Monday, June 30, 2008

Just totally cool

This video features some of Banksy's fabulous graffiti work. I definitely had a difficult time tracking this version of the video down, but it was totally worth it. It's far more fun than the newer version.

I had originally begun searching for this video in response to a blog post of Karey M's in which she used some of Banksey's art, but it took me much longer to find this video than I thought it would. Imagine my delight though, today, when I found that she mentioned my blog on hers today. To be mentioned on her blog, one I hold in such high esteem, was a real honor. Thank you ever so much Karey, you're a true gem!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Lovely Lilies


I took these photos very early in the morning in Grass Valley. For some reason I couldn't sleep, so I was up at 7 am. I decided to put the morning light to good use, and ended up with some pretty decent photos, at least for me. I have no training.




I tried to frame the shots better than I usually do so that the composition would look somewhat decent. I love how this lily has just a very tiny tinge of pink in the right lip.




These pink lilies were so pretty that I took several different shots of them. Lee, Brian's stepmother, has a vast garden, and grows many beautiful things.



I can't wait to have a house of my own so that I can put in a garden with beautiful flowering plants. I have so many people to turn to for inspiration!

Orange you glad to meet me?


This orange beauty visited me and Brian in the garden in Grass Valley. Lee, my mother in law (I'm lucky, I have two), has an amazing garden, and this little guy was a fan of her landscape. He would politely pose atop this finial for Brian, fly off for a moment, and then return for a couple more close-ups. He's ready for America's Next Top Insect Model.




The camera really loves that color he's wearing, don't you think?

(click on the photos for an even better view)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Hazy bay

The Chronicle titled this photo "Smoke on the Water" . Naturally, I picked the Deep Purple tune to accompany it. More than 800 fires were started in the last few days in Northern California due to a combination of dry weather, winds and a unusual dry thunder and lightning storm on Saturday that ignited fires all over.

It smells just gorgeously smoky out. I'm not kidding, I like the smell. I know it's bad for me. I can't help it.

"Smoke On The Water"

High grade

MIA announced that her June 13th performance Bonnaroo was her last. Sucky.
Where will I get my high-grade Sri Lankan rap from now?

This video is aces because MIA actually did all the art for this herself. She created the stencils, and the the director, MIA and the video crew spent hours stenciling together to make this video. I love that they all worked together to do it.


MIA - "Galang" from Ruben Fleischer on Vimeo.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Shirley you'd like some nectarines?

While in Grass Valley this weekend Brian and I went to the local farmers market with his father. I knew that I wanted to buy some fresh fruit, and we were knocked out by the flavor of the nectarines that were being sold. I bought a bunch. I also got some summer squash, a favorite of mine, some naan, and a teensy ceramic pot.

When we arrived back home, I was struck by a moment of genius. A crisp! I love to make things, especially when they are simple. This turned out so well. It's one of those things that will showcase summer fruit to perfection, and make you look like a genius, but doesn't require any special talent. You can even bring the ingredients along with you to someones home, and assemble them quick as a flash after dinner. The dry ingredients will all fit in a ziploc sandwich bag.


Nectarine Crisp

3lbs nectarines, sliced (enough to generously fill the bottom of a 8 x 8 x 2 pan)

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup butter, softened

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Cream or ice cream, for serving a la mode.

1. Preheat your oven to 375˙. Butter bottom and sides of baking dish. Wash and slice the nectarines. Place in dish.

2. In a medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients (except cream/ice cream) until well mixed, then sprinkle topping over the nectarines until they are evenly covered.

3. Bake 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm with cream/ ice cream topping.

This recipe can be used for any number of fruits: apples, peaches, apricots, cherries…



This, below, was one of my favorites on Sesame when I was small.

"The Geefle and The Gonk"

Friday, June 20, 2008

Off to Grass Valley...

If I don't die of heatstroke, I'll be back on Monday!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Junk in my trunk

I'm not going to lie, my ride is a powder blue Lincoln Town Car. One of its redeeming qualities is the fact that it has an exquisitely expansive trunk. When the dude climbs in the trunk in this video, that's no joke. You can have a party back there. Or a morgue.

'Member how I hated my dancing lessons? When I was taking tap, I spent a good portion of the time across the street, shoplifting, then eating these babies (I loved the pudding version too).




I never did master much more than "shuffle off the buffalo".

