Damn Good Vintage

It is a situation.

2012-01-26T14:24:00.000-04:00

The Benedict Situation.

Yes, I have a Cumbernest.

“But nearly every woman I know has a roughly similar story - in fact, dozens of them: stories about being obsessed with a celebrity, work colleague or someone they vaguely knew for years; living in a parallel world in their head; conjuring up endless plots and scenarios for this thing that never actually happened.”

—	Caitlin Moran, How to Be a Woman *Two Very* Smart Women.**

A Modern Vintage Christmas

2011-12-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

Creepy Christmas

2011-12-22T15:17:00.000-04:00

Well it is not really all about Christmas.
First though is the need to just post this picture that Ang over at Dorthea's Closet found.

Really, do I need to say anything?

Then there is this gloriously creepy, but beautiful rosary from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. via ArtFire.

Each bead of the rosary represents the bust of a well-fed burgher or maiden on one side, and a skeleton on the other. The terminals, even more graphically, show the head of a deceased man, with half the image eaten away from decay.

I think there should be a swell in reproductions of items like this.
Need.
Now.

On a Passing

2011-12-16T02:00:00.003-04:00

Christopher Hitchens died today, December 15.
(And Rush Limbaugh is still alive.)
I admired him as a writer, as a man who lived life his own way, called people on their BS and lived as an unapologetic atheist.
Having suffered so at the end I hope that he is, at this moment talking to Death (either Death who rides Binky or Death, Dream's goth sister) being given some choices. Maybe to the never ending circle of reincarnation or to move on to another existence plane (Maybe the Inn at the End of the World in the soft places or whatever "heaven" one may imagine) or to just stop being.
That's what I'd like to find past the veil.

In this, the last article of his that I read on Slate Hitchens is ruminating as he does on Remembrance Day of Kipling and war and what we loose or taken.

I'll just point out again Rush Limbaugh is still alive. Both Frank and Peggy are dead and Rush goes on. Now Hitch has passed and yeah, for whatever reason fate or the universe has allowed Limbaugh live another day.

EDIT: I should also mention that he could be quite a dick and was totally wrong about the war.

Cyber Monday Discount

2011-11-28T13:49:00.000-04:00

Better late then never......Cyber Monday 15% discount at Damn Good Vintage on Etsy.

Please use CYBERMONDAY coupon code.

A Vintage 50's Christmas: Tablecloths

2011-11-26T15:36:00.001-04:00

I pulled the tablecloths out today.
Normally I use this as a curtain in the kitchen.

This is my Christmas Tree Skirt/ under the tree cat bed.

This on is my favorite.
Love the stylized trees and the color combination.

As Advertised

2011-11-11T16:23:00.001-04:00

Sometimes things actually work the way they are designed too.
I have dogs.
Large stinky dogs with skin issues that live in my house and even with all the washing and medication and vacuuming the house still smells like dogs live here.
The litter box goes unnoticed.
What does help are those Glade Plug-Ins.
(Yankee Candle ones are good too, but pricey and Air Wicks are just disgusting.)
BUT and this is a big but, my husband and son are picky about the smells I use because said smells irritate their noses and/or give them headaches. I actually would not care a jot if it was not for the incessant whining from the two of them.
Candles are OK, but they don't get the job done and I am always afraid one of the evil cats will knock them over in a bid for freedom to escape their fur less monkey oppressors.
So I am always on the look out for fragrances I like and that my family will keep their pie holes shut about. The problem is I don't like florals much or vanilla or "clean linen" which normally leaves me with apple cinnamon.
Boring.
I like a citrus herb smell or something with peppermint in it.
Normally those are very hard to find at my local Wal-Mart and sell out really fast on-line.
Now because it is almost the holidays I decided to see what was going on in fragrances for Christmas.
Oh peppermint and some kind of tree stuff that will make my worn out fake tree smell "real".
HAHAHAHAHA.
Sold out.
(we have now reached the point of this post.)
EXCEPT on the Home Depot (of all places) website where you can pay via paypal and then go pick up at your local store which avoids shipping charges. I have tried other stores "buy online pick up at store" ventures and they normally are rubbish.
This time it worked.
I walked into Home Depot, went to the service desk gave them a print-out of my email and in 5 mins (it would have been less if not for the annoying humans in front of me) I was out of the store and on my way home.
Happy.
I even noticed what a lovely day it was. NPR was playing a bit of music from LOTR, the leaves were falling from the trees as I drove underneath and it was almost, dare I say, fucking magical.

(BTW, I also noted that they have a couple of really lovely pre-lighted fake trees from Martha Stewart and very retro wrapping paper and a great collection of aqua ornaments.)

Stop Seeing Yourself as a List of Problems....

2011-11-06T17:51:00.000-04:00

I fucking love Caitlin Moran.
Why?
Just watch this bit from the Edinburgh Book Festival 2011.

I'm a feminist and I'm quite annoyed how the word feminist has been fucked with by the work of conservative twits.
Here's the deal, if you have a habit of making statements like this, "I'm a feminist, but..." then you are really not a feminist you just enjoy the benefits of the things feminists fought for and still fight for to this day like, I don't know, being able to buy birth control as an adult without your husband or parents permission.
The comment is like working against access to abortion, but then being relived that that option is available for yourself or your daughter or your girlfriend.

It is too bad that we can't get her new book here in the US until NEXT YEAR and there are too many great quotes to choose from, but I'll leave you with my favorite:

"If you think that some sexism might be happening the question you have to ask yourself is are the boys doing it? Are the men having to deal with this kid of bullshit?"

Men's Wear

2011-11-04T15:59:00.001-04:00

Hello, Tailor (one of my new favorite blogs) has an interesting post on the costuming in Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy (opening in the US in December) and how, when done properly, costuming is not just about getting the look of a specific period right, but also the effect proper costume design has on characterization. I'll not delve into his points, I'll just use this as an excuse to post a few pictures of the lovely Benedict Cumberbatch in his snazzy flare trouser suits.

Jonathan has another informative post up on Kickshaw Productions, this time about the Zoot Suit. I had no idea it became unpatriotic to wear them during WW2.

And for the Hobbit fans out there there is a new production video from Peter Jackson on You Tube. I mention it not just because it made me squee, but there is a short bit with the costume designer discussing how the filming at 46 (?) frames per minute effected the types of fabrics she has chosen to use.

Vintage on the Runway, Dita in Howard Greer

2011-10-15T12:24:00.000-04:00

Dita Von Teese in what looks to be a vintage 1940's Howard Greer gown...or a good copy.

Howard Greer gown from the archives of Dorothea's Closet Vintage.

From the VFG website:

"Greer opened Greer, Inc. in Los Angeles late in 1928 with a legendary star-packed opening. He was the first major costume designer to take the leap of establishing his own couture house. He started with custom design, then added ready to wear alongside it by 1947. After that his clothing was sold around the country and he was in the top tier of American ready-to-wear designers . Greer specialized in cocktail and dinner dresses that he specifically designed to look good seated at a table with stunning necklines.....In many ways, he remained true to his training as a costume designer. He didn’t follow the padded shoulder line of the 1940s, and liked to work with black combined with a range of pinks for contrast."

Photo Post: The last of The Summer

2011-10-14T13:38:00.001-04:00

I know it is October, but here in Central Arkansas the summer is still hanging on by it's fingernails.
Just a few more days of 80's and then it looks like real fall might be around the corner.
I brought in the last of the Zinnias the other day and took a few pictures.

