Seen In Jenkintown

Anne and I saw this gorgeous 1955 Chevy in the parky lot of Meadowbrook Farm. The fella there told us that the owner's kids bought it for him as a bday gift. I told him that is one man that never needs to worry about going to a nursing home, cause if your kids are gonna pitch in and get you a hot set of wheels like that, you know they are gonna take good care of him during those golden years.

On the Edge

The only flaw I can find is the lack of windows so as to enjoy the overlook view. But good god a'mighty, this is one sweet lil' home!

(photo kidnapped from wonderlustcollective's IG - cabin design by Matthias Arndt - copyright @outdoor_aesthetics )

Ahoy...

I saw this while window shopping on ModCloth the other day and man, if it wasn't sixty-five bucks I would buy it immediately and redo my entire bathroom around it.

Breakfast Time, Kiddies!!

Back to the Roots makes a really yummy breakfast cereal - Organic Stoneground Flakes Cereal in Cocoa Clusters flavour. I cleaned out the supply that the Natural Health Store sells. It's like a cross between Cocoa Pebbles and Cocoa Puffs, only healthy. It's got only four ingredients - Stoneground Flour, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, and Sea Salt. I love the fun milk carton container, but I will admit that I do wish that it had a surprise inside, like a sticker or something. In case your local market doesn't sell Back to the Roots goodies, I scored a two-pack on Amazon. Score!

Far out, man...

I saw this online and at first I thought it was one of those groovy watercolor paintings from the 60s or 70s. Like something you'd see in a San Francisco hippie's apartment. Very kind of Zen and Be Here Now. Then I realised it was a picture of a woman  straddling a man and the woman has a tattoo on her hip and thigh. I thought, "Ooo, that's kinda sexy..." And clicked to enlarge it. Then I saw that it was an anatomical, artistic representation of intercourse. That's when I was like, "Damn, that's beautiful. And sort of erotic and sensual." I really like it.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

I saw the trailer for this in late August and it instantly appealed to me as it was set in San Francisco in the year I was born. I love the fashion and the hairstyles and the music of the 1970s, but it was Bel Powley's wide eyes that made me write the title down. Well, that and the blurb from Manohla Dargis' NY Times review that said "pulls off the tricky feat of honoring Minnie's sexuality without exploiting it or her." Right on.

This film wrecked me. I can't remember a character - on film or in a book - that I identified with so deeply as I did with Minnie Goetze. Her thoughts and reactions were so similar to my own as a teenager that it was unsettling and comforting all at once. Like when Minnie says, "it feels so good to imagine that he might be thinking about me...I wonder if anybody loves me who I don't know about..." And especially "I didn't know if I wanted him or anyone else to fuck me, but I was afraid to pass up the chance 'cause I may never get another." Man, that last one stung. What a terrible feeling it is to settle. To take the scraps and accept something you don't really want because you feel you should be grateful that anyone is paying this kind of attention to you. It's one of the top five shittiest feelings and it can haunt you for years. It was kind of empowering in a way to watch things happen to Minnie and see her poor judgement in certain situations but see her remain whole and be herself.

The day after I first saw The Diary of a Teenage Girl. I went back and watched it with the commentary and then immediately ordered the book (which is simply gorgeous) and then the soundtrack on vinyl and mp3. The record hasn't left my turntable since it arrived; each song just makes me happy and is the perfect background music for doing all my odd lil' household chores. I was so beyond thrilled to be introduced to new-old songs from the 70s. Labi Siffre's Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying and The Rose Garden's Next Plane to London are breathtaking and catchy, respectively. Also, Run to the Mountain and Dreamsong are new-new songs and both are absolutely beautiful. I find myself bouncing up and down in my kitchen to Run to the Mountain and smiling. It's the ideal song to end the soundtrack and the film. But back to the movie...

I always find myself drawn to films that center around dull, un-pretty girls, but the thing is, the girls in the movies are always pretty. Take, for instance, Streisand in Funny Girl, she's flawlessly beautiful but we, the audience, have to pretend that she's plain. I felt like that about Bel Powley as Minnie. She's just lovely with the perfect figure and only fits the role of a simple girl because she isn't slathered in makeup and she dresses like a regular teenager from the 70s, not decked out to the nines. But, even though Bel is a complete knockout, her portrayal of Minnie felt so honest that I was utterly absorbed by her every move.

Oh and I really admired Alexander Skarsgård as Monroe. It was a tough role to take on because there was a very thin line between playing Monroe as a creepy grown-up or as a sort of pathetic man in a state of arrested development. He had to be very careful to not be liked or despised by the viewer, and he succeeded.

I like that the director, Marielle Heller, was female and her love of the novel is so apparent throughout the film, especially now that I'm reading the book. I think Heller did great justice to the words and images that Phoebe Gloeckner created. That's so rare. Usually film versions are a big ole disappointment. I know I'm going on and on about this movie, but I really did love it. All the adjectives I know - fantastic, outstanding, marvelous, extraordinary and so on - don't describe this film well enough. The experience, for me at least, of watching The Diary of a Teenage Girl and meeting Minnie and seeing Bel Powley's performance was like the last sentence of a crazy awesome book; a crowd's applause and the creak of squeaking theatre seats when they stand; the little gaspy sigh of an infant asleep on your shoulder; and the smell of clean laundry leaving the dryer. It was all those sensations, experiences, memories, and warmth. It was the best movie I've seen all year. I wish I knew someone that felt the same way about this film so we could dish about it. I think I'll loan my copy of the DVD to Kayla because I think she'll love it almost as much as I do.

