In the News

I've gathered a few thought I've had during the news this last week.

1.  Downton Abby won a Golden Glob for Best Mini Series.   I adore that program.  I did read an article that called it "Costume crack" and I have to agree.  I am a romantic at heart so I look at those dresses won in the early 19 teens.  1914, etc (think Titanic) with the long dresses and the pearls and the hats.  Love it.  I am thoroughly enjoying the 2nd season.

2.  I also read that Leonardo Dicaprio is making or has made the remake of The Great Gatsby.     I'm sorry Leo.  You are a brilliant actor, but you are no Robert Redford.

I had to track down these photos on Google.  I'll let you decide.

                                              Robert Redford as Jay and Mia Farrow as Daisy.

            Leo as Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy.  Release date in December 25, 2012.

 Will I see it. You bet.  It is one of my all time favorite books.  I am enthralled with the big mansions on the Gold Coast of Long Island.  Only recently was the home that "possibly" inspired this book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, torn down to make room for another home.  I know this one would cost more to rehab than to build a new one, but it is still a sad thing..... to me.

3.  Moving on...... Hostess Twinkies filed for bankruptcy because they owed $860 million dollars.  Really?  It took reaching that amount to decide a Twinkie was not going to pull you out of the mire.  $500 million didn't tell you that?  How do you get that far into debt at $3.99 a box.  ( I really have no idea how much they cost.)  I can honestly say I have never eaten a Twinkie.  Looks like a lot a people are not eating them if they are in debt this much.

4.  Did anyone else see on the news of the mother that parked her drug selling, lying 14 year old son out on the street corner, wearing a sign that said as much.   Down at the bottom it also stated " I don't follow the law."  He looked pretty sullen.  She was out there with him, making sure he stayed on that corner.  She said he had been caught numerous times selling drugs and lying about it.  The courts gave him a small "community service" that she did not believe was strict enough so her words were " "He wants attention.  We're getting him some attention."

 Of course someone drove by and reported her to the Police for abuse.  Give me a break.  She was saving his life, "in my opinion".   The police did decide she was not endangering him and was breaking no law so he was still standing with the sign hanging around his neck. Can we have a "oo rah" for that Mom please?  I'm sure she had other things she would rather be doing too, but she decided nothing was as important as saving her son.  Good for her!

These things tweaked my interest this week.  What tweaked yours?

My Opinion As A Cruiser About the Costa Concordia Disaster

Terry and I discovered "cruising" 10 years ago.  At that time we decided to go on a cruise to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.  Daughter #1 married.   Both of our other daughters were still home.  One was a freshman in college and one of a high school Junior, so we took them with us.  In that following ten years, I think we have gone on 6 cruises.  

Over the weekend one of the Italy's Costa ships fell victim to a rebel Captain.  That's about the only way I can sum it up.  People lost their lives and all the rest suffered great stress and trauma that was avoidable and caused by plain ole stupidity.  The course on these ships is set for a reason. 

I cannot imagine what these people went through.   First of all, it happened at night.  Then the lights went out.  From reports I've heard, passengers had not had their "ship safety talk" (is what we call it) and were first told to return to their cabins.  Yes this ship's parent company is Carnival.  I have sailed on Carnival and Royal Caribbean. All of these ships had that procedure done as soon as the ship sat sail.  I've heard this ship had just began it's voyage and had only been under way for 3 hours.  That's still early in the legal 24 hour window to do that evacuation talk and I don't know if this is their common practice.  Also, passengers verify the Captain did not call to abandon ship until 45 after he knew there was  trouble.

I do know I always take flashlights with us. I have taken them when we travel because I do not like getting up to go to the bathroom in the pitch black. For us, too, I read later than Terry does and he wakes up before I do, so those flashlights come in handy. The first time we cruised we chose an inside stateroom.  They are the least expensive and we had 4 people sailing.  That means no window - no light. It's like sleeping in a closet.  In this case, the electricity was out so everyone was in the dark.  (But if you do sail...take a flashlight. )

Would the lights have helped?  It wouldn't hurt is what I'm thinking. 

I have a hard time calling this atrocity an accident because it was such a risk taking maneuver.  I'm sure it was this captain feeling invincible. We have learned he abandoned his ship before his passengers were off.   There is record of the Coast guard telling him to get back on his ship to help inform them as to what what was happening on board, but, as we know, that didn't happen.

