Love It or List It by Margaret Ullrich

Summer has returned to Winnipeg.

I’m always amazed by the way seasons change in Winnipeg.

As Manitobans say, “Don’t like the weather?  Wait five minutes.”

On May 14 we had snow, and the evening temperature dipped to -6º C, but thanks to the windchill it felt more like -8º C.

On Saturday, May 24, we had thunderstorms and broke records at 33.3º C.

Since Monday I’ve been working on our garden.

Everything is a bit behind schedule.

Normally by now our chokecherry would have bloomed.

It’s only in bud now, but the rhubarb has enough for a pie or two.

But other than being off schedule, everything seems to have survived the winter, which was a record breaker for cold and snow.

The winter kill in my garden was about the same as usual.

And I found a lovely surprise - the peony I planted last year survived!!

Okay, it’s not in flower yet, but I’m still grateful to see the shoots coming up.

I shouldn’t have been so hard on Robyn Okrant and her devotion to Oprah.

Lately I’ve been watching shows like Love It or List It (both the original and the Vancouver versions) and the Canadian show Property Brothers.

No, I’m not interested in the extremely popular open concept floor plan, even though everyone seems to ask for it on those shows.

But I like getting some up to date ideas for decorating.

Our current house was built in the mid 80s.
Since our other house had been built in 1911, it seemed the height of modern to us.
I do cringe when the young couples say "Oh, that's so 80s!"
Who knew home decor fashions change as rapidly as clothing fashions?

In 2012, New York Times' columnist Gail Collins noted that Love It was U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's favourite TV show.

Vanna White and actress Julianne Moore also like it.

Hillary Clinton finds the show "very calming”.

Wonder if the open concept would work in the White House?

About tonight’s new moon in Gemini…

According to the folks at astrology.com:
If you've been waiting for your life to turn more interesting, the wait is over! A new beginning in this information-loaded sign sparks your imagination, while also bringing intellectually stimulating conversations and fun people into your life! 

Listen carefully to what people have to say, and be sure to read books, articles, and online content. This is a wonderful time to learn what you need to know to be successful… 

don't believe everything you read or hear until you conduct a thorough review.

Living la Vida Oprah, part 5 by Margaret Ullrich

I’m looking forward to returning Robyn Okrant’s book Living Oprah… 

Robyn is surprised by her tolerance for all the advertising done during the show.

She’s also wary of the most influential woman in America doing all that advertising.

Oprah occasionally urges her viewers to be stop buying so much stuff.

To Robyn it sounds like Philip Morris’s Youth Tobacco Prevention Department.

Oprah tells women to love their vulvas.

So, Robyn grabs a mirror, takes a look, and says she likes what she sees.

Like I said, I’m older than Robyn, so this was a flashback to the early 70s.

Except for the occasional white hair, the general area hasn’t changed since then, so if you’ve done it once, well no surprises there.

Unmarried Oprah has rules for how long wives should kiss their husbands (10 seconds) and how they should prepare for sex with their husbands (scrub up first).

Oprah, who has a housekeeper, also has ideas on cleaning a home.

I can’t help wondering if Oprah is actually a satire, like The Colbert Report.

Oprah also has views on how we should celebrate the holidays: what to do, how to decorate, what to eat.

As a single, childless woman with no noticeable extended family, this is doable.

Add a spouse, children or relatives or - oh, horrors, all three - and it’s a hassle.

Robyn’s family patiently went along with Oprah’s recipes.

Her aunt did say, “Oprah really loves grated orange zest… Who uses that much zest?”

But, except for the zest comment, the Oprah Thanksgiving went relatively smoothly.

Her Ma liked the thank you cards.

The family played Oprah’s version of ‘Truth or Dare’.

But it doesn’t sound like there’ll be a repeat next Thanksgiving.

On to December… probably Robyn’s saddest chapters.

She had to catch up with a few Oprah projects, including driving to a dreaded live Céline Dion performance.

The long list of projects are giving her stress attacks and nightmares.

