The Evolution of Jane

Jane is fast becoming a favorite name of mine. It is old-fashioned but has panache. And, in my family it is a heritage carried by five generations, starting with my great-grandmother Eliza Jane, who had Emma Jane, who years later had Mary Jane. Mary Jane was my father's sister and while she did not have children, he did and you guessed it. He had a daughter named Jenni Jane. My other sister Michelle, named her daughter, Emma Jane, which is where the story ends for now.

Great books are written about Jane and by Jane. The obvious examples are Jane Eyre and the ultimate female writer Jane Austen, who is still popular years after publishing her first book. I just discovered a new writer by accident, Cathleen Schine and her book the Evolution of Jane.

Apparently, I am not alone in my fascination Jane - the name is inspiration for Jane magazine, Mary Jane shoes, Calamity Jane, Dick and Jane series, movies like the Jane Austen Book Club and Becoming Jane. The name is even captured in lyrics by Jefferson Starship in the song "Jane."Why are we taken with Jane? Determined to have a good life and destined for greatness are the Jane's and I lay claim to the heritage in my family, even though I am a Jane by default. These women inspired me and still do, including my niece, Emma Jane, who surprises and delights me continually.

For all the Jane's out there, this one's for you!

The Boots That Walked All Over Me

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you…. That is a line from an oldie goldie and I just experienced this truth on an innocent, mind-my-own-business walk in the park yesterday. There I was walking at a pretty good clip with my iPod and reveling in the warm spring day. Walkers were everywhere and dogs happily trotted along with their owners.

I noticed a lean, sophisticated woman walking her cinnamon-colored King Charles Spaniel a few feet ahead of me. She was wearing Levi’s and a thin cotton sweater – she reeked of style and stood out in a park full of walkers and runners in typical sport attire. She was also wearing black boots that hit the pavement with an interesting staccato with each stride. It was apparent that the walk required zero effort and she was perfectly composed.

Here’s the bad part. I couldn’t catch her, no matter how fast I picked up my pace and well, I also admit, I gave up after a few tries. I did pass her twice when her little pooch stopped to sniff the flowers and scope out nature. Within minutes, the boots were hot on my trail and she would fashionably stride by me again with her elegant, long legs and black boots. What’s terrible about this is that I also have long legs. Why couldn’t they catch this mystery woman? I took a chill pill and decided to laugh about it, what else could I do? At the end of the walk, I saw her leave in a car with a California license plate. Oh, that explains it. She is a California girl who exercises 23 hours out of every 24. I had to justify it somehow…

Maintenance Gone Bad

What was she thinking? Wouldn’t you think with all of Ivanna Trump’s money that she would take better care of her guns? You can see plastic surgery results on her face, collagen-plumped lips, but she forgot some major appendages – i.e., her arms.

As to the rest of her, less is more…If you don’t have the ammo to show off (check out Madonna’s arms, thanks to yoga and Pilates) then dress accordingly. Cover up next time, Ivanna.

Anthem to Summer

I just wanna soak up the sun.....

Sheryl Crow says it better, well actually she sings it a whole lot better. This song is my anthem to summer and all that comes with it. Can you tell I have summer fever? I am over spring. I like the temps hot and the days long.

I love Arnold Palmer's (unsweetened tea with lemonade), walking on the beach, reading on the beach, (everything on the beach), shorts, sand in my toes, a tan, crashing waves, Jimmy Buffett, ice cream, summer block buster movies (SATC can't get here fast enough and Mama Mia) - really, I just love everything about it.

So, here I am reading a juicy book and soaking up the sun on Daytona Beach. Too bad you weren't with me............

Backspace Your Life

When life doesn’t go as planned, don’t you wish you could hit the backspace key on your life? Or better yet, wouldn’t you like to delete your past mistakes?

I know I would...

Channeling My Inner Carrie Bradshaw

I wish I could take total credit for this entry but I will have to thank another "Carrie" who is a big influence in my creative life, Carrie Helton. This one's for you, Carrie!

With each passing day and year, I notice how much I am drawn to movies, book and television shows in which the main character happens to be a writer: Marin Frist, the writer and relationship coach in "Men in Trees," Diane Keaton (one of my idols) in "Something's Gotta Give," and of course, my number uno favorite TV writer, Carrie Bradshaw of "Sex and the City."

I live vicariously through these women who are living the life that I want to lead: writing and making more than a living out of it. Of course, these women are beautiful, fashionable, extremely talented and live in prime real estate: New York City, the Hamptons (facing the water of course) and well, you get the picture. They are sought after by men, make a lot of money and life just looks good enough to eat. Am I jealous? Well, sure, I am. Who wouldn't be?

Do you think Candace Bushnell needs help writing her next big hit? If so, I am available. Tina Fey, don’t you need more writers for 30 Rock?

Girlfriends Are For All Ages

What would I do without you? You believe in me when I wonder if I can get back up one more time. You pick me up when I feel like the road is too hard. You tell me I look fine even when we both know I am having a bad hair day. You tell me to go ahead and splurge on that outfit at Ann Taylor. After all, I work hard, don’t I? You cooked me dinner on Cinco de Mayo and sent me flowers when I was sick. Is there anything you won’t do for a girlfriend?

We have cried during movies, over love gone sideways, bad jobs, children, car problems and the pains of everyday life. Girlfriends are forever sisters and like the Ya Ya Sisterhood, united as children and bonded into adulthood. You know who you are and I am grateful for you all. Without you, I can’t imagine what my life would be like.

The National Girlfriend and Sister's Week organization have a motto I can love, "I am only as strong as the coffee I drink, the hairspray I use and the friends I have.”