Mamazina Blog

MARMADUKE & SCOOBY-DOO…STEP ASIDE

  

     About a year ago, I rescued two pitch-black Great Dane pups. Although these gentle giants are lovable, they lack good manners.

     Each day, Lurch and Lila’s long thick tails bestow me with welcoming whacks that sting my legs like wet leather whips. 

I have to continually shuffle my feet whenever I’m around the dogs or Lila will put her humongous paw smack dab on top of my shoe pinning me into place, while her brother Lurch attacks me from behind...placing his nose in impolite places making me squeal and leap just high enough that I end up riding him like a horse.

     I dread grocery day because both of the dogs have to stick their snouts in each and every Wal-Mart bag as I’m hauling them in.

 One time I tried to outsmart the little darlings by holding the provisions way up high however, Lurch licked my armpit as Lila reared up and jerked a 12 pack of paper towels out of my firm grip and then proceeded to run like the wind. As usual, the brats double-teamed me!

     I learned the hard way that Lurch and Lila assume that everything I bring into the yard is a toy. 

The first day of spring, I placed a beautifully painted Adirondack wooden chair in the front yard. Venturing outside an hour later I found the chair turned into kindling and the screws strewn all over the driveway. Oh yeah, I was a tad upset and turned the air blue.

     Oh please, not even the cars are safe.

 Lurch or Lila chewed the black bumper pad off the back of my mini van, which I later found ‘safe’ under the blankets in their doghouse.

 And…if that is not enough, the little darlings managed to rip the large side mirror off Old Blue, my 1985 Ford truck.

Shall I mention the day I almost had a come apart when I glanced up and saw Lila looking down into the cars’ sunroof, like it was a fishbowl! (Note to self: Always close the sunroof!)

     I realized nothing was sacred the day I discovered Lurch and Lila playing tug-of-war in the front yard with one of my silky designer nightgowns. Lets be honest here…I will admit I flew out the door waving my arms and screaming like a mad woman. Oh, yes, of course they stopped. They looked at me…and then took off running…with the nightgown stretching to the breaking point.

     Now…one night last week, I was in bed watching TV, reading a book, and sucking down Rolos.  (I call that multitasking.)

I hear ‘ding-dong’. How could there be anyone at the door? I never heard barking. How could a stranger get by Lurch and Lila? What are they good for…stupid dang watchdogs! 

     Squinting, I see the shadow of a head pressed against the glass peeking in the window. As I grab my glasses off the top of the dresser, I jump at my own reflection in the mirror. Obviously, I’m spooked. I silently scoot up to the front door. My heart is pounding. I get on the tips of my toes to peer out the window as I flip ‘on’ the porch-light. Our eyes meet. I scream bloody murder. Oh, for crying aloud…it’s Lurch!

     Marmaduke and ScoobyDoo you’ve been out high-jinxed…by a couple of lovable rescue dogs.

 

Pamela Vanden Bos

http://pvbos.com
http://avenue22.tumblr.com
http://twitter.com/pamelavandenbos
http://twitter.com/missymooblankie
http://twitter.com/dogs2save
http://pvbos.tumblr.com

 

 

 

Phoenix ComiCon

Saturday hubby, the girls and I got our geek on.  Mom was excited! The rest of the family went along for their first ride on the light rail.  Yes my Little One officially thinks mom nutz.  I didn't hear her complain when she got a Ghostbuster's pin for free.

And the Hosking family spent Saturday at the Phoenix ComiCon.

I was 3 and a half years old when the first Star Wars hit theaters.  I was a HUGE sci-fi fan from the very beginning.  My parents took me and my twin sister to see the movie SEVEN times in the theater.  When the trilogy came out on VHS as a box set, my dad went out and bought the set for me for Christmas.  The first time I remember my dad going out to buy a Christmas present for anyone besides my mom.  I was so excited to open it Christmas morning.  I thought I had to wait til my fiance came over to get it.  Yes, there were two copies bought for me that Christmas.  But when my dad came home with the set, my mom's first call was to my fiance not to wrap the set he purchased.

And here ladies is the real reason I was excited to go to ComiCon:

Mrs.Frakes (aka Genie Francis) had a table right next to her hubby.  No one was in line to talk with the ex Laura Spencer, so I got a nice photo of her hot hubby.  And yes, I know he's old enough to be my father.  Also Genie Francis had a picture of her and Frakes in costume from the set of North & South.  It was a great photo of the two of them.  I complimented the picture and said, "Boy that makes me feel old."  Genie Francis laughed and said, "yeah me too."  Yes sci-fi meets civil war.  I did point out the person dressed in union blues to the Little One.

