Girly Girl by Author Kristin Billerbeck

My Favorite Kids' Movie

 
 Is far and away, Toy Story.  There's a Toy Story 3 coming out, and my kids are blase about this fact.  Too old to think it's cool, and this worries me.  How can you lose a love for Woody and Buzz???  They are classic.  

Toy Story was the first movie I took my son Trey to see.  He was 14 months.  His baby brother stayed with my mother and apparently, cried the entire time we were gone.  But Trey...he was mesmerized for the entire time.  He loved Woody and that's his personality.  He always went for the basic toys: the Thomas the Tank Engine, the Legos -- whereas Jonah liked Buzz and all the electronic, spinning, loud toys like video games and toy guns with lasers.

I love that I have my own Woody and Buzz and I'm truly bummed that they won't go with me today to see Toy Story I & II in 3D.  But that's what their younger siblings are for.  

The Invention of Lying

 
I love Ricky Gervais.  I love how his movies tackle deep heart issues, but make me laugh out loud.  I've seen it said that this one has an atheistic viewpoint, and personally, I think that's in how you interpret it.  I thought it asked some great questions of the role of religion and God -- free will vs. fate -- in our lives.  With commandments on a pizza box. Ingenious! 

I also need to say, there were plenty of times, as in "500 Days of Summer" where I laughed out loud, and the rest of the audience was silent.  So keep this in mind if you're going to see it.  Also, that the beginning is a little verbally filthy.  Could have done without that.  

Next time, Ricky, you need to use Tiny Fey in a more significant role.  She is comic perfection.  I could have done with seeing more of why a man would have fallen for the Jennifer Garner character.  Yes, I get that she's beautiful.  But you know, her character didn't have a lot upstairs.  That was the big plot-hole for me.  

The romance didn't really work for me, and I think that's why I don't want to see it again right away (like Ghost Town.)  Anyone else see it?  I also want to get to see "The Boys are Back", but with soccer and you know, a real life, it probably won't happen this weekend.  

I know!

 
 For years, well-meaning friends and acquaintances have told me that if we lived anywhere else in the world, our financial troubles would be over.  Raising four kids is expensive.  I've always understood this incidentally, but I don't want to live anywhere else in the world.  I want to live here.  And so do my four kids.  My red dirt of Tara is these mountains that surround the Silicon Valley, the buzz of International energy that is home.

As I flew over the country last week, I am amazed at all God has created.  The red rocks of Utah, the incredible Rocky Mountains, the vast blue ocean. . .it's all simply amazing.  But none of it is home.  None of it is the bald spot, amidst the oaks and rough, atop the blue hills.  

So I appreciate the advice.  I really do.  And I get it.  It is not practical to live here. But I don't want to live an easy life elsewhere.  I'd rather work my tail off to live the life I want to live. I'm not missing a few hinges, my dream is just bigger than it should be.  Doesn't mean I'm going to give it up.  Practicality is what makes most people settle for average.

An Ideal Husband

So I've been asked, since I'm so quick to judge a bad mate, what in fact, is a good one?  I'm afraid I have no idea!  I grew up with images of Mr. Darcy in my head and in my day, it was David Rintoul.  In fact, I didn't see the BBC version for quite some time because I couldn't abide a light-haired Darcy.  Forgive me, Colin Firth, I knew not that it was you.  LOL

  

Here's the Mr. Darcy who filled my high school dream-fueled life.  David Rintoul.  Ah, when he clicked his heels together, I was toast. 

  
 
 So I tended to look into historicals when it came to the perfect mate.  Perhaps this was the reason for my infatuation with Adam Ant?

 
 

But here's the reason you should never ask me about men.  I never got the pull of Rhett Butler, and I would have chosen Ashley Wilkes.  Would have been sorry to see my friend Mellie go, but C'est la Vie. She won't be needing him now.  

 
 In Sabrina, I could never get past William Holden for crotchety Bogart.

 
 Same thing with the later version.  Would have picked charming Greg Kinnear over Harrison Ford.

So what I'm telling you, is that I only know what NOT to look for, but I certainly would look elsewhere for advice.  My ideal would be Gabriel Oak (of Far From the Madding Crowd) -- man enough to best Bathsheba Everdene at her own game, and willing to wait until her idiot ways were over.  Sigh.  Now that is a romance.  

So if any of you "normals" out there want to give this a shot, go for it!

Kate Plus 8, Minus Jon

I will get to work at some point today.  So TLC has renamed their show so it's just Kate Plus 8.  In a very mature move by father Jon, he's posted this on his gate:

Listen, I could forgive the guy if he had a job to help support these kids.  No, they don't need to live in a million dollar house.  Kids don't care about that.  Perhaps Kate ain't the nicest chick -- dang, I wouldn't want to see myself parenting 8 kids and I don't even have that OCD organic thing going on.  