Also. TOMATO PIE. I got a hand full of green tomatoes from my mom about 3 weeks ago and just left them on the shelf and a last week they began to turn. Ate one last night, yummy as can be so I cut the rest up and made a tomato pie.
It is, as always, delish.

Vintage Lilli Ann Coat on Dita?

2011-10-13T14:13:00.000-04:00

GASP!

Is it vintage? Not sure, but if it is I would not be surprised if it is a Lilli Ann coat.
Very dramatic.
Here's a few scans I have from early 50's Vogues.

Via Tom and Lorenzo.

Photo Post: Evil Cat is Hungry

2011-10-09T13:15:00.001-04:00

Evil Cat pondering who (whom?) to eat first.

We ran out of cat food yesterday.
Luckily we got to the shop this morning before she decided the dogs would do.

For Those Who Love To Read

2011-09-24T14:52:00.000-04:00

*

Since June I have purchased 13 books from Amazon for my Kindle.
Now I love to read.
And I love books.
I really love my Kindle.
I hate holding a book and I have an inability to get books back in time.
I lose books and my dogs have been known to find library books very yummy.
And I love libraries.

Today I found out that my local library now has the ability to lend books via Kindle due to a deal between Overdrive and Amazon.

Yippee!

My reading lists are heavily British and obscure, but there will be no more late or lost books fines and I will save some money on purchases.
Of course this all depends on what format my library has a specific book available in. From comparing what I bought in the last few months to what is available there are 4 books I purchased that could have been just borrowed. Plus there are a few I was not really sure if I wanted to read or not (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) that now I can borrow happily.

I still have to go to the library and pay my $50 fine (I know....DON'T JUDGE ME) which I would have paid in May if they had a CC machine and took debit cards.
I mean really, who carries cash anymore?

*That is a Bryant and May mystery by Christopher Fowler. If you like mysteries and have a thing for London these are the best.

Mushroom Interlude

2011-09-19T12:51:00.000-04:00

It has been pretty wet in the last week (finally) and mushrooms have begun sprouting from some potting soil.

Photos: Vintage Finds

2011-09-17T14:12:00.000-04:00

We went on a short trip this week to visit my parents and in between great meals my mother and I did a bit of shopping.
I got a few new vintage 50's tumblers, some fun vintage hankies for wiping my brow and a Homer Laughlin serving bowl in a great starburst pattern I like.

This is Not Sad...

2011-09-08T14:35:00.001-04:00

There is way too much fucking "weigh you down" sadness this week.
Fires in Texas and all the 9/11 stuff.
I made the mistake of turning on NPR earlier. Christ, one depressing angst fest after another. Tragedy porn at it's finest.
Enough to make this depressed, broke and hormonal woman want to end it all with a butter knife.
To make us all feel better I give you a picture of Angus the Stray Who Lives Under My House Because He Sprays. That planter never got filled this year with flowers and what not because he decided it made a very fine cat bed. I have gone outside and found him sleeping in it on his back with just his kitty paws trust in the air.
Oh yes.
It is too laugh.

Last of the Summer Photographs

2011-09-07T13:49:00.000-04:00

The other night we got the golden glow that shows up some nights right before the sun goes down.
I ran outside and saw this:

Nice.
It was better in person.
Also snapped a few pictures of the last blooms on my crepe myrtle which has been in bloom since late June.

Balenciaga

2011-09-06T14:19:00.000-04:00

Vintage Balenciage Suit, 1951

First Lady Vintage

2011-09-04T16:09:00.000-04:00

I thought that looked like a vintage dress.
Mrs. Obama is on the cover of next month's Essence Magazine wearing a lovely vintage 50's dress from New York Vintage.
She makes it look totally modern.
Via Mrs. O.

Amelia's Fashions

2011-09-01T15:33:00.000-04:00

Interesting article on Huffington Post about Amelia Earhart's Fashion Line.
Nice bit of vintage fashion history.

The above is a 30's pattern available at Vintage Fashion Library.

Via ArtFire Vintage on Twitter.

To Bed....

2011-08-31T21:38:00.001-04:00

For the Sherlock fans out there, they have finished shooting the second season which will run in 2012 here in the US on PBS. If you have not watched season one yet, I think it is one Netflix streaming.

Vintage London

2011-08-31T16:01:00.000-04:00

Wonderful film of very early 1950's London via author Christopher Fowler's blog.

Still Hard

2011-08-26T15:00:00.001-04:00

I've had so many pets die (mostly because I've had so many) over the past 10 years, but it is still heartbreaking when it happens.

A friend had to put a lovely kitty to sleep yesterday (?) which reminded me that I had not posted that Alley Cat died about a month ago. Old age, over 100 degree weather and a ninja like ability to slip outside and disappear for days on end did her in.

Sweet kitty.

I'll miss her.

Change in the Light

2011-08-26T12:46:00.000-04:00

There is a lovely phenomenon that happens in the summer when the air changes overnight from heavy and overbearing to, well, normal. When that happens breathing becomes less of a chore, the contrast between shade and light is more pronounced, colors richer.

That happened today.

It was still cool enough when I woke at 10 am (stop judging people) to catch a few morning glories still open.

I love the way the light illuminates the back of this flower.

Angus in his jungle getting his chow on.

A cup of tea and I already feel less bitter.

post

2011-08-25T15:47:00.003-04:00

Argument

2011-08-25T14:40:00.000-04:00

I keep having this argument with my husband about women.

He is disappointed that once women go into management most of them act just like the male soul crushers at work.

He uses the C word...a lot....I do too, but that is besides the point.

His argument is that after all the trouble getting equal rights and feminism and all that that women have gone though to get where we, are we should be better people.

At least as management.

My argument is that it would be nice if that happened, but women are human beings and there are just as many douchey women* as men and in the end the women's rights movement is about women having the right to be an ass* as much as a man.

One of my favorite writers, Caitlin Moran summed my point up in her book How To Be a Woman:

“The purpose of feminism isn’t to make a particular type of woman. The idea that there are inherently wrong and inherently right ‘types’ of women is what’s screwed feminism for so long – this belief that ‘we’ wouldn’t accept slaggy birds, dim birds, birds that bitch, birds that hire cleaners, birds that stay at home with their kids, birds that have pink Mini Metros with ‘Powered By Fairy Dust!’ bumper stickers, birds in burkas, or birds that like to pretend, in their heads, that they’re married to Zach Braff from Scrubs, and that you sometimes have sex in an ambulance while the rest of the cast watch and, latterly, clap. You know what? Feminism will have all of you.
What is feminism? Simply the belief that women should be as free as men, however nuts, dim, deluded, badly dressed, fat, receding, lazy and smug they might be.

*see Palin and/or Bachmen

*recent studies have shown that assholes actual make more money then nice people so that is probably why we all tend to end up working for such cunts (used in the more British way to signify male and/or female ass) in the end.

I Would Sell My Son For This

2011-08-24T16:04:00.003-04:00

Or even my right boob.

Anyway, it has a habit of getting in the way.

Kuma Komet Television.....

Via @retroruth (No Pattern Required) on Twitter.

Also.

I am old.

How old you may ask.

So old that when the news (which also leads to the question of why would this story be on the news) "The Smiths" I think of this:

Not Will and Jada Smith.

