Thems a whole lotta flowers

The cooler at Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop as of last Thursday (two weddings yesterday)

Blue house in Moustiers

Blue house in Moustiers, originally uploaded by marius.askildsen.

Isobel and Mark

"It's a funny setup," she admits. "I'm not going to lie, it's very unusual. You could raise your eyebrows. I prefer to say it's a unique thing."

Such a cutie

Ms. Nash at Coachella

This is HILARIOUS

A blow-by-blow* recap of the video for 'November Rain.'

It's very sad. The same cathedral that witnessed happy nuptials now resonates with weeping rock icons. Including, weirdly, John Denver. Oh, no, that's Axl Rose. He's very sad.

*poor choice of words

Market in Lorgues

Market in Lorgues, originally uploaded by marius.askildsen.

Random ten

1. Stuntman- Kasabian
2. Listen Up!- Gossip
3. I've Just Seen A Face- The View
4. All Apologies- Nirvana
5. Parachute Woman- The Rolling Stones
6. Don't Let Me Down- Stereophonics
7. South Side- Moby & Gwen Stefani
8. Celebrity Skin- Hole
9. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe- Barry White
10. Red Blooded Woman- Kylie Minogue

Bonus-
11. L.E.S. Artistes- Santogold
12. Round & Round- New Order

Random bits

-This weekend at the shop, we have 2 weddings, including the daughter of our lead designer. I'm in charge of the other one, which features a young and picky bride, and am currently figuring out how I'm going to make it from setting up the latter, to attending the former. Of course, they're in different towns.*

-Today, I was examining my nails, and lamenting their lack of length/polish, and trying to schedule a time to rectify this. After getting a big eye roll from Patti, we decided that they would be fantastic if they weren't dirty, let alone manicured.

-When ordering Chinese takeout from a local grocery store today, I assumed my best professional phone manner, and said one of the dumbest things ever.

"I'd like to speak to someone in Chinese."

Not "I need to order Chinese takeout." Instead, telling the poor, probably amused operator that I'd like to speak a language that I don't even know how to say "hello" in.

On the plus side, I made the mother of the bride laugh her skinny arse off.

*We're talking 15 miles distance here, but still... I'm going to be careening around the countryside, dodging tractors and such, attempting to apply makeup while keeping the delivery van out of ditches and ravines...

Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain

Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain, originally uploaded by curreyuk.

Mojo awards

Best Live Act
Arctic Monkeys
Rufus Wainwright
Seasick Steve
Led Zeppelin
Neil Young

Best Album
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
Arctic Monkeys- Favourite Worst Nightmare
Radiohead- In Rainbows
Duffy- Rockferry
Robert Plant and Alison
Krauss- Raising Sand

Song of the Year
LCD Soundsystem-All My Friends
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
The Last Shadow Puppets- The Age of the Understatement
Richard Hawley- Tonight the Streets Are Ours
Duffy- Mercy

Breakthrough Act
Duffy
Foals
Pete Molinari
The Last Shadow Puppets
Bon Iver

Mojo Maverick
Mark E. Smith, of the Fall

ILU Russell

"Don't say that out loud." Oh, Russ... you're such a slag. Don't ever change.

An interesting combination

Petula Clark and PAUL RYDER?????? Oh my...

NOW here's an unlikely duet. Former Happy Mondays bassist Paul Ryder, brother of Shaun and now frontman of his own band Big Arm, is set to team up with Downtown singing legend Petula Clark.

Believe it or not, Paul's the looker in the Ryder clan.

Chalk Farm Road

Chalk Farm Road, originally uploaded by laurentphotography.

dolwyddelan barn

dolwyddelan barn, originally uploaded by meirion matthias.

I'm a swoon-y wreck

Most random setlist ever. They did 'Son Of A Gun.' My FAVORITE La's song. AAAAAA.

Helsinki played:

’Ampersand’
‘Genocide Matinee’
‘This Love’
‘Same Jeans’
‘White Riot’
‘Son Of A Gun’
‘Paris At Night’
‘I Wish’
‘Dancing In The Dark’

Paris in the springtime

Paris in the springtime, originally uploaded by torontofotobug.

Hee hee

Mindy is so awesome. This is EXACTLY how I feel about sour candy gummies...

When the concept of Sour met Sweet, it was like when Paul McCartney met John Lennon. Then when Sour and Sweet met Chewy, it was like they ran into Mick Jagger at the post office and had one long jam session. When Sour and Sweet and Chewy met Cherry, it was like the cops came to break up the jam session and the sheriff was Michael Jackson in 1981 and he like moonwalked all over the place.

"Lacroix sweetie, Lacroix"

The clutch from Christian Lacroix-






























The inspiration by Klimt-

The Kids Are Alright

Today was the day that the kids attending local proms picked up their flowers from the shop. It was a little after 2 (when we normally close), and we heard someone pull up outside.