She’s shocked to realize how she’s accepted Oprah’s clothing choices.

I’m really feeling sorry that Robyn put herself through all this.

Oprah has gotten fat again, but she’ll be able to work it into the show.

Maybe she got fat so she’d have a topic for her show?

Where does the show end and Oprah begin, or vice versa?

The Best Life Week in 2009 is going to be better than the one she had in 2008.

Was last year’s Best Life a practice run?  

Will there be a better Best Life in 2010?

Robyn’s family endured another Oprah dictated holiday.

The store-bought crust was the best part of the dessert recipe.

Following Oprah has had an effect on Robyn’s health and her RealAge.

What she gained through diet, exercise and vegan cleanse, she lost through stress.

December 31 saw Robyn buying a ‘fabulous’ chair and beans.

She also delivered books to a local charity as part of her Big Give.

When Robyn and Jim stopped for a quick meal, a woman recognized her.

Comments of, ”That’s just crazy.  She’s crazy.”  wafted to Robyn’s table.

Crazy.  Not a cheery thought on which to end a year or a project.

There were other assignments Robyn had to complete before the year ended.

Exhausted, she cancelled her usual New Year’s Day gathering.

Following Oprah does not leave time for socializing with friends.

A few days later Robyn heard two elderly women discuss Oprah’s political influence:

“Oprah? She sells flowers and soap.  What does she know about government?”

Like I said a few weeks ago, maybe it’s a generational thing.

It’s hard for us older women to accept Oprah’s orders on the right way to live.

Oprah means well, but she basically sells lots and lots of stuff.

Maybe actual good advice doesn’t sell anything.

Robyn feels she had done Oprah a disservice by wondering if she can understand the priorities of a real woman.

I would never say Oprah is not a real or normal woman.

But what I would say is that her lifestyle is not one most women share.

No problem with that.  Oprah is a real woman who lives a unique lifestyle.

Except that Oprah keeps giving advice on how other women, who live lives that are quite different than hers, should live.

Robyn still believes Oprah seeks to empower women.

Oprah said when receiving a Lifetime Achievement Emmy, “I choose to use it (television) in whatever way I can… to make people lead better lives.”

Oprah may be sincere, but who made her the judge of what makes for a better life?

And doesn’t empowered mean a woman has the confidence to make her own decisions instead of being told what to do on a daily basis?

When we first marched for women’s rights we never thought the movement would result in an Oprah.

Not that there’s a problem with a super successful woman.

But we never meant for our daughters to become addicted to needing anyone’s advice.

We marched so our kids would be free to think, not to take orders.

I think that the next time I’m in the library I’ll walk past the Oprah magazines.

About tonight’s new moon in Taurus…
According to the folks at astrology.com:
Solar eclipses are quite dramatic. This one, in a sign that rules your values and finances, casts a major spotlight on how you handle your money… this is an ideal time to be practical… take this opportunity to get a handle on your material life.
You'll then be able to make sensible decisions that will, in turn, help make your life more comfortable and secure.

The solar eclipse occurs on Monday and Tuesday, April 28-29 at 11:14pm PDT. This is what is called an annular eclipse, when a narrow rind of the Sun is visible around the dark mass of the Moon. It is visible in Antarctica and the southern most parts of the East.

Happy Balsamic Moon… celebrate the end of a cycle so a new one can enter. 

This is a great year to celebrate the power gate of Beltaine (May 1-6), the old Celtic festival of the beginning of summer and the season of fertility. 
We dance around the May Pole to raise the twin masculine and feminine energies of life to weave them into new life for the year, both for the Earth and for ourselves. 

This year, go out and help our Mother Earth to regenerate us all!

Just so you know….

Virtual Telescope Project and the Slooh Community Observatory both offer live viewing of the eclipse on the internet. (Slooh also offers free tablet apps for easier viewing.) 

The eclipse begins at 8:53 pm Pacific time on April 28, and ends at 1:15 am April 29.

