Oh Lord

Various Valentine's Day happenings

1. A local loudmouth (has a good heart, just is real obnoxious) called the shop for a dozen roses to be sent to his (equally loud, yet good-hearted) wife. Well done. But...

He wanted 11 red roses and one blue.

Guys, don't make us do that to a perfectly innocent white rose. They scream when we pull out the floral paint. Seriously.

But the card, THE CARD, was the kicker. He wanted it to read-

"I love your sexy ass."

I am not joking. That was the actual message. Now every time I seem them, I'll be thinking that he's fixated on his wife's arse. Which is admirable after 20+ years of marriage but dude, come on... making someone else type that? Man...

Of course, major laughs were had later when my girl, Trace, asked what the blue rose meant. I informed her that "In the language of flowers, a blue rose means you have a sexy ass." With a completely straight face.

She fell for it for a bit.

2. Goofy looking guy, major Howdy Doody resemblance, comes into the shop and orders a decently sized bouquet (50 smackeroos) to be delivered to whom we assumed to be his girlfriend. He opted to fill out the card himself, and we left him alone to do so.

No lie, it took him 45 minutes to fill out the 2x3 inch card.

So of course we were WILD to know what the card said. And it may possibly have fallen out of the not-sealed envelope. Whoopsie.

Rather than the highly romantic message we were hoping for, it contained wishes for a good day at work and hopes for God's Blessings upon her.

We all fell the floor laughing. I barely made it to the bathroom in time.

It took him that long to come up with the least romantic thing possible. Mentioning work and the Big Guy. Hot.

Imagine our difficultly in keeping a straight face less than an hour later when a local cutie pie (who is a totally sweet lad) came in to order a significantly larger bouquet for delivery FOR THE SAME WOMAN.

And he wanted the card to be blank. Guys, don't do this. Please. Because then confused women call the shop wondering who the hell sent them the flowers.

Apparently, the woman is dating Howdy, and Cutie Pie is just hopeful. Awwww. How darlin'.

Random ten

1. Bring It On Back- Jet
2. Ghosts- Laura Marling
3. Do Right Woman Do Right Man- Niamh Kavanagh
4. She's the One- Robbie Williams
5. Strawberry Fields Forever- Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson
6. Dakota- Stereophonics
7. Pictures Of Matchstick Men
8. Devil- Stereophonics
9. A Certain Romance- Arctic Monkeys
10. I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor- Arctic Monkeys

Bonus-
11. Round Round- Sugababes
12. The Reflex- Duran Duran

Chezza looks great

on the cover of U.K. Vogue

Seems that

they've had a bit of snow in LDN.

From the Beeb

LORD

Oh, Thomas. There is so much wrong going on with your look right now. The hair, the ginormous boutonniere you've taken to wearing everywhere... but I am very, very, very excited about the new album, darling.

And isn't this a lovely review?

5 stars from The Guardian for 'It's Not Me, It's You.'

The best thing about It's Not Me, It's You, though, is Allen's voice. Frankly, I don't give a damn if she learnt cockney at the feet of Dick Van bloomin' Dyke, because it's the balance between the earthiness of her accent and the creaminess of her tone that is the killer element in her pop arsenal; the natural sad smile in her voice lends sincerity to sentiments both cruel and kind. And when our obsession with the aspirational looks increasingly like a global joke, a voice that sounds like we really talk and feel, and makes that sound beautiful, is just the ticket. Lily Allen is the perfect pop star for these crumbling times, and this album is the proof.

Oh, this is great

Diamond Lil's video for 'The Fear.' Love the eyeliner and hairdo, honey!

Lyrics are superb as well-

But it doesn't matter because I'm packing plastic
And that's what makes my life so fucking fantastic

Random ten

Sweet!

1. Plastic Tramp- Arctic Monkeys
2. Up the Morning- BabyShambles
3. Stronger Than Me- Amy Winehouse
4. (There Is) No Greater Love- Amy Winehouse
5. Guns Of Brixton- The Clash
6. Don't Look Back Into the Sun- The Libertines
7. Nowhere Man- The Beatles
8. Let's Get It On- Marvin Gaye
9. Losing My Religion- Nina Perrson
10. A Girl Like You- Edwyn Collins

Bonus-
11. Dry Town- Miranda Lambert
12. Cinnamon Girl- Neil Young

I don't think

"Queen Of Soul" should be in quotation marks.

Miz Franklin IS the Queen Of Soul.

Full stop.

And my, wasn't she looking fierce at the inauguration?

