The Critics Were Wrong (Maybe)-Eat Pray Love (2010)

Sometimes we need to get away from it all. The job, the family, the constant stress that life brings.

Elizabeth Gilbert did just that. In her 2007 book, Eat, Pray, Love, Ms. Gilbert got away from it all. Traveling to (and eating through) India, Italy and Indonesia, she used her time away from every day life to find the balance she was looking for.

In 2007, the book was made into a movie with Julia Roberts in the lead role. Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) thinks she has everything a modern woman is supposed to have. She  has a thriving career, a loving spouse and a comfortable home. But all is not what it seems to be. When her marriage ends, Liz is unsure on what to do next. Taking a chance, she leaves her life behind to find the peace and and sense of self that she thought she had.

Were the critics wrong? To be fair, I never read the book, so I can only go by the movie. Unfortunately, the critics were not wrong.  While the scenery was gorgeous and the food looked mouthwatering, the movie was not what it could have been. The message of letting go and allowing yourself to not be weighed down by life was lost somewhere in between the book and the movie. Every performer has a movie or two that despite the best effort and intentions of all involved, it is just plain bad.  This movie is in this category.

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That Time Of Year

It’s that time of year again. Winter has once again thankfully receded into memory and we are removing the multiple layers of clothes that kept us warm during the cold, harsh winter months.

Boys and girls are wearing their finest clothes at the prom or spring dance, hoping to create memories that will last a lifetime.  In response to the rising temperature, we are wearing clothes that will allow us to be as comfortable as possible.

It’s also the time of year when the double standard once again rears it’s ugly head.

I understand that schools must have rules to maintain order and control over their students.  A dress code is not particularly a bad thing. But it is unhelpful when it is unfairly applied to only a portion of the student population.

Two years ago, Washington state high school student Brittany Minder attempted to attend her prom. She is one of many young women who was either forced to cover up or was not able to attend, despite following the school’s rules for an acceptable prom dress.

One very smart young women decided to fight against her school’s double standard dress code.

It’s that time of year.