One Life To Live-dead

REMEMBERING ONE LIFE TO LIVE

TV lost several familiar faces in 2011. And they are not really lost. They chose to leave, and we know where they are.  

Larry King started it early in 2011. That is okay. He was ready and so were we.  Oprah told us a full season before. Then Regis left in November.  He also gave us time to adjust. These are folks who hosted shows and they will continue to work as themselves somewhere else.  In Larry's place, we have Piers Morgan. I happen to like him.  Anderson Cooper is in Oprah's time slot.  I am nuts for him.  Kelly Ripa is auditioning co-hosts.  No one will play with her like Regis but the show will be okay.  Kelly is adorable and game for anything.

KELLY IS CUTE

Others did not choose to leave. They were abruptly given notice. Two iconic soaps-All My Children - AMC and One Life To Live -OLTL were forced to shut down with promise of an Internet afterlife.  First AMC on Friday September 23, 2011. Two of its cast members promptly showed up on another Soap on another channel, and a third actor will join them soon.  AMC was replaced by The Chew.
I have written about The Chew in our 11/10/11 blog story -see link if you want a refresher
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4302462737248030380#editor/target=post;postID=556064370688203275
I am finding though that as the months go on I miss my AMC family in Pine Valley.  The Chew is not making me forget them. I did not watch consistently. I did not have to.  I missed all the Kelly Ripa years yet in retirement managed to catch up.  Since his adoption in 2008, Liam has been at home watching from his couch, first as a puppy, then a teenager.  He will not have that pleasure in his senior years.

Last Friday January 13, 2012, it was farewell to OLTL- on for 43 years. I watched consistently while going to school in the early 70's. I stayed in touch intermittently over the years when off from work. In retirement, I caught it on the health club TV or at the nail salon or sometimes at home.  However, Liam was assigned to all the shows. Channel 7 is on in our house (except if I am home and switch to Kathie Lee and Hoda) from nine o'clock in the morning.  He watched OLTL every day. When Baby Liam McBain was born in 2011, Liam dog perked up when hearing his name from the TV.  Here is a link if you want more info
http://abc.go.com/shows/one-life-to-live

MAYBE I WILL READ A BOOK

It is day four of its replacement show "The Revolution"  http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-revolution
How to describe it?  A group of 5 hosts, all with a specialty, using words such as transformation, control.  Sort of a slice of the full hour shows like The Biggest Loser, Extreme Makeover, Project Runway, Doctor Oz, Dr Phil, and more. Called lifestyle reality genre. It seems every morning news show has a lifestyle segment also- The Revolution is an hour of those segments. All these shows are looking the same.  Everyone is smiling and looking focused and dedicated to being the best person he/she can be by making and eating healthy meals, dressing thinner, Feng shui-ing homes, pursuing dreams and so on.
I am missing my murders, guns, and duplicitous behavior.

Channel 7 has taken away characters that did outrageous acts. OLTL featured murder (matricide recently), kidnapping, incest, lying, lots of faked DNA tests and multiple personalities, adultery, heaven, hell.  Many current issues were dealt with by talented actors. They drank, always had a blazing fireplace, were in and out of jail, divorced, came back from the dead, and then died again.  Who wants to watch exercise and diet segments when you can immerse yourself in such crazy drama? They were family.

HIDING BEHIND DADDY PAUL TO AVOID THE NEW SHOWS

Liam is bored with watching groups of people making food, laughing  loudly, double dipping, crying with joy, getting makeovers.  All these shows are telling us how we must live. Four of the OLTL actors have escaped to General Hospital, the only remaining ABC soap.  They will play the same characters. How will they fit in?  And baby Liam from OLTL seems to have been left behind. Liam, the dog, is not pleased by this omission. For him, even a teeth cleaning might be preferable to watching The Revolution.  I love Tim Gunn (Project Runway), but it does not matter. This show is way beneath his talents. 
This You Tube says it .
So sad.  The promise of an afterlife on the Internet for both Soaps is dead. Only one life and it is over. The endings were filmed before the writers knew there was no more life for either show. The last shows that would have been enticing now just leave us confused, annoyed, cheated. The writers expected the plot lines to continue in an Internet format as did the actors.

Now what does a dog watch while his parents are out?  Close his eyes and wait for Revenge -an evening Soap
http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/revenge#linkId-Hashtags-#Revenge;#revengeabc

or take a nap

HOW LONG A WAIT TILL REVENGE?