There really were all kinds in attendance.  And this mom now believes she was paid in full for allowing six 12 year old girls to invade her house the previous weekend for a so called slumber party.  Thank you and keep your towel handy.

Veronica Hosking
Poetry Editor    MaMaZina
http://hosking.gather.com

17 Again

Zac Efron plays Mike O’Donnell, the once-college-bound athlete with promises of a “free ride” scholarship, who later thinks that he threw it all away to marry his pregnant girlfriend Scarlett.  At the age of 17 his girlfriend tells him of her pregnancy right before the biggest game of his life.  With the scouts watching and his girlfriend walking away, he walks off the court to chase after her and ask her to marry him.

Flash forward to middle-age, wherein Mike (now played by Michael Perry) has a nowhere job and does nothing but complain about his family life.  His wife (Scarlett, played by Leslie Mann) throws him out and he is forced to move in with his wealthy software genius nerd and best friend Ned Freedman (Thomas Lennon).  He walks to the high school to reminisce.  There a mysterious janitor apparently casts a spell on him and he meets with an accident that transforms himself into his 17-year-old self.  He is still, however, in his own time.

After he convinces Ned that he is himself, Ned enrolls him in the high school, thinking he is meant to live out the basketball-college-star-dream he was once on track for.  However, Mike soon realizes that his true path is to help his own children, who are also presently enrolled in the same school.  His daughter is dating a boy who is pressuring her to have sex, and his son is a talented basketball player who just needs a confidence boost to get  himself on the team and make some friends.  Mike is able to befriend his children in a way he would not have been able to in the state of their previous father-child relationship.

Meanwhile, Scarlett is starting to date, while forced to remember the good old days because of the haunting presence of this young man who looks exactly like her husband did when he was 17.  Things escalate to the point of divorce proceedings before all is made right.  The kids’ problems are solved, Scarlett and Mike fall back in love, and Mike is transformed back into his normal aged body – with no regrets.

This movie is a great conversation-starter for parents and kids.  The messages are pro-life, pro-abstinence, and pro-marriage.  I recommend this film for teens; and for pre-teens with parental guidance.  It can also be used as part of an abstinence program in any youth program.

Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Miller

The Divine Gift of Motherhood

http://elizabeth-kathryn-gerold-miller.blogspot.com/

 

What High School Musical 2 did for a 40 year-old mom. I have enjoyed motherhood immensely. I am a stay home mom of 2 adorable children, a 5-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy. Within the love immersion that captured my life with motherhood, I forgot about myself: physically, mentally and emotionally. Not to mention the rollercoaster ride that my husband and I went through in having our children back to back! I forgot about him too! I have always been a hopeless optimistic, somehow or another I would see the light in the worse situations, I would count my blessings and be thankful for what I had. As long as my family and I were healthy with a roof over our heads and food, I was okay! Though something happened to me within the passed 2 years, maybe it was my hormones raging as my body changes to the next chapter of my life. It could have been feelings of my marriage falling apart in the midst of feeling the great joy of my children or the financial stress of, “how am I going to provide for my children?” I always thought that my life would be extraordinary. In someway I felt that I had paid my dues with heartbreaks after losing my mom, dad and godmother before the age of twenty-one. I dreamed of becoming a successful recording artist, write songs that would inspire people and lift their spirit and that I would take care of my entire family financially, my family in Cuba, Miami and now in NYC. Maybe my goals where unrealistic- but there was a time in my life that those dreams seemed to be right at my finger tips. Where I could inspire the sadness of a person and convince anyone, that I had what it takes to create the life I wanted. One day I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize who I had become. I was a great mom, I thought, “how could I feel so sad and disappointed with myself if I had been blessed with 2 amazing and healthy children that I spend so much of my time with enjoying them and our life together?” I felt a sense of guilt but I couldn’t shake it and though I knew that I had gone through many challenges within the passed 3 years- which should give me the permission to feel sad, the optimistic person in me wouldn’t allow it and did not want to accept that I felt somewhat defeated. I had hit the bottom. I needed a change but didn’t know how to go about it. To take care of me, exercising or meditating doing some of the things I use to do to keep me on my spiritual path. I would ask myself every morning.” How can I recreate my life? I wrote in my journey everything I needed to do, I had a plan but I wouldn’t follow through. Then one day I was at my sister-in-laws house and my niece wanted to See High School Musical 2. I saw the film and absolutely loved it just as much as my 7-year-old niece. I came home and realized that I have had this movie for quite sometime in my cabinet and watched it again. Within 5 weeks I probably watched it 4 times. My sister-in-law made me a copy of the songs which I loved most of them and have enjoyed listening to the music with my kids practically every other day. Jumping on my bed, singing with our make believe microphone having a ball! What was it about the film? It took me back to when I was 18 to how much fun I use too have. How much I loved to sing and dance and how I would take care of myself. It took me back to a place where everything was possible, to my first triumphs and boy-crush- to the first butterflies in my tummy. I felt those feelings so intensely. As I saw the behind the scenes bonus feature, I thought, how lucky and wonderful to be given the opportunity to dance and sing with a bunch of friends. To do what you love is a gift. That’s what I aspire. To be honest with so much that has happened I don’t have the energy for me but now I know that if I take care of myself. I will be an even better mom and role model for my children, a better wife and friend. Thus I am way passed High School, and I do know the realities to life. I asked myself why not? How can I create that feeling of joy and love in my heart for myself? How can I believe again when darkness has entered my life? I still don’t know how I am going to get me back but I am starting with little steps. My first step- I have registered for a hip/hop/jazz dance class, once a week. I am going to commit to this. I will keep you posted on my transformation to living my life with joy, faith and hope. MC

