The Breakfast Club

Dear Mr. Vernon;
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us—in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain…

…and an athlete…
…and a basket case…
…a princess…
…and a criminal.
Does that answer your question?
Sincerely yours,
The Breakfast Club.

Best Things I Learned While I Was 49

It was bound to happen, folks. Once I get within spitting distance of a birthday, there's bound be a post about the 'best things I learned while I was...," in this case, 49. These annual posts of mine are usually my most popular of the year. Go figure. And even though you might not think it's possible to top the Best Things I Learned While I Was 48, (I know, right?) who knows what could happen?

And you know, I'm turning the big Hawaii 5-0 (without the Hawaii, unfortunately). So you know what that means.

Yeah, if by 'party' you mean my annual refusal to cook dinner on my birthday, going out to eat, and then falling asleep on the couch by 11:30 or so (it's a work night, after all). Party on, Garth.

So anyhoodle, lets get this best-things-I-learned-while-I-was-49 post underway, before I officially become part of the Over the Hill club. I've got until September 28 to be 49, and I will not go quietly or gracefully into my 50's, people. I'm holding onto my 40's until the very last second!

You know the drill by now: these pearls of forty-nine-year-old wisdom are in no particular order...

• Going back to college, for a second master's degree no less, is not for the weak of heart, or mind, or body...or bank account--but then again, that's what student loans are for, right? As that old saying goes, "he who dies with the most student loan debt...only gets out of it by dying."
• When David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, and Gene Wilder all die in the same year, you realize that a huge part of your youth died with them...and it puts things into perspective.

•  Any idiot can run for president. And one of them will probably win. 

• Finding out that The Vampire Diaries is ending after the 2016-17 season is going to put a bit of a kink in my TVD obsession posts. Not to mention the withdrawals. And all the feels from the absence of Damon my favorite immortals! 

• Getting a teaching job after 7 years of looking (and 7 years of rejection) is kind of maybe totally awesome. 
• I have an addiction to Erin Condren planners and I don't care who knows it. Life planner? Check. Planner for journaling? Check. Teacher Planner? Check. Washi tape and stickers galore to decorate the pages of said planners? Double check.

• You should never underestimate the effect that opening a ginormous pack of gelly roll pens can have on your life, no matter how old you are.
• The word, 'ginormous' doesn't get highlighted by the spellchecker in my browser. It seems like a fake word (gigantic+enormous, anyone?), but I checked and it is indeed in the dictionary. [Oh sure. But 'boom chucka lucka' can't make the cut.]
• When people accuse you of doing things you didn't do, and they refuse to believe you no matter what you say or do, and all they do is spew venom and hate at you, it's perfectly OK to cut ties with those people. Even if they're family. 

• Unless I'm going to be swept away into a fairy tale land full of munchkins, and tin men, and Oz (Oh My!)--and it becomes a Ruby Shoes Day for a skippidy-do-walk down a yellow brick road with 3 new besties and my little dog, too--then I don't want to be within 3 miles of a tornado ever again.

• Just because someone texts you, it doesn't mean you have to read it right that very minute. Or even reply. No, seriously.
• Life is better with cheesecake.
• I don't like soda. I do, however, like an occasional pop.

• Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy art supplies, and books, and music...and that's pretty much the same thing in my book.
• Netflix awesomely allows you to binge-watch entire seasons without commercials and without annoying holidays and hiatuses...so that you can subsequently feel utterly sad, empty, and completely alone when the season or series ends.
• I have no idea who Todd Chrisley is or why he has his own reality TV show. But I think if we met we would be best friends.
• When the official Vampire Diaries page on Facebook posts a TVD meme you made, it kind of makes your day. [Who am I kidding? It made my whole year.]
• Some like it Scot.

Sam Heughan, aka Jamie Fraser on Outlander

• Documenting your life is important. Do it in photos. Do it in a planner. Do it in a journal. But do it. Your kids will appreciate it. Trust me.
• If you decide at the last minute to make a favorite recipe, and you run to the store to get the ingredients to make it, you will get home and start making it, only to realize that you forgot the main ingredient.
• The world's best garden is the one you grow with your granddaughter.

• I'm still not over the end of LOST, saying goodbye to my FRIENDS, or the death of McDreamy. And I'm OK with that.

