To Silent Visitors

Okay, it's come to my attention that a lot of people I know have been visiting here and not posting. That doesn't really BOTHER me, but it's kinda dissapointing. I sure would like to HEAR from (or should I say, READ) you guys once in a while. Even if you just write something like, hey Toni, just stopped by to see what's up with you. Gimme a call. Drop me an email. Whatever.

So, maybe I will guilt you into posting. Maybe not. But maybe a good New Year's Resolution could be to start your OWN blog and let me know about it. I could be visiting YOU in 2007! :)

Old Friends Update

Well, go figure. Just when I pretty much wrote off my friend, Robin (see below), we've been in touch recently. She sent me a Christmas card so I wrote to an old email address I had and asked, "Is this still you?" It was, and we've been writing since. Long emails catching up. Yikes. When you don't write/talk for a long time, there sure is a lot to catch up on!

But actually, upon looking back, that seems to be our M.O. No contact for ages. One of us reconnects and it's back to normal until we drift away again. Now that we are old farts and our kids are all grown, maybe we can make it stick this time. :) Anyway, I'm applying that same New Year's goal, adapted from "seeing" to "staying connected."

I'm Back

Well, I guess I AM back before 2007! I just had to share this. You may have seen it; it's been getting a lot of buzz, but I found out about it when my sis, Karen, sent me hers. It's www.elfyourself.com - it's the funniest thing! You can insert a photo of yourself (and your cat and grandson, if you're like me) or anyone else into a dancing elf's face! Guaranteed to elicit roars of laughter, even if they are your own! Then you can email to all your loved ones for a good laugh on you. It especially works if you can insert a photo of you making a funny face. The dancing is so goofy, it just is too much! Have fun, and happy holidays! Again!

New Link

You simply MUST visit this website I've just added to favorite links! I discovered them last year around this time. I got some really cool tee shirts for my sone and his family. They have all sorts of buttons, tees, magnets, bumper stickers, etc. with hilarious and topical quotes and sayings. I just ordered a bunch of buttons to serve as inexpensive yet appropriate and fun gifts. Some of my favorite sayings: "What would Scooby do?" and "What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?" and "Humans aren't the only species on earth...we just act like it" and "Every mother is a working mother" and "Knowledge speaks but wisdon listens."(Jimi Hendrix). WAY more political and nonsensical stuff. Check it out!

No witty title, just happy happy

It's been a while since my last post...been pretty busy. Now with the holidays upon us and this ridiculous weather. How can I get in the festive Christmas mood when it's 60 degrees outside? My grandson flew into town with his mom, my son's girlfriend, a real doll, so tomorrow they will be joining us to decorate our tree. I'm really looking forward to that. Saw Janice again today! We were joking about seeing each other twice in a few weeks already. She and her friend Diane came to a performance of A Roaring Twenties Holiday with Dorothy Parker and Daisy Buchanan today. I was Dorothy Parker. She is really a great character to play. Of course, since it's dinner theatre (or really, more like lunch theatre), it's not really acting, more like performing, but it's a lot of fun. Especially since I am more than a bit tipsy. But it was great to see her. And hoo boy, they confirmed how "hefty" I've been getting lately. I do plan on getting strict about losing the weight again after the holidays. I feel very matronly these days and I can't have that.

So, if I don't post beforehand, I'd like to wish everyone a peaceful, joyful and meaningful Christmas, Channukah, Winter Solstice, or whatever you may be celebrating this time of year, and also a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year. For all, I wish for peace in 2007.

Old Friends- Short Life

Yesterday, I had the occasion...okay, I got off my fat lazy ass and made it a point to call an old friend and get together with her. It just blows my mind to think that we met 33 years ago!! There were five of us who all started work at the same place, IRS (ugh, I know, but they paid a lot for those days). We were 19, single and up to a lot of mischief back then. It's been at least a couple of years since Janice and I got together and we did a lot of catching up. She is still with her hubby and she has four kids (yikes). The oldest is a nurse, 23, and the youngest is 15 and has inherited her talent and interest in photography. She was a cheerleader type in high school (the type I always despised), but what won me over was her artsy side and her big, kind heart and goofy sense of humor. Then there was Robin, the glowing nature girl with no make-up and long flowing blond hair, dimples. You know the kind, the girl who would walk into the room and all the guys looked at...well, back then anyway. I considered myself a hippy back then, in deed and thought, but I wouldn't go anywhere without my mascara, and I wouldn't give up meat. Robin was a vegitarian and always got the best, hmmmm, how shall I put this...as they called it in a recent That 70s Show, "film." If you don't know what I'm talking about, then forget it. :) Jan, Robin and I were all 19 and they were the ones I felt the closest to. Robin had the most interesting story. She followed her boyfriend, Cat (how perfect for the hippie goddess), to Idaho. Ended up marrying him for all the wrong reasons, divorced, became a telephone linewoman, met and married a multi-millionaire for the RIGHT reasons, and became the antithesis to a hippy. Go figure. We kept in touch for a very long time, but things got very superficial and eventually dwindled away.

There was Deb, the die-hard hearty party-er, always with a beer in her hand, kind of a tomboy. Never really opened up to anyone, but always there to back you up. But we were never really close and I never stayed in touch.

And Trina, very cool, sweet, and special. I also stayed in touch with Trina after she moved down south through one husband and one boy friend (both mine), but we seemed to lose touch somehow. I often wonder what she is doing with herself. Last I heard from her, she had one son.

So, Janice. She is such a doll and we always have such a great time talking. Every time I see her, I wonder why the heck we don't do this more often. So my early New Year's Resolution (or, how about "rest of my life resolution") is to make sure I don't waste any more time NOT seeing my good friends who I dont' see more often. Life is too damn short.

Thankful?

Okay, looking at today as simply a day that we take stock of what we are thankful for, I thought I'd see if I could do just that. The first thing that comes to mind is I am VERY thankful for a husband who not only cooks, but is creative about it and enjoys it. He;s been cooking and baking for the last couple of days and I can't wait to dig in!

I am thankful that my son is happy with his little family and has a girlfriend (soon to be a wife, I hope) who I adore, and who seems to be turning out to be a truly wonderful mom. When I text messaged Devin this morning, he called me back right away. I was surprised because it was pretty early in AZ. The three of them were out delivering meals on wheels to homebound old folks. How cool a tradition is that for them to create for their son?! Later this afternoon they are going to her aunt's house for a big family dinner. This Christmas , they aren't flying here, but staying home to have their first family Christmas in their own home. That's as it should be, but I will miss them alot.

