Celebrities as parents....
My recent readings of gossip regarding celebrities, courtesy of MSNBC's scoop today:
"More details are coming out about Jessica Simpson’s plans to adopt. The recently separated ex-reality star has said she wants to adopt needy children like Angelina Jolie. Now, In Touch Weekly is reporting that Simpson hopes to open an orphanage in Mexico and adopt two children. . . . "
First let me just say. There was time when I thought Jessica Simpson was cool. But that was back when she didn't say much, looked pretty, and wore clothing without her breasts almost falling out of them.
And then she got married.
And it was like... it gave her free reign to toss away her clean image and show the true pornographic side of who she was... because after all, she's married now. It didn't help matters that her dad would talk to the press about how sexy she was and how huge her breasts were.
I mean I can't bring myself to buy lingerie for my cousin's wedding shower because I don't want to know about any aspect of that side of her relationship with her husband to be.
Now, she is talking about adopting needy children? Using Angelina Jolie as her inspiration?
First of all, Angelina may have been a little off kilter - what with making out with her brother and wearing Billy Bob's blood. But you know what, I always liked her. Despite her oddities, there was something about her that just said to me, "she's just looking for meaning in her life." She never sounded nuts in her interviews or drugged up. She was perfectly cognizant of what she was doing and she didn't care because she makes her decisions on her own terms. That's why people admire her. That's why Brad has trailed her everywhere. She's about as real as you can get in Hollywood. Do I think Brad is good enough for her? No. But I don't think anyone could be. She's too much of her own person. I admire her becuase if I were in her shoes, I'd have probably liked to think that I'd have acted the same way. Although I'm still pretty wussy.
Having said that.
Jessica Simpson is too full of herself to be a mother. I saw the first season of Newlyweds. It was like watching a train wreck. I couldn't believe Nick Lachey fell in love with her. They really must not have spent very much time together prior to getting married. The girl can't do laundry? She doesn't pick up her clothes? I suppose I have to give her kudos for trying... but... seriously... for being a over publicized B list celebrity... I really think she thinks too highly of herself.
Jessica Simpson is no Angelina Jolie and adopting a couple of "needy" children is not going to fix her image. I don't know her personally. But I find it appalling that she feels she needs to publicize this - if it really mattered to her, she wouldn't need so much attention.
Aging Gracefully
This morning as I prepared to come into work I came across an interview on the CBS morning show with Fabio.
Yes Fabio, the blonde, muscled man who couldn't speak English very well and always sounded like he had taken too many steroids.
He's not blonde anymore and he has a funny commercial - I forget for what company - but he didn't sound like a dumb dumb so much as a European dude who had an appreciation for his life and life as a whole. I have to admit, I was impressed.
Of course this doesn't mean that I am in love with him for it.
But he was talking about life and how people in hollywood take themselves too seriously and worry too much about not aging and staying young looking. That that's just a superficial thing and that there is greater beauty in aging gracefully.
And I have to say. I agree wholeheartedly about that.
I am fortunate to have some pretty nice examples in my own family of aging gracefully. My Grandmothers were both two of the most beautiful women to me - not just because of their appearence but because of how wise they were and I wish that I had spent more time with my paternal Grandmother... I did spend time, but I just wish I spent more. I have one memory for each of my Grandmothers.... heh.
For my Dad's Mom, my favorite memory of her was when I was probably like... five.. or six... and we were in PA at our old house. And all we were doing was pushing this little plastic plane back and forth to each other across the kitchen table. It was fun. But to me it was especially fun because of the joy she had on her face. She had the most brilliant happy smile on her face and I just remember that as one of my happiest moments becuase it was one that only she and I shared and it was the most nominal type of activity - but we were so excited and happy to be there together... at the kitchen table. Heh.
For my Mom's Mom, my favorite memory - well there are a lot actually. Just because I got to spend so much time with her as I grew up. But one of the last ones was of when she was in the hospital going for an x-ray and I looked at her in her wheelchair looking so regal in her hospital gown and sweater heh, and I said to her in Taiwanese, "Grandma you are still so pretty." And she looked at me as though I was some kind of fool and smiled at me and said "Well of course I am." As if that could ever be a question in anyone's mind. I found that remarkable because even as cancer sucked her body up, her spirit was as strong as ever. And I marveled at the wisdom and sense of joy she had even in that moment.
If I am fortunate like my Grandmothers to have lived a good life, I will be very grateful.
Not that I'm not already grateful.
They say it's Spring.... but it feels like Winter
I remember the weather around this time last yet. Especially the weekend of St Paddy's day and I was definitly wandering around without a jacket. Although it did rain. But even then I was fine with my umbrella.
