Bishop

Luckily my bestie didn't notice when I snapped this candid pic of him when we were walking the streets of our favourite city. He is not a man that enjoys being photographed.

The Next Big Adventure

So, the Camino has been placed on the back burner and instead, my niece Ashlee and I are discussing a trip to Europe in March of 2014. We are hoping to spend three or four days in Ireland, then jet on over to London for a week and then a couple days in Belgium - Antwerp and Bruges, to be precise. We spent most of last Sunday night planning where to go and what to see. The excitement was palpable. We are especially looking forward to renting a car and driving from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher. I will clearly be behind the wheel and mildly petrified but luckily, Ash is prepared to play navigator. It'll be a whirlwind trip that hopefully won't bankrupt me. But if it does, it'll so be worth it.

Bday Card from Logan

Being that I am a rock star, I totally had a rock star birthday. Naturally.

The Abington Kids

Spent Sunday with my cousin Jenny and her super fantastic kids, Bella, Johnny, and Logan. We had a blast and lil' Logan and I played on the trampoline for like, forever. I seriously can't get enough of those kids.

It's That Time Again

No one can believe it, mostly me, but holy schnikes...I'm, I'm...

I'm psyching myself up and forcing myself to believe that this will be the best year yet!

(photo kidnapped from crainsnewyork)

My Favorite Voices Vol. 1

Ella Fitzgerald - I Won't Dance
U2 - With or Without You
Johnny Cash - I'll Fly Away
Edith Piaf - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Rufus Wainwright - Danny Boy
Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken
The Hooligans - Go Lassy Go
Rosemary Clooney - I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
Tom Waits - Four Sheets to the Wind
Warren Zevon - Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Norah Jones - Ruler of My Heart
Tommy Maken & Liam Clancy - Red is the Rose
Iz - Over the Rainbow
Shemeka Copeland - Beat Up Guitar
Mavis Staples - Precious Lord Take My Hand
Eva Cassidy - Time After Time
Ben Harper & the Blind Boys of Alabama - My Mother Pray

Los Angeles

The Best Of

Positano - 24 March 2013

The Misty Cliffs of Moher

(photo kidnapped from triggerpit)

Gary Oldman

Top ten fave Gary Oldman films, in no particular order since there's no way to choose one favourite among so many remarkable performances...

Sid and Nancy
Leon: The Professional
Prick Up Your Ears
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
True Romance
Basquiat
Immortal Beloved
The Contender
Nil by Mouth

(photo kidnapped from purity)

Spectral

Fiona Apple - Criminal
Dan Tyminski - The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe His Corn
Kelly Osbourne - One Word
Ani DiFranco - I'm No Heroine (live)
John Legend - Maxine's Interlude
Bette Midler - Do You Wanna Dance?
Amy Winehouse - Some Unholy War
Christina Aguilera - Infatuation
Joan Osborne - Right Hand Man
Marc Anthony - Me Voy a Regalar
Joss Stone - I've Fallen in Love with You
Sarah McLachlan -  Adia
Nina Simone -  Images
Sade - The Sweetest Taboo
The Dandy Warhols - Heroin is so Passe
Victor Manuelle - No Hace Falta Nada
SRV - Leave My Girl Alone
Jill Scott - Gettin' In The Way

-10 April 2007

Best Distraction at Work

Tomorrow with Tom Snyder is my favourite thing to watch when I'm working from home. There are three interviews available on YouTube where Tom interviews Sterling Hayden, each one remarkable. I've seen them all countless times and I never tire of their conversation. Discussing everything from rail travel, Anwar Sadat's assassination, Tito's funeral, booze, the sea, writing, marijuana use, and all the way up to life's great regrets. Where are the men like Sterling Hayden? Young American men seem to completely lack dignity, nobility, grace, extraordinary kindness, and the ability to have meaningful conversations. That sounds so bitter, but listening to Sterling makes me feel that men like that no longer exist on this continent.

(photo kidnapped from mediafunhouse)

Sunday at Grounds

Two of the Nine Muses by Carlos Dorrien

Robert Ressler Baruch Ashem 1989

Saturday Afternoon with the Ladies

Getting the four of us in frame was tough enough, now with the edition of Evangeline and Evelyn, things proved to be a bit more tricky. But I still got the job done.

Cheerio Cutie Patootie

This kid is seriously bringing joy into this family like no other. Everything he does, well, nearly everything he does, leaves us in stitches. His screaming and temper tantrums we could do without, although they are kinda funny to watch. Especially when he throws himself to the floor like Sarah Bernhardt...

Let's Bring Back

The Lost Language Edition  by Lesley M. M. Blume

I know, I know, don't I already have enough books to occupy myself until the end of time? Well, yes. But that's neither here nor there. This latest purchase has already proved to be an utter delight and I'm loving every page. Especially the definition for Attic Salt on page 15. Another term for possessing great wit, the example given reads, "Dorothy Parker had enough attic salt to bore through an icy interstate highway." That she did.

(photo kidnapped from modcloth)

Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot

One of my absolute favourite books, Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot is a collection of James Stockdale's speeches over the years. His wisdom is beyond comprehension and I am always in awe of this tremendously brilliant man.

