The Vatican newspaper has reviewed the new Ron Howard/Tom Hanks movie, “Angels and Demons,” and, while calling it historically inaccurate, also called it “harmless entertainment…that sparks curiosity and is also, maybe, a bit of fun.” The US elects a black guy as president, Americans reject the Swine Flu scare as media hype, and the Vatican “gets” that a movie is just a movie? Did I wake up in a parallel universe or something?

Today is “odd day” – one of only six days this century that feature three consecutive odd numbers in the date: 05/07/09. Of course, the year is actually 2009, so it isn’t really consecutive. A “real” odd day would have been January 3^rd, in the year five. But math geeks don’t have a lot to get excited about, so we’ll let ’em have the day today.

Another major local employer is on the ropes, with word that Crucible Steel is filing for Chapter 11. The good news is there aren’t many local employers – let alone “major” ones – left to close around here. When SU and the local hospitals close their doors, we’ll know we’re screwed.

Happy Birthday to 21-yr old Chanel of Port Jeff, NY. Chanel is (supposedly) the world’s oldest living dog.

Let’s hear it for Senator Ben Nelson (DINO-NE), who says he’ll oppose giving people the option of public healthcare, because it would be so much better than private insurance, that it would hurt the insurance companies. Yes, Senator, we must protect the sacred insurance institution at all costs. This is why we needed to have Arlen Specter jump ship and swim over to the Democrat’s big tent, because when Repubicans act like scumbags, it sucks, but when Democrats do it, it’s a good thing. Or something.

Oh well, we’ll always have those memories of Salma Hayek’s “romantic African honeymoon” to fall back on. They can’t take that away from us.

Speaking of romance – or lack thereof – Granny leaves for Minnesota today, to go visit the kids and grandkids. Since I started a new job back in February (same place, but in a bit of an odd technicality involving working for the State vs. the SUNY Research Foundation, I was considered an “off the street” new employee, forcing a criminal background check and piss test – both of which I found highly insulting), I lost all my vacation time (got paid for it, at least), and don’t have enough built back up to make it past next Wednesday. So, the critters and I will be spending the next couple of weeks alone, which I, frankly, am not looking forward to.

As my dad once told my mom after 40 or so years of marriage, “I’ve gotten pretty used to you by now.”