Well now, that is quite a lot of acquired knowledge from the last year of my life. But before I finish this ode to my fading forties, I just want to add that even though I don't usually want gifts on my birthday, since turning 50 is a milestone year, I would not be opposed to a present this year. 

You know, like...

Or...

And you know, even though it's kind of not exciting to be turning the big 5-0, at least I do get to have a birthday (hello, bright side? I'm talking to you!), right? So let's just bring this Best Things I Learned When I was 49 post to a  birthday-worthy finish, shall we?

Can you say, Christina and Meredith Dance Party, boys and girls?!

Here's to the last 24 hours of my 49th year...and the beginning of (hopefully) the fabulous 50's. Dance it out, people.

Things I Learned While I was 48

Well it's that time of year of again. You know, the day in which I honor the awe and wonder that is the 28th day of September. Also known as the day of my birth. Yep.

And due to my wildly popular Best Things I Learned While I was 47 post last year, I thought I'd try to capitalize on a post format that worked so well last year, and bring that same glorious magic to my 48th year of living on planet earth as well. Predictability is highly underrated. Just sayin.

I know you're a-tingle with anticipation. So let's get right to it, shall we?

As always, in no particular order, here's what I learned over the past 365 days...

• Alcoholic Root Beer tastes like Root Beer. With alcohol in it. 
• The only thing worse than my Obamacare health insurance payments is having the stomach flu and vomiting multiple times in one day. But it was almost too close to call.
• It is possible to plan an entire wedding in two months without going completely insane.
• Testosterone causes objects to become invisible to men when they're looking for them--even when they're right in front them. 
• Conversely, estrogen gives women the power to find things that are completely invisible to men.
• Taking your daughter and granddaughter to see Cinderella is almost as magical as the movie itself.
• No one is quite as hot as Richard Madden as the King of the North. Except maybe Richard Madden as Prince Charming. 

• Snagajob always seems to have amazeballs careers waiting for me. You know, like selling Avon, or working at Taco Bell. 
• It's OK if the Hubs wants to sleep with a college student. As long as it's me.
• The easiest way to piss someone off is to reply 'K' to a paragraph-long text.
• The best Dance Party is the Carlton Dance Party.
• I have so much in common with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. (We all eat at Subway sometimes, so yeah, it counts.)
• KFC's recent 'Colonel' commercials are just creepy enough to make me NOT want to eat at KFC. 
• The only thing worse than KFC's 'Colonel' commercials are Matthew McConaughey's Lincoln commercials. Newsflash, Lincoln execs: if you wanna sell Lincolns, it's not that difficult.

• I stop taking anyone seriously as soon as they use the word, 'Supposably.'
• I'm pretty sure rocket science is far less complicated than getting the seal off of my bottle of International Delight creamer.
• If the power's going to go out during a storm, it will be the same day you just went to the grocery store and your frig is crammed full of food.
• I like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain...
• I'm glad I don't have to draw on my eyebrows every day, because at this point in my life I'm sure I'd forget to do that.
• My need for bifocals became clear the moment I tried to pick up a wad of hair off the carpet. And it was a centipede.
• Closing your eyes while you eat a candy bar makes it lose its calories. I read that on the Internet so I know it's true.

Finally, now that my birthday is nearing its end, I'm just sitting here waiting for my birthday dessert to arrive.

The cake would be awesome too.

Obligatory Thankful Post - 2014 Edition

Well folks, since my Obligatory Thankful Post from last year was such a hit (one of my most viewed posts to date), I thought I'd make it annual tradition here on the blog. That way I can over share my heaps [dude, yes, HEAPS] of boundless gratitude about anything and everything from the past year that I am truly thankful for. Like it or not.

Now then, where to start...oh yes. Let's start with Outlander, shall we? 

I don't know how I managed it, but I had never heard of Outlander--neither the book series nor the TV series based on said books that debuted this year--until my online friend, Tracy posted about it on FB. She mentioned having read the series and was excited about the upcoming TV show. Once she gave me the basic plot, it sounded right up my alley so I did some investigating ( i.e. Googling ) on my own. And I'm just amazed that I somehow overlooked an incredibly popular book series that I really should have read long, long ago. Even my mom would have loved it, and had I known about it I'd have bought her the entire series!  I'm currently reading book 3 (Voyager) myself and I'm loving the books so far. And as for the TV series, Outlander?

