Casserole Season

My family never really did the "traditional" Thanksgiving thing. While others gathered around a turkey with all the cousins and casseroles, we usually packed up and headed out of town. The idea was simple: skip the drama, make our own fun. And honestly, it worked.

My favorite Thanksgivings were at the Houston Galleria, which, to kid-me, felt like visiting another country. We'd check into the Westin Galleria--glitz, glamorous, and full of people who looked way fancier than us. Thanksgiving dinner was at Delmonico's, a steakhouse that made me feel like we were living large. When that closed, we just pivoted to Zucchini's at the other end of the mall.

The Friday routine was a classic. While mom power-shopped, Dad and I wandered the Galleria, hitting toy stores, and even a booth where you could record your own song on a cassette. By afternoon, we'd regroup for the Texas vs. A&M game -- me napping, them glued to the TV--before heading out to Westheimer for hibachi dinner. 

Saturdays were more of the same: shopping, college football, and my dad finding ways to keep me entertained with museums or Toys R Us trips. Looking back, those Galleria Thanksgivings were the best -- less about turkey and more about laughter, adventure, and avoiding the usual family squabbles.

by Elisabeth McNair (@margaret__elisabeth)

 

A Breast Day Ever! Part 3

Ever since my wife’s early-summer “birthday upgrade,” we have been enjoying living with a new set of breasts. She gifted herself a confidence boost, and while I was perfectly happy before, I have to admit — the results turned out beautifully.

A week before her business trip, we decided to tackle the all-important wardrobe adjustment. Shopping for new clothes became an unexpected adventure — part fashion show, part puzzle-solving. Sizing suddenly turned into a mystery. What once fit comfortably now looked snug, and blouses that used to hang loose suddenly needed their own zip code. Some dresses fit her perfectly, but now her concerns was that it showed too much cleavage. Although not said out loud, I thought "Wasn't that the whole point of getting bigger breasts." 

We eventually cracked the code — Dillard’s, as it turned out, had the magic combination of style, fit, and flattery. But jeans shopping was a whole other quest. Our second date years ago involved hiking, and I remember how great she looked in denim. Let’s just say that admiration hasn’t faded — it just now requires a bit more patience in the fitting room (and a few laps around the mall). Thankfully, H&M saved the day with options that fit both body and budget.

Before her trip, I found myself enjoying her pre-packing ritual — her topless trying clothes and planning her outfits for the week. “Is this too revealing?” she asked. Again, I thought, “Wasn't that the whole point of going big or go home?"

AI generated

Body Art: Jörg Düsterwald - Tree Motifs

Artist: Jörg Düsterwald

via Atelier Jörg Düsterwald

Dance: Exotic Generation Moscow 2023 - Kseniya Getman

Choreography: Kseniya Getman 

via EXOTIC GENERATION

Spinners: Garsi - Melodic Techno & Indie Dance

via DJanes 

Jamie Lee Curtis

Acting Appreciation

I was never a big fan of scary movies, but I always knew of Jamie Lee Curtis from the Halloween franchise. One of my favorite films of hers, however, is the 1994 action-comedy True Lies, in which she plays the wife of a spy who, midway through the film, undergoes a personal and comedic mid-life reckoning. Her turn in that movie shows real range — equal parts humor, vulnerability, and physicality.

Curtis’s journey into acting was serendipitous. Though her parents (actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh) were Hollywood fixtures, she says she never planned to be an actor — leaving college after a friend encouraged her to audition and landing a studio contract at 19. Her first major role came in the 1978 horror classic Halloween, which gave her the “scream-queen” label she later resisted, admitting in fact that she dislikes scary movies because life is scary enough. 

In recent years, Curtis has described herself as thriving both personally and professionally. According to her cover profile for AARP at age 66, she credits her 26 years of sobriety for giving her clarity, community and a deep sense of purpose. 

She has rejected Hollywood’s ageist expectations, noting that she is “more alive” now than at earlier benchmarks in her career. 

