Thursday, March 31, 2011

ELEANOR AND FRANKLIN

Gentle Readers,

On Monday, March 28, I wrote to you about how I had finally killed off the Queen Mother by finishing her authorized biography.

Well, now I've put Franklin Roosevelt in his grave by finishing my reading of No Ordinary Time: Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front In World War II by my beloved Doris Kearns Goodwin.

This book is excellent and made a wonderful follow-up to reading about George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) during World War II. Franklin Roosevelt fascinates me, but it's Eleanor who is the star of the show as far as I'm concerned.

Despite her insecurities and bouts with depression, she carried on fighting for the rights of African-Americans, women, anyone who was disenfranchised. Eleanor helped make great progress in procuring rights for the common people during the war. The New Deal didn't end for Eleanor Roosevelt when the war began; she continued the battle against poverty and discrimination on the home front.

Although I have read a great deal about the Roosevelts, I learned things from this book I didn't know before. For example, at one point, the president drew up a will leaving half his estate to his secretary and close friend Missy LeHand and the other half to Eleanor. He told Eleanor that their children would be all right on their own but he was all Missy had. But when Missy became ill, he broke her heart with his increasing failure to telephone her or visit when he had promised he would. Roosevelt, although severely crippled, did not like weakness or illness in others. I guess he just didn't know how to deal with it, as he did not know how to be true to Eleanor.

I also thought it was interesting that after Roosevelt learned of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he sat down with a general and planned what the strategy would be if the Japanese invaded the United States via California. They thought the Japanese could get as far as Chicago before their communication and supply lines could be broken when they hit the wide open spaces of the Midwest. Scary thought, isn't it?

More interesting to me, though, was Eleanor's position as First Lady. She was the first First Lady to hold press conferences, to which only female reporters were invited, thus creating jobs in journalism for women when newspapers needed to hire women to cover the First Lady.

She never stopped fighting for the rights of African-Americans, and by the end of the war, the desegregation of the military was fast approaching. President Truman signed the Executive Order creating the desegregation, but black men had already been allowed (isn't that a ridiculous word for men putting themselves in a position to be killed when they could have stayed in safer areas?) to start fighting side by side with white men. Additionally, during the war, military transportation orders changed so that discrimination was illegal. Black men and women could sit where they wanted on military vehicles and there were no more "Whites Only" and "Colored Only" buses and trucks.

Eleanor also recognized the importance of day care for all the women who took jobs away from home during the war, and she was extremely disappointed when the war ended and the women lost their jobs and their children lost their day care. Before the war ended, 79% of women who were employed wanted to continue working, and 70% of those women were married and had children.

In her [newspaper] columns that fall, Eleanor tried in vain to stem the tide. She argued on principle that everyone who wanted to work had a right to be productive. She asked industry to face the fact that many women were obligated to work to support their families and that "it was essential they be treated in this respect on a par with the men." She railed against the closing of the child care centers as a shortsighted response to a fundamental social need. "Many thought they were purely a war emergency measure," she wrote in September. "A few of us had an inkling that perhaps they were a need which was constantly with us, but one that we had neglected to face in the past." She had received a number of letters from women, she reported, appealing to her to help keep the child-care centers open. Some of the women who wrote had husbands who were killed in the war. Others had husbands who were crippled or wounded. For these women, work was the only means of supporting their family. "My whole life and that of my two children," Mrs. Dorothy Thibault wrote, "depends on my working eight hours each day. My little girl is 4 and the boy is 2 and one-half. The care and training they have received in this childcare center is the best possible things that could had happened to them."


And here we are, approximately 55 years later;  parents continue the struggle to find adequate day care for their children.

Eleanor Roosevelt: A foresighted woman.

Doris Kearns Goodwin: A hind sighted woman. I recommend anything she writes.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

MY FRIEND CAROL SHARED THIS MESSAGE WITH ME

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Joe Biden <info@barackobama.com>
To: Carol Wallace Conner
Sent: Wed, March 23, 2011 6:37:17 PM
Subject: William's future


Carol --

I want to tell you about a family in Minnesota.

