Whatever Happened to...?

Do you ask yourself that? Whatever happened to...I know I catch myself saying that more and more each day. Whatever happened to plain candy? Whatever happened to regular gas? Whatever happened to the picture show? Whatever happened to not having so many choices at the grocery store? My list could go on but I will stop with that. However there is one whatever happened that is on the top of my list.

Whatever happened to good movies and television? I'm not the only one asking this, so are most of American people. Whatever happened to shows like, Magnum PI, Fame, Hill Street Blues, A-Team, Simon and Simon, Dallas, Cosby Show, Falcon Crest, Battle Star Galactica and many more I can't name right off the top of my head because the list is too long. Whatever happened to movies like, Body Heat, Stripes, Out of Africa, Rambo, the list again could go on forever. Whatever happened has hit America, but nobody wants to speak up and tell what they really feel about; whatever happened to film making?

These shows faded when shows like twenty CSI's took over or ten Law and Orders bombarded the television or all the million reality shows that have invaded the television or all the computer generated movies that seem to be the rage. When they first came out they were great, but now I can't stand watching much television unless it's old re-runs of show from the past. Then I questioned myself why? Why is it I have to see re-runs of A-Team and Magnum PI?

Easy, the shows of by gone era were simple with easy to follow plot lines. They entertained us, didn't upset us or cause my local doctor to make his fortune off of me because of blood pressure problems due to the latest Housewives drama. The shows had symbolism, style, art, seduction, intimacy, mystery, laughter, and tears. Now I know what you are thinking, all shows have that now days. Yes, they do, but not on the same level as the older shows.

Sit down and think; why did you like the show Archie Bunker? Was it because the main character was a complete narrow minded bigoted jerk, where comedy was used to relieve the tension this character bestowed upon on television sets every week? Archie Bunker became a household name and to this day is talked about even though it's not on the air. Archie would be changing by the end of the show just a little not a whole lot but just a little. What about the Cosby Show? Why did you like it? Was it because it portrayed a middle class black family and we got a glimpse in how they have to cope with the world around them as parents of five children? Of course, these shows always had us thinking not handing the answer to us immediately. They gave us laughter and tears, all the while giving us food for thought while they entertained us. Today that isn't so much happening.

Political correctness; take hike! You know that television and movies are saturated with it. It's almost to the brink of censorship and you as American people don't even realize it. Here are examples of what I mean; I love watching Don Johnson's character sitting in his fancy car smoking and drinking as he plays Crockett or Harry in Hot Spot. I want to see Gerald McRaney as Rick tipping back a few beers with his brother while they investigate a case. I love seeing George Peppard and Dirk Benedict, pull out a cigar and smoke it while they plan their next move.

I want the real romance back. You know when you saw two characters go out on a date to eat, a kiss may have followed, not sex. The only characters to do such were characters like Abbey Ewing of Knots Landing or Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, we called them bitchy sluts. They made the story move along. We hated to love these characters, but we did.

Children didn't get thrown into the plot line because they ran out of ideas. You know what I mean. Suddenly the main characters are pregnant or they have an illegitimate child, usually meaning they are grasping for ratings if you ask me. It used to be if children were involved, by the end of the show the child himself was a little wiser not guessing who's my daddy? Now days, it's the kid doing the leg work. Sad situation if you ask me.

As much as I love a good sex scene in anything; movie or television, I still love seeing Dirk Benedict kiss the women and tease them with his words. You figured he slept with most of the women he teased but there was an air of mystery that kept us guessing. Can you imagine Dirk Benedict having to do Faceman's womanizing ways on television today? First he would have to disrobe because let's face it, it's a code among them (Hollywood) that all television series that aren't about children require some nudity of some sort (exclude the bare chest of men). He also couldn't get away by being the one who makes the girls cry when he dumps them because they (certain people in society) have deemed characters with this kind of behavior bad and unacceptable, even though you can flip to any reality show and this happens all the time. I guess in make believe world we aren't aloud to have such characters. The difference is Faceman would let them down gently, breaking their hearts, but turning us on, unlike Snooki's boyfriend who got drunk, screwed her best friend, threw up from his drinking binge, then denied he ever did anything, all the while everything is on reality TV tape. How romantic.

