Think You Know Harrison Ford?

Its Not All Snakes And Wookies!

In honor of Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull I “dug up” some fun facts you may or may not know about the daring archaeologist’s alter-ego! As if we could love the man any more...

He Builds Things

Before the acting career took off, he was a very well-respected carpenter.

He Can Fly–Seriously!

He has his private pilot’s license and owns several aircraft and a Bell 407 helicopter.

He Rescues People In Real Life

August 5, 2000: Ford used his helicopter to rescue 20 year-old Sarah George from a mountaintop in Idaho. George was apparently so overcome with emotion and heat stroke that she threw up. ''I can't believe I barfed in Harrison Ford's helicopter,'' she later said.

July 11, 2001: When 13 year-old Wyoming Boy Scout Cody Clawson went missing, rescue teams called Ford. Again in the trusty helicopter, Ford found the boy and flew him to safety. Luckily, no cleanup was necessary this time.

He’s Related To E.T.

His ex-wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, wrote the script for E.T. :The Extra Terrestrial.

He’s Lucky

Tom Selleck was originally cast as Han Solo. When Selleck had to drop out, Ford eventually got the role.

He’s Green

Famous for his conservation work, he has a species of ant (Peidole harrisonfordi) and spider (Calponia Harrisonfordi) named after him, as well as a species of butterfly named after his daughter, Georgia.

He’s Philosophical

(Quote) "Peace isn't merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice."

Harrison Ford, we love you. Whether you’re flying the Falcon, raiding the Ark, or irritating Irina Spalko (his adversary in Crystal Skull,) you will always be near and dear to us. Because–like the icons you yourself so admire, Gregory Peck and Gary Cooper–you’re more than an actor; you’re a really good guy.

Vegas, Anyone?

What Happens In The Attic Stays In The Attic!

This past Saturday, my girlfriends and I were kicking back, enjoying some fruity cocktails at an outdoor cafe when it hit me–

“I need a girls-only getaway,” I said. “Something exciting. Something to make me feel like I’m 23 again.” They all looked at each other, smirking.

“What?”

“VEGAS!!!” they screamed.

“Oh, no no no....,” I said, “I’m not the Vegas type!”

“We’ll see about that,” Kelley smirked, “But first–maybe you should go to the movies!”

Next thing I knew, she was buying me a ticket to What Happens In Vegas.

It’s amazing how huge Cameron Diaz has become. When There’s Something About Mary came out, she proved her skill at pratfalls and slapstick despite being a goddess.

She takes her goofy gal persona to new heights in What Happens and–dare I say–conjures fleeting moments of Lucille Ball. Trust me, I wouldn’t throw that comparison around lightly.

Ashton Kutcher matches her manic pace, resulting in one raucous spitfire of a film. Perhaps someday we’ll look back at the Ultimate Comedy Greats and see their names added to the list?

I’ll tell you one thing though: until I saw that movie I never had the slightest desire to go to Vegas. Call me a fuddy-duddy and a stick-in-the-mud, but the bright lights, slot machines, and feather boas never called my name.

However, after seeing the “nightclub scene” in which (don’t worry–no spoilers) Diaz and Kutcher turn partying into an extreme sport, I really want to go now!

After I got home from the movie, I ran up to The Attic and fished out one of our Light-Up Las Vegas Signs and put it on my dresser. And if you could see me, you’d observe that I’ve switched from my standard black tote bag (in use since 2004) to a totally awesome Elvis Las Vegas Purse!

Because if you’re gonna party, party with The King!

I don’t know when I’m going. Or what–exactly–I’ll do when I get there. All I know is that this (cough cough, “23 year-old”) gal still has a few wild and crazy nights left in her!

Anybody have any tips for a Vegas newbie?

Super Heroes Walk Among Us!

Childhood Favorites On The Big Screen & Beyond


As hot balmy breezes start to blow in, everybody’s gearing up for the biggest summer movie season in history! Iron Man, Speed Racer, Indiana Jones (check out our awesome Indy Fedora), The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Knight (action figures coming soon...check back!) all await us in a darkened theater...and in the corners of our imaginations!



The males in our household are crackling with anticipation, and you know what? The women are, too! My teenage daughter is a big Batman fan (although I suspect this has something to do with Christian Bale) and she’s priming herself for The Dark Knight with her Batman: The Complete History Book. Chock full of classic illustrations, photos and trivia, it explores the fascinating evolution of The Caped Crusader from comics to campy TV show to neo noir icon!



