I often had to remind myself that this book was not written by a teenage girl, but instead by an older man. The story of a family who's lives are turned upside down when an accident on Sept. 11th, 2001 is captivating. The accident is slowly revealed as the main character attempts to deal with her emotions, her guilt and her family that is falling apart. A great story and a quick read. I am looking forward to more from this author. -$

$ Rating: $$$$

In case you are going "Under the Knife"

Fascinating book! It pried open my eyes and freaked me out all too often.

We all assume surgeons are absolutely qualified to cut you open and have that kind of skill and confidence required to put your life in their hands. Guess again. We are often lab rats.

I work at Cottage Hospital in SB and I'll look at our surgical residents differently now: with a mixture of awe and some pity thrown in.

Like the Kitchen Confidential of what it is to be a young surgeon. And, by the way, superb writing by the author/surgeon himself.

That's all I'll say, just check it out and read it.

G$

Eagle VS Shark

I heard about this movie from a blog that I read. Since I think the chick who writes the blog is cool, I decided to check it out. And thanks to Netflix I had it within a few days. I watched it the other night and loved it. It was kind of like a New Zealand's answer to Napoleon Dynomite, but more artsy. A great love story about 2 very akward young adults and how they fall in love. It takes a trip back to Jarrod's home town to seek revenge on a high school bully. It was a wonderful and very sweet independent film.

$ Movie Rating: $$$$

The Candidates

I watched the last (Republican) debates from South Carolina. I thought all the candidates spoke very well. None seemed caught off -guard nor did anyone sound awkward. It has made me think just how hard it is going to be to pick one. I found this great website from Elissa's alma mater UCSB. I am reading it all the time.
These are important times in our history. We will be picking a new leader. We have to do our homework lest we get stuck with another mess like the last eight yrs.

(anyone want to tell me even one good thing Bush has done?)

G$

Steve Martin bio

My sister bought me this book for my birthday. I have always been a Steve Martin fan. He's an Orange County boy like us (Social D is from OC too).
I love this book. What a life this guy had. So many times when things couldn't look more hopeless he picks himself up and keeps trying. The people he knew, the material he tried and experimented with are so fascinating. When he finally hit the big time I guess it was not all he dreamed of. So he stopped.
I love the facts in the book: an old picture of pre-fame Linda Ronstadt (also the pre-famous Eagles as her backup band), clubs he performed in in Tustin, Huntington Beach, towns I lived in and grew up in.
What a cool guy. I recommend it highly.

Ten monies $$$$$$$$$$

Wow, these women look GREAT

I wish all women looked this good (sans the tattoos). Trash those ugly jeans and ugly shoes. My girlfriend Annie is buying some of their dresses: the Annie and the Betty Ford. And I love the skirts too. I said I'll buy her some stylish All-Stars to match.
Can't wait!


http://www.dickiesgirl.com/

Eleven outta ten monies $$$$$$$$$$$

G$

Into The Wild

I finally saw this movie. It was good. I felt it was a good visual representation of Jon Krakauer's book. I liked the free spirit the young man was portrayed as being. I pictured in my head this guy when I read the book. There he was now on the big screen. I certainly don't think enough investigation was made as to why the boy did what he did. Why he gave up his high education and money to hit the road to live (and die) like a hobo. The book did a better job. And I dang sure did not like the way the start of the movie glossed over the bad dream the mother had one night of her son crying out for her. This event was based on fact and, as best the then coroner could give her, about the precise time her son in fact died. Far too spiritual to make light of. I think that scene should have been at the end of the film. If done properly, it would have had HUGE impact. I also think the film should have been dedicated to the mother. If you can imagine her sitting at the screening watching her baby immortalized on film. Her baby she never saw again and could never ask him "why?".
I liked the people he met along the way and the brief connections he made with them. One actress in the film I have seen before from an old Seinfeld episode (called The Letter). She got better looking with age. FAR better looking. Wow, what a nice surprise.
The photography was good, sometimes great. It should have had more scenes of grandeur conveying just how small man is compared to the wilderness. We don't stand a chance against its vastness and extremes.
I did not like the female narration (the sister doing the talking). What the heck for? I think narration would have worked in first person only. What insight did the sister have? None. It's not like she went with him.

