Me & Julia

A twofer! I told you I was inspired . . .

And it is all due to Mrs. Julia Child. I just saw the movie, Julie and Julia, and I found it quite charming, as well as laugh out loud funny. Mrs. Child was a remarkable woman from the looks of things, and not just because she deciphered French cooking for us crass Americans.

While I couldn't come home at 10pm and start deboning a duck, don't you fret, it is in my plans. It may appear that politics is my first love, but I would trade every pundit out there to just cook, and cook well, at will.

RIP John Hughes

"Sweetheart, you couldn't ignore me if you tried."

And with that, my heart was forever stolen by the groups of dysfunctional, Chicago-based teens that traipsed through John Hughes movies. From Sixteen Candles to The Breakfast Club to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, my coming of age happened to the images that Mr. Hughes placed before me on the big screen. I wanted to be the princess and the basket case, I wanted to have the balls to escape and have the adventure of a lifetime in one day, and I longed to construct my own prom gown from vintage dresses and roar off in my pink Kharman Ghia (still a fantasy to this day). Unfortunately, none of that was to be. But I did pierce my ear a second time in homage to Molly Ringwald, I did studiously court the bad boys until I realized that it was no longer in my best interest hoping one would turn into Judd Nelson, and I did pretend I was daring by the occasional attempt at a Chinese firedrill on a deserted road.

So rest in peace John Hughes, this is one Gen-Xer that will miss you.

Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete...and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal.

Does that answer your question?... Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.