The Rachel

So I’m down in Del Boca Vista for the holidays visiting my parents, which is great. Except for one thing: I miss my fiancé something awful.

Spending two weeks in the retirement community to end all retirement communities is certainly relaxing (which I need), but it also means I’ve got lots of time on my hands. And a lot of time to miss him. So I’ve been trying to keep busy. Shopping. Cooking. Eating. Decorating. Watching movies. Going swimming. Driving around the neighborhood. Getting my hair cut.

Yep. You heard me right. Getting my hair cut. In Florida. At a retirement community.

Brave? Nah!

I’ve been thinking about getting it chopped for a while. Admittedly, it was overgrown, shaggy, shapeless, lifeless and all-around unflattering. You know, when the split ends are 5 shades lighter than the roots? Pretty. I needed an intervention. But in my defense, I attribute my hair-don’t to the fact that my hairstyle doesn’t require much maintenance. Actually, I'm lying. I don’t even have a hairstyle. I just have hair. And LOTS of it (being from Jersey and all).

My mom and I thought it would be fun to go get our hair done together. So we cheated on her normal salon -- Root 466 -- and made an appointment at a new one closer to my parents’ house. It was called Dimensions, which doesn’t really sound like a salon to me -- frankly, it sounds more like a rehab facility or a special ed program.

But we went with it and got appointments with a stylist named Josephine and the ambiguously-gendered Chris. Going in, I was 95% sure that guy or girl, I was choosing Chris. The name Josephine made me think of a chain-smoking, bourbon-drinking old broad with a hairy chin.

Well, a goateed, gap-toothed man in an embroidered black and white bowling shirt approached us. In the most friendly southern drawl I've ever heard, he said, “Well hey there, gals! My name's Chris!” I immediately turned to my mother and whispered, “I’m rolling the dice with Josephine.”

Call me a snob, I don’t care.

Next, in walks Josephine. And she didn’t have any hairs on her chin at all! She looked normal. Roughly my age. And in the first few minutes, she told me she was from Long Island. Now we’re talking! I decided to be bold and take my hair by the roots: I’m here for a cut, let’s get a CUT!

"Long layers!" I declared, and off we went.

After my scalp took a beating in the shampoo chair and she liberally applied detangler to my mangy locks, Josephine went to town. And by went to town, I mean that by the end, there was more hair on the floor than there was on my head. Seriously. She had to sweep 3 separate times. You know like when Edward Scissorhands is at work and his eyes glaze over and stuff is flying everywhere? Yeah. It was like that.

After almost an hour of snipping and moussing and drying and curling and straightening and spraying (and praying) and balming, she was done. I spun around towards the mirror, not knowing what to expect.

Now, I wasn’t particularly nervous, mind you. My philosophy -- ever since a truly horrendous perm I once got back in the 10th grade -- is that it’s just hair. It grows back.

Anyway, I took a look at the front and the back with that little hand-held mirror thingy. And I actually liked it! Huh?!? Go Josephine!! There was just this one thing. This nagging thought...

I’ve seen this look before.

Anyway, my mom came over and her hair was exactly the same as when we walked into Dimensions. Seems she got an un-cut from Chris (who incidentally was from Arkansas -- is that considered the South? -- I dunno).

We went over to pay and the bill was $64. Naturally, I assumed that was for each of us.

Nope.

It was for BOTH of us! $64 for TWO haircuts. Plus my mom had a $10 gift card from some promotion they did a YEAR AGO. And they honored it! So that’s $54 for two haircuts. Or… $27 PER HAIRCUT. My brain exploded thinking about the cheapness of it all. I don’t even think you can get ONE eyebrow waxed in NYC for $27. Unbelievable! Like a Christmas miracle.

So I literally skip out of the salon, after spending mere pocket change on a haircut I'm loving more and more each minute. I feel 5 lbs lighter. Then it dawns on me, where I’ve seen it before.

It’s The Rachel.

Freaking Josephine from Long Island gave me a 15-year-old haircut! Awesome. I thought about getting annoyed, but for $27, really, who gives a crap?

I just hope my fiancé likes it. And if not… it grows back.

Joy to the World

I have been a blogger slacker. I know this. You know this. We all know this. Mea culpa.

As a peace offering, I come bearing good news. Actually... scratch that. This is super-terrific-happy-HUGE-totally awesome-fantastically wonderful-can’t even believe this is happening-somebody PLEASE PINCH ME news.

