What would you do if you could do anything in the world, and money was no object? First, you'd make a list; that's what I did, anyway. And while money is definitely an object, sometimes as big as an elephant in a room, you find a way to get what you want without being trampled. This blog is about my Bucket List and yours, too. My list ranges from baking a souffle for my husband Sarge, to sitting atop a tortoise in the Galapagos. While contemplating your own list, enjoy some of my adventures.
Where I flash on my 5 favorite things of the week. This week, in honor of the Royal Wedding, I'm listing my fab 5 wedding movies. Here goes in no particular order:
1. Four Weddings and a Funeral- Isn't that five of the same thing?
2. 27 Dresses- Don't care for Katherine Heigl, love James Marsden ever since The Notebook.
Move over, Barbie. There's a new doll baby in town, and she's bringing her own version of Ken with her. And we didn't need no stinkin' pink convertible to get us to Malibu, either. (Sarge would never ride in a pink car anyway. He put the macho in machismo.)
Number 141 on my Bucket List is Rent A Beach House, and we finally did! Though we didn't so much rent it as we did exchange our home for it. (Me thinks we got the best end of that deal!)They wanted to stay in the desert, we wanted to stay on the beach. And when I say "on the beach," that's what I mean. If you jumped off the balcony of the home where we stayed, you'd land in the ocean. So there was no beachfront to lay out on (unless you want to sun on the rocks, and the only time I like "on the rocks" is in a cocktail.) But the home had THREE, count 'em, three balconies, and we spent time on each one. (Click on the slideshow to see the captions)
We arrived on a Friday, checked the place out, put our Clicquot in the fridge and went for a salmon supper at Malibu Seafood and Fish Market. Simple (no servers) and inexpensive ($$), but fresher than a frisky first date. It's right on Pacific Coast Highway, and you can see the sun set from there, but we chose to watch it from the first balcony back at the house.
The next day, we drove down PCH, saw a couple of celebs at the local Ralph's Market, then had lunch at Duke's, a restaurant on the water's edge. It's a place created by the father of surfing and the ambassador of aloha, Duke Kahanamoku. Old photos and memorabilia from surfing of summers past line the walls reminiscent of Gidget and the Big Kahuna.
No, Sarge and I don't surf, but that didn't stop us from creating our own version of Beach Blanket Bingo on our last day there. We invited a few friends down for brunch at Moonshadows Restaurant, famous for its Mel Gibson arrest, but they also have the best bar in town: friendly patrons and proper drinks, if you know what I mean. Food was good, too.
Then we all retreated back to the beach house for funnin' and sunnin' on the third-floor balcony. We whiled away the afternoon until dusk when we had to pack up and leave. I missed it as soon as we left. There's something about the waves crashing against the shore that has a calming effect. Someone should record that sound and sell it. Oh, they do? Guess that'll have to do until I get back to Malibu. Some day.
Have you ever slept on the beach? Watched the sun sizzle as it sets on the water? Rented a beach house, farm house, tree house? Tell us about it.
And we're back after a long commercial break. Welcome to Fab 5 Fridays -- the REAL reason Oprah is ending her show. This is where I give MY favorite things. And by "give" I mean tell you about them. This week, it's my favorite YouTube videos. Check them out; you might find something you haven't seen before.
While I take the week off to work on my Novel-in-progress, please enjoy a vintage post (from 2008) on my trip to New York City:
"Write!" Celie cried as Mister tore her and her sister apart from each other's arms, finger by finger.
"Nothing but death can keep me from it," Nettie yelled back through a torrent of tears.
Nettie's promise to her sister reflects my own promise to myself to fly to New York City one day just to see The Color Purple on Broadway, #72 on my Bucket List. My sister-friends all around me were making their own journeys to the Great White Way for the same reason, so why not me and the Diva?
The Diva went online and found second-row-center tickets to the Broadway Theater on 53rd. We used our frequent flier miles and flew to JFK International Airport where Sarge's friend sent a driver to pick us up in a Town Car.
