Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
The Hot Dog, the Lion and Darth Vader followed around the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man — to houses they had already been to — just because they thought the costume was so awesome. They were laughing hysterically and had a great time trick or treating.
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Why are the Power Rangers still popular? I don’t get it. But the little kids understand…
Last year, when my son was 4 years old, he said he wanted to become an astronaut when he grew up. I was almost dancing with joy when he said that, because, well… he wanted to become an ASTRONAUT!
“Travel has always been such an important part of my life,” says Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield. “It has been wonderful to have been around the world multiple times and to have seen the whole thing. It has been one long whirlwind vacation.” Well versed in social media, Hadfield, 54, had a strong following of science fans before he went up in space. But he garnered the attention of millions of music fans when he released his rendition of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on YouTube, which was recorded from the International Space Station during his last mission earlier this year. The video went viral and earned kudos from no less than Bowie himself.
My son joined his school’s chess club a couple weeks ago. I had been hording this Justice League chess set for just this moment. He loved it! 
“The United States is a huge country (that in) many ways is like many countries within one,” says actor Judah Friedlander, who also hosts the Nat Geo WILD’s three-part series, “The Monster Project.” “I recommend visiting neighborhoods or cities in your own country that you would never visit. And try the cuisine that is specific to that city.”
Nothing says Halloween like gourds with fangs, yes? 
While my son was in Korean school, my husband decided to decorate some of them. We used to buy gourds every year around this time, but this fall, we didn’t have to. Thanks to our composting efforts, literally dozens of gourds (and full-size pumpkins) turned up in our garden. What a pleasant surprise!
Jessica Campbell got an early start with road trips. “We grew up making trips to our family vacation house in Cherry Grove, S.C., just outside Myrtle Beach,” says the Nashville-based singer-songwriter. “I loved it! Knowing that it was a house my grandpa built for our family to enjoy made it a very special place.” Currently on tour to promote her album “The Anchor and the Sail,” Campbell’s single “Be You” is available via free download from Crate and Barrel’s “Get the Download” offer (valid through the end of October).
In about a decade, I predict that our ‘hood will be filled with angst, as childhood friends look at each other as possible romantic interests. Nooooooooooooo! But, for now, these kids are good friends whose affections aren’t complicated by gender or jealousy.
At first glance, it may seem odd that “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush would executive produce a documentary about rhino poaching in Nepal. After all, the television personality is best known for reporting on celebrities. Also, he’s admittedly bug phobic. But he was excited to team up with the World Wildlife Fund in Nepal to tell the story of the endangered one-horn rhinos and what is being done to help protect them from extinction for the Nat Geo WILD documentary “Chasing Rhinos with Billy Bush.”
Our local Boy Scout troop could’ve had an opportunity to learn that there are repercussions to their actions; and that sometimes, the worst action is in pretending that a wrong never happened. Instead, they learned that if they deny something enough, they can get away with being cruel to youngsters and disrespecting members of their community.
I was surprised that an actor with such a strong improv background couldn’t just wing it and go with the flow. But mostly, I was saddened that a grown man with the privilege of wealth and fame couldn’t think of one place in this vast world that he had enjoyed visiting.
There is something to be said for living it up every once in a while, savoring the moment and loosening up the purse strings a bit. On our next road trip, we’ll be back to budget hotels and it’ll be just fine. But, in our memories, we’ll always have the Four Seasons.
Fans are used to seeing Blair Underwood playing a variety of roles: a hotshot attorney (“L.A. Law”), a charismatic doctor (“Sex and the City”) and a ruthless businessman (“Dirty Sexy Money”). But in the new NBC series “Ironside,” Underwood tackles the part of wheelchair-bound detective, Robert Ironside — the iconic role made famous by Raymond Burr.