I am engaged!

I KNOW!!! News this good bears repeating: I. Am. Engaged. WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!! You may think it’s kinda sudden, but I say, when you know, you know. And, believe me, we know.

You know?

Of course you do! You faithfully followed my online dating disasters. You cheered when I officially took myself off the market because I met a truly wonderful man. And now, I believe it is only fitting to share how this perfect engagement happened.

Facebook may have known it first, but YOU’LL know it best…

We’d been talking about getting engaged for a while. I knew it was looming. Hell, I even picked out the ring! I kind of assumed it would happen over a weekend, either before or after the holidays.

So, my parents recently came up from Florida -- 5 whole days (and nights) in my 550 sqft deluxe apartment in the sky, and we had a great time! But since my boyfriend and I didn't have very much time together that weekend, I suggested that I visit him in CT on Monday, after my mom and dad were safely back in the Sunshine State.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll just see you on Wednesday.”

“Fine,” I said, and hung up the phone. Disappointed.

Shortly after, I received a text saying he’d reconsidered. Turns out, I was right! I really should come up for a visit on Monday night.

I paused momentarily on the fact that I was right. (That’s always lovely to hear.) And then I made plans to come visit, all the while thinking this was MY idea...

Fast forward to Monday after work. I caught the 5:28 out of Grand Central and arrived in Stamford around 6:15. He picked me up at the train station, as per usual, and let me know he’d ordered us pepperoni pizzas from a local place we love, Colony. Yum.

We grabbed the pizzas and drove back to his condo. When we walked in the door, I saw his halls were all decked out for Christmas. His tree was framed in the picture window. Amidst the twinkle lights, about a hundred different ornaments hung from the branches -- ranging from Jimmy Buffett margaritas to Dolphins helmets to Montauk lighthouses -- each one with a special significance. The house smelled of the holidays, a mix of cranberry and evergreen. And three little stockings hung from the windowsill.

One for him. One for his 7 year old daughter. And one for me. (Awwww!)

It felt like a normal night, with a dash of holiday cheer. We chatted and enjoyed our pizza. We watched two episodes of The Office. And I told him the most long-winded, never-ending saga about a good friend’s horrible date (remind me to tell you about it sometime -- it’s a doozy!).

I must have blathered on for thirty minutes straight. At least.

Around 8pm, I flipped on the TV Guide menu to see that Santa Claus Is Coming to Town was on ABC. We were totally in the mood for a Christmas cartoon, but not that one. So he dug into his extensive DVD collection and popped in ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. You know the one -- with the mice? And the broken clock? Love it.

Anyway, just before he hit play, he disappeared. I didn’t think much of it. When he came back into the living room, I saw a flash of orange in his hand. “Score,” I thought. “A Reese’s peanut butter cup!”

Um… it wasn’t a peanut butter cup.

He approached me as I was sitting on the couch, by the light of the Christmas tree, and dropped to one knee. The orange flash was actually a ring box. And inside was the most beautiful ring I’ve ever worn. And the most precious gift I’ve ever received.

The ring has three stones -- one to represent him, his daughter, and me -- with a sparkly deep blue sapphire in the center, which just happens to be the birthstone for September (the month he was born).

I was SO stunned I may have blacked out for a minute. (Is that what I THINK it is? Is this happening?? Did he fall off the couch, or is he really on one knee? OMG, it IS happening!!!) At first, this inner dialogue prevented me from hearing the lovely words coming from my boyfriend’s -- now fiancé’s -- mouth. But once I snapped out of shock, I said yes. Yes. YEESSSS!

And I’m pretty sure I thanked him about fifty times.

That’s when the waterworks started. Now, I don’t consider myself a big crier, but these were tears of joy. When I went to hug him and pulled away, a giant streak of my black/brown mascara went across his cheek like he had just been accosted by Tammy Faye Bakker. It wasn’t pretty.

But it was perfect. Perfectly romantic. Perfectly us.

So that’s the story. And before you ask, we have NO idea about a wedding date yet, but it will be sooner than later. We’re thinking this summer, maybe?

Because as much as I love being his fiancée, I truly can’t wait to become his wife.

xoxo

I Love New York (Sorta)

Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while. I’m still adjusting to the end of daylight savings time.