I am also thankful that my Dad has a companion for holidays down in Florida. That's too darn far away, but that's where he wants to be.

I am thankful that the worst thing that happened to us this year was my broken foot.

Other things I feel thankful for:

• my beloved kids, Devin and Marisa
• Zeppelin, my adorable, brilliant and multi-talented (but of course) grandson and his beautiful and brilliant mom, Rachel
• my cat, Jack (he's my baby) and a giant dog, King, to protect me
• my friends (they are the best)
• that husband I mentioned earlier (he's the bestest)
• the extra pumpkin pie stuff he baked in a dish and I'm eating right now (yum!)
• that I have a home and enough to eat
• that I can start listening to Christmas songs soon!! (they put me in such a good mood)
• my (basically good) health
• getting to work on the Teeny Awards
• that I have a working vehicle
• music, theatre, art, books, films
• being able to walk, talk, see, hear, feel, smell, taste...I don't often think about these things, but it kind of just hit me now, trying to think of things. Life would be so hard without these things. Oh, and my hands, too.
• my childhood
• my family
• did I say my friends?
  I'm sure there are more things, but I think I've listed the most important ones. So, have you given any thought today to what you are most thankful for?

Musings on the "Forbidden Topic"

Nancy's (Back at the Ranch) mention of a memorial service/party she attended today inspired this post. People are so odd. The only thing we can be sure of in this life is that we will eventually die (forget taxes, rich folks can evade 'em), and it's the one thing most people refuse to talk or think about. But the more you talk/think about something, even when you cannot come to any conclusive determination, the easier it is to face, because after all that thinking and talking, one usually has come to a kind of acceptance, I think. At least, I have.

I think it's important that, when someone you love is dying and if they are willing, you talk to them about it. Believe me, I've been there and it does help. I hope that if I am blessed with the gift of dying in my bed with some notice, that my loved ones won't tip toe around and ignore the fact that I am dying.

Faith is a comfort in these times, too. I may not believe in the more accepted Western religions, but I do believe that our spirits or souls live beyond our bodies. I don't know how I could survive without believing that. I know people who think that once you die, that's it...done...nothing...no more. Yikes! I'd be terrified of death! I don't know how anyone can look around at the wonders of nature and space and even our own human bodies and not believe that we have to be a part of a plan, of something bigger. What that plan is may be beyond our understanding, but that doesn't mean its not there.

I myself believe in reincarnation. I know, that may go against a lot of people's beliefs, but all I can say is I know I've been here before. It's my truth. It's not a belief. I've known it since I was little. I have no idea if I will be back, but I sure hope not. But, according to the religion that is nearest to own my beliefs, Buddhism, there is no way that I have achieved enlightenment, so I guess I will be back to continue to learn what I need to learn until I have, and can finally become one with all, or God, or the Universal Mind, or whatever you want to call it/him/her. I got a long way to go and lots to learn.

Well, the blogs I read regularly here have really gotten into politics lately. I wonder where it would go if we got into faith/religion/science? I read a few years ago that quantum physicists say they are getting very close to proving the existence of a god - meaning the existence of an architect of the reality we know. I find all that fascinating. You?

Halloweening

Went to a grown-up Halloween party last night. As usual, I dressed up as a vampire, only this time, I got these great fangs that I customized, so they clicked right in place and stayed. I wore all black and my hair was long and stringy and I wore red contact lenses, which really looked creepy. MyMan wore fake bite marks on his neck and lots of blood dripping down his t-shirt. On the back was written: When she said she wanted to suck me, this isn't quite what I had in mind.
HO HO HO.

The hostess was, as she called it, a slutty pirate, but she just looked very cute, with her short outfit and poofy detached sleeves and pirate hat. Oh yeah, and she had a whip. A really tall man came as a pirate and he looked great, wig and all. There was a penguin, a goth chick, that football player who crashed his motorcycle while drunk (I don't follow football), a choirboy, a cowgirl fairy, and um....that's about it. Why people go to a Halloween party and don't dress up is beyond me. One guy said he didn't get the whole dress up thing about Halloween. Huh? It's all about living the fantasy! Bringing out your alter ego. Make believe. Going out in public and freeing yourself of YOU. It can even be about making a statement. Or scaring people. Or entertaining them.

Maybe it's just the actor in me that has always loved dressing up. Or maybe it's the child in me. Most children love to dress up and pretend, don't they? If you want to strip it down to the bone, that's pretty much what actors are doing. I mean, it's really a lot more complex than that, but that surely could pass as the simple explanation.

I guess it's also a way to be creative. I really appreciate it when I see a costume that took some time to create, or a unique idea. Like MyMan's t-shirt...easy to make, but a great idea (his). I heard about this one couple - the husband came as a baby being born, his head coming out from between two fake legs, and his wife was dressed in medical scrubs! At one party, there was a guy who made a great Moses. He brought cardboard tablets and had the other guests write their own commandments on them. The funniest thing about that night was that he ended up hanging out with another guest who had come as Satan! Satan and Moses hanging out, smoking a blunt outside. That was a sight, let me tell you! One of my favorites from my own past Halloween partying was a pregnant girl scout (I wasn't "prepared"). Also, Casper's friend Spooky. I wore a huge sheet, tie around my neck, freckles, and a derby. It's a lot of fun when no one can tell who you are!

I remember hearing about one guy who came to a party wearing nothing but roller skates. He was a pull toy. Hmmm...urban legend...or TRUTH!? You decide.

Another idea that was funny (but rejected due to the fact that it would hinder any fun for the wearer) was wearing black and white splotched sweats and an udder and lying on his side all night. He'd be a ......tipped cow! A new one this year for a group - everyone dresses up as items you can no longer carry onto planes. My old standby is a vampire, because a) it's easy, and b) I love all things vampiric. I won't go down that road, I'll be here all day.

So, what are your ideas?

November Movies!

But first, a few for Halloween: The Grudge 2, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and Saw III. I saw Saw 1 and it was excellent. Not as gory as you would think...more a psychological thriller. Oh, and Night of the Living Dead...in 3D!!

NOVEMBER

Deja Vu, directed by Tony Scott. A sci-fi thriller about an ATF agent played by Denzel Washington, who uses the sensation of deja vu to help lead him to clues. It was the first film shot in New Orleans after Katrina. Also starring Val Kilmer and Jim Caviezel.

The Fountain, written and directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, another one you should see), and starring Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn. According to EW, it's "a trippy meditation on love and death."

Candy, with Heath Ledger. A love triangle between a free-spirited poet, an art student and heroin.

Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny. For Jack Black fans - searching for a guitar pick that has rock-god-giving powers.

The Return, with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sam Shepard (sigh). Eerie thriller.

Fur, with Nicole Kidman (love her), Robert Downey, Jr. (love him). It is a fictional account of three months in the life of photographer Diane Arbus.

For Your Consideration, by that crazy gang who were responsible for Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind. This time it's about an indie, Home For Purin, that unexplainedly starts picking up Oscar buzz. Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Harry Shearer, Parker Posey. Can't wait!

The Santa Claus 3: The Escape Claus finds our hero (Tim Allen) fighting Jack Frost (Martin Short). Loved the first two...good family shows that are fun for the parents, too.

The Hoax is based on a true story about a con man who convinces publishers that he has obtained exclusive access to the reclusive Howard Hughes for an autobiography. Richard Gere, Marcia Gay Harden. Gere is quoted in EW, "It's this weird mix of serious drama and real humor, and it has a kind of Beatles-esque quality to it."

In Stranger Than Fiction, Will Ferrell tries his hand at dramady. His character hears a voice and realizes that a woman is narrating his life. Also with Maggie Gyllenhall, Dustin Hoffman, and Emma Thompson (one of the greats). This is one I'm really looking forward to.

Ali G fans will like Borat, which also stars Pamela Anderson. Sacha Baron Cohen brings his Kazakhstani TV personality, Borat, to the big screen.

and in DECEMBER...

Dreamgirls, a film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical, which is loosley based on the Supremes career . Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy.

The Good German, directed Steven Soderbergh. George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Tobey Maguire. Black and white. According to EW, set in devastated post-WWII Berlin, "the murder mystery traces an American journalist (Clooney) assigned to cover the Potsdam conference between Hurchill, Stalin, and Truman.

Rocky Balboa. Um...'nuff said.

The Good Shepherd, with Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, and Robert DiNiro, who also directs. A Cold War spy tale.

Okay, last but not least, a remake of the 1974 slasher flick, Black Christmas, opens on Christmas day. I saw this movie, with Olivia Hussey and Keir Dullea, in a drive-in in New Hampsire that was basically a field surrounded by woods. It was SOOOOOO scary. At the time, it was called Silent Night, Evil Night. If it's at all as scary as the first one, it should be a great one to go to with your best friend or S.O. and clutch each other and scream to!

link-a-dink

As you may or may not know, I've become hooked on youtube lately. It's truly amazing what people will put online for the world to see. A lot of it is simply dreadful or boring, but there is also quite a lot that is hilarious. My current favorites are listed below. Enjoy!

Where the hell is Matt? this video was made by a guy from Australia who saved up for a few years, quit his job and went around the world. He recorded himself dancing in every country. This is somehow very uplifting. Please check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4

Remember the guy who played Biff inthe Back to the Future movies? He's a stand up comedian, too. Here is a hilarious song he performs about everyone bugging him with questions about the movies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwY5o2fsG7Y

These two guys are brilliant. This isn't the BEST sample of their video antics, but it's the best short one. Look 'em up on youtube under "nobody's watching."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af5E1uLbbx0&mode=user&search=

Watch the car in this very closely!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QATfpcCYqG4

He tenido bastantes

I am SO SICK of having the "option" of dealing with my bank/store/whatever in either Spanish or English. This is the USA! Our language is ENGLISH! I am a descendant of Italian immigrants. They came here, became legal citizens and learned English. And come to think of it, since my ancestors are all from Italy, I don't "owe" anything to the Native Americans or descendants of slaves. My ancestors didn't have anything to do with you. They weren't in this country until the turn of the century. And come to think of it, even if my ancestors had cheated the natives or owned slaves, I’ve never been on to believe in the “sins of the father” being paid for by his descendants. So unless anyone out there can give me a reeeeeeally good reason why I should feel otherwise (I have a fairly open mind, even on subjects I feel strongly about), that's where I stand.

Lets be clear about this. I have no problem with immigrants...even more, I welcome them, enjoy them, learn from them. This is my country. As hard as it may be to do at the moment, I still love it. If anyone moved here and became legal citizens, paying taxes and contributing to the pot from which we withdraw social services (and into which they dip so frequently and deeply), I'd welcome them with open arms to enrich our country. I love the mix of peoples and I have never been one for "pure blood." Everyone knows that mutts are saner and healthier than purebreds. :)The main complaints for me are, when you leave your homeland to make a life in a new country, learn the language. It's English here. It is very simply the right thing to do to learn the language and customs. Keep your language and customs in your own home if you want and share them with whoever you want, but "when in Rome..." and 2) pay taxes like everyone else! ESPECIALLY when you are taking advantage of the programs we have set up for the less fortunate!! There has got to be a way to deal with this.

Nostalgia

I was driving home today from visiting my daughter today and found in my car a CD of 70s tunes. I popped it in and was immediately transported back in time. Todd Rundgren's "Hello, It's Me." I was 20 years old, hanging out at Hot Dog Beach with my boyfriend, Andy. That song will always remind me of him. That whole summer revolved around him. Funny, I just remembered thinking, in my early 20s, that summer was for me a period of lots of experience impacted into a short time, so I thought I did most of my emotional growth during the summer. I don't know if that was true, but it's what it seemed like when I was much younger.

Simply Red's "Holding Back the Years" is another song that brings me back to another boyfriend, one who relentlessly persued me until I broke down and fell for him, and then cruelly broke my heart. I still feel a wave of melancholly when I hear those two songs. It's not that I wish I could go back in time or even that I wish I could be with either of them...it's just that I associate those songs with times of bliss, then ultimately heartache. It's a strange power that music has. And the music that we like becomes the soundtrack to our memories.

The only thing that can bring me back in time like that is scent. Sandalwood and patchouli, pine trees, certain perfumes (or men's colognes)...they all have that power to send me back in time. It's like scratch'n'sniff memories! Who says time-travel is impossible?!

The song that brings me back to my wedding day is Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?" Not Rod Stewart's boiled down bland version of Van the Man's composition. Van had strings and brass and such full and beautiful orchestration.

What about you? What songs serve as your own personal time machine?

