Gossip Girl

Did anyone catch it? I admit with shame that I did, strictly out of curiosity for the hype, (I am the media whore, after all) and I love the song that they kept playing in the commercial, "Something to Believe In" by Aqualung.

So, aside from the fact that it's not my age range, and I never ran with the rich or popular crowd (more Freaks and Geeks), Serena is sort of a likeable character, made a mistake, tried to clean up her act and is back in town. She has a streak of being genuine, amidst all the phonies. The phantom Gossip Girl that narrates I can do without, EXTREMELY annoying. Lose her! Let the characters gossip. Then again, I guess that would mean losing the show's premise, and deviate from the books the show is based on.

I know some critics are talking about how shocking it is to see sex and drugs, in a high school scenario, on tv, but I remember sitting in a class once in junior or senior year and a group of the popular/druggie kids giggling, having a discussion about who gave who crabs. This stuff goes on, not only at the rich uptown schools.


There's a cute guy, Dan, who played the 'geek' guy in "John Tucker Must Die" (I thought was way cuter than John Tucker, anyway), except this time he's got really short hair instead of his curly locks.

There's a despicable character who tries to date rape or screw anything that walks, including a 14 year old girl, that was disgusting. Luckily her brother Dan and Serena come to the rescue.


Anyway, don't expect substance here. I don't think I'll watch that closely, but it can't be worse than watching 'reality' television on VH1 or anything...

The Glass Castle

For those that love memoirs, Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle is an amazing read. She has been a gossip columnist on !E and a contributor to MSNBC, just recently resigned to continue with her writing. The book is an account of her childhood (she is one of four) with brilliant but troubled parents-her mother an artist and her dad, a genius at math and engineering, but a drunk. Neither can hold down a job. They live in the dessert, in Vegas, Phoenix, and Virginia in shacks, shantytowns-in some places with no plumbing. They give their children so much yet so little at the same time. One Christmas when they were little, they didn't have any money, so their dad gave them each a star; Jeannette chose a planet, Venus. Years later, their dad steals money three of the kids had been saving to move to New York, to go out and get drunk. I strongly recommend reading this book. Walls' pluckiness will make you laugh your ass off and her candor will make you cry at the same time.

The Two Coreys

I never thought I'd say this, but I watched A&E's bio on Corey Haim and Corey Feldman and now I've been watching the series, The Two Coreys, and I have to say it's very endearing, not to mention hilarious. I used to think they were so obnoxious in their heyday, but now I find them kind of cool.

Maine

While Stacey and Adam made a romantic rendezvous in Jamaica, we took a more family-friendly but still fun trip with the 'rents to New Harbor, Maine. We shared a house with them on the water and brought along one of Amanda's buddies. Here they are looking angelic on a Puffin watch cruise. It was really nice, actually, they shopped (of course), went to the beach, and learned how to play gin and eat lobster. It's nice once in a while to forget what day or time it is.

Unabashed Francophile

I wanted to encourage you to take a peek at some of the photography I found at this blog I added a link to at right, Paris Et Environs, by this guy Jimmy, some if it is just stunning. I recently went to see the movie about Edith Piaf's life, La Vie En Rose, which was amazing and SO sad...just made me reminisce about Paris, I guess...

I'm also adding a few pix from our trip to Paris in 2002, I can't get over how small Amanda is here (specifically at Versailles in first two)...sigh...have to go back...








It's a rare day I nail it, and while it is blurry, it's still one of my favorite, endearing photos of Ian and Amanda together...




one of my favorites of Ian...

Go, Lady Jokers!

Here's a pic of Amanda and some of her teammates from her awesome basketball team, Lady Jokers! We've done lots of travelling this year, and came in third in our division at the Junior Nationals at Hershey, where this was taken. One night I had five girls sleeping in my room! Now we're off to a 10 game round of tournaments that will be played at Christ the King. We also got to go to Hershey Park, our first time and enjoyed some fireworks. What a great place! Reasonable, too. We went for the sunset admission, 5-10pm, got on everything, for $24. I've got a fireworks pic too that I'll post shortly.

Girls' Investment Club

Hey All,

I was watching The View this morning, and thought these guys had a great concept,

www.chickslayingnesteggs.com

It's a pool of women that invest $50 each a month, and 4x a year (to accrue a chunk of cash to invest) they buy/sell stocks.

What do you think? Maybe we could start something like that, doesn't seem too painful on the pocketbook, could be fun and profitable for us all (as an aside to all our own personal 401K stuff). We'd need to so some research. Let me know if there's interest.

Highlights of our Lives

I was watching the series finale of Gilmore Girls tonight, where Rory got to meet her idol, Christiane Amanpour. This was a wonderful episode through and through, tying up the ends, and rather than an overly written script, let crucial moments shine with few or no words, like Lorelai by Rory's bedside the night before she leaves to report on Obama's campaign trail. Or the loving exchange between Rory and her best friend Lane, or the moment when Lorelai realizes all Luke did to help make Rory's bon voyage party come to fruition.

Then, something better happened. I went online and found out one of my good buddies from college is now a doctor. I still can't believe it. I was explaining the final process to Amanda, how Chris gave a dissertation, was questioned for an hour, then was asked to leave the room for a bit, and when he went back inside, his peers gave him the title of Dr. What a wondrous moment.

Thank God for these times. Even though they are not mine, I certainly can share in the thrill of accomplishment for another, real or virtual, as'my Rory' has grown up. I have moments like this with Amanda all the time, when she writes a great paper (she now wants to be an author), makes a wicked lay up, or does a kind deed, like treating a friend who is being shunned by others in her class as a friend, because she has some seriously scary issues at her door. I'm trying to figure out what might happen when the girl comes over on Friday. I hope to find the right words, or right way to be. If I do, that'll make my day, and hopefully hers.

GG Fest?

Amanda was suggesting we get a group of us to do a GG Marathon one day, what do you think? We'd have to pick our faves of each season to condense...

GG Blues

"It can't be ending!"
That was Amanda as she and I curled up on the couch in sandwich fashion to watch tonight's episode, on edge when we saw Logan go to propose...I can't believe I've watched Rory graduate high school and college, I was just as teary eyed when her grandparents sang to her, or when Paris hugged her on graduation day. Tonight's episode was great, dammit!

GG Going!

I just read in the Post today that GG's series finale is May 15! Contracts hadn't been going well with the girls, I think they're relieved that it's going to end, although now I'm dying to see how it's going to all wind up, and feel a little bit sad that one more thing I've enjoyed with my kid (and my friends) is going to end.

