- We are both still awake, and there are birds chirping outside and What. The. Fuck.
- Way, way too many skinny, pale, almost-vaguely-ethnic, blonde chicks up in my fashion editorials right now. Diversity, PLEASE.
GTT: Not hot. At all.
Published January 8, 2010 | 
Today over at Girl Talk Thursday, we’re discussing celebrities that we do not understand the appeal of.
My list:
1) Robert Pattinson. People, this picture is from the cover of GQ. If GQ can’t make this dude look good, no one can.
2) Taylor Lautner. I swear I’m not necessarily biased against Twilight peeps, I just don’t see the appeal. Maybe if he walked around shirtless with a bag over his head…
3) Sarah Jessica Parker. She is just not attractive to me.
someone please save that hottie from the goblin woman trying to eat him!
4) Madonna. GAG GAG GAG. Put some fucking clothes on, gain a little weight, dress your age, and maybe you’d stand a chance of getting off this list.
5) Kelly Ripa. She just looks like an orange bobble head doll to me.
Girl Talk Thursday
Published August 6, 2009 | 
Girl Talk Thursday is a weekly event run by Maria of Mommy Melee. This week, we’re discussing our favourite songs. It’s been interesting to watch the Twitter conversation around this topic, because several women seem to be saying that that our favourite songs, or the ones that are most meaningful to us, bring tears to our eyes and strike at our hearts.
I’ve definitely felt that while putting together this list, but I didn’t really get into a lot of the stories behind these songs, if only because some of them are so intensely personal that they’re too personal to type here. Yes. I, who have written about A LOT here, won’t write about certain stories. But there are some of you girls I’d love to share personal stories with over a bottle of wine.
I settled on ten songs — four in video form, six with links to their vid on YouTube.
“Every Now and Then” by Tony Henry. My favourite slow jam song – if you listen to NOTHING else on this list, nothing else today, if you hate music, it doesn’t matter, you must, must, must listen to this song. I am not joking. It is AMAZING. That this man is not an international star is beyond me. This vid is nothing but the name of the song and the artist, so you can even work in another window while listening and not miss anything visually. There is another Tony Henry that’s a recording artist, but he’s like an opera dude or something? Not the same. (Thank you, Mark, for introducing me to this song — one of the MANY MANY MANY amazing artists you’ve brought to my attention.)
“Fast as You” by Dwight Yoakam is my favourite country song. I’m pretty sure this is the favourite country song of everyone in my family with the possible exception of my very Polish grandfather, who loves “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. Also: LOOK AT THAT LEG ACTION! Smooth.
“Reckless Girl” by The Beginerz used to remind me of myself. Still kinda does, a little bit. But it’s just got a great groove to it. “I ain’t much at cookin’ & sewin’, but my man is crazy for me. I spend his money like there’s no tomorrow, I’m a reckless girl, I agree.”
“Angel” by Massive Attack is “our” song. This played at our wedding, but Chris was too cool to dance with his new wife. Ironically, I was introduced to this band — hell, this entire genre of music — by the Professor. This song really gets to me. It’s so powerful, the beat throbs, the singer’s voice is ethereal… shivers. Serious shivers.
“Dirrty” by Cristina Aguilera is my favourite sexy song – . Chris and I first bonded and flirted over how fking hot this video is, all those years ago. I don’t know why, but I love the part around 4:03 where she kicks the water up. It always sticks in my mind.
“Just to Get By” by Talib Kweli is the song I have an unexpected but deep love affair with. Love the chorus on this one — hell, I love all the lyrics. It’s just inspiring. Also, Talib Kweli tweets!
“Breathe Me” by Sia is THE song that makes me cry. Mom, I know you have heard this one before and it made you cry, too (I think at the end of “Six Feet Under”?). Not only is it lyrically and musically beautiful, but it unlocks certain painful memories. For that reason, I rarely listen to it… but when I do, I am always moved.
“Love Shack” by the B-52s is my favourite 80s groove.. Is there anyone that doesn’t love this song? Also, if your answer is yes, please just close my blog now. Don’t bother telling me in the comments. I’ll just pretend you didn’t write it anyway.