A New World

I am not, by a long shot, considered a youth anymore...just stillbarely middle-aged. So it's probably not a suprise that I've only just discovered youtube.com. It is the world of videos...video blogs, video parodies, video everything, and mostly inhabited, it seems, by teens and 20-somethings. So, it was also not a surprise that I have just discovered lonelygirl15, a video blogger on youtube. Her earliest blog was this past June. An adorably cute young girl who goes by the name of Bree and is 16, homeschooled, and "very religious." I couldn't get enough of this kid's videos. Even as I was watching them, I wondered, "Is this all for real? Is this some kind of hoax?" She talked about how she was selected for this secretive religious ceremony, a huge honor and so exclusive that her parents wouldn't even be there. She talked about sneaking out of the house to go to a party ("my first!"). She shared the drama of her first boyfriend, who seemed like a creep, but who seemed to be trying to get her away from what sounded more and more like a cult-ish religion.

Well, it was NOT real. Two guys (funny, it never occurred to me that SHE might have invented lonelygirl15) held auditions that they posted on craigslist, hired her, and began this series of video blogs. As a matter of fact, my suspicions were confirmed online, when an interview with her on the Jay Leno show was posted, along with another interviews of her and one of the creators of the "show." He said that the plotline was developed based on the input from viewers who got caught up in the angst of this young character. All I can say is GENIUS! It's unfortunate that they came clean, because the whole mystery of is she or is she not for real added to the enjoyment of the blogs, but I'll still tune in to see what happens. It's a new art-form, beyond reality shows...audience interactive drama."

I also like youtube because it's so interesting to see what people will share about themselves on video to the world, and for the hilarious videos...go there and search "cats" and be prepared to laugh hard and long.

Paying it Forward - as I see it

A post at LunaChick's blog inspired the following.

"Letting go" of things over which we have no control is a very common problem. It's certainly a lesson I've been working on for a long time. Hard thing for a control freak. The easy way is to have low expectations of others and to succumb to road rage, or any other kind of rage. No one ever said the road to enlightenment is easy.

Kindness is not to be given for what you will get in return. It is given because that's what is right. Karma doesn't work immediately, nor does it necessarily happen in this lifetime (yep, I believe in reincarnation). But from my experience, yes, it does come back to you. It adds up. Sure, people are going to be a-holes. For many of them, it's their nature and they just can't help it. But being kind and thoughtful and gentle and giving people the benefit of the doubt...it adds up and does eventually come back to you, sometimes when you least expect it. And not always from the people you were kind to. Really. I believe that the universe does take care of any karma - good or bad. It's not our place to mete out justice. Revenge does not release anger. The only way you can release anger is by trusting there is a reason for everything and letting go of that anger. If you don't, the anger will own you.

I believe that if we are ever to live in a world without war, a world of true peace, we ALL have to let go of our needfulness to control, punish, or hurt others (or ourselves), for whatever reason. I think that this is much more do-able for humans than to try to "love" everyone. "Let it Be" as a theme song for the world? I can't think of a better one.

But that's just me.

Beginnings

Nancy (Back at the Ranch) wrote a sweet goodbye to summer on her blog, but I am happily looking forward to Fall. I love wearing sweaters and cuddling in the evening without sweating...excuse me, make that "glistening." I think the sunlight in autumn is the prettiest, along with the icy-silver winter light. We may lose the vibrant greens of summer, but we gain all the reds and golds of leaves falling from trees that are preparing for their annual winter-long nap. Fall and spring have always been my favorite seasons...maybe because I can't tolerate extreme temps easily. But I associate Fall with new: clothes, beginnings, friends, opportunities. The laziness of summer gives way to the hustle of getting things done after all the procrastination. Same thing with Spring...I sort of wake up out of my own kind of psycholological and physical hibernation. I enjoy walking in the Fall...just being outdoors. I just can't stand getting physical in the humid summer heat. But a brisk walk in the brisk cool air just can't be beat. Now maybe I can get my butt up and out of the house to walk the poor dog! :)

I'm hoping I can walk through the "door" that is Fall and begin the ending of this year with a positive change in my life. Exactly what that is? Maybe it will come to me on one of those walks!

Blog to Blog - What About Women?

This is something I just don't get - women being women's worst enemy. My mom raised me with a sense of sistserhood. I found out the hard way that not all women shared my sense of sisterhood - a friend aggressively pursued my ex-husband, which ultimately ended out marriage. Of course, in the long run, she did me a huge favor. But I find that if you are sincere and open and treat other women the way you expect to be treated, for the most part, they treat you in kind. Are there women out there who are competetive and mean to other women? Of course. But I think most reasonably intelligent women can spot that kind - just avoid them if you can. If not, then kill 'em with kindness. I think my method is very successful. I am blessed with many good female friends. My best friends from grade school and high school are still dear friends. Of course, I have had experience with women being evil woman-haters, but I believe that if that's what you expect from women, then that's what you will find.

I was 16 when "women's lib" hit the headlines. But as soon as I started hearing about it, I knew that it was a great thing. I was a kid who wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up (that, and a writer, actress, and horse trainer). I was 16 in a very un-feminist (or people-ist) world. I remember. It most certainly was NOT better than this. It seems that the word feminist has gotten a lot of bad press, but to me, all it means is equality. Men and women are different (vive la difference!), but EQUAL - in value, in potential, in what they can contribute to the world and their families. Neither men nor women should have to be denied an opportunity because of their gender. It has nothing to do with behaving like a man or dressing like one or toning down our femininity to achieve those opportunities. Yeah, that's what it meant to some women during the "revolution," but not the majority, I think. It meant freedom to be who they were and that was especially good if they were not women who enjoyed being a subservient, passive, susy homemaker who had to dumb down for a man. AND freedom to enjoy SEX! I always like to say that I was a young woman in the golden age of sex - after the pill and before AIDS.

Man-hating lesbians? Oh, yeah, they are out there. Even man-hating heteros. And woman-hating heteros and woman-hating gays. There are a lot of people-hating people; we see it every day. I don't think this has anything to do with feminism. It's just insecurity and downright mean-ness, among a probable plethora of psychological crap.

I'm sad if visions of man-hating lesbians enter people's heads when they think of feminists, but I imagine these people are not very enlightened. Another blogger, Lunachick, posed a very interesting question about how helpful it was to encourage women to have careers, becasue today they still are the ones doing the majority of housework and child-raising while working outside the home. But I think it was necessary. No revolution (and believe me, it was just as much a revolution as other civil rights activism) can be won without mistakes. The hope, at least mine, is that someday, men and women can live and work together using each of their own individual attributes to their best in a balanced way. Not all women want to stay home with the kids and not all men want to be the breadwinners. [Not all women WANT kids, and don't even get me started on that one. I know some really fine women who have to take crap from this society on a fairly regular basis for not wanting children. What, better to have unwanted kids just to meet some societal norm? Right.] I hope those people find each other. I don't think there needs to be a "traditional" format of a family - the Father Knows Best kind - but as long as family members have defined roles and everyone is happy with those roles, I think then you have a formula for a successful family and world.