Still don't believe me? Take the movie Avatar, made enough money to pay several people's doctor's bills. Well it wasn't enough for Mr. Cameron to leave his formula alone. So he decided to do something. He took the film re-put it out with the sex scenes. Can anybody guess what happened? It flopped. Tease us don't show us. There is a lack of intimacy among characters anymore. They go from point A to point B not learning a damn thing about each other. Our main characters are left out there until the ratings show they need a boost or be cancelled. Then let's throw in something dark from their past, like an illegitimate child. The art of film making is really gone. It's all computer generated with a computer generated price. Whatever happened to the location shots? Miami Vice was filmed in Miami not in a studio using computer graphics. Dallas was filmed in Dallas. Falcon Crest was filmed in California, Magnum PI in Hawaii. Very few shows are on location now days. Stunt men and women actually worked. They did stunts; very few stunts are used anymore since the dawn of the computer age.

I know some of you are asking well, don't you like any television? Yes, I love shows just like you; however I don't hold them as classics in twenty years. They will be just another show from the past.

Have you been in the local movie store or wherever movies are sold or rented? Do you know what is flying off the shelves? The old television shows and movies. America wants these shows because of what they stood for simple, clean, symbolism, style, seduction, art, sex, intimacy, flirting, laughter, tears and lots of mystery. I'm like the rest of America, we don't have to see all the blood and guts to get the jest he was shot or ate by a tiger. We don't have to see sex to know when two characters are kissing each other and end up on the bed still clothed that we know how it will end leave us wanting more please!

If there is one show that I feel follows the old formula of television and doing it really great at it is, Burn Notice. It's filmed on location, Miami Florida, you have stunts performed by stunt people and the characters keep us engrossed. Yes, we have a boozing and gambling Sam who womanizes, using women like tissues, but we still love him. A handsome hero, Michael, with problems, a woman, Fiona, who let's face it needs Michael. She maybe strong, but deep down she needs Michael (sorry you women who think women don't need men, we do) The air of mystery of the characters are there but you know them well enough to know they aren't going to spring a kid out of nowhere. There is intimacy between these three characters, there is style, art and yes, the characters learn a little more about themselves at the end of the show. They tease us, making us beg for more and that's what keeps this show going and fall into the classic category in the future. They are using the formula.

Now whatever happened to...?



Books by Carla Landreth
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carla+landreth

Do Marriages Really Work?

With more than half of the Americans ending their marriage in divorce it has been brought to my attention do marriages really work? I have always been asked by many, how did you keep your husband for twenty three years? Technically my husband and I were married for nearly twenty years. I always count the three years of dating as a trial run as they say to see if we were compatible and we were of course. I can't say the marriage didn't have it's moments but we always worked through them. So after being asked several times since his death, how did you do it? I decided it was time for me to share a few secrets and opinions.

First and foremost marriage is not about sex. It plays a key role, but it is not the basis of a marriage and if you think it is, you need to walk right out the door right now and spare everybody while you have a chance. I am amazed at how many couples base their relationship on sex. If you don't believe me about how people have placed an importance on the sex part of their marriage, go to a little league game and just listen to the women chatter while little Timmy is playing ball. What they say would make a sailor blush with the constant talk of how their sex life is the only thing saving their marriage. Are you kidding? Sex definitely plays a part in the marriage, but for it to hold your marriage together? Children's school glue doesn't work if it gets wet does it? I rest my case.

Neither is money for the basis of a marriage. I don't care who has the money, the woman, the man, his parents, her parents; it's not a marriage if you can only see dollar signs. Don't get me wrong, having money to live comfortable is nice, but when the money starts drying up because of recession, is that the reason for the divorce? I know a cousin who will only date men with a certain income bracket and if they don't meet that standard she dumps them. Never mind she has been married too many times and is now alone. Not a pretty situation if you ask me.