Justin and Kari live in Brooklyn Park, right outside of

Minneapolis. They're parents to three children. 
Their three-year-old, William, was born with a
genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex.

For the rest of his life, William will wrestle with 

tumors in his brain, his heart, his kidneys, his 
skin, and possibly other major organs. He must 
take medication to control seizures and faces 
the threat of kidney disease.

What Justin and Kari want for William is a future. 

And because of health reform, that's what he'll have.

Today, insurance companies are no longer able to 

discriminate against William because of the condition
he's dealt with since birth. Now, Justin and Kari know 
they'll be able to get the kind of care that William 
needs -- today and into the future.

Their story isn't unique, but it's one of many that 

need to be told. We all know people whose lives 
have been changed because of the Affordable Care 
Act, even if we don't realize it. So we've found a way 
to show exactly how reform is working for all of
us -- for our parents, our siblings, our kids, ourselves.

Will you take a minute to take our Health

 Reform Checkup and let the people you 
love know how reform is working for them?

Before the Affordable Care Act, Justin and Kari weren't 

sure about the future. They worried that they'd never 
be able to find coverage for William again if Justin lost 
his job. They worried about the life that William would
lead -- whether he'd ever be able to work or support a family.

Not anymore. William's condition isn't going away, 

but he'll always be able to get care. The Affordable 
Care Act is one year old today, and it has already 
changed William's life -- and this country -- for good.

Today, there are families who feel better about the 

future than they did a year ago. They've found some 
security, some relief. And these are people we know. 
They're our neighbors, our colleagues, our friends, 
our families -- the people next to us every day.

On the one-year anniversary of the Affordable 

Care Act, I think we have a duty to discuss how 
reform is already working.

Watch Justin and Kari tell their story, and

 take a moment to learn how health reform
is changing the lives of those you know:

http://my.barackobama.com/Checkup6?email=carolw.conner@yahoo.com&zip=32209


A year ago, I stood next to the President as 

he signed health reform into law -- and we
have you to thank for making that possible.

Yours,

Joe




Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

HARDSCRABBLE

Gentle Readers,

I saw the DVD Winter's Bone this evening, and I pronounce it worthy of viewing, but not with children in the room.

Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) lives a hardscrabble life in the tough world of the hardscrabble part of Missouri. She is most definitely a character worthy of WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME. Ree takes care of her younger brother and sister and her mama who has some sort of mental illness and doesn't speak much or do much. Ree's daddy, who cooks meth -- the gentle days of moonshine are gone -- has disappeared after using the family's house and tract of timber to post bond.

In this coming of age story that involves some bleeding, Ree, who seems as if she's already done enough to be considered a grownup, crosses over into another type of adulthood -- one that is not for the weak of stomach or the fearful. It's truly a beautifully made movie, but not always easy to watch.

I can certainly see why Jennifer Lawrence received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Well done, Ms. Lawrence, and the same to you, director Debra Granik.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Ree: I'd be lost without the weight of you two on my back. I ain't going anywhere. 

Monday, March 28, 2011

THE QUEEN MOTHER

Gentle Readers,

I swear to God I thought the Queen Mother would never die. Her daughter, Queen Elizabeth, probably thought she'd never get rid of the old broad either.

Of course, I realize the Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth to England's George VI) died more than ten years ago. But I've been reading The Queen Mother: The Official Biography by William Shawcross, and because the Q.M. lived to be 101, I thought the book would never end.

It was a very interesting biography -- in places. When Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, it was Bertie (George VI) and Elizabeth who had to step in and take his place. Until Wallis came along, they were extremely close to Bertie's older brother, David, the Prince of Wales. The threesome and whatever mistress David had at the moment used to go out nightclubbing and dance till three in the morning, much to King George V's displeasure. Right up to the last minute before David abdicated, supposedly Bertie and Elizabeth really didn't believe he would go. It seems like kind of a foolish faith to me, looking at it in hindsight, but if he had been my brother, maybe I wouldn't have thought he would cast aside his duty either.

Strangely, Bertie and Elizabeth were afraid the British people would not accept them as their monarchs, although they were already very popular (Elizabeth was kind of the Princess Diana of her day), and their two little girls, Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, were much loved by the people.

