Thank You, Julie Owens

Thank you, RitaAnita

Thank you, Susan Wiggs

Thank you, RitaAnita Linger

Somebody please explain to me the obsessive fascination with all things Kardashian!  Why would anybody want to celebrate the offspring of the guy who got O.J. off a double-murder rap?

Yesterday, Kim announced ~ surprise, surprise ~ that her uber-hyped marriage lasted all of 72 days.  “Careful consideration” ~ gimme a break ~ wasn’t the time for careful consideration before the wedding ~ like maybe when you were more obsessed with selecting china than a mate for life?

Now, today Kris Kardashian Jenner has the audacity to promote her book by admitting that she was too busy with her uber-narcissistic life to be there for Nicole Brown Simpson on the day she was murdered ~ by the guy her ex-husband got off on a double-murder rap.

With BFF’s like the Kardashians, no wonder Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were brutally murdered.  They were murdered by the callous indifference of uber-malignant narcissists long before O.J. slit their throats.  Why doesn’t she leave?  This is why, folks.

Women with breast cancer get “good-bye, Boobie” parties while women with EX-mates who are pit bull abusers get “sorry, I’m too busy.”  We don’t blame women with cancer in their breast for the malignant tumor, but we sure as hell blame women for having the good sense to kick a malignant narcissistic pit bull abuser to the curb.

Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman are dead because Kris Kardashian Jenner didn’t give a shit.  And, she wants us to buy her book.  Oh, please!  Enough already!

Cheryl Burke

Chris Brown got a frosty welcome last night on Dancing with the Stars from abuse survivor Cheryl Burke, Kirstie Alley, and co-host Tom Bergeron.  Ms. Burke told Extra:

As a victim of domestic violence, I don’t agree with him coming on the show, but it’s out of my control.

MSN reported that Tom Bergeron told Ryan Seacrest:

Here’s the thing, I did say to the producers it might be to their advantage to not have me interview him, because my natural tendency would be to say something.

PopEater’s Rob Shuter reported that a “show insider” told him that Kirstie Alley gave Mr. Brown the cold shoulder:

Kirstie wanted to spend as little time as possible around him.  It was hard enough for her to be in the same building as him.

According to the report, this sentiment was shared by the rest of the cast:

Most of the cast think it’s disgraceful that ABC invited him on in the first place, but after he smashed a window backstage at ‘Good Morning America,’ almost everyone participating in the competition thought he should have been canceled.

Extra, on the other hand, reported that Wendy Williams said:

It’s Monday.  This is for all my friends who think chocolate is the best therapy ever!

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

 Why do they put green dye in the Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day?

The water is always green.

David Lanz is a prince of a guy and an amazing pianist and composer.  Cristofori’s Dream, a tribute to the man who invented the piano 300 years ago, was #1 on Billboard for 27 weeks.  East of the Moon was nominated for a Grammy in 2000.  His latest CD and DVD is Liverpool: Re-Imagining the Beatles by the Liverpool Trio:  David Lanz on piano, Gary Stroutsos on flutes, and Walter Gray on cello.

The Trio will be performing a benefit concert for Womencare Shelter on December 12, 2010 at 3:00 PM at the Amadeus Project in Bellingham, Washington.  Mr. Lanz will be playing his classics and holiday music, and the Trio will play selections from their CD.

©  BHP Images

David Lanz’ music is very healing.  He is the spokesperson for the American Music Therapy Association.  In a YouTube video celebrating the Liverpool CD and DVD, Mr. Lanz shared intimate thoughts about creating music:

One of the reasons I became a musician was a way to deal with emotional issues. . .I transform them into soothing melodies.  It is a way to take some of those rough edges and some of those less than beautiful emotions and turn them into something that is a little softer.

Stress is really what causes most of our disease. . .The music I do. . .is healing. . .relaxing. . .unplug. . .

The best ideas that I get are in those moments when I’m not thinking.  The music can really help ~ it kind of creates that mood ~ all of a sudden you’re not thinking about your life ~ you’ve unplugged.  Then, your soul has a chance ~ the muse has a chance to come in. . .it is a spiritual process.  You have to put yourself in this moment and jump.  You might crash and burn or you might learn how to fly.  If you learn how to fly, it’s great.

© Carole May

The Liverpool Trio unplugged after recording most of their new CD/DVD by taking a pilgrimage to Liverpool.  My friend and colleague Carole May was their tour guide and photographer.  She took this photo of Mr. Lanz at Strawberry Fields.  Mr. Lanz recalled:

I will never forget the time spent in Liverpool: the drive down Penny Lane, standing by the gate at Strawberry Fields . . . all giving new meaning and greater dimension to the music of the Beatles.

Ms. May has created a listening room on Mr. Lanz’ website.  You can hear segments of David’s songs before you decide which CD or DVD you wish to purchase.  I’m fairly certain you will instantly recognize his music.

