April 30, 2008

Let’s Catch Up, Shall We?

It’s been five days since my last entry, but it feels like five years. I’ve struggled to find the appropriate words upon my return to the blogosphere after this short hiatus (I’m referring to my error in judgment at BlogHer last week).

I could write an entire post, expressing my sorrow for offending so many people, but I’ve made my sincerest apologies both publicly and privately and I feel it’s best to use all of the wonderful resources, book recommendations, blog references and advice given to me, so that I may learn from my mistake.

I’m very grateful for all of the support many of you have given me, in spite of my grave offense, and I appreciate every phone call, every blog comment, and every e-mail that has been sent my way. I have tried my best to respond to everyone. If I haven’t gotten back to you, it is because my heart is overflowing from the kindness. I’m terribly sorry if I’ve missed the opportunity to thank you personally. Please know how grateful I am.

The last few days have been insanely busy. In addition to catching up on all matters online, I’ve been trying to keep up with life in general.

So far this week, I have enrolled Dawson in preschool for this fall, scheduled doctor and dentist appointments for myself and Dawson, gone grocery shopping, weeded the flower beds, caught up on laundry, watched Juno, Atonement and 27 Dresses (I loved all three movies), and spent some much needed time with my family.

Earlier this morning I went to Best Buy and bought a brand new laptop. Doug and I received our stimulus (rebate?) check and decided to spend half the money on a new garage door (ours is as old as the house and only opens manually, which is a total pain in the ass in the winter) and then we split the remaining money in half to spend as we wished. My wish was a faster laptop as the old one still runs Windows 2000.

I bought a Gateway laptop and it’s Garnet Red in color. I love it. I’ll take a picture of it soon. The cool thing is that it has a built-in webcam. I have the urge to do a blog chat, but it’s late and my hair is a mess (excuses, I know).

This afternoon my mother-in-law and I took a trip to Sam’s Club. Dawson came along as well and he was so excited to ride in Grandma’s new mini-van because it has a DVD player. He was able to watch SpongeBob SquarePants (of course!), and my MIL and I were able to carry on a conversation without constant demands and whines of a 3-year-old.

Also, I went over to Johnson’s Baby Cause, a charitable organization (through Global Giving) which is hosting a celebrity auction on e-bay. I bid on this travel system just for the heck of it. I don’t even need a stroller/car seat combo, but I thought it would be fun to win it and tell everyone I know that my favorite co-host of The View used this item. More about this here. (And more about this fun PBN blog blast here.)

That’s about all I’ve been up to these days. Now, I just have to catch up on your blogs and the world will be right again.

April 4, 2008

Can’t Move, Body Aches, NYC is Like a Personal Trainer

My calves, my feet, even my ankles are sore.  Yesterday I walked 41 NYC blocks (actually more, but I stopped counting after that)  just touring the city and seeing the “must-see” attractions on my list.  It’s no wonder New Yorkers are thin and fit.  They walk everywhere if they can.

Took the Subway again yesterday, just to spite my mother.  And guess who didn’t get kidnapped?  I felt like I lived here for years.  Although I did get on the wrong train somehow.  I quickly figured out I had to hop off at the next station to get on the correct one.  I’m glad I memorized my subway map and all the trains that go to various stops (seriously, I started learning it in December and even had Doug quiz me on it, just to be sure I got it) so that I never got lost.

I met Kenny Mayne on 5th Avenue yesterday afternoon.  That was just the highlight of my day, next to seeing the Flatiron building of course.  He is just as funny IRL as he is on TV.  Of course, it’s not everyday that I see celebrities, so the first words out of my mouth were, “You’re hilarious on Dancing with the Stars!”  He didn’t miss a beat.  “Yeah, I’ll be doing that again on April 29th.  Stay tuned.  By the way, I had a book reading at Barnes & Noble and no one showed up.  Where were you?”

Kenny Mayne chats with the Fed Ex guy.