Accepted they were, of course, and they went on to become symbols of courage during World War II, refusing to leave London during the terrible bombing. Bertie even insisted that if Germany invaded England that he himself would take up arms and fight the scourge.

I found it rather interesting that Elizabeth's family home in Scotland, Glamis, was used as a hospital during the first World War, and she stayed in touch with some of the soldiers who were patients there until the end of their lives. She came from a large family and lost a brother during the war. One of Bertie's younger brothers died during the second World War.

Probably the most boring part of the book was the chapter on all the charities of which Elizabeth was patroness. I had to skim over that.

And being an official biography, of course it's a whitewash. What was Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon really like? We get only glimpses of her. Interestingly, she turned Bertie down many times before finally agreeing to marry him. She was extraordinarily fond of Prince Charles. Did his philandering not upset her? Margaret burned the letters that Diana wrote to the Queen Mother, deeming them too personal for public consumption. Elizabeth couldn't bear it when Margaret wanted to marry a divorced man, so Margaret gave him up, but then three of her four grandchildren divorced. Did she wail and sob over that?

I do like it that she enjoyed a strong drink -- or two, or three, or more.

In the mid 1990s [Major Michael] Parker had tea with the Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother. When the Princess said to her, "We're all so looking forward to your hundredth birthday," Queen Elizabeth replied, "Oh, you mustn't say that, it's unlucky. I mean I might be run over by a big red bus." Parker said he thought this was very unlikely, to which Queen Elizabeth replied, "No, no, it's the principle of the thing. Wouldn't it be terrible if you'd spent all your life doing everything you were supposed to do, didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't eat things, took lots of exercise, all the things you didn't want to do, and suddenly you were one day run over by a big red bus, and as the wheels were crunching into you, you'd say, ' Oh my God, I could have got so drunk last night!'  That's the way you should live your life, as if tomorrow you'll be run over by a big red bus."


By the way, after George VI died and their daughter became Queen, she was generally known within the family as the Queen, and the Queen Mum was Queen Elizabeth.

One thing I didn't like about the Queen Mum was that she was extremely fond of Ted Hughes, Poet Laureate and Chief Prick of England. When he died, he left the title of Chief Prick to Prince Charles.

If you have any interest in history, and you should, I recommend this book, but I recommend it in small doses. At 900-some pages, it took me about four months to read. I usually read part of a chapter at bedtime, and I continued my habit of reading other books at the same time. The Queen Mum was one of three bedroom books, and I have two family room books.

Of course, The King's Speech is out on DVD and when they say the king, they mean George VI. Helena Bonham Carter plays Elizabeth. I look forward to seeing this Academy Award winner for Best Picture, for which my darling Colin Firth won the best actor award by playing the king -- perfectly, no doubt.

Thus, Happy Reading and Viewing, my friends.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Sunday, March 27, 2011

VIRTUALLY NO GUTS = LITTLE GLORY

Gentle Readers,

I just watched Morning Glory. Don't bother. Harrison Ford has turned into Old Crag Face and I can't stand the sight of him. I used to be rather fond of Harrison. Now I think he stinks. If he were a good actor, it wouldn't matter that he has aged so unattractively. Thank God that at least he didn't end up with the young girl (Rachel McAdams).

I guess if you're drunk and this movie is the only thing on the shelf at the few video stores left in the world, then you can rent it if you just absolutely must have a movie to watch. I did chuckle once.

Also, I realize there are nut jobs left in the world who think that Harrison Ford is good looking and will always think Harrison Ford is good looking. If you have that problem, then I suppose you will like this stupid movie.

Otherwise, pass it by and say, Thank you, Lola, for watching this movie for me and letting me know I don't have to bother with it.

Look at everything I put up with for you people.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Saturday, March 26, 2011

FAVORITE YOUNG MAN, STILL DA CHAMP

HAPPY


BIRTHDAY


FAVORITE


YOUNG 


MAN!


Quit being so damn nice to people who don't deserve it. Tell them to eat shit and die. 


Just don't ever stop tolerating me because I'm the one who loves ya, baby. I was the one who loved you even before you were born. I was the one who loved you the second you were born. I'm the one who has loved you ever since and who thinks you are the most wonderful Favorite Young Man in the whole world. 


