Kathy Riordan

Kathy Riordan
Location
Florida, United States
Birthday
April 27
Bio
One woman's view of life and the universe. Follow @katriord on Twitter. Some nice people have said some incredibly nice things about me, which I appreciate, including being called "The mayor of Twitter" (@palafo), "The Queen of Twitter" (@lizadonnelly), "One of the funniest women on the planet" (@LATimestot), and "A friend to many" (@BillGatesZune).

Since ABC's Dancing With the Stars, the spinoff of Britain's 'Strictly Come Dancing,' first debuted to American audiences  in June 2005, it has delivered many unforgettable moments, from wardrobe malfunctions to trippy slips to ambulance rides. The drama on the dance floor has ranged from the s… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
NOVEMBER 23, 2009 11:22AM

And Now, For Some Good News: Home Sales Up, Gas Prices Down

Sure could use a little good news today. . .Anne Murray sings a timely tune.
 
 
 
 
Some good news emerging at the beginning of Thanksgiving week in the US:
  

 

Infographic-Home-Sales-R

 

 

*Home sales were up a surprising, unexpected 10.1% in October,… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 22, 2009 8:10PM

And Now, to Bed


 

Is there anything more wonderful than the bed?

 

comfy bed 

 

The first notion of 'us' is found in it.

Our mothers give birth to us in it.

We are cradled to sleep in it.

Our parents tuck us into it.  And read us stories.

It nestles our dreams.Read full post »

 

 

Each family has its own customs and traditions at the holidays.  For years, I've enjoyed making homemade, personal gifts for some of my family members, something that requires creative input on my part and remains relatively inexpensive.  (I call these "sister gifts," althoughRead full post »

Editor’s Pick
NOVEMBER 18, 2009 5:00PM

In Search of Salon's Sexiest Men Living - Eric Ripert

The call has gone out to find the sexiest men living as Salon embarks on its annual quest of the same, and our standards were high--the men had to be smart, sophisticated, savvy, talented, well educated, sensitive, philanthropic, generous of heart and spirit, and all around good guys.  If they wRead full post »

 joanna-krupa-playboy-cover-december-2009-photos

She might not be dancing for the coveted mirror ball trophy next Monday night, but newly eliminated Dancing With the Stars contestant Joanna Krupa will be gracing the December 2009 cover of Playboy.  (photo, Playboy)

 

Model Joanna Krupa was the surprise elimination Tuesday e… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
NOVEMBER 17, 2009 8:52AM

One Bad Osmond Don't Spoil the Whole Bunch, Girl

Donny Osmond stumbled badly in the tango, his first dance of three on Dancing With the Stars Monday evening,  but ever the professional, managed to come back stronger than ever in a very personal purple samba to his childhood Osmonds hit, "One Bad Apple."

 

 

NOVEMBER 16, 2009 7:16AM

The Curve of the Earth

 

 

Once in a while, we need to gain altitude to gain perspective.

 

 

 deicingsunrise

Deicing in a Wisconsin field at 28 degrees.

 

 

sunplanewindow 

Sunday comes in the window.

 

 

sunplanewing 

Golden patchwork near the confluence of the Saint Croix and MississiRead full post »

NOVEMBER 15, 2009 10:18AM

Pretty Maids All In a Row

 
 
 

 
 
nunwithschoolchildrencreopainting
 
 
 
 
pretty maids all in a row
  
 
"Nothing can be sole or whole
that has not been rent."  - William Butler Yeats
 
  
 
Stripped metaphor of half-spent nights
 
I was to love--another pet… Read full post »

 

 

Well. . . I was gonna post some more poetry this morning for a lazy weekend, but I can see by the looks of things there's more than one hangover 'round these parts, and a few people still draggin' around in tatters after that battle with the HMS Devonia… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 13, 2009 7:29PM

In Search of Pirate Wimmen

 

 

Avast, ye mateys.  There's mutiny afoot.  

 

 

(Warning:  obligatory cute pet photo below)

 

 

 

 

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Back in my happy place. . .

 

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Baby bird in search of Pirate Wimmen. . .and rum.

 

 

keira_knightley_web 

GratuitoRead full post »

NOVEMBER 12, 2009 5:31PM

Paris

 

 

6PARIS ROSES  Paris slid under her feet.

There were shop windows, and pastries, and bouquets of multicolored roses, lavender and pink and rose and cream, and perfumes for the making.

