"Experience a connection beyond words."

That's the tagline for the latest cinematic (and artistic) triumph from Guillermo del Toro. The Shape of Water makes every other commercial release this holiday season look like fecal matter. Everything from the impassioned performances to the cinematography, to the soundtrack, to the writing and character development were, in a word, perfection. As was the way the "connection beyond words" was portrayed.

Have you ever experienced it? A connection so intense, you don't even have to be in the same room--perhaps not even on the same planet--to feel the soul on the other end. To be linked so deeply, there is absolutely nothing that can or will deter it. Not time. Not distance. Not difference. Nothing.

I've felt it. Or rather, feel it.  And, perhaps because of that connection, del Toro's ability to capture real love made a real impact.

I grew up watching old black-and-white "monster" movies, where the true monsters were the humans, and the soul who appeared to be "different" had more humanity than any of our sad lot. The Shape of Water took those early film-explorations of the human condition and expanded it times one-thousand. I sat in the theatre, floored by how what is essentially a modern fairy-tale (set during the 20th century space-race between the States and Russia), gently coerced me to reflect on my life today, now perilously perched on the edge of 2018. When the film ended, as all the best things must in our physical existence, I realized something about myself that few movies have the ability to show their audience:

The truth.

Circumstances beyond our control happen. But how we think and feel--regardless of what's going on--is the one thing we can control. The exception is the human heart. We never control it. We love who we love, and when we truly love, it never ends. Most people just lie about that--"that" being the heartbreak that seems to fade but it's not actually gone. We just get better at burying it. Ego and pride are often to blame. More's the shame. Because ego and pride can't satisfy your heart or your soul, or, your body. Nor can either sever the invisible thread that connects two hearts. Although, sometimes that "thread" feels more like galvanized cable. Unyielding. Unbending. Unbreakable.

My grandmother had this saying she would try to translate into English from German, "ein Herz fuhlt ein Herz," or, "a heart feels a heart." It sounds similar in Yiddish. The biggest difference is that Yiddish is spelled with Hebrew letters and German isn't. My grandmother's words seemed to echo in the theatre as I experienced The Shape of Water in the same way I experienced the shape of love. A shape I miss. A shape that leaks out of my eyes and into my dreams when I'm no longer in control of my thoughts, or apparently, my feelings.

Love is the only thing worth shedding a tear over. There is no greater pain, outside of losing a child. When you give real love, you give a piece of yourself--a piece you can never get back. It's like walking around with a gaping hole in your chest. If you've never felt that, then you have never really been in love. You may feel love for many people. Deep care, respect, and general gratitude in finding another who can make you smile and laugh and dream. Those elements are part of being in love, too, but it also includes something more as well. Something beyond words. For, when you truly fall in love, there is no undoing it--try as we might.

What do you do when the monster you love disappears below the surface without you? We all can't be as "lucky" as Elisa Esposito, del Toro's protagonist. Elisa is portrayed in a stunning  display of performance-art by British-born actress (of Irish descent), Sally Hawkins--who has been previously nominated for Academy, BAFTA and Oscar awards. Hawkins actually won the Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), written and directed by Mike Leigh. Her portrayal of Elisa Esposito has already earned Hawkins another Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress. As award-season unfolds, Hawkins will likely earn even more accolades.

In The Shape of Water, Hawkins plays a woman who can hear but cannot speak. She uses sign language throughout the film to communicate. I speak ASL, or American Sign Language, and taught college students at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). One of the biggest complaints was the lack of representation of Deaf-culture in American pop culture. Television series like "Switched at Birth," and "America's Next Top Model," have made small strides in that area. And, while Elisa Esposito is not Deaf, having the star of a film of this caliber communicate primarily through sign language  was a wonder to both see and experience, as was Octavia Spencer's supporting role.

Spencer's talent for conveying strong yet vulnerable characters with big personalities knows no bounds. Also nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Zelda Fuller in The Shape of Water, this Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA-winning actress brings a sense of realness to women's lives. Every girl needs a friend like Octavia Spencer plays on screen.

Richard Jenkins, who many recognize from HBO's "Six Feet Under" (2001-2005), but who I loved in films like Burn After Reading (2008) and Let Me In (2010), plays Giles, a struggling artist from the LGBTQIA community, and Elisa's well-meaning next door neighbor. One of the tastier story highlights for his character creates art out of the difference between what we see, and what lies beneath.

We have all loved "monsters," or at least, I hope that's the case. I hope there are many more than not who see the beauty in a person others see as "ugly" or "scary" or "strange." What's on the surface is often deceiving. As is how we see ourselves. I once knew a man who saw an "obese ogre" when he looked in the mirror. But anyone else who looked at him easily saw a variation of Thor. That was the big difference in my experience with loving a monster--because my monster believed himself to be monstrous, he became monstrous. In all the other fairytales about loving monsters, it is the outside that creates unfounded fear; the inside is far more humane than any human can possibly muster.

