphia, they were met by a man by the name of Philip Duffy.

A big, strapping Irishman himself, Duffy recruited all 57 men to work on a stretch of rail line in Malvern, 30 miles west of Philadelphia for the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad.


PARANOMARL PUB - FARMER'S REVENGE - A GEORGIA TALE OF TERROR


Marion Pellicano Ambrose

A good friend of mine moved to Georgia when her husband was offered a huge promotion. She and her girls didn’t want to go, especially when they were going to have to live in a fairly isolated area in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County. The day they moved in to their rambling ranch style home, an old man came up as they were unloading the car. They were pretty well off the road and wondered how the man had come since they saw no car or truck. “Just passin’ through.” He told them looping his thumbs through his overalls. “Thought you should know about this place.”  Their curiosity piqued, they invited him to sit on the garden bench and tell them his story.

My daughter and her husband were driving the road right out in front of your place. It was a cold, rainy night and the road was slick. They went into a spin wound up stuck in the muddy ditch. They both heard the stories about the madman that lived in this very house - killed his wife and her lover with an ax when he found them trying to run away together. Of course, that was years ago. My son in law told my daughter to stay in the car and lock the doors until he came back with the police. There was a wicked fog and they couldn’t see but a few inches in front of them. He got out and disappeared into the mist. A few minutes later, she heard a scream, a loud crack and then a gentle bump, bump as if something was blowing in the wind. She crouched down further in the seat, covered her head and prayed that her husband would return with the police.

It felt like hours, but after only a few more minutes the car lit up with a bright light and an official sounding voice called out “Step out of the car”. “Thank goodness”, she thought and stepped out into the bright light. It was then that she saw what was bumping against the car. There, hanging from a tree with his throat slit from side to side was her dead husband. She looked towards the light to see the policeman but realized, it wasn’t a policeman at all. A  man in overalls with a bloody hatchet in his hand was moving closer. “Thought you would leave me, did you? Well think again.” The last thing she saw was the glint of his headlights against the cold, bloody blade.

My friends packed up that day. They moved to a well populated community several miles away where they lived for three years.  As soon as the opportunity presented itself, they moved back to Palm Bay, Florida where I’m pleased to say they live happily to this day.

LUNCH TIME POLL


Dawn Boyle

In light of the recent murders and abductions wherein victims were found on Craigslist, do you feel that Craigslist should be found liable by the courts in these crimes?

Who is monitoring that site?
Isn't prostitution and sex slavery illegal still in the GOOD OL' USA??

Weigh in with your opinions and comments today - we may have a class action law suit here for our attorney friends who read DRL!

Daddy's Girl



Tony Walker

Nothing makes a parent shake with anger more then when injustice or unkindness happens to your child.

This past Friday was the school play at my daughter's middle school. We were so excited to see our daughter because she is autistic and had no friends in the play with her. A big characteristic of autism is a lack of social skills so there was no chance she was going to approach anyone in hopes of striking a friendship. She didn't have a big part... she was a chorus member, extra, whatever you call it but by getting up in front of all those people was a big step for our girl, we were so proud.

We've been fortunate that our school district has some excellent academic programs for kids like our daughter. But the social skills programs have been subpar. The elementary school she went to in the district was wonderful but the other schools don't have much to offer.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

THE HOT LIST

Jillian B. Hart

Life can be wicked.  Always so much to do... family, relationships, kids, work, household, dare I include social events, and all the details and hours entangled into those obligations.  Is it any wonder that relationships fall by the way side.  It's all to easy to allow the alliance that you have with your partner to fall to the bottom of the priority list.  WHY?!?! Shouldn't the relationship that is the biggest part of your life get a larger piece of the pie?  When there is stress present in that arena it carries over into other areas.  So why not focus some attention there? If your mate is happier and more attentive - chances are you will be too.  The trickle down affect can create positive repercussions across the board. There's no time, no energy, no funds... are all easy cop outs.  If you want it, make it happen.


It's a no brainer that when you put effort and time into something - it means more to you. Instead of accepting the lack of excitement find a way to foster and fabricate it.

WANNA LAUGH?!?!?!?!?

Going Out

Dawn Boyle

A couple was going out for the evening. The last thing they did was to put the cat out.
The taxi arrived, and as the couple walked out of the house, the cat shoots back in. So the husband goes back inside to chase it out.

The wife, not wanting it known that the house would be empty, explained to the taxi driver "He's just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother."