Yesterday, I got in a taxi and the driver wasn't talking on the phone, or driving as though we were the getaway car in a bank robbery. In fact, he was a good driver, and I didn't get car sick AT ALL.

How refreshing!

It’s moments like that when I think I love New York. Or maybe, it’s more accurate to say I’ve LEARNED to love it. But it wasn’t easy! To me, the city is an acquired taste, like stout or stinky cheese.

I was born in the Bronx and lived there for almost 6 years as a kid, but I really grew up in Jersey, and I went to college in Connecticut but came back to The Apple to work, and I've spent my whole career here.  These are the things I’ve learned NOT to do in the City, which has made my time living here as an adult (16 months and counting) much more enjoyable.

Consider it a public service...

Don’t… Eat Street Meat
Don’t get me wrong, I love junk food (Bloomy does too!). But consuming anything known as a “dirty water dog” is a no-no in my book. Nevermind the stale pretzels, giant clumps of crusty peanuts, and drippy gyros (since when is meat gray?). I don’t care how famished you are, either keep walking, or invest in a stomach pump.

Don’t… Eat at a Chain Restaurant
Look, I like a Fridays, or a California Pizza Kitchen, or a Chevys just as much as the next guy. But there are a bazillion amazing eateries in the Big Apple. So why would anyone EVER eat at the Olive Garden in the middle of Times Square? Everything costs 3x more here than it does in your hometown, and it is probably one of the least authentic NY eating experiences you can have. For the true flavor of the city, you’re better off with street meat -- that’s saying a lot!

Don’t… Eat at The View (that spinning restaurant atop the Marriott Marquis)
Maybe they think you’ll be so distracted by the skyline (look, it’s a tall building, oh WAIT… it’s… ANOTHER tall building!) you won’t notice your $50 rubber chicken. Talk about a tourist trap. Oh, and the same kinda goes for the bedazzled spectacle (eyesore?) that is Tavern on the Green. Well, maybe just go one time, but try to hit up a holiday buffet, so that you can really get your money’s worth by eating your weight in chicken fingers. But hurry, they're closing fast!

Don’t… Wait on Line at a Restaurant
I like to EAT in restaurants, not stand in them. So if I haven’t made reservations, I don’t go. Simple as that. NY is too big, and there are too many eateries (many of which serve the exact same things) to justify waiting on line for a table. Period.

Don’t… Bother with the Empire State Building
Speaking of waiting in lines, if that's your idea of a good time, then go here. There are 5 different lines you’ll need to wait on to get to the top, then you’ll stand on a skinny balcony and look around for 5 minutes, then wait on a few more lines to get back down to civilization. Save yourself 2 hours, stand really close to your TV, and watch the end of Sleepless in Seattle instead.

Don’t… Shop at Century 21
For more years than I care to admit, when I heard people refer to this discount shopping destination, I thought they were talking about the real estate company. You know the one. With the gold jackets. Well, finally, I put 2+2 together, and went. Personally, I’d rather not elbow my way through an angry crowd of aggressive tourists/bargain hunters just to purchase a picked over, wrinkled, semi-defective designer blouse with a weird buckle on the side. Even if it is $15.99. So, thanks, but no thanks.

Don’t… Shop at Any Store Claiming to Be “Going Out of Business”
Whether it’s electronics or shoes or cornflakes, merchandise in New York City is already marked up super high. So the “sale” price likely just gets you even with the full price at a store in your hometown. Skip it.

Don’t… Take a Pedi-Cab Anywhere
Unless you want a sweaty teenager to take your wallet for a ride (or you like darting in and out of oncoming traffic like your own personal game of Frogger), skip this death wish disguised as public transportation. On a related note, skip the horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park. The old horses will make you sad, and the dirty looks you get from real New Yorkers will make you want to crawl underneath the public blanket they supply for your “comfort” (but never wash). Wrong on all counts.

Don’t… Keep a Car in the City
I miss my car. I miss my car. I MISS MY CAR. But a car in the city is a luxury you want no part of. When I commuted in, I was paying $510/month for a garage. Um, hellooo? Street parking is no treat either -- who can figure out those signs? And don’t even get me started on the damage to your bumpers, doors, side mirrors, tires, etc. So plan to ditch the wheels unless you enjoy turning your car into a clunker.

