MY SUBCONSCIOUS THINKS I'M CHILDISH

I went to the optometrist this morning. My prescription has changed a tiny bit but my eyes are not the source of my lightheadedness. I’m calling my Dr. back tomorrow. Today my pupils are dilated and it has enhanced my feeling funny. What fun. I did get really nifty glasses though. they have sparkles on them that you can kind of see in the side view.

So the other night I had this dream that Monica, Patrick (who is Monica’s friend and I have never met but have seen pictures of), and I were playing on this playground after winning some crazy boat race or something. That part of the dream is a little fuzzy. Patrick in the dream didn’t look like Patrick in real life; he looked more like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, which is very funny because it is almost the exact opposite of real Patrick. Anyway we had this tent thing that we draped over a round climby thing on the playground and were playing fort. Fort rules.

So we are in our fort having an awesome time when this little kid comes in. The kid’s dad is standing on the sidelines of the playground watching. The kid looks up at us and asks how old we are. I say 28, Monica says 29, and Patrick says 30 (I have no idea how old he really is). The kid looks at us and says, “Oh, that’s old. I’m 4. What are you doing in this fort?” We just looked at the kid and then at each other and packed up in shame. Then some other strange dream type stuff happened that I don’t remember. I think that the remembered part was the important part though.

The thing was my dream kind of hurt my feelings. I mean sure, I like to play around but I think my friends and I are fine examples of people in their late 20s. We have jobs, we pay rent, we function as adults, and we are generally accepted to be grown type folks. So what if we like forts? Who doesn’t? Just cause we don’t have kids of our own to play fort with doesn’t mean we should be shut out from playing. Play is important. Anyway, I’m mad at my dream.

1. Identity/ Identity is the crisis you can’t see/ Identity/ Identity

2. Did I/ See a moment/ With you/ In a half-lit world

3. Ghost, ghost I know you live within me/ Feel as you fly/ In thunderclouds above the city/ Into one that I

4. I’m tired of wasting gas living above the planet/ Mister show me the way to earth/ The boys from quadrant 44 with their vicious metal hounds don’t come round here no more.

5. Downtown/ We’ll drown/ We’re in our never splendor/ Flowers/ Showers/ Who’s got the new boy gender

THAT WENT SOMEWHERE I WASN'T PLANNING ON

Today is an important day in my office. The first things of mine are going up on the wall. Ah yes, IKEA frames painted in fun colors and arranged in various ways. It resembles a small slice of wall from Addison Apartment Dining Room. We couldn’t paint but we sure could hang a HUGE number of frames and pictures all over the walls. There were frames of all sizes and shapes as well as mirrors, masks, and paintings of various types. It was a room of crazy. I loved it.

Sometimes I think the beauty of design is in its randomness. Sure our cheap IKEA frames didn’t stay straight on the wall. Sure the designs we painted on them were sometimes questionable. It didn’t matter though. The beauty of the room was in the fact that it was a disorganized mess of color and love. When Tony and I resigned our lease this year I was a little sad. Sure, some of that was compounded by the fact that a crazy person lives upstairs but most of it was because it would be another year before I could decorate someplace new.

I think our next apartment will be the last place we live before buying something so it needs to be a place we can stay for a while to save and plan for that next big thing. It needs to be a place with character, it should be a place that I can paint, and it absolutely must be a place where we can have a dog. I don’t think that is too much to ask. We’ll have to see what we can find.

Something about newness is really exciting to me. I feel like this year will be a preparation for many things that are to come. It will be a year of summoning strength and resources to start on something bigger, something important. I don’t know why but movement has really been on my mind lately. Maybe it’s because this will be the last year of my 20s. Come birthday ’09 I’ll be the big 30. I freaked about turning 20 but I am much calmer about 30. I actually just realized that we will be moving a month before my 30^th birthday. I’ll start the new decade in a new place and that sounds like a good plan.

It better have a dishwasher.

Oh, and how did Ricky manage to win a challenge on Project Runway? I mean his piece was kind of cute but I liked Sweet Pea and Christian's outfits better. Also, why was everyone amazed at the originality of Romi using zippers as trim when Jeffrey did that in his winning collection last season? Don't they remember? Just goes to show that the show is slipping. Not that I will stop watching it or anything.

1. When the Witch Doctor Life/ throws his silent bones/ some are crowned kings/ while others lose their thrones

2. It was a clear black night/ a clear white moon/ Warren g was on the streets trying to consume

3. Riding round town with all the windows down/ Eight track playing all your favorite sounds

4. Goodnight/ Goodnight/ Sweet baby/ The world has more for you/ Than it seems

5. Where did you come from lady/ And ooh won’t you take me there/ right away/ Won’t you baby. PYT, Michael Jackson. Identified by Terry

I FINALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT PROJECT RUNWAY

All I have to say is about freaking time! This season of Project Runway has been excruciatingly boring in comparison to all other seasons. Although there have been some interesting challenges, many of the designs were just blah and I wasn’t too fond of any of the designers. It started to get a little interesting last week but I really had to question the intelligence behind telling high school girls they looked horrible in what was supposed to be their prom dresses, particularly if they love the dresses. It was just mean. Now even if they like the dress they can’t wear it because everyone will know that fashion experts think it is horrible. Or, maybe they already had prom and no one will care.

Either way, this week was plenty of fun. Design and drama abounded. I haven’t much cared which outfits have won in the past but I was about to tear someone apart if Chris and Christian didn’t take this one home. As much as the judges love Victorya I think she needs a good slapping and I find most of her clothing to be cute enough but nothing special. Jillian’s jacket made that outfit, not the nasty jodhpurs or anything else Victorya did. I mean does Michael Kors really think all women will want to wear those things? I don’t think I know too many who would. Then her snarky comment, “we made three outfits so we should win,” was just too much. Sadly, she may very well end up at Bryant Park with her boring self.

I was also sad to see Kit go. I know they always kick off the team leader but Ricky needs to go home, what is he still doing there? They say everything he makes looks cheap. I think this time they should have made an exception and sent him packing. He seems like a nice guy and all but COME ON.

Chris and Christian put it together. That avant-garde piece was so incredibly fantastic it made me giddy. They handled the surprise second outfit with class and I think it truly embodied the feel of the original piece. They also worked so incredibly well together. Jillian and Victorya were just a couple of last minute ladies and planning is very important. Anyway, take a look at the top looks and judge for yourself. The second place ladies made the black things and the winning guys the tan.

And another thing, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves is AWESOME! Tony and I watched it the other day and were thoroughly entertained. There was so much hilarity that had been forgotten.

1. When the Witch Doctor Life/ throws his silent bones/ some are crowned kings/ while others lose their thrones

2. On a rooftop in Brooklyn/ One in the morning. Watching the lights flash/ In Manhattan. You Said Something, PJ Harvey. Identified by Jason.

3. My old man he’s a singer in the park/ He’s a walker in the rain/ He’s a dancer in the dark.

4. I did you wrong/ My heart went out to play/ And in the game I lost you/ what a price to pay. Oooh, Baby Baby. Smokey Robinson. Identified by Mom.

5. Well I’d rather see you dead little girl/ Than to be with another man. Run For Your Life, The Beatles, Identified by Mom.

RANDOM POST ABOUT STUFF

In case no one knew it is really incredibly cold here in Chicago today. When I woke up the TV said it was 1 outside. That just shouldn’t happen. Unfortunately, I wore my one pair of pants that are not jeans to work yesterday. I also wore my new boots (and could walk in them unlike the other time I tried to wear them in the slush and gave up two feet from my door) and broke them in significantly but not enough for two days in a row. Therefore, I was all about tights and sneakers this morning. I’ve worn tights and sneakers all winter for the last many years, it isn’t a big deal and I knew I would be fine. However, something was different this morning. By the time I got to the train station the place between my knees and my sneakers just didn’t feel right. They came back to normal but it was a little dodgy there for a second.

Not to worry though, I have a solution…legwarmers. Now I wouldn’t typically be a legwarmer wearing in public type of person but it’s freaking cold. I also wouldn’t typically own legwarmers but apparently Tony’s mother figured that since I asked for a bunch of tights for Christmas that they would be a good idea. I laughed a lot when I saw them but have been sporting them around the house under my target pants for extra warmth for some time. Apparently they will make an outside debut.

So last night I watched Conan because I was curious to see what a show without writers would be like. It was pretty bad. However, I really like Conan’s new beard that he grew for solidarity with the writers. I do not like Letterman’s new beard, he looks like a creepy Santa. I realize that many people do not agree with my like of the beard but I think it makes him look less like that little girl from Mary Poppins and more like a regular dude. Plus when he was walking around his office playing the guitar is was way cooler than it would have been if he had not had a flaming red beard.

In additional TV news I still heart Project Runway and really want Christian to die. As I am discussing the show with Monica, however, I realize that everyone is kind of boring. They kept telling me that this season is full of the strongest talent but I don’t believe them. I heart last season. I extra heart season two but just because of Santino. Couldn’t they have brought Santino back instead of Chris? I also am embarrassed to say I watched the Supermodel show that came on I am also ashamed to say that I could possibly become a voter. Crap.

1. Every second/ of every minute of the day/ I let my fancy play

2. OOOHH Baby/ Cry Baby/ Cry Baby/ Welcome back home

3. Get down get down little Henry Lee/ And stay all night with me/ You won’t find a girl/ In this damn world/ That will compare with me. Henry Lee, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds w/ PJ Harvey. Identified by Jason.

4. I can’t get no/ Satisfaction/ I can’t get no/ Satisfaction. Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones (althouhg I wish it had been Devo) Identified by Jason.

5. Stand/ Under/ Fountain/ Cool skin/ Wash clean. Wash him/ From me

DOGGONE IT

I have been tagged with a Stuart Smalley Meme that Blog Antagonist created. The theme of the meme is, of course, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, I like me. You have to list ten things you like about yourself. Being a somewhat self-deprecating person (although not so much on my blog) I found this a very hard task. I actually thought about just not tackling it at all for fear of not coming up with ten things. I will come up with ten but some might be pretty stupid. The ten things can be physical, mental, or whatever. Because I’m not all that brave, mine are going to be more mental or whatever than physical. I’m not all that proud of the physical right this second.

1. I have the ability to be truly empathetic. I don’t always use this ability because I can be a bit of a jerk but when it is needed I can empathize with the best of them. People often define empathy as the ability to imagine going through what someone else is going through and thereby understanding their feelings. That only scratches the surface. To truly empathize you have to deeply understand the other person because the way they feel about the situation depends on all their personal history, which is obviously different from yours and see how having their life experiences would change your opinion of the situation. Let me give a real clear cut example. Someone is in a hysterical fit because they misplaced and lost twenty dollars. You imagine losing twenty dollars and can see yourself bummed out and upset and depending on the week maybe slightly stressed but you aren’t in conniptions. Then you look at that person’s situation, they have three children no food in the refrigerator, the rent is due and the power is about to cut off. That twenty means a lot to them. I think empathy is a term many people take very lightly but to truly be helpful to someone you have to take it deeper.

2. I am funny. I’m no comedian and if I set out to make someone laugh I will probably do embarrassing dances or mediocre funny faces and not be all that successful. However, just as far as general conversation goes I tend to be a little bit funny. I think the people who really like me think I am more than a little bit funny. I’m not as funny as some; Monica and Tony have me beat hands down on that one. But I am funny. I also have the ability to pull funny out of bad situations (always remembering that some bad situations can’t be turned into laughter cause of the whole empathy thing) and that can be a good thing.

3. I take care of others before taking care of myself. I realize this is not necessarily a good thing in general. There are times when it can be downright detrimental to my personal wellbeing. Yet, it is something I really take pride in myself for. Not to say that I am never selfish because that would be a lie. I just try to care for those who really need me as much as I possibly can. I think that is one reason I tend to keep friends for a long time.

4. I have a nice smile and I use it. People tell me about my smile all the time and I would have to agree. I am a big smiley cheeseball. I like to see other people smile and me smiling is part of that. I like to see people happy.

5. I’m a thinker. I like to listen to many different ideas and take them all in and think about them and decided which parts I like and which parts I think are suspect. I like to write about what I think about and I often don’t share those thoughts because they are relatively difficult to articulate. I like to think about the nature of reality and humanity, the balance of nature and machine. I think about things I know are true and will impact the world and I think about the mystical and the magic that is surrounding us all. Thinking rules.

6. I am content. Like taking care of others first, this can be a dangerous one. Contentment can lead to apathy and that is never good. However, I have spent so much of my life not being content that it feels incredibly good to say that I am.

7. I like my feet. My feet are incredibly ugly as far as feet go but I have grown to like their grossness and oddities. I like them because they are small and shoes look good on them most of the time. I like them because they have memories and battle scars from everywhere I have been and everything I have done. I spent years and years hating and being scared of all feet (many of you already know this) and I no longer fear toes. Some toes I even like.

8. I trust my instincts and I don’t regret my decisions. If I have a gut feeling about something I’m going to go with it and I’m going to be right. I think that I know what is best for me in the long run and that I’m not going to sabotage myself or do things that I don’t want to do. My decisions often defy logic but I am ok with that. If I feel something is right I have to go for it. I certainly have steered myself in wrong directions before but I have always learned something from going the wrong way and that is ok.

9. My taste in clothes truly reflects me. Back in the day I dressed in a way that I thought would make me “cool” or make me fit in. By Jr. and Sr. year of High School I was pretty much over that. Once I went to college I didn’t look as strange as I did in High school because everyone at Sarah Lawrence is kind of a freak. Since college I have calmed down somewhat and settled more into myself and my clothes have calmed down as well but some days I know it is time for a Mushroom Dress. I’ll take friends opinions into consideration but when something is right for me it just is right and I have to go with it.

10. In general, I’m a cute girl. Sure, half the weight I lost last year is back and I’m none to pleased about it but at least it isn’t all back. I think I’m relatively well proportioned even though my proportions are bigger than ideal. I like my face a lot and I have nice hair that goes boing. People think I am younger than I am (although not much younger as they used to) and that makes me smile. Cute is a just fine thing to be.

Ok that was incredibly difficult. By thing 5 I thought I was pretty much done with everything and I had to stretch a little (see #7) but after finishing I kind of want to smile. I’m not tagging anyone with this. It is just too hard. However, if you want to do it you should. I will admit that you may feel pretty happy with yourself when you are done.

I forgot my iPod at home today!!!! Oh No!!!! so I can’t add any new songs to the shuffle. Here is the one still unguessed from yesterday.

1. These are the games that we employ/ I am a girl and you’re a boy/ No matter what you said to me/ I didn’t have the energy.

THE PERFECT DRESS

I love clothes. Typically I also love shopping. Lately that has not been the case. The reason I have hated shopping is because I can’t spend a lot of money. Because of this, I have to shop at stores that aren’t quite as organized as I would like them to be.

In a perfect world, I would be able to go into one of the nicer department stores where they have many sizes and colors of one item right there in front of your face for you to choose from. Items that are similar in style are often placed near each other and, while sizes vary between designers, each designer has one size that almost always fits. I don’t need to go shopping armed with patience and the eye of a scavenger. I can leisurely stroll around or even look at a mannequin I like and easily find the item on the racks. Oh, the ease of spending money.

Last Friday, I met up with Monica and her co-worker Natasha and headed out to the stores. I needed a dress. I had the perfect one in mind and knew how it would look on me. It was a jersey knit dress with cap or short sleeves, a v or scoop neck, and an empire waist. It could cost no more than $30. This dress exists all over the place but the prices and cuts aren’t always right.

At Urban Outfitters, the dress existed, cost $58, and had a lower waistline than would have been ideal. They had a few other styles that almost worked but nothing stole the show. I remember being in high school and finding the most unique and fun things at Urban. It just isn’t the same anymore. Maybe I shouldn’t still be shopping somewhere I shopped in high school but whatever, sometimes they have cute things.

We then headed over to Forever 21. I know, I know, but they have cute things that are cheap. We looked all over the store. The chaos was outrageous. Sizes and styles were mixed together everywhere. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason and the place was packed. Natasha couldn’t handle the disorder and headed home. I grabbed things left and right hoping to find my perfect dress. Of the eight items I picked up on the first sweep I tried on six. They were disappointing. I had an almost perfect dress; royal blue, a wide scoop neckline with precious buttons on it, a natural but flattering waistline, and short as all hell. I couldn’t go out like that. Maybe it would work with pants but I didn’t want a dress I had to wear with pants. I wanted a perfect dress. Out of the six items I kept a t-shirt. It was kind of a perfect t-shirt but it wasn’t a dress.

We then went upstairs. I was feeling pretty down because upstairs tends to be the sparkly section and I don’t roll like that. We looked around and I saw it. It was a rounder with a sign on top that said, “The perfect dress, $15-19”. I couldn’t believe it. Was it too good to be true? Did they know a prefect dress when they saw one? They did. The rounder was full of jersey knit dresses of various styles and although the sleeves were short rather than capped, it was the dress that existed in my mind. It was $15.80. The dress was so perfect they created a sign just for me so I wouldn’t miss it in the madness. All that remained was trying it on. It was adorable. I got it in green and brown. The green is cuter than the brown but with the right accessories I’m going to make that brown work. Monica liked this hot pink red but I don’t have any shoes to go with that. Really, I don’t.

Anyway, here it is; the prefect dress.
Oddly the website doesn’t have any of the colors that I saw in the store but has some colors I want the dress in. However, I already have two and more might be crazy. The web version is slightly different though, I think. Now I have to find some more perfect shirts and maybe a skirt or two. Keep your fingers crossed.

Parades Go By, Magnetic Fields- This song is so incredibly depressing. It’s all about watching everything pass you by and loss and the horror of growing old alone. Ugh. I kind of enjoy the song though. What is wrong with me?

Deeper Into Movies, Yo La Tengo- This is a band that I want to hug. Everything about their music is adorable and happy. Why aren’t they playing shows for me right now?

Teachers, Daft Punk- The Homework album is one of those things that takes me back and I always like even though I know I am a fool for listening to it.

SHE GOT TO BE ON TOP

America’s Next Top Model could not have put together a better finale if they tried. Well, they could have but it would have necessitated different designers with clothing I liked better and stronger finalists. Oh well.

Of the three finalists; Jaslene, Natasha, and Renee I was relatively certain Jaslene would win. I really hated Renee and was hoping to see Jaslene and Natasha duke it out on the runway. I wasn’t disappointed.

The first part of the show had the three finalists filming a “Cover Girl” spot and taking their Cover Girl photo. I put the spot in quotes because the whole “my life as a cover girl” thing they get to do only airs during ANTM and is utterly awful. The models very rarely get any other work with Cover Girl cosmetics. Renee stole this part of the competition. All three of the girls shot horrible commercials but hers was the least horrible. Her picture was also the least horrible although it looked seriously airbrushed. When Tyra didn’t call her name she had the most hilarious look of confusion on her face. You could literally see her saying “Huh?” then taking a deep breath and accepting it. They basically told her she was too old and was starting to get wrinkles from being in sunny Hawaii, harsh. As she left she said “Win this for the Mamas,” to Natasha, which was super bogus because she had been way more friendly with Jaslene from what I could see on the show.

So it was down to the Russian “mail order bride” and the “cha-cha diva” from Chicago. Both of them had horrible commercial as neither can speak properly. Natasha just isn’t all that familiar with the language and Jaslene, well she sounds like a cha-cha diva from around the block in Chicago and when she speaks she opens her mouth in a very unattractive fashion and kind of curls back her lips to show nothing but teeth. However, it was far better than Natasha’s. Jaslene’s Cover Girl photo shoot was also far better. Unless she fell flat on her face during the runway show it was pretty much all her.

Despite my not liking the clothes, the runway show was very entertaining. They had to start out walking as Neanderthal type women, which was utterly hilarious. Natasha was great and Jaslene looked a hot mess. On the next pass Natasha’s skirt fell off. Luckily, she was wearing a bodysuit as well. She handled it with grace. Jaslene just got better and better throughout the show, on her last pass I knew she had sealed the deal.

In the judging room Tyra was the only one who thought Natasha was better on the runway. Many of the judges seemed to like Natasha better as a model but others really favored Jaslene. They all said that Natasha was a quick study and has great potential to improve while Jaslene came in strong and has stayed about the same. This is all true. They picked Jaslene. Yeah. Now I can be done watching that mess until next cycle.

Airbag, Radiohead- How much of a tool am I for listening to Radiohead like it was 1999 on a regular basis? I would venture to say not too much of a tool because good music is always good music .Unless you grow up and realize it sucks.

Jet Song, West Side Story- Am I the only one who thinks the Jets are a bunch of punks and that in a real honest rumble the sharks would have seriously kicked their asses? I hope not because it is true.

God Only Knows, The Beach Boys- This reminds me that Big Love is scheduled to start again soon. Man do I ever enjoy that show. It is utterly ridiculous. I love how they try really hard to make a polygamist family look normal. It is impossible for a family to look normal with like 20 kids.

NO HAIR NATALIE

Ok the haircut pictures are at the bottom of the post. Here is a picture showing what my hair essentially looked like before. The post-cut photos are a little on the dark side so I’m not sure if you can really see everything. From their replies, it seems like it looked better on Friend’s computer than my mom’s. It is impossible to see on mine at work but this computer is as dark as they come as far as pictures go. Even after adjucting color I couldn't see anything. I look not so good in the picture but, whatever, I’m cute enough in real life and this picture isn’t about me it’s about the hair. So if your computer is dark like mine all you get is a bad picture of Natalie, Ha. I'll do a description for you poor folks. It is very short in the back and longer in the front. I have very subtle highlights that is what I wanted when I ended up with blondish mess the last time I put color in but I am sure that is impossible to see in the pictures. It is hard to see in person. It looks closer to what we like call “natural tones and highlights”. Tony likes it and apparently he has always wanted to date a girl with a long in the front short in the back haircut. Much thanks to Monica for her company and moral support and her suggestions because this truly was her idea. Much thanks to David at Sine Que Non on Lincoln and Diversey not only for doing n excellent job but for being so freakin fun and adorable and bringing Monica a chair to sit by me. The only bummer about my cut is that it was a few inches too short for locks of love.

I sadly have nothing to offer for Foodie Friday but am planning to make a Grecian Tofu Pie sometime this week so expect that for next week. I can just see the excitement in the meat eaters eyes. The other exciting this happening this weekend is the TV coverage of the ISU World Championships. I know the results are out there but I haven’t seen anything but two Men’s short programs yet so don’t spoil anything. Like anyone but me cares anyway.












1. It’s raining/ It’s raining/ There’s nothing you can do/ It doesn’t only rain on you/ But you’re acting all upset/ like you’re the only one that’s wet.

2. On the corner/ We talk away/ Everybody's older these days/ I'll just hit the reset button on this game.

3. Plants and rags/ Ease myself into a body bag. Plants and Rags, PJ Harvey. Identified by Eve

4. When I was young I knew everything/ She a punk who rarely ever took advice. The Freshman. Verve Pipe. Identified by Monica

5. Underneath the bridge/ The tarp has sprung a leak/ And the animals I’ve trapped/ Have all become my pets. Something In The Way, Nirvana. Identified by Brooke.

MIDDLE EASTERN EGGPLANT AND GARBANZOS

It's Foodie Friday time again people.

This is a dish that you could make a lot spicier with the addition of some chilies and or chili paste and would be quite delicious! However, this is how I made it.

-1 large eggplant cubed
-1 can garbanzo beans
-2 ripe tomatoes diced
-½ red onion
-2 cloves garlic pressed
-1 tbsp olive oil
-1tsp cumin
-½ tsp curry powder
-1/8tsp thyme
-1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
-1 bay leaf
-¼ cup vegetable stock
-1 small can tomato paste
-Salt and pepper to taste

-Heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté red onion for about 4 minutes
-Reduce heat to medium low; add garlic sauté about a minute
-Add rest of ingredients, mix well, reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 15 minutes or until eggplant is nice and mushy
-Serve over rice, couscous, other grain or eat alone. A nice dollop of yogurt with some cucumber grated in it never hurts either.

Enjoy

On a potentially happy note, Tony mailed off the computer today and it should be arriving at the computer fix it man (Daddy) Tuesday. Mom and Dad I am going to email you just as soon as I post this so don’t be mad if you read it here first. I’m getting there.

On an even more exciting note I am thinking about getting a hair cut. I have been incredibly bored with my hair and have never really come to like the color that was put in last summer. I don’t want to get rid of a lot of length because I think I would look a fool with short hair. I just want some shape and something different. It will probably end up looking the same though. It always does. They always tell me they want to get rid of length so I don’t lose the curl at the top of my head, but it doesn’t matter. Unless I have no hair I will always lose the curl at the top of my head. It just does that. The question now is where to go, where to go. I have only got my hair cut once in Chicago (I don’t do this often people because i have serious fear of looking like an utter fool see 7th grade) and while it was a fine experience they only took off about three inches and I am guessing anyone could have done that. My hair was really long at the time and no one noticed the three inch difference, I even had to stand up to get my hair cut. It cost $80 although it did include a blow straight, which took a while. This is with no coloring and I desperately need a color change, even if it is just back to natural, seems like it would be pretty expensive. If I get it cut I’ll totally post before and after pictures. Wait, I won’t, the USB cord for my camera blew up. Never mind. I always think never mind is one word. Damn Nirvana.

Silent All These Years, Tori Amos- Oh man the angst. Little Earthquakes takes me back to high school and unrequited lame crushes in a bad way. I’m glad I’m past that phase in life.

The Sun Goes Down and The World Goes Dancing, Magnetic Fields- This song is something that you can’t help being happy to. This type of song makes me feel a little sad that I can’t dance. Maybe I should take some ballroom lessons. I bet Tony would love that.

Express Yourself, Charles Wright- This song has been co-opted so often by commercials that I sometimes have a hard time enjoying it. However, it is so good that I can sometimes ignore the images of people flouncing around in mediocre clothes. Speaking of jingle songs I was watching a financial commercial this morning and was wondering where I knew the song from- “Stop wasting my time, you know what I want, you know what I need, or maybe you don’t” Oh yes people, it was “Gimme That Money” from Spinal Tap. Is nothing sacred?

HEY STUPIDS! PUT ON SOME CLOTHES

Today is the first time an ages that it has been nice outside. The high is about 69 degrees and it may even climb into the 70s. People are happy and smiling and the world seems new. This morning, I heard birds chirping and, even though it was really hard to get out of bed, I was looking forward to the day.

I put on a mid-weight dress, a shirt and some fishnets without nylons under them because I didn’t need the extra warmth. I put on my spring jacket instead of my winter one. Unlike yesterday, I didn’t put my scarf in my bag “just in case”.

On the way to work I decided to listen to Jeff Buckley, Grace. It was soothing and calm and just seemed to meld perfectly with the still slightly gray morning. People on the street were friendly and smiled, which is unusual because typically a smile on the street will generate a crazy look.

Once I got downtown, I noticed the varying degrees to which people were dressed and it made me laugh and smile. You still had a very few people in winter coats but I didn’t see any scarves, hats, or gloves. Then you had the ones like me, lightweight coats sometimes unbuttoned. You had the people in simply their suits, which to me is basically the same as a lightweight jacket. Then people started to get a little overboard, in my opinion.

I saw people in long sleeved shirts without jackets, which would be fine for noon but a little nippy at nine or five. There were people in t-shirts, which was simply uncalled for. I saw plenty of toes, and even a pair of flip flops or two. It’s not even guaranteed to reach 70, people. I even saw a few sundresses. Not sundresses with long sleeved shirts over them like mine, just plain old arms out sundresses. I understood the people biking or running who weren’t dressed warmly, they were going to work up a sweat. Those people who just decided that it is warm enough for summer are the nutbar ones. Come on people, I too am happy about the warm weather but have some sense. It’s just not that nice. At least put on a sweater over your bare shoulders.

I hope they get sick. It would serve their cold butts right. For some reason I have something against people who don’t appreciate the true nature of the weather. They are the ones who get sick and then infect the rest of us who have enough sense to dress appropriately by sitting by us on public transportation. I’ll be ready, toes out, when the time is right. I’m just not one to jump the gun. I hate stupids.

The Sphinx, Ornette Coleman- I don’t have enough jazz on my iPod. I also don’t have enough classical music. People should get me things. Oh wait; I don’t have a computer to update my iPod on currently. People should get me things later.

Taxi Theme, ??- I guess this is from a classic TV show, maybe it qualifies as classical music. Never mind, it classifies as crappy.

Try (Just a Little Bit Harder), Janis Joplin- I love this woman. She made cracked out cool. Until she died. I could never drink enough southern comfort to die but only because I drank enough to go paralyzed that one time.

CLICK YOUR HEELS THREE TIMES

Today's Manic Monday theme is click.

I need things to CLICK.

Something about clicking noises has always been a comfort to me. In particular, I love the sound of heels clicking on the ground. As a young child, I always loved to hear women walking (men click too but it isn't as satisfying). The clicking of their heels let me know that they were going somewhere, that they had something to do. A rapid click let me know that this was a woman on a mission; they had a meeting to go to or someone important to see. I always wanted to see what it was that they were doing and who it was that they were going to see. A slow, steady click let me know that the woman was relaxed. This was a person who was simply enjoying their surroundings and taking in life.

I couldn’t wait until I had shoes that clicked. I remember having some black patent leather Mary Janes that made a little noise but they weren’t really satisfying. They clicked, but I wanted them to CLICK. I didn’t think my footsteps conveyed the same oomph as that of adults. I thought the biggest problem was that I didn’t have heels. I couldn’t wait to have some of my very own. Sophomore year of high school, I had a few rather unfortunate pairs of heels. One was a pair of sketchers with a heel. Yes, I had a heeled sneaker and I didn’t see anything wrong with it (at the time). However, being a rubber heel, they didn’t do much clicking. The other was a pair of brown oxfords with a heel. I don’t have to say anything else about that. Give me a break, people always told me they were cute shoes. I didn’t know better.

I think it was Sr. Year that I really got my first pair of heels that I could be proud of. They were a pair of Steve Madden sandals that laced up the front and had a good two and a half inch heel. I thought they were super high. Those that know me will scoff at my thinking those shoes were towering but hey, I was just starting out. I loved those shoes. I loved the way they clicked through the halls and down the streets. I loved people being able to hear me coming, to know that I was on my way. I had arrived.

Over time it has become less important to me. Most of the time I wear heels is at work, and we have carpet. I don’t get to hear my clicks as often as I would like. Sometimes, when I decide to go out, I put on a pair of heels and I click down the street. Sometimes, I still get excited about it. It’s rare though, and nothing will compare to that first CLICK of my heels.

The only unguessed song from last week was number one “Just as volcanoes erupt/Sometime human beings explode in your face” It was You Are Not The Target by Impossible Shapes. I was just listening to this song this morning. It made me smile. I hate when human beings explode in your face. Sometimes you deserve it, but not usually.

BEST AND WORST DRESSED OSCARS 2007

This is the obligatory Oscar fashion post. Since I love fashion and entertainment, how could I resist? We'll start with the worst dressed because it is lots of fun to dish dirt on the celebrities. Remember, this is my opinion and feel free to contribute your own. That's what makes fashion so fun. Oh, I only included women because other than Djimon Honshu (who looked fantastic) all the men looked the same to me.

1. Kirsten Dunst

This girl is an absolute mess. I don't even know where to start. The dress is ugly to begin with. The collar doesn’t match the beading doesn't match the silhouette doesn't match the feathers on the bottom. Then, to top things off, it doesn't flatter her in any way. Next, we have the hair problem. As someone said, "It looked like she pulled her hair back to wash her face," and those bangs have simply got to go.

2. Anne Hathaway

I am going to say a really embarrassing thing. I kind of like Anne Hathaway. I have a thing for the princess diaries movies and loved her in that one movie where she was a suburban thug that went to hang out with the Latino city gang. It was too funny. I think it is called Havoc. Given that, I really wanted her to look adorable on the carpet. She was anything but. That hideous bow made her look incredibly wide and gave her a saggy boob feel. Her hair was ok I guess.

3. Jessica Biel
This girl found her Oscar dress at the half priced prom dress sale at Fashion Bug. It is utterly boring and does nothing for her. Hot pink and black send me back to 1984. Then again I guess the 80s are supposed to be back in or something, but it makes me want to die. To make things even worse, she had the nerve to match her lipstick to her dress UGH. At least she has a prettyish face.


4. Cameron Diaz
I hate everything about this outfit. However, I hated it less as the night wore on which is why she is only the fourth worst dressed person on the red carpet. I hate her tan, I hate her hair, I hate her stupid cardboard-looking-stiffass- wish-I-were-a-mermaid dress. The only good thing is that the dress actually moved ok and, therefore, looked better as she was walking on stage. Unfortunately, it was still awful and ugly. It also bunched in an unflattering way around her mid-section and made her shoulders look rather broad.

5. Penelope Cruz

For some reason Penelope Cruz has landed on some best dressed lists out there. If it was based only on shots of the top of her dress I would have to agree with them. It was beautiful. Unfortunately, I saw the bottom of the dress. It looked like someone killed and skinned a large Muppet. As a lover of Muppets I think this is unforgivable. Some people thought the dress moved very well, I suppose it did. It also almost got vacuumed up by Ellen and was shedding. Gross.

Now for the best dressed list. It was a lot harder for me to rank these women because I thought they were all fantastic. I'll just put them out there and say I ordered them properly but, in all honesty, it doesn't matter.

1. Helen Mirren

The woman simply exuded class from every pore. She looked age appropriate (although some people though it was a little too much cleavage), radiant, classy, and just all around awesome. If I were to look 1/4th this good at her age I think I would throw myself a party. The dress is really shimmery but not in a bad overdone way and it moves very well. It compliments her skin and hair beautifully. I just can't get enough.

2. J-Lo

I realize J-lo was not the favorite of many people. However, I would love love love to wear this dress so I had to put it at the top of my list. I would look awesome in it. I think she looked beautiful in it as well. It has that whole Greek goddess thing going for it and I think the neckline is to die for. I often think J-Lo is way overdone at red carpet events but this look was soft and floaty and simply divine.

3. Cate Blanchett

I really wish that you could see the detailing on the bottom of this dress better in this picture. It was ruby red and simply marvelous. I really liked the metallic steel gray of this dress. There was nothing like it on the carpet. Plus, this dress fit like a glove and made Blanchett's slender body pop with curves. She is always full of style and grace. What a red carpet master.

4. Portia De Rossi

I was truly hoping to find a picture of the back of this dress but couldn't. The ropes came together in the back and met in one thick braid only to split into hundreds of tiny strings. It was fantastic! She also managed to make fringe look good. This woman is the greatest, not only because she was on Arrested Development, but also because she and Ellen are the cutest couple around (even though Ellen's shoes made me think of Jobs For Youth on interview day).

5. Gwyneth Paltrow

I hate Gwyneth Paltrow (but I liked sliding Doors). This woman gets on my nerves to no end. She is boring and icky and, as Monica mentioned, her hair was a little static-filled. Many people didn't like this dress but I just loved it. Maybe because I am all about art deco style. The lines just delighted my eyes and the peep front was another geometric focal point. I love shapes. It has a bit of a mermaid feel to it but, I think, in a good way. This is not a good picture of the dress though; I wish I could have found a better one. Oh well.

42nd Street, Original Broadway Cast- That is a really funny thing to come on after doing a post about the Oscars. I haven’t ever seen this musical but I am sure it is filled with great costumes. I am a little embarrassed that I listen to this song on occasion.

Mass Appeal, GangStarr- I am redeemed. This song has a great beat. Real basic but, like they say “we don’t make whack tracks”. This reminds me of how much better real rap is that the mess they put on that white Rapper show that I had the nerve to watch yesterday. I know some people watched it all season though, so I don’t feel too bad.

You Didn’t Hear It, The Who- Tommy is one of my favorite albums ever. I love it so so much and this song is easily one of my favorites. What a way to start a story. I really hated the movie though.

OLDER BLACK WOMEN ARE WISE BEYOND THEIR YEARS. YOUNGER BLACK WOMEN ARE...PROSTITUTES

The title comes from The Sarah Silverman Show, which was a lot funnier than I expected it to be. I enjoy Sarah Silverman a lot but she tends to tell the same jokes in different ways and I was a little afraid her humor wouldn’t translate well into a TV show. I will be watching it in the future if I happen to catch it but won’t be programming it into the DVR, at least not yet. However, she does know what is comedy and what is just plain old wrong.

Anyway, I was inspired to join on the bandwagon of discussing these fun college parties that have gotten completely out of hand. I’m talking about the “let’s act like black people” parties. Now I don’t remember any Pimps and Hos parties at Sarah Lawrence. I remember Sleaze Week and the Coming Out Dance when plenty of people looked like Hos but that certainly wasn’t the message. I also remember plenty of 40oz drink being consumed, but not with the intent that we were hardcore thugged out gangstas. Why not? Because while dressing scandalously and drinking 40s is plenty of fun, we had more sense than to think we were being “ghetto”.

College students these days are just getting stupider by the minute. Aren’t they supposed to be learning something? Aren’t they supposed to be in school becoming more socially aware and expanding their minds? Maybe that was only my aim in college and most people just don’t care as much. I guess that’s part of why I didn’t even consider any schools with Frats/Sororities on campus (except for UW Madison as a fall back but we knew I wasn’t really going there), cause I didn’t want to be surrounded by beer drinking retards (even though my Jr. year falls directly into that category). I realize this is a generalization and know there are some Greek organizations that do good work out there.

It seems a day doesn’t go by when I don’t hear about some party on some campus (and I rarely hear of students of color being at these parties) where people are encouraged to dress “ghetto” drink malt liquor and “act black”. Now any sensible person knows there are plenty of black people who would never consider acting that way. They also know there are plenty of white people (and of all other races) who act that way all the time. Even the people who are seen on TV with this type of attitude rarely sit at home on their couch acting that way (unless MTV’s Cribs is coming by) I actually saw (a white) someone’s facebook profile that had a picture of them at one of these parties with a caption under it that said “I’m black” and a friend comment “love the nig gear”. The picture has since been changed. Yet students that attend these parties continually say they are not being racist or offensive.

The shit hit the fan the other day when I read about one of these parties being held over Martin Luther King weekend with the title “Living The Dream”. These students also claimed they were not being racist or offensive. Who are they kidding? Last I knew Dr. King’s dream didn’t include ill-informed white college students dressing up and acting how they thought black people acted. I hear people say that racism is no longer an issue in this country every day. I can’t understand what they are seeing around them to make them feel that way. It mystifies me.

On a happier note it’s Super Bowl weekend and that means, per what I read on Michael C’s blog, that 90million people are going to be flushing their toilets during halftime. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. There is a little fear in Miami that there could be a problem. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA. Good times.

Zak and Sara, Ben Folds- I really love the Rockin’ The Suburbs album. My love for it was seriously highlighted when Ben Folds opened for Tori Amos in one of the greatest piano pairings of all time. That concert was amazing. Thanks Mom.

Hot Ones, Shudder to Think- A song from the fantastic Velvet Goldmine soundtrack. I spent so long listening to this soundtrack that I think it has been permanently imprinted in my brain and I can call it up without any type of actual media player. It’s a good power.

Happy Industries, Lupe Fiasco- A great local artist. This song is sampled from the oh so fabulous Feel Good Inc by the Gorillaz. Both are fantastic songs. Lupe spends half his song talking about how he is rhyming over Gorillaz. Speaking of a nice positive rap act let’s give Lupe Fiasco one big hug. He is pooken and I want to pat his precious little head as he kick pushes along.

THINGS THAT I LOVE- PART III

Before I start this post, make sure you scroll down and check out the old pictures of Cho-Cho my Mom sent me. Not only is the bear adorable but look at me! Ok that was shameless. On with the post.

Today I want to talk about a love that blossomed about ten years ago. This is my love of shoes. I had a fondness for shoes long before my Sr. Year of High School but this is the time when I was allowed to truly venture into the world of heels. Kudos to Mom on that one, I didn’t need to be sauntering around SW High School in heels at 13. Plus, they are really bad for your legs. Today I have problems finding a pair of flats that are truly comfortable. Anyway, the obsession started with a pair of Steve Madden sandals that were made of a bunch of leather straps and kind of tied up the foot and had a nice 2 or so inch chunky heel. I thought they were fly. One of my friends thought they looked like a torture device. They were actually very comfortable though because of the ties you could adjust every part of the shoe.

As the years progressed so did my taste. I was a fool for platforms. I spent much of my time in college perched on some 5in sling-back peep-toed tan and brown suede cow-looking shoes trekking up and down a very steep hill multiple times a day. In retrospect I have no idea how I didn’t fall down that hill and am quite amazed that I went up and down that hill so often, I don’t know if I still could. I don’t wear them too often anymore (but sometimes). I mostly use them to reach things in the tall cabinets when Tony isn’t around. One thing I learned with those shoes though, was the power of the super sale. I bought those beauties for like $30 and they had originally been $130 or something. I have relatively small feet so good looking sale shoes in my size are not that hard to come by.

So now that I have rambled a little, time to get to the point, my two favorite pairs of shoes that were at least $100 off. I tried to narrow this down to one pair but I just couldn’t. I’ll start with the first purchase, the silk-screened Prada. These shoes are just beautiful. I found them on sale at Barney’s in NY and they were a whopping $200 off. I don’t think I have ever worn them outside (maybe once). Most of the reason for that is they are not particularly good for long walks and I have a bit of a hike to the train. Actually, they took a lot of breaking in but since I work in an office and only really have to walk to the bathroom, lunchroom, water fountain, copier, etc. they didn’t have much of a chance to be broken in. I can now wear them a full day without being in pain. Even so, with all the drama, I love my super sale shoes. They always turn a few heads with their stunning lines and beautiful patterning. I really can’t complain.

Pair no. 2 was actually a present from Tony. I thought he was having a hard time finding me a Christmas present and I mentioned that if he was having trouble thinking of something for me, these really cute (ok I think they are really cute, I realize a lot of people think they are awful and don’t match themselves and those people are kind of right but the shoes work for me) Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes were $150 off and I loved them although they were a little expensive even with the sale and if he didn’t want to no pressure. We had agreed not to spend that much on each other. I had got him a really nice chess set, "The Areas Of My Expertise" by John Hodgeman (which was sold out throughout Chicagoland and I had to hunt for it for weeks), and salt and pepper shakers (because he kept saying how we needed them and I thought it would be fun). Anyway, to make an already too long story longer, he had already got me a kick ass fondue set with a grill attached but thought he had to get me the shoes too. We agreed to open one present a day before all the others. I opened my lovely shoes; he opened salt and pepper shakers. He had thought the salt and pepper shakers were a PSP because I had told him I had a really hard time finding one of his gifts (the book). He was pretty upset. We now laugh about it but things were touch and go there for a few minutes. I should also say that these shoes are incredibly comfortable and I could go dancing all day in them. Now if only I had some music to dance to….

Seeing that it is a new week, we are back to guess that tune. Hooray!

1. I see us in the park. Strolling the summer days of imaginings in my head. Knocks Me Off My Feet, Stevie Wonder. Identified by Mom

2. When I was here before. Couldn’t look you in the eye. You’re just like an angel. Your skin makes me cry. Creep, Radiohead. Identified by Mom.

3. The guilty undertaker sighs. The lonesome organ grinder cries. The silver saxophones say I should refuse you. I Want You, Bob Dylan. Identified by Brooke.

4. The morn the morn the morn that I was born my old man beat up the Dr. he clocked the Dr. because the Dr. said I looked like Chewbacca.

5. All right stop what you’re doing cause I’m about to ruin the image and the style that you’re used to. The Humpty Dance, Digital Underground. Identified by Dad. (oh I rock this song at kereoke btw)

THINGS THAT I LOVE- PART I

I have decided to have a nice little theme for the rest of the week called things that I love. Many of you may assume that I will write about Tony, or my wonderful friends, or my fantabulous family but I won't. Everyone knows I love those people and I write plenty about them anyway. These will be slightly more random things that I lovee. The first is a thing that often gets mentioned on this fun little page. This thing is my couch.

One day, Tony and I decided we were going to go shopping for a dining room set. See we have this adorable little sunroom that acted as a storage closet for the first year we lived here. I decided it would be the perfect size for a 4-seater dining room table, and it is. But that is another story. So we are looking at Broadway Antique Market for a dining room set and I turned this corner and came upon a couch. This was not just any couch; it was a vision of loveliness. Birds started tweeting and the stars came out. In the store, the couch was set up in a big square. When arranged as such it was about the size of a king sized bed. I ran to find Tony and brought him to it. He was as impressed as I. We had to have it. The couch we had was free and ugly and came with the apartment, we really did have to have it.

The couch cost more money that we really were planning to spend. Remember we were looking for a cheap dining set. The couch happens to be a Milo Baughman design (for any of you who know about furniture it may mean something, it didn't to me) and was from 1979. It wasn’t cheap. It wasn’t unreasonable either. I start to have a "what if someone else buys our couch panic" so I call my Mom. My birthday was coming up, in like a month, and I asked if she would pay for some of the couch as my birthday present. She said she would, she is a really good mom. Then I did something bold and daring. I asked if she would call the store and buy the couch for us and then we would pay her back for the rest of it because that way we could get it right away and not have to wait for checks to go in the mail. She said she would, she is a really good mom. Like a spoiled dork I called the store and told them I wanted the couch and that “My Mommy would be calling to purchase it”. Tony made much fun of me for that one, and I deserved it.

When we got home, we realized the couch was not going to look right in out living room. We took the room that is supposed to be a dining room but was the book and computer room and moved it into the old living room thus making room for the couch. It was a serious process. I have a lot of books. It had to be done, for the couch’s sake. Plus, the room that used to be the living room has no light in it (switch but no light) and we didn’t even realize that we were leading a life of needless darkness. Mere days later, our couch arrived. We had a hell of a time arranging it to our liking but we got it done and promptly began to relax. It is a heavenly place of joy and happiness. I like to have people over and we can all sit on the couch and all be comfortable. Plus the house flows better with this room arrangement. My couch, my couch, what would I ever do without you.


Now, because you can't totally tell in the picture, because it is darker than it is supposed to be and because of the angles, you can't really see the shelving, the couch's best feature. See those things like the lamp, Jabba the Hut, The Electric Mayhem, etc, are actually on a little shelf that is attached to the couch and upholstered as part of the couch. You never have to look for somewhere to put your cup, snack, beer, etc. Couch is wonderful. I love couch. And yes, my table has clutter and my house is not spotless. It is pretty clean for me in this picture though so give me a break.

Now, for songs you may catch me listening to while lounging on my couch. For the record, my favorite spot is in that corner by the lamp. Tony's favorite spot is in the same place. Somethimes we steal each other's seat.

Take On Me, A Ha- I had this great mix CD that I brought home on I think a Christmas visit and forced my family to listen to. We actually had Dad singing the chorus on this one. He indulges us ladies in the family a lot. Thanks Papa.

Up From The Skies, Jimi Hendrix- After that last survey, you all know how I feel about Jimi Hendrix. I love him and his music. I kind of miss the Hendrix black light poster I had in college. I left it in the Sr. Year common room (along with my boom box) because I was in such a hurry to get the hell out of there. Now I'm all nostalgic and want to go back, kinda. Go figure.

Go Go Gadget Gospel, Gnarls Barkley- In case anyone doesn't know St. Elsewhere was amazing. So amazing that you'd listen to it over and over. Then you realize you never really want to hear it again for another six months at least. That doesn't take away from the fact that it is truly awesome and excellent though.

MORE PROJECT RUNWAY TO TALK ABOUT

Ok so they put the posts of people's collections up on Blogging Project Runway so, of course, I had to add them here. I had to say, after viewing the collections I have a completely different idea of who could win this. For weeks I have been saying the final three will be Jeffrey Uli and Michael with it coming down to Michael and Jeffrey and Michael taking the win. I have completely changed my mind. I watched the slideshows of each designer twice and, if it were up to me, the order would be Uli then Jeffrey followed by the unexpected Laura and, unfortunately, with Michael bringing up the rear. I really hated to put things this way. I had no choice.

Uli's collection is not the exact same dress we have been seeing for the entire show. It has elements of that dress but she really changed it up and made a wonderful collection. There is maybe one strictly "rock n' roll" piece in Jeffrey's collection, and it's wonderful. So is everything else. The thing that could hurt him is, like Santino, his collection is very different than his challenge clothes. Laura had a wonderful classic collection; there were just too many feathers and sparkles for my taste. If I liked feathers and sparkles she would have probably been #1 on my list. Then we come to Michael. There is nothing particularly wrong with his collection but I just found it boring. Maybe it is just because I hate gold and am not all that fond of white.

I also have to keep in mind that not all four of them will make it to the "finals." They hinted that maybe only two would be there. On Blogging Project Runway many people speculated that every collection but Laura's contained swimsuits. That, of course, makes everyone believe that she was kicked out and the final challenge was to add a swimsuit to the collection. That makes a lot of sense and would make me feel better because the final three I chose would actually be the final three. Who knows? I think everyone should take a look at the designs and let me know what you think. They are interesting to watch at the least.

On an unrelated but tragic topic, my favorite Of Montreal song has been turned into an Outback Steakhouse commercial. I want to die. The song is still great though and I still love it.

And now, back to the shuffle game

Is Chicago. Is not Chicago, Soul Coughing- When I was in HS in Minneapolis, Soul Coughing was required listening. Even though the band was from NY, they had their biggest fan base in Mpls. Every show would sell out. They are just an incredibly fun and silly band that I will always enjoy. Most people, however, think they suck. Most people are wrong.

Midnight Blue, ELO- OK so ELO is kind of a guilty pleasure of mine. I own a 3 CD box set of ELO records. In my defense it was a really good deal. It was only like $10 more than the one ELO album I had intended to buy. I am glad I did. Most people, however, think they suck. Most people are right.

The Bad Photographer, St Enema Bag- Don't let the band name fool you, this is fantastic music. It has a happy upbeat groove going and you can't help but bop you head. This song sounds kind of like if “Letters To Cleo” were a really good band.

WHINING ON A WET WEDNESDAY

Today is wet. I need a raincoat and galoshes. That really isn’t all that big of a problem though. I need to gripe about very serious pressing issues like fashion and celebrespawn.

Problem 1- Suri Cruise

Typically celebrespawn don’t bother me at all. They generally entertain me. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was one of the most beautiful children I had ever seen, but I didn’t care. The Spears-Federline children have all my best wishes that they do not end up mentally incompetent like their parents. I don’t have much hope, but I truly wish them well. Pilot Inspektor Lee is probably my favorite child simply because his name is Pilot Inspektor. Sage Stalone is my only hope of convincing Tony that Sage is a good name (thank God he likes Rambo and Rocky). This comment should be followed with the fact that I am not planning to be pregnant anytime soon for any of you who might care. Now Suri Cruise is an adorable child. She simply is not the child of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. There is no way she can be. One of her parents is obviously Japanese. I have tried desperately to see a glimmer of either of her parents in that precious little face and I have failed miserably. Her impeccable slightly olive skin, the thick black hair, her precious deep brown eyes all point to parents other than the ones she is reputed to have. The fact that I just saw a picture of Cruise and Holmes with Cruises obviously Black child from his previous marriage didn’t help me keep the faith that Suri is who they say she is. Maybe I am wrong, but it is Wednesday and its wet and I need to whine.

Problem 2- Macy’s Displays

All displays (that I have seen) in Macy’s are hideous. As I walk through the store to get to the train, I am assaulted with the rebirth of the legging. I am a huge fan of dresspants and skirtpants combinations. I can even deal with some of this legging resurgence if paired with the right outfit. Whoever is putting these outfits together, however, needs a serious kick in the head. The worst of all culprits is the shortslegging outfit. Yes, you heard me. A pair of relatively fitted tweed shorts with a wide cuff with leggings underneath. Oh and the leggings are sickeningly similar in color to the shorts. WHAT? These are shorts people. Why would anyone put a legging underneath them? Not to mention the top of the outfit is equally hideous but the monstrosity of the shortsleggings overshadows the v-neck tunic over cowl neck sweater with large belt (I may be mixing up two hideous mannequins but you get the picture). Ok, so that deals with the indoor displays. The windows make me want to cry. Marshall Field’s had impeccable windows. There was color, texture, variety, and creative posing to lure you inside. Now there are windows with mannequins in traditional boring poses in monochromatic clothes (that aren’t even that cute). Not to mention the Goth revival windows. Who said Goth was back? Maybe I missed it but I really hope that is not the acceptable thing to be wearing this season because I will be completely off the mark.

Extra Kudos to Julie for getting the Punky Brewster Theme Song yesterday! She is a girl after my own heart. Now for today's selection.

1. A flask I drink of sober tea while relay cameras monitor me.

2. Standing like John Wayne she is full frame she is center stage.

3. Your Flesh Finds Me Out. Teases the crack in me. Smittens me with hope.

4. Has he lost his mind? Can he see or is he blind? Can he walk at all or if he moves will he fall.

5. I don’t believe I went too far. I said I was willing willing willing. Past The Mission, Tori Amos. Identified by Brooke

THERE'S ROSETTES, THAT’S FOR REMEMBERANCE

Now get your goofy ass off the runway! Angela of the horrid rosettes is finally off Project Runway. I really enjoyed watching her fly all the way to Paris only to have to get on the plane and fly directly home. HAHAHA. That's bogus though, really. At least on ANTM they give them a night in the new exotic location before shipping them home. Oh well. Seriously though, that outfit was a complete mess. She put rosette flowers on her ass. I mean who is she kidding? Not on a pocket on her ass, just as ass decoration. That is never cute. Not only was the outfit a mess but the accessories were a mess too. Did anyone see those shoes? Blah. Honestly I was pretty sure Kane was going home, he looked like Gay Elvis on Meth but I like him so whatever. I don't know what he was thinking though. Then he had the nerve to wear a bling belt that said Kayne. I mean that is not only years late, it was never cool in the first place. Jeffrey finally won a challenge, and it was 100% deserved. I was very happy for him. He looked fantastic and the fact that he pulled that outfit together in one day just amazed me. Michael did a great job also, his outfit really worked for him. As much as the judges didn't like Uli's outfit I would have worn it in a minute. I really like her style. Laura, well it was Laura. I don't like her. The dress was really nice though. I would have worn it too. Not those shoes though. Boring, blah.

Project Runway in Paris promises to be excellent. I am looking forward to the next few weeks very much. I mean it isn't really the type of show where location matters all that much since most of it is shot at their workstations but change is always good. The people on Blogging Project Runway can stop complaining about seeing the same Mandy Moore poster. Maybe they moved it to Paris though. That would be hilarious.

Odd sidebar moment. On the way to work I see a homeless woman in her usual panhandling spot, not unusual, except today she had an iPod Nano. Maybe it was a gift?

On another side note it is my two-year anniversary with Tony. Horary for that! We don't really know when the exact date is so we do it like Thanksgiving, the last Thursday in August. I suppose we could figure the exact date out from that but this is more fun.

Let's play some happy love music for us. Today I will cheat and skip songs because I don't want to write about "Gimmie That Nut" for our anniversary, not that it came on but it could.

Asleep and Dreaming, Magnetic Fields- Ok I skipped 35 songs to get to one that I thought was worth anything. It would have been a bad day for the shuffle game. This song is wonderfully sickening and mushy though. Although I never see him asleep and dreaming (unless I somehow get home when he is already asleep which is rare) but apparently he sees me asleep and dreaming all the time AAAWW how sweet (puke puke gross. Sorry about that disgusting display of love)

Rainbows, Madvillian- Although this is not a sappy song in any way we really love the Madvilliany album so it works.

Amorino, Isobel Campbell- This song is just beautiful. We really like this album too. We like it so much that we went to an Isobel Campbell concert not that long ago. Unfortunately, her new album is nothing like this one. It is mostly weird folkish horrid music. Not that I don't like folk music, I do, this was just horrible. She didn't play a single song from the first album. She cleared out most of the room. We stayed because we kept thinking it would get better. It didn't.

THE END OF A VERY LONG ERA

I work across the street from two Chicago landmarks. One is the Chicago Cultural Center a beautiful building that was once the library. The other is Marshall Field's on State Street. As some of you know, Field's has been purchased by the May company and is going to become a Macy's any day now. They have been working like mad on this transformation. When I first heard the news I was rather apathetic. Although I spend more time in that store than is good for any human (shopping, eating lunch, browsing, walking to the train) I was not one of those people petitioning for the store to remain how it was. I kind of thought it was getting its comeuppance.

See, I am from Minneapolis. In Minneapolis we had this store called Dayton's. Dayton's was fantastic. Owned by the Dayton family who still lived locally it was classy, fashionable, and altogether wonderful. Then it was bought by Marshall Field's and was soon no more. People wanted them to change all the stores but keep the flagship Downtown Minneapolis store as Dayton's for history's sake. They didn't do that. People said the same thing about Marshall Field's on State. May didn't do that either. I figure you take over one city's history yours gets taken over as well. Karma. So I was one of the few people who didn't seem to care about the take-over. Not that there weren't many others who didn't care, it just seemed like I cared less to me.

Recently I have become somewhat saddened by this change. Primarily I am bummed that there are all kinds of sales going on and I am broke and can't partake in them. I haven't even ventured to the shoe department because I know I will see some deals and go home and cry. It isn't worth it. Secondly, I think the emerald green and white of Field's is a rather classy color combination while the Red and Black of Macy's is colder, more corporate. Essentially my fashion sense is slightly offended. Thirdly, well there really isn't a thirdly. Macy's is a fine store in its own right and I am sure that I will spend just as much time there as I have at Field's. I have just kind of shrugged it off and kept moving

This is why I was utterly shocked and amazed this morning that as I came out of the subway and saw a Macy's awning going up that I felt a deep sadness in my innards. I truly thought I didn’t care. Apparently I do. I don't know why I care, I didn't expect to, but I do. That pisses me off. What right does that store have to make me feel sad? None. I am thinking that things will slowly change the rest of this week and when I come back to work on Tuesday the 5th Field's will be no more. I won't even get one good-bye purchase. Maybe that's what gets me. The era ends and I won't be there to celebrate all the good times we had together. Maybe I'll go and have one last lunch in the cafeteria downstairs. They have a mean creamed spinach.

And now, an ode to Field's

Head Over Heels, Tears For Fears- Ok this Tears For Fears obsession of my shuffle function has to cease. I am being incorrectly represented. Today though, it works. Field's I am head over heels for you.

The Day The Niggaz Took Over, Dr. Dre- I am going to make this relevant somehow. Well Macy's colors are black and red right, the "guns go click the guns go bang" and the red starts flowing. As for the black...well it's too obvious and as much as I love racism I'm not going to say it. Oh, speaking of racism, on a blog that I unfortunately don't recall so I can't give it proper credit I saw this wonderfully racist ad for the Baylor College football team. You should look at it. It is great for laughs.

To Be With You, Mr. Big- Well this is just about the best song that could have possibly come on at this moment. I am the one who wants to be with Marshall Field's I only wish the lyrics were "waited on a line of green and white" so that it would be utterly perfect. Many people would be totally embarrassed by this song. While it is one of my many guilty pleasures I am not going to deny that I love this song. LOVE LOVE LOVE! Monica, you know you love it too
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THE END IS NEAR

Not the end of anything important don't anyone worry, just the end of this horrible "two-week" interim job that I have been doing since July 1. I was told on Friday that the new Volunteer Services Director would b starting Sept 1. In my utter excitement I didn't ask if that was the real Sept 1 being Friday or the fake Sept 1 being Tuesday the 5th. I hope it is on Friday. If this new person comes in on Friday I will be able to train them Fri, Tues, and if need be Wed next week and then I will be done. I will be on vacation Thursday and Friday, which is nice because I can "relax" before starting my real job as the Customized Training Coordinator. I think that is an awesome title. I was going to be the Customized Training Instructor (nowhere near as cool) but since my last title had coordinator in it I petitioned to have the new one include that as well. I mean I didn't want to look demoted. In case I change my mind about being an English Teacher (which I won't) I can be a training person in some fab clothing store. They make really good money.

Anyway, enough about that. My shirt is dirty. I thought I looked really cute today (and I do) but I recently discovered my shirt is dirty. Not just a little dirty, really really dirty. I removed my jacket when I went to the bathroom (I just think it is not right to pee in a blazer, sweater, etc. Sorry if that is too much information) and while washing my hands looked in the mirror at a horribly dirty shirt. I picked it out of my closet this morning. I am NOT in the habit of putting dirty clothes in the closet, so I assumed it was fine. I generally take about 1-3 minutes getting dressed in the morning. If I go over 1 minute it is because I can't find something. I am really good at getting ready to leave the house. I typically take 30 min from bed to door. So my white shirt has all kinds of dirty places on it. I don't think people will really notice since my jacket is back on, but I know. I don't even know if this shirt can make it to clean again. Maybe that is what happened. I washed it but something horrible had occurred and it was just more than the detergent could handle. I then put it in the closet assuming it was clean. Boo me. I like this shirt too. I hope it can be saved. I just went outside with a co-worker for a smoke and it is a torrential downpour. I am drenched. I have to teach a class in 30 minutes. I want to take off my soaked jacket. My shirt is dirty.

This morning on the train I saw the lady. She saw me coming and gave me a bad look. I was with Tony so she was not in danger. I did catch her steal another evil look at me once she had got settled in the single seat. Now why would she do that? I was so obviously not paying her any mind. Maybe she noticed me nudging Tony and saying that’s her that’s her and pointing at her with my umbrella. Maybe she heard Tony call her a nasty name. All I know is that she sucks.

This weekend I had planned to make a fort. You know, with sheets and chairs and stuff. It was going to go over my couch and provide a wonderful place to hide. I like to be covered. I constructed canopies over my beds in my dorm rooms Jr. and Sr. year. I really liked the one from Jr. year but all my friends disrespected it and sat on it so it became very busted. I still love you though guys. The one Sr. year did not hang down to the bed so it never fell down. The evil fire hazard people made me take it down along with the beaded curtain going into our alcove, the black paper on the walls and the wonderful “Wall o’ Heath”. Tragic.

I want to briefly talk Emmy's. I don't really care about most of it. I like to see the dresses. I was, as I expected to be, disappointed. Jeremy Piven got what he deserved with Entourage (sorry Friend Monica I know you are anti but you have to give it up for Ari Gold). I think that was all that was really well deserved. Oh and Mariska Hargitay for SVU. I love that show. Alan Alda is cool so I can’t begrudge him. Or the Daily Show although I would have liked to see it go to Colbert because I have a crush on him weird ear and all. Now for the tragedy, AMAZING RACE???? Does anyone even watch that show? It beat Project Runway. Everyone knows Project Runway is the greatest reality show ever created. Now while I can deal with Colbert losing to Stewart I cannot abide him losing to Barry Manilow. That made me want to puke. Manilow is not sexy. Most people will tell me that Stephen Colbert is also not sexy. They are wrong.

As homage to Stephen I hope some glorious songs come on today

No Surprises, Radiohead- well as I mentioned there were a lot of surprises for Stephen, like people think Barry Manilow deserves an award and he doesn't. This song is made just for him and those bruises that won't heal.

Gypsy, Stevie Nicks- This song sucks. I don't have any idea why it is on my iPod. One thing that I don't like about the iPod is that you can't delete songs unless it is attached to the computer. I don't know why I have this song. I don't think Monica would have put it on my computer and I am sure Tony didn't and I am pretty sure I didn't. I have a gremlin putting horrible music on my computer.

Beef Jerky, Cibo Matto- I have nothing but good things to say about this band. This song is almost as funny as "I'm Sorry That I Got Fat"