GG Back in Fine Form

I have to say I thought this week's episode was one of the best I'd seen in a while. I was sort of dreading it at first because I'm against the whole Logan proposal thing, but that was just a small part of it. I love that Rory's finally facing some realistic hardships as school comes to an end; I really want her to strike out on her own, as our present day version of Mary Tyler Moore. I know Logan is trying so hard, but...clearly Lorelai seems freaked out. But the other story lines with Lane and Zach and the chemistry that is still there between Lorelai and Luke...I got a little queasy when I heard what she was singing at karaoke, I just knew he was going to walk in!

Longing to return to Paris

I've been watching the 1,000 Places To See Before You Die series on the Travel Channel, and the most recent one was on France. I have to return to Paris to visit Montmartre; it's the one spot I didn't get to see that was the main location in Amelie, on of my most favorite films ever. My neighbor recently went there and I asked her to go to a store we went to on the Left Bank to get me a couple of things, I was so excited when she returned.

WE Channel Should be ME Channel (but not about me personally)

In a rare moment of downtime, I sat on my couch and did a little channel surfing. I stumbled onto the WE Channel, which was showing back to back episodes of a program called The Secret Lives of Women...sounded intriguing enough.

The first one was on swingers-all women were in charge of coordinating the swap parties, all from California. Strangely enough, the men had hardly any say in this show. The second one was on the porn industry-almost all California (one married actress was from Long Island, who seemed genuinely sad at the fact that she never made it as a ballerina, with children, seemed to have the most remotely 'normal' life...given the fact that she's in porn)...the next one was on plastic surgery addicts, from , you guessed it, California...one poor guy was selling his famly's dream home to pay for his wife's obscene plastic surgery bills...the next one was on shopaholics, women who aren't working or who are hardly working filing bankruptcy and racking up thousands in debt while shopping, for many items they don't even use once.


This was like watching a train wreck. I couldn't stop watching it, but these women's selfish appetite for destruction was disgusting. They were all so self-absorbed. I thought the show might suggest how these women are empowered, but they are truly the weakest links, and their husbands/partners aren't far behind, bankrolling their vices.

"Talk Radio" Disappoints-Schreiber Shines

I managed to get tickets through work to see Liev Schreiber in "Talk Radio" on Broadway tonight, an old Eric Bogosian film from the 80s that was directed by Oliver Stone. Now, I never saw the original, and loving Liev Schreiber, I was pretty confident that this was going to be fantastic. It's a story about a radio shock jock talk show personality that is on the verge of going into national syndication, and is told that on this night to spice his show up a bit to impress the big bosses.

Let me preface what I say next by saying that Schreiber is and continues to be one of the best actors of this generation. I saw him in a production of Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" with Juliette Binoche a couple of years ago, he's been in many films (I got a kick out of him in "Daytrippers"), and most recently he did a stint on CSI. The guy gives 110%, and so did the rest of the cast. He was living/breathing (and chainsmoking) this character. The set was perfect. And on this night, a special treat-standing by us on our way into the theater, together, were Stockard Channing and Dana Delaney (Rizzo and the China Beach chick). They're tiny! We had great orchestra seats, too.

Anyway, the show's true detriment lies in that this character is supposed to thrive on provoking others when discussing current events. But mentions of George Bush as president, nuclear war, "Big Brother" or even the "punk" teen listener character that is brought onto his show pulled Ian and I right out of it. I felt Schreiber's character's impact could have been tenfold if they rewrote it with current events-God-there's such a cornucopia to choose from-the war in Iraq, 9/11 and post 9/11 climate, the internet, Katrina; that to keep 'true' to the original timeline of when this story was written seems false. I guess it was intentional, but it didnt'help here.

There were timeless issues touched upon-racism, how some people are media-loving whores but have no sense or care of current events, love, but not nearly enough. And this is where the show lost its magic for me. I had been so psyched to see it and it was such a highbrow crowd that for a second I thought there was something wrong with me that I wasn't blown away when it ended. Then the whole train ride home Ian and I were in total agreement about it.

Alas, we still had a great night out, even found a great N'awlins cuisine place on Ninth that didn't break the bank called Delta Grill.

Like Fine Wine...

Christian Bale just keeps getting better with age. This is from the cover of the new GQ.

Snapshot

My daughter was playing with the camera when a friend was over and I just thought this was a really cool photo. Sigh. It all goes so fast.

Britney's Bald!

Alright, I was sure my daughter misheard or saw a doctored image when she called me en route to a birthday party to tell me that Britney Spears shaved her head, but apparently not. Check out AOL or The Superficial and you'll see the photo.

Feeling Nostalgic

Eighties have been back for some time now...clothes, music, and that suits me fine. Now there's talk of Van Halen coming back together and doing a 40-date tour! http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003537232

Anyway, been enjoying to listening to Old Duran Duran on the ipod, and I must say the quality of the music is so much better than yesteryear, I popped my Rio CD into the computer to convert to MP3 files, and there's just all these little subtle sounds in the music I didn't really hear before. It's really nice.

Having been shacked up at home most of a week with the cough/cold from hell, I forced myself out to go dancing (briefly )on Friday night with Ian-I didn't drink, I just wanted to shake this thing out of my system, and went to Culture Club again...as we got by the club I heard blasting U2's "I Will Follow." and then when we got inside it was Blondie. It was a fun night.

On one of my bored days, I was Googling for Duran images and came upon this site, www.duranduranunseen.com. Enjoy!

Tearfest

I've been home the past two nights with a heinous cold, so perhaps I'm a little vulnerable to winter/sunlight depravity, but I bawled like a baby watching Gilmore Girls when Luke spoke out at his trial about why he wants to be in April's life. Then I bawled again when I heard Lorelai's character reference letter. Then I bawled yet again watching an excellent episode of House, where House is kept 'in a room' with a rape victim, while Dr. Cameron stays with a terminally ill man. My daughter asks for how I'm doing. Oh boy, here we go again.

As I Get Older...

I find that there are certain things in life that you just can't scrimp on....


Good coffee...as the saying goes, life is too short for bad coffee..
Butter...good butter can either make or ruin whatever it is on...
A good bag...I found 'the bag' today...I looked so long and hard for the right size and color (blood red, not that pink red you see all over)...but it is beautiful!
Wine...it doesn't have to be expensive so much, but my days of coolers are over!

I know there's more to add to this list that I'm blanking on, feel free to add your comments.

A-E-AEIOU-U-AND SOMETIMES Y!

God, this is the best song! It took forever to find. I kept thinking it was by Ebn Ozn, but that is a different song. The classic version (well better version) that I love is by Freeze. Lovin' having my iPod back again.

The holidays are over (thank God!) and now it is time to seek out music.