Random ten

1. Joy to the World- Three Dog Night
2. Beyond the Sea- Robbie Williams
3. Wreckless Love- Alicia Keys
4. Come Pick Me Up- Ryan Adams
5. Bank Holiday Monday- Stereophonics
6. Goody Two Shoes- Adam and the Ants
7. I Heard It Through the Grapevine- Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse
8. Always On My Mind- Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
9. A Dream Reprise- Paul Weller
10. Sound and Vision- Franz Ferdinand feat. Girls Aloud

Bonus-
11. Skin and Bones- Jet
12. Crocodile Tears- Girls Aloud

Impossible

There is no freaking way that the Obama girls could be any cuter.

Okay, MAYBE if they carried baby pandas or baskets of kittens with them constantly, but I'm not sure about that.

Well, did my people ever do well!

My favs did rather well with the Brit Award nominations! I'm wondering if Girls Aloud will be performing as part of the Pet Shop Boys lifetime achievement bit (they wrote GA's latest single, 'The Loving Kind.')

Also, Bernard Butler should be a lock for Best Producer for his work on 'Rockferry.'

MasterCard British Album
Coldplay – 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends'
Duffy – 'Rockferry'
Elbow – 'The Seldom Seen Kid'
Radiohead – 'In Rainbows'
The Ting Tings – 'We Started Nothing'

British Group
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That

British Single
Adele – 'Chasing Pavements’
Alexandra Burke – 'Hallelujah'
Coldplay – 'Viva La Vida'
Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome – 'Dance Wiv Me'
Duffy – 'Mercy'
Estelle ft Kanye West – 'American Boy'
Girls Aloud – 'The Promise'
Leona Lewis – 'Better in Time'
Scouting for Girls – 'Heartbeat'
'The X Factor' Finalists – 'Hero'

British Male Solo Artist
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young

British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.

British Breakthrough Act
Adele
Duffy
The Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting For Girls
The Ting Tings

British Live Act
Coldplay
Elbow
Iron Maiden
Scouting For Girls
The Verve

International Album
AC/DC – 'Black Ice'
Fleet Foxes – 'Fleet Foxes'
The Killers – 'Day & Age'
Kings of Leon – 'Only By The Night'
MGMT – 'Oracular Spectacular'

International Group
AC/DC
Fleet Foxes
The Killers
Kings Of Leon
MGMT

International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve

International Female Solo Artist
Beyonce
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold

British Producer of the Year
Bernard Butler
Brian Eno
Steve Mac

Outstanding Contribution
Award
Pet Shop Boys

So...

I've been sans regular computer access for a bit now, but vow to do better at buckling down and writing a bit.

We went to Chicago for gift show last weekend, and I couldn't be more pleased with what we bought for the shop.


Also, I miss traveling with non-hearing impaired, menopausal people. Read- my girl, Jen.


No particular reason for that comment, I swear.


We ordered Lollia, an impossibly posh bath and beauty line, used by the Queen of All Media, Ms. Oprah Winfrey.


Placed a HUGE ribbon order at my own personal crack den, May Arts. I turned about a million shades of red when our salesperson looked at me fawning over double-faced lavender satin ribbon and said:

"You're a ribbon junkie, aren't you?"

Speaking of junkies (and crack), I was rummaging, as I am wont to do, through Borders on Michigan Avenue, when I saw it.

Beg, Steal or Borrow: The Official BabyShambles Story























I may have possibly squealed and nearly trampled a small child in my rush to grab the book. And then stayed up most of the night reading it. I didn't think it was possible, but Drew is even lovelier than my girls and I previously thought. Also, my tendency to want to either slap or cuddle Peter continues.


On a completely unrelated note, Chicago was rather festive last weekend for some reason. Something about an inauguration?

Gorgeous

Leona Lewis's cover of Snow Patrol's 'Run'- live on X-Factor.

Happy birthday, Mr. Salinger!

Reeling from the success of The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger withdrew from public view in the mid-1950s. He published Franny and Zooey in 1961, a collection of novellas (Raise High the Room Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction) in 1963 and then bowed out with a New Yorker short story in 1965. Since then he has spoken only fitfully via his lawyers or been snapped in furious, cowering poses on the roads around his home. And woe betide any of those misguided fans who track him down to explain that they, like, totally love him and can so relate to his retreat from a world of phony bastards. "No you don't," he reportedly told one such visitor. "Or you wouldn't be here."

Resolutions

1. Increase self confidence through natural or artificial means. Whatever it takes.

2. Worry less (quit laughing, Jen)

3. Get into enough shape to run the Bix this year, rather than jog it. Er, walk it briskly.

4. Develop some money management skills



We shall see...

Random ten

1. Valerie- Mark Ronson

2. The Delaney- The Libertines

3. Smack My Bitch Up- The Prodigy

4. Chasing Pavements- Adele

5. Don't Stop Believin'- Journey

6. Make It Wit Chu- Queens Of the Stone Age

7. Made Of Stone- The Stone Roses

8. Happy Together- The Turtles

9. Bring It On Down- Oasis

10. Charmless Man- Blur

Maldives wallpaper 4 u

Maldives wallpaper 4 u, originally uploaded by maapu.