Love Stories - True or False

Recently as my husband and I were unpacking books (always the biggest part of moving for us), I came across Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne.  I’d forgotten we had a copy—or maybe I didn’t know my husband had it.  Anyway, it reminded me that way back in September, my husband and I had gone to see the movie when it came out.  

 

It was the only movie playing at our small-town movie theatre and we wanted a night out together before he started teaching.  Besides, I was kinda of curious to see what Hollywood had done with Jules Verne's classic.  I should have known I would be disappointed.

 

On the positive side, I liked the fact that they didn’t just try to make the book into a movie, but rather made the movie to be a “sequel” to the book.  That was about the only plus, however. 

 

Parts of the story were too overdone – of course they’d manage to fall a gazillion feet into the centre of the earth without dying, and then of course they’d manage to get blasted out a gazillion feet on a geyser, again without dying.  (Okay, I know it’s sci-fi and not real, but still, there could be some elements of believability—or enough plausibility to make me suspend my disbelief.)

 

The plot was stereotypical – computer-geek nephew coming to stay with forgetful professor uncle who hasn’t seen him in six years, a dad who disappeared ten years ago but leaves behind a touching letter to his son that the son just happens to find, and the guide who of course has to be female so that there can be a love interest.

 

That love interest was the worst part of the story.  It was fake, it was shallow, it was unnecessary.  The guide could have just as easily been a male and it wouldn’t have changed the story.  (Or maybe it would have made it better – two sons discover what their fathers were chasing.)  I’ve seen too many movies lately where the love interest is unnecessary to the plot and so adds nothing to the story.  It also contributes to a false idea about love—like, of course if you throw a man and a woman together for so many hours, they’ll always fall madly in love with each other.

 

As writers, we are constantly told that every part of our story must be necessary.  Each character should have a unique identity that contributes to the story in a unique way, so that they couldn’t be anyone else.  In the Batman movies, Rachel is necessary; she provides the motivation for some of Batman’s actions.  In the James Bond movies, the woman is usually unnecessary, just a pretty trophy for Bond to flirt with. 

 

The writers of the screenplay for Journey to the Centre of the Earth seemed to simply want a romance, without bothering to fit it into the plot in a real and meaningful way.  It should be a challenge to us as writers to write real stories, real characters, real love.

 

~ Bonnie Way, http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com

What Allegory Means to Me (or, a Pirates of the Caribbean Analysis)

My fourth grader is studying literary terms. For me, it's like being a grade schooler again! Instead of me joining him on the monkey bars, or me pitching wiffle balls to him, he's been frolicking on my turf, and we have been having so ... much ... fun!

"Mom, what's onomatopeia?"
Loading the dishwasher, I re-enact the commercial from the 90s and say/do: "Cha-ching!"
Then he comes back with a baseball onomatopeia..."Dujshe!" and pretends to smack a ball out of the park.
"You got it," I reply.

"Mom, what's personification?"
I'm on the phone, so of course my son demands my attention, and I quickly, quietly reply to said 4th grader so the person on the phone doesn't know I am having two conversations at once: "The waves were dancing."
His brows meet as he seems to be thinking.
"The bat did the talking," he shows me up with glee on his face.
"That's good!" I whisper and get back to my phone conversation.

I think he doesn't need my help, but he asks anyway, because it brings us closer. He knows Mom loves literature, Mom loves literary terms and character study and development, Mom loves cleverness and most of all, Mom loves a good story.

So when he asked me about allegory, I told him to think about Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. An allegory is a "narrative that conveys abstract ideas to get a point across" (Glossary of Literary Terms). Or, as I've always explained it, infusing ideas into characters so that they represent that idea only. Take for instance: in Willy Wonka...