 I do know these Captains are rotated through the fleet. ( From talking with a Carnival Captain)  They are on duty for 6 months. They, then, on leave, and when they return, it is to a different ship.   I do not know how wide spread that rotation goes.  Is it just through their line or is it through the whole Carnival fleet?  I would swear that guy looks familiar but Terry and Daughter #2 reminded me that most of the Captains have been Italian.  Put a tall, dark and handsome man in a captain's uniform and sorry, but I was not checking for a perp line up.

Please do not let the vanity and arrogance of this captain stop you from going on a cruise.  The ships are safe.   It is a very economical way to vacation.  You get to go to exciting places and your room comes with you.  You're gourmet meals or the buffet, if that's what you choose,  are included.  You can be sure no captain is going to even think about varying his course now!

Happy Cruising.   (And they didn't even pay me to say that!!)

The Mysteries of Hollywood

I hadn't planned on making another comment of Hollywood, but then this past weekend, along came the Natalie Wood story.  She allegedly (is everything alleged these days?) drowned over Thanksgiving weekend, 30 years ago.  I remember this.  I was 30 then. She was one of the "old Hollywood" set. She made movies with James Dean and Warren Beatty. She was Maria in "West Side Story" and she was "Gypsy".   Hers was not one of those Hollywood deaths that I can say "I remember where I was when...." 

I do remember where I was when I heard Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom.  I was 12 and visiting my grandmother on one of those once a year visits.  Her radio was always on low, kind background noise of farm reports and who was in the hospital kind of small town stations.  August, 1962. Then came the annoucement of Marilyn's body being discovered by her housekeeper.  This made an impression on me.  I was laying on a big feather bed, on the floor,  in grandma's living room. 
(That feather bed was rolled out for us kids on those visits and it was awesome!)
John Kennedy.. sure.  I was 13 and a hall monitor, sitting at a desk, outside the door of a study hall, when the teacher opened the door and asked me to step inside. 

But, no, I don't remember all that with Natalie Wood.  I do remember thinking the whole, went out in the dark, in her nightgown and a coat to tie up a dingy story didn't quite ring true.  We knew, at that time there was an argument between Christopher Walken (He must be a brilliant actor because he creeps me out.)  and Robert Wagner, and that there had been a lot of drinking of adult beverages going on.    hmmmm? 

Even back then a female witness claims to have heard a woman calling for help in the middle of the night.  She, the witness, had tried to call Harbor Patrol (?) , something like that for help, numerous times,  and no one ever answered the phone. 

So, now there is a book and "new evidence".  Really? I don't think the evidence is new.  I think it was always there and covered up.  These were 3 of Hollywood's brightest stars.  No one was willing to point fingers, especially the boat captain. He admits he didn't witness what happened.  He just failed to tell whole truth about what he had seen.

Hollywood has been covering up and stretching the truth, about their scandals for generations.  From Lana Turner's 14 year old daughter Cheryl Crane stabbing her mom's abusive boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato (He walked into the knife is what Cheryl says), to the Black Dahlia and Marilyn Monroe's questioned suicide, there have been questions about some of these conclusions.  Yes, O.J., I'm talking about you.

I'm the one that watches all these forensic programs.  I do know that sometimes the bad guy does get caught decades later.  I'm hoping that is the case here, but I'm not gonna put any money on it.

Ashton, You Blew It!

Google photo....

Way back when Hugh Grant was arrested for solicitation when he was dating Elizabeth Hurley, he was on the Jay Leno Show.  Hugh walked out and sat down in the guest seat and Jay looked at him, took a breath and asked, "What the hell were you thinking?"

Of course, I don't know the ins and outs of other people's lives, but these two were all a "Twitter" throughout their marriage.  So, I ask the same question Jay asked...

Really?

Back in the last 1980's Arsenio Hall had a late night talk show that included a monologue on "Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm?"

I have a few of those thing now too.

1.  What the hey is Benneton thinking with their ads featuring world leaders kissing.   For instance:

I may be alone here but I don't think this is at all respectful to any world office, and is absolutely not something I want my President featured in.  I'm not talking about the man, I'm talking about the position of President of the United States, period.  Man or woman.

