I just saw a doctor on TV talking about the importance of early childhood nutrition and how it can affect your health for the rest of your life. That probably means that when my children were babies, I shouldn’t have given them strained donuts for breakfast every day! I was already feeling guilty when my granddaughter came home from school and started talking about what she learned in health class that day.
    "Grandma have you heard of the Food Pyramid?"
    "Of course it’s in Egypt."
    "No that’s not right."
    "I’m pretty sure it is. King Tut was buried there. It’s called the Food Pyramid because he and his servants were buried with a 5 foot sub so they could party in the afterlife."
    “Grandma that’s not right. Here’s a picture of the Food Pyramid.”
        “He was buried in the bread section on the bottom.”
    “No this is a guideline for healthy eating. We’re not eating enough fruit.”
    “How can you say that? I just ate some craisons.”
    “We need to eat 2-4 servings of fruit each day!”
    “Well you know how I feel about fresh fruit.”
    “Please don’t start talking about The Great Peach Disaster of 1989!”
    “The year was 1989. I was driving by a produce stand when I saw a sign for fresh peaches. I stopped and they gave me a sample. They were most delicious juicy peaches I have ever eaten. Even though they were expensive I bought a bag. The next day I was looking forward to eating one when I discovered they were all rotten. I was so upset I ran outside and shook my fist at the sky and screamed, ‘As God is my witness. I will never buy fresh fruit again!’” 
    “But fresh fruit is healthy. You want me to be healthy don’t you?”
    “Of course I do. I have a plan. Grab that gallon of water and let’s go to the store.”
    An hour later we were sitting in my minivan with a bag full of strawberries, peaches, pears, blueberries, and apples.
    “I’m going to start washing this fruit and then we’ll eat it all.”
    “What we have to eat all this fruit right now in the van?”
    “The minute we left the store the fruit’s internal clock started ticking. All the fruit is rotting even now while I’m talking. Start eating!”
    I had just finished the last apple when I started to get cramps. I wasn’t feeling good. I looked at my granddaughter and she looked pale.
    “Grandma I feel sick!”
    “The store has a bathroom. Run back to the store. Let’s go!”
    When we finally made it back to my van, my granddaughter said, “Well that was a disaster!”
    "How can you say that. We got all our required weekly fruit and exercise in one day. I call that a win-win situation!"

 
 
There’s a pounding in my head
Pages littering my bed
My pencil’s lost its lead
I think my plot line is dead
My characters don’t ring true
And I don’t know what to do
I stayed up all night
And my ending’s still not right

Last Friday’s re-write
I don’t know what’s happening to me
I’m watching too much TV
Spending too much time
Tweeting online
I’ll work on my book later
I’ve become a procrastinator

My pages don’t flow
I just found another typo
My dialogue is stilted
My confidence is wilted
I can’t take more rejection
My ego needs protection
My spirits are sinking
I think I’ll take up drinking

Last Friday’s re-write
I don’t know what’s happening to me
I’m watching too much TV
Spending too much time
Tweeting online
I’ll work on my book later
I’ve become a procrastinator

This Friday night
I’ll do it all again
This Friday night
I’ll do it all again

 
 
    In November People Magazine named Bradley Cooper as their 2011 Sexiest Man Alive. Bradley is okay if you like piercing blue eyes and rock hard chiseled abs but I happen to think a good sense of humor is the sexiest characteristic a man can have.
    That’s why I’m naming my own 2011 Sexiest Male Comedian Alive. There are a lot of really talented comedians to choose from. After careful consideration I finally made my choice. This person started out selling magic tricks at Disneyland where he also learned how to juggle and make balloon animals. He also performed at Knott’s Berry Farm before starting a stand-up career. After working as a comedy writer he went on to become a super star of stand up comedy filling stadiums with his fans. He made the following phrases famous, "Excuse Me!" and "I’m a wild and crazy guy." He’s appeared on Saturday Night Live more than any other guest except Alec Baldwin. After he quit stand up comedy he went on to become an actor, writer, playwright, producer, musician, and composer. He’s won an Emmy, Grammy, and The 2005 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. My pick for the 2011 Sexiest Male Comedian Alive is:
    Steve Martin
    I’ve been a big fan of Martin’s since seeing him on TV in the 70’s and I’ve remained a fan through the years. I’ve seen him perform live twice and they were great shows! I love his movies especially "The Jerk," "Bringing Down The House," "It’s Complicated," "Bowfinger," "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," and "Roxanne."
    Who’s your choice for Sexiest Male Comedian?

