Generation "I" indeed..

After reading this entertaining but irritating tale of a ego maniac in the making, I think someone needs to spank his privileged elite butt and send him back to his parent's basement for a few more years. Either that or make him work two jobs at once like I have done when needed when I desired more money to travel, etc. What a piece of work.

Generation I - welcome to reality.

http://gawker.com/#!5797185/an-incredibly-arrogant-email-from-a-young-neighborhood-pool-lifeguard-to-his-former-boss

Review of "I Am Love" ..read this regardless of ....

your opinion of foreign made films. I promised a "food based rating" of "I Am Love" and here it is...

"I Am Love" starring Tilda Swinton. Flavio Parenti and Edoardo Gabbriellini and directed and written by Luca Guadagnino is not a film one should miss seeing in their lifetime. I was excited about this film from the first trailers that I had the lucky chance to see. I have always been a huge fan of Tilda Swinton- her of the living in a Scottish castle with her husband and boyfriend actress type (yes look it up, they all have a happy relationship, wouldn't we all ?) who is at once totally a David Bowie look a like and can also be quite utterly feminine in a role. She has called herself a performance artist rather than an actress, and judging by her roles in "Constantine", the "Lion Witch and the Wardrobe" series, "Benjamin Button" "Burn After Reading" and "Orlando" I would quite agree that her roles give her the platform to showcase her androgynous look.

That said, I would suggest you watch this movie with deliberate film fan eyes. Set in an elite upper class Italian textile family empire, we watch as she moves from being the silent but solid "go to" person in her stiff upper lip family to a wanton girlfriend of her son's friend (who happens to live in a gorgeous country cabin and can cook like the dickens). But let this not be so predictable! It's not.

Here's the food comparison part..

"I Am Love" is something I would compare to fresh seafood. My parents took us to a lighthouse restaurant in Maine one summer, right on the tip of a high crested coastline, and we ate the most fresh naturally buttered Maine lobster I have ever eaten. In the movie, you have to pay attention to the details and the artistic backdrop are a HUGE part of the story as it plays out. It's like a gift to be unwrapped. It's not fast, it's not instant and the ending is not at all expected given the twists. Like a fresh lobster that takes time to crack open and make available to a hungry person, this film is like a sweet natural surprise. We think we may be disappointed at times, due to the writer's incredible twists and turns, but we end up deliciously satisfied. The film has it's tragic notes, which I would compare to the exquisite waiting of good good food. You might have a moment or two or utter despair, perhaps the hush puppies or fresh New England corn aren't what you came here for, but the end result is the palatable taste of resolution.

In fact, this film is a huge hit among foodies, who love the underlying storyline of a cook who draws the main character out by cooking her own native Russian meals for her, and speaks to her as if she is herself, not an Italian wife of a rich textile company owner. This is not that simple of a story, it is not a story of an unhappy married woman, it is about everyone realizing that being someone other than yourself makes everyone miserable, but...there can be consequences to this.

"I Am Love" has gotten great reviews and for good reason. I don't watch movies because of reviews but more due to certain actors that I follow (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Adrian Brody, Julianne Moore for example). Tilda Swinton and her outstanding Italian cast that are just as good, make this story one for the books.

By the end, you are tapping your foot impatiently, waiting for that final moment after several long ones of artistic beauty, design and writing. You are waiting like she is...for that final delicious moment - is it escape, is it resignation to remaining the trophy Russian wife to a rich Italian husband who does really love her, or is it a moment of giving in to her sons and brilliantly played daughter, who needs her? I won't tell. But enjoy the lobster and that buttery taste- it's natural. No need for anything added. All the gorgeous backdrops in the world, as in this film, don't do a thing to deter a natural wonder from finding her place.

Happy Easter to you

This is a nice quote I came across in one of my "green" and health oriented magazines this week. I found it fitting to defuse my personal frustration with some of the slightly mean spirited and bitter comments I saw on FB this month. There are tons of stats that show that April is one of the most violent months of each year ...whether it's the anniversary of Columbine, The Oklahoma City bombing, the birth month of Hitler, or the BP Oil Spill, it's been a weird one. Also the crime in this part of FL we live in seems to be on the news nightly, something I am just not used to...even in Nashville I never saw so many stories of child abuse, gang violence and police shootings. And people are just now getting crazy over the upcoming election. I think it's just the heat....

anyway here's your breath of fresh air. I'll get back with you guys later. Perhaps a Symphony competition. How best to do a wine tasting contest but do it live on a blog ??