But this man needs to step up the plate and see that he is no victim.  Yes, his wife was mean.  But as Dr. Phil would say, you teach people how to treat you.  And if you act like a man who is still in diapers, your wife is going to take over.  I cannot stand it when men who can't lead blame their wives for taking over.  That's what happens!  Because women will make sure their children are taken care of.  

And if you Daddy, are going to galavant to the French Riviera in bad jeans and take a love nest in Manhattan (instead of feeding your children -- where does he even get the money for a Manhattan apartment?  Am I missing something?)  

You're being kicked off the show because you're acting like a complete tool.  Don't make your kids suffer for your sake.  You're making Kate a lot more likable by the fact that she's there.  You've had a bajillion girlfriends.  Grow up, loser!

Flipping Out -- Would you have?

So it took me a few days to digest "Flipping Out" this week.  I thought about what Ryan, his former business partner and best friend, had done.  He had set up a website and started expanding his own design business and in essence, cut Jeff out of the equation.  Though he denied it.

But would I have thought Ryan had done what Jeff said he did, with the evidence at hand?  1. Exclusive pictures of a house Jeff helped design with very little mention of Jeff.  2. The website that used Jeff's name, but let callers to Ryan's office.  3. The opening of a new office in Santa Barbara where Jeff had originally cast off business to Ryan.

After a few days, my thoughts were, heck yeah!  After watching Jeff (a brilliant designer) deal with passive-aggressive clients about a square-foot of electrical wire left behind on TWO acres of land, I thought, "Jeff honey, you have to fly!  You're too good for this, and you know it!"

So he's getting back into the design business.  YAY!  Face it, really fabulous creative people have trouble working for people.  It's a fact.  Ryan's jealous and underhanded in my opinion (though I forgive him for having Chloe. Love that little girl's feistiness.)

But it doesn't matter in the long run, does it?  Ryan is Jeff Lewis' Salieri.  He is talented, certainly.  He understands the notes of design and architecture.  But he is no Mozart.  No Jeff Lewis.  So while I get that Jeff is hurt, he has that vision that no one can touch and he needs to shake off these losers who bring him down.  And he needs to stop downing so much junk food.  K?  K.

I think I have my idea...

It has to do with beauty...the external, the internal.

It has to do with Calabrese -- stubborn, independent, Italian.

Thank you all for your help.  Tomorrow, I plot.

Two PS notes from comments

1.  I am writing YA.  The first book, "Perfectly Dateless" is out this Spring, and it's about a high school dweeb, who is a perfectionist, with weird, old-fashioned parents and her quest for meaning.  In the form of a Prom Date.  This is not the exact cover, but it's close enough for government work:

2.  The Trophy Wives Club Series are romances.  They are about a heroine looking back on the mistakes she made the first time, with the ability to do it right the second time.  So if you were holding off thinking it was an ex-wife complaining, no.  No.  No.  

Okay, for some reason I have an old copy of the cover with my name spelled wrong.  Ignore that.  And take me for the professional that I am.  LOL

What's Next?

So the book I've been working on, "Walking on Water" has ceased to be.  I will go back to it when I'm able, but it is not going to be published right now, and that is a good thing.  So I'm working up a new idea to discuss with my editor and I'm curious if you all have input for the kind of books you love.  And please.  Have mercy on me and don't say, Ashley, okay?  Let's assume for a moment that I'm capable of doing something else.  

The biggest issue is that I don't really read what I write.  I read mostly non-fiction, but I just finished "The Sweet Far Thing" by Bray, "Dream Angus" by Alexander McCall Smith and "Amish Peace" (a non-fiction) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

In my to be read pile is "Intervention" by Terri Blackstock, a few manuscripts for endorsement and then, I have to admit, I am really intrigued by the MacKenzie Phillips' book but afraid to read it.  

So, a show of hands. More romance?  More humor?  More depth?  If you could create the next KB novel, what would it look like.  Again.  I'm warning you about Ashley.  LOL

Timberlake -- Taking Sexyback

Let me start by saying I don't think Justin Timberlake is a "catch".  I think Justin has commitment issues and thinks he's all that.  Personally, I find him charming, funny and very talented, but that is not husband material. 

Next I want to talk to Jessica about "he's just not that into you."  You know, I think things get muddled when you look like Jessica and you are used to having your way.  You're not used to be told "no" and you sort of miss the signs.  Jessica, he's been trying to get away for some time, and it's really true, if you love something, set it free.  Justin is a hard dog to keep under the porch.  You don't need that in your life.  You're Jessican stinkin' Biel!!  Have you looked in the mirror lately?  

Justin designs ugly jeans.  What if your future is trapped in some horrific clothing fest like Jon Gosselin to try and sell your hubby's brand?  Do you need that?  Tigers on your booty.  Think about that Jessica.  

Think about a man who is unwilling to fight for you.  Men like this are too immature in my viewpoint to be worthy of chasing.  So lick your wounds and be by yourself for a while and figure out what YOU love.  Then, find an grown-up to share that life with you, not someone who thinks of you as an arm trinket.  I'm done now.