March 8, 2010 | 10:00 am

The Oscars: It’s All About The Suit Not The Dress

Posted by Mihal Levy

The Oscars came and went yesterday.  We all know that it was all about the fashion (and a first-time female win for best director), but have we paid enough attention to the men’s fashion? 

The recurrent trend this year for women was bright lips, open backs, one-shouldered dresses, open necklines and trains.  Clearly - “My Big Fat Greek Oscars” for the most part (because of the one shoulder dresses not larger actors, but maybe larger hosts). Since every year so much of the focus is on the women’s fashions, why not focus on the men?

The recurrent theme was definitely over-gelled hair (welcome back 1980’s) and facial scruff (grunge look at the Oscars).  It may be simple to critique facial hair and over-gelled dos to cover thinning hairlines (okay, Zach Efron probably does not have a thinning hairline, but the gelled faux hawk two inches taller thing was a little overdone and well…stiff), but how does one critique suits.  Form-fitting/tailored, loose?  Black, light black, smokey black, smokey gray black?  Big bowtie, shorter bow tie, navy bow tie, skinny ties, not-so-skinny ties?  Well, there were a few that stood out.

Neil Patrick Harris, for one.  Harris wore a sassy sequined suit jacket with shiny tafetta (perhaps) pants for his opening number.  That has to be the ‘suit’ that took the night.  Probably also multi-useful to wear every day – to special events, of course.  That suit would work perfectly at, say, a Bris?  Bar Mitzvah?  Why not?

Lenny Kravitz, a fellow Jew (half), looked elegant with his tight classic tux.  Maybe a little too tight, but who minded, really?  The sunglasses were a nice touch.  He, too, had facial hair.  Carrying along the facial hair trend was Jake Gyllenhaal as well, and Keeanu Reeves (whoa!), looking a little Rabbi-esque (minus the kippah, tzitzis and a conversion), but lovely. Antonio Banderas’s and Jeff Bridges’s facial hair leave room for debate about whether clean-shaven is often a much better look, or at least dying a graying multi-colored beard. (Is that possible?)

Perhaps the reason that more attention is not paid to menswear is the likeliness of black suits and tuxes regardless of the size or color of the bowtie or skinny tie…I tried.

0 Comments — Leave your comment

March 7, 2010 | 2:00 am

Sandra Bullock And All That Razz

Posted by Mihal Levy

“When I said I will show up, I miraculously won,” said Sandra Bullock, accepting her award for worst actress at the 30th annual Razzie Awards, which honors dishonors Hollywood’s worst on the eve of the Oscars, March 6 at Hollywood’s Barnsdall Gallery Theatre.  Bullock is the first actress ever to be nominated for both a Razzie and an Oscar in the same weekend.

Bullock was welcomed with a standing ovation at the award ceremony as she both surprised and delighted the audience by making an appearance.  She came equipped with a shooting script from “All About Steve,” the film in question.  She told the audience, “I’m willing to go through page by page, read the line the way I did it in the film and, if anyone wants to give me a line read of how I could’ve done it better.”  She also brought in a wagon filled with DVDs of her film to give to the audience members and asked that everyone actually watch the film and rethink their decision.  “I’ll show up again next year if you promise to watch the movie and really consider if it was the worst performance of the year and if it isn’t, I’ll give back the Razzie,” said Bullock.

Bullock picked up a second Razzie as well for her and costar Bradley Cooper for worst screen couple. 

Bullock left a fundraising event with Jeffrey Katzenberg to attend the Awards and added, “Now I’ve got to get back to that event, because you know, it’s Jeffrey Katzenberg and he can basically prevent me from ever working again.”

Along with Bullock, the big winner of the evening was “Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen” which won in three categories for worst picture, worst screenplay and Michael Bay for worst director. 

Other winners included “Battlefield Earth,” which is based on an L. Ron Hubbard novel, won worst picture of the decade.  Eddie Murphy was honored as worst actor of the decade and hailed “the Energizer bunny of bad movies.” 