"You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet. " - Hal Borland

Scientologists up to their creepy selves again....

http://gawker.com/#!5794223/meet-the-bizarre-scientology-stalking-squad

Crackbook and Why I had to Get Back On that Crazy Horse....

so here's the deal, a few months ago, I tried deliberately to quit Facebook. I told friends far and wide (new friends old friends and ones I seemed to have alot in common with) my contact info and let them know I was going under the radar for a while. this happened for about two weeks. Then due to one night of sheer curiousity, I got back on. Then I quit again, for about 3 weeks. Then I rejoined the international space station that is Facebook. Here's why- if you are going to really quit Facebook, and if you are me, you have to actually have your friends and especially family know you are really not on it. I mean I de-activated that thing twice! But I missed several invites to some parties and events. Some of them important. People assumed I was still on FB so never sent me an old school phone call, text or even email to my super secret Batcave email address. Luckily I caught up on everything but the bottom line is, next time I quit FB for a long time ( I was trying for a half a year break) I need to make sure my pals really know it. And know that I still email and a phone ;)

I think FB is totally entertaining at this point, I used to take it more seriously when I first joined, and sometimes the political banter would hurt my sensitive little nature. However I have since recovered and know for over a year now, that their opinions are just that- theirs. And I don' t have to respond or worry or even think about the negative stuff that goes on in FB world. I can just say hello, respond when I think someone might have a respectful answer, and NOT be a victim of what I call "FaceBaiting" which is the practice of throwing seemingly innocent but subtly antagonistic comments out there and waiting for replies, and attacking them rather than accepting the fact that not everyone is the SAME. Thank you that we are not all the same. What a boring grey place the world would be. Diversity!!

So...for now. I am on FB but I am thinking now that I have gotten in touch with so many very cool people, and have actually met some of you in person the past few years, I will go under again and let everyone duke it out during election year. Some will be too busy pushing their viewpoints and most will be too busy living their lives, hopefully!

Check out this designer's link

For great Mother's Day gifts. I love a good graphics and fabric designer, and I am truly impressed by Amy Butler's vivid, exotic and playful wallpaper, wall art, handbags and other items. Visit think link for some fun and also Earth friendly shopping :

www.amybutlerdesign.com

Hello friends!

Ok so let's catch up a little. I have been super busy and of course it's much easier to reply and respond to FB items than to take the time to write and THINK about something for the bloggedy blog. First, let's address the latest challenge to myself...the Whole Food Lifestyle change that I began last week. For 3-4 days I wrote down every single thing I ate (even handfuls of peanuts, etc). Over the weekend we went out to eat with family and Phillip & I split a great crabcake sandwhich and onion rings (yum). So, there was a little give at places.

On Monday I began again to write down everything I eat. Doing this has been incredible helpful as it fits my personality. By 4 pm, I can see everything I've munched on and make a mental note to either eat lighter for dinner, or allow for a larger menu because the worst thing to feel is to go to bed hungry ( I mean tummy grumbling hungry which has happened since starting this diet). Eating ONLY whole foods is difficult for one main reason- convenience. I spent about $30 at the produce stand (our normal amount is $20) per week) and loaded up on more carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and things that i can clean, chill and eat as finger food. Also, my son Nick loves a plate of cukes and maters for a snack. I also bought more mushrooms, sprouts, dandelion greens and spinach for my large biweekly salads I make for Phillip and i to share. I loaded up on lemons, limes, cilantro, pears, apples, bananas, citrus, potatoes, squash, some Oriental and Hispanic spices and starches and tons of other items to make fresh dinners.

I learned it takes alot more prep work, so I washed everything and spent an hour slicing and storing so that everything is easily ready to eat for me and the fam. We eat a ton of fresh produce every week, but I really amped it up a notch. the reason why?? You have to. I was hungry alot more often and needed to have more snacks around for energy. Keep in mind I go to the gym almost daily. I also now have more unsalted peanuts, sunflower seeds, cranberries and raisins for snacks. Did I mention that cutting out most processed food (even "Kashi" cereal or whole wheat bread) makes you HUNGRY? But it's weird how quickly I felt a difference. I literally lightened up after three days and am still working on this new way of filling our cupboards.

