LOST on the couch....

No one needs to question what I will be doing for 991 minutes this weekend. I will be working on my latest writing assignment. I will be LOST on the couch!

A Mother Lode of Excitment: LOST, found on my doorstep!

I just left my house for fifteen minutes to pick up my five year old from Montessori school. When we arrived back at home, the UPS package was on my doorstep. My seven year old picked it up and read aloud, "Liza Marchant, motheringheights.net..." And she did not need to say anymore, because I knew the contents of the package. Like a child I ripped the oversized-envelope out of her hands and said, "Mine." Okay, maybe I said, "That's mine, thank you," as I ripped it from her hands, but I certainly grabbed it with the force of "Mine!"

I couldn't open the door quickly enough to tear open the package. I dropped my purse and my keys as I ripped at the envelope. It was not opening so I had to go for the kitchen scissors. Man, those UPS bubble wrap envelopes are tightly sealed. As soon as I was done cutting into my package, I gently removed the box from inside. My sad, true reality: This was the most exciting moment of motherhood as of late, aside from my recent e-mail from singer/song writer Ben Taylor telling me he was interested in assisting me with a story.

But today, here was this package on my doorstep, in my hands, my first official assignment as a movie reviewer for Mothering Heights. The only thing that could make this assignment better, would be knowing that I would be able to keep the package's contents: The third season of LOST. Then this day would be like Christmas and my birthday all in one day! Not only did I have a present, I had an official writing assignment.

After I pulled the seven disc set out the package, I immediately checked the envelope for some return label, but the package was empty. Did this mean what I thought it meant? Did this mean this set, this pre-release copy of Season Three of LOST would be mine? I held the box close to my face, sniffing its newness. Oh, the smell of fresh compact discs and plastic. I carefully tore off the plastic wrapping around the box. I carefully looked at the contents. 991 minutes of LOST episodes and LOST extras. All mine! Mine! Mine! Or does it belong to Mothering Heights?

Good question? I will hope, hope, hope! As I review, review, review!

The Opening of "Almost Maine" at The Orange Curtain Theater

If you are looking for an evening out and a night at the theater, my husband, Sean, is in "Almost Maine" opening at the Orange Curtain Theater Company in San Juan Capistano this weekend which is located at the El Camino Real Theater!

Fridays, Nov 30, Dec 7 and 14 – 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays, Dec 1, 8 and 15 – 8:00 p.m.

Sundays, Dec 2, 9, and 16 – 3:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: $18 ($15 for seniors and students with ID)

Located at 31776 El Camino Real, in the heart of historic San Juan Capistrano, THE ORANGE CURTAIN THEATRE is an intimate, 49-seat black box theatre.

PHONE: 949-412-3252
FAX: 949-487-0106

Conversations in the Car: Even Santa's Not Buying This One!

I am amazed by how awake my middle school daughter is at 7:15 a.m. without the assistance of caffeine. Okay, maybe I can understand somewhat, because I am generally a morning person, but lately I have been tired. So the fact that my middle schooler is getting in what sounds like about 500 wpm (words per minute) as she is going on and on about how her magazine Cosmo, Girl! (Wait, didn't I ban that magazine from our house?) was making her a better person. Most of what she was saying was being lost between too tired and haven't had my coffee yet.

What I did manage to hear was that she was the "Queen of Green!" "Mom, Cosmo, Girl! is making sure I am environmentally conscious. I took the quiz on "How Green Are You Really?" and I answered all of the questions correctly. Can you answer all of these questions, mom? Do you know if it is better to use paper or plastic bags? Or whether "Mother Earth" prefers aluminum or plastic bottles? I mean really you should be glad I am reading this stuff. I am becoming more aware of the world. And soon, I will be getting two full years of Cosmo, Girl! and a complimentary gift bag."

I am still considering what kind of latte I want this morning. A holiday latte or just a plain latte. My brain is telling me that I should go with the non-sugary option and then I process what sounded like a two year subscription to Cosmo, Girl! "Wait!" I quickly glance over at my daughter as she is flipping through her magazine. "Did you say something about a two year subscription to Cosmo, Girl!?"

"Relax, mom. I am asking Santa. I have the subscription card and all! Now he...." and my daughter gives me that knowing wink, "Santa, just needs to mail it in. I am sure that Santa will be thrilled to learn that I am trying to be environmentally conscious. That Cosmo, Girl! is more than just a teen fashion magazine, but a magazine that cares about the world. I mean, this magazine even shows me how to make recycled Christmas gifts. Santa should be thrilled by that. I can take an old t-shirt and add a bow to it and now I have a trendy gift to give a friend or how about taking old shoes and tie-dying them."