Wow

We now know the identity of one of the boogeymen from my childhood...

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A serial killer who died more than a decade ago is the person who decapitated the 6-year-old son of "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh in 1981, police in Florida said Tuesday. The announcement brought to a close a case that has vexed the Walsh family for more than two decades, launched the television show about the nation's most notorious criminals and inspired changes in how authorities search for missing children.

Awful

Since dying is one thing that we all must do, sympathy work is inevitable in the floral business. However, there are degrees of sadness associated with funerals.

You have the ones where the person was very old or very ill, and they're no longer miserable/suffering. Sad, but not completely awful for the friends and family.

Then there's the unexpected deaths- very upsetting for the loved ones, and from a professional standpoint, more difficult to keep your composure when assisting those associated with the deceased.

The most horrid, the absolute worst- a child's funeral. Nothing worse. Nothing.

We've one tomorrow.

I've done many consults for funeral flowers, and I must say, I've never started bawling during one. Till yesterday. I pulled myself together pretty quickly, but... my God.

The utter, utter devastation on the faces of the parents... I couldn't sleep last night. The mom's face kept popping up in my dreams.

She just stood there, tears pouring down her face. The dad cried like a baby.

I've no words. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But you know, I know that making things special for them might, MIGHT make the day slightly less horrendous.

No, nothing will. They're forever changed.

And since we're in a small town, we know everyone involved, which makes it so much worse. One of my best friends was his preschool teacher. His dad was on the fire department with mine. His mom is a very good customer at the shop. His sister just applied for a job here.

I don't know how we flower girls are going to get through tomorrow. I can't even comprehend what his family is going through. But still, we must go on.

Random ten

1. Atmosphere- Joy Division
2. Brianstorm- Arctic Monkeys
3. Gunpowder and Lead- Miranda Lambert
4. Outversion- Mark Ronson
5. Kiss You Off- Scissor Sisters
6. Brass In Pocket- The Pretenders
7. Shine Like Stars- Primal Scream
8. Ray Of Light- Natasha Bedingfield
9. One Love- The Stone Roses
10. She's My Man- Scissor Sisters

Bonus-

11. Real Real Gone- Van Morrison
12. Know You Now- Amy Winehouse

Girls Aloud- 'The Loving Kind'

Radio1 is trying to kill me

No regular Internet access, and this is the time that Zane picks to play 'The Stone Roses' for his Masterpieces series.

GAH.

Does anyone else have conversations like these with their mother?

Working closely with ones parent... not exactly an ideal job situ. But you know, I'm pretty lucky. Mom and I get along very well, actually like gangbusters.

It's not always perfect- I'm a bit morose occasionally, she can be overly ADHD around holidays. But we generally work very companionably together.

Our conversations do tend to be, um, ATYPICAL for a mother and daughter.

For example, take today. We discussed-

1. How the hell People magazine could have overlooked the cast of 'Skins' in the photo spread on the hottest whippersnappers under 25 in the annual 'Sexiest Man Alive' issue.

2. Who would we rather hang out with- R. Kelly or Prince. We decided (if in a controlled environment), definitely R. Kelly. He may be an abhorrent human being, but we think Prince might be a bit of a prick.

Seriously, it's completely hilarious.

I know

he's been missing since 1995, but this still makes me sad.

Missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards has been declared as presumed dead, a band spokeswoman confirmed yesterday.

The Welsh musician disappeared 13 years ago, at the age of 27. Despite alleged sightings across the world, many believe Edwards, whose car was found near the Severn Bridge, took his own life.

His parents Graham and Sherry Edwards have now been granted a court order for him to be declared presumed dead, Manic Street Preachers publicist Terri Hall said today.

Random ten

1. Revolution- Robbie Williams
2. New York Christmas- Rob Thomas
3. Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto- James Brown
4. I Want to Hold Your Hand- T.V. Carpio
5. Me Plus One (Glastonbury '07)- Kasabian
6. Figure It Out- Maroon 5
7. The Jean Genie- David Bowie
8. Slow- Kylie Minogue
9. Stop Me- Mark Ronson feat. Daniel Merriweather
10. I Wish- Babyshambles

Bonus-
11. Clowns- Goldfrapp
12. Everybody's Changing- Lily Allen

Radio, Radio

As I failed to charge my beloved Nano sufficiently last night, it died midway through the workday. Since our CD at the shop is jacked to hell, Mom and I were forced to listen to the radio.

Several things-

1. My God, how much does Nickelback suck? NOT EVERY LINE HAS TO RHYME!!!

2. I love 'Violet Hill' by Coldplay. So sue me, I'm a sucker for strings.

3. Whoever covered 'I'm A Believer' recently ought to be first up against the wall when the revolution comes.

4. Also, whoever wrote 'So What' by Pink is a friggin' musical genius. BURNS. INTO. YOUR. BRAIN.

5. Jesus H. Christ, Richard Marx is on now. Right, am going home.

Sometimes,

people make me very, very stabby.

