First Ladies: Just Where Are Those Love Skeletons?

While watching the movie J. Edgar the the other night, a curious thought popped into my brain: Why don't we ever hear about the love affairs and sexual scandals of First Ladies? Think about it. Our presidential history is bloated with the tales of indiscretion chalked up by our male leaders. But we rarely hear about the missteps of their female counterparts. Some of these gals had to have slipped a time or two. Why don't we ever hear about it? How do "they" keep these affairs under wraps when every teeny tiny bit of every famous person's life is fodder for the news media?

I tried various Google searches on the topic, but came up with very little. Lifetimemoms.com featured the most info in a little ditty called All the Presidents' Wives, but even that article is lacking.

I have no idea why I am stuck on this idea right now. I have about 10 million other things I should be thinking about. I think it has something to do with the fascination I have with seeking out the "human" in people who live extraordinary lives. I find comfort in knowing that, at our core, we are all humans who laugh, cry, love, and screw up big time.

If you are wondering how watching a movie about the head honcho of the FBI led me down this bizarre path, I'll tell ya: In the movie, President Roosevelt asks Hoover to meet with him. Hoover is certain Roosevelt is going to ask for his resignation. Hoover loves his job and the power it brings, and he not about to let it go. So during their meeting, Hoover shows the president a secret file of information on his wife that includes a love letter from journalist Lorena Hickock. Apparently, some historians believe that Eleanor had a lesbian love affair. Who knew? Certainly not me! And now I'm wondering what else has gone on in that big White House. Hmm .... Inquiring minds with nothing better to do want to know!

By the way, I highly recommend the movie. Leonard DiCaprio is unbelievable as Hoover. The movie intertwines events from both Hoover's professional life and personal life. I found this glimpse into a icon that I knew nothing about both fascinating and educational.

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, keep it real!

Ideal Reality Vs. Real Reality: Me in the Kitchen - Again

In my Ideal Reality, I fancy myself a foodie (please stick with Definition 1 as I find it to be the most flattering and accurate depiction of my Ideal Reality. I am most certainly NOT Definition 2. At least, I don't think I am!?). In my Real Reality, I would rather ram hot pokers in my eyes than cook/bake/fix/plan/shop for/serve food. I just want it to magically appear.

Occasionally, I get the urge to whoop up on my kitchen. And, on occasion, I'm successful. See here.

Since I'm home more often these days, it only makes sense that I, by default, am the one doing most of the kitchen whoopin' these days. And I struggle. The whole planning/cooking process feels so chaotic to me. People who plan their meals weeks in advance truly fascinate me. Some people I know have planning down to a science. I love the idea of meal planning, simple because it feeds my craving for organization and structure. Or control. Whatever you want to call it. But, I'm terrible about it.

But that's about to change.

The other day, I finally decided to get serious about figuring out how to make meal preparation more tolerable. (Perhaps I'll only gouge one eye.) I went on Google Play and found Food Planner. Boys and Girls, Let the choir sing! I'm completey addicted to this app, which is FREE. Yeah, baby! I can add recipes, convert the needed ingredients to a shopping list, categorize that shopping list and then organize the categories in the order I shop in my grocery store. I can inventory my deep freeze. Oh, and I can plan meals with just a few taps. This app totally feeds my compulsive organizational addiction. I've been filling my recipe inventory and whipping out culinary delights like it's nobody's business this week.

Ideal Reality, meet Real Reality. Love it when that happens!

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... keep it real.

Whew! And I'm Back!

That was some hiatus, huh? It was not without cause. All good cause, too.

You know about the crazy-busy teaching job from previous posts. True to my word, I resigned at the end of the school year in May. Just in time for us to pack the house and move! The move happened rather quickly. Long story short: We wanted more land with a cool house. Couldn't fulfill that dream with what was on the market so we decided to stop looking and stay put. Only I kept browsing.

KABAM!!

Surfing the Internet while home witha sick kiddo one day last spring, I found it. THE house. Built in 1942, sitting on one acre with park-like setting, tempting us with hardwood floors and dripping with charm ... we had to have her. So on Easter weekend we made aThat was some hiatus, huh? It was not without cause. All good cause, too.

You know about the crazy-busy teaching job from previous posts. True to my word, I resigned at the end of the school year in May. Just in time for us to pack the house and move! The move happened rather quickly. Long story short: We wanted more land with a cool house. Couldn't fulfill that dream with what was on the market so we decided to stop looking and stay put. Only I kept browsing.

KABAM!!

Surfing the Internet while home with a sick kiddo one day last spring I found it. THE house. Built in 1942, sitting on one acre with a park-like setting (hello, woodland deer), tempting us with hardwood floors and dripping with charm ... we had to have her. So on Easter weekend we made an offer. We moved Memorial Day weekend. Our other house sold in a week.

WHAM BAM! Grab that Ideal Reality when you can!

So my blazin' hot summer is me hangin' with my peeps in my new old house, fixin' and sprucin' stuff. And that is coolio. So now I'm back.

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real (and cool. Did I mention it's blazin' hot?)