Woof, Woof 

Listening To the Dog Whisperer at TimesTalks

 WAITING FOR PARENTS TO RETURN

We went to see Cesar Millan (known as the Dog Whisperer) at Times Center, part of the TimesTalks, Arts and Leisure weekend http://artsandleisureweekend.com/. If you do not know Cesar, here is a link to our lecture.http://new.livestream.com/channels/387/images/78403
and a link to his website
http://www.cesarsway.com/
Liam had to stay home.  I suspected Cesar might bring his dog with him and knew if Liam knew he would be upset.

I BET THAT DOG JUNIOR IS AT THE LECTURE

We left him on the couch with the iPad-see pic above. The Times Talks are livestreamed so they can be watched. Unfortunately, Liam could not get the iPad smart cover (above lime green) open so he was left to wait for our return. 
Cesar did in fact stride across the stage with his dog, Junior, who was off leash.  

If you did not click/tap on the above links-here is a little background-Cesar spent his childhood in Mexico, very poor, and hung out on his grandparents' farm watching their dogs run in packs.  He was so attuned and focused on dog behavior that he was given the nickname "dog boy"

He crossed the U.S. border at 21 (speaking no English) and after a few months and being out of work he started grooming dogs. He had such a talent that his reputation and clientele grew to include the rich and famous as well as regular folks. 
At our session Cesar was part teacher, part entertainer, part dog, even did a cat impression.

OH NO, WHAT IS CESAR TELLING MY PARENTS?

I told Liam that we would listen to Cesar and come home with ideas for him.  And  we did. Following are some ideas I remember from the lecture and from my Cesar readings.

Americans put affection first exercise second.  We will kiss and hug a dog before we will think of taking our beloved animals out for a walk. Liam licks us in return for our hugs.

GETTING MY LICKS READY

Should be-Exercise first, affection second.

In Mexico, the dogs follow and are off leash.  In the U.S., they walk ahead of us on leash. Cesar's father asked him what kind of job he got in America. When he told him walking dogs, his dad was incredulous that people in America don't walk their dogs and they will pay you to do it.

City dogs are calmer than suburban dogs.  Why?  City dogs have to be walked.  In the suburbs they are let out in the yard. No good. Just a bigger room.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS MY JOB-COUCH POTATO

We need to give our dogs jobs.  If they rip things apart, they are bored.  Too much barking bored.  No dog is too old to learn.

I AM BORED, LET ME RIP THIS UP

So guess that expression "Can't teach an old dog new tricks"  might have some exceptions with the right methods.

So upon returning home we instituted some new rules.  I will take Liam for a walk.  That will be in addition to his walk with Daddy Paul.. No jumping and hugging upon entering the house.  Paul has violated this already.  Oh, let me be clear-the jumping and hugging is between Paul and Liam.  No hovering near our food (Liam)

Cesar was asked what he thought about sleeping with your dog. He is for it.  Caveat-dog does not invite you into bed, you invite dog.

I HAVE TO BE INVITED?

His dog, Junior, is a pit bull.  Junior was selected from a litter by his first dog Daddy.   Daddy died in 2010 and Junior became top dog.  Cesar said that pit bulls are the feared dogs of this decade.  Before that was the Rottweiler. Before that the Doberman.  Who will be next?

We just loved this lecture/interview/performance.  Thanks Cesar

We were home in time for the Giants (that would be football)  They won.   Then we watched Tim Tebow (he would be the bower, in football)   He and Liam did their "bows"

L BOWING FOR TEBOW

Woof, Woof




 

L Bow

THE L BOW

The stance above is called the dog bow position. I never knew it was good until I had a dog.  Whenever I encountered a dog and he went into this position I thought oh no, I am in for something bad, maybe death.   The following link talks about it http://www.pets.ca/dogs/tips/play-bow-posture-pet-tip-105/  
I  now know it is a good thing.  It is an invite to play. 

PLAY WITH ME

Of course, if you do not want to play it can be a bad thing, as a dog with "play" in its mind will not stop.  From the first month I had Liam, I always said it in my head as the doggie bow position, bow rhyming with crow.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow
this is one of those words that is a noun, verb and is pronounced bow like crow and bow like wow. Bow- wow.

Now for our story. There is competition for Liam's LBow- a new phenomenon going on-tebowing. I know this because football is ALWAYS on in this house, because I read the NY Times best seller list with the eponymous best selling book "Tim Tebow"  find out about him here  http://www.timtebow.com/and because The Tebow has been discussed on many talk shows. The following link will fill you in on its popularity and give you visuals.
http://tebowing.com/

AM I TEBOWING?