Yesterday, these two old battle axes came into the shop. They proceeded to-

1. Find every item that the price had fallen off of, and ask "HOW MUCH IS THIS?" Yes, they shouted.

2. Wanted to look at merchandise high up in a display, necessitating me getting out the step ladder.

Then they failed to buy said merchandise.

3. Used the bathroom. Plugged the stool.

Didn't purchase anything.

GRRRRR...

The old man and the beer

Last weekend, my girl Stace was in town and we went out for drinkies and dinner. After a lovely meal, we adjourned to the bar in the local restaurant, where we proceeded to chat for hours.

Then, we got company.

Now, Stace and I are not unattractive young women in our early 30s, well dressed, have all our original teeth, etc... so we attracted a fair amount of attention from the codger contingent propping up the bar.

I don't mind, since said oldies generally buy drinks for cute girls, and hey, it's free alcohol. I don't care what this says about my personality. FREE DRINKS. And they usually leave you alone. Win/win situ, y'all.

Anyway, my point.

The waitress brought us over a Bud Light draw (me) and vodka tonic (Stace) and pointed to the guy that purchased them for us. Then he came over, pulled up a chair, and attempted to hit on us. We were not 'aving it. The free drinks, yes. The aging-more-rapidly-than-he-thinks farmer? Nyet.

My parents were young when they got married (18) and had me (20), so anyone 10 years older than me... getting uncomfortably close to the ages of the parentals. And this dude graduated 2 years after my mom.

Whenever I'm confronted with this situation I simply start talking about my dad and my uncles. A lot. (we're pretty well known around here).

Sends out the signal- "Dude, you're slightly younger than my freaking DAD. ICKY."

Works like a charm.

Random ten

1. Other Side Of The World- KT Tunstall
2. This Charming Man- The Smiths
3. Stacy's Mom- Fountains Of Wayne
4. Happy- The Rolling Stones
5. No Surface, All Feeling- Manic Street Preachers
6. Baby Fratelli- The Fratellis
7. Let It Be- Aretha Franklin
8. Mersey Paradise- The Stone Roses
9. Christmas Island- Jimmy Buffett
10. Comin' Down- The View

Bonus-
11. Alfie- Lily Allen
12. Tumbling Dice- Linda Ronstadt

Cannot wait

Lee at Tar-jay...

As the first participant in Target’s Designer Collaborations, McQueen is eager to expose a new customer to his richly nuanced and atmospheric aesthetic. The line has its roots in McQueen’s diffusion collection, McQ, which made its debut in January 2006 and ranges in price from $235 for a lace panel dress to $860 for a wool admiral’s coat. “The focus of this collection will be younger and more renegade, but always signature McQueen,” the designer said at the launch of McQ. His new venture is called McQ Alexander McQueen for Target.

This picture

makes me feel happy and right with the world.

A deer and a bunny. Snorgling.

Awwwww...

Yum.

Stir-Fried Sweet Potatoes With Brown Butter and Sage

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 to 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and grated, 4 to 6 cups
Salt and pepper
1/2 stick butter, more to taste
4 cloves garlic, crushed
20 sage leaves.

1. Put oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add sweet potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring only occasionally, until they change color and begin to brown, then stir more frequently until they are tender but not at all mushy.

2. Meanwhile, heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sage; shake pan occasionally. When butter turns brown, turn off heat.

3. Use tongs to remove sage and garlic from butter. Serve potatoes drizzled with butter and garnished with a few sage leaves. Garlic can be served alongside, though it will not be super-soft.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

National Trust's Lindisfarne Castle on Lindisfarne or Holy Island, Berwick-upon-tweed, Nortumberland

National Trust's Lindisfarne Castle on Lindisfarne or Holy Island, Berwick-upon-tweed, Nortumberland, originally uploaded by iboogaloo.

Dedicated follower of fashion.

Dedicated follower of fashion., originally uploaded by CMP73.

Random ten

1. Run For Cover- Sugababes
2. Lost Art Of Murder- Babyshambles
3. Vacation- The Go-Go's
4. I'll Give You Sympathy- The Rascals
5. Christmas Time Is Here- Vince Guaraldi Trio
6. Ain't No Way- Aretha Franklin
7. Stronger- Kanye West
8. Albion (Live at The S.E.C.C.)- Babyshambles
9. Over The Rainbow- Eva Cassidy
10. Why Can't This Be Love- Van Halen

Bonus-
11. Have a Nice Day- Stereophonics
12. Shine- Laura Marling

Cranking up

'Good Boys When They're Asleep' RIGHT NOW.

