Last night Mr. HIH installed a new microwave. Our old one stopped working weeks ago after an instant oatmeal incident.

He decided to buy the same exact model thinking it would be easy to install over the oven. Little did he know the manufacturer decided to change the outer design so that meant, realligning, and re-drilling holes in the cabinets. After hours of things not going well, Mr. HIH started to sound like the dad on A Christmas Story. Finally after a tough night of Tim the Toolman style work the new microwave is operational.

This morning we chose a bag of Orville’s microwavable popcorn for breakfast. We have an air popper but it’s just not the same thing. There’s no fake butter smell, and no artificial ingredients to savor. I could go into a rant about how much fiber popcorn has, even if it’s microwavable or how it can be used as part of your daily grain intake but it would never be as entertaining as Bill Cosby’s Chocolate Cake speech. Click here for Cosby’s Chocolate Cake vid.

Some of you might think using an air popper is Old School but I remember my mom popping corn on the stove.

All you cartoon and commercial voice over experts out there, who does the voice of that big popcorn piece? Anyone?

After all the Facts of Life  episodes I watched as a kid I don’t remember this one. Do you?

I really should break out some roller skates and clean the house Tootie style. Did you recognize Helen Hunt from Mad about You fame?

For some really impressive moves on roller skates click here.

Yes, I am a homemaker and I have been called Suzy.

I’ve been scouring the internet shelves to find out more about the name Suzy Homemaker. Did the name originate with the Suzy Homemaker toy line or were the toys inspired by a real life Suzy of homemaker fame?

With not many clues to be found, I did dust off various craft blogs, vintage apron seller sites, and great retro commercials like this one:

Will the real Suzy Homemaker please stand up! It sure isn’t me.

Visit www.captainbijou.com for classic clips, commercials, and DVD’s!

Like so many people around the world I grew up watching the Oscars, a.k.a. the Academy Awards. The 1st Academy Awards took place in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt. It just so happened to take place on my birthday, May 16. Of course I wasn’t born yet, the first ceremony was in 1929.

Watching the Oscars has become a tradition for many people. Oscar themed parties, watching the show live at bars and pubs, and these days live chat on the internet while other people commentate or even rant.

This year, I won’t be getting all dolled up to walk the red carpet but I will be having a big plate of nachos and a cherry coke in front of the big screen.

The Oscars Official YouTube channel has a lot of great videos from previous years, including Oscar trailers, speeches and even blunders.

I had a hard time picking out a favorite moment from their video library. I was going to pick one of Bette Davis presenting Marlon Brando with an award for On the Waterfront merely because I thought Bette’s Munchkinesque outfit was worth noting.

Then I found this one of Jim Carrey presenting legendary filmmaker Blake Edwards with an Honorary Academy Award®, at the 76th Annual Academy Awards. Blake Edwards thanks everyone, even the little guy on set that shoveled elephant poop, but he fails to recognize Peter Sellers by name which according to Wikipedia was a big Oscar faux pas. Click here to see what I mean.

It seems that many Oscar moments are streaked with controversy. From Sacheen Littlefeather turning down the Oscar in Marlon Brando’s behalf to Michael Moore blasting George Bush, and an actual streaker crashing the Oscar event.

I wonder what moments will happen this year to be put in the Oscar library for generations to discuss. What is your favorite Oscar moment?

Because I couldn’t find any unique Oscar worthy images you haven’t seen already, I decided to present you with this Oscar from waverlyfilms.com:

We went to the library the other day, and the kiddo recognized many great Americans honored in the children’s section for Black History Month.

She said, “Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver, the lady that made the Underground Railroad, and my Aunt Virginia.”

Her Great Aunt Virginia is my husband’s father’s sister. She was also an award-winning author of children’s books.

Virginia Hamilton won numerous awards for literature including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Her book Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush was awarded a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.