I think this movie will have me shedding more than one tear over more than one day. Some mirrors can't be ignored. Because, what is reflected back at us is so surprisingly real, shocked, we simply can't look away.

I can't look away. Complacency is a coping strategy for survival. The problem with complacency is that we get used to feeling comfortable, safe--when, in truth, we are neither. And, for every day we spend pretending to be something we're not, we die a little more...on the inside. You may not even be aware of it. You may even think yourself happy. Until you find a mirror you can't ignore, like I did in The Shape of Water. Then, you will be forced to remember why you hide beneath the soft, warm blankets of what is familiar--still shivering, but not from being cold. Or, wet.

When you have a connection beyond words, there are no words to describe the feelings of loss, of betrayal, of grief, when the physical aspect disappears beneath the surface of murky social waters that are deep and dark and dangerous. Both Elisa and her "monster" had to literally die and be reborn again in order to be together. I think it's like that in real life, too. Though, I am sorry to think it. To feel it. And most especially, to know it.  

"Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with your love. It humbles my heart. For, you are everywhere...."

Everywhere, yet nowhere. Beneath the perfect glass-like reflection of water, there is truth. 

Truth does not hide...it is we who choose not to seek it. 

#Surface

June 3rd is #WonderWomanDay...and I couldn't be happier. #WonderWoman was released in theatres on June 1st. By no small coincidence, I was released on June 1st, too.

Gal Gadot and I are cut from the same cloth. Literally. And I L-O-V-E seeing my soul-sister on the big screen. She is one KICK-ASS #WonderWoman. The movie has been out for all of a day, and it's already breaking records. If any of my readers heard me May 22nd on #CoffeeWithCurmudgeons in #PDX, you know that I called that WAY ahead of time. I also called out anyone who compared #WonderWoman to other DC properties. Why? Because hegemonic discourse is extremely pervasive. So pervasive, in fact, some guy in Austin, Texas decided to write a letter to their mayor about how women are "a second-rate gender."

Someone has his panties in a bunch, eh???

Once you've stopped laughing at this Neanderthal's giant faux-pas, you can laugh at Lebanon's. The country banned #WonderWoman from their theatres because my girl Gal is Jewish. Yes, the government's official stance is that it's at war with Israel and Gal Gadot is Israeli, but we all know it's because she's Jewish from a Jewish State. While anti-Semitism is no joke, it is rather amusing that Lebanon's big denouncement encompasses all of ELEVEN cinemas. Not exactly a big monetary loss for the studios, Gadot, or anyone else for that matter. Except, of course, the Lebanese citizens being denied the opportunity to see one of the most awesome superhero blockbusters of all time....

Hey, none of the above is a big shock. It's not just a Jewish-thing; it's a woman-thing. Women are treated badly all over the globe. To such an extent, the World Economic Forum in 2016 showed that women are asked to do 75% of the free labor in 144 countries...that roughly equates to the tune of trillions. As in TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. The same report showed a financial gap between men and women that also equated to trillions. Essentially, that guy in Austin, Texas isn't alone. Not by a long shot.

Even the most liberal-minded man may find himself hedging on seeing #WonderWoman as opposed to ANY other male-oriented superhero flick. Same thing happened with the 2016 all-female cast of Ghostbusters. The majority of films since Hollywood began have been focused on men. Male leads, male casts male directors, male writers, male producers...and, when women have been in film, it was only to help promote masculinity. To such an extent, that the Bechdel Test was created (meaning, at least two females are featured talking to each other, but not about a male). The Bechdel Test is enforced by watch-dog groups like Bitch Pack in LA, who curate a list of scripts for studios that have actually passed the test. Sadly, it's a rather short list. And this is 97 years after women got the right to vote. Of course, it only took about 70 years of collective efforts for that change to happen in the first place. But then again, African-American males could vote in 1870, yet nearly 100 years later, it was necessary for Dr. Martin Luther King to start the Civil Rights Movement. And yes, more than 50 years since, there are still disconnects like racial profiling--people have died simply because their skin was darker than someone else's. In 2017! SO, it's not a stretch to see how the dominant social group is still resistant to women (of all ethnicities) on pretty much every level, including the silver screen.

What can I say to change your minds about #WonderWoman??? Given that was my nickname, I may be able to help wet your whistle, as it were:

First of all, #WonderWoman was a created because the man who created her, William Moulton Marston, was into BDSM...no, I'm not kidding. Marston was married but also had a relationship with a young, hawt college student named Olive. And, Olive was in charge...oh yes, yes she was. That's where #WonderWoman's magical lasso of truth comes from...you get all tied up and then you HAVE to tell the truth, or, you'll be punished. 

Marston also created the predecessor to the modern-day lie detector test after kinky foreplay sessions...it's true.

