Boys Don’t Lie, A History of Shoes

As a girl who became a teenager in the 1980′s, I can remember when this amazing thing came onto cable television. It was called MTV and they played music videos. (I know – can you believe?)

It is through this new medium that I discovered the wonder that is Shoes, a band of four boys from Zion, IL, who put out the catchiest music. The four videos that were featured on MTV came from their album Present Tense. As I was about 11 when I first saw them, I had no way of going out and buying records so my love for them was only through the songs I’d seen.

At 16, as a working class stiff, licensed driver and car owner, I had the funds and ability to buy records. I discovered the Present Tense LP at a used record shop. I took it home and played it. I loved the whole thing. Even though I have hundreds of records, this was the one LP that saw continual record player play until the early 2000′s, when I discovered the band’s website – Blackvinylrecords.com. I ended up buying all the available music they had. I loved it all.

Fast forward to present day. The band is working on a new release – Ignition. A book is in the works as well, written by Mary E. Donnelly called Boys Don’t Lie, A History of Shoes. She appeared on the WHRW show The Signal with Chris Kocher to talk about it. If you have a couple of hours to hang out and listen, it’s a great, informative show. 

http://www.whrwfm.org/archive/player/19543/

And she wins, big.

So, I’ve been reading Jenny Lawson’s blog, The Bloggess, for years now. Learning that she was writing a book was cool – a whole book filled with stuff like her blog? Yes, please, sign me up. I lived vicariously through the editing, through the picking out of cover artwork, through the tales of time spent recording the audio book.

Then the countdown was on for publication of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. Finally we could preorder the book. I did, and paid for mine (indirectly) with Christmas Lights. (Best method of payment, ever, imho.) I requested a signed Hamlet von Schnitzel bookplate. Then I saw all the bookplates Jenny had to sign and I felt really guilty for requesting it. There were book trailers, and people being held at knifepoint, claiming to be Jenny Lawson. Honestly, a fun time was had by all.

At last, April 17th was here and I was at Barnes and Noble at opening so that I could be the first to buy the book. (But first, I had to give it a better location as well as multiple facings on the New Fiction table.) Oh, and yes, I know I preordered it but I was going to send a copy to my big kid who lives in Chicago. I had other erranding to do so stopped at a Books-a-Million and reset their New Fiction display as well.

Finally I was home and I could read the book. I am all about a book that causes me to laugh out loud. This book did that and more. Oh my goodness. There were bits that had me crying as well but you know what? Rollercoasters are fun and sometimes you just have to get on, strap in and throw your hands in the air. (Oh, change a couple of prepositions around and I could be talking about a whole different kinda book…) Finished it the next morning and was happy to see via Twitter that Jenny’s book tour in progress was a success.

It’s a week later. In addition to the two copies I bought, I also bought the audiobook version. I’m all about the outtakes and the bonus chapter. Balls. Oh, and VAGINA! Excellent. I plan on loading the book onto my iPod so that I can listen to it on plane trips and car rides. I hope I’m sitting next to people who don’t mind maniacal laughter from their seatmates.

I’m happy to say that I helped in a tiny way to get Jenny to a coveted place for writers – The New York Times Best Sellers List. Look at whose first book debuted at Number 1 -

Victor will never ever be allowed to forget this. Perhaps we could hire someone to walk into rooms before The Bloggess and announce “New York Times Best Selling Author, Jenny Lawson.” (Oh, and it’s jEnny, not jInny. Don’t forget.)

P.S. Note to self – do not listen to the HR chapter of this book while driving with the windows down. People tend to look at you funny if they think you’re asking about their penis.

Funkalicious Modern Patio Chairs

Found these chairs today at my favorite local thrift -

They’re a pair of Ames Aire Chairs, circa 1967. When you try to google these on a smart phone, and you’re not sure what the label says, it tries to auto correct to Eames Era Chairs, which is different, yet the same as these are technically Eames Era Ames Aire Chairs. La la la.

Chair on the right probably had a table that attached to the side bar. The guy at the store kept insisting it was broken. I stopped trying to tell him he was wrong when he told me he was going to give me a discount for the broken-ness of it.

“Petal-satin vinyl cord that sculpts to every body pressure…” makes these chairs super comfy. I’m sure sitting in them in shorts will leave some awesome marks on the backs of ones legs, though.