Liam has been watching and practicing tebowing. He is not bending in the same places. The L Bow has the two front legs on the ground and back up

IS IT BOWING IF NO ONE IS AROUND?

while the Tebow has one leg on the ground bent at the knee.

As I was researching the proliferation of this trending position.  SNL spoofed it. 
I am wondering about the different meanings of bow as well as the different pronunciations.  I am now thinking that the dog bow (L Bow)  is really pronounced bow, like wow and does in fact mean - to bend or incline the body in submission, reverence, acknowledgment of applause, or invitation to play


Up until Tim Tebow started his "bow" I had always thought Liam was imitating a bow, like the bow with its arrow or a bow used to play a musical instrument.  The shape was the bow- meaning -something bent into a simple curve. I look at Liam's position and the L Bow is Liam in a simple curve.

What is it?   how to know if it is bow (crow)?

or now bow (wow)?

LIAM IS THINKING ABOUT GOING INTO THE BOW

Woof, Woof

Worked like a Dog this Year

AM I WORKING TOO HARD?

As we were preparing this week's LiamLicks,  Liam realized that he has not had as many vacation days as he had in 2010.   The blog page keeps a count of how many blog stories are written each year. The total is on the right side of the page for all to see.  2010-44.   2011-46.

LIAM WORKING LIKE A DOG

Liam has worked 2 more weeks than he did last year.   He noticed that most regular columnists, reporters, bloggers are off this week. Many TV shows are repeats.  He is working like a dog during these last two weeks when everyone is off.http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/work+like+a+dog.html
Why is he blogging on this vacation week?  Because there are two clips, we want to share. The clips follow

Two dogs singing -they guested on Anderson Cooper's December 26, 2011 show.

 

Below Anderson, Mom, and Kathy Griffin-same show

On 12/31/11 we will be watching Anderson and Kathy Griffin in Times Square.

 GUESS THIS IS MY FOREVER HOME

On January 1, 2012, We will celebrate the anniversary of Liam's adoption.
We took Liam home late afternoon on January 1, 2008.

 Thanks North Shore Animal League for rescuing him for us.

Happy New Year 2012

Woof, Woof

It's Christmas time in NYC

LIAM IN HIS OWN WINDOW DISPLAY, NOT LORD AND TAYLOR'S

How many people are in Manhattan during the Holiday season?  A lot.  The trains are packed; the streets sometimes require standing in place and waiting to move.  Then there are breaks and a side street is just lovely and quiet. 
Those journeying to the city from the outer-boroughs and suburbs call Manhattan Island "the city."  Going there during the Christmas season takes energy and patience.  Liam cannot ride on the LIRR, as he is not a pocketbook dog. 

TOO BIG FOR A TOTE

If you can fit your dog in your bag, he/she rides for free.  At least until someone tells on you and that would not be in the Holiday spirit. I told Liam of the decorated windows in the Manhattan department stores and he was excited to do his own display by sitting in our window.

OUR DISPLAY

There were no lines to view him and after a while he got tired of holding his head up for the crowds that were not coming, but he had fun watching the outside wildlife. 

GUESS ONLY IN MANHATTAN

Liam decided to wait for my stories.

ARE THERE DOGS IN "THE CITY?"

My stories are told by some photos

COLUMBUS AND 67TH,, Thursday Dec 15

 COLUMBUS AND 66TH or nearby Thursday Dec 15

 "THE TREE" Saturday Dec 17

SKATERS AT ROCK CENTER  Sat Dec 17

and by a song. This is the time of year my name is often used as verb- caroling http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carol

The following video has some joyful caroling going on with the Boss and the E Street band- Clarence doing the heartiest Ho, ho, ho
You will be smiling all through. I am thinking "joyful caroling" is redundant, that all caroling is joyful, right?

Happy and Healthy Holidays (all of them) 

Woof, Woof

Dog Names

MY NAME IS NOT A POPULAR DOG NAME?

Last blog was about people names and how the name Liam has broken through to the top ten.  We also explained how back in the olden days, Liam was most often a pet name. Don't know how olden is olden.

Well there is also a top dog name list. Interesting that some dog names also make the people list, like Chloe.  Not Liam though. Liam is nowhere to be found on the dog name list.  At least the top 25. 

What do you think is the most popular dog name?   

Wrong.  

I thought it was Buddy also.  

Or Sadie, or Max, or Molly.  

They are all there.  

Not at #1.   

No.  

