Dear Oprah,
Can I call you Oprah? Thanks.
I'm a fan, have been for years. I like your show, I read your magazine, I've read your book club picks- even though most have been depressing, and the highlight of my year last year was when I was lucky enough to attend a taping of your show (after calling thousands of times over 3 years.) I defended you to people who said they thought you were bitchy and conceited.
But I'm sorry to say- not that you'll care- that I'm disappointed in you.
I can't believe you spent your show today tearing apart James Frey. Don't you have any loyalty? Compassion? Backbone? Did you just have to jump on the "He lied" bandwagon? Could you just not take two seconds and think that maybe there were reasons behind it? That maybe the good the book did, and could continue to do if you didn't trash it, made those exaggerations understandable.
And who are we to judge him? I'm not an addict, never have been, never want to be since I read 'Million Little Pieces', but I can't imagine how hard it was to live thru the things he did. And if he made himself seem a little tougher, who cares? He STILL BEAT ADDICTION! It still matters.
I just didn't expect it from you. I was shocked when I saw the articles online. You're known for your compassion and loyalty. I thought maybe you'd just let it all blow over. But you had to make a big deal out of it and embarrass him on your show. Petty, Oprah.
Anyway. After years of contributing to your billions, I won't be anymore.
But I will buy the next James Frey book.
Sincerely,
A former fan
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Watch Love Monkey!!
Please. I'm begging people. I love this show.
And I'm getting really tired of liking new shows and then they get cancelled. There is a reason I've been hooked on reality tv lately.
But 'Love Monkey' is great! Funny and endearing. Great music. Fun cameo guests. And Jason Priestly. What more can you ask for? Though I'm still not sure why they named the girl best friend "Bran." Hmm. And I will get mad if she's all pining away for him and stuff... ick. So far, so good, though. And did I mention great music? Now if I could just get ahold of some Teddy Geiger music, we'd be good. I love a guy with a guitar. I hope he doesn't hate the John Mayer comparisons, though, because they're going to be aplenty.
Anyway, that's my public service announcement. If you don't like crime shows and are wanting to watch something that's not reality tv... watch Love Monkey! Thanks.
And I'm getting really tired of liking new shows and then they get cancelled. There is a reason I've been hooked on reality tv lately.
But 'Love Monkey' is great! Funny and endearing. Great music. Fun cameo guests. And Jason Priestly. What more can you ask for? Though I'm still not sure why they named the girl best friend "Bran." Hmm. And I will get mad if she's all pining away for him and stuff... ick. So far, so good, though. And did I mention great music? Now if I could just get ahold of some Teddy Geiger music, we'd be good. I love a guy with a guitar. I hope he doesn't hate the John Mayer comparisons, though, because they're going to be aplenty.
Anyway, that's my public service announcement. If you don't like crime shows and are wanting to watch something that's not reality tv... watch Love Monkey! Thanks.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Saturday Six
1. Do you generally tend to be early, late or right on time?
Unfortunately, late. Usually about 5-10 minutes. It's better now. It used to be about 30. I'm even early on a rare occasion.
2. Did you belong to any clubs in high school? If so, which did you value the most?
I'm not sure what clubs I wasn't involved in... band, student council, peer leadership, sadd, yearbook, newspaper, biology, spanish. If you could join it, I did. But, I learned more from Student Council than anything. With district and state Stuco, I went great places, met awesome people and had experiences that were incredible. Plus, I learned that one person really can make a difference. And had a ton of fun.
3. Where was your favorite place to hang out when you were in high school? How often were you there and were you usually with friends or alone?
Usually, we just hung out at people's houses or school events. Though, the DH and I were talking about how we could always find our friend Doug at the end of the evening at Mister Donut. During our senior year, we met up there pretty often to hang out. Donuts, coffee and video games... what more can you ask for?
4. Take this quiz http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=11437473828666506196(if you haven't already!): What chess piece are you? (Thanks to Charles.)