Seriously, I just don't care.

New Links

2011-07-22T16:11:00.002-04:00

I added a couple of links to the roll.

* Skeptical Science, it will help you deal with the conservatives in your family who do not think there is such a thing as Global Warming and if we pray enough Jesus will save us from it anyway. It is listed under the heading; Truth in Politics or How to Deal with the TeaBaggers in your Life.

* Christopher Fowler, an English author who writes the cracking good Bryant and May mystery novels. For Anglophiles his blog is a great mix of London past and present with other odd bits and pieces thrown in.

*John Finnemore, the comedy genius who writes my favorite BBC radio show "Cabin Pressure", has a nice little blog. I like him so I read it. The last few posts have included pictures of his notebooks for each show which is really a gift to budding writers to actually see how his creative process on paper works. Plus he is a really funny man.

That's it.

I think I will leave you with Craig T. Nelson being a douchebag on Glenn Beck.

"Spoilers"

2011-07-20T12:10:00.004-04:00

Now that I've thought about it all morning, had my tea and started eating one of the banana and choc chip muffins I had to make last night because the 'nanna was going bad (which had presented me with the dilemma of making muffins or trashing said banana muffins of course....DON't JUDGE ME) I feel sufficiently fortified to discuss today's Sherlock fandom outrage.

Surprise, it has nothing to do with which is the ~~hotter~~ better Sherlock Holmes (sorry RDJ) but specifically with Spoilers.

Playing the "Luke I am your Father"/"Rosebud was his SLED" game on internet message boards in response to a "OMG! You just spoiled the ending of LOST for me!!!!!" when the show has been off the air and discussed ad nauseum can be fun.

But yeah, spoilers suck, even when a book is over 100 years old and you know that while for all intents and purposes Sherlock Holmes was dead at the end of Reichenbach Falls (that is what Conan Doyle wanted) he ended up not being completely dead and was cleverly (of course) resurrected in The Empty House.

Why do they suck?*

Because you are watching Sherlock for a wholly new and creative interpretation of the canon, well that and because Cumberbatch makes you all wobbly inside, but still, it is about doing something new and different with very well known material.

I know something bad might happen at the end of Season 2, but I don't want to know what and how it will happen.

This angst all came about because of filming in London and digital cameras and the internet and it seems a couple of "newspapers" (I think I might be using the term loosely) may have written published pictures and/or written what they think is the ending to the last episode of the next season.

Hell, Benedict Cumberbatch himself let go a juicy spoiler (and in his last interview Le Carre did say he approved all changes that have been made in the movie) about his character in Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, Peter Guillan, in a recent interview. A spoiler that is a departure from the novel.

And yeah, I was a bit annoyed....not because "there is anything wrong with that" but because it does change the character, plus it won't be a new twist when I see the movie.

AND it did effect my second read though of the novel.

Which was perfect as I had just dickishly said on Twitter "can you be spoiled if a book has been out 40 years or so?"

Well fuck you Julie, yes you can.

*I already know I will get spoiled because while those bastards in the UK will see Sherlock in 2012, I will have to ~~illegaly~~ legally view it somewhere on the ~~intertubes~~ PBS in 2013 and....nevermind. Though I do still think that whining you found out that Snape killed Dumbldore before the movie came out but years after the book makes you a prat. Especially if you spend time on the intertubes. I do promise not to tell how Bella has Edward's baby because ( A) It is redonkulous and disgusting and (B) BECAUSE TWILIGHT SUCKS PEOPLE.....WHY ARE YOU WATCHING THOSE MOVIES?

Coat Love

2011-06-30T18:28:00.003-04:00

I love this coat.

If I owned this vintage coat I would move someplace very chilly so I could wear it everyday.

Coat via OldRags on Tumbler.

Folded

2011-06-27T12:26:00.002-04:00

Evening dress by Charles James, 1950 United States (NYC), MFA Boston

I saw this glorious gown on Tumbler this morning. It made me think of all the designers out there in the last few years with their folding and poofing of evening gowns and how in the end none of them could manipulate fabric the way Charles James could.

Lists

2011-06-24T20:55:00.005-04:00

So there are lists that people want you to make.

Normally I won't, but I will do two for you.

The first is what's the most played songs on your iPod. Well I don't have an iPod, but I do have a iTouch and these are the top 20:

1 Songbird (Fleetwood Mac)
2 Hymn to Love (Cyndi Lauper)
3 One and Only (Adele)
4 You Belong to Me (Jason Wade)
5 The Cave (Mumford & Sons)
6 Carved in Stone (The Subdudes)
7 Love of My Life (Queen)
8 Bad Romance (Gaga)
9 Mr. Blue Sky (ELO)
10 The Way You Look Tonight (Sinatra)
11 Not Ready to Make Nice (Dixie Chicks)
12 Me and Mr. Jones (Amy Winehouse)
13 You Know I’m No Good (Amy Winehouse)
14 When I Fall In Love (Nat King Cole)
15 Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen)
16 Rainy Night in Soho (Pouges)
17 Viva Gloria (Greenday)
18 Sigh No More (Mumford and Sons)
19 Elenore (Turtles)
20 The Irish Rover (Pogues)

The other list is inspired by Pajiba's yearly Top 10 Celebrates we want to shag in which we post our top 5 freebies list. Here is mine.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch

2. Idris Elba

3. Alexander Skarsgard

4. Timothy Olyphant

5. Robert Downey Jr.

I guess this was just an excuse to post picture of pretty manly men.

Blast From The Past

2011-06-16T13:24:00.003-04:00

Vintage Playboy Bunny Manual has been scanned and added to the intertubes.

It's a bit of a hoot.

And yeah, sexist.

Via Jezebel.

Cocktails and Culture

2011-06-12T14:29:00.004-04:00

North Star Vintage just sent out a Tweet:

An exhibit about two of my favorite things - vintage and cocktails!

I agree. What a fabulous combination for an exhibit:

As you enter Cocktail Culture, an intoxicating exhibit of apparel, accoutrement and ephemera at the Rhode Island School of Design's Museum of Art, it's hard not to think of Billy Strayhorn's lyrics in his jazz standard "Lush Life":....
The exhibit feels like an elegant and witty party that can be followed over six decades, from 1920 to 1980. You can almost hear the chatter. Think of it this way, say Kate Irvin and Laurie Brewer, both curators with the museum's Costumes and Textile Department. Cocktails — the word might be from the docked tail of a certain kind of show horse — are about mixing. Which, during Prohibition, was necessary to cover up the awful taste of bathtub gin......
Cocktail Culture: Ritual and Invention in American Fashion, 1920–1980 will be on display at the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, R.I., until July 31.

How can this not be wonderful?

Wish it was a travelling exhibit....

As always my favorite scenes mixing wonderful vintage and liquor come from The Thin Man movies:

My Wild Jungle Cat

2011-05-29T20:53:00.002-04:00

Opinions Are Like Assholes

2011-05-27T22:14:00.004-04:00

because every fucker has one.

The most cringe worthy quote from this review of Bridesmaids?

This one:

About the only things all the bridesmaids have in common is that they talk like truck drivers and have low moral tones.
I like the old fashioned idea of looking up to women. They are our mothers and the mothers of our children. In almost every society they are placed on a pedestal. The idea here is to take away from women this respect they are due as mothers, and to view them as just no different from some bum in a bar. No need for a man to treat them special, like a lady, because that idea is passé.