 
 
    The following post originally appeared in my book "It Ain’t Heavy – It’s The Lite Side" copyright 2010.
    In numerous films zombies are portrayed as victims of an infectious virus, which is passed on via bites and contact with fluids. They congregate in mobs, flocks, or waves seeking either flesh to eat or people to kill, similar to retail shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving.
    Having seen several zombie films, I have to wonder why zombies are so intent on killing people. If I were brought back from the dead, I can think of several things I’d rather be doing than chasing people around trying to eat their flesh including: vacationing in Hawaii, eating mass quantities of chocolate, and spending time with my grandchildren.
    "Mommy, Grandma looks scary! Why is she growling at me?"
    "Well, Billy, Grandma’s what we call a zombie. She wants to play tag with you. Run, Billy! Run faster!" 
    I’d also like to know why zombies are so angry? I think they should be forced to attend Zombie Anger Management Support Groups:
    "Welcome everyone. My name is Lisa and I’m your support group leader. Why don’t we start with Frank? Is there something you’d like to discuss?"
    "Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhh!"
    "I think what Frank is trying to say is that he’s angry because when he tries to make new friends, people run away from him screaming in terror, pull out their shotguns and try to blow him away. Maybe you should try smiling when you meet new people and avoid anyone carrying a weapon. Would you like to share your feelings, Marlene?"
    "Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhh!"
    "I think what Marlene is trying to say is that she has issues with low self esteem which comes through as anger. She doesn’t feel good about herself because she used to be a sexy swimsuit model and now she looks like a rotting corpse. Marlene, my advice to you is to find something you’re good at and stop dwelling on your physical appearance. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to comb your hair occasionally."
    "Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhh!"
    "You think the only thing you’re good at is chasing people and eating them. Do you have any hobbies? Have you tried stamping or scrapbooking? Besides, I don’t think we should perpetuate the stereotype that the only thing zombies do is chase people and eat their flesh."
    "Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhh!"
    "You’re saying it’s not a stereotype. What are you doing? Please sit back down in your chairs! Everyone stay back! Get away from me! Help!"

 
 
     I hate New Year’s Eve it’s s a depressing reminder of all the things I failed to do during the previous year – write a best selling novel, have a torrid love affair with George Clooney, win the lottery, organize my linen closet, and of course lose weight!
    Remember when Subway ran commercials featuring Jared the guy that ate nothing but Subway sandwiches every day and lost a bunch of weight. Well I tried that. I ate the same food everyday and I ended up gaining weight. That’s the last time I go on the Cheesecake Diet!
    As I see it my barrier to losing weight is that I’m a food addict. I love food! I love to eat food! I tried getting help. I went to a meeting of Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA) but it didn’t help because all they did was talk about airplanes.
    My other problem is portion control. Apparently a helping of food isn’t supposed to be the size of a hubcap. While you can eat all the fruit and vegetables you want, your protein serving is supposed to be the size of a postage stamp!
    This year I’m going to lose weight. I have a plan. I’m going Green. I’m only going to eat things that are green: peas, avocados, muskmelon, beans, grapes, spinach, moldy cheese, and crème de menthe. 
    To aid in my weight loss attempts I’m going to exfoliate everyday. If I exfoliate a lot I can probably lose at least five pounds in dead skin every week. 
    Also whenever I go out in public, I’m going to wear dry wall stilts because I’m already at the perfect weight for someone who is 8 feet tall!
    If all my efforts fail, I will buy a black couch. Then the next time I have a party, I’ll wear black pants and a black turtleneck and sit on my couch. My guests will see a disembodied head floating in the air and it will have a slimming effect. 
    
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY ALL YOUR RESOLUTIONS COME TRUE!