This whole breaking out my winter coat and wearing a scarf thing is just - not acceptable. I really hope April isn't this cold. I have no idea what I could possibly do in retaliation, but I REALLY really won't like it then.
Someday this too will probably go away...
With companies trying to increase productivity, many do not allow people to use the internet during work hours. It's a smart idea. I mean I can't blame them. Some people really don't know how to control their use of the internet. Especially if there is something they need to plan or look up. I remember when I worked at my old company I felt guilty - until I saw that our HR manager used the internet all the time to check her checking account and other miscellaneous things. Then I felt okay about it so long as I got my work done.
For now I am grateful to have one avenue at least with which to blather on about whatever new idea pops into my head. It's kind of nice to write for the sake of writing and not with the purpose of providing entertainment to other people. And if people are reading, well, I don't know about it. And that's okay.
So for the time that I have on this blog. I say, I am thankful for having someplace to make some sort of imprint... no matter how little it might be... to say something about anything that pops up in my mind.
Where do people get married?
I realize that's not really supposed to be a hard question. But when it comes to one's own wedding. It's a very hard question! I have been pulled in all sorts of directions every which way trying to decide what sort of wedding I would like and where.
This is all before E has managed to purchase my engagement ring - although it's not a matter of whether we get married or whether the ring is there at all. It's a matter of me making up my mind and deciding where and how we are going to get married.
So it's made me wonder repeatedly, where do people get married? How do they decide?
I have no dreams about a fantasy wedding. I have no images of chiffon and candles with white rosebuds and blah blah blah. I don't. In fact I think I've started to get hives and this definite stress pain in my neck with the thought of having to plan a wedding. I've seen my cousins and friends and what it did to them. I will be the first to stand up and say that is not what I want. I don't want a big wedding. I don't really want a reception and quite frankly the idea of having a whole day where everyone's focus of attention is on me is just.... not so appealing to me. I would not enjoy having everyone staring at me and trying to get me to kiss E every five minutes. Although I will admit I really get a kick out of doing that to other people.
I just don't want a ceremony and reception deal. I really really don't.
Am I the only bride in the world who feels this way? I mean I'm so excited to get married to E. He is one of the best things to ever come into my life and I feel so excited and lucky and can't wait to be married. But the wedding part. Ugh. I just don't think it's necessary. I'm not looking forward to that at all.
ARGH. I don't know. Heh. Lately we just keep saying we should just not get married because neither of us wants to go through the debaucle of the planning so much and spending so much for what is one day out of the rest of our lives. We'd rather plan for all of our lives. Like saving for a house instead of a wedding.
Sure I'll get more work done but....
My cousin is off on her honeymoon this week! I will miss her. Heh. She and I usually talk to each other during the day on im... it will be very quiet without her.
I don't remember exactly where she is going, I just remember that it's a Sandals resort and it looks really nice and warm there. She and her hubby should be otw now if not already there. How nice to relax in the sun and do fun beachy things. Makes me miss Cancun.
I can appreciate the appeal of time shares. However I still think it makes more sense to save up and choose where you want to go rather than be committed to one place. Even if they give you to option of switching with someone else. I would rather just save up and spend it or not spend it at my own leisure.
Next month See will be in Florida for training.... I may go visit him while he's there over a weekend. It could be fun! We could go to Disney World. Heh. Like a little mini vacation or something. I would like that. Plus it'd be warmer than here. And the flight isn't so far away. I'll have to look into tickets I think.
Anyhoo. I hope that everyone has a lovely day/week. I will probably blog a lot due to the lack of conversational opportunities to take me away from work. Heehee.
St Patrick's Day
Why does everyone celebrate St Patrick's Day?
I don't know. What I do know is it's an excuse most people use in order to drink and generally become silly starting early in the morning well into the night.
I know this because the last time I went out fot St Patrick's Day, I woke up in a stranger's bed the next morning. Heh. Sure that sounds lurid but the fact of the matter is, I was by myself - just in someone else's bed. Heh.
Some facts I have learned about St. Patrick thanks to howstuffworks.com:
- He was the first bishop in Ireland
- He wrote a spiritual autobiography called "The Confessio" along with "Espitola" which denounced British treatment if Irish Christians.
- He supposidly drove snakes from Ireland. aka - got rid of all the pagan peeps.
- No one seems to agree where he died.
Evidently this is a huge day in Ireland - a religious holiday with many businesses being closed today and people attending mass.
I still have not been able to figure out where the rampant drinking came from. Part of me thinks it comes from Americans trying to come up as many ways to justify a day spent intoxicated. I also think that is why Mardi Gras is so popular.