And Finally, Don’t… Take the Subway
Forget that the subway is an underground haven for perverts. Nevermind that every platform stinks like hot garbage. Disregard the giant rats that scurry beneath the tracks. Excuse the fact that the voices over the loudspeakers make Charlie Brown's teacher sound articulate. Avert your eyes from the advertisements when you are actually ON the train (assuming it wasn’t cancelled, delayed, or re-routed), because you do not want to read the colorful commentary provided by fellow straphangers. And don’t even THINK about the cootie colonies that thrive on the poles you are supposed to hold on to for “safety.” Actually… don’t forget ANY of these things -- they are precisely why the best way to get around NYC is on your own two feet.

So, am I allergic to NYC, or have I just written the 10 Commandments for City Life? Tell me what YOU think below!

Creepy Commercials

As you know, I just cleared out my DVR.

When I’m watching TV, like most people, I zip right through the commercials. (Even though I kinda love them.) But there are 2 that stop me in my tracks, mainly because they creep me OUT.

The first is for Tabasco and it involves singing pepperonis. Have you seen this? It is the stuff of nightmares! Now I can’t even LOOK at a pizza without expecting it to burst out in barbershop quartet-esque song. Let alone EAT one. Thanks, jerky Tabasco!




The second is for DirectTV and it involves an updated scene from Tommy Boy with David Spade and Chris Farley, who just so happens to be dead. And this isn’t the first time they used someone who died tragically in a commercial (hello little girl from Poltergeist). Super classy!




What do YOU think? Watch the commercials above, and then vote below:

poll by twiigs.com

Spooky Getups to Skip

Does anyone dress up for Halloween anymore?

I don’t know. I probably haven’t in 10 years. At least. In fact, I wasn’t even in town for it last year!

But THIS year, it falls on a Saturday. So just in case you are headed to a party, or a parade, or you still go Trick-or-Treating (at your advanced age), here are some costumes you’ll probably want to avoid:

#1 - Don’t Be: Edward Cullen & Bella Swan
Do Be: Under-exposed, but equally blood-thirsty, Bill Compton & Sookie Stackhouse

#2 - Don’t Be: Bernie Madoff
Do Be: Suze Orman, who I hear also has a teeny weenie

#3 - Don’t Be: Betty & Don Draper
Do Be: Peggy Olson & Duck (don’t forget the post-sex cigarettes!)

#4 - Don’t Be: Billy Mays & a bucket of OxyClean
Do Be: Vince & a life-sized Slap Chop
(Incidentally, Mays’ SON is hosting this contest. I say, “Boo!”)

#5 - Don’t Be: Falcon “Balloon Boy” Heene and his crazy dad
Do Be: Max and any of the Wild Things who want to eat him

#6 - Don’t Be: Kanye West & Taylor Swift
Do Be: Bronson “Balki” Pinchot who recently started picking on Tom Cruise

#7 - Don’t Be: Kate Gosselin, mom of the year
Do Be: The table-flipping Real Housewife of NJ, Teresa Giudice

#8 - Don’t Be: Lady Gaga
Do Be: Amy Winehouse & her "fantastic" new boobs (bonus points for adding her creepy dad)

#9 - Don’t Be: Michael Jackson
Do Be: Weird Al, it’s about time for a comeback and Eat It was classic

#10 - Don’t Be: A Philly cheese steak or a New York cheesecake
Do Be: The last issue of Gourmet magazine, RIP

# 11 - Don’t Be: Sarah Palin
Do Be: Franken-Biden, just paint yourself green and scare the kids

#12 - Don’t Be: Saw, the jigsaw killer
Do Be: Pennywise, the killer clown from It

# 13 - Don’t Be: The Twitter bluebird
Do Be: The Fail Whale


So there you have it! Add your own Do's and Don'ts below...

I’ll accept 20% of all ghoulish prizes (cash and otherwise) that you might win as a result of skipping mainstream pop culture costumes in favor of slightly more creative gear.

And while we’re on the topic of Halloween... did anyone see the Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin promo that ABC was running this week? Or was it just a nightmare? I can't find it online, but I can say with confidence that The Peanuts and Rap go together like chocolate and feet.

Word.

Overdue Review

This is my favorite time of year. Fall TV is in full swing! My DVR, however, was 95% full until last week.

What was clogging it up? All the new TV shows I wanted to watch, but hadn’t yet found the time.

So episodes piled up, week after week, unwatched. Sad. Alone. Luckily, a nasty bout with the flu (no, not THAT flu -- just the regular old garden variety -- I am oink-free) and a night or three of serious laundry helped me get all caught up.