A local boy, whose father owns a junkyard, had pulled into the parking lot in a semi. A sparkling clean semi. I mean, that fucker had been waxed, so you just know that's what the kid was driving tonight. He popped in to pick up his flowers, pleased as punch. We tried not to giggle or hug him. It was that cute.

This is why we love prom. I may currently be so exhausted that I just struggled with the spelling of "pleased" for a few moments, but the kids are generally awesome.

Sometimes my Spidey senses are right on

Today, in the midst of Prom hell (55 sets of corsages and boutonnieres down, 7 to go), we had a delivery to go to a tiny town to the west of Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop. Upon opening the garage door, I noticed a whole bunch of ominous clouds in the direction I would be driving in. After seeing huge bolts of lightening streak across the sky, I closed the garage door, went inside and announced that I would do the delivery later.

I'm so smart. The town where a tornado touched down in? About 5 miles from where I'd be delivering to...

Vintage Postcard from Paris

Vintage Postcard from Paris, originally uploaded by Kessiye.

Random ten

1. Gimme Some Love- Graham Coxon
2. Afraid Not Scared- Ryan Adams
3. Darker- Doves
4. Tomorrow Never Knows- Noel Gallagher
5. The 32nd Of December- Babyshambles
6. Ready For The Floor- Hot Chip
7. Lit Up- Buckcherry
8. Dakota- Stereophonics
9. Cabaret- Liza Minelli
10. Last Nite- Adele

Bonus-
11. Denial- Sugababes
12. Caravan- Van Morrison

It's never a good sign

when my mom begins a conversation with, "Don't freak out." As earlier mentioned, we have a jam-packed schedule for the next 6 weeks at the shop. And now, I have a sense of impending doom about next weekend (two weddings). Why? Also next Saturday, the semi-annual town-wide garage sale.

Oh God, when Mom told me, I screamed in horror. Nearly cried. You have no idea how bad it is. Scads of foul-smelling people descend upon our little village, driving minivans at 2 MPH with the doors open, as to better leap out for the awesome fucking deals on every block. AND one of the weddings is in town, so the setup will be beset with with logistical difficulties.

Also, they come into the shop, walk around, ask stupid questions, use the bathroom, plug the toilet and LEAVE WITHOUT BUYING ANYTHING. Thank God I'm setting up the out-of-town wedding...

Hmm... am sensing a potential fanbase clash

Paul Weller and Girls Aloud are to headline shows on the Isle Of Wight this summer.The former leader of The Jam will play Osborne House on July 26, with Girls Aloud following the next day (27).

Chic

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's coat. WANT. Also her flats and trousers. Okay, the whole damn outfit.

Awwww

How cute are Miles and Alex?

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed

The schedule at Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop for the next few weeks.

April 20-26- Prom. 60+ corsages and boutonnieres. 70+ tuxedo rentals. Secretaries Day tomorrow.

April 27-May 3- Two weddings, including tux rentals for both. One of the weddings is the daughter of one of our designers.

May 4-May 10- A little holiday you may have heard of. Mother's Day. Our biggest week of the year.

May 11-May 17- Graduation at the local high school. Craziness will ensue.

May 18-24- Wedding

May 24-31- Wedding. Memorial Day.

June 1-7- Wedding.

So, yeah. I'm going to have even less of a life than usual for the next few months. AND it's a virtual certainty, whenever we are incredibly busy, the f-u-n-e-r-a-l work starts to roll in...

And so it begins.

Oasis- 'Step Out'

One of my fav Noel/Stevie Wonder tunes. In fact, my ONLY favorite Noel/Stevie song...

I want to

look like Eva Green when I grow up.

Now THAT'S a diverse lineup

BBC Radio1's Big Weekend

Saturday 10 May - Main Stage
Madonna
Usher
The Fratellis
Robyn
Duffy
Scouting For Girls
The Feeling
The Hoosiers

Sunday 11 May - Main Stage
The Kooks
Nelly
Adele
Newton Faulkner
Goldfrapp
The Enemy
Pigeon Detectives
One Republic

Devon Jonquils

Devon Jonquils, originally uploaded by RobRoyAus.

Today in unfortunate headlines

Pope tells of youth under Nazis

I should really

read Mr. Ruhlman more often. As to avoid near-tragedies.

Remember that sugar is incredibly hot and causes some of the worst cooking burns there are.

RAR/LMHR

If he isn't actually a racist asshole, Clapton can do a remarkable imitation of one.

Clapton has not only never apologised for his outburst, but has continued to praise Powell; only last December on The South Bank Show he reiterated his support for the man and four years ago he told Uncut magazine that Powell had been 'outrageously brave'.

And Drew. He's such a lovely boy. Sigh.

With Doherty in prison McConnell is assembling an all-star super-group, featuring his own band Helsinki and special guests, to play at the anniversary gig. 'I wasn't even born at the time of the first carnival,' he tells me, 'but when I found out that the BNP had started a record company and were handing out CDs outside schools with racist music I just felt offended. That they were using music of all things.'

