GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

Girlfriend Gathering Movie Review – August: Osage County

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Today, a couple of girlfriends and I went to see the movie, August: Osage County.   When I walked out of that movie all I could think was “OMG! Meryl, Meryl, Meryl!”

I loved all of the characters in this movie and all of the actors/actresses (Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard, Chris Cooper, etc.), did a superb job of portraying them but there has to be another word for Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Violet.

These characters were complex – likable and unlikeable at the same time.   There were some good surprises in their relationships and I felt sympathy for situations that normally would not create that emotion within me.    Early in the movie, I decided to not think too much and just allow the movie to take me to its emotional destination – even if it felt a little uncomfortable.   I am sure many persons in the audience could identify with at least one of the characters.

OK, let’s be honest.  We all know some dysfunction is a part of every family.   Some may deny it existing in their families but there simply isn’t a “normal” family …….just varying degrees of dysfunction.     This movie gave us a horrific view of dysfunction at a time when it usually raises its ugly head – in a family crisis.    How many funerals have you gone to where some family member acts a “plum fool”?    I can name a few.

I love a good character-based story and this one was GREAT!   It is well worth a second viewing.

QUESTION(S):

Do you know a “normal” family?   If so, please share about them.

Girlfriend Gathering Movie Review – The Legend of Hercules

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Today, a couple of girlfriends and I went to see the movie, The Legend of Hercules.   As a reader of Greek Mythology since childhood and a follower of the old Hercules movies with Steve Reeves, I was excited when I heard about this new movie.   I wondered what actor could adequately portray this hero for a new generation.    I was unfamiliar with the actor Kellan Lutz (Hercules) but he was definitely great for my eyes and his physical presence was more than adequate for Hercules.   Also, the actor (Liam McIntyre) that played my hero Spartacus from the STARZ series of the same name was in this movie, too, which was an additional bonus.

Overall, the movie was entertaining with some great (but not too bloody) fight scenes which I really enjoyed.   We saw the 2D version but I am sure the 3D version was really awesome on those fight scenes.   As for the storyline, I would have preferred a deeper one and some more characterization but then the movie duration would be longer.  Perhaps the movie budget did not allow for this level of depth.

If you want a good entertaining action movie with some scantily clothed good-looking men (which I enjoyed!) then this movie is for you.    Grab a bag of popcorn and enjoy!

QUESTIONS:

Do you like these type of movies, i.e., Gladiator, Spartacus, Hercules?   If so, what do you enjoy about them?

The Best Things in Life #4 – Laughing at Yourself

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Yes, I have lived long enough to have many opportunities to laugh at myself.   If I had to choose the one thing that I keep doing that is a source of laughter (after the fact) it is falling down in unusual places.   I know if I had some video of some of those falls I could win several of those prizes on America’s Funniest Video.

My most spectacular fall was in the middle of Main Street in DisneyWorld’s Magic Kingdom on the evening of July 4th 2008 after the wondrous fireworks.    I tripped and fell off the curb.   In a matter of minutes, I was surrounded by Disney officials and medics, who were very alarmed.    I was so embarrassed I was speechless.   My sister, who is a nurse, kept asking me had I hit my head and my eleven year old nephew was dismayed because I had rolled over on the camera.  His main concern was about all of his Disney pictures.     It is still funny and I am laughing about it now as I write this post.

Here are a few more of my spectacular falls:

  • Fell in Jason’s Deli while grabbing a to-go lunch.   When I fell my forehead hit the tile floor and I literally kissed the floor as there was my red lipstick on it.   My co-workers took me to the emergency room because I had a huge knot on my forehead.  This was 2 days before a vacation to Jamaica.   I did continue with my vacation (with the doctor’s blessing) but I had 2 perfect black eyes.   I wore sunshades day and night to cover them while on vacation.
  • Fell at a black tie banquet at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC.    I was walking toward the waving hands of my companion across the ballroom but I forgot there were a couple of steps in front of me.   As I fell, I heard all of the persons around me exclaim in one big “OH!”   I was so embarrassed that I just stayed on the floor for a few minutes.   The head waiter rushed over to me asking if I was okay.   I didn’t answer because I felt cold air on the back of my upper thighs.  I was humiliated.   Then I realized I was in Washington, D.C. and I probably would never see some of these people again.   So, with all the audacity we Texans can muster, I got up, pulled my dress down, and walked across the ballroom to my table.
  • Years later, while visiting the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C. on an evening tour, I tripped and fell.   This time I sprained my ankle.   A week later, back at home, I tripped and fell in downtown Houston leaving the Houston Ballet performance.    This time I broke my 2 front teeth.
  • Fell out of a hammock on a beach in Aruba.   I think one of my friends captured this fall in a photo.
  • Fell down an ice-covered staircase on my way to church one Sunday.   I didn’t have any injuries on this fall.  I didn’t even tear my pantyhose!   However, my shoes flew off.   My neighbor came down to help me.  He searched for my shoes and put them back on my feet.  He asked me if I wanted to go back upstairs to my apartment.  I told him I thought it best to go on to church.   It was a bad ice-storm in Houston that day.   I saw on the TV news later that several persons fell and broke ankles, legs, etc.