I would respond but then I would be painted as "no lady" with low morals who talks like a truck driver & does not deserve to be treated special by all the manly men in my life.

So yeah, I'll be a good little woman who keeps her mouth shut so I can be put on a pedestal because I am a fucking mother.

Sheesh....

How Much Do I love Stephen Fry?

2011-05-27T22:04:00.002-04:00

So much:

On Language

(So, to the pedants I say)

But above all let there be pleasure. Let there be textural delight, let there be silken words and flinty words and sodden speeches and soaking speeches and crackling utterance and utterance that quivers and wobbles like rennet.

Let there be rapid firecracker phrases and language that oozes like a lake of lava.

Words are your birthright. Unlike music, painting, dance and raffia work, you don’t have to be taught any part of language or buy any equipment to use it, all the power of it was in you from the moment the head of daddy’s little wiggler fused with the wall of mummy’s little bubble.

So if you’ve got it, use it. Don’t be afraid of it, don’t believe it belongs to anyone else, don’t let anyone bully you into believing that there are rules and secrets of grammar and verbal deployment that you are not privy to. Don’t be humiliated by dinosaurs into thinking yourself inferior because you can’t spell broccoli or moccasins. Just let the words fly from your lips and your pen.

Give them rhythm and depth and height and silliness. Give them filth and form and noble stupidity.

Words are free and all words, light and frothy, firm and sculpted as they may be, bear the history of their passage from lip to lip over thousands of years. How they feel to us now tells us whole stories of our ancestors.

Words to live by....

And Still Alive...

2011-05-25T20:58:00.006-04:00

Really this year has just sucked in so many ways and I've just been unable to work though it for the past few months.

But that does not mean that there are not things to blog about.

Benedict Cumberbatch is adorkable and lovely with either his natural ginger with the epic sideburns or the dark locks of Sherlock Holmes.

I wish I lived in the UK so I could be a proper crazy old lady stalker.

He's in a small independent film, Third Star, that has a limited release in the US and will be in a couple of other "larger" films later in the year and of course Sherlock: Season 2 is filming right now in Wales.

Also Mrs. Obama makes me all kinds of happy:

And while I thought Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows part one was BORING and had NOT ENOUGH SNAPE, I am looking forward to the end and will probably join some friends at the midnight showing next month.

AND I hear that Crazy Sarah Palin has made a movie about...herself!

Still Alive

2011-04-01T18:22:00.002-04:00

I'm here.

Just have not been feeling chatty.

A blue funk indeed.

Here, look at this great picture my brilliant teenager took the other day.

People Die, That's What they Do

2011-02-12T15:33:00.013-04:00

12/25/95
Julie,
Have a wonderful Christmas and always remember me at my best -
surrounded by beauty with my nose planted in the bible. :-)
(yes, seriously he wrote out a smiley face....remember when people used to do that?)

Jesus, look how skinny I am.

People have died.
That's what people do!
That's what Moriarty screamed at Sherlock.
And he's right.

Is there a word for the feeling you get when you Google the name of an old friend because you were too lazy to look for it and wanted to give him a call because you thought "man it has been awhile" only to find out said friend had passed away?
Because that just happened to me. My friend Frank Miranti has been dead since 2009 and I had no idea.
How much do I suck?
I need something cool and hip that describes the drowning sadness I feel at the loss of one of the most extraordinary people I've ever know known most of my life. Not just my adult life, but all my teen years and the whole time I've been a wife and mother. He was THE ONE who became the friend who refused to let me just drift away like I have a habit of doing with people.

I still dream about him, he was the hottest guy I ever kissed (we never dated which was a good thing...even though he did tell me, years later, that the one time I met his dad he told Frank he should marry me or that I was a "Keeper" or something like that....).

Hot, right?

But I lost touch with him in the last few years because I suck as a friend.
What is the name of the feeling you have when realize that you really SHOULD have called him back in April 2009 when he made his yearly birthday call to you.
But you, being the lazy bitch that you are just let it go and figured you would talk to him at Christmas instead. And then when Christmas came and he didn't call you just filed it away in your head until today when you think "you know Frank didn't call me at all last year, I'll see if he is on Facebook (which he would never have been) or Twitter (what a ridiculous idea) and get in touch and apologize for being such a shitty friend...again" but instead you find out that he didn't call because he was dead.
I guess fucking shitty is a good word to cover how I feel right now. Yeah and I'm pretty pissed off at myself too.

I used to think about driving up to see him (it's not that far away from here) but that never happened and I thought there would be time later to be more then the "over the phone" friends we had become.

Frank took me to see The Wall stoned and kissed me in his car after (I was 17) and broke my silly teenage heart. He was there when I graduated from high school, when I came back from Arizona and when I got married, he wrote me tons of letters when he went away to college (I still have them) and made sure I was sure and happy when I got married and ignored how uneducated I was about the world at times and really thought I could be more then I was and he always had advice about my sad pathetic gardens and worried about my spiritual life more then I did over the years.
He was brilliant and funny and so fucking generous and kind and was a better friend then I ever could possibly deserve.

I know...still cute for a middle aged guy.

So better late then never...I loved Frank and I think I'll go get drunk now and take to my bed for a few days in his honor and then start getting the gardens ready for spring.

So here is his obituary that even mentions his old car that he had when I first met him in the early 80's.
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/obits/obit/1369/

And a lovely post from a friend about Frank and his lemon tree and his life.
http://marciemcguire2.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/lemon-tree-very-pretty/

And since Sustainable Farms and Communities, Inc in Columbia Mo. seemed to be an organization important to him you can always donate in his name:
http://farmersmarketpavilion.org/donate/

(Frank would have also looked over this post and marked my grammatical/spelling errors....now all I have is spell check.)

Saturday Baking

2011-02-06T16:52:00.003-04:00

I baked my own hamburger buns yesterday.
Delish.
I guess making buns (really they are good for all types of sandwiches) needs to be added to the weekly baking list.
Got the recipe here.
I cut the sugar to just 2 mostly because the hubby would have bitched about them being too sweet.
I made 10, but I think next time I will divide the dough into 12.

My Betsy Johnson....

2011-02-03T19:23:00.003-04:00

Well, maybe vintage, not sure.
I've had this great Betsy Johnson neck scarf for a few years and I get to wear it once or twice a year. Today was one of those days.
So I wore it on the walk up the drive (SHUT UP!) to get the mail.

Brilliant Idea

2011-01-29T16:48:00.005-04:00

There are a good number of networking sites that allow you to point others to interesting finds, but I don't think any are specifically focused on vintage until now.
Vintage Find It is "is the first independent social bookmarking site specifically for vintage. Shopping for vintage finds can be overwhelming. There are so many sites to look at. Here, you will find the best vintage on the web. Whether you love vintage clothing, home decor, art, you name it. Found by you. Curated by you. Show us your favorite vintage finds."

The site is the brainchild of Sandra at Debutante Clothing.

Brilliant!

http://vintagefindit.com/

The 1920's amazing silk embroidered coat at the top is in the possession of Ang at Dorothea's Vintage, but you can have it for $1200.

My God...Dior

2011-01-24T18:09:00.002-04:00

From Tom and Lorenzo:
John Galliano once again goes back to the archives of the House of Dior for his inspirations, offering beautiful, whimsical, feminine looks that remind you of classic Dior without replicating it outright.