Check out this retro Snipet from fuzzymemoriestv.TV

Many of her stories went from the printed page to other media such as her novel The House of Dies Drear  made into a film starring Moses Gunn, and Shavar Ross in 1984. She collaborated with James Earl Jones to narrate her book The People Could Fly on CD.

Newbery Medalist Virginia Hamilton tells 24 stories that kept her ancestors’ culture alive during slavery, from spirited animal trickster tales and robust tall tales to spine-chilling tales of the supernatural and moving narratives of slaves in search of freedom. Twelve of these tales are on the 78-minute CD, including the hauntingly beautiful title story, “The People Could Fly,” Booklist praised the recording as “an outstanding and most welcome production that both complements and extends the original work.”—from her official website www.virginiahamilton.com

Her stories inspire young and old to read, write and share their own stories with future generations. Virginia’s love of storytelling and the arts have been passed down to her own children. Her son Jamie Adoff is a writer, and her daughter Leigh Adoff  is an opera singer.

Virginia Hamilton left this earth on February 19th, 2002 but her stories can be found in libraries, bookstores, and inside our minds and hearts, thank you Virginia.

“The past moves me and with me, although I remove myself from it. It’s light often shines on this night traveler: and when it does, I scribble it down. Whatever pleasure is in it I need pass on. That’s happiness. That is who I am.”—Virginia Hamilton

Actress Debra Messing collaborated with legendary jeweler Robert Lee Morris to design an 18K Gold Bracelet that you could win!

Look for Debra on USA Network’s series The Starter Wife  and in Instyle Magazine promoting this Legendary Gold contest that benefits her favorite charity YouthAids.

You can win an 18K Gold Bracelet just by telling your favorite story that involves a piece of gold jewelry. Maybe I should send in the one about losing my wedding rings in Cozumel, Mexico. I think they’re looking for stories a bit more inspiring, but I could put a motivational spin on it.

Here’s what you need to do:

Tell your favorite story that involves a piece of gold jewelry for a chance to win an 18K Gold Bracelet , it’s one of only four ever made, designed by Deborah Messing and Robert Lee Morris.

Contest End Date: February 24th, 2009

To Enter: Visit http://www.instyle.com/legendarygold to submit your short story.

Check out favorite Gold stories, including one from Debra Messing on https://www.instylecmg.com/worldgold/

Find out more about YouthAIDS by clicking here.

YouthAIDS, an education and prevention program of PSI, uses media, pop culture, music, theatre and sports to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and reach 600 million young people in more than 60 countries with life-saving messages, products, services and care.

President’s Day is a day to remember past President’s of the United States and reflect on their contributions to our world. It’s also a great day to find out funny facts like these presented by gagfilms.com

Usually for most Americans it means a day off, and big sale prices at stores that aren’t going out of business. Schools usually spend most of their time teaching about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Can you recite all 44 Presidents in order?

Check out this unique video of Washington morphing into Obama by “An old retired guy who likes to play with computers.”

For more great videos from this talented “old retired guy” visit http://www.youtube.com/HerBunk

Nothing says romance like a night on Fantasy Island. All you men out there wondering what to do for Valentine’s Day, don’t waste your time and money with chocolate, flowers or jewelry. Take a lesson from Don Juan, this one will actually show you what “not to do”…

If you’re looking for what “to do” when it comes to romance, watch Don Juan De Marco starring Johnny Depp, and Marlon Brando. Click here to view the trailer on IMDb.com.

“There are only four questions of value in life, Don Octavio. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same: only love.” —Don Juan

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The kiddo is having her Myth Believer’s Fan Club meeting today and we’ll be talking about Cupid, Eros and creating our own icon for Valentine’s Day.

I did some research to find out more about this chubby little son of Venus. He turned out to be a good-looking guy, in an ancient mythological sort of way.

Learn more about Cupid by visiting the History Channel, click here.

Of course Cupid gets all the publicity around Valentine’s Day but his mom seems to inspire artists, writers, and musicians more often.

Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, a.k.a. Marina Duran-Anderson, fascinates with stunt-belly dance and other forms of stunt dance art. She’s a Fort Lauderdale and South Florida favorite on land and in the water.

Just as mermaids did in 1956-1962, Marina entertains audiences while swimming and dancing underwater at the Wreck Bar inside the Yankee Clipper Hotel. She also performs at assorted venues from television programs, music videos and theatre to high profile public & private events.

“My interest is to help take part in trying to preserve a little mid-century “Floridiana”. Many places that were well known and visited frequently for their uniqueness at one time are either neglected, forgotten or torn down entirely, no longer being considered “today”. The Wreck Bar is my labor of love- Live Mermaid shows took place here back in the 1950′s, ending in the early to mid-60′s. My hope is that the Wreck Bar, along with the Yankee Clipper will again be known- more for its unique significance in Ft. Lauderdale’s history rather than only being known (by the few these days that even know this place even or still exists!) as a location used in the film ‘Analyze This’ (though that exposure certainly benefited the Wreck Bar for a brief time).  Hopefully those that visit the Bar these days may still get a little dose of what made Florida so unique back in those days.” —Marina from her official MySpace

After viewing pictures of a mermaid smiling effortlessly underwater I just had to find out more from this deep sea darling with a stunt man’s nerve.

Here’s my interview with Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid:

HIH: When did you learn to swim and how did swimming turn into performing underwater?

Marina: My Dad and brother started me free-diving at age 3. I lived in the Caribbean, so we would skin dive several times a week. Lots of great training there. Underwater performances just seemed to evolve from that. I actually began experimenting with it at around age 9, trying all sorts of techniques in swimming pools and when skin diving (somersaults, etc). I remember that was about the same year I went to Sea World and was in awe of the Pearl Divers~ and then visited Weeki Wachee- where I saw the mermaid show. (that mermaid show made such an impression that I actually memorized their “Mermaid Flip” song after only listening to it once. This was further confirmed when I came across a YouTube video featuring the song, and I SANG ALONG- I was stunned to still know them!) Somehow, both had made quite an influence~ adding to my free diving side that I had already been so familiar with. To connect it with theatre was beyond amazing to me.
All these amazing people were doing what I did on a continual basis; and they were ADULTS! This is probably when I realized that this was a possibility as a career. It started me on a lifetime love for underwater theatrical performances.

HIH: How did you go from gracefully dancing underwater to dangerous feats like performing on a bed of nails, dancing barefoot on broken plates and using actual sharp bladed weapons?

Marina: Ah, I have always been interested in stunts. I actually wanted to be a stunt woman for some time. My father is a Fencing coach, and Martial arts have been a part of my life for quite some time.
I get inspired by what I wish I could see. I would watch a glamorous woman dancing and think: Wouldn’t it be amazing if she danced on something unusual such as broken plates~ Naturally, after thinking about it, I would have to seek about to see if anyone has done it; once I found that no one had, it was just necessary to do. I dunno, I have that kind of work ethic. Someone has to do it… aw nuts… That someone is me…alright, alright- I’ll do it… It HAS to be done!
Belly dancers looking like showgirls: balancing swords or doing “floor-work” (laying flat on the floor or carpet and doing abdominal moves and the like) are interesting, but… I would think the act through, and wonder about a replacement for that carpet….
hmmm….
a bed of nails, perhaps? Has anyone done that?
No?
Ack~
Gotta do it.
DONE!

HIH: Who introduced you to fire eating?

Marina: My great uncle was a fire eater as a young man in Morocco, and would tell me how he would do that on the streets for money. I found that tale to be very intriguing. I didn’t actually start fire eating” ’till I got one of ‘em inspirations”, which was ironically during the time I was training to be a firefighter. It’s always good to REALLY know what you are working with. It may seem like overkill, but, well, how many fire eating performers are you going to find out there with firefighter training?

