India

Maisie

Random Sunday (Nap Time)

CAMPANIA, Italy—1960.

God Bless Americans

Those Mainers sure love their country. I sported a red and white top on the birth of our nation, but that was nothing (and not really on purpose) compared to the extreme patriotism I witnessed in the lobster state. Our across the street neighbors, in the beach town of Scarborough, all got decked out in American garb and decided to spend their afternoon waving flags and blasting every American song from the the obvious and tolerable "Born in the USA" to the the so obvious I didn't think anyone actually would ever own it "America the Beautiful" as they held up signs saying "Honk if you love the USA" for cars driving by. And you better damn well honk, because if you stayed silent as you rode past you would have been blasted with "You hate your country you whore!" No joke. And that is not even the craziest thing I witnessed. Have you ever seen a group of 20 or so people go into a spontaneous Pledge of Allegiance with hands on their hearts and all? Let me tell you it's a pretty scary sight for a hippie-at-heart San Franciscan.

My Daily O

He's Your Lobster

I told you I would eat some lobster for you in Maine, but I will have to admit that we may have overdone it just a tad. While I was there I ate two lobster roles, two lobster dinners and a lobster omelette. That is five times the amount of times I have ever eaten lobster in my life. Never have I experienced a place/vacation that was so revolved around one specific food. Like my special lobster eating shirt?

WTF/Amazing

Thanks Oh.

It's Official!

Waiting for me in my mailbox when I arrived home from Maine was a little blue book we like to call a passport! The tickets have been purchased and the room has been found - if everything goes according to plan I will be bidding adieu to the U S of A in less than 30 days and will be heading to Berlin for two months. I am speechless and can't wait.



Thanks for the pics Owl and the Grapes

Back From the Beach...

...and there is still sand in my hair. Here is a pic of the Maine gang, always nice to spend the Fourth with such a motley crew of all ages. More pics to come of course.

I'll Eat Some Lobster For You...

Off to Maine for the Fourth of July long weekend — well these days my life is pretty much a long weekend — so I'll see you when I get back. Happy Birthday America (and Sunny!)!

Oh and wish me luck on my eight hour bus ride.

My Daily O

I know, I know, it's been way too long to call it that. But I just couldn't resist - I love this image from the Rebranding America spread in this month's Paper mag. It was a good issue all around, especially because my boyfriend Gael was on the cover.

National Sovereignty Day

It's about time...

BAGHDAD — Iraq declared a public holiday Tuesday to celebrate the official withdrawal of American troops from the country’s cities and towns, emptying the streets as many people stayed home because they feared violence.

Read more here.

Well Done Sam Mendes

Last night I had a movie date night and not only was it nice to relax after the crazy packed weekend we had, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the film Away We Go. I knew it was going to be a sweet indie hipster love story (which I do like) but never did I expect to find myself in such hysterics that I blushed with embarrassment over my lack of ability to stop laughing. Thank God for dark theaters. I guess I should have guessed it with SNL's Maya Rudolph and The Office's John Krasinski as the leads — who not only did an amazing job making me laugh but also at telling the darker side of the plot. Leave it to Dave Eggers, of course, to write a screenplay with the perfect mix of humor and seriousness.

Knowing it was written by him was my reason for wanting to see it, but it wasn't until the credits rolled that I realized it was directed by Sam Mendes. Kate Winslet's husband was also behind Revolutionary Road, another film I watched and loved recently. Although they both tackled a bit of the my-life-turned-out-different-than-I-thought-it-would theme, I had the complete opposite reaction to each. Instead of the uncontrollable laughter of Away We Go, Revolutionary Road caused a massive amount of uncontrollable tears, followed by a day of depression. Sounds bad I know, but if a movie has that much of an affect on me, I have to love it. So for obviously different reasons, I highly recommend both films.

Sweetness...

Any Fun - Coconut Records - Music Video

I really do love Jason Schwartzman - it's funny that Coconut Records makes the exact music that I would think he would make. It's just so sweet, like him. I love Chloe Sevigny too, of course, since she pretty much is the coolest girl in the world. Check out this sweet and cool vid.

Not So Random Sunday (Gay Pride)

NEW YORK CITY—The gay liberation movement in Central Park, 1970.

The gay rights movement was born 40 years ago this weekend, when the New York City police force raided a popular Greenwich Village gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, and for the first time, patrons at the bar fought back. The backlash and the several nights of protest that followed have come to be known as the Stonewall Riots—and the start of the gay rights movement.

House Guests

Even being unemployed and all, it is still hard to find time to blog with friends in town. Welcome to NYC Rachel and Julia, if the rest of your time in this city is anything like the first few days, it is going to be great! So here is a little peak at what these two new to New York residents and I have been doing since I've been absent from the Internet:

Wearing head-to-toe sequin outfits

Dressing like 1950s secretaries

Sneaking into a baseball games

Riding the Staten Island Ferry

Chilling out at concerts in Prospect Park

and much more...

I Heart Unemployment

Just watched the United States soccer team beat Spain (the best team in the world who haven't had a goal scored on them since April 1) 2-0 at a bar with my dad (you should have heard him hollering at the TV) and rode my bike home in the rain (you should have seen me completely drenched). A pretty amazing win for the U.S., a pretty amazing afternoon for myself.

Read about it if you want here.

Nothing Beats a Good 'Stache

Where does my obsession with boys with facial hair come from? I really don't know. Possibly it's because my dad had a mustache (even though I do prefer beards) during my childhood - and we are all supposed to end up with someone that reminds us of our fathers anyway, right? But I have certainly found myself turned off by guys that act like my pops in the past, but that was probably just a result of the immaturity of my formative years. Ha.

Sometimes I think it is because facial hair can make a guy that is not-so-cute-in-the-face actually cute, just by covering it all up. Wow just kidding, that is a horrible thing to say, and mostly not true. Well, I guess I am lucky that hair on the face is so trendy these days, there are just so many beards to choose from.

Thanks for the reminder A Cup of Joe.

Victorian Bohemian

Okay, now that I no longer work for their rival, I can shout off the mountain tops or just tell you that I love Teen Vogue. That is still to say that in no way do think it's a realistic representation of teenage fashion, and is still even aspirational for myself at 28. But that is the point of Vogue now isn't it? Anyway, I love this month's Emma Watson cover shoot, everything from the location, to the dark makeup, to the clothes, of course. Poofy sleeves, fields of purple lupines, and cluttered living rooms - love it.

Father's Day 2009

I think this was the first Father's Day that I actually got to spend with my dad in at least four years. And it was just perfect. Myself (Aunt Magel), Aaron, Deanna, Maisie, India, Ma (Jackie), Bobba (Dad and India's first word), brunch and futbol. And let me tell you about that baby India - I was at A & D's for almost 10 hours and I barely even heard a whimper out of her - only ooohs, gurgles and laughs as she chilled on the couch and watched soccer with us, as her older sister twirled around the room, sang and danced. I think that Maisie might just be a star. Those two, as Deanna would say, just kill me. Here are some pics.