The Oscars were…fantastic!

Posted on March 3, 2014 by admin

It was Oscar night last night, the long awaited Academy Awards, the grand finale to the awards season in Hollywood.  It had rained for two days in LA (no, the horror) but they managed to make it through and put on a great show for us!  Ellen DeGeneres as host was so funny and engaging.  Between the Cinderella costume, the selfie (set a record for most tweeted) and ordering pizza for the audience, you just have to call her the “gift that keeps on giving”.  As far as the winners, no real surprises (or letdowns!).  Best actor…All Right, All Right, All Right, Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club!  The circle is complete!!!  Well deserved and his speech was very moving.  Also moving, Jared Leto, Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club, especially talking about his single mom.  Best Supporting Actress, Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years A Slave was an inspiration.  Beautiful girl, beautiful performance, and beautiful acceptance speech.  Cate Blanchett won Best Actress for her performance in Blue Jasmine.  She was exceptional (as she always is) and very cheeky with her acceptance speech.  That being said, I will say again that I truly believe Amy Adams deserved the award (along with all the ones that preceded the Oscars) for her performance in American Hustle.  She owned that movie!  12 Years A Slave took home Best Picture, as well is should have and SO HAPPY to see Spike Jonze win the award for Best Original Screenplay for Her.  I LOVED that movie!  That movie was so thought provoking, relevant and spoke to us about the truth of technology and while it may have so many upsides, it also has it’s downsides.  We do not have to think and/or feel anymore it seems.  Really moving performances by both Jacquim Phoenix and Amy Adams (there she is again!)  OK, I am sure I have left something important out…Oh, yes, the fashion of course.  Many beautiful gowns, Sandra Bullock, (Gravity, director won award for Best Director), Charlize Theron (when does she not look gorgeous?), Jennifer Lawrence (love that she fell out of the limo upon her arrival!), Brad and Angie (hey, that were stunning!), Amy Adams, Lupita Nyong’o, Kate Hudson looked gorgeous, Oliva Wilde and Kerry Washington, both sporting “baby bumps”, I could go on and on.  I saw one website criticizing Jennifer Garner…WHAT?  She looked beautiful. And Ellen with her stylish tux changes..along with the Cinderella costume, it was a night in Hollywood and made for Hollywood!!

Until tomorrow…


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Roger Federer wins 6th Dubai title!!

Posted on March 1, 2014 by susan

It’s Federer!!  ROGER THAT…as Fed wins his sixth title in Dubai.  It looked dicey at first…as Roger was broken in his second service game of the first set (not the first as has been the trend in the last couple of matches) and dropped the first set to T. Berdych, 3-6.  Roger was down a break again in the second set but broke back and went on to win the second set, 6-4 to even the match.  In the third set, there was some tension but not as much as in the first two sets.  Roger broke Berdych to start the third set and went on to eventually take the third set, 6-3.  That was match point, championship point (something Federer has not heard since last spring in Halle, Germany), Federer!  So happy to see Federer win his first title of 2014 and really hope this carries over into all of his tournaments in 2014 (especially Paribas Open at Indian Wells, CA, 3/6 – 3/16, since I will be there!!).  There is a definite air of confidence about Roger, even when he is down on his serve, that he will serve it out and get it done.  This was missing last year in 2013, and he was bothered by a bad back.  Today, his forehand was shaky at points, most specifically in the first set, but he righted the ship.  Coming into the net and ending points quickly is certainly a strategy he hopes will help him beat the other top tier players, notably Djokovic, Murray and Nadal.  Murray and Djokovic are a fait de complete…he defeated Murray in Australia and he defeated Djokovic in the semifinals yesterday in Dubai.  It is world #1 Nadal that must be dealt with next.  I have continually maintained that a lot of the problem is in Fed’s head, the idea that Nadal is different, posing different problems for him, especially with that high looping lefty forehand to Fed’s backhand and for whatever reason, Roger does not work it out in his mind and just “get it done”.  Perhaps with these positive results he has enjoyed so far in 2014, that can be erased as well.  I am hoping it happens in Indian Wells and they could very possibly meet in the quarterfinals.  Have to think Roger’s ranking will improve from its current position of #8 as long as he continues these winning ways.

Great day to be a Federer fan!


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Federer takes out Djokovic in Dubai!

Posted on February 28, 2014 by susan

TGI Federer!  Roger Federer took out world #2 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals in Dubai, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.  Federer started out in the first set by continuing his disturbing trend of being broken in his first service game.  The match was competitive in the first set with some great shot making, but Fed could not overcome dropping his serve and lost the first set, 3-6.  After that, he began to change his tactics, taking shots much earlier, playing more inside the baseline, and coming into the net (the “Stefan Edberg” effect), and winning almost all of those points.  It took one break of Djokovic’s serve in the second set for Fed to even the match, 6-3.  In the third..it was all Federer, two breaks of serve and a 6-2 third set win to take the match.  Very interesting to watch Federer today.  Even when he appeared to be in trouble, down 15-40 when serving, did not have that feeling of “oh no, this is bad”.  He calmly would pull himself out of the hole, and then go onto to hold serve.  Roger is looking very good and will face T. Berdych tomorrow in the final.  Berdych advanced in straight sets over P. Kolschreiber.  Federer has won this tournament five times and will be going for number six tomorrow!