She remains busy: after her Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once and strong TV roles like her guest turn in The Bear, she is producing work that empowers others and embracing freedom in how she chooses roles. 

Curtis’s path hasn’t been without challenge. On the podcast Depresh Mode she referred to Hollywood as a “show-off business,” underscoring the pressure of fame and appearance. 

She has spoken frankly about her history of addiction (stemming in part from pain-killer prescriptions after surgery) and her path to recovery, emphasizing authenticity and self-worth over external validation. 

Her long marriage to filmmaker Christopher Guest (since 1984) also anchors her, allowing her to face life and career on her terms. In many ways, what stands out is how Curtis has moved from legacy horror star to a full-fledged creator and voice in Hollywood who refuses to be pigeonholed.

Sources:

The Liberation of Jamie Lee Curtis, by Meg Grant, AARP The Magazine, August / September 2025

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jamie-lee-curtis-on-her-parents-parenthood-roles-that-made-her-career-60-minutes-transcript/ 

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/depresh-mode/transcript-depresh-mode-jamie-lee-curtis-self-professed-dope-fiend-of-show-off-business-aired-august-1-2022/

https://people.com/jamie-lee-curtis-marriage-christopher-guest-amazing-blessing-11777076

https://www.rev.com/transcripts/jamie-lee-curtis-the-60-minutes-interview

https://people.com/jamie-lee-curtis-never-ever-thought-front-row-oscars-aarp-11777181

https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/celebrities/jamie-lee-curtis-profile

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/jamie-lee-curtis-has-never-worked-hard-a-day-in-her-life

Mick Rock

Photography Appreciation

Mick Rock, born on November 21, 1948, in Hammersmith, London, grew up in a time of cultural shifts and artistic awakenings that would shape his future path as a photographer. While he initially planned to study literature at Cambridge University, fate had other plans. He picked up a camera during his college years, and what started as a casual hobby quickly became a passion. Drawn to the raw energy and spirit of London’s counterculture, Mick was soon capturing the vibe of the people and places that defined this revolutionary time.

In the early 1970s, Rock’s journey into music photography began when he met and photographed the young David Bowie, whose star was rising with his Ziggy Stardust persona. This meeting wasn’t just a stroke of luck; it was the start of a lasting artistic partnership and a pivotal moment in Rock's career. His work with Bowie led him deeper into the world of rock and glam, allowing him access to icons like Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Freddie Mercury. Mick quickly became known as the “man who shot the ’70s,” capturing artists in ways that showcased both their charisma and vulnerability, forever linking his name with the rock and roll aesthetic.

In addition to still photography, Rock ventured into music videos, directing and producing memorable visuals for artists. His experience with photography gave him an eye for composition, while his rapport with musicians allowed him to draw out their personalities on screen. He directed videos for David Bowie and worked with other notable musicians, bringing the same energy to moving images as he did to his photographs. His videos often featured his signature style: raw, intimate, and unfiltered, capturing musicians in a way that fans hadn’t seen before.

Mick Rock’s contributions to music photography are legendary. He captured some of rock’s most iconic images, including Lou Reed for Transformer, Queen’s Queen II album cover, and the ethereal portraits of Syd Barrett. His work with Bowie during the Ziggy Stardust era remains some of the most enduring images in rock history, with Rock’s lens capturing the glitter, glamour, and grit of the era.  

Lou Reed (1972)

David Bowie (2002)

Madonna (1980)

Iggy Pop and The Stooges - Raw Power (1973)

Life on Mars? (1971)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.mickrock.com/

https://pitchfork.com/news/mick-rock-photographer-who-captured-1970s-glam-has-died/

https://loudwire.com/mick-rock-photographer-death/

https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/legendary-music-photographer-mick-rock-dies-6141/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-59344065.amp

https://www.nme.com/news/music/legendary-music-photographer-mick-rock-has-died-aged-72-3099649

https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-media-europe-e1186ad4542b4e0deb24b1797dff555c

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mick-rock-photography-rock-obituary-death-b1963683.html

https://www.rockarchive.com/photographers/mick-rock