Beeline2Beauty

Saying Goodbye to Michael Jackson

Heartbroken, sad, confused.  These are some of the emotions I felt as I learned that our dear Michael Jackson had passed away at the young age of 50 years old.  He was iconic, legendary, and of course, eccentric.  Some are wondering why all the hoopla?  Well, whether you are six, or sixty, Michael Jackson's music has touched your life.  His musical legacy was all inclusive and left no one out.   Last evening, MTV paid tribute to Michael Jackson, and took you way back to Michael's humble musical beginnings with his brothers, to his larger than life solo career, which has spanned several decades.  Who does that?  They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  Well, several decades later, musical artists like Neyo, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake and many more give great accolades to Michael Jackson for being their inspiration.   His music was the spoken word of our time.  The man is gone, but the music is forever. 

Jon or Kate + 8

I know that silence is golden and I have really tried the whole silence thing, but now it's time to chime in.  I've been hearing some pretty disturbing things about my favorite dysfunctional reality television couple, Jon and Kate.  Well, it appears that all the tabloid stuff is true and they may be breaking up - WHAT!  If you ask me, they are acting like two adolescents, or two adults having a major mid-life crisis on network television.  It is reported that Kate is dating the bodyguard and Jon has his own little "Miss Thing."  NOW, I hear of some child labor laws and the potential cancelling of the show.  Uh, I think it's a little late for that.  We are already several seasons in.  Where were those laws when the smallest ones were tots?  All jokes aside, there are 8 children involved in this debacle and no one seems to have their best interest at heart.  When I made the last post on the couple, I really thought that there was nothing to it, but when TMZ says it's true, you better get out your pen and paper.  Harvey checks his stuff and he was dead on with Jon and Kate.  Personally, I am sad.  Jon knew that Kate was fanatical type "A" when they married. He obviously liked it at the time and now that he's "grown up,"  he doesn't want to be Kate's whipping boy anymore.  Jon, I get it, but not 8 kids later. Now that that there is paparrazi, mistresses and money involved, this makes for another two or three seasons.  Yes, but we must ask, at what cost. 

Kate + Eight - John = TROUBLE

A while ago, I wrote an article about Jon and Kate Gosselin from the popular television reality show, "Jon and Kate + Eight."  Yes, that's eight children.  My article was speculative in nature, but there was rumor that Jon was becoming quite the man around town and behaving - well, unlike a married man.  I let it go, because I thought it was just a rumor.  Not so: Kate and Jon are having major marital problems by the name of Deana Hubble, and Kate now admits that their marriage is in trouble.  I have two words for Ms. Hubble, who also happens to be a school teacher - "home wrecker."  However, I can't believe that the feisty Kate is going to let this 23 year old woman steal her guy.  Now, I am beginning to understand why Kate treats Jon like a child.  Well, because he acts like one.  Jon knows that his life is under a microscope, so how could he be so silly to think an affair would go unnoticed.  Also, what type of person would turn their backs on eight children.  I think this is what we would call a fling, but unfortunately, Jon's clothes are washed at the public laundry, so we all get to see the dirt.  I am so disappointed, because I thought they were - well, not perfect, but a nice family.  I guess we'll have to tune in to see whether their family can withstand this blow.  Only time will tell.

Weight A Minute

 Summer is quickly approaching.  The best dresses are, well, let's just say not in my size.  What to do, what to do?  I can't stick to a diet because I am the proverbial social eater.  Good food and family, or good food and friends is what I live for.   Rewind.  Am I really living or eating myself into an early, fat grave.  Let's just talk about some things that I absolutely won't do.  I won't eat raw food, because that's for rabbits.  I won't do all carbs because I would get sick.  Here we are back to the old mantra of exercise and a sensible diet.  Okay, that's the plan.  Oh yes, we must have a plan.  Now, whether we stick to it or not, we still must have a goal and a plan.   I need to get this rediculous part of my life into perspective, both figuratively and literally.   Hey, you should never give up on you, and a wise man once said, "you can't know success, until you know failure."  Quite frankly, I desire no acquaintence with failure, but in actuality, the quote makes sense and now it's time for round two - ding, ding.

Curves, Curves, Curves

Thanks to my mom, I have a one week pass to Curves.   When I was a gym fanatic (and I was at one time), I preferred a larger gym setting with plenty of machines, televisions, and preferrably a pool.  The Curve's setting is laid back and the concept is to work each muscle of your body for a vigorous thirty seconds, recover and then move to another machine.   You don't see many Ipods or people hanging around and shooting the breeze over machines, because everyone stays engaged.  Each thirty minutes requires you to listen and take action.  At this stage, I have to work out with a coach to ensure that the machines are done properly.   After three visits, I get to use the machines on my own.  It's really great to have someone coaxing you to do more, and ensure that you are using the machines properly.  The great part is that it's a 30 minute workout that hits every major muscle area in the body.  I haven't decided whether to join or not, but I really feel like this is what I need to get started.  At this point, I am undecided, but I will let you know the outcome next week.   

