Movin' On Up

The coast that is...Yes, Ida was right in her last comment to me, it is time for a new blog name. I'm moving this weekend to Santa Barbara. I'm very psyched.

It's an exquisitely beautiful city, much like a west coast version of Charleston but with mountains as well as ocean and only 25 minutes from the Santa Ynez Valley (where they filmed the movied "Sideways" so you know what I'll be doing on weekends.

During the week, I'll be designing lifestyle pages for the Santa Barbara News-Press and eventually doing some feature writing as well.

And don't worry, SB is only 90 miles from LA (I made it back to La La Land in an hour and fifteen this morning) so I will see my abfab niece, nephew and my brother ALL the time!

So here's to my new chapter...I'll keep ya posted!

Rings on her Fingers and Bracelets on Her Wrists

So, for those of you who know me, you know that I wear a lot of bracelets on both of my wrists.

For years I've been wearing these bracelets that are handmade by my cousin Nancy who lives in Ann Arbor. Each time I see her, which unfortunately isn't often, I add to my bracelet collection and each time I see her, Nancy's jewelry gets fabulouser and fabulouser (yes, I know that's not a real word.)

And for all these years that I've been adding to my collection on both of my wrists, I've received a myriad of compliments from friends and strangers alike. And inevitably I get the question "Where did you get those?"

Until recently, my only response was a kinda of regrettable shrug and a "She lives in Ann Arbor."

But now, drumroll please, I have a new answer. Original Nancy Melet designs can be had by all who have coveted my collection over the years. Nancy has launched her website.

And get this...there is a collection named after me. Check it out. Here's the description. "Mindy - Copper pearls, vintage brass from Ethiopia, interlocking silver, brass and copper." It's gorgeous.

I don't even have that one myself...Next trip. Which as a matter of fact, will be to Nancy's wedding in October!

Huh? Huh?

OH..My...Gawd....
I'm speechless.

Just a Thought

I was thinking last night as I was drifting to sleep listening to the BBC news on NPR "I wonder if George Bush knows he's the worst President ever in the history of this country AND I wonder if he feels bad about it?"

I mean, he's gotta know. Everybody knows and now pundits and historians and academics and political scientists have finally gotten up the nerve to say it aloud.

And while he doesn't admit it in public and may not admit it even to Laura, he's gotta think about how he is going to go down in history as the worst President of all time. I mean, even he isn't that dumb that he can't look back at these last 5.5 years and see that everything he has tried to do has turned to crap and that everyone thinks he's done a piss poor job.

So while I'm drifting off to sleep thinking these thoughts, I wonder if George Bush is drifting off to sleep thinking, "Damn. I'm the worst President in the history of the world. Damn."

FUN!

Can you tell I just discovered this? I promise I won't post videos everyday but I found this on a friend's site and fell in love with it. Treadmill choreography - whodda thunk it? I would fall and break my nose for sure.

Is There Nothing Sacred?

Am I the last to find out that stardom's coolest, way coolest, super coolest, couple is no more? I know, I know, old news but it's new to me and I'm devastated.

I was shocked to find out that my favorite crooner, Ryan Adams, and favorite Indie starlet, Parker Posey, are splitsville. I thought they were a match made in famous people heaven.

Last summer when Adams played at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, I remember he mentioned his relationship with Posey and it just warmed the cockels of my heart.

But alas, it seems that "Love is Hell" and Adams is indeed a "Heartbreaker" and has moved on to redder pastures.

I'm not worried about Posey, though. She's the bomb. I'm just sad to see such an awesome coupling come undone.

Sarcasm at its Sweetest

I finally found this video clip that had me howling and falling out of bed when I saw it a couple of weeks ago on "The Daily Show."

It is some of the best tongue-in-cheek work I've ever seen.

Blogger's Block

I have, Blogger's Block.

There is so much going on in the world that has me:
a) upset
b) frightened
c) confused
d) angry
e) ambivalent
f) irritated
g) amused

and in my own life I'm:
a) overwhelmed
b) excited
c) pressured
d) happy
e) energetic
f) anxious
g) anticipatory

that I'm finding it hard to put everything I'm thinking and feeling into words and cohesive thoughts.

I find myself coming to this blog to put down some of these thoughts and ideas that are whirling around in my head at breakneck speed but it's too much and I am unable to write in a cohesive manner. So I close the page.

I have Blogger's Block.

What's New Pussycat??

Overheard in the Ladies Room at the Tom Jones concert Saturday Night at the Hollywood Bowl...

"God Dammit. I've held it for two hours and it figures I'd have to piss during 'Pussycat'"

Some things only make sense at a Tom Jones concert!

Hot Stuff

I have never been to Las Vegas, well at least until last week. It was my brother's birthday and he wanted to have a lowkey celebration so 15 of his closest friends set out for a Vegas extravaganza birthday weekend.

I must say it was a blast but also somewhat of a culture shock. The words "over the top" were most definitely coined for Vegas. Everything is LARGE and bright and flashy and well ... over the top. The whole time I was there I couldn't help thinking that conservation was not a word in any dictionary in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. I can only imagine how much water is used in a day, even an hour!

That said, I could have moved into my hotel room at The Hotel at Mandaly Bay. It had three flatscreen TV's, 3!!! One in the living room, one in the bedroom and one in one of the bathrooms. Oh yes, two bathrooms, on for guests I guess. Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

And the main bathroom had a waterfall tub as well as a shower with a rainshower head. Sunday morning I woke up and took a bubble bath while watching David Beckham lead the England team to victory in that day's World Cup match. Oh yes, David Beckham and a bubble bath. Yummy.

But the highlight of the trip, or maybe it was the lowlight, had to be the Donna Summer concert in the Barry Manilow theater at the Las Vegas Hilton. As we were driving in, we saw billboards advertising the concert and I must say, the photo was taken some years err centuries ago. But we've all grown a little long in the tooth since the heyday of the disco era.

Oh, did I mention that the Go-Go's were playing that same night on the Beach at Mandalay Bay? (Yes, I know Vegas is in the desert but Mandalay Bay has built a beach complete with a pool that simulates waves for body surfing. I told you, water, water everywhere!) I really wanted to do that but didn't think it would be nice to ditch the group.

So myself and 14 guys headed off to the concert of the year (or so her backup singers told us). OK. I know Vegas is cheesy just by its nature but this was cheeseball squared. First, Donna kept us waiting for 45 minutes and the crowd that looked like it had just come straight off the tourist bus from somewhere in the middle of America, was getting restless.Then an announcer came over the loudspeaker and said that there were technical problems and she would be out in 15 minutes (one of our group thought he said 50 minutes and headed for the blackjack tables and missed most of the show.)

I had declined a drink when we first sat down but decided it was definitely time to start drinking.

Finally the band, and I use that term loosely struck up a tune that sounded vaguely familiar and I realized it was an orchestral montage of her greatest disco hits. Now, remember, Donna was the queen of disco. I was like, "oh, I forgot she did that song and that song and that song" so I was getting excited.

Unfortunately, she wants to be taken seriously so instead of just doing a whole show of her disco classics, which would have been awesome, she threw in some ballads even attempting a Sade song.

To be fair, I have to say that her voice is terrific and still as strong as ever. She can belt it out. And when she did her classic hits, the crowd was on it's feet dancing and singing and then she would tone it down to a more serious song and the crowd would sit down again. It felt like being at Kol Nidre services.

Oh, and speaking of religion, apparently she found God so she doesn't do "Love to Love You, Baby" anymore which I have to say was a bit of a relief because at the risk of sounding incredibly sexist and ageist, I think it would have been a little creepy to see her at this stage of her life writhing around simulating orgasm.