I also did not wear any green today.
Social Commentary
I am the first to admit that one of my greatest vices... is reading up on the latest celebrity gossip. Whether it is true or not means nothing to me. I read it for the entertainment value.
Do I believe that TomKat are still together and will really get married? Or will Tom be like Kevin Federline and fly the coup as soon as he finds another female that catches his eye? No. I don't really care honestly. Out of that couple I am more worried for their child. And that's about all the thought I give to it. And as long as they decide they want to roam around in public holding hands for the world to see at Tom's kids' events, I am interested in seeing how this "real" soap opera plays out. That's not all of my impressions of them. I could devote an essay to what I think of Tom Cruise.
Brangelina is my favorite couple to watch because... well... they try so hard to be low key but it's impossible because of their past public relationship and the circumstances of their get together. They may be trying to turn over a new leaf for the sake of their little ones.... but let's face it. Until that baby is born... or Jennifer Aniston gets remarried... the press will still have a big intrest in how the bump grows and where the baby is born and what it looks like. I say maybe fifty years from now the hum will die down. And then it will be the press asking their grandkids "so what do you think about how your old nana and pop pop got together?" and pictures of them traveling around with their grandkids instead wearing matching vials of their family's blood in them.
And for all of those celebrities who cry and say "I am a human being, it's not fair that you treat me this way." I say, you're right. It's not very fair. But at the same time, you chose your profession and who your agent and publicist would be.... if you don't want the publicity... don't do anything stupid in public. And perhaps you really should have gone for that accounting or architecture career you wanted instead. But you wanted the glory, the attention. So you got what you asked for.
This is also for all the women in the world who are forced to watch television and magazines that marvel over the beauty of models and actresses who always look so glowly in beautiful outfits.
I would like to ask yourself this question.
If you were paid millions of dollars to look amazing. And the livelihood of your career depended on the fact that you were a size 4 and not a size 14. So you were paid to work out for four hours everyday and could pay a nutritionist to specially concot a diet just for you.... AND have someone pre-prepare foods for you... Plus a stylist to do your hair, and clothing companies paying you to wear their clothes.... don't you think you'd look every bit as amazing as these celebrities do? Perhaps even a little better? Because most famous people are blank canvases that people are able to paint to look a certain way. And I find it unfortuante that so many women work so hard to look like someone else.
I don't know what the solution is. And I think very few people would actually agree with what I think about a lot of things.
But this is also why this is my blog and not someone else's.
The Iraq War... blame it on the Democrats.
At least that's what
George Clooney says. Which honestly, he makes some valid points. But then again, would Bush have really listened? Does Bush listen to anyone but himself? I don't know the dude personally but either way... the next two years are going to be very very long ones.
Thank goodness for house and wedding planning. WHEW! By the time that whirlwind is done perhaps he will be gone and I can pay attention to politics again without wanting to repeatedly bang my head into the wall.
One way a guy could save on an engagement ring....
Being in ring shopping mode, I found
this article particularly interesting.
Wonder if this means more people will be heading to Arkansas.
Here is the website for the park.
It's my mess and I love it.
Another reason why I love Diane Sawyer... heh
From MSN's scoop for March 13, 2006
"Diane Sawyer insists that she’s a slob when she’s not on air. “I’m never seen out of sweatpants or jeans after 9:01 a.m.,” the GMA co-host tells the upcoming issue of Good Housekeeping. “If people only knew how I dread hair and makeup and anything that feels like getting dressed up, how hard it is to get me into anything formal. I’m just basically the rattiest person you’ve ever seen. My inner slob is really the governing personality. I’d like to know what it feels like to be someone who is perfectly groomed, and who stays groomed. Because I grow progressively more deranged as the day goes on. I usually end up with paper clips in my hair and things stapled to me and those Post-it things on my shirt. At the end of the day, I am my own personal freak show.”
I appreciate this because I can totally relate. Heh.
If only I had thought to take a sick day....
The weather today is
B E A U T I F U L.
If I was at my old company, I'd have totally called in sick today. But I like my job now and feel lucky to have it so I am happy to come to work. Is that strange?
E is leaving me today to head off to Atlantic City for his friend's bachelor party. I am going to miss him. But it's only for the weekend and I have a few ideas of how to spend my time this weekend - keep myself busy with enjoying the amazing weather we're supposed to have this weekend. Maybe head down to D.C. and check out how the Cherry Blossom's are progressing at the Tidal Basin. I can't imagine they are out yet, but this weekend sure is a little prod to get them to show up sooner than later.
I hope to do lots of walking and not having to wear a jacket this weekend.
Boy do I love this weather.
