Set in late 1950s Los Angeles, Rules Don’t Apply is a fictional portrait of Howard Hughes in his later years. Wearing two hats—director and actor—Warren Beatty skillfully captures the eccentricities, OCD habits, and neurosis of the reclusive billionaire.
Appearing primarily in shadows, Hughes interacts with a revolving door of characters played by several A-list actors, among them Matthew Broderick, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, and Candice Bergen.
The main plot involves a fictional love triangle with aspiring actress Marla Mabrey (Lily Collins), chauffeur Frank Forbes (Alen Ehrenreich), and Howard Hughes. Several comedic scenes with Marla’s mother (Annette Bening) highlight the frustration experienced by the more than thirty young women who are anxiously awaiting their screen tests and first encounters with Howard Hughes.
Ignoring the rule that chauffeurs cannot have relationships with the actresses, Marla and Frank flirt and gravitate toward each other. But when Marla finally meets Hughes for his-and-hers TV dinners on folding trays, she becomes infatuated with him. And, in his weird, unconventional way, Hughes also shows interest. Complications ensue, and Marla disappears from the movie for a significant period of time. I would have liked more scenes with Marla and her mother.
At times, the movie rambles, veering in several directions. While some scenes—especially those involving intense cravings for banana nut ice cream and bizarre flights manned by Hughes—are comedic, others only skim the surface of the billionaire’s business problems and accusations of dementia by an unauthorized biographer.
An entertaining movie that has piqued my interest about Howard Hughes.
Friday evening, I joined four other NaNoWriMo winners at 
We can all benefit by finding the right treat or combination of treats that serve as “comfort food” for our brains. It is important, however, not to fall into the trap of selecting pleasures that come at a cost. For example, an hour of retail therapy may lift our moods, but over-spending will strain our finances. Eating that ice-cream cone or extra piece of cheesecake may calm jittery nerves and add pounds.
1. Hazel Rose lived in Los Angeles for many years, working as a software developer.
5. Hazel started the Murder on Tour book group in 2003 with Carlene Arness, the current wife of Hazel’s first husband and the reason that Hazel’s hopes of remarrying her ex were dashed (see #3).
Maggie King is the author of the Hazel Rose Book Group mysteries, including the recently-released Murder at the Moonshine Inn. She contributed the stories “A Not So Genteel Murder” and “Reunion at Shockoe Slip” to the Virginia is for Mysteries anthologies.
When facing a cancer diagnosis it can be helpful to find a support group. Connecting with people who are experiencing the same things and can share in your struggles and triumphs can be immensely important for a patient’s mental and emotional health. These groups prevent patients from feeling isolated and the people they encounter may be able to offer helpful insights.
Words have power: they bring us hope, connect us across generations and geography, and can be an outlet for our internal struggles. The written word can be a 
Although it may sound cliche, friends and family truly are an essential support system. Many of us are not used to asking for help or admitting when we feel defeated. Reaching out to the people you’re close to can help relieve any feelings of solitude and supplement a cancer-focused support group. In addition to emotional support, loved ones also have the unique ability to make us laugh and distract us from hardship. Friends and family can also offer support by accompanying patients to their doctor visits and acting as another set of ears at the appointments.
Treat yourself to our favorite comfort food recipes–soups and stews; breads, biscuits and muffins; salads and sides; cookies and bars–all from the kitchens of The Wild Rose Press authors.
Joanne Guidoccio 