Oh, and the funniest thing was that while our crowd was largely of the age to have danced to Donna Summer back in the day, two of our party were still of a tender age and had blank faces when she broke into "She Works Hard for the Money," "Bad Girls," "Dim all the Lights" and "Macarthur Park."

Oh, wait, I forgot. Actually, the funniest thing was the announcer kept calling her Donna Summers, with an 's'.

But all cynicism and sarcasm aside, it was a fun night and a trippy trip down memory lane.

Toot Toot, hey, Beep Beep!

P.S. I have some great photos but can't upload them for some reason. ARGH!!!

Talking to Nature

So, I loved The Artist's Way class so much that I signed up to take the second session of the class called "Visionquest." The object of the class is to come up with a life mission statement and then come up with a visionquest that you want to work on for the 10-week session.

All good.

Until this week's class which was a little bit, as my friend Susan's mom says, California fruits and nuts.

So after leading us in a walking meditation, which already was pushing my envelope, Marla (our instructor) tells us to walk outside and pick up something from nature. So I did. I saw some pretty yellow flowers in the median on the street and crossed the street and picked five of them.

We brought them back in and put them on a table. I have to admit it looked kinda cool with rocks and flowers and leaves and palm fronds - very artsy.

Then came the zinger. "Pick up your nature object and find a quiet place in the room where you can sit down with your nature object and hear what it has to tell you about your visionquest and write down what it says to you."

What??? I'm supposed to have a chat with my nature object. I don't think so. But, I picked up my five now dead yellow flowers and my notebook and found a space in the room.

Then I stared at my dead yellow flowers. They were not talking to me. Quiet as church mice. Quieter in fact - they were dead. I looked around. My fellow classmates were busy scribbling away like their nature objects were giving them the secret to life or at least a bestselling novel.

Then I spied an ant. And started to squash it with my pen but Marla is Buddhist and doesn't like to kill anything so I thought I'd be respectful of that. So I just watched it, making sure it didn't get on me by putting my pen in its path whenever it got too close. Hmmm. Maybe the ant could be my nature object. So I stared at the ant some more.

Then it came to me. So I scribbled a few lines down and that was that.

Then we all put our nature objects in a pile in the middle of the room and sat around it and a candle like a campfire and shared what our nature objects had told us.

When it came my turn, I told everyone how my flowers weren't speaking to me because they were sleeping (I decided not to say dead) but instead I found a little ant. I told them that the ant told me to stay on course and not let any obstacle get in the way of my visionquest and that like the ants in the ant hill, I should be sure to have a strong support system always at hand. And if I persevere and stay true to my mission statement, I will be successful in my visionquest.

I kid you not, the whole class oohed and aahed and nodded their heads like I had just revealed a great and profound truth.

California nuts and fruits.

Cows Chew Cud, Britney Chews Gum

I wanted to feel sorry for her, I really did. I wanted to watch 'the' interview and come away with a new sensitivity for Britney Spears. I wanted to believe that she was just 'misunderstood' and that the press was being cruel to her. I really, really tried.

But I didn't. In fact, all of my preconceived ideas about the queen of trash were confirmed. She had the chance of a lifetime to set the record straight and what did she do? She chewed a big, honkin' wad of gum throughout the entire interview. Matt Lauer even made a comment about it in one of his segment intros. She chewed gum.

Hello!?! Does she not have a publicist??? Never mind that her skirt was so short that I was prepared for a "Basic Instinct" shot at any minute. Never mind that her boobs were falling out of her shirt and I was just waiting to see a wardrobe malfunction at any minute. Never mind that she defended herself for driving with Sean Preston in her lap, or tried to make us believe that she cleans toilets and that her marriage is heavenly. Never mind all of that.

SHE CHEWED GUM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE INTERVIEW!!!!

I guess it's true that money doesn't buy class.

Isn't It Ironic?

I pride myself on being one of the only people in America who has never seen a single episode of "American Idol." So it was quite amusing when I took my out-of-town guest to Hollywood and Highland to see the Kodak Theatre where you can see the Hollywood sign, the stars on Hollywood Boulevard and the hand and foot prints at Mann's Theatre all in one place. And what do you know...
It was all set up for the finale of "American Idol!" Red carpet, paparazzi, TV cameras, fans with homemade signs touting their pick for winner, the whole nine yards. Jill, my guest, doesn't watch the show either so it was kinda funny that we stumbled upon this circus. However, I must admit it was fun to see all the hubbub, fun in a sociological experiment kind of way, and it was a great thing to show a visitor.
Just another day in Tinseltown!

I Always Wondered...

Why are Stan and Kyle friends with Cartman?

Couldn't Have Said it Better

I love this quote I saw in the May issue of Skirt!

"Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

American University Law Professor Jamin Raskin

With Apologies to Kelly

I had the wildest dream the other night. It was one of those dreams that was so vivid that when I woke up I had to take a minute to remember it it was a dream or if it really happened.

I dreamed I met Hilary Swank and became her best friend and personal assistant. Why Hilary Swank? I have no idea. But I think the whole dream came about because a friend wrote to tell me that Cacee Cobb quit Jessica. Perhaps after reading my disparaging comments? I doubt it but it was synchronicitous.

Anyway, I dreamed that I was shopping in Barney's and Hilary Swank was shopping too. We were both trying on shoes and got to talking. Did I mention this dream was in color. I love that. Anyway, we were chatting and she was with a couple of other friends who were in another part of the story looking at handbags and scarves (I told you it was detailed), so Hil and I were just shooting the breeze. Talked about life and shoes and restaurants, all kinds of things. We really hit it off.

So much so that I wanted to ask her for her email so we could keep in touch but I didn't want her to think I was a star stalker or something. So I was wrestling with myself about whether or not to ask her when she handed me a card with her number on it. She looked at me and said, "I really am glad to meet you. It so important to me to have good girlfriends these days. Let's hang out." So I ended up being BFF with Hilary and became her personal assistant as well. Oh and I forgot to mention that while we were trying on shoes, the paparazzi took her picture and part of me was in the picture so when it appeared in US Weekly the next week, everyone called and was all, "We saw you in US!"

When I woke up it took me a minute to remember that I wasn't actually BFF with Hilary Swank nor was I her personal assistant. But it did briefly occur to me to try to find out Jessica's email and send her a note saying I was her biggest fan and would make a great new assistant for her. Then I thought that if I was a superstar and someone sent me an email like that I would call the police.

So I didn't.

One of Life's Simple Pleasures

I love Frosted Mini Wheats. The original kind. The kind with the white sugar on it. Not the brown sugar cinnamon kind or any of the the fruity kinds, just the original ones, big or bite size, I like 'em both.

Frosted Mini Wheats remind me of being a kid and especially of being a kid with my friend Carol who nows has her own kids, one of whom is my goddaughter, Annie.

Anyway, about once a year I splurge on sugar cereal and buy myself a box of Frosted Mini Wheats. And so, since I eat them so infrequently, I always forget and am always re-delighted when I get to the last bowl.

Now with most yummy things that you eat infrequently, the last bowl or bite is a disappointment. Not so with Frosted Mini Wheats. The last bowl is the absolute BEST!! Why, you ask? Because all of the excess sugar and shredded wheat has settled at the bottom, so the last bowl you pour is basically, "have some mini wheat with your sugar!" It's so good, so decadent and so satisfying.

Gotta love the small stuff in life that makes you smile!

