Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

 I'm telling you, if want to experience this book the best way possible don't read it, LISTEN to it.  The sound of Owen Elliot-Kugell's lovely voice as she repeatedly says "my mom" and "my mother" is a gift to your ears.   Being born in 1975, I can barely remember the 70's.  What I do remember is mostly vintage clips of television shows and news reports: bright polyester suits on variety shows, Walter Cronkite, women in long caftans and head scarves, and music.  So much music.  My own mother raised me on The Mamas and the Papas, so the voice of "Mama" Cass Elliot is one I know well. Like many people who love the 1960's, folk music and the early days of rock music, I've heard a good many of these stories before.  But I haven't heard them told from this perspective.  The purity, the honesty and the respectfulness of Owen's retelling is extraordinary.  It's the way we would all like to be described by our kids someday.   Sh...

 Reason #6752 why it's hard to work with a bunch of dudes all the time: they don't understand how us ladies need to talk.   Oh, wait.  Strike that.  They do understand.  They just don't want to hear it. The ladies out there will get this.....go with me here. You know how you'll go out to the kitchen to get a snack or go to the bathroom, at home or at work, it doesn't matter.  And while you're on that errand you'll suddenly think of something.  Then you'll come back to your cubicle or the living room or your porch and you'll need to remark on what you thought of. Examples include but are not limited to: "I am getting so fat." "I really need to stop eating so much cheese."   "I thought my period would be over by now." "Do you remember that movie we saw about 2 years ago with Clive Owen?  That was really good." "This bra is killing me." (slight homage to Pamela Adlon) Any of these phrases could come up a...

 I think I may have woke up this morning and chose violence. What's with this money-grab culture we live in now?  Has it always been this bad?  Everywhere you turn you've got somebody looking to make money, and often times, it's not off people that can really afford it.  It's off people just like them, who probably can't afford it either.  It's like they're trading back the same cash again and again. It reminds me of women that host home parties selling products that nobody really wants like gourmet cookware, candles, tacky jewelry, Tupperware and Avon.     No scratch that last one.  Avon was and will always be awesome!   But seriously though, who always hosts these parties?  Women.  Women who are selling to their friends and neighbors.  Women who probably also need to make money and don't have much to spend.  Thus creating the Pyramid Scheme of roping in more women, I mean consumers and resellers. And just becau...

 Gets me every time......

  Well, you need a blue sky holiday The point is they laugh at what you say And I don't need no carryin' on (I always thought the line was "reporters that laugh at what you say" which honestly is a much better line.   Maybe next time DP will call me and he won't be a One Hit Wonder.....JS, DP.)

 Hoo boy.  Baby Reindeer.  It's a tough one.  It left me feeling heartbroken, angry, confused and with an even more heightened degree of how scary the world of interpersonal relationships can be.   I could say a lot about this, but there are several articles by Vogue, Esquire and others that unpack it way better than me.  Check those out. I will say this though.....all through the series I couldn't help wondering if the stalking situation would have been different if Martha were thinner, younger and more attractive.  And before you judge me, give it some thought and do some more reading.  And I also know there are tons of pieces of media about a femme fatale, sexy stalker type of woman who is bad news.  I get it. The one very painful thing that Baby Reindeer made me think about is how I have handled the support role to friends and family that have been sexually assaulted.  I wondered if I had said the right things, been kind enough,...

Felt like this book and movie were due for a re-take.  I am currently listening to the audio book and enjoying the lovely voice of Linda Stephens as narrator.  This movie can be found on a few streaming services including HBO/MAX and begins with a disclaimer about how the language and ideas are outmoded for our time now.  Thankfully. For me, the book and movie hold something altogether different as I realize more and more how important the idea of home and land have become to me.  When Rhett tells Scarlett she gets her strength from the dirt of Tara, I suddenly understand.   I also understand several marriages and several romantic disappointments much better now. That's the thing about books.....they can teach you something different every time...... The summer of 2017 was an odd time to decide to read this novel.  For that was the summer that the Nazis decided to crawl out of their hovels and folks decided to pull down Confederate monuments. ...

 As Mother's Day approaches, remember to treat yourself and others with care.  There is so much about each other, and ourselves, that we are still trying to understand.   Be gentle with yourself.  Forgive yourself.  Maybe forgive her.  Maybe don't.  Maybe talk to her.  Maybe don't.  Maybe let some of it go.  If you can. Maybe give yourself a break and admit you're doing your best.  Maybe let some things go.  Maybe don't pay attention to influencers.  Maybe stop trying to being an influencer yourself.  Just be.  Maybe just be you.  Maybe stop caring about what anyone else thinks.   Maybe laugh about it.  Kid about it.  Turn it all into a joke.  Be glad you never had kids and never wanted any.  Rejoice in your freedom.  Enjoy your empty nest.  Your quiet time.  Money that only belongs to you.  Maybe see it differently.   Maybe treat yourself....

  He never saw it coming at all.......

 A recent trip to my fave North Carolina beach reminded me of all the things I love about small town beach life, the South, and the not-yet-crowded May beach scene.  Southern beaches have a very different etiquette of space, friendliness and neighborliness that I have always loved. And it's also how you can always spot Northerners who haven't yet learned "our ways". First off, I love reading at the beach.  Not on a device, from an actual book.  And it's typically a battered old comfort book that I've read several times.  In this case, I re-read Patti and Robert's time in New York in the Summer of Love of 1967 and their trips to Coney Island.  May I never grow tired of two of my iconic young bohemians. Second, I love to lazily walk along the beach.  No destination, no step counting, no agenda.  Just an easy-going walk.  While I'm walking, I people watch, admire frolicking dogs and children and generally lazily smile at anything going on around...

 With a great new record, Happiness Bastards, and all the old hits we wanted, The Black Crowes did not disappoint in Charlotte last night. (Photo by Shutter 16 Magazine) The energy was awesome, the old school carnival stage set-up was cool and Chris Robinson's voice was still strong and wild.   (Photo by Shutter 16 Magazine) I also dug seeing my man, Chris, after all these years.  His dancing, swagger, vocals and Mick Jagger impersonation were on point. There's plenty of other items to report on: the middle-aged pre-gaming at local watering holes, the high jinx of the very high balcony seats and the overall bro fest that the show seemed to be.   But believe me y'all......that is a WHOLE other post.......

  You dudes can do whatever you want, as long as you play "Jealous Again" and "Twice as Hard".