Tag Archives: Relationships

Prince charming

Posted on February 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Colin Firth has been called a prince on several occasions.

Last night, he got a chance to showcase his skills.

As last year’s BAFTRA Best Actor Award winner for The King’s Speech, he was called upon to present the 2012 Best Actress BAFTRA Award at last night’s ceremony.  (I watched the festivities on DVR this morning during breakfast.)

Meryl Streep won for The Iron Lady, but the events that followed prove that winning ain’t always easy.

As Streep started walking toward the stage, she realized she had brought her purse, so she quickly shoved it into the hands of a woman on the aisle.  Then — in a Cinderella moment that couldn’t have been scripted — Streep left a shoe on the stage steps.

Thinking on his feet, Firth rescued her pump, knelt before the newly crowned Best Actress, and put it back on.

He was rewarded with a kiss.

Streep was thoughtful and gracious in her remarks, but I wasn’t really paying attention. We had just witnessed this spontaneous, movie-like moment.

Her speech was simply the credits.

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Posted in Celebrities, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Oscars, Relationships, Television, TV

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Snooze button

Posted on January 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Prudential’s current television campaign, entitled “Day One,” features men and women enjoying their first day of retirement. Having enough money to do so comfortably may be the underlying message, but Prudential is smart enough to focus on why it’s so desirable.

More time to spend with family. Travel. Enjoy your hobbies. Volunteer. And the image that made me smile and shake my head in ready agreement…

No more alarm clocks.

Since today is Sunday, many of us — retired or not — got to skip the alarm. Now, close your eyes and imagine….

One day you can take a sledge hammer to that thing.

For realsies.

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Posted in Advertising, Business, Commentary, Humor, Life, Travel, Vacation

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Popping the question

Posted on January 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

My nephew got engaged last week.

He proposed to his girlfriend while they were making dinner at his apartment.  They texted me the news, including photos of the ring.  A few days later they made the announcement on Facebook.

A modern love story.

I couldn’t help but compare that to Mr. Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.  (I watched it again last night when my cable box was on the fritz.)

He proposed the first time in the rain.  They argued, and she rejected him.

The second time (pictured here) they met in the middle of a field — in the middle of the night — in their night clothes. 

Then Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth’s father for her hand in marriage before the family had even eaten breakfast.

For such a proper time in history, that whole thing seems a bit scandalous in comparison….don’t you think?   Imagine your own son or daughter wandering into your front lawn at dawn in their PJs talking weddings.  You’d think they were drunk.

Of course, it would make a good story.

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Posted in Commentary, Family, Humor, Life, Love, Movies, Relationships

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Open arms

Posted on January 21, 2012 | 2 Comments

What can help you both build up your immune system and decrease your risk of heart disease and stress?

Hint: it’s not a pill, an exercise routine or the now ubiquitous green smoothie.

It’s the hug — that simple (and simply wonderful) one-on-one human contact between friends and loved ones.

Fantastic, huh?

Lucky for all of us, today is National Hug Day!  The holiday was established in 1986 to encourage PDA-phobic Americans to ‘reach out, reach out and touch someone.’ So now’s your chance to get out there and improve your health, your happiness and your overall state of being.

You’ll probably freak out a few people along the way, but hey — that’s just a bonus for feeling so gosh darn happy!

(See you out there.)

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Posted in Commentary, Exercise, Family, Friends, Health, Holiday, Humor, Life, Love, Philosophy, Relationships

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Burned

Posted on January 11, 2012 | 6 Comments

On my way to the subway last night, I overheard a snippet of conversation as two girls walked by:

“…so then I threw it all up, and I have never eaten it again.”

Man.  I guess we all have one of those stories. Mine happened when I was 13 years old.

After a morning of shopping, my mom and I got chili dogs at the Midtown Drive-In in Mayfield, Kentucky.  They were a favorite.

Then.

On the way home, I started feeling not-so-good.  Bad, actually.  And I told my mom, who was driving the car, that we needed to pull over.  NOW.  Her response?

“Hold on.  We’re almost there.”

How does one “hold on” when you getting ready to throw up?  I don’t know now, and I certainly didn’t know then.  My clothes and her car upholstery suffered as a result.

And I’ve never eaten a chili dog since.

So…have you sworn off a food that turned on you?  Share your story in the comments section.

And enjoy your lunch!

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Posted in Commentary, Food, Foods, Humor, Life

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A masterpiece

Posted on January 9, 2012 | 2 Comments

Last night was a very special occasion at my house.