A passage from an address given in May of 1988 in Philadelphia entitled My Kind of Guys holds a particularly moving passage:

But when you get old political prisoners alone, you don't hear a word about food, ventilation, warmth, and such trivia. They exchange tales of quite a different nature-of nervous exhaustion, uncontrollable sobbing in solitude, the wages of fear, the horror of brooding guilt, alone for months, bearing wear and tear on nervous systems while being stalked, booby-trapped, blindsided, and all the while knowing that once you lose your precious grip on your self-esteem and personal honor, you are lost.

He's Not Happy

Jackson is clearly annoyed in this photo and thinking, "What the eff is this green shit poking my foot?"

Paris

A few years back I picked up a book on Paris for three bucks at my local library's book sale. The copyright is 1979, so clearly it is chock full of photos of a vintage Paris. It was designed and produced by Ted Smart and David Gibbon and this is one of my favourites.

For Mother's Day

Skylar brought in flowers for the mothers in the office and he gave me these, saying, "Since you're my work-mom, I got you these." Kinda backhanded, right? I mean, at 36, I don't relish the idea of some 22 year old kid thinking I'm his work-mom. But thoughtful, nonetheless...

Dream a Little Dream of Me

I can't stop singing this song. I'd forgotten just how beautiful it is when Mama Cass sings it.

Stars shining bright above you;
Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'.
Birds singing in the sycamore tree.
Dream a little dream of me.

Say nighty-night and kiss me;
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me.
While I'm alone, blue as can be,
Dream a little dream of me.

Stars fading but I linger on, dear -
Still craving your kiss.
I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear,
Just saying this...

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you -
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you.
But in your dreams, whatever they be,
Dream a little dream of me.

Stars fading but I linger on, dear -
Still craving your kiss.
I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear,
Just saying this...

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you -
Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you.
But in your dreams, whatever they be,
Dream a little dream of me. 

lyrics by Gus Kahn

Fed Up

Janine took this beautiful photo of her adorable son, Christian. They were walking the boards near their beach house over the weekend and Christian had enough of this walking and just gave up.

Downton Downtime

Okay, this is just plain brilliant. And hilarious. I swear, people are so creative.

(photo kidnapped from janeaustensworld)

Tea for the Tillerman

Such a great album. I'm sure I've stated before that I was named after the fourth track, Sad Lisa. This is one of those albums that as soon as it's over, ya flip the record and start it all over again. Love, love, love it.

(photo kidnapped from tinnitustonight)

Put 'em Up, Funshine...

Ashlee texted this to me the other day and it was the laugh I so desperately needed.

My Weekend with the Kids

My niece, Kayla, on the bridge during our Saturday afternoon walk by the lake. The more time I spend with this lady the more I realise that her generation is to be the best one yet. Kay is so intelligent and together and kind. She's irresistible and I'm just bananas over her.

Sunday was spent at Chrissy's place a few towns away where everyone was taking turns smooching Chrissy's adorable son, Chase, who is a chubby dollop of preciousness. So much so that people have to restrain themselves from chewing on his fat lil legs and gorgeous face. I swear this boy looks like a Republican senator from Iowa. Oh, he's such a little sweetie...

Look at his pudgy-ass legs!! His toes are like tiny bratwursts.

My lovely niece, Sydney with Chase

Me and Chase (can you tell he just woke up and is still a little out of it??)

And finally, here is one that my brother took of me and my nephew Jackson, who was sporting his new beachwear. Another fabulous weekend!

I wish I had a treehouse...

...just like this.

(photo kidnapped from thedailygreen)

Best Compliment of the Day

Lauryn was on a date last night and was telling her fella that she's recently gotten into knitting. She told him of the yarn that she got in the mail just before meeting him for coffee. Then Lauryn informed him of what she intends to make with said yarn. A beard. For me.

He had a puzzled look on his face and asked, "This is for a girl?"
Lauryn explained, "Well, yeah. She's...she's quirky."
"Quirky? Like, she's weird?"
"Weird in a good way, not in a scary way. Weird like in a way that makes you love her."

(photo kidnapped from knitpicks)

In truth, I'm kinda hoping that if Bishop and I go to London in the fall that I can make it into Volume 2 of Jonathan Daniel Pryce's 100 Beards, 100 Days. Ah...it's good to dream...

The Boy from Oz

April 29, 2004

I drove up to SHU to Marina's dorm because she managed to score super cheap tickets to see The Boy from Oz that included a bus ride to the theatre door. The show was absolutely incredible. Marina had seen it before and said it was just as fabulous the second time around. Mr. Jackman was perfection; he had the entire audience cracking up the entire evening. At the night's end, after much applause and wild whistling, we exited out the back of the theatre and waited for the bus to arrive. I lit up a smoke and suddenly the side door opened and out walked Hugh Jackman, instantly surrounded by throes of adoring females. Marina and I just stayed where we were, a mere ten feet away, and admired him from afar. We watched as he chatted with the fans, signed autographs, and posed for photos, looking just as gorgeous as ever. Then he leapt into a black SUV and waved good night to everyone. Hugh Jackman, what a gem of a man.

Best Farewell Gift

In May of 2005 on my last day of work in the café, Bob Minnick came up to the counter and handed me a package. I tore open the copper coloured wrapping paper covered in angels and found a simple wood frame with a sketch that Bob had done of Bishop. I was stunned. It was perfect. On the back of the frame Bob wrote:
Good luck, Lisa! May your friendships grow in love. Thank you for your kindness to me. Love & peace, Bob
No lie, Bob Minnick is without question the sweetest man who ever lived and I am so lucky to have known him.