I dont' know anything about chess, but I don't think I like "being expendable":
A Black BishopYou scored 1 Power-Finesse, 5 Leader-Follower, 3 Unique-Ordinary, and 1 Offense-Defense!
You are conniving and sneaky, and often overlooked by your opponent. You are content to stay off to one side, allowing the bloodbath to ensue. Then, when the moment is right and the other king has let his guard down you strike! Your indirect approach to things gives your team more options. However, in the big picture you are expendable. No matter how hard you try, you can only reach half the squares on the board.
5. When is the last time you played a board game and what game did you play? Did you win?
We played Scrabble on the 2nd. Kind of a "good-bye to winter vacation" thing. I don't really know who won, but I think it was Ali.
6. You're called to serve on a jury. Would you rather sit on a capital murder case, a personal injury case, a wrongful death suit or a drunk driving case, and why?
Personal injury case, I guess... none of them sound like fun, really. I was on a jury once for a personal injury case and it was really hard.
Unfortunately, late. Usually about 5-10 minutes. It's better now. It used to be about 30. I'm even early on a rare occasion.
2. Did you belong to any clubs in high school? If so, which did you value the most?
I'm not sure what clubs I wasn't involved in... band, student council, peer leadership, sadd, yearbook, newspaper, biology, spanish. If you could join it, I did. But, I learned more from Student Council than anything. With district and state Stuco, I went great places, met awesome people and had experiences that were incredible. Plus, I learned that one person really can make a difference. And had a ton of fun.
3. Where was your favorite place to hang out when you were in high school? How often were you there and were you usually with friends or alone?
Usually, we just hung out at people's houses or school events. Though, the DH and I were talking about how we could always find our friend Doug at the end of the evening at Mister Donut. During our senior year, we met up there pretty often to hang out. Donuts, coffee and video games... what more can you ask for?
4. Take this quiz http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=11437473828666506196(if you haven't already!): What chess piece are you? (Thanks to Charles.)
I dont' know anything about chess, but I don't think I like "being expendable":
A Black BishopYou scored 1 Power-Finesse, 5 Leader-Follower, 3 Unique-Ordinary, and 1 Offense-Defense!
You are conniving and sneaky, and often overlooked by your opponent. You are content to stay off to one side, allowing the bloodbath to ensue. Then, when the moment is right and the other king has let his guard down you strike! Your indirect approach to things gives your team more options. However, in the big picture you are expendable. No matter how hard you try, you can only reach half the squares on the board.
5. When is the last time you played a board game and what game did you play? Did you win?
We played Scrabble on the 2nd. Kind of a "good-bye to winter vacation" thing. I don't really know who won, but I think it was Ali.
6. You're called to serve on a jury. Would you rather sit on a capital murder case, a personal injury case, a wrongful death suit or a drunk driving case, and why?
Personal injury case, I guess... none of them sound like fun, really. I was on a jury once for a personal injury case and it was really hard.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Found this on someone else's blog, but thought it looked like fun. It might take me forever to get it done, though, which will reduce the level of 'funness'. But I'll give it a try:
Ten Firsts:
First Best Friend: Jessica Walters, 1st grade
First Screen Name: um... princessflamingomom?
First Pet: Fish. Does that count?
First Piercing: Ears, 6 yrs old.
First Crush: Hmmm. Hard one. Luke Morganroth, 2nd grade, I guess.
First Music: The first record I remember listening to is Billy Joel's "Songs from An Italian Resteraunt", but the first one I bought was Blondie's Autoamerican.
First Car: The boat. 1976 electric blue Monte Carlo. I loved that car.
First REAL LOVE: Alexa. =)
First School: Horace Mann Elementary
First House Location: Probably the one on Michael that we moved into when I was 16. Before that it was apts and stuff.
Nine Lasts:
Last time you smoked weed: Young people these days, jeez! Never, of course. =)
Last thing you ate: A bowl of Team Cheerios and a slice of apple.