You can see more of Ms. May’s photos at her website:  Carole May Images.

Question:  What do you get when you mix GPS with PMS? 

Answer:  A crazy bitch who will find you! 

Eat, Pray, Love [the movie] is fairly faithful to the book.  It brings the book to life with many scenes filmed where the actual adventure took place.  The ashram is different, but the pizzeria in Naples is the Pizzeria da Michele, which Elizabeth Gilbert put on the map. 

The photography is magnificently dreamy and beautiful.  I was shocked, however, by the levels of smog ~ especially in India. 

The movie begins with her trip to Bali and prophetic visit with Ketut Liyer.  He gives her a drawing and tells her: 

Look through your heart not your head. 

The EPL Journey Begins in New York

It quickly moves to New York City and highlights the tension of the competing roles and yearnings of women ~ career or family or both.  Best friend Delia has a box of baby clothes under her bed waiting until her husband is ready to be a father.  Elizabeth, on the other hand, has a box full of travel destinations. 

On the drive home, Elizabeth realizes she’s married the wrong man ~ Steve in the movie ~ Michael Cooper in real life.  Elizabeth [Julia Roberts] ends up on the floor of her bathroom in the middle of the night wishing she could slip out of the back door of her marriage and not stop running until Greenland.  She prays hard, “I’m a big fan of your work. . .I’m in serious trouble.” 

If you’ve read the book, you know that God sends her back to bed.  The movie gives a better glimpse into the litigation abuse that Elizabeth Gilbert experienced in real life than the book.  It also draws a finer point on the lack of support for her journey that she experienced from friends and family. 

Italy:  Eat 

The film transported me to Italy.  The movie takes liberty with each of the countries while retaining the essence of the book.  Elizabeth’s Italian experience focuses on her friendship with Sofi, a warm-hearted Swedish woman, and ~ of course ~ food.  OMG.  I wanted to eat the food.  Julia Roberts told Oprah [the show is being rebroadcast today] that she didn’t fake eating the food.  Like Elizabeth, she packed on the pounds ~ a “muffin top.” 

Her Italian friends taught her that Americans know entertainment, but we don’t do pleasure. 

India:  Pray 

Ms. Roberts told Oprah that they filmed the movie in sequence.  In the book, I fell in love with Texan Richard Vogt, who has sadly recently passed away.  In the movie, however, I thought he was a meddling, intrusive, controlling jerk.  I was touched by her connection to a young Indian woman who was compelled to enter into an arranged marriage. 

There were two main lessons in India: 

• We settle for misery because we are afraid of change.
• God dwells in all of us.

While the movie might have captured the essence of life in the ashram, I thought this segment was tedious and way too long.  The profound mystical sense I felt from the book was absent from the movie. 

Indonesia (Bali):  Love 

The scenes with Ketut Liyer were filmed at his home.  I was disappointed they cut out a part of her “smile with your liver” lesson.  While this segment of the movie stays true to the essence of Ms. Gilbert’s relationship with “Felipe,” it strays dramatically from the book.  The scenery is so beautifully filmed that I wanted to hop on a plane and see it for myself. 

In Bali, she learned: 

• Sex lubricates the joints.
• The only way to heal is to trust.

At the end of the movie (2 hours, 15 minutes), she discovers her word which translates from Italian:  “let’s cross over.”  In “Felipe,” Elizabeth Gilbert found her soul mate ~ someone who wanted to be her partner on her life’s journey and collect passport stamps with her. . .someone who didn’t want babies. 

The Washington Post did a photographic travel log of Ms. Gilbert’s journey.  Oprah published a comprehensive Elizabeth Gilbert page today.

When the prime-time Emmy nominations were announced this morning, Charlie Sheen didn’t make the cut for the first time in four years.     

It could be that the Emmys thought other actors in comedy shows were better.  I’m hoping that his serial abuse of the women in his life was a factor in their decisions.  I think it is about time men in powerful positions get held accountable for their criminal behavior.

Update:  After I published this post, I discovered a post on Ponderings from Pluto.  ALMA’s website is still under construction so I wasn’t able to independently verify the report.  I’m not concerned whether someone from ALMA actually said this because I wish I had been this clever and observant:

“In light of his recent arrest regarding heavy drinking and allegedly assaulting his wife and treating her disrespectfully, we’ve come to conclude that Mr. Sheen hasn’t really been acting on Two and a half Men,” said ALMA Awards executive producer Janet Murguía in a statement. “Charlie Harper is actually Charlie Sheen. The pure essence of acting is to pretend to be somebody you’re not, and Sheen is proving to us that his on-screen character is merely an extension of who he is in real life.”

American Latino Media Arts Awards (ALMA) presented Mr. Sheen (real name: Carlos Irwin Estévez) an ALMA for best actor in a comedy in 2008.