The Europeans must be laughing at us... And if they aren't, well, they should. I grew up in Europe, so I should know. Why? For two main reasons:
1. The Janet Jackson boob thing. Give me a break. All this hoop-la-la for a breast who's nipple was covered to begin with? If this had happened at an European event, nobody would have given it a second thought. Why? Because in Europe nudity is everywhere. On TV (many commercials show naked women) and in magazines, the woman's body is not considered "obscene", is considered a work of art. Go to any museum and you will see dozens upon dozens of naked ladies in paintings and statues. Breastfeeding is revered and never considered inappropriate. Ever. In my view, children are more traumatized by violence and body mutilation... That new MILK commercial where the man's arms come off is a lot more disturbing than Janet's boob by a mile!
2. The Atkins diet-or the 'let's get rid of carbs to lose weight' faze we're in. They even sell hamburgers wrapped in lettuce so we won't eat the bread. ARE WE KIDDING? I grew up in Europe, in Italy to be exact, and Italians buy fresh bread every single day, they have cookies or a pastry for breakfast, pasta every single day, yet... I will dare anyone to go to Italy and find me an obese person. Sure, there are overweight people, but those 90-100+lb overweight people simply do not exist. Why? Because Italians eat at meals, don't believe in snacking and don't eat until they burst. They also believe in eating lots of fruits and vegetables.
Let's put the blame for Americans being overweight where it belongs-in the potato chips, in the twinkies, in the large meals, in people loving fast food (which is bad for you) and not eating enough fruits and vegetables. Blaming bread and pasta is pathetic! I am Italian, I should know! I would never go without my carbs, yet I am thin... hmmmm...

Well well well... I learned something about myself today and I am not sure how I feel about it.
I was entering just another online sweepstakes (my secret passion, I love winning stuff!) and this particular sweeps asked what Reality TV show I was currently watching... Hmmm... The Apprentice... check... American Idol... check... The Bachelorette... check... America's Next Top Model... check... My big fat obnoxious fiancee'... check... Average Joe... check... Survivor... check.
Did I really check all of them? OMG. I must be the reality show Queen!
This made me start thinking about my viewing habits and how they've changed over the years. I used to really like dramatic shows, but nowadays the only drama I can handle is CSI and CSI Miami and Whitout a Trace. I do watch Star Trek, of course, but other than that... it's all comedies. Friends, Frasier, Sex and the City are musts (and they are all ending this season! Booo!!!), and then there's Raymond, Still Standing, Life with Bonnie, Hope and Faith, Yes Dear, 8 simple rules and I could go on... I watch them all. I didn't used to be such comedy and reality show freak until I lost Alex. At first I felt like I lost all interest in everything when he died, but slowly I started realizing there was nothing better than a laugh to make my life just a little more bearable, so that's when it started. While I always watched Star Trek, it's only been since 2001 that I started watching a drama (CSI), so it took me 6 years from Alex's death to be able to come out of my 'shell' so to speak. Over the years I tried to start watching dramas, but somehow I could only do it if there was someone else watching that show.. whatever show..., wether it was Touched by An Angel, ER or the X-Files. But if I was by myself at home, I would not watch those shows.
I had read somewhere that it takes 9 years for a parent to.. not get over (because we'll never get over it) but to regain somehow that happiness that we used to have before our baby died. Well, on March 1st it will be 9 years. Am I almost as happy as I used to be before Alex died? Hmmm... I must say, Connor helped a lot in that respect. Greg did too. Without them, I am not sure I could say I was happy. Nicky makes me happy, but he also makes me sad with all his health problems... Life can really suck!

Here's my new Blog for Sometimes Blue after having not posted much at all the past year and a half or so. I write so much that in the past year and a half I started a column (Special Mommy Chornicles) and I also run a commentary for my favorite soap, The Bold and the Beautiful and American Idol. I also post on my sons websites to update their growth and progress. I don't know how often I will post on this new 'toy' for me, but when I do, it will be interesting, I promise!!