I think there are several reasons women are still holding most of the bag all these years after being "liberated." Mainly, the media (yeah, the usual whipping post), AND I think it's our own fault for buying into it. Very few women can "have it all," and if they do, they have the support of a very understanding, giving and enlightened partner. J9, who posted on Lundachick's blog, quoted her friend, "We as women can have it all..just not at the same time." This is the truth. And maybe from now on, I'll consider myself as a people-ist with a side of feminism.
Great topin, Lunachick! I'd love to hear from more people on this.

Buffy

I used to be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan-atic. Well, I kinda still am. I became a fan the first season, and I have one season on DVD here at home. I know there are a lot of fans like me out there, and the show wasn't a critics' darling for nothing! The writing was brilliant - there's just no better word to describe it. The characters were multi-dimensional and you really became attached to them (much the same way I became emotionally invested in another brilliant series, Northern Exposure). In the first few seasons, it blended the horror of supernatural evil with the horror of every day high school so well that you could see the supernatural battles were metaphors for high school, and later, when the Scooby gang (that's what Buffy and her sidekicks called themselves) graduated, it became a metaphor for the big bad grownup "real world." One of the highlights of the series was during the 6th season, with an episode that was produced as a big budget 40s style musical. Joss Whedon, creator and writer of Buffy, not only wrote the episode, but the music and lyrics as well. With tongue never leaving cheek, the plot followed our friends as a demon comes to town and causes people to burst spontaneously into song and dance, spilling the beans about their most secret truths. It stood apart, yet worked perfectly to move the season's main plot along to the next level.

For those of you who only saw the movie, which was fun in its own way, the series was far more intelligent and witty. I know that sounds ridiculous given the context, but it covered subject matter not usually brought to television at the time. One of the main female characters (Willow, played by the immensely likable Allyson Hannigan of 'this one time, at band camp'), fell in love with a female fellow witch. The storyline of two lesbian lovers was handled in almost a matter of fact way, and was one of the most moving star-crossed lovers story I've ever seen. The ravages of addiction was also addressed, although it was Willow and her magicks instead of drugs. Magic and power became to her just as intoxicating and addicting as any drug.

Anyone watching this realizes, of course, that this is all pure fantasy, but I've seen very few television series that has succeeded in not only stretching a viewer's imagination and challenging one's intelligence, but also created a reality that, while utterly impossible, seems totally plausible.

As a side note, the spinoff series, Angel, had all of the wit and twists and humor of it's parent show. A vampire with a soul (ie conscience)...what can be more torturous!

I'd love to hear from anyone else who enjoyed the series as much as I did. And if you have any television shows about which you feel the same way.

Posting Gaps

Hmmm...I noticed it's been a few days since my last entry. I just finished reading a couple of other blogs - Nancy's, LunaChick's, and Caroline's (who I found through her comment on the blog of someone who posted on LunaChick's blog). I enjoy reading other people's blogs and sharing ideas and opinions. Especially "meeting" people far away. It helps to feel connected to the world this way. You know, being a part of the "global society."

Not much of interest to write about...hence the gap in posts. But I AM hoping to get to see the Pirates movie on Friday, FINALLY!

Coming soon...

Lots of interesting movies coming this fall. Here are some:

SEPTEMBER
Children of Men, directed by Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). According to Entertainment Weekly, "a futuristic cautionary tale, adapted from PD James' novel, about an impending era in which the human race faces extinction unless a disenchanted former activist (Clive Owen) can deliver the last pregnant woman on Earth to safety. Also starts Julianne Moore and Michael Caine as a Yoda-like pot-smoking hippie encountered on the journey.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated: documentary about the highly secret MPAA's Classification and Ratings Administration.

Sherrybaby - starring one of my favorites, Maggie Gyllenhall, as a former herion user who, upon being released from prison, tries to regain custody of her daughter.

Feast, the horror film made during the final season of Project Greenlight. Can't wait for this one. I watched that series, and it looks like it's going to be a hoot. Made with all former reality show stars.

Hollywoodland, with Alec Balwin, Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Bob Hoskins.
About the mystery surrounding the "suicide" of George Reeves (Ben Affleck), the actor who played Superman on the original 1950s tv series.

The Amateurs, with Jeff Bridges and Ted Danson as two friends in a small town who try adult filmmaking.

The Last Kiss with Zach Braff (Garden State...which you GOTTA see if you haven't yet). He lives with his girlfriend and is tempted by a flirty beauty. So what else is new?

OCTOBER

The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, with his new muse, Leonardo DiCaprio (useta be Bobby De Niro), and Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, and Martin Sheen. A cop goes undercover in the Mob and a gangster who infiltrates the police.

Running With Scissors, with Annette Benning, Brian Cox, Joseph Feinnes, Evan Rachel Wood and Gwyneth Paltrow - based on Augusten Burroughs' best selling memior. Joseph Cross plays the lead character, who is sent by his bipolar mom to live with a shrink.

Breaking and Entering, directed by Anthony Minghella. Jude Law lives with his girlfriend (Robin Wright Penn, another of my faves). He investigates the burglary of his office and winds up in an affair with Juliette Binoche.

Marie Antoinette, written and directed by Sophia Coppola, starring Kursten Dunst. Need I say more?

Babel, with Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal. Four interconnected plotlines: an American couple vacationing in Morocco, a family of Berber goatherds, a wedding and boy-crazed deaf-mute Tokyo teenager.

The Prestige, with Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, and....DAVID BOWIE!!! Can you tell I loooovve that guy? This film is about the rivlary between two stage magicians at the turn of the century (1899-1900).

Man of the Year, with Christopher Walken and Lewis Black. Robin Williams plays a stand-up comic who runs for President and WINS!

For Ewan MacGregor fans (see me raise my hand here), there's Stormbreaker, described as a Harry Potter meets James Bond by Entertainment Weekly.

Speaking of Harry Potter, Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) stars in the indy, Driving Lessons, with Laura Linney.

Wrestling With Angels looks at the life and work of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America).

Enjoy, and don't forget the popcorn!

