Alyssa’s Blog…a modern day diary of the random thoughts of Alyssa Amsbaugh

It’s weird when you know someone from something and then they show up somewhere that you least expect! (OK, and in real life, sometimes awkward, too. LOL!) That’s what’s happening with this week’s return episode of the TV show “Heroes.” Christopher Eccleston, best known to me as the British actor who most recently took a turn at playing Doctor Who for a season, will be a guest star on this week’s return episode of “Heroes.” Not sure what his power will be, but he will definitely have one. It’s great that he has work, but honestly I often wonder what happened to all those folks from the various “Star Trek” series. They just dropped off the face of the, er, universe! Brent Spiner (Data on ST:TNG) was recently in SciFi’s “Threshold” mini-series (which, by the way, I’m milking…watching a little at a time so it lasts longer). Also saw Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi on ST:TNG) in a recent episode of “Without A Trace.” Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean Luc Picard from ST:TNG) has been in many movies and is now in a series called “Eleventh Hour.” But what ever happened to Robert Beltran (Chakote on ST:V)? He’s too good looking of a guy to just be shelved. But no, instead, we have Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine on ST:V) in the mainstream series “Shark.” Frankly, in my humble opinion, I think she needs some of her Borg implants! (I know, now I just being biatch.) We’ve seen successful crossovers from “Farscape” to “Stargate SG-1.” I’ll try to view Monday night’s episode of “Heroes” with an open mind. It’s just weird that Eccleston will be in it.

Aloha! Congratulate me…I’m going to be an aunt again! Am already “Aunt Alys” to Kathy and Joe’s dog, Maile, that sweet little beagle who goes crazy searching the house for me whenever Kath mentions my name. BACK STORY: As well as being huge fans of Disney and Walt Disney World, Kathy and Joe love Hawaii and must have been there 25+ times already. “Maile” is a Hawaiian word. It is a native twining shrub, “Alyxia olivaeformis.” There are four types and they were considered minor goddesses of the hula. The maile vine has shiny fragrant leaves and is used for decorations and leis, especially on important occasions. It is a member of the periwinkle family. OK, back to our story. Well, the Zuczeks are adopting a little sister for Maile, this one a beagle mix. Kath and I are getting together at her house next weekend, at which time I hope to welcome their latest addition to the family. Can’t wait to meet her and see if they are going Hawaiian with her name, too! I vote for a beach name. (How about Gidget? LOL!) Aloha! With all my love, Aunt Alys

Yep, it’s that time of year again…for my annual thyroid tests! Now I’ll admit that, in years past, I have gone a little off the deep end when faced with testing, but that was long ago, when my diagnosis was new. It has been 11 years now, I’m 100% healthy, and I know what to expect. Thank you, Dr. Quintana (my endocrinologist) and Dr. Rayasam (my otolaryngologist surgeon), for doing such great work on me! Saw Dr. Quintana last week and it turns out it has been 4 years since my last total body thyroid scan, so this year I more or less pushed him into deciding on a scan. Am waiting for the results of blood work now. The sooner we get the blood test results, the sooner St. Luke’s Hospital calls me to schedule the scan. Wish me luck! Or, if you’re worried, say a little prayer. I had a lot of Masses said for me when I was sick and I truly believe that they helped me recover.

So I’ve been thinking about my Uncle Gus lately…and feeling guilty about his funeral. God we had a great time after it. It sounds weird, I know, but it’s true. I was nervous about having to do that reading during the service. Public speaking? Not my bag but I lived. So at the family get-together afterwards (which, by the way, was a fabulous send-off…more like a wedding), I’m sitting next to my cousin Christine. I’ll continue, but first, this BACK STORY.

Picture a diner in upstate NY. Picture me with my digital camera. Picture my cousin being a PITA about the picture I just took of her; God only knows what she didn’t like about it. Picture me being me. What to do? Well, how about taking a picture of her mouth and chin at maximum zoom…I MEAN HUGE! She did, after all, just put on two lip glosses. We’re hysterical and I refuse to delete it. In fact, I print it on “postcard” photo paper when I get home and mail it to her; the mailman should get a kick out of it.

OK, back to the repast now. So I’m sitting next to Chris and what does she pull out of her purse but this postcard of her mouth and chin. Next thing you know, we’re passing it around the table, everyone wants to see what they look like with her mouth and chin instead of their own so we hold the postcard up to our faces, we’re all laughing, and I’m taking pictures. EVEN THE WAITERS WANTED TO TRY so we let them and took their pictures, too. Hence why I feel so guilty about the funeral! The drinks flowed (I even tried a peach martini) and we celebrated life. I only hope we didn’t offend Uncle Gus or the family in the process!