Last Car Ride: To pick up Ali at a party last night at 10ish.
Last Movie: At the theater? Chicken Little. At home? Swan Princess. Sad.
Last Phone Call: J's grandma called this morning.
Last CD Played: Michael Tolcher, I Am
Last bubble bath: At least 6 months, who has time?
Last Song You Heard: Switchfoot, "This is Your Life"
Eight Have You Evers:
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends: Yes.
Have You Ever Been Arrested: Yes, traffic warrant. Gotta pay those tickets.
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: Of course, my parents had a pool.
Have You Ever Been on TV: Not to my knowledge.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone and Then Regretted it: Not really
Have you Ever cheated on a b/f-or-g/f: Next question. I'm too old for this.
Have You Ever been on a blind date: Sure, it was fun.
Have You Ever been out of the country: Nope. Sigh.
Seven Things You're Wearing:
1. comfy t shirt
2. flamingo sleep pants
3. red socks
4. Purple Douglas, Alaska sweatshirt.
5. Hair tie.
6. wedding ring
7. silver ring with blue topaz
Later in the day...
Six Things You've Done Today:
1. Showered.
2. Went swimming with Erin at the Y
3. Look Erin and Ali to Dairy Queen for lunch.
4. Finished a book.
5. Watched Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants w/ Ali.
6. Went internet shopping for birthday stuff for Erin.
Five Favorite Things In No Particular Order:
1. reading
2. music
3. chocolate
4. wine
5. email
Four People You Can Tell Anything to:
1. Dana
2. Jen
3. Nancy
4. Dawn
Three Choices:
1. Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla. Ice cream and cake.
2. Hugs or kisses: Hugs. or snugglies, my personal fave.
3. Pens or pencils: Pens, blue.
Two Things You Want to Do Before You Die:
1. Get a college degree.
2. Write a book, even if noone else reads it.
One Person You Wanna See:
1. Barry Manilow in concert! ;)
Ten Firsts:
First Best Friend: Jessica Walters, 1st grade
First Screen Name: um... princessflamingomom?
First Pet: Fish. Does that count?
First Piercing: Ears, 6 yrs old.
First Crush: Hmmm. Hard one. Luke Morganroth, 2nd grade, I guess.
First Music: The first record I remember listening to is Billy Joel's "Songs from An Italian Resteraunt", but the first one I bought was Blondie's Autoamerican.
First Car: The boat. 1976 electric blue Monte Carlo. I loved that car.
First REAL LOVE: Alexa. =)
First School: Horace Mann Elementary
First House Location: Probably the one on Michael that we moved into when I was 16. Before that it was apts and stuff.
Nine Lasts:
Last time you smoked weed: Young people these days, jeez! Never, of course. =)
Last thing you ate: A bowl of Team Cheerios and a slice of apple.
Last Car Ride: To pick up Ali at a party last night at 10ish.
Last Movie: At the theater? Chicken Little. At home? Swan Princess. Sad.
Last Phone Call: J's grandma called this morning.
Last CD Played: Michael Tolcher, I Am
Last bubble bath: At least 6 months, who has time?
Last Song You Heard: Switchfoot, "This is Your Life"
Eight Have You Evers:
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends: Yes.
Have You Ever Been Arrested: Yes, traffic warrant. Gotta pay those tickets.
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: Of course, my parents had a pool.
Have You Ever Been on TV: Not to my knowledge.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone and Then Regretted it: Not really
Have you Ever cheated on a b/f-or-g/f: Next question. I'm too old for this.
Have You Ever been on a blind date: Sure, it was fun.
Have You Ever been out of the country: Nope. Sigh.
Seven Things You're Wearing:
1. comfy t shirt
2. flamingo sleep pants
3. red socks
4. Purple Douglas, Alaska sweatshirt.
5. Hair tie.
6. wedding ring
7. silver ring with blue topaz
Later in the day...
