Teri Garr and Ida Tarbell

I recently listened to Teri Garr reading her book, "Speedbumps: Flooring it Through Hollywood." I usually don't pay much attention to Hollywood types, nor do I usually care to hear them talk about themselves, but you see...

When I was young, I used to have a crush on Teri Garr. She just seemed so sweet. When I got older, of course, I grew out of those types of things and I don't get crushes on Hollywood types because I know they are just as human as someone standing right next to me.

Also, I had a dream about Teri. In the dream she was an old woman of about 80 and had been with the same man since she was young. Then I saw her as a child when she first met the guy, something like 5 years old in the same pose as on the cover of her book with lots of freckles. When I awoke from the dream, I thought it was BS that she had been with the same man since childhood, but what do I know, and my curiosity wasn't peaked.

Off to the library I go to check out some books on CD, and I find hers, in the same pose as the one in my dream. I was reluctant at first, figuring I'd be disappointed.

It was funny! Teri Garr is a funny funny woman. I really loved the book. It was interesting hearing about her childhood and how she managed her career and having come from a family that entertains. She also has MS, and was struggling with it for 20 years before it was properly diagnosed. Having had a friend that passed away because of this disease, that really touched me as well. Teri Garr is an amazing woman and a great human being.

She also has a daughter who must be 15 by now, that she loves very much. Her name is Molly. Like my daughter, Felicia, she is adopted and very Loved.

Ida Tarbell was the first investigative journalist. She was an awesome woman who, in the early 20th century, wrote pieces that became very famous about Napoleon and Lincoln. She is most know, however, for bringing to light the behavior of trusts, specifically JD Rockefeller's Standard Oil Trust.

I recently listened to the unabridged, "Taking on the Trust," by Steve Weinberg. It was an amazing story, one all should read or get on CD (as I did) and listen to.

Ida grew up in the oil biz. Her father was a barrel manufacturer. It was interesting how she exposed the way Rockefeller did business. She was one who would dig up documents. She often could find things that no one else could nor for that matter even considered finding. She was an amazing human being and the world is a better place for her.

Since I currently live with an investigative journalist (and her two kids and clown husband), it just added sweetness to the story and the amazingness of both women.

I Love women. Not in the common male sexist stereotype. Women have to overcome adversity because of their gender in this twisted patriarchal society. When men achieve things, it isn't that big of a deal to me. Men have a leg up in society that women don't. This pretty much goes all over the world. So any woman achievements to me are more important than mens. They amaze me. I am happy to add Teri Garr and Ida Tarbell to my list of women I Love.