Most popular is Bella

See link for photos and all 25 if you wish.

.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/top-25-dog-names-of-2011_n_1132706.html?ncid=wsc-huffpost-cards-headline#s522766&title=1_Bella

Liam is a trending human name at #4.  Liam the dog is okay with that because he really believes he is part of the human pack.  He no longer revels in doggy playgroup at his  Best In Show Pet Resort. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-In-Show-Pet-Resort/128011823323

He looks at the other dogs and as quick as he can climbs atop the highest piece of apparatus to avoid them.  After a stay at Doggy Day Care, his best mark on his report card is always in the category of "lounging with staff."  He loves all the people at Best in Show and would rather hang with them.  He would prefer the other dogs stay home.  What happened to my Leo party dog?   He now takes after Daddy Paul. Loves football watched from the couch, squirreling on the evening walk, falling asleep watching SNL.  Ah!  Bliss.

This year was the first we did not attend the Annual Holiday Party at Best in Show Pet Resort.  Granted, for the first time there was a party entrance fee charge.  The money targeted for charity.  That is not why we bypassed. We give to this charity anyway.  The reason is that Liam is no longer a party animal.  All the perks from the party would be unappreciated by our little boy Liam.   Liam will not pose with Santa. Liam creates havoc in the photo room trying to escape.  He will not wear a hat, antlers, scarf or sweater. Forget the reindeer games.  Who wants a party pooper?  Literally also.

Liam really thinks he is a person.   My mother always said, "he is his own person."

PROTECTING AUNT BARB'S GIFT

A NEW PLAYMATE FROM AUNT SUZY

He receives Holiday cards and gifts from the human pack.   Liam has many human Aunts and Uncles who gift him and write to him.  He sends out Holiday cards- or more accurately his name is included with our names.
However, I cannot forget his penpals, canine and feline with whom he exchanges greetings, though those are mostly just by email.  Loving licks to all.

NO TREATS IN STOCKING, YET

Hope all our readers are healthy and enjoying the season.  And taking a nap and resting.

HOLIDAY TIME IS TIRING

Woof, Woof

Liam is a Popular Lad

LIAM THE POPULAR

Liam has made the top ten most popular boy's names. Not just the top 10 but Liam has attained # 4 status on the list. Most articles attribute this to celebrity namings. But we know the celebrity is our dog Liam McNiff-Nikol.
Here is a link to the popular names that have displaced many perennials.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/babies/story/2011-12-01/Pressure-is-on-parents-to-pick-perfect-name-lists-help/51512970/1?csp=ylf

LIAM TRYING TO WEAR A HELMET?

Liam- is a shortening of William ('will' and 'helmet')  introduced to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans (who are they again)?  or the Germans.  For centuries, Liam was only used as a pet name, but has been gaining popularity as a human name. Got this info from- Book of Irish Names by Ian Zaczek.  Liam means protector or protection.
The new groups of Liams are children of celebrities, characters on TV, as well as children of regular folks. Last spring, a few weeks after the completion of electrical work in our home, we received a birth announcement from our contractor- he and his wife had a baby boy Liam. I told him I was quite flattered that he named his first born after our dog. He assured me that the name "Liam" was already chosen before we hired him.  Sure.

LIAM THE PROTECTOR OF HIS KONG TOY

There are also Liam Soap characters.  There is a baby Liam on One Life to Live and an adult heartthrob Liam on The Bold and the Beautiful
My favorite show of all times, Lost, featured a character named  Liam, Charlie's brother.
A real boy Liam, son of Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, is the same age as our Liam- 4.
Calista Flockhart has an older Liam.

On his Wednesday show this week, Anderson Cooper  marveled that  both his names have risen on baby naming charts, though the name Anderson is still hundreds of spots away from the top ten.

Being a Leo (August 1, 2007)  Liam always loved the spotlight, a rather well known quality attributed to those in that horoscope sign. Now he is being talked about as trending.  Liam is a trending name. That is Twitter talk.  Though he cannot read Liam did hear his name mentioned on the newscasts and his ears perked up. 

Liam was named after a celebrity. I guess he was trending before the latest trend.  His namesake is actor Liam Neeson, who himself is trending by teaming with fellow Irishman Gabriel Byrne-see link  Actually, I also adore Gabriel Byrne.  Maybe Liam could have been a Gabriel.
http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/Gabriel-Byrne-and-Liam-Neeson-play-prepares-to-open-in-NYC-135088708.html

GABRIEL? I AM LIAM

Woof, Woof