You may remember my hair routine. Wash, mousse, brush. Repeat daily.
But on Tuesday my hair was a mess so I dropped into a hair place. While waiting I looked at one of those hair magazines that have names for all the "Do's." The "Stephanie" or the "Rachael," etc.
I asked for a wash, trim and style. As the young lady (20 years old) and I chit chatted I regaled her with my love story, including the fact that I was meeting my Boyfriend at the airport that night.
She got excited and said, "Let me give you a special do!"
"Fine."
So she moussed and sprayed and even put big rollers on my very short hair. It ended up with these long bangs separated off center and plastered down, with the big hair behind that. Nice, but a bit too much for me.
Yesterday morning just before I washed it out and just after looking at my Newsweek magazine I had to finally admit what I had suspected all along.
She gave me a Sarah Palin do.
***
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Seeing Things in a Different Way
Remember the 1950 movie "Born Yesterday" staring Judy Holiday who always played a dumb blond but outdid herself in this movie? She won an Academy Award for it.
The story, written by the great Garson Kanin, has Judy as the girlfriend of a mobster played by Broderick Crawford. He thinks she's so dumb that he hires a journalist, played by William Holden, to tutor her.
Holden is frustrated. She can't even read. Then he discovers she can't see. She needs glasses.
After that everything changes. They both discover she's really smart. She starts looking at her life and the life of the thug she's been living with.
In the end Judy and William get the goods on Broderick and his corrupt Washington insider buddies and have them sent to jail.
Judy and William live happily ever after.
To me, this story has many applications.
In a sense, it could explain the Christian word "conversion." Nothing had changed for Judy on the outside but when she put on the glasses everything looked different. The change was inside her. For the first time she could see things for real.
I've been thinking about the movie "Born Yesterday" and our current world wide mess.
Maybe it's time for us to put our glasses on and start seeing things in a little different way.
***
The story, written by the great Garson Kanin, has Judy as the girlfriend of a mobster played by Broderick Crawford. He thinks she's so dumb that he hires a journalist, played by William Holden, to tutor her.
Holden is frustrated. She can't even read. Then he discovers she can't see. She needs glasses.
After that everything changes. They both discover she's really smart. She starts looking at her life and the life of the thug she's been living with.
In the end Judy and William get the goods on Broderick and his corrupt Washington insider buddies and have them sent to jail.
Judy and William live happily ever after.
To me, this story has many applications.
In a sense, it could explain the Christian word "conversion." Nothing had changed for Judy on the outside but when she put on the glasses everything looked different. The change was inside her. For the first time she could see things for real.
I've been thinking about the movie "Born Yesterday" and our current world wide mess.
Maybe it's time for us to put our glasses on and start seeing things in a little different way.
***
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Winners and Losers
The CEO of Lehman Brothers went before congress yesterday.
As Ricky Ricardo used to say, "He had some 'splainin' to do."
The collapse of Lehman Brothers is seen by many as the start of the domino effect that's currently being felt around the world.
Our congressional leaders were questioning Mr. Fuld about the personal compensation being taken home by Lehman Brothers executives even while the company was imploding.
It seems that, over the last few years, Mr. Fuld has personally taken home 500 million dollars.
That's $500,000,000.00.
He took a while to dispute that figure and said he thought it was closer to 300 million dollars. But, still, that seems like a lot of money to me.
***
As Ricky Ricardo used to say, "He had some 'splainin' to do."
The collapse of Lehman Brothers is seen by many as the start of the domino effect that's currently being felt around the world.
Our congressional leaders were questioning Mr. Fuld about the personal compensation being taken home by Lehman Brothers executives even while the company was imploding.
It seems that, over the last few years, Mr. Fuld has personally taken home 500 million dollars.
That's $500,000,000.00.
He took a while to dispute that figure and said he thought it was closer to 300 million dollars. But, still, that seems like a lot of money to me.
***
Love in the Time of Flu Shots
When I was having my annual physical this morning my doctor told me about three times that she wanted to give me a flu shoot. Each time I told her, no, I've signed up to have one tomorrow at my church.