Songs for the taking.  Montmarte.  Sacre Coeur.  The Tour Eiffel, like butterflies… Read full post »

 

cnn_lou_dobbs

CNN anchor Lou Dobbs, whose controversial brand of advocacy journalism put him in the crosshairs of public opinion.  Dobbs announced Wednesday he will be leaving the network.

 

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Veteran CNN journalist John King, who will be replacing Lou Dobbs in the 7 p.m. time slot,Read full post »

NOVEMBER 11, 2009 4:58PM

To Michael Polzer, Wherever You Are

 Let_Prince_Albert_Out

 

 

Hello, young Michael Polzer.  Wherever you are.

I have to admit you had me for a second there.

I was expecting a call from my plumber in Florida about leaky toilets, so I barely flinched when you called to ask if my refrigerator was running.

It tookRead full post »

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My favorite veteran, my husband, US Army Air Corps, World War II. 

 

 

 ROUGE BOUQUET 

Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

 

In a wood they call the Rouge Bouquet 
There is a new-made grave to-day, 
Built by never a spade nor pick 
Yet covered with earth ten metr/…

Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
NOVEMBER 10, 2009 7:01AM

Going Back to the Future on Dancing With the Stars

Week 8 of Season 9 of Dancing With the Stars found the five remaining couples dancing through the decades in the Latin half of Monday night's quarterfinal competition.
 
Kelly found her mojo, Donny got his mullet back, and Joanna transported everyone into surreal supercyberspace. 
 
NOVEMBER 9, 2009 6:01PM

Things I Love

When ennui meets je ne sais quoi. 

 

ORCHID 

 

Things I love:

 

*Cuddling in front of a roaring fire at the lake

*Wildflowers in a Wyoming meadow

*Fields of tulips in the spring

*The smell of newborn babies

*Lightning bugs in an Iowa cornfield at night

*Floating on my… Read full post »

4_62_102709_americans 

American hikers Josh Fatal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd shown here in a still from a video released by their families and posted to YouTube.  

 

Multiple sources are reporting that Iranian authorities have formally charged three American hikers with espionage.

Sarah Shourd, 2… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 8, 2009 8:58PM

Death by Stoning

There's a newer film version of Shirley Jackson's classic short story "The Lottery"  than the 1969 incarnation here, but this is the one that made such an impact on me in high school English class, introduced to us by a memorable teacher, Mr. Harvey Graham.

This might seem a dark topic… Read full post »

My favorite poetic form, waking to sleep, going gentle, and loving thunderbirds.  Enjoy your weekend, everyone.

 

 

 

i thought i'd write a little villanelle 

 

 

I thought I'd write a little villanelle

To tell the world just what I thought I'd see

When past the bea… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 4:40PM

In Praise of Guinness

graceomalleyspub 

Guinness sign in the window, Grace O'Malley's Pub, on south Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  (photo: Kathy Riordan)

 

If I reach back into the far recesses of my memory, I still can't pull out the first time I ever had a Guinness.  I can, however, generally, and without much… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 8:41AM

Holding a Soldier Close

autumntrees 

 

It's enough to completely stop a heart.  The being told.

I heard again today, soldiers lost.

My heart stopped.

Not at war, they said.

Not off an ocean away, in the face of known dangers, presumed risks.

Home.

I thought of soldiers and soldiers.  My husband as he left… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 4, 2009 5:20PM

Happy Happy Birthday, Big Bird!

bigbird-ig

 

You didn't have to do more than a Google search Wednesday to be reminded it's a special occasion. . .Big Bird's birthday, the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street, which premiered November 10, 1969.

Google did a special tribute to the BB on its search page. 

 … Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
NOVEMBER 3, 2009 10:03PM

Finally, Standing in Line for My Own H1N1 Vaccination

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Actually, it was a pretty short line.

Last year, the first thing we did upon arriving in Florida after a summer in Wisconsin and long drive south was head for the polling booths, anticipating long waits for the US presidential election.  And there were waits, of about three hours, but… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 3, 2009 10:35AM

These Things Can't Be Helped

 

 

She sang beyond the genius of the sea.- Wallace Stevens

 

seashells-on-beach 

Seashells, Captiva Island 

 

Some things can't be helped.  I suppose that need to do laundry in the middle of the night, to write lists, to clean closets, to pack and unpack, to settle, and not s… Read full post »