Yeah, I kinda sort really totally love it! Scottish actor Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser is just the sort of red-haired eye candy that I love. If I could travel to Scotland and Craigh na Dun, with even the slightest chance of touching mystical stones and traveling back in time to 18th century Scotland and meeting that guy, I'd surely want do it. But hey, I'm married, and I am 'no a hoor' [<-- inside Outlander joke right there]. But yeah, totally thankful for finding out about Outlander. Thanks, Tracy! If you haven't read the books or watched the series, I can highly recommend them both. 

I'm also thankful for a year with my Keurig coffee machine. Holla! Because everyone deserves a fresh cup of coffee, every single time. I'd love it more if the K-Cups were recyclable. I mean, come on, Keurig, it's almost 2015. Get it together. But since I recycle everything else that I can, and since I always use cloth bags at the grocery store, I think I'm entitled to a wee bit of latitude on the plastic K-Cups usage. Coffee, with a side of guilt anyone?!

I'm very thankful to have a car with Remote Start again. This may seem like something trivial if you live in a warmer climate. But here in Ohio, it gets mighty cold in the winter. And having to run out and start a car when it's 10 below is not exactly my idea of fun. The older I get it's even less fun. Remote start means I no longer have to become a human Popsicle in order to start my car, and that, as Martha would say, is a very good thing.

And hey, I'm also thankful for The Monkees. Because really, I don't think The Monkees get enough thanks.

Finally, since I want to keep this short...it is a holiday week after all...I'll just take this moment to say that I'm very thankful for my Memories. I've had some wonderful Thanksgivings over the years. I spend a lot of them missing my family since we all live far apart from each other. But I do think fondly of the wonderful Turkey Days I did get to spend with them. And this one in particular comes to mind...and the meal we had was just one of the best of my childhood. It was circa 1976 (or 77).

My mom made this incredible spread all by herself. She went all out and worked so hard to make an amazing meal for the family. She even used the good China! The meal had all our usuals, plus a few extras.

1. Turkey and Dressing (Mom seldom stuffed the bird itself; she liked it separate, as do I).
2. Mashed Potatoes (lump-free) and a gravy so good you could have drank it from the bowl.
3. Yams, of course. You gotta have Yams.
4. Fried Chicken??? Dang. How'd that get there?!
5. Apple Salad. An old family recipe that I still love at holiday time. Notice the classic Tupperware it's being served in here. I wish I had that bowl. I would totally put my Apple Salad in it.
6. Braided homemade bread. That was a thing of beauty! And there wasn't much left when we were done with dinner. 
7.  A Veggie Tray. Seems silly to have that when everything else fills you up. But it's always good.
8. And for dessert? Pie and English Trifle. Mom's Trifle was the best. I still like to make it at Christmas time. Sometimes for Turkey Day too, if the mood strikes.

Memories mean everything. Especially as the memories of my family grow to be all I have left. I am thankful for them though, and will cherish them always.

On that note, I hope you enjoyed my Obligatory Thankful Post for 2014. And I also hope that you and your family have a truly wonderful day of family, feast, and fun that you'll not soon forget. 

And don't forget to pack some Tums, just in case you eat a bit too much.

Gobble, gobble.

Best Things I Learned While I was 47

Psst. Hey, you.

Yes, YOU.

Do you know what tomorrow is?

And I was rather inspired by reading a birthday blog post recently by The Militant Baker blogger, so I decided that this year, in honor of my 48th birthday, I'd try to follow suit and list all the best things I learned while I was 47. I mean really, we all learn stuff on a fairly regular basis if you think about it. And birthdays are a great time to reflect on all that semi-awesome and painstakingly acquired new knowledge, don't you think?

 A lot can happen in a year. And even though I never really feel any different on my birthday than I do any other day of the year, it's still a special sort of day. Kind of. So I guess my gift to myself--and to all of you, no doubt--is some shared moments and milestones from the past 365 days.

So, in no particular order, here's what I've learned...