Calling Nora Charles

2011-01-14T13:12:00.001-04:00

Via a link from Mary at Vintage Kitsch & Collectibles.

Winter in the City 1940's....

2011-01-11T14:06:00.002-04:00

Downtown Little Rock in the 40's.....or is it?
Click to see the full photograph.

Nice bit of luck makes for a fun composition.

How to Respond

2011-01-08T22:10:00.002-04:00

On Little Green Footballs some mook posted this about the shooting today:

I believe that people are ultimately responsible for their own actions. If it turns out he is a lefty wacko who thinks she did not go far enough provide health care or some other lefty cause who will you blame then?

In response a most awesome regular poster responded:

People are ultimately responsible for their own actions. However, if it turns out that the shooter was motivated by violent rhetoric from left-wing figures, I will hold THEM accountable for what they said.

See, this is the thing. If the Baader-Meinhof Gang, or the Weathermen, or WTF, come back from the crypt and start spewing hate and blowing shit up, I will not be backing them, because, you see, I am an American liberal, and they are freakazoid assholes, and will be even if I find one or two basic ideas we agree on. If their rhetoric starts to be parroted by Democrats in Washington, I will not vote for those people, and will actively campaign for non-crazy Democrats.

And I certainly won't be caught dead on LGF pretending that the Weathermen are 'really a mix' of extreme right-wing and left-wing ideas, I will just be condemning their asses as radical terrorists. I don't like radical terrorists.

This isn't so hard. No conservative is diminished by the actions of radical wingnuts. It's a fucking radical wingnut! But pretending that there is no problem, that the rhetoric isn't out there, that it isn't bad, and that we don't have a problem, is just plain dumb.

And all I can say is THIS!

Dear Sarah.

2011-01-08T17:15:00.002-04:00

Dear Sarah step up, be an adult and please take a bit of personal responsibility for your part in how crazy things have gotten. It does not matter why. What matters is that what you said could have resulted in a shooting. As a public figure you have a responsibility for the tone of the conversations. In an effort to tone down the rhetoric you might want to apologize for the targets and vow to never use gun/violent language when it comes to political rivals.
Or make maps.
Maps seem to get you in trouble.
There should be no place in our society for that type of talk.

and I'll begin by apologizing for anything I might have said in the past.
Now it is your turn Sarah.

And a Happy New Year (with the Thin Man)...

2010-12-31T15:43:00.002-04:00

Happy New Year....

Enjoy some epic drinking with the Charleses.

Oh Yeah....Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T15:46:00.003-04:00

Time for my yearly "Christmas Nap", but before I lay down, here is the most awesome creepy Christmas poem ever by Neil Gaiman (NICHOLAS WAS) and animated by the folks at Vimeo.
If you enjoy Nightmare Before Christmas, you will enjoy this short video.

39 Degrees North: Christmas Card 2010 from 39 Degrees North on Vimeo.

Christmas Tree

2010-12-24T18:20:00.003-04:00

Oh Ye Of Little Faith

2010-12-22T14:24:00.002-04:00

In light of today's historic nature this is just a reminder for those who were bitching how much Obama sucked and was so weak just a few weeks ago.

Cats in Planters

2010-12-15T18:23:00.003-04:00

I'm sure there is a website that collects pictures of cats curled up in planters somewhere...here are mine.

Baby It is Cold Outside!

2010-12-14T14:47:00.004-04:00

Two great vintage coats listed today!

1940's Black Gabardine swing coat with swanky top stitching.

1950's Brown wool swing coat with velvet inserts.

Adorable

2010-12-14T12:40:00.002-04:00

I got this adorable desk calendar in the mail today...it is too sweet and just right for my desk.
Purchased from Sweetlifepaper on Etsy.

Haven

2010-12-05T23:25:00.003-04:00

I'm sick of all the "Obama is the worst President evah" from all the libs/progressives/whiny ass babies on the internet.
So here's a haven from the crazy:
The Only Adult in the Room

EDIT:
I just wanted to add that yes, not everything Obama has done or is doing or will do makes me happy, BUT I blame the majority of our problems on the Congress he gets to work with. I think instead of bitching about how Obama has failed Progressives and liberals and talking about primarying him in 2012 (and screw you Daily Kos I can't even visit you anymore) the true conversation should be how to get rid of the Blue Dog Democrats in the House and Senate who refuse to support the President's (or the Democratic party's) agenda.

Dear Yankee Candle,

2010-12-03T16:09:00.003-04:00

Seriously?
There is NO FRAKING way it should take you 10-12 days to ship an order from your website. It would have been faster to have a friend go to a Yankee Candle store, buy what I want and ship it to me via priority mail.
And yes, I should have read the shipping info...but who would think it would take 10-12 fraking days to get an item from ya'll.
I would go out of business if it took me that long to ship an item.
Sheesh.

Signed,
a moron who is still going to patiently wait for my order because I really, really want that North Pole Reed Diffuser....it better smell good.

All Will Love and Fear Me....

2010-12-03T14:06:00.003-04:00

Reality sucks.
Thank God for designers like Chinese Couturier Guo Pei who allows us to see inside her overthetop "White Witch-Red Queen-Scheherazade" Chinese fantasy:

Make sure you go to T Lo and checkout the whole set of photographs AND the video. You must watch the video.

So Sick

2010-12-01T15:37:00.002-04:00

Yeah, not feeling well.
Head and chest.
Ugh.

My Kindle 2 just got here.
Pretty.
$89 Black Friday Bitches!

Paula Dean's Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf is just. so. wrong. for you, but it is what heaven probably tastes like.

Cake Tips

2010-11-27T17:24:00.003-04:00

I have been messing around with cake recipes the last 6 months.
My favorite has been the Coconut Cake and an Italian Cream Cake I got from America's Test Kitchen.
Yum, but pains in the ass, so they are not cakes for just everyday.
I tried their newest yellow cake recipe and while it was very good, it was not that much better then a box cake mix. What I did take away from it was the trick of making the cake according to the package (in my case a Duncan Hines Moist French Vanilla) except in regards to the eggs. Here I put in one whole egg and 2 eggs yolks (set the whites to the side) then mix according to package...though I always add a bit more vanilla. After that is done you whip those egg whites into stiff peaks and then just gently fold it into your mix until the white streaks are gone.
You get a fluffier and lighter cake.
So I go for an easy cake in exchange for a homemade butter cream icing.

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened (60-65) cut into chunks
1 cup powdered sugar
3/4 Dutch Processed Cocoa (I use either the Hersey's)
pinch salt
3/4 cup light corn syrup
vanilla
8 ounces chocolate*, melted and cooled a bit*

So I melt the chocolate in a double boiler and set aside.
Put the butter, sugar, coca and salt in processor and pulse till smooth...maybe scarping sides once or twice.
Then add the corn syrup and vanilla, process until just combined
Scrape sides and add melted chocolate (see note*) that is 80-100 degrees
Process until smooth and creamy (10-15 seconds)
Use right away or make ahead and keep in fridge (it will stiffen up and you will need to get it back to room temp.

*So here are the notes about the chocolate.
They used Godiva baking chocolate (milk or semi-sweet) which I have, but today I used half Baker's semi-sweet and half Baker's German Chocolate and I like that mix better.

Enjoy.

