Disney Channel Shows Lesbian Parents on Good Luck Charlie

Since we have 7,000 cable channels, my children watch their fair share of television. Though I can’t stand  most of the shrill little characters, there are a few shows that I will admit to having a vested interest in over the years including iCarly, Victorious and Good Luck Charlie. The writing is clever and while there isn’t always a lesson woven into the storyline, these sitcoms are entertaining and contain less violence and flatulent humor than the animated crap they zone out to in the morning.

This week the Disney Channel made my heart happy when they briefly introduced a set of gay parents. When you watch the short clip, notice how everyone acted weird and awkward and the kids were confused and frightened and . . . wait. . . nope, that didn’t happen at all. Instead, everyone acted like it was no big deal because, come on, people, IT’S NO BIG DEAL.

“Let It Go” From the movie Frozen is still on a continuous loop inside my head

Over Christmas break, Katie and I finally got to see Disney’s latest blockbuster, Frozen! First we devoured quesadillas from the theater restaurant and then we devoured every scene of the movie. Perfection! Then a few weeks later, a mama friend of mine suggested we go see it again so we did, and then we bought the CD, and now we can belt out the song JUST like Broadway bad ass, Idina Menzel. If you live in Wichita and happen to spy a small brunette with large hair behind the wheel of a mini van singing to herself and making wild hand gestures, it’s probably me because in my mind I’m the reincarnation of Scarlett O’Hara with perfect soprano pitch.

Favorite book so far this year: “This is Where I Leave You” by Jonathan Tropper

If you’re a bibliophile like me, first of all, you probably hate the term bibliophile because it sounds creepy but also, you probably have a thick stack of books in your TBR (to be read) pile, then you have a separate list of TBR titles that you plan to buy once you’ve thinned out the other pile but sometimes you’ll buy a book on the list even before you’ve read the other ones because, “no one is the boss of you,” right? Of course! That’s what happened to me recently.

 

“This is Where I Leave You” is the story of Judd, a 30-something man whose wife has just cheated on him with his shock-jock boss. Shortly thereafter, his father dies and he has to go sit shiva with his mother and three siblings. For seven days and nights he’s forced to spend time under one roof with his dysfunctional family where all the old grievances, jealousy and angst take center stage.

As the oldest of five siblings, I related to the story in a powerful way. It’s been 25 years since we lived under the same roof together. I wonder how my brother, three sisters and I would hold up under the same circumstances. Much like the characters in Mr. Tropper’s book, I’m guessing there would be a fair amount of tears, TMI stories, cathartic re-hashing of old fights and misunderstandings, under-the-breath mutterings and a slew of eye rolls but unlike the characters in “This Is Where I Leave You,” there would definitely be gut-busting, tear-streaming, lemon-pie-out-the-nose laughter. ‘Cause that’s how we do.

P.S. A movie based on the book is coming out later this year starring Jason Bateman and Tina Fey. Weee! *clap clap*

You Need This In Your Life: A DOUGHNUT PAN! 

Finally, if you don’t have a doughnut pan, I urge you to drop what you’re doing and get thee to the housewares department of your local Super Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, STAT! I asked for one for Christmas and Dougie was more than happy to buy something that would benefit him too. Last weekend I made pumpkin doughnuts with pumpkin puree’ and omitted the oil for applesauce. I’m no Tom Colicchio (I’m a Top Chef fan, these are my references) but I make a damn fine baked doughnut that I don’t even have to feel guilty about eating, unless I eat five of them, which I was tempted to do.

Tell me, what’s making your face happy this week?