My favorite line in the movie: "Every man, in his heart, wants a Mexican mistress". So true.
I'll leave you to see the movie and get that line yourself.

This movie gets seven monies out of ten: $$$$$$$

G$

Trendy is bad

Bad trends I've seen for a long while now (guaranteed to offend):

• People cannot dress themselves. They think flip flops and/or Ugg (ugly?) boots look good. They don't. You are guilty of bad taste.
  
• They wear their pants far too long (they drag on the ground and tear and look dirty. (The homeless look maybe?)
• Men are becoming effeminate. They hang around each other all the time and even go to the bathroom together. Not good.
• Kids taking a backseat to stupid dogs. Shameful!
• If you find yourself looking at the supermarket tabloids and know everyone on the cover, declare a personal state of emergency and go get yourself a library card.

That's all for now. I will be taking more notes on the sad state of America.

G$

Latin Lovers (1953)

I sometimes will look through our channel guide and see what the Turner Classic Movie channel is playing. I read the summaries and well record movies that look interesting. I have a thing for classic movies. They rarely disappoint me. This weekend I recorded "Latin Lovers" from 1953 starring Lana Turner and a young and surprisingly handsome Ricardo Montalban.

The story is about an oil heiress. Nora Taylor has inherited $37 million from her father. Her father was a mailman who on his weekends searched for oil. He struck it rich and now Nora is a business woman with millions. Her current boyfriend Paul Chevron is also a millionaire. Nora is seeing a shrink because she her money makes her relationships confusing. Paul is about to ask Nora to marry him, she consults her shrink because even though Paul is a millionaire, she is still afraid he is after her money. Her shrink convinces her that Paul is a straightforward man, and will not ask for her hand, but demand it. This works well for Nora. What Nora doesn't know is that Paul is also seeing a shrink who convinces him to not demand her hand, but to ask her, and give her plenty of time to think. Paul takes a trip to Brazil. Instead of waiting weeks for Paul to return, Nora decides to follow Paul to Brazil, hoping to get the forceful proposal she needs. The air in Brazil makes Nora feel free and energetic and she hopes the air effects Paul in the same way. It does not. While in Brazil Paul takes Nora to a horse ranch. While viewing horses a tall dark and handsome man catches Nora's eye. She walks into the stables and without a word the tall dark and handsome man grabs her, pulls her close and lays a kiss on her that changes everything. Nora is immediately and desperately in love with this man, Roberto Santos.

And of course there is the stereotypes of the Latin lover. Roberto sings and salsas, he is macho and displays this by refusing to see her when she is late, and demanding that she not ever walk away from him or ever be late. Of course Nora loves the macho Latin man. Her only concern is what Roberto will think when he finds out about her money. She tells him and he is overjoyed. Nora begins to wonder if Roberto just loves her for her money. As they quickly become engaged, Paul, on the advice of his shrink stays Nora's friend. Nora comes up with an idea to see if Roberto really loves her. She decides to give away all her money. At the engagement party she tells Roberto that she gave all her money away. Roberto kind of freaks out says if he doesn't know if he can still marry her. Nora heads back to pack up to leave Brazil. Paul comes to her room and demands that Nora marry him. She refuses because even though they have a lot in common, she does not love Paul. Despite everything she loves Roberto. Her assistant reminds her that it is the one with the money that has to worry about it. This gives Nora an idea. She heads back to Roberto's. She yells for him at his window. She tells him that she is going to marry him, on her own terms. And she is still going to give away her millions, to him. Now it will be Roberto who will have to worry.

I enjoyed this movie, despite its negative stereotypes of Latins and women. Definitely not a politically correct film, but its what you get from 1950's films.

Money Movie Rating: $$$

Nurses to be

I love going to school. Had another Anatomy midterm today. Think I got an A. But yesterday made me feel real good. My chemistry classmates and I went to eat at the cafeteria. I saw other friends there. Two were nurses from Vista Del Monte retirement community. They were taking classes to further their educations. So we all sat there eating and studying, all towards the same goals. I feel so good to be with them. Sure most of them are great looking, but they are so smart and for some reason look up to me. Like I'm the smart one. They make my feel special. They complain I am such a loner. I just don't feel like hanging around a bunch of 20-yr olds.
I am sure I will know most of them for life.