Our 16 year-old son, the budding video game designer, is already an ace at sketching characters, but he still refers to his Superman Book and Spider-Man pop-up book for inspiration. He’s told us “everything you need to know about figure drawing you can learn from Marvel comics.” When I was his age, all I knew how to draw was Hello Kitty!



And who gave him his first comic book? His dad, of course! As I type this blog, Mr. Betty’s Attic is wearing his favorite Marvel Comics Characters T-Shirt as he rummages in the kitchen for some of last night’s lasagna.



Imagine if you could go back in time and tell the 9 year-old version of you about the super hero movies of today: Spidey stopping a train with his bare hands and Bruce Wayne’s futuristic tank-inspired Batmobile (remember the wild 60s version?)


The 9 year-old “you” would freak out!


That’s because no matter how much we “grow up” and trade in capes and masks for dishwashers and dry cleaning, there’s a 9 year-old inside all of us. Tugging at our shirt, saying “let’s play! ”

Backyard BBQ, Baby!

Gearing-Up For The Three-Day Weekend!

Every year I set out to plan the be-all end-all Memorial Day Blowout. And every year I get sidetracked and we end up eating pizza and potato chips.

But this year I found inspiration right here in The Attic! I was admiring a shiny new set of Betty’s Aluminum Tumblers (above) and it hit me–GO RETRO! The decor, music–even the food!

So slide into your clam diggers! Button up those camp shirts! We’re fixing a shindig and you’re invited!

To get people in the mood, I’m going to play the Fabulous Fifties CD Set! Over 3 hours of cardigan sweater classics like “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Rags To Riches,” and “Too Young!”

Out back, I’m going to hang these Hula Girl Party Lights. They’re designed for end-to-end connection, so I can string up to 3 sets around the patio and deck. They bring back memories of summertimes past, smothered in cocoa butter, toes in the sand, not a care in the world!

And then...there’s the food!
Wanna know my secret weapons? Read on!

Our Campbell's Recipe Card Set packs a mighty 76 quick, delicious favorites from your childhood! Baked Macaroni & Cheese! Chicken & Biscuits! And oodles of mouth-watering, cheesy, creamy delights!

Patio Daddy-O is a super-hip cookbook bursting with backyard flavor! 45 sizzling recipes you won’t believe! Roasted Banana Splits! Jazzed-Out Blackberry Thyme Mojitos! Big Daddy’s High-Style Cheese-Stuffed Burgers! And Mr. Betty’s Attic gets to show off at the grill (you know how men are around fire...)

And just when they think I can’t POSSIBLY outdo myself, I’m going to unleash the chocolate!

Tucked inside my Hershey's Recipe Card Set are 99 ooey, gooey sinfully-sweet treats! Hershey's Best Brownies! Orange Streusel Coffeecake! Strawberry Chocolate-Chip Shortcake!

Oh yeahhhh...it’s gonna be good!
Help yourself to seconds! And have a fabulous fifties weekend!

Old Toys Are New Again!

Sharing Memories With Our Kids

When I watch my kids play video games full of speeding cars and blaring guitars, one thought races through my head:

My childhood toys were so much friendlier!

Luckily, I live and work in a gigantic retro toy chest here at The Attic, so I decided to try a little experiment: I pulled out a few gems from my not-so-distant past and passed them on to my kids to see their reactions.

First, I hoisted over a soft cuddly Teddy Ruxpin. You remember him. He was the first doll to cause mass hysteria during the holidays, as well-adjusted lawyers, HR managers and housewives duked it out over limited supplies. And who could blame them? He TALKED! And READ YOU STORIES! His eyes moved. His mouth moved. In short, he was the coolest stuffed animal in the universe. And he still is!

Next, I challenged them to the Rubik’s Cube. In 7th grade, I once impressed a very cute 9th grader (who wore checkered Jeff Spicoli VANS) with my stealth at “The Cube” as we rode the bus home one afternoon. Unfortunately, my giant orthodontic head gear spoke louder than my mathematical skills. Kids today are lucky. Dental procedures are much easier now. They have no idea what we went through!

And finally, I presented the kids with our Pinball Money Puzzle. Although a mini version of the greatest game ever invented, it still requires dexterity, patience, and perseverance–this time, to get the tiny metal balls in the right holes to unlock money placed inside.

Heck, back in the day we played pinball for glory! As usual, in my case I was trying to win the affection of a gallant lad. His name was Scott Hoffman and he had hair just like Andy Gibb’s.

