Allright! This chick is toast!

You remember in Ghostbusters when the Ecto Containment they had in the basement of the old firehouse got shutdown by the city and all the spooks and spirits they had trapped were released to wreak havoc in the city? That's right -- it's the part just before Gozer appears in the form of a giant Stay-Puft marshmallow man to destroy the city. I love that movie....but I digress. The thing is that my DVR is about to explode just like that Ecto Containment system. It's been warning me for days that it is 98% full -- and I've ignored it and gone about my business and I know stuff I taped a year ago is being taped over. But tonight is the night -- I've got to catch up on some television viewing. There's been so much going on. And how's a girl supposed to get read to go to Hawaii when there's American Idol and Top Chef Masters to watch. And just when I think that everything is fine and I'll be able to catch up -- I realize that my beloved Red Wings are playing the first game of the Stanley Cup semi-finals in San Jose tonight. I can't not watch! My poor little wings got into trouble for just flying into town. They need all the help they can get.

The Thing With The Feathers And The Stick

How's your day goin'? Mine too. The June gloom has started in April. I woke up to a thick fog over the swimming pool and it only got thicker and more pea soup-like as I drove into Burbank. I must say the gloomy day matches my spirits. That is why it gives me great pleasure to tell you a story about Roxy...


Last night the Handsomest Man Alive and I ran errands after I got home from work. We found ourselves at Target after 9:00pm buying milk. Of course as anyone who's ever gone into Target to buy one item will tell you -- it doesn't work, you always end up spending $150. We were both so punchy and tired. I saw the HMA buying a box of Junior Mints ('They're on sale! 67 cents a box. I can't pass them up.') and some double chocolate Milano cookies. I tossed an InStyle magazine in my basket, and then I couldn't resist buying a little gift for the cat who was waiting patiently at home for us to return.

I find it absolutely hilarious that dog toys are toys -- balls, squeekies, pull toys -- and cat toys are torture devices. I bought Roxy a stick with feathers and a bell attached. She couldn't be more delighted. I never even cracked the magazine, it was too much fun to watch her with her toy. There are feathers everywhere. I heard the bell in my sleep. And when I got up this morning there she was -- ready to go find out if her new stick was still in the house -- and much to her delight -- it was. She could barely finish her breakfast because her new stick was waiting for her on the living room floor. I can't remember when I felt such passion and delight -- except, of course, watching her roll around on the living room rug with her new stick. It really is the little things that matter most.

Bring it on, Betty!

On May 8 Betty White will host a pre-Mother's Day Saturday Night Live episode. Finally. The drive to bring the comedienne to the late night comedy festival began on Facebook. Up next, the campaign to bring Carol Burnett, Cloris Leachman...and an assortment of other funny babes to the hostess gig on SNL. You know why? Cuz older chicks are funny and cool!

I think that I shall never see...

I currently have a tiny garden of seedlings growing in front of the glass door wall in my living room. I hope that my little teeny tiny plants will grow up to be an edible garden. I planted the seeds for a variety of peppers, basil, oregano, and for the very first time...some fennel. That should be intriguing.


My dad used to start his outdoor garden indoors using a similar method.

There is something joyful about planting a seed in soil and then using only the magic in some sunshine and water to nuture them into mature living plants. Yesterday was the fortieth anniversary of the first Earth Day. I remember it very well. I was in first grade and after breakfast my mom washed out an orange juice carton for me to take to school. At school I was given a little pine tree sapling . As a class project we planted our little saplings in dirt in the cartons to transport home. That weekend, my dad and I planted the little tree in the backyard. For all I know that forty-year old pine tree is still growing in the backyard of a house on Rosevere.

Trees were one of my dad's favorite things. He could tell an elm, from a maple, from a birch. He knew all the different kinds of pine trees that grew on the Leelanau peninsula. He appreciated trees for their blessed shade in the summer, and their tasty sap that turned into maple syrup in the winter. I can remember him climbing a huge tree in my grandma's front yard to hang a swing for me in a tree. I spent countless happy hours on that swing in the summer. But my favorite memories of my dad and trees were of the many little saplings that he stole from the property that had belonged to his mother -- after she had sold it to the Feds as park land. He planted trees in several of my relative's backyards -- and occasionally I hear about the little saplings that have now grown into giant shade-giving beauties. I think the thrill of taking a little something back from Uncle Sam delighted him. And the fact that it was something as lovely and beautiful as a tree made it the perfect crime.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

It's hockey playoff season. Every night of the week there's ice on the television. It would be even better if it didn't feel like winter in Los Angeles outside as well -- but I'll take it any way I can get it. I can remember during one Stanley Cup final game a few years ago when the Red Wings were playing, we were having a heatwave in Los Angeles. I was watching a game from the East Coast that went into triple overtime. It was 11:00pm on the west coast and I was in my jammies eating frozen orange popsicles to stay cool while I kept up with the game. At that time, the only room I had in the house that was air conditioned was the bedroom. Now that I've got central air...I don't need it so much. Let's hope that all the teams I cheering for...Red Wings, Kings and Bruins...successfully wrap up the first round of the playoffs this weekend. There's nothing as much fun as playoff hockey!

Next Stop, Kawela Bay

I've got Hawaii on the brain. I still can't believe I might be going. At least there's a trip planned and I've got a confirmation number with my name on it. Woo hoo! I saw some giant sea turtles at an aquarium in Las Vegas and I thought they were the most amazing things I had ever seen. They seem to glide through the water in a graceful movements that are like a choreographed ballet.


Closer to home, we've got a behavior modification problem. Roxy has had the run of the house since she first came to live with me. Unfortunately, she has no manners and at mealtimes we've been putting her in the bedroom so that she won't crawl up us to get to the food on the table. Here's the 'Houston, we have a problem' part of it -- she's learned how to open the bedroom door. No. I'm not kidding! She seems just as surprised as we are every time she manages to break out. In fact, she even looks behind the door to see who let her out -- and there's no one there. I can't imagine the kind of trouble she could get into if she had opposable thumbs. Any suggestions?

I'm Going Vay-Kay!

I'm off on a long-anticipated tropical island vacation. No. Seriously. The Handsomest Man Alive has booked a trip to an exotic location. I got an email itinerary in the mail this morning. The re: line was 'You're Getting Lei'ed.' So it must be true. I haven't been on a true vacation since I was in fifth grade and my grandparents took me to Walt Disney World for a week. My grandpa (who I always called "Bill") and I ate chocolate every morning after breakfast. And we hit the popcorn wagon as soon as we arrived at the park every morning. My grandma let me pick out all the rides we went on. The only thing missing from the trip was my folks. That happens whenever I travel -- I get exited about seeing new things -- but I want all my loved ones to be there to enjoy it too.