#WonderWoman was actually the idea of Marston's wife, Elizabeth. #WonderWoman's character had elements of both Olive and Elizabeth...for example, her bracelets are fashioned after bracelets that Olive donned on a daily basis, while her fortitude and determination were all Elizabeth, who outlived both Marston and Olive until her 100th year on the planet! But it was an article written by Olive that connected Marston to his future comic book publisher.

Marston has five children total, two with Olive and three with Elizabeth. Sadly, Marston died before turning 54 from skin cancer. Marston advocated for women throughout his life. He believed the key to peace on Earth was for people to learn how to be bound, or rather, submit to another human being. If you've ever had the opportunity to enjoy a little kink in the bedroom, you might agree, too. There's no greater sense of joy or peace or ultimate bliss than  a little tie-me-up-tie-me-down, but I digress....

It is also quite a happy turn that #WonderWoman is named #WonderWoman, because, she was originally called #Suprema. What's in a name??? Try $100-million! Yup, that's the projection for this weekend. Haters are gonna hate, but #WonderWoman will always find a way to come out on top.

Kudos to Director, Patty Jenkins. Zack Snyder was one of three men to write and create the storyline for the film, with obvious credit to Marston for his original concept. But it is Gal Gadot who steals the show...quite literally. Her #WonderWoman is a wonder indeed. I can't help but think of how much Marston would have liked Gadot. You'll like her, too. I promise. And, I ALWAYS keep my promises.

Even Rotten Tomatoes gave #WonderWoman their stamp of approval as #CertifiedFresh, so, don't be left out in the cold this summer just because #WonderWoman hits like a girl. Besides, you might like it rough....

See you at the movies!

#WonderWoman

*Thanks to Warner Bros Studios and DC Comics for the trailer and image insert!

Preacher, which recently debuted it's second episode on AMC--a channel made famous for its last TV adaptation from the comic book world through Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead--is just the right kind of subversive. The main character, Jesse Custer, played by British actor, Dominic Cooper, who was also in films like Dracula Untold, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Captain America: The First Avenger (later reprising his role as Howard Stark for TV in Agent Carter), is a preacher in small-town-Texas with a dark past...and, a little something extra thanks to a powerful gift from the heavens. Garth Ennis wrote the original comic book series for Vertigo comics, co-created with artist Steve Dillon, which (sadly) printed its last issue in 2000. Ennis had sold the rights to turn Preacher into a film in 1988...but, as fate would have it, the "religiously controversial" themes proved a stubborn obstacle to even visionaries like HBO as recently as 2006--which is so odd, given the popularity of HBO's True Blood. HBO is now regretful of their decision, attempting to reclaim their True Blood audience through a new series, Outcast, adapted by Walking Dead's Kirkman.

Irony, it's the one thing humanity can never lose....

Thanks to funny-man, Seth Rogen, and his childhood-friend-turned-writer (and director!), Evan Goldberg, Preacher has been revived. And, like one of the Great Awakening's of the 19th century, people are flocking to the cause. Ennis has rich characters that tip-toe along the absurd in wonderful ways that both tickle and delight, like that creepy uncle you saw twice a year at family gatherings--it was always uncomfortable, but it felt good at the same time.

I've watched all the "extra" material and, of course, have read every issue of Preacher in its original form. With Rogen and Goldberg at the wheel, and the early success of the highly anticipated series, Bob Weinstein must be feeling a little foolish today...kind of like the man who walked away from a beautiful woman willing to have adventurous sex every day of the week and any time of day, cooked gourmet meals with fresh, organic ingredients, kept a clean home, wore clothing that showed off her ass and D-cup tits, had a Brazilianed pussy, was unusually enthusiastic about not only getting on her knees and swallowing his full load, but also, paid for most of their life, AND, wanted to have his baby. Yup, THAT kind of foolish.

Even Rogen and Goldberg have had their share of scares with Preacher...it's taken nearly three years to hit small screens across America from the moment it was first announced in 2013. Essentially, Ennis has suffered nearly 28 years of frustration as his creation, which he already knew had an audience, waited in Hollywood purgatory before finding its Jewish saviors. Hey, Jesus started that trend, y'all--don't be shooting the messenger now. Or, I'll have to sick Tulip on you....

Part of what makes Preacher's television adaptation 100% #PopCultureProfessor™ APPROVED are the oh-so-fun, three-dimensional characters Ennis created, first breathed into life by artist Steve Dillon's talented hands; Glenn Fabry was responsible for Preacher's cover art. It was a wild ride, that comic book. AMC's version promises nothing less. When your first introduction to the main female character, played perfectly by Ruth Negga, is her overpowering two men in a speeding car with a dead driver before taking down a helicopter with a home-made bazooka filled with toys, you know it's gonna be good.

I know Rogen and Goldberg laugh at the way they announce in big white letters across the screen the change in setting, but it's a comic book adaptation. That's how it's supposed to look. The device gives a visual sense of the traditional panels used by comic book artists since the dawn of the industry, which, by no small coincidence, was also spearheaded by Jews, like Hollywood itself. Of course, Garth Ennis is from Northern Ireland. Born in 1970, he's responsible for storylines in comics like Punisher, Hitman, Goddess, Hellblazer, and a plethora of other award-winningly gritty narratives. But not even the self-proclaimed (if not patriarchal) "Comic Book Man" himself, Kevin Smith, was able to help Ennis make his Preacher-dream a reality.

