We were at our friends’ house ( Robert Ragland and Alfredo Vasquez) for Thanksgiving.  We have enjoyed several Thanksgivings with them and this year the tradition was revisited.

During a break in the cooking, Robert asked us if we had seen the new sitcom Modern Family.  I had only seen the commercials for the show but never watched any of the episodes.  Robert had a recorded a show so we sat down to watch it.

Not since Arrested Development,  had I watched such a funny, well written comedy. There is no laugh track but our living room was filled with laughter. This show has the very funny, Ed O’Neill, who plays Jay, the patriarch Father  of  Claire ( the often “against type mom” )  and Mitchell ( the red headed gay son who adopted a little girl from China with his partner). Jay  also has been remarried to a gorgeous Latina ( Gloria)  who gave him a very adult thinking stepson named Manny.

Without giving too much away,  the writing on this show is the best on TV and it is beautifully synchronized with the great performances from its ensemble cast.

The banter between characters and the occasional wink wink to the audience is perfectly entertaining.  The laughs come sincerely because they are really funny! I mean there is this scene with one of the characters dressed as a clown at a gas station that was one of the best comedic scenes I have seen on TV.

There is so much nuance and intelligence in its comedic flow, that Modern Family is a definite must see of the season.

Robert,  thanks for introducing us to the show.

LMAO!!!!   I love this!

Thank you Feast of Fun for this one!

Great song, Hot video!  Adam Lambert has brought life back to the music industry

Creative and funny….Be thankful….LOL!

Original song by

JC Van Luyn

Funny…Raunchy….funny….

Happy Thanksgiving!

My mind simply goes to my heart this Thanksgiving Eve.  This tradition of gathering around with our family and friends to enjoy a special meal that is prepared for the occasion, brings into my thoughts the real spirit of this holiday.

Our nation and world continues to feel the weight of a severe economic crisis, the continuing wars abroad and the fight for equality for many of us.  Yet, amidst all of this seemingly chaotic, dismal environment I have found thankfulness in my life.

I am thankful for a partner who has weathered the storms of life with me for the past 11 years and we find ourselves still growing.  Through it I have found love and found that it is not stagnant but forever growing and changing as we change.  I marvel at this continual discovery and I am grateful for him.

I am grateful for four wonderful children who weathered a divorce and a dad coming out of the closet.  Tumultuous times came upon all of us but we were able to rely on love. That pulled us through all these years and into the happiness we enjoy now.  They are the treasure of my heart.

I can not say enough about my mother and my siblings. They and their families have been anchors to me. This last year we all reunited because of the death of a sister-in-law, but out of that sadness we have become closer.  I ma thankful for them.

I am surrounded by friends across all walks of life in a sea of true diversity. I am enriched and strengthened by them.  I give them special thanks because without them I would have never been able to navigate the rough waters of life or celebrate the best moments of life.

I love my job and this life in the bay area.  It is home to me.  I am so filled with thankfulness for this place.

Thanksgiving is my song today, tomorrow and the rest of my life.

Twice the age of his opponents, in a season where we saw this consummate entertainer struggle with some dance routines and then grow week after week, Donny Osmond won Dancing with the Stars.

Donny Osmond on Dancing with the Stars (ABC/ADAM LARKEY)

This teen throb from the seventies who has reinvented himself decade after decade proves once again that  being in your early 50’s does not mean it is over in winning dance competitions or in show business.

Kelly Osbourne is also to be commended for her efforts as she placed 3rd, clearly a crowd and audience favorite and singer Mya,  placed 1st runner up.

Congratulations, Donny!

Last Sunday I went with my friend, Aaron, and watched the disaster movie 2012. The movie theater was packed which surprised me. I thought everybody would be at the Twilight movie that opened that weekend. By the closing credits of 2012, I am sure everyone wished they had made that choice.

Loosely based on the Mayan prophecies that the world will end on 2012, the movie exploits that premise. It does not do a good job of really delving into the prophecies themselves but simply references them  like an excuse to continue on with the plot.

What a plot it was! It was painful  to watch it unfold on screen.  I could not buy its plausibility even in the Willy Wonka world of imagination.  It was based on the increase in solar flare activity and planet alignment, which affected the melting of the earth’s core.  I know that was a movie spoiler but frankly who cares….the movie was so bad…it does not ruin anything with that reveal.

Why did one of my favorite actors, John Cusack, do this movie?  He must have needed the cash.  He tried to show that he cared and get into his character.  I just don’t think he bought it. It showed in his performance.

I found myself not really caring if his character or his family or anyone else survived the destruction.  In moments of terror onscreen, I found myself laughing out loud because it was so stupid.  Also, I agree with Aaron when he pointed out all the music that was played to try to direct our emotion. It did not work.

Now the only redeeming factor of the movie, were the special effects. It was like a visual orgy of disasters gone wild.  It was like taking every disaster movie in history and shaking them up together and exploding them into the screen.  They should take the disaster action sequences and make a Disney ride out of it.

Adam Lambert’s song “Time For Miracles” plays during the closing credits.  I am afraid nothing miraculous could save this movie from its disastrous awfulness.

Steele Steadiman,  gives his fractured viewpoint on how to handle conflict at the office.  Pretty hilarious.  There is even a counterpoint from  faux animal rights group.