Love,


You Know Who

Friday, March 25, 2011

SO SAD, SO SAD

Gentle Readers,

Not long after my husband and I got married, he came home from work/school one night, put his face in his hands, and said, Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me.

I looked at his sad face in his sad hands and asked, Are you gonna eat some worms?

If I had comforted him instead of making a joke, do you think we'd still be married?






Naaaaaaah. hahahahahahahahahahah   a

Infinities of love,

Lola

Thursday, March 24, 2011

MY DAD HAD A BIRTHDAY RECENTLY

Gentle Readers,

I don't remember the date my dad died (I always think of it as Memorial Day because he died on Memorial Day and Memorial Day falls on a different date each year), but I can certainly remember his birthday because it was St. Patrick's Day.

You may be shocked to know that I write most of my posts well in advance of the time they're published, so here I sit and tomorrow is my dad's birthday and I have a happy memory to write about.

Because my dad was in the military, he wore a uniform to work every day -- until he retired. Then my mom picked out his clothes for his new job with the state, and oh my goodness she made some awful choices. One was a green leisure suit. He was very tall and thin (Favorite Young Man's predecessor) and looked like a giant stalk of celery in that awful leisure suit. It was the '70s and my mom was pissed because he wouldn't wear a necklace with it -- a gold chain around his neck. He wore the clothes she chose but he drew the line at the necklace.

Anyhoo, back when he still wore unies to work each day, sometimes he would have to dress appropriately because we were going someplace. He always said he wasn't color blind, just color ignorant. I guess that meant he couldn't match colors appropriately because my mom was always yelling at him about his clothing choices because they didn't match.

One time he and I were at home alone, I must have been about 10, and my mom, I think she was getting her hair done before whatever weird outing we were about to go on and my dad asked me what he should wear. I picked out navy blue pants and a yellow shirt. Easy, right?

My mom got home and said, Good God, you're dressed decently for a change. What in the hell happened?

As soon as she turned away, he gave me the biggest smile.

I still feel that smile, Daddy.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

VAMPIRE BARBIE

Gentle Readers,

Please tell me I imagined the following: I heard on the news today that there is a new type of Barbie doll. It's called the Monster line and the first one is a vampire. Some people are protesting against this "toy" because of the body image it promotes (the doll is stick skinny, skinnier than Barbie and more teenage looking rather than young womanish) and the info that comes with the vampire girl says her hobby is flirting with boys.

The company's comeback to the complaints is that the doll promotes diversity.

What the fuck? We need a teenage vampire doll so all the teenage vampire girls out there will feel they are being represented?

Stop the world. I wanna get off.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

THE ASOCIAL NETWORK

Gentle Readers,

I've been looking forward to seeing The Social Network for months. When it came out, critics raved about how great it was and Oscar predictors said definitely Best Script, Best Director, probably Best Picture.

But the big honors went to The King's Speech, which I haven't seen yet, but now that Netflix has finally brought me The Social Network, I can certainly see that it would take a year of bad movies for Network to be the big winner.

I listened to Director David Fincher's commentary on the movie. He seems to see this character, and he emphasizes that it is a character and not a portrayal of the real person, of Mark Zuckerberg as a young genius worthy of our sympathy; however, that's not the feeling I got from the movie at all. The character of Mark Zuckerberg, as played by Jesse Eisenberg, is virtually friendless, anti-social, dark, mean, nasty -- all in all, a real tool. Business cards that say I'm CEO, Bitch? Come on.

This unpleasant character informs most of the movie and makes Network as unlikeable as Zuckerberg. The movie only becomes interesting and enjoyable when Justin Timberlake is on screen, playing Napster founder Sean Parker, who comes off as the most charming guy in any room he enters.

Fincher sees humor with Zuckerberg where I see none; Fincher sees kindness on Zuckerberg's part where I see none.

Before the guy gets drunk enough to start creating The Facebook, he wants to compare the girls at Harvard to farm animals and let people vote on which is hotter -- the girl or the animal. What a jerk.