What he said

I recently read an interview, with Howell Raines, in New York magazine. For those who don't know or don't remember (the media is so fickle), Raines was the executive editor at the venerable New York Times before he was forced out because he got hoodwinked by Jayson Blair and was a casualty of that scandal.

Raines is a southern boy, Alabama born and bred. His son Jeff lives in New Orleans where part of the interview takes place.

Raines and the New York reporter are fishing in New Orleans and of course the conversation drifts to Katrina. They are driving around the Ninth Ward discussing the situation and how other presidents would have reacted.

Raines says, "Think what Eisenhower would have done with this! You have to entertain the possibility that Bush can't think his way through problems like this. Here's a family that has had every benefit that American Society can offer for four generations - wealth, education, social position - and they have no impulse toward repaying anything back to this society that has been so generous to them. Faulkner talks about the human heart in conflict. Well, I see no evidence of conflict in their hearts. Just meanness."

Amen. I've never heard it said better. Those people, the Bushes and their cronies, are so fortunate and yet they have no rochmanis - empathy, compassion. That above all else is what makes them so hateful.

Mixing it up

So I started Culinary School last night. Phew! Do I have a lot to learn, it was indeed a humbling but at the same time exhilerating, experience. I was going to write about it here but I decided to keep this blog as is, in other words, just random ramblings, and I've devoted a second blog to chronicling my experiences as a student of the science of cooking and baking.
If you want to follow me through school, here's the link.
Oh, and one thing. I wanted to change my picture and profile for my culinary blog but couldn't figure out how to do it. I can only learn so much at a time!

"Manthem"

What's the deal with BK these days? First they bring us that really creepy King guy that I gotta tell you, If I woke up and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, I'd call 911!

Now they bring us their latest commercial which they call "Manthem" and is it just me or does anyone find it insulting and offensive? I mean I have a pretty good sense of humor but they have appropriated one of the greatest feminist anthems and turned it into, well, exactly what they call it - a Manthem.

"I am Woman" was a battle cry, a confidence booster, a statement of purpose for women in the '70s who were fighting for equal rights. Now it's a mockery. I can't believe Helen Reddy gave the rights for her song to be so abused.

There have been so many signs in the past few years that we are on a slippery slope where women's rights are concerned but I have always tried to remain optimistic. Even when I saw those girls wearing those obnoxious tshirts (see previous post), even with the Supreme Court a disaster but jeez louise when a major corporation thinks it's okay to make fun of the women's movement a mere thirty years after its heyday, I just don't know what to think.

Here are the original words:
Words and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton
I am woman, hear me roar In numbers too big to ignore And I know too much to go back an' pretend 'cause I've heard it all before And I've been down there on the floor No one's ever gonna keep me down again CHORUS Oh yes I am wise But it's wisdom born of pain Yes, I've paid the price But look how much I gained If I have to, I can do anything I am strong (strong) I am invincible (invincible) I am woman You can bend but never break me 'cause it only serves to make me More determined to achieve my final goal And I come back even stronger Not a novice any longer 'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul CHORUS I am woman watch me grow See me standing toe to toe As I spread my lovin' arms across the land But I'm still an embryo With a long long way to go Until I make my brother understand Oh yes I am wise But it's wisdom born of pain Yes, I've paid the price But look how much I gained If I have to I can face anything I am strong (strong) I am invincible (invincible) I am woman Oh, I am woman I am invincible I am strong FADE I am woman I am invincible I am strong I am woman

Instead of a parody, maybe one of those pop singers that are so admired by the generation that does not even know who Gloria Steinem is, should do a remake and remind girls today that they have a lot to lose. Jessica???

Artists

When I lived in Prague, my two best friends were Stuart Jackson and Jesse Littell. Stuart and Jesse had been roommates in college. I knew Stuart because his father was my childhood dentist. Actually, I didn't know Stuart at all even though we both grew up in Charleston and his father was my dentist but in a weird turn of synchronicity my father ran into his father one day and my father said, "Mindy is going to Prague" and Stu's father said, "Stuart is going to Prague" so Stu's father called Stu and said, "Look up this girl in Prague and look out for her." Very southern and very sweet.

So he did. I was mesmerized by them from the get-go. Stu and Jesse were like yin and yang. Stu, tall, blond and fair with a sweet smile and Jesse, dark and brooding with a devilish grin you could just tell he'd had since he was a little boy. We three became the best of friends. We knew noone else at the time so we did everything together. It was one of the most wonderful times of my life. We all had so much fun together, I smile and get teary-eyed both when I think about those days.

But that's not why I'm telling you about them. Stuart and Jesse went to Prague to paint. They are artists. Unbelievable artists. It's more than technique, although they both have their own original styles. It's in their hearts. Watching them work, as I did for hours on end, you just know that there is nothing else they could possibly do. They have to paint. The brush is an extension of their souls into their fingertips and onto the canvas. I loved to watch them create. It was awesome and inspiring.

I bring this up because I was thinking about Stuart today, we've kept in sporadic touch, but I haven't seen him since his sister's wedding last summer and I was trying to get in touch. Then I thought about Jesse and for fun I googled him and found his website. If he was good back then, he's miraculous now. That is why I bring this up so everyone can look at his work on his site called No Such Paintings.

I googled Stuart to see if he had a site up but I couldn't find one. You can bet next time I talk to him I'll get on him for that.

Jesse gave me a painting for my birthday one year. It's of a closet with piles of stuff just spilling out of it. I treasure it. It is so me.

They are my inspiration. And while I'll never, as long as I live, paint like them, they inspire me to keep creating. And I love them both.

Raw Food

raw food v. chocolate cake

I keep seeing these raw food restaurants sprouting up all over the place (get it, sprouting, get it, get it??)

What the hell? Isn't a raw food establishment called a grocery store, where you buy your raw food and then take it home and COOK IT!!!

At first I thought raw food was just another word for vegetarian but then I read a little about it and it turns out it really is eating uncooked food. Vegetarians eat, well, vegetables but they are not soley devoted to uncooked food. Raw Foodists (that's what they are called) are. Apparently it's to keep the enzymes active which is supposed to be good for you, I don't know.

I also learned that there are subcategories of raw foodists:
Fruitarian - People who consume mostly fruits.
Sproutarian - People who consume mostly sprouts.
Juicearian - People who consume mostly fresh juice.

I find that so amusing. Sounds very extra-terrestrial. Can you imagine consuming mostly sprouts. EWWW!

I learned all of this from a pretty interesting website on the topic. It talks about why raw food and what raw foodists eat but when I read this, I laughed so hard I almost fell off the chair. "For some delicious recipes, see our recipe section!"(They put the exclamation point in there, not me, which makes it even funnier.) Hello - the food is raw therefore, no recipes. And that's not even mentioning the oxymoron there.

I muse about all this raw food as I prepare to embark on a new venture called culinary school. I have yet another confession to make...I love to cook. Always have, I just don't do it often for various reasons one being I live alone and it's a pain to cook for myself, but I love to cook for others, set a beautiful table, present beautiful and delicious food and then reap the praises from a table of well-sated guests. And then of course, the denouement, the dessert, which I've always prided myself on. I've loved to bake since I was a little girl, most probably because I love to eat dessert!

So next week I begin my Pro Baking classes and then in July I'll start Pro Chef classes.

So to raw food I say phooey - Prepare to be cooked!

Copycat

Yes, this is a copycat post. I'm copying my friend Kelly Love from her microfamous blog but I only feel a little guilty because I think that different people read our blogs and for our crossover crowd it's worth repeating - Ida Becker is a bad a..!