• I love Outlander almost as much as I love The Vampire Diaries. And, dude, that's a LOT.
• Hot dogs taste best with just mustard. Just. Mustard.
• I'm an invisible loser on Twitter, and that's OK.
• One phone call can change your whole perspective on people, and life in general.
• Painting is my favorite escape.
• Sometimes a song can say everything you can't put into words.
• My instincts are usually dead right.
• I don't like "hard apple ale." I hate it, in fact.
• I do like Moscato. A lot.
• Sex with the Hubs, like a good wine, improves with age. Yowza! (Apologies to my daughter--for the embarrassment--if she's reading this.)
• Losing weight is never going to be easy for me, but I have to keep trying.
• I can still write a fairly good poem.
• Being an Executrix is hard F'n work. 2 years of it was more than enough.
• I'm growing tired of Pizza. I know. The horror.
• Naps are highly underrated.
• I'd rather sit at home with the Hubs on a Saturday night, watching a movie, than almost anything else in the world.
• Life isn't perfect, but it isn't supposed to be. 
• Menopause isn't for sissies. 
• Unwanted facial hair is the bane of my existence. 
• Pitch Perfect is still just as funny at the 11th viewing as it is at the 1st. A-ca believe it.
• A healthy infatuation with Ian Somerhalder isn't the worst thing in the world I could have. 
• I can control my bitchy-ness. Sometimes.
• iPhones that get updated and then won't sync across devices are a crime against humanity.
• Fat girls should seriously think twice before attempting to hike down to Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Getting down is easy. Getting up is a totally different story. I give myself points for the attempt--and making it 2/3 of the way down before I realized I'd probably drop dead if I went any further.
• Husbands who appreciate fat girls' hiking attempts are the best husbands in the world.
• My daughter's smile brings me complete happiness.
• My grandkids proved that my heart can hold more love than I ever thought possible.
• Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime make my TV worth having.
• It's OK to read 50 Shades of Grey. Even a few times.
• My value is not determined by my weight.
• It's OK to cry.
• I may never finish all the books on my Goodreads To Read list. And I can live with that.

See there? That's quite a bit of learnin' happening in the past year. I could have kept going (rambling is one of my super powers after all), but hey, it's my birthday weekend. That's right. We don't limit birthdays to a single day in this house. It's a whole weekend or nothing! And it's party time.

[And of course by "party," I mean dinner at Red Lobster, a little shopping, then maybe a movie at home with the Hubs.] 

Party on.

Keep the Angels Laughing, Robin

I was really shocked and saddened to learn the news of the death of Robin Williams today. I grew up with Mork and Mindy--it was must-see TV for me when it was on the air. Robin was a true original, completely unique and full of life. Many of his movies are my favorites. I just watched Dead Poets Society a few weeks ago and it was just as good as the first time I watched it so many years ago.

What can we say really about a man who gave us so many laughs, so many great movie roles, and so many memories? His life ended too soon. But his legacy of love and laughter will live on through his family, his films, and his fans.

His death is tragic, and may just serve as a reminder that those with the biggest smiles often hide the deepest pain.

Rest in Peace, Robin. Keep the angels laughing, as only you can. And if you get a chance, say hello to my mom for me.

The 80's Called

I saw a video on YouTube today and what I can say, I loved it. Even though it's just a commercial. A Radio Shack commercial, in fact. And while I'm not really one to promote commercials, when it's all about The 80's I just have to share it. 

Dude, I. Have. To.

So let's all jump in our DeLorean, shall we, and travel back in time to the glorious 80's. For approximately 1 minute and 1 second anyway. To the land of legwarmers, and big hair, and dancing raisins, and even Alf.

See? How much more awesomely 80's can you get on a Thursday, I ask you?! Now admit it. You enjoyed that jaunt through your Ponch-sized past, Right? And it kind of made you want to get up dance. Just a little bit.

I don't think it's necessarily going to help the store chain that much, considering they're closing so many of their stores around the country. But at least they have good taste. I'll give them that much. 

And now I return you back to the future...of the present, so that you can enjoy the rest of your day. Any questions?

People Let Me Tell Ya Bout My Best Friend

So the Hubs and I were sitting on the couch last night, watching the black box o' fun. I was kind of browsing FB on my iPad at the same time because it was commercial time, when I heard a familiar song. It went a little something like this...(click it to hear it):

People let me tell ya 'bout my best friend...

And I was like, HEY, I know that song! So I looked up to see what was on and it was a Bank of America commercial. And they were playing the theme song from one of my favorite shows as a child, The Courtship of Eddie's Father. I used to love that show. And I loved Bill Bixby too--whose character was a widow taking care of his only son. My parents were divorced at that time, so I guess I fantasized a lot about having a full time dad in the picture. And Bill Bixby was so sweet, and cool, and full of 70's awesomeness. What's not to love?!