We didn't buy any pork, chicken or red meat at the grocery store, and haven't really since our last cookout with friends. I make a fresh lightly sweetened pitcher of homemade iced tea for us, and drinks tons of water with lemon in it. I don't drink soda (haven't really in years). I am also putting even more spices and exotic flavors into our food. We LOVE eating Indian, Thai, Mexican, so I learned more about the specific spices used so we make these things at home now. My Pad Thai is hot baby, and our meatless Enchilada and Italian dishes are delish.

So...as this food thing continues, I'll update you on how our home food lifestyle progresses and tips for keeping things interesting. The best outcomes so far are that we don't go out to eat as much as we did during the winter (still going "out" to DO things, not eat) and that as long as I do alot of prep work, keeping our cupboards more free of packaged or processed food has kept our grocery bills lower (in addition- quality red meat is super expensive these days). Will I eat a steak again? Sure, some day when I crave the ones my husband makes. It's not about cutting out what I like at all, but watching out for the processed foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt and learning to eat more of what comes naturally wrapped. Fish...scallops, oysters, Oh my!!

Quality of death is as important as Quality of Life...

Great piece about how one man accepted his father's decision to accept death. our medical community is finally starting to also accept that not all of us would like to extend our lives into a tunnel of pain when dealing with a fatal disease, but would rather choose to have some control and peace over our final moments. We should all be so lucky.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/04/16/preparing.for.death/index.html?hpt=C1

Rules for Respect in 2012 Elections

in 2008 I learned a few lessons. Some of them were hard. It took me a while to take a step back and realize some of my friends and family were preaching from their own perspectives and although they said they respected my views, they really didn't show it. Now, I realize that I should have been better prepared for such an deluge of political banter, something I used to enjoy engaging in, but learned quickly that I better get used to a good beating instead of a good debate. Here are some rules I would like to put out there for 2012...

1. Listen to each other.

2. Respect that we all come from different viewpoints...due to jobs we have had (I've worked two jobs at once several times so it was hard for me to relate to people who work for a family firm or who are just rich).

3. Realize that though I have been a conservative minded person for over a decade now, that I don't condone wearing white robes and burn crosses.

4. Racism runs really deep and is sometimes hidden. I have listened to some "liberal" minded people who are all for putting people in groups based on race, gender, social status etc. Now, I know they are well meaning (really not being sarcastic) however, I have always believed that putting people into "groups" for funding is VERY racist at a certain level. But they would never agree...because they are "educated" and know better.

5. On that note, I think most of the people that I know who are very hot tempered when it comes to elections and issues are well meaning.

6. Next, I wish people would try to do more for people on a ground level...volunteering for whatever their "issues" are. I know people work, and it's hard, even when I worked full time I still volunteered to charities in order to do Something.

7. I wish people would shut out the media this year and not think that every Conservative person is the same as the next. We are not one group, just like I would never group some of my more liberal minded friends (whatever that means) to some of the others who are completely different.

8. I went to see Sarah Palin speak in Clearwater FL because it was very exciting to me to see a Woman involved in a high stakes election..it had been a while. I never took Hilary Clinton seriously and stopped admiring her way back in the 90's before FB and major internet information. I welcome any new women candidates in the future and love the fact that I saw her before the media chewed her up and let us all make fun of women, all over again. Thanks media!

9. On that note, I have said many times, that Palin will not win a presidential bid. Oh sigh good and thank you many would say. Let's offer up something else then.

10. Obama will win again. And that's the way both parties want it. I wish there was a stronger third party that represented my issues and ideals but there isn't. I am so sick of the arrogant spokespeople for all the parties that love to stir the pot and create such nastiness. LIke someone said in the WSJ lately...there's no class left in political debate. Amen. I lived through that experience in 2008.

11. I wish when my friends brought up a political topic, they will let people listen, talk and offer their own opinions without being condescending. Let us all try to keep the flame of debate alive, like it used to be...arguing our points at times if needed with respect, and letting our minds be open to hear. I used to listen to others, until their voices got full of bitterness and cynicism.

12. Do not assume you are always "right". Not everyone agrees with you. And that's ok, unless they are wearing a white robe or talking about how they loved Hitler. That's not ok. Nor is eugenics, or any other weird nastiness.

Thanks, and have a great night, all you different- minded friends!!