Ida picked up and went to Nepal for 3 weeks ALL BY HERSELF. That is so awesome and brave on so many levels that it's hard to wrap my head around it. Not only is Ida female, and as much as we wish it weren't true, it is undeniable that females traveling solo have more risks, but also she is a tall, blond, beautiful female who most definitely would stand out in an Asian country.

Not only was her travel rigorous and the accommodations rudimentary at best (read peeing in the middle of the night in a frozen hole in the ground) but there was also a revolution in the country and she was put under house arrest while being deathly ill from some horribly rancid food that makes me sick just even thinking about it.

And she had a wonderful time! Read about it here and see her amazingly beautiful photos.

Ida is an inspiration.

The Holy Grail

Yes, that is indeed Jessica Simpson in this photo.



I have a secret that only those closest to me know but I'm about to come out of the closet - I'm obsessed with Jessica Simpson. I can't explain why, I just love her. I always have and I always will. So today, my dream came true.

I met Jessica Simpson.

Here's how it happened.

Yesterday I met my friend Dennis at The Grove for lattes. There's a funny story about Dennis. We met at a MediaBistro seminar and it turned out he worked at The Prague Post after I did - we never knew each other but we knew all the same people. So Dennis, who lives in Santa Barbara, was in LA and we met for lattes.

Afterwards I said, "I'm going to run into Nordstrom real quickly and just look at the shoes. I haven't been there in awhile." Dennis said he would come along. So we walk in the door at Nordstrom and I see the sign. It reads "Meet Jessica Simpson here April 29." Jessica was promoting her new line of shoes.

My heart stopped. I quickly ran through the calendar in my head and realized it was the next day. I couldn't believe it. Usually, with my luck, it would have been the day before. "Jessica" I squeaked. "Oh My God, Oh My God. Jessica" Dennis, who doesn't know me well enough to know about my obsession, was looking a little worried. I think the thought I was having a seizure of some sort.

I was so excited I could barely breathe. "I should go to Barnes and Noble and get one of her CDs to sign," I said. I think Dennis thought I was kidding but I turned tail and headed toward B&N. Dennis came with, I think he was afraid.

I felt like the kid in the Disney commercial whose mom tells him to go to sleep because they are going to Disney the next day and he says "I'm too excited." I went off to call all my friends and Dennis went back to Santa Barbara.

So I wake up on Jessica day and I remember I also have her Christmas CD. If only I can find it! I found the case but the CD wasn't in it. No worries, I just need the little booklet.

What shall I wear? I decided to wear this awesome dress I bought in London. It's really cute and I had a vision of Jessica seeing and saying "I love your dress. Where did you get it?" "London," I would casually reply. That didn't happen, but no matter, I still looked cute.

Then I got worried. What if it's a mob scene and I don't get to see her? Maybe I should see if my brother wants to come and we can bring the twins. She would love the twins. I'm not above using my niece and nephew to get to see Jessica. But Myles had a conference to attend and Clio had a little cold so no twins.

No worries. I put on my dress, grabbed my CDs and headed off to Nordstrom. It was about 2:15. Jessica was supposed to arrive at 3 p.m. So I get there and there are two lines. In one line, the people have light blue bracelets. In the other, much farther back line, no bracelets.

I find out the blue line is comprised of people who bought Jess's shoes so they get to go first. No worries. I buy a pair of shoes. I can always return them tomorrow. I queue up in the blue bracelet line. Oh, and the blue bracelet people also got a Jessica Simpson journal, to write our deepest thoughts.

We are a jolly group of Jessica fans, so excited that we are going to actually get to talk to and touch the object of our affection. The minutes tick by, longer and longer. So we make friends. The two girls in front of me are from The OC, not the show, but from Orange County, Laguna and Newport. One of the girls works at Nordstrom so she got her shoes 40 percent off. Jessica gave all Nordstrom employees 40 percent off her shoes rather than the usual 20 percent discount. She's so thoughtful that way.


The people behind us were a woman and her daughter who were in town from New Orleans looking at schools. They just happened on the event. The daughter was beside herself and the mom was pretty excited too. "Tell her you are from New Orleans," we told them. "Work it."

What will she be wearing, we wondered ( a cute white halter with little flowers, short hair which was a little wavy. She looked tired. I think it was her 2nd or 3rd appearance of the day). Who will be with her (her mom Tina, her assistant/friend Cacee Cobb and her hair stylist/friend Ken Paves who is also Jennifer Aniston's hair stylist/friend). We were excited. I felt very comfortable with my little group of Jessica fans. They understood.

After about an hour and a half SHE arrived. It wasn't long before it was my turn. No pictures they said. Bummer. I rehearsed what I would say. I also wanted to ask Cacee if she was ever going to do anything with her life or just glom on to Jessica forever, but I didn't.

Now it was my turn - it was Jessica, my Jessica. I couldn't believe I was actually going to meet Jessica. She was larger than life. But actually she's tiny. I was so excited I almost forgot to even look at her and I totally forgot to shake her hand, which I meant to do but she was holding a sharpie so probably couldn't have anyway.

What did I end up saying? "Hi Jessica. I'm probably your oldest fan." She laughed and said, "No you aren't" but when she looked up from signing my CD covers I could see her rethinking that. Then, because I love Jessica and I feel sad for what she's been going through with Nick and all the tabloid trash etc. I said, "I hope you have lots of luck and happiness for your future." She looked a little surprised and then said, "I hope you do too." It was a moment.

And that was it, all in all it was probably about 20 seconds but I actually met Jessica Simpson.

I really wanted a photo so I doubled back and tried to take one from afar. I snapped it but there was a guy in a wheelchair blocking Jess and I got reprimanded by security before I could shoot another. No matter, I met Jessica.

If the truth be told, the anticipation and excitement and chatting with like-minded Jessica fans in line, was actually more fun than the actual face-to-face, but meeting Jessica was still pretty sweet.

And like my friend Deirdre said, "You can cross that off your list." Happy ever after.

The Universal Laugh

Too bad Katie Holmes and Brooke Shields weren't in the same hospital sharing a room. I wonder if they will have playdates or joint birthday parties? I wonder if when they get older, Brooke's kid will say to Tom's kid, "My mommy can beat up your daddy" and Tom's kid will probably be like, "Who's my daddy?"

The Universe has a great sense of humor!

With Friends Like That........

Did anyone else leave "Friends With Money" wanting to slit their wrists?

I don't want to ruin the suspense so in a brief synopsis I'll just say that it is about four late thirties-early forties friends. One (Frances McDormand) is married to a man who everyone thinks is gay; one (Joan Cusack) is very rich and married to a controlling man; one (Catherine Keener) is in a bad marriage that is coming apart at the seams and one (Jennifer Aniston) is single and working as a maid.

I have really enjoyed Nicole Holofcener's movies, "Lovely and Amazing" and "Walking and Talking" and this movie had some of her trademark quips and witicisms but it was just so annoying. And perhaps because it hit a little close to home.

But I really wanted to reach through the screen and strangle Jennifer Aniston's character. Not Jennifer Aniston, she was cute as always, but her character.

Yes, she has low self-esteem and yes, she has a history of picking the wrong men and men that are not good for her (who doesn't?). I got all that. But the way she lets the physical trainer guy trash on her was just downright aggravating and infuriating. Once was bad enough but she let it go on. Damn woman!

OK. I don't mean to imply that this movie sucked, because it didn't. It had some really funny moments and all the actors were wonderful, really wonderful. I was just depressed and annoyed by the message of the film, because it did hit close to home at this time that is a little difficult.