So, here is my MUCH overdue review of the “new” shows you should (and shouldn’t) be watching. Also, stay tuned for my gripping recap of the Yanks & Angels ALCS playoffs, which I will post sometime in December…

THE GOOD (as in, if you aren’t watching these shows, I am stealing your TV):
Bored to Death (Sundays at 9:30pm on HBO)
In a Nutshell: A dark comedy about a struggling novelist, moonlighting as a bungling private eye.
Why I Love It: Jason Schwartzman reminds me of a stoned Encyclopedia Brown.
Scene-Stealer: Ted Danson, his party-going editor, has the best rug I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Glee (Wednesdays at 9pm on FOX)
In a Nutshell: A musical dramedy about a high school “show choir” trying to regain its glory.
Why I Love It: It’s escapism and the perfect mix of show tunes/pop hits. Consider me a Gleek!
Scene-Stealer: Hands-down, it’s bitch-tastic Jane Lynch, as head coach of “The Cheerios.”


THE BAD (and not in a good way):
The Beautiful Life: TBL (Cancelled on The CW)
In a Nutshell: A drama about 5 vapid clones and a bumpkin in the high-stakes modeling world.
Why I Hate It: Ashton Kutcher aside, this phony show was unwatchable. Models Inc, anyone?
Scene-Killer: Tough call, but Elle Macpherson should just look pretty (and fix that horrible hair).

Hank (Wednesdays at 8pm on ABC)
In a Nutshell: A comedy about a CEO who gets canned and reconnects with his small-town roots.
Why I Hate It: It’s boring. And depressing. And Frasier Crane should not live in the sticks.
Scene-Killer: Kelsey Grammar, because he does not do "Average Joe" very well.

Melrose Place (Tuesdays at 9pm on The CW):
In a Nutshell: A soap about 7 twenty-somethings living in a drama-filled apartment complex.
Why I Hate It: It lacks the campiness of the original. Even La Locklear won't save this stinker.
Scene-Killer: Ashlee "Anti-Facial Expression" Simpson-Wentz, who was canned last week.


THE BUBBLE (on a scale from A to Z, I give these a J):
Community (Thursdays at 8pm on NBC)
In a Nutshell: A comedy about a lawyer who discovers his degree is invalid and returns to school.
Why I’m Mixed: I LOVE Joel McHale. But they’re not giving me enough to work with.
Scene-Saver: Chevy Chase, as an aging moist-towelette tycoon who has been married 7 times.

Cougar Town (Wednesdays at 9:30pm on ABC)
In a Nutshell: A rom-com about a recently divorced older woman who dates younger men.
Why I’m Mixed: I like Courtney Cox but there's nothing redeeming about a horny mom.
Scene-Saver: Dan Byrd, her 17 year old son (from Aliens in America, which was hilarious).

Eastwick (Wednesdays at 10pm on ABC)
In a Nutshell: A spooky drama about 3 witches and a mystery man who unlocks their powers.
Why I’m Mixed: A great mix of Charmed and Gilmore Girls, but also Desperate Housewives, which just seems… desperate.
Scene-Saver: Tie between Lindsay Price and Sara Rue, best buds who investigate mysteries.

The Middle (Wednesdays at 8:30pm ABC)
In a Nutshell: A comedy about a mom who is the worst salesperson at her used car dealership.
Why I’m Mixed: This show IS Malcom in the Middle (down to the odd-looking youngest child), but I do like Patricia Heaton.
Scene-Saver: Her husband, Neil Flynn (from Scrubs), and his obsession with brutal honesty.

Modern Family (Wednesdays at 9pm ABC)
In a Nutshell: A mockumentary on the definitions of family via a patriarch and his 2 kids.
Why I’m Mixed: Sometimes funny, but I wish it was quirkier -- a la Arrested Development.
Scene-Saver: Tie between “cool dad” Ty Burrell, flamboyant boyfriend Eric Stonestreet, and Rico Rodriguez II, the coffee-drinking kid.

The Vampire Diaries (Thursdays at 8pm on The CW)
In a Nutshell: A teen drama about a vampire who falls in love with a high school student.
Why I’m Mixed: A mix of Kevin Williamson's Dawson’s Creek and Scream, so why isn’t it funny?
Scene-Saver: I heart vamps, and Ian Somerhalder (Boone on Lost) is the best bad blood-sucker.