Paris Hilton won for worst actress of the decade for her unknown roles in “The Hottie and The Nottie,” “House of Whacks,” and “Repo: The Genetic Opera.”

Disney’s Jonas Brothers (all three of them) won for worst actor(s) for “Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience.”

In the supporting actor category, Billy Ray Cyrus won for “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” while Sienna Miller won for best supporting actress for her role in “GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra.”

No less than thirty two films were considered for the category of ‘worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel,’ where the winner was “Land of The Lost.”

Perhaps tonight at the Oscars, Bullock can continue her winning streak and be dishonored this time.

Nominees and Winners for the 30th Annual Razzie Awards

WORST PICTURE OF 2009

“All About Steve”

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”

“Land of the Lost”

“Old Dogs”

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (a.k.a. “Trannies, Too”)
 


WORST ACTOR OF 2009 

All Three Jonas Brothers, “Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience” 

Will Ferrell, “Land of the Lost”  

Steve Martin, “Pink Panther 2” 

Eddie Murphy, “Imagine That” 

John Travolta, “Old Dogs”

WORST ACTRESS Of 2009 

Beyonce, “Obsessed”

Sandra Bullock, “All About Steve” 

Myley Cyrus, “Hannah Montana: The Movie” 

Megan Fox, “Jennifer’s Body” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” 

Sarah Jessica Parker, “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”

WORST SCREEN COUPLE OF 2009 

Any Two (or More) Jonas Brothers, “The Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Experience” 

Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper, “All About Steve” 

Will Ferrell and any co-star, Creature or “Comic Riff,” “Land of the Lost”  

Shia Lebouf & Either Megan Fox or Any Transformer, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Kristin Stewart and either Robert Pattinson or Taylor Whatz-His-Fang, “Twilight Saga: New Moon”

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF 2009 

Candice Bergen, “Bride Wars” 

Ali Larter, “Obsessed” 

Sienna Miller, “G.I. Joe” 

Kelly Preston,“Old Dogs” 

Julie White (as Mom), “Trannies, Too”

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR OF 2009 

Billy Ray Cyrus, “Hannah Montana: The Movie” 

Hugh Hefner (as himself), “Miss March” 

Robert Pattinson, “Twilight Saga: New Moon” 

Jorma Taccone (as Cha-Ka), “Land of the Lost”  
Marlon Wayans, “G.I. Joe”

WORST REMAKE, RIP-OFF OR SEQUEL (COMBINED CATEGORY FOR 2009) 

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”

“Land of the Lost”  

“Pink Panther 2” (A Rip-Off of a Sequel to a Remake)

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
“Twilight Saga: New Moon”

WORST DIRECTOR OF 2009 

Michael Bay, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” 

Walt Becker, “Old Dogs” 

Brad Silberling, “Land of the Lost”  

Stephen Sommers, “G.I. Joe” 

Phil Traill, “All About Steve”

WORST SCREENPLAY OF 2009   

“All About Steve,” screenplay by Kim Barker

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” screenplay by Stuart Beattie and David Elliot & Paul Lovett, based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe Characters.

“Land of the Lost,” written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas, based on Sid & Marty Krofft’s TV series

“Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen,” written By Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures 

“Twilight Saga: New Moon,” screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer

WORST PICTURE OF THE DECADE (3 SPECIAL 30TH RAZZIE-VERSARY AWARDZ)

“Battlefield Earth” (2000)—Nominated for 10 Razzies, “winner” of 8 (including Worst Drama of Our First 25 Years)
“Freddy Got Fingered” (2001)—Nominated for nine Razzies, “winner” of five

“Gigli” (2003)—Nominated for 10 Razzies, winner of seven (including Worst Comedy of Our First 25 Years)

“I Know Who Killed Me” (2007)—Nominated for nine Razzies, “winner” of eight

“Swept Away” (2002)—Nominated for nine Razzies, “winner” of five

WORST ACTOR OF THE DECADE 

Ben Affleck —(Nominated for nine “achievements,“winner” of two Razzies) “Daredevil,” “Gigli,” “Jersey Girl,” “Paycheck,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Surviving Christmas” 

