Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

So enjoying the new record player! Albums played this weekend: The Doors, Wish You Were Here, Polvo, The Ventures, The Fixx, Dark Side of the Moon, Ice Cube, etc. There were also various singles from Lionel Richie and the Partridge Family all the way over to The Style Kings and Razzle. My big sis even gave me an old Tina Turner album......Private Dancer! I think the old crackling sound of these records really makes me nostalgic. E-Roc and I are looking forward to vinyl hounding this weekend, no matter how bad those used record stores smell!

I was in the 6th grade. I remember the teacher coming in and telling us with a shocked look on her face. One boy in my classroom who was particularly science-minded got very upset. We watched it on a black and white tv set when we got home because our color set was being repaired. In black and white, it didn't really seem real. It was the first time I can clearly remember the fear of bad things happening. I guess I was lucky when most kids in other countries learn that sad fact much earlier.

Happiness is on the UPS truck heading my way......I see many future weekends of E-Roc and I in used record stores and lying on the floor by the magical record player remembering days of youth gone by.........tra laa laaaa......

I don't have digital, I don't have diddly squat. It's not having what you want, It's wanting what you've got. (from "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow)

Channel-flipping early this past Sunday morning I somehow landed on Fox & Friends. And that never happens. I had to stop when I heard the topic was a teenage pregnancy explosion in Memphis. The ever-so-smart and always pious Fox contributors were surmising about the reasons this would happen in Memphis: poverty, lower socioeconomic statuses, one-parent households, etc. Their conversation got my goat and I hadn’t even had my coffee yet! In my early career, I was a public health social worker and while I dealt with all kinds of public health issues my caseload consisted of at-risk pregnant women and girls. My youngest patient ever was a 12 year-old girl (the result of a rape) who was insistent upon giving birth and keeping her baby. My oldest patient ever was a 42 year-old who was not unhappy to be having a “surprise” baby with her long-term boyfriend. During my time at the health department, I worked with many types of women and families who were having babies: teenage girls, marrie...

Well, this is just sad to watch. And I have to feel sad on a regular basis as it's right on the road where I live. It was sad enough when the restaurant closed down nearly 2 years ago, but now to see the building gone too? It's just heartbreaking. But I would rather remember it during the good times.....a fun place that seem to be the gathering place of all......good food......"interesting" wait and kitchen staff......and one of the best bars in Gastonia. It really was the kind of place where people called out "hey, Norm" when you walked in. But the funny thing is, it was also the kind of place where little old ladies liked to have their lunch. And where some people went before the first prom (different name and cuisine but still the same place). It was an every man kind of place. So now we'll just have to remember the good times we had with good people there. The friends we met and met up with there. The bartenders who knew us and knew what ...

Okay, so I might really be entering my NYC phase, as E-Roc put it . After finishing Patti Smith's book , I decided I needed to learn more. I picked up Legends of the Chelsea Hotel from my public library, but the jury is still out on whether or not this is a good book. There's something about it that seems a little exploitative and not altogether respectful of the artists, writers and creators that lived in the Chelsea. I'm trying to give this book and its blog a chance, but there's something about this guy writing it I'm not so sure about. I also got some books about Dylan Thomas, but now I'm thinking I need to read more about Sam Shepard and Harry Smith. Maybe even Susan Sontag. Okay, I don't think she ever lived at the Chelsea, but she was part of the time period. It's the time and place I'm becoming immersed in not just the residence itself. How will I ever find the time for this massive NYC study I am undertaking? Maybe it will snow agai...

After the horrible Tuscon tragedy, Wikileaks and the new Congress ready to start a new work session, I've been thinking a lot about our country lately. Well, I should say, our country and how she's viewed in the world, and I've come up with a theory. America is the President of the PTO. I see you waiting. Allow me to 'splain...... The President of the PTO is usually a woman, and she's usually very capable. She does the jobs that no one wants to do. She typically has to be aggressive.....some may even say bossy....in order to get those jobs done. Because she is a busy woman, she doesn't have time to discuss topics to death that should be settled in a few moments. She delegates when she can but typically has to take on the lion's share of any project. She also often foots the bill when the school or organization should be paying. Usually, the PTO is just one of her many jobs as any woman who can lead this group also has the skills to hold any one of ...

I was so sad to hear on the radio this morning that Bob Lacey's son, John, died right before Christmas while he was home on holiday break from school. I have mentioned before that I felt like I knew Bob because I have been listening to him for so long on 107.9 along with Sheri Lynch. I just feel so absolutely heartbroken whenever I hear of a young person dying. I wonder how their parents and siblings ever recover from it. Bob, ever the professional, is back on the air today and is doing a fantastic job. My heart just goes out to him because I know that can't be how he's feeling. Or his coworkers. Sheri and Bob have been on the air together since John was a young boy, so this is painful for all involved in their show too. I just feel very sad today. Sad for another loss of a young life.