The entire movie is misogynistic. Girls exist to dance at rich boys' parties and take off their tops and do drugs and get drunk; girls exist to latch onto Zuckerberg and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and shove them into stalls in a men's public restroom for what? Do they have sex standing up in that tiny space or is it BJ time? Don't know; don't care. There's also a psycho bitch girlfriend. There's a female lawyer who is seen throughout the movie but only speaks twice. Fincher says she's there to be an invisible person. There are young girls provided for Sean Parker's enjoyment. There's an intern who walks away from Zuckerberg and somebody else -- is it Parker? I can't remember -- and they turn to stare at her ass. Network women -- no, not women, girls -- are objects with which to play a sex game. Nothing more.

I thought I would love this movie, and I totally do not. Jesse Eisenberg was so great as the tender-hearted, unhappy teenager in The Squid and The Whale. All that tenderness is gone here. Supposedly Network has moments when we see Zuckerberg trying to be a good guy, but the only way I caught them was when the director pointed them out, and I just didn't think they were very strong even then. I can sure see why the real Zuckerberg made that huge donation to the Newark public schools on the day the movie came out. He had a serious reason to try to distract viewers from this movie.

I have a Facebook page. I post something on it occasionally but not very often. I joined because it's a way to keep up at least a little bit with nieces and nephews. I don't really understand people who are on Facebook ten times per day talking about every little thing they're doing and how they're feeling. I don't think many people care, folks, and it's not the road to the 15 minutes of fame that Andy Warhol promised you.

I hate the relationship status; I don't know what it means to "poke" someone but it sure seems naughty in a not at all interesting way; and I don't understand the stuff about so and so has answered a question about so and so. Then you click on the box and . . . blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Facebook is really pretty lame, and so is The Social Network.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Monday, March 21, 2011

CH-CH-CH CHANGES

Gentle Readers,

Frankie Big Paws has been with me for five months now. He is not the same dog.

That dog, who arrived here back in October, was timid and terrified. He was so intimidated that he couldn't eat in the same room as the other dogs. Even when he made enough progress to leave his crate during meals, he could only advance enough to eat in the hall next to the dining room, and if Scout approached him after Scout, who is a bit piggish, had finished his meal, Franklin would run to his crate, leaving me to grab Franklin's bowl to keep Scout from getting seconds. Franklin would then finish eating in his crate, if he wasn't too scared. Sometimes he was too frightened to finish eating.

When we saw other people or dogs when we were out walking, he was overwhelmed. He jumped, startled, and wanted to run away. It was hard to hold the lead. He's a good sized, strong dog.

Franklin remains a good sized, strong dog, but that petrified pooch of five months ago is gone. He is now a confident canine. Franklin enjoys his meals at his leisure and never makes a mad dash away from the dish. He loves to play with his brothers, especially Harper. When we meet someone on our walks, he can't wait to greet all newcomers. He enjoys a good butt sniff and doesn't object to being sniffed himself. He licks a new person's hand, and recently met a baby for the first time. He seemed kind of surprised by this smaller than usual person, but with permission from the little guy's dad, gave the baby's hand a lick.

He still likes to sit next to me while I read or watch movies, but he doesn't HAVE to be next to me. He can deal with it if Scout or Harper snags the spot next to me first and doesn't try to shove his way in. He's a good car companion and sits in the back seat very nicely, never interfering with my driving. He continues to learn and is extremely smart and obedient. It takes only the smallest gesture with my index finger and he sits. He also sits the minute he sees the lead. This guy knows the routine.

I am so proud of Franklin, so grateful that God brought him my way, so happy that we are together.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Sunday, March 20, 2011

PARENTS AND UM, YOU KNOW

Gentle Readers,

I will never be convinced that my parents had sexual intercourse. I cannot even use my typical slang when referring to them: They did not do "it," didn't do the nasty, didn't bump uglies, didn't make love. No way.

Where did I come from? I have no idea. Another planet, I guess.

I also have (had) five older siblings. Where did they come from?

I dunno.

Can any of us imagine our parents doing such a thing? Even if our parents were affectionate with each other?

Occasionally my mom perched on my dad's knee and gave him a little kiss. One of my sisters swears that they kissed each other goodbye every single morning before my dad left for work. I have no memory of this.