Oh, and here are movies that EW says are good for kids AND parents:

Charlotte's Web, with Dakota Fanning - December 20
Eragon - a fantasy adventure - December 5
Flushed Away - animated comedy - November 3
Night at the Museum - a security guard at New York's Museum of Natural History discovers that the exhibits come alive after hours. - December 22

More, Please

While I am not happy about the way age has changed my metabolism (I used to be able to eat all I wanted and still be skinny...no more!), I do like the interior changes. I seem to have more patience, I'm able to handle change (life's one constant) better, I know what I want and who I am. I've been subscribing to More magazine (see new link) for a few years now, since I first discovered it. A magazine for women over 40. Great articles, fashion, advice, etc. The usual, but without those seamless young faces staring out from the pages. More's models are more weathered, but just as beautiful. Anyway, there is an interview with Jamie Lee Curtis, who seems to me like she would be a really cool girlfriend. She wrote a poem for More, and I wanted to share it here. It's exactly the way I feel. So, here's to all my female friends, my sis, and my beloved late mom:

Ode to women
by Jamie Lee Curtis

If indeed it’s a race
Then the chicks do the most
It isn’t a brag
Or an estrogen boast
It’s the women who’ve led me
With big open hearts
If not for their love
I’d have failed at the start
And it’s not just the mothers
I speak of them all
It’s a woman there first
When somebody falls
The multi of tasking
That’s easy to tease
I dare a great man
To try it all, PLEASE!
So this is my shout out
My rallying cry
To women all over
I hold you up high
And though there are others
Who’ll think this poem strange
It’s the women who plant
The root of big change

Boob Tube Ruminations

I was just posting a comment on LunaChick's blog. She was writing about how much she liked Entourage. It really is a brilliant show. Entourage, is supposed to be based on Mark Wahlberg's life. It's also been called the "Sex in the City" for men. Beverly D'Angelo as Barbara is the perfect foil for Ari. Good to see her working again. You know, so few meaty parts for women of a "certain age."

Deadwood is another favorite. The second season was a bit rough. The dialogue was as difficult to understand, which made following the plot nearly impossible. But this season, it's slowed down the delivery and once again becomes one of my "not-to-be-missed-or-tivoed" shows.

Remember Ozzie Osborne's reality show? Now Gene Simmons (KISS) has his with his family, "Family Jewels." He's been with former Playboy covergirl Shannon Tweed (of those cheapy soft-core porn of the 70s/80s). They aren't married, andthey have a 13 year old girl and a son, 17. The son, Nick, is incredibly funny and witty beyond his years. It's a very entertaining half hour. Even MyMan enjoys it, and he normally scorns all reality tv.

I am also enjoying "Three Moons Over Milford" on ABC Family, and Eureka on the Sci-Fi channel. And a former Showtime series that I never got to see since we've never gotten that station - Dead Like Me. I'm looking forward to returning to the island on Lost this fall, and a new show, Jericho, looks intriguing.

I saw The Night Listener yesterday. I could have waited for it to come out on DVD. The promos for it said that just when you think you've figured it out, there is a twist. Well, I figured it out, then I tried to come up with the twist. It was what I figured in the first place, and not all that surprising. There are so many movies coming out in the next few months that look good. I know I won't see them all. Guess that's what Net-Flix is for. V for Vendetta is next on my list, as per LunaChick's recommendation.

Guns and Kids

This article blew my mind. For anyone with small children, it can be an eye opener. No matter how well you train your kids to stay away from them, guns hold an irresistable fascination for them. Read...

http://www.sportshooter.com/features/curiosity_kills.asp

Email Brain Test

Here is one of those things that goes around by email that I had fun with. I was suprised at what I knew (like #17), but even more surprised that I couldn't come up with the answer for #19! Have fun and I'll post the answers tomorrow. By the way, I got 20 right. At least it's better than 7! I've posted the answers in the comments.

FUN QUIZ!!!
The average person only gets 7 correct. This is based on U.S. info, so use all lobes of your brain. This can be more difficult than it looks - it just shows how little most of us really see!
There are 25 questions about things we see every day or have known about all our lives. How many can you get right? These little simple questions are harder than you think-- it just shows you how little we pay attention to the commonplace things of life.

Put your thinking caps on. No cheating! No looking around! No getting out of your chair! No using anything on or in your desk or computer! Can you beat 20?? (The average is 7) Write down your answers as you go.

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don't laugh, some people don't know)
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?
6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!)
7. How many matches are in a standard pack?
8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?
9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise ?
11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
13 On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons?
14. Which way do fans rotate?
15 How many sides does a stop sign have?
16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?
17 How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
21. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
22. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?
25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

Watch for the answers in a post tomorrow!

Gram's Bragging Rights

This is mommy Rachel with Zep and daddy Devin with Zep. Z has his mommy's beautiful big eyes with his dad's eye color of brown. Little rock'n'roll baby digs the drums! He is about 10 months old here. I allow myself to indulge my proudgrandma-itus. If you're a grandparent, you can show off your grandchild...it's allowed. :)

Like the piercings? You can't see them on Devin, but he has two in his lower lip and two in his nose, among others. I think if I were in my 20s, I'd have some piercings myself. It would look pretty bad on a slightly older than middle-aged granny, though. Plus, MyMan would NOT be happy. I think there are definitely certain clothing, haircolors, and body adornments that cease to by edgy and cool once you reach a certain age. Then it becomes like a joke. But I STILL want that tatoo I've been threatening to get all my life!

The Z-Man

This is my adorable grandson. My son's son. It's still a little bizarre. But he has very devoted and loving parents. His mom, Rachel, is a hoot, really smart and I can tell she is in love with her son the same way I was in love with mine. They were going to name him Laertes, and I'm glad they didn't, but they named him Zeppelin. We call him Zep, or Z. He is a a happy baby. As long as there are people around, he is smiling. This was taken when they were out here from Arizona. I took them to the Children's Museum, and he is crawling through a tunnel (that you can't really see here). He is with the panda I got him when he was born. They named him Sid Friendly (instead of Vicious). I decided I'm allowed grandma's bragging rights. :) When I came home from AZ right after he was born, I decided I needed a baby...so I got Jack, the B&W kitten you see above. Zep is a year old and Jack will be one year next month. It will be fun to see them grow up.

The Musical Cohen Boys

Remember Leonard Cohen? If you're too young, he was (is) a fantastic songwriter. His most well-known song was "Suzanne" from the early 70s, I think. His songs were really poems set to music. Remember that scene in Animal House during the toga party, and Belushi comes down the stairs and there is this guy playing a guitar and singing with about 5 girls around him? Belushi smashes his guitar? Well, Cohen is kinda that singer, but really brilliant. Interesting life, was with Rebecca DeMornay for years. Well, his son, Adam, is a real chip off the old block. His music isn't quite like his father's. His group is Low Millions and this album I'm listening to, Ex-Girlfriends, has two songs you might have heard...Eleanor and Statue. On one song, Mockingbird, he sings the beginning in a very low voice and sounds, eerily, EXACTLY like his old man. The father, despite the deep voice, writes songs that are kind of ethereal. Adam is more earthy...actually, I like his voice better than Leonard's. There is a really hot song called Nikki Don't Stop. I need to turn up the AC when I listen to that one. Whew!