Storytime

As promised, here is an installment in my series, College Stories From Cy.

Dumb Things My Guy Friends Did While Drunk And/Or Stoned.

Chapter 1- The Robitussin Incident

One evening, Casey, Wendy and I were out at the bar. Shocker, I know. We ran into our buddy, Ken, and decided to go to a house party over on Campus Ave. Ken's crib (he actually called it that) was close to the party site, so we headed there for a quick drink/potty pit stop before continuing on.

At Ken's, we saw his erstwhile roommate, John, laying face-down on the couch, and our friend, Jim, in a heap on the (disgusting) floor. I'm sure I made a tasteless Jonestown joke. We figured that they had been drinking/smoking, but then Casey spotted the two empty Robitussin bottles on the floor.

We were a bit concerned. Well, as concerned as very drunk people can be, so not at all. We were, however, keen to take advantage of our friends condition.

The girls and I laughed at them, while Ken went over to John and stole his smokes. John said (direct quote), "I see you taking my smokes, but I can't seem to find my arms." Then Jim leaped from a prone position to standing.

The drunk people were wigged out by this bizarre behavior, so we went on to the normal environment of a college kegger, leaving the syrup-addled people to reenact their own personal Dr. Gonzo/His Attorney scenes.

We hoped with less vomiting.

Gossip

Live on "Late Night." Beth kicks so much ass, a new term needs to be invented for, er, how much ass she kicks. As always, girlfriend's outfit is interesting...

Random ten

1. Merry Happy- Kate Nash
2. It's Not Unusual- Tom Jones
3. Headshrinker- Oasis
4. Clementine- Babyshambles
5. Blackbird- Evan Rachel Wood
6. Help Yourself- Amy Winehouse
7. 9/15ths- Biffy Clyro
8. Rusholme Ruffians- The Smiths
9. Some Cities- Doves
10. The Denial Twist- Nikka Costa

Bonus-
11. Dead Flowers- The Rolling Stones
12. Never Ever- All Saints

National Gallery

National Gallery, originally uploaded by dnunez_za.

So Soon Will They be Gone

So Soon Will They be Gone, originally uploaded by Rhadman.

Ah, nostalgia

Tonight, I got to take another parent, this time my dad, to the emergency room. During the annual burning-of-the-switch grass (helps growth), he not only managed to set his pants leg on fire, AGAIN, but he cut the hell out of one of his fingers, necessitating a trip for 5 stitches and a tetanus shot. Hmm, wonder if the cut had anything to do with the empty beer cans I saw on the tailgate of his truck? No...

See the "again?" He's done this once before. When I was in college, I was minding my own business, checking my email at one of the computer labs in Durham Center, when I saw a message from my mom entitled, "Dad's On Fire." He got a little over-enthusiastic with the gas can, and lit the entire hill by one of our ponds on fire.

He was panicking about this (it was getting awfully close to the house), when he noticed that his pants were smoldering. He jumped in the pond, and called the fire department. Dad had just recently retired as the town's assistant fire chief. Typical. He is a bit accident-prone. Just off the top of my head, he has-

-cut two fingers off with a hatchet, and had them re-attached (AT AGE 9)
-gotten heat exhaustion twice at fires, one of them before our family vacation to Florida. In August. I don't like to remember that one. He was a smidgen grouchy
-accidentally driven the lawn tractor into the pond. Mom was not amused

However, no injuries of his can compare with what my girls, Casey and Wendy, and I experienced one random Saturday night at Iowa State. We were, atypically, not out at the bars (because Wen's ex-fiance was acting, shall we say, a bit unhinged. But that's another story), and were hanging out at our friend Ken's apartment, which he shared with another friend, John.

John is, er, unique. And in college, we all drank quite a bit. Okay, a lot. Hello, Iowa State? Anyway, we were hanging at Ken and John's apartment watching, if memory serves, 'Orgasmo,' when John came staggering in the door, heading straight for the bathroom. This was not unusual.

However, when he hadn't emerged 10 minutes later, Wen went to check on him. John was laying on the absolutely disgusting toilet, bleeding profusely. We were alarmed. John insisted he'd go to the doctor in the morning. We were even more alarmed.

So, Wendy, being a take-charge individual, told him "You may go to the hospital by Monte* or you may go by ambulance. You choose." He decided former route. Wendy stayed back with Ken, and Casey and I took drunkass down to the Monte.

As the car was really new at the time, I was a bit concerned about having, you know, BLOOD, all over it, so I made John put his seat belt on and hang his arm out the window. This was all well and good until Johnny decided that he needed a smoke. Then I made him hang his whole upper body out the window.

We arrived at the hospital, where shockingly enough in a college town on a Saturday night, the ER was packed. So Case took the bleeding inebriate in, and I parked the car. When I joined her in the waiting area, Casey was in tears laughing. This is the scene as I remember it-

Check-in nurse- "Why are you here?"