My husband and I used to smooch sometimes in the kitchen after supper. Favorite Young Man would groan in agony. We were disgusting. I'm pretty sure he knows we did IT, but I doubt if he would admit IT. But come to think of IT, I really can't imagine my kids doing IT either. Don't want to think about IT. Gross, man.

So that's why I don't have grandchildren yet. And when I do, I guess we will find them in a nest built by a stork.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Saturday, March 19, 2011

WHEN I ARRIVE

Gentle Readers,

When I arrive in Heaven, which can't be soon enough, Faulkner the smooth collie and the other dogs I've loved, Emily Dickinson, and Sylvia Plath will be there to greet me. We will sit down together and I will stroke Faulkner's beautiful coat again and tell him how much I love him and he'll hear me because he's not deaf anymore. Thoreau the hound dog won't limp or be in pain anymore and he'll look at me with those big brown eyes. Kesey will be able to see and he'll be even happier and more carefree than he was when he was blind. Robin's cancer will be all gone and she'll have a bed to hog.

The dogs and I will sit down with Emily and Sylvia, and we will talk about their poetry and they will answer all my questions about technique.

That will be a happy day.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Friday, March 18, 2011

IT IS KIND OF A FUNNY STORY

Gentle Readers,

When I started watching It's Kind of a Funny Story, I thought Oh my goodness, this is so depressing. I don't need this. I was threatened. I got fired for being threatened. Shit upon shit upon shit.

But then It's Kind of a Funny Story gradually becomes more interesting and clever and amusing. 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist) checks himself into a mental hospital rather than jump off a bridge. He and the other patients, especially Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), gradually form a family unit and help each other. I guess you could call it formulaic, but it would have been formulaic if somebody killed himself too. I'm glad it had a happy ending because it left me a little less depressed.

Be sure to watch the Outtakes that are part of the Special Features. They're funnier than the movie, but it's fine to watch the movie. Just watch the movie before you watch the outtakes, babe.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Thursday, March 17, 2011

I WILL LIVE TO BE 101

Gentle Readers, I will live to be 101 because Favorite Young Man will be 80, and when he's 80, I want to still be telling people, This is my little boy. I also want to make him push me around in my wheelchair when he's 80 and I will pretend he's my much younger boyfriend.

Love,

Lola



 
Live long enough to be a REAL concern to your kids!   
 
 
 
   
bugs tasted so good!
 
  nice hand warmer!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Nice reflection!  Just before I had my glasses broken.
      
  
 

     
  
   
 

 

 

 

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

HOPE SPRINGS INFERNAL

Gentle Readers,

Now, class, why do you suppose I titled this post "hope springs infernal"?

Yes, that's right -- because I love the malapropisms on my favorite TV show, Raising Hope (Fox, Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. EST after Glee).

Virginia (Martha Plimpton) said on a recent episode that they never found the limburger baby. hahahahahahahaha

Virginia is the new Mrs. Malaprop.                

I love it!

The premise of Raising Hope is that Jimmy (Lucas Neff) hooked up with a cereal killer (she hated Mikey and Wheaties) and she ended up preggers after their one night stand and Jimmy ended up with the baby after Mommy was executed for murdering Cheerios. Jimmy's parents, Virginia and Burt (Garret Dillahunt), don't want Jimmy to keep Baby Hope, but they soon got on board to help out.

Everybody on the show is a riot, especially Cloris Leachman as Virginia's grandmother. Maw Maw has an occasional lucid moment but can sometimes be found skateboarding or relaxing inside the window of the deli counter of the grocery store where Jimmy has a second job on top of his job working for his dad's lawn service. Maw Maw also likes to rip off her clothes and run off topless from time to time.

Raising Hope was created by Greg Garcia, who created My Name Is Earl, another absolutely nutso show I loved. Earl is in reruns now, or you can get it on DVD if you didn't catch it during the four seasons it was on. Earl (Jason Lee) was a not so nice guy who learned about karma and made up of a list of all the wrongs he had done and set out to fix them so he could get rid of his bad karma. I was sad when the show disappeared. As far as I was concerned, Earl could have gone on fixing items on his list forever.

