2009
Spring Break 2009: Staycationing
April/06/2009 10:01 AM Filed in: Vacation | Holiday | Moms | Staycation | Humor | Life of a Rock Star | GG
Staycationing
By GG
It is a glorious, yet rare spring day: 78º in Southern California. The kind of day that makes residents remember why we live here...the kind that makes tourists decide to move here...the kind of day with no sports or activities for my very active family. That is what makes it rare. So rare that it hasn't happened in our always on the go home since November 2008.
When it happened in last fall, we went away on vacation. But this spring, we’re taking the ever-popular “staycation” and today we all slept in--waking up to TV instead of alarm clocks. We marveled at the idea of freedom: there was no need to search for cleats and uniforms, no ice chest to pack, no presents to purchase or wrap. This freedom allowed time to make breakfast in bed for the kids, served on trays filled with French toast, strawberries, bacon and love. (Ok, really they were cookie sheets designed to avoid powdered sugar & syrup landing on their beds, but it was still done with love!) Read More...
'Slamdog Millionaire'
by Nicole Hanratty
It was late into the show when my child said to me, "That Slamdog movie is winning everything..." As a rule, I don't correct mispronounced words, they are too precious and such cherished innocent childhood moments, that I can't bring myself to eradicate them. For years, my frig was called a "refrigilator" and I was so angry the day my husband finally corrected the word. But as I sat on the couch pondering this title change, I realized there was genius involved. The movie had been predicted to sweep the Oscars as a slam-dunk winner, hence the revised title 'Slamdog Millionaire' could not be more appropriate.
I had heard earlier in the weekend that the mother of the little boys who appeared in the movie had to beg borrow and steal to scrape up enough money to buy the young actors a new pair of blue jeans to wear on the flight to America from India--their first time flying--and my heart melted for their story, their mother, and the real poverty that does exist in India. I was eager to see them on the red carpet because I knew their innocent eyes would be lit up with excitement as they took in the visceral experience. Read More...
New Years 2009
January/01/2009 05:55 PM Filed in: Holiday | New Years | Reviews | Nicole Hanratty | Life of a Rock Star | Humor | Satire
by Nicole Hanratty
I could babble on about how bad last year was and how hopeful this year looks but I’m going to dare to be different. The truth is, as bad as last year was--and it was bad--it was also a year full of funny. You have to laugh when you look back to reflect upon the previous twelve months of your life and you are thinking about little more than the ironic, the bewildering and the pitiful. If I could sum up the year in two words it would be Shakespearean Comedy. Read More...