Oh, but the one thing that I have to bemoan is the blatant, blatant product placement. No one props their Fresh Express salad perfectly in the cart so you can perfectly read the name. And there were others that were really in your face. I know this is the wave and I expect it from films like MI-3 but I thought the Indies had a little more integrity.

Synchronicity

I was feeling particularly homesick for Charleston today. Probably because my parents just left after a week-long visit which isn't long enough. Just when I get cozy and comfortable having them close by again, whoosh, they are gone!

Also, maybe because my friend Emily had a baby today and I don't get to see him (the baby.)

Also perhaps because my friend Arlie died after a long, hard fight with ALS and I'm not around all the people who knew him to reminisce and mourn and celebrate his life. I won't be there for his memorial service. No outlet to say goodbye and remember and honor him.

Also because the Cooper River Bridge Run is Saturday. The first one on the new bridge. Last year when I did the last one on the old bridge with my friend Deirdre we talked about doing the first one on the new bridge. Deirdre is doing it. Go girl!

So, I was having all of these thoughts about home and family and friends and Charleston while I was walking Lucy and I looked down and saw a quarter in the grass. Now, I don't usually pick up quarters off the ground, you know germs and all, but something made me bend down to get it and I looked at it and almost keeled over. It was a South Carolina quarter. Weird, huh? There are 50 state quarters, not to mention the ones that don't even have states on them and I found a South Carolina one just when I was pining for home.

OK. It gets more synchronicitous (is that a word?). I went to get Lucy some dog food at a place I've never been. I noticed there was a frame shop next door and I've been carrying around the page that was made for me and I was given on my last day at the P&C, needing to get it framed forever.

So, I popped into the frame store. I get to talking with the guy, Lee, very nice and he looks at my page and notices it says Oldest Paper in the South or something like that. So he says, "Where in the south?" I told him Charleston. "I'm from Columbia," he says. Long story short, we have a great talk and now he is practically framing my page for free simply because we are kindred South Carolinians.

I love it when stuff like that happens. It put a much-needed smile on my face!

It's Over

I turned on my TV at 2:30 p.m. today. It felt weird, like I was doing something clandestine.

What happened was, I was up again all night with poor little Lucy and I knew that if I didn't take a nap, I'd never make it to my Artist's Way class, which by the way I'm so glad I didn't miss because it was a great class. Anyway, I knew I was going to sleep and it just so happened when I went to take a nap it was 2:30 and I thought, "Hmm. I'll just see what's happened on 'Passions' since I've been gone."

So I turned it on and guess what? I was bored silly. It was the same day in Harmony as when I had turned it off over a week ago. They were still wearing the same clothes, still talking about the same things, still having the same soap opera crises. This is what I've been wasting my time on? Yuck! I turned it off.

My synchronicity tonight was at class a guy came and did singing exercises with us, Jami Lula is his name. Now some of it was the silliest stuff I've ever done in my life and at one point I got a bad case of the giggles but at the end of class he sang a song and the refrain went, "I will not waste another minute of my life." I hadn't put it into those words when I turned the TV back off this afternoon, but when I heard him sing it, I knew it was talking to me.

Now, will I waste another minute of my life? Most probably. But will I try to be more cognizant of my time? Most certainly. I hope that if I am wasting time, I am doing it purposefully. Meaning, I will have thought to myself, "Yes, I could be doing something more productive right now, but what I feel I need is to do nothing. To veg out. To waste some time." And hopefully, more often than not I will say to myself, "Could I be doing something more productive with my time" and then choose to do it. But whichever way I go, it will be a considered choice - not just escapism, laziness or habit.

And surprise, surprise. When I got in the car after class tonight. I turned on the radio which was still on the classical music station and I left there. Guess what? I like classical music. Not all of it of course, but I don't like all rock music either. And I learned a lot about classical music this week, heard different composers, different orchestras and I even listened to a whole opera.

And guess what else? When I got home from class tonight, I didn't turn on the TV. I didn't turn anything on except the computer to write this. And tonight when I go to bed, I'm taking a book with me. Now I may watch "The Daily Show." But then off will go the TV again and the book will be opened. I may read one page, I may read a chapter or the whole book. I may even open the book and stare into space. But I won't be watching TV.

If I get nothing out of this class other than the experience of turning off the TV and learning to live without it and use my time more productively and creatively, it will all have been worth it. I have learned so much from this experience and while I dreaded this assignment and thought I could never do it when it was handed out, I've loved every minute of it. Even the hard moments. And yes, I would do it again. And I just might!

At Last

This is what I did this week instead of watching TV and reading and surfing the net and listening to NPR.
It is not exactly what it started out to be but I finished a piece and now I have the materials to do some more and loads of ideas from clearing my mind of the unusable detritus that had been clogging it up.
Yay for me!

36 Hours and counting....

Didn't post last night. It was a bad night. Lucy has been, excuse my pun, sick as a dog. So much so I almost took her to the emergency vet last night but decided to see how she was this morning. She's still not feeling well, but is much better. I continue to monitor her, poor baby. You've never seen anything more pathetic. It's so sad.

So, up all night with Lucy and let me tell you how many times I thought to myself - "No one will fault me for breaking the fast to stay up with my puppy at 4 a.m." but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't turn on the TV. But what I did do was cheat just a little. I read my "52 Projects" book that Nikki got me for Christmas/Hanukah.

Now even though this is reading per se, I don't consider it full on cheating because it is a book about using and finding and experimenting with creativity. And it too advocates shutting off the tube. I wonder if the guy who wrote it ever took The Artist's Way because a lot of his philosophy is the same, just simplified. Anyway, reading this book just reaffirmed my reason for media fasting and for attempting to put a lid on the overuse of the mass media, TV in particular, when the fast is done.

And that would be tomorrow night!

My biggest concern now is should I read Us first or watch "The Sopranos" and "Grey's Anatomy" on Tivo first. Oh, and there's "The OC" and "Gilmore Girls" and "The Amazing Race"......

P.S. Speaking of "The Amazing Race," I think it's smarmy of CBS to charge to watch it On Demand. Even though it is only 99 cents, that is pretty crummy.

Opera Day - Uh-Oh

Little snag - the classical station only plays opera on Saturday. I hate opera. Must find another way ..................... Don't want to fall into the TV abyss...................

Oh and did I mention that blind date sent back the bottle of wine he ordered, said it was tart. Then ordered a whole other kind. Poor form, poor form. The waitress was shooting me surreptitious looks of pity.

Oh wait. When I went to get the link for the classical site, I saw that today's opera is Tchaikovsky. I love Tchaikovsky so maybe it won't be so bad. Phew! The spirit is working for me!

By the way, has anyone ever noticed that Smetana's, "Vltava," sounds a lot like Ha Tikvah? Or vice versa.

Crankiness Sets In

Double whammy today. It was pouring down rain. When it rains, all I want to do is curl up on the couch with my favorite blanket and read or watch a good "Law and Order" marathon. I'm not a rain person, it does something to my psyche. So it was hard to resist temptation but I did.

At this point, it's a test of will. As much as I'm appreciative of the lesson I've learned about the evils of television and as much as I now know I have spent too much time at the tube, I really want to watch some TV. There's nothing virtuous about my not watching. Now it's just a competition with myself. I set out out to not watch TV for a week and even if it kills me I will achieve this goal. But I'm already having visions of being blurry eyed on Tuesday from watching nonstop Monday night.