Anyhoots...I said to the Hubs, "HEY, that is so wrong of Bank of America to be using that song in their commercial, don't you think?"

And he was drawing a complete blank. He had no idea what song that was or what it was from. And being that I know his memory is about as long as a ladybug's foot, I showed him a picture.

And his reaction was pretty much:

He was clueless. And suddenly, just like that, the man I love and married almost 30 years ago (this June!) became an enigma. Like, how can a 51 year old man NOT know The Courtship of Eddie's Father?! It's classic television. I question his very humanity in this moment! And all he could say in his defense was that "it sounds like it was a chick show."

A chick show? WTH?!

OK, so then I had to ask..."but you've seen The Nanny and the Professor, right?"

"What about, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir?"

"My Three Sons?!"

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner, folks. The Hubs has actually seen My Three Sons! And he looked just like Ian Somerhalder when he shook his head, yes.

OK, I might be lying on that last point.

But I still think my quasi-righteous indignation was totally justified at his ignorance with regard to television shows that entertained me in my youth. I mean, it isn't that he'd never watched them--it's that he never even HEARD of them! Seriously, that's just all kinds of weird.

And it's also very weird that Bank of America is using the theme song to The Courtship of Eddie's Father as its commercial accompaniment.  I mean, the tune that brings to mind images of a widowed father, his son, and their sage Japanese housekeeper, Mrs. Livingston, doesn't exactly seem relevant to marketing a bank. But hey, at least it inspired a blog post, right?

My Life in Movies

I was reading a guest post on the Dooce blog the other day, in which the guest blogger (Sarah) posted about movie-milestones in her life. It was quite the fun read, and it inspired me to steal borrow her idea and give you all the Tinalicious perspective of My life in Movies. And it's perfect for a Flashback Friday. So grab some popcorn and lets get to it, shall we?

First animated movie that made me cry, even though I denied it at the time, that I watched at the drive-in from the back of my grandparents' station wagon:

Bambi

Movie that I saw at the theater with my mom and my sister, which I didn't want to go see and raged quite a protest, only to fall in love with it:

Gone With the Wind--it was a special showing at our local theater at the time, probably due to an anniversary of the movie or something. I was around 10 years old at the time, I believe. And dang that movie was long! It even had an intermission.

 
Completely inappropriate movie that my mom took me to, thinking that is was a movie about a superhero, and that she had to cover my eyes in several parts before we finally left the theater:

Superfly.  Note: it was not about a superhero.

One of my favorite movies as a teen, that was just a random movie pick when several of my friends and I hit the theater one weekend, that we almost didn't want to see, and yet we loved so much during the show that when the film broke during a crucial moment we all went wild in the theater in protest:

On Golden Pond

Least favorite movie I saw as a teen, in which I WISHED the film would have broken so I would have had a good excuse to leave the theater:

Absence of Malice

Movie my best friend and I tried to go see at the theater, even though it was rated R and we were under age, and that we lied to our parents and told them we were going to see something else when they dropped us off at the theater, and still tried every way possible to sneak into, to no avail:

Endless Love

Movie I have still never seen to this day after the underage, rated R movie fiasco:

Endless Love

Movie that I saw repeatedly in the theater, and that still is my most viewed theater movie (10 times) to date, and that my sister, my cousin and I sang and danced to its soundtrack album in our living room to the point that our neighbors must have thought it was the only album we owned:

Grease

First action movie that I ever loved, that my awesome Uncle Bobby took me to, and that made me want to become an archaeologist for awhile:

Raiders of the Lost Ark

80's Movies that I adored that I still watch to this day:

The Breakfast Club

Pretty in Pink

Say Anything

16 Candles

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Movies that made me fall in love with the leading men back in the day:

Risky Business

Lethal Weapon

Dirty Dancing

Die Hard

Movies that I hated, and I do mean HATED, and that I would never, ever--don't even bother to offer me money 'cause it ain't happening--watch again:

Pulp Fiction

Gone Fishing

What Dreams May Come

Any of the Star Wars "prequels"

Recent movies I can't stop re-watching:

Bridesmaids
Pitch Perfect

Not-So-Recent movies that I love to re-watch, no matter how many times I've seen them:

National Treasure
Tomb Raider
Titanic
The Mummy
The Big Chill
Pirates of the Caribbean
Ghost
Charlie's Angels