John- "I fell somehow and cut my arm."

Check-in nurse- "Was alcohol involved?"

John (holding up gash in the arm)- "What do you think? Oh God, don't tell my mom."

Check-in nurse- "Son, if you're on her insurance, she's going to find out eventually."

Case about wet her pants. So, while we were waiting for them to sew Johnny back up, we noticed a whole bunch of jacket-wearing sorority and fraternity-types, sitting huddled together and looking upset. We took one look at each other and said at the same time, "Alcohol poisoning." We are actually that mean sometimes.

Anyway, 17 stitches later, John emerged and tried give hugs to express his thanks in taking care of him. We declined, as when John fell and cut his arm (we believe maybe at an adjacent construction site), he somehow managed to roll in dog shit. Yes, in my new car, all in the same night, we had smoke, blood and animal excrement.

Believe it or not, this is one of my tamer college stories. Why yes, we all read entirely too much Hunter S. Thompson, why do you ask? Actually, I think Ken still has my dog-eared copy of 'Fear and Loathing.' Bastard.

Next in the "Cygirl's (vague) Recollections From College" series- "Dumb Things My Guy Friends Did While Drunk And/Or Stoned." Yes, Casey, this includes the legendary cheesecake and turkey incidents...

*my car, the Monte Carlo. I know, such a clever nickname.

I love you,

Noel, but this does smack a bit of "You damn kids get off my lawn!" And don't forget, "Back in my day, we walked 5 miles to school, uphill both ways, AND LIKED IT!"

Oasis' Noel Gallagher has said that he thinks the decision to book Jay-Z for a headline set at this year's Glastonbury festival was incorrect. Speaking to BBC News, Gallagher said that deviating from the festival's tradition of booking guitar-based headliners was "wrong".

Tulips

Tulips, originally uploaded by dachalan (gone diving).

Storytime

Back when I taught 5th and 6th grade social studies in Texas, my school had a big pep rally for the annual test, the TAKS. (Don't even get me started on how fucked up it is to have a pep rally for a standardized test).

The section of the school I taught in dealt with the talented and gifted kids, and as our "team leader" was an incorrigible (though very nice to me) kiss-ass, she pulled together a skit for said pep rally, consisting of our kids doing a military drill-type routine. It was actually adorable.

However, the science teacher on our team and I, being insufferable smartasses, bribed the "drill sargent"* to do the "AND THAT'S A FACT, JACK" bit from 'Stripes.' No one got it but us, and we nearly pissed ourselves laughing.



*whenever I was having a horrid day, this kid would do the Pepto-Bismol dance for me. Worked like a charm...

Oh lord

I was minding my own business, watching the trailer for 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' when for some reason, I decided to read the comments. Why I did this, I haven't the slightest. Bunch of knuckle-draggers, usually. This was no exception.

Check this out.

Well your mother might dispute that, I fucked her so hard the bitch couldn't walk for a week. Either way she can keep my boxer shorts and have a sniff now and again to remind her of the day I rocked her world. For her benefit stop smoking your pole you bitch ass pillow biter.

Charming. And icky.

Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that the only way this jackass could rock someone's world is if he had their model of the Earth in a cradle? And I'm curious, why does this fine specimen care whether the other commenter gratifies themselves orally? Again, charming.

'Caravan Girl'- Goldfrapp

Probably my favorite song off 'Seventh Tree.'


via

A suggestion

for the AP. When writing an article about Dr. Evil's, er, The Penguin's, er Vice President Cheney's fishing trip and the alleged "nude woman" reflected in his sunglasses, I would have avoided the words "rod" and "grip."

But I'm 15 that way...

On second thought, feel free to do so again. I laughed my head off.

Random

Today at work, when we were in the weeds of funeral stuff, the Wee The View lads cover of 'I've Just Seen A Face' came on the stereo. We all started to sing along. Yes, I'm influential (*rolls eyes*) to the point that obscure Beatles b-sides become sing-a-longs at Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop.



Also, last week we had the revelation that my very posh co-worker, Denise, had all her family down for dinner, and started singing 'Rehab' under her breath. Obviously, her kids were incredulous that their mom was familiar with The Winehouse's oeuvre. She gleefully reported to me, "I told them that we've been listening to that for over a year now."

I'm making a difference, I suppose.

CL, Torres del Paine (11)

CL, Torres del Paine (11), originally uploaded by The Vitruvian Man.

Random ten

1. If I Fall You're Going Down With Me- Dixie Chicks
2. This Time Tomorrow- The Kinks
3. Daydreamer- Adele
4. Octopus's Garden- The Beatles
5. When Doves Cry- Prince and the Revolution
6. Handbags and Gladrags- Stereophonics
7. Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies- Biffy Clyro
8. Sea Of Love- Cat Power
9. Sometimes Always- The Jesus and Mary Chain
10. S.O.S.- Rhianna

Bonus-
11. Lagremes de Oro- Helsinki
12. I've Just Seen A Face- The View

Roses

Live at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool.

