Letter To My Friends On Sesame Street

Dear Big Bird and my friends on Sesame Street,
     You guys know I love you. My 5 children watched you when they were growing up and my 8 grandchildren have also watched you. I fact, this July, we met you in Williamsburg, VA at Busch Gardens. We even had our pictures taken with you.

     Over the years we have bought so much Sesame Street merchandise from clothing to Big Bird stuffed animals, Count Dracula's counting games, puzzles, plates, Dancing Elmo,Tickle Me Elmo ( that was a hard one to find, lol), Zoe, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster games, Snuffy, VHS (yes I am that old!!!!), Cd's, DVD's  

and the list goes on and on.

     Today I did not watch you guys. No I had something more important to watch. You see I wanted to know just what happened @ our embassy in Benghazi, Libya. In case you missed it we are at war. Our embassy was attacked and 3 security guards and our Ambassador were killed. Ambassador Stevens was a good man by all accounts. He was trying to keep peace in the neighborhood. He had made many friends but felt there was trouble brewing. I wanted to know what happened. So I watched the Senate Hearings on what transpired.

     It was clear that the requests for added help were repeatedly denied. No more police to help them.It was also clear that there was impending trouble but no one was listening. It was very clear that the denial was from the top. It is also clear the initial reports about what occured and why were false and no one believed it.

     So, my question to my friends on Sesame Street is: Are you ready to spread your wings? Do you have enough money from all that merchandise to make it on your own? Don't get me wrong, I am delighted that we helped you get on your feet and grow but isn't it time to leave the nest?

     I know we don't support you fully but perhaps it is time to spend our money on more important things in this time of economic hard times. Perhaps we could use the money we give you to hire a few, oh I don't know, security guards to keep our troops safe. 

     Please don't be offended. We all have to grow up at sometime in our lives. Nothing lasts forever. At this time, safety is more important.

New Safety Guidelines

     What are they thinking? The news report from the Academy of Pediatrics just issued their new guidelines for car seat safety. Okay, I'm all for car safety. I am even in favor of booster seats and the fact that you cannot ride in the front seat until age 11 years, but what are they thinking or rather not thinking with these new guidelines.
     In case you haven't heard, the Academy is recommending that infants and toddlers are placed in rear facing car seats until age 2 years. Really? Are they serious? If you look at the average 1-2 year olds, they are tall. Most parents can't wait to put their little ones facing front mainly because their poor little legs are scrunched against the back seat.
     How is this going to work? Are we going to have to have car manufacturers cut cubbies in the seat backs so the kids can stretch out their legs? If their legs are scrunched up against the seat, and you do get in an accident, don't they risk feet, leg and hip injuries?
     Another recommendation is that up to age 13 the kids should ride in the back seat and not the front. There was no explanation as to why. I know some 11 year olds that are taller than me! (and I'm the driver!).
     While it is important to safe guard our children when we travel, we should be realistic as to if it is feasible to carry out these guidelines and if we would be putting them at even more risk. Just saying.

Thoughts On The Academy Awards

     What happened to the good old days?  Years ago this was to the girls what the Super Bowl is to guys. The glitz, the glamor, the nervous anticipation among the nominees,  who shows up with whom, who will make the most heartfelt acceptance speech. That's not what happened last night.
     First there was all the buzz about the young hosts to attract a more youthful audience. Why? If you like movies, you're going to watch the Oscars to see if your favorite film won. Young, old, it doesn't matter. You'll watch if you like movies period. The young hosts spent more time whooping like at a sporting event than showing some respect to the winners. There were too many comments how the young ones are taking over. I believe one of the classiest actresses to appear last night was Natalie Portman. She appeared totally humbled by this honor and truly works hard at her craft. ( this was the only movie I saw "Black Swan").  Melissa Leo who dropped the "F" bomb almost seemed proud that it "slipped" out. Come on, she had already won at all the other major awards. You mean she had nothing prepared in case she won the most prestigious award of all?
     There also was some hype as to the direction some of the dresses the stars were going to wear  : vintage. Yes they talked about vintage, a throw back to the glamorous days of the golden age of Hollywood. Okay so I'm no spring chicken but I'm not an old prude either. Please tell me, except for a select few (including Anne Hathaway wearing Valentino) where were the vintage gowns? Any knock off vintage? All I saw were some fabulous fabrics with a futuristic, uniform type style. I love to look at the fashions. I love the sweeping flowing gowns that move with such flair, grace and that scream femininity. I love all the bling, sparkles and glitz. Speaking of glitz, where was Winston jewelers? The actresses are usually dripping in diamonds. Scarlett Johansen had a beautiful dress but could have used some help with the hair!
    I wish they had Michael Douglas accompany his dad Kirk Douglas to present the Best Supporting Actress Award. I love to see the two of them interact and think that would have been a great and touching duo. Kirk who is still recovering from his stroke and Michael who has just completed treatment for throat cancer. Now that would have created a memorable moment!
     Yes give me the not so long ago Academy Awards. When Billy Crystal emceed. When Sally Fields cried "You love me, you really really love me", when Hallie Berry gave a gut wrenching acceptance speech being the first African American Woman to win  Best Actress. Yes there had been black woman who had won best supporting actress: Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost and Oprah was nominated in 1985 for The Color Purple but Hallie was the First for Best Actress.   Give me a one hand push up like Jack Palance or who ever the actor was who climbed over the seats to get to the stage to accept his award. Who can forget how Hollywood behaved  with such dignity with the awards show post 9/11?
     There is always next year. Let's hope we learn how to define class, vintage, humor and acceptable behavior before then.