2.  I watched a Dr. Phil I had DVR'd because he had Prosecutor Ashton on from the Casey Anthony trial.  I had seen a commercial where he asked "How did you get it so wrong?" about picking a jury.   He also had Mark Geragos from the Michael Jackson molestation case and Marcia Clark from the O.J. trial on as well.   The whole point is... Have you seen Macia Clark lately?

If he had not introduced her by name, I wouldn't have known who she was.  Now that I think about I don't look like I did back in 1995 either.  I look older.  She doesn't.  I'll drink that water.

3.  This one is more trivial, but if you are a DWTS fan, and those that are fans know that is "Dancing With the Stars".    I was a fan until this season which slipped about as far as they could go to call these contestants "Stars", so I haven't been watching.   But, I've still been hearing ans seeing my guy Maks, one of the Pros, behaving badly.   He's always been more verbal than the other Pros about the judges scores, but this season his criticism has been over the top, I feel.    I have a feeling his contract may not be renewed for the next season, which is too bad because he is one of the more popular Pros, but Maks, Maks, it's only dancing buddy.  Get over yourself.

4.  This last thing that makes me go hmmmmm is the Chevrolet Dealership where we've taken our car for work.  After  hurricane Irene came through but before we went to Savannah, I went to the dealership, sat for 2 1/2 hours to get a front end alignment and 2 new front tires.  2 Days ago Terry took the car to another service place for 4 new tires and another alignment.  The new tires were extremely worn in the same pattern as the first time.  That car sits in the driveway most of the week.  I don't go far  and rarely do we go far on the weekend.  We did take our trip south, but that's about it.  He doesn't  think the dealership did the alignment.  Now we're out $500.00 more.  I told him I would take it back to the dealership but he said they would just say we hit a hole or something  to cover their butts. 

Has something been making you go hmmmm too?   

Pros and Cons

A Pro is.... we have a winner!!!.. for the book "Before Ever After".     The Fifty Factor 
Congratulations!  I'll get it right out to you.  Good timing now that she is counting down work days to more free time.


A Con is..... some of the CoHosts on my new favorite daytime talk show, The Talk,  were fired by Host, Julie Chen. Whatever Julie wants, Julie gets seems to be the common thread I've been reading. Her husband is Network President,  Les Moonves.  Gone are Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete.  Those two have been replaced by Molly Shannon ( yeah, really) and Sherry Underwood. ( I 've never heard of her either.)  

The biggest disappointment for me is the absence of Sharon Osbourne, being replaced by Kris Jenner, Mom of all those Kardashians.  From what I've researched, Sharon wanted out and is reducing her time this season to 6 or 8 (depending on what you read) shows and then she's out.  So I'm out too.   I'll have to find a new favorite and right now I'm liking Anderson Cooper. I really enjoyed the show with his Mom as his guest.   We'll see how long that lasts.



Another Pro is that the American hiker/spies were released in Iran on Wednesday.  I've voiced my opinion on them before.  I've come to the conclusion they really were spies because if they weren't that only leaves stupidity as a reason for hiking along the border of Iraq (a war torn country) and Iran.... not so American friendly.  Regardless, I'm glad they were released. 



A Con might be 39 year old, Bille Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, getting kicked off a Southwest Airplane for having sagging pants. 

Southwest later did eat their words and off into the wild blue yonder he went.  I like Green Day ok enough,  ....He goes a little heavy on the eyeliner occasionally...but there are a couple of songs I really do like.  "Time of Your Life"    being one of them.

   My 2 younger daughters and I have been battling this one out on Facebook.    Their argument is that he is a rocker and has an image to up hold.  His argument was there are more important things to be concerned with than his britches hanging.  I have to agree with both of them.  So I thought about it. 

 The rockers I grew up with are still wearing their same "Rocker" attire... think  Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler, The Boss....  I think my point will be remembered when they are looking at 50, 60 and 70 year old butt crack in their golden years.   

                                                        .   "Pants on the Ground"

Random Thoughts

I have a little notebook I jot down ideas in for blogging.  Goodness knows I can't remember them the next minute if I don't write them down.  So here is another bunch of unconnected thoughts.