I don’t mind telling you, I was something of a pinball shark in 1981! I could keep that ball in play for hours! Okay, 1 minute max, but I was pretty good. Alas, my head gear again reared its hideous head and Scott Hoffman never got to know the sophisticated 11 year old underneath that tangled mouth of metal.

As I passed around these blasts from the past, telling my kids pitiful teen angst tales, something incredible happened–their video games sat idle as they pushed Teddy Ruxpin’s buttons and rattled around the Rubik’s Cube! My daughter tried her hand at the mini pinball and showed she has Mom’s flair for the flippers! Then they asked what it was like before electricity, and if it hurt our feet to pedal our Stone Age cars to work.

I felt the glorious bond of motherhood.
They get that sarcasm from me, you know!

Home Sweet Home!

What Aunt Betty Learned On Vacation

Sorry the blog is a bit late today, but your Aunt Betty is still recovering after a fabulous week-long vacation in San Francisco last week! The whole family went and we hit all the landmarks: The Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown­–we even ventured down to Santa Cruz (what a boardwalk!), Monterey and Carmel. No, we didn’t see Clint Eastwood, but we did see baby sea lions sunning on rocky cliffs with their roly-poly moms nestled close-by!

But like every great vacation, the West Coast adventure taught us just as much about “home” as it did about the city by the Bay.

No matter how many rolled-up balls of socks, Ziplocks full of shampoo and toothpaste, or cell phone chargers I carefully pack, there’s always that one thing I kick myself for forgetting! This time it was my Marilyn Monroe Glamour Purse! It’s the perfect size for my wallet, maps, digital camera, hand sanitizer and every other “mom” travel essential. Plus, its soft, sateen retro-style would’ve been oh-so-chic in San Francisco! Nostalgia is very cosmopolitan!

And speaking of nostalgia, healthy California cuisine is fine and dandy, but I’ll tell you–when it’s 2 a.m. in a hotel room and you can’t sleep, you dream of White Castle hamburgers! My son wore his White Castle t-shirt one afternoon, and thereafter, I couldn’t wait to get home to sink my teeth into 3 or 4 or 12 of those tiny slices of Heaven!

And speaking of snacking, getting the family together for an in-room movie over 2 mini bar packets of crackers was not exactly a cinematic event. We were exhausted after a day of hiking steep Frisco streets so we made due, but once we got home to Florida, I popped a fresh buttery batch of popcorn and filled our Disney Popcorn Bowl that includes a cute Mickey Mouse-shaped salt shaker.

I still have laundry to do and it’ll be weeks before our photos are emailed and printed, but all of that can wait. For now, I’m enjoying the best part of every vacation: relishing how much I love being home.

Count Your Coins!

Tax Day Is April 15th!


How’s it going with your income tax returns?
Have you reached the point of total insanity yet?


I managed to get mine finished online last week, but it took a lot of rearranging of errands, schedules and priorities to rifle through my oh-so-organized shoe boxes full of files and paperwork. Still, once I hit that “send my return to the IRS” button, I let out an enormous sigh of relief!


If our maddening modern-day system has you pining for days of old when two sheep bought you some gunpowder and a petticoat, travel back in time with our collection of vintage coin sets!


The Declaration of Independence Coin Set would make John Adams and Thomas Jefferson proud. Three bicentennial coins honoring America’s 200th birthday are presented alongside a beautifully crafted facsimile of the Declaration of Independence.


Still too modern for you?


How about the Ancient Coins Kit? It includes 5 unrestored coins minted from 1500 to over 2000 years ago. Buried for centuries, these pieces were coin of the realm during the last years of the Roman Empire and there’s not a W-2 in sight!


And who couldn’t use a little Sunken Treasure? In 1985, coins from a perished 1809 British trading ship meant for the East India Company were discovered, packed in wooden casks and trapped in the thick mud, still in mint condition! They feature the coat of arms of the East India Company on the front and the value in Indian script on the reverse!


I’m already planning for next year with my Lionel Railroad Crossing Bank. Oh sure, I’m pretending it’s for the kids to “teach them the value of money.” But it’s so much fun with its 2 red flashing signal lights and real whistle sounds, we’re keeping it in the family room to remind the whole family to save our pennies.


That way, when tax time rolls around next year and I’m tearing through my shoe boxes full of files, I’ll know I have enough saved-up to treat myself to a pedicure once the deed is done!


Good luck and hang in there!