Eddie Murphy—(Nominated for 12 “achievements,” “winner” of three Razzies) “Adventures of Pluto Nash,” “I Spy,” “Imagine That,” “Meet Dave,” “Norbit,” “Showtime”

Mike Myers—(Nominated for four “achievements,” “winner” of two Razzies), “Cat in the Hat,” “The Love Guru”

Rob Schneider—(Nominated for six “achievements,” “winner” of one Razzie) “The Animal,” “Benchwarmers,” “Deuce Bigalo: European Gigolo,” “Grandma’s Boy,” “The Hot Chick,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry,” “Little Man,” “Little Nicky” 

John Travolta—(Nominated for six “achievements,” “winner” of the Razzies) “Battlefield Earth,” “Domestic Disturbance,” “Lucky Numbers,” “Old Dogs,” “Swordfish”

WORST ACTRESS OF THE DECADE 

Mariah Carey – (The Single Biggest Individual Vote Getter of the Decade: 70+% Of ALL Votes For Worst Actress Of 2001), “Glitter”

Paris Hilton (Nominated for five “Achievements,”  “Winner” of four Razzies) “The Hottie & The Nottie,” “House of Whacks,” “Repo: The Genetic Opera”
Lindsay Lohan—(Nominated for five “achievements,”  “winner” of three Razzies) “Herbie Fully Loaded,” “I Know Who Killed Me,” “Just My Luck” 

Jennifer Lopez—(Nominated for nine “achievements,” “winner” of two Razzies) “Angel Eyes,” “Enough,” “Gigli,” “Jersey Girl,” “Maid in Manhattan,” “Monster-in-Law,” “The Wedding Planner”

Madonna—(Nominated for six “achievements,” “winner” of four Razzies) “Die Another Day,” “The Next Best Thing,” “Swept Away”

1 Comments — Leave your comment

February 25, 2010 | 11:00 am

Mama’s No Danielle Steel

Posted by Mihal Levy

Sometimes when I write - I wonder if anyone is actually reading.  “Reading what?,” you ask.  My point exactly. 

It is like therapy -  a one-sided relationship. (Although many therapists will argue that it is not one-sided.  But when is the last time you heard about your therapist’s dilemmas or maybe they are just downright perfect?  Possible, but not probable.)  In therapy the client/patient (depending on your level of mental stress) talks while the therapist listens (usually) and interjects with an “aha” or “tell me more.” When a writer writes and puts their stuff “out there” (in this case - cyberspace) there is no confirmation that someone is actually “listening” with a nod, “aha” or even a pie in the face as confirmation.  See, here I write and pause for a moment (pausing) - and walla…nothing!  Not that I know of anyway.  (Please feel free to leave comments if and when you read - only if you want to, of course.  Hint - you want to, right?  Ok, I tried.)

My own mother does not read my writing and for no good reason apparently (according to her), but the mere fact that she “does not know the web address.”  I tell her every week that it does not change and is still the same.  She will “try to make the time” to read my stories if I actually email them to her.  So, I do and she doesn’t.  If my own mother does not read my writing, how can I expect anyone else to.  I try not to take it personally.  (She’s only my mother, right?  And in her defense, she has read a few that were emailed to her - because they were about her.  Maybe that’s why she avoids them…hmmm?)

I started thinking that my mom isn’t much into surface-level articles/stories, she is into the much deeper stuff like the books she reads by Danielle Steel.  Ms. Steel - how do you do it?  You keep my mom interested in your writing and me…well, not so much.  Bless Danielle Steel, by the way, for finding a way to intrigue readers once or twice a year with “bestsellers” of stories she recycles.  Boy meets girl.  He dies.  She’s lost without him and ends up marrying his best friend.  Of course how the boy and girl meet changes from novel to novel as well as the way in which he dies - terminal illness, war, murder, or self-inflicted ‘accident.’  Much more entertaining than my writing, I’m sure - that’s why Mom reads Steel’s writing and not mine. 

