When No One Else Is There, Mom's in Your Corner

Random Palm Springs Story:
Moms. You gotta love 'em.

So, we're in the stands, watching tennis last week, and I'm sort of focusing on the matches. My mom is chatting up the couple in front of us- a cute older couple from Brooklyn, and I'm listening with half an ear. Until I hear what she's saying.

Mom: "... yes, she writes Young Adult books. You know, she read those Harry Potter books, and she said to herself-"

Me (interrupting): "Mom!"

Mom (looking innocent): "What? I'm just talking."

I give her what I think is a meaningful look, and she acts like she understands.
So she turns back to the guy and goes on talking.

Mom: "So anyway, she wrote this book, and it seriously blows those other books out of the-"

Me: "MOM!!"

Mom: "What?" (She looks at me as if I'm the insane one). "You already have book clubs lining up to do your book."

Me: "That's your book club. Just the one. And that's only after you told them my book is the best book on the planet."

Mom: (pointing to the guy from Brooklyn). "He asked."

Me: "Right. This complete stranger turned around and said, 'By the way, how's your daughter's book coming?'"

Of course, this is the same woman who goes into every bookstore, asking them to "order" my book. She says it's a good way to spread the word. Moms make a pretty good publicity team/founding member of fan club. And they're free.

Sam and I have seen a couple documentaries lately, and they totally rock. They are about people pushing themselves to the extreme.

I have a friend who is addicted to marathons and running 50-milers. Whoa.

Then I read about the "Ultra Marathon Man" who ran 50 marathons in 50 days. Double Whoa.


Then last weekend, Sam and I watched the documentary "Running the Sahara." As the title suggests, it's about three guys who decided to run the Sahara. We're talking 50 miles per day, for 100 days.

Here's what their route looks like:

At one point, they are running in a sandstorm, and the tracks they were following had been blown away. They could have been running in circles.

At another point, when entrance into Libya is uncertain, they must decide between route A, which is full of land mines, and route B where they will be mistaken for spies and shot.

I don't really want to ever be in a position where trekking through Libya is my safest option.

Anyway, if you get a chance, check it out.



The second doc is called Deep Water, and it's about a boat race around the world in the 60's. All the racers are experienced boat men, except this middle aged father from England.

The doc shows how he gets caught up in the pre-race frenzy, and before long, he can't bow out, even though he is infinitely unqualified for the task.

I won't tell you how it ends. But I will say sometimes there is nothing as creepy, or as haunting, as a video that captures someone's final days on this Earth.

Ummm, so I guess I just told you how it ends.