Maybe Rogen and Goldberg will invite me to be a guest writer for an episode of the second season of Preacher...break up that sausage-fest you boys have going on with Sam Catlin of Breaking Bad fame. Fair warning, I've never done any drugs before. Not even pot. And no, I'm not kidding. But it would be an honor to smoke my first joint with you all. Especially if we're talking about Preacher. Or, This Is The End. It's one of my favorite movies of all time, a total romp in pop culture heaven...but I digress.

The good news for people like Bob Weinstein, whose Dimension Films specializes in storylines like Preacher, is that you can always try to woo back the one that got away. You'll have competition now. And, you have to somehow negotiate the negatives you created when you first turned your back. But we Jews don't hold grudges. I even know a Holocaust survivor who drives a Mercedes! Though, I can't say the same for the Irish. I'm half-and-half, you see. My Irish Ma left her abusive, alcoholic husband after his addictions got him kicked out of the military. She never spoke his name again. Not even to divorce him. It was as if he never existed. Ever. Then again, she also insisted there were no pubs in Ireland....

Watch Preacher. Watch every extra feature, too. Watch each episode on Sunday nights on AMC then watch it over and over again OnDemand. This is not a suggestion. Or, a recommendation. It's a command. Like when Jesse tells the pedaphile school bus driver to forget the little girl he's obsessing over. Or, the girl in a coma to wake up. You don't want to miss what is nothing less than an historic pop culture moment.

Though Rotten Tomatoes gives Preacher a healthy 92% rating and IMDB gives it an 8.8/10, I'm turning it up to "11." If you don't get that pop culture reference, you're pathetic and obviously need to invest more of your time and energy into watching television and film. Or at the very least, Netflix. Now THAT is something you can put in your "Breaking Bud" roach clip and smoke it! With or without Wiz Khalifa, who I happened to meet last year in Atlanta while he was on tour with Fallout Boy.  And no, I didn't smoke with him. I've been saving myself for the right partner(s). Yup, I'm that kinda girl. We can have a threesome, or foursome if Catlin joins, and you all can pop my marijuana-cherry. All in the name of pop culture research, of course....

Preacher is must-watch television. It gets my stamp of approval...which is not only backed up by a PhD, but also 20 years of teaching college students how to write in, about, and with pop culture, multiple international best-selling books on pop culture translated in nine languages and sold in 57 (!) countries, a Wizard World tour as the first female scholar in the States to work with comic books, expert quotes on pop culture in print newspapers like the LA Times and USA Today, AND, last but never least, an internationally-recognized Trademark. Mine.

You're welcome...though it is I who should be thanking you. And, I do.

#Preacher

#PopCultureProfessor™ Post-script: Happy belated birthday to Dominic Cooper, who just turned 38 last week on June 2nd, under the astrological sign of Gemini. Latin for Twins, Gemini is known for Jekyll-and-Hyde tendencies, which makes Cooper's Custer in Preacher even more delightful. He may be more like his comic book character in "real" life than the British actor would care to admit....

Jason David Frank and I embrace after not seeing each other for a month or so. We've been working together for two years now. And I'm proud to call JDF my friend. He's probably one of the most determined, brilliant men I've ever met, but he's also extremely grounded. His energy is off the charts, too. A natural performer, he can easily improv, rapping one minute and the next, telling a young girl or boy to go for their dreams and never give up.

My career as an Entertainer, Host, and Moderator has spanned 16 years. Yes, I know. L-o-n-g time. There have been lots of amazing moments, too. One such moment includes New Orleans Comic Con 2014, where JDF surprised me, and the audience, with a visit from Stan Lee! When the door opened, I started to get up to manage whatever the "problem" was, but when I saw Stan's smiling face, I started shaking. With mic in hand, I announced, "It's Stan Lee, everyone!" And a BIG smile crossed my face as Stan literally jumped on stage, put his hand on Jason's shoulder, and began telling the audience that the power of Marvel was behind Jason David Frank.

My most recent adventure was at Chicago Comic Con. Ah, Chicago! One of my favorite cities. The deep dish pizza, Wrigley Field, Hyde Park, Lincoln Park, the shopping, and wonderful friends...so much good in one place! I was even in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day earlier this year. Like I said, it's one of my favorite cities. When I go, I always get a good feeling...and at Chicago Comic Con, the fans were A-MAZING!

People were so generous and kind to me; I felt the Comic Con-love ALL weekend and will definitely be back in 2015!

Today, I'm performing at #DragonCon2014. My show on #VampireMyth is at 4pm, Hyatt North. Next week, New York! And a week after that, #NashvilleComicCon!!! So stay tuned! There is A LOT happening in 2015.