20% Discount From Damn Good Vintage

2010-11-26T13:31:00.003-04:00

Hope everyone had a fine Thanksgiving.
I had stove issues so you can guess how mine went....

Anyway, here is a Black Friday/CyberMonday coupon that you can use in my Esty shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/damngoodvintage
Use the coupon code BUYONLINE

I have all my items listed there so nothing will be missed.
IF you are interested in vintage patterns from Sew-Retro just drop me a line and I will send out an invoice for you.

Sexy, What?

2010-11-21T15:48:00.007-04:00

I agree with the two lovely men over at Tom and Lorenzo:

Beautiful men, no doubt, but the only ones who strike us as sexy are Jon Hamm (who SHOULD have been at the top of the list, dammit), Joe Manganiello, and Robert Downey, Jr.

I don't find Ryan Reynolds sexy in the least.
Meh.

RDJ is always at the top of my list.

I will admit that my new guilty please is Benedict Cumberbatch who plays the lead in the BBC's new Sherlock Holmes series Sherlock. Lovely looking man.

And here is special RDJ bonus:

Enjoy!

Dog Funny

2010-11-19T12:23:00.003-04:00

This post from Hyperbole and a Half on moving your dogs cross country is hilarious and spot on.
We live with both a "simple dog" and a "helper dog".....

Found via Balloon Juice.

I'll Take White Again...

2010-11-13T18:05:00.002-04:00

Louis CK on white privilege....(NSFW)

Glee Annoys Me

2010-11-10T13:53:00.006-04:00

So first off, I must say that I liked last nights show and think that the comments from Tom and Lorenzo are worthy of a reprint:

To the straight people reading us: remember high school?
(Yeah guys, I remember high school...it sucked.)

Remember your favorite songs and movies, TV shows and music videos from that period? Imagine if all of that media bombardment telling you what to like, what to wear, and how to be attractive, popular, and cool, imagine that all of that aimed for and addressed everyone else but you? Imagine what it's like when every sappy love song (or angry breakup song), every rom com, every trendy TV show and blockbuster movie, even every video game, imagine if they all depicted a form of romantic love that simply isn't available to you. Imagine going through high school without even so much as a hint of yourself reflected in any of the things you watch and listen to, any of the things that literally every other kid is talking about. Imagine the one thing you want more than anything in the world: to be kissed, please god, just to be kissed, imagine you have never seen that depicted anywhere or referred to in any way but as something to be mocked and shunned.

We grew unexpectedly teary-eyed watching this number. Not because sappy teenage pop songs get us worked up, but because the sight of a sappy teenage pop song being sung by one cute teenage boy to another cute teenage boy is still, sad to say, an extreme rarity. All we could think while watching this number was, "My god. What would it have been like to see this at 14?" To have the media offer up a romantic fantasy that actually reflected what we secretly yearned for......

Teenagers see thousands of murders depicted onscreen by the time they reach 18 but most of them never see a boy kiss another boy or sing him a sweet love song. You want to prevent gay kids from killing themselves? Push for more scenes like the above. Giving a young gay boy the dream that someday Prince Charming will come and sing a love song to him? You cannot imagine. You simply cannot imagine how revolutionary such a thing is.

We're sorry, folks. We know other things happened this episode and other songs were sung. We know you're expecting a recap of those moments, but for us, and we pray to God for thousands of gay kids out there too, there was only one moment in last night's show and it left us a little breathless and on the verge of tears. We're afraid the rest of you are going to have to recap the episode for us.

Now watch the video and tell me you did not cry....

That was the good part of the show.

Now I will bitch about the part I hated.
Coach Bieste's story....which was so well acted BUT....
Ugh.
As if a kiss from Will Schuster is going to wipe away years of being thought of as not a "real" woman because she is not "feminine" enough to attract anyone (male or female!) to so much as kiss her?
Lame.
I just do not believe that a woman who has been successful in what is a traditionally male job would really give up a career that she had to (making assumptions here) fight tooth and nail to achieve because her feelings were hurt?
Not happening.

Plus what I really had hoped would happen is that she would have reviled she was in a long term loving relationship and that she really just did not give a shit what a bunch of little teenage boys thought of her sexually.
And she would have had no problem finding a way to earn back the respect she felt she had lost.

Mr. Sulu Thinks You are an Ass

2010-11-04T13:03:00.000-04:00

Posted Without Comment

2010-11-03T17:08:00.000-04:00

One More...Predictions

2010-11-02T12:08:00.003-04:00

I'll predict that the Dems will lose around 50ish seats in the house which is what historically happens to the party in the White House.
Let me say this again...this is not a "wave" or an "earthquake" or a "tsunami" for the Republicans.
It is what happens historically during the midterms to the party that is in the White House.
Of course the Pundits and President Palin will spew how this means Americans hate Obama and that everything the Democrats have done is teh suck and that we are a center-right country.

I think the Republicans might pick up a few seats in the Senate, but will not take it and I would not be sad if Reid was out and someone (Schumer?) became Majority Leader.

Arkansas is going "almost" red (we have weathered the recession/almost depression well with a surplus and our Gov is a likable man with a tool running for the R's) and will lose all that sweet Agriculture Committee cash which is just what a small, poor, rural state needs...but hey that's what the TeaGOP Party folks here seem to want.
And they will get just what it deserve when Tim Griffin (who should be wearing a orange jumpsuit) takes Vic Snyder's seat in the House. Oh and I'm sure the ridiculous amendment to our state constitution to make fishing and hunting a RIGHT will pass...morons.

I've Been Very Good

2010-11-02T11:30:00.004-04:00

And really, I've kept my mouth shut during these mid-terms, but I remember why we should not be handing the country (or at least some of it) back over to the Republicans:

BUT no matter who you might vote for please just go VOTE...or you lose your right to bitch.

Pretty Vintage

2010-10-27T14:05:00.006-04:00

Here is the group of vintage clothes I am working on this week...the dress above is a cute Suzy Perette:

Plus a few shots of the same slip...trying to come up with a different way to photograph the lingerie.

Update

2010-10-25T00:15:00.002-04:00

Kitty is doing well, he ate and drank and used the litter box tonight.
It is becoming amusing watching him try to figure out how to navigate the house with the Elizabethan collar on.

Cheif Iz a Sad Kitty

2010-10-24T00:27:00.004-04:00

Why do pets insist on getting hurt when the vet is closed?
Today I realized that Master Cheif was growling at everyone after coming in and laying down under a chair.
He's normally very sweet and would never growl at the dogs.
I bend down and give him a small "hey stop that" push and he has a huge (like 5 inches) tear in his skin behind his right front leg.
And just skin but down though the muscle.
No bleeding anywhere.
I think the cat who likes to get on the roof fell off and hit a lawn chair or the edge of the deck roof which is aluminum and sharp.

Of course I freak and head out to the emergency vet at the same time I call the boy to come meet me there since it is his cat.
The boy gets there and he makes one of the "adult" decisions pet owners make...to spend ever dollar you have to save a pet.
Vet thinks it looks bad but she'll sedate him and look around....the look around showed that he had not broken or punctured anything just a clean slice though. So she got everything stitched back together and we waited....

$452 later he has an Elizabethan collar, big ugly Frankenstein stitches across his back and drains hangin' out in case fluids build up. Recover is not for sure, but the vet felt he has a very good chance to make it.