"Black and Gold"

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Put your dogs up

I scored these cute wedges yesterday at Marshalls for a cool $19! Schweet. My dogs rebel against me and shoes in general. Especially cute shoes. They don't like to be corralled, they'd much prefer to exist their entire lives in the wide open expanse of comfy, yet hideous flip-flops. I don't happen to have dainty feet. My husband told me he was going to bind them the other day, and my snort of derision was warthog-like. On a good day, they are a size 10, but I'm not kidding myself, they verge upon 11. My friend Sally and I were at Nordstrom once, trying on shoes, and she was snapping on me, telling me my feet were the size of Kleenex boxes. The shoe salesman just looked at me with pity.
I prefer closed toe shoes, for the most part, aside from my ubiquitous flip flops. I never get pedicures, and when you have big feet like me, there's a chance you have big toes. These shoes are the perfect solution to each of my requirements: I can wear them for a reasonably long period of time, they dress up and down, CHEAP!, cute, comfy. I only wish Marshalls had the yellow/grey ones. I obvs got the black.

Top: Matchstick Wedge orig $49.99 now $24.95 @keds.com Wedges
Bottom: Sailloft Wedge $49 @ keds.com Wedges

Portrait of a relationship

This photo is so very Vermeer, isn't it? Henrik Kerstens has made a career out of photographing his daughter, Paula.

I'm fascinated by the changes in her face.

I also love the reality in the photos, no exfoliation.

What is loneliness?

Listen, just listen with your whole heart and your ears wide open. Can you tell me what loneliness is?

I truly believe that you can never really be completely alone as long as you have the company of a good book.


And In That Moment, I Felt Infinite from Karen Abad loves Dinosaurs. on Vimeo.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Travel away from home

I think the Khula Happy Singers are one of the most wondrous things I have seen in a long,long time. They sing in the Isicathamiya style popularized by Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. My heart just swells looking at this video.

For more information on the Khula Happy Singers (and to buy a CD of their music, which will go a long way toward helping them, click on the Khula Happy Singers St Lucia link below for more info)

Khula Happy Singers St. Lucia from Jan van der Meer on Vimeo.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Kung Fu Theater

Sit back, relax and enjoy this great kung fu short from Brazil. The action is fantastic, and the writing is funny. It is a fun little treat.


Bloody Honor (HD) from Antonio Linhares on Vimeo.

Mesmerize

I am mesmerized every time I see this video. I'm not so sure about the pants, especially unsure about the pants, but those eyes! I can't get over the fact that she doesn't seem to be wearing any make-up and she looks so gorgeous.

p.s. She bugged out so hard for this video you can see that she sweat all the way through those pants. Hard core.


thunderheist - jerk it from thatgo on Vimeo.

Platters of the purest gold

"I dreamt about me maybe throwing a party.
And just how great that would be."


Certain terms and phrases really bother me. I hate it when women refer to their spouse as "my hubby". I also very much dislike "preggers" and "prego". Quit being lazy and say the whole damn word! In any case, apparently Gene Ween is no fan of the phrase "the wife and I...", except for the fact that he uses it in this song to hilarious effect. Imagine yourself in a middle-aged party freak-zone. I never tire of this one.


"Your Party"

Cloud Wrangling

Oh, man I have a secret crush on Brendan Benson. He can come over and sing songs to me anytime he likes. There's something about simple, unadorned music. Benson is also in the Raconteurs. Now, I like them , and Jack White is pretty great, but there's just something wonderfully cool about Benson that I like more. Maybe it's that he doesn't seem so gimmicky.

"Cold Hands (Warm Heart)"

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Future Spies



My dad was an federal investigator and my father in-law was a race car driver. Obviously any children I may have face an excellent chance of a future in espionage. Happy Father's Day!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Gloss Alert!



I bought this Napoleon Perdis gloss a couple of weeks ago at Sephora, and I love it so much I went back and bought a back-up. It's currently half-off the original $20, so I'm thinking that they are going to discontinue the line when the supplies run out. That will be no good! The formula feels emollient, and is plumping, so it gives you a tingly feel. Especially important, for me, is that the formulation isn't goppy, I really dislike that in a gloss. Dallas is a shimmery pink sheer, which looks really fresh alone, and sparks up a lipstick when layered on top. The shimmery bits are microfine, so they don't make you look like you're on the way to a rave. Sao Paolo is a sheer red that I LOVE. It is so hard to find a gloss that doesn't look too garish for everyday wear, and this color looks so charming with rosy cheeks.

Egghead


Deathegg

I'm loving my latest art acquisition, especially since it's a signed and numbered print. The artist is Kevin E. Taylor, who does a lot of really phantasmagorical work, with many prints and original pieces at very accessible prices.