Danielle Steel - if you are reading this (of course, why wouldn’t you be?), just know you have won my mom’s heart, I’m just sayin’.  And I am not the least bit jealous (or inquisitive as to why).  Also,  would you be interested in co-writing your next novel?  Maybe then my mom would start reading what I wrote.  Only, do you think that we could add some humor to your novels and some altered plots like - he dies, she kills herself?  A little more Shakespearean in nature perhaps?  No happy endings?

I must admit that I am not the expert on D.S. novels, since I stopped reading them after I was old enough to stop sneaking my mom’s books and go out and get my own.  I do think that not that much has changed in her style since I have stopped reading, however.  I have the innate gift of reading only the first and last page of any book she writes and knowing exactly what happens between page 2-199, the way she had intended…to a tee.  It is either my innate ability or the fact that her stories are just that predictable.  Not that that is a bad thing.  (Jew Mama sticks her foot in her mouth, incase Danielle is reading this because there is a greater chance that she is reading this than my own mother.)  Note to Danielle - We are on the same page.  (Hoping I didn’t blow a chance at adapting a D.S. novel for the Hallmark Channel, now.)  Maybe it is a good thing D.S. is not reading this.  My mom, however, that’s another story.

2 Comments — Leave your comment

February 24, 2010 | 10:29 am

So You Think You Can Design; “Oscars Designer Challenge 2010”

Posted by Mihal Levy

The Oscars aren’t really about the films, actors, directors, producers and so on.  Right?  Well, maybe a little.  It’s all about the red carpet style.

So, who wouldn’t want the chance to design a dress for the Oscars?  (Well me, for one, because I woudn’t know what I was doing, but that’s besides the point.)  Nine up-and-coming designers were selected by Patty Fox, Oscar fashion coordinator, along with an advisory committee, to design a dress for the “Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.”  I was invited to attend the pre-Oscar fashion event that was held yesterday, February 23rd, at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, where the designers showed off their creations on the runway. 

The designers hailed from Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Phoenix.  The Los Angeles designers include Fernanda Carneiro, Phong Hong, Oday Shakar, Ari Sheuhmelian and Oliver Tolentio.  Also participating are Elda De La Rosa from Chicago, Ivy Higa and Kelsy Zimba from New York, as well as Rania Salibi from Phoenix.  Each designer was paired up with Los Angeles-based models, whom if chosen will be presenting an Oscar at the 82nd Academy Awards on March 7, 2010. 

I got a sneak peak at the dresses and trends for the 82nd annual Academy Awards.  According to Fox, this year the trend will be shapely silhouettes and exposed necklines.  And silhouettes and exposed necklines were definitely apparent in the beautiful designs created by the participating designers.  All the dresses were beautiful and designed for one night only.  Fox stated, “The true definition of couture: one gown, for one body, for one night.”  Fashion expert Carson Kressley was also on hand with his fashion expertise.  He made it clear that he liked the sparkle dress.

All the gowns were accessorized with diamonds (of course, what else) by Martin Katz.  Although all the dresses were beautiful, the dress that stood out the most for me was a simple, yet elegant black chiffon mermaid gown designed by Fernanda Carneiro.  The simple elegance stood out for me, as well as the 56-carat diamond chain belt that was worn with it.  Another stunning gown was designed by Oday Shakar - a metallic French lace gown over one shoulder.  (Although I am not a fan of the one shoulder gowns, because I am always wondering what happened to the other strap.  Lost in a fight?  Maybe it is just the OCD part of me.)  The dress was covered with Swarovski crystals that looked amazing under all the lights.  Shakar explained that the inspiration for his dress was “an evening of stars” - very apropos.

There was even a sustainable dress made of ivory pineapple and abaca fiber by designer Oliver Tolentino.  It was adorned with freshwater pearls from the Philippines.

You can see these gowns for yourself at Oscar.com and vote for your favorite.  The competition can be viewed on Oscar.com between March 3-8 on “Behind the Dress,” a web series.  The winner will be announced during the Oscars red carpet arrivals on March 7 at 5 p.m. PT.  Be sure to vote for your favorite to see it on the red carpet…so that your choice will be there, if you won’t be.  You can still feel like you are part of the action.