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Federer vs. Djokovic in semifinals tomorrow in Dubai!

Posted on February 27, 2014 by susan

Tomorrow in Dubai, Roger Federer will face off against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Tournament!  Fed vs. Nole!  Sounds pretty awesome.  Should air on Tennis Channel at about 10:00 am EST.  Djokovic advanced over M. Youzhny in a walkover (illness).  Roger advanced over L. Rosol, 6-2, 6-2.  Fed lost his serve in the opening game of the match (a troubling theme carried over from yesterday’s match against Becker in which he lost his serve in the first game of all three sets!).  That being said, he broke back and got back on serve and from there, he rolled.  Vintage Federer, very clean, only nine unforced errors in the match.  Should be a great semifinal between Fed and Djokovic.  Oh yes, there is another semifinal, T. Berdych vs. P. Kolschrieber.  So…tomorrow..GO FED!!

Speaking of tennis tournaments…the next big one is the BNP Paribas Open from Indian Wells, CA.  Well, I am so excited, I just can’t stand it…I am going!!  I am going to beautiful Palm Springs, Ca and have tickets to two night sessions in the main stadium.  Should see Federer live..a dream come true for me!  Don’t worry…there will be pictures!!

OK folks, moving onto pop culture/TV news.  Grey’s Anatomy and Parenthood return tonight at long last with new episodes.  Looking forward to watching.

Until tomorrow!

P.S. One of these days I promise I will get to the theater to see a movie, not on demand but at the theater!  Meanwhile, we await the Oscars on Sunday night.  I say McConaughey and Leto win for sure and I truly think Amy Adams should win, yes over Cate Blanchett.  I saw all the movies so I am not just saying this without being an informed viewer.  Guess we will wait and see what the Academy says.  Also, looking forward to Ellen hosting!


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Federer survives bit of a scare in Dubai

Posted on February 26, 2014 by admin

Whew..Roger Federer survived a bit of a scare today in Dubai against Stepanek, prevailing in three adventurous sets. 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.  Two days ago Fed had a very easy outing against Becker of Germany, winning 6-1, 6-4.  Vintage Federer.  Today, a little bit of a different story.  Roger was broken in his first service game of each of the three sets.  In the third set, he trailed 0-2 and broke back to get back on serve.  He then held serve to make it 2-2.  From there he went onto serve for the match at 5-2 only to be broken again.  But, he broke Stepanek to win the match in the third, 6-3.  I am sure it was more of an adventure than Fed had counted on and it was certainly more of an adventure than I was expecting.  Non the less he advances to the quarterfinals.  Novak Djokovic also advances and hopefully these two are on a collision course for the final?  The other top seeds are busy playing in Acapulco, Mexico.  This will be the final appearances for the top names before the big one, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA.  Now, why am I so excited…because I will be there!!!!  YES!  Hopefully, I will see Roger Federer play live, a dream of mine.  So, Roger must make it into the second week.   I think he can do it.  Cannot wait, not to mention visiting beautiful Palm Springs, Ca for the first time!  Look for pics from this adventure for sure in March!

Elsewhere, earlier this week, 5 Duke took down 1 Syracuse, 66 – 60.  So, Florida became the new number one in CBB.  We have gone from Arizona, to Syracuse and now to Florida.  Almost time to get psyched about “March Madness”!

Very cute new sitcom on TV last night…About A Boy!  Stars Minnie Driver and that funny guy who played Matthew, the brother of Christine in the New Adventures of Old Christine.  The young boy is appropriately named Marcus.  He is a dork and also adorable.  You had to know someone would eventually come up with the brilliant idea of making a TV show reminiscent of the great movie starring Hugh Grant based on the brilliant novel by Nick Hornby.

Tonight..new episode of Nashville airs at 10:00 pm EST on ABC.  This show has taken on so many twists and turns this season that I did not see coming.  Guess that is what keeps us interested.

Last, but not least, it is Wednesday.  That means Surviving “Paradise” day.  Please check out my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver.  Follow a southern woman who relocates to a new town full of excitement only to be met by a ridiculous set of people and circumstances.  Neighborhood mayhem at its best!  It is available at Amazon.com for $8.99 in paperback, $4.99 in kindle edition, and $4.99 at Barnes and Noble nook as well.  If you buy the paperback, you get a kindle edition for $1.99.Surviving Paradise

OK folks, that is all for now!