We had a couple days to kill before watching Celie put a curse on Mister, so we shopped on 5th Ave where the Diva got scent of a sale at Saks: 70% off all coats! Of course, she bought the red eyelash mink because, well, that's her signature color. She made me buy a red shearling. Against my will. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it
She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, another friend of mine who'd made her own trek to see the play, highly recommended B. Smith's restaurant, so we followed orders and ate there one night, Chez Josephine's the next. Both had exquisite fare beyond compare. B. Smith has her own TV show, and Chez Josephine is owned and operated by one of Josephine Baker's 12 children. Another night we ate at a place (that I refuse to name) where a plate of spaghetti cost $110, and it was just an appetizer. Live and learn from my mistakes, people.
But the piece de resistance was, of course The Color Purple. That play was like a Grey Goose Vodka martini with a little twist on the ending, smooth yet intoxicating. While I am not usually given over to sentiment, I cried right there in the middle of the play when Celie said, "I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it." Truer words were never spoken. Since then, The Color Purple has closed on Broadway, and come and gone to Los Angeles, so I am glad the Diva and I seized the day. Weekend in New York: $$$ Fun with a fabulous friend: Priceless There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's Sarge's Mastercard.
Class + beauty, all rolled up into one sex kitten = Elizabeth Taylor. One day, I'm going to throw my own little retrospective of her work right in my living room.
In honor of Fab 5 Friday where I list my favorite things of the moment, here's a list of Liz's movies that will get top billing on my marquis:
1. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Talk about your complex relationships! Brick (co-star Paul Newman) and Maggie the Cat were like fire and ice. I needed a cigar after watching that movie. No one can wear a slip like Liz Taylor.
2. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Me. I was. Still am. I couldn't take my eyes off her riveting performance, though. It was like watching a train barreling towards you; you want to get out of its way, but you take too long to move, and you're hooked on the Taylor-Burton train as they drag you into their dysfunction.
3. Cleopatra - I just remember it being a color-filled feast for the eyes. I wanted to be an Egyptian queen after that, and the following Halloween, I was.
4. Father of the Bride - I just realized what an impact Liz had on my formative years. After watching this movie, I wanted to be a bride and break the National Bank of Dad, too. My dad was already broke, though; it wouldn't have taken much.
5. Little Women - I saved the best for last. Amy was played by none other than Teen Taylor, and one of her sisters was an unrecognizable Janet Leigh (long before Psycho). I watch this movie every holiday season.
. . . and neither does my BFF Rita. That's why she's one of the top five people I admire most. Why? Because she didn't wait for anyone else to make her happy; she did it herself. How did she do that? Easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. She'd always wanted to visit our State Capitol.
2. She didn't wait around for someone to take her or go with her.
3. She just got up and went. Alone. By herself.
It was a special birthday present to herself. She hopped on a plane, jaunted to Sacramento, got a hotel room, took a tour of the California State Senate (at the exorbitant tour price of $Free.99), stood outside Schwarzenegger's office (our Gov at the time), went inside the Governor's Mansion (vacant since the Reagan Era because of security concerns), explored the museum, enjoyed the Memorial Gardens out back, and appreciated the architecture all around.
My Dad always said to me, Leenie, if you want anything done right, do it yourself. Rita did it herself, for herself, by herself. She was the inspiration for my Saturday night date in the blogpost titled Me, Myself and Arlene.
Is there something on your Bucket List you've always wanted to do, but are still waiting for someone to accompany you? What if no one else wants it as badly as you do? What if no one steps up to the plate? Are you NOT going to do it?
Time waits for no one. Don't let it run out on you. Rita's scrapbook page of the California State Capitol
Outside the Governor's Mansion Outside the Governor's office.
Where I flash on my top 5 favorite things. This week, it's my top 5 obscure holidays. This is NO April Fool's joke because they are completely real holidays as listed in Holiday Insights. Feel free to add them to your Bucket List!
1. Backwards Day - Jan 31 - where you do everything backwards: start at the finish line, walk backwards to work, put your verb before the subject. Personally, I like to celebrate by eating my dessert first.
2. International Fun At Work Day - April 1 - I like to celebrate this day by staying home from work. This could also be celebrated on Backwards Day.
First warped photo of the Royal Wedding cake
