Overboard by Chip Dunham

Men of a Certain Age

Am I the only one who likes this show? None of my friends or family have ever heard of it. I've been watchng since it started a few weeks ago. Stars Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula.

It's about three guys in their 40s who have been friends since they were kids. They live in L.A., hang out at the local diner, go for hikes and deal with personal issues. Joe (Ray) is separated from his wife, has two kids and owns a party store. He's a compulsive gambler. Owen (Andre) works at his father's car dealership, is married with children and has issues with his overbearing father. Terry (Scott) is an actor, never-married, a charming ladies' man and the poster boy for the Peter Pan Syndrome.

It's obvious the audience for the show is SUPPOSED to be men (advertisers include Jim Beam Whiskey), but I think women would be more likely to watch middle-aged men struggling with life issues. That's just me.

I told my sister-in-law about it and she's watching it, too.

This week had some sad moments: Terry applied to be a Big Brother but was turned down

Hopeful moments: Joe helped his father get a part-time job in a hardware store so he would feel useful again.

Funny moments: Owen had to make a car commercial with his father.

Vince Vaughn Won Me Over

I finally got to see "The Breakup" with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. Didn't think I'd like it, but I did. I've never been a Vince Vaughn fan since the mega-bomb "Dodge Ball." For the record, I was forced to see that film with my grandchildren; otherwise you couldn't pay me enough money to watch it. Totally not my style. That movie almost turned me off Ben Stiller, as well. But how can you not totally LOVE Ben Stiller?

Anyway, Vince was terrific in "The Breakup." Surprisingly, as a woman, I was on his side in the the scene where they have their first fight. Jennifer the Super Nag. It was like looking in a mirror. It struck a chord with me because I realized that I sounded just like her. My poor hubby sure puts up with a lot...oy! That movie made me realize that I needed to stop nagging my hubby so much. Give him a break.

I liked that Vince's character changed, but was disheartened that they didn't get back together.

All About Aniston

Did anybody see the Jennifer Aniston movie marathon on Lifetime last weekend?

I watched "Derailed." Surprise ending. The good thing about this was that Clive Owen got to kill the bad guy TWICE. Jenny was a bad girl.

I'm going to watch "The Break Up" (if I can stomach Vince Vaughn).

Saw "Marley and Me" a few weeks ago on MAX. Loved it. Marley should get the Oscar.

Liked her in "Bruce Almighty," "Along Came Polly" and "Love Happens."

Question of the Decade: How did Jennifer Aniston's hair become an American phenomenon?

Reading Max Lucado

Time for a spiritual boost. I went to the library to check out some books to read on our trip to Pennsylvania. Max Lucado's writings are just what the doctor ordered. I've got "Facing Your Giants," "Cure for the Common Life," and "Every Day Deserves a Chance."

Here's an excerpt from "Every Day". . . try this on for size:

We sabotage our day, wiring it for disaster, lugging along yesterday's troubles, downloading tomorrow's struggles. Remorse over the past, anxiety over the future. We aren't giving the day a chance. How can we? What can we do? Here's my proposal: consult Jesus. The Ancient of Days has something to say about our days.

Saturate your days with GRACE: "I tell you the solemn truth," replied Jesus, "this very day you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

Entrust your day to his OVERSIGHT: "Give us day by day our daily bread." Luke 11:3

Accept his DIRECTION: "If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me." Luke 9:23

Grace. Oversight. Direction. (G-O-D).

New Year and a New Book!

I'm happy to announce that one of my short stories was recently published in a book called "Laugh Your Shorts Off!" available at amazon.com

Compiled by Margie Culbertson, the creator of our writer's discussion group, the book is an anthology of short humor featuring stories by the winners of her writing contests.

My story is a Cinderella parody play called "Rock and Roll Fairy Tale" featuring Peggy Sue as Cinderella, the Duke of Earl as Prince Charming and Elvis as the King.

Losing It Under the Dome

I'm reading Valerie Bertinelli's book "Losing It," before I read her new release "Finding It."

The book goes into her family history, career, romances, marriage, issues with weight, etc. Also includes some terrific photos of her and her family. I had no idea she was a book club aficionado. She's been in a book club for years. So cool!

I'm also reading Stephen King's new book "Under the Dome"...Holy COW! The story is about a dome that seals off a city. I'll be so glad when Big Jim and Junior get their come-upance! Also wondering where the dome came from. On edge of seat...

The Perfect Gift

I've been taping Christmas movies on my DVR over the last few weeks and finally got around to watching "The Perfect Gift."

Awesome! Finally a movie about the "real" story of Christmas.

Tag line: What if the world threw you a birthday party...and you weren't invited?

Plot: A spoiled school girl, her overworked executive mother and a disillusioned young minister each receives an uplifting message about friendship, commitment, and the truest meaning of Christmas from a friendly drifter.

The film was released in November 2009 and is part of the "Perfect Stranger" series by Jefferson Moore.

And there were in the same country...

...shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men."

Luke 2:8-14

Is it Christmas yet?

So what have I been doing this week? Here's the low-down:

Baking Christmas goodies (chocolate peanut clusters, bourbon balls, Russian tea cakes, sugar cookies; taking them to work so I don't eat them all)

Watching Christmas movies (The National Tree, Mr. Saint Nick, The Christmas Choir, The Christmas Card, The Homecoming, Charlie Brown, just to name a few)

Reading "A Christmas Carol" (I read it every year; I'm at the part where the ghost of Christmas present takes Scrooge to the Cratchit home)

Today I'll be walking in the snow! (So happy we're having a white Christmas this year)

Received 25 Christmas cards as of yesterday.

Drinking eggnog.

Listening to Christmas music (Barbra Streisand, Perry Como, Dean Martin, John Denver, Ella Fitzgerald, Neil Diamond, Vince Guaraldi)

Learning lines for a Christmas play.

