A Street for Everyone-Happy 50th Birthday Sesame Street

"Sesame Street's mission is to "create innovative, engaging content that maximizes the educational power of media to help children reach their highest potential."

  This week everyone's favorite 8' 2"yellow feathered friend, along with all his neighbors on one of the world's most famous streets, celebrates 50 years of educating kids while opening hearts and the world ...and having a lot of fun! The first episode of Sesame Street aired November 10,1969.

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The importance of Sesame Street in the lives of children across the globe is greater now than ever.   In a world  becoming increasingly more fractured economically and socially kids with limited to no access to the plugged in planet do have access to a place that they are always welcome, a place that is always safe, a place that cares about them and their future... Sesame Street.  Sesame Street provides all kids the start they need to succeed in the critical early learning years, but as important as a jump start for all kids is, Sesame Street is a Street that offers so much more!

  The series has not only helped kids learn their letters and numbers, but it has also held their hand through difficult times and taught them important life lessons-caring, friendship, sharing, tolerance, understanding...and coping skills-most memorably after the death of Mr. Hooper the grocer and September 11. Sesame Street has helped kids, and the adults who love them,understand and deal with the scary sides of their world from loss to illness, addiction, storms,difficult economic times, safety...while helping them know more about each other's differences and special needs-building understanding, acceptance, caring and friendship. Don't we all know some folks who could benefit from some time on Sesame Street!

Sesame Street has always been a hot destination -celebrities and personalities have stopped in to say Hi to the gang and share some fun and important lessons- including Michelle Obama who along with Elmo talked about the importance of healthy eating and gardening.

The series  is seen in over 140 countries worldwide from South Africa, where an HIV Positive character was included, to Israel where Oscar's Israeli counterpart is Moishe Oofnik, whose last name means "grouch" in Hebrew,  and in Afghanistan.

 In Egypt 's version-Alam Simsim, a strong and gutsy girl character named Khokha not only teaches the alphabet and numbers but also inspires and educates girls that they can grow up to be anything they want and she wants to be a lawyer and a doctor and an engineer when she grows up! In Bangladesh Tuktuki intends to learn to read and go to school just like the boys do!  Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor came to Sesame Street to talk to Abby Cadabby about careers.  Abby wants to be a Princess but Justice Sotomayor explains that really isn't a career  "... a career is "a job you train for, or prepare for and plan on doing for a long time...pretending to be a princess is fun, but it is definitely not a career... you can go to school and train to be a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer, and even a scientist..."  Abby decides to go for the gavel!

 

Sesame Street weaves the culture and societal concerns of each country through the characters and lessons of every episode. On Sesame Street the characters and cast reflect who we are-special, unique and a melting pot of cultures and customs and beliefs -maybe the next political candidate should come from a special neighborhood called Sesame Street!

   

Did you know...

  According to Sesame Workshop, Elmo is the only non-human to testify before Congress.
 He lobbied for more funding for music education, so that “when Elmo goes to school, there will be the instruments to play.”

-Oscar the Grouch used to be orange 

- “Bad days happen to everyone, but when one happens to you, just keep doing your best and never let a bad day make you feel bad about yourself.” — Big Bird

-Mr. Snuffleupagus has a first name--Aloysius

- All Sesame Street's main Muppets have four fingers except Cookie Monster, who has five.

How Marvelous!

She's Back!  How Marvelous!  Just what we need right now ...a smart, funny woman who is ready to Stand Up! and take on the world, all while dressed in the most amazing wardrobe!  Show 'em how it's done Midge! Cannot wait  to spend time smiling, laughing, crying, singing...with @MaiselTV @amazonprimevideo  #TheMarvelousMrsMaisel #MrsMaisel  #StandingOvation #TaketheMic  #WantthatWardrobe #DoitinHeels #Marvelous #DontforgettheBrisket #ThisGirlCan