Get off of my stack

Lately I have been going absolutely insane. My skin is crawling. And stinging. And burning. And itching. And going numb. And pins and needley. Throw in some serious restless leg issues, I call it the gitchy leg. THIS IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME! Welcome to the wonderful world of neuropathy. I want to scratch my freaking, frocking face off.

"Lake Michigan"

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Divoon

Siouxsie and The Banshees were in really heavy rotation on my stereo during my adolescence. I loved them, and their affiliates as well.
Friend: "Omigod, did you know Robert Smith was in Siouxsie and the Banshees before the Cure?"
Me: "Really? He is sooo awesome, I love his lipstick. I want to marry him. I am, like, totally depressed that he doesn't know who I am!"

Kiss Them For Me was one of the SATB songs that I loved in the 90's. Siouxsie looked so beautiful in this video, so different from her heavily made up gothy days. The title is borrowed from a Jayne Mansfield movie, for the song is a tribute to Mansfield herself. Mansfield lived in a pink mansion with a pink heart shaped pool and a pink champagne fountain. Sadly, she would die early one morning in a tragic car accident on the way to New Orleans for a TV appearance.


"Kiss Them For Me"

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Laugh of the day


Via Boing Boing

Two Step

I took dance lessons all throughout my childhood and into my adolescence, and I hated it. In ballet I especially dreaded "combinations", when you would have to put a string of different dance steps together, you know, to form a dance. My mind was elsewhere, like how to get out of the damn classes. I did have one specialty though, and that was doing leaps. I was a graceful gazelle. I was so good at them in fact, that I asked my ballet teacher Virginia if she could have the audience clap after each person did their leap across the stage because I was that confident that my tremendo leaps would bring the house down. I would've too, but in laughter.


Chromeo - Fancy Footwork from Chromeo1 on Vimeo.

Su-Gin Knives, only the best.

Oh, this one cracked me up!



PSST! 2: Maison Nachos Flight from PSST! on Vimeo.

Celery goes DOWN!

This short is amazing. Celery gets its due.


PSST! 2: Fracas Giant America from PSST! on Vimeo.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Mijas riding little pink bikes

Grandaddy captures a hot, summer Modesto Sunday mood, perfectly.

"Where I'm Anymore"

The High Price of Gas



It's best just to be alone for a while after you've eaten something so full of fiber.

Asian Bone Marrow Donor Plea

There is a severe shortage of Asian bone marrow donors. The two people in this video desperately need your help, and there are many others out there who do too. You can send for a bone marrow donor registration kit anywhere in the world, testing is NOT painful, and it's bloodless! If you are Asian, consider taking the time out to get typed for donation to help these two. If you're not, consider it for someone else, and remember, that someone else could be someone you love. Minority donors are needed most. Saving a life is the coolest thing you will ever do.

http://www.marrow.org/

"Bone Marrow Donor Plea"

Monday, June 9, 2008

Run, Don't Walk

I am totally digging on this, I believe it's all done in one take, and I love that. I have also worn myself out geeking out on the intarwebs today and cannae come up with clever synonyms. I also lack the energy to find my thesaurus. I dig it, it's groovy, you shall find it toothsome.


Run to Your Grave from the mae shi on Vimeo.

A Splash of Color

A living color palette is what this perrty young lady is, and man, has she the skin tone to pull it off. It doesn't hurt that she has the quintessential Nordic blonde hair, either. Every single tone seems to be the perfect fit. Well, just admit it, it wouldn't hurt to have a bunch of stylists, make-up artists, hair people, choreographers and a fleet of kicky dancers dressed to the hilt all there to make you look good all day either. Hells bells, if I had all that going on, I'd look superbe all dang day myself. I wouldn't need to sing about some other chick either.

"I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me"

Valentine



Karey M. is the author of mackin ink , a blog so good I always run, quick, see what she wrote today. Karey keeps me in thrall with her consistently fascinating world view, and her lyrical turn of phrase. She is raising three lovely young ladies to be wonderfully sensitive, fabulously interesting and superbly unique individuals.

Did I mention that she's doing this all overseas, in the Middle East? She's been feeling a bit homesick lately, and instead of moping about, like I would, she wrote an amazing paean to her adopted home, Jordan, and all the reasons why she finds it such an wondrous place to live. Go drink it in, and then I dare you to not want to visit.

a love letter

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Jonesin'

I have a serious thing for soul, and I don't care if it's the blue eyed variety. I just want it to sound good. There's been a lot of talk about Robin Thicke's most recent album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke, but in my estimation his previous record, A Beautiful World, which was released under the solitary moniker Thicke, is far superior. This track is off World.

