Enrique's Journey

The preface of this book had me in tears. The book follows the path of a young man from Honduras, desperate to reunite with his mother in the United States. This is a personal look at the issue of immigration into the U.S. The number of mothers leaving their children behind is high. These mothers must make the ultimate sacrifice to be able to give their children the bare necessities. The mothers leave out of love for their children and they hope that as their children grow up without them, they know that their mothers love them. Most children left behind spend their lives yearning for their mothers and many, some as young as 9, make the dangerous journey to the United States. This trip is made on top of trains and is filled with the dangers of bandits, military and police. The book follows Enrique on his many attempts into the U.S. with his success and reunification with his mother. The book even goes as far as to explore Enrique's and his mothers relationship when they are reunited in Nebraska. These children long for their mothers for years and years and when they are reunited there is a period of turbulence between parent and child. The parent wants to protect their child and the child is feeling anger towards their parents for leaving. The book ends by demonstrating the cycle that immigration beings. Enrique had left behind a pregnant girlfriend in Honduras. When that child is about 4 her mother leaves her to join Enrique in the U.S. to provide their daughter with a better life. This was such a wonderful book. In order for this book to be authentic the author traveled the same path as Enrique, by traveling on top of trains and seeing first hand the dangers of this kind of journey. You will sympathize with Enrique, and with his mother and see the Catch-22 that many immigrants find themselves in that lead them to the U.S.

I want to thank my compadre for sharing this book with me.

Money Rating: $$$$$

The Natalie Gulbis Show

I don't watch tv at home. I work at Valle Verde for a client who loved to play golf, therefore we watch The Golf Channel a lot. On that channel is the Natalie Gulbis Show. This young hottie is so damn pretty. A flashy eyed, big smile, sexy thing she is. I don't know a dang thing about golf, but she is nice to look at and her "reality" show is amusing to watch.

G$

Warning: Firefox browser vs Internet Explorer

I notice the superb graphics Elissa uses on these blogs of hers do not display on the Firefox web browser. I just noticed the "missing" graphics while using the Internet Explorer browser at school (with the Pacific Ocean view at SBCC).
Anyway, if you are not using IE you may be missing some of the slickest graphics I have seen. Especially on this blog.
Elissa is the best.

G$

Chill

My husband had a craving for beer. Which is strange because he is not a drinker. So we decided to try out the new Miller Chill. It is a light beer that is made the "chilada" way. Which means it is brewed with lime and salt. We threw some in the freezer and let them chill (haha) as the burgers were on the bbq. When I finally tried one I was really surprised at how much I liked it. It is a really light beer and no bitter after taste. You can taste just a hint of the lime and salt. I think this will be my beer of choice for Bass Lake. Not need to worry about bringing the knife, lime and salt!

Kitchen Confidential

In case you have not read this masterful expose on the restaurant business you really must: Kitchen Confidential.
Author/Chef Anthony Bourdain writes on the real backside of the food service industry. All the grit and grease. He tells you what goes on before the doors open... and after. He tells you, in hilarious detail, the deviant personalities that run mostly every kitchen and even how almost all the food is created start-to-finish by Mexican and Ecuadorian cooks that will best culinary school graduates every time. He tells you just how hit-and-miss the business is and how near stupid it is to think you might want your own restaurant someday.

I used to repair restaurant point-of-sale and expediting systems. I have seen many of these kitchens. Many of the big, trendy restaurant chains are quite disgusting. Filthy is being kind. (Oddly, many of the fast-food chain kitchens (In-and-Out, Burger King) are spotless. Go figure.) The mostly college age staff come and go weekly, much of the food is pre-prepared off-site and simply finished or heated in the restaurant and put on your plate. The whole endeavor smacks of Disneyland-like make-believe. What, you think Olive Garden really makes that eggplant parmesan from scratch??? Tortellini? Guess again.

Anthony describes the sexual tension between the male cooks and the female waitstaff, about corrupt purveyors, desperate (if genius) bread bakers, pathetically inept owners... He writes about it all. It should be called Fear and Loathing in the Kitchen.

Go to the library or buy it in paperback, you will be enthralled, you will be in stitches. I've read it three times.

Everything I Needed to Know...

Yes people, I don't just watch movies, I crack open a book once in awhile too. Actually I am usually reading a few books at the same time and it takes me a long time to finish one. I have always loved reading and has a pre-teen I discovered Judy Blume. I read a very worn copy of "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?". I don't remember where I got the book, or who gave it to me, but I remember falling in love with the book and reading it over and over again. Eventually I ended up with a copy of the book "Forever". This was THEE book. The sex book. The one where they talked about "doing it" and where I learned guys name their penis. (ironically enough the one in Forever was called Ralph). I kept this book hidden in the closet and read it over and over and then over again. Not to long ago I checked out one of her newer adult books. I don't know where I would have learned about sex and menstruation if I had not read these Judy Blume books. She has this way of capturing the emotions of the teen and their changing bodies. Her characters answer the questions that many young girls are afraid to ask out loud. This book is a collection on essays by women writers and how Judy Blume books have inspired them. These writers tell their stories about how Judy Blume made them feel as girls and as adults. They weave their personal stories with that of Blume heroines. This was a very quick, and fun read. It will remind you of your childhood favorite books and will leave you wanting to read every Judy Blume book ever published!