Alright, I know it's often a mistake to revisit past glories, and they'll be missing Ronnie Lane, but Rod still sounds great.

Now, if they can just keep Mr. Ron Wood away from barely legal Russian girls and the drink, we'll be in business!

The Faces are set to reunite for rehearsals with a view to a full reformation.Frontman Rod Stewart told Raysgigs.com that all the original members aside from late bassist Ronnie Lane, who died in 1997, were set to reconvene on Monday (November 17) to run through their old hits.

Can't argue

with the top ten entries on Rolling Stone's list of "greatest singers of all time"-

1. Aretha Franklin
2. Ray Charles
3. Elvis Presley
4. Sam Cooke
5. John Lennon
6. Marvin Gaye
7. Bob Dylan
8. Otis Redding
9. Stevie Wonder
10. James Brown

Okay, I can argue a little bit. Bob and John should NOT be ranked higher than Mr. Redding. Period. Or Stevie and J.B.

Amazing lyricists, yes. Better singers than Otis, Stevie or The Hardest Working Man In Show Business? No.

Fierce

Gonna be CRAZY.

A documentary tracing the life of Grace Jones over the past "four or five" years is set to be released, the singer/actress has revealed.

The star, who released her latest album 'Hurricane' on November 3, told BBC 6music that British filmmaker Sophie Fiennes was behind the project, but admitted that a mammoth editing job was ahead of her before the film could be released.

Want.

this Marc Jacobs bag.

PIER HEAD LIVERPOOL

PIER HEAD LIVERPOOL, originally uploaded by T & G Photos.

Hi-larious

My family gathered this weekend to "clean up" the timber (forest on our land) for deer hunting season, which begins in December. Since half of us are pinko Commies and the other started-shitting-themselves-on-September-11-2001-and-have-yet-to-stop-Republicans, well... just say we Trotskyites were really, really, REALLY looking forward to this weekend.

Several things-

1. The aforementioned Repubs walked into the dining room wearing t-shirts saying "Palin 2012." I don't know what reaction they were expecting, but I don't think it was hysterical laughter.

2. One of my cousins (insane) was spouting the party line about how Obama was going to take everyone's guns away. One of my other cousins (non-insane) told him,

"If at the end of Obama's second term, gun ownership is illegal, I WILL GIVE YOU A THOUSAND BUCKS."

THIS.

Cousin Bill for the win.

Rosace

Rosace, originally uploaded by Ariane Gaudefroy.

Random ten

1. A Thousand Trees- Stereophonics
2. Who's Got A Match?- Biffy Clyro
3. Stormy Weather- Billie Holiday
4. Cologne Hotel- Helsinki
5. All You Need Is Love- The Beatles
6. Strict Machine- Goldfrapp
7. Reason Is Treason- Kasabian
8. U Got the Look- Prince
9. Biology- Girls Aloud
10. My Way- Aretha Franklin

Bonus-
11. Son of a Preacher Man- Aretha Franklin
12. Come Together- Primal Scream

HELLS YES

Mom and I openly wept during our new President's speech. And when I say openly, I mean freely and with lots of Kleenex.

And this family.

THIS FAMILY.

Awesome

Jim Bowman, a Tuskegee Airman from World War II, is also 86. He voted early, almost a month ago, he was so eager to vote for Obama.

“I haven’t cried in a long time,” he said, “but just thinking about it brings me to tears.”

Bowman had a father who told him he was going to college, and that was that. It was pay as you go, but he made it through and eventually became a war hero and, as Dr. James Bowman, became the assistant superintendent of the Des Moines Public School system.

“To see this happen,” he said, “is one of the greatest blessings I’ve had. I don’t take lightly the progress we’ve made in this country. I’m thrilled with it. But there are barriers still. I hear people say they just don’t think they could ever vote for a black man — for some offices, maybe, but not this one. Well, I can’t help thinking the good Lord is working overtime on some folks.”

Hmmm

When I go to vote in about an hour, I'm thinking I'm going to bawl all over the ballot.

*shakes Magic 8 Ball*

Yep, looks likely.

God, I'm a sap.

Tomorrow

Well, today first.

We've started the "floor move" at Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop AKA setting up for Christmas open houses (which start this weekend). It's a time-consuming and painstaking process, so naturally we chat quite a bit during this.

Since tomorrow is the election, it unfortunately came up. I say "unfortunately" because, let me put it this way, 4 of us are placing our votes for the next President of the United States, and 2 for the also-ran.

An argument ensued, causing me to exclaim the following to deflect the tension-

"Oooo, look at the sky!" (it was 8 o'clock)

"My GOD, would you look at that. There's GLITTER all over the floor."

"Holy shit, it's the Pope!"

"LOOK OUT, I HAVE A LIVE HAND GRENADE."

Okay, I just came up with the last two, but still.

Anyway.