HIH: You’re not only an entertainer you also give Poi Ball and Fire Handling lessons to the public. What types of people sign up for these classes and how safe is it?

Marina: Quite a few who are interested in adding a little something to their dance repertoire, I guess it took a wacky person like me to prove that it actually is interesting to do something a little “different”, an “entertainment upgrade” if you will…

HIH: Tell us the difference between Marina the performer and MeduSirena?

Marina: MeduSirena is truly what I am, a combination of everything.
Marina is merely a portion. – But most friends just call me Malia~

HIH: You were featured in Belly Dance Magazine. Which do you prefer belly dancing on land or dancing underwater?

Marina: They are two completely different challenges, as is Polynesian dance.
I dig ‘em all, but I guess the underwater dance is more uniquely me.

HIH: I read you are a pop culture and retro enthusiast. What are some of your favorite films that include mermaids or swimming performances?

Marina: “Mr. Peabody & the Mermaid” That’s a biggie. Esther Williams films are terrific: “Neptune’s Daughter”, “On an Island with You”… sigh….
Too many to name, really.

HIH: You’ll be part of the Hukilau 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, June 11-14. Give us an idea of what Polynesian Pop is all about.

Marina: It started a romanticized vision brought to the mainland by WWII soldiers upon their return from the South Pacific. It so intrigued Americans, that Polynesian flavored design was seen just about everywhere, home decor, restaurants, gardens, bowling alleys, movie theaters, swimming pools, you name it.
Exotica music fueled this genre, films & television took it even further. At cocktail lounges, Polynesian shows would entertain & exotic drinks would be served by sarong clad beauties… a fabricated exotic world that like an enhanced image was irresistible. The period lasted from the 40′s to the mid 70′s.
I was lucky to be born into it.

HIH: I love the music profile list on your official MySpace page. What are some of your favorite musicians and bands?

Marina: Early exposure through my parents was a combination of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Elton John to Broadway musicals and old movies and island music. Exotica and Lounge music was a constant at our house, as my parents often entertained at their elaborate home tiki bar in our patio. I was also always into the background music played on older TV shows. You know, like that musical piece they would play on “I Dream of Jeannie” when one of the characters is sneaking around, or the music played between scenes… Then came the 80′s…I was an Adam and the Ants fanatic- any time “Stand & Deliver” would come on MTV, I would come running in like one of Pavlov’s dogs to watch Adam look at himself in the mirror in that last scene…(oh, YOU know the one). I live for world sounds Asian 60′s pop, Korean & Japanese Rock; The sound of a well played Japanese shamisen makes me swoon… That set the foundation for my eclectic tastes.
At this point, I cannot name just one- I dig Lola Dutronic for their rendition of “The Porpoise Song”, which is a personal favorite-
Shotaro Hattori will always be the creator of what I affectionately call “MeduSirena’s Theme Song” : デイ・ストリッパー (Domo arugatou gozamasu, Hattori-chan!)
It encompasses everything I love in one neat little package.

HIH: Were you born and raised in Florida? What do you like the most about living in the Sunshine state?

Marina: Nope, I was born and raised in the Caribbean.
Florida was to me a vacation spot, not for the beaches, but for the tourist kitsch. I loved all the old theme attractions-
As a Florida Resident, now I live in “Kitsch Heaven”! My job now is to help preserve some of it.

HIH: What type of makeup do you wear that stays so perfect underwater?

Marina: Waterproof and long wearing makeup only- No moisturizer.
Simple as that.
Anything that says 18 hour wear works perfect.

HIH: How long can you hold your breath underwater?

Marina: I never time it-
My swimming is performance driven, so the act of knowing someone is taking a stopwatch and timing me would make me choke.
Put a camera in front of me however, and I will stay under and smile for as long as it takes~ and I can say that it is plenty. (smirk…)

Visit http://www.medusirena.com for more information, and venue updates. You can also get fun Marina T-shirts, and calendars.