ooo baby baby

While I recovered in the hospital, my daughter, Erin, was keeping a secret from me --she had just learned that she and her husband are having a second child! What wonderful life-affirming news to receive when I got home ..... and (oh, boy!) another grandchild to spoil!

In case you've missed me brag about this new baby's big brother, here's a little bit about my Benjamin.

do you believe in magic?

My extended blog absence actually has very little to do with my usual long-term procrastination and laziness. In truth, I've been very sick and spent a week in the hospital (which included 3 days in ICU).

While I think my recovery has been good, I'm still not up to normal speed and it's a constant reminder of just how sick I was -- and it's also a reminder of just how lucky I am to have my family and their constant love and support throughout all of this.

What happened to me? Suffice to say that it was a conglomeration of my stubborness, my failing to read a situation correctly and two infections that weren't acting the way those infections are supposed to act -- if they had, it would have tipped me off that I had something more serious than the flu. As I understand it, I am lucky to be alive and even more lucky that I didn't lose the function of a kidney.

Because hearing aspects of what almost happened to me still upsets me, I know that I have a lot of mental processing to do before I know where to place this event in my life, both emotionally and mentally. I certainly feel more mortal than I ever have before ..... but I'm also now a survivor which can't help but make me feel at least a little powerful.

Do I believe in magic? You bet I do.

(I love the little dog above because he reminds me of my many, many shuffle-footed trips to the bathroom with my IV pole in tow and my butt unshamingly hanging out the back of my hospital gown. From the happy look on his face, though, he was definitely getting better meds than I was!)

everyday people

When I planned for my eighth grade dance in the mid-sixties, I carefully selected my ensemble and lovingly crafted my coif. You can see the results in the top picture. No, really. That's me.

Of course when I looked in the mirror that June evening, I saw something very similar to Lauren Hutton in the picture below (from the October, 1967 issue of Seventeen). I saw blonde, tall, skinny, slinky, and so hip-that-it-made-your-teeth-hurt. Unfortunately, neither the camera (or anyone else) saw what I did.

It's obvious, though, that I thought I was the bee's knees and you'd think from the barely amused expression on my 13 year old face that I was at my wit's end due to being followed by the paparazzi all night long. (Nope, just one snapshot by Mom who loved me no matter how bad I looked, thank God)

i got you babe

I would imagine that when this was recorded in 1965, neither of them could have possibly imagined that one day Cher would become an Oscar-winning actress and fashion-plate who would be headlining a solo show in Vegas when she was in her 60's .... or that Sonny would become mayor of Palm Springs, California, and then later a Republican in the United States House of Representatives.

I love watching them here when they were young and in love .... and their fabulous lives were still out there waiting for them.

psychotic reaction

Our family has always taken Halloween a little more seriously than most so it's not surprising that at least one of our kids would enthusiastically sign up for Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights, which is a legendary Halloween institution around these parts.

Personally, I can't stand things that jump out at me so I don't attend very often but, of course, last year I had to go to witness my sweet baby girl shoot a machine gun at unsuspecting victims while dressed as Chucky, the evil and murderous doll from the movie "Child's Play." Makes a Mom proud.

I snapped a quick picture which isn't too good because of all of the fog they were pumping into the building -- but in case you did attend, I thought you might enjoy seeing the sweet face behind that scary, gun-wielding Chucky who no doubt made you shriek and walk a lot faster.

(And, yes, she has a part for this year, too!)

oh, pretty woman

Because Yardley of London knew exactly who they were marketing to in the 60's, it's not surprising that so many of their commercials ended up airing during "The Monkees" tv show which ran from 1966 to 1968. I was a huge Monkee fan but my love for Yardley cosmetics way outlasted my love for Davy, Micky, Peter and Mike. Sorry, guys. I'm the fickle sort.

I recently came across these two old Yardley commercials from that time period -- they will give some of you a happy trip down memory lane and they will give some of you a little insight into what the hullaballoo was all about.

Note the British accents of the voice-overs and keep in mind that this was at the height of the so-called "British invasion." We were suckers for anything (and anyone) from across the Big Pond.

Enjoy!

gimme shelter

In addition to all of my other unabashed eccentricities which I refuse to apologize for, I'm a huge fan of reality television. Yes, I know I should be above it. As someone with a degree in Broadcasting, I know that I should be typing the words "reality television" with the same revulsion I experience while typing the words "end-stage syphilis."

But from "American Idol" to "Hell's Kitchen" to even some seasons of "The Bachelor," trust me when I tell you that I love me some reality tv and I'm not the slightest bit ashamed of it.

There is one reality show that I have to admit I enjoy with just a tinge of self-loathing (which I truly believe only further enhances my enjoyment of it) and that's "Big Brother" which premieres it's 12th season tonight on CBS. In case you've been living under a rock for the last ten years, "Big Brother" consists of 14 (usually very attractive young) people moving into a studio that resembles a home where they conduct their completely secluded lives on camera 24/7 all summer ...... while plotting how to get rid of each other.

As in all reality tv, it's unpredictable. Some seasons it's a big snore and I quickly lose interest while other seasons I practically live on my computer monitoring "Big Brother" message boards for the latest news. My passion for any particular season is dependent on at least one of two things: 1) There must be someone I adore and/or 2) there must be someone I despise. If I can get both in one season, I'm in "Big Brother" heaven.

Anyway, I said all that to say all this: even though the show starts tonight, I may never mention it again. Or I may blog about it hourly until no one can stand me .... if you don't believe me, ask my best friend, Sharon, about my former Taylor Hicks obsession. It wasn't pretty.