Pumpkins & Candy Corn Be Hanged, It's Movie Popcorn Season!

Autumn is a time for crisp, cool days, leaves flying like little helicopters against a brilliant blue sky, and children frolicking in costumes, begging for candy. I do love October and its mischief, but what I like best about fall is that Hollywood rolls out the Big Movie guns, and I'm in thrill-seeking heaven.

I earned a college degree in filmmaking, which naturally led to a career in advertising. In my defense, if you can't document truth and justice on celluloid, the next best thing is to sell useless products to unsuspecting millions. Look, not everybody can be Steven Spielberg, and a girl's gotta pay the bills!

My passion for movies is a delightful sickness. I'd go to the movies, or watch a movie(s) at home, every day of my life, if I could get away with it and still be considered a responsible grownup. Comedy, Romance, Horror, Adventure, Action, you name it, I'm there, popcorn in hand. But lately, with my subscription to Netflix, (The World's Best Invention), I rarely leave the house for my cinematic fix. Yesterday, however, I indulged in a real theater experience, and I have to share.

I saw "The Prestige," starring Michael Caine, Christian Bale & Hugh Jackman. For starters, Chris & Hugh ain't bad to look at, and all three of these gentlemen are superb actors. I do love a good 'costume movie' and this fits the bill. But it's the shocker plot twists that grabbed me. Being the clever student of cinema that I profess to be, I can usually figure out the formula, and am rarely surprised at a 'surprise' ending.

But I never saw "The Prestige" coming. Dang, now I have to see it again, to discover the nuances and director's tricks that escaped me the first time. What a shame, I'll have to eat more popcorn! I hate that for myself!

In my immediate movie-going future are "Marie Antoinette," "A Good Year," "Flags of our Fathers," "The Queen," "The Departed," "Babel," "The Last King of Scotland," plus the 63 titles on my current Netflix list, waiting to be delivered for my viewing pleasure.

Ahh, I do love Autumn, and hope you can savor the fall color. Thank God for yellow, as in movie popcorn butter...

It's National Love Your Body Day!

Ok, we've had a week to ponder the beautiful body that is uniquely our own, in order to celebrate ourselves as delightful, worthy individuals who are part of this planet! You did ponder, right? I decided that I love my crooked toes, my freckles, and the way I can raise one eyebrow up high like John Belushi.

Today's not a day to shun mirrors, or berate yourself about the myriad clothing sizes found in your closet. You are a vital human being, no matter what your size, shape, color or talents. There's no one else like you, no one with your experiences, memories, or laugh.

I love the 2006 winning National Love Your Body Day poster, because a) it's clever, and b) it's true.

If only society could stop obsessing about weight, hair color, extreme fashion designed for human toothpicks, and cup size. Wait a minute...aren't we society? Aren't we part of the population who determines what is and isn't 'hot'? You bet your body parts we are, and it's time we stopped subscribing to trends that don't reflect our authentic selves.

I'm not dissing personal hygiene or the benefits of a great hair colorist, or the rush you get when you try on a fancy, spangly dress that fits perfectly, but any time a woman feels compelled to change any part of herself in order to be accepted, that's a wake-up call.

As I crawl toward "Late Middle Age," I have an entirely new perspective on beauty. Forget the strappy sandals, I now wear Birkenstocks for my heel spurs. Birkenstocks are the stuff of heaven, if you have foot problems, but I doubt the words "Birkenstocks" and "sexy shoes" have ever appeared in the same sentence. Mr. Birkenstock, I imagine, decided that comfort trumped cool every time. Millions of people who can walk without pain agree.

Now my size eleven feet are living examples of clunky German efficiency, and people can see me coming three blocks in advance. To celebrate my choice to live without heel pain, my toenails sport shades of red that were previously forbidden to 'nice girls'. Hey, if you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly!

Embrace yourself today, whether you wear strappy sandals or Birkies, bikinis or muu muus. Every person on earth is a distinct entity with love to give, wisdom to share, and a soul to inspire. You have the power to love yourself, and you have the power to make positive changes in your life if you don't.

Go celebrate yourself, before I stomp you with my Birkenstocks!

WOMEN OF THE WORLD: Get Ready to Hug Yourselves!

My friends know I'm the Uber-Planner of the Western World, so it's completely in my nature to alert all of you out there in BlogLand that next Wednesday, October 18, is National "Love Your Body Day." This is a day, sponsored by the National Organization for Women (NOW), when women are supposed to embrace the miraculous body that is uniquely their own.

I can't honestly name one woman who loves her body, and that's pretty sad. Most of us would prefer to be less wrinkly, less lipid-enhanced, and model thin. I'd trade my thin thatch of thyroid-challenged hair for long, glossy locks that would put Rapunzel to shame, but it ain't gonna happen. I'd also prefer to wear a size 14, but that ain't gonna happen either, unless I stop stalling and start exercising and eating right...maybe tomorrow.

So I challenge all my Body-Berating Sistahs out there: you have exactly ONE WEEK to examine yourself and find something endearing about your body, so that next Wednesday, on National Love Your Body Day, you can tout and flaunt in style. Polish those toes, flex those biceps, flash those pearly whites and stand up straight, ladies. We are walking miracles!