1.  Does anyone else remember hanging clothes on the line to dry or taking them out of the dryer only to grab the water bottle (ours was a Pepsi bottle with the "Sprinkler" top pushed down into it.) and sprinkle those same clothes, roll them up and put them in a pillow case to dampen them in order to then iron them, all spiffy?  They had to sit a while to evenly distribute that dampness.  I seem to remember a friend's mother that put them in the refrigerator to rest.  It must have been summer and she didn't want them to sour.


2.  I have seen the TV program "What Would You Do" commercials,  but I've not watched it.  I know what I would do.  Being in retail, I have seen women yank and scream at their children to stop crying because the mother has been in the dang store, trying on clothes until 9pm or later during the holidays,  and the poor child is tired and bored.    I've wanted to go smack the woman and see how she liked it but I had to swallow my anger and do nothing.   So unless a child looks in danger from a parent, sad to say, I do nothing.  If a man is physically threatening a female, then I would step in.  I haven't, but I know myself.  Bigotry and racism I can't tolerate.  I would have to do something. My daughters call it "Going all Mom on them."   Most other things, I wouldn't interfere.   I did see the host, John Quiñones on a morning program.  He said far more women get involved than men.   I'm proud of us.     So, what would you do or what have you done?


3.  The worst job in the house is cleaning behind the toilet.  Face meet toilet bowl.  My sister told me to pour bleach in it and close the lid.  Doesn't matter.  Worse job to me.  What household chore do you dislike the most?


4.  My Entertainment Weekly had a list of the 10 movies that made us cry.  Some were old, some were new and some that made me cry didn't make the list.   My favorites are Ghost, P.S. I Love You, and Benjamin Button.     What's your favorite?

5.  Does anyone else (during the late 1950s or early 60s pack small boxes to send to Africa?  I remember doing that.  We brought in small toothpastes and soaps and pencils and etc, etc. to send to the poor children in Africa.  It seems there has always been a need there.

6.  Those Febreeze Commercials that "supposedly" take place in a squalor of an apartment or a slum basement or kitchen,  do not entise me to buy their product.  Icky

Just clearing out the cobwebs today.  Do you have any random thoughts to get off your chest?

Let's Talk

I used to know some interesting women.  I would join them for an hour here and there when I was available, during my working years.  In my humble opinion, they have become so self promoting, that now I have some new friends.  The old friends were on "The View".  Barbara, Joy, Sherri, Elizabeth and the next has changed over the years from Meredith, to Rosie to Whoopie.  Over the years I've grown tired of the in-house bickering.  I don't think Joy is funny anymore.  She's annoying. Elizabeth was the only conservative so she is  on the defense constantly. Not everything that happens in the world is political ladies.  Lighten up. Get over yourselves. Seriously.

Now I have some new friends that I would much rather spend a hour with.  The ladies of "The Talk".  Julie Chen, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini, Sharon Osbourne and Sara Gilbert.  I'm as political as the next person, so if I want to hear that, I'll go to the news networks.  I want to hear them dish the dirt.  Especially Sharon.  Love her.  So recently, they have shared their opinions of a variety of questions that I'll ask you.  These are major issues/world changing even,  that should be discussed.



1.  Do you like being called "ma'am,"?  How about "honey, sweetie, darling" by people you don't know?


    Ok, now that I'm older than dirt, and live in the south and around a bunch of Marines, I have been "ma'amed" all over the place.   I'm fine with it.  It is a show of respect. The military and southern manners says you "ma'am" and "sir" everyone.  I remember being in my early 20's the first time it happened to me and I was shocked and offended.  Now I am a "Ma'am".

     Living in the south, I have been called "sweetie, honey and darling" by waitresses, cashiers and a librarian.  I don't think that is appropriate anywhere by any age.  I don't appreciate it at all, but I don't say anything to them.  I feel it's not meant as an insult, although, I don't think it is at all respectful of them or appropriate in a business situation.  I can't remember it ever happening in the north.


2.  Do you take your shoes off in the house?


     We do.  I didn't want little feet bringing in dirt on my clean floors so I've always had everyone take their shoes off.  I don't ask company to remove theirs.  I just hope they would.  I do take off mine when I go to someone else's home however. 

      Growing up, we didn't.  I don't think it occurred to my mother.


