Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

I had tried to watch this movie years ago and found it to be so corny.  At first I thought the same of the book until I gave it a little more time, so now I may have to go back and give the movie another shot again!  Once it gets going, this book about Hollywood and Broadway, pills and sex, women and men is pretty pulpy and enjoyable.  But sadly, by today's standards it's almost too genteel.  I mean once you've read A Million Little Pieces and watched movies like Trainspotting can anything like this really shock you?  Still a good girl read.  And bonus, I found an original printing paperback copy from the 60's.....I'd love to know how many beds and beaches that thang has laid on!

Conversation over the weekend with my child regarding his fast-approaching 12th birthday.  My son has definitely hit the age in which food is very important to him.  Although you'd never guess by his lanky little body.   Me: You know your birthday is coming up soon.  What would you like to have? Little Boy: Cupcake! Me: Yes, we'll have cake, but what would you like for a present? Little Boy: Birthday cake! Me: Yes, yes, we'll have birthday cake for your birthday.  But what would you like mommy to get you for a gift?  A present you can have?  Like maybe from the toy store? Little Boy: Doughnut! Me: Okay.

If this sale was a holiday, it would be the only one I actually observe.....

Record Store Day 2014 is TODAY!  Support your fave local indie store.  Click here for flyer to find a store near you and hear about all the new releases and cool stuff happening today. And here's a few of my fave stores for records if you don't have your own:     Karmasonics in Asheville, NC   School Kids Records in Raleigh, NC   Voltage Records in Asheville, NC (a Record Store Day venue)   Repo Record in Charlotte, NC   Lunchbox Records in Charlotte, NC   Retro Sideshow Vintage & Thrift in Gastonia, NC (not technically a record store, but they have some pretty good picks)    Manifest in Charlotte, NC   Gravity Records in Wilmington, NC   All Day Records in Carborro, NC   And on a personal note, sometimes nothing sounds better than a spin on vinyl.  That snap, crackle, pop and hiss takes me back to my childhood like nothing else.  And, I'm teaching my kid to like it.  Right now his favorite song is "Girl

I've always been intrigued by stars of the past whose sexuality the public simply overlooked.  Were we more civilized then?  More private?  Ignorant?  Or did we just not want to know?  Liberace is one of the best examples.  In this biopic, based on the book by Scott Thorson, Thorson details his life as the young lover/servant/friend of flamboyant pianist Liberace. First off, this movie is brilliantly acted by Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.  Unfortunately, it drags out and runs about 20 minutes too long for my taste.  The story is intriguing, but it does make you realize it's easy to talk smack about someone who is dead and can't defend himself! This movie made me think about a lot of things, so I understood when it was over and my husband said it made him feel "icky".  Any relationship that is manipulated by greed, jealousy and control is always going to be icky to watch.  I also think it's sad when any partner forces or coerces the other into actions o

I ran across this cute article in Slate about how we might all be happier if we slept in separate beds.  Not to sound too precious and cutesy, but I've never really enjoyed sleeping alone.  However, my husband and I do observe two rules of separation that I do think contribute to the success of our marriage: separate closets and separate bathrooms.  Forget divisional sharing of household chores and individual checking accounts, you give me a bathroom where my toothbrush doesn't touch any else's and a closet with none of my husband's stinky shoes, and I'm a happy girl! Old school with Rob and Laura

Go to AMC to make your own avatar, see sneak peaks of the upcoming season, read about past seasons and generally get all psyched up for the final season of one of the best shows eva!

Don’t try to make life a mathematics problem with yourself in the center  and everything coming out equal.  When you’re good, bad things can still happen.  And if you’re bad, you can still be lucky.

Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in "You've Got Mail" Joe Fox : It wasn't... personal. Kathleen Kelly : What is that supposed to mean? I am so sick of that. All that means is that it wasn't personal to you. But it was personal to me. It's "personal" to a lot of people. And what's so wrong with being personal, anyway? Joe Fox : Uh, nothing. Kathleen Kelly : Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal. Julia Roberts in "Erin Brockovich" Not personal! That is my WORK, my SWEAT, and MY TIME AWAY FROM MY KIDS! IF THAT IS NOT PERSONAL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS!

I wasn't sure how to feel about this film when it puts Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence, two of my fave lady actresses of the moment, in roles so different than their usual.  Luckily, they were both great in it, and so were the men.  This was a good flick, but it was just too slow for my taste.  If it could have been speeded up and cut down to about 100 minutes instead of 140, the story may have moved quickly enough to keep my interest.  I will say it's an interesting story, and one that makes me want to go and do some reading about Abscam .  The best part of this movie, hands down, is its great nods to the 70's: the fashions, the schmaltzy music and even the bad hairstyles.  Even though I can barely remember 1978, this movie took me back.....

They watch what the neighbors are doing......