“As The Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Remix)” by Motorcycle takes the title of best song you’ve never heard but you should. Vid is just that one image, but this is the kind of song you just listen to and feel.
Last, but certainly not least, the song I consider to be my “theme song”: “Penny On the Train Track” by Ben Kweller.
I’m just a penny on the train track
Waitin’ for my judgement day
Come on baby girl let me see those legs
Before I get flattened away
I wait
Yeah, I wait
For something good, for something great
Stoppin’ in somebody’s old home town
Gotta get that midnight meal
If you can’t get behind your own life
Get behind the driving wheel
And go, just go
Find a place that you don’t know
Ran into a friend just the other night
Got a badge, he’s a local cop
Haven’t seen that boy in over seven years
Since out of high school I dropped
I see, I see
All the things that I should be
Oh baby dance with me!
Even lucky man has a bad day
And pretty girl has a scar
After that train comes and takes me away
Pick up that guitar
And play, just play
Play that rock and roll for me
He’s in the yard just washin’ his car
Thinkin’ ’bout his pretty wife
Makin’ lemonade with the kitchen aid
Makin’ him a perfect life
And it’s grim, so dim
When you wish that you were just like him
I’m just a penny on the train track
Waitin’ for my judgement day
Come on baby girl let me see those legs
Before I get flattened away
I wait, I wait
For something good, for something great
And I try, oh I try
I can’t stop, I don’t know why
Girl Talk Thursday
Published July 30, 2009 |
Girl Talk Thursday is a weekly event run by Maria of Mommy Melee. This week, we’re discussing the ways we unwind.
For years, before Maia, I was constantly “unwound”. I rarely felt uptight, stressed, or tired; I was unhappy with a few aspects of my life, but never felt as if those aspects were overwhelming me. I spent the majority of my time logged into World of Warcraft, socializing with friends.
Now that we have a child, I feel tense all the time. It’s only at the end of each day — and I never know when the day will end, when Maia will go to sleep for the night — that I realize how tight my shoulders and back are. The late hours of the day are when I allow myself to consider our situation, our lifestyle, and how I can improve one while maintaining the other. It’s heavy business that leaves my mind in a fuzz of this is when I can shine, but we’re in a lot of trouble if I can’t.
Taking a hot shower and using one of my five different kinds of soap is my first line of defense against tension. I stretch these minutes out for as long as I feel like it, reclaiming my body and my time, raising my face to the falling water to close my eyes and simply exist, thinking of nothing and nowhere but myself and where I am.
Allowing myself a mug of sugary peppermint tea, or honeyed lemon tea, or even cayenne-spiked hot chocolate, is another way to unwind. I’ll curl up in a corner of the couch, the chihuahuas snuggled at my ankles and a book in my hand, to relax. It usually works.
And, just like every other woman in my family, if I’m extremely angry and stressed, I clean. I don’t know if it’s because cleaning is a mindless process or because cleaning results in things being more orderly, but either way, it soothes my mind.
How do you unwind?
Girl Talk Thursday 14
Published June 25, 2009 |
Girl Talk Thursday is Mommy Melee‘s weekly event, and I really love participating, so here it comes: my thoughts on the topic of “What talent do you wish you had?”
This is easy: dancing. I wish I could dance. I wish I had that innate rhythm, control, and awareness of my body. I would love to shake my booty and have people encourage me not because my booty is hawt (which it is), but because I make them feel like I’m telling a story, or at least entertaining, with my movement.
I remember living in Navy Housing as a kid. There was a dance going on at the local rec center, and for admission, you had to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to charity. I think I brought a can of sauerkraut — which was SO EMBARASSING BTW — and I seem to remember a can of beets too, but that might just be my faulty memory.
Anyhow, point being, I felt really nervous walking into this dance. I was young, maybe 7 or 8. I didn’t go with friends, I went by myself, but I was so excited to be going to this Big Kid dance. I found a spot on the dancefloor where I wouldn’t bump into anybody and started getting my groove on.
