Life Lessons Shouldn't Come from Hollywood.

I just read an article, not sure which news source because there were too many and I opened a few articles, saying that it was bad for America if Rihanna and Chris Brown get back together. Ummm no. It's NOT bad for America, its bad for Rihanna.

They went on to say that whether she likes it or not she's a role model and is setting a bad precedent for young girls/women that its okay to forgive/forget/go back to your abuser. Maybe parents/teachers/friends/counselors/other family members of young girls/women should use this opportunity to talk to them about why this behavior is dangerous and sadly normal.

It's not a celebrity's job to raise your children, and while it might take a village, the largest life lessons are taught in your own hut. Teach your daughters to be strong, independent, and that they don't need no stinking man who thinks its okay to knock them around.

Teach your SONS and DAUGHTERS that a REAL MAN would never raise his hand in anger towards a woman. That a REAL MAN handles his anger and frustration without resorting to violence. Ladies, that isn't a lesson just for the men either, violence isn't the answer. Abuse is abuse regardless of which gender is the assailant. Teach your sons that no means no NO MATTER WHAT. Teach your children that they are responsible for their actions and reactions. They are not responsible for their abuser's behavior, and while they might eventually get to a place where they can forgive someone for hurting them, they should never forget.

Don't expect Rihanna to teach that lesson to your children, it's not a lesson she's learned yet.

The "How Lauren Met David Arquette in New Orleans" Story...

The story really begins on Wednesday, June 20th 2012 on Royal St in New Orleans, Lousiana, I didn't actually meet him that night, but its always best to start a story at its beginning.

I was walking down Royal with my family and we noticed a camera crew... also noticed a crazy guy in a wheel chair having his dog "the fastest dog in the world" pull him as he shouted "GO GO GO!!" and didn't really thing much of it... thought it was probably some America's Funniest Videos type show being filmed, and continued walking... until I saw him.

• "MOM! That's David Arquette over there talking to the girl on the balcony giving out beads!!" -Me
• "What?" -Mom
• "David Arquette! That's him! Over there!" -Me
• We catch up to my dad and brother who were not interested or didn't notice the celebrity in our midst, when as I was explaining who I was excited about seeing, I started to pull my iPhone out of my purse to snap a picture... Then...
• "Ma'am, we aren't allowing photography today, you'll have to put your phone away..." -Angry Woman in the Crew (AWC)
• "Oh, okay... No problem... I'll put it away" -Me (stashing my phone)
• "She can take any pictures she wants, as long as she turns the flash off and doesn't interfere with filming, its cool" -Dude in the Crew
• "I was told we weren't allowing pictures today!!" AWC

By this point David had already walked out of my range and it was time to go to our Haunted History Tour about Vampires and I was over it. I thought it was cool that I got to see him a little bummed that I didn't get photographic evidence for facebook, but I was excited to learn about the vampires and I moved on (the tour was awesome, if you get a chance to go to NOLA I would suggest checking it out...now back to the story).  Fast forward to Thursday night... Dinner with the family was at the amazing Jacques-Imos in the Uptown area of NOLA (check them out too, you won't be disappointed www.jacquesimoscafe.com) as we're sitting at the table shortly after we ordered and drinks were served my mom noticed the same camera crews from the night before. I immediately check the networks (facebook and twitter) and strike social gold on twitter when I see that he has checked in to the restaurant seconds before. I send a tweet stating that I was there too.... then about a half hour later followed up with a cute picture of a dessert reccommendation.



I didn't get any immediate response, and I was just being silly anyway, I didn't expect any kind of response... then about 10 minutes after we left the restaurant I get a tweet from the man himself saying "haha we should take a picture"

I immediately freak out my brother tells our parents that after we drop him off to meet his friend on Magazine Street that they have to take me back to see him... I tweet back "I'm turning around and coming back, you should wait for me"

About 10 minutes later we're back by the restaurant and he's sitting on a bench with a friend. I jump out of the car while its paused in the middle of the street and make my way over...

• "Hey I'm Lauren, SL8Rgirl... we were tweeting..." -Me


• "Hey... wow... you came back..." -David


• "What were you tweeting about???" -Friend


• "She was in the restaurant at the same time... and she came back..." -David


• "So you want to take a picture?" -David


• "Ummm yeah" -Me (fumbling with my phone)


• "Here... I'll take the pictures" -Friend, takes phone from me and snaps a couple of pictures...


• "So, you from around here?" -David


• "Nope, I'm a California Girl" -Lauren


• "Oh, cool... so thanks for coming back to take the pictures..." -David


• "No, Thank You!" -Me... then we said goodbye and I walked away...

Marilyn

It’s weird where inspiration strikes you, the mood it can put you in, and the thoughts it provokes in you.

I was at work the other day checking my facebook page, I know bad employee, but I swear you can only stare at a contracts for so long before your eyes go crossed and your brain turns into egg salad, that’s the story I’m sticking with anyway.  Back to facebook, I was looking at my page and I saw that it recommended that I “like” Marilyn Monroe.  As my cursor hovered over the suggestion I stopped and thought to myself “Do I really *like* her?”  Yes, I realize that it’s just a social network and it doesn’t really matter if I like something there or not, but it made me think.

I will not dispute her beauty; she was a physically gorgeous woman, so much prettier than many of today’s beauty queens.  I don’t even want to debate whether or not she was a good actress, I’ve seen a couple movies she was in and I was entertained.  I just can’t decide if I like her.  I wouldn’t ever want to be like her, and I’d be disappointed if any of my friends or family members looked to her as a role model.

Now I’m one of the first people to say that you shouldn’t put celebrities up on a pedestal and hold them as role models, but this woman has inspired so many females from when she was still in the limelight, making movies and headlines, up to now.  Young women are getting facial piercings called that are reminiscent of her mole; it’s even named after her.  I don’t have any issues with facial piercings within reason, I had a nose ring in college that I would probably still have if I wasn’t allergic to it, but I did it because it was something I liked and I wanted.  I didn’t do it because I wanted to look like someone else.

I didn’t do it because I wanted to look like that incredibly beautiful, but probably very short sighted Silver Screen Queen of the past.  She died of a drug overdose at 36 years old.  I’m only 6 years younger than that right now.  She’d been married and divorced multiple times, was an addict, unreliable and unpredictable.  She was a woman-child who lost her way. 

In reading Wikipedia articles about her she seemed like she was such a sad tragic character.  She appeared bright and bubbly on the surface, but there was turmoil behind that iconic face.  I think the people who find her life enviable are the same people who think that Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet” was a romantic love story about two teenagers, when it was a deep tragedy.  It wasn’t so much of a love story as it was a cautionary tale.  It was about politics, blood feuds, and what happens when pride gets in the way of common sense.

So the question remains.  Do I like her?  I’m still on the fence.  I feel sorry for her I guess.  Her life was a stream of opportunity lost and poor decision making.  She may have had all the money, fame, love of a few good men, and the adoration of millions of fans for all eternity, but her life just makes me sad.  She had everything people claim to want, but I don’t think she was happy.