Another culprit in the marriage failure department is; I thought I could change them. Really, are you that stupid to believe you can change dear old Jim Bob from his nightly drinking habits or his sitting on the couch in his underwear while picking his nose at the dinner table? Come on, reality check here. They were doing this long before they met you. Another thing I have found absolutely funny, you thought you could tweak him or her of just that one bad habit. Unless these people hit rock bottom of the nasty habit you want to tweak, nothing changes and besides who gave you the right to decide you had to change them.

Also, a quickie relationship without knowing full well who you are marrying is a bad idea. Whether it is a rebound relationship or just a quick couple of months from E-Harmony, nobody really wins with these kinds of relationships no matter how compatible you are and the ones that do are so rare it's not even real. There is a reason for dating.

Never, under any circumstance should you marry because everybody else is doing it. Please just because some of the world thinks everybody has to get married and procreate doesn't mean you have to. Forcing yourself to marry because that's what peer pressure told you is a real bad idea and usually ends with an affair and a divorce before it's over. Also don't marry with the expectations this person will grow on you. It doesn't work and somebody please tell Lifetime for women that.

Marriage is a balancing act. It really is. You give and take to each other. Noticed I said to each other. Accept the other for who they are and don't try to change them the moment you get married. Now I want to get one thing straight before we move forward. Marriage is about growth and yes with growth there comes changes, but the changes come on each other's terms not demands.

Remember marriage is about give and take, a mutual understanding between two people. If you can't even have this, what makes you think, sex, money, and changing one's habits is going to make it work? It's not.

Yes, I did have a great marriage and yes, we had rough spots, but we knew each other and the terms of the marriage. I think that is what held us together. Believe me we worked hard at it.

So you still ask the question Carla, how? We already know all of this. How did you do it? Well, I am going to tell you a little secret. It's not really a secret but with this world today it would be considered a secret. I have learned listening to your elders no matter how off the rocker they may seem, have something to say. We should listen to them because lets face it; they have been there and done that.

When I got married at eighteen my grandmother gave me three books. These books played a key role in my married life. What were the three books you ask? Well, the one book was a cook book, to which I still use to this day. It was very thick and has everything from A-Z including how to can my own veggies. Great book when you are first married because when you're young and not sure about the cooking world, this little book does the trick. The second book would be a helpful household guide. Yes, the thing looked to be a hundred, but I know how to remove stains, do laundry, and so forth. Removing water stains from wood is a cinch and how to fix a faucet; easy. Some of the information is now out of date, but the basics are there. The book was pretty good; it really became helpful later when I had kids. The third book, which at the time left me speechless, blushing and wondering just what was grandma thinking, was a book about sex.

Remember I said marriage is not based on sex, remember that! I bet you're confused now. I was at the time. Here, was my grandmother's, words of wisdom.

The cook book is so you can cook. One way to a man is his stomach whether he is a vegetarian or steak and potatoes man only. They have to eat. A clean house is guaranteed way to say hey, I have time to do some fun things when he gets home. If you can cook and keep a house clean he'll love it. The third is the most important. If you get bored with the same old, same old in the bedroom open that book and discover another position. That will definitely keep the marriage going.

So what does this mean? In short, you have to keep your marriage interesting not let it get boring. The leading cause of divorce is affairs and what causes affairs? People become bored at home. Yes, they love their spouse but with the same in and same out, home cooking as they say, it becomes rather boring. According to my husband he was usually excited to get home because he never knew what to expect. I wanted my marriage to work I never let it get stale. So I am giving America a little wisdom from my grandmother, marriages are give and take they have to balance and for God's sake never let it get boring!



Books by Carla Landreth
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carla+landreth

How Rude!

One of the worse things happening in America today besides weight gain is rudeness. Yes, you heard me. People are completely rude and uncouth these days and I'm about to tell you what I mean.

Picture this; you have decided to take the evening out, a nice restaurant with soft music, a place to unwind and relax. Be waited on like a King or Queen. Not have to worry about the kids arguing, who started what fight or the latest billing mistake on your latest credit card statement. You know the evening I'm talking about. Some call it date night; others call it a night with the spouse without the kids. How we all long for those peaceful evenings.

