I looked at my before and after photo from January of 2008 when I was in the depth of chemo for my Ovarian Cancer and I was horrified at the pictures, I was sure it wasn’t me, how could I look that scary and sick and at the time and not realize what condition I was in?

  None of my family or friends let on as to how they must have felt when they looked at my face and into my eyes, instead their behavior indicated I was doing well and I would be just fine.  Thus, when you view these photos would you agree they had to believe otherwise, as I was diagnosed Ovarian Cancer stage 3b and I know what I’d be thinking if I was looking at someone who looked like me above  (I better spend as much time with her as I can because she looks pretty sick to me).  Read the rest of this entry »

Blogging–my prescription to sanity

I’ve been blogging for over 3 years, we started our blog grammology.com so we could eventually write a book about my life with one daughter who gave me seven grandchildren and now 6 great grandchildren therefore, I was able to share a little of their lives and mine and all the unwanted advice I’d make them listen too, it was wonderful yet, some days I felt so stressed, I’d ponder should we stop blogging did it take too much of my personal time, as I work a full time stressful day job and yet for the first time in my 63 years of age, I began to understand how it feels to have a passion, something which incited my heart and soul comparable to an artist as I can create anything that comes to me and some days my hands feel as though I’m working on a canvass with paint and a brush and I have to no choice as to what I’ll write, it just happens, I’m thinking one focus and then the post is finished, and I’m astonished as to what I did, as it’s so different from what I thought I’d be writing about and the feeling is almost always serene and joyful, fueled with thoughts of what I’d do next and yet yes, will I do this again and I wonder why something so fulfilling can also be so perplexing. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s continue on the subject of what our kids and grandkids are into these days.

Let’s talk Jay-Z (real name Shawn Corey Carter).

He’s a rapper and rap music deserves our attention, it certainly has our kids’ attention!

He’s married to Beyonce.
He’s considered the godfather of rap.
He has gone from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, New York in one of the most notoriously dangerous neighborhoods, to becoming one of the most successful corporations in the music business with publishing, clothing (Rocawear), recording to name a few.

He is certainly one of the brightest and most talented in the music industry at age 41. When I watched him on Oprah (he seldom does interviews), I was struck by his humility, grateful attitude toward success and sense of humor as he helped Oprah rap.

Jay Z has ignited more young acts than we can count here including Rihanna and has much to do with steering Beyonce’s career and musical choices.

What I love most about Jay Z is his unabashed love of his country with the city of New York being one of his favorites subjects…he even sang his song “Empire State of Mind” at the big Yankees ticker tape parade this year. This is one of my favorite Jay Z videos, a duet with Alicia Keys. It is an ode to his beloved Yankees and his city…a nod to the World Trade Centers, a caution to young women who can get snared in the city’s dangers and more.

His performance on the Hope for Haiti telethon was one of the best—”Haiti Mon Amour” was done with Bono from U2 and Rihanna.

Parents and grandparents, don’t be afraid to watch them over and over, the words come fast and furious but have meaning not to be dismissed…you know our kids can sing every word, so they’re worth our understanding too!

Two Queens: Gaga meets HRH

OK, so while we’re on the subject of knowing about things our kids and grandkids love…let’s talk about Lady Gaga.

It all started with a little buzz over this bleach blonde girl singing a “Let’s Dance” disco tune…then more buzz about the song “Pppppppoker Face PPPPoker Face.”

And then KABOOOOOOM! The whole world is Goo Goo for LADY GAGA!!!!

Her fashions, outrageous, her stage shows, irreverently amazing, her music, catchy as hell….but here’s the thing:

She’s only 23 years old.
She has PIPES, I mean, this girl can SING.
And write music.
And play piano.
And dedicates her performing life to the young people who “never fit in” and can come to her shows and “be themselves.”

AND SHE UNABASHEDLY LOVES, LOVES, LOVES HER PARENTS!

She wrote a song to her Dad when he was in need of heart surgery and almost made the wrenching decision NOT to have it to save his life.

Where do I start in posting things for you to look at? There are hundreds of mouth dropping fashion shots of her.

Here are two of my favorite videos: singing Speechless, the song she wrote about her Dad and her newest baddest video for “Bad Romance.”

Working Moms have to suck it up

It wasn’t unusual for me to go to my job wondering what it might have been like to not have to work outside my home as I have for the last 30 years, because it was always part of my mantra “soon you’ll win the lottery and life will be simple.”

How often I’d think that thought and dream about winning the lottery so I could be home drinking coffee, deciding what I’d do to please me and be there for my kids, not worrying about the sales I needed to have a successful year while driving into the office with the same concerns–how will my children do without me being there.

Sound familiar, I think so as there are so many moms today balancing family and jobs to make ends meet, wondering when the Leave it to Beaver moms became extinct.

Where did the parents of the 50’s go and when did having a career while being a mother become the norm? Are we really happy the way it is today or are we filled with regret. Read the rest of this entry »

Some readers wanted to know what the Glee video we posted was all about…this is for you GrannieAnnie!  It is a takeoff on the video that Beyonce did that really caught fire.  The Beyonce video was lampooned on Saturday Night Live (in a sketch that Beyonce herself was in), and has become a big hit on the internet with the world (including a video with toddlers doing the dance!).

It is the video that sparked the infamous Kayne West debacle with Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards.

Thanks for the comments Dads, Grandpas, Moms, and Grammas….when we stay connected with what our kids are doing, it brings us closer!

Check it out….FIRST, the original Beyonce.
NEXT, Toddlers dancing to it!
FINAL, girls on the street doing it!