Any by “getting my groove on” I mean I started doing the MC Hammer dance.
Yes, me. Little blonde-haired, blue-eyed, very white, very Polish me. In the middle of a big, empty space on the dancefloor at the Big Kid dance. I pumped my arms. I stomped my feet. I frowned in concentration and thought, YES! I’ve got it! How cool am I?!
Then… I looked up.
Right at a group of Big Girls giggling behind their hands and staring at me.
I’m still mortified at the thought.
I remember running away, past the concession stand where they sold pizza and soda. I must’ve called my mom. I just wanted to leave and never see those Big Girls again.
And you know what? I’ve never done the MC Hammer dance again.
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Don’t forget about my Babies of 2009 Carnival coming up on July 1st! Please help me spread the word.
Girl Talk Thursday 08
Published May 14, 2009 | Girl Talk Thursday is Mommy Melee‘s weekly event, and I really love the thought, so here it comes: my thoughts on the topic of “Who’s Your Girl Crush?”
Now, there are lots I could list here: Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. Angelina Jolie. Eliza Dushku. Megan Fox. Natalie Portman. Amy Lee of Evanescence. Christina Aguilera in her Dirrty days. Rachael Ray and her strawberry.
But above them all is this woman:
I just love her. I love that in some movies she’s a complete vixen, but in others (The Other Boleyn Girl, Lost in Translation) she’s not overly made-up and looks just like that fabled “girl next door”. And do you even remember how great she was in Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around Comes Around” video? I love her voice. I would be her BFF. I’d even get drunk and make out with her. Mrowr!
Who’s your girl crush?
Girl Talk Thursday 07
Published May 7, 2009 | Girl Talk Thursday is Mommy Melee‘s weekly event, and I really love the thought, so here it comes: my thoughts on the topic of “Lingerie. Helpful? Awesome? Waste of money?”
Now, I like lingerie. Always have, always will. Maybe not the bondage-esque stuff with straps here, buckles there etc (if only because I don’t know how to wear it all!), but give me a lacy nightie and I’m going to be feeling a hell of a lot more womanly.
But… my husband could care less. His opinion is that what you’re wearing is pretty much irrelevant, since it’s going to come off anyhow. This may be why I wear PJ pants and an ill-fitted tank top all day long (or it could just be because I’m lazy).
Still, when I have cash and I’m cruising around the mall (ie, in my dreams), the fancy panty stores are the first place I head. And clearance racks in the lingerie department at Sears or The Bay better watch out, because Mama’s coming hunting!
Girl Talk Thursday 06
Published April 30, 2009 | Girl Talk Thursday is Mommy Melee‘s weekly event, and I really love the thought, so here it comes: my thoughts on the topic of “What would you spend $50 on, guilt free?”!
My first thought was a pair of shoes. I hate nearly every pair of shoes I own, except for my flip-flops, which fortunately I’m able to wear nearly every day now. I need at least one pair of “dressy” shoes. Something with a cute little kitten heel would be awesome. I’d throw them on with a pair of jeans and strut my stuff like a peacock.
Hopefully I could squeeze in an eyebrow threading with that too. At our old place, I went to this beautician where threading was $3, but everyone around here wants like $15 to shape my brows. Ridiculous! Maybe that’s why my eyebrows are wild things that haven’t had any tending to since, oh… last May?
Knowing me, though, if I had $50 FOR MYSELF (as in, I had to spend it on me), I’d buy food. Not pre-made, not at a restaurant, but I’d go into a grocery store and pick up those little indulgent items I usually pass. Organic produce. A nice bottle of balsamic vinegar, not whatever’s on special. A savoury loaf of fresh-baked bread as well as a loaf of sweet cranberry & pumpkin seed, with a sharp cheese to pair with the former and a creamy spreadable cheese for the latter. Maybe some specialty salt. A nice portion of salmon. And I’d probably buy a bottle of that juice that’s in the produce section that costs like $7 apiece, but has all sorts of cool fruit and veggie flavours in it.
Then I’d eat that food while my antsy baby squirmed in my arms. Sigh!
food