A Real Friend

This isn't about someone I know, but it is something I felt should be shared.

I stumbled across a video from ABC's Good Morning America that aired on Dec. 22. The story is about a man who gave up his job for a coworker who was targeted to lose his.

Grab a hanky. This will tug at your heart and bring tears to your eyes. And make you smile.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HolidayTheme/story?id=6509844&page=1

Thanks to GMA and ABC for sharing this story.

Merry Christmas!

Whatever holiday season you may be celebrating -- Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yule, Festivus, Winter Soltstice -- may the peace and joy of the season be with you and yours.

The Women

I saw this in the theater this past summer and decided it was a movie I'd like to have, so when it went on sale yesterday, I bought it. Last night Mallory, my youngest daughter, and I watched it. I've never read or seen the original play by Clare Booth Luce, nor have I seen the 1939 film, so maybe my fresh view makes me different. The comments on IMDB are vicious, and I'm not sure where they were coming from. I found it to be entertaining, especially the ending.

Mary Haines (Meg Ryan) and her friends have it all. Sylvie (Annette Benning) is the editor of a fashion magazine, Alex (Jada Pinkett Smith) is a successful writer, and Edie (Debra Messing) the ever-pregnant mother of four young daughters. But when Mary learns from Sylvie, who learned it from manicurist Tanya (Debi Mazar), that her husband is having an affair with a "spritzer" (perfume) girl at Saks, her world is turned upside down. Her first reaction is to kick hubby out of the house, which she does, but as time goes on, and she battles her feelings about herself, her marriage, and her realtionship with her mother (Candice Bergen), 11-year-old daughter, and friends, she starts caring about herself. In the end, she discovers that she can bring a fullness to her life and sets out to do it.

There are no men in this movie, just the women. It's not a hard-hitting, psychological trip, nor is it a madcap romp. It's entertainment, and that's what I was looking for three days before Christmas. Mary makes a statement near the end of the movie about how women can have it all...if they want it. To me, that's the difference between now and 1939. Personally, I embrace that difference.

Rent it first, just in case you find you don't like it.

An old, lost post, revived

With this being Christmas week, topics won't be posted on the usual day. I'm going to mix it up a little with the hope of posting more often, until after the holidays.

I posted the below back in July of 2005, but because of one of Blogger's transitions, it can't be accessed. I'm posting it again because it seems very appropriate for the season.

THINGS WE SELDOM THINK OF

(copied from a local neighborhood newsletter & posted here )

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. If not for you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique.

9. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.

13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

14. Always tell someone how you feel about them. You will fell much better when they know.

15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

Winter Solstice

Flurries?

Three inches of flurries. That's what I found when I woke up this morning. And there's more predicted for the rest of the week.

Yesterday's high temperature was 11. Would someone please tell Mother Nature that it's December in Kansas, not February?

I'll admit that the snow is beautiful...until it's time to drive in it. Last Tuesday we had a surprise snowstorm that garnered the city 650 vehicle accidents. I made five trips out during that day, from a two-mile round-trip to take one grandkidlet to school, to a thirty-mile round-trip to take one daughter to work. At least today we'll be down to to-and-from school trips.

For those who live in the white and wild northern states, bless you all. At least you become accustomed to driving in this "stuff". Around here, each snowfall is a new lesson in how to drive slowly and stop even more so. Of course the first snowfall is the worst. Drivers don't seem to retain their common sense from one winter to the next. Not that their memories are any longer a week later, but they do manage to cut the rate of accidents down some. Maybe by the end of the week, they'll have enough practice to slow down and watch out for the other guy...the one who slid through the red light or around the corner sideways.

Right now, spring is way too far in the future for my taste.

Holiday Birthdays

Thanks to my 16-month-old grandson, who hit the button to shut down my computer yesterday while I was posting the below, I'm finishing this on Tuesday.

Not only do we have the holidays to buy for and celebrate, but my oldest granddaughter's birthday, too. She'll be seven this year. She recently lost the second of her front teeth, so I downloaded the song "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth". She wasn't amused.

She was born three days before Christmas, and one would think that with so many things available at Christmas, finding a birthday present should be easy. It isn't. I've been having trouble finding something to get her, until I heard an ad on the radio for our local ice skating center's holiday ice show. With the possibility that she may take skating lessons in the spring, it's the perfect gift, and the whole family can enjoy it. Maybe next year, she'll be skating in it.

Was it luck or fate? It doesn't matter, because it was a blessing. Now, if the snow will just stay away...

Snow? ugh!

It's beautiful! It's fun to play in!

But it's dangerous to drive in, and kids tend to track in tons of it on their shoes.

So what do we have today? After 60+ degree weather? Why, snow, of course!

I have to figure in half again as much driving time when going somewhere. I even managed to hit the curb when trying to turn a corner. Not my fault. The driver behind me going up the hill just didn't want to back off, so when I went down the hill, with the corner at the bottom, I didn't slow down as much as I should have, thanks to the truck following so closely behind me. No biggie though. Just a bit of a bump, and I hope the driver understood that if my brake lights are on, along with my turn signal, I'm going to be turning, so keep a safe distance, unless you want to end up in my trunk. :)

But it was almost worth the yucky drive when I saw a house with 5 or 6 big blow-up decorations in the yard. The wind is blowing hard, so the snowman was dancing with the tree beside it, Santa had fallen on his side and couldn't get up, and Charlie Brown was doing push-ups. At least it gave me something to laugh about! And I did, at least for a block.

