Category Archives: Featured

Me, My Twitter and Meryl

Along with what appeared to be a flood of Americans, I too, took to Twitter last night debating the merits (or lack thereof) for Meryl Streep’s manic diatribe about the 2016 Election and Donald Trump.

I have been reluctant to share my politics on social media sites like Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook because that’s my personal space where I connect with “my friends.” The people who I have known for decades and such. They pretty much already know my political leanings and probably don’t care either way what I think on this issue or that. Honestly, who doesn’t prefer to keep Facebook full of happy vacation photos, birthdays, weddings and a safe space to brag about your kids? I know I do!

But, Twitter… my Twitter….Wow, what a brave new world! I have made some new friends (or is it followers?) on Twitter this past year. First, let me say that Twitter is where I get most of my news. I follow lots of reporters, journalists, politicians, news outlets etc. on my tweeter feed. During the course of the 2016 election season, I met up with some trolls from the left and right on this forum. I sat up in the rafters at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and followed these same journalists and main stream media elites on Twitter to compare what was being said in the convention hall versus what was being reported on their Twitter accounts. You wanna talk about media bias? Oh my goodness. I could have compared and contrasted that little experiment for days and days. Donald Trump’s use of Twitter also intrigues me and I have yet to determine whether I think it is inappropriate or just plain brilliant… but I digress.

I am like a bull in a china shop getting to my twitter feed each morning. Just ask my Senator…I can’t wait to read all the random and wonderful and utterly outrageous even crazy on there in the wee hours of the morning. I follow a totally bizarre mix of people, places and things and I love every second of it. It is fair to say I am obsessed. One of my New Year’s Resolutions should have been a month in time out from Twitter, but I’m gonna save that one for another (less exciting) year.

About last night… The Golden Globes. I tuned in to watch Viola Davis and Meryl Streep. Two of the best.

I grew up idolizing Meryl Streep and her incredible talent to transform herself into another human being. I think she is a brilliant actress. I have seen all of her films at least once….I think? I am a total drama geek.

But, can someone please tell me when Hollywood decided it was good to get all political? I know Meryl’s rant was not the first at an award show, nor will it be the last lecture to the American public from the actor’s bully pulpit (emphasis on the word bully) of what life should be like and how people should think, feel and behave.

But, I’m curious if these “actors” have ever once taken into consideration the hypocrisy in all of this. It reminds me of this meme/moment during the 2016 election. Thank you Twitter.

The blatant mockery of anyone who doesn’t think like them only shows a general disdain and intolerance for half of their audience base. It also demonstrates a bigoted blindness to the reality of your average guy living outside of those gilded and gated Hollywood communities, many of whom helped elect the next President of the United States my girl Meryl was lamenting. One would assume this ‘group think’ only hinders an actors ability to create and share a variety of life stories…or are they now only portraying life as they think it should be? Life as they know it? Lecturing the audience on their personal values because they are…..…..actors?

I read an interview recently with the (very cute) actor Mark Wahlberg, about his new movie, Patriot’s Day, where he addressed this very topic.

Here is a quote from that interview as reported on the Washington Times blog:

“A lot of celebrities did, do, and shouldn’t…..You know, it just goes to show you that people aren’t listening to that anyway. They might buy your CD or watch your movie, but you don’t put food on their table. You don’t pay their bills. A lot of Hollywood is living in a bubble. They’re pretty out of touch with the common person, the everyday guy out there providing for their family.”

I think he is spot on. I bet his new movie will be be a huge success too. Can’t wait to watch.
Wonder how that Florence Foster Jenkins movie with Meryl Streep is fairing at the box office…because at some point, this discussion becomes all about ratings and revenue!

Friendsgiving

There is nothing quite like getting to spend time with your oldest and dearest friends. The kind of friends you have known forever, literally since birth, but don’t necessarily get to see as much as you’d like in person because you live a couple hundred miles apart….or, one of them is kinda famous.

Thank goodness for modern technology and social media that keep us all connected, but nothing can take the place of special face to face friend time. Even if it was in front of a camera….

Yep. Last week, I filmed a little “Friendsgiving” episode for The Pioneer Woman’s show on the Food Network, up on her ranch. I’m not sure how much filming took place, because the three of us just laughed, talked and reminisced about old stories while the cameras were rolling. (I am sure the crew was thoroughly entertained!)

The three of us have all known and loved each other since birth and that is just what happens when we get together. I’m sure our parents (who have also known each other forever) are so proud!

I love this pic of Beccus and Ree. I think the crew might have been a little frustrated with us…or not. Or, maybe they just needed a little of the champagne cocktail…..

Nonetheless, we attempted to help our BFF cook a meal in front of those cameras while catching up on each other’s lives behind the scenes.

This was my dish, a roasted Kale-Brussel Sprout salad. It was delish!

Ree knew not to entrust me with anything too complex or that contained raw meat…she knows me so well! Haha.

We also had some pretty hors douvres and a champagne cocktail that was very festive and perfect for a holiday gathering.

Ree handed me that loaded cracker (pictured above) which I so glamorously fumbled with in front of the cameras….so, I did what any polite girl would do and hid it behind the cutting board. Shhh don’t tell. Totally akward trying to talk and laugh among friends with goat cheese and paprika stuck in your teeth….just saying!

I love this pic of Beccus. We met up the night before for dinner in Bartlesville and stopped by the new PW Mercantile on our way to the ranch.

I can’t wait for this hot spot in Pawhuska to open!

We also dropped in on the warehouse where all the merchandise is being stored until it can move into the Merc. Such an exciting time for this town and my BFF.

Then we caught up with Ree, filmed the episode, shared lots of laughs and hugs, and went our separate ways.

Beautiful day, beautiful friends and beautiful drive home. I may or may not have brought home some souvineers from the PW Merc.

And, I may or may not have to watch this episode of The Pioneer Woman when it airs. I am kinda scared….

Star Struck in Cleveland

Today I met Maureen Dowd. The Maureen Dowd!

Let me just preface this with I have always been a huge fan of her writing style, her keen wit and fresh perspective. She has a gift for the gab and uses words to produce such an interesting commentary which usually always makes me laugh…or cry, depending.

Evidently, she is staying at our hotel and was in the lobby grabbing coffee this morning while I was visiting with a few Oklahoma delegates about the chaos at the convention!

A nice lady with dark sun glasses sauntered over and complimented my shirt of all things. After exchanging pleasantries, she began to ask my opinion on the convention and the conversation topics she had overheard.

I guess I let her have it (my opinion that is), but she also knew in her gut the media portrayal over the last few days was not accurately depicting the mood in the arena and she was gathering thoughts on the topic.

So when she asked if she could quote me, I completely and utterly froze up. Mind you, I had no idea who this nice lady was. I mean, she had her hair pulled back and was wearing dark glasses!

Flippantly, I said something like, “oh, you’re a journalist! Who do you work for?”

“The New York Times,” she said.

Of course. The New York Times!

She was very gracious as I back peddled nervously about a quote.

Knowing that, we continued to chat about the various reporting on the convention and she offered me her email in case I wanted to share thoughts on tonight’s festivities from my seat on the sidelines.

As I typed her email address in my phone, I jumped back and said something like ‘Oh My Gawd – your Maureen Dowd! I love your stuff!’

We continued to chat and knowing she was probably on a deadline, I kindly asked for a quick photo, and boom, there ya go.

Never mind I had lipstick on my teeth throughout the entire course of our conversation!