1 Comments — Leave your comment

February 23, 2010 | 10:30 am

Mama, Take A Hike

Posted by Mihal Levy

When it comes to nature, I pretty much have a fear of it - like Monk (the Obsessive-Compulsive Detective that was played by Tony Shalhoub).  I am sure there is a name for that sort of thing.  Ok, so maybe I exaggerate a little.  It is not so much a fear of nature, as it is the fear of being outside in nature and being eaten alive by a mountain lion or bitten by a poisonous snake or coming face to face with Jack the Ripper who goes out on hiking trails to find unsuspecting victims.  So, I guess those are more my fears than nature itself, although nature has proven to be quite scary at times.  I.E.: tidal waves, earthquakes…you get my point.

Also, my past experience on hiking trails has not been so pretty.  (Which probably adds to my fear of ever hiking again.)  For example, when I vacationed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico years ago and joined an “easy” hike, it turned out, well, not so easy.  We had to walk across a “narrow bridge” (or as I like to call it, a “tightrope”) that hung about fifty feet over roaring rapids.  Everyone made it across, thankfully, while I had to be dragged and carried by two tour guides.  That was not the end.  Then we had to simply jump across stones in a river.  Again - everyone made it across - let’s just say I made it “through” and was very, very wet.

Then there was my time camping in my early twenties.  All was well (better than I had expected) until bears circled our camp on our second night there for the food we had left out accidentally.  I also returned from that trip beet-red, covered in blisters.  Turned out I had third degree burns even though I went through at least three bottles of SPF 80 or so for the two days that we were there.

So, with these ever so wonderful experiences, you can imagine how uncooperative I have been with my husband throughout our marriage whenever he suggested nature hikes.  (And he looooooooves them.)  We would make a plan, I would actually get there, take five steps and head home.  (Sorry, hubby.)

My idea of the perfect hike is a trek uphill through crowded streets like in Downtown L.A., or a walk from the Upper West Side to the East Side of New York City.  Anything that involves paved roads (most of the time) and no mountain lions in sight.  City life is my idea of “nature.”

So, much to my surprise (well, not really), my husband had had enough of me and told me it was time to “take a hike!”  Of course he meant the scenic kind with him included.  So, the opportunity arose and I ventured out on my first hike in years. 

We joined another family we had met and brought our son as well.  We took a hike and I actually liked it.

Of all places, it was in the San Fernando Valley.  Ok, above it.  Who knew a view of the good ol’ San Fernando Valley could be so beautiful after the rains (there was actually no smog).

We simply took Reseda Boulevard south - way south - past Ventura Boulevard until we hit the trail.  It was a beautiful hike up the Santa Monica Mountains.  Wow!  My son loved it as well.  Hubby was a given.  The trail was a little steep at first, but great.  No mountain lions in sight or cannibals (that I knew of) - just runners, bikers and families like us. 

What a great way to start the day.  A way that every day should start.  I enjoyed my time well-spent in nature (of all places…for me) with great views, great company and a great nap I was hoping would follow, but never did.

So, now when my hubby tells me to “take a hike,” I will - well…if it is the nature trail-type he is talking about…and only if he comes along, of course.

0 Comments — Leave your comment

February 19, 2010 | 1:07 pm

The Great Lunch Divide

Posted by Mihal Levy

In the midst of a great picnic at the park with my son the other day, a feeling of gloom engulfed me.  I realized my son is doomed…if his future relies on my lunch-packing skills (and we all know that it does).

Staring down at the browning apple slices in a Ziploc bag in his little hands, I let out a shriek and thought, “I’m becoming my mother.” 

I had flashbacks to lunching in elementary school and chewing on brown skinless apple slices, while my friends enjoyed their bags of Lays potato chips and canned soda.  I tried to enjoy my apple slices and warm thermos-held orange juice…I really did.  I just didn’t fit in (and of course it had to do with the uncool lunches I was eating, why else wouldn’t I fit in?) 