Italy Pics

Here is a link to the Highlighted Italy pictures we took on our trip.

Italy 2006 Highlights

Holiday Party??

I know timing is very late to consider, but any thoughts on doing a holiday party? Good or no? I have no idea what others' schedules are like. Please advise.

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'All!

Finally, a moment's rest. Well, sort of. Helping cook a few items for my mom-in-law's spread. (Lauren, you will be happy to know I referred to the cranberry-raspberry sauce recipe on Domestic Goddesses today), making my first attempt here.

It has been an insane past few weeks of highs and lows. Ian is looking for new work; we went on an amazing trip to Italy (we took something like a 1,000 pictures-literally), and immediately when we came home, I had to close three newspapers in a week's time. No problem!

I'm seeing if Ian can rig a slideshow on here, if not, I'll post a url for pix. They came out friggin amazing. The trip was incredible. Ian, Chris Cocking, Amanda and I flew out Nov. 3, joining up with Rossana, Alessandro and Julian, and stayed with her parents in Grossetto in Tuscany, Carla and Loriano (dad in Tuscan is Babo) for a week, and probably picked up a good 40 words or so of Italian. They were the most wonderful hosts, we felt like part of the family, visited with lots of family, too. Lots of cheese, wine, and espresso! We rented a giant Peugot van and drove all over-two trips to Florence, Etruscan castles in Livorno (Populonia) and other tucked away villages (Chris and I both loved the town Massa Marittima-when I imagined what Italy would be like, this was it for me), and drove to a northern beachside town, Follonica, where some of Rossana's family lives. (Roe, you would die in Florence, it is an orgy of leather market shopping everywhere-unfortunately, we couldn't go nutso on that department this trip, but one day, next time!, not to mention there's the Uffizi, where there was a cool DaVinci exhibit.) We took the train to Rome and went to the Vatican (I can't even begin to describe how overwhelmed we were there, the size, the artwork, the history.) We also went by the Trevvi Fountain, the Forum, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum (Amanda's personal fave)...all in one day!

So it is nice to have a real day of rest, back home with the family. Will write more soon.

Cure Sing for Cartoons

I haven't watched Saturday morning cartoons in my living room in a while, as Amanda has a tv in her room. So I'm sitting here this morning, then suddenly I hear Robert Smith singing, and I think the cat must've stepped on the remote. Nope, apparently the Cure performs the theme song for a morning cartoon on Cartoon Network called, "The Dragon Hunters"! That's kinda wild, kinda cool.

I watched "The Lake House" last night. While a bit slow and illogical at times, I still liked it because I love Keanu and Sandra, they have great chemistry. And poor Keanu has had such a rough romantic life (his baby died, and later his (then ex) girlfriend was killed in a car crash) , I wish the guy some kind of happiness. I'm now curious to read Jane Austen's "Persuasion."

Dexter, GG and ITALY

I am the TV whore this week.

Dexter-loved the humor mixed with the dark side to this character. It seems that all the other characters on the show pale in comparison though-hopefully time will balance this out. I can't wait til next week's episode! And did anyone see the trailer about the new series on Henry VIII, "The Tudors," with Jonathan Rhys Myers? Christ he is beautiful, lookin good with facial hair, too.

GG-Off to a good start. Painful, but in a good way-Amanda and I cringed at Lorelai's admission of sleeping with Christopher, but at least all the cards are on the table. Amanda wants her with Luke in the worst way...I'm not quite sure what my stance is...the trailer with Luke saying "Hey, I'm over it, after all, you're the one who asked me to marry you" was a bit of a "Yeouch!" Unfortunately, I don't think Jess will be getting back into Rory's life-first of all, they broke up in real life, and secondly, "Jess"
is now earning his wings on the new show, "Heroes," about ordinary people learning that they have special powers.

My random guilty pleasure of late is VH1's The Alternative show from 11-2 am on channel 136. All vintage videos! Good stuff.

Friday we purchased tickets for the three of us to go to Italy for one week in early November, where we will be staying with the Cockings at Rossana's parents' home in Follonica, which is on the northwest coast. We are so stoked, but I am anxious to do a rush job to renew Ian and Amanda's passports. Plus Ian lost his old one, which had expired, so he ordered online his birth certificate through the Dep't of Health, should be here any day now. FYI, the Times had an article today stating that come January, you will need a passport to go to the Caribbean, and by next January, to go to Canada as well.

Showtime is Killing Me

Ian and I are dying to see the new show Dexter with Michael C. Hall from Six Feet Under about the forensics guy by day/vigilante/killer at night. For weeks now, they've been taunting, teasing us with trailers and ads in subway cars. One week to go!!!

The Ultimate Media Whorish Act

I have sinned, stooped low, I purchased the new Vanity Fair to see TomKat's Suri. Gotta say that the baby is a cutie, and Katie is clearly glowing around that kid. What a head of hair already!

Speak Your Mind

I don't know what the hell happened, but somewhere along the way, I was no longer seeing comments on my blog, and honestly thought I was being boycotted, until Chris told me the other day that he'd been trying to comment but it wasn't showing. ( I looked a while back, happened to Lauren, too.) Maybe Blogger altered something. I finally let Ian peek at the admin area (because I'm functioning on four hours sleep today), and now all the comments are back up. Yeah! So bring em back on, guys, it's good to hear your voices.

Glutton for Punishment

I've begun a new book, "A Mighty Heart," written by Mariane Pearl about her husband, Wall Street Journal's Danny Pearl, who was beheaded by Al Qaeda. I'm certain to be in for heartbreak, as she speaks so glowingly of the time just before his capture, she newly pregnant and they are in the throes of their passion and work. He sounds like a very bright, funny, sexy guy.

Culture Club is a Blast

For once, our daughter slept over at someone else's house instead of always having the sleepovers at our place, so Ian and I went out for dinner in Union Square and then boogied at Culture Club, which was everything I hoped. Admittedly I was little skeptical when we first arrived early (10:30 or so) and the place didn't have many people, but within the hour it was packed and every tune was perfect! We never left the dance floor, except when nature called. They played many 12" versions of songs I hadn't heard in a while, while videos of Blondie, Bananarama and more played on the video screens. Everywhere there were murals of Madonna, Billy Idol, the "Rio" cover, Joan Jett, John Hughes flicks. Everyone was happy as can be, and Ian loved the 'smoke' filled room. He even dared to put on a touch of eyeliner! Definitely one of the best nights out in a while.
ONe thing though-if you go, make sure you grab an ad in Time Out, as I did, or else they'll try to hit you up for a $20 cover fee! I whipped out my magazine and in the end we went in for free.