So that’s my take on Fall TV. Agree or disagree below.

And has anybody seen The Good Wife (CBS)? Or The Jay Leno Show (NBC)? Or anything new on cable that I might be missing? My DVR and I have a pact that I won’t add any more shows until next year, so I can’t watch them yet...

More Cowbell

Today I heard a new song. It was first announced by Plastic Ryan Seacrest. And it’s a duet between a Gossip Girl and Robyn Thicke (who makes me Kynda Sicke).

Not a good pedigree.

But my love of Gossip Girl has been well-documented. So I decided to throw caution to the wind and listen to Blair Waldorf’s (aka Leighton Meester’s) new pop single, “Somebody to Love.”

The verdict? It’s… bad. And not in a good way.

Not sure what was worse, the actual singing in the duet, or the battle of the vapid lyrics. HER: “It’s hard to find a man, when you’re gone before he wakes. They say it’s hard to achieve, but can’t a girl believe?” HIM: “Baby girl, there you at. Looking at me like a putty cat… Do your hair, I bought you shoes. We can hit the town like superstars do.”

Stick to your day job, B. And while I'm on the topic, here are 5 other starlets-turned-songstresses who really need to learn which side of their bread is buttered and -- for the love of all that is good and holy -- STOP SINGING.

Starlet: Heidi Montag
Claim to Fame: Married to Spencer “Flesh-Colored Beard” Pratt on the un-reality series, The Hills (full disclosure: I have a sick addiction to this show -- don't judge).
Song: “Body Language”
Deep Thoughts: “I am looking for a boss type, someone to fulfill all my needs. So, give me a piece of your guidance.”

Starlet: Paris Hilton
Claim to Fame: Famous for being famous, this overrated socialite is best known for her homemade sex tape.
Song: “Stars Are Blind”
Deep Thoughts: “Those other guys all wanna take me for a ride, but when I walk they talk of suicide. Some people never get beyond their stupid pride. But you see the real me inside.”

Starlet: Jennifer Love Hewitt
Claim to Fame: Currently, this buxom babe whispers to ghosts and inexplicably dates Jamie Kennedy.
Song: “Let’s Go Bang”
Deep Thoughts: “Before the groove hits the move you want to. And Uncle Funk wants it over tonight. Just dance along to wherever they take you tonight. You just bang it all up and out, bang it all on time.” (UM… WHAT??)

Starlet: Lindsay Lohan
Claim to Fame: Forgetting to wear underwear, crashing cars, and pretending to be a lesbian are just a few of the hobbies LiLo enjoys when not in rehab.
Song: “Rumors”
Deep Thoughts: “I can tell that you’re watching me and you’re probably gonna write what you didn’t see. Well I just need a little space to breathe. Can you please respect my privacy?”

Starlet: Kim Zolciak
Claim to Fame: One of the artificial Real Housewives of Atlanta, this cougar is on again/off again with a sugar daddy known as “Big Poppa.”
Song: “Tardy for the Party”
Deep Thoughts: “I’ll be feelin’ good by nine. After my third glass of wine. On the dance floor lookin' fine. All the boys tryin’ to get in line.”


Sooo.... any other celebrities you’d like to silence? Add them below and I’ll read them after I finish flying over Colorado in a giant Jiffy Pop weather balloon!

Apparently, Candy Isn't So Dandy

As if there wasn’t enough to worry about these days… now eating too much candy can lead to a life of crime.

I know, I can’t believe it either.

But in an October study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry (which I read religiously), they looked at kids who ate candy daily at age 10 and found that 69% of them were ARRESTED for a violent offense by age 34.

Now, if you told me the study showed that 7 of every 10 British kids who ate candy daily had horrible teeth, I’d believe you. But violent crimes? C’MON! This smells like propaganda from the International Broccoli Council to me. I guess “Just wait until your father gets home” and “Think about the starving children in Africa” are no longer persuasive enough motivation techniques.

“Eat your veggies or wind up in the Big House” carries that extra je ne sais quoi.

The study further goes on to explain that parents who regularly bribe their kids with sweets in exchange for good behavior are doing harm. Hmm. What about parents who bribe their kids with clothes and shoes and jewelry and handbags in exchange for good grades? Because that’s pretty much how I grew up, and I’ve got news for these Brits -- it worked like a charm (bracelet).