Living la Vida Oprah, part 4 by Margaret Ullrich

Going through Autumn in Robyn Okrant’s book Living Oprah… 

  

The August shows were inspired by the campaigns leading to the October election.

Oprah supports the Democrat candidate, Obama.

She had a few shows about how badly America was doing under the Republicans.

The anti-Republican shows - coincidence or what?

Robyn is noticing that, since January, she has become more aware of her appearance.

She’s becoming sick of seeing Dr. Mehmet Oz as a celebrity and possible spin off.

She’s also having problems with the advice, sales pitches and Oprah’s metaphors.

By September Oprah's wifely advice from the 50s was becoming a problem.

Maybe if Oprah were married she’d have more insights into modern marriages.

Robyn admitted that the project was making life difficult for her husband, Jim.

The article “48 Decisions We’ve Made for You” appeared in O.

Presumably, as head of the organization, Oprah condoned the piece.

Another topic in O magazine, “5 Friends Every Woman Should Have”, was so adolescent that it was embarrassing.

As was reading that Robyn finally had an S-shaped stool sample.

Oprah’s shows were about Barack Obama and folks who were survivors.

Oprah told her audience they had to see a live Céline Dion performance.

Robyn doesn't like Céline.  No matter, she has to go to a show.

October brought Robyn to a couple of realizations, Oprah's Aha moments.

Robyn is worried about being able to take responsibility for her decisions after obeying Oprah for a whole year.

While many of the shows had been on self care, Robyn doesn’t think Oprah will take care of herself by lightening up on all her projects and ventures.

Robyn also guested on NBC’s The Today Show, where fans called her “Oprah Lady!”

She doesn’t like losing her identity and becoming “Oprah Lady”.

Robyn decided to return a free Kindle she’d received from Oprah.

She felt it compromised the opinions expressed in her project, and her integrity.

One wonder why Oprah didn’t realize that it was unethical before sending the gift.

Some of Robyn’s readers were angered by her decision, others respected it.

Yes, success is complicated.

Oprah made a few announcements: “Do what you love and the money will come.”

Also “I don’t believe in luck.  I think luck is preparation meeting opportunity.”  

These statements didn’t sit well with Robyn.

In Robyn’s notes for 10/23 she quoted Oprah: “Following your passion, allowing yourself to be paid for what you love will give you a meaningful life.” (SHOW)

In response Robyn wrote: “Well I am following my passion. And I’m allowing myself to get paid for what I love. And I know the universe will shower me with salary any moment now.  Any moment… Universe?… (O)

Even Robyn realizes that attaining financial success is more complicated than implied by Oprah’s simplistic views.

Living la Vida Oprah, part 3 by Margaret Ullrich

Back to Robyn Okrant’s book Living Oprah… 

April brought Clarity, enlightenment and highlighters…

Obeying Oprah, with all her contradictions, is giving Robyn nightmares.

One minute it’s "No emotional eating" then it’s  "Enjoy a huge ice cream dessert".

Is Oprah confused, or is she having mood swings?

Why chide an audience for wastefulness, then give an SUV as a gift?

Does she know what she is saying, or is she merely reading cue cards?

The lines between Oprah as a person, a mentor and a marketing power are blurred.

Her choosing Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose for her webinar reminded me of the Beatles.

The Beatles wrote great music, no argument there.

But follow the Maharishi as a spiritual guide because they had said so?

Yeah… I remember how enlightened their fights were by the end of the 60s.

Robyn thought it was brave that Oprah chose Eckhart Tolle for the book club.

Sure, she wasn’t alive when the Beatles were at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram.

May brought celebrities and Oprah’s suggestion to view her show on past life regression with an open mind.

Robyn thinks that when Oprah said, "I don’t get excited about a lot of things" that it meant that Oprah is so vital that she would be bored if she stopped growing.

Personally, if I heard a friend say she no longer got excited about most things in life, I’d be worried that she was clinically depressed.

But maybe that’s because I’m older and have seen a few friends having problems.