Romance Junkies

Flipping through some old photo books I came upon this one of Donna on the beach in Wildwood from Summer '98. I immediately snapped a pic and texted it to Ashlee. Then, just for funsies, I went to Amazon and ordered a copy of Her Secret Guardian for me. Donna loved those paperback romance novels and reading this book makes me wish she were here so we could gab about it. I would begin by asking who the fug thought that Kailey was a believable name for a female character in a book set in 1174 England?!? But it's a fun little read and has me Lol-ing from time to time. And thinking of how much I miss my cousin and gal pal.

FaceTiming with Lucy

Look at her pudgy lil' cheeks and that perfect nose and her sweet eyebrows!!! She's so adorable I can't stand it.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

Tucked away...

(photo kidnapped from jhamil_bader's IG account!)

They're back!!

One Autumn I went to hang out with Ashlee at Aunt Connie's where she was watching Gracie the pup and helpin' out Uncle Barry from time to time. We discovered Connie's bag of Halloween Oreo's hidden in the microwave and like the fat asses we are, ate the whole effing bag.

The other night I was at Weg's and came upon this beautiful display and instantly I heard (in my lunatic brain) Andy Williams singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." I absolutely adore the Halloween Oreo's. I snapped this pic and immediately texted it to Ashlee who replied with at least a dozen heart-eyed emojis, since they haven't created one with drool running down its chin. 

Oh, and FYI, I resisted the urge to buy some since I already picked up a Newman's Ginger O's. Those have better ingredients and I can stop after two cookies. 

Better Late Than Never

Henry Winkler, Bill Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, and George Foreman. What could possibly be better? Mum showed me the first ep (sadly there are only four) and man oh man did we crack up laughing. I always liked Henry Winkler, but after seeing him turn to the fan at the Tokyo train station that recognised him from The Waterboy I have a newfound adoration of him. He asked the guy if he wanted to take a selfie together. Henry Winkler said selfie! Oh it was a whole new level of cuteness. This was such a great idea for a show and these four fellas are funny and sweet and have a great sense of fun and adventure. Can't wait to see the next three eps!

Meadowbrook Farm

Yesterday afternoon Anne and I went to Meadowbrook Farms and sadly, these pics don't do the place justice. The day was sunny and bright, definitely a Lou Reed sort of day and Anne and I both fell in love with the place. So often when we visit places like Chanticleer or Bartram's Gardens the homes are a little too stuffy and presentational (hey - i created a new word), but the Meadowbrook house and gardens were inviting and homey and real. (More pics on the house in a few days!) We both plan on going back in the Springtime to see it all over again.

Cutie Pies 1 and 2!

Emily texted me some recent pics of her two lil' ones and I am ga-ga over Ana in glasses!!! I have such a weak spot for kids in glasses and this sweetie blows all the others away. Then there's Adam with his great big gorgeous eyes and lashes to die for. Oh they are just beyond adorable....

Star's Mini Travel Library

Soon I hope to add ten more books to this wee lil' collection: This Is Portland, Walking Portland, Brooklyn, Queens, Chicago, San Francisco, Secret San Francisco, Lonely Planet Scotland, and Snapshot Edinburgh. I think after I see Scotland (at least twice) that I'm gonna try to explore the US. Of course I could fall head over heels in Edinburgh and keep going back for more...unless you-know-who gets elected. God almighty, I hope not. I'd NEVER be able to show my face in Europe again.

ps - the best books in this stack are definitely The 500 Hidden Secrets of Antwerp, Secret Dublin, A Guide to the Great Gardens of the Philadelphia Region and Walking Baltimore.
pps - Edinburgh is already on its way to me!

The Marshes of Jville

Miss Ashlee snapped this groovy pic down the street from her house and sweet gal that she is, shared it with me. Not on Instagram with everyone else. Just for me. My girl is far away, but still thinking about her wanna-be foster Mama! I love that it's all grainy and cock-eyed and we both love the reflection of the trees in the marsh.

Typewriter Daydream

Man, oh man, how much fun would it be to own a classic beaut like this one? I saw it the window of a shop in Cwood and oh how I so wish it were mine...

Richard Dawkins

I like this quote. I'm not against religion, since I can recognise the good it brings to people's lives, but I don't like when people blindly follow The Word. Everything should be questioned. It means you're interested and you care. When you sit back and follow along for no reason, you aren't really taking part in anything.

St. Francis? 'dat you?

Nah, it's just Rev. Charles Thomas Underwood. He sure reminded me of St. Francis. I loved walking past him on my way down Via Pasitea to Casa Giovanna. Oh how I long to go back...

Fifteen

Proust Questionnaire for Papa

Going through drawers and old shoeboxes I came across the back page of a Vanity Fair mag from December 1998. It was Tony Bennett answering the Proust questionnaire. Next to his responses I scribbled in my father's answers from March 23rd 2001. Here they be for you:

What is your favorite occupation? Baseball
What or who is the greatest love of your life? Rose
When and where were you happiest? Williamsburg 1999
What is your greatest regret? Not studying harder.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being with Rose at the Library II.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? Jefferson
Which living person do you most admire? Mandela
What is your greatest extravagance? Smoking
What is your favorite journey? Work
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Chastity
Which living person do you most despise? Sadaam Hussein
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Hello, how are ya?
What is your current state of mind? Irritated with my daughter.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'm perfect, how could I figure this out? Indecision.
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? Smarter
Where would you like to live? Where I am.
What is your most marked characteristic?
What do you value most in your friends? Honesty
Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Flash Gordon
What are your favorite names? Iris and Paul
What is it you most dislike? Stealing
How would you like to die? Quickly
If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? A prophet
What is your motto? Always faithful.

Sid

I've always had a soft spot for Sid Vicious and I think this is my new mantra. I need to be more focused on being my true self and let go of my concern for what other people think of me.

Squirrels and Hairy Legs