Blah-ging

Oy, the summer has come and gone. I would've blogged sooner, but I forgot my Blogger password!

I flew my mom up for a visit, and that was nice, I miss her. I wish I had a zillion dollars to fix her and us all up right. Amanda's doing great in her summer basketball league/still keen on the doctor/WNBA bball dream. Last weekend she got me in a weak moment and we painted her room. Finally done! Blue w/dark blue trim, and Ian did an amazing freehand pattern around the room. It is an oasis. She is slowly beginning to appreciate eyeliner and loves "Donnie Darko" (and its cool 80s soundtrack), "Saved!" and "Uncle Buck" (a movie I loathed when it came out, but now I love it.) Oh yeah, Amanda and her cousins, who recently moved from California, took her to the Warped Tour, where she got to see a band she likes, Gym Class Heroes. Apparently she got a little tired there and had to sit down at one point, but had fun. (Too bad she missed Joan Jett, who I would've loved to see-she was on another stage). Jett looks fantastic at 50!

Went to a wedding in the Hamptons at a winery with guests that looked like something out of an American Eagle ad. The vibe was kind of hippy (the maid of honor was a dog) and the reception was in a big airy barn-lots of sunflowers.

I've mostly been frying my eyes late at night on the computer for my newspaper gig, going to get my eyes checked tomorrow. I will probably need to get glasses. No vanity issues here. I love wearing sunglasses now!

Sept. 11 is approaching, and my old college buddy Christina's family has gotten a bunch of recent press. The parents wrote an editorial in last Sunday's Daily News-they only found out in the recent release of 911 tapes that her brother Christian Regenhard's company was dispatched to the South Tower. A single fact uttered five years later! I remember that memorial like yesterday, Amanda came with us. I saw his sister earlier this summer, it is hard for her to accept the idea that Christian isn't around anymore, I can't imagine what that must be like. They're even naming a class after him at John Jay College, Regenhard Center for Emergency Response Studies. Hillary Clinton is helping to get funds together for it. My father in law has been asking about going to see the new Oliver Stone flick, but I don't know.

Check out Superman Returns

On a movie kick this weekend, we also got tickets for a Saturday show of Superman Returns, and it was great. Beautiful to watch, romantic, action packed, a few tears shed. The new actor, Brandon Routh had big shoes to fill, and did so gracefully. Also a hottie!

Devil Wears Prada is Great

I was so excited to go see the movie today I could hardly contain myself to take Amanda and her buddy to the first show. Both Meryl Streep and Hathaway are wonderful-some of the clothes are to die for, they go to Paris, the place I love...and there's one scene where I gasped, and I'm curious to hear from others if they reacted the same way too, (but not for the obvious reason.) Let me know!

My Heroine is going to St. John's!

I've been less media whorish lately, writing about family instead, because at the end of the day, that's what it's all about. Amanda's other basketball team, The Heroes League, has made the playoffs and is going to play a tournament at St. John's! I'm so happy and proud for her! And one of her teammates Nora, a fun, Amazon girl (she's Amanda's age and about 5'10") from Kew Gardens, is coming to our school next year, I can't wait for CYO! I have to get their pic up here soon.

My summer movie to-see list

The Science of Sleep
Paris, je t'aime
The Devil Wears Prada
Nacho Libre
The Lake House
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Two words...maybe a couple more

"Savage Animal" !

Supergroup is hilarious. I don't know whether Sebastian Bach is hamming it up for the show or whether he's just a complete screwball, but it makes for fun tv. Watching him watch himself on Gilmore Girls and shushing others and then laughing insanely by himself is amusing. Or I might just be sleep deprived.

We won!

Amanda's AAU basketball team, the Notre Dames, beat the New Jersey Panthers 24-10 this weekend in New Jersey at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Here's a couple of pics of the guys, the sweetest bunch of kids around. We spent the night at a hotel in Jersey and got to bond by the pool, while Ian fired up a great bbq for the parents.

Your Eyes Aren't Playing Tricks on You

If you look to the right, you will see a link to ROSE ROSEN's blog! Yessirree, it's called "here I am." A great big welcome from our blogging community, Rose, I am so happy.

Growing Pains

I've been quiet on speaking about Lost, but I gotta tell you, as a parent, when I saw how different Walt looked on last night's episode, a few tears were shed. If I hadn't seen my kid for a period of time and she grew that much and was in trouble, I don't know what I'd be capable of.

Malls are like...

roach motels. You can get in, but you can't get out.

Life Imitating Art?

OK, I'm surprised no one has said this yet, but this shooting in the butt the other day of a rapper named Gravy outside Hot 97's studio seems very similar to an episode of The Sopranos from just a few weeks ago, where Bobby Bacala was speaking with a rapper whose work he admired. When the rapper said that he could never have the popularity that some others have gained because they were shot and survived, Bacala quietly went and shot the guy in the butt.

Porn Pubs on the Quad

I was reading this Sunday's New York Times specifically, the (ahem) Education section, and there was an article about how many colleges (Ivy League ones, too) now have their own school-endorsed cheesecake (read: porn) magazines...I am becoming such the prude with age, but man, this is a bit hard to digest.

Laurence Fishburne on Parenting

This quote of actor Laurence Fishburne was taken from Sunday's New York Daily News (4/23/06).
"What I continue to learn as a parent is to be mindful of the fact that I am responsible for being the parent my children need me to be, and not necessarily the parent I want to be."

I'm going to sleep on it tonight, will comment tomorrow (hopefully along with you all.)

Forever 21 is Crack for Young Girls

That store is pure evil, where was it when I was a teenager? Every friggin tshirt, blouse, jacket, dress in that store is adorable, and at great prices, even the fitting rooms are cool with their long, flowy white curtains.I can't buy a damn thing in there for myself really, but I love the clothes for Amanda. I found her a Rory type dress for Easter, that is so cute!

My TV Mom Alter Ego...Never Watched This One, Either!

Based on the www.Tickle.com survey, I am Lois from Malcom in the Middle, a show I've never watched, but maybe should take a crack at it.
Speaking of GG, I am very upset that for some reason my telly didn't tape GG when we were at basketball practice last night...now I will have to wait for reruns!




Your TV Mom is Lois


Which TV Mom Are You?

Brought to you by Tickle

Something (Else) to be Appalled About

Following the heels of the controversial sculpture hommage to B.S., I stopped in a McDs after school with Amanda the other day, and I noticed a manager sitting down with a girl applying for a job, who had iPod buds hanging from her ears! During the interview!!! As Roe would say, WTF? Didn't someone clue her into interview etiquette?