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No medal for USA Hockey team in Sochi, and much more!

Posted on February 22, 2014 by admin

The USA hockey team will not medal in Sochi.  What a huge disappointment.  After yesterday’s heartbreaking loss to Canada, 0-1, the USA came out flat today against Finland.  What should have been a great, competitive game for the bronze medal turned into a rout by Finland, 5-0 over team USA.  Like  I said, what a huge disappointment.  The USA team came in with high hopes of challenging Canada for the gold.  Instead, Canada will face Sweden tomorrow am for the gold medal, and the USA team will head home without a medal.  Oh well…

Still reeling from the women’s figure skating results. Much controversy!  Especially with the news coming out about the changes in who judged the short program vs. who judged the long program.  Let’s look at the facts:  The Russian skater (Sotnikova) skated an energetic program with seven triple jumps.  She also stumbled on the landing of one of her jumps.  She is athletic and appealing, but her artistry leaves much to be desired.  Then Yuna Kim skating last (which she does not like to have to do) skating a program that was flawless, as one commentator described it, a program for the ages.  She landed only six triples (gee, only six, perfectly) and somehow, she came in almost five points behind the Russian skater.  As far as I am concerned, Carolina Kostner of Italy (bronze medal) was even superior to Sotnikova.  She actually won the long program.  Anyhow, there is a petition online protesting the judging format, anonymous, etc. that over 1.5 million people have signed.  I plan to be one of them.  You had to know there was going to be “chatter” after this result.

Interestingly, tonight prior to tomorrow evening’s closing ceremonies, part of the coverage will include the “skating gala”.  All the medalists in each figure skating event will participate.  Should be very interesting.  As I stated in my last post, the Russian crowd is rude…only cheering for their competitors and not showing appreciation for the brilliant performances displayed by those from other countries.  Will be interesting to see how tonight unfolds.

As far as Yuna Kim…she is one of the highest paid female athletes in the world, is an ambassador for UNICEF, and gives back in every way.  What a class act!

Don’t expect to watch the closing ceremonies.  True Detective and House of Lies appeals to me more.  Did anyone catch back to back episodes of Inside the Actors Studio this week?  First, Amy Adams, then Matthew McConaughey.  It was so spectacular.  Amy Adams is such a lady and what a talent.  McConaughey was terrific, with his wife in the audience.  If you can, it is worth your while to try and watch these two episode on demand if possible!

Sadly, will be glad to see these winter Olympics come to an end.  USA has still done very well in the medal count, trailing Norway as of today.


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“Surprise” gold medalist in Women’s Figure Skating

Posted on February 20, 2014 by admin

Well, I guess the politically correct way to describe the results of today’s long program and the resulting finishes on the podium in women’s figure skating would be “surprising”!  Russian seventeen year old Adelina Sotnikova upset S. Korea’s Yuna Kim to take the gold medal, the first ever for a female skater from Russia in Olympic competition.  Also a first, Italy’s Carolina Kostner won the bronze, the first medal (of any kind) for Italy in women’s figure skating in the Olympics.  That of course left Yuna Kim with the silver medal.  Tracie Gold of the USA finished in fourth place, just off the podium.  Fifteen year old Yulia Lipnikskaia (there are discrepancies on this spelling, on the internet vs. TV coverage, Lipnikskaya, so I really don’t know for sure) finished in fifth, disappointing for the new Russian darling after her performances in the team competition (she won the short and long programs in that event).  Mao Asada finished in sixth place, redeeming herself with a beautiful long program, yes, she landed the triple axel, and moved up from sixteenth place after her heartbreaking poor performance in the short program.  Both she and Kim will retire after these Olympics.  Ashley Wagner of the USA came in seventh and the American fifteen year old, Polina Edmunds placed a very respectable ninth.  So, is this controversial?  Commentators Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski (who has grown up to be a beautiful women and who I will never forgive for winning the gold medal over Michelle Kwan in 1998) dodged that beautifully and said the skater who came out with the fiercest competitive spirit took the gold.  Sotnikova wanted it and she went out there and skated and grabbed it.  She did, however, have a slight bobble on one of her landings.  Yuna Kim on the other hand, skated a flawless program, no mistakes, but she did look a little tight in the middle of her program.  She completed six triple jumps (all cleanly) and Adelina completed seven triple jumps (with on little slight problem on a landing).  Along with Kostner, who skated a breathtaking performance to Bolero (think Torval and Dean), the top three went into today’s long program virtually tied, a mere fraction of points separated them.  It always comes down to the proverbial subjective judging and what do you prefer, artistry or a whirling dervish of jumping.  Kim scored higher on the marks for artistry and Adelina scored higher on the marks for technical merit.  It was the difference, and Sotnikova took the gold.  Has to be a bit difficult to not mention that Yuna Kim took the ice as the last performer before a Russian crowd with a Russian skater in the lead.  Anyhow, Yuna is one of the highest paid female athletes in the world, a rock star in South Korea and idolized by all the young skaters there and around the world.  It was a history making win for Russia and Sotnikova.  My biggest complaint, the rude Russian crowd.  Throughout the ice skating competition, they have cheered very loudly for all the Russian competitors, and minimally for others, no matter how brilliantly they skated.  Not cool if you ask me.