Playing Christmas carols on the piano.

Lighting candles and watching the Christmas lights on the tree.

Reading about the birth of Jesus in the Book of Luke (Jesus is the Reason for the Season)

God bless us, everyone!

Six Chix

Josh and the Hot Dog

So I'm sitting at the breakfast table eating my cornflakes and reading the paper when I turn the page and there it is. A photo of my nephew Josh, age 7, with a hot dog stuffed in his mouth. I could tell it was him by the black hair and sparkling brown eyes.

This wasn't just a small black and white blurb in the local section. It was a huge full-color spread! Josh was at the Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne where members of the Wyoming National Guard fed more than 100 kids a dinner of hot dogs, chicken, baked beans and cookies.

When Josh and his family come to my house for dinner, I serve Josh's favorites: mashed potatoes and anything with sugar in it. It would be an understatement to say that Josh is hyperactive, but he moves so fast he makes a hummingbird look like a turtle.

The cool thing about Josh right now is that his front teeth are missing and he has two fangs that lend him the appearance of a vampire. But those teeth are perfect for biting into a hot dog.

Way to go, Josh!

Happy Book Quote for the Week

Help others.

Worst Movie of the Year

The Box.



First of all, what did Cameron's foot deformity have to do with the plot? HELLO!



And then there's the mysterious package left on the front stoop at 5:45 in the morning. Someone rings the bell, Cameron answers the door and sees a package wrapped in brown paper with nothing on it and a black car driving away. So what would a "normal" person do?



A) Call the police, fearing it might be a bomb?



B) Pick it up and bring it in the house and open it?



Of course Cameron and hubby opened it.



That's where the movie lost me. I couldn't get passed it.



The movie went downhill from there. Weird library. Bloody noses. Water coffin. Light tunnel. Alien swimming pool.

I didn't get it.

Today's work-out movie

"So I Married and Axe Murderer"

Be Happy

Browsing at Barnes and Noble the other day, I came across an amazing little book called "Be Happy" by Monica Sheehan.

The delightful line drawings by Sheehan illustrate each "happy" tidbit. For example:

Have a sense of wonder

Exercise

Reach out

Don't lose hope

Stop being a victim

Love your work

Don't compare yourself with others

I'm keeping this book here at my desk so I can refer to it often.

Love Happens

Hubby and I went to see Love Happens this week at our local cineplex. I'd read the reviews and they weren't good. But I liked the movie, and so did hubby.

The movie was promoted as a "romantic dramedy," whatever that is. The romance was not the key issue in the film. It was about how people deal with the death of a loved one; a psychological character study. Not a romance, in my opinion. Although Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart were on the road to becoming "significant others" at the end of the movie, they never kissed until the final scene.

There was humor, which was desperately needed for balance. Best funny scenes:

Aaron stealing the parrot from Martin Sheen's kitchen.
Jennifer and Aaron's confrontationin the men's room

I did not like the epilogue scene tagged on at the end of the movie in which the parrot returned to Martin Sheen after it was set free in the wild. Why was this included? I think it detracted from the sweet finale with Jennifer and Aaron in the flower shop.

Foxy News

Just observing that all the women reporters on Fox News (and other cable "news" channels) could moonlight as fashion models. They are young, reveal cleavage and look like they should be on the cover of Marie Claire.

Hello! This is supposed to be news, people! Yeah, I know. It's television. They can't have a woman who looks like a normal person on the NEWS! It's all about ratings, right? It's all about money, right?

But why is it that the MEN can be old and ugly and nobody cares?

Just wondering.

The Walk

So yesterday afternoon, hubby and I went for a walk. It's mid-September and the weather is fabulous! We had been playing the Beatles Rock Band game earlier and were singing songs as we walked through the neighborhood. "I am the walrus...goo goo ga joob..." People must have thought that we were nuts. Whatever.

Sometimes when we walk we don't talk much because we are just enjoying the walk or thinking our own private thoughts. Other times we talk a lot. On this walk, I wanted to talk and hubby wanted to sing. Here's a snippet of our conversation:

ME and HUBBY (singing): "I am the walrus, I am the walrus, goo goo ga joob, goo goo ga joob..."

ME: So what about all the brouhaha about President Obama talking to the kids in school? I think it's wonderful. I don't understand what the big deal is. George Bush talked to kids and nobody said a word about it. I would think people would want the president talk to the kids.

HUBBY: You should run for president.

ME: Are you crazy? I would never want to be the president. For one thing, they have to give speeches and I'm terrible at giving speeches. They give speeches all the time. Every day, almost. I don't know how they find the time. But I guess that's why they have speech writers. Have you ever wondered why the speech writers don't get credit for the speeches? The president gets all the credit. The presidential speech writers throughout history are getting ripped off! Remember when JFK said "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"? The speech writer came up with that historic, profound statement, but Kennedy gets all the credit. That happens all the time with speech writers. It's just not fair. Are you listening to a word I'm saying?

HUBBY (singing): Lucy in the sky with diamonds...

Beatles Rock Band

Hubby bought Beatles Rock Band that came out last week. And Wow, it's awesome! As a Beatles aficionado (notice I didn't say "maniac"...when you're 52, you're supposed to have matured...yeah, right), I know all the songs and it's a blast. We still haven't figured out all the features; we're just singing along trying to match harmonies. You score points for staying on pitch. As you sing, your progress is measured by certain words that pop up: "Fab"..."Great"... "Okay"..."Messy." We were proud when we sang "I Feel Fine" on Expert Level and actually completed the song without being booed off the stage. They don't actually "boo," but the song stops and they look at you like you're an idiot.

The downside is that with facebook, twitter, blogging, and the Beatles, I will never get any work done.