Cuban Art

Here are the four pieces of local art that Marina purchased when she was in Havana back in November of 2024.

Godmommy's Last Voicemail Message

On January 11th 2020, I got this sweet and heartbreaking final voice mail message from one of my favourite people ever, my Godmother, Gina. I immediately called her back and asked if I could come see her in the hospital the next day. Never one to say no to me, she acquiesced, even though she did not want to see anyone while she was in pain. The next afternoon Mum and I went to sit with her and I'm so glad I had one last time to see her and chat and make her laugh when I made a snarky comment about a certain relative of ours that shall remain nameless. Two days later she was gone and our family lost its coolest member. 

Marcus Aurelius

Places I Dream of Going

Spring 2025 Posties

Recipients! I gave Uncle Alan the "Formula for Success" one, noting his Natural Badassery.

Here's Barbara's:

and Michel's!

Up All Night - Xavier

Things to eat: sesame chicken - chicken parm - pizza - cheeseburgers - quesadillas

Songs: Anything by Biggie Smalls - Wu-Tang Clan - Led Zeppelin - Jimi Hendrix - SRV etc.

Places to go: good restaurants - car shows - keggers - pot parties - bars, casinos, crack houses

Movies: Big Trouble in Little China - Superbad - Shaun of the Dead - Hot Fuzz

TV Shows: Star Trek - Metalocolypse (sic) - MASH - Freaks & Geeks 

Outfit: Timberland - Marc Ecko - DKNY - Liz Claiborne

Boys Bitches Ho's: Brunette - long hair - pretty face - funny - kinda geeky

My most loveable qualities: cuddleability

Here's what I want to be when I grow up: large business owner

Here's why I love sleepovers so much: chillin w/mad cool peeps

Joseph Arthur

Another one of my favourite pages from my Indie Rock Coloring Book!

Joanna Lumley Binge-fest

When the world is topsy-turvy and the leaders of my country all seem are utterly mad and greedy bastards, watching the luminous Joanna Lumley travel the globe has been the soothing balm on a whole lot of ache. In a week and a half I saw eleven of her docu-series and watched her meet locals in India, Japan, Italy, Cuba, Haiti, Norway, England, Scotland, Wales, the North of Ireland, France,  Germany, Indonesia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Jordan, Bhutan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Hong Kong, Mongolia, and Russia. It has been such a wonderful escape. She is kind and curious. Her humour transcends cultures and I love seeing her little quips make people literally laugh out loud. The woman is unbelievably charming and I only wish all of them were available to stream. (A bonus was watching lovely Alan Cumming on The Royal Scotsman, as that man is truly an absolute delight!)

(photo kidnapped from bbcnordic)

Dave's Photography

Since I'll be shutting down my Instagram in the next couple months, I'm going through a bunch of my Saved photos and here are some that Dave Gorgone took in Philly back in the late Summer of 2016. They're good enough to save here.

BONUS! Dave as a senior in 1993:

FaceQ Star

Ha! I made this on an old app called FaceQ back in 2014 and can't believe I never posted it, since I look so rad in cartoon-form.

Eldritch

Wicked Game - Chris Isaak

Fade Into You - Mazzy Star

Mad World - Gary Jules

Black - Pearl Jam

Somewherenothere - Alpha

Distractions - Zero 7

Mean Something - Miel

Dice - Finley Quaye & William Orbit

Sad Song - Lou Reed

Hope There's Someone - Antony & the Johnsons

Madame George - Marianne Faithful

Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell

Ghost in This House - Allison Krauss

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me - The Smiths

Live With Me - Massive Attack

Cover Me - Depeche Mode

Into Dust - In This Moment

- February 2025 Playlist

Studio Ghibli Kay and Kenny!

March 2025 Books

♥ I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You ¹ by Miranda Hart - I was first introduced to this lovely creature through Call the Midwife back in 2013. Then I watched her series Miranda and saw her here and there over the years. She was recently on Graham Norton discussing her latest book. It was available on Audible and I had a batch of unused credits, so what the hell, I grabbed a copy. I'm so glad I did. Miranda talks about her extremely long struggle with chronic illness and not being properly diagnosed with Lyme disease until much later in life. (Should I give her Kathleen Hanna's email address so they can commiserate about the hell that is Lyme disease??) Miranda's words of wisdom and tips on acceptance of self and leading a life of positivity are not to be missed. I need to buy a physical copy so I can make notes in the margins and underline and star all the most important and profound passages.  