That said, I really don't think I will go back to my old ways. I don't think I can or even want to give it up all together but I do want to cut way back. I used to not have a TV in my bedroom and I read all the time before bed. Now (not this week, of course) I have gotten into the habit of setting the sleep timer and falling asleep to the TV. It got to the point where I felt I couldn't fall asleep without it. Now, I've learned I don't need the TV to fall asleep so I'm going to go back to reading before bedtime or writing in my journal.

The second part of the double whammy was the arrival of Us magazine number two. Why, oh why, did this have to be one of those weeks when two arrive in close proximity? It's a test. I put it on top of the other one. It will have to wait for another day.

Oh, and I guess it really was triple whammy because blind date made me want to break the fast. All I could think about the whole date was how I'd much rather be home, curled up with Lucy and a good book.

Internet dating sucks. Sucks majora. That's all I have to say on that topic. Except, did I mention that blind date kept his mirrored sunglasses on all evening (we were inside) so I looked at myself the whole date? I have to admit, I looked pretty good, I love my new outfit. But it was a little disconcerting and offputting, to say the least.

Tomorrow will be a big test of the media deprivation. It's my favorite NPR day. But I have to finish my painting and I have an idea for a new one so hopefully that will keep me occupied.

Oh, one more thing I've noticed from this experiment. Usually, when I'm fixated for hours in front of the TV, I'm on one end of the couch and Lucy is laying at my feet on the other end. Well, this week, I have not been on the couch and I can tell that Lucy is out of sorts. Not only has this affected my routine, but hers as well. She doesn't know why I'm not sitting with her and she's not sure where to settle herself. She doesn't like change.

Who does?

Is It Only Day Three???

I want my MTV!!! Not really because I don't watch MTV, well except for "My Super Sweet Sixteen" and sometimes I used to watch "Laguna Beach" but today has been a tough day.

Serious withdrawel and crankiness. I found myself looking longingly at the TV more than once and I even habitually went over and without thinking reached for the power button but stopped myself and turned on the radio instead.

It's definitely escapism and boredom that leads me to the TV. It was a slow day. I got up early and got most of my work done very early so then what? I worked on my art piece, I scanned some photos to use in another piece, stuff like that but it just wasn't cutting it. What to do while the glue was drying on my art piece, which I ruined, I might add but I think I can fix it. Or change it to something else. Whatever. I really wanted to watch TV, really, really wanted to watch TV. But I didn't!

What did I do instead? What all the tough girls do when the going gets rough - I went shopping for an outfit for my date tomorrow night (yes, I said date) and then I came home and took a power nap. OK. Here' s where I confess. I actually laid down and was staring into space and going completely crazy so I picked up a book. I was just going to read one essay in David Rakoff's new book. I figured that even though it was cheating, it would be OK because it might be inspirational and it's nonfiction. So I read a couple of pages, very good by the way, and then felt so guilty I stopped and that's when I napped.

I don't know if I'm going to make it the whole week without media, but I'm still going to try. I do know that I'm learning what a huge chunk of my time mass media, particularly TV, has taken of my life and regardless if I make it the whole week cold turkey, I will not, I repeat, I will not watch as much TV as I did before this week.

Not only am I loving listening to and learning about classical music but it is inspiring unlike TV ever is. When I have the music on, I feel like being creative, making something, doing something. When the TV is on, I just want to be in a prone position, zoning out, doing nothing, creating nothing, not thinking for myself.

And of course sometimes it is OK to go to that zone out place. Sometimes the mind needs a break. I know I do. But too much, way too much. I might have to treat myself like a kid and tell myself I'm only allowed a certain amount of TV a day. That will be interesting too, to see what I will choose.

I'll keep you posted.

Media Fast: Day Two

Oh, the humanity! Guess what arrived in the mail today. Yep. This week's Us magazine. Guess who's on the cover? Yep. My girl, Jessica. I immediately, well immediately after scanning the coverline, put it away to savor, err I mean flip through, next week.

Yesterday I remembered to cancel the LA Times for the week, but Us, well you know. I didn't cancel the Sunday NY Times because I figure I can read that Monday night when the fast is over.

So how's it going 48 hours in you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Not as bad as you might think. Once again the day was busy. I picked up Lucy's birthday and then went to Trader Joe's, where I bought some beautiful, bright yellow daffodils. They made me smile all the rest of the day.

After that I went back to the art store because I didn't like the paints I bought yesterday. I bought some new ones today as well as a palette and some interesting textured paper.

While there I saw a familiar face. You know how you think you know someone and start to say hi? I almost did that b/c we were on the same aisle looking at the same stuff then I realized she was an actress I had just seen in "Nine Lives." If you saw it, she was the one that wanted to see her father. She was also in "The Practice."

Anyway, so today, not so bad until that witching hour 8:30 p.m. I don't know why it is. I had a much easier time today just listening to the classical music, no TV, no newspaper, it was fine. I was a little anxious early in the afternoon when I wanted to sit down and rest with a book, but that passed. I cleaned my desk instead. Man, I shredded enough for a NYC ticker tape parade. It's much easier to work at my desk/kitchen table now.

But after dinner, steak I might add. I actually cooked steak and some asparagus risotto. Yumbo!! And since it's Lucy's birthday (have I mentioned that) I let her have some steak! I think this has been the best day of her life so far. But I digress.

So that after dinner period, where you are a little full, kinda tired and just want to vegetate on the couch for a few years in front of the tube. That is really hard. The key I think is having the supplies at hand to do something else. I think if I had not gone back to the art store and bought new paints, which I love by the way, I might have slid back.

I also printed out some photos for another project I want to start this week. It's also been hanging out there for awhile. So the trick is to be prepared and have something to work on that is interesting, fun, inspiring, entertaining, and will keep me going until bedtime.

I'm hanging in. Quite honestly, although I love my shows, it is the reading that is killing me. I can give up the TV but to not have reading in it's place is hard. But I'm adjusting and getting stuff done. (Although I do confess, I took a pretty substantial nap this afternoon. But I have cramps!) As my friend Richard said, "If I had to make the Sophie's Choice between books and TV, I'd definitely give up TV." He even has a 42" screen.

I did notice that today I did not look at the clock and think, "Hmmm. Oprah is on now" Or "Hmmm. It's almost time for Jon Stewart." Not once did I associate time with TV. I think that's a good sign.

Pushing forward to tomorrow.

24 Hours and counting

Day One: I wake up and look at the clock and think "Oh, good. Just in time to watch "Charmed." Then I remember - no TV. No problem. I turn on the radio to the classical music station I found last night and carry on. Sounds good, huh? No problem, huh?

Well, if I'd sat down to write this an hour ago it would have been a much different post. Just in the last hour, starting at about 8:30 p.m. I started to hit withdrawal. Not so much for the TV, although it is my favorite TV night, but even to curl up with a book. I don't know what to do with myself.

Here's one thing I learned. I don't have to wear my glasses at night if I stay home because I only need them in the house to watch TV.

Here's what I did today. I actually got a lot done without the TV to distract me. I paid bills this morning. Then I went to do some errands. I finally mailed the baby gifts to two friends who are due any day now. I literally have had these sitting in my apartment for almost the entire gestation period.

I took myself to lunch at the Farmer's Market. Red beans and rice, yummy. On the way in, I checked in my bag to make sure I had my notebook since I usually read when I eat alone and I knew I couldn't do that (even though last week's "New York Magazine" was in the car). I did and I felt relieved. Then I thought, "Maybe I won't write in my notebook. Maybe I"ll just observe." So I did. On the way out, I passed a newsstand and saw the cover of Life magazine. It was about this being the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death. I stopped to thumb through but just as my hand reached for the magazine I remembered - "No, you can't" I said and by the expression on the faces of those nearby I think I said it aloud.