G$

State & A bar and grill

Cheap (student budget) eats at State & A for Monday Night Football. I had the following:

1. Nachos (the big, real kind. not like 7-11)
   
2. Hot dog with fries
3. Two pints of Bud
4. Two Cokes

Total: $10.77!
I can't eat that cheap anywhere. LOve the place. Thanks to them I always have a cool place to have a pint and read my homework.
G$

PS: I'm moving across State St. My roommate is insane.

My housemate is FUBAR

FUBAR means F*&*ED Up Beyond Repair. It's a word we used to use to describe a machine that needed to be replaced or at least had been damaged so badly it warranted replacing so as not to waste much time fixing. Kinda like putting an animal to sleep.
My house mate is a pathetic old woman, 65 yrs old, unemployed, "retired" teacher.
Here's the lowlights:

1. Suffers from migraines and is therefore...
2. ...addicted to every painkiller known to medicine
3. She gets weekly morphine shots and staggers around the place a danger to herself and a nuisance to me
   
4. She is also under anti-depressant and anxiety meds
5. She takes more pills than I have ever seen anyone take
   
6. She is flat broke and in major debt
7. She is irresponsible (doesn't pay her bills)
   
8. She let the power be cut off last week
9. It was turned back on the next day
10. I always see "passed due" notices on her desk (util's, mortgage, insurance, medical bills, cable, etc...the list is endless)
11. Loves to keep all the windows open, even during a a windy dust storm like today
12. She has rearranged her furniture twice this week only to put it back in the same place!
13. Leaves her TV and light on all night, every night
14. There's so much more!
    

I expect marshals to come knocking any day now to kick her out and have the bank take repossession of this town home. At the very least I expect another utility to be cut.
I hope she overdoses and dies. Well, at least check into rehab.

G$

Weeds

okay, okay so I am way behind when it comes to this show. The beauty that is Netflix sent me the first disc of the first season of Weeds and I love this show. Basically it is about a weed dealing soccer Mom. Of course it more complicated than that, but I said basically. The setting is a suburb that I swear looks exactly like the town that I grew up in. The main character is Nancy and she is a recent widow, raising 2 boys and doing what ever she has to maintain her upper middle class suburban lifestyle. She is constantly seen with a "It's a Grind" coffee cup in her hands. I am only half way through the first season but I am hooked and can't to see the rest of the DVD's. This is a showtime show so I will have to wait for the DVD's. The show is funny, and dark and sad. A great roller coaster of emotions and you find yourself rooting for the drug dealer!

-$

$ Rating: $$$$

Into the Wild

Sean Penn has released his movie version of Into the Wild, a book I read a couple years ago. I want to see the movie. I loved the Jon Krakauer book. Reading Jon Krakauer's piecing-together of Christopher McCandless' life gave me inspiration. Here was a young man, highly educated, who decides ( for totally mysterious reasons ) to drop out of life, burn his money, hit the road and live off the land, spurning any material possessions. He also had an almost phobia for making any personal connections with the people he met. He was a loner, an American nomad.
Some of the diary entries found by Krakauer are really enlightening and a letter McCandless wrote to an old man really made me wonder if this young guy really found the meaning of "living".
Anyway, I never, ever go to the movies. I hate movie going, but I would like to see this movie, hoping Sean Penn adds to an already tragic/beautiful story about a young man who just wanted to live his own way...free.

G$

A new author for me to love!

It has been such a long time since I have found a new author. Debbie Macomber is not new, but she is new to me. I found her while at the library and searching "knitting fiction". I know I am a knitting dork. So her books come up and I checked out "The Shop on Blossom Street". The librarian even commented on how much I was going to enjoy the book. As soon as I opened the book and read the first page I was hooked (no pun intended). The book weaved together a knitting class, and the women involved. How meeting each other change their lives for the better. Since then, I have read "A Good Yarn" and am now reading "Back on Blossom Street". Each book follows the same formula of a new knitting class and the stories of each of the women in the class. These books definitely fall in the romantic comedy, girly girl kind of books, but sue me I am a girl! Macomber has many more books outside of this series and I can't wait to get my hands on them all!!!
-$

Money Rating: $$$$$

First wk of school in a nutshell

First week of school. I took three classes: Algebra, Anatomy, Chemistry. 13-units. Had to cut my work hours down to 25.
Anatomy looks great. We have a great teacher who is famous for being a great teacher. I can see why. He is funny, friendly and upbeat. Puts all his lectures and notes online: http://www.biosbcc.net/masson/
Chemistry is different to say the least. Our teacher speaks very softly, meaning we can't hear what he says! It's like watching TV with the sound off. He promises to get a mic and loudspeaker system. He had better. Otherwise a very nice guy and knows his stuff. Four of my female classmates from spring semester are in the class as well. Good.