"Manchester in the area!"

And some of my favorite Mani-dancing-whilst-playing-his-bass moments ever...

Let me assure you,

that on the list of places where one doesn't like to be startled, such as-

-the ATM machine
-the highway
-reaching under the bed to retrieve a book or similar

that the FUNERAL HOME RANKS RIGHT FUCKING UP THERE.

I was delivering flowers for a funeral visitation today, and assumed I was alone in the building. Other than the deceased, that is. I was fussing with an arrangement, and one of the funeral home directors walked up behind me and said, "I thought you had everything here already."

To paraphrase Cousin Eddie in 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation,' I nearly pissed my pants and forgot my name.

My late-night

telly viewing essentials for the next week or two..

Leno-
4/9- Angie Stone

Letterman-
4/16- The Gossip

Conan-
4/10- Eddie Izzard

'Age Of The Understatement'

One of my absolute fav songs of the moment. From The Last Shadow Puppets aka Alex Turner and Miles Kane...

GOD

DAMMIT, Peter.

Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty has been jailed for 14 weeks for failing to turn up to probation hearings on time and drug use. Doherty attended West London Magistrates Court today (April 8), where Judge Davinder Lachar handed the singer/guitarist the sentence. A spokesperson for the court said that Doherty had been jailed for "breach of time keeping, non-compliance of his order and using different drugs". Doherty had been given a suspended jail sentence for possession of drugs and driving illegally in October last year. His supervision order required him to make regular visits to court for progress reports, as well as take part in a drug rehabilitation programme. He was threatened with up to four months in jail if he broke the law during this period

Listen, Petey, I couldn't bring myself to listen to either 'Shotter's Nation' or 'The Blinding' EP today, that's how pissed off I am. Much like brushing my teeth or texting Kaz, this is something that I do every day.

THIS DOES NOT MAKE ME HAPPY.

Seriously, darlin', get it together. And so help me God, if there are fewer pictures of your rhythm section floating around the Internet because your arse is in jail, well... I won't do anything, but I'll be REALLY PISSED. AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.

Oh dear

My beloved Girls Aloud got Fugged.

Positives-

-Chezza's hat=totally cute (far left)

-Nicola's hair is very pretty, as per usual (third from left)

-Kim's top is on-trend (fourth from left)

-My beloved Sarah's got the indie look going on, which strangely suits her. Her shoes are FANTASTIC. (far right)

Negatives-

-Chezza's yellow top. Not fond of yellow, as it makes me look like I have a liver condition.

-Nadine's outfit. Especially her choice in footwear. I. Hate. White. Shoes. And yes, darlin', we get it. You have nice legs. Be a bit nicer if they weren't ORANGE. Though they do match your skirt... (second from left)

Star of Bethlehem

Star of Bethlehem, originally uploaded by scilit.

This is utterly lovely

Adele performing 'To Make You Feel My Love' on Later... With Jools Holland.

via

Fascinating

People were named after things, and things were named after people. His lover in later life, Blanche Blackwell, gave him a small boat named Octopussy, which became the name of a man-eating pet octopus in the short story. In rather ungallant return, Fleming named the ancient guano tanker in Dr No the Blanche.

The crime boss Marc-Ange Draco in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is named after El Draco, the Spanish name for Sir Francis Drake – a reference picked up years later by J. K. Rowling for her Hogwarts antihero, Draco Malfoy.

Rosa Klebb (the Russian for bread) was partly based on Colonel Rybkin of Soviet intelligence. Major Boothroyd, the secret service armourer, is named in honour of Geoffrey Boothroyd, the gun expert who provided Fleming with invaluable technical advice.

...

Fleming’s villains, like his heroes, are patchworks of different people, names and traits. Le Chiffre, the Benzedrine-sniffing villain of Casino Royale, is believed to be based on Aleister Crowley, who gained notoriety in inter-war Britain as “the Wickedest Man in the World”.

Crowley was a bisexual, sado-masochistic drug addict. A master of Thelemic mysticism (“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law”), he specialised in mountaineering, interpreting the Ouija board, orgies and thrashing his lovers. The press simultaneously adored and hated him. Crowley made Le Chiffre seem positively sane.

Mmmmm, Biblical

Gee, why wouldn't someone want to be married to a peach like this?

A Serb farmer used a grinding machine to cut in half his farm tools and machines to comply with a court ruling that he must share all his property with his ex-wife, local media reported on Thursday.

Branko Zivkov, 76, told Belgrade daily Kurir he had been ready to give his wife Vukadinka her equal share of everything earned during their 45-year marriage, but was furious at being asked to give away half his farming equipment.

Instead, he bought a grinder and cut in two all his tools, includinglarge items such as cattle scales, a harrow and a sowing machine. "I still haven't decided how to split the cow," he told the newspaper. "She should just say what she wants -- the part with the horns or the part with the tail."