Right now he is still drugged up and lock in the pet carrier for at least the next 6 hours.
Poor little kitty.
Keep your fingers crossed and send good thoughts his way.
Once he is on his way we will mock the collar by taking pictures.
So 1 life down, 8 to go.....

Pretty Vintage Dresses

2010-10-21T15:04:00.001-04:00

Some of the vintage clothes I got within the last week.

Estate Sale Recliner

2010-10-20T18:30:00.003-04:00

Finally.
My husband has been bugging me about the need for a recliner, but I hatehatehate the way they look.
This weekend though I found one he likes AND I like with a nice retro flair.
My son bought it, $56 and the husband is happy.

Ossie Clark?

2010-10-18T22:22:00.003-04:00

The guys over at Project RunGay wonder if Cara Buono's (Dr. "you are better without him" Faye) dress is vintage.
I wonder Ossie Clark?

EDIT:
I'm gonna edit this due to Catwalk's good comment.
Yep she has a point, it does seem short, but we all know that there sellers/stylists who have no problem hacking off dresses for whatever "vision" they might have for a look.

Whiskey-A-Go-Go Megan

2010-10-18T19:03:00.003-04:00

Last night on Mad Men Megan wore a great dress for her night in LA that looked almost like this:

In black with a bit of sequins at neckline...there might have been a cutout?
Need to find a still from the scene.
The pattern above can be found on Sew-Retro Vintage Patterns.

Vintage Dresses Coming Soon

2010-10-16T13:19:00.002-04:00

Thought I would post a few of the vintage clothes I got at an estate sale last week that I'll be working on and listing in the next 2 weeks.
It was a great sale, tons of vintage in a house that generations had lived in (or had moved all of the stuff from one place to the other) and never threw things away.
Here's a few of the dresses:

Pretty Vintage Dresses

2010-10-15T21:49:00.003-04:00

New Vintage clothing and patterns added to both Sew-Retro and Damn Good Vintage!

Vintage Photo Contest

2010-10-14T11:34:00.003-04:00

Above dress can be found at Damn Good Vintage!

Heads up vintage lovers.
Carol over at Dandelion Vintage is having a contest!

Enter a photo of yourself dressed in one of your favorite vintage outfits. The public can vote daily for their favorites.

The 1st Place winner will receive a $250 credit to spend at Dandelion Vintage – www.dandelionvintage.com

2nd Place winner will receive $100.00 credit to spend at Dandelion Vintage

3rd Place winner will receive $50.00 credit to spend at Dandelion Vintage.
You can view the entries and enter the contest here.

A Subtle and Frightening Novel

2010-10-12T16:24:00.002-04:00

Lesbians!
Oh my!
These awesomely bad covers are part of a collection of the covers from Lesbian Pulp Novels:

Included here are twenty-five illustrated front and back covers from pulp fiction novels dating between 1935-1958. This small collection of novels is part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library's growing collection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer materials representing the fields of history, literature, cultural studies, popular culture, the arts, and design. These novels, named after the inexpensive wood pulp paper on which they were printed, could be found at magazine and newspaper stands, drugstores, and bus terminals.

They amuse me and make me a bit sad.
You can more on the Yale website for the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscripts Library.

Down To The Foundation

2010-10-11T10:46:00.004-04:00

Nice interview with Janie Bryant the costume designer for Mad Men.
The money quote is this:

Now the woman behind the Mad Men phenomenon has disclosed how the show’s unique style was created.Janie Bryant, the show’s costume designer, says it's all down to shapewear. Or what the lingerie department calls foundation garments. Girdles and longline bras - a cross between a bra and a corset - reform Mad Men's female bodies into hourglass shapes. And when the antique and reproduction bras and garters cause the actresses too much pain, assistants provide them with pads of moleskin to cushion their skin.

I say it all the time, but so many customers just do not want to hear it...if you are going to wear vintage you need to have the right foundation garments.

Pat Premo

2010-10-08T13:33:00.004-04:00

"Far East to Far West
Inspiration: Eastern
Interpretation. Western: with the wonderful fresh stamp of California talent."

The above text is from a 1956 ad for this amazing dress by American designer Pat Premo now listed at Damn Good Vintage..
Silky rayon woven fabric...it almost feels like Egyptian cotton.
The textile is slightly textured with horizontal stripes, which Premo felt were more flattering to a woman’s body, in varying shades of burgundy, green and black.

A bit more information on Premo can be found here and here.

Today in Wingnuttia

2010-10-05T17:22:00.002-04:00

So much to choose from:

So Sarah and Todd and Joe Miller are fighting because Joe Miller did not say that Sarah would make the "BEST PRESIDENT EVAH" when asked. Twitter and FaceBook...how old are these people?

In MO the Tea Party folks are against a bill to limit the size of puppy mills.
Why?
Because the Humane Society is a bunch of commie socialists!!!111!!
That's why.
Also because "the society seeks only to raise the cost of breeding dogs, making it ever-more difficult for middle-class American families to be dog-owners.”
*head desk*

Tea Party and GOP candidates have said such horrible things in the last few months that a number of them are now refusing to do debates or talk to the press in fear they will fuck up their sweet ride to Congress.

But, of course, the worst story of today is the ongoing one about the guy who did not pay his fee to the local fire department and when his house caught on fire the firemen came out end then stood by and watched his house burn down while his pets burned to death inside.
Conservatives, Tea Party types and Libertarians are all over the internet applauding the Fire Chief for sticking to his guns and giving that free loader what he deserved.

Jesus, whatever happened to "Compassionate Conservatives"?

Hating on Onions

2010-09-19T17:35:00.004-04:00

Not me.
I love onions, but my husband and son hate them which makes cooking annoying.
I found out last month that if you take an onion and grate it on a cheese grater then sautee for about 10ish min on med/low (don't want to burn them you want them uber soft and mushy) and then put them in whatever you are cooking the flavor is still there, but no one bites into an onion and gags.
Brilliant.

And really?
A 50's TV salt and pepper shaker holder?
That is awesome.
It can be found here along with the onion salt and pepper shakers in the StitchnPost shop on Etsy.

Cats and Dogs

2010-09-18T16:19:00.002-04:00

I know, I suck, no post, long time.

Helpful Link

2010-09-04T15:29:00.003-04:00

I know, long time no see.
SHUT UP!

BUT I have added a neat link list:
Helpful Links

The first one I added is Who Calls Me.
I hate getting calls that show up as private or wireless caller or just out of state so I normally don't answer them. This site allows you to see who is calling.
Neat.

Standard of the Day

2010-08-12T23:01:00.002-04:00

Here is a wonderful blog to add to the Blogs O' Doom:
Standard of the Day

A tribute to the finest genre of popular music in history, pop's direct link to the classical tradition, and one of our nation's most important contributions to world culture, the Great American Songbook. Each day (more or less), I'll spotlight a different popular standard. And yes, I'm straight. So is your grandfather. He loves this music, too--just ask him!

The post from March 15th:

This one's a bit out of my usual jurisdiction in terms of time-frame, but I truly believe this song to be a modern classic that has, without question, become a standard. Written for The Muppet Movie, in which it was sung by Jim Henson as the voice of Kermit the Frog, it stands alongside "Over the Rainbow" and "When You Wish Upon a Star" among the all-time iconic songs derived from children's fantasy film. Wistful, beautiful, timeless.