Tell' Em to Get Their Own Coffee

Welcome Back #MurphyBrown! We need you!! On my office wall hangs this 👇 from an ad for the original Murphy Brown  series. I  tore  it out and hung it on my fridge and it has hung on every office wall and fridge I have had for almost 30 years. Murphy Brown took no prisoners and suffered no fools...she told them all and showed them all! Today it may feel we have not budged one inch forward since Murphy, but glad she is back so a new generation of girls and women can laugh and learn...Thank you #CandiceBergen #DianeEnglish#TheFutureisFemale#Tellemtogettheirowncoffee#AlwaysAcceptCashmere"Ask Tough Questions
Risk Failure
Look Beneath the Surface
Avoid Bowties
Go Against the Grain
Trust Your Instincts
Buck Trends
Wear Black to the Office
Make Waves
Fight Gravity
Tell 'em to Get Their Own Coffee
Rock the Boat
View Pantyhose as Optional June-August
Puncture the Pompous
Don't Answer to Honey
Wear Leather to Big Meetings
Be Vocal
Get Even
Act Silly Occasionally
Remember Rock 'n Roll is Therapy
When in Doubt Wear Heels
Radiate Intelligence
Hold Out
Don't Date Men with Pinky Rings
Demand Equality
Always Accept Cashmere"

Oy with the Poodles Already! Skipping the Sales...Staying Put in Stars Hollow

" I can be flexible, As long as everything is exactly the way I want it, I'm totally flexible."

I am not a fan of Black Friday or Cyber Monday or any Sale that insists I must shop NOW or will miss the best sale ever...til tomorrow.  Retail Therapy can be the best but no way will you find me camped out waiting for any retail door to open.  I am skipping all the sale noise and choosing to stay put...in Stars Hollow!  Gilmore Girls is back!!!

This weekend Netflix premieres 4 new episodes of Gilmore Girls, almost 10 years since the end of the beloved series.   True confession-I did not see Gilmore Girls in its original run from 2000-2007.  I have Netflix to thank for making me a Gilmore Girl.  From episode 1 I was hooked and binge-watched , and re-watched, my way through 6 1/4 seasons ...then I stopped.  I could not watch any further because I did not want the series to end-ever!  ( I have since finished it this week in prep for the new episodes)  That is how much in love I fell with Stars Hollow, Lorelai and Rory and all the precious characters that swirled around them...each with their own quirky, wacky, silly ,charming influence on the day to day life of not only Stars Hollow, but our Gilmore Girls.  A Mother and Daughter who raise one another, hold one another and teach one another over piles of pizza boxes, Chinese food containers, candy wrappers, Pop Tarts, great movies and bad TV shows, lots and lots of books and endless mugs of coffee.

"I smell snow, can't you smell it?"  "Everything is magical when it snows. Everything looks pretty.  The clothes are great.  Coats, gloves, scarves, hats."

In over 156 episodes stuffed with snappy, popping, fast paced dialogue and banter, often filled with pop culture and current event references, the Gilmore Girls was, and is, a series about friendship and caring and community-don't we need that right now!!  Life in Stars Hollow is a celebration of the everyday, of the now, of the here. Yes that is funny, and silly, and crazy, and warm and fuzzy, and sad.  But Stars Hollow teaches us most especially to care even through our cynicism. 

  "That's all any of us wants, to find someone nice to hang out with us 'til we drop dead.  

Not a lot to ask for."

At its heart and soul,however, Gilmore Girls is a story about Mothers and Daughters and the very real, very flawed, very messy, and very funny, way we deal with one another.  It's a series about love that centers on very strong, smart, opinionated, force to be reckoned with women in Lorelai, Rory and Emily Gilmore. So many questions about Lorelei and Rory-where they are, their loves, their lives, and their losses.   With the real life loss of Edward Hermann ,who portrayed Richard Gilmore, Lorelai's Dad, there is that sad line to deal with along with Luke and Lorelai's relationship, Rory's choices and career path, and Emily Gilmore's force in it all.  But for me,  Gilmore Girls will always be a celebration of what it is to be a daughter-and how lucky I am to be one!  

  "Life's short...talk fast."

Oh, and if you really need to shop this weekend-here are some fave

 Gilmore Girl inspired ideas -found on Etsy!!