Today in

silly headlines...

Some superdelegates more super than rest

But do they wear capes? Hmm...

Back Tor

Back Tor, originally uploaded by ChrisHepburn.

Oh dear...

From the 'Shine A Light' premiere in LDN.

I don't know which is worse- Jaime's horrid Daisy Dukes or Jasmine's mutton-dressed-as-lamb...

























However, I think Noel's pimp coat takes the cake...as well as his combination of the indie boy stripey t-shirt and zebra-striped scarf. Or his missus's dotty self. No Polka-Dot Left Behind....

Random ten

1. In Love With A Feeling- Babyshambles
2. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend- Miranda Lambert
3. Sam's Town- The Killers
4. I Think We're Alone Now- Girls Aloud
5. Penny Lane- The Beatles
6. Thick As Thieves- Kasabian
7. Sure Looks Good To Me- Alicia Keys
8. We'll Meet Again- Carl Barat and Pete Doherty
9. Koko- Goldfrapp
10. The Concept- Teenage Fanclub

Bonus-
11. The Age Of The Understatement- The Last Shadow Puppets
12. Goodnight Goodnight- Maroon 5

So cool

Battle of the Fugs

As previously mentioned, the GoFug wenches are having their own version of March Madness, and it's down to the final four-

Beyonce v. Posh Beckham

and

Chloe Sevigny v. Bai Ling

Smart money is on Bai Ling for the crown. Why? This outfit is, shall we say, not atypical.

Occasionally,

I can be dumber than a whole sack full of hammers.

Last week, I was at work, and was feeling a bit peckish. Lo and behold, I spotted a box of caramels that we have for sale. However, the caramels had been in the 'fridge, and were inedible in their current (at that time) state. I thought, "Hmmm, maybe I could warm one up in the microwave. Mmmm, tasty."

Unlike myself at that moment, I'm sure you can see where this is going.

So I put the caramel in the microwave, and heat it up for 5 seconds, I swear. Being a big spaz and not paying attention, I open the nuker, and grab the candy. Which had motherfucking liquefied in 5 seconds.

What is your first reaction when you burn your fingers? Yup, shove them in your mouth. Unfortunately, I have approximately the same hand-to-eye coordination that a drunken two year-old possesses, and I now am sporting a nasty burn on the corner of my lip. Which really farcking hurts.

So, yeah. Am cool. Why do I share things like this? Normal people wouldn't mention candy-related burns, but nooooooo...

They're already entirely too adorable,

but this little anecdote makes me love Alexa and Young Master Turner as a couple even more...

What other stories have irked her? "There was a really upsetting one when Alex had written me a Valentine card and I had accidentally left it in a bar. And someone sold it to the Sun and then they printed it, and they changed it so it didn't look like a Valentine card, and they just said it was a love letter. They slated him for being really soppy.

"Look, it's my boyfriend and it's Alex. Of course it's gonna be written like a story."

Was he peeved? "He was really cool with it," she says, "and he said, 'I'm not upset that everyone saw it because that's the truth and I couldn't give a shit.' And then he went [Chung dons a comedy northern accent], 'Eh, but at least you've got a copy of it now, eh?'"

AAAAAAAAAAA

Oasis have announced a handful of shows in the US and Canada, kicking off in Seattle on August 26.

The band have so far announced just four headlining shows, one of which is in the US with the remaining dates in Canada.

The Seattle show will mark the band’s first live performance in over two years. Following the short stint they will headline the Virgin Festival in Toronto.

Edit-
AND RYAN ADAMS IS OPENING?

Please excuse the donning of sackcloth and wailing from these parts....

Want.

For spring...

Shoes from Anthropologie













Dress from Converse One Star (at Tar-jay)



















This hat from Jovovich-Hawk (also at Tar-jay)
















This handbag from Isaac Mizrahi (again, at Tar-jay- sensing a pattern here?)

My day

Argh.

Yesterday, I was feeling like total crap, so took NyQuil and went to bed early, despite the fact that I desperately wanted to hear how Kazza's roller derby debut went.

Anyway, woke up this AM when Mom asked me if I'd take her to the emergency room in Iowa City. Our local ER is complete shit, so it's "stop the bleeding and go to University Hospitals."

She's been having some issues with her eyes hurting and being droopy, and it's gotten a lot worse in the past week. So, I drove our happy asses up there, they ran some tests, wound up admitting her, and now I'm freaking out. And it's all about me. Ha ha ha.

My maternal grandmother died from complications of A.L.S., and that's one of the things they have to test her for. I know it's a statistical abnormality that Grandma got it in the first place (women usually don't, and she got it in her late 70's), but I'm still freaking out.

Mom made me go back home, but I had to run to Barnes and Noble and buy her some trashy romance novels first. Priorities...

So, I'm off to do my usual hysterical displacement activity. Watch crap on YouTube.

