WAYT: I've got the fever

I have a confession to make: I’m not always right.  (What am I thinking, admitting to being wrong?  My husband will undoubtedly print this out, frame it and wave it in my face at every available opportunity!)

Usually when I’m wrong, I like to be very hard-headed and take way too long to admit it.  So once and for all, I will just come out and say it.  I like Justin Bieber’s music. 

I have fought him off for years.  I find Bieber, as a person, to be absolutely obnoxious.  I do not believe that anyone his age should be getting up to some of his antics.  For example, should a 17 year old be on vacation in Hawaii with his then-19 year old girlfriend and be photographed with his tongue down her  throat?  Should a 17 year old be driving a car likened to the Batmobile?  Should a 17 year old be commenting about Canadian healthcare policies in entertainment news magazines?

And come on with that hair.  That used to be my biggest annoyance.  Thank the Lord he finally cut it. 

But dang if he doesn’t make catchy music!  And you know how I love music. 

I’ve been wrong about pop culture phenomena before.  I mercilessly mocked my sister for liking the movie Twilight.  And now look at me – my first website visit every day, after my email, is www.twifans.com.  I spent several hours of my life trying to figure out a way to trick my husband into giving our son a Twilight-related name.  Last November, I went to a Twilight movie marathon and watched nothing but Twilight movies for ten hours straight. 

Now, I just got back from my local Target store where I purchased an iTunes gift card so that I can buy the new Justin Bieber CD.  (For $14.99, this CD better validate my complete 180 on Bieber.)

I thought you could never make a Twi-Hard out of me.  I also swore you could never make a Belieber out of me.  What is the world coming to?  I’m supposed to be a grown woman!  I’m supposed to be growing more cultured with age!  Maybe I should start listening to 60’s music or something…

I blame it all on The New Kids on the Block.  If they hadn’t been the thing when I was in first grade, where would I be now? 

But I can’t deny it anymore.  Justin Bieber’s got the right stuff (see what I did there, NKOTB fans?) that makes me turn up the volume and sing along. 

What do you think of Justin Bieber?

WAYT: If this is the Rapture, I’ll go willingly!

Once upon a time, I wrote a post slamming Fifty Shades of Grey.  I hadn’t read it then and I still haven’t read it now because my “sexy book” series obsession started with Gabriel’s Inferno. I don’t need a replacement or competition – both of those would be impossible for me. 

Just a month ago, the author Sylvain Reynard came back for a second act in the new book Gabriel’s Rapture.  I’ve gotten TONS of blog hits out of my Fifty Shades tirade, so it can only benefit me to drop kick it again. 

But in all seriousness, I have to ask what are you thinking if you haven’t picked up Gabriel’s Inferno?  I gave my readers a chance to get on this bandwagon with me months ago and now the sequel is catching lots of attention.  Here’s your second chance and a few compelling reasons why you should read Gabriel’s Rapture ASAP. 

1. Smoldering hot guys are IN.  Gabriel, the co-main character in the book, oozes sexuality.  For me, his charms jump off the page.  Whenever he’s seducing Julianne (see point #2), it seems like I’m witnessing it from very close by or experiencing it myself.  Gabriel’s Inferno introduces you to just how smoking Gabriel is, and Gabriel’s Rapture makes him a complete person – a guy with sex appeal for days AND brains, heart and soul.  This only multiplies his smoldering hotness. 

2. Tough chicks are IN.  Julianne, the other co-main character, loves her man and stays true to their commitment when times get tough, but she doesn’t put up with his crap.  She helps him become better and celebrates his goodness.  I love heroines who have experienced suffering, can commiserate with those who suffer and cause suffering without being cruel.  Julianne is that girl who gets it all and never looks back to gloat – which is the kind of girl I long to be.  You know, that whole bit about living well being the best revenge.    

3. Transformative love stories are IN.  In fiction these days, it’s not enough for a fictional man to meet-cute with a fictional woman and fall in love.  Readers want twists and turns and obstacles (that’s why authors are writing more than one book for every story).  Gabriel’s Rapture has ALL of that – it takes you further down the road that was forged in the first book and shakes everything up along the way.  In fact, if you rush through it (because it’s so awesome and you can’t slow down), you’ll have to go back and read it again.  There are clues and hints that help you understand the ending that you can’t appreciate unless you give the book its due.  I think this is the strongest argument why Gabriel’s Rapture is some of the best fiction out there.  It’s so good that you don’t realize how good it is until you’re finished. 

4. Mysterious authors are IN.  I don’t even know if the author’s name is really Sylvain Reynard.  I’ve never seen a picture of the guy.  I don’t know if he’s really a Dante specialist or if he’s just a killer researcher.  (How could a lay-person know Dante that well??)  I kind of suspect he’s my former college professor whose shares the initials SR, which disturbs me more than a little.  I’d hate to know that my professor could write such hot stuff.  Seems wrong… but keeps me guessing!