I was born in Los Angeles to two Euro-Israeli parents, who found a way to keep the Euro-Israeli tradition alive through me, my lunches and the way my mom dressed me to school; very FOB (Fresh Off the Boat…or camel).  Not that there is anything wrong with that style, except when other kids are wearing Vans to school and you are wearing Naot and red ones for that matter. )  (Naot -an Israeli clogs/sandal company.)  And clogs were just not in in LA in the early 80’s.  Clogs were hip among the Israelis and Dutch, but there weren’t many Dutch or Israelis at my elementary school in Van Nuys.

Just like My Big Fat Greek Wedding and her “Moose Kaka” lunch, I had my “Who Moos?” lunches.  Hummus (Not pronounced HUM-Miss, by the way.)  My mom would pack gigantic pitas stuffed with “Who Moos” (as my friends, or those that made fun of me, called it).  In addition to the heaping scoop of hummus, there were also sliced cucumbers and tomatoes with a side of olives and Middle Eastern pickles in a sandwich bag (not the cool dill pickles that all the other native kids were eating).  By the time I got around to my lunch in a pita, it would be soggy from the cucumbers and tomatoes.  The hummus would turn a little brown and crispy (but that all ended when Mom realized this and packed my sliced veggies separate in Tupperware dishes and added Blue Ice to keep my lunches cool.)  (How could my lunches ever really be “cool?” )  I might as well have had a stamp across my foreheard that read “FOB”  but who needed the stamp - when my lunches said it all…oh yeah, and the shoes.  I was born and raised in LALA land damnit!  Doesn’t that count for anything? 

To make matters worse - it was not only the contents inside my lunch box that were humiliating, but the box itself.  For starters, I had a Donny and Marie Lunch bag (If you don’t know who they are because I am waaaaaaaaaay older or you were just not into fabulous variety shows in the late 70’s, just look them up on Wiki or something.)  It was not that I was a fan of Donny and Marie (but who wasn’t back then, right?), but moreso that my mom was.  I have got nothing against the Osmonds, but while my friends had Wonder Woman metal boxes (that I actually was hit in the face with because they assumed I was well, uncool.  Weird, I know, right?), I had a soft purse-like Donny and Marie lunch box.  I was the only one in the entire school that had one.  (I actually found a picture of it online and added it to this post for your viewing pleasure and free publicity for the fabulous duo, now a Vegas act.)  Just a side note - (no, I never digress and add parenthical after parentical statement) when my brother was born, my father told me his name was Donny, I immediately asked if they were going to change my name to Marie, all because of my lunch box bag.

Ironically, no one liked my “cool” lunch bag, but it was stolen one day.  I guess someone did like it, or they really wanted to put me out of my misery.  So, whomever it was -I thank you.  They are probably sitting in jail today for grand theft auto.  Yes, Van Nuys wasn’t a great neighborhood back then either, go figure.  (After the year of the stolen lunch bag, I was thrown into private school -  a much better experience in a corrupt private school that I’m surprised was never shut down, as they washed children’s mouths out with soap and made us march and sing to their theme song daily - Pinecrest.  If you know the song join in- “Pinecrest is the very best…”, but it wasn’t.)

Again, I digress.  The good news is - that after my D & M box was revoked, retired or stolen (however you look at it), I was given a replacement.  It was all downhill from there.  How could it possible get any worse?  But it did.  I got a new bag, not box, because I had enough of the metal box deal with the scar that was forming at that point on my face from some little Camobodian girl with a strong swing and a cool Wonder Woman lunch box.  My new bag was shipped directly from, yup you guessed it: Israel.  Woohoo!  I couldn’t wait to open the package my Aunt had sent.  And there it was.  A shiny new red leather purse?  To match my tacky shoes?  I flipped it over.  On the other side it had a picture of a “Sabra” (an edible cactus delicacy in Israel - what else does one eat in the desert -sand?) and if that weren’t enough, it read : From Israel With Love.  Come on!  If Donny and Marie left me a scar for years on my right cheek (yes, I still remember which side it was on) what now, did my family want me to get shot.  (Cambodians obviously weren’t fans of Donny and Marie, what would make my mom think they would be fans of Israel?)

