My Guilty Pleasure

Disclaimer: Rest assured, this is not becoming an all scrapbooking blog; nor is it becoming an all Maks loving blog and while I'm at it - it's not becoming an all anti-Palin blog - yet all will be mentioned here and now...

This months theme for The "Scrapbooking from the Inside Out" kit club is JOY. Now, since it's "Inside Out," you're encouraged to explore your feelings. Everyone knows my kids bring me joy, and my husband brings me joy; so we try to delve a little deeper and for me I didn't have to dig too far to be able to say "Maks brings me JOY!!" OH BOY, does he bring me joy. As soon as I decided to scrapbook the picture of me and Maks; I knew what the title would have to be; so I now present to you;
my "Guilty Pleasure."

When I made this lay out, it took a lot of thought before I finally came up with my Garden of Eden theme.

The journalling reads:

I've had a shameless crush on Maks from "Dancing with the Stars" for a few years now. I know it's beyond ridiculous; but what can I say - looking at him is like looking at a piece of art. To me, he is PERFECTION; and undeniably MY GUILTY PLEASURE.

As much as I LOVE to admire Maks; seeing this picture of us together DELIGHTS me NO END. I smile from Ear to Ear every time I look at it because he brings me JOY.

I know - I've said it before, "I just can't help myself." Hello, my name is Paige and I'm a Maks addict.  I JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH. In fact; you know you have a problem when you rewind the intro of "Dancing with the Stars" just so you can see Maks on the screen one more time. Yep - a PROBLEM; I know. BUT, I do have a new goal, OK, fantasy - whatever. It goes something like this (English accent - Announcer's voice) "And now dancing the samba (and you have to say it like him; Sam - like the name; Samba,) "AND now dancing the Samba, Observational Humorist, Paige Ramos and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy." Ahhh! I can hear it now. Maybe if we all visualize it enough; it will come true. What? Weirder things have happened.

I could make a breakthrough; just picture me in that Samba costume - LOL

Now, while I'm on the topic of guilty pleasures; I'd be remiss if I did not mention Facebook (again). OK I admit it; I'm LOVIN me some Facebook. In just a couple of weeks I have reconnected with several people from "The Condo," (The development where I grew up. Hey, I was even invited to join the alumni of the New City Condo ASSOCIATION; and ya, know I did.) Then there's my pals from Elementary school, High School x 2 (The school I should have gone to because of my address & the school that I went to because I LOVED IT!) College, The Pines (And ya know that if Speedy Garfin wants to be my "friend," I'm DEFINITELY sayin YES.) LOL

Facebook has helped me reconnect with people who were REALLY important and special to me. Yes me; Queen of MAINTAINING FRIENDSHIPS OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME (not to mention Queen of LONG ASS TITLES) it has even helped me. So I highly recommend that you join up; and then add me as your friend (if you haven't already.)

And so we move on...

Oh what would my blog be these days if I didn't take a jab or sixteen at Sarah Palin. So under the category of "Let me state the obvious" - Just because Sarah Palin went on "Saturday Night Live" (under the guise of) showing what a good sport she is - it still does not and I mean DOES NOT qualify her to be the Vice President of the United States. Sorry Sarah but the last time I checked; being a good sport wasn't a criteria that people looked for in a VP - sorry, not gonna buy it. Now, I thought that would be the only comment that I was going to make about her - but wait... there's more. How fortuitous that I've taken to writing my blog on Wednesday's (have ya noticed?) Because now, I have more fuel for my fire. Like the fact that Gov. Palin doesn't even know what the job of the VP is; and if she does, she got REALLY confused when she tried to explain it to a class of third graders. I'm SURE that you've already heard that she told them that the Vice President is in charge of the Senate... Um, NO Governor, the VP is NOT in charge of the Senate. You need to get that nasty little idea out of your head. UNLIKE me &; my " DWTS" fantasy, no mater how many times YOU say that - it's not going to come true. God forbid you were to win, you are not and yes; I REPEAT; NOT going to be in charge of the Senate. You'll only break a tie vote if and when you have to. Deja vu - haven't I explained this before. And of course, I must mention the $150,000 that the Republican National Committee spent to make over Hockey Mom; Gov. Sarah Palin. Oh, she was EXACTLY what they were looking for. EXACTLY the person that America was going to relate to. But I guess Ma and Pa sittin around the table just couldn't realte to her unless she had a new $150,000 wardrobe; so the RNC went on a spree at Neiman Marcus for a mere $150,000 and bought her one. Yup - you read me. Oh and she wasn't the only one who got outfitted. Baby Trig got (The EVERY Baby needs one) pacifier from Neiman's now ain't that real down home?? What do ya think of that Joe Six pack?? OY!

Till next time...

