The New Mid-life

Today was one of those milestone birthdays for me. I suppose I should have approached it with fear and dread...but I didn't. I've actually really looked forward to it for some time.

Ironically, as I got dressed to hit the town and celebrate tonight, Oprah was on the TV in the background. The timing of her topic was impeccable. The show was "The Age of Miracles: The New Mid-life" and featured several different women who have embraced this era of their life.

The term "mid-life" used to sound daunting to me. It sounded, well, old!

Now...not so much.

As I crossed this threshold today, I realize how far I've come in the past decade. I have a few fine lines on my face that probably weren't there just 10 years ago. However, I also have knowledge and experience that I KNOW I didn't have at 30. In my book, that's worth some fine lines.

I'm looking forward to my 40s. I honestly am. I'm more comfortable in my skin than I've ever been and I don't feel the need to apologize for being me.

Why Didn't Someone TEEELLLLLL Me?!

I'm in Austin, Texas right now -- incredible city -- but that's not my point.

Ever watch Austin City Limits on Saturday nights? Yeah, me too. Hard to flip past it because they always feature the coolest artists.

Lo, these many decades, I've assumed that it was recorded on some beautiful hillside just outside the city, overlooking the beautiful state capitol building. I've always imagined that the gentle Texas winds were blowing through the musicians' hair as they performed for an earthy, bohemian crowd OUTDOORS.

You know what?! It's a sham! The whole thing is filmed in a studio on the campus of UT. The backrop is JUST that...a backdrop. I had no idea.

Thought you'd wanna know.

Who KNEW That Canines Had Such Good Penmanship?!

My Valentine's Day card from Bama this year...






He's SUCH a thoughtful pup -- especially considering he's only three years old.

Simply Entitled "My Husband Has Too Much Time On His Hands"

'Mama Say, Mama Sa, Mama Mu Sa...'

Hard to believe, but today is the 25th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's Thriller. To this day, it's STILL the biggest selling album EVER. (104 million copies!)

It was the very first album (cassette tape, actually) that I was "allowed" to buy. I cherished it. I can still see the infamous poster on my wall now!

When the video for the song Thriller came out, I was obsessed. My sister and I tried not to miss it. MTV would run the 14-minute "mini-movie" twice an hour. There had never been anything like it.

I think we can all agree that Jacko has gone off the deep end through the years. There's still no denying that this legendary recording contained some excellent tunes though.

• TRIVIA: Did you know that the song Thriller was originally titled Starlight? Somehow...it wouldn't have packed the same punch.

Is it Me?! Or is Tina Turner a Freak of Nature?!

Yep! Last night was one of my favorite nights of the year. (Also known as THE GRAMMY'S!) Once again, they didn't disappoint. The hits just KEPT on coming!

Some of my favorite performances of the night? Here goes...

*Morris Day and The Time WITH Rihanna? Fabulous! Never woulda come up with that pairing. But it SO worked. ("OH-ee-OH-ee-OH" meets "Ella, ella, ella") Their performance took me back to 1984.

*The Beatles/Cirque du Soleil number was AWESOME! And did you seeeee that chick's arms? Aerialism has been very, very good to them!

*Loved, loved, LOVED Kanye's Tron-esque performance. VERY cool. And the tribute to his Mama? Ugh. Yes. I cried. He is so talented. And humble. Um, I mean, talented.

*Can I just say...Fergie-Ferg is incredible. She's more than proven that she's the real deal and I'd put her chops up against any of the other divas of the day. (She looked classy too. Didn't ya think?)

*Theeeeeeeen. THEN came the ultimate Proud Mary duet performance. Beyonce AND Tina Turner! Incredible. I don't know WHAT's in the water where Miss Turner lives but I'd PAY for a bottle of it. She looked amazing. Sixty-eight years old?! For REAL?

*The Foo Fighters ROCKED. Plain and simple. The Pretender is one of my favorite songs ANYway. But I thoroughly enjoyed the drama that the live orchestra added to the performance. Dave Grohl is SUCH a good front man. Don't you agree?