If Donald Trump runs for President

AND if I were his slogan writer, here are a few slogans I would offer:

1. Trump - Because he really CAN buy your vote.

2. Trump 2012 - Why the F Not?

3. I'm on Team Trump, Are You?

4. Yes, You Can. Vote for Trump. (in retro WPA font ala Obama's which was a brilliant image move.)

5. I've Got No Time for You. I'm with Trump.

6. Obama - You're Fired!

7. No Fear! Trump 2012.

8. This Old Rich White Man is Different! Trump 2012.

9. Supertrump.

10. Who's Your Daddy? Trump.

11. Vote Trump. Noone will notice.

12. Trump. He's more electable than Perot or Mondale for that matter.

13. Trump - because New Money is The New Era of America.

14. Trump - the Jay Gatsby of our time (play off of above item)

15. Trump - he knows how it is.

16. Orange is the new Green.

that was fun folks! I am watching Celebrity Apprentice in the background and what a bunch of (charitable) freaky leaks!! Good old network tv still offering sex, crime, c list celebrities and horrific local news at 10. Gotta love pop culture. Till later, have a wonderful night and give your loved ones lots of hugs tonight...

Tobey Maguire Cast In 'Life Of Pi'

Interesting tidbit from Hollywood deadline, Nicki Finke's fun filled site. I still am wondering how Baz Luhrman is going to pull off "The Great Gatsby" in 3-D. The idea makes me queasy.

Tobey Maguire Cast In 'Life Of Pi'

Natural childbirth shortened my left leg.

I have noticed the past year since working on the treadmill that afterwards, the bottom of my right heel throbs in pain. My theory is that giving birth to my son Jude naturally and without medication or surgery shortened my left leg, or lengthened my right foot from the exhausting but strangely exhilarating painful body movements of that morning. Too much information maybe but I do think that is the best explanation.

It makes me giggle to think that my Jude brought me a constant reminder of the blessed pain of that morning, and a reminder that although it happened very fast (thankfully) the pain of childbirth never really goes away. Am I serious? You decide.

Just a theory...

HOLY ROYAL WOW!!! This is some interesting back story about Princess Di and Charles...

Although the virginity of royal brides has been a concern for centuries, there was a bit more to the Charles and Diana story.

Charles was very close to his great-uncle, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma. As Charles got older and was urged more and more to marry, Mountbatten advised him to marry a naive young virgin. Mountbatten's idea was the this inexperienced young woman would look up to Charles, and be more easily molded into whatever Charles wanted her to be. Mountbatten really, really wanted Charles to marry his granddaughter Amanda and was probably trying to drop hints about Amanda's docile personality to piques Charles's interest. Mountbatten also had a notoriously lousy marriage with his own wife, so he wasn't really the best person from whom to take advice on marriage.

From commenter E.McMahon on Gawker website. IF true, I just cringe thinking about how women in royal families are seen as breeders. Fascinating and revolting, but then again most humans run both ends...

Mountbatten was assassinated in 1979, which left Charles bereft. The possible engagement with Amanda never came about. A few months after Mountbatten died, Charles ran into Diana at a party. The two had met before, but only in passing. Diana mentioned to her friends out of Charles's earshot that still looked very sad and needed cheering up. The two caught up with one another again and had a good chat about Mountbatten's death. Charles needed that sympathetic ear that Diana lent.

After that day, Charles (still in mourning for his uncle) remembered Mountbatten's advice about marrying a virginal, inexperienced girl. Diana not only fit the bill, but she also gave Charles some much-needed comfort when he was most vulnerable. That's when he began pursuing her with more interest and part of the reason why Diana's virginity became so very important in the story - because a dead relative said it should be.

Food bloggin. Day 1 of lose the baby fat diet.

Day 1 of real food lifestyle:

good and easy so far. No cereal this morning. So far...1 egg, 1 banana, 2 homemade pita chips with Greek yogurt, cantalope slices, peanuts, and a large spinach salad with carrots, tomatoes, cukes and sprouts. Seems like alot but it really isn't since I eat breakfast at about 6:30. Leaving out so much cereal and bread and pasta items is going to make me hungry. I can already tell that although I don't really overdo processed food, I am used to getting "full" from it. Now it's time to "get full" from fruits and veggies. I love eating peanuts, almonds and sunflower seeds so need to stock up on that this weekend. No more cute "low fat baked" wheat thins anymore. On second thought...this might be a little harder than I thought! Another thing I will have to be vigilant on is eating small bites of whatever I am preparing for my kids the rest of the day once Nick is home from school. We do snack at 3 and dinner at 5-6 (for them). Example -I'll make them cheese quesadillas on whole wheat tortillas and eat 1/3 of them before they do. Yes..this is going to be fun.