Anyway, I seriously doubt I ate candy DAILY as a kid (unless carob chips count -- my mom went through a health food phase where we had a lot of “nature’s chocolate” lying about). So, maybe I should eat candy daily at age 36 and see if it inspires a crime spree by the time I turn 60…

Here are the delicious sweets that would turn me sour (aka my 7 Candy Sins):
1) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
2) Whatchamacallit
3) Butterfingers
4) Twix
5) Gummy Cola Bottles
6) Skittles
7) Cherry-flavored Jolly Ranchers

And here’s the horrible candy that I’d never eat, thus keeping me on the straight and narrow:
1) Wax Lips
2) Candy Buttons
3) Good & Plenty
4) Jordan Almonds
5) Mounds Bars
6) Necco Wafers
7) Red Hots

What treats would turn YOU to a life of crime? List them below! (Bonus points for calling out more horrible candy…)

One and Done

I don’t know where my head was on Friday.

It was One Hit Wonder Day! I already missed International Bacon Day (September 8th). And National Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th). I simply cannot overlook ANOTHER September holiday, even if I am 3 days late.

So here’s my list of one-hit faves from the past 3 decades. And these aren’t remakes (sorry The Ataris and your “The Boys of Summer”), or celebs turned musicians (that means YOU, Eddie Murphy, AND your girl who wants to “Party All the Time”). These are actual songs from artists who hit Billboard’s Top 40 once, and that was it.

One and done.

Oh, and I decided to cut the 2000’s off at 2002, figuring if they haven’t recorded a second hit in the last 7 years, they probably don’t have another one left in them…

1970: The Five Stairsteps, “O-o-h Child”
1971: Jean Knight, “Mr. Big Stuff”
1972: Looking Glass, “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)”
1973: King Harvest, “Dancin’ in the Moonlight”
1974: Blue Swede, “Hooked on a Feeling”
1975: Morris Albert, “Feelings” (totally kidding, 1975, it seems was TOTAL crap for OHWs)
1976: Vicki Sue Robinson, “Turn the Beat Around”
1977: Thelma Houston, “Don’t Leave Me this Way”
1978: Alicia Bridges, “I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)"
1979: TIE -- The Knack, “My Sharona” and Kermit the Frog, “Rainbow Connection”

1980: The Sugarhill Gang, “Rapper’s Delight”
1981: Tommy Tutone, “867-5309/Jenny” (for obvious reasons)
1982: Soft Cell, “Tainted Love”
1983: TIE -- Dexy’s Midnight Runners, “Come on Eileen” and Taco, “Puttin’ on the Ritz”
1984: TIE -- Nena, “99 Luftballons” and Shannon, “Let the Music Play”
1985: TIE -- Falco, “Rock Me Amadeus” and Murray Head, “One Night in Bangkok”
1986: Timbuk 3, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”
1987: TIE -- Breakfast Club, “Right on Track” and Bill Medley, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”
1988: TIE -- The Church, “Under the Milky Way” and Midnight Oil, “Beds Are Burning”
1989: Jeff Healey Band, “Angel Eyes”

1990: Michael Penn, “No Myth”
1991: Divinyls, “I Touch Myself”
1992: Sir Mix-a-Lot, “Baby Got Back”
1993: 4 Non Blondes, “What’s Up?”
1994: Nothing good happened in '94, unless you count the Crash Test Dummies (which I do not)
1995: Edwin Collins, “A Girl Like You”
1996: Seven Mary Three, “Cumbersome”
1997: Chumbawamba, “Tubthumping”
1998: TIE -- The Verve, “Bittersweet Symphony” and Semisonic, “Closing Time”
1999: TIE -- Eagle Eye Cherry, “Save Tonight” and Shawn Mullins, “Lullaby”

2000: Nine Days, “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”
2001: TIE – Fuel, “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” and Willa Ford, “I Wanna Be Bad”
2002: Jimmy Eat World, "The Middle"


So that's my list, for better or worse. Am I missing YOUR favorite ditty? Too bad.

Jokes, jokes... add them below.

Note to Celebrities: Please Stop Dying

***Thanks go out to the overwhelming majority of 6 who answered my poll! I will keep blogging for YOU (and also for the 16 other people who read that post but didn’t feel the need to vote -- I take your silence as consent!). And now… let's begin We’re Not In Pine Brook Anymore, Part Deux.***

Summer is officially over. Boo.