May was also the month of the 21 day vegan cleanse.

Easy for Oprah, she has a professional chef; most of the audience doesn’t.

Robyn is beginning to tire of Oprah’s focus on women’s bodies, specifically the weight of those bodies.

There was also a recipe for Donald Trump’s hugely overpriced turkey burger.

No, I won’t make that.

June was the month of Living with less while dreaming of more.

Oprah also said, "I think everybody should have a little garden."

I like gardening, but many don’t, and I wouldn’t tell everybody to do it.

Robyn has to move due to a rent increase and hates having to get rid of books.

Now there’s something else I have in common with her.

About books… Oprah assigned "The Five Books Everyone Needs to Read Once… they will blow open your understanding of the world."

Not really.  I’d already read three, and don’t see what the fuss is about.

The month ended with making a vision board as in the book and movie The Secret.  

As in "If you want it, you’ll get it… all your problems are your fault."  Give me a break!

In July Robyn coped with her own growing fame when there was a piece about her blog in a free weekly newspaper and she was invited to be a guest on a radio program.

She’s upset at losing her anonymity and has to make compromises.

This gave Robyn a few insights into Oprah’s life, its compromises and its difficulties.

While not making the same kind of money, Robyn feels Oprah’s pain.

The Dalai Lama quote Robyn had seen at Kripalu (a healthful living retreat in Massachusetts) summed it up quite nicely:

Through compassion, you find that all human beings are just like you.

Namaste.

Living la Vida Oprah, part 2 by Margaret Ullrich

Back to Robyn Okrant’s book Living Oprah…

I wasn’t too impressed with what I’d read in the January chapter.

February, what Robyn called An enterprising month, wasn’t much better.

Robyn mentioned that some of Oprah’s assignments made her hackles rise.

I’d have to say some of them made my breakfast rise.

One guest, Dr. Mehmet Oz, had an antiaging plan.

For someone Robyn’s age that just refers to smoothing wrinkles and hiding grey hair.

Dr. Oz’s advice was same old, same old… fibre, exercise and antioxidants.

Robyn was also told that the best fecal matter is S-shaped.  Really.

Antiaging means something a little different when you’re a senior.

If you’re not getting older, then you have died.  Those are our options.  

A new eye cream is not going to make a bit of difference.

About the fecal matter… when I’m scooping out a bit for my annual fecal occult tests I do not care if the poop is shaped like an S or like a pretzel.

It’s in the bowl, I scoop a bit, shmear it on the card, end of story. 

Robyn attended a taping of an Oprah show, where William Shatner was the guest.

She and the others had to prove they’d been fans of the original Star Trek.

As in Tina Fey dressed as Princess Leia to avoid jury duty on 30 Rock.

The audience was reminded to shop at The Oprah Store, near the studio.  Really.

There was a disturbing section on Oprah’s endorsement of Obama.

As a Canadian, I have no problem with Oprah’s choice or with Obama as president.

I have a problem with Oprah using her power on voters who obey everything she says.

In 2007 USA Today ranked Oprah as the most influential woman of the past 25 years.

That doesn’t make her an expert on what’s best for any person or country.

As Voltaire and Stan Lee (through Spider-Man) once said:

"With great power comes great responsibility."

I was not impressed with Oprah’s "Seize the opportunity… We need Barack Obama."

The chapter on March was about what Oprah does best: telling people to shop.

Oprah had a list of 12 items of clothing women need to own to be properly dressed.

The first item was a trenchcoat.

In 1967 I'd bought a creamsicle orange trenchcoat and a shiny plastic orange hat.
The hat was very similar to that worn by Clint Eastwood in his spaghetti western days.

When I wore the outfit to work a co-worker asked if my horse was tied outside.

End of my trenchcoat wearing days.

About the other items: turtlenecks, white jeans, cashmere sweater, an oversized bag, leopard print flats… It must have been meant as an April Fool’s show.

Robyn also wrote about reality TV shows, especially the ambush makeover shows.