Hee

see more crazy cat pics

Bastard Hall at Much Wenlock Shropshire

Bastard Hall at Much Wenlock Shropshire, originally uploaded by Running in Suffolk.

Well, that's certainly up front...

Pank

Looks like Blush and Bashful to me...

Grrr

It torks me off that someone as annoying as Zane Lowe*, has SUCH FREAKING GREAT TASTE IN MUSIC. He should be a Keane fan or something...

(okay, not so much with the Radiohead selection, but the others are SO GOOD)

The second series of Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show Masterpiece is broadcast next week.The series profiles records the DJ believes are "masterpieces".The DJ will play Radiohead's OK Computer', 'Up The Bracket' by The Libertines, Guns N Roses' 'Appetite For Destruction' and Public Enemy's 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back' in full and talk about the records on air.

*I have no idea why, he just irritates me.

Random ten

1. Mercy- Duffy
2. I Was Made For You- She & Him
3. L.S.F.- Kasabian
4. Baddies Boogie- Babyshambles
5. Glitter and Trauma- Biffy Clyro
6. The Concept- Teenage Fanclub
7. Falling Slowly- Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
8. Spanish Harlem- Aretha Franklin
9. I've Just Seen A Face- Jim Sturgess
10. Strange Town- The Jam

Bonus-
11. I Get Along- The Libertines
12. Dumb Dumb Dumb- Teenage Fanclub

Love XOXO

Love XOXO, originally uploaded by Pink Sherbet Photography.

Ahhhhhh

I love her.

Signs that something was up came when Ditto stepped forward and bent the ear of a member of the venue's staff who was patrolling the front row. And as the band launched into their biggest hit, "Standing in the Way of Control", the people started coming. Ditto herself was doing all she could to pull them on to the stage until it teemed with audience members – maybe 300 of them, all dancing like crazy – and the band had disappeared from view. It was tumultuous, and unforgettable, and it rounded off surely one of the most explosive hours of live music London will witness all year.

Playlist

for Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop's prom open house tomorrow night-

Disc 1

1. Listen Up!- The Gossip
2. You Know I'm No Good- Amy Winehouse
3. Buffalo Soldier- Bob Marley
4. Fluorescent Adolescent- Arctic Monkeys
5. Shadrach- Beastie Boys
6. Love Has a Diameter- Biffy Clyro
7. Heart Of Glass- Blondie
8. You Never Can Tell- Chuck Berry
9. Janie Jones- The Clash
10. Close To Love- Girls Aloud
11. Pounding- Doves
12. Chelsea Dagger- The Fratellis
13. A&E- Goldfrapp
14. DARE- Gorillaz
15. Main Offender- The Hives
16. Over and Over- Hot Chip

Disc 2

1. Lust For Life- Iggy Pop
2. Me Plus One- Kasabian
3. Pumpkin Soup- Kate Nash
4. Town Called Malice- The Jam
5. Kings Horses- Jet
6. I've Just Seen a Face- Jim Sturgess
7. Cheap and Cheerful- The Kills
8. What Katie Did- The Libertines
9. LDN- Lily Allen
10. Little Baby Nothing- Manic Street Preachers
11. Makes Me Wonder- Maroon5
12. Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me- The Pipettes
13. Waterfall- The Stone Roses
14. About You Now- Sugababes
15. The Don- The View
16. 16 Days- Whiskeytown
17. Charmless Man- Blur
18. Processed Beats- Kasabian

Horrid

Poor Corinne...

The husband of British singer Corinne Bailey Rae has been found dead of a suspected drug overdose.The body of saxophonist Jason Rae, 31, was discovered in a flat in the Hyde Park area of Leeds on Saturday (March 22), said West Yorkshire Police. Officers found the body of a 31-year-old man there."As a result of inquiries a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs," a police spokesman told the BBC."He has now been released on police bail pending further inquiries."

All-star

Yet, for all their forays on to the big screen, it is in music - and specifically the rock and punk scenes - where Converse have become so omnipresent that they are practically a uniform. And hence why, out of the nine icons featured in the ad campaign, six are musicians and another a former music journalist. Think of some of the most enduring rock'n'roll images ever captured and many will involve Converse, from the Ramones' All-Stars sticking out like canvas clown shoes at the ends of their drainpipe jeans, to the Blondie boys wearing them for their chic, monochrome line-up behind Debbie Harry on the cover of Parallel Lines. When the Strokes announced themselves to the world from the front cover of NME via a moody, black-and-white Pennie Smith portrait taken on the streets of New York, they did so in hi-tops.

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, originally uploaded by requiemjp.