Money Movie Rating: $$$$

Welcome to the Dollhouse

A 1995 film that captures the horrors of junior high. I found this movie because of a crush on a TV character. I was reading a bio on Eric Mabius from Ugly Betty. It mentioned a movie he did called Welcome to the Dollhouse. So with the wonder that is Netflix I was able to pull it up on my laptop and watch it. (Man I LOVE instant gratification!) The main character Dawn Wiener is played by the talented Heather Matazarro and is a geeky junior high girl from New Jersey who is overshadowed in her family by her super smart brother and her beautiful ballerina little sister. School is even worse. She has no friends at school and is tormented by a bully named Brandon. He is gets he in trouble at school and threatens to "rape her" at 3 pm. He threats are a cover up and an excuse to be alone with Dawn. But Dawn falls for an older boy. Steve Rodgers (Eric Mabius with long reddish hair) is a high school bad boy with rock star dreams. In exchange for computer science tutoring, Steve becomes the lead singer for Dawns brothers band. Dawn sits outside and watches band practice and finds any alone time with Steve that she can. He is nice to her, but leaves for New York to pursue his music career. Even her bully/boyfriend Brandon leaves her in the end and she is left with the thought that junior high is awful, but high school is even worse. Although this movie is about 12 years old, it is still an emotional portrayal of how awful, scary, and awkward the junior high years can be.

Money Movie Rating: $$$$

Pay, Pray and Obey

The church just paid out over 660 million dollars to about 600 people in a case against the Catholic Church. This sparked my interest and I watched the documentary by Amy Bert, Deliver Us From Evil. This documentary follows the evil path of a catholic priest from Ireland, Father O'Grady, who molested hundreds of children during his time in the Stockton/Lodi area of California. The movie follows not only his path and the children and families he destroyed, but the Catholic Church's cover up of the entire thing. From the late 70's the church was notified of the actions of this priest and instead of taking proper action and removing this evil man they just relocated him, numerous times, allowing him a new batch of victims in a new town that knew nothing of his past. The movie interviews victims, as well as disturbing interviews with O'Grady himself. One interview is conducted outside and the sounds of children playing near by can be heard. There is also video of the interrogation of different bishops and higher up in the Catholic Church who by ignoring the problem, contributed to the abuse. The movie end with two victims being rejected at the gates of the Vatican.

I remember hearing about this film when it was first released. I was curious, but knew that watching it could lead to confusion on my part of my religion. I was raised in the Catholic Church and I knew that this movie was going to expose a dark and wrong side of an institution that I grew up believing could do no wrong. Many of the victims and victims families made the same kind of remarks. Things like "he was a priest and we completely trusted him", "we never thought a priest could do this", "we never suspected anything". This film is disturbing. You can see in the interviews with O'Grady and in the way he speaks about his actions on these children that he is very disturbed. The clips of Cardinal Mahoney are very hard to watch. This man presided over my confirmation and even blessed our home after it was built. This same man allowed O'Grady to continue being a priest and around children despite a folder full of accusations from numerous people of sexual misconduct toward children. I was afraid that this documentary would push me away from the church, but despite how awful this entire situation is, the blame falls on the people running the church and not on the religion itself.

It was a tough movie to watch, but a real eye opener.
Money Movie Rating: $$$

Best CD's I have in my truck

• Sex Pistols, Never mind the Bollocks...
• Social D, Live at the Roxy
• U2, Joshua Tree
• Madonna, Love Profusion remixes
• Frank Sinatra, Gold
• Oasis, Familiar to Millions

Just thought you'd like to know.
G$

"Toughman"

I used to watch an amateur boxing contest every Friday night. It was called Toughman. It was a gas!! Amateurs of all sorts competing in bouts simply of three one-minute rounds. I loved it so much that me and my friend Ted made it a ritual complete with Domino's pizza and beer after work. Anyway, it eventually left free tv and is now on Fox on the Dish network. You will love it. Beer guts, fat dudes, skinny dudes, guys who look like animals, and guys who look gay, all compete to see if they can fight. Now THAT's entertainment!

G$

Flight of the Conchords

There has been some major buzz lately about this new HBO show. I was lucky enough that my sister turned me on to this show, but unlucky that I don't have HBO so I have to search Youtube for clips, but super lucky that hbo.com has the complete 4th episode up for a limited time.


