New Year's resolutions

I know it's too early to see if my New Year's Resolutions stick, but I've already failed miserably at one!

This year, I vowed to be at work earlier. So I can leave earlier.

Today, my first day at work in 2009 didn't start earlier for me today than I planned.

OK, so in a month or so, we'll see if I've dropped any pounds. Eating chocolate for breakfast won't help me any. But it was dark chocolate!

Charles Barkley

Now, I love Charles Barkley. He says outrageous things that make me laugh.

But getting arrested for DUI is no laughing matter. And either is the reason he reportedly gave to police.

He said he was going around the corner to find the woman who gave him the best blow job he ever had in his life.

Doesn't he have a wife and children?

Why would he say something like that?

This just may be the most outrageous thing he has ever said. And really sad.

Happy New Year!

Here's my wish for you: A very successful 2009!

As for me, I spent New Year's Eve with my family. A traditional Japanese soba noodle meal at midnight for good luck and long life with sake was about it!

I can't think of a better time spending it with people I love.

I hope you had a great New Year's Eve, and now that it's Jan. 1, 2009, a wonderful new year!

Meryl, again

Remember yesterday when I said that Meryl Rifkin moved to Los Angeles so her son, Aaron, can continue to study and audition for acting roles? And that she's the one who has been getting the acting jobs?

Well, she sent me some photos to show me that Aaron has been going out to do some look-sees that have paid off.

"Aaron's face is on the box of a video sound rocker, being sold at Toys R Us and Costco and online," she wrote. "I walked by a stack of the boxes in Costco last week and was shocked when I happened by it. I stopped strangers to tell them -- crazy mom that I am. I took Aaron and Andy by there later without telling them anything and they were obviously pleasantly surprised. And then I stopped strangers again to show them Aaron and the boxes right next to each other. Here are two photos for you to see. Yes, I bought one -- $100 for a box -- he he he he he! -- but I do have to say the video rocker is an awesome product. It has built-in speakers and bass and sounds fabulous. The chair is comfy too and it made a great extra Hanukkah gift for Aaron. The website is www.pyramat.com that he is on. Click on sound rocker and he should come up. If you see a blond-headed kid, keep clicking around -- he is there."

She said that while she misses Columbus, Los Angeles is "incredible."

The big news right now is her daughter, Randi, is going to have a baby in August.

"I am so psyched to be a grandma," Meryl writes. "Nothing like loving and spoiling a baby and being able to give it back. She and Jordon are ecstatic as you can imagine. I can't believe I am old enough to be a grandma. But, I cannot wait."

She's also been cast in a pilot that will air on HBO in May or June.

"We are supposed to start filming Feb. 16. Girl, it is one of those Hollywood stories where one is at the right place at the right time and being just right. The show will be titled, 'The Don Juan Club,' and will involve a lot of drama concerning the high fashion modeling industry; gambling, loan sharks, mafia; also a situation with an injured Army veteran who served in Iraq, etc. It will have a lot of appeal to both men and women. I am playing the ex-wife of a mafia boss. If it is picked up as a series and chances are really good it will be, my character will become a major role in the story. There is more I could tell you too, but I am so afraid of saying too much as of yet. I will keep you informed. Right now, I am in a position where my childhood dreams could very well come true."

You don't know how happy this news makes me. Meryl went through a lot when her husband died in a car accident. I think it was her children that kept her sane through those dark days. And then when Andy became more than a friend, she began laughing again.

Good for you, Meryl. It's looking like 2009 may be the year for you and your family!

What Meryl Rifkin's been doing

I just got an e-mail for Meryl Rifkin, who moved out to Hollywood at the request of her teen-aged son, Aaron. Aaron wants to be an actor, and Meryl thought it would be the best thing for both of them to move. They've been out there about a year-and-a-half.

Her companion, Andy Smith, moved out there this fall.

It's funny. She moved out there for Aaron, but she's the one who has been working! She and Andy did an episode for "The Doctors," the syndicated show that features real doctors talking about specific ailments.

Now, she writes:

"Here is a list of times of something I did a couple of months ago. I played a hermit mom in bed who gets attacked by her drunk hermit son. It was stupid, but, hey I got paid and I will be on TV. No lines, just action. The production company just alerted me to its airing starting Wednesday night. It will be on the History Channel.

"'Seven Deadly Sins - Gluttony Seven Deadly Sins Episode: Gluttony,' Wednesday at 9 p.m.; 1 a.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. and midnight Friday.

"Also, watch for the Discovery Channel, "Bitten" at the end of January and beginning of February (episodes 5 & 6) -- I was involved in re-enactments of two different people getting bit by tigers."

OK, so she's not making any big movies with big stars, but it's a start, right?

Keep it up, Meryl!

We've joined the digital television age

As an early 80th birthday present to my mother, my brother Fred bought her a 42-inch high def television.

My sister Patty and her husband, John, delivered it and set it up for us.

I think Fred needs to come over to adjust a few things. The color is a little too intense. And we need to hook up the old VCR and DVD machines.

Because we have cable, we didn't have to worry about not having a picture when the whole United States switch over to digital television. But the current TV is 10 years old now, and probably won't last much longer.

Fred's taking it home to put in his barn so he can watch TV while he's working out there in the shop.

I swear, he's a great brother. I'm so glad he and Cheryl decided to come home when he retired. Though right now, my friend Bill Rich has put him to work. He's been working 10 hours a day, six days a week. He has to be at work at 7 a.m.!

Merry Christmas!

You know, every year, I swear I will not be out running around on Christmas Eve, buying last minute gifts. But, as usual, I was out Wednesday afternoon, running around like a crazed woman.

Today, my sister Dorothy was cooking all day. She had a prime rib roast and a bar cookie in the oven (not at the same time), cooking two kinds of greens (one with meat and one without for Scott, the vegetarian and Jessica, the vegan in the family) and gravy to go with the beef.

Cheryl was heating up the Honey-Baked Ham that I bought along with green beans and mashed potatoes. My sister Nancy made her famous deviled eggs. My youngest sister Patty made tiramisu and her husband, John, made roast turkey.

Obviously, we had more than enough to eat.

Unlike Thanksgiving, when we had about 40 people over for dinner, it was just our family and Cheryl's youngest brother, Burt and his family. It was a very nice evening.

Instead of buying gifts for everyone, last year we started a new thing. We each buy two $25 gift certificates. We throw them in a basket. And then we draw two. And if we get one we don't like or won't use, we trade them.

Like my mother got a gift card for Amazon.com She didn't want to mess with that, so she swapped with Scott. So he got a gift certificate for Amazon.com and she got a gift card to Wal-mart. Fred got one for Publix and Jess got one for Home Depot. Being a vegan, of course, Jessica was anxious to trade with her father! I don't think anyone else swapped. Everyone was happy.

If I can get a photo from this evening, I'll post it. The batteries in my camera ran down, so I didn't get a picture. I'll have one of my sisters send me one.

I'm really thankful to be surrounded by people I love and all that we have.