Table for Six

What five guests would you invite to a dinner party? For myself, the key is to have people that I admire as well as those who would mingle together well and create fascinating conversations that are filled with laughter. Here are mine:

Sterling Hayden
Tom Waits
Julian Schnabel
James Stockdale
Bud Hylander

Dean Martin

(photo kidnapped from starpulse)

Last night I was rewatching Rio Bravo (which i love) and I decided to dig through my mix discs and found the Dean Martin one that I made on March 19, 2006. Damn if he doesn't have the smoothest voice ever...

I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me
You Can't Love 'em All
Just in Time
Mean to Me
On the Street Where You Live
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
Dream
Return to Me
Ain't That a Kick in the Head
You I Love
Come Back to Sorrento
Drink to Me Only/I Don't Care/I Love Vegas
June in January
Via Veneto
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
If Love is Good to Me
Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
Sway
On an Evening in Roma
Innamorata
Just Say I Love Her
Vieni Su
On the Sunny Side of the Street
You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You

Stuck In My Head

But that’s why birds do it,
Bees do it,
Even educated fleas do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

In Spain the best upper sets do it,
Lithuanians and Letts do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it,
Not to mention the Finns,
Folks in Siam do it,
Think of Siamese twins.

Some Argentines without means do it,
People say in Boston even beans do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

Romantic sponges they say do it,
Oysters down in Oyster Bay do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

Cold Cape Cod clams ‘gainst their wish do it,
Even lazy jellyfish do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

Electric eels, I might add, do it,
Though it shocks ‘em I know,
Why ask if shads do it,
Waiter bring me shad roe.

In shallow shoals English soles do it,
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

The dragonflies in the reeds do it,
Sentimental centipedes do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

Mosquitoes, heaven forbid, do it,
So does every katydid do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

The most refined ladybugs do it,
When a gentleman calls,
Moths in your rugs do it,
What’s the use of moth balls?

Locusts in trees do it,
Bees do it,
Even overeducated fleas do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.

Let’s do it, let’s fall in love,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.
~Cole Porter

Varadero

Tonight at work I spoke with a lovely 83 year old woman who told me of a tranquil beach in Cuba called Varadero. She said it is the most beautiful place in the world. I immediately went to look up photographs of it and am so jealous that she saw this place in person. María had left Havana in 1960 to come to the US and has not been back since. Our conversation was the highlight of my dreary little day. (even in your dreams, have you ever imagined an ocean this colour??)

(photo kidnapped from pomalaza)

(photo kidnapped from worldcitypics)

(She even told me that her first car was a 1958 Pontiac Catalina, beige with a red top and two doors. "It was beautiful! But Fidel took it." She was a hoot!)

You can pick your friends...

...and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friends' noses! Here is a shot of the Princess at my place being her usual silly self!

Swan Lake

Performed at The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, Russia

Went to Theatre N with Kathryn to see Swan Lake. Needless to say, it was stunning. The description of the final scene is one of the most poetic sentences I have ever read:

As dawn breaks, he finds himself alone on the empty banks of the lake of his dreams.

Every single word weaves together to form a beautifully tragic image that I could not stop thinking about for hours after the curtain came down.

One Word...

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"New York governor signs law approving gay marriage."

Green Day

Hanging out with Melissa late last night, we had the cable set on the alternative station and were thoroughly enjoying the steady stream of Eurythmics, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, and The Clash. Then Green Day came on, and Melissa said, "Did I ever tell you that two of my friends hooked up with two of the guys from Green Day?" I thought she had mentioned once that a girl she knew had slept with Tre Cool, but I never got the whole scoop. Apparently back in Summer 1993, two of her friends went to see Green Day and wound up hanging out with the band; one gal hooked up with Tre and the other with Billie Joe. Then Melissa goes on to tell me that July 31, 1993 - which was the last day that anyone could smoke in The Cherry Hill Mall - she hung out in the Food Court with her two friends, her BFF Amy, and Green Day. Clearly this was before Green Day hit it big and Melissa found them to be like most young men and was not cast under the spell of their pending stardom. But it is kinda cool to know that she once smoked cigarettes at a mall in Jersey with future Tony Award winners.

(photo kidnapped from greendayauthority) 

Bree Léman

My friend Rachel was roommates in college with an artist named Bree. This was a piece she did around the holidays of carolers peering into a peephole. (the holly hanging over the peephole is my favourite part!) The gal up close seems to be thinking, "Helllooo...The Carolers are here! Open up and bring us some nog!"
I've always thought Bree's work was brilliant and if I recall correctly, the brunette with the bangs singing was inspired by Rachel.

(photo of Bree by me! lisa star)

Ms. Kahlo's Toes

What I Saw in the Water by Frida Kahlo 1938

MSR

Cornelius Bros. & Sister Rose "Too Late to Turn Back Now"
Bread "Everything I Own"
Blood, Sweat & Tears "You've Made Me So Very Happy"
Chairmen of the Board "Give Me Just a Little More Time"
Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds "Don't Pull Your Love"
The Spinners "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"
Van Morrison "Gloria"
Jackie Wilson "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher"
The Righteous Bros. "(You're My) Soul & Inspiration"
Seals & Croft "Summer Breeze"
The Hollies "He Ain't Heavy (He's My Brother)"
Carole King "It's Too Late"
The Spencer Davis Group "Gimme Some Lovin'"
ELO "Evil Woman"
The Four Tops "Baby, I Need Your Loving"
Chuck Mangione "Feels So Good"
Carly Simon "The Right Thing to Do"
Elvis Presley "You've Lost That Lovin'Feeling"
Neil Diamond "Cherry, Cherry"
Simon & Garfunkel "The Sound of Silence"
The Five Satins "In the Still of the Night"
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sixteen Tons"

~June 4th, 2004

In 2003 my BFF's father passed away quite suddenly. During the months that followed his death, Amy and I would drive around listening to the local Oldies station. Growing up in West Chester, Amy and her family were huge oldies music fans and when visiting, I would be in a state of amazement that they knew every word to every song that was played. In 2004, Amy and I found that every time we were together the station played thee best oldies songs ever. I started to write some of the songs down and made this mix. Amy has a copy and we are both kind of obsessed with it. I think it reminds us both of how awesome her dad was and it feels almost like a connection to the past when things were simple and the music rocked!