I wore the burgundy silk for dinner.  Anna did my hair.  And Mrs. Patmore made a sinful raspberry meringue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was the long-awaited season premiere of Downton Abbey.

Over the holidays, I had taken the quiz “Which Downtown Abbey Character Are You?” and was shocked (not really) to discover I was like Lady Mary. The near-miss heiress of Downtown Abbey?

I so get that.

But last night, seeing all the changes that have taken place at the big house since the first season, I felt a bit more like Mr. Carson.

Why can’t things go back to the way they were?

I don’t like Matthew’s new fiancee, and I especially don’t like Mr. Bates exit at the top of this episode. And poor Lord Grantham is so unhappy. His gentle humor and good spirits were the foundation of season one.

I want him happy. I want Matthew and Mary and Bates and Anna together. I want everyone home and safe, sipping tea and making dinner.

Good thing I’m not writing the show. It would never have lasted.

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Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, Family, History, Humor, Life, Love, Relationships, Television, TV

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White Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

I attended a way fun holiday party last night with an unusual twist:

The hosts used only napkins, cups and plates that could be placed directly into the compost –  very smart, very green.

Unfortunately, paper products of that ilk aren’t green…or any color, for that matter.  Composting means they can’t contain dyes.  So the party ware was of the decidedly winter white variety.

It was worth it.

But if you prefer color in your paper products, get a load of these! Toilet paper, paper towels, napkins and tissues by Renova in the brightest of the brights!

I love these vibrant, saturated tones.  The toilet paper pictured here is made of 100% virgin pulp, is very soft and absorbent, and is tested under “dermatological and gynaecological control.”

Ya gotta admit, it looks pretty cool.  And it’s also available in black, green, orange, and purple.

White Christmas?  Not necessarily.  (Can’t wait to see Nana’s face…)

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Posted in Commentary, Cooking, Crafts, Design, Food, Holiday, Home, Humor, Life, Shopping

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After six

Posted on December 21, 2011 | 1 Comment

The tuxedo was invented by a tailor in Tuxedo Park, New York, some 125 years ago at the request of tobacco magnate Pierre Lorillard IV.

It wasn’t named after the tailor.  Not Pierre, either.  Nope, Tuxedo Park got that honor.

‘Cause where you’re from matters.

I learned this slice of history today in a one-page SKY magazine article on my Delta flight.  My holiday has begun, and I’m flying to Kansas City to visit my sister, brother-in-law and countless friends there.

You see, I used to be from Kansas City…for a little while.

Oh, I was born and raised in Kentucky, and only lived in Kansas City for seven years.  But during that time, I made a now infamous trip to New York City – the current place I’m ‘from’ – and ended up talking to Al Roker outside the Today Show window.  And when Al asked me where I was from, I said, “Kansas City.”

My Kentucky kin have never let me forget.

‘Cause where you’re from matters.

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Posted in Commentary, Design, Fashion, History, Humor, Life, Relationships

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Monkey business

Posted on December 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

I missed Monkey Day.

I’m as shocked as you are.

Yesterday was International Monkey Day, the one day each year that we celebrate all things simian.

But I got distracted by work and travel and missed all the monkey business.

No monkey t-shirts.  No monkey jokes.  No monkey e-cards (always funny, always appropriate).

Funny thing — people always accuse Hallmark Cards of ‘creating’ holidays.  Although there’s no proof of it, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are behind Monkey Day.  Goodness knows the monkey has been good to them.  Put a monkey on a humor card, and it always sells.

‘Cause monkeys are funny.  I mean, just look at that face.  Dude deserves his own day.

(Hope it was happy.)

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Posted in Animals, Comedy, Holiday, Humor, Life, Relationships, Writing

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A robot’s tale

Posted on December 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

I met a robot in my neighborhood.

image He’s a nightlight for sale at my friend Stephanie’s shop, Stoopher & Boots.

Every time I have seen him, I couldn’t look away. (We don’t get a lot of his kind on the Upper West Side.)

Then I started hearing a sound when I was near him…a soft chant. “Milo. Milo.” (He’s a friend of mine — the baby boy variety – who has a particular interest in the ‘bots.)

He needed that robot nightlight.  So after a quick consultation with his parental units, it was soon on its way to Milo’s robot-themed bedroom in sunny Los Angeles.

image

Look at it — sitting in his room, like it was made for the place.

It’s almost an exact match to the robot in the print on the wall!

How a’bot that?

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Posted in Design, Family, Home, Humor, Life, Shopping

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