The Fresh Price of Bel Air

Just as I was about to quit my searching on Craig's list, I struck a few good deals. I have been searching for a BOB Stroller on the internet. It seemed like the chances of actually getting one that was in good condition at a discount prince were slim to none. Last Sunday night, I proclaimed, "I hate Craig's List." I was still feeling a bit burnt from my purchase of a broken "Brother Sewing Machine," just one year ago. Josh reassured me, "Once you get a good deal, you will be hooked."

The very next morning, I saw an ad for a brand-spanking new BOB stroller. The seller said it had "never been used." I sent her an email and she literally called me back within three minutes. I will spare you the boring story of our travels to Bel Air. All you really need to know is that I was the proud purchaser of a brand new BOB stroller. Perhaps the best thing about it was that we don't even have to assemble it. Apparently, the woman's husband assembled it, but s he never used it because she had eight other strollers.

Just a week later, while cleaning, I decided that my nightstand and dresser were looking way too junky to repaint or repair. I decided that we needed a bit more room for all of Emerson's books, toys and crafts. (Yes, some serious crafting will be taking place here in just a few short years.) Although Josh didn't see the need for more storage, I assured him that he would be pleased with a few tasteful "hiding places" for our little one's treasures.

Once again, I noticed a few things on Craig's List. I inquired about the pieces, and sent out an offer to the seller of a vintage dresser and credenza. The seller sent me back an affirmative text. We arranged to go see the furniture on Sunday morning. When I plotted her location, I was surprised to see on "Google maps" that Josh and I would be returning to Bel Air. That's right, two great finds in Bel Air! In all my life as a California native, I had never driven down Bellagio Road before. But, this month, my Honda has been there twice, and each time I have returned with some stuff that's a far cry from shabby.

What's in a Girl Crush?

In a recent issue of W magazine, Thessaly La Force explored the idea of a "girl crush." A girl crush is when a girl adores another woman from afar and, supposedly part of her would like to be her.

La Force writes: "The 'girl crush' might sound silly, but sometimes it takes something unserious to get us talking about a serious subject - the ambitions of young creative women and the need for worthy role models."

The author goes on to name her own girl crushes: Zadie Smith, Joan Didion, Patti Smith, Sofia Coppola and Tina Fey. Moreover, in the back index of W magazine, "five highly qualified candidates" are suggested "for you platonic devotion." This list includes: Jennifer Egan, Beyonce, Mindy Kaling, Phoebe Philo and Rachel Maddow. Underneath the photos of these selceted ladies, a brief biography is provided. Some of the names were recognizable, but others made me scratch my head ... Have I been missing out on some potential crush material?

As the article continues, a quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald is mentioned. Written in 1930, he stated: "Crushes' were once a boarding-school phenomenon - now any sort of courageous individualism makes a woman the center of a cult ... What effect has this woman worship on the young girl herself?"

That's a great question, Mr. Fitzgerald. The author took Fitzgerald's question to heart and created this website: Girlcrushzine.tumblr.com. La Force argues that "girl crushing" is a positive trend.

La Force writes: "After two months, we had dozens and dozens of submissions—more than either of us had anticipated. Had we struck a chord? I can’t help but believe our current generation’s embrace of girl crushing signifies something larger: evidence that a professional world once dominated by men has evened out—maybe not totally, but to a reassuring degree. When ­Didion first set out to become a writer, she copied the sentences of Ernest Hemingway; today, my friends and I copy hers."

Girlcrushzine includes personal essays on her website by noteworthy ladies such as Jennifer Egan, Starlee Line, Amanda Fortini and Mary H.K. Choi. Choi is quoted, saying, "a girl crush is a creatively inspiring friendship born of mutual respect and admiration."

Jennifer Egan states: "[The girl crush] represents that moment in girlhood before boys have entered the picture."

The article got me thinking about my "crushes" on various females. Like most crushes, they changed over time and sometimes fizzled as I grew up and as my path has evolved. I started to think about my own history of "girl crushing."

Before I could come up with a list, I had to think about what qualities the girl or woman would have to have in order for me to categorize her as a "girl crush" and not just a girl that I liked.


I guess the basic criteria are that the girl has to have a talent, a look, a career, or a passion that I could deeply appreciate or that I wished to emulate in my own life at the time of the crush. Below is a brief outline of my girl crushes over the years. For the most part, these girl crushes have provided me with inspiration and enlarged my imagination.

1. Annie - Yes, Little orphan Annie. I wanted to BE HER.

2. Natty Gann - from the Walt Disney Movie, The Journey of Natty Gann.

3. Mary Lou Retton - gymnastics champion

4. Nadia Comaneci - gymnastics champion

5. Whitney Houston - (Pre-1990). The first artist I saw live at the Forum in Los Angeles.

4. Joni Mitchell - lyrical and creative inspiration

5. Stella Tennant - super model with four children, and environmental advocate

5. Diane Ronnau - CBS News Producer, family friend, and professional role model.

6. Gina De Palma - Babbo Pastry Chef

7. Salena Roberts - New York Times Sports Reporter

8. Debbie Stoller - feminist, Zine creator, Co-founder of Bust Magazine

9. Ina May Gaskin - Midwife, author of Spiritual Midwifery

10. Corina Wolfer - Natural birth center registered nurse who inspired me to go to nursing school.

10. Stevie Nicks - see this link.

11. Jen Altman - photographer, blogger, mother, cook, music lover ... Need I say More?

Circus Act

Last week was great in the sense that I got three days off in a row. The weather was breaking through toward Spring. I managed to do yoga each day and to get a bit of cooking done, which always feels great. I also went to the beach and ... to this Cirque de Soleil.

I wore a cotton-candy pink tank top and a small quilted backpack because we opted to walk to the circus. As I was crossing the street, one of the security officers said, "Congratulations." It only took a second of looking around to realize that he was congratulating me on my own "ovo." (According to the Cirque de Soleil help page, the word "ovo" means "egg" in Portuguese.)

This was a great show to see as a pregnant person. One of the clown-like insects carries a large egg around the circus tent before he makes it safely to the main stage where he can finally rest. By the time he drops off the egg, the insect is beyond exhausted from his long journey with the over-sized ovo strapped to his little frame. When the character finally rests, he makes the audience laugh by moaning, grunting, arching his body and flailing his insect parts.

On the way home from the circus, I pointed out that I was not unlike the insect carrying the ovo. I thought this was a pretty good analogy.

Well, I should be careful what I say. Just a few nights after the circus, Josh imitated me rolling over to get out of bed. I nearly peed my pants laughing. I think some of his moves were more funny than those I saw at the circus.