Quick Hit

I'm reading Johnny Cash's autobiography. Did you know he is a descendant of the first king of Scotland? Pretty good read so far.

Saw "V for Vendetta," didn't like it. I have a feeling it's a case of the comic being WAY better than the film-this just didn't translate well. Hugo Weaving was great, but Natalie Portman just doesn't make a convincing transition from a gal who wishes to remain below the radar to a vigilante. Hair shaving scene didn't help, although I like the way it looks.

Also saw "She's the Man," with Amanda Bynes, who for the tween set, is a class act. While I got tired of her slapstick show on Nick as my Amanda got older, she has aged gracefully and her character's perceptions of how a guy is supposed to act (and her execution of these) are hilarious, even though she in no way shape or form is convincing as a guy.

I want to go see "The Libertine" with Johnny Depp next.

BTW, if you have time, you can watch the 'Scientology' episode of South Park on The Superficial web site (I've got the link to the right.)

Living in NY Is highway robbery

I had to go to work in the city this morning at an ungodly hour and bought some toast in a coffeeshop to go-$1.20 for 2 pieces of bread! Jeez. That's insane.

I'm so ready to move out of the city. I read in Allure today that the French government flips the bill for older women (didn't specify age, but still) to go to a spa once a year...now doesn't that sound more like it to you?

Ashley Parker Angel's Earning His Wings

I know it's MTV land, but I like the premise of the show about O-Town's Ashley Parker Angel trying to raise a family and make a record on, "There and Back." The guy's been living with his girlfriend in her mom's home, while caring for their infant, Lyric. It's nice to see someone who hasn't had it easy and finally get their break. When he finally heard his song on the radio, he got out of his car on the boulevard and was screaming at the top of his lungs. I like the song, "Let U Go," which I believe he wrote; the video debuted today on MTV-you can see it at www.MTV.com/music.

That's a Mighty Long Title!

I'm perversely curious to read it, but I don't know. In today's Post, Bonnie Fuller said to Cindy Adams over dinner,

"I have four kids; two had life-threatening illnesses. I have a husband, a home, another place in Utah, a huge job. I have no time to clean closets regularly or rotate wardrobe on a sensible seasonal basis. My sock drawer is not perfection, and I don't give a damn."

Later, she says, "Every woman can enjoy her inevitably hectic life and stop feeling overwhelmed. The key to happiness is not balance but, instead, a chaotic, maxed-out life that sees every dream realized."

I'm with Cindy on this one, I'm exhausted just reading this; just because you may have it all doesn't mean you're truly savoring and appreciating it all.

Blogspot formatting

I see on other people's blogs different fonts/layouts that are not in the Blogspot templates. How can I go about doing this?

Proliferation of blogs for stay-at-home dads

I was reading an article on Salon and came upon this web site, www.rebeldad.com. I couldn't get over the number of stay-at-home dad blog links there were! I personally like blog of the blue sloth, who had a neat quote from sci-fi writer Robert Heinlein (who was related to my high school teacher!)

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

It's Me on Holiday!

Definitely a lot of fun, great idea, Lauren!

EWW! Kimmel Slips RIpa ABC Gum

I was watching "Live With Regis and Kelly" this morning and they had Jimmy Kimmel on as a guest, when he puts in his mouth two pieces of gum, chews them and then puts them both into Kelly's mouth! Then she sort of does an Ashlee Simpson/SNL-type dance to distract you from the skeeviness factor. Yick, you heard it here first!

Sebastian Bach Gets the Best GG Line of the Night

Sebastian Bach had the best retort of the evening to Zach. "You're way deep in my bogus bag and it's ziplocked shut." Brilliant!

Good show tonight, although I'm sorry to say, the Zach/Lane proposal thing doesn't feel right at all. I was so hurt at how the whole gig for the record label combusted, it was Lane's dream for years shattered in a second. Lane looks so miserable, like she's settling. The poor girl needs....Joel? The guy worked so painfully hard to work his way not only into Lane's heart, but her mother's, too.

Loved the chemistry/frankness between Lorelai and Chris on his inability to say no to Gigi. It was really an uncomfortable, necessary moment that Chris even admitted, made him finally realize how it feels to be holding the bag when the other parent fails and bails. And I must say Lorelai and Chris are looking even more simpatico these days.

Man, watching Rory, I'm not even her mom and I feel wow, she's grown up a lot since the beginning of the show, she's so sophisticated and confident. I can only imagine her disgust at finding out about Logan's indiscretions with his sister's friends. And I was briefly frightened by that oh-so-predictable come on by Doyle. Thank God that ended there!

Watching the Tube Doesn't Make Me a Complete Boob

I'm going to go out on a limb and sound very 1950s, but I have to say that, despite the amalgam of bad television shows on the air, (of which I have often given my two-cent critique), some televised programming has brought our family joy. Like tonight, my daughter and I were laughing hysterically while watching "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" that just felt soo good. I also think about our mother-daughter time watching "Gilmore Girls," or lying in bed crying over a wedding/heart attack double episode of "Roseanne," snuggling with Ian on the couch to watch "Six Feet Under," watching doctors work miracles on the Discovery channel, or checking out late night videos. They are small, fleeting moments, yes, but I cherish them just the same.

Morrissey Serenades the FBI

Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking when I said that I thought Bush was a terrorist... (FYI folks, I'm making this lyric up, as a take off on Smiths' "Big Mouth Strikes Again.")

Whether you agree with his politics or not, Morrissey's a bloody musician who simply made an offhand comment, that's all...no need to get the FBI on his case.

Measure for Pleasure

Last night Ian and I went to see a preview of the new Off-Broadway show, "Measure for Pleasure," a sex farce/romantic comedy of mistaken identities set in the 1700s, that's playing at the Public Theater. It stars Scotsman Euan Morton ("Taboo") as transvestite hooker Molly Tawdry. One of her johns, Will Blunt, gets her off the streets by getting her a job as a chambermaid. Morton is equally charismatic as a girl as well as a guy, and Michael Stuhlbarg's portrayal of Will Blunt, is wickedly funny and fragile. The dialogue flies fast and furious, and sometimes it's raunchy, but it's a sweet story in the end.

Introducing Dave Paul, aka Ru Chappelle

Now that you're back from Africa Dave, you'd better WORK!

Check out Thesuperficial.com

This blog is bloody hilarious, and the comments are just as entertaining.

Beck Breaks Away

I just watched Breaking Away, and I'm convinced Beck got an early start in showbiz starring in that film, as the main character Dave (I'm a Cutter, baby...). We are also treated to a very young, cute Dennis Quaid in shorts as a bonus!