If your weather isn't the greatest, take care. Drive slowly and especially watch out for others who aren't able to get their car to stop sliding at a ride light.

Tomorrow it will all be gone. Believe me, one day if icky, slicky snow is enough for a while.

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker

Wow. Gail and I spent a memorable evening at the ballet, performed at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Wichita. It was beautiful! So instead of me telling about it, see for yourself.

And another...

Fantastic!

Harlequin American Romance - December

Have a Holly Jolly Holiday with these books from Harlequin American!

Girl, Interrupted

An excellent, thought-provoking movie, based on Susanna Kaysen's acclaimed memoir-journal of her nearly eighteen months in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960's. In the movie, Susanna is played by Winona Ryder, but the Oscar win went to a young Angelina Jolie for her portrayal of one of the patients. This look into Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is fascinating, and Winona plays the part of the confused girl exceptionally well. Obviously, this is a very dark story, and, as always, Winona is the perfect dark and chaotic character. She knows there's something wrong, to the point of having attempted suicide, but she doesn't know what, and semi-willingly enters the hospital, hoping someone can help her, but secretly fearing they can't. Jolie plays LIsa, a sociopathic patient, who has escaped and is brought back immediately upon Susanna's arrival. They become friends, of sorts, but it's Lisa who leads Susanna astray to break rules and hinders her recovery. In the end, it is Susanna who makes Lisa see the truth in her self and others the truth in themselves.

I had seen the last few minutes of the ending of Girl, Interrupted while visiting my daughter one evening, then discovered it a few weeks later showing again on HBO. I was intrigued by those few minutes enough to watch it. I'm glad I did. It has been compared to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but I didn't see much of a connection, except for the setting of a mental hospital and the fact that the patients in both her often kept medicated. No Nurse Ratched in Girl, Interrupted. In fact, Whoopi Goldberg as Nurse Valerie Owen is the antithesis of Louise Fletcher's character, believing in Susanna and helping her to find her way.

Definitely worth watching. I hope to read the book in the not too distant future.

Bucket Lists

As I posted earlier, if you haven't seen The Bucket List, you should. It's the perfect time of year for reflecting on our lives, and this movie definitely make one think. Rent it, buy it, whatever it takes, do it.

I realized a few days ago that if I had a bucket list (those things you want to do before life's end), one of them would be something I'm going to do next Monday. My best friend since Jr. High and I are going to see the Moscow Ballet perform The Nutcracker Suite. I love listening to the symphony of this beautiful work at any time during the year, but especially at Christmas. Going to see the ballet performed has always been something I've wanted to do. When my girls were young, it always crossed my mind to take them to it, but the cost of 5 tickets was mind-boggling, so we never did. And, of course, I was certain they would all beg for ballet lessons afterward, if we'd gone. Maybe the time will soon come when I can take my granddaughters, and they can beg THEIR moms for lessons. (Is that wicked or what?)

I'm excited and looking forward not only to seeing this ballet and hearing the fabulous music, but to enjoying an evening out with my best friend. (There's a photo of the two of us almost fifteen years ago that I posted here on July 16.) Gail has just been through a very tough week, having lost her younger brother a week ago, just before Thanksgiving, and attending the funeral service. Having something special we can enjoy together will, I hope, make this time a little easier for her. It's our Christmas gift to each other. I can't think of a better gift than to spend time with someone close.

I'm wondering what else I might put on a bucket list, but I probably won't know until I actually get to do it. Besides, I have enough lists as it is.

Latest Book News

My September 2009 release has become an August 2009 release and part of Harlequin American's Men Made in America series. And it now has a new title! Stay tuned. There'll be more news about THE RODEO RIDER as time goes by and August draws nearer.

Considering we're expecting a bit of snow here tomorrow, August sounds good!

Happy After-Thanksgiving!

Whew! What a day, followed by what a weekend!

Our family Thanksgiving dinner waited until evening on Thursday, so everyone could be there. Everyone meaning all twelve of us. Traditional food for us includes the turkey, mashed potatoes (real, not instant) and gravy, corn, green beans, made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese, strawberry salad (angel food cake, strawberries, crushed pineapple, whipped cream), pumpkin and cherry pie, and cherry cheesecake, which really isn't, but it's close enough. Add the usual pre-meal celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, pickles, etc., and to say we were stuffed is an understatement.

But the best part of the day is just being together around the table. That always goes on into the late hours, so by the time we all returned to our respective homes, we were tired but happy.

And then comes the rush to Christmas...

I spent Black Friday finishing all but one item on my list, but although the crowds were still thick, I didn't get up at the crack of dawn (5 a.m.!) to do it. 9 a.m. was good enough for me, and I found more than the items on my list. Returning home, I hit the Internet and spent---well, more than I should have, but I know that what I got will bring smiles to all. A quick trip to check on a book at one of our local Barnes & Nobles (I had a 40% off coupon!), netted me zilch, but I was able to pick up an external CD drive for my new netbook (8.9' mini-notebook) for $15 less than I thought it would be, and I ordered the book online, complete with discount. Not bad for someone who didn't have a complete list the night before.

So with only one gift left to buy, I'm feeling relaxed and even bought the boxes, wrapping paper, and bows last night, ready to start wrapping BEFORE Christmas Eve. That'll be the first in a loooong time. Have I mentioned that I'm Queen of Procrastination?

I hope your Thanksgiving was fulfilling with a great dinner and surrounded by family and friends!