Hey Tommy-What the @#*%$$#@!!!????

Beginning with the volleyball scene in Top Gun I was in love with Tom Cruise, and I must say that was a love that lasted a long time, even through three marriages (two his, one mine). But then Tommy started to get into Scientology and, while I try to be open to other people's beliefs, a 'religion' dealing with aliens just kind of makes it difficult to take that person seriously. (Apparently part of Scientology teaches that Zenu, an extraterrestrial, brought aliens to earth and exterminated them with hydrogen bombs but their souls stuck to the bodies of humans. Huh?) Tommy says it changed his life, but all I've seen in the past few years is his head swelling as he gets fuller and fuller of himself. The last straw was a recent criticism of Brooke Shields for using Paxil to help treat her post-partum depression. He called her use of the drug 'misguided' and says he's 'disappointed' in her; he also throws in, apparently for good measure, that her career is over. Cruise states that anti-depressants are dangerous and he's helped people come off of them through Scientology. Another quote: "When you talk about postpartum, you can take people today, women, and what you do is you use vitamins. There is a hormonal thing that is going on, scientifically, you can prove that. But when you talk about emotional, chemical imbalances in people, there is no science behind that. You can use vitamins to help a woman through those things." From what I've read, Scientologists oppose taking drugs for psychiatric problems.
First of all, unless you've dealt with any kind of depression, you have no idea what you're talking about. About a week after my semi-breakdown in February somebody asked me if I was 'OK' now, as if I'd just gotten over a cold. My first impression was annoyance, but then I realized that she had just never personally had to deal with it and couldn't possibly understand that it is a chronic thing you deal with daily. Second, post-partum depression is something that occurs in women, not men, and there's enough guilt thrown in already without a man adding some more. Third, it is incredibly arrogant and dangerous for an actor to make statements regarding any kind of medical treatment. Weather they realize it or not, they have influence over other people. Somebody who is already struggling with the stigma associated with depression and the guilt over 'giving in' to taking meds could be swayed to stop taking them and quickly find themselves in a bad place. Even worse, somebody may never seek treatment at all for fear of being criticized.
The candid manner in which Brooke Shields discusses her struggle with PPD is something she should be praised for, while Tom Cruise needs a good 'ole butt-kickin. Oh, and by the way, she is currently getting rave reviews for her role in the London theatre production of Chicago.
'Bye, Tommy. Don't let the door hit your inflated ego on the way out.

Aaaaaahhhhhhh.........now THAT feels better!

Two Down, Fourteen to Go??!!

OK, so I'm obsessive about how long summer is when I should be totally enjoying the quality time with my kids, right?? I know I got a huge break when Monta Vista Academy called with an opening for Maggs for the summer, but I still struggle with guilt over that (back to that whole mountain-out-of-molehill talent I have). Ahhhhhh parenthood!!!
I've almost finished reading "Down Came the Rain" by Brooke Shields, where she documents her struggle with post-partum depression. While my experience was never as severe as hers, I do have to say it's comforting to hear somebody else describe all the conflicting feelings that occur the first few months after childbirth. I want every male out there to read it so they can see we weren't making it all up!!! It's just one thing on the long list of things we just wish guys could get.
I know I'm rambling. I'm sleepy, partially from being up since 5:30 am (but I did run 4 miles this morning!!) and partially from the last glass of wine in the bottle. I had noticed it's been a while since my last post and wanted to put something on my blog just to keep my name out there!! I'm off to beddy-bye as soon as I'm done here!!
Hope all of your summers are off to a great start. And a big Happy Fourth Birthday out to John Boone, the little cutie pie!!