Math sucked. Our teacher apparently just got off a six-month cruise ship... he did not know the college upgraded to an online registration/add/drop system (like everyone else on the planet has). He was still asking students for their blue add cards. We all laughed. Then he held up his green textbook and asked if we all had purchased it yet. Well, he had the old edition. The bookstore sold us all the new blue edition ($155). His assignment plan does not match the new edition. We got a little upset...and worried. Was this guy born fu_kin' yesterday? Not to mention ten of us, including myself, were sitting on the floor in the overfilled classroom. Try taking notes sitting on the floor for 2.5 hrs.
Anyway, I can teach myself freaking algebra. I dropped the class. I added a PE class so I can get some exercise and have some fun. I also signed up for college credit for my job via a work experience program in the career center.
What else.....oh, the food prices at the cafeteria are too high. A breakfast burrito, coffee, and croissant should not cost $7! Them's Dodger Stadium prices!! We are starving students.

I had fun and have to sign off now to do Chem homework.

PS: Go Cal!!!

G$

Back To School

Okay. Everyone send G$ good vibes because he goes back to school today. Maybe he will blog all about it! (hint hint)

YO GABBA GABBA

As a Mommy of a 2 year old I am exposed to most kids shows that are on Nick Jr., and Noggin. This was the first time that I was excited for a new show. This new show on Mondays at 10:30am, it created by a few members of the legendary punk band The Aquabats. These guys have been around for a long time and have a crazy and big fan base. Well these guys are parents now, like many of their fans (like my husband). They have developed some of the wild characters from their shows and videos into a kid friendly crew. The characters are brought to life by DJ Lance and the magic words, YO GABBA GABBA (a little nod to The Ramones). So far there have only been 2 episodes, two wild, colorful, musical, and educational episodes. There were lessons about eating good foods with songs like "Theres a Party in my Tummy" and "Try It You Might Like It". There were also lessons on summertime fun and not cutting in line "No Cuts, No Buts, No Coconuts". The show has crazy animation, lots of repetitive songs and even an 80's Romper Room vibe with kids names in video arcade style writing. Elijah Wood was the guest star on the first episode, and the Auqabats themselves played a song about a swimming pool on the second episode. This is a great show and geared to kids of the old school and even middle school punk crowd. (Like my family). I am really loving this show, but more importantly my kid has been running around yelling "Yo Gabba Gabba". It has passed the test in our house!

Money Rating: $$$$$

Reunited

Well it had been many years but the authors of this blog met up! Had a nice coffee morning and then met up for a late dessert. G$ was introduced to $'s Punk Rock Family.

Barry Bonds

1. Home runs: 756
2. RBI: 1,981
3. Runs: 2,212
4. Walks: 2,540
5. Stolen bases: 514
6. Gold Gloves: 9
7. All-Star appearances: 13
8. MVP awards: 7 (major league record)

Many baseball managers call him the best baseball player ever. If you take away his 2001 season his stats are very consistent. Most doctors will tell you taking steroids for 20+ yrs will damage/destroy your body. I don't think Barry did steroids for long if he did them at all. He didn't seem to need them. People and the media even criticize him for being unfriendly. Many respected baseball stars were not media friendly: Steve Carlton, Ted Williams, Ty Cobb...these guys were all a--holes and they are demigods in the Hall of Fame. I think Barry will have to let time take it's toll because so many people judge him on the steroids thing and that he isn't a good interview. It's not as if the guy is a bullying drunk who beats his kids and wife and is in and out of rehab or has a list of DUI's (like tabloid celeb's). He's a lot like Kirk Gibson was; he did his job then told the media to piss off and leave him alone. Not a crime.

G$