Mike Nesmith on the passing of Davy Jones

Mike posted the following on his facebook page within an hour of the news that Davy Jones had died at 66. What an eloquent dude.

“All the lovely people. Where do they all come from?

So many lovely and heartfelt messages of condolence and sympathy, I don’t know what to say, except my sincere thank you to all. I share and appreciate your feelings. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. While it is jarring, and sometimes seems unjust, or strange, this transition we call dying and death is a constant in the mortal experience that we know almost nothing about. I am of the mind that it is a transition and I carry with me a certainty of the continuity of existence. While I don’t exactly know what happens in these times, there is an ongoing sense of life that reaches in my mind out far beyond the near horizons of mortality and into the reaches of infinity.

That David has stepped beyond my view causes me the sadness that it does many of you. I will miss him, but I won’t abandon him to mortality. I will think of him as existing within the animating life that insures existence. I will think of him and his family with that gentle regard in spite of all the contrary appearances on the mortal plane.

David’s spirit and soul live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many, including us.

I have fond memories. I wish him safe travels.”

Riley on Marketing and Food

My local ABC station showed a YouTube video at Christmas that featured a little girl named Riley talking about how toys were marketed to children. She was not happy that girls only had pink stuff to pick from. Truly, a child wise beyond her years as she seems to understand the idea of gender stereotyping as a 4 year old.

Liked the video so much that I looked at other videos her parents had posted and found what is probably the best discussion of food I have ever heard. I know it’s long but the first 2:05 are the best, at least for me. Her facial expressions, hand movements and her pronunciation of various foods is yummalicious. It also explains why she’s holding a Fred from Scooby Doo doll in the marketing video.

“That’s the only thing they have on the menu for me, the only thing.”

Gahhhhh, now they’ve made a remixed version of Riley on Marketing. I’m putting this song on my iPod.

Rick Santorum has taken away my innocence.

At first, Rick Santorum was just a  man who no one had ever heard of.

Then Jon Stewart and the Daily Show gave us all the meaning behind the name.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-may-9-2011/5-9-11-in–60-seconds

Ummmm, ewwwwwwwww. I’m with Keira Knightley on this one. Frothy?

Well everyone, according to Twitter, it has gotten worse. I logged in today to see these trending topics:

Did you see that? It’s all been answered -

Casey Anthony is The Devil Inside Rick Santorum. She must be the reason for the frothiness…

Vintage Midriff Baring Halter Trimmed in White Eyelet Ruffles

I love this top that I just listed on Etsy. Makes me think of Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island. Vintage midriff baring top with white eyelet ruffles. So 1960′s beach party.

Creamsicle Paper Ball Earrings

These are my latest offerings to the Beaded and Buttoned shop on Etsy – one of a kind paper ball earrings in Orange Sherbet.

Blondie – Dreaming

Saw Blondie last week – September 20th at the Fillmore Silver Spring. The band put on a great show and Debbie Harry looked and sounded amazing. She’s 66 and is lovely. Here’s to her fabulous voice and her fierce bone structure. This song was second on the Setlist and is my favorite – Dreaming.

When I met you in the restaurant
You could tell I was no debutante
You asked me what’s my pleasure
A movie or a measure?
I’ll have a cup of tea and tell you of my dreaming
Dreaming is free
Dreaming
Dreaming is free

I don’t want to live on charity
Pleasure’s real or is it fantasy?
Reel to reel is living rarity
People stop and stare at me
We just walk on by
We just keep on dreaming

Feet feet, walking a two mile
Meet meet, meet me at the turnstile
I never met him, I’ll never forget him
Dream dream, even for a little while
Dream dream, filling up an idle hour
Fade away, radiate

I sit by and watch the river flow
I sit by and watch the traffic go
Imagine something of your very own
Something you can have and hold
I’d build a road in gold just to have some dreaming
Dreaming is free
Dreaming
Dreaming is free
Dreaming
Dreaming is free
Dreaming is free

Eye Heart Stitchery – I Love Rain Clouds

The latest design from my Eye Heart Stitchery line – I Love Rain Clouds

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78081424/eye-heart-stitchery-i-love-rain-clouds