Superman Ridin' Shotgun

I find these photos (that I took) to be extremely amusing. I love how he looks out the window so pensively...

Happy Daddy Doody Day!

Thanks, Da, for all you've done and all you continue to do!

Phonte Coleman

Bishop had this up as his gmail IM status and I think it's brilliant:

Love is something that happens in your real life, not your e-life.

Melissa in DC

These were just three of the gorgeous photographs that Melissa took last week at the National Arboretum in Washington DC. I cannot wait to take a road trip with her and spend the day there.

I Gots to Have This...

Can you read the quote from Edie at the bottom? If you can't get a man to propose to you, you might as well be dead. Hilarious. If you like this as much as I do, head over to Ms. Claudia Varosio's etsy shop and snag one for yourself! I just ordered a boat load of fantastic postcards of some of my favourite films, so get on over there!!

Opulence

This is my all time favourite favourite summer mix - I even made a copy for Bishop.

Taana Gardner - No Frills
Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent
Candi Staton - Young Hearts
Urbanized - Helpless (Mood II Swing Extnd Mix)
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
Joyce Sims - All & All
Diana Ross - Love Hangover
George Michael - Happy
Hercule & Love Affair - Blind
Culture Club - I'm Afraid of Me
Barbara Mason - Another Man
MFSB - Love is the Message
First Choice - Armed & Extremely Dangerous
Madonna - Physical Attraction
Pet Shop Boys - Domino Dancing
Sabrina Johnston - Peace (Nu-Mix)

Table Top Joe

Years ago I worked at a café not far from my parents' home. It was without question the best job I've ever had. I loved the people I worked with and more so, I loved the customers, many of whom became lifelong friends. I often think of those individuals who I may no longer be in contact with but who touched my life in such a way as to change me forever. One such person was Dave Vaughn. It is because of him that I can now say that Tom Waits is my favourite voice. Alice came out and Dave was obsessed with it. He put it on full blast in the café and I fell in love with every beautiful track. Dave was a fabulous guy with an endearing smile and a charming laugh. He played the tuba and looked like a young Donal Logue.

(here's a foto i took of dave pretending to be a wristwatch model)

Irene in NY

Fairytale of New York
GlamoramaI Remember You Well
Open Me Carefully
All photographs by Irene Suchocki.

English Supper

Tonight at Anne's we feasted on the most delicious vegetarian English supper ever! Anne made us Yorkshire pudding (out of this world), yummy veggies for the main course and then the most incredible dessert - Homemade Sticky Toffee Pudding. We gorged ourselves until each and every one of us fell victim to a bad case of the Itis. But it was so worth it!

In the movie of my life....

this song would definitely be on the soundtrack: Somebody to Love by Queen

How about you???

Judy Garland

The most fabulous performer of all fabulous performers who have ever walked the earth. She was terribly talented, deeply flawed and easy to adore; and I always have. Cheers, Judy, and Happy Bday!!

(photo kidnapped from tencentsadance.tumblr)

The Star off the African Coast

Who are you? So many times I arrive to The Season of Plum and Cobblestone's threshold and see you there on my little grey map. All the way across the vast and glorious ocean I see you floating there, flashing off and on like the pulse of a mysterious sea creature. I want so desperately to know who you are, where you are, and what continues to draw you to my doorstep. If you're out there, come find me and tell me all about your life and who you really are.

Question of the Day

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? ~Robert H. Schuller

Diane Arbus VIII

Girl in a Shiny Dress, NYC 1967

Another stunning photograph by Ms. Arbus of an attractive young woman in a lovely dress. The fallen strap is so obviously what makes this a Diane Arbus photo. It makes the girl look uncouth, common, out-of-place, and slightly sad. That single thread of cloth transformed an average picture into an extraordinary one. 
 

The North American Bldg

November 6, 1906

Fabulousness!

Back in the day I when I worked at the Pier, I was friends with a gal also named Lisa. She was hilarious and vivacious and is my Six Degrees to Matt Damon. We hit it off immediately and I soon discovered that she has thee most beautiful penmanship in the entire world. See for yourself. One day I will have this made into a type setting and publish my first book of prose in this print. Isn't it divine??

I want, I want; I need, I need!!!

I have loved John Fluevog shoes since high school when Rachel bought her first pair of Angels and I got my first pair of Docs. (Oh how I loved her Angel shoes....) Visiting the website yesterday I found myself infatuated with about 22 different pairs - but the reissue of the Munster has me nearly foaming at the mouth. Its design is so beautiful; it takes me back to when I first fell for this glorious footwear. I think I may just have to have them... (photo kidnapped from fluevog)

Watching SRV Play Guitar

Few things are as fantastically exhilarating as watching this man play guitar. I never, ever tire of it.

(photo kidnapped from activitypit)

Emails from Bryan

There is nothing in this world that makes me as insanely happy and excited as seeing a new email from Bryan. Here's an example of why:

as a quick sidenote before i send you a nice long email...i see the card you sent me with the rocket ship on the front and i have nothing but wonderfull feelings...me, my mother & Ripple Love & miss you...