So, we now await the fate of the US hockey team which will take on Canada tomorow in semifinal action.  Can team USA get it done?  I hope so!

Until later….


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Women’s Figure Skating takes center stage at the Olympics

Posted on February 19, 2014 by susan

Women’s Figure Skating took center stage today at the Olympics in Sochi.  It is usually one of the more watched events and today’s short program competition did not disappoint.  The Queen, Yuna Kim of South Korea was mesmerizing and finished in first place.  She is the defending gold medalist (Vancouver) and the 2013 World Champion. She is looking to become the first women to repeat as a gold medalist in figure skating since Katarina Witt did so in 1984 and 1988.  She is now twenty three years old and will retire after the Olympics.  She is graceful and skates so beautifully, she glides across the ice and her technical scores match her beautiful choreography.  Close behind in second is the “surprise” teen from Russia, Adelina Sotnikova.  Yulia Lipnitskaia (the fifteen year old who dazzled for Russia in the team competition) had a rough short program, fell on one of her jumps and finished in fifth place.  In third place is Carolina Kostner of Italy, another classically beautiful and graceful skater.  In fourth place, Gracie Gold of the USA!  Ashley Wagner of the USA is in sixth and the American fifteen year old, Polina Edmunds is currently in the seventh position.  The points between the top three are miniscule, but all are within striking position.  The scoring will be interesting but I think Yuna Kim will win gold if she skates a clean long program.  Sadly, Mao Asada of Japan had a disastrous short program and sits in 16th.  She is a two time world champion and like Yuna, will retire after these Olympic games.  So, tomorrow the long program will determine the gold medal with live coverage beginning at 10:00 am EST on NBC Sports channel and tape delayed coverage will be on NBC tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, the Russian hockey team failed to make the semifinals, falling to Finland, 3-1.  Not a great day for the home team.  USA advanced with a solid beating of the Czech team, 5-2 and will face Canada who prevailed over Latvia, 2-1.  The team from Finland will face Sweden (winners over Slovakia, 5-0).  Would be great if the USA and Canada could have faced each other in a “gold medal” game but that is not how the brackets played out.

So until tomorrow…


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Let’s mix it up…Surviving “Paradise” on Tuesday!

Posted on February 18, 2014 by susan

Surviving ParadiseLet’s mix it up…how about Surviving “Paradise” on Tuesday!  Usually do my thing on Wednesday but hey, why not change it up?

Please check out my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver!  It is about a southern woman who relocates to a new town full of hope and excitement, only to be met by a ridiculous set of people and circumstances.  Think criminal Bulgarian neighbors, horny and inappropriate cop, his jealous, bitchy wife, redneck homeowners’ association Prez, and much more.  What can you say…it is Florida!  It is available at Amazon.com for $8.99 in paperback, $4.99 in kindle edition and $4.99 at Barnes and Noble nook.  Will make you laugh…I promise!

Tomorrow..the ladies Figure Skating gets under way in Sochi.  Can the USA (Gracie Gold) medal?  Let’s hope so.  Also, USA hockey team looking good…perhaps USA vs. Canada for the gold medal?

Until later!


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Let’s mix it up…Surviving “Paradise” on Tuesday!

Posted on February 18, 2014 by admin

Surviving ParadiseLet’s mix it up…how about Surviving “Paradise” on Tuesday!  Usually do my thing on Wednesday but hey, why not change it up?

Please check out my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver!  It is about a southern woman who relocates to a new town full of hope and excitement, only to be met by a ridiculous set of people and circumstances.  Think criminal Bulgarian neighbors, horny and inappropriate cop, his jealous, bitchy wife, redneck homeowners’ association Prez, and much more.  What can you say…it is Florida!  It is available at Amazon.com for $8.99 in paperback, $4.99 in kindle edition and $4.99 at Barnes and Noble nook.  Will make you laugh…I promise!

Tomorrow..the ladies Figure Skating gets under way in Sochi.  Can the USA (Gracie Gold) medal?  Let’s hope so.  Also, USA hockey team looking good…perhaps USA vs. Canada for the gold medal?

Until later!


Posted in Blog, events, sports figures, Surviving "Paradise", susan shaver, Susan Willoch Shaver | Comments Off on Let’s mix it up…Surviving “Paradise” on Tuesday!