Six Things You've Done Today:
1. Showered.
2. Went swimming with Erin at the Y
3. Look Erin and Ali to Dairy Queen for lunch.
4. Finished a book.
5. Watched Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants w/ Ali.
6. Went internet shopping for birthday stuff for Erin.
Five Favorite Things In No Particular Order:
1. reading
2. music
3. chocolate
4. wine
5. email
Four People You Can Tell Anything to:
1. Dana
2. Jen
3. Nancy
4. Dawn
Three Choices:
1. Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla. Ice cream and cake.
2. Hugs or kisses: Hugs. or snugglies, my personal fave.
3. Pens or pencils: Pens, blue.
Two Things You Want to Do Before You Die:
1. Get a college degree.
2. Write a book, even if noone else reads it.
One Person You Wanna See:
1. Barry Manilow in concert! ;)
Monday, January 09, 2006
Doug Brings Teh Funny
Our good friend from high school, Doug Simpson, is an extremely talented actor and comedian. He was one of the people on "VH1's All Access Most Embarrassing Moments 2" tonight. And I have to say, he brought the funny. "An avalanche of Roker" had both J and I laughing out loud.
It was weird to see someone I shared puberty with on tv, though. We're lucky enough to get together with him and his lovely wife Laura a couple times a year now, even though they live in New York, and I'm grateful for those lasting friendships. He deserves only good things. I hope this opens some avenues for him.
And, after my public denouncement of the Bachelor with the C O'C season, I'm embarrassed to admit that I watched tonight.
But not embarrassed enough not to watch again! Looks like a good one this time... yeah! I need my sappy-I-fell-in-love-with-someone-I-just-met fix. Bring on the "connections"!!
It was weird to see someone I shared puberty with on tv, though. We're lucky enough to get together with him and his lovely wife Laura a couple times a year now, even though they live in New York, and I'm grateful for those lasting friendships. He deserves only good things. I hope this opens some avenues for him.
And, after my public denouncement of the Bachelor with the C O'C season, I'm embarrassed to admit that I watched tonight.
But not embarrassed enough not to watch again! Looks like a good one this time... yeah! I need my sappy-I-fell-in-love-with-someone-I-just-met fix. Bring on the "connections"!!
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Real Life...
You know, sometimes I get so involved in all this "celeb-reality" bullshit that I fail to comment on the real things that are happening in life.
So tonight, I can't sleep. Poor DH is sick, both girls are asleep... or E is and Wink is pretending to be while she texts messages her friends... and I'm checking in on all my favorite blogs. Been a busy week, have to catch up. Because I'm a dork like that. So I check in on Annie's blog http://jesusfavorite.typepad.com/jesus_favorite/ who I started reading thru Wil Wheaton's blog (which was the first one I ever read, many moons ago.) And she floors me. Now she's made me laugh several times, but this time her honesty and poignancy made me cry. Real tears. Rolling down my face. She wrote such and incredible tribute to her mom that I am humbled by it. In awe of it, I guess.
When I lost my dad, August 1, 1999, I couldn't talk about it, write about it, think about it. I was numb, steamrolled by fucking cancer. I didn't pay tribute to my dad's life in any way, but one. I lived. I started a new job, bought a house, had a baby. Told my husband and daughters every day that I loved them. Hung out with my grandma more, listened to the stories I had heard, but not listened to. Took the time to breathe deep and sip a beer. Told my mom that I loved her for the first time since high school. Reminded my step-mom that it was ok for her to keep living, like Dad would have wanted her to. Wished upon stars. Talked out loud to him. And cried alot.
But I didn't leave flowers at the cemetary. I didn't write anything about him. I didn't talk about him alot, because it made me cry. I thought that if I lived the way he would want me to, if I was strong and persevered, that would be enough.
Now, I don't regret the cemetary... in my mind, he's not there. I have taken the girls there, at their request, recently. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't healing either.
