C'est Vrai

Just a couple of (the many) good lines from last night's John Adams on HBO, which was wonderful.

“If ever there was a city designed to distract us from our troubles, it would be Paris.” -Thomas Jefferson

“Women would add interest to many things, Mr. Jefferson, if men would allow it.” -Abigail Adams

Must Read-The Lovely Bones

I'm probably the last person on the planet to read Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones," which came out in 2002, but if you haven't, please do. I just finally read it over the past couple of days. It's a moving story about a 14-year old girl that is brutally murdered (that's the very beginning folks, I'm not giving anything away here), but the main character ascends to heaven and watches as her family's life unfolds and moves on, keeps an eye on her friends and her first love, and there's some surprises. The writing is beautiful and poignant, and Kleenex should be at hand.

My Daughter's 'Heavenly' Obsession of the Week

My daughter is in love with skater Ryan Sheckler. After saying "he's so hot!" about five million times while watching his show on MTV the other night, I was cracking up when she said "how does he live, doesn't heaven want him back?" And "Isn't he a hunk of heaven?" Too friggin' funny.

She also loves Johnny Knoxville and Bam. Let's see where this ride takes us!

Two TV Miniseries

Anyone catching HBO's miniseries John Adams with Paul Giamatti (whom I love) and Laura Linney? It's been great to watch, love the scene where Thomas Jefferson drafts the Declaration of Independence and then Adams and Ben Franklin read it over and discuss it with him. I also love the banter and affections between Adams and his wife (Linney)-poignant/scary scene when she chooses to innoculate the family against small pox and then her daughter gets it. Looking forward to next Sunday.

Also, there's a miniseries on the WE Channel, High School Confidential, where they follow 12 girls over the course of four years at a high school in Kansas, some pretty serious, candid stuff. I've been watching together with Amanda.

Nobody Owes You Anything, You Owe Yourself To Take Responsibility for Your Own Actions

I quickly became enraged this weekend when I began to read a story in this Sunday's paper (click my headline for link) about a woman-a lawyer no less, who is suing seven casinos $20 million dollars because she lost $1 million at the table and the casinos did nothing to stop her addictive-like behavior, which included staying at the table using disposable wipes to 'brush her teeth' and eat complimentary candy bars, so as not to lose her spot at the tables. Are you kidding me?

This calls to mind the cases years earlier against Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest when a couple of kids killed themselves and the parents sued the artists for the music for provoking their children. Where were the parents when their kid was depressed to talk to, comfort, look for signs until too late?

Mothers that complain that certain teen idols OWE their daughters to dress or carry themselves a certain way, because its the fans that got them where they are.

Nobody owes me anything. I owe it to myself to be a good person, to love and look after my family, my friends.

I am a very tolerant and forgiving person, but the gall of these people to blame their problems on outside forces and not take responsibility. It just kills me.

Leatherheads

These two are growing on me-George Clooney, who directs and stars in this 1920s football flick, along with The Office's John Krasinski, who looks hot in this pic.

Oh Baby! Congratulations

A big congratulations to Jeff and Lore on welcoming their beautiful son Caleb Gregory into the world, who was born at a record eight minutes after arriving at the hospital! Leia, time to get out the big sister tshirt!

Christian? C'mon...

Look, the guy's got some mad skills but... Of the three, I'd wanted Rami to win. Figures friggin Victoria Beckham loved Christian's collection.

Patrick Swayze, Please Say It Ain't So

Since I first posted this a couple of hours ago, it's all over the place now. Not that any cancer is good but isn't pancreatic extremely painful? My thoughts are with his wife and family.

I'm On Smith Mag's Homepage

Whoo-hoo! My entry is on the homepage of featured submissions for "Brushes with Fame!" on Smith Mag. Well for the moment, anyway.

Next up, folks, six word memoirs. Anyone?

First Podcast

Yup, I've got a podcast! And so can you. Please bear with me. Ian told me about this and was so excited for me to do one-at 1 in the morning, when I was half asleep! Props to drop.io for making it possible.

http://drop.io/coffeendanish

Another Site To Check Out-Smith Mag

Thanks to an email from NPR, I found out about this site Smith Mag, (link on left) it's a fun spot for writers! Apparently it's been around for two years now, I wish I'd known sooner. Anyway, I joined and added a couple of celebrity anecdotes to the "Brushes With Fame" category (if you look at the tag words, look up Wham or Duran Duran.) Let's all add 'em!

Another point of interest on here is the Six-Word-Memoir. I have to mull this over, perhaps you'd like to take a stab at it too.