A nice evening has begun, the music is just right in the background and the wine list has been presented. You and your significant other talk about simple things like how strange the weather has been or the latest book coming out by your favorite author, whatever the conversation it is neutral. You aren't loud when you talk just enough to hear each other. That is what I call a real evening out.

Now imagine this, now that I have you in a Calgon moment, you are suddenly interrupted by the next table over. They have decided that discussing their latest health issue should be known to the whole world. I know my cousin Becky, has said many times it doesn't bother her to talk about such. Guess what it bothers me and several other people in this world. I care less if you threw up when you went on a trip to see grandma a year earlier. I certainly don't want to hear you re-enact it! I don't care if you had diarrhea all morning or a snotty nose. It's disgusting and many people agree with me.

How would you feel if I decided to loudly announce about someone I knew who had a bad case of herpes outbreak and I don't mean the ones the appear on the mouth, describe it in full detail what it looked like? You wouldn't appreciate it, or how I caught a grown man picking his nose and eating his dried up crusty booger. I don't think so. You would be offended and complain.

Dinner conversation needs boundaries and the next time you go out, think of your voice pitch please and the conversation you are having about bodily functions. The rest of the world cares less if your latest date couldn't salute you. Perhaps it was your dinner conversation that did it.

You may think being a red neck is something to be proud of, but I can tell you this right now, Jeff Foxworthy wouldn't attempt this behavior with his wife around.

Rudeness doesn't stop there. I read recently a restaurant won't put up with screaming kids. It's about time. People with kids were outraged that this rule was being enforced these are also the same people who take their little Darlings to the restaurants that have bars or liquor on the menu. Do you really need to have your kids there in the first place? I think it's high time the restaurants should limit children into their establishments after a certain time of day. Now don't get me wrong, I love children, they make the world go around, however I think there comes a time and place children shouldn't be out in a nice fancy restaurant. If it was a family or fast food joint I don't object, but an upper class restaurant. They are screaming, not sitting in their chairs, running around touching other patrons with their little dirty hands, upset most of the time because they are told to sit and only want a Happy Meal, which the nice restaurant does not serve. Use some common sense people, certain places children should not tag along and a very nice quiet restaurant is not the place. Let's be honest if you can't control them in a simple restaurant what makes you think you can control them in the nice one. I understand family outings. I've done them for over twenty years, but I never took my kids to a nice restaurant expecting them to behave like adults. You are just asking for trouble.

Another thing that pees me off is going into a nice place and BAM! You're hit with a television in every corner of the room. Really, you think you have to watch television while you eat? Frankly, if I wanted to do that, I would have saved my money, eat at home and watch my own television. Why the hell do you think I pay my cable bill so the television can just make noise? I have seen my own family, when we sit down to eat they are preoccupied with the television virtually ignoring the table conversation. I hate it when someone says, (and you know who you are) "What did you say? I was watching that commercial." Look, I won't repeat myself, because I know in the middle of that same conversation you will find another one of those commercials and once again tune me out. I think television should only be allowed in sports bars. I think that should be a law, no televisions unless you are a sports bar. Relationships sure would work out better in the evening.

I think cell phones should be checked in at the door like coats and only used in emergencies. Upset over the latest boyfriend dumping you or you being late to class again are not an emergency. Unless of course you are a public servant then they are excused. The constant ringing, the constant texting, it could drive a sane person crazy. Once again we are out to have conversation with each other. Don't you hate it when someone says, "Hang on." especially if you are answering their question.

I think I have proved my point that we don't communicate anymore because the fun things of life seem to be interfering which is causing our society to become rude. So what does this all boil down to since Carla seems to be dumping on everyone's fun? Here it is.

If I was going to get lucky with a date, you just killed it with your temperamental kid, who can't keep his hands to himself, who wanted a Happy Meal, nasty talks about your body functions, or caught my date's attention with football with that darn television. All the while he is texting to his friend to call him with an emergency so he can get out of this hell of a date.

Have some courtesy people. You go to interact with each other; do so without the rudeness. You would find out the world would move a little better if everyone just relaxed and leave the rest behind.




Books by Carla Landreth
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carla+landreth

Where Have All The Shorts Gone?

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