And regarding last night's blog...I will def not be mean to anyone in high school. But BOY there are some good stories from Bay High "Stay High". Can't wait to start rollin them out.

Vague but uplifting prep talk about my blog.

I was going to write something silly beginning with "Dear Internet God...please help me deal with...." but then I realized how silly that would be. I cannot explain this further tonight because I have some things to unravel but life is still pretty simple and very good in my world and I hope yours is too. Sometimes, I realize what I write on this blog is an excerpt from my life, and not at all a whole picture. In fact, I keep most parts pretty sacred. As do you, I am sure. I write about frivilous new stuff, some serious old romantic stuff (fun right? to remember those days) but also I try to bring to light new personal concerns every few weeks. Stay with me. I get so involved with my children, as a mother should, that sometimes it takes me many nights to even remember what I wanted to write about. That's what paper is for ;) my lists keep me going and also my personal journals. Don't you worry..I haven't forgotten about my promise to give some Bay High gossip. It will all be anonymous and also without malice. Just keep reading. Someday, you might recognize a story about a friend. (we were all heroes).

Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Central Park

this should be fun...

Starting tomorrow morning, Friday April 8, I am going to eat but "real" food for about 7 days (this amount chosen as a starting goal). The "real" food lifestyle consists of eating only foods and spices that are "whole" and not processed. I have decided to modify this idea slightly to include one serving of whole wheat pita or loaf bread or a whole wheat tortilla each day, but cutting out pasta, rice or any cereals. This is mostly because I am super thrifty and have already bought these items to share with my children, and don't want them to spoil.Yes, seriously. The real food diet is different than a vegan diet in that I am not excluding dairy or meat products. However, as I blgo about it , you will notice that i have virtually cut out meat from my diet already, and I don't eat eggs regularly at all. I am going to spend my evening cooking and preparing a ton of my produce lot purchased on Tuesday. I have read that most people who are looking to shed the processed food in their lives are prepared and cook alot more at home, thankfully we already do that, it's just that now I am taking it another level. The real food lifestyle simply challenges the palate to accept foods that are left "alone", served slightly cooked to retain vitamins and flavor and without mixing the chosen foods into a pasta, taco, butter drenched cream sauce or covered with mayonaise or toppings. Everything whole, everything as it was made from the Earth.

Peace out, peeps. This is going to be another fun adventure!!

Curiousity is good for you ;)

Victorian era as it's most nasty, delightfully sinful and edgy....

Great book, can't wait to see how this series portrays Sugar and some of the other characters...read link below on the BBC review and fan comments. Great last lines of a novel, too ;)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/apr/06/the-crimson-petal-and-the-white-episode-one

Bay High Tales from the Crypt to come. Don't be scared. If I liked you, you're safe.

I am going to spend some time reviewing this blog to see if I have already told the tale of the crazy Senior blonde who tried to run me and my friends over at the Bay High four way stop in and around 1990. This, in the age of open campuses, teachers smoking outside, and "loser corner" (how snobby is that?). If I haven't told the story I will pursue recreating it with the utmost writing heat. It is a good one, and it's a timeless tale of female competition, craziness, surfer dudes, and weird strange late night phone calls to my parent's house back in the day...and a short bittersweet reunion years later while a tropical storm rolled into town. Damn, now I'm giving it away. Some stories just well up like crude oil after time. After time gives you that distance, they are safe to tell.

Everyone is safe, we all survived, but wow the stories I have still to tell. Not about any of you nice folks though ;)

Ta ta for now, and hope you are having a good evening. I am exhausted and fighting a cold with 1000mg of Vitamin C and lemon water. Yum. Ick. I gotta let the sleep heal my mind and give me the energy to write some better stuff this month. In a weird way, keeping up this blog is like a little job, and I feel obligated to it and to you. And that's a good thing.

The Origins of the First Arcade Video Game: Atari’s iPong/i Culture: vanityfair.com

hello fellow radical hipsters!! great link below on the origins of the Pong Atari game....hope to catch up real soon. Maybe tonight? The kids are keeping us busy after such a long vacation we are all getting reacquainted. Learning the rules, again, and remembering that mom and dad are the "bosses."

Kids forget that it seems.

The Origins of the First Arcade Video Game: Atari’s iPong/i Culture: vanityfair.com

life changes ahead. keep fingers crossed. hope all is well with you....