This list can go on and on as my falls go back to when I was a child/teenager.   Even though I did sustain some injuries on some of them, it did not stop my quest for adventure and my ability to laugh at myself.

QUESTIONS:

Do you laugh at yourself?    If so, can you share some occasions where you have done so?

Happy New Year – 2014!

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Overall, life was good for me in 2013.   I am now sitting here in my home office doing the one thing I truly love – writing – and I feel this is the perfect spot for me as I wait out the last minutes of 2013.

The writing life has brought me a lot of wonderful experiences this past year.  It has also brought new friends / colleagues / followers and I am very THANKFUL for these new relationships.

One of the most important lessons I have learned on my life journey is that TIME is the greatest human asset because it is the one thing we cannot replenish.  So, in this New Year, may I encourage you to fill all of your moments with loving people and wonderful experiences.        I wish all of you and yours Joy, Love, Peace and Success in the upcoming year.

The Hubby Track

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1038415_HiResAs I mentioned in a previous post, I am always eavesdropping in public places.   As a writer, this is one of the methods we study dialogue so that the characters in our stories are unique in their speech.   So, you can only imagine some of the interesting unlikely conversations that I overhear.

One Monday morning at my “day job”, I overheard a conversation between two men about their weekend activities.   I love listening to discussions between men because, as a female writing about relationships, it is difficult to write from the male point of view.   It is even better when they think no one is listening like on this day when there was a cubicle wall between them and me.

One of the guys had the normal “guy” weekend and there was nothing noteworthy for me.   However, the other guy’s weekend was very interesting and humorous.    He mentioned that he had gone out on a first date with someone he met at the home of another friend.    He said that the date was going okay until the young woman started asking him all types of questions.   When asked what type of questions by his workmate, he replied, “Well, it felt like I was on a job interview.”   Now, this guy was from London, so just imagine hearing the exasperation in that statement with his accent.   I burst out laughing.  I could not help it.

Of course, they heard me and stopped talking.   I stood up and apologized explaining that I could not help but overhear the conversation.   I told him his date was ensuring that he was not a waste of her time.   He was puzzled so I told him a few things that cleared it up for him.  He was amazed that I guessed his date was established in her career and nearing the age of 30.   I explained to Mr. London that his date was on the “hubby track”.

The pressure “to marry” for some women can sometimes become a toxic situation.   This pressure can come from family, friends and definitely from the fact that there are more females in the population than males.   Therefore, some women are destined to remain single.  There are some women who do not want to be counted in that number and Mr. London’s date was one of those women.   Also, the horrible truth is that some women judge other women not by their individual successes, not by their contribution to society but by the fact of their marital status.   This is the ultimate pressure – how you are viewed by your peers.

In my own family, I have a relative who had a different fiancée at every family gathering attended to the point I was getting them mixed-up!   It was as if she had a wedding photo ready with a silhouette for a husband and any man available could replace that silhouette.   Needless to say, I was worried for her and I am still worried for her.   She has now been married multiple times and even now is unhappy in her current marriage.  I want to tell her it is okay to be single and that is okay just to get off the “hubby track”.

Now, I am a woman who believes in love and marriage.   I also believe that a woman should take the necessary time to look for the signs of a keeper (as stated in my earlier post of the same name) during the course of interacting with a prospective mate.  In time, you will know if he is the one for YOU.  However, if you are “hubby job interviewing” dates and/or mentally marrying every man you date, you need to take a break from the “hubby track” and investigate your chief motivating force.   It is my belief that you will find you are acting out of some fear – which is the wrong reason to be on the “hubby track”.

QUESTIONS:

Do you think that some women judge other women by their marital status?

Have you ever known someone that could have possibly been on the “hubby track”?  If so, can you share their outcome?