Where's JR Ewing?

On the road to Dallas…. Not much has happened in the last month of my life, or with family, or in the world. That must explain no new blog for five weeks, right? Hardly. Yes, my Dodgers didn’t advance to World Series, but second fave team did and win it all. Boston Strong!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As we drive to Dallas to see my niece Tamie, and for Colleen to run her first half-marathon, I get to sit in back seat with my leg up because of a silly little stress fracture. But this is nothing when you consider today is Veteran’s Day as we are now listening to CNN radio as our President speaks at Arlington. Take a few moments and give thanks to the women and men who have put their lives on the line for us – from Lexington to Europe to the Pacific Islands to Desert Storm to Korea to 9.11 reactions. I remember how proud my dad would talk about his days in WWII, down in the Pacific Islands. Although he said it was mostly drinking and talking with buddies. My dad? Really? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other morning news today from CNN that hits hard are the 10,000 deaths in Philippines because of this powerful typhoon…more US gun shootings reaction from the LAX shooting to other stupid gun deaths like a youngster killing another schoolmate….and Lord help us all, Sarah Palin is back in the “news” with her new book to promote; she is scary….I can’t even begin to understand this NFL racial bullying, or how/why this crap still goes on today.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay, some fun stuff: Have I raved enough about the recent Sherly Crow CD “Feels Like Home?” My personal mission is to ensure all my friends and family own that CD so now Luci, dad waters and my mom have something to Crow about….new CD’s from my birthday (late gifts still accepted) include new discs – yes, old-school, I love liner notes – from Katy Perry (don’t you hate her wife?), Bruno Mars and Paul McCartney which on early listens all sound infectious… And I might be late, but how superbly spot-on is the "Same Love" song by Mackelmore&Ryan Lewis? Wow. The lyrics are so true and real....Went old-school and downloaded Linda Ronstadt Greatest Hits; damn, she can belt out a song... Lastly, one of my best cards ever was my first “grandfather” birthday card from Chris and Brandi, due March 30.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Movies viewed recently? We have been lame aka ridiculously busy but "Enough Said" with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and James Gandolfini was a wonderful adult relationship movie, proving Julia can fill the big screen as well as any small screen series......the new Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) film “About Time,” and that was a nice, fun romantic comedy about time travel. Anything with Bill Nighy is going to have terrific moments…..on the other end of the spectrum is “!2 Days a Slave.” Obviously going into this film, one knew it would be heavy because of the important, yet horrible history of slavery. Superb acting all the way around, but very brutal and painful to watch. As Lisa said, you feel disgusted when leaving the cinema.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the book front (and back), Dan Brown’s “Inferno” was a can’t-put-this-down novel….and thanks to Colleen and friend Julie recommendation, “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg is a powerful book that everyone should read, and learn from daily. I must have 50 pages dog-eared to reference….and more birthday gift books to read, “Divergent” by Veronica Roth and “I am Malala" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And lastly, sadly, God bless my sister Phyllis who passed away on Nov 2. She was a riot and a force of nature. Remember to live, love, laugh and dance every day.