My doctor is an excellent diagnostician, is thorough and bossy. I like that. She has absolutely no time for small talk. I don't really mind that but sometimes I like to make her laugh.
The third time she mentioned the flu shot I replied by saying:
"My boyfriend's flying in tonight and we're going to do something very romantic tomorrow."
At that she broke her "no small talk" rule.
She said "Oh?"
"Yes, we're going to get flu shots together."
She allowed as how, yes, that was romantic - and she stopped bugging me about getting one today.
***
My doctor is an excellent diagnostician, is thorough and bossy. I like that. She has absolutely no time for small talk. I don't really mind that but sometimes I like to make her laugh.
The third time she mentioned the flu shot I replied by saying:
"My boyfriend's flying in tonight and we're going to do something very romantic tomorrow."
At that she broke her "no small talk" rule.
She said "Oh?"
"Yes, we're going to get flu shots together."
She allowed as how, yes, that was romantic - and she stopped bugging me about getting one today.
***
Fashion Statement
This morning I had my annual physical. No big whoop!
But since I didn't have breakfast prior to blood work, I stopped at the service station next to the medical office afterwards for coffee and an oatmeal cookie. I sat in my car to eat them because it was freezing in the station - and I could listen to classical music on NPR.
So next to me pulls up this car with two young African American men inside. I was totally fascinated by their wardrobe when they got out of the car. Really decked out from top to bottom. But what I noticed most was their pants. One guy's belt was literally wrapped under his bottom. His bottom was covered by bright red underwear (I guess.) Walking into the store seemed to be quite an engineering feat.
Several counties in Florida, and other states now have "baggy pants" laws so that you can actually get arrested for wearing this get up.
How did I feel about it? Like I said, I was fascinated. But I wasn't offended. They were totally covered up. I could have been a little jealous because their clothes looked to be more expensive than mine, but otherwise it seemed to be just a fashion statement.
I wanted to lower my window and compliment them on their look but then decided that having an older white woman in an older Camry say that she enjoyed their clothes might not be a compliment they would appreciate.
***
But since I didn't have breakfast prior to blood work, I stopped at the service station next to the medical office afterwards for coffee and an oatmeal cookie. I sat in my car to eat them because it was freezing in the station - and I could listen to classical music on NPR.
So next to me pulls up this car with two young African American men inside. I was totally fascinated by their wardrobe when they got out of the car. Really decked out from top to bottom. But what I noticed most was their pants. One guy's belt was literally wrapped under his bottom. His bottom was covered by bright red underwear (I guess.) Walking into the store seemed to be quite an engineering feat.
Several counties in Florida, and other states now have "baggy pants" laws so that you can actually get arrested for wearing this get up.
How did I feel about it? Like I said, I was fascinated. But I wasn't offended. They were totally covered up. I could have been a little jealous because their clothes looked to be more expensive than mine, but otherwise it seemed to be just a fashion statement.
I wanted to lower my window and compliment them on their look but then decided that having an older white woman in an older Camry say that she enjoyed their clothes might not be a compliment they would appreciate.
***
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Life as a Movie
I love "redemption" movies. One of my favorites was 2001's "Life as a House." A more recent favorite is "The Painted Veil." These are not religious movies. They're both "R" rated.
In "Life as a House", George, played by Kevin Kline, has totally lost sight of his dreams. He should have had a big Loser sign on his forehead. He's estranged from his ex-wife and son, lives in a shack and works at a job he hates. Then he gets fired and learns he has terminal cancer.
But.
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.
So he decides to tear down the shack and, with the reluctant help of his son, build a house. Yes, the house is a metaphor for his life.
I promise that if you rent this movie you will love it and it will give you some insight into your own life - and even make you feel grateful in this crazy time in which we're living. Ditto for "The Painted Veil."
Yesterday I was in a lunch/discussion group. I mentioned the "House" movie. A couple of other people had seen it and felt the same way I did.