My updates have been sporadic in the last six months, mainly because I recently established a new home-base in #HOTlanta. So now, I'm in three cities: LA, NY, & ATL!!!

Wizard World is located in LA, and my NY-house was home for 21 years; I started teaching there in 1994. Today, my family, and many wonderful friends, still live there. It is also the perfect retreat with mountain views, woods, and an award-winning winery within a mile. The house-search and move to Atlanta went smoothly as well. I feel very blessed to be in another peaceful location surrounded by mountains and lush forest, literally in my backyard. The two-person soaking tub is pretty kick-ass, too. I have posted pics and video from my new pad on YouTube. Become a subscriber when you get a chance. Like I said, so much is coming in 2015; I'll update you with videos, blog posts and other news on social media as often as possible. And to that end, let me say:

Thank you to EVERYONE for your incredible support in the last two years. If you're a regular reader, you know that my life has had plenty of pitfalls, including health struggles like depression. How can someone be depressed with all these interesting things going on??? Well, depression is not a mood swing. It's bio-chemical and can be a side-effect of other serious health issues. I have to claim victory over the disease every day. And it's not easy. There are medications that can help, but I am unable to take them. Meditation, exercise, acupuncture, staying connected to nature, and a healthy diet all help me cope. But you, my lovely readers, the audiences at Comic Con who are so kind, my Twitter Followers, Facebook fans, beloved student-family, and people like Perry Chen, Chairman of KickStarter, who took the time to fly in to Chicago to hear me give a talk...you are the real medicine. My healers. And not a single moment passes where I'm not entirely #Grateful to each of you.  

So when I do my show on #VampireMyth today @DragonCon, and connect audiences with over 12,000 years of human history, not a single syllable will be spoken without full knowledge of how your love and support make it possible. And continue to do so.

Have a WONDERFUL Labor Day weekend! I hope you spend it with friends and family, in joy. peace and love. And for my True Blood fans out there...my take on the Series Finale is coming! If you're @DragonCon this weekend, try to catch two of my favorites from the show: Kristin Bauer aka "Pam" and Nelsan Ellis aka "Lafayette"!

I now leave you in the capable hands of my talented friend, Flo Rida, who definitely gives me a "Good Feeling" every time I hear his voice:

Wizard World special guest and friend, James Marsters and I are sitting on stage together in front of 1,500 people in Minneapolis, left. We're on one of two big screens that flanked the stage. James is known for his role as Spike on Joss Whedon's ground-breaking series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. He's also had a few other "killer" roles on hit shows like Smallville, Torchwood, Supernatural, and Warehouse 13, just to name a few. That picture was taken a week ago. Today, away from the bright lights, celebrity pals like James, screaming fans, and stage, I sit in my small corner of Upstate New York, alone. Quite a contrast, I know....

Life has definitely been an amazing adventure in the last five years. And I'm beyond grateful for the opportunities determination, perseverance and hard work have afforded. But more than that, I'm grateful to the mothers who helped shape my destiny, like my grandmother, Eva. She was my mother in every way. And when she died in 2009, I felt lost. Alone. As if I'd never receive the kind of love she gave me again.

She would have loved seeing me in my Alexander McQueen while on stage, performing for crowds like the one that came in for James. "Only my Rebecca," she'd say, smiling that magnetic smile I was fortunate enough to inherit, thanks to the magic of genetics.

Though I feel her with me each day, I can't help but yearn to hear her laugh again. Listen for her slippered feet shuffling down the gleaming hallway hardwoods. Feel the incomparable love in one of her seriously good hugs. Yeah...I miss that last one most.

What would she say to me today, if we could once again sit at her kitchen table, frozen brownies, poppy seed cookies and blueberry cake thawing on a tray in front of us as her kettle began to rattle on the gas stove for tea? The first thing she'd talk about, besides my "ugly" sneakers, would be my teeth. She was obsessed with teeth. Having a straight, white smile was important to her. Not because she was shallow. Because she knew that a great smile opened doors. Doors that can lead to sitting on stage with talents like James Marsters. Where most people gloss over the importance of appearance in connection to success, my grandmother was unabashedly honest about it. Glad I listened. In more ways than one.

Once we got past things like my bad choice of footwear, straight-white teeth, blonde hair, and whether or not I was eating enough, my grandmother would masterfully turn the conversation to more serious matters, like my relationship.

*cough, cough*

"If anybody can do it, it's my Rebecca...," she'd say, after I spouted every fear, doubt, and impossible path I thought, for some reason, would be a good idea. This somewhat vague statement simply meant: Have patience, and stay the course. Whether about love, an important life decision, or a professional goal, it never mattered. The moment I conceived of any idea, my grandmother believed in me. She never once faltered in that belief. It's what allows me to move forward today with such confidence. Because my grandmother was ALWAYS right. And even though she's not physically here today, her faith in me remains.