But if we can't have Earl anymore, at least we can have baby Hope and her family. They put the fun in dysfunctional.

It makes me really happy that this family lives in a house befitting their station -- they don't have some fancy place. Their house is about right for a guy who has a lawn service and a gal who cleans houses. Of course, it's really Maw Maw's house anyway. I love it that Maw Maw raised Virginia because Virginia's mom was no good, but Virginia is a pretty darn good mom and grandma anyway. I love it that Burt loves Jimmy so much that he'll go to all sorts of lengths to keep Jimmy as his buddy. I love it that the family sits down together to eat meals. I love it that they fight like normal families and they make up like normal families and Virginia and Burt are still in love and nobody in the family is terribly bright but they just keep on keepin' on.

My pal LegalMist already recommended this show on December 2, 2010, and I want to second her emotion.

Give Hope a chance. If you're even half as crazy as I am, you will love it.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

Gentle Readers,

Holly (Katherine Heigl) and Messer (Josh Duhamel and oh my he's hot) are set up on a blind date by their best friends Peter and Allison and never even make it to the restaurant. They discover almost immediately after Messer, whose first name is Eric but he likes being called Messer -- who arrives an hour late for the date -- that they can't stand each other. I mean really detest each other, drive each other crazy, can't spend one minute together without Holly wanting to beat up Messer, while Messer says terrible things to Holly.

They detest each other through Peter and Allison's wedding, through the birth of Peter and Allison's daughter Sophie, and through Sophie's first birthday party.

Then Peter and Allison are killed in an accident, and guess who they named as co-guardians for Sophie?

Holly and Messer had no idea they'd been named.

But they step up to the plate and continue their struggle against each other while they struggle to learn how to raise a baby, which as those of you who have children know, entails no sleep, figuring out what to feed Sophie, the neighbors popping in to see how it's going, and Sophie's first big messy diaper. Holly ends up with doodie on her face -- literally.

But gradually, Holly, Messer, and Sophie become a family. Then Holly and Messer end up in bed together. Then Messer is offered his dream job in another city.

Of course, the movie has a happy ending and it's laugh out loud funny. When you need to relax, I recommend Life As We Know It.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Monday, March 14, 2011

SAME SEX MARRIAGE

This post was written by my dear LegalMist and I'm reposting as requested because I support equal rights.






One of those facebook blurbs caught my eye and I thought I'd post it here, too:

So, let me get this straight . . . Charlie Sheen can make a "porn family," Kelsey Grammer can end a 15 year marriage over the phone, Larry King can be on divorce #9, Britney Spears had a 55 hour marriage, Jesse James and Tiger Woods, while married, were having sex with EVERYONE. Yet, allowing same-sex marriage is going to destroy the institution of marriage? Really?

Re-post if you are proud to support equal rights.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

THEY GO LIKE

Gentle Readers,

It's time for the grammar bitch in me to come out again.

Stop talking about one person while using "they" as a pronoun.

Example: The parent wants to prove they are the best.

Parent is singular. They is plural.

I hear this all the time, so stop it. Just stop it.

And stop using "go" or "like" to replace says.

Example: We were talking and she goes I don't know know nothing about that stupid book cuz I hate to read.
OR
               We were talking and she's like I hate people with book learnin' cuz they don't got no common sense.

I have actually heard the line about people with book learnin' don't got no common sense many times. Well, I happen to have some book learning, but I have enough sense to come in out of the rain. I have enough sense not to smoke, and I have enough sense not to go out and get drunk and get in fights -- unlike many of the people I have heard who demean book learning. I also have enough sense to love books and appreciate my education. 

Excuse me all to hell.

Infinities of love,

Lola 

Saturday, March 12, 2011

IMPORTANT HEALTH WARNING

STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters.....S T. R.  


STROKE  IDENTIFICATION:



During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) ....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.



They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.



Jane's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Jane passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.



It only takes a minute to read this.



A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
 

RECOGNIZING A STROKE


Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR. Read and Learn!


Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.


Now doctors say a  bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:


S  *
Ask the individual to SMILE.

T  *
Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE  (Coherently)

(i.e. It is sunny out today.)