Chick Flicks I can watch over and over, that the Hubs can't stand, so I watch them after he goes to bed (unless I'm mad at him, in which case it would do him good to watch them so I have a chick flick marathon instead):

Hope Floats
Ever After
The Notebook
Message in a Bottle
The Twilight Saga
Pretty Woman
Never Been Kissed
Notting Hill
Sweet Home Alabama

Movies I probably shouldn't like, but I actually love:

What a Girl Wants
Peggy Sue Got Married
Xanadu
Along Came Polly

Some movies I absolutely adore, but that you probably haven't seen--but should:

Paradise (starring Melanie Griffith)
The Man in the Moon (starring a young Reese Witherspoon)
Mystic Pizza (starring Julia Roberts, in one of her first movie roles)
While You Were Sleeping (a sleeper hit, starring Sandra Bullock)
Somewhere in Time (starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour)

OK, well, that's a LOT of my life in movies, isn't it? I should end this here, because hopefully, I've inspired you to watch--or re-watch--a movie or two after reading this. As for me, the next movie I'll be watching this weekend is Meet the Millers. How about you?

 

Obligatory Thankful Post

So it's November, folks. And you know what that means, don'tcha? No, I'm not talking about turkey, or parades, or football, or the award I deserve after I yet again endure 3 days of cleaning, baking, and cooking for a meal that will take all of 15 minutes to consume and that will be enjoyed by everyone but me. 

No, no, I'm talking about gratitude, and the obnoxious onslaught of gratitude posts that appear on Facebook and Twitter and the like as the countdown to Turkey Day continues throughout the month. Everyone is posting what they are grateful or thankful for. Repeatedly. Like, every day. And while that's all well and good, it can get a bit...annoying...to say the least.

People are spreading the virtual love and thanks for their families, their homes, their dogs, their health, their jobs, their kids, and all their many bountiful blessings. And don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for all those things too. But I thought I'd create just one post to share just a few little things that I'm thankful for that are, perhaps, overlooked by the rest of you.

So here goes.

I'm thankful for Fall and Winter--because not only do they mean a break from heat, humidity, and sweat that the warmer months bring, but they also mean that I don't have to shave if I don't want to. You ladies can't pretend like you aren't thankful for that too.

I'm thankful that November is Sweeps Month--because that means some good sh*t is gonna happen on my favorite shows. And The Vampire Diaries is at the top of that list. Ah, who am I kidding? It's the only show I really care about right now. So bring it on, Julie Plec: shirtless Damon, Damon in a towel, or maybe Damon playing Naked Twister. Surprise me. I'm waiting.

I'm thankful for International Delight Iced Coffee--because that stuff is just freaking G-O-O-D. And alternative ways to drink coffee are always something to be thankful for--especially considering there is no Starbucks in my town. I know. The horror.

I'm thankful for Game of Thrones--because Winter is coming. And because it makes me like people I hate and root for the Mother of Dragons and want to answer every question people ask me with, "Not Today!"  And if you don't understand any of that, I highly suggest you watch Game of Thrones. Like right now. Go ahead. I'll wait.

And finally, I'm thankful for turn signals. Or, more precisely, for people who actually bother to USE their turn signals. Because it's just kind of cool to know when the car ahead of me is going to suddenly change lanes or direction. You know, just for sh*ts and giggles. 

So there you have five things I'm thankful for. I'm sure I could come up with more. Lots more really. But I don't want to overdo it.

You can thank me later.

Linking this post up to Mama Kat's

Semi-Wordless 80's Wednesday

The 80's.

What can I say about the 80's? Well, you know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words. So...

It wasn't a perfect decade by any means. 

But it had E.T.

And Back to the Future.

And Pac Man.

And California Raisins commercials
And Princess Diana's wedding.

And "Who Shot J.R.?" T-Shirts.

And legwarmers.

And an MTV that actually played music videos.

And Michael Jackson.

The 80's rocked.

Future Movie Star

For most of my childhood I wanted to be one and only one thing: a Movie Star. And let me clarify this by saying I didn't just want to be an actress. No, no, I had my eyes on the real prize. Movie. Star. You know, as in being so famous that everyone in the world would know you, and want to take your picture or get your autograph. I always believed as a child that I would grow up and be that movie star.

So, from the age of 4 onward, I would literally practice my movie star pose. And it made a regular appearance in candid photos taken by my mom. See for yourself...

