An Unexpected Sabbatical

I finally got the chance to see Julie & Julia (ok...weeks ago) and while, yes, it was great to see all the impressive cooking--all those rich, complicated, detailed delicacies on the screen, I was impressed with another aspect of the movie altogether. Some people say they left the theater incredibly inspired to cook, I was much more fascinated with "Julie's" capacity to blog. Every day. Just amazing to me.

The thing is, I walk around all day with all kinds of stuff rolling around in my brain, thinking--Oh, I need to blog that--then somehow the day goes on without me. And lately, during those last few weeks of dog-hot summer, and the reinstated routine of September, I just got out of my groove. So, for those of you lovely enough to follow me, I apologize for the lack of, well, anything to follow. But the Lord just had me in a more introspective mode, re-focusing on my direction on His path. It wasn't a planned sabbatical...it just happened. He and I have had some sweet times together, and now He's pushing me back out.

So, look for more commentaries and insights...book, TV and movie reviews. And, in general, a little more of me. I've missed you!

On Ed, and Farrah, and Michael...

I was just going into my sophomore year of high school when MTV first planted its flag on the green-screen moon. I remember it being a premium channel, and begging my father to pay to have it added to our cable. I even offered to take a cut in allowance--but my kind-hearted daddy would have none of that, and by the middle of my Junior year, there it was, in all its weird 24-hour glory. I remember one night my friend Nan and I stayed up all night finishing a project for our Humanities class. We took turns at the typewriter--while one of us typed, the other watched MTV. Then we went out for breakfast and straight to school. It was one of the best nights of my life. The day? Not so much. I fell asleep and drooled in Humanities, and got a low score on the paper. Go figure.
I mention this in light of the loss of these three iconic entertainers, because in some way the birth of MTV ushered in an era that makes the kind of stars they were obsolete. Think about it--as Johnny Carson's side-kick, Ed McMahon's "Heeeere's Johnny!" signaled to people everywhere that it was time to wind down the day. MTV told the world it was perfectly fine to sit up and stare at crude, colorful, creepy mini-movies all night long. Farrah came onto the scene with a distinct style--a look so unique, yet so simple, no woman could ever dream of capturing it. MTV brought us hordes of identical back-up dancers, not to mention the Madonnas and Cyndi Laupers who presented images imitated by 3rd graders right down to the Kool-Aid-colored hair and lace gloves.
And, Michael Jackson. Face it--Jackson would not have had the career he did if not for Music television. How else would he bring his distinctive dance to the world stage? How else could he capture and share his multi-dimensional talent? Last night, MTV aired back-to-back videos, and my sons laughed at the simplicit of "Rock with You." Just Michael singing in front of a huge green screen of what looked like caramel candies.
"That's it?" The mocked.
"That was the beginning," I said. Later, we sat raptured through Thriller.
That was before you could YouTube your favorite videos. I told them about sitting around all night, because the MTV VJ said the Thriller video was coming up that hour. How we'd wait and wait and wait. Then, we'd dance.
I've had a hard time explaining to my boys (age 11 and 15) just how important these three people were, because they live in a totally different world than I did. Todays "stars" are so disposable. So interchageable. Michael Jackson had a distinct sound. Today it seems like all the artists sound alike. Nobody--nobody looked like Farrah. Today, I wouldn't know Megan Fox if she was standing in line next to me at WalMart. And Ed? Ed was a dying breed long before he was a dying man. Quick! Name another TV second-bananna with class.
I don't say this because I'm old--because I'm not. And I don't shun pop culture--I thrive on it. It just seems that with the constant bombardment of images and media, nobody has to work hard to stand out anymore. Why do we know who Heidi and Spencer are? Who will know them 20 years from now? They'll be long, long forgotten while my grandkids are moonwalking.

Happy New Year

...Might seem like a strange title for a mid-June post. Allow me to explain...we just got a new calendar. Yep. Until a few days ago, hanging in our kitchen was some winter scape and a row of boxes for December, 2008. I'm not exactly sure how it happened. Maybe I got too busy in the pre-Christmas shopping to pick one up? Maybe because we were travelling over the official New Year, so I wasn't out bargain shopping. Maybe I was relying on mom to get me one--although it's been years since she's abandoned that tradition. I guess I always figured at some point I'd be at the huge calendar kiosk in the mall, picking one up for 50% off...and then I never did. And let me tell you, this family needs a calendar!

