My Spanish Romantic Comedy, Plucked.

One small beauty of still job hunting for the perfect, long-term career is that there's no boss to say, "No, you can't go on a 2 1/2 week trip." So I did. We won't discuss the financial downside, since this is The Cackling, not Crying, Hen.

This will be fun.

When 2 sets of friends planned their weddings 10 days apart at different parts of the globe, I knew I'd be at both somehow. The first wedding would be in Spain, and I was thrilled to have an excuse to return to one of my favorite countries. And it would be embarrassing to travel all the way to Spain for a weekend, so I booked a solid week for celebration, frolicking, and self-discovery. After the wedding festivities, I'd have a few days most likely to myself, just like a romantic comedy. I'm an independent only child; this was going to be great! Who knew what shenanigans I'd find and who I'd meet?

Thankfully, a few friends and the bride lingered in Malaga as well to keep the fun going, because it turns out that I'm not a movie character who finds life and love alone in Europe. I had a few romanticized ideas about flying solo in Spain that didn't come to life. Maybe some movies aren't true after all.

New Britney! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

As summer blazes on, this Monday started with a bang in the music world. Britney Spears is at it again. But her new single isn't the lead for her new album. Instead, it's the lead song on a highly-coveted summer movie soundtrack: The Smurfs 2. The Cackling Hen dropped everything, saving the mess for later, and suffered through droll morning radio conversation to hear the track first. Here are The Hen's thoughts on "Ooh La La." If you haven't heard the new Spears song, listen first below!

Flicks This Chick Missed Part I

Every rose has its thorns and every hen has its flaws. Evidently this hen clucks when it comes to being hip to the silver screen. I frequently shock other poultry when they are talking about a movie "everyone has seen" and I'm the hen who hasn't. Let me apologize for having ADD and living below the poverty line. I barely have the focus and money for a bowl of ramen noodles, let alone watch something that may or may not be good for two hours. And that tub of popcorn is half my weekly income.