;

Last night as I sat making jewelry, my daughter (age 23) was playing her music…but something was different.  She was playing current hits and also 50’s music and 60’s music and 70’s music.  My kind of music!

Turns out, she was playing songs from the TV show Glee.

I’ve seen Glee win all of these awards at the Golden Globes and SAG awards but I’d never seen the television show.

Well, consider me informed, thank you to my college-aged kids.

Good old-fashioned fun, yes.  But also serious topics facing our kids such as being young and gay.

Sharing music, current topics and TV shows on our kids’ minds is an important way to stay connected, and to be a part of our kids’ lives.

So watch their shows, listen to their music— hearing their thoughts won’t be far behind.

Linda Davis, Grammology

Gramma says Hugs Baldwin boys…I love you….

I came across this photo today while I was reading the Huffington Post. Talk about confidence, love and respect for your family–when Alec brought his brother Billy to the Sag awards as his date, not some starlet, made my heart and mind smile as he set a great example for many of us as to what his values and feeling are and whose important in his life.  Seems like he’s learned a few lessons.

We had a family party today for one of my great grandchildren and I found myself wondering why you wouldn’t want to take time to be with family.  Yes it can be management intense and it takes away from your personal time, however, I’ve always found that the feelings you get back from being there are way beyond being alone having no one to call yours– whether it’s family or friends who are an important part of your life.

Thus in order to receive remember you have to give.  Therefore, the picture of Alec and Billy told me he’s got it right; they are friends and they are there for each other, and I hope you think about these brothers today and give someone you love a call, and suggest you get together and catch up on life (each others) be prepared to listen, and offer positive comments and if they need something and you can give it, do it.

Because that’s what you’re supposed to do—remember selfish should never be part of your vocabulary unless it’s something you’re teaching a child, not to be.

Does anybody not fool around today?

Former Senator John Edwards finally admits he fathered a baby out of wedlock taking a position it was just too difficult to admit and that he needed time to discuss these issues with his wife and mistress, I’m sorry guys but this makes me sick. When will men stop thinking with their little heads (the one in their pants) and listen to the common sense head on their shoulders, if that’s even possible, because narcissistic personalities are so self-centered they are unable to realize with DNA eventually the truth will always come out in spite of how insulated they think they are, plus this is just the latest example of poor judgment and down right lying until it’s no longer possible to continue and the truth comes out.

And in case you think I’m man bashing, I’m not as I do not consider this a male issue only,  I’ve been in the company of women who are bolder then hell today and think similar to John Edwards by doing whatever pleases them at the moment, never taking into consideration the consequences if they get caught or consider how it will affect their family and friends who have to listen to all the jokes, comments, and opinions for a long time after the party is over for sure Tiger Woods is another example of what we can expect whenever you’re famous or rich the camera only a click away.

Thus more heartbreak for the innocent families involved especially the children, and I wonder where it will all end, will we ever say no to the urges of instant pleasure and choose monogamy, honesty and virtue, verses fleeting gratification. As I write my thoughts I wonder is it possible when you consider our history and really this isn’t new we just have more ways to get the story out with some really close up photos to help us  see everything in living color and often video, therefore buckle up as I sense  men and women today will continue fooling around and justify their actions as many have done before, and when they get caught figure out some mental condition like Tiger Woods seek treatment and move forward with little concern or care for anyone whose been affected by their sins now aren’t I sounding a little negative, (that would be me).

Girlfriends gather in Chicago

I had so much fun with my friends in Chicago this week I left on Thursday and returned late Sunday afternoon, there were four women and one evening five of us, four over the age of 60, Scottie was in her 50’s blonde, tall and skinny, and we were all jealous of her beautiful and youthful face and body, as the days passed we worked our way through the long weekend by eating, drinking, and sharing our most personal thoughts about our past, present and future lives and how we’d cope as we move forward hence,  understanding more and that maybe we weren’t alone in our uncertainty about our lives.

As we talked I found myself surprised as to how each of us wondered about so many things in our current lives because by now (at this age) getting out of bed every day and living the life we’d planned was what we projected we’d be doing, and in actuality it was from the truth, as most of us were still finding ourselves dreaming about so many things we hadn’t done yet.  Thus like the movie the Bucket List, we should as women, get together compile our thoughts and needs, and get to work checking the important things off and moving on until it’s done and when it’s finished, start over because we deserve the most we can squeeze into our lives on this earth, and going to Chicago with women as straight forward as me, was revitalizing and empowering and I can’t wait until my next trip with my Girlfriends because I’ll bet we’ll start right where we left off,  treasure every secret we shared to our graves,  find out how to enjoy the time we have, and leave knowing we’ll be back again, learning from each other, we know our counter parts have done this forever, (referred too as male bonding) thus learn from them, plan your getaway as soon as possible and don’t back out go.

We ate at Shaw’s Crab House, Gibson’s, Bandera, and Frankie’s, shopped all the big stores and loved all the people watching, our next trip will be a Broadway show and some unique bars and it’ll be in New York City.  Two of our friends are airline stewardesses and the stories and laughs we had were endless and I’ve come to an important conclusion as a result of this excursion with the girls, the choices we make choose the path’s we will take and there’s no going back thus, many things have been reiterated in my mind and my future choices will provide me with a new direction however, in this case it will be well thought out before I act allowing me more control of the results.  Therefore if any of you ever have a chance for time away with friends and the opportunity to be frank and open during your conversations regarding, life, love and your happiness and theirs, plan it soon and be open minded, you’ll come home recharged and ready to survive whatever’s coming your way, just like the movie The Bucket List with no regrets only priceless memories, energy and a reason to feel your not alone and you can do it if only you try.