In December, that faith helped me travel to Europe for the first time to see the WWII grave sight of my grandmother's brother, Nathan. He died a few weeks before the Battle of the Bulge under General Patton. At 22, the almost-graduate from Ball State and first in the family to attend college, joined the Army to help free the oppressed. He was studying engineering and like my grandmother, like me, he was also a polyglot. This came in very handy, given that two of the many languages he spoke included German and Russian. Nathan was the youngest of my grandmother's siblings. His loss never left my grandmother. Afraid to fly, she was unable to visit his grave; this bothered her greatly. She always felt unsettled about it, unsure if her beloved brother was truly at rest. When I went there four months ago, it was for her. A friend accompanied me to the cemetery. He stood by my side as the caretaker performed a small ceremony at the grave to honor my uncle, who died a hero. Not because he died in service. But because he died saving another's life. Like my grandmother saved mine.

That's why she's my mother; I'm alive today because of her. Because when my grandmother saved me, it was not to die a slow death. Or take the easy road for the sake of tired feet. No, she saved me to live, and live fully. To be brave. Strong. Like her. To be patient. And stay the course. No matter what. 

After all, if anybody can do it, I can...thanks to my grandmother.

Miss you and love you, Grams! Every. Single. Day.

#HappyMothersDay

Hello there! You may be wondering where I've been the last two months (actually, kind of curious about that myself...). The better question may be, where HAVEN'T I been???

That handsome fellow next to me is Dean Cain. Yes, THAT Dean Cain of LOIS & CLARK fame. We were tearing it up at Wizard World New Orleans earlier this month. You'll have to wait for more on my time in the Big Easy though....

In the span of a single day, I blew through a whopping SEVEN states. Yup, Stevie Nicks isn't the only gypsy. But my adventures include something bigger than the expanse of the beautiful Smokey Mountains...that "something bigger" is #LOVE.

#LOVE is the miracle that turns sociopaths into people. The joy we get from giving and receiving #LOVE is unparalleled. Yet #LOVE is also the cause of our greatest pain. My heart has been broken more times than I can count. At this point, it's more scar tissue than muscle. But I'm ever-hopeful despite the pain...most of the time.

If we could judge #LOVE on feelings alone, we'd all be much happier. But #LOVE is more than a feeling (a la BOSTON), it's a commitment. "I love you" is easy to say; backing it up, however, takes MAJOR effort. And if you are the only one putting that effort forward, no matter how you feel, you are likely the only person driving the relationship. Maybe you feel like that's okay, but it isn't. Any person willing to give 100% for #LOVE deserves to be with someone who is not only willing, but more than capable of doing the same.

Facing the reality that you are giving more than you receive in #LOVE is really, really, really hard. Especially if your heart has been broken more often than not. Like mine. Probably like yours, too. Welcome to our humanity, right??? Wrong!

There's nothing complicated about backing up "I love you" with clear actions that match those feelings. Like Nike, you just do it. And when you do, you at least expect a cup of coffee for your trouble, maybe dinner, a flower, SOMETHING. You don't expect to be left hanging out to dry like yesterday's laundry after a sunny day. But it happens. And when it does, the bouncing ball is in your court.

#LOVE is hard to find, When you find it, you don't want to lose it. You'll do anything to keep it. But if you're the only one making real action-oriented efforts to support that #LOVE, it's time to take a step back. Maybe your partner will realize their mistake when you do. Maybe not. No matter what, you've already proven yourself. It's their turn. Even if you feel like being apart from your beloved will kill you, you MUST have self-respect. No one else will give it to you. 

Being taken for granted is a common problem for those of us who are doers. However, it's not ours. The problem rests on those taking us for granted. Blind, lazy, scared, maybe even outright stupid...whatever the reason, the only agency you have is on your own behalf. You are not Jesus. You cannot make blind men see. The best you can do is take off your own rose-colored glasses. If you like what you see, bully for you! If you don't, open your mouth. Have a conversation. Change may be hard, but it is necessary if both your words and your actions are not taken seriously in a serious situation. And as playful as #LOVE can be,  if there isn't mutual respect--in other words an even give-and-take--you will playing through more than your share of pain. 

I will keep you posted as I continue my journey through life and #LOVE...please do the same!

#LoveTheDoers

Hello! There I am, left, sitting in a rather swanky restaurant after opening Ohio Comic Con on Friday, September 20th. And yes, a tequila shot was en route....

Ohio Comic Con absolutely ROCKED this year. Not only did my guests include comic book legend Neal Adams, but also Oscar-nominated and award-winning actor, Sean Astin; the mega-talented genius behind SyFy's Ghost Hunters, Grant Wilson; MMA-champ and Power Rangers star, Jason David Frank; Summer Glau and Ron Glass from Firefly, Arrow and the new ABC series, Agents of Shield; Star Wars, X-Men and GI Joe star, the very charming (and totally gorgeous...) Ray Park; and last, but certainly not least, the man who continued to surprise me, Ghostbuster star, Ernie Hudson. Whew! I almost fainted when Hudson took off his black leather jacket, revealing not only hardcore pecks and abs that would make Arnold Schwarzenegger drool, but a pair of guns to match...le sigh.