I have to admit that I was a fan of What Not to Wear.

But Stacy and Clinton gave advice geared to a particular woman’s shape and age.

They had enough respect and sense to realize that one size NEVER fits all.

Oprah’s list and comments - “You need a crisp white shirt” - are useless.

I’d worn white shirts as part of my school uniform for 12 years, and that was enough.

I’m warming up to Robyn.

Along with sharing scoliosis, we each have a limited style sense and frizzy hair.

I’m losing patience with Oprah.  

About tomorrow’s full moon in Libra…

It’s also called a "Seed Moon", "Sprouting Grass Moon", "Egg Moon" and “Fish Moon”.

In some areas there might’ve been some sense to the names.

Not here.  Not this Spring.

According to the folks at astrology.com:
The full Moon in the social sign of Libra highlights how you get along with people. 

Think of a lunar eclipse as a bright beam of light that follows you - you may be able to run, but you can't hide! Plan on hitting a few unexpected snags. 

Since people are especially emotional this week, do what you can to create peace.

Living la Vida Oprah, part 1 by Margaret Ullrich

The snow is finally melting.

Does it feel like Spring?

No, not really.

About two weeks ago I borrowed Robyn Okrant’s book Living Oprah from the library.

It’s about Robyn’s one year experiment in following everything Oprah said to do.

Robyn wasn’t exactly unique in taking advice from Oprah.

In 2007 USA Today ranked Oprah as the most influential woman of the past 25 years.

In 2010, Life magazine named her one of the 100 people who changed the world.

I’m impressed, but, to be honest, I just never really got into Oprah.

Nothing personal, I was busy with other things when she started her rise to fame.

Robyn did this project in 2008, at the age of 35.

In 2008 I was 58, old enough to have been Robyn’s mother.

Okay… maybe I should’ve read the inside notes before I borrowed the book.

I don’t know for sure, but I think there’s a generation issue here.

Oprah was born on January 29, 1954, while I was born on May 1, 1950.

Don’t bother doing the math… I have a few years on Oprah, too.

Oprah’s a few months older than my kid sister.

Do you always ask a younger sibling for advice on what to do?

In my teens I'd read Ingenue, a teen's version of O, The Oprah Magazine.

It came complete with stories, advice, and quizzes, as well as dating, clothing and make up hints - everything a teen needed.

Then there was Cosmo, Ladies’ Home Journal, McCall, Women’s Day and Family Circle.

I also watched the Phil Donahue Show, the first tabloid talk show.

So I’ve had my fair share of letting other people tell me what to do.

About Phil… he was born in 1935, so he is older than I am.

So maybe that helped make him seem like an authority figure to me.

He didn’t have the same technology or social network backup in those days.

Oprah has The Oprah Winfrey Show, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Oprah.com.

Oh, well, I guess that's progress.

Like I said, before picking up Robyn’s book I had just read O in the library.

I usually like some of the articles in her magazine.

I just skim through the advice and pretty much ignore the clothes and ads.

I mean, Oprah’s choice in fashions is for a crowd a bit younger than I am.

Well, that’s not any different from what I’ve seen in other magazines.

And the ‘must have’ products she likes to suggest?  

Pul-eese… I just got through tossing out a bunch of junk.

Anyway, back to Robyn Okrant’s project…

January 2008 started with Robyn serving pureed spinach hidden in blueberry bars, Robyn being ordered to get her clothes tailored, and a plug for Dr. Christiane Northrup’s book Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom.

Big news: a grown woman has to be her own health advocate.

Really? THAT’S what she calls advice?  Wait’ll she hears what seniors have to do.

Robyn also wrote about how she’d had a long history with The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Oprah had been telling Robyn and her Mom how to live for a few years.

Robyn lives in Chicago, where, in 1983, Winfrey started to become OPRAH.

As Robyn explained, "Sometimes you can feel her influence pulsating in the city…"

I’ve noticed there are a few potholes and bumps in Oprahland… 

How does one mesh being told to savour the simple life with the order to buy some ‘must have’ new super expensive products and clothing each and every day?