"Brand New Jones"

Gee, my hair smells terrific!



I am not one of those lucky ladies who can go two days without washing her hair. The concept of going to the salon for a blow-out and then having fab hair for several days on end is completely foreign to me because I happen to have a problem, re:follicles and oil. Ick. If I don't wash my hair every day, you're certain to know it. This is not good news for my hair's condition, after taking methotrexate for the last 5 years, my hair is not at it's best. I am trying to reduce hair washing and consequent drying to reduce further damage. I finally decided to try a dry shampoo, I'd thought that it would be tricky, but Oscar Blandi Pronto dry shampoo is easy to use. It comes with a pointed tip which makes it easy to direct the powder to the roots of your hair. Bonus, the lemon verbena scent is heavenly, and the powder isn't dulling, it actually leaves the remaining healthy hair that I have shiny.

Available at Sephora
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P147937

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Bring It!

Sparkle plenty! I love the glittery hoodie mini-dresses, but I'm about 14 years too old to wear them. I could have pulled it off when I was in my skinny as a beanpole early twenties. It's a look best spent on the very youthful anyhow. (I' d need some more length at least.)

Mr. Jean Marie is gathering plenty of admirers in Great Britain, and I can see why. This song is groovy. It's kinda got that Steve Miller Band "Abracadabra" thing going on, which is probably why I like it, and that dates me a bit. Just a little.

"Bring It On"


"Abracadabra"

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Pretty as a Picture

My dear friend Miguel ( Miguel Farias Photography ) is a talented photographer. I have mentioned this before, but it bears mentioning again. I am faced with a horrible decision, Father's Day is coming up, and I need to pick just one photo out to give to my dad. How is this possible when there are so many to choose from?

Sorry, this one, it won't do. It's all wrong. Because it's just perfect, for me.

I love this ethereal photo, and it's dreamy, early morning quality, but I have the perfect picture all picked out, but I'm keeping it a secret until Father's Day...

Miguel Farias Photography 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Music meme

Here's a musical meme via Jason, at the Washington Interns Gone Bad blog has "sent" along. You pick 7 songs that you are currently into, and then, if you like, a YouTube link. This is really hard for me to narrow down, because i'm always into way more than 7 songs, but I'll do my best!

1. Parentheses: The Blow
I've been listening to this song for ages. it's been played 43 times on my computer alone, lord knows how many times I've played it on my iPod.

"Parentheses"


2. Gene Autry- Beulah
I've posted this before, but Beulah is such a great band, they deserve all the glory that they can get. The only regret I have is that they are defunct. They are still in regular rotation in my jukebox though, because the sound is so good and fresh, quality is like that. "Mean, mean Gene's got a beautiful voice. He carries me home on his beautiful horse."

"Gene Autry"


3. Mercy, Mercy ,Mercy- Cannonball Adderley Quintet
Oh, it's just fabulous.

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"


4.Little Bit of Feel Good - Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell knocked my socks off last week during his live show at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco. His vocal chops are off the wall, he sounds amazing live, and does amazing things with a synthesizer and his voice. If you have the opportunity to check him out DO NOT PASS IT UP! His band was especially tight, and they were really fun to see. One of the best shows I've seen in a long while.

"Little Bit Of Feel Good"


5. Again & Again- The Bird and The Bee
Groovilicious

"Again & Again"


6. Right As Rain - Adele
This young lady recorded this album when she was 19. WTF? When I was nineteen I was just up to no good. To have made a lasting contribution to the musical world, that would have never occurred to me, nor would it have been possible ( I can't sing, I only think I can when I play Rock Band).

"Right As Rain"


7. Political Science- Randy Newman
Ahh, A favorite ever since childhood, this never gets old. Randy Newman is a national treasure. Somehow, there are still people who don't get the sarcasm of "Short People", but F' em! Randy sounds as good as he did when he was young, keep 'em coming, man.

"Political Science"

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Congratulations Obama!

Apparently, Senator Obama has just clinched the Democratic nomination for president, according to the AP, a historic step towards the White House, which millions of people had never dreamed would be possible in this lifetime. Five months remain in the campaign for high office, in which he will pitch a battle against Republican John McCain. I'm looking forward to a future with a new, different kind of leader. Obama has so much to offer, let's take a chance, and turn our nation in to a place we all can be proud of.

Roll with the punches

I've been listening to this Eric Hutchinson album, Sounds Like This, for a good while, and I really like it. Hutchinson writes music with catchy hooks, which I happen to fall for every time. He has a melodious, soulful voice, another thing I am susceptible to. The video for Rock & Roll was released today.

6/5/08 UPDATE: Thank you to the fine folk at Hutchead for their mention of this blog!

"Rock & Roll"

Yum!

These sodas are my newest obsession. They are made by a company called Dry, and that is their perfect description. The one above is Lemongrass, and it is what I am drinking right now with my lemon capellini with basil and roma tomatoes. It's the perfect summer lunch. I am going to have some Frog Hollow apricots with mascarpone that I whipped with a bit of sugar and fresh squeezed lemon juice afterwards. It's going to be delicious. The soda is the perfect accompaniment to all, not too sweet, which is how I like my soda. I imagine it would be really delicious with gin, something I haven't had in a long time, but I'm getting a hankering

Now, I love the Lemongrass, but the Lavender soda is my absolute favorite, and it definitely would be fabulous with gin. The Dry website also suggests pairing it with vanilla vodka, which sounds just heavenly, something which I may have to have this very evening! I might have to make my vanilla brined pork tenderloin, and soon! Dry soda also comes in Kumquat and Rhubarb flavors, each quite delectable.

http://www.drysoda.com/flavor-lemongrass.php

The"Magical Water Princess" to the Rescue!

It seems that in Japan, ladies are very keen on covering up any "bathroom sounds" when they use the restroom, for they find them very embarrassing. It seems that they would repeatedly flush toilets, wasting a lot of water, in order to mask these sounds, so this clever device, the Otohime was invented. You wave your hand in front of the sensor and voila out comes the sound of flushing water. Apparently it is a very popular device. I am not surprised, because apparently, a large percentage of Japanese women never fart in their husbands presence after marrying them, EVER.
http://whatjapanthinks.com/2005/12/14/does-your-wife-do-this-too/

*Via Boing Boing


"Magical Water Princess/ Otohime"

Monday, June 2, 2008

Divine Hammer

My friends Bill and Dan* went away this past weekend leaving their two children Autumn(6) and Blake (3) in my care. They hadn't ever been away from their kids, except for leaving Autumn with her aunt when Blake was born. Both kids were perfect all weekend, and I have to give it to Bill and Dan, all signs point to the fact that they are doing a fantastic job as parents.  The kids always go right to bed without a fuss, and sleep all through the night. They are sweet, kind and happy.  Each time I picked them up from school they RAN to me, calling out "MEGAN!" excitedly as if I were Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy, when I  actually resemble a Wicked Step-mother much more closely.  I am a stickler for rules and regulations, and kind of rule with an iron-fist, as far as kids are concerned.  I'd rather be thought of as strict, and surprise them with "lenience", then be someone who lets everything slide and try to shore up shaky foundations later. But, I have to say, Autumn and Blake barely require any intervention during their play, they are really suitable playmates. Their problems were few, limited to Blake grabbing a few things from his older sibling.  He spent one evening using a hanger from a Madeline doll playset as a hammer.  I thought this song was a fitting tribute.

*Names changed to protect the innocent


"Bag Of Hammers"

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Speed x time=distance

"Wood"

Better than a Shaun Cassidy poster



When I was little, I loved this Shaun Cassidy poster. When my friend Heather put me one the spot by asking me who I wanted to kiss, the only person I could come up with was Shaun. I didn't want to kiss anybody but I knew that an answer was required, and at least Shaun was nice to look at. The only other crush I had was on Ponch. My best friend Lynn and I fought about it, she said that she liked Ponch. How was it possible for both of us to like him at the same time? No one liked Jon, except for my sister. She could have him, what a dumb, blonde bore. Poncherello had so much more going for him, he was funny, wild and SO handsome. Also, he was clearly the leader. I delivered some juvenile justice in order to settle the dispute between me and Lynn. "I said it first." How could she argue with that?

I don't have any posters of hot guys, but I am going to get one of these posters! They're fresh off the press, and limited editions.
From the mouth of Zoltron:

"Zoltron's Obama Poster is now available at Zoltron.com. Posters measure 19" X 27" and are printed with soy ink on recycled 100 lb gloss stock. Posters were printed in very limited quantities.

Each order ships with 2 posters in both the red and blue colorways and are available in quantities of 2 or 4 posters per order.

Any and all proceeds from the sales of these posters will go back into to creating more stickers and posters in support of Barack's bid for President."