January 18, 2004
This, I believe, must be the year of the middle-aged woman at the movies and it is definitely about time! Britney Spears and that age group tend to make me gag because their behavior is soooo awful, so it is a huge relief to pay those horrendous movie theatre prices and be able to actually enjoy the movie. If you haven't seen "Something's Gotta Give," you must go. You must also see "Calendar Girls." It is quite a sleeper movie, don't hear much hoopla about it, but I believe there is a groundswell out there just ready and primed to welcome it. My husband laughed so hard there were tears rolling down his cheeks. Now, it was funny, no question about that, but I did wonder why he thought it was that funny. After all, the middle-aged women who posed for that wonderful calendar managed nudity in a very tasteful way. "Tasteful" has been the lost word in Hollywood for years, instead of the last word, unfortunately. These two films are a welcome breath of fresh clean air.
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In this same "empowerment of middle-aged ladies" vein,
Haywood Smith's "The Red Hat Club" is a wonderful read. Women of a certain age and enlightened men will enjoy this book immensely. It will scare unenlightened men, the ones with planks in their heads. Haywood Smith is one of ours, here in Georgia; she lives up at Lake Lanier. I was happy to learn that the sequel, "The Red Hats Ride Again," will be finished in May. Write, Haywood, write!! "Ladies of the Lake" will follow that one. This author is on a roll, describing well the "Jilted Generation." That ought to ring a familiar bell with some of you. Smith has also written "Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch," which is a zinger guessing game of who's who in Buford, Lawrenceville, and South Hall. I recommend that one, too. Actually, while I was reading both of these books, they could probably hear me laughing in Macon. Haywood is a hoot. You can visit her Web site at
www.haywoodsmith.net
.
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It's always been all about books at our house, but it's been trending heavily these last few weeks. We are discussing "The DaVinci Code" in Sunday school. This subject has packed the very large Hall of Bishops at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. Standing room only. Dean
Sam Candler observed that the crowds are bigger for this topic than they were for the reports from the National Convention and the flap that caused in the Episcopal Church last year. We might keep this one going for several more weeks! Remember, my friends, this book is a work of fiction and found in the fiction section of the bookstore. If you want something a little more scholarly, try "Rabbi Jesus" by
Bruce Chilton.
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The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association (UPCCA) has a meeting scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2004, at 7:30 p.m. at Simpsonwood Conference & Retreat Center, 4511 Jones Bridge Circle. The public is invited to hear Gwinnett County Commission Chairman
Wayne Hill give his State of the County address. There is no charge. We'll be meeting in the North Georgia Room in the Rollins Center, the main building with the portico.
I hope the folks over Highway 78 way get an association of homeowners going as we have done in Peachtree Corners. UPCCA has been invaluable in helping to guide the growth, in preventing unwanted zoning decisions, and generally working to keep the western part of Gwinnett looking as good as possible. We have seen developers try to push the envelope as far as possible for their own gain. Unless somebody is paying attention, neighbors can very well wind up with something undesirable in their midst. UPCCA is paying great attention over here in Peachtree Corners. Sometimes, however, you can get something undesirable anyway because a federal judge says you have to have it, in which case, you are truly stuck.
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A few words about low carbs: This is not rocket science. Anybody can do it, and if you do it, you will lose weight, most especially if you adopt a regular exercise program to go along with sensible eating and drinking. How have we strayed so far from that simple concept? It is reassuring to see the numbers of people out doing brisk walks and jogs, using the YMCA, and asking for tomatoes instead of potatoes in restaurants. We have the resources in this nation to be healthy and fit, and so we should be. Fat people are not attractive, nor are they healthy, no matter what they may think. Look up Syndrome X on your browser. Then check your Body Mass Index number. Knowledge is power!
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I live near a middle school and parents line up in their SUVs in my neighborhood to pick up their children from school and drive them home or wherever. As I walked past one of these rumbling conga lines the other day I noticed that every single automobile had the motor running, every one, and there were about 10 or 12 parked at the time. I felt sorry for the crossing guard who got to breathe all these exhaust fumes, and believe me, those big trucks push out plenty! Can somebody please tell me why these parents pull up and leave their motors running until their children arrive? I got a lifetime supply of free radicals just walking through all that exhaust.
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Hope all is well and thanks for reading.
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