*Oh my. Aretha AND Bebe Winans?! Excellent. That whole gospelrama number brought the house down. They had CHURCH up in there!

*Well whadda ya know. Amy Winehouse DID actually get to perform. I was nervous that it wouldn't happen. Love her. Hope she can get her act together because I want to hear music from her for years to come.

*Josh Groban AND Andrea Bocelli on the same stage?! AND singing The Prayer? Wow. That was almost too much tenor beautifulness for me to behold. They sounded like angels. Manly angels. I propose they go on the road together.

All in all it was a great evening. Was worth staying up for.

Maybe He's Saving a Seat For Molly Ringwald?

As a child of the 80s, I was particularly proud when Noah chose THIS as his outfit for "Decades Day" during Spirit Week at his middle school.

Although his baby face isn't quiiiiiiite capable of pulling off the infamous Judd Nelson sneer from The Breakfast Club, I still think he looks pretty cool. As long as he stays out of Saturday detention...

How Would They Say "Two Thumbs Up" in Ireland?

This is the time of year that I like to keep up with the Sundance Film Festival. It's my dream to actually attend someday. I realize that the experience is probably HIGHLY overrated. Ten foot snow banks aaaaaand having to park four miles from the action would probably make for some uncomfortable times. But the snow bunny outfits?! How precious would I be?!

I'm sure I have it over-glamorized in my mind.

Regardless, I always make a point to pay attention to which movies get the infamous Sundance buzz IN Utah. There are always a couple of indie gems that seem to rise to the top during the festival (I believe they call those winners). I make a mental note of those films, because I want to be able to see them when they FINALLY come out a year later (to us common folk).

One of the movies that got accolades at the '07 festival was a charming little Irish musical called Once. I know. Sounds odd. It's NOT. It's not thaaaaat kind of musical. They don't just spontaneously break out into song...like a Disney flick. It's much more subtle than that.

Trust me. This is a GREAT movie. One of the best I've seen in ages. We loved it. Was one of those films that sticks with you for a while.

And the soundtrack?!! OHMYWORD. Love it! Had to rush home from the movie and download it from iTunes ASAP. Now THAT is the sign of a good soundtrack!

It came out on DVD at Christmas and David made SURE that it was in my stocking. YAY!

Check it out when ya get a chance. Hang in there. For the first 10 minutes you might be tempted to give up on the THICK Irish brogue. However, before you know it, you'll somehow be mesmerized and you'll suddenly understand every word.

Pile O' Goodness

Although we live in a charming bungalow from the 1920's, my biggest regret is that it did not come complete with built-in bookshelves. Somehow, to me, that's the true sign of a house with character. (Well, THAT, and my plaster walls. Their cracks don't bother me at all. I choose to think of it as a Tuscany look that some designers would spend hours to re-create.)

My sad, rickety little bookshelf is overflowing. I pray each day that the thin glass shelves can make it through another day and hold up under the pressure of the weight. To be honest, I don't even think it was MEANT to hold books. I think it was probably designed to hold some sweet little old lady's collection of salt and pepper shakers. Not sure.

Right now, there is a pile of books overflowing on to the floor beside the shelf. My husband curses it EVERY time he stubs his toe on it. It is the bane of his existence! He sees it as clutter. TOOOOOTAL clutter.

Does it bother me?!! Heck no! I look at that "mess" and see a beautiful pile of knowledge and adventures. Some of the books I've already read...while others are just WAITING to be cracked open! Either way, they're a thing of beauty in MY eyes!

Hmmmmmm. I have a birthday comin' up. A sturdy bookshelf would be the PERFECT nerdly gift! *hint hint* (Just seein' if my husband reads my blog.) ;-]



[Sidenote: I'm actually quite grateful that my camera phone takes HORRIBLY blurry pictures. Thiiiiiiis way, you can't "judge me" by my selection of books.]