Tomorrow.

I'm all choked up over what (hopefully) will happen, so much that I can't express myself in my usual semi-incoherent fashion.

But what TBogg said.

I'm just thinking about all my former students in Houston, the vast majority who were of color, and what they must be feeling right now.

The kids that initially assumed that since I was white, that I must be racist, due to some asshole teachers they had in the past. That couldn't believe that I was "cool."

That they now know that they can achieve whatever they set out to. The yes, hope for a better future.

And then I cry.

So tomorrow, I'm casting my vote in honor of all my kiddos. And everyone who laid the groundwork for this historic, amazing event.

Awwwwwwwwww

Our next president (please, Jesus) takes wee Sasha trick-or-treating.

And for more SQUUUEEEES,

Lacroix, sweetie darling

LOVE.

Gorgeous

picture of Montenegro in the Telegraph

Sacré Coeur

Sacré Coeur, originally uploaded by Diles.

Random ten

1. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor- Arctic Monkeys
2. Night Lights- Paul Weller
3. Have You Met Miss Jones?- Robbie Williams
4. I'm So Bored With the U.S.A.- The Clash
5. F*ck Forever- Babyshambles
6. Out Of The Sinking- Paul Weller
7. Fingertips (Part 2)- Stevie Wonder
8. Stuntman-Kasabian
9. Ooh La La- Stereophonics
10. Kings Of The Wild Frontier- Adam & The Ants

Bonus-
11. Like A Star- Corinne Bailey Rae
12. Misty Mountain Hop- Led Zeppelin

Awwwww

My ovaries. They just twinged.

The idealism on these kiddos faces. Oh my. SO AWESOME.

oo7

Among all characters in film, I most associate James Bond with my childhood. Nearly every other weekend, the other kids and I would sit around the teevee with Dad, and watch at least one Bond flick.

(And usually a Mel Brooks production, but we're not discussing my love for 'Blazing Saddles' here at this very moment, so stay on topic, eh?)

I remember giggling with my cousins about 'Octopussy' and various other (bad) double entendres in the films. Oh, and 'Jaws' the henchman. He kicked all sorts of ass.

In more recent years, my mom*, sister and I have grown closer because of 'Casino Royale' and our shared Thing for Daniel Craig.

We do love a bit of Northern rough. See Bean, Sean.

So this discussion of the best Bond theme songs was quite interesting to me. I personally am a Bassey purist** (as are the Arctic Monkeys), but one of my favs is 'You Know My Name' by Chris Cornell for the aforementioned 'Casino Royale.' It's stirring, sexy and vaguely dangerous-sounding.

Perfect for James.

*my mother*** may have a picture of Daniel in his blue swim trunks hanging in her office. My dad pretends not to notice.

**mostly due to my high school choir director's influence. We sang A LOT of Bassey tunes. Yes, the thought of corn-fed Iowa girls belting out 'Big Spender' is fucking hilarious, why do you ask?

***When Jeffery Wright appeared onscreen in 'Casino Royale,' my mom breathed, "HELLO, FELIX." Her older brother, my uncle Don, had all the Ian Fleming novels...

Stanage Edge (August 2008 #2)

Stanage Edge (August 2008 #2), originally uploaded by Lazlo Woodbine.

The girls

Girls Aloud, that is.



Nadine is lovely, Nicola adorable, Sar and Kimba fierce and Chezza cute as hell.



Gorgeous.

WANT.

I MUST OWN THIS T-SHIRT.

That is all.

Dare I say

Our Kid's sunnies are positively Coxon-esque.

*backs rapidly away from the Gallagher*

I feel the sudden need

to mess up my hair and apply (more) eyeliner-

The Cure are set to be crowned Godlike Geniuses at the Shockwave NME Awards in February.Robert Smith and co will receive the award and play live at the awards ceremony, which is set to take place at London Brixton Academy on February 25.

Stairway to heaven

Stairway to heaven, originally uploaded by gms.

"You're gonna make me, make me love you"

Girls Aloud have claimed the number one spot in the UK charts with The Promise, the group's first in four years.

And this is just too cool-

All of the group's 18 singles to date have made the UK top 10.

Brilliant

via everywhere

*sighs*

Love Young Master Turner and Young Miles.

Turner and Kane played four covers in the set, the first of which was The Beatles' 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' from the 1969 'Abbey Road' album, to the delight of the Liverpool crowd.

What Mr. Gunn says

Holy hell

That's a whole lot of tickets to move in one day. FOR ONE ACT.

Oasis have since added third nights in Manchester (June 4) and London (July 9) at the same venues.With tickets going on sale at 10am(BST) this morning (October 24), the band had sold half a million tickets by 3pm. Oasis co-promoter Chris York of SJM Concerts speculated that "this has to be the most tickets ever sold by an artist in the UK in one day".

