Tied in with this is a need to respect the author/addict. They’ve screwed everyone, abused their bodies, sucked the world dry and hit the bottom, but they know that. They admit it. There’s a warning in there. There’s a confession. They will not win me over if they are pompous assholes in the end. A little self-flagellation mixed with powerful insight goes a long way in this genre.

Brandon Novak’s Dreamseller: An Addiction Memoir failed my interest in powerful insight. While many authors in this genre attract intellectuals (addicts or not), Novak’s style must be interesting to young people only. Nothing wrong with that except for the obvious – and this just gets me – the book claims to be a warning for others to not follow his path, but it ends with him bragging about his beautiful girlfriend and his amazing pitbull dog. And he’s a television personality and star of movies. The book concludes with Novak having swum around in the bottom of the pit, annoyingly stripping everything from everyone, being a slimy leach and finally ending in the arms of his “beautiful” girlfriend and his dog who’s annoyingly named Diva.

The dog, the girlfriend, the tattoos – it’s puke-inducing. Nothing has changed and I want to throw the book through a window. He’s still a self-focused little worm. He still thinks he’s a star. He’s not – he’s a loser and I’m pissed because this is not, as the book professes to be, a warning to young people. It’s Do What I Do and End Up Fine and it’s decidedly not fine. Novak, you missed the part about the American Dream – we pick ourselves up, have an epiphany, get a fucking job and write a book about it. You missed the epiphany/job steps and took us all for a ride on your little book project.

He writes at the end: “Now I face a painful and disturbing conclusion. Through Scott’s struggle, as well as through my own, there has been no epiphany, no catharsis, no transformation of character. And this uncomfortable feeling, this emotional void, this uncertainty that I am experiencing is the essence of addiction.”

My criticism of his is the essence of codependence – I expect better, don’t get it and am disappointed. He is my brother and my journey is to accept him, predictable pitbull and all. I just don’t have to like his book.

I have yet to take a run in them (since I don’t jog anyway), but they’re so comfortable and delicious. I think I’ll collect all four!

Aren’t they just so obscenely strange? People stare at my feet like I had an accident. But they’re so perfect and lovable.

When someone dies, the reader commentary is usually incredibly respectful, unlike the usual immature, humorous verbiage. Here’s an example of the comments from today’s news about John Hughes’ death.

It turned out to have scary bits toward the end for Colin (4 years old). The theme of main characters being close to falling off a blimp – while being chased by the bad guy – was too much for Colin, but it’s a small part of the film and he stuck it out. There were many laugh-out-loud moments for the children and adults, and both of my kids recite lines from it, like the main dog character saying, “my master made me this collar so I may talk!” Very cute.

The film is colorful and magical, but I’m not sure everyone will relate to the main character, an elderly man who doesn’t seem to grab children’s fascination like other Pixar/Disney characters I can think of. I can’t imagine a child demanding a Carl doll – or even the boy character. The real hit in this film is the dog, who gets very little time.

There are many adult themes in the beginning of Up, which might have children wondering what the heck is going on. Carl meets his future wife as a kid and they grow up together, get married and plan adventures that never come to pass. Carl’s wife even has a miscarriage, though it would be impossible for anyone under 9 to get that.

The moment the house lifts off the ground, this movie gets going for the young audience. There’s tons of action and adventure and beautiful scenery. Although we never really get to know the boy character in a meaningful way (or maybe my adult mind wants to know more about his dad) and some of the details are missing about how Carl becomes so able-bodied, the ending of the story is extremely heartwarming and lovely.

Kids will be thoroughly entertained by this film, but don’t expect them to have Up obsessions like they might have had with Cars or Toy Story. What a blessing!

Then there’s Pizza Fusion in the same little shopping mall which is super yummy (in spite of this horrible photo). They serve vegan pizza and great salads and organic wine and beer (not that I drink anymore). It’s fabulous food!