Book Review: Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering
| January 26, 2012 | Posted by thesocialfrog under Book Reviews |
Synopsis
“I remember Sarah asking me, when I’d just begun therapy with her, what I looked for in a man. After a few moments of silent, tense deliberation I had it. ‘Hair,’ I blurted. ‘He has to have hair.’”
Meredith Baxter is a beloved and iconic television actress, most well-known for her enormously popular role as hippie mom, Elyse Keaton, on Family Ties. Her warmth, humor, and brilliant smile made her one of the most popular women on television, with millions of viewers following her on the small screen each week. Yet her success masked a tumultuous personal story and a harrowing private life. For the first time, Baxter is ready to share her incredible highs, (working with Robert Redford, Doris Day, Lana Turner, and the cast of Family Ties), and lows (a thorny relationship with her mother, a difficult marriage to David Birney, a bout with breast cancer), finally revealing the woman behind the image.
From her childhood in Hollywood, growing up the daughter of actress and co-creator of One Day at a Time Whitney Blake, Baxter became familiar with the ups and downs of show business from an early age. After wholeheartedly embracing the 60s counterculture lifestyle, she was forced to rely on her acting skills after her first divorce left her a 22-year-old single mother of two. Baxter began her professional career with supporting roles in the critically panned horror film Ben, and in the political thriller All the President’s Men.
More lucrative work soon followed on the small screen. Baxter starred with actor David Birney as the title characters in controversial sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie. While the series only lasted a year, her high-profile romance with Birney lasted 15 volatile and unhappy years. Hiding the worst of her situation from even those closest to her, Baxter’s career flourished as her self-esteem and family crumbled. Her successful run as Nancy on Family was followed by her enormously popular role on Family Ties, and dozens of well-received television movies.
After a bitter divorce and custody battle with Birney, Baxter increasingly relied on alcohol as a refuge, and here speaks candidly of her decision to take her last drink in 1990.
And while another ruinous divorce to screenwriter Michael Blodgett taxed Baxter’s strength and confidence, she has emerged from her experiences with the renewed self-assurance, poise, and understanding that have enabled her to find a loving, respectful relationship with Nancy Locke, and to speak about it openly.
My Thoughts
I’ve loved Meredith Baxter since her early days in Family Ties, of course then I was a youngish child. As I grew older I loved watching all her “made for TV” movies. I always wondered what her life was like from the inside. When I saw she released this memoir I of course had to read it due to my interest in her.
While I assumed her love life would be in the book since it is her memoir, I also did not imagine how much of the book would really end up being about it. As much of an interest I have in her, I would have enjoyed hearing more about her acting life. Of course she included things but I felt she left us a little short and mainly focused on all her loves.
I was surprised to read about her struggles with drugs and alcohol although I am not sure why, as it seems in Hollywood those two things go hand in hand. It was interesting to read many of her personal stories and see where she came from and what she has become over all these years. I think she is a beautiful woman with a unhappy past, making her way and staving for the happiness which we all seek.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs, especially if you enjoy many details about lovers.
I GIVE THIS BOOK
Personal Responsibility
| January 21, 2012 | Posted by thesocialfrog under Issues, Life, News |
How about we discuss a little personal responsibility. I would like to openly talk about my thoughts and feelings on Paula Deen. What is incredibly sad here is that she is being crucified for keeping her medical information private. Okay, so YES, Paula has been making high fat, high sugar foods for years & America has been gobbling it up. Here is where personal responsibility comes in folks; Paula owes no one an explanation and certainly no apologies…WHY? Well because no one is forced to cook or bake anything she makes. No one forces you to sit there, watch her show & jot down her recipes.
You can sit there and blame her for what ever you’d like but the truth is you are responsible for what you place in your own mouth. I have been shocked at all the comments left for her in all the stories about her plastered all over the internet. I find it odd that so many diabetics are lashing out at her for continuing to make the foods she does. If you are diabetic then you darn well know you should not be eating that kind of food & if you do, very little of it. I would imagine those who suffer and have been through the diagnosis would be less judgmental. I do not believe that she has to stop cooking & baking the way she does. Maybe she does not eat but a taste of it these days.