The show is simply about 2 guys from New Zealand, Jemaine and Bret (pronounced Brit). They have moved to New York to make it big in the music industry. They have a manager and 1 fan. They hold band meetings and the band breaks up for various reasons constantly. It is one of those show that you will either think is hilarious, or just stupid. The best part of the show is the music. The Flight of the Conchords have some pretty freakin awesome and funny songs. I love this show. The humor is laugh out loud funny to me. Why these guys have not made it big I don't know. See for yourself. This is the best song ever written for another person.

The Good-Bye Girl

A movie from the year I was born. I have been taking avantage of the new "watch now" part of Netflix and this one sparked my interest because I had just heard about it the other day on one of those kids star all grown up shows. The little girl in the movie is adorable and reminded me so much of my BFF Jessica when she was about 10 years old. The movie has a simple and quirky plot. A single mom and her 10 year old daughter are dumped by a actor boyfriend who has left for Italy. They are surprised to find out that the actor ex has sub-leased the apartment they are living in to an actor friend. Enter a young Richard Dreyfuss. He is a quirky, eccentric, meditating, Shakespere acting guy and of course even though the Mom fights the feelings they fall in love. And then he gets a movie and once again she is faced with the someone leaving. Will she forever be the good-bye girl? Watch and find out.

Money Rating: $$$

"Friday"

" It's Friday, you ain't got no job, and you ain't got shit to do!"


I love that movie! Chris Tucker is the best.

Looking for an LCD TV

I have not had a new tv in years. I am jealous of all the glamorous HD LCD tv's I see in sports bars. I want one. I see that prices are pretty reasonable now.
I went to Circuit City and into the tv dept. I felt like Rip Van Winkle. I felt like I had been asleep for twenty yrs and stepped into the future. No picture tube sets anymore. They are all LCD and High Def. I felt so out of date. So I saw a Samsung 32" I love. Like the one at State & A. Costs a bunch, but I will research it before I buy to make sure I know what I am buying and how long these babies last. I love the HD picture, the light weight, and the slim dimensions. Watching Dodger games never looked so good!

I was watching the Live Earth concerts. I wanted to see Madonna. I like her. Didn't get to see her, but I saw some pics on some websites. She is looking old, but still has those sparkling eyes.

I will try to join Blockbuster and rent a movie to review. I'd like to watch The Queen.

G$

Terms of Endearment

A 1983 James L.Beooks film starring Shirley McLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels and John Lithgow.

A meddling mother, a young couple starting their lives away, a washed up playboy astronaut. This movie won many awards in its day. It is a heart wrenching movie and Shirley McLaine plays her usual angry type character. This movie follows a mother and daughter as they age about 30 years. The mother deals with dating and the daughter deals with a marriage, 3 kids and infidelity on her and her husbands part. Their worlds are turned upside down with the daughter is diagnosed with cancer. Of course between The Phi, and housework it took me 6 hours to watch the entire movie, but well worth it. Anyone with a Mom will find something in this movie to relate to. I related to the opening scene where the mother has just brought the daughter home from the hospital. You can hear the mother talking to her husband and the husband is insisting that she stop checking on the baby. The mother then walks in and looks at her daughter in the crib and announces she must be dead. She insists that its SIDS and begins to crawl into the crib, the baby starts crying and the mother says "there that's better". I mean what new Mom can't relate to that. This movie is a classic and should be on every ones must see list.

Money Movie Rating- $$$

So I have been so excited to watch a movie so that I can review it here. Well thanks to my husband and he love of cheesy movies we watched "Double Take" last night. He had been waiting for it to reach the top of our Netflix list and his day finally came. So this movie was pretty lame. It stars Orlando Jones (the 7-Up guy) and Eddie Griffin. Some how Orlando's character gets involved with a drug cartel and CIA and this crazy guy (Eddie). He ends up in Mexico and it turns out the CIA were crooked and the crazy guy was the good FBI. Oh yea and there was a cute dog involved too. There were a few semi-funny parts. To tell you the truth I am not sure how it all really ends, this movie was way way way confusing.

So Money Rating: -$$ (yes that is a minus 2)

-$

Fawlty Towers

It's only Thursday night, but time for my weekly (usually Friday night) custom: a frozen pizza and a DVD of Fawlty Towers...a laugh 'til I die British sitcom from the 70's starring Montecito resident John Cleese. A couple of beers and all the stress of life is gone. I especially love the way Basil Fawlty treats Manuel ("he's from Barcelona" ) the waiter. This used to make my Mexican mom laugh out loud. Basil Fawly trying to speak Spanish is real funny.
So my pizza has pepperoni, pineapple, and feta. My beers are Bud.

G$

I like these:

Movies:

• Patton
• Papillion
• Dirty Harry

Music:

• Social D
• Killers

Books:

• Kitchen Confidential
• Into Thin Air
• Hannibal

Testing 123...

I like movies. I like music. I like pizza. This is a test.