I agree.
Plus I think it is such a lovely song...so sweet and hopeful that I normally cry when I hear it.

How can anyone not feel good after that?

Haters Heads Go Boom

2010-08-04T22:20:00.003-04:00

Gay Marriage good.
Prob 8 bad.

Mazel Tov!

Just Click

2010-08-04T20:39:00.001-04:00

Cats For Gold

File This Under "I Thought She Was Dead"

2010-07-31T14:58:00.002-04:00

Who knew?
I thought old Phyllis "do as I say, not as I do" Schlafly had kicked the bucket.
But noooooooo, she is still out there being as horrid as she ever was.

One of the things Obama’s been doing is deliberately trying to increase the percentage of our population that is dependent on government for your living. For example, do you know what was the second biggest demographic group that voted for Obama? Obviously the blacks were the biggest demographic, y’all know what was the second biggest? Unmarried women. 70% of unmarried women voted for Obama. And this is because when you kick your husband out, you’ve got to have Big Brother Government to be your provider. And they know that. They’ve admitted it. And they have all kinds of bills to continue to subsidize illegitimacy…

The Obama administration wants to continue to subsidize this group because they know they are Democratic votes.

This is someone who's time had come and gone.

Summer Camp

2010-07-30T17:08:00.003-04:00

My son went to summer camp once. It was OK, but he really did not like it.
When we were kids my sister and I went here:
Teamsters Local 688 Health and Medical Camp
(I know, what a hi-larious old fashioned name)

But we had fun.
So much fun.
They still have the same cabins.
Cool.

Runway Disappoints....Spoilers

2010-07-30T14:02:00.004-04:00

Spoilers Here.

Color me disappointed.

Jason should have gone home for the backwards kimono and Ivy for talking smack to Nina and making pants out of....pants.
Also she talked about herself in the third person.Thank you, but no.

Don't like the extra 30 min either....but the better lighting on the runway is a plus.

Winning dress?
Logan's Run.
I just saying.
EDIT:
I forgot I added the fabulous Laura "that bitch is living my dream life" Bennett's blog to the Blogs O' Doom.

Comfortable and Dead or Risky and Possibly Rich

2010-07-28T14:40:00.010-04:00

1952

Obligatory Mad Men Jantzen post.
The title is what Don says to the morons from Jantzen when they balk at a more sexy ad for their "two piece" bathing suit (yes, it is a bikini gents) that they want to sell more of...they are just hypocritical about what they are selling.
Of course the line is really for Don's benefit, but we will not get into that now.

I looked though the ads I had and none for 64' or 65' but in the 60's they were using the campaign "Just Wear A Smile and A Jantzen" which was used in both their swimming suit and sportswear advertising. FuzzyLizzie has another example on her blog.

1962

From the Jantzen website:

Jantzen harkens back to its archives for its creative inspiration. Whether it’s using an Art Deco 1930s image from Jantzen Beach Theme Park where you could “Dance, Swim, and Play” or their successful 1960s “Just Wear a Smile and a Jantzen” campaign, promoting a form of “happiness” reflects today’s marketing pitch to consumers who are responding to old fashioned values. In a difficult economy, a little happiness goes a long way. Images from the Jantzen
Archives have been seen in the last two seasons of Emmy Award winning Mad Men on AMC and will again be featured in opening credits this fall with images from the 1960s Smile campaign.

Jezebel had a few ads pointing out the difference in advertising between the women's and men's lines, but instead of being from the 1960's they are all 40's and early 50's including this beauty:

And never to be forgotten the "Satan's Spawn" Jantzen ad campaign of 1947:

The Jantzen lingerie ads were a bit risque even in 1950.

What I did notice was that though the 40's and early 50's they were selling sexy and being attractive to the opposite sex, but as society became more permissive (and their competitors became more blatant maybe) Jantzen's ads did become more all about good wholesome fun and how happy a woman would be in a Jantzen bathing suit.

Which if I could find that suit in the top ad in my size I would be very, very happy indeed.

The Boy Who Waited 2000 Years

2010-07-27T20:21:00.002-04:00

I loved the finale of this season's Doctor Who.
Matt Smith as the new Doctor is wonderful...not 9 or 10, but engaging in his own slightly creepy way. For me though the addition of Rory to the mix really made the show.
The Boy who waited 2000 years got his girl in the end.

Spoilers!

It was nice for once to have a happy finale.

Gays Ruin Traditional Marriage in Iowa...

2010-07-27T16:29:00.002-04:00

Well, except the rates of marriage are up and divorce down in Iowa.
Those sneaky homosexuals, forcing hetros to marry more and divorce less.
How will Gay Marriage ruin America next?
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/07/27/iowa-marriage/

I Don't Care What You Are, I Care What You Did

2010-07-16T12:10:00.002-04:00

This is brilliant...how to point out that what someone said is racist without calling them a racist:

Via Balloon Juice

Why You Should Always Have Lemons

2010-07-12T16:51:00.002-04:00

Because you never know when the blueberries will be ready and you can cook up a nice Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake like thingee.

Done:

Commie Lemonade

2010-07-07T18:51:00.003-04:00

Remember kids There is no "free" Lemonade.

Wonkette's take:Evil Communist Youths Refuse To Let Financial Columnist Pay For Lemonade

Best comment on Ballon Juice:
"Thanks, you shit little communist girls, for ruining this poor free marketeer’s July 4th holiday, which we celebrate for the launching of the first stock market independently of London.

It’s tough having to fight soshullism left and right and vanquishing its young troops in every neighborhood, even the nice rich ones, but somebody’s gotta do it.

The lady must be a fucking riot on Christmases and birthdays—“No I didn’t bring you a god-damned ‘present’, you worthless little 5 year old leach!” “Who invited crazy Terry again?”

hahahahahahaha

Dear God, Not Another LARPing Weekend

2010-07-04T14:47:00.005-04:00

The teen is off with some friends this weekend and I assume he will come back missing a fingertip since each time he hangs out with his LARPing group (which he does twice a month...maybe) he comes home sick or injured.
Last time it was bronchitis he is still on meds for and the time before he twisted his ankle so bad he had to wear a boot and not work for 3 weeks. The total price for the medical bills for his LARPing weekends this year have been about $1200ish.

I guess this is payback for a relatively healthy and injury free childhood...

And the reason I say my son (he's 18) will be missing a fingertip is because this was the bottle rocket conversation the other day.

ME: Jesus, be careful
HIM: I am
ME: Put the damn thing in a bottle or can
HIM: NO I can hold
ME: Oh, for fucks sake (I said this as I walked away muttering to myself how I was not paying for it if he put his eye out and how hard it is for a guy missing an eye and a front tooth to get laid unless you are a really hot pirate.)

He has now shot off a few. I am on the deck. He comes up and turns ways from me.
ME: What's wrong
HIM: Nothing
ME: Bullshit, what did you do
HIM: Nothing (while he rushes into the house and into his bathroom all the while avoiding looking at me)
He came back out after a few min and he has a burn mark on his right eyelid where a piece of the burning paper had landed.

ME: Jesus Joseph and Mary.....I told you you would put your eye out
HIM: I blinked in enough time....

*BTW I stole the pictures from one of the guys Facebook pages, hope they don't mind, it is fun to see them in action.
EDIT:The sword he is using is from a couple of boxes of supplies that a wonderful reader sent for free!