Leaving a Lasting Impression and the Oscars

And the Oscar goes to...... I needed to take a bit of a blogging break because, well, I'll skip it. So, for those of you following along, I missed you! I want to thank my agent at William Morris for your support. I want to thank Mr. Jobs for the i-phone. Without it, I am nothing and don't know what day of the week it is. And to my dog, thank you for liking me regardless of what kind of hair day I am having. Woof.

We like to make a splash in this household. When my older 2 kids started to school, I was called in for 2 separate emergency meetings their first week. If I was charged per phone call from the school, there would be no need for another school fundraiser.  What's that saying? You never get a second chance to make a first impression? That's us. We leave a lasting impression-one that generally involves some type of counselor or the principle. That's better than law enforcement, right?  Lambchop (my youngest), has been so fortunate these past 2+ years to have the most wonderful woman take care of him while we work. When I met Ms. Sandie, I knew she was a perfect fit for us, so I was terribly saddened when she announced she was retiring at the end of the school year. Sigh. Although we selfishly wish that she would stick around until our little bear starts to school, I certainly understand that after 30 years of helping raise many kids, she is ready to relax, retire, and focus on herself and her family. And she deserves it! However, we are forever grateful to her and consider ourselves lucky to know her. My little boy is better person because of her. We love you, Ms. Sandie, and are happy to call you our friend! We will still talk to you because we are terribly difficult to get rid of-just like static cling!!

Did everyone watch the Oscars? I watched none of the show because I only care about what the peeps are wearing.  Let's review some looks courtesy of People magazine....

Darn those Aussies!  Naomi was a yoga teacher for many years before she got her big break. She looks lovely and her forehead isn't 3 miles long like her pal, Nicole Kidman.

It's the fame mongers. Why are they at the Oscars? Oh yes, because there were cameras and media. I know that I am the ultimate stick in the mud, but why is it that pregnant celebrities feel it necessary to push their boobs up around their ears? Yes, I know they are "celebrating" this enhanced cleavage, but boobs should not be near your chin. Just sayin....

So take a look at me now. Cause there's just an empty space (you see it in the back of the dress)..Yes, that is what Lily Collins (Phil's daughter) appears to be saying in this photo. Thank goodness they didn't name her Suissudio. I'm not even googling to correct that spelling of that horrendous song.

Bam! Heidi is all sealed (ha!) up in this dress. In sharp contrast to Kim K, Heidi's boobs are closer to her waist. Not flattering in this particular dress, but well, Heidi is hot.

You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh. It's not Ri Ri but it looks like Diane Kruger is just missing a pair of wellies and girl is ready for a flood.

Yes, I know Zooey works that hipster look and she was married to the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie. However,  this resembles a look someone would have been buried in during the 1800s. This also doubles a doily/table cloth at an assisted living home. Buddy the elf gives this a thumbs down.

This is the first photo of Renee Z that I've seen where she is not squinting. Remember when she was engaged to Bradley Cooper? Maybe she walked up to him and said, "I can be your Oscar since you didn't win." Perhaps that why she wore gold? Bradley, I loved you in "The Hangover" and felt it was some of your best work.

And finally, I leave you with one of my husband's favorites.....

Salma is lovely isn't she? And she was engaged to my boyfriend, Ed Norton (he just never knew he was my boyfriend). If I was Salma, I would have stuck with Ed, but that's just me. The ladies clearly like Francois (or his bank account) because he also has a child with Linda Evangelista.

That's all I've got, but I'll be back faster than Lindsay Lohan's career. XO

Do You Want to Know What I'm Thinking?

There is a song in that title...Information Society is the group, I believe (please note that a new year does not bring new rules like fact checking or verifying info. Winging it is the way). But it was more along the lines of, "I want to know what you're thinking. Tell me what's on your mind. " Add in some keyboards to the "Pure Energy" song and  you can get your rave on...

I haven't posted since 2012 and have been in a rather pensive mode. So as a result, I promise no humor and I may sound crazy. Allegedly, I live in a "declining" area (not one of those areas where everyone has a fancy address and a child who has developed the cure for cancer in the bathroom) but they are shooting a movie less than a mile from my house which features Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhall, and Viola Davis. I suppose one advantage to living in a less than desirable area where many movies are shot includes that most folks don't know who the peeps are. Let's remember that I lived in an area called the "Nightly Knifings" so I try to keep things in perspective.

I'm having an issue right now and it will sound politically related and it isn't. Remember, 2012 was the first time I voted. Holla! One of my major flaws is that I assume everyone is like me. No, no, no. I don't mean my general beliefs, but I assume everyone is wired like me. And I know they aren't. I'm certainly not implying that people SHOULD be like me. We are all different and that is what makes the world unique. However, I expect that everyone works hard, wants to be a productive citizen, and raise caring kids. And I suppose most peeps are that way and I won't venture out with some percentage because I don't know. Remember, I'm a loner so I kind of process my own stuff and only discuss if the conversation veers in that direction. However, having school age children makes you think about things you assume are a given.

If there is anything I dislike, it's laziness. And this is coming from a woman who wore her pajamas all day but that is not what I mean. I have worked in some capacity since I was 11 years old. I was eligible for the free lunch every single year at school. Every single year. I don't say this to embarrass my parents, because my dad worked really, really hard (my mom too). But we struggled and had some challenging times. Would you like to know how many years I took the free lunch? Show of hands? Exactly 0. I was too embarrassed which was ridiculous too. Why be embarrassed about something I really didn't control when I was 5?  There were many, many times where we were on the verge of being evicted and not one dollar was coming in unless it was from friends or family. I remember the time my mother applied for public housing but my dad said we weren't going to live there. Yes, there were some kids who made fun of the way I dressed (and it sounds juvenile but occasionally when I run into them, a slight smile creeps across my face when they look less than stellar. Shameful of me to admit, I know).  I felt even more out of place at college as these kids had nice cars and stellar clothes and I shopped in the thrift store. But it's all been good in some capacity. Yes, it stung then, but I think some of those things build character.

I hate that kids are hungry and I know many people are struggling. I know many good people who are having a difficult time getting ahead.  Our world is changing and it can be tough out there. However, my primary gripe is when people say, "well x can't help it because their parents got a divorce so they had a difficult childhood."  Or "y doesn't have a stable life." See stories referenced above. My dad dropped out of school in the 10th grade to go work on a farm. I went to college and paid for it myself. Now, I will skip the stories of me being intoxicated for great lengths of time, but that too was a learning experience.  I realize there are many challenging situations that face people-trust me, I do. Having been in many challenging and less than desirable situations, I understand that it sucks sometimes. But we have 2 choices. We can choose to try to be better or we can use our circumstances as a crutch. Live or die. We are all going to die soon enough, so I'll take option A of live. We live in a culture where people are so freaking hesitant to take responsibility for their own actions. Or in the words of Shaggy, "it wasn't me."  We see it in celebrities, athletes, politicians, and in our everyday lives. McDonalds made people fat with the supersizing. Forget the fact that we have to exercise self control. Peeps sue because the coffee is too hot. Please! If that is the issue stay home and use your Mr. Coffee maker and make it tepid.  It's always someone else's fault. Even when people are caught doing something, they try some to blame someone or something else.

Why not try to step up to the plate and admit you have faults? Gosh, I do.  I occasionally talk over people (I hate it and I don't mean to but I do. UGH! ) I can be rather high strung and  have no tolerance for bs. I have a difficult time being in the moment. However, I can't blame anyone but myself for those issues and many, many others that I have. Please. GTFOY.

Okay, I'm done. I will be rainbows in unicorns next time. I promise:)