A few minutes later, the husband got into the taxi and said, "Sorry I took so long, the stupid thing was hiding under the bed and I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out!"

TRAGEDY ON THE HUDSON

Jenn Copp

My heart goes out to the family of the woman who drove her kids to their death in the Hudson River. Not knowing the full details and hearing it had to do with domestic disputes makes me sad. I know so many people going through divorces and watch as the parents can't get along. It saddens me that for the sake of their children they can't make it as smooth as possible. A lot of times one person is helpless in the process as the other person is going to show them paybacks. Not paying child support, not making sure their kids will be taken care of. Why does this have to be?  It is hard enough on the children. Do they have to be in the middle of a domestic war. Splitting from a significant other is hard enough, to feel so desperate that you drive your children into a river is the saddest thing I have heard. In my life I am a fixer, be it a good or bad trait I am still figuring it out but I wish I could one day reach out to people in need and help them.

THE FACEBOOK FRIEND



Tony Walker

It's Wednesday & I am feeling WICKED alright... Wicked for Boyle!!!!

I first met Boyle in the 10th grade in Mr. LaMarca's English class. God was she smokin!!! Unfortunately too smokin for a nerd like me. Boyle had all the jocks drooling for her. Why would you want a nerd (who also bordered on being a dirtbag) when you could have a jock?

So for the remainder of high school I just admired from afar. She was gorgeous, funny, witty, & gorgeous.

Then came graduation & we lost touch... we were never that close to begin with.

Fast forward 20 years. I attend my high school reunion where an old friend says that we should keep in touch through Facebook. I had no idea what Facebook was. I checked it out and found friends I hadn't seen in ages! Then I come across the name Dawn Boyle Kostadkjahldkjhis. Could it be? Is it the one & only? It is!! It's Boyle! She looks better than ever! I suddenly felt like that kid in 10th grade again.... if only I had more hair & less belly like the 10th grade kid..... she's still gorgeous, funny, witty, and gorgeous.

This time things are different. I am no longer the dirtbag nerd. Now I am a big dope. But we become friendly.... friendlier than we ever were in high school. Boyle is more awesome than ever!! Now we are great friends, she lets me ramble on her web site, I'm trying to get her involved in my business, and she has become one of my favorite people!! I need Boyle love & I need it ASAP!!!

So my Lounge Friends... I invite you to comment below & tell us why you love Boyle. Everyone needs some Boyle in their lives. Tell us why. Have you found the Boyle who was missing in your life?  Does Facebook get the credit?   Has a Facebook Friend, become more fun???? Again, comment and tell us why!

LUNCH TIME POLL


Dawn Boyle

Last week we did a Lunch Time Poll about Medical Marijuana, in one of the comments someone asked what the picture on Lunch Time Poll actually is. Someone saw a wristwatch, another saw a birds nest. The comments were pretty funny considering.

Take a moment today and let me know what you think that picture up there is...where Lunch Time Poll comes from...I can give a hint - think 80's !

Have fun with it and send us your comments and/or guesses!

And, if you want something a little steamier then, "Guess What This Is", check out yesterday's poll & comments... Jillian is talking about making a survey!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

THE TIES THAT "BOND"


Dawn Boyle

A little under a month ago I read an article that moved me. I really can't explain the feeling I had and have had since reading about a young couple from Brooklyn, Nathan and Elisa Bond. It starts with a wedding video....you know what - just go get the tissues now.

Nathan has Stage 3 colorectal cancer. He has been given a 60% chance of surviving five years or more. Elisa has Stage 4 breast cancer and has a 16% chance of surviving five years. Nathan is 38 and his beautiful bride is only 36, they found out they had cancer within 9 days of each other. They are the parents of a beautiful 18 month old little girl named Sadie.

There is now a blog that Elisa does here on blogger. Friends have set up a site to donate, which I will link at the bottom of this post.

Please take the time to read their story. Say a prayer, send a note if you can, please donate. This truly is one AMAZING family. You never know the cards you are dealt or how you will deal with them once you have looked at the hand. Take a moment to appreciate those people that share this life with you, you never know what tomorrow brings.

May GOD BLESS the BOND FAMILY.

BLOG & DONATE



SOUL FOOD



Barbara Ward-Finneran



You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” 
― C.S. Lewis


The next step is always yours to take. 
Just look forward and begin. 

Know where you want to go, get up and go there.
It may not always be easy but it will always be worth it!!!




Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Designs, LLC
All Rights Reserved