I also had opportunity to meet Attack of the Show's Sara Underwood--and yes, she's even more beautiful in person, hang with The Walking Dead's Michael Rooker and Norm Reedus, as well as the original Hulk, Lou Ferrigno. An unexpected but very happy surprise was meeting the host of a new SyFy show named Molly O'Connolly. This girl is one-to-watch! She lit up the room when she walked in with Grant. Her positive energy was absolutely infectious. I'm talking to Molly soon so stay tuned for more on this rising star!

My own show, Vampire Myth & Supernatural Superhero Legend, went off without a hitch...well, except for the ghost. Yes, a ghost was in the room. I later talked to Grant Wilson about this, and he wished he'd had his equipment with him. But when Ernie Hudson entered the same room, all went quiet on that Western Ohio front.

Another highlight was Tony Kim's Wonder Women of the 21st Century. I'm apparently one of them. The panel included hot comic book/graphic novel artist, Nen, as well as Victoria from SyFy's Heroes of Cosplay and good friend, Mexican comic book artist, Umberto Ramos. We talked about sex, and more sex...and yes, more sex. It sells, did you know??? 

I'll have more on Ohio Comic Con with follow ups on Grant Wilson, Ernie Hudson, Ray Park, Summer Glau & Ron Glass, JDF, and of course, the great Sean Astin--who, by the way--is THE MOST GENUINE person you'll ever meet.

Until then, stay thirsty my friends....

The woman who writes all the blog entries that more 314,000 of you have been reading? She's real. That's her. Or rather, me. Nice to meet you! 

When I write about love (or anything else for that matter), I write from personal experience. In the insert, left, taken just a few days ago, I'm at a bar on a "date." The Boston Red Sox were playing the LA Dodgers. I'm originally from Boston and work for a company located in LA. So the game was particularly intense for me. And the date? It may not show up in my books (everything I do isn't like a scripted sex fantasy...), but I did have a nice time.  

My wild protagonists who drink tequila shots and enjoy spending time with 20-somethings aren't all exactly like me--though tequila shots are my drink of choice (only 69 calories...what a serendipitous number!). But their lives do bear some resemblance to mine. Like the smokin' hot 20-something who tried to pick me up as I walked out of the grocery store two weeks ago. He literally chased me down in order to say this:
 
"This is going to sound like a total pick-up line, but how do I know you?"

My response? "Hard to tell with your clothes on but I think you're the lifeguard supervisor at my gym."

Can't make this stuff up! When #LOVE isn't the focus, I write and speak about Pop Culture as The #PopCultureProfessor (@DocHousel on Twitter). The LA Times, USA Today, Esquire (Latin America), Huffington Post, Marie Claire (Roma), Salon.com, Women's World, Redbook, London Times, and other national/international publications have used my quotes on everything from Hollywood to Twilight to Iron Man to Fifty Shades of Grey. I've published five books on pop culture (so far...more on the way!) and am a frequent guest on pop culture podcasts about Doctor Who (like the Cultdom Collective), radio on pop culture (like LA's Krypton Radio), and rock-and-roll talk shows (like Anarchy Radio in the Pacific Northwest).

My work takes me on the road quite a bit thanks to Wizard World and their AMAZING Comic Cons featuring a number of my clients, including Showtime's Homeland star and Joss Whedon-darling, expectant mom, Morena Baccarin; the incomparable James Hong, an insanely funny man who has acted in more than 500 roles over the last 57 years, and, whose recent film with Ryan Reynolds, RIPD, was a terrific summer blockbuster that had me laughing out loud; the beloved (and inspirational!) best-selling author and award-winning actor, Henry Winkler; mega-talent of stage and screen (and one of my favorite people on the planet), HBO's True Blood star, Denis O'Hare; HBO Canada's star of the award-winning comedy, Call Me Fitz, 90210 star, author, director, producer, and 21st century Renaissance man, Jason Priestly...James Marsters (Buffy, Angel, Torchwood, Warehouse 13), John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Arrow), Eliza Dushku (Bring It On, Buffy, Angel, Tru Calling, Dollhouse), Kevin Sorbo (The Adventures of Hercules), Jason David Frank (MMA Champ, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, Scott Pilgrim, Chuck), Charisma Carpenter (Lying Game, Buffy, Angel), Michael Madsen (Sin City, Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs), Sam Trammell (True Blood), Sam Witwer (Being Human, Star Wars: Clone Wars), Paul Wesley (Vampire Diaries), Torrey DeVitto (Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries), and oh yes, the man I have total girl-wood for, Kris Holden Reid of SyFy's Lost Girl and Showtime's The Tudors (call me...). 