The snow gave me some time to catch up on my viewing so I finally (!) had the chance to catch Sex and the City 2. Like most people who saw the film quite a while back when it was first released, I was also disappointed. The only really good part of the movie was the "real" mommy conversation Charlotte and Miranda had over cocktails. The rest of it was like a too-long and not funny Blake Edwards movie. I'll always love the S&C franchise and am happy to own all movies (even this one) and the entire HBO series. So for the love of a product that was good up until this point, I will give S&C a pass on this one. But one warning, S&C writers and stars, you won't be forgiven a second time...... On the other hand, Avatar was really something. It was beautiful and creative and contained a prominent social commentary about war, aggression and the exploitation of indigenous people. It was a little long at nearly 3 hours, so it's perfect for a snow weeken...

Not one to miss out on a teaching opportunity, I taught Little Boy the following phrases during The Great NC Blizzard of 2011: "Ice, ice baby!" "Hey, ladeeeeez!" "I came to get down." "I wanna rock right now!" Sometimes we have to do what we can to make the echolalia entertaining......

So. Sick. Of. Snow. Sheesh! But I did do an S-ton of reading over this long snowed in weekend/early week! I soooo enjoyed the memoir by Patti Smith of her lifelong friendship and early romance with Robert Maplethorpe, Just Kids . It was so beautiful and interesting and I just couldn't put it down. It's so nice to read about people who were so creative and different and who you just don't hear much about anymore. Patti's words were like being invited into a secret enclave of the weird and talented. And I have to say, it just felt like a gift she was giving us......the gift of knowing her life and Robert's life. I felt so grateful when I finished the book. It was also great just to learn more about Patti.....such an enigmatic and prolific person of that particular time and place. Although to hear her tell it, she was just another poet living and creating. I found myself studying the pic of her and her children in my Annie Leibovitz art book and wanting to kno...

My weekend plans..... reading, snuggling, maybe catch some sight of snow. Perfect.

Venture over to Skirt! today and vote for your favorite blogger and/or blog post of the year. And no, you don't have to vote for me ......but you can if you'd like! I voted for this post by a writer I find very talented. But there are so many others over there that you should be reading ! For instance, this post was so moving that it inspired me to write something similar. I appreciated something ReneeCK wrote that kinda had a little something I could relate to. This is a mom/woman/sister you should be reading. As for me, this post was the one I felt most proud of this past year. I also really liked this one . And then there was this one which meant so much after the last few years of experiences. Probably my best autism post was this one . This post here didn't get too much play, but E-Roc liked it. I want to say a big thanks to anyone who reads my work either on this blog or at Skirt! as those are my outlets of expression, truth and living this life of m...

This is my current first read of the year, while I wait for many more books to arrive! :) E-Roc is a big fan of Anthony Bourdain, and I can see why. It's not just the fact that he's a tremendous chef with a long reputation of knowing exactly what's he's talking about. It's also that.....he's, well....cool. His writing, his shows.....he's just so real. He'll tell you the best place to have noodles in Vietnam, the best place to have a beer in the tropics and the best place to score crack in NYC! And I must admit I love the visceral, sexual quality he uses to not only describe food but the experience of eating itself. I feel like I can taste, touch, see everything as it drips into his mouth. But aside from his travel and food books, his first memoir Kitchen Confidential , is a must-read for anyone who has ever worked in or been somehow associated with a restaurant. That's what drew E-Roc in......reading this guy and knowing that he knew . I...

I was inspired by this postcard I stole from Post Secret . And even though I'm a Rabbit who gives advice, I realize I can still make a resolution or two....so here goes: I resolve to stop worrying about, picking apart, trying to fix and bandaging all the bad things from the past. We all made it happen. All of us. You take your part, I'll take mine and let's be done with it. End of story. Wow....that was easy! Thanks Post Secret!!!!

I wrote this piece over here today. Check it out along with the other writers. Oh, and my writing resolutions......

Now if Little Boy were a better movie watcher I could better review this movie. But I can say for what we saw, I really liked it. So much so, that I think I'll get it on DVD when it's available so we can finish it out at home. For what we did see (until the popcorn ran out and restlessness set in) it was a cute re-telling of the classic "Rapunzel" but with it's own interesting twists, of course. I especially liked the cute and obligatory side-kick that was a lizard/iguana/whatever it was. This flick has been out for a while, so make a date with your kids while you can!

Wow! A great movie to start off the New Year! It's full of intrigue, shocking moments and leaves the viewer with lots of questions. All of the performances are so overwhelming, and it's nice to see a movie made for adults with, uh, brains. Halfway through I started asking myself "what other movie does this remind me of?" It's "Fight Club". Of course, with a totally different subject matter. If you see this movie (and you should) see if you can find those similarities I'm talking about. "Black Swan" has ballet, sexual tension and ambiguity, mother issues, beautiful women, sexy men....what else do you need?