So, this red leather purse was a lunch bag that one was to wear draped across the chest and one shoulder.  Picture the Euro-Man look with his man purse.  (Not that there is anything wrong with that…IN EUROPE, not here.)  (Besides, all Italian men are exceptionally good looking, well, most of them.  They can wear a Tutu as far as I’m concerned and look “manly”...but I’m still not a fan of the man purse.)  Now I had one IN RED, to carry my lunch in.

So, I did as I was told, cheek scarred and all.  I carried my soggy hummus pita bread sandwiches, browning apples, a banana and if I was lucky, Ruffles potato chips in a sandwich bag that often smelled of the banana packed along with it.  If I was super lucky that day, I got fifty cents for the coke machine to buy a Welch’s grape soda (that went perfectly with Mid-Eastern cuisine). 

Thankfully my red leather lunch bag was never stolen and other kids actually thought it was cool or was the word “neat” back then? Really?  Ok.  It didn’t matter to me that they weren’t cool themselves, of course.  My aunt has never sent me another package since then, either.  Go figure. 

I have long since forgiven my mom for her choices of lunch items and taught her the ways of the white bread peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Costco potato chip variety pack (I think it was Sam’s Club back then or Fedco…I know, I am OLD). 

I can only hope that I don’t traumatize my son the way my mom did.  At the same time I’m also thankful to the new veggie movement and Trader Joes for making Hummus mainstream.  I’ll just pack it for him in between two slices of white bread.  And for the record - it is not pronounced ‘HUM miss.’  Please let Trader Joes know.  Thank you and thanks to the little Cambodian girl that taught me that different isn’t always good…but sometimes it is.

0 Comments — Leave your comment

February 15, 2010 | 11:28 am

A Groupie After All

Posted by Mihal Levy

I never thought I would do it.  Join a group?  Not me.  Even a group such as Holistic Moms that goes against the grain (no pun intended) is still a group.  And groups are, well, just not my thing.  Once someone joins a group, there is no end in sight.  Then there are twelve steps, sponsors, and life long addictions to groups that well outweigh the initial addiction the person came there with in the first place.  Is there a “Groupies Anonymous?”  (And NO, I am not knocking twelve step programs or twelve-steppers in any way, shape, or form, just to clarify.)  As an ex-psychotherapist and group therapist, I guess I have developed an intolerance for “groups” or needing to become part of something to feel I belong, but even I caved in and joined a G-R-O-U-P. 

I joined the Holistic Moms Network.  (Now when I say I am going to “my meeting”...I can keep everyone guessing - “Is she an alcoholic, a drug user?”  No, just a mom - and a holistic mom now, officially).

I headed to my first meeting and knew I was in the right place as I pulled up to the Prius-filled lot.  I was glad that even though I did not own a Prius, at least I wasn’t pulling up in a gas-guzzling SUV or minivan.  I was hoping I was just holistic enough to join.  At that point, I thought I should’ve ridden up on a bike, instead, but hopefully they would not notice as I quickly got out of my car and headed inside. 

I had met a few moms from the Holistic Moms Network at an Eco fair a few weekends ago, and we hit it off…I was just hoping that these moms were just as cool.  And lo-and-behold, minus one mom who yelled at her kid as I headed up the parking lot (who as it turns out was not part of the group, but leaving the building the meeting was held in), all the mothers were great. 

I was happy to have found a group that thinks the way I do.  Now, my far-out ideas about knocking out “cookie cutter preschools” were not so far out.  And when I say I am eating a bacon cheeseburger, other moms understand that there is no bacon, cheese or even a burger in my sandwich, but merely “facon,” soy cheese and a veggie burger.  I found other moms that felt the same way and that I could actually share my Trader Joe’s Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with (besides my son and husband – they enjoy them as well).  Where have these moms been hiding?  Because they obviously don’t hand out at the same parks that I do.  I haven’t had any luck at those.  I must have been hanging around all the wrong parks.

So, all my attempts to avoid groups has proven me wrong.  Does that make me a groupie?  This is just the beginning…

3 Comments — Leave your comment