I want to be able to tell the stories, though, because Eezers is facinated with the thought of me having a Daddy in Heaven. I want to be able to show her thru words alone what an incredible, loving human being he was. But I don't have those words. I'm failing in that task. When she asks me to tell her about him, all I can say is that he was really wonderful: kind and funny and he made great pancakes. She always says 'I don't understand what that means'.
All I can do is keep trying.
So, tonight, instead of commenting on the recap episode of Grey's Anatomy or the gossip that Lindsay hooked up with Leo, I'm going to tell a story about my dad.
It was the summer before my freshman year in high school, my dad took me to the local sporting goods store. I thought he needed something... who knows. But we walked in and Dad started talking to the owner, whom he knew from playing softball (he knew everyone), about letter jackets. Now, not only was I unathletic, but I was a band geek. Bass Clarinet. Serious band geek. My dad was serious athlete dude. Big football stud, still in the top 5 for some record at his high school; drafted by the Yankees farm team to pitch. Big Athlete. And if he was ever disappointed that I have not one drop of athletic talent in my body, I never knew it. He never pushed me to try sports. Went to all my band concerts. Was supportive when I dropped band and became a Student Council geek. Whatever made me happy... that was cool with him. Bought me a letter jacket in music. An expensive letter jacket. As a freshman. I told him I didn't need it, save his money, only the juniors and seniors got those. That I wasn't good enough to get a letter yet. (But you know I wanted it. It was cool.) He told me every high school student needed a jacket for their school. School spirit. I needed one as much as anyone. I'm not sure that I appreciated the gesture at the time, but now I think that he was telling me that he was proud of who I was, no matter what I was in to. As long as I did my best, and many times when I didn't, he was proud of me. I still have the jacket, and I'll give it to my daughter as she starts high school next year. Maybe it's old enough to be considered vintage. Maybe she'll wear it and think about her grandpa. Maybe she'll just look at it and smile as it hangs in her closet. That's ok. Because what my dad taught me most of all is that it's important to be true to who you are inside, no matter what the wrapping is.
Maybe not the best story to illustrate how awesome he was, but the first to come to mind because Wink and I talked about it last night. And what I'm learning is that it doesn't matter what kind of stories I tell, it just matters that I tell them. Any and all. To remember. To honor him.
So tonight, I can't sleep. Poor DH is sick, both girls are asleep... or E is and Wink is pretending to be while she texts messages her friends... and I'm checking in on all my favorite blogs. Been a busy week, have to catch up. Because I'm a dork like that. So I check in on Annie's blog http://jesusfavorite.typepad.com/jesus_favorite/ who I started reading thru Wil Wheaton's blog (which was the first one I ever read, many moons ago.) And she floors me. Now she's made me laugh several times, but this time her honesty and poignancy made me cry. Real tears. Rolling down my face. She wrote such and incredible tribute to her mom that I am humbled by it. In awe of it, I guess.
When I lost my dad, August 1, 1999, I couldn't talk about it, write about it, think about it. I was numb, steamrolled by fucking cancer. I didn't pay tribute to my dad's life in any way, but one. I lived. I started a new job, bought a house, had a baby. Told my husband and daughters every day that I loved them. Hung out with my grandma more, listened to the stories I had heard, but not listened to. Took the time to breathe deep and sip a beer. Told my mom that I loved her for the first time since high school. Reminded my step-mom that it was ok for her to keep living, like Dad would have wanted her to. Wished upon stars. Talked out loud to him. And cried alot.
But I didn't leave flowers at the cemetary. I didn't write anything about him. I didn't talk about him alot, because it made me cry. I thought that if I lived the way he would want me to, if I was strong and persevered, that would be enough.
Now, I don't regret the cemetary... in my mind, he's not there. I have taken the girls there, at their request, recently. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't healing either.
I want to be able to tell the stories, though, because Eezers is facinated with the thought of me having a Daddy in Heaven. I want to be able to show her thru words alone what an incredible, loving human being he was. But I don't have those words. I'm failing in that task. When she asks me to tell her about him, all I can say is that he was really wonderful: kind and funny and he made great pancakes. She always says 'I don't understand what that means'.