5. Sexy books are IN.  There used to be a lot of stigma about sexy books.  You know what I’m talking about – those ones with the tawdry cover art that women would hide inside newspapers.  Everyone wants to talk about Fifty Shades but none of its fans can spit out the words to describe it because it’s so far out there, it’s not even polite for discussion.  Honestly, I’ve even heard that some people have to Google the stuff in that book because they don’t understand it!  Ladies, we don’t need all that mess.  We just need passion.  Gabriel’s Rapture is the sort of sexy that I’m comfortable with anyone reading over my shoulder or discussing at the office.  Furthermore, no Googling necessary.  This is the kind of sexy you can live out in your own life without building a special room in your house (weird), and described in a way that makes it the farthest thing from dirty you can imagine.  Speaking of which, did I mention the amazing use of words in these books?  SR uses the most evocative and descriptive language I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a lot of books in my life!  Truly, second to none. 

6. Book series are IN.  I sort of alluded to this earlier, but there’s a little more to my theory when it comes to Gabriel’s Rapture.  Yes, this is book two but you are all set if you read these two.  So if you’re weary of being roped into another book series or waiting for another book to be released in a year, don’t worry, Gabriel’s Inferno and Gabriel’s Rapture are a complete set.  Only yesterday did the author hint that there may be a third.  If you love the Gabriel series like I do, you might get lucky and get one more book but you won’t have to die waiting for it or be forced to harass the author for more.  The idea is out there and you’ll survive if it never happens – or rejoice if it does. 

The wonderful thing about this book for me, as someone who is constantly on the computer, is that I feel as if I know Sylvain Reynard.  With Facebook, I’m able to comment on his news and sometimes get a response.  Have you ever loved an author so much that he finally learned who you were and you didn’t even have to go all psycho-stalker on him to get that kind of attention?  In case SR reads this love letter to him, I want him to hear this loud and clear: You are one of the most talented authors I have EVER read and I fully appreciate the sweat, labor and love that you poured into these pages!   

Now book lovers everywhere, go out and buy these books!  Hurry!! 

WAYT: Ye Olde Golden Arches

McDonald’s makes me sick.  I don’t know if there’s a restaurant – and I use that term loosely – that I hate more in the world. 

Not that I remember the particulars of the movie, but I do remember the message that I got from Super-Size Me: stop eating at McDonald’s.  The horror of that movie has stuck with me for years. 

I used to be a big McDonald’s fan.  I grew up in McLean, Illinois, and the McDonald’s along the highway is by far our biggest economic asset.  My best friend and I used to request a trip to McDonald’s every day after school.  We would order two super-sized French fries and ask that they be made fresh so that they were extra greasy and extra salty.  Of course, we got what we asked for every time because my friend also worked there!

We didn’t become obese from this diet, but we surely didn’t do our cholesterol readings any favors.  What were we thinking?  (Probably something along the lines of, “Your waistline is only 13 years old once, so live a little!”) 

It’s been nearly five years since I have eaten a single thing from McDonald’s.  If memory serves, I don’t believe I’ve even had a drink from their restaurant.  I’m that friend you don’t want in your group when everyone has to choose one place to eat – I’m the squeaky wheel every time. 

My favorite comedian Jim Gaffigan once said that he never ate a Hot Pocket and later thought it was a good choice.  I’ve never eaten McDonald’s and later thought it was a good choice. 

I bring all of this up because I just read an article that quoted McDonald’s Senior Director of Completely Absurd and Impossible to Defend Media Statements telling a reporter that he doesn’t see anything unhealthy on the McDonald’s menu.  Oh really, sir?  You don’t think a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese will have a negative impact on someone’s health?  Clearly this man’s office is located in Big Mac Land next to the Parfait Mountain that’s filled with Shamrock Shake lava.  What is he thinking?

Countless numbers of people have told me that I must be insane if I believe that my son will not beg me to go to McDonald’s.  I’m sure that he might try.  And I’m sure that many of you are wondering where I do go for fast food since McDonald’s is blacklisted.  I enjoy a Dairy Queen cheeseburger on occasion and I am a major sucker for Arby’s curly fries.  I readily acknowledge that these foods are not particularly healthy nor are they foods that I should feed to my son.  He hasn’t had any of these on my watch – yet. 

My issue with McDonald’s is that their monarchical reign over all things fast-food is part of the problem with obesity in this country.  Yes, there are millions of parents who have busy lives and need to get their kids a quick meal, and there are just as many parents who don’t like to or don’t want to cook.  But I feel a duty to do the best that I can the lion’s share of the time to make better choices for my body and for my family’s.  I come from the Michelle Obama school of nutrition.  We can allow ourselves indulgences, but we need to try harder to eat well more often than not.  McDonald’s is not a default dinner plan!

Just the other night, I had Oreos for dinner.  My husband was out of town and I wanted to play with Auggie so I skipped dinner and had a few cookies with a small glass of 1% milk before bed.  Undoubtedly, the nutritional impact of that “meal” will register directly in my rear end region.  So last night, I made grilled chicken and peppers and white rice for the whole family. 

My message to McDonald’s can be summed up in one word: balance!  Try harder.  Your oatmeal and yogurt don’t cancel out your Big Mac and your McRib.  I seriously can’t even say McRib without gagging.