* Consider Your Ass Kissed ¹ by Ruta Lee - Prior to reading this, all I knew of Ruta Lee was that she was Ruth in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, is Lithuanian and friends with my beloved Ann Jillian (a fellow Lith-gal), and once saw Dick Gaultier completely nude, save for a cowboy belt and holster. (FYI, I learned this from an old ep of Tattletales.) This book was primarily a collection of stories of encounters with famous pals. Some people think of that as shameless name-dropping, but let's be real here. A good story is a good story and you don't censor it because one of the players is famous. 

* All the Way to the Tigers ¹ by Mary Morris - I originally got this book in physical form as a Date with a Book but never got around to picking it up. Knowing that I probably never would, I decided, before donating the book to Baldwin’s Book Barn, I would listen to the audiobook version. It wasn't unbelievably riveting or life-changing, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would listen again. 

* Every Man For Himself and God Against All ¹ by Werner Herzog - I think the first film I ever saw by this one-of-a-kind director was Fitzcarraldo back in maybe 2006. Once I fell in love with documentaries I discovered that he made some of the most unique and extraordinary. That is when I really came to appreciate his talents for storytelling. Grizzly Man, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, The White Diamond, My Best Fiend, Wheel of Time, Into the Abyss, Encounters at the End of the World, and From One Second to the Next are some of my personal favourites. It was a privilege to listen to Herzog narrate this memoir and it was wonderful to learn so much more from this true master. of his craft.

** Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Dead Man in the Garden by Marthe Jocelyn - I bought this at Birdie Books in Ohio when I was visiting Autumn. The idea of a young version of Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot being pals and solving mysteries was too clever to pass up. Agatha is Aggie Morton and Hercule is Hector Perot - adorable! This is the third book in the series, but it made no difference. It was fun and so well done. I could hear a young David Suchet every time I read Hector's lines. Great, great book.

* The Dollhouse Caper by Jean S. O’Connell - I swear I got this for free at Central Books in Doylestown or maybe one of those Little Free Library boxes. Regardless, it was a short but super cute story of a human family with three boys and the Dollhouses, who come alive when the humans aren't around. Turns out there were a couple baddies casing the joint and looking to break in while the Humans were away on holiday. Well, lucky for them, the Dollhouses were ready to save the day. 

* Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better ¹ by Pema Chödrön - I had a copy of this for years and never picked it up. Earlier in March I took it in to Baldwin’s Book Barn so that someone else could have it. Then before the month was to end, I listened to the audiobook version from Hoopla and absolutely loved it. I'm absolutely listening to it again and taking notes.

¹ - audiobook

² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

March 2025 Donations

Juicy Body Goddess

I came across this company's Insta page about a year or so ago. I immediately fell in love with watching all these plus size gals (and a couple femme fellas!) try on one stunning gown (or jumpsuit) after another. Every single one of them was praised to the heavens by the owner, Summer Lucille, and every video ends with me in tears. "You look so beautiful, baby." "Oh my goodness, you are absolutely stunning in that, my love." "Look at you!!!" "You look gorgeous." She constantly showers these young, and sometimes vulnerable, people with compliments that clearly come straight from the heart. As someone who never received or receives compliments on my appearance, I cooked up a fantasy in my mind of traveling to Charlotte, NC to try on some gowns and feel like the pretty girl I always wished I was, with Ms. Summer convincing me that "dang girl, you look goooood!"

Juicy Body Goddess was created to keep the everyday woman with curves in mind.  Our fashion ranges from corporate work attire to date night looks. 

Donations:

Juicy Body Goddess gives girls a chance to receive a brand new Juicy Body Goddess dress with the help of our community.  You can purchase a gift card directly from our website and we will give to a beautiful young lady looking for a prom dress.   

Thank you so much

Summer Lucille 

Owner