Then I ordered a birthday cake for Lucy from the doggie bakery. She will be 5 tomorrow. Happy Birthday Lucy Belle!

Next I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to buy something I've been putting off for years - a magnifying mirror. I was in denial that I needed one until I stayed at my friend Mary's, who has the mac daddy of magnifying mirrors, and I saw hairs on my chinny chin chin that were longer than some on my head. YIKES!!!! So I bought one.

Then I went to the art supply store. Something I've been threatening to do for like 3 months. And I didn't go to no Michael's, a crafty store. I went to a real art supply store, for real artists. And here's the synchronicity of the day - they had stretched, primed canvases on sale for practically nothing. I bought some. And I bought some paint and some brushes. I've never painted in my life but recently have had a hankering too. So I will.

I took a stab and got a little bit down on canvas. I'm not sure if I like it. It's not what I was thinking of doing, it kinda morphed into something else but hey, it's a start! And tomorrow when I look at it, it might morph into something else. Who knows.

So that brought me to about 8:30 p.m. What to do now.

I plucked the hairs from my chinny chin chin. I started to boil water for pasta, then decided I didn't want pasta so I made a bagel. That is after looking in the refrigerator a million times. Then I sat down to write this post. I'm almost finished. It's only 9:30.

What will I do now?

Media Deprivation Week - Getting Started

The first thing I did when I came home from my Artist's Way class tonight was update and clean out my TiVo. Why? Because it is media deprivation week. And I gotta tell ya, I'm kinda freakin' out!!!

What that means is that there is to be no exposure to mass media for the whole week. Nothing with words to clog our own creative pathway. That means obviously no TV and no radio except for classical or jazz background music. No newspapers. No magazines. NO BOOKS EVEN!!! No internet surfing, checking email is allowed as is anything work related. But otherwise, no media to get in the way of creating or thinking about creating.

I totally get the purpose of the assignment. But that doesn't mean I'm not very wary of it. Although, when I lived in Prague I experienced a sort of involuntary mass media deprivation as far as broadcast media was concerned. And I enjoyed it. So much so that I didn't own a TV for about a year after I moved back to the states. I read sooo much more and was so much more aware of my surroundings. But that was a long time ago and media has not only crept back into my life but apparently has taken over.

I'm looking forward to the experience in one respect but terrified on another. I know for certain that I am dependent on mass media. I love my shows. If it's Tuesday, it is "Gilmore Girls," "Amazing Race," "House," "Boston Legal" and "The Shield." Wednesday, "Project Runway" and "Lost." Thursday, "The OC" and best of all Sunday with "Grey's Anatomy" and now "The Sopranos." But not this week. Hence the TiVo preparedness.

TV is not my only addiction to media. I start and end my days with NPR and even sometimes in the middle of the night. If I wake up and can't get immediately back to sleep, I set the radio to snooze and turn on BBC news. First thing in the morning I listen to "Morning Edition." On the weekends, forget it. It's all about "This American Life," "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" and of course Scott Simon on Saturday and Liane Hansen on Sunday.

During the day while I am working, my ipod is in it's Bose Sounddock and set to shuffle and at 2 p.m. I take lunch and watch my story, "Passions."

And I didn't even mention the newspaper, two on Sunday, and the periodic check of my homepage, CNN.com.

Oh yes, and reading before bed, with the radio on of course, is the only way I can get to sleep.

Basically, there is never any silence in my house. I can't stand silence. It frightens me.

And that is why media deprivation week frightens me. I will be confronted by silence and will be able to clearly hear what is going on in my head.

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! How long will I make it?

Emperor of Holesovice

By popular demand, OK, one person requested it, but here is the picture of Izzy with the smokestacks of Holesovice and the beautiful Prague sky in the background. This was taken by Richard Giles on the terrace of my flat in Prague when Richard was dogsitting.

I had a crush on Richard Giles. He was a writer in my writing group. He didn't have a crush on me at all. Oh well. I haven't thought about him in years even though I look at this picture everyday. Fact is, I couldn't even remember who took it until I took it out of the frame to scan and saw Richard's name on the back and the title "Izzy-Emperor of Holesovice." I googled Richard but only found some guy with the same name who is some kind of tech writer in Australia. I don't think it's the same person.

No matter. I will always be grateful to him for this fabulous picture that captured the grandness of the little dog with a big, big spirit.

Dog Days

This is my new favorite picture of Lucy. She's lost in thought and looks so regal. Although I'd like to think she is thinking great thoughts of vast importance, she is probably reliving the last treat she had (which was very recently. We went to the Petco snack bar yesterday.) or the last squirrel she chased (which was quite a while ago. There aren't very many squirrels in California and they are very different from Lowcountry squirrels.)

Anyway, this photo made me think of when Lucy first came to live with me about 4 1/2 years ago. At that time my sweet Izzy was still alive but in failing health. Izzy was the greatest dog that ever lived. So much so, that even people with dogs marveled at what an amazing dog he was. He really wasn't a dog. He was a person trapped inside a dog's body.

Izzy was adopted and he was fine with it. Very well adjusted. I adopted him when he was six years old. His family had to give him up b/c the father had asthma. I really always thought it was because they had a new baby but regardless, I was the lucky beneficiary. From the first night he was in my apartment he was at home. He never looked back.

About a year and a half later I decided to move to Prague and there was no question that Izzy was going with me. He loved it and it loved him. He learned to speak a little Czech. I would say Dobry Pesku (good dog) and P'od Sem (come here - which I probably spelled totally wrong b/c I can't remember how to spell it) and he knew what I was saying. I used to always say that years from now, no one would remember me but they would always remember the little dog with a person's soul.

Izzy lived to be 17-years-old and I swear he only hung on that long because he knew I couldn't live without him. He waited until Lucy was comfortably ensconced in the house and he knew I wouldn't be alone. Call me crazy but I believe that.

So when Lucy came to live with me, she was a stray and showed up on my doorstep. I told her that she was on a trial basis and she had to get along with Izzy in order to stay. Looking back, I think I was afraid that I couldn't give her the love she needed b/c all my love went to Izzy. I remember thinking there was no way another dog could ever hold the same spot in my heart and I didn't know if it would be fair to her because I knew she needed a lot of affection and attention.

Well, Lucy made herself comfortable and while she and Izzy didn't become playmates, they become pals. They would sit on the bed next to each other and when Izzy got so sick he couldn't get out of his bed on his own, Lucy would lie down next to him. She didn't eat for a week when he died.

I still miss my Izzy but I shake my head in wonder when I think that I even questioned whether I could love Lucy as much as I loved Izzy. I look at her sleeping on my bed and I marvel that God could create a creature that is made wholly of pure goodness and love. There is nothing malicious or mean or cruel or cunning in her whole being. Just sweetness and affection. I love her with all my heart. I don't know what I would do without her. And while, she doesn't replace my Izzy, I was happy to find that I had enough spots in my heart for the both of them.

It Must Be Great To Be.......

Angelina Jolie. She is everywhere these days with her "bump" and her kids and her Brad Pitt, who by the way, is not nearly as hot as he used to be. But I digress.

Apparently Angelina has now taken her family to England so she can get some peace and quiet. I don't blame her.

But in the meantime, I find I have become somewhat enchanted, enthralled, curious and mystified by her. And it doesn't have anything really to do with her celebrity and the Jen/Angelina thing. I am captivated by her beauty. And while I do want to hate her because of the whole Jen thing, I just can't.

