It's A Julia Kind Of Day

This is not going to be a very good day for me. I've got a bad cold and a few other things wrong with me -- some things could be more dire than others. I was feeling sorry for myself until I saw this little video of my hero, Julia Child, with David Letterman. She's adorable. Funny and flirty -- without a care in the world when things don't go her way. She amazes me. Her career as Julia Child didn't even start until after she was 50. Can you believe that? She's the ultimate "Cinderella after midnight." I used to go to a gynecologist that had a poster with a cat hanging by it's nails with the slogan, "hang in there, baby" above the stirrups. It never struck me as funny as it was supposed to be. It's all in the timing.

This Was Always The Plan

My mom and I have known something about autumn in Leelanau for many years. On her birthday, in late September, the color of the trees hasn't yet reached its peak. On my birthday, in late October, the color is past its prime. And the air takes on the distinct chill of the snow that is soon to come. So when is the best time to be in Leelanau to celebrate the colors of the season? Early October, of course. So that's when we'll all be there.

The Virtues Of The English

 I've never liked January. All of the excitement of the holidays is over and there's really nothing to look forward to...until this year. January 2012 is when Downton Abbey is scheduled to return to PBS. And I couldn't be happier. I have delighted in every episode despite the fact that the HMA doesn't care for PBS and I have to watch most shows at 6am before work. Who cares? I'd stay up past my bedtime to watch this stuff! Two new 20 second trailers have popped up online. And last week there was a full length Season 3 trailer that leaked online that revealed even more secrets of the upcoming season. (Watch this before it gets taken down!) Read all about the upcoming season in Glamour.com! Will Matthew and Mary marry? Will Bates and his wife ever be together again? And what about Edith? All will soon be revealed.

Just A Little Reminder

Find more videos like this on Womens Soccer United

 NBC's Olympic coverage from London has left a lot to be desired, but you can't fault them for providing a big stage all of the entertaining personalities that have gone on to fame and fortune from that one little island. Eric Idle is one of the best. Feel free to sing-a-long!

Less Than 90 Days...

 ..from now, I'm getting hitched. It's all going down in the northwoods of Michigan. It's my favorite little corner of the world. And this is the history of it. At one point, there's a little postcard of an old car heading down a dirt road with a large white house in the background. That was my grandma's house. I have many fond memories of summers in that house.

We All Need A Helping Paw Now And Then

It's just one of those days. When everything just seems a little off and you just can't make it come out right. In the immortal words of Bill Withers...we all just need somebody to lean on... 

The Monkey

For three months I've been dealing with a personal problem that has felt like a monkey on my back. Make that a 500 lb. gorilla doing Zumba aerobics on my back. I haven't felt like myself in too many days to count. Finally, with very little fanfare, my problem was brought to an end this week and I feel like a new person. Goodbye, gorilla! I hope you go back to the jungle, or the very nice zoo where you used to live and have a very nice life. I would prefer it if you never came and visited me again.

It's hard to describe how much better I feel. When I think about how to put it into words, my mind keeps wandering back to some of my favorite visual images. The best way to describe it is that I feel like I can dance like Fred Astaire. And I am certain my feet would behave just like his if only I could dance. Not that the fact that I can't dance has ever prevented me from dancing -- it's just that in my mind's eye when I'm very very happy -- I dance just as well as Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

I love their movies. I've watched the scene of them dancing to "Cheek to Cheek" in Top Hat so many times, I think I've got all their choreography memorized.  It's so romantic and she looked so beautiful in that feathery dress. And then there's the tap dance number from Barkeleys of Broadway. Man, he could dance -- but boy, could she keep up with him.  Go, Ginger! Way to rock it, sister! But for me, the one scene of Fred Astaire dancing that I could watch over and over a million times back- to-back is from Daddy Long Legs with Leslie Caron. 

She's at a college dance in a red satin dress. All the other girls are in pastel colors, of course. And a bunch of young college hunks are hanging around the dance floor in dapper white dinner jackets when "old man" Fred Astaire strolls in wearing a black tux and a red rose on his lapel. Like he would need a dark jacket to stand out in a crowd -- just standing there you can tell he has better rhythm than anyone else. But I digress... then a singing group starts the "Slue Foot." And the fun begins. 

Leslie Caron glides across the dance floor with her startlingly handsome partner. She looks like she's having fun. But then Fred Astaire, who's been standing on the sidelines, gets pushed onto the dance floor by some rambunctious tomfoolery and ends up sheepishly cutting in on Leslie Caron's date -- which is all for the best because while not as handsome as her date, he is a much better dancer -- plus he's wearing the red rose that matches her dress. Her date really should've known. Fred stumbles around on the dance floor a little bit, but he can't hide his natural grace. And finally, Leslie Caron and Fred Astaire engage in what I can only describe in words as" happy dancing," as her date glowers on the sidelines. 

Ah…you'll have to watch it for yourself to see what I mean. It's heavenly. Absolutely pure bliss…and that's what I'm feeling right now.

"You put the old posterior out, and you manipulate it about. Then you holler, 'Slue foot'!"

Slue foot!