Then a person whom I admire very much told this remarkable story:
In 2000, her daughter, who lives in Santa Monica, California, was helping to get a library started at her children's school. They had no building and no books. She learned that the house that had been built for a movie there had recently been disassembled and stored. She asked that it be donated for the library and reassembled at the school.
It was the house from "Life as a House."
Later that year the movie premiered in a little theater in Santa Monica. The proceeds were donated to the library.
So that particular house isn't just a metaphor. It will live on forever in the hearts and minds of the children who read the books they discover inside.
Remarkable!
***
In "Life as a House", George, played by Kevin Kline, has totally lost sight of his dreams. He should have had a big Loser sign on his forehead. He's estranged from his ex-wife and son, lives in a shack and works at a job he hates. Then he gets fired and learns he has terminal cancer.
But.
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.
So he decides to tear down the shack and, with the reluctant help of his son, build a house. Yes, the house is a metaphor for his life.
I promise that if you rent this movie you will love it and it will give you some insight into your own life - and even make you feel grateful in this crazy time in which we're living. Ditto for "The Painted Veil."
Yesterday I was in a lunch/discussion group. I mentioned the "House" movie. A couple of other people had seen it and felt the same way I did.
Then a person whom I admire very much told this remarkable story:
In 2000, her daughter, who lives in Santa Monica, California, was helping to get a library started at her children's school. They had no building and no books. She learned that the house that had been built for a movie there had recently been disassembled and stored. She asked that it be donated for the library and reassembled at the school.
It was the house from "Life as a House."
Later that year the movie premiered in a little theater in Santa Monica. The proceeds were donated to the library.
So that particular house isn't just a metaphor. It will live on forever in the hearts and minds of the children who read the books they discover inside.
Remarkable!
***
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Leaving the World a Better Place
Paul Newman was among a hand full of celebrities who genuinely understand what it means to leave the world a better place.
It's what I want to do. It's what I feel called to do.
Some of us have our own Paul Newman stories. One of his "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps for kids who are seriously ill is not far from where I live. I know some of their stories.
Many years ago my husband sat on a dais with Paul during a long but important rally. Mr. Newman amused himself by peeling, slicing and eating oranges. (A good thing to do when you're trying to influence Floridians.)
But this morning I heard what is now my favorite story.
I awaken each morning at 6:30 A.M. to National Public Radio. Sometimes I hear things when I'm still half asleep so they mingle with my dreams. This is an excellent time to hear a Paul Newman story.
A neighbor of his in Connecticut was being interviewed. He explained how the Newman's neighbors treated he and Joann like everybody else so the Newman/Woodward couple was able to move about freely.
Shortly before his death, Paul, looking ravaged by his illness, took his wife to a concert. The neighbor and his wife were seated next to them. When the lights dimmed, Paul took Joann's hand and held it throughout the entire performance.
How did the neighbor react to this? He reached for his own wife's hand.
We'll all miss you, Paul. You were a class act.
***
It's what I want to do. It's what I feel called to do.
Some of us have our own Paul Newman stories. One of his "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps for kids who are seriously ill is not far from where I live. I know some of their stories.
Many years ago my husband sat on a dais with Paul during a long but important rally. Mr. Newman amused himself by peeling, slicing and eating oranges. (A good thing to do when you're trying to influence Floridians.)
But this morning I heard what is now my favorite story.
I awaken each morning at 6:30 A.M. to National Public Radio. Sometimes I hear things when I'm still half asleep so they mingle with my dreams. This is an excellent time to hear a Paul Newman story.
A neighbor of his in Connecticut was being interviewed. He explained how the Newman's neighbors treated he and Joann like everybody else so the Newman/Woodward couple was able to move about freely.
Shortly before his death, Paul, looking ravaged by his illness, took his wife to a concert. The neighbor and his wife were seated next to them. When the lights dimmed, Paul took Joann's hand and held it throughout the entire performance.
How did the neighbor react to this? He reached for his own wife's hand.
We'll all miss you, Paul. You were a class act.
***
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