3.  Is it OK for children to ever be naked in public?


     I say "No", only because of the world we live in.  My girls always wore the cute little bathing suits, even in our own backyard.  I think the little bodies are adorable but the world is not as innocent as it used to be.

4.  What TV program would you bring back?   Not in reruns, but updated with the same feel.


     I have 2 favorites.  the first is "Dallas".   Loved the JR, Bobby, Cliff feuds and the clothes of Sue Ellen and Pammy...  Can we please bring back the bling of that wardrobe?  


      The second has to be "The Cosby Show".    The writers on that show were phenomenal.  My daughters and I still quote it.   Mama Clare always got in the last word.


       OK, I lied.  There are 3.   "Designing Women" when Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke) was there.      Gotta love those ladies.


What do you say? 

In My Humble Opinion

This week there have been a few Pop Culture things that got my attention.  So here's what I think...


1.  I read in my Entertainment Weekly  that Cher has said she is not planning to retire anytime soon...or something to that effect. She's about 65 I think.   What I am wondering is this:  Am I ready to see Cher's tattooed butt while she is sings "If I Could Turn Back Time"  at 70?  I have been a Cher fan since I was 14..  I saw her on stage for her Retirement tour.  Remember that one?  It ran for about 2 years. She is marvelous.  All my daughters were with me.  I remember I remarked "Look at her showing off her 50 something (at the time)  year old boobs."  and my oldest daughter replied, "Those boobs are only two or three years old at most."

 I say it's time she reinvent herself and  put away the body revealing costumes and take a page from Elton John and Rod Stewart.  They both have hung up their pink satin pants and boas and are now in conservative suits.   They look and sound wonderful.  I'm still a big fan of both.  Cher still has Bob Mackie designing those stunning gowns that would take her to a whole new level of entertainer.  What do you think?  She can still be stunning, like this.

2.  I DVR "Hoarders". It creeps me out.  I always get a sick knot in my stomach watching it but I don't stop.  I am constantly amazed at what people keep and what conditions they live in.  I wonder where was the moment that they said to themselves  " I'm good with this."


3.  Terry brought this to my attention.  They both have the "crazy face" going on here.  Scary people.  Where is she?  As long as she's not next door,  I really don't care.

4.  On the acts of terror in Norway.  Awful, awful stuff.  Unfortunately there are loony birds everywhere.  I heard a Norwegian reporter say, "We expect this in the United States.  Not here."   I've not yet heard anything on the "why" of it.  There is just no good answer to that question.

5.  Amy Winehouse....Not surprised. She's been broken for years.

6.  J Lo and Marc Anthony split.  I don't know much about him.  I know he's a very successful singer and control addict.  I'm thinking "You fool"... There's only one direction to go after you are divorced from the "World's Most Beautiful Woman". 


That's all I can think of right now.  Do you have any humble opinions you would like to share?  I'm interested.

A Pair of Train Wrecks

I was watching the trial for the train wreck that is Casey Anthony on TruTV this morning. My plan had to been to follow the news updates but I'd not seen much. With all the tornadoes hitting lately there is really not time for much other news, other than maybe Obama and Israel.

I tried to watch some of the "Issues with Jane Velez Mitchell"  but both her voice and Nancy Grace's sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.  Why do they have to scream and beat to death a question before it's answered.   This trial is just now getting started.  Little Caylee has been dead since June of 2008 and it now late May 2011.  3 years later.  What the heck took so long?  I've gotten 3 jury summons in my life and was dismissed in questioning.  I would have a difficult time sitting on this jury.   I couldn't be impartial.

The other case I've been following is Amanda Knox in Perugia, Italy.  In 2010 she had declared guilty  murdering  her British roommate Meredith Kercher in November, 2007.  She was convicted, I feel, on shoddy DNA evidence.  In my search just now, I see that the appeal trial is over and the family is hopeful but that the decision may not be reached until September.  Both she and her parents are charged with slandering the police department, saying that Amanda had been abused by police while she was being questioned. Knox's parents are also due to stand trial separately in July for this.   I don't believe this girl is guilty of the murder or of slander.  I believe the appeal is a court decision, not a jury one.

Lizzie Borden was acquitted.  OJ was found not guilty.  Not being a fly on the wall, we have to go with what the juries decide.  I'm glad it's not me.