Mike TV: Sloth
Veruca salt: Greed
Augustus Gloop: Gluttony
Violet Beauregard: Pride

And while Charlie has every reason to represent envy, as lesser people in his situation would, he does not. He represents (in my humble opinion), Hope.

I have been using that example for a long time - since college - and I longed for some new allegorical material to chew on. It's been in front of me for a long time.

My love affair with Pirates of the Caribbean goes way back. To infancy. It's one of the rides all ages can go on at Disneyland. When you embark on Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, you meander through a bayou at the beginning, and overlooking the ride is a restaurant called "The Blue Bayou." I knew that as the name of a Linda Ronstadt song when I was a child, and that only made me want to go to that restaurant more. When I was 20 years old, I finally ate there (first place I ever ate pine nuts). Oops, I digress.

On the POTC ride, you travel in a "boat" like vessel, and after the vessel goes through the swamp and past The Blue Bayou restaurant, a talking skull looks down at you from the ride entrance and says "No fear has you of evil curses says you" and you drop, through water, into caverns, and after the water settles, you hear the song, one of the best songs ever, "Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirate's Life For Me."

Ahhhh, I'm in another world, maybe a past life, a happy place...I could ride POTC all day and night.

I even love the smells of the ride. I have the different scenes memorized. I found the Hidden Mickey. I spy Jack Sparrow. But, he is not my favorite Jack.

For reasons that drive my husband insane, I dig Jack Davenport, the man who plays Commodore/Pirate/Admiral Norrington in all three POTC movies. He's an allegorical masterpiece. 

That is to say, the most realistic character.

Think about the POTC movies...protagonist? Check. Damsel in distress? Check. Villains? Check. Hero? Check. Antagonists? Check. Blood and guts, monsters? Check. Allegorical - abstract - characters? Huh. Look closer.

Norrington is the one, I believe, that took the most intropsection and thought to create and bring to life in the POTC movies, the character I would love to see on the POTC ride alongside Captain Jack Sparrow. But few men are as good looking as Johnny Depp. I digress, again.

Norrington starts out an idealist - pure, ambitious, on the rise. He becomes the victim of unrequited love (adding depth). He inserts humor ("Because it was Mr. Sparrow who said it!"). And retains his honor as he lets Elizabeth go at the end, conceding to Will Turner.

Then, in the second movie, he has fallen from grace. He becomes a pirate - a wily survivalist - but he stays close to Elizabeth. His mind is on "the promise of redemption" yet he protects her still, even though he knows she does not love him. And the foreshadowing of his character is introduced in this movie - he will eventually sacrifice himself for her.

In the third movie, Norrington regains his honor among men who want power. Power only. Norrington "chooses a side" and in doing so, gives up his life for Elizabeth, and in the face of evil.

Norrintgon's character hits all notes, goes from one extreme of existence to the other (but all the while stays intelligent and just), but most notably, he displays the ability every person has to go from darkness to light in the pursuit of what they want. His character represents that abstract idea - fate. The co-existence of peace and conflict within every soul, and how only choice (free will) puts a soul more in one than the other.

While checking out of a Disney hotel once, the bellman (actually, a bellwoman) told me at the POTC premiere, she had met Norrington/Jack Davenport, a British actor born 3/1/73, and that he talked to her about the POTC movies for about 45 minutes. She was impressed because she was a nobody, but still, he talked to her about the movies, the characters, very "down-to-earth", matter-of-factly, and he was kind, while all of the other stars posed for papparazzi.

That made me wonder if I liked Jack Davenport, or if it was Norrington who intrigued me the most. I think it's allegory that I love the most. I know the sterotype I fall for, but a good story and intense, honest, thought-provoking characters capture my attention immediately.

When you think about it, we all represent one (sometimes more) abstract idea(s). There is allegory is all of us. We all excel at one thing in particular (we reason it away as talent), we're all put here to learn some particular thing (we call it a pattern), and we all are drawn to people and things more so than others (we reduce it to "attraction"). These comprise our personal stories.

I am a fool for good stories and strong characters. And I believe in fate.

Just for fun...I thought I'd add the lyrics to "Yo Ho" for you. You know you want to sing it.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage, we plunder we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We extort, we pilfer we filch and sack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even high-jack
Drink up me hearties yo ho
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We kindle and char inflame and ignite
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We burn up the city we're really a fright
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're rascals, scoundrels villains, and knaves
Drink up me hearties yo ho
We're devils and black sheep - really bad eggs
Drink up me hearties yo ho
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
#####

~ Samantha Gianulis
http://samanthagianulis.typepad.com
www.samanthagianulis.com