Bach Bust

I am sorry if you like her (she does seem like a nice gal in real life) but in my opinion, Ashley H. is the worst Bachelorette. EVER (I didn't even watch DeAnna's season but I am still confident in my statement). I don't exactly believe in the process of falling in love on TV but (from what my single peeps tell me) it's really hard to meet people out in "the real world" who are looking for the same things you are. Ashley seems to have some pretty decent guys diggin' on her that have literally been hand-picked for her AND handed over on a silver platter. But she is blowing it. For what? Like 15 minutes total spent with a guy who she was WARNED was a jerk before she even met him? Where is this coming from? Did I miss some footage where Bentley (which, coincidentally, was the name of one of my Great Aunt's dogs, may he rest in peace) actually made an effort to woo Ashley and she fell for him? I think not! I understand that [most] women are attracted to "bad boys" [at some point in time] but this is outta control. He didn't even have time to show her he was a bad boy. She didn't know him at all. Even if he hadn't announced his disinterest in Ashley to the audience, I would still see it in his interactions with her. All he did was faux nuzzle her a couple of times, pick her up and carry her to a fireplace and give her a couple of kisses; and even that wasn't very convincing from where I was sitting (maybe she's not good at reading body language?!?). According to Chris Harrison (via Twitter), the Bentley shenanigans end tonight (TG) and a part of me hope that producers just asked her to play the whole thing up to do something that hadn't been done before (for ratings, natch).

If you're watching . . . how do you feel about Ashley? I like Ben F. and J.P. (if/when she shakes this Bentley funk). Who are your top picks for her?

Lyrics I Love Love Love

Not only do I <3 the lyrics but this song is one of my very favorites of all time. I'll never forget hearing it for the first time a month or so before high school graduation (Goooooo Tigers!), when my young adult life was starting and everything seemed to be changing (in a good but terrifying way, of course). In a time before music videos were available on your computer, and MTV still played music videos MOST of the time, I would have the TV on whenever I was home, hoping that they'd show it (I also obvi <3 lead singer Brett Scallions). There are literally thousands of songs that make up the soundtrack to my life but this one will forever hold a special place in my <3.

"She calls me from the cold
Just when I was low, feeling short of stable
And all that she intends
And all she keeps inside, isn't on the label

She says she's ashamed
Can she take me for a while
And can I be a friend, we'll forget the past
But maybe I'm not able

And I break at the bend

We're here and now, but will we ever be again
'Cause I have found
All that shimmers in this world is sure to fade . . .
Away . . . again

She dreams a champagne dream
Strawberry surprise, pink linen and white paper
Lavender and cream
Fields of butterflies, reality escapes her

She says that love is for fools who fall behind
I'm somewhere in between
I never really know
A killer from a savior

'Til I break at the bend

It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away . . .

Guess I'll let it go"

-Fuel/"Shimmer"

Dear Satellite Cable Provider,

This is just a hunch but I'm pretty sure that if you want to entice viewers to eventually subscribe to the movie channels you're currently previewing for us, I would advise that you remove the following doozies from the line-up:

"Child's Play 2"
"Gigli"
"Problem Child"
"Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigalo"
"Showgirls"

Even if you can't remove them completely, you might not want to show them over and over again, as it most definitely does not serve your purpose. I understand that there may be a sliver of the viewing population that enjoys those films (and I use that term loosely) but I guarantee you will not get inundated with angry letters from those four (maybe five) people if you, say, replaced the above with some decent ones. I love all kinds of movies and am no expert but I can tell you that repeating these particular ones again and again will not get you new subscribers. Trust me. There are SO many good films out there, many of which I am sure you have in your catalog. Let's get those gems on the tube!

Best regards,
A Vexed Viewer

Way Back Wednesday

I was, like, 14 and a freshman in high school when "My So-Called Life", one of the best TV shows of all time (in my humble opinion) aired. I love Claire Danes for so many reasons but mostly because she was so relatable as the uber-angsty Angela Chase. I could go on for-ev-er about my love for this show that was brutally rebuffed by the network after one amazing season (and I probably will in a future blost) but let me get to my point. I loved the color ("Crimson Glow") that Angela dyes her hair in the first episode but there was no way my Mom was going to let me do something so drastic (TG for Moms). Enter Glints by Clairol. Remember Glints? It was the temporary hair color that wasn't hair color that conveniently entered the marketplace around that time. Rebecca Gayheart even took time out of her busy Noxzema face-washing schedule to promote it:



Thanks to Glints I was able to dabble with hair color (a couple of different shades of red with super cute names) that year without anyone really noticing as I'm pretty sure I had to be standing in direct sunlight or directly under a light (preferably one of those interrogation lamps the cops use) for it to be visible. Regardless, it was fun, it made me feel like a true teen (I guess the slowly curling hair and pimples weren't indication enough?!) and my friends and family made me feel like it looked great and really brought out my natural tones and highlights (bless you people).

One of the Toys

When I was a wee one, I loved to take all of the toys out of my toy box, scatter them about the room, and then climb into the box. Oh how I loved that toy box . . . I can see it in my mind's eye right now . . . it was [totally late '70s/early '80s] bright yellow, padded vinyl with a huge rainbow on the front (I've always been a sucker for a pretty rainbow; and yes, I am still a fan of one Miss Rainbow Brite).

Well, Cade is his mother's son. He doesn't have a toy box but he does have a basket o' toys (I rotate what goes in it for variety) that we keep for him in the living room. Here are a few minutes in the life of my little doll (who is 11 months old today *single tear*):

Step 1: Remove toys from basket (whilst looking a-dorable/mischevious).

Step 2: Climb into basket.