The Times recently uncovered a frightening seasonal phenomenon. And no, it’s not about the rain. It’s about celebrities.

They kinda keep dying. Making this… (cue spooky music) The Summer of Death.

Morbid? Yes. But also true! The AP is in a bunch over the number of celebs who kicked it in the Summer of 2009 too. And New York Magazine, puts the number at 29 which nearly doubles their 1993 record of 15.

Numbers aside, the wattage of these stars are above average. Here’s the 11 I’ll miss most:

Walter Cronkite: What's the coolest thing you can say about the Most Trusted Man in America? He was made into a Muppet -- a grouchy journalist called Walter Cranky!
Best Quote: “Objective journalism and opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.”

Dominick Dunne: He was driven by the murder of his own daughter (and the slap on the wrist her boyfriend received for killing her), so I loved his coverage of high-profile criminal trials. It’s rumored that he got his big break in the literary world by being seated next to Vanity Fair editor, Tina Brown, at a dinner party. I really need to start eating out more.
Best Quote: “I’m sick of being asked to weep for killers. We’ve lost our sense of outrage.”

Farrah Fawcett: I saw the world's most popular pinup in Newark Airport years ago, coming off the red-eye from California. She really did have great hair.
Best Quote: “The reason that the all-American boy prefers beauty to brains is that he can see better than he can think.”

John Hughes: Man, I still can’t get over this one! This guy made me want to spend my teenage years in the suburbs of Chicago -- riding a parade float while singing Twist & Shout, blowing out the candles on my 16th birthday cake, and sitting in detention with a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. He WAS the 80's.
Best Quote: “I don’t think of kids as a lower form of the human species.”

Michael Jackson: I’ve already told you how I feel about this one. But to me, June 25th was more than just the day the music died. It's also the day my boyfriend and I went on our 2nd date. We visited 5 Napkin Burger, where he ordered a delicious bacon burger and I ordered... a burger salad. Lame choice. Surprised he didn't tell me to beat it.
Best Quote: “Through it, my music, I know I will live forever.”

Billy Mays: What can I say about this densely-bearded fellow that I haven’t already said? His sales pitches were irresistable! I now have a Big City Slider Station in his honor, which I keep at my parents house in Florida because my apartment is too small.
Best Quote: “I don’t take on a product unless I believe in it. I use everything that I sell.”

Frank McCourt: I had the pleasure of meeting this kind man after the success of his memoir, Angela's Ashes, when I worked in book publishing. He truly was as charming, humble, and utterly delightful as you'd imagine.
Best Quote: "I wasn't prepared for America, where everybody is glowing with good teeth and good clothes and food."

Ed McMahon: It’s true, his face got a little freaky looking towards the end, but how can you not want to hug this affable late-night sidekick? He was like a human laugh track. I even enjoyed his Cash for Gold commercials with MC Hammer!
Best Quote: “Johnny once described our relationship by saying we were as close as two people could be without being married.”

Les Paul: You've got to admire a guy who never learned how to read sheet music, yet he invented the sound of rock and roll. His Gibson electric guitars sell for thousands. And bonus points because he lived in Mahwah, NJ for many years… bada bing!
Best Quote: "My first guitar came from Sears & Roebuck and I believe it was $3.95."

Patrick Swayze: Loved him in Dirty Dancing, Youngblood, Road House, The Outsiders and Point Break (Ghost? Not so much). But you know my favorite PSwayz role? Orry Main in the TV miniseries, North & South. His views were questionable, but he really rocked that mullet.
Best Quote: “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” (c’mon, did you REALLY think I’d choose anything less?)

The Taco Bell Dog: Little Gidget (who assumed the role from a Chihuahua named Dinky) was a sombrero-wearing face of controversy in the Hispanic community for reinforcing bad stereotypes. But the next time I chow down on a MexiMelt, I’ll think of you…
Best Quote: “Drop the chalupa!”

Honorable mention also goes to Dom DeLuise (loved his cookbook Eat This -- never trust a skinny cook!) and Bea Arthur (snarky Dorothy Zbornak was my fave Golden Girl). They technically passed on before the summer began, but were still pretty cool peeps.


So, Celebrities, do yourselves a favor and stay home this fall. Get a nice Netflix subscription, a Snuggie, and a soothing chai latte.

The world will thank you.

Did I miss any of YOUR favorites? Add them below!