Last night I was watching "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and due to the extreme boringness of the movie, found myself studying Angelina. Today I was flipping through the cable lineup and came across the move "Gia" starring, yes you guessed it, Angelina Jolie and I just couldn't stop watching it. Especially since the whole movie was about beauty.

And here's what I was thinking. I was thinking about how much easier my life would be if I looked like Angelina Jolie. Even if I wasn't an actress or a model, I just know life would be easier if I possessed the perfectly put together features of Angelina Jolie. Things just come easier to beautiful girls. They don't have to work as hard. People want to do things for them and give them things all to make their lives easier.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm ugly and I know I am probably more in the pretty category than not. But I'm no Angelina Jolie. And I seem to be one of those people that women appreciate my looks more because they are not usual while men, not so much.

But Angelina Jolie has unusual looks the kind of features that if one thing on her face was a tad different, she'd probably not be so exquisite. But all of the planets aligned for her physically and she gets to look like, well, like Angelina Jolie.

And just to be clear, this is not a whine. I do appreciate that not having things thrown at me and having to work hard for everything has probably built character, however, when the going gets tough, it's just interesting to contemplate what life would be like if I looked like Angelina Jolie.

"Munich" - Not So Much

Steven Speilberg has been criticized for both making an anti-Israel movie and an anti-Palestinian movie, depending on which side of the fence your politics falls on.

I have read both critiques and was keeping a semi-open mind. I couldn't imagine Speilberg making and anti-Israel, anti-semitic movie, yet from the trailer I saw, it looked like the movie could be borderline.

Well, today I finally went to see it to find out for myself. And no, Speilberg did not make an anti-Israel, anti-semitic movie. Nor did he make an anti-Palestinian movie. Basically he kept politics pretty much out of it, as much as you can with this topic, and his message seemed to be about the pointlessness of everyone killing each other because it only breeds more hatred and more desire for revenge. A pretty good and valid message I would say.

What was not so good was the movie itself. In a word this film was BORING. Yes, boring. At one point, probably around 2 hours into the almost 3 hour movie, I was wishing someone would assassinate me so I wouldn't have to sit through anymore of this long-drawn out movie. I didn't leave because I kept hoping the movie would take a turn for the better but it never did.

It's a shame because there are some very excellent aspects of "Munich." The cinematography is wonderful, shot in such a way that the filmmakers appeared to be using 1970's technology, not 2005 technology giving the film an older looking patina.

There are also some wonderful performances my favorite being that of Michael Londsdale who played information broker "Papa." He was by far the most interesting character, selling information to whomever would pay and making millions in the process. He took what he considered the moral highground though, by refusing to work with governments. I would have loved to see a movie based around him and his family business.

Eric Bana as Avner, the Mossad agent with a conscious was very good as was the whole "Strike" team particularly Ciaran Hinds who played Carl, the cleaner. And as Avner's wife, Ayelet Zurer, made good use of her small part telling Avner she would put up with it until she didn't.

If screenwriter Tony Kushner had been a little less long-winded and Speilberg had directed his editor to be a bit more vigilante, this could have been a masterpiece. Unfortunately, it is just another movie that is trying to make a good point but goes off track and never bothers to come back again, missing a great opportunity.

Maybe Speilberg should study "Syriana" before he tries to tackle such a topic again.

My Two Cents

I had forgotten what a wonderful movie "Central Station" is until I caught it on IFC this evening. The story is original and the acting is superb. I remember when Fernando Montenegro, who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, walked down the red carpet it was hard to believe she was the same woman in the film. It was also interesting in the film how her features became softer and prettier as she opened her heart to Josue and let go of her malice and bitterness.
I wonder what ever happened to that little boy in real life. He was so cute and a great crier.

Walter Salles, who wrote and directed the movie, last year (or was it the year before?) made "The Motorcycle Diaries," another great movie starring especially because it stars that cutie patootie Gael Garcia Bernal.
If you haven't seen "Central Station," rent it. It's so touching without being sweet - a great buddy/road film with the twist that the buddies are an old woman and a young boy on the road in Brazil.

Brand New Diet Plan

So, remember when I said earlier that I had ordered a Chi flat iron and couldn't wait for it to arrive. I was certain it would change my life.
Well, little did I know it would also help me to lose weight! This is a great example of perception v. reality.
My flat iron arrived one day before I left to go home to Charleston for a couple of weeks. I quickly tried it out, loved it, and stuck it in my bag.
While home, I wore my hair straight most days. If I had a quarter for every person that said to me, "You look great. You've lost so much weight. LA certainly agrees with you," I could buy two Starbucks Vente nonfat vanilla lattes AND maybe even a slice of the lower fat lemon pound cake.
At first I said, "No. I haven't lost weight. In fact, I feel like I've gained some." But then I decided just to go with it and simply say "Thank you."
Needless to say I am now wearing my hair flat most of the time although I do feel a bit disloyal to my curly roots. What's wrong with curly hair anyway? All my life I've noticed that whenever fashion magazines do a hairstyle story, ALL of the models have straight hair. If by some remote chance they feature curly hair, generally, it is a straight haired girl who has just had her hair curled briefly for the photoshoot.
When I was a little girl, I hated my curly hair. I used to fight with it and cry to my mother that it was her fault I didn't have straight hair like all the other girls in my class. (I was the only Jewish kid in a class full of straight, swinging haired girls until fifth grade.)
Then as I got older I was convinced by hairdressers, friends and the various stranger who told me I had great hair that curly hair was special and exotic but apparently I have been deluding myself. Unfortunately, it's a straight hair world and I've finally had to succumb to that dictum.
I should have seen this coming with the advent of "revolutionary" hair straightening techniques that cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars becoming all the rage and these super-duper irons that cost a pretty penny but are flying off shelves. (By the way, I've heard that the Thermal Reconditioning makes your hair fall out and I can only hope that happens to the evil woman I recently worked for.)
I resisted the straightening craze as long as I could but a girl can only hold out for so long. I broke down and bought the iron and when people started telling me I looked thin...well, here's where the story ends.

Vacation Hangover

I have been on vacation for the past two weeks. I love vacation, unlike my microfamous friend who can't wait until her vacations are over. I love vacation, and while I'm very good at leaving it all behind, when I come home, the anxiety hits.

Especially when it's the start of a new year and there's so much to think about and so much to prepare for the coming year. It's double hard for me because the beginning of the year is also my birthday so I feel I have to set goals not only because it is a new calendar year but also because I have aged another year as well.

So instead of making resolutions that I will not keep, such as not eating carbs, exercising everyday, yadda yadda, I have made a very simple vow.

I vow not to sell myself short anymore.

To this end, I'm going to explore my creativity and do everything in my power to make a living doing something that feeds my soul, as well as my bank account. I know this will include getting back to writing and finding freelance outlets for my pieces. I hope it will also entail some sort of artistic endeavor. We'll see. I'm already working on it.

If I learned anything at all in 2005, it is that I don't have to work for evil beings that are simple-minded, unimaginative, insecure and downright cruel. There is a story here but I can't go into it until the negativity surrounding it has left my being. I am working hard to release the poison that the evil, sick woman that I worked for infected me with and day by day it is slowly but surely leaving my system.

I have a feeling 2006 will be a good year although I tend to greet each new year optimistically so I'm going into this one a little tentatively. But just by the simple fact that I made the decision to change my life so very drastically, makes me feel that I also have the power to make the change be a phenomenal step in the right direction.

After all, it is the year of the dog and that's what this blog is all about. Lucy's Adventures in La La land.