Oprah and fitness expert Bob Greene were about to start their 2008 Best Life Challenge, starting with the fat folks in Meridian, in the American state of Mississippi.

Thanks to computers, everybody else could sign the Best Life contract, too.

I don’t have much faith in this project.

If Oprah, with her wealth, personal trainer, fitness expert, chef, dietician and stylist can’t permanently drop the pounds, how will a welfare Mom who has no staff, is a whole lot busier and is struggling on a much tighter budget manage?

Oprah also has a Book of the Month club.

In January she endorsed author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle and his book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose.

Robyn wasn’t too thrilled with the choice or the 10-week webinar on the book.

Neither am I.

The chicken recipe sounded like a good one.

In like a lion… Out like a lion by Margaret Ullrich

About a month ago I posted about the awful weather we're having this Winter.

It seems to be the same weather we’re going to have this Spring.

Maybe it’ll hang around through Summer and Fall.

I don’t think Winter knows how to leave any more.

Even the geese don’t have much faith in Spring coming this year.

They flew to Fort Whyte, saw that there wasn’t anything but solid ice, shook their heads, and flew south and out of the city.

The wildlife manager at Fort Whyte was thinking of following them.

Those geese are smart enough to know they need open water.

Don’t ever use the term ‘Bird brain’ as an insult.

Paul and I took a short walk last week to return a few books to the library.

We really need to get back into the habit of daily walks.

The icy sidewalks aren’t giving us much incentive.

Yes, those geese had the right idea - live in an area that has what you need.

Back to the library…

My local librarians are nice folks, who know me for what I am, or rather, what I was.

No sooner had I put the books on the counter than the guy flashed a huge smile and said, “You know, we have our Mega Book Sale going on in the meeting room.”

Pointing to my now empty shopping bag, he continued, “For five bucks you could fill that bag with books.”

Now the old me, the pre-Feng Shui Your Life me, would’ve raced into that room.

I mean a big bag of books for five bucks!  Yeee Hah!!  What’s not to love?

But, the new me just didn’t feel like even looking at the library’s discards.

I smiled, thanked him, walked over to the magazines, grabbed one, strolled over to a cubicle and read the magazine in the library.

Yes, Tisha Morris really has had an effect on my life.

Maybe not her New Age, scented space clearing and bell ringing ideas.

But I’ve gotten used to cleared spaces and I have to admit I like it.

I just couldn’t bring myself to cramming more stuff into my home.

A book is something to read and return; not to clutter up my living space.

Oh, the magazine I had picked up was O, as in Oprah.

I like and admire Oprah Winfrey, but I don’t watch her show.

I also never buy her magazines.

I have to admit she does have a sense of humour about herself.

Who could forget when she guested on 30 Rock?

After I put the magazine back on the rack I passed some books.

There was a copy of Robyn Okrant’s book Living Oprah.

It’s about her one year experiment in following everything Oprah told her to do.

Was that a sign or what?

I mean, I found the book about Oprah after I put the Oprah magazine away.

I checked out the book.

The librarian remind me of their Mega Book Sale.

No way.  I have Feng Shuied myself… on to getting Oprahed!!

About tonight’s new moon in Aries…

According to the folks at astrology.com:

All new Moons are about starting new ventures.  

Aries is the sign of beginnings.   

There couldn’t be a better new Moon in all of 2014 for launching a business!

You may feel as if you're driving with one foot on the brake since Mars is retrograde, the new Moon is joined by Uranus and squared by both Pluto and Jupiter… 

multiple people have competing agendas. 

Anything you begin now needs to incorporate the needs of others. 

Be smart about the way you go about getting what you want. 

Take time to regroup, find work-arounds, or simply slow down.

The New Moon is in Aries!

What’s good for beginning a business ought to be just as good for beginning a best life.

The heck with retrograding, joining and squaring… On to living a la Oprah!

What could go wrong?