I still have to see the film about Leonard...it is about his life, I guess, and it has a bunch of today's stars covering his tunes. I think it's called I'm Your Man, after one of his albums from the 90s. If you saw it, let me know what you thought?

Musical Musings

What are you listening to these days? I've just rediscovered Sondre Lerche. He's really young, and I THINK he's German, but his music is very catchy. I spend a lot of time at Yahoo music, and I've discovered Neko Case (although I've heard OF her, until recently I haven't heard her work), Ivy (dreamy-voiced female lead singer), and Jonatha Brook (I used to hear her on WFUV when I worked 50 miles west of home). Also, been listening to Nellie McKay again. I've heard from someone who met her that she is very weird, and in a not so nice way, but who cares. I love her music and her lyrics are unique and incredibly witty. And Dresden Dolls, the cabaret rockers. Several other artists I have nearly forgotten about and have been enjoying lately - Honeydogs, Badly Drawn Boy (his video for Year of the Rat is so sweet...he did the music for the film About a Boy with Hugh Grant), and some oldies but goodies: Meat Puppets, David Bowie, T Rex, Mott the Hoople (can you tell me I dug "glitter rock?"), and now Jackson Browne. I still don't get tired of his earlier works, especially his first 4 albums...before his music became political instead of personal. His lyrics are so simple but so powerful.

Oh, I nearly forgot, there's Frank Zappa! And Counting Crows and Crash Test Dummies, their first two albums.

When it comes to music, even though I stay pretty up to date, sometimes I feel so old. I don't have an Ipod (too expensive), and there are now adults who have never seen a vinyl record in their life! I miss records. I loved listening to the album while scouring the album cover notes and artwork, and reading the lyrics. Now, you can't even read some of the writing on CDs, and forget about trying to read lyrics IF they include them. Yep...I am officially an old folk now. By gum.

Stupid

What is it that makes smart people do stupid things? I remember when my son was growing up and he would do something dumb, he would direct this fierce anger towards himself, saying he was so stupid. I always tried to comfort him the same way. I'd tell him he was smart, but even smart people do dumb things. Smart people learn from their mistakes.

I've always been a solutions-oriented person. When I did something stupid, I'd struggle to find a way to make it right, and most of the time I do find a way to correct it, but I almost always learn from the process. That's what makes us human. I recently did something wrong, innocently without intention, but very stupidly. It was one of those times when I should have known better but didn't? Please tell me I'm not the only one. So what do you do when that stupid thing (and nope, I ain't tellin' you what it was...too humiliating) is so bad that it has the power to ruin a respectable reputation? How do you fix that? I've always believed that things happen for a reason, and you can find something good in the bad. So, how do you make the lemonade from the lemon? I've been struggling with this all week. I'd love to hear how others overcame a stupid move, regained your self-respect, and moved forward in a healthy manner.

Indie Films

I just added yet another link on the sidebar. It's to the Independent Film Channel website. If you go there and click on Short Films, you can watch literally hundreds of short films and trailers submitted by aspiring filmmakers. Granted, some are unbearable to watch. Any kid with a cheap camera can upload stuff, but there is also a lot of very good and interesting work. Check it out!

Also, I didn't add it as a link, but Theatremania.com gives you all the info you need when you are looking for a play to go to.

Insomnia

Can't sleep. Can't get my brain to shut off. Decided to add a couple more links...one to WLIU, the public radio station that broadcasts out of the college formerly know as Southampton College. Also, Drug Digest. No, it's not a website for stoners. You can go to this page and punch in two medications and it will tell you if there is any interaction. I believe in being proactive regarding your health.

Saw "Scoop" tonight with my friend, Bonnie. Woody Allen's newest. Not even going into the whole marrying his step -daughter-ish, someone really needs to tell this man to stop making movies. The acting ranged from mediocre to awful, and I think the only one to blame is the director. Neither Scarlet Johansen nor Hugh Jackman were very good, when they have given exceptional performances in other movies. There were a few laughs, though, and some of them pretty obscure. I don't know what 'thing' Allen has about midgets...excuse me, little people (and how is that term not as offensive as midgets?), but in a scene where SJ and WA are talking, two little people walk by in the background. It was so out of context we started laughing and couldn't stop, like a couple of 14-year-olds. Later, Allen's character tries to remember a code by giving each number a visual...one of which was "12 spinning midgets."

I hope to see Lady in the Water soon. I know it got bad reviews. I keep going to Shamylan's films with high hopes that continue to be dashed. ALso, Pirates. But there were some really interesting films in the previews.

Well, back to bed to try to sleep.

Links

Well, my buddy, Nancy, came over and figured out for me how to add links, so here they are. First, of course, is her blog...the thing that got ME started. She's an awesome writer and great wit, so check it out. Next is my theatre biz with my partner, Stacy. She is an awesome writer and a great wit. See a pattern?

Internet Movie Database (IMDB) will give you all the info on films that you want. Same for IBDB for Broadway. Have you ever found yourself watching a movie and recognizing an actor and wracking your brains but not connecting where you've seen him or her before? Or chatting with someone about a movie and you just can't remember who directed it and it's driving you crazy? Okay, maybe this doesn't happen to everyone, but it does to me, so...just go to IMBD and look it up. Handy.

East End Arts Council is a great resource for anything to do with the arts. And one of my real favorites, Hoaxbusters. Whenever I get an email warning me about a virus or about anything, or a petition, or whatever, I always go to Hoaxbusters before sending it on. Nine times out of ten, it's confirmed as a hoax. That still amazes me...that people actually sit around thinking of ways to waste other peoples' time and that they even START these things. Really. Get a life, dude.

Melaleuca is a great company that manufactures high quality, environmentally friendly, all natural products, from skin care to home cleaning products to toothpaste. Check it out.

US Women Without Borders works to end violence against women. So does V-Day. And Femina Web search provides a directory of links to female friendly sites.

If you have any links that belong here, feel free to suggest.

Technology, Music, and Ducks

I've gotten feedback that this format makes my blog hard to read. Did you have that problem? I've bolded my posts, maybe that will help, but I can't yet bold the rest. A friend who's been doing this for awhile is supposed to come over and help me, but this blog site is pretty easy...I've gotten THIS far on my own. And it's free!

