And the Oscar Goes To.......

It's awards season people!!! I for one am thrilled.

I've always loved watching pop culture on display and seeing which movies or songs, actors or singers/songwriters would go down in history.

Imagine my delight when I realized someone in my house enjoyed watching them as much as I did!!!!

No - not The Big Guy - he's ok with a couple of minutes, but after a while his peanut-gallery remarks about someone's 5 o'clock shadow or his unbridled enthusiasm over a starlet's plunging neckline is more than a little distracting and I boot him from the room.

No - this is a gene I have passed on to Second Born Son. It revealed itself last year when the Golden Globes were aired. He realized he could see his favorite actors and they would speak when interviews on the red carpet during the pre shows (of course you MUST watch the pre show!!!) Last year's award season must have stayed with him because when I told him last Sunday that once again the GGs were on - he was thrilled!!

"Can we watch it during dinner?" he begged, as he set the table without being asked.

"Can we watch it after dinner?" he continued as he cleaned up the remainder of his meal in record time.

The funniest moment was not televised, but in my living room when SBS uttered a loud protest.

"Look at THAT!!" he said. "That's CRAP!"

The Big Guy looks at the TV - and struggles to see what is so alarming.

"That! THAT!!! Can't you see that guy THERE!?" SBS charges the TV and points out a camera man during a pan of the audience. "THAT'S just WRONG!" he snuffs with selfrighteous indignation. "You would think they would make sure they didn't get HIM in the shot!"

Have I mentioned lately he just turned NINE????

Noticing his interest in comments made during the interviews in the pre show program - I egg him on a bit.

"You like this awards show stuff huh?"

"Shhhhhush....ya...." he says, eyes never leaving the screen.

"You know, if you want to be an actor, you have to know how to handle an interview." I continue.

(In my best "on air" voice I begin) "We have with us Second Born Son who is nominated for an award tonight. Tell us SBS, what is it like to be at the Golden Globes for the first time?"

He. doesn't. even. miss. a. beat.

"It's great!" he smiles. "I'm really excited to be here!" Well, that was a safe enough answer - let's challenge the boy a little bit.

"And you are the new face of Spider Man - what do you have to say to all of those people who think Tobey Maguire is the only Spider Man." The Big Guy is intrigued now... First Born Son pops out of his room to see what we are doing and promptly turns around when he sees the TV - not such a fan of awards shows.

"I think he did a great job as Spider Man - he was my favorite as a kid (?!?) and I hope people will see the movie and give me a chance to show them the New Spider Man."

Now I have to pause...... Handled that brilliantly. Let's up the anti.....

"Your next movie is with Jim Carrey. Now, some in the industry say Jim is a bit of a Diva - how has it been working with him?"

"Well, I was really excited to work with him and I think it was best when he needed some space, he went his way and then I went my way."

KILLING myself now!!

"I understand you have a plan to work with George Lucas in creating three new Star Wars movies - continuing the story after Darth Vader's death. What was it like working with such a master?"

"It was great - I really enjoyed working with George. We both thought of new things for the next movie - I made up new characters and so did he. It was like we were partners."

Methinks I should have the boy enrolled in acting class....... He's ready for his closeup!!!

A little shy, are we?

The Canadian Federal Government has recently announced that all major airports will soon be fitted with security scanning devices to provide the highest, most technologically advanced screening prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

You step into a chamber which then photographs you with your arms either slightly drawn away from your body or in the air. The photograph can read under clothing - basically it's your x-ray spy goggles for Customs Canada.

This new technology is being embraced by security in the United States and has created a furor the likes of which haven't been seen in the travel industry since 9/11. US civil rights organizations are up in arms about privacy issues, violation of human rights, and pretty much everything else that can be used against this move, shy of the Holocaust.

While I would not consider myself a frequent flier, I have travelled enough and seen plenty to realize that if there is something that can be used to make flying safer, it should be implemented.

In short - my right to privacy is usurped by YOUR right to be safe. And I'm completely ok with that. While news broadcasts had to block out the "private" elements of the scan for public viewing, it's safe to say the operate gets an eyeful of each and every passenger over the age of 18. Immediately, opponents are concerned that the images will be saved. That there could be questionable employee viewing of said images.

How much worse is this image option than, say, patting down a passenger. It's gotten to the point that passengers can have a same sex employee pat them down for security purposes, but that's no guarantee they won't go home and have Sweet Dreams after squeezing the produce.

Let me clear this up for you right now. If you need to get your jollies by gazing longingly at my stretch marks, have at 'er. I will still give you that if you can assure me some ass won't get on a plane with anything other than hand sanitizer in his pants pockets.

Meet You in the Moonlight

Christmas had some truly special moments - family, friends and enough food to feed everyone on my street.

But one of the best moment was just me and Second Born Son.

Between Christmas and New Years I found myself sitting up way later than I should have been. I was punch drunk from the late night before - food, friends and laughter. The silence of the night was softly interrupted by SBS who was navigating down the hall for his nightly visit to the Salle de Bain. After I tucked him back in, I left his room and noticed the eerie light from outside and remembered that this was the night of the Blue Moon - defined as the second Full Moon of a month. A rare occurrence, it was drawn to my attention by a newscast earlier in the day.

I slipped back down to his room and whispered in his hear "Hey babe, do you want to see something really neat?" Instantly he was awake - more awake than he had been moments before.

I led him through the darkness of the house - having snapped off the lights and the TV to give the glow its most dramatic unveiling. But for some reason, it didn't impress the way I had hoped.

"Come here for a minute" I said, kicking off my slippers and sliding my feet instinctively into the winter boots I keep at the back door. I reached down, grabbed him around the waist and he reached for around my neck. It has been years since I've carried him. He's only 9, but he's big for his age and lifting him hasn't been an option.

But the moment was slipping away and I wanted him to see what I saw.

We stepped out into the night and the light shone on his face and his face shone on me. In spite of the wintery temperature, we clung to each other and he wondered in the beauty of the moon - brighter than any other he had seen and a truly unique shade.

I made a point of being very present in the moment and recorded it in my mind. Although it has only been a week, I've played it back in my mind dozens of times. I only hope he can remember...

After I returned him to his flannel sheets, a pain of guilt shot through me and I slipped into First Born Son's room. Selfishly I hoped I could relive the moment. I leaned over his form and whispered the same invitation, not once, but three times and was answered by a random elbow to the jaw.

The night was special for only two people that night. And one will never forget.