I couldn’t stop laughing, then I realized a guy with headphones on, and some sort of (very large) video camera, was filming this exchange.  Kenny handed me a little photo card with his “book” title on it and I quickly got on my way.  I have no idea what they were taping but I’ll die if I see myself on national television.  Ugh.

I’m getting ready to check out of the hotel in a couple hours, then I’m off to visit with Liz from This Full House.  I’m so excited.  I haven’t seen her since BlogHerCon last July.

It’s going to be a wonderful Friday!  I promise to blog more soon, once I’ve got more time.

January 4, 2008

Britney…The Girl Can’t Help It

As a teenager, one of my favorite television shows was the All New Mickey Mouse Club. From the age of 10, I loved the singing, dancing and entertaining skits the MMC kids performed. I began watching the show after school, and the musical group, The Party, was one of my favorites. I’m not even embarrassed to admit that I still have a cassette tape and a CD of their music.

But as I grew older, so did the kids on TV and new blood was brought in. I vividly remember the first episode in which Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were introduced. They were young, adorable, fresh off of Star Search and trying to climb the tower of fame.

Of the four “kids” three are rather successful and still manage to be somewhat grounded in their personal and professional lives. And then there’s Britney Spears. Sweet as sugar, American as apple pie, Britney. When I think about the young star, my heart hurts.

Britney Spears has made some wrong turns in her life. She married the bad boy, Kevin Federline, gave birth to two babies in two years and after less than three years of marriage the couple divorced. That’s a lot of emotional trauma for one 26-year-old to handle. The highs and lows of pregnancy, raising a toddler and a new baby, trying to work things out with a loser husband before ditching him altogether — I’d lose my flipping mind, too.

As much as society loves to laugh and poke fun of Britney, and I’ve done my fair share, because I know how easy it is to make light of the painful situation, I can’t stand to see the girl in so much pain. I hate that she partied all night with the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. It makes me mad that she’s abusing alcohol, drugs and other controlled substances. I can’t stand to see her struggle through the stormy waters of her life.

And then, last night, while I was covering the Iowa Caucus results, Britney was having a meltdown because she didn’t want to return her children — her babies — to their father, who has primary custody during the pending court battle.

I don’t blame Britney for her actions. If someone tried to keep my children from me, I’d be just as furious, and just as crazy. I don’t think she can control herself. I don’t think she can help herself.

I can’t help but wonder why no one has been able to step in earlier to give Britney the help she needs. I know that you can lead a horse to water, they won’t always drink. But I’ll be damned if there isn’t a close friend that Britney trusts that could put a mirror in front of her face and show her what she’s becoming?

Easier said than done. I know. But each time I see a photo of Ms. Spears, I look into her eyes. Two empty, dark wells of anxiety and panic. She needs help. She needs help before it’s too late. Before something terrible happens to her. Before she leaves her young sons before her time.

I know it’s ridiculous to cry for Britney. I don’t know her personally. But I feel a slight bond with her. Mothers are drawn to other mothers. We want to help our own. We want to make sure that our fellow moms are not struggling with alcohol abuse, or post-partum depression, or emotional distress.

Please, Britney. Please, know that America is rooting for you. Even if some us are uncomfortable with seeing you do irrational things, even though we joke, we still want you to get the help you need and return to being a stable woman and mother. We want you to get well. We do.

June 8, 2007

Paris, Back to Jail, Cries for Mommy

Paris went back to jail.  Little Miss Spoiled-Rotten actually cried for her mommy as the bailiffs took her away.

The fucking princess actually thinks it is unjust that she serve the remainder of her sentence.

“It’s not right!” she yelled.

Give me a break, Paris.  You broke the law.  Every non-famous person who breaks a law suffers the consquences.  Jail time is what you deserve.

You can’t get out of jail just because you’ve got money and fame.

I hope you learn your lesson. 

Driving drunk, you could have killed someone.  Violating your probation is not something you can take lightly. 

The judge is right.  You should serve your sentence in its entirety.

If you don’t want to do the time, don’t commit the crime.  (I love that saying.)