That is me in 1971, at age five, giving my well-worn-over-the-shoulder-movie-star pose for mom's ever-present Kodak instamatic camera. In my left hand, a cup of juice, as all movie stars of the day would drink, I'm sure; and in my right hand, a pair of sunglasses--removed only for this Kodak moment because, after all, a movie star needs to retain some modicum of anonymity. Ahem.

All through my childhood, I would be the one wanting to put on shows or plays, either at school or at home, in my ongoing attempt to finely hone my acting chops. After all, one can't be a Movie Star if one cannot act! I adored the spotlight, and the applause, which I would get even when my acting sucked (and it often did) because I was--if nothing else--oh so cute.

My movie star dreams lasted well into my teen years, at which time I also began practicing my movie star autograph. Because really, if you're gonna be a movie star, you have to have a cool signature that you can scribble in a hurry when clamoring fans ask for your autograph. I worked hard perfecting mine, making sure it was very loopy and fun, and worthy of a famous movie star. And in fact, the signature I use on checks or other documents to this day is based on my well-practiced movie star autograph from my adolescence. 

But alas, my dreams of movie stardom never did materialize. At some point they just became a fond memory from my childhood. Instead I became an art teacher. Luckily, I was able to keep using my autograph skills to sign hall passes and such while I was teaching. And I still had my share of the spotlight--even if it was for a classroom full of students. But the movie star pose disappeared about the same time I began to hate having my photo taken. So it is no more.

Am I sorry that I grew up and out of my movie star dreams? Not really. I look back with fondness at that little girl with big dreams. It's a part of who I was, even if it's not who I became. And I wouldn't trade that for anything.

I'm linking up this post to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop for this week.

Amy Winehouse's Final Curtain

I just want to say that I was never really an Amy Winehouse fan...but I did appreciate her talent. It's not shocking at all to me that she has passed away. When you live your life on a path of self-destruction, it's rare to not end up where she did. But that doesn't make it any less tragic. Or sad. I don't like to see any young person leave this earth so soon, especially when they have so much potential. But I hope her tortured soul can find some peace now.

There's a wonderful quote from Amy that I want to share, regarding Michael Jackson. I love that she was a fan.

“You know how you either grow up in a Michael Jackson house or a Prince house?” says Winehouse, whose accent reveals her north London roots. “For me it was Michael Jackson. I could never decide whether I wanted to be Michael Jackson or marry him. I don’t care what people say about him now because he’s a fucking genius. That’s it – the end! He was robbed of his childhood, which is why he surrounds himself with children. When you’re around kids you can be a little kid yourself and pretend that life is magic and you don’t have to be one of those sweaty people going to work every day. I completely see what he’s doing.”

~ Amy Winehouse.

RIP, Amy.

September 14, 1983 - July 23, 2011

Say hi to Michael for me.

Michael's Magic Lives On

This is a digital collage I created and posted on my art blog, but wanted to post it here too, in memory of and tribute to Michael Jackson.

Gone, but never forgotten.

August 29, 1958 ~ June 25, 2009

Like A Comet
Blazing ‘Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

(by Michael Jackson)

My Deep Purple Dreams

OK, so when I woke up this morning, there was a song in my head. Does that ever happen to you? It happens to me every once in awhile, and the song is usually very...random. I don't think I'll ever understand how my brain works, or why some song I haven't heard--or even thought about--for YEARS would just suddenly be inside my Tinaliciously twisted cranium, but whatevs.

On the one hand, I gotta love that my subconscious self clearly enjoys a good ole blast from my 1970's-bell-bottomed past now and again. A little trip down memory lane, as it were. Otherwise, why would the words to Donny and Marie's Deep Purple, circa 1975, be playing in my head? At 6:23am no less! WTH?!

On the other hand, this isn't a sign of insanity or anything, is it? I mean, Donny and  Marie? Before my feet have even hit the bedroom floor? Before I'm even conscious of what day it is? And before my brain is even capable of rendering a coherent thought?

I hope I'm not starting to lose it. Nothing against my favorite little-bit-country-and-little-bit-rock-n-roll-duo, but if my brain is going to get set on rewind I'd prefer to be in another decade. A little Bad-Era-Michael-Jackson is always welcome up there in the old noggin. [Guess I can scratch off "use the word 'noggin' in a blog post" from my Bucket List now?]

Anyhoots, it was definitely an interesting way to start my day. And who knows what tonight will bring...

Here in my deep purple dreams.