Parental Control

Have you seen this show? I just saw it for the first time today on MTV. The parents don't like their daughter's boyfriend, so they set her up on two blind dates and the bf has to sit and watch the dates with the parents! Hoo hoo, time to get in the hot seat! It's kind of fun to watch the guys squirm.

Time for toast

This looks funny, Jack Black's new flick, Nacho Libre.

http://www.nacholibre.com/site/index.html

How's the Media Holding Up?

Ok, what's up with everyone wearing corsets at the Grammys?

Millions of Mindless Morons

Ok, first, I've changed my blog name. After deciding that I had to blog tonight and why, I felt it was appropriate. I realize my old blog name has nothing to do with the other (I eat one while I watch the other.) I'll probably get a completely new blog, but I don't want to have to go through the gruntwork right now of transferring everything, so I'll keep it this way for now.


And now for my rant. I'm frightened frankly, at the heavy-handed attention given to Oprah (and others, but Oprah comes first, because she's so special!)for being "lied-to," let down, disappointed, however you want to put it, about James Frey's book, "A Million Little Pieces." I will state right here that I have not read the book. However, I don't have to have read the book to know that this man does not owe me or anyone else, a damn thing. He wrote a bestseller to make money, for himself. He was his own subject matter, he wasn't covering someone else's story. Maybe he lied. But he owes NO ONE anything, except maybe his landlord and his own conscience if hasn't told the truth.

This is an age-old peeve of mine that grows stronger with each case, each year. There have been so many times where a person blames the media for impacting their life in some way (a negative way), and then trouble really starts brewing. A kid kills himself supposedly for listening to a Judas Priest song, so it's the band's fault. A woman spills hot coffee on herself, she sues. When Kurt Cobain killed himself, MTV thought others might do the same, so they created a support hotline. When Britney Spears tarts herself up in a video, parents bitch that she owes her audience. When kids watch certain video games, they're liable to re-enact those behaviors in their own lives, so the games must be pulled.

How fucking weak are you? You owe it to yourself to breathe, to have a brain and a heart.

You know who owes who something?
Spouses owe each other love and to play on the same team.
A parent owes a child to be there for him or her, always, to give them unconditional love, to have a clue of what's going on in their kid's lives.
Friends, like spouses owe their friends to be there for each other.
An employer owes an employee their paycheck.
We all owe each other common courtesy, the right to speak our mind.

I'm trying to think of situations other than those with monetary exchanges where someone can owe another something, and I'm falling short.

This n' That

I'm finding that half of what I write on this site revolves around television, movies, celebrities or the internet, so I think I'm going to change my blog to be called media whore. Catchy, eh?

*Saw 40 Year Old Virgin, sweet and hilarious, if a little painful at times.
*Saw Must Love Dogs, disappointing, although great chemistry between Lane and Cusack, and Stockard Channing is cool.
*Gilmore Girls-This week's was pretty funny (Paris is back in fine form as being the snotty Yale newspaper editor), but if Lorelai even dares to look at Luke the wrong way next week because he has a kid, I will fly out to LA to beat her up on set! I think it's cool that Luke is a father. I loved how proud he looked when he went online to see her web site.
*Chad Lowe/Hilary Swank breakup...can't say I'm surprised by that one. The guy seemed sooo insecure!
*My prediction for Brangelina's baby's name:Diablo Peach Pitt

In other this n that...
*I'm turning 36 next week! Life can always be better, but it's pretty darn great right now. I love my family, my friends, and I have accomplished alot professionally, just need to do more. Before my life is over, I want to write a book.
*I bawled like a baby when I realized that the cyclops kitten died. It lived for one day.

Dead Ringer

Someone should write a screenplay about Jeff Buckley's life and tap James Franco to play him, they look sooo much alike.

"Groundhog Day" Wisdom

"Maybe God isn't omnipotent. Maybe he's just been around so long he knows everything."
-Phil Conners in "Groundhog Day."

Feelin' the Holiday Spirit

Last night I, along with dozens of helpful parents, successfully hosted my daughter's school's Pizza w/Santa night, where my brother in law turns on the charm for tons of children as Santa each year (Ian helped keep Santa's quarters secure-at one point, I thought he was violating Santa behind the stage!) More than 300 people turned out, and the lines to see Santa were endless! One little girl asked him for her two front teeth! I was a nervous wreck before, but it all turned out fantastic. We also collected a bunch of toys for Safe Space, an organization that works with families in crisis, to help spread a little cheer for those less fortunate, that will be delivered next week.

Tonight we bought our fragrant tree and decorated it while crankin' the holiday tunes, and I'm feeling pretty good about life. I haven't gotten all my holiday stuff done yet, but you know, I'll find the time. My daughter wanted to watch Frosty the Snowman, but call me a mush, I can never handle it when he melts. I think we'll do a late night viewing of Groundhog Day instead. I never tire of watching that movie, ever.

S--- Before You Shop

I mistakenly thought it would be a good idea to try to do a little shopping on Wednesday, and actually hit the ---yikes---mall. At first, I thought it wasn't so bad, until I thought I'd make a pit stop at the bathroom, where the line was from here to heaven. An old fart hitting the guy's room said, "It's a good day to be a man," to chuckles. And when he came out, and saw the ever growing queue for the women's room, shook his head and sighed.

I could in no way shape or form enjoy shopping at the mall...everyone was like a bunch of vultures. I think for the most part I will be shopping online for the rest of what I need...and most definitely avoiding-the mall.

Wha??

"I for one do not dance to dance music; disco for me is a lofty metaphysical mode that induces contemplation." -Camille Paglia, in an article about Madonna on www.salon.com

Sorry Camille, but you're 'contemplating' too much here. When I go to a club or hear disco, I dance, feel the music, enjoy it, and the moment.

Sheridan Fest 2005

I'm resting now for the evening, as I prepare for tomorrow's annual potluck feast at my place, which will include somewhere between 35-40 people, including children. I'm really looking forward to having everyone here, even though I'm sure that the day will be all of a blur for me. Now I'm unwinding by watching "What Not To Wear."

Dark Chocolate Graham Crackers

I'm not a diehard Starbucks person, but the one thing they have that is delicious is their dark-chocolate covered graham crackers. OOOh boy, are they heavenly!

Time Is Blowin' On By

These past couple of weeks have been like wolfing down a gourmet meal. This fall flew by so fast, I've hardly had the time to enjoy it. The foliage is already starting to dry up and fall off the trees. It's the middle of November! I had a great day with Amanda in Soho last week, though, won't forget that.

One other great thing happened-the landlord got us a new new stove and fridge,thank the Lord! Needed 'em real bad.