I’d like to know why any of you out there think it is your right to know any of her personal medical history? Just because she has diabetes does not mean she has to be all out in the public making tons of noise about it. Not everyone has the desire to bring awareness to it and she should never be berated for keeping it to herself. Yes, she is a big part of Novo Nordisk’s new online program “Diabetes In A New Light“, where she is creating diabetic safe recipes and she does take their medicine. Why does this upset people so? Is it because she is creating diabetic safe recipes for diabetics while still making high sugar/fat foods on TV? What is it any of your business? Just because you cook and bake unhealthy stuff, does not mean you, yourself are eating it. I am sure in these 3 years she has made many changes in her life, none of which she owes you an explanation.
There are many reasons and things that factor in why people get diabetes. Even if she is responsible for where she is right now in her life, does not make her a horrible person, it does not mean she needs to quit her show and from now on only make diabetic safe stuff, NO…it just means that she too has to take personal responsibility and change for herself, not for anyone or anything else. People are incredibly judgmental and it is ridiculose how people are talking about her. Again, why do you think she kept her private medical information to herself? She knew that all of you out there would crucify her. Yeah, saying that she has “hid” her diabetes is crazy too. She has not been hiding it as it is private information. Now please, get off your high horses.
Excuse The Mess!
| January 21, 2012 | Posted by thesocialfrog under Blogging |
Hello, Sorry if you show up and my blog is a little messy. I am cleaning it up & removing all Christmas stuff and working on the new design. It should not take to long but I promise things will be back to normal soon!
I hope everyone is doing good! I am not feeling so well. This cold weather that I love so much is screwing with my sinuses and giving me quite a bit of pain…UGH.
It started snowing again today and I am hoping it turns into a ton of snow like we got last weekend, I can hope right? How is the weather where you are this week?
* EDITED TO ADD*
My blog is now pretty much changed, at least all the big things so all I have left to do now is tweak smaller things around like the links and sidebars and such! Thank you for stopping by!
And Now For Something Completely Different…
| January 15, 2012 | Posted by thesocialfrog under Japan |
Okay maybe something not too different. What can I say. Snow IS the thing around Misawa right now. I tried getting this up yesterday when I actually took the pictures but of course YouTube always gives me some sort of issue and even more so now with my new iMac. So it has now snowing for almost 2 days straight. That’s right…2 days. It is amazing! So beautiful. Branches are so heavy with snow. We did not imagine the storm would end up being this big but we welcome it.
So we drove over to the North Side of the base so I could take some different pictures rather than my normal right out the window ones. We went to a few of our favorite spots here. One being the sledding/ski hill. You see the lodge in a few of the pictures. Another was where the golf range is. It overlooks the lake here on base.
Driving there yesterday was a little slippery and I know it is down right dangerous today, so we won’t be heading that way today. We had plans to go out in town. However, they don’t plow the roads and there are several feet of snow on the ground and the promise of more to come. Not happening today. We will be going to the commissary though, I need a few things.
Today has been a very lazy day. I need to change my blog around and get rid of the whole Christmas thing. As much as I love Christmas we are now half way through January! Time is flying. Hard to believe we’ve been here for just about 8 months… How is the weather in your neck of the woods?
Booking Through Thursday
| January 12, 2012 | Posted by thesocialfrog under BTT |
Hey, Hello! It’s been a long while since I last participated in a Booking Through Thursday post. I miss it, so I plan on doing it every Thursday. I love some meme’s because they connect you with those of like interests and of course a great way to find new blogs!
This Week It Is A Book Interview:
1. What’s your favorite time of day to read?
In the late evening, when I am relaxing, especially a few hours before heading off to bed, very calming.
2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)
I don’t read books while eating breakfast but I do read the news or catch up on things on Facebook.
3. What’s your favorite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foods can be eaten any time of day.)
Living in the states it was milk & Product 19 cereal. Here in Japan…Pineapples.
4. How many hours a day would you say you read?
Four or more.
5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?
So much more, it is like night & day!
6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?
I sure do. A course was given when I was in 7th grade and took it. I do not always speed read though.
7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Mind reading 
Seems to be a talent one must have these days!
8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?
No, not everywhere but I do have my “Kindle” purse and if there might be a place I am going that will warrant the time I will take it. I am living in Japan though and when we are out and about, we are adventuring.
9. What KIND of book?
Well, it could be a culinary mystery or a biography, all depends on what book it is I am reading at the moment as I do not read several books at a time.