Please, Jesus

let this happen...

Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt, aka Vince Noir and Howard Moon, are sat backstage at Brixton Academy surrounded by gifts from fans, Pot Noodles and sweets.

They've just begun a massive three-month tour round England, Scotland and Wales but they're already thinking about the next step.

The duo say breaking the States is definitely high on their list.

Random ten

1. Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit)- Noisettes
2. Who'll Stop the Rain?- Stereophonics
3. Supersonic- Oasis
4. Country Girl- Primal Scream
5. Shotgun- Junior Walker & the All-Stars
6. 16 Days- Whiskeytown
7. I'm Scared- Duffy
8. DARE- Gorillaz
9. Round Round- Sugababes
10. Police On My Back- Lethal Bizzle

Bonus-
11. Thick As Thieves- The Jam
12. Happy Jack- The Who

*smiles*

Regarding

my new obsession with Protea, my mom commented-

I'm a little worried about your attraction to protea...although if it were antherium...florist joke..

This is an Antherium, generally referred to in Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop as "little boy flowers."











Yes, I crack peen jokes with my mom. Isn't life grand?



(it really is)

Okay,

so the other day, I was driving through town when I noticed an unusual amount of blue hairs at the town hall. Flu shots were being offered there.

Some codger in a Lincoln nearly nailed me backing out of a parking stall. He had bumper stickers on the battered fender. One was McCain/Palin. The other read "I'll Fight For Freedom."

I thought, "Shit, hoss, you ain't fighting for nothing but position at the buffet line."

By all means, let's elect another one, because the last 8 years have been so fucking wonderful.

Hee hee. Go Chuck!

If the election were held today, veteran lawmaker and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said Democratic candidate Barack Obama would win.

"Maybe two weeks from now, I may be saying the same thing, Obama's going to win, and could win with 100 electoral votes to spare," Grassley said in a noon visit with the Lion's Club.

If a flower could be a Panda,

it would be a "Pink Mink" Protea. Cuddly, soft, fuzzy and adorable.

I'm in love.

Oooo

I want these earrings from Topshop, and could actually afford them. However, I have a severe nickel allergy, and would feel like moles were burrowing under my skin if I wore them.

Damn my tendency to be a delicate flower.

Today at work,

we were discussing my many fears. Heights, spiders, driving when it's raining, and most the most odd one- nubby-textured things.

I freaking cannot handle textured things, such as the grapevine wreaths that have the ends trimmed so that there's a cluster of sharply cut ends... *shivers*

I'm also not crazy about crocodile skin-patterned things. Icky.

And this costume of Lovefoxx CSS's... eek.

Had to share. Sorry.

Lovely

The 'Phonics on Live Lounge. God, Kelly is fine.

Hilarious

Actual quote in Q from Noel Thomas David Gallagher-

"It was genius," he says of Jay-Z's response. "It had turned into a moral issue, like I was some kind of musical racist. But I actually like Jay-Z. Look, his profile went through the roof, Wonderwall went back in the charts, everyone's a fucking winner."

Oooo

Matt Taibbi has a blog? With post titles like-

Wall Street: Less Responsible Than a Coked-Out NFL Running Back

SCORE!

'From Despair To Where'- Manic Street Preachers

1. Sean's gloves. Cool.
2. Nicky's sunnies. Cool as hell.
3. Richey is beautiful. Full stop.
4. James. My Lord. Is un-BELIVEABLE.

Even cooler

Um, this one made me tear up. The sheer joy on these kiddos faces...

So cool

Speaking of Burt,

Baby girl Adele will be performing with him at the Electric Proms on Wednesday.

Legendary American songwriter and performer Burt Bacharach opens this year's BBC Electric Proms at the Roundhouse in London. He performs with the BBC Concert Orchestra accompanied by guest vocalists, Adele, Beth Rowley and Jamie Cullum. Burt's unparalleled six-decade career has defined romantic song with cherished hits such as Walk On By, The Look of Love, and I Say A Little Prayer.

Rock on,

Burt Bacharach...

"I was never political, not until George W got in office and the way the election was stolen from Al Gore. I've got these two young kids and I'm worried about the world they're growing up in. I'm scared to death now. I wish that England and France and Germany and Italy could vote. I want Obama to win so badly. I don't understand what's going on with Palin who is against abortion; against abortion on incest, against abortion on rape. I just can't understand how you could feel that way."

And he's so right- Aretha Franklin's take on 'Say A Little Prayer' is far superior to Dionne Warwick's (which is brilliant).

Holy crap!

Not having endorsed a Dem since LBJ, the Houston Chronicle endorses Obama/Biden.

The incoming administration must immediately focus and engage on so many fronts. The tasks at hand will require stamina, creativity and leadership abilities to replace partisan gridlock with a national consensus on what is best for the American people. The new leadership team must have the intellect and temperament to tackle complex issues with equally sophisticated solutions. The current go-it-alone mentality in the White House on foreign policy must give way to an effort to work in concert with our allies while engaging our enemies at the negotiating table as well as on the battlefield.