Queen of EVERYTHING

The Queen's Big Coup

OK, I just can't keep this from you any longer. I've been wondering HOW I was going to tell you because this really is SO HUGE, and it needs to be presented as the ENORMOUS COUP that it is - and I am now ready to share the news, share my joy, my delight, my fantasy, my dream come true. Yes folks, believe it or not, I have met Maks; face to Gorgeous, HUNKY face, and he was AMAZING!!
Now I know that this is just flabbergasting news to some of you. Others are aware of my coup, but have yet to see the picture; and so I present my story and my photographic proof...

You know that forward that we've all gotten many, many times about friends coming into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime? You know it. It explains that sometimes you meet someone for a reason, and sometimes a friend comes into your life but only for a season while other friends are friends you'll have for life. Well, I've always liked that forward and this story is a perfect example of it...

It seems that my friend Jackie was a friend for a season; but also for a reason. I've previously mentioned that Jackie used to work in casting at NBC. Well, although she isn't in the business anymore, she is still a voting member of the TV academy and as such she receives invitations to special events which publicize shows for your Emmy consideration. Usually most of the cast of whichever show it is, appears at the function and they do a behind the scenes look, Q&A etc. etc.
Well, Jackie called me late one night and said "I have the perfect birthday present for you, but we have to act fast." I was half asleep when I heard her say "How would you like to meet Maks?" "WHAT" I shrieked nervously. To which she went on to explain that there was going to be a special "for your Emmy consideration" night for Dancing with the Stars, including a reception and dancing display; and as an early 40th birthday present, she wanted to take me to L.A. to go meet Maks.
OH MY GOD - I mean how often does this happen? My fantasy come true and wrapped up in an extraordinarily generous gift. How could I refuse?

We planned our trip and Jackie kept talking about taking my picture with Maks. I told her that I absolutely did not want to take my picture with him; and in fact I didn't want to get anywhere near him because I was just too afraid and nervous. I was like Duckie from "Pretty in Pink." I just wanted to be able to stand there and admire him. For me it was just like Guy Collura all over again. (There you go V - you knew it would be blogged about one day.) You see from the very first day of 9th grade until the day that I graduated from high school (if not longer,) I had a crippling crush on this guy, named Guy Collura. Now when I say "crippling," the crush was SO bad that when I would see him in the hallway - I couldn't even say hello. It wasn't that I was shy. I mean to some extent I was; but that didn't stop me from having my share of boyfriends, and then some. But there was just something about him that was overwhelming to me; I just liked him THAT MUCH, and I felt the exact same way about meeting Maks. I just wanted to admire him from a far. No picture, no introduction, just be in the room with him and watch him from a far.

The event began with the reception; but unfortunately they tried to fit 700 people in an area that was way to small for 700 people. I am NOT Queen of Dimensions, or Square Footage or anything like that; so I can't be exact. Let's just say that it was VERY crowded. 700 people just trying to shove past each other. Lots of old people, old people with bad face lifts and plates of Sushi, trying to squeeze through the crowds just to get a glimpse of someone from the show.

We were on the lookout for Maks and trying to stay out of harms way, when Jackie met the Oompa Loompa. That's right, "THE" Oompa Loompa. That one guy that played all of the Oompa Loompas in the terrible re-make of Willy Wonka. Then I saw Brian and Shandi; and whether you watched the show or not, you probably don't know or care who they are. I really couldn't have cared less about seeing them, and I was so close to Brian that he could have fathered my next child; yet I had nothing to say to them and didn't even desire a picture.
So let's move on. Things started to get interesting when I saw Stacy Keebler - the professional wrestler that was on 3 seasons ago. We met her and took a picture. (She was VERY nice.) Then we saw Edyta; one of my favorite professional dancers. We took a picture with her too. She was very genuine and VERY beautiful. While we were talking to Edyta, I turned my head; and THERE HE WAS. I could hardly keep my composure as I saw Maks across the room. I tried to speak, but I was so overwhelmed I could barely utter the words to tell Jackie that I had seen him; but somehow I managed to gleefully eek out "Jackie - Maks!!" and I pointed. All of a sudden I could feel my entire body blushing; but we wasted no time as we made a bee line right for him. All at once, it was as if the Red Sea had parted. I don't know where those 700 people went but suddenly we had a clear path to get right to him; just as if it was divine intervention or something. We walked right up to him and Jackie introduced herself - then introduced me. Jackie said "...I think she may be your biggest fan." Maks looked at me and said with the sexiest smile ever; "I think you're right. I think she is;" and then we took this incredible picture together. (All the while I was shaking like a leaf.)
After looking at the picture a couple of hundred times and upon reflecting - I actually think that Maks was referring to my size being big and not my adoration; so I was kind of upset with him for awhile - which is partly why I delayed in posting this blog. Yet even if he WAS so shallow and WAS making a fat reference; there's NO denying what an incredible picture he took with me.
I will forever be grateful to Jackie for giving me this once in a lifetime dream come true; and for the friendship that we shared for the season.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING