I've been hearing a song on the radio called "The House that Built Me" by Miranda Lambert. Every time I hear it, I think of the house that built me, the first house where I grew up.
I don't remember the house where I lived after I was born. When I was two years old, we moved to Buffalo Grove, Illinois. We lived in a single-family home in a subdivision called The Crossings. Our house had four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and the usual standards. We had the basement done when I was around nine years old. They put up walls and carpeted the floor. It was even split into two rooms, a social/play area and an office (where the Nintendo was also housed later on). That was where my sister and I spent a lot of time.
I liked the setup of this house. The kitchen had a wall knocked out and we could see into the dining room. There was a set of counters separating the two rooms. I think we were the only house with this style to have such a layout. The kitchen was very spacious and we'd have our family meals together in there every night. The family room was carpeted in the beginning, but later my parents had the carpet taken out and hardwood floors put in. It gave the room an airy feel. I also loved the brick area in front of the fireplace. There was space to sit right next to the fireplace and it also stretched along the wall so the TV could be placed on the other end. When I was a bit older, we had a sunroom built on to the back of the house. It was a great room for studying or reading a book. I loved being in there during the day, when it was bright and no additional light was necessary.
As far as bedrooms go, the one I had in this house was one of my favorites. It had white wallpaper with tiny blue flowers. As I got older, my parents got me a nice furniture set which included a bookshelf and desk. They had mirrored closets and a ceiling fan put in to enhance the look and feel of the room. I also got a waterbed, which I thought was a luxury when I was younger. My sister and I shared a bathroom, which was closer to my room. It had a frog theme, as my dad was obsessed with frogs. The other room next to mine was first a playroom and later a laundry room. (I liked the functionality of having a laundry room upstairs, but that probably won't happen where I live now, and that's okay.) My sister's room had a similar set-up, but the big draw for me (in my youth) were the shelves in her closet that we used to make a whole Barbie house. Later, she got to have our newest computer in her room and I'd end up in there playing games all night. There were many nights when my sister and I would sleep in each others' rooms or even switch rooms. We also spent a lot of time watching TV in our parents' bedroom until we got TVs in our rooms too. Oddly enough, that's the one thing I've been keeping out of all the bedrooms in recent years.
Going back to the basement. My dad used to participate in a barter system. He'd get points for his recruiting sales and those would be put towards the jukebox and pinball machine that were in the basement. My sister and I used to have Barbie dance clubs on top of the jukebox. Later I'd have my friends over and we'd dance around to all the songs. The pinball machine was a bit older and had some issues, but it worked and I became really good at pinball, as a result.
Overall, the house I grew up in had a very cozy, comfortable, welcoming and lived-in feel. It wasn't set up like a museum. And thanks to my mom, it was never a mess. We hosted a lot of parties, meetings, playdates, holiday meals, etc. It was always filled with noise and laughter, in that respect. And even having five pets at one point didn't make it feel crowded. (One of the cats never came out of my room anyway.) As an adult, my goal for my home is to replicate the feel of the house that built me. I think I'm doing a good job of it, despite the mess that keeps accumulating, thanks to two young boys and my own disorganized nature. I hope that my kids will want to replicate this feeling in their homes when they grow up and then pass it along to future generations.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
"Full House" isn't just a lucky hand in poker
This little nostalgic gem is from my MySpace blog.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Everywhere you look...
Current mood: nostalgic
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
Anyone who knows me knows that Full House is one of my favorite "classic" TV shows. It got me through part of elementary school, all of junior high and high school, and my freshman year of college. Yes, it's been around that long. I know it got cheesy sometimes, but some episodes would still leave me in tears. An episode wasn't complete without the "moral music" and someone learning a valuable lesson. I was mostly able to relate to DJ because we were around the same age. As I got older and started watching reruns, I began to understand what Danny, Jesse and Joey were going through as parents. I know it was more of a male perspective, but I liked knowing that perspective was there. And even though Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are just scary now, I like knowing that they were once E's age and said or did cute things as Michelle. I could say that Stephanie was just there, but she also was easy to relate to sometimes and she still had a lot to offer. I'm sure middle children were able to relate to her the way they could relate to Jan Brady. She did get more interesting as a teenager, like when she was dealing with guy problems or peer pressure from friends. Full House will always be "down home" and genuine. Something I can watch for "comfort food".
I recently saw a DVD box set of all the seasons of Full House. I totally want that! I'm sure it's super expensive, but maybe it will go on sale at some point. One can always hope. Till then, I'll have to look for reruns on TV somewhere, if a channel would ever show them.
Final thought...Bob Saget is now starring in "The Drowsy Chaperone" on Broadway. I'm taking my husband to see it next week (as a surprise), but am hoping that Bob Saget will be performing at that time (no understudies, please!). It would almost bring things full circle (instead of house) for me, like how it was when I saw Joey McIntyre (from NKOTB) in "Wicked". I know it's not the same as seeing John Stamos, but he got scary looking on ER. Bob Saget is known to have an "interesting" sense of humor outside the "Full House" set, so it would be cool to see him in a different role altogether.
That's all I have to say about this topic. :)
Follow up: We were supposed to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" shortly after I wrote this post. However, Broadway went on strike. When they ended the strike a month later, we finally got to see the show and see Bob Saget's hilarious performance as The Man in the Chair. I wanted to get a picture with him afterward, but my husband didn't want to deal with the crowds. (He made it up to me when we saw "In the Heights" though.)
I thought of this post recently because another show I really like has a box set of their first and only season on DVD. It's called "Freaks and Geeks." I was justifying why I'd want it for my birthday and another friend (also a fan) told me to say that it's a timeless show and that our kids will appreciate it in the future. It's just something good to have around. I feel that way about "Full House" too, obviously. I'd love for my kids to appreciate it as much as I still do. I don't know if they'll be able to relate as much since all the kids are girls, but that doesn't stop them from liking Dora the Explorer. I think they'll enjoy "Freaks and Geeks" someday though. It was such a good show and it didn't get enough of a chance to flourish.
Anyway, this got me thinking of other shows that I consider to be "comfort food." They're shows I can watch whenever and enjoy no matter what. They're timeless to me, even though they take me back to the time when I first got into them.
* "Saved by the Bell": This show is a classic. It's super cheesy, but it teaches some good lessons and I've gotten some fun inside jokes out of them. My husband and I even challenged each other with SBTB trivia (something we made up for each other) when we first started dating. My favorite episode will always be the one where Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills. It just shows a lot about how friends look out for each other. I cry during that episode every time!
* "Degrassi Junior High/Degrassi High": I wrote a blog about this show a while ago. Check it out.
* "Friends": I can never go wrong with this show. I laugh every time I catch an old episode. I love the warm fuzzies I always get too. It's just such a classic 90's sitcom and I haven't seen anything like it since. I even bought a "Friends" trivia game recently. It will be fun to go through all the questions and get all nostalgic again.
* "Ugly Betty": I previously wrote two blog posts about this fabulous show which I miss like crazy already! The first is a tribute and the second is about how I can relate to Betty.
* "Modern Family": This is a new show, but I'm already addicted. Now that the first season is over, I'm going through withdrawal until it comes back in the fall. My husband enjoys watching it too and we get some good inside jokes out of each episode. And I found another "soul sister," Claire Dunphy. We are so alike that it's scary!
These are just a handful of shows that I can watch anytime and enjoy. I know I left "Glee" off the list, but I think it still needs time to get to that level. There were episodes that just made me anxious this past season, which is not all that comforting.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Everywhere you look...
Current mood: nostalgic
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
Anyone who knows me knows that Full House is one of my favorite "classic" TV shows. It got me through part of elementary school, all of junior high and high school, and my freshman year of college. Yes, it's been around that long. I know it got cheesy sometimes, but some episodes would still leave me in tears. An episode wasn't complete without the "moral music" and someone learning a valuable lesson. I was mostly able to relate to DJ because we were around the same age. As I got older and started watching reruns, I began to understand what Danny, Jesse and Joey were going through as parents. I know it was more of a male perspective, but I liked knowing that perspective was there. And even though Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are just scary now, I like knowing that they were once E's age and said or did cute things as Michelle. I could say that Stephanie was just there, but she also was easy to relate to sometimes and she still had a lot to offer. I'm sure middle children were able to relate to her the way they could relate to Jan Brady. She did get more interesting as a teenager, like when she was dealing with guy problems or peer pressure from friends. Full House will always be "down home" and genuine. Something I can watch for "comfort food".
I recently saw a DVD box set of all the seasons of Full House. I totally want that! I'm sure it's super expensive, but maybe it will go on sale at some point. One can always hope. Till then, I'll have to look for reruns on TV somewhere, if a channel would ever show them.
Final thought...Bob Saget is now starring in "The Drowsy Chaperone" on Broadway. I'm taking my husband to see it next week (as a surprise), but am hoping that Bob Saget will be performing at that time (no understudies, please!). It would almost bring things full circle (instead of house) for me, like how it was when I saw Joey McIntyre (from NKOTB) in "Wicked". I know it's not the same as seeing John Stamos, but he got scary looking on ER. Bob Saget is known to have an "interesting" sense of humor outside the "Full House" set, so it would be cool to see him in a different role altogether.
That's all I have to say about this topic. :)
Follow up: We were supposed to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" shortly after I wrote this post. However, Broadway went on strike. When they ended the strike a month later, we finally got to see the show and see Bob Saget's hilarious performance as The Man in the Chair. I wanted to get a picture with him afterward, but my husband didn't want to deal with the crowds. (He made it up to me when we saw "In the Heights" though.)
I thought of this post recently because another show I really like has a box set of their first and only season on DVD. It's called "Freaks and Geeks." I was justifying why I'd want it for my birthday and another friend (also a fan) told me to say that it's a timeless show and that our kids will appreciate it in the future. It's just something good to have around. I feel that way about "Full House" too, obviously. I'd love for my kids to appreciate it as much as I still do. I don't know if they'll be able to relate as much since all the kids are girls, but that doesn't stop them from liking Dora the Explorer. I think they'll enjoy "Freaks and Geeks" someday though. It was such a good show and it didn't get enough of a chance to flourish.
Anyway, this got me thinking of other shows that I consider to be "comfort food." They're shows I can watch whenever and enjoy no matter what. They're timeless to me, even though they take me back to the time when I first got into them.
* "Saved by the Bell": This show is a classic. It's super cheesy, but it teaches some good lessons and I've gotten some fun inside jokes out of them. My husband and I even challenged each other with SBTB trivia (something we made up for each other) when we first started dating. My favorite episode will always be the one where Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills. It just shows a lot about how friends look out for each other. I cry during that episode every time!
* "Degrassi Junior High/Degrassi High": I wrote a blog about this show a while ago. Check it out.
* "Friends": I can never go wrong with this show. I laugh every time I catch an old episode. I love the warm fuzzies I always get too. It's just such a classic 90's sitcom and I haven't seen anything like it since. I even bought a "Friends" trivia game recently. It will be fun to go through all the questions and get all nostalgic again.
* "Ugly Betty": I previously wrote two blog posts about this fabulous show which I miss like crazy already! The first is a tribute and the second is about how I can relate to Betty.
* "Modern Family": This is a new show, but I'm already addicted. Now that the first season is over, I'm going through withdrawal until it comes back in the fall. My husband enjoys watching it too and we get some good inside jokes out of each episode. And I found another "soul sister," Claire Dunphy. We are so alike that it's scary!
These are just a handful of shows that I can watch anytime and enjoy. I know I left "Glee" off the list, but I think it still needs time to get to that level. There were episodes that just made me anxious this past season, which is not all that comforting.
Friday, June 25, 2010
We'll always have "Sesame's Bad Seeds."
This week's Friendship Friday post is about L.B.
I met L.B. during freshman year of high school. We were in gym class and I remember her being the first person in class to reach out and be friendly to me. I appreciated her gesture of friendship and reciprocated. We'd run and talk at the same time. Then I started hanging out with her and her friends in the mornings and at lunch. We didn't get together outside of school, but I was thankful for her friendship.
We didn't see each other as often during sophomore and junior year. We just weren't in the same classes and fell into different circles of friends. Then we ended up in creative writing class senior year. We worked on a parody of "Sesame Street" together (along with another girl) and called it "Sesame's Bad Seeds." It was goofy but we had some great laughs over it. Years later, she found a copy of it to give to me.
During my college years, we didn't see each other much. I occasionally would run into her when I was home for a break. She worked at a shoe store, so we'd chat while my mom was looking for shoes. I think I gave her my contact info, but nothing ever came of it.
About 9 years ago, I got a group of friends together to see a community theater production of "Little Shop of Horrors." One of my friends invited her along. Afterward, we all went to dinner and talked for a long time. We really connected when I found out that she liked "Sex and the City." That fall, she and I joined a bowling league along with two other friends (J.J. was one of them). We started hanging out more often, as a result and continued to become close.
In the fall of 2004, she had a falling out with another friend (which has since been patched up) and it brought us closer together. We'd get together all the time, whether it was for Chinese food, watching movies, playing board games, etc. We always had each other's back, no matter what. She liked to throw parties at her apartment and I always enjoyed them, even when the A/C wasn't working. I also helped her reconnect with some other friends from our high school days, as well as connect her with my college friends.
When I started keeping Kosher in the home (but still eating vegetarian outside the home), she would make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese for me at her place because she knew I couldn't have it at mine. We had a thing about watching "The Swan" together (an extreme makeover show for women...done on their faces and bodies). We also had our crushes on Mark Ruffalo and John Stamos in common. When I was getting married, she threw me a wedding shower. She also helped my husband plan my 30th birthday party (and I threw one for her later that year). When we were moving out of state, she threw us a going away party. She even hosted a party or two when we came back for visits.
Sometime around when my older son was born, L.B. introduced me to her grandma. She was really sweet and we'd all go out for Chinese (a.k.a. chop suey) together. She reminded me of my (late) maternal grandma. I would write letters to her after I moved out of state. I was really sad to hear of her passing and hope her memory will always be a blessing to L.B. and her family.
I think she probably knew this, but I didn't like most of the guys she dated. There was one in early 2005 but they ended up as just friends. He was cool and even connected us both with another friend. Otherwise, the guys she liked just didn't deserve someone as kind hearted and loveable as L.B. When she met her (now) husband in late 2006, I was thrilled for her. He was totally sweet and they had a lot in common. Before we moved to NJ, her husband told me not to worry, that he'd take good care of her. He still is doing that, so I'm very happy for them to be married. (He's quiet, but he has a great sense of humor and is very creative. I know he truly loves her too.)
I haven't seen L.B. since November 2008. I hope I'll get to see her when I'm in town next month. I feel bad that I haven't been in touch as much as I had in the past. We used to "save each other's sanity" at work with long and funny e-mails. Sometimes I'd even send her "Friends" trivia. I miss those e-mails. I see her on Facebook a lot, but I'd love to get back into the e-mailing mode again. L.B. is a loyal friend and a great woman to have in your corner. I'm glad good things have come her way, as she totally deserves them. No matter how often we see each other or communicate, I know we'll always have "Sesame's Bad Seeds" to look back upon and laugh.
I met L.B. during freshman year of high school. We were in gym class and I remember her being the first person in class to reach out and be friendly to me. I appreciated her gesture of friendship and reciprocated. We'd run and talk at the same time. Then I started hanging out with her and her friends in the mornings and at lunch. We didn't get together outside of school, but I was thankful for her friendship.
We didn't see each other as often during sophomore and junior year. We just weren't in the same classes and fell into different circles of friends. Then we ended up in creative writing class senior year. We worked on a parody of "Sesame Street" together (along with another girl) and called it "Sesame's Bad Seeds." It was goofy but we had some great laughs over it. Years later, she found a copy of it to give to me.
During my college years, we didn't see each other much. I occasionally would run into her when I was home for a break. She worked at a shoe store, so we'd chat while my mom was looking for shoes. I think I gave her my contact info, but nothing ever came of it.
About 9 years ago, I got a group of friends together to see a community theater production of "Little Shop of Horrors." One of my friends invited her along. Afterward, we all went to dinner and talked for a long time. We really connected when I found out that she liked "Sex and the City." That fall, she and I joined a bowling league along with two other friends (J.J. was one of them). We started hanging out more often, as a result and continued to become close.
In the fall of 2004, she had a falling out with another friend (which has since been patched up) and it brought us closer together. We'd get together all the time, whether it was for Chinese food, watching movies, playing board games, etc. We always had each other's back, no matter what. She liked to throw parties at her apartment and I always enjoyed them, even when the A/C wasn't working. I also helped her reconnect with some other friends from our high school days, as well as connect her with my college friends.
When I started keeping Kosher in the home (but still eating vegetarian outside the home), she would make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese for me at her place because she knew I couldn't have it at mine. We had a thing about watching "The Swan" together (an extreme makeover show for women...done on their faces and bodies). We also had our crushes on Mark Ruffalo and John Stamos in common. When I was getting married, she threw me a wedding shower. She also helped my husband plan my 30th birthday party (and I threw one for her later that year). When we were moving out of state, she threw us a going away party. She even hosted a party or two when we came back for visits.
Sometime around when my older son was born, L.B. introduced me to her grandma. She was really sweet and we'd all go out for Chinese (a.k.a. chop suey) together. She reminded me of my (late) maternal grandma. I would write letters to her after I moved out of state. I was really sad to hear of her passing and hope her memory will always be a blessing to L.B. and her family.
I think she probably knew this, but I didn't like most of the guys she dated. There was one in early 2005 but they ended up as just friends. He was cool and even connected us both with another friend. Otherwise, the guys she liked just didn't deserve someone as kind hearted and loveable as L.B. When she met her (now) husband in late 2006, I was thrilled for her. He was totally sweet and they had a lot in common. Before we moved to NJ, her husband told me not to worry, that he'd take good care of her. He still is doing that, so I'm very happy for them to be married. (He's quiet, but he has a great sense of humor and is very creative. I know he truly loves her too.)
I haven't seen L.B. since November 2008. I hope I'll get to see her when I'm in town next month. I feel bad that I haven't been in touch as much as I had in the past. We used to "save each other's sanity" at work with long and funny e-mails. Sometimes I'd even send her "Friends" trivia. I miss those e-mails. I see her on Facebook a lot, but I'd love to get back into the e-mailing mode again. L.B. is a loyal friend and a great woman to have in your corner. I'm glad good things have come her way, as she totally deserves them. No matter how often we see each other or communicate, I know we'll always have "Sesame's Bad Seeds" to look back upon and laugh.
Giving this a try
A friend recently told me about [Fiction] Friday. The instructions are to read the topic for the week, post an unedited story in your blog and then share the link on their blog. Then you can read other posts and comment on them. I've been in a writing rut lately, so my friend suggested I try it as an exercise. So here goes...
This week's topic is: Include a telepathic parrot in your story.
Lou Ames did a quick once over of his veterinary clinic, making sure nothing was out of place before locking up for the night. After saving a cat's life, patching up a dog that got his paw caught in a fence, giving shots to another dog that had been bitten by a raccoon and performing heart surgery on a parrot, he was exhausted. A bottle of Coors and an episode of "Lost" from the DVR were all he could handle tonight, if that.
As he went to turn off the lights, he heard a voice behind him. "When was the last time you were on a date?" Startled, Lou spun around abruptly, knocking a pile of brochures off a table in the waiting room. "Who was that? Mom?" The voice didn't answer back and he went about cleaning up the brochures for Iams and Purina.
"Five years. No date in five years." Now he was really getting nervous. How did anyone even know that? He kept to himself and didn't share his love life with his clients. His mom didn't even know how easily he had given up on women after Elaine decided that vets didn't interest her anymore and had moved on to her dentist. It just wasn't worth the heartache. "Show yourself already, whoever you are." He walked around the office, trying to track the sound. "Five years. Five years. Lady with the sick cat thought you were handsome."
He didn't even remember the lady because he was so focused on saving her cat. The poor little beast had a chicken bone lodged in her throat and he managed to get it out. He remembered someone crying but his assistant had taken over so he could scrub for the surgery. The surgery. That was it. He may have blanked out a lot of the day's events, but he did know that the parrot was nearby during most of the procedures. "Mr. Feathers, is that you?"
"Lady with the cat is going to come back. She left the cat's blanket here." Sure enough, a ratty, yellow blanket covered with gray fur was sitting on the couch in the waiting room. Just then, he heard a frantic tapping on the door. A petite woman in her mid-30's was standing outside, illuminated by the moonlight shining from behind. Still bewildered by the parrot's prediction, he opened the door.
"I can't thank you enough for saving Felice's life today! I'm not here for that now though. I seemed to have forgotten Felice's favorite bla---there it is! I'll be out of your way now."
"Five years."
"What was that?" the woman inquired.
"Oh, um, just checking the last time Felice had her shots."
"You're way off then. She just had them last year."
"Oh okay, never mind. Hey, um, listen, would you, um, be interested in going out for dinner?"
"Tonight? I think Felice needs me."
"Not tonight. I have the series finale of "Lost" waiting for me on the DVR."
"Really? That's my favorite show! I just watched the finale. I'm so sad that it's over for good."
"Me too. Or at least I will be in another hour or so. Anyway, how does Saturday at 7:00 sound?"
"How do you know I'm single?" the woman smirked.
"Um, you're not wearing a ring?"
"I could still have a boyfriend."
"Do you?"
"No. It's just Felice and me most of the time. She has to approve of the men I date and so far it's been zero out of the last five. I think she'll approve of you since you saved her life and all."
"Good to know. Should I pick you up or do you want to meet here?"
"Here is fine, since you passed the Felice test already."
"Okay then. I didn't catch your name though."
"Ironically, my name is Cat. It's short for Catherine."
"Nice to meet you, Cat."
"Likewise. Have fun watching "Lost" tonight. We can discuss on our date." With that, she breezed out the door with the ratty blanket thrown casually over her shoulder.
"Angelo's is your favorite restaurant. Take her there."
"Shouldn't you be sleeping? You had a big surgery. You need your rest."
"At the end of "Lost," everyone--"
"Good night." Lou quickly slammed the door behind him, covering his ears and humming. He drove home with a grin plastered to his face. "Silly parrot," he thought, nodding in amusement, thankful for the reminder to finally move on with his life.
This week's topic is: Include a telepathic parrot in your story.
Lou Ames did a quick once over of his veterinary clinic, making sure nothing was out of place before locking up for the night. After saving a cat's life, patching up a dog that got his paw caught in a fence, giving shots to another dog that had been bitten by a raccoon and performing heart surgery on a parrot, he was exhausted. A bottle of Coors and an episode of "Lost" from the DVR were all he could handle tonight, if that.
As he went to turn off the lights, he heard a voice behind him. "When was the last time you were on a date?" Startled, Lou spun around abruptly, knocking a pile of brochures off a table in the waiting room. "Who was that? Mom?" The voice didn't answer back and he went about cleaning up the brochures for Iams and Purina.
"Five years. No date in five years." Now he was really getting nervous. How did anyone even know that? He kept to himself and didn't share his love life with his clients. His mom didn't even know how easily he had given up on women after Elaine decided that vets didn't interest her anymore and had moved on to her dentist. It just wasn't worth the heartache. "Show yourself already, whoever you are." He walked around the office, trying to track the sound. "Five years. Five years. Lady with the sick cat thought you were handsome."
He didn't even remember the lady because he was so focused on saving her cat. The poor little beast had a chicken bone lodged in her throat and he managed to get it out. He remembered someone crying but his assistant had taken over so he could scrub for the surgery. The surgery. That was it. He may have blanked out a lot of the day's events, but he did know that the parrot was nearby during most of the procedures. "Mr. Feathers, is that you?"
"Lady with the cat is going to come back. She left the cat's blanket here." Sure enough, a ratty, yellow blanket covered with gray fur was sitting on the couch in the waiting room. Just then, he heard a frantic tapping on the door. A petite woman in her mid-30's was standing outside, illuminated by the moonlight shining from behind. Still bewildered by the parrot's prediction, he opened the door.
"I can't thank you enough for saving Felice's life today! I'm not here for that now though. I seemed to have forgotten Felice's favorite bla---there it is! I'll be out of your way now."
"Five years."
"What was that?" the woman inquired.
"Oh, um, just checking the last time Felice had her shots."
"You're way off then. She just had them last year."
"Oh okay, never mind. Hey, um, listen, would you, um, be interested in going out for dinner?"
"Tonight? I think Felice needs me."
"Not tonight. I have the series finale of "Lost" waiting for me on the DVR."
"Really? That's my favorite show! I just watched the finale. I'm so sad that it's over for good."
"Me too. Or at least I will be in another hour or so. Anyway, how does Saturday at 7:00 sound?"
"How do you know I'm single?" the woman smirked.
"Um, you're not wearing a ring?"
"I could still have a boyfriend."
"Do you?"
"No. It's just Felice and me most of the time. She has to approve of the men I date and so far it's been zero out of the last five. I think she'll approve of you since you saved her life and all."
"Good to know. Should I pick you up or do you want to meet here?"
"Here is fine, since you passed the Felice test already."
"Okay then. I didn't catch your name though."
"Ironically, my name is Cat. It's short for Catherine."
"Nice to meet you, Cat."
"Likewise. Have fun watching "Lost" tonight. We can discuss on our date." With that, she breezed out the door with the ratty blanket thrown casually over her shoulder.
"Angelo's is your favorite restaurant. Take her there."
"Shouldn't you be sleeping? You had a big surgery. You need your rest."
"At the end of "Lost," everyone--"
"Good night." Lou quickly slammed the door behind him, covering his ears and humming. He drove home with a grin plastered to his face. "Silly parrot," he thought, nodding in amusement, thankful for the reminder to finally move on with his life.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
"Luck be a Lady"
I got an e-mail this evening, a bit after the fact. Someone was giving away tickets to see a show called "Luck be a Lady." I thought it was amusing because I had that song in my head this evening after my husband received a fortune (from a cookie) that said "Luck is the by-product of busting your fanny." I don't think those were the exact words of Confucious, but it's a belief that I hold to be true.
I have had numerous discussions with someone on the topic of luck. They believe that people are born lucky or that good things just fall into peoples' laps. I come from a different school of thought. I believe that when good things happen to someone, they can consider themselves fortunate or blessed. Luck is based on chance and coincidence. Sometimes good timing plays into it. Like someone who misses their plane and avoids being in a crash. That's pure luck on their side.
However, I feel that for something good to happen, there has to be a catalyst. How does one expect to win the lottery if they don't purchase a ticket? How does one expect to get a promotion at work if they don't "bust their fanny" at their job? How does one expect to meet Mr. or Mrs. Right if they don't put themselves into the dating market? I'm not saying that those situations are even guaranteed to happen even if someone tries for the end result. There's just a better chance of such things happening than someone just "magically" winning a million dollars, becoming president of their company or finding Mr. or Mrs. Right on their doorstep.
On the subject of being born lucky, I don't think anyone has come out of their mother's womb holding a four leaf clover. There's the matter of being born into good or poor circumstances. Once you know your circumstances and have control over what could happen next, you have the ability to do or be whatever you want. Take the movie "Precious" for example. Precious was born into a terrible family situation. However, she got an education and found a way to escape from her abusive mother. She could have sat there and taken her mother's abuse and just blamed it on bad luck. I know it's a fictional story, but it does have a basis of truth and it's very empowering. There's also "The Pursuit of Happyness," which is based on a true story. Chris was having a difficult time finding a job and being able to provide for his child. Doors closed in his face and he kept getting kicked when he was down. Still, he "busted his fanny" to get a job so that he could get himself and his son off the streets. It wasn't a matter of luck. It was a matter of blood, sweat and tears, so to speak.
Tonight, I could have been the "lucky" recipient of free tickets to a show, but I got home late because of dinner plans with my family. I missed the opportunity, but it wasn't meant to be. There are other times when my timing has been perfect, such as knowing when to speak aloud about a bowling commitment I had, just as my husband's best friend happened to be standing nearby. I wouldn't call that luck, just good timing. My husband may not have been interested in meeting me or we might not have been each others' type. I could have chosen not to give out my number in the first place (a catalyst). I'm glad none of those situations were the case. I just feel fortunate and very blessed as a result of such savvy timing.
I'd be interested in hearing your opinions about the concept of luck. Are people naturally lucky or do you think they have to do something to make something good happen for them? Discuss....
I have had numerous discussions with someone on the topic of luck. They believe that people are born lucky or that good things just fall into peoples' laps. I come from a different school of thought. I believe that when good things happen to someone, they can consider themselves fortunate or blessed. Luck is based on chance and coincidence. Sometimes good timing plays into it. Like someone who misses their plane and avoids being in a crash. That's pure luck on their side.
However, I feel that for something good to happen, there has to be a catalyst. How does one expect to win the lottery if they don't purchase a ticket? How does one expect to get a promotion at work if they don't "bust their fanny" at their job? How does one expect to meet Mr. or Mrs. Right if they don't put themselves into the dating market? I'm not saying that those situations are even guaranteed to happen even if someone tries for the end result. There's just a better chance of such things happening than someone just "magically" winning a million dollars, becoming president of their company or finding Mr. or Mrs. Right on their doorstep.
On the subject of being born lucky, I don't think anyone has come out of their mother's womb holding a four leaf clover. There's the matter of being born into good or poor circumstances. Once you know your circumstances and have control over what could happen next, you have the ability to do or be whatever you want. Take the movie "Precious" for example. Precious was born into a terrible family situation. However, she got an education and found a way to escape from her abusive mother. She could have sat there and taken her mother's abuse and just blamed it on bad luck. I know it's a fictional story, but it does have a basis of truth and it's very empowering. There's also "The Pursuit of Happyness," which is based on a true story. Chris was having a difficult time finding a job and being able to provide for his child. Doors closed in his face and he kept getting kicked when he was down. Still, he "busted his fanny" to get a job so that he could get himself and his son off the streets. It wasn't a matter of luck. It was a matter of blood, sweat and tears, so to speak.
Tonight, I could have been the "lucky" recipient of free tickets to a show, but I got home late because of dinner plans with my family. I missed the opportunity, but it wasn't meant to be. There are other times when my timing has been perfect, such as knowing when to speak aloud about a bowling commitment I had, just as my husband's best friend happened to be standing nearby. I wouldn't call that luck, just good timing. My husband may not have been interested in meeting me or we might not have been each others' type. I could have chosen not to give out my number in the first place (a catalyst). I'm glad none of those situations were the case. I just feel fortunate and very blessed as a result of such savvy timing.
I'd be interested in hearing your opinions about the concept of luck. Are people naturally lucky or do you think they have to do something to make something good happen for them? Discuss....
I have my flaws
I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each others' blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
This week Charmingly Random inquired:Tell me about your worst habits
When Froggie and I were at overnight camp together during the summer before 7th grade, we made a deal that whomever bit their nails first had to buy the other a pack of Bubble Tape. I'm pretty sure I was the one who had to pay up, as I can't not bite my nails. I still have this bad habit and therefore have very short nails. My husband once tried getting me to paint Thum (the stuff with the bitter taste) on my nails, but I refused. I need to curb this habit because my kids stick their fingers in their mouths and I'm afraid it's because of my bad influence. When I'm not biting, I'm picking at them. It's something I do to alleviate stress and anxiety. I don't know that I'll ever grow out of it, seeing that I'm close to my mid-30's and still biting away.
I also thought I'd take this opportunity to bring up some other bad habits that I have a hard time breaking:
* Obsessiveness: I have a thing with checking every door in the house to make sure it is locked before going to bed. I can't go to bed until this happens. I also check my alarm clock settings constantly before retiring for the night. And as the other bloggers in this group know, I'm always the first to finish my blog project post for the week!
* Procrastination: This is a huge one for me, but I'll talk more about it later....What?!?
* Yelling: I tend to go that route when I'm frustrated. I feel bad when I yell at the kids though. I have a hard time counting to 10 before blasting off.
* Being disorganized, especially in the house: Someone will clean (maybe me) and then I manage to put down a piece of mail, a toy or something else wherever I am standing at the time. I then collect everything in a box and forget to put all the items away. (Either that, or I procrastinate on doing so.) I also am TERRIBLE about putting away laundry. Currently, there's a huge pile of clothes on my older son's bedroom floor and there will soon be one on mine too.
Once someone told my (late) maternal grandma that she was perfect. Her answer? "Oh, I have my flaws." So now I can say the same. (I think some of our flaws are similar, although she would never yell.)
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
This week Charmingly Random inquired:Tell me about your worst habits
When Froggie and I were at overnight camp together during the summer before 7th grade, we made a deal that whomever bit their nails first had to buy the other a pack of Bubble Tape. I'm pretty sure I was the one who had to pay up, as I can't not bite my nails. I still have this bad habit and therefore have very short nails. My husband once tried getting me to paint Thum (the stuff with the bitter taste) on my nails, but I refused. I need to curb this habit because my kids stick their fingers in their mouths and I'm afraid it's because of my bad influence. When I'm not biting, I'm picking at them. It's something I do to alleviate stress and anxiety. I don't know that I'll ever grow out of it, seeing that I'm close to my mid-30's and still biting away.
I also thought I'd take this opportunity to bring up some other bad habits that I have a hard time breaking:
* Obsessiveness: I have a thing with checking every door in the house to make sure it is locked before going to bed. I can't go to bed until this happens. I also check my alarm clock settings constantly before retiring for the night. And as the other bloggers in this group know, I'm always the first to finish my blog project post for the week!
* Procrastination: This is a huge one for me, but I'll talk more about it later....What?!?
* Yelling: I tend to go that route when I'm frustrated. I feel bad when I yell at the kids though. I have a hard time counting to 10 before blasting off.
* Being disorganized, especially in the house: Someone will clean (maybe me) and then I manage to put down a piece of mail, a toy or something else wherever I am standing at the time. I then collect everything in a box and forget to put all the items away. (Either that, or I procrastinate on doing so.) I also am TERRIBLE about putting away laundry. Currently, there's a huge pile of clothes on my older son's bedroom floor and there will soon be one on mine too.
Once someone told my (late) maternal grandma that she was perfect. Her answer? "Oh, I have my flaws." So now I can say the same. (I think some of our flaws are similar, although she would never yell.)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"One...Singular Sensation..."
Last night, a friend came over to watch "A Chorus Line." Watching it took me back a couple of decades. The first time I saw this movie, I was in 4th grade. I was spending the night at a friend's house and we both liked musical theater a lot. I remember that we both thought "Dance Ten, Looks Three" was hilarious because it had swear words in the song. (Pretty tame ones in this day and age!) I fell in love with the movie and watched it again with my family, thus possibly corrupting my sister, who was six years old at the time. Our favorite character was Cassie and we later named our new kitten after her. Later that year, all I wanted for Hanukkah was the soundtrack. My parents got me the one for the stage musical though. Then they bought me the movie version and gave the stage version to my grandparents.
I later revisited the soundtrack when "Jack" and I were hanging out and playing it in my car a lot. We'd both sing along. I still have it on cassette somewhere in my house and I take it out from time to time. It probably gets as much play time as my "Little Shop of Horrors" movie soundtrack (which I also love but tend to ignore because it's on cassette).
Watching the movie last night made me think of things that never entered my mind before. I didn't care about the dialogue as a kid, just the music and dancing. The dialogue makes more sense to me as an adult. I was even crying during Sheila's part of "At the Ballet" because it made sense. (I used to think that her mother dug earrings out of a car to steal them.) Some parts were even funnier because of what I know as an adult. It had an "American Idol"/"So You Think You Can Dance" appeal and also made me think of the "Legally Blonde" auditions on MTV. There's also the fact that "One" was played more in the last half of the movie than "That Thing You Do" was played during the entire movie with the same name. I got sick of it after a while. It's not even that great of a song, compared to some of the others in the movie.
The other thing I noticed was that the singing talent was way off. Average, at best. I think my favorite song was "Nothing" because the actress who performed it was the only one with a really strong voice. Also, the characters would say they were in their 20's and they looked way older. It made the "Beverly Hills 90210" casting seem so much more normal. So, it got me thinking that of all the movies that could possibly be remade, I wouldn't flinch if it were "A Chorus Line." (But if Hollywood even considers "Little Shop of Horrors," I will be furious!) I even came up with my own dream cast, including a few people from "Glee" and a few people from Broadway....
Zach: Matthew Morrison. I think he could play the role really well.
Cassie: Autumn Hurlbert from "Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods." I can't even imagine anyone else in the role!
Val: Kristin Chenoweth. She could pull of "Dance Ten..." with no problem!
Sheila: Idina Menzel. I think her personality and voice would fit the role well.
Mark: (The one who thought he had gonorrhea) Chris Colfer. Right age along with a personality that could make this part of the movie even funnier. Oh, and if I don't cast him, a certain friend of mine will kill me!
Bibi: Miley Cyrus. As much as I don't like her, I think she'd work well in this role.)
Maggie: Lea Michele. She plays someone who didn't know her mom while growing up, so she could easily play someone who didn't know her dad. And I love her singing voice!
Diana Morales: Karen Olivo from "In the Heights" and "West Side Story" on Broadway. Also, Eden Espinosa, who has been in "Wicked" and "Rent" on Broadway. Both have great voices and stage presence.
Paul: Robin de Jesus from "Camp" and "In the Heights." After seeing him in "Camp," I know he could add something similar for this part.
I couldn't think of anyone to play the other roles. (And I call myself the "Pop Culture Queen"...) Please feel free to share any casting ideas you have.
I later revisited the soundtrack when "Jack" and I were hanging out and playing it in my car a lot. We'd both sing along. I still have it on cassette somewhere in my house and I take it out from time to time. It probably gets as much play time as my "Little Shop of Horrors" movie soundtrack (which I also love but tend to ignore because it's on cassette).
Watching the movie last night made me think of things that never entered my mind before. I didn't care about the dialogue as a kid, just the music and dancing. The dialogue makes more sense to me as an adult. I was even crying during Sheila's part of "At the Ballet" because it made sense. (I used to think that her mother dug earrings out of a car to steal them.) Some parts were even funnier because of what I know as an adult. It had an "American Idol"/"So You Think You Can Dance" appeal and also made me think of the "Legally Blonde" auditions on MTV. There's also the fact that "One" was played more in the last half of the movie than "That Thing You Do" was played during the entire movie with the same name. I got sick of it after a while. It's not even that great of a song, compared to some of the others in the movie.
The other thing I noticed was that the singing talent was way off. Average, at best. I think my favorite song was "Nothing" because the actress who performed it was the only one with a really strong voice. Also, the characters would say they were in their 20's and they looked way older. It made the "Beverly Hills 90210" casting seem so much more normal. So, it got me thinking that of all the movies that could possibly be remade, I wouldn't flinch if it were "A Chorus Line." (But if Hollywood even considers "Little Shop of Horrors," I will be furious!) I even came up with my own dream cast, including a few people from "Glee" and a few people from Broadway....
Zach: Matthew Morrison. I think he could play the role really well.
Cassie: Autumn Hurlbert from "Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods." I can't even imagine anyone else in the role!
Val: Kristin Chenoweth. She could pull of "Dance Ten..." with no problem!
Sheila: Idina Menzel. I think her personality and voice would fit the role well.
Mark: (The one who thought he had gonorrhea) Chris Colfer. Right age along with a personality that could make this part of the movie even funnier. Oh, and if I don't cast him, a certain friend of mine will kill me!
Bibi: Miley Cyrus. As much as I don't like her, I think she'd work well in this role.)
Maggie: Lea Michele. She plays someone who didn't know her mom while growing up, so she could easily play someone who didn't know her dad. And I love her singing voice!
Diana Morales: Karen Olivo from "In the Heights" and "West Side Story" on Broadway. Also, Eden Espinosa, who has been in "Wicked" and "Rent" on Broadway. Both have great voices and stage presence.
Paul: Robin de Jesus from "Camp" and "In the Heights." After seeing him in "Camp," I know he could add something similar for this part.
I couldn't think of anyone to play the other roles. (And I call myself the "Pop Culture Queen"...) Please feel free to share any casting ideas you have.
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