It’s nice that you have a relationship with Nancy and Tina Sinatra.  I always felt bad about what they went through at the end with their father’s death, and without saying more, am entirely sympathetic.

I’ve been craving a good French restaurant the past few weeks with all of the promotional information floating around about Julie and Julia.  I haven’t seen it yet, but my friends are raving about it; especially the scenes in post war France. Meryl cooking in Chanel capped high heels. We had many restaurants in my city that sound like Le Veau D’Or.  Classic French food, all well done and not overly priced in a more lax atmosphere. 

As for Christian Bale, it is a genuine concern.  Gaining and losing like that plays hell on your metabolism and heart.  He really should not be doing that to himself.  It may catch up with him in a few years and present an out of whack thyroid and some genuine (and serious) health issues.  Go to Le Veau D’Or and have some Lobster Bisque and Parfait Au Rhum.

why do all the great actors have to go off the wall and end up hurting themselves?  no job is worth dying for.  Acting is JUST A JOB.

My introduction to Nora Ephron was years ago when I picked up her first book, "Crazy Salad" co-written with her sister—can’t remember which one. I loved her humor and I still do. Charlie Rose had Nora and Meryl on his show the other night––showed clips from the film and discussed the making of. At one point they were talking about the film, "Heartburn," one of my favorites, in which Meryl plays Nora. Meryl was saying how difficult it was trying to play Nora when Nora was always RIGHT there–-and then mimicked some of Nora’s little quirky gestures. Lots of laughs over this.

One of the books I am reading now is "Backstage with Julia" by Nancy Verde Barr who worked with Julia for years. It’s an interesting insight into the person of Julia and her profession, and "is packed with endearing anecdotes" says the Times. 

I am so happy you gave Le Veau d’Or a shout-out, Liz! It is such a fabulous restaurant - great spot for classic French cuisine in a lovely atmosphere of old-world service and calm. Puts me in mind of another great NYC eatery of yore: Le Bec Fin, where I was first introduced to Veuve Clicquot Champagne. In either place, Julia would have been right at home!

As for Mr. Bale, and his body-morphing ilk, I shudder to think of the long-term damage that is being done to metabolism, organs and general health. Raging Bull is in my Top Five Movies of All Times List, and De Niro’s weight gain is the ONLY one that I think was 100% necessary for the verisimilitude he needed to project to play Jake La Motta. Other than this ONE exception - I’m for long-term health, not scary diet-for-your-art stuff. Just another example of how completely body-obsessed we are nowadays, and how far it all can be taken. (And frankly, Renee Zellweger would look fabulous if she were about fifteen pounds heavier with or without Bridget Jones as an impetus! She is scarily thin.)

Susan’s glad that you gave Le Veau d’Or a shout out & I’m thrilled that you gave Jilie & Julia a shout out.  

I went opening weekend to a packed theater & EVERYONE loved it!  It was nice to see a movie with a plot that had us laughing.  Someone I was with said "I don’t see how anyone could NOT like that movie."  I agree.  Now women of WOWOW, if you want to see more movies like Julie & Julia made you need to get to the movies!  Hollywood sometimes thinks that the only people that go to the movies like to see LOUD, violent, dumbed down flicks, let’s prove that some of us want to see more movies like Nora writes.

What the article didn’t say is if Bale is getting guidance from someone professional while he is rollercoasting with his weight.  That could make a difference.

What is the normal size of the American Woman????  I don’t know not one person who is under a size 12 and they all look great.  All the adult women of my childhood were busty, hippy, and beauitful.  Back then (late 50 - 60’s) women didn’t wear pants at all, they wore dresses and skirts, we had to wear dresses and skirts until my senior yr of high school, and when pants were allowed I didn’t get into a dress again until graduation nite.  When working my way through college I wore dresses and skirts to work because you had to. When I joined the Navy it was a relief to be able to wear pants and jeans most of the time (unless if we were in parades, recruiting, or had an office position).

I’m so sick and tired of seeing string beans on magazines that I don’t even buy them any more, certain shows on TV I avoid because of the way women are portrayed.

Women weren’t meant to look like telephone poles, we were meant to have curves, and our bodies were developed to bear children, after giving birth not everyone can afford a trainer or even a gym to lose the weight, so we have to do it on our own and pray it comes off, and for some of us we never lose it all. 

So men who want string beans should plant a garden and fashion designers should start making cloths for REAL WOMEN.  Colths for women sizes 12 and up are usually really UGLY, and they fit like crapp. That’s why Walmart, Kmart, Target get a lot of bussiness from the every day American Woman, if you only have ugly cloths to choose from, might as well buy them cheap.