Step 3: Get bored after 5 seconds in basket and move right along . . . 

Step 4: Walk the length of the couch (while holding on).

Step 5: Make funny faces at Mom

Step 6: After removing socks, taunt Duncan with his bone.

Cade giveth . . . 

and Cade taketh away.

Sweet Sunday Snapshots

This is Cade's version of helping Daddy with the yard work . . .

Back on the Bean

I have the esophagus of an 85-year-old woman (self-diagnosed) and have been on an off Tums (and some harder stuff as well) for acid reflux-ish issues since I was 18. A couple of years ago I finally saw a Gastroenterologist and he recommended that I cut one or more of the following out of my diet: alcohol, chocolate, coffee, garlic, tomato (there were others but I am sticking to what's important here). Seeing as though denying myself most of those items would have a direct impact on my sanity, I chose to cut out the one I abused on a daily basis . . . coffee (mark my words: I. Will. NEVER. Give. Up. Chocolate. Ever.). Although I was immediately feeling the effects of a body sans-the-proper-amount-of-caffeine-to-function (cue the headaches and that fuzzy-in-the-head feeling of not getting enough sleep) and I missed my sweet, sweet cafe con leche, I stuck it out and was "on tea" in less time than I expected.

While I enjoy tea, I have yet to find one that gives you that same kick/boost that real coffee does; it was never quite the same. But by the time I retired my Starbucks card (there was one in the building I worked in) it didn't matter much to me since David and I had become serious about starting a family so I was planning on cutting back on the caffeine anyway. Fast forward to late last year, when I stopped breastfeeding (translation: pumping; it's a LONG story for a future blost), and I was keen to get back on the bean. Oh how I had missed my ol' friend, Joe. For the last couple of years I had been living vicariously through the inviting aroma wafting from every fresh pot that David had made. I had been so strong but with a still-new baby in the house and the lack of sleep that came with him, I was no match for magic of a mocha or the lure of a latte. That first cup was so delicious I went in for a second (which is rare because I'm strictly a one cup/no larger than Grande or Medium kind of gal) and I haven't looked back. I don't drink coffee every day but I enjoyed a heaping mug full earlier today and guarantee that if you run into me out and about on the days I have, I am definitely sporting an extra zip that keeps me going (at least until early afternoon).

Are you a coffee or tea drinker? Can you recommend a caffeinated tea that you find is comparable to coffee? I would love to give it a try. Are there any other caffeinated morning beverages that I should know about?      

Lyrics I Love

Not only is "Adventures in Babysitting" one of my favorite movies of all time (Director Chris Columbus is a genius), but this bluesy ditty from said film is just plain hilarious . . .



Happy Saturday! Enjoy the weekend . . .

Quintessential Quote

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together . . . there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart . . . I'll always be with you."

~Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)

What quotes do you love? Please share if you are so inclined.

It Gets Better

I have a 17-year-old brother (shout out to Trevor who I am TOTALLY embarrassing right now) and yesterday afternoon my Mom and I were talking about how tough it is to be a teenager in general. It's that crazy time when we really start to attempt to figure out who we are and who we will be. I cannot even imagine how much harder it is to be a LGBT teen (that's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender for those of you living in a cave conveniently wired with full internet access to be reading this blost right now). Those frizzy-haired, acne-and-brace-face filled (if you're me) first few "teen years" can be a lot of fun but they can also be some of the most challenging to get through.

I would be posting this groundbreaking video no matter who the team featured in it is but, I can't lie, I am SO proud that our reigning World Series Champion San Francisco Giants were the first professional sports organization to join the It Gets Better Project. The website www.itgetsbetter.org is a place where young people who are LGB or T can see how love and happiness can be a reality in their future. And it’s a place where their straight allies can visit and support their friends and family members. It's a place full of hope and I love it. Well done, [creator] Dan Savage!

I have always believed that, for lack of less popular phrases, we are who we are and we're born this way (say what you will about Ke$ha and Lady Gaga but they are spreading messages of self-love and positivity through their music and I applaud them for that). And I have always been passionate about equal rights for all human beings (unless you are a lesser being who hurts children, animals or other adults in ANY way, in which case I preclude you from said rights). Now that my husband and I have brought someone into this world, we have a vested interest in making sure his experience is a positive one; no matter who he is or who he loves. And while the idea of raising my beautiful boy in a bubble is tempting, I'd rather he be out in the world and living life to its fullest, bumpy roads and all. He'll always have the love and support of his parents and family but it's just nice to know that there are safe havens out there and people who you've never met pulling for you along the way. We plan to raise a human being who loves everyone and is tolerant of everyone. No. Matter. What. In fact, one of our goals is to make it so that the biggest threat our son (and subsequent children) ever poses is with hugs. Watch out future peers of Cade William . . . he's comin' for ya . . . arms wide open! Let this be your warning.    

Dear Mother Nature,

Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of your work; more specifically the "good stuff". But recently the April showers rolled right into May Gray (sans flowers) and now it's June and the Gloom has escalated into what I can only describe as Neverending Winter. Maybe it's a bit of payback for the less than ideal way that some of our population treat your dear sister (Mother Earth)? Or maybe Spring just isn't your "season" and you're completely bypassing it this year? Either way, I get it and on behalf of everyone in this country, I would like to say that we're truly sorry for anything we may have said or done to offend you and warrant this last year of wacky weather (to say the least).

Please accept this humble apology and give our friends and families throughout the U.S. and around the globe, who have recently felt your wrath, a break after all they've been through. Oh, and please feel free to send Summer our way at your earliest convenience. I have been trapped in the house all week with a 10.5 month old who requires fresh air to stay sane. But NO pressure.

Lots of Love,
A Concerned Californian