It's supposed to be a parody of itself, right?

Dustin Hoffman’s directing bow at 75 finds a perfect match in the well-heeled subject of “Quartet,” a charming tale of aging musicians whose passion for life continues undiminished in a stately English manor filled with humor, caring and of course great music. This optimistic fairy tale about aging and the continuing possibilities it offers for emotional satisfaction should strike the fancy of older audiences who turned the British indie “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” into a breakout hit released around the world. Leading a cast of real-life musical veterans, Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay put the stamp of quality on a lush-looking production, albeit one that adheres to genre rules with an iron grip.

There’s something magical about a Christmas tree. Blinking lights, cherished ornaments, and handmade decorations from baby hands that are now grown big, all promising the anticipation of Christmas future.

There are so many beautiful Christmas lights everywhere this time of year. Martin Luther is credited with having been the first to put candles on an evergreen tree because he wanted to show his children how the lights reminded him of stars twinkling in the night sky.

As the tree goes up, the holiday decorations come out and homes fill with family and friends, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) is reminding pet owners to please keep their pets away from the following hazards this holiday season:

Thriving families remain the hope of America. And when one does well, it’s a very good thing to put it out there as a paradigm of choice. Many are looking for better ways.

Let your light shine.

There are Christmas lights, and then there are ZooLights. There is just something about these things that everyone is buzzing about. And, according to the man in charge of the annual production, the show is revamped to be bigger than ever before.

Saturday, Nov. 24

Through Dec. 24

The first time we saw Twinkle, it was her flirty and affectionate nature that drew us to her as we were choosing cats to rescue that day. She rolled over in her cage and stuck her paws up at the window as if to say, “I’m so cute, don’t you want to pick me?”

Twinkle is a gem of a kitty. First, she's unbelievably cute and very photogenic to boot. Second, she's a snuggler! Twinkle is an affectionate little girl that enjoys being held. She turns her purr motor on when she's being pet or otherwise snuggled by her people. Finally, Twinkle loves a good play session. She enjoys chasing balls and loves being taunted by wand toys. She'll duck in and out of her condo cubbyholes, jump high into the air, and roll around on the floor - anything that will help her capture that wand. And when she is successful, she will carry that wand away in her mouth to explain to it who is boss. Twinkle does well with other friendly kittens after an introductory period - she plays a little hard to get at first but, in no time, comes around. She does very well with her current kitty roommate.

Ah, it's almost here: Absolutely my favorite night of the month, right up there with "dinner-is-anything-you-can-fix-yourself-night." Date Night. I admit; it takes some juggling. Securing a babysitter, feeding the kids, picking out something to wear that says, "hot mama" instead of "frazzled mama," peeling a protesting preschooler off my hip. But once we're out the door .... freedom!

For the first time I can remember, it is mid-February and our Christmas tree is still up and full of ornaments. Stockings are hanging over the fireplace, and baby Jesus is in the manger scene, which rests quietly on a table. Everything looks exactly as it did two months ago as we prepared to celebrate Jesus’ birth. It took so much time to decorate everything and the twinkling lights are so pretty that it seemed a shame to take it all down after only a few weeks.

For the first time I can remember, it is mid-February and our Christmas tree is still up and full of ornaments. Stockings are hanging over the fireplace, and baby Jesus is in the manger scene, which rests quietly on a table. Everything looks exactly as it did two months ago as we prepared to celebrate Jesus’ birth. It took so much time to decorate everything and the twinkling lights are so pretty that it seemed a shame to take it all down after only a few weeks.

For the first time I can remember, it is mid-February and our Christmas tree is still up and full of ornaments. Stockings are hanging over the fireplace, and baby Jesus is in the manger scene, which rests quietly on a table. Everything looks exactly as it did two months ago as we prepared to celebrate Jesus’ birth. It took so much time to decorate everything and the twinkling lights are so pretty that it seemed a shame to take it all down after only a few weeks.

By definition, laughter is an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement, but the members of Laurie's Laughoholic Club know that it is much more than that.