10. How old were you when you got your first library card?
Not really sure but I believe I was maybe 5, before that I think my mother just checked them out on hers but honestly, I don’t know.
11. What’s the oldest book you have in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection? Oldest copyright?)
Kind of a tough question for me as I do not really read “old” books. I pretty much now only read on my Kindle and I am not sure what the oldest book is on there.
12. Do you read in bed?
Not very often but I have in the past. I prefer reading on my comfy couch or love-seat.
13. Do you write in your books?
I can honestly say I never have, even before the Kindle I would not do that. If I need to take note of something I’d write it on a piece of paper, like I still do.
14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be?
Branch out, do not stick with just one or two genres. You might discover that you really enjoy something different than your normal reading.
15. What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask? (Actually, leave the answer to this one in the comments on this post, huh? So I can find them when I need inspiration!)
Honestly not sure as I’ve not played in a long time.
A Ribetting Alarm
| January 10, 2012 | Posted by thesocialfrog under Frogs, Life |
Since we moved here to Japan, I’ve been eyeing several frog clocks. Not just any frog clock, but an alarm clock. I know I am an odd one, but I love frogs, of course that is an obvious statement. I am sure you could buy a frog alarm clock just about anywhere USA but I really am enjoying collecting Japanese goods. Most things I purchase out in town, you can’t just buy anywhere, enhancing my desire for some things.
Daniel got me a really cute frog alarm clock for Christmas and I thought I’d share it with you all. Sorry I’ve been a bit not “here” on my blog so far this month. Lot’s going on and I’ve been researching a few posts I will be writing about sometime this month. We’ve been getting good amounts of snow, although it tends to snow all week and be hard and crusty by the time the weekend rolls around, so we’ve not been out sledding yet. We are hoping maybe we will get a fresh snowfall this coming weekend.
There is more drama on this base then any reality TV show I’ve ever laid my eyes on. It’s rather disgusting and I suppose a part of living on a small base overseas with a bunch of bored “house people”?. I can not fully wrap my mind around the behaviors of some people here and I guess I can except that some people have no shame and have no respect for themselves or those around them.
Ummm, yeah…this post was about a present I got for Christmas, not base gossip. I would not call it gossip, just letting you know there are too many drama kings & queens here…Makes it hard to want to be friends with people. Ohhh bother,lol.
I think this post has gone in enough circles for the time being, so I will leave you with a few pictures of my frog alarm clock
Queen’s Pastel
| January 6, 2012 | Posted by thesocialfrog under Japan |
Oh, Hey! I hope you are still out there. I am still here. Life happens and exploring happens too! I love exploring Japan when opportunity presents itself. Sometimes you just get to comfortable in this beautifully cold winter and you tend to not roam outside the gates to much. We thought it was high time we headed beyond those gates and see what was out there. There was snow, of course! They don’t plow the roads out in town so that can spell danger after a fresh snow but we headed out when the roads were sloshy.
We decided to go to the 2 malls out in Hachinohe. As we traveled farther away from base, there was less & less snow to be seen which was odd to us since we were getting closer to the mountains. There was a nice chill in the air. Driving is slow here, to slow for my American liking. I am not saying I or we are speed demons at all as I HATE speeding but travel is much slower here.
We ended up at several stores, one very important one, which will be talked about another day, in another post. However, in this post I will talk about one of my most favorite stores I’ve found thus far…Queen’s Pastel. I’ve briefly mentioned it in a post before, months ago, the first time we went. Daniel bought me a few Christmas gifts from there. I really love this store. It is super girly with huge French influence, something common here in Japan, not so much the girly part as much as lot’s of French influence.
A big thing here is growing your own plants/flowers/food, in pots of all shapes and sizes. The first time I went I fell in love with all the mini pots and how “fun” they are. So, while there today, I indulged in buying myself 3 different little pot’s of plants. I can not wait to start watering them and enjoy them.
We also ended up at Toys R Us, my first time there. Reminds me of anyone in the USA but a bit cooler with tons of stuff you will never see or find stateside. We ended our day out at Universe looking for some yummy Japanese Italian Bread, yeah…figure that one out!
Here is what I purchased from Queen’s Pastel:
This Is The Cutest Potted Potato Plant!
All I Know Is It Is A “Little Garden”.
This Is A Cute Thingy That Looks To Be A Pig & When You Water It, It Will Grow Grass Hair,lol!
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