After carefully observing the Democratic and Republican nominees in drawn-out primary struggles as well as in the general campaign, including three debates, the Chronicle strongly believes that the ticket of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden offers the best choice to lead the United States on a new course into the second decade of the 21st century.

I saw this at Target tonight

and said, "WANT."

Then I saw that Sigerson "freaking" Morrison is also doing a capsule collection at Target.

Oh. My. Baby. Jesus.

High Faaaaaashioon I can afford.

Made. Of. Awesome.

montmarte

montmarte, originally uploaded by holmespun.

Oh holy Jesus

I would kill, KILL, to be at the Heaton Park gigs.

No, actually, I wouldn't.

No, I totally would.

Oasis have announced details of the summer UK dates for 2009 this afternoon (October 16) at Wembley Stadium.After a quick photocall on the pitch, the band's leader Noel Gallagher hosted a question and answer session at the English football stadium confirming the band will play that venue twice, along with two special hometown gigs at Manchester's Heaton Park next year.Support at the shows, which also include the already announced show at Slane Castle, will come from Kasabian and The Enemy.

Random ten

1. Molly's Chambers- Kings Of Leon
2. Gang Of Gin- Babyshambles
3. Where Angels Play- The Stone Roses
4. So Far Away- Carole King
5. Carpetbaggers- Jenny Lewis
6. The Masterplan- Oasis
7. Gimme A Sign- Ryan Adams
8. 2 Hearts- Kylie Minogue
9. I've Just Seen A Face- The View
10. Umbrella- Manic Street Preachers

Bonus-
11. Last Nite- Adele
12. Me Plus One- Kasabian

His name is Earl

The parentals new kitteh, Earl.

(Dad wanted to name him Deuce, but Mom and I said "Nay nay Pompeii.")

He's a sweetheart, but Holden, the world's most pampered Persian, DOES NOT WANT.

More fleurs

from my girl Wen's wedding a few weeks ago. This is an example of the bridemaid bouquets. 'Orange Unique' roses, red mini Gerberas, orange mini Callas, chocolate Cosmos and Crespidia accented with Beargrass loops. I wrapped the stems in fabric from the dresses, and secured it with diamante pins.

Yeah, I brought the bling.

*groans*

My GOD

My mom just forwarded me an email containing an alarming, ALARMING image of Barack Obama carrying a book by Fareed Zakaria entitled 'The Post-American World.' Containing the phrases-

"...now that Ramadan is over"

"I really hope the american* people see this."

"...is reading 'The Post-American World'--it's a Muslim's view."

First of all, anyone who would get worked up over something by Zakaria is obviously crazy. You couldn't get more middle-of-the-road. The book is a discussion not so much of the decline of the American empire, but the rise of China, Brazil, Russia et al.

Secondly, who did she get this from? Most of our family and friends are dirty hippies like ourselves, except for...

Ah HELL, Uncle Steve... you've an education. How could you possibly buy into this? Other than you started pissing yourself when Clinton got elected, and haven't stopped since? (the shitting himself commenced on 9-11-01)

*not my mistake. Was not capitalized. The writer obviously HATES AMERICA.

I've never harbored

strong feelings about Hayden Panettiere (other than I think her boyfriend is too old for her, and kind of a cobag), but I have to say, I LOVE THIS GIRL.

See more Hayden Panettiere videos at Funny or Die

And this... OH LORD, SO FUNNY!



via

An open letter

to anyone who would be inclined to have the card read (on a floral arrangement you are ordering)-

"I had a great time last night."

You just announced to total strangers that you got laid. Last night, in fact.

You're welcome.

This is utterly delightful

Obama stencils for your Halloween needs. I LOVE it!

What is this site about?The presidential election is November 4. Halloween is October 31. We like carving pumpkins. Hence, YesWeCarve.com.

Oh, GRANDAD

Darling, one trainwreck per band. ONE.

Babyshambles guitarist Mick Whitnall was arrested yesterday (October 12) for suspected drug offences in Blackheath, London.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told NME.COM that a 39 year-old man was arrested at 4:20pm (BST) in a café/bar on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs thought to be crack cocaine.

I'm sure

this was the scenester scene from hell (ooo, must listen to The Cribs), but sounds like some cool stuff went on...

Mark Ronson, Supergrass, The View, Babyshambles' Drew McConnell and Patrick Wolf were among those who performed collaborations last night (October 11) at the London Matter venue as part of the Diesel xXx series of gigs.

and oh HELL YES.

McConnell's final collaboration came next, when he played guitar to accompany Lethal Bizzle, backed by The Noisettes' drummer Jamie Morrison.