That time I got punched at a little kid’s birthday party … by an adult
That time a man punched me at a kid’s party because … well … he’s an asshole.
Month: February 2013
Go Away With … Kevin Michael Connolly
Kevin Michael Connolly, photographer and author of “Double Take: A Memoir” (HarperCollins, $14.99), can now add television personality to his resume. The 27-year-old adventurer, born without legs, is the host of the new Travel Channel series, “Armed and Ready.” A resident of Bozeman, Mont., Connolly was a medalist at the 2007 X Games’ monoski event and on his show he challenges himself to try feats such as climbing a 50-foot tree in the Smoky Mountains and diving from a 40-foot cliff on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Fifty shades of Jae
A few months ago, the book club I belong to picked “Fifty Shades of Grey” to read. You know what I’m talking about. “Mommy porn,” as it came to be called by the media, which took note of its popularity with middle-aged married women. With a controversial subject (S&M, kinky sex), it’s the type of book that no one wants to admit they read, much less liked.
Sohn Kee-Chung of Korea, not Son Kitei of Japan
Growing up, I had heard my father talk about Sohn Kee-Chung (손기정). Sohn was the first Korean to win an Olympic medal, and it was gold. At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, he set a world record in the marathon. So it wasn’t surprising that when the 1988 Games were held in South Korea, Sohn had the honor of carrying the Olympic torch into the Seoul Olympic Stadium.
Komodo Dragon Attacks Tour Guide
Remember when Sharon Stone arranged for her then husband, Phil Bronstein, to pet a Komodo dragon at the Los Angeles Zoo? And remember when dragon bit him on the foot, completely crushing his big toe? I thought about this when my husband and I were on the eastern Indonesian island of Komodo, touring an area full of the dragons for which it’s famous. There were experienced guides leading our little group, and they carried large, pointy sticks. I remember asking the lead guide if that’s what he’d use if a Komodo dragon were to attack, and he said, “Yes. It’s very effective.”
Go Away With … Gino Strada
Dr. Gino Strada is the founder of EMERGENCY, a global organization that brings free health care to war-torn countries. Strada is featured in the documentary film “Open Heart,” which is nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject at this year’s Academy Awards. The film follows eight Rwandan children who travel to Sudan for life-saving open-heart surgery. Strada, 64, resides in Khartoum, Sudan, where he spends at least nine months each year working at the Salam Center for Cardiac Surgery.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Always go with your instincts. When I got out the springform cake pan, I looked at it and thought, “Huh. This seems a little loose.” Sure enough, when I tried to move it into the oven, this is what happened.
Books
When we first moved to the U.S., we didn’t have a lot of money, so there was no toy room at our apartment. We didn’t need it. I had a doll, which was one more than my older sister had. But we always had lots of books, and they all came from our local library.
Go Away With … Meghan Markle
“I got the travel bug quite early,” says “Suits” actress, Meghan Markle. “My earliest memories are of going to Mexico twice a year and Hawaii quite a few times. We never did conventional family trips like Disney World. Hawaii and Mexico were closer for us than going to Florida or the Caribbean.”
My shoes
Back before MTV aired shows about pregnant teenagers, it had a program on called “House of Style.” I used to love that fashion show, which was hosted by Cindy Crawford. I remember seeing an episode where models Shalom Harlow and Amber Valetta (I think it was them, anyhow) showed viewers what was in their closets. The thing that stuck out was their boxes and boxes of shoes, which were stacked neatly with Polaroid photos of the contents taped to each box. I thought this idea was brilliant. So I did the same.
Go Away With … Alana De La Garza
“My first trip was at six years old. We drove from Tucson to Columbus, in our cream-colored station wagon that we affectionately called Betsy,” says actress Alana De La Garza. “We drove through the night, with my brother, sister and I lying across the back seats. All I remember is my brother poking me, as I tried to fall asleep. I kept thinking, “I don’t like vacations. I’m not so sure what all the fuss is about.” I did love seeing my grandparents.”
Isn’t it romantic? Here are the love locales where celebs feel the passion
There’s no specific quality that makes one destination more romantic than others. While some travelers want access to luxuries and fine dining, others search for a beautiful sunset in a rustic environment. The important thing is being with the right person. As Mark Twain said, “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”
Where’s MY Pulitzer Prize?!!!
Wow. You’ve probably heard about this column by Joel Brinkley, which is just all kinds of wrong. On the surface, it seems like the author would have something of value to say. He’s a Pulitzer Prize winner and a professor at Stanford. Impressive. This column? Not so much. Where’s the research? How about the reporting? It’s good on the xenophobia, though. His rebuttal is even better (or worse, depending on how you look at it).