So, since I had pictures on my mind this week, I went to Wallgreens on the web, uploaded a bunch of pictures, and ordered a calendar that runs from June-May. How fun is that? And they are all family Disney pictures, since we're one year away from our BIG vacation next year. (Dear followers, you may sicken of my Disney-esque dreams throughout the year...sorry!)

The point is, I'm huge believer in beginnings. I think every day is the first day of a new year. We have so many jumping off points--First Day of Summer, First Day of a New Age (as in birthday), First Day of School--so now I have a calendar that celebrates my year--stocked with images of memories upon memories.

How about you? Do you keep a family calendar? And do you theme it to your decor? Your passions? Or whatever freebie the bank gave away?

Disney on My Mind...

So, turns out the woman who was reported "kidnapped" simply grabbed a fake i.d. and ran off to the Grand Floridian Resort in Disney World. Whil part of me realizes that she must be a sad, troubled woman, part of me is thinking..."Why didn't I think of that?" My feelings of sympathy are all mixed up with a pinch of envy. Maybe it's being on the cusp of summer, knowing we can't go this year. Maybe it's the episode of Full House where the Tanners go to DisneyWorld buzzing in the background (a guilty pleasure...).

Last year, close to this time, Mikey and I took an impromptu middle-of-the-marriage honeymoon to DisneyLand (California), and next year we're planning a 20th Anniversay 10-day trip to Florida (with the kids, of course!)--so this year seems like another of those midpoints. But, it all goes to the goal. We go to Disney about every other year, and every other year I come home with picture after picture where I'm disappointed in how I look. Right now, I'm a full ten pounds heavier than I was in this Minnie portrait. So...it's the one-year count-down...working toward a mini-er me for next year!

So, in the meantime, it's another summer of Six Flags Fiesta Texas--look for me at the waterpark all sunscreened up with a book! But, to keep the Disney dream alive...I figure by this time next year, given my nightly 3-mile walk with Stella, I will have walked the distance to Orlando! How's that for inspiration?

And you? Any plans for this summer? What's inspiring you?

The First Saturday in Spring

First of all, to fulfill my own Promise for Spring...Elizabeth! You're the winner of Kim Vogel Sawyer's book! Yay! So, email me privately and I'll get that to you...

This is the first Saturday of Spring, and it's a beautiful one. It's the first one in a while where I had absolutely no commitments--no meetings, no family business. Nothing. And there's just something about waking up to an open day. Of course, when faced with the enormous amount of chores waiting to be done, well, it's enough to make you want to go back to bed. But then, how fun is it to have going back to bed as an option!

So, I could have spent the day sorting through the thousands of photographs I inherited from my in-laws' passing, or I could do the the amazing colossal closet switch-over, or I could try to write the 1,000 words I fell short this week...but for some reason breakfast at the Egg and I with girlfriends and a trip to the gym with hubby won out. Tonight, we're eating out again, meeting up with another family. (Good think I worked in the trip to the gym...)

I guess it goes to show that we get little spring days throughout the year. We can wax on and on about the renewal of the season--little green leaves in the trees, pristine new baseball fields--but today's just been one of those days when I feel a little renewal in my spirit. Nothing huge, but just a day to take a few deep breaths and see what can spring forth out of an empty calendar page.

Enjoy the season!!

The Lamb or the Lion

According to the old adage, if March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb. So as I compose my first blog post, I have to wonder if it has lion-like energy, or lambish introspection. By the time I get to the end, I'll probably find it has neither--as it will be sent out into the vastness of the web, and probably read only by those clicking back in curiosity. In fact, having made no annoucement about the "launch" of my new blog, I'm at a loss of what to say. I could ramble about how cold the house is, how particularly yummy my supper-time bowl of Cheerios was, how much I'm dreading walking the dog because it's windy outside, how bummed I am that Nascar is running long and I want to watch the new Simpsons episode. And the only reason I'm writing anything at all is that it's March 1, and it seems if one can start a blog on the first of something, one should.

So...No roaring. No bleating. Just rambling which, for today, is fine.