All I can do is keep trying.
So, tonight, instead of commenting on the recap episode of Grey's Anatomy or the gossip that Lindsay hooked up with Leo, I'm going to tell a story about my dad.
It was the summer before my freshman year in high school, my dad took me to the local sporting goods store. I thought he needed something... who knows. But we walked in and Dad started talking to the owner, whom he knew from playing softball (he knew everyone), about letter jackets. Now, not only was I unathletic, but I was a band geek. Bass Clarinet. Serious band geek. My dad was serious athlete dude. Big football stud, still in the top 5 for some record at his high school; drafted by the Yankees farm team to pitch. Big Athlete. And if he was ever disappointed that I have not one drop of athletic talent in my body, I never knew it. He never pushed me to try sports. Went to all my band concerts. Was supportive when I dropped band and became a Student Council geek. Whatever made me happy... that was cool with him. Bought me a letter jacket in music. An expensive letter jacket. As a freshman. I told him I didn't need it, save his money, only the juniors and seniors got those. That I wasn't good enough to get a letter yet. (But you know I wanted it. It was cool.) He told me every high school student needed a jacket for their school. School spirit. I needed one as much as anyone. I'm not sure that I appreciated the gesture at the time, but now I think that he was telling me that he was proud of who I was, no matter what I was in to. As long as I did my best, and many times when I didn't, he was proud of me. I still have the jacket, and I'll give it to my daughter as she starts high school next year. Maybe it's old enough to be considered vintage. Maybe she'll wear it and think about her grandpa. Maybe she'll just look at it and smile as it hangs in her closet. That's ok. Because what my dad taught me most of all is that it's important to be true to who you are inside, no matter what the wrapping is.
Maybe not the best story to illustrate how awesome he was, but the first to come to mind because Wink and I talked about it last night. And what I'm learning is that it doesn't matter what kind of stories I tell, it just matters that I tell them. Any and all. To remember. To honor him.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Project Runway
The best recap EVAH about Project Runway over on Dan Renzi's blog, (not) written by his brother. www.danrezi.typepad.com Made me laugh out loud. Santino's dress... not so hot. Nick's dress... wow! And Chloe's, too. Both were extremely wearable. Santino just sucked up to Nicki (I have an ugly sweater on) Hilton. Or the producers asked her to pick him. Not that it wasn't ok, but it wasn't the best. And Marla should have been gone. Gone. Copycats don't get to stay. At least Guadalupe's dress was an original. That would look cool with Doc Martin boots. My personal favorite was Daniel V. I love him, loved the dress, want the models body to wear it. My prediction for the last 3 are Nick, Daniel V and Chloe. That would rock. But I bet they'll leave Santino in for the drama, so sorry Daniel. Sigh. Just once I'd like these shows to stop rewarding people that are psycho-dramatic.
Whoa! Taking that too seriously for a moment. Ok... perspective.
And just as a warning, if you have plans to order the as-seen-on-tv Floam from the website, proceed with caution. My m-i-l ordered it for E for her bday and was charged about triple to her charge card than the order should have been. And then there was no customer service person to help her. Now, there could be a perfectly reasonable explaination, but Visa said that they had had numerous complaints about them. So double check your order, that's all I'm saying.
Have a wonderful day!
Whoa! Taking that too seriously for a moment. Ok... perspective.
And just as a warning, if you have plans to order the as-seen-on-tv Floam from the website, proceed with caution. My m-i-l ordered it for E for her bday and was charged about triple to her charge card than the order should have been. And then there was no customer service person to help her. Now, there could be a perfectly reasonable explaination, but Visa said that they had had numerous complaints about them. So double check your order, that's all I'm saying.
Have a wonderful day!
So Excited
My very first comment! =) I'm a dork, but I was excited. I'll definately take the time to peruse Juicyfruit's blog. Looked interesting from my first look. Thanks for reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