All I can ask is, "Is tie-dye back in fashion?"

"Mom, that's not the point. This magazine has all kinds of lessons for me. As well as to be practical when asking for Christmas gifts. You know how I get carried away with asking for expensive gifts. This magazine has lists of great gifts for under twenty dollars. Isn't that great mom? Perfect for asking all of our relatives. Like look at this cool clock or there is this recycled watch and this personal massager..."

She keeps listing items and I am still trying to keep up as I am thinking clock, and I can't look at the magazine so I say it out loud, "I am driving Emily! I can't look at your gifts now .... the clock, the watch..." and then it registers. Did you say personal massager?"

"Yeah, I really need one of those. Everyone uses them mom."

Everyone uses them. If only she knew. Alarmed I ask, "Why do you need a personal massager?"

I felt a "Duh, mom" coming on, as my question did sound stupid. "Obviously to massage myself. I mean, I can use it on my neck when I am doing homework. You don't know how stressful homework can be in middle school? I am all tense in my neck." And all I can think is thank you Cosmo, Girl! for your under twenty dollar gift suggestions and my eleven year old wanting her own personal massager. And just as my head is spinning from these thoughts, we arrive at her school. Finally, I say a quick, "Thank God!" Because frankly, this is way too much to process B.C. (before caffeine.)

As she gets out of the car and shuts the door, I notice the magazine on her seat. The page is open to "Things You Can Do Now: You've changed your light bulbs and now you want to do more. But what? Read on!" and "How Green are you Really? Take your eco-aptitude test here!" And just as I am thinking how this magazine might not be so bad, I turn the page to "Are you too hard to Get? Are you too guarded with guys?" and I shake my head, because I know Santa is not buying this one!

In the Hands of a Toddler: The Tragic Ending of a Pop-Up Book

I really like to take advantage of the time when my toddler is content playing with his toys. Today I was amazed by how entertained he seemed in "his" corner of the living room while I was in the kitchen preparing dinner, Crock Pot meatloaf and potatoes and cranberry white chocolate blondies for dessert. I could hear him laughing and having what sounded like a grand old time. He was having so much fun, I even took the time to load the dishwasher and clean the kitchen. Just as I was finishing up I heard him exclaim with surprise, "Oh, no. Oh, no." Since he wasn't crying I finished wiping the counter. Then I heard what sounded like paper being ripped, and another "Oh, no." At this point I decided to see what he was doing. As I came out of the kitchen, there was my toddler holding what used to be a pop-up book. He looked up at me and said, "Oh, no." And all I could do was repeat his words, "Oh, no." What a tragic ending for a pop-up book, to be in the hands of a toddler. The sacrifice of a pop-up book that allowed me the time to get ahead.

A Blog Happy Birthday to My Mom!

I love you mom! Thanks for being a great mom and I hope all of your birthday wishes come true!

Mother Turned Monday Morning Sports Writer

I just need to say "Phew!" Last night was a close call for the New England Patriots, but they have managed to improve their record to 11-0 with a well-fought 31-28 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. I will have to admit, I enjoyed watching a competitive game after the previous week's blowout of 56-10 against the Buffalo Bills. As a football fan, I love to see my favorite team win, but sometimes when the game is so lopsided it takes the fun out of being a fan. Isn't part of the fun watching a team come from behind to win a game?

In fact, last night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles reminded me of the "underdog" New England Patriots team of years past. The team that beat all the odds to win without having the superstar receivers like Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth. Don't get me wrong, I love that Patriots finally have some top receivers to make Tom Brady's job as quarterback easier. Now that he has those receivers, he is finally able to prove that he is a "Pro-Bowl Caliber Quarterback" and (what I have been saying all these years) that he is one of the best quarterbacks to have ever played the game.

At this point, I would like to say "thank you" and "game well played" to the Philadelphia Eagles for challenging the New England Patriots. There were definitely moments during the game, as the score flip-flopped between the Patriots and the Eagles, where I questioned if this was going to be the surprise upset of the season. Up until last night, the Eagles had been having a marginal season (partially due to injury) at best, but last night the Eagles played like a "playoff contender team" against the unbeaten Patriots, who aside from the game against the Indianapolis Colts (24-20) had won by 17 points or more including the 48-27 victory over the 10-1 Dallas Cowboys. This tells me that when the Eagles want to play ball they can play!

So, for now, I will take a deep breath and focus on my week's projects, while the Patriots focus on their strategy to beat the Baltimore Ravens next Monday in Baltimore, because at this point, I know even the teams with marginal records don't always play marginal ball when facing the best team in the NFL, the New England Patriots!