Not Model Behavior

For those of us who are watching the Real Housewives of New York, we are sure to get a treat every week.  This season, a model was brought into the mix by the name of Kelly Kelloran Bensimon.  Kelly models and she also writes for a social magazine.  Well, apparently our lovely Betthany had some unresolved issues with Kelly, relating to an incident of alleged flirting with her boyfriend at Kelly's home, years earlier.  Keep in mind that this incident is aged and should have been forgotten by now.  Any who, Betthany insulted Kelly when Kelly refused to lend her name for a charity invitation.  A lady who was unfamiliar with Kelly asked who she was and Betthany said "Madonna".   Well, Kelly was none too happy and decided to invite Betthany for drinks to rip her a new one.  Here's where it gets funny.  Kelly tells Betthany that she's acting like a child.  She goes on further to say that she does not like her and does not find her charming. She then adds, "I am here, " motioning her hands upward, and "you are here," motioning downwards.  She told her that they will never be friends.  The look on Betthany's face was priceless. I wonder if I could sell it on Ebay.  That alone made me feel justified to stay up and watch the show.  These girls are so funny because they are rich and claim to be classy.  I've seen rich, but I guess they abandon class when they get on television.   Betthany got her digs in also, but this match goes to Kelly.  Check out a little clip up top.  I'm not finished yet.  Is it me, or is Alex and Simon the most pretentious people on earth.  I don't think they have money, which was evident when they sat in their blown up swimming pool, after staying two days in an awful home in the Hamptons.  Not to mention, their home remodeling and having to stay in the home while it is finished.  They have some  money, but they are way down the food chain of the social elite of New York city.  That said, I like them both.  They have carved out a small slice of the New York society pie for themselves.  Hey, they were invited to Russell Simmons party - I wasn't. 

Back on the Weight Loss Track

Over the weekend I played basketball with my daughter, and I took some photos of her, and she took some of me.  Needless to say my daughter looked fabulous in every shot.  When I looked at my proofs, I was mortified.  No matter what angle she shot, I was fat, fat and fatter.   It was a wake up call for sure.  I love that my daughter is fit and active.  I am going to use this as an opportunity for us to spend time together and do things that are conducive to active living.  I am also going to post the pictures on my refrigerator, because they cleary are screaming, "just say no to food."  I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I want to be fit and healthy and I feel confident that I can accomplish my goal.  I'm going to do this one day at a time, because I know it won't be easy, but as my sister says, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."   I'll update you periodically on how I'm doing and the struggles that go along with trying to lose weight.  I know we've been there and done that, but we won't stop until we are victorious.

Bonus Money for AIG

  Bonuses, I think NOT!!!

Well, unless you're hiding under a rock somewhere in the Ozarks, you are aware of the current bonus scam regarding AIG, the insurance giant.  It appears that bonuses which were promised to certain executives, prior to the government bailout, are well on their way to being realized.  To this I say, if the government let's this go through, they are penny smart and pound foolish.  AIG is subsized and partly owned by the government.  Were it not for the bailout money, they would have been out of business months ago.  Now, let's see.  If the company had went defunct, there would be no bonuses and typically bonuses are tied to productivity, which is tied to someone's spreadsheet.  This stinks to high heaven.   The problem again comes from a government fraught with problems and simple thinking.  How could you not make any stipulations to a corporation that requires billions of tax dollars to stay in business?  I'm no financial wizard, but that's common sense.   The President is attempting to legally block the bonuses, but we'll see.  AIG is the same company that took part of the $89 billion bailout money and went on a lavish retreat.  There is something so wrong with all this. 

Barbie's 50th Birthday

  

With all that's going on in the world today, Mattel felt it necessary to let us know that it's Barbie's 50th birthday and they're throwing a huge party in her honor.  Hmmh, let me see, the Dow has lost half it's value, home prices continue to fall and foreclosures are on the rise. Well, I guess as long as Barbie's dream house is not in foreclosure, all is well with the world....my bad.  Maybe Mattel lost the memo, but right now, having a party with Barbie should be the last thing on the agenda.  And anyway, didn't  Mattel recently lay off a bunch of employees.  I know that they laid off no less than 1,000 last year and they are laying off more this week.  I think that common sense is missing in this equation. When you lay off workers in the numbers we have seen, you don't throw a party for a doll.   This is not just any party, designers have weighed in on the design and the rooms are decorated in true Barbie fashion.   I watched on television and saw the party palace, which is in Malibu, and quite honestly, it's great for a doll, but it's largely pink and a bit eccentric.  Maybe it's a marketing ploy, but it seems a little rediculous to me.  Oh yes, since Mattel sales have slumped in the United States, they have opened a new store in China. Talk about hedging your bets.  I still love Barbie, but I think she should take a birthday holiday, or at least had the sense to scale it down a bit. 

Jon and Kate minus 1?

Am I the only one that thought that Jon and Kate had the perfect marital relationship.  I mean, she was quite domineering and he was very passive, but sometimes things work out that way.  Well, I guess Jon has grown tired of being shown on national television looking like a complete wuss.  You didn't hear it from me, but Jon and Kate have been separated, and he is purported to be out of the home living with his mom. At this point, this is just a rumor, but if it's true, can you blame the guy?  I swear, I have only watched the show a handful of times and on every occasion, she is shoving a mouth full of crap at the poor man and treating him like the 9th child.  He probably just wanted to get out of the house and feel like he was his own man for a change.   He has been spotted partying it up with coeds and making out with women whose names are not Kate.  Now, as I said, this is only a rumor, but Kate needs to trust that Jon can be a husband, as well as a father.  He's not her whipping boy!  I  guess even the best concrete cracks.  I personally don't think that he would or should leave his kids, but perhaps some marriage counseling is in order for the Gosslins.