Groan and bear it: This is short notice (the event is tonight), but that's appropriate. That's how it went for Barbara Hennelly, too. The last time that Hennelly, founder and publisher of Roseville-based Kidaround magazine, went into labor, she drove herself down to the hospital in Sacramento in the middle of the night. Once there, however, the doctor told her she was not really in labor. "This is my fourth baby, so I knew I was in labor. … He basically told me to take a hike." In effect, she did. She walked around crying for an hour and a half. That's not her style. She likes the pain medicines. "Like, plug me in ASAP." After her walking, she was well-dilated and, uh-oh, the baby was born before any medication could be plugged in; before her husband could arrive. Barely 45 minutes after she called him to come, he walked in and heard the baby crying. "He thought it was someone else's baby," she said. It was that fast, and no one in her family was with her. Her bad experience helps explain why Hennelly wants people to see Ricki Lake's "The Business of Being Born," a documentary on the not-always-Hallmark-pretty American way of birth. It's at the Esquire Imax Theatre tonight, a benefit for Chicks in Crisis. For info, call (916) 441-1243. …
Street Whys: It's time for the Whys Guy's (almost) annual review of the new. Rand McNally puts out a new Thomas Guide every year, and he checks it for new streets. First, let's tell you what isn't new. No streets on the map at Bickford or Clover Valley. … Yet. … Also, still no sign of Foothill (or is it Foothills) Boulevard off Athens Road. The road and a road sign popped up two years ago, but it's not yet on the map. … Out in west west west Roseville, the Whys Guy found that part of Fiddyment Road has become Old Fiddyment Road. Also there are some more silly street names that try to conjure Old England in new Placer – names like Cruxton, Ardley and Woolston. Jolly bad show. … However, he's glad to see the atlas has changed Liberty Parkway in Rocklin to Wildcat Parkway, reflecting the location of Whitney High School and its mascot, the Wildcats. (It was once slated to be Liberty High School.) … Finally, check out the new airport street names near the Lincoln Airport – Orly, LaGuardia, McClellan, etc. That's what's new for 2008. …
Dare to dream: David Hawley dreams of making dreams come true. The Roseville resident already does, after a fashion, working on videos for kids with Make-a-Wish. Now, he's campaigning to make dreams happen in Disney resorts. Hawley is one of 10 semifinalists trying for the job of Disney's Chief Magic Official. To promote himself, he made a video that includes his daughter Makena, 5, fairy-flying across the yard on a zip line. In an outtake, Hawley bottoms out when he tries it. As CMO, he'd get to dream up ways to fulfill dreams (including those undreamt) for guests at various Disney parks. See the video and vote for Hawley at dreamcmo.com/davidh. …
Write like a fool: We are coming up on April Fool's Day, the 16th anniversary of the day The Bee made a foolish decision: It hired me. In honor (?) of that event, we have resurrected the Ersatz Alcalá/It's Your Turn/Write Like Me Contest. If you've tolerated this column long enough to make sense of its nonsense, you can try your hand by writing up an item in the same style. Send it in by April 1. We'll run the best (or worst, depending on how you like the column) imitations. Please include your name and phone number.
Call The Bee's Carlos Alcalá at (916) 773-6847. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/alcala.