I've also been interviewed by Emmy-winning writer and producer, Tom Wagner, for Paper Heroes, a PBS American Masters Series documentary on comic books as the first female scholar in the States to focus on comics. Some of the comic book artists and writers I know, love and have worked with include Gail Simone (Batgirl, Red Sonja), Kody Chamberlain (Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story, MTV's Punks), Mark Texeira (Punisher, X-Men, Vampirella, Hero's Death), Mike Raicht and Charles Paul Wilson III (Stuff of Legend, X-Men, Dark Shadows), Rob Guillory (Chew), Hope Larson (A Wrinkle in Time), Dan Schaefer (TMNT, Walking Dead, Grimm), Brett Weldele (The Surrogates), Chrissie Zullo (Cinderella's Fables), Tyler Kirkham and Scotty Lobdell (Superman), Bob Layman (Iron Man), Nate Edmondson (Where is Jake Ellis?), and many, many more super-talented people that simply rock my world in terms of their passion for comic books. Yes, I was that girl--the freak-and-geek who ran around without my shirt on, swinging from the trees as Tarzan, fencing boys with branches as Zorro, and generally saving my small world from "evil" as a super-heroic kid who related more to fictional monsters like the Wolfman than to actual humans.

Am I a real professor? Yes! Eleven teaching nominations and five awards agree that, indeed, not only am I a teacher, I'm a kick-ass teacher. The only professor who raps (yes, I rap--get over it), my particular talent is helping students not only see their full potential, but realize that potential as doctors, lawyers, politicians, CEOs, writers, artists, pro athletes, film-makers, illustrators, animators, reporters, journalists, actuaries, graphic designers, engineers, rocket scientists--you name it. My beloved "Housel-alums" make me PROUD every single day. Our connection is truly unique, one that has transcended both time and space. It's a lot like a quantum entanglement at the sub-atomic level, making my existence extraordinary. Well, more extraordinary than it already is to be on our miraculous little planet.

And the rest? You can catch up by reading my blog archives. There's A LOT of material there...on philosophy, comics/books, film, pop culture, culinary arts, history, social theory, politics, medicine, #LOVE, even baseball! I do have one hint about something coming up in the near future...it has to do with a video series that's gotten 20-million hits on YouTube. It's hysterical. It's EXPLOSIVE. And my fellow comedienne and Drop Dead Diva star, Margaret Cho, has also been featured in this same series. Titillated? Me, too! Hate to be a tease, but.... ;)

Until next time, you, dear readers, are very much #PopCultureProfessor APPROVED!!!

"You stay classy, San Diego...I'm Ron Burgundy???"  

PS: If you miss my pop culture cooking recipes, please use the contact page to make an inquiry--after all, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Music has been haunting my dreams lately. But that's not all that's been haunting me: A beautiful man, always in control, who makes me feel invincible. And I can't pretend that doesn't mean anything. Because it does. Like the lyrics in Mariah Carey's song, #Beautiful. The beautiful man is a ghost. Vanished into thin air. Surreal, like the dreams he's haunting. #Beautiful was playing on repeat in my head when I woke up this morning. I wasn't even aware I knew the words until I read them just now. But the lyrics are exactly what happens in my dream.

How do you stop a ghost from haunting you? From telling you things that aren't real? From making you believe in something that's nothing more than vapor? I wish I knew. Because this ghost has been with me for almost three weeks now.

I read about how to get rid of ghosts or negative energy online: You have to be firm, unemotional, crack every window in your house, and burn a bundle of dried sage. It's called "smudging" but I'm not sure this method will work on my ghost. Because my ghost isn't dead. 

A living ghost? It's true. Yet I can't talk to him. My ghost is the only one with the power to contact me.

I'm actually frightened by my ghost. What if he doesn't go away? As scary as that thought is, what's worse is, my ghost may be haunting me because...I want him to. Even when I'm not conscious.

Is it possible to feel so lonely that you create your own ghosts--if only to keep you company? As pathetic and sad as that sounds, it's no less true. Still, he is #Beautiful. And even if it's only in my dreams, he does make me feel invincible. I gave the ghost control because of that--and now it seems, I can't get it back.

The irony of a ghost making me feel alive isn't lost on me. There are reasons for this. And I know them all. It makes me ask if there will ever be a day when I am not vulnerable...to ghosts, to men, to cruelty, to loneliness, to fear, to poverty, hunger, homelessness??? That's like asking if there will be a day when I am no longer human (even if an immortal).

I imagine my ghost, though totally transparent, somehow reads this blog. If he does, I wish he'd make himself visible to me. I'm not angry that you haunt my dreams. I'm not angry at all. When you make yourself known, I want to thank you for helping me feel like more than I am, even if it isn't real. I want to explain why your friendship--even as a ghost--has meant so much to me. Then, you can go back to being a ghost if you want. But I hope that if you have the courage to show me your face, you won't disappear again. Because I need a friend. And if you're still haunting me, you do, too.

See you tonight, #Beautiful....