One of my pt jobs is up this week, back to hustling freelance, have to turn around some stuff for the Daily News in a few days' time, but I'll get it done. Hope to still help with organizing the school's Christmas party, the kiddies love it!

Just downloaded the new Madonna cd off iTunes, you get the video and digital artwork. love it. Photoshop admittedly makes Madonna look pretty smokin, b----! Great dance tunes, pretty solid all the way through. Love "Jump," "How High," "Let It Will Be," "Hung Up," natch...the "I Love NY" song is kind of cheesy...the album's music makes me think about roller skating and dancing.

GG chat -So, Luke scared me a little with that jealousy streak-I've never seen that before! It seems so unlike him... I think it's kind of cool that he has a really bright daughter, just, what a hell of a way to find out! Loved the scene with Emily and Lorelai on the plane-Kelly Bishop is fantastic. The Rory and Lorelai scene was nice, but seemed eclipsed by all the other stuff going on in the episode, but, yay, she's going back to Yale!

I think I'm going to make myself a "Faux Poes Foes" tshirt online.

Drunk Moose Attack Elderly Home

Have a read on the 1010 WINS site "You Can't Make this Stuff Up" section about a moose and its calf getting drunk from eating apples outside an elderly home in southern Sweden, I can only imagine the view.

Random 1

Has anyone been watching this new show on the A&E channel? There's only been two so far, but it's definitely caught my interest. There are two friends on the road that try to help random people-money is not given, anything given must be donated. On the first episode, they managed to get a guy a $20k prosthetic leg, which I thought was pretty great. I like the show's premise and its unpredictability.

&*!@#$% Damn DVR!

I had dvr'd GG because my daughter had basketball practice last night, and my dvr cut off just as the teaser for next week's episode began! Time Warner, you've mastered digital polling, but can you not extend the playing time of a show to allocate for teasers? Aaargh.

Hated the first half of GG last night, loved the second. Who gives a flying .... what color Lorelai paints the house? I mean really. I realize she's burying herself in busy tasks and avoiding the real issues at hand, and questioned her own abilities as a mother, which I well, question too. I guess all moms do that. Call me horrible, but I could really give 2 cents about Paul Anka. Yes, pets are sweet, they are not PEOPLE. Never will be.

The scenes with Rory and Jess were great-refreshing, honest, the best part of the show. I was so proud of him that he wrote and published a book! You can tell they've got great chemistry, hence their real-life long-term relationship. Even Rory's scenes with Logan, while I abhored his conduct, the acting was good.

It's all got me thinking about how I'd handle the possibility of if Amanda wanted to take time off in college? Right now, I know Ian and I would seriously put our foot down about it and urge her to stay on track..but at that point, she'd be an adult...Ian left college to raise Amanda...sigh. It's hard to think about it all.

I swear she said this

"I wanna be fluorescent in French."
-My daughter while she and I rode the train into Manhattan today.

Love Letter To My Heart

-By Linda Sheridan

You sit so close now,
Practically head to head with me
I’m in awe of you
Your beauty, your spirit, your wit.
These days are going so fast.
I want to make lists, make plans
And yet just sit here, with you,
To smell your baby-like breath
And remain frozen in time.
How I dreamed of this moment years ago,
Now dreaming of you-years ago.
Can’t decide which is better,
Because they’re both sacred times to me.
I love how you gulp my coffee
And think the songs ‘Cars’ is cool.
I love how you breeze across the court and shoot baskets
And your gut-wrenching belly laughs are infectious.
Dear heart, I love you so.

Gotta Get It

Has anyone been watching I Love the Eighties 3D? There's been adds for a Name That Tune 80s Edition DVD game. I have to get it!

Slipped

I took a nice swan dive in Barnes & Noble yesterday, going to meet Amanda after work on a rainy day, with new shoes on. Didn't bother me so much then other than embarrassment, but I think I've sprained my ankle, bruised and swollen today. Goin' to doc to check it out. Forced me to slow down a bit, so not such a terrible thing. Guess no breakdancin for me on Sat night! Oh well, pass the vino.

So, GG chat, anyone?

I will post some stuff on our Domestic Goddesses site, but NOTHING is health-oriented, or really original per se, but some of it is tasty! I constantly seek out recipes in mags and online, and I worship butter, sugar, veggie oil, and wine in my cooking (granted, not all in the same recipe!). I figure, no one is getting off the planet alive, so, f--- it!

Waitin' to hear 'Hung Up'

I have to admit, that Motorola ad has seduced me with that snippet of Madonna's new song, "Hung Up," a disco-ish tune with a generous sampling of Abba's "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme," that sounds hot! I've had a love it-or-hate it relationship with Madonna's music, but this (from what little I've heard) sounds infectious! I think it's out tomorrow (Oct. 17.) Can't wait!
Update: You can hear the song in its entirety on her web site, www.madonna.com. There's a button right on the home page, just hit 'play' icon.

Where Fashion Meets Functional Idiot

I was watching NY1 the other day and they were at some tech convention going on at Javits. After showing this 'n that, the reporter then displays some new purses. Now granted, I LOVE bags, but these had a clear window panel in the bag where owners can display their $300 iPods for all to see! "This is where fashion meets function," said some lame brained idiot. At least the L.A.M.B. collection from Gwen Stefani has a discreet little pocket inside her bag for the iPod. C'mon people, get a clue!

Buried Treasure

Today, while walking my dog, I saw something shiny in the dirt. Bent down to pick it up, and it was a dragonfly broach! Kinda pretty, brought it home and cleaned it up. A nice touch to a rainy day.

2005 Fall Fashions

I have to say, this year's fall fashions are the prettiest I've seen in at least a decade. I love the rich, jewel hues, the patterns, the velvety jackets and wool skirts, the bags. Fashion is fun again!

Cooking Classes

I really enjoy cooking/baking when I'm not in a rush. When I nail it, I (and Ian and Amanda)are happy campers. At some point, maybe we (you know who you all are) could take a cooking class at the Culinary Institute. Any interest?

This is TV Foreplay at its cruelest!

They are really working me overtime with GG! I came ever close with satisfaction this week, when I saw the look on Richard's face realizing his granddaughter had been 'crushed' by Huntzberger's treatment of her, and realized he's been going about this situation the wrong way. Rory belongs at Yale!!! At least Emily scathingly ratted out Mrs. Huntzberger and called her a two-bit goldigger (I can't believe she used the word 'banged' in such context!)

And how about Luke sitting all alone in the woods 'camping', when he wanted to be with Lorelai at the recital all along?? I could've died.