So, it's Sunday morning and MyMan is HOME! So what am I doing in front of the computer? Hey, we all still need alone time, and we both have stuff that needs to be done. Anyway, this evening, we are going to a Ducks game. Believe it or not, I really enjoy these games, even though the last time, he got bonked on the head with a foul ball! It's so close, very clean, and way cheaper than the majors. It will be like a double date. We're meeting my good old friend Deb and her fiance, Christopher, who is a computer genius. It sure is handy to have a computer genius as a friend when you are plagued by 'puter problems. He's a very generous genius, too. Anyway, they are our Ducks buddies. Debbie and I eat one of everything they sell...hot dogs, crackerjacks, ice cream...it's an important part of the whole live baseball game experience, dontcha know.

I bet you were wondering what ducks and technology had in common! What do you think of the Ducks (if you think of them at all), and about friends sharing their expertise.

Earlier, I was listening to an old favorite that I very nearly forgot - Al Stewart! Remember "Year of the Cat?" That isn't anywhere near his best song. It's really bringing back memories...mostly of my sister when she was a teenager. She turned me on to him. Now I'm listening to Low Millions. The lead singer is Adam Cohen, Leonard Cohen's son! His voice is his own, though at times reminiscent of his dad's. Now I need to get crackin' on those things that need to be done.

Mommy Wars?

I just received my Long Island Women's Agenda newsletter, and there is an interesting article. I am quoting the article below. Apparently, the media has been using the term "mommy wars" when describing issues relating to mothers and work.

"The MOTHERS Initiative of the National Association of Mothers' Centers (NAMC) launched its Ceasefire in the "Mommy Wars" Campaign...This effort is focused on the media...

"This isn't a playground and we don't have to choose sides...At issue is the perceived battle between mothers who work and mothers who stay home. In reality, women aren't just one or the other. Many women are in one category for a time, transition to the other, and perhaps transition back again at another stage in their family's development. The real issue is the lack of societal supports for the caregiving work that still falls most heavily on women's shoulders. This work can be the care of children, of elderly parents, of a partner who has taken ill, or of oneself.

"Framing the conversation with this devisive rhetoric promotes the notion that women are against each other when the opposite is true. The same policies, practices, customs, and laws that would benefit at-home moms would also benefit at work moms and all those in between who cobble together some kind of schedule to make a living and care for their families and themselves. Of course this would include fathers and non-parents, too!

"Join the campaign! Respond to those who try to divide women unnecessarily."

The campaign materials can be found at www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org.

Thanks, LIWA, for this interesting and informative article. I have been out of the Mommy loop, with my chicks out of the nest for some time now. But I have friends who are dealing with this issue, an important one, I think. While this could certainly be called the Age of Communication, and the media can definitely be an asset, it also can really add unnecessary fuel to the flames of just about any issue. Off my soapbox now. What do you think?

Books and Music

I got up early with My Man...who went to work. I fed King (his dog) and Jack (my kitty...see photo), made myself an Herbalife shake (still one of the best breakfasts ever), went through my morning ritual of checking all four email addresses I have, playing my ongoing scrabble games, and then played a few rounds of internet hearts. I am so addicted to card games online. And I found a good game of poker online, too - the kind you that you play with fake money.

Last night, I watched one of the two episodes of Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes. It was the third of four sets of two one-hour shows a week. I think it's on TNT. I think he's been slipping lately. His stories are still pretty fresh, but I've been thoroughly dissapointed by his endings lately. His last book, "Cell," was great. Suspenseful, excellently fleshed out characters (as always), but it just ended. It was a cliffhanger ending and it was very frustrating. I don't have to have every book or story tied up neatly in the end for me, but I do need some sort of explanation of why everyone got zapped by their cell phones and became something else. Grrr.

I read (or I should say listened to) another book by Dean Koontz, "The Taking." Many people thought it was too heavy handed, but I enjoyed it. It was an alien invasion story, but with a twist. Maybe it had a stronger impact because I listened to it on a road trip taken at night, but I thought it was clever. I like his other books very much, although I remember not reading him for awhile because his books started seeming the same. I guess that can happen when you read the only one author for too long.

ANYWAY, here I am sitting at my computer and listening to music. I get Yahoo music, so I can listen to whatever I want on my computer. I listened to Nellie McKay, and they always suggest some similar artists, so I explored Neko Case, Ivy, and now I'm listening to St. Etienne. There was one song by each that I've heard on the radio, and was happily surprised. Before that, I listened to My Morning Jacket. They are so good...sort of early NeilYoung-ish. One song, in particular, "Golden," is so beautiful. They have a sort of nostalgic sound that brings you back (if you're old enough) to the early 70s mellow rock. Like I said, early NY.

Music has so much power to affect our thoughts, emotions, and spirit. I love so many different types, but I guess mostly what they call adult alternative. Although I like groups like Sublime and Gorillaz.

Well, I should get away from this desk for awhile and get something done. Tell me what music you're listening to. :)

I Caved

My friend, Nancy, has been hounding me to start a blog. I've resisted. I mean, why do I want what is essentially a diary made public? Yesterday, when I gave her my usual excuses, she shot back, "It can be whatever you want! Write about movies and books." Hmmm. Now she had my interest. So, I finally caved. It's 11pm on a Friday night, my honey is sound asleep after working a long hard day in this heat, and I can't sleep. Nothin' on TV and even computer games have me bored.

And here I sit trying to think of something to write. I haven't seen many films lately. Some fun stuff on TV. I am about 2/3 finished with Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I think I like it better that DaVinci Code. A student of mine (I teach acting) is going to lend me her copy of Sean Astin's bio. She's nearly finished and she says it's really interesting. Titled something like "And Actor's Tale. Half the book is about his experiences working on Lord of the Rings. Gotta tell my friend, Bonnie, about that one. She is a hardcore Rings fan.

I did see an interesting film a while back called "Thumbsucker." Odd, but pretty interesting. And "History of Violence" with Viggo Mortenson and Maria Bello. When the film finally explodes into the inevitable, it's kind of hard to watch. But the acting was amazing...everyone.

You see, that's the trick about these things. You start writing about stuff, and it starts to turn into sharing very personal things you wouldn't share with strangers. But the solitary act of writing on your computer can make your forget that what you are writing will go to a place where anyone in the world can stumble upon it. Don't you think that's kind of scary?

Well, before I start philosophizin', I'll end this now. Next time I post, maybe I'll have more "kulchuh" to write about. :)