R
  *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.


If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.


New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue


NOTE:  Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other
 that is also an indication of a stroke.

Friday, March 11, 2011

THE LUNATICS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM

Gentle Readers,

A friend emailed these scenarios to me. While I find them interesting, I think that in reality, the students rule the schools and the administrators are too scared to stand up to them. Teachers who try to enforce rules get slapped down by administrators, so the teachers give up. I learned all this the hard way.


SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario:  Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario:  Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario:  Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse.  Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang  State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.  Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario:  Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 -
 Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario:  Pedro fails high school English.1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher.  English banned from core curriculum.  Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario:  Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.1957 - Ants die.
2007 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with  domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario:  Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary.  Mary hugs him to comfort him.1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and lose s her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy
.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

NEVER LET ME GO

Gentle Readers,

When I started watching Never Let Me Go, I thought, Ugh, this is some weird, eerie, creepy science fiction thing. But that feeling only lasted a few minutes and then I was drawn into the film and found it absolutely fascinating.

As the movie begins, we learn that life expectancy has reached more than 100 years. Before long, we know why. Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Ruth (Keira Knightley), and Tommy (Andrew Garfield), grow up at Hailsham, a "school" for children who are actually clones, raised to young adulthood to donate -- be robbed of --  their vital organs to keep real people alive. The children don't try to run away, even when a teacher reveals why they are there (she's fired by the next day). They've been brainwashed into believing that if they go beyond the fence of Hailsham, something horrid will happen to them, i.e. You go out and you can't come back in and you stand just outside the gate and starve to death or somebody catches you and ties you to a tree and cuts off your hands and feet or whatever.

When they leave Hailsham, they go to The Cottages for a while, where Ruth and Tommy begin a sexual relationship. However, Kathy and Ruth used to be best friends and Kathy is also in love with Tommy. Their strange relationships and their fates propel the movie until, eventually, all three become donors. Of course, after two or three or even one donation, the donors "complete." You can figure it out.

This movie isn't creepy at all, if you can get past the creepiness of the whole idea. The score is beautiful and although Keira Knightly and Andrew Garfield are fine, it's Carey Mulligan who glows. Did you see her in An Education? What a fine young actress.

Never Let Me Go makes me want to read the book on which it's based, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

This movie is worth one hour and 43 minutes out of your busy schedule.

Infinites of love,

Lola

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

JOB? WHAT JOB?

No need to worry about the threats at my new job, Gentle Readers.

I got fired for being threatened. The bosses had to spend too much time dealing with the people who harassed me.

More news to come in the future. It was a state job, and I think some people will want to hear about it.

Infinities of love,

Lola

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

A FRIEND ALSO SENT ME THIS

Fifth Grade Assignment  
   
Wouldn't this be great if it was taught in every school.

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look
At TV commercials and see if they could use them in 20 ways
To communicate ideas about God. 
 
 
 
Here are some of the results: scroll down.
  







God is like. 

BAYER ASPIRIN 

He works miracles. 


God is like. 
A
 FORD 

He's got a better idea.. 

God is like.
 
COKE He's the real thing.

God is like. 

HALLMARK CARDS
He cares enough to send His  very best. 


God is like. 

TIDE He gets the stains out others leave behind. ... 

God is like. 

GENERAL ELECTRIC He  brings good things to life. 
God is like. 

WAL-MART 

He has everything. 

God is like. 

ALKA-SELTZER 
Try Him, you'll like Him 

God is like. 

SCOTCH TAPE
You can't see Him, but you know He's there. 

God is like.. 

DELTA 

He's ready when you are. 

God is like.
 
ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him. 
  

God is like.
 
VO-5 Hair Spray;
He holds through all kinds of weather 

God is like. 

DIAL SOAP 

Aren't you  glad you have Him?  Don't you wish everybody did?


God is like 

The  U.S. POST OFFICE Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from
His appointed destination. 
 
God is like. 

Chevrolet
. . . The heart beat of America   

God is like 

Maxwell House 
Good to the very last drop  

God is like. 
Bounty 

He is the quicker picker upper... Can handle the tough jobs...
And He won't fall apart on you