Can we all please get along? Let there be forgiveness, Friday night dinners with the Gilmore seniors, and coffee and cracks with the GG girls at Luke's Diner once more!

One question-what is the 'secret' they're talking about in the trailer? There's definitely some dark secret on Logan (as he's always been on the outs with his dad.) Maybe he's illegitimate? Or maybe his dad's paying of Yale to let his son go there?

One more question-should we take bets on if and when Lane is ever going to get horizontal?

That Burger King Campaign is Friggin' Weird!

The agency that's handling the Burger King ad campaign must be smoking crack, because a giant, plastic Burger King staring me in the face atop a high beam, while shaking me (ok the innocent guy) no less, is NOT amusing! It's downright scary! A giant, plastic Burger King popping up ANYWHERE is scary! Not cool! Not making me want to buy a burger. What happened to the friendly cartoon king of the old days?

The Power of Baking

Ah, nothing like a leisurely Sunday and the smell of a freshly-baked apple pie in your kitchen. Even better, eating a warm slice of apple pie with a dollup of vanilla ice cream on top!

Lorelai on GG is an Idiot!

I mean it when I say that I want more than anything for Rory and Lorelai to make up on Gilmore Girls. Having to endure the past few weeks watching the show without them being in contact with each other at all has been hard and unpleasant. I was hopeful watching the show tonight, seeing Lorelai longing to watch a favorite show with just her daughter, and the look that she gave as Rory approached the church for Sookie's kiddies' baptism was priceless.
Then the show went downhill!
Lorelai, in an unbelievably low selfish act, decided that while she and Rory are cradling the babies at the altar (as part of their godparenting duties), as the minister prepares to baptize the children, that now's as good as time as any to escort Rory outside and scold her for giving Sookie her new cell phone number and not her mother. What the hell is this? Are you five? In the middle of your best friends' children's day, your making a personal matter a priority? You couldn't wait until after the service at least!
Aaargh! Everytime I think Lorelai is taking a step forward she takes two steps back with this infantile behavior. I know she's a young mom and all, but by now, she's like 37, so wise up, woman! Those damn tv writers piss me off!

The First Time We Met

This is a poem written by my daughter for a school contest. I thought it was pretty amazing. She is eleven years old.

The First Time We Met
By Amanda Sheridan

The first time we met,
the time I will never forget,
because being with you is all I need,
in my thoughts and in my dreams.
The first time we met,
I knew I was in love,
that very second I just knew,
that if you were to know me,
we would be in true love,
not the kind you see on tv,
or what you hear on the radio,
but true love is what I mean.
The first time we met,
the time I will never forget,
because if I die before you,
you will always know,
that I will be waiting for you.
So never forget,
that I LOVE you!
That will always be true!
From the first time we met.

Quick take on last month

The past month has been a bit hellish-we found out recently that two of our close friends each lost a parent. Then two other friends are getting divorces!
As for me, I've taken a second part time job at a doctor's office, strictly for need of cash and its convenient location. Not thrilled about the deviation from my writing career at this point, but hell, the NY Times just laid off 500 people, so I guess this is just a tough time for writers. All of the advertising business is switching from print to online, leaving papers struggling. About the only publication that comes to mind that is flourishing is Real Simple magazine, which I love. Every month, I swear that magazine gets fatter n fatter with ad revenue!
Been dealing with my daughter now in 6th grade, giving her a little more freedom to move about, thanks to the wonders of a cell phone, but still trying to keep close watch, as this is a precious time. Grades go on transcripts for high school now. Basketball is back on, games start next month, so I'm excited. She is a treasure, a pisser and a pain in my butt all at once, and I love her madly. I'm so blessed that she's mine.
In my spare time, been enjoying the pleasures of Acquisition, and checking out the new tv season's lineup-House, Lost, and Gilmore Girls. But I can't even enjoy Lorelai and Luke's engagement, what with the massive row going on between Lorelai and Rory. It's strange how a television show can affect your mood. But Luke sure looks fine!
And this past weekend, my husband and I went to see the White Stripes, which I blogged about below. Jack is an amazing guitarist (and easy on my eyes.)

White Stripes Live-A great night

On Saturday my husband and I went to see the White Stripes at Keyspan Park in Coney Island. It was a beautiful evening outdoors and we had a few brewskies in preparation. Granted, I hadn't been to a concert in three years (Coldplay, 10th row!), so I was excited for anything.

Jack White's guitar playing blew me away. He's AMAZING!!! And the chemistry with Meg on drums is palpable, they seem to have a great relationship, she sang a little, too. While I'm a fan of their music, the albums pale in comparison to their live performance. See them live, you won't be sorry!

Out of the mouthes of babes

"I owe my ass an apology."
-My daughter's classmate Richie, after attending a roller-skating birthday party.

Married Eighty One Years!

I saw this wire piece today about a French couple married 81 years and I was inspired. They sound like they've got the right ideas. A toast to the institution of marriage and true love!

Runnin'

It has now been a week since our family began jogging 1 mile a day. The impetus for this is to whip our daughter into shape for basketball season (as well as ourselves.) My husband missed part of last week because he broke one of his toes, but I tell you, I am in awe of people who can run 26 miles in a marathon, nonstop! Wow. I can make it through the mile alright, actually, as long as I go slowly, but it's not easy. I do feel good afterwards, though (after I get into the air conditioning, that is!)

Green Is the Way for Me

After watching Nate's burial on Six Feet Under, I have finally figured out what kind of funeral I want-a green one. I don't want to be embalmed, don't need a casket, just want to return as I came-as dust, in the natural order of time. Depending on my condition when the time comes, I'd also like to donate my organs. Ian agrees as well. The thought of putting it in writing makes me a little fearful, though.

Crazy to be Normal on Six Feet Under

My husband frantically calls me into the living room to point to Nate Fisher's epitaph on my television screen and I was so pissed-he didn't realize I hadn't seen this week's episode of Six Feet Under yet, which I had DVRd...so then we sat and watched it together.

This season has just seemed really sour to me...with all of the characters on a mission to make their lives more 'normal', they just seemed to have gone off the deep end. Nate and Brenda were passionate and hot when they were crazy and unattached in the first season...Dave was fun to watch when he was wrestling with his sexuality while cruising a club for action and starring in musicals in his head, Ruth was more appealing when she was still grieving for her dead husband, and as for Claire...well I have to say I do like the new boyfriend and that she left that pretentious art college crowd.

I had secretly been hoping that Nate and Brenda would finally be 'happy' together. Earlier this season, Nate seemed like he was finally getting his shit together and wasn't going to screw around, but then he had to go shag his step sister. As Nate put it, "When you make love and your head explodes, it's a good thing."