Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

I really enjoyed this book even though I wanted it to be more dishy.  Yeah, I guess I'm just catty like that. (C'mon, Linda....say something snarky about Kris K....you know you wanna!)  It's hard not to love Linda Thompson as she seems like a genuinely sweet and loving woman....a real Southern girl!  The upsetting part of this book was realizing that Elvis was more than a little controlling of young Linda in their relationship.  I also had the strong feeling that Linda was not always truly loved and adored by the men in her life the way she should have been.  Her respect and abiding love for every relationship she discusses is admirable, even if she does come across as a bit of a pushover at times.  I never really dig a woman or man that's only famous for who they've coupled with because that alone doesn't always make a person interesting (see Pattie Boyd).  But this isn't the case for Linda Thompson.  She seems to be a woman wh...

This must be one of the sweetest little indie films I've ran across in a while.  Being that I've had a little experience with what it's like to find the old high school sweetheart years later, there is a reality and truth to this film that will speak immediately to some.  I know the world is full of Jims and Amandas.  I know it.  But I also know that there are few of us who really ever have the kind of true love and intimacy with another living soul.  Don't think for a second that all married couples or even long-term partners have it.  Not all of them do.  This movie is sad and heartbreaking and beautiful and simple.  I was glad my kid was tucked in bed and my husband was out for the evening so I could cry my little fool head off alone.  It was the purest cry I've had since I was 17.  I feel pretty sure. 

If you were a child of the 70's and 80's like me, you grew up listening to the music of Dan Fogelberg.  It was everywhere.  This dude was pretty much the patron saint of heartbreak and romance.  But probably one of his saddest songs is one that gets trotted out for the holidays every year, the 1981 classic, Same Old Lang Syne .  Now this song is melancholy.  It's schmaltzy.  And it's not even really about Christmas, but the last lines of it do manage to get me every time: "Just for a moment I was back at school And felt that old familiar pain And, as I turned to make my way back home The snow turned into rain...." So good on you and rest in peace, Dan Fogelberg.  I think you knew what you were doing with that whole singer/songwriter thang. 

I'll tell you why women don't tell...... Because even though there are laws, you still feel like you'll lose your job. And if you lose your job, how will you pay your bills? And if you can't pay your bills, who will you turn to for help? I'll tell you why women don't tell..... Because what if no one believes you? Then you're the woman who makes up stories. You're the woman who stirs up trouble. You're the woman who wrecked the morale. I'll tell you why women don't tell..... Because somehow he will make you feel like it's your fault. And the blame will somehow be yours. For the skirt you wore, the smile you offered. And that one time you laughed because you didn't know what else to do. I'll tell you why women don't tell...... Because you're not sure who or anyone will be on your side. You've seen women cluck their tongues at other women your whole life. And men look the other way and pr...

As I fall more and more in love with the novels of Anne Tyler , I realize how little young Becky would have really learned from them.  But 40-something year-old Becky?  She appreciates them a good bit.  Besides, the realistic characters in each novel, there's something so warm and comforting about each one.  It's like wrapping up with a warm blanket against a cold world.  This particular novel really got me thinking about how people might view me as I pondered on the character of Maggie.  Am I ever that clumsy?  Silly?  Adled?  I asked my husband for one adjective to describe me and he said "delightful".  This leads me to believe he has learned something from his 5 years of marriage to me.  I feel like Ms. Tyler would approve.  I also love how this book feels so nostalgic and old-fashioned with its talk of road maps and singing at weddings and funerals and elderly folks born in the late 1800's.  1988 doesn't seem that fa...

I can't tell you how either of these movies end because I didn't finish them.  (See post title.)  But I have a strong feeling that one ends in triumph and the other in despair.  I will tell you that the Jake the Snake doc is eerily close to the poignant film The Wrestler from nearly 10 years back.  You might feel better if you just stream it instead. 

Okay, so first off I will admit that this guy had a shitty childhood.  But next I have to tell you right quick that this book is not nearly the fun romp through the 80's I expected.  I thought....yeah.....a book about the great 80's teen flicks of John Hughes.....that will be cute.....probably some angst.....maybe bring up some bad memories, but overall it will be fun.  Not so much.  This book is a major downer.  If you're an aging Gen Xer whose life has turned out okay, you can look at this book with some wry humor and feel good about surviving your teen years.  You will roll your eyes a bit at this guy's inability to turn lose his bad feelings of his childhood classmates.  If you are barely hanging on and have a gripe against the world, the book will become your new Catcher in the Rye.  Which is probably exactly what the author was hoping for.  Again, I must insist that this guy's childhood was terrible: parental abuse, homelessnes...

"She said, where'd you wanna go? How much you wanna risk? I'm not looking for somebody With some superhuman gifts Some superhero Some fairytale bliss Just something I can turn to Somebody I can miss I want something just like this....."

Since we're smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, can I put my two cents in on how us humans ought to interact with others?  Some of y'all need reminding it seems.  I'll use the emotion characters from Inside Out as a guide since many of ya'll seem to operate on an, uh, childlike level. Anger: keep it in check. First off, as a person who both delivers and partakes of Customer Service on the phone on a regular basis, can I offer some advice?  Raising your voice, complaining, interrupting and arguing are in no way the ideal way to provide customer service.  I once read many years ago that it helps to smile while you're talking on the phone, and I'll admit I use that advice quite a bit.  Every now and then I'll have a particularly aggravated customer that I can't talk off the ledge.  It's rare but it happens.  I take down the information and end the call as politely as I can.  There's no reason everyone can't do that....

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