Random ten

Featuring artists, songs, albums, etc... with the word "the"

1. Standing In The Way Of Control- The Gossip
2. Something's Gone Wrong Again- The Buzzcocks
3. Fade Away- Oasis ('The Masterplan')
4. Sleazy Hughes- Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong
5. Otis- The Durutti Column
6. What Became Of The Likely Lads- The Libertines
7. The Drugs Don't Work- The Verve
8. Fools Gold- The Stone Roses
9. Overload- Sugababes ('Overload: The Singles Collection')
10. I Wish- Babyshambles ('The Blinding EP')

Bonus-
11. Cigarettes And Alcohol (demo version)- Oasis ('Stop The Clocks')
12. Make It Wit Chu- Queens Of The Stone Age

I must say, that is an absolutely hilarious array of tunes...

Wisteria

Wisteria, originally uploaded by dachalan.

'Baddies Boogie'- Live in Milan

"She's far too good-looking to do the cooking now, well, that was 20 years ago..."

Eeeeeek!

can hardly wait for the piccies! That jacket is gorg!

SWEET!

Great timing for this story, as St. Paddy's Day isn't exactly known for the drinking of the green...wine.

Scientists say wine damages the brain more than beer affecting the hippocampus. That is the part of the brain that deals with memory and spatial awareness. Researchers in Germany found wine shrinks the hippocampus by as much as 10%.

Sugas

Love the 'Babes....

The secret of the Sugababes' success, if there is one, involves a formula based on such variables as luck, talent, timing, personality, management, image, production and, in particular, some irresistible hit singles (Freak Like Me, Round Round). From the moment the trio appeared in September 2000, with the skewed, R&B-flavoured pop of their debut single Overload, it was clear they were strikingly different from the UK pop norm. In contrast to the shiny happy entertainers Steps and S Club 7, here were three sullen teenagers barely able to raise a smile between them. More importantly, here was a pop act that actually produced music worthy of attention. NME named Overload its single of the week, and the band have continued to make fresh, credible, memorable pop ever since.

Mersey Paradise...

Mersey Paradise..., originally uploaded by Anjali Knebworth.

Gorgeous

This get-up from Dame Vivienne Westwood...

Burberry- 'The Beat'

Van the man

at SXSW

Private Road, Edale, Peak District

Private Road, Edale, Peak District, originally uploaded by curreyuk.

Random ten

1. Saturday Superhouse- Biffy Clyro
2. Standing In In The Way Of Control- The Gossip
3. Rocking Chair- Oasis
4. If You Were There, Beware- Arctic Monkeys
5. Mathletics- Foals
6. I Am The Resurrection- The Stone Roses
7. We Used To Be Friends- Dandy Warhols
8. Up The Junction- Squeeze
9. Monster Love- Goldfrapp
10. Henrietta- The Fratellis

Bonus-
11. Oh My Gosh- Basement Jaxx
12. We Get On- Kate Nash

This makes me happy,

oh so very happy. The Fug Girls are doing up March Madness properly. Whee!

Who chooses the winner of each round, I hear you asking? You do, through the magic of polls. The Madness will stretch over the next several weeks, in step with the basketball tournament, and we can't wait to see who you guys decide is the Fugliest Celebrity In All The Land. We'll be announcing the celebrities in play over the next couple of days, and the first game -- a play-in game between Fugly Celebrity 64 and 65 -- kicks off on Tuesday, March 18th. And to make it easier for you to see how things are progressing, we'll have a bracket up on the site that you can download and print, with the 65 celebs in their respective berths.

Ever since

I was but a wee girl, I've wanted to look like Debbie Harry circa 1981. But alas, am not blonde (and would look ridiculous as one), and my cheekbones have never developed properly. Sigh.

Random

My sis and her husband have been going through some difficult, crazy-making times lately. So when she got out the sewing basket to do some hemming, in an effort to liven the mood, they jokingly measured my niece's (the wee Olivia) tummy. She's just 18 months... her svelte waist is 21 inches. Continuing with the hilarity, they measured their cat's tummy as well. 20 inches.

Along with everyone present, I thought this was hilarious. So today, I measured my cat, first from nose to tuckus, then around his tummy. Holden, the world's fluffiest cat, is 18x18. I own a square feline. Literally.

I would

have paid good money (if I had any) to go to this show-

the band are able to recreate the intricate layers of blissful harmonies on songs such as "Maybe after He's Gone" and "Beechwood Park". As their voices soar in the middle of "Hung Up on a Dream", it's real shivers-down-the-spine stuff. The baroque pop of "Friends of Mine", dedicated to the couples who did and didn't make it, and the anti-war "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)" prove that the band were both of their time and incredibly prescient. "Time of the Season", the album's closing track, has lost none of its breathy, breezy charm. The encore of "Tell Her No" and "She's Not There" further demonstrates how far St Albans' finest had travelled from their British Invasion beginnings.

Critics are often accused of perversely talking up obscure albums but Odessey and Oracle has gone from curio to cult to classic and deserves a place in everyone's collection. Timeless.

OOOO! Goody!

More sins to choose from. Yes, I am possibly the world's worst Catholic.

Below the Castle

Below the Castle, originally uploaded by JuanJ.

'Denial'

Live on Ant and Dec