Interests Du Jour

1. William Burroughs' time in South Texas

2. Depression Era Recipes: Never really explored this genre. It's not very healthy but I love to read cookbooks. Imagine butterless, milkless, eggless cake, intriguing.

3. ZOOM: Muby frubiends uband ubi ubare wubay ubinto rubedubiscubovuberubing Zuboom thubese dubays. Ubi hubave uba bubettuber ubapprubecubiubatubion (okay that's enough. I know it's not even done right) for this show. Wish they'd put it on DVD, complete shows that ran from 1972-1979 with commentary from all the cast members (as many as they can find, please include Joe Shrand, Jon Reuning, Nina Thomassen, Tommy White, Kenny Marshal, Nancy Tates, Tracy Schulman, Ann Davis, David Alberico(of In the Soup fame), Jay Schertzer, Maura Mullaney, Bernadette Yao, Leon Mobley, Luiz Peterton). Kids were different back then, not sure if you can get a 9 or 13 year old to dance barefooted a la Bob Fosse for PBS these days.


4. Two of the Silkies are roos so...it's time to begin the distancing process. Roosters are not allowed in the city so Dash and Chickiebaby will be going to Del Rio to live their cocky lives with my Grandfather's chickens. Won't be easy but I know they'll be in good hands. They've been roos in training since week two when they started to run towards each other and bump chests. I thought it was some sort of chicken square dancing game. The chicks would be in a circle then the two roos would run and thump chests and the other chicks would just jump around and leapfrog each other. Crazy to watch.

I think this is the best costume for the day

I love that part in Grey Gardens. Today my costume was Serious and Sullen Missionary Girl from the 1930s. UGH! Did not mean for it to look that way but that is what I looked like when I caught my reflection in the library window. The costume consisted of brown leather Mary Janes,a chocolate colored linen skirt,a white cotton camp shirt (fitted with darts) with a peter pan collar and a cotton khaki sweater with 3/4 sleeves. What really made the look was the way I had my hair clipped back. All I needed was a bible and a vintage bike and I could have been an extra in one of those linen drenched epics. Oh well, it was too late I was already at work. Walking in 98 degrees made me feel that in the end it was the best costume for the day..

Interests Du Jour
Books on vintage textiles: Joy Shih (Schiffer Design Book) has many of these out. Pages and pages of just prints from different eras

Fashions and fads in America during The Great Depression: This was mostly inspired by watching Paper Moon again. I *heart* that film. The simple print dress with a waist line and longer hem length was the staple.

Seeking out Malia Hawaiian dresses again, wanting the wraps.

project tapering off

Last year I wanted two laying hens. I thought two hens in the yard would be cool to see. the whole urban hen movement is taking place in my hood and coops sit neatly behind nice homes. The yard was so cruddy though, I didn't want to spend much time in it. So one Saturday morning in late January I went out and started to rake leaves because I wanted chickens.

The yard had not been touched in a very long time. Sure there was a patio furniture set and a few other yard hand-me-downs but they were sitting on dirt and weeds. There was an attempt at a patio made from rock that had become buried under wild ground cover a few years back. It never looked anything like a patio, just a reminder of how we are not the types to stick to outside projects and yard work and how inept we are at landscaping. I felt pretty hopeless.

I loved staring out into the cruddy yard because it was spacious. In the spring and summer under a canopy of hackberry trees there was green everywhere. It was nice to look at but I never wanted to be under that canopy, just admire it from indoors. I left looking at the yard during the fall and winter months mostly to the cats. When I'd look out I'd imagine what I would like done to it and planned to hire a landscaper.

I decided not to have hens because it made me feel too hippy. My Grandparents have some and they aren't hippies. For me, still too hoppy... still want some but the thought of having even two Bantams even makes me feel a bit too close to Billy Jack. William wanted a screen door though and I thought a screen door must open into a cute yard so lets create the yard. I read books, looked up landscaping websites and blogs. We covered half the yard with sod leaving the Buffalo grass to grow on the other. Hackberry trees came down and the sunshine came in. Flower and garden beds were created. There is even a compost heap. We confronted the pit of rocks and created a real patio with sand, bricks and crushed granite. The entire process moved only too slowly and took so much back breaking energy. I kept expecting our enthusiasm to collapse but it never did. I wanted this whole thing to go up in two days but it has taken months.

This is the sort of project that never completely comes to a close but tapers off into less work. As it tapers off we feel quite hopeful in that we may get better and better at this sort of thing. It took me five tools to dig a hole but next time I know what not use and what to start with. I look at people like my mother-in-law with more admiration than before because she is an excellent landscaper and yard work is much harder than I thought. My friend, Paul, is also an excellent landscaper and plant grower. His yard was a model and inspiration. Dedication like theirs kept the momentum going.

The improved outdoor aesthetics has made it so that we get home and want to go outside and let out a big sigh. Everything disappears and melts away. I thought only a hot bath could do that. We are planning cookouts with 8mm movie showings. That's a big step for introverts-patio parties and all that. There is also this feeling of accomplishment and the fear of yard is gone. Next it's the front yard beds and I have plans to make the side yard attractive too. As for hens: maybe next year I'll acquire two eencie,weencie,teenie,tiny Bantams to keep us company while we weed and hold a Billy Jack exorcism in the back yard.

Interest du jour: Southern passalong plants

Busybusybusy

The days are flying by and I find myself needing more hours in the day to start books, finish books, try out a recipe, watch some new DVDs, workout,see friends,work on projects,upload finished projects...what the hell am I doing? I'm seemingly always busy yet nothing gets done.

This is how it always seems to be after Daylight Savings Time-Spring forward. I don't quite get a handle on things until August. Don't know if it's just that I am more ambitious this time of year or if it is some perception that time is just whizzing by because I lost an hour weeks ago. One accomplishment that didn't drag on for weeks was the changing of the seasonal wardrobe. I will say, I am proud of how efficiently my new system worked this year.

I'm too busy to do anything really new. Aside from falling in love with the Turkey Reuben at Billy's, nothing really new is up, yet nothing old is hanging around either.

Updates:
Since my posting of the filthy buses the #5 has really shaped up. Bravo. (Hope I didn't jinx it by updating you on this). It's really spiffy, no odors and clean windows. Even the floor looks like it had a scrubbing. I must add there are some awesome drivers: Randy on the #5 is the best bus driver in Austin! Professional, courteous, takes pride in his job, I've known him for almost six years now and everyone misses him when they switch the drivers around.

The heirloom roses did arrive blooming and are in the backyard! I did wrap up the whole rose rustler research/interest and returned six books to the library. Now the obsession du jour is vintage kitchen textiles. Plenty of books out there on aprons, dish towels etc...Amazing what I will geek out on.

The garden is coming along. I'm still holding my breath.

Quite a few have emailed me regarding my opinion on VMUgreenurbandesnsity, I was pleasantly surprised with the response. For one, I had no idea I had that many readers who weren't friends or family, two: Everyone was in agreement. Really?! That's awesome. Thanks for tuning in and dropping a line.

Yes, I will come up with a cooler and more interesting recipe for the sidebar soon. I also received an email asking why I typed out the recipe for Chicken Burgandy and not something more Playboyish like Steak Diane. I will stay with this cookbook's recipes for awhile and try and choose more interesting dishes or at least something more "Bunny Dip" worthy. We are coming into drinks-by-the-pool season.

I put down the Schulz biography. After the first few chapters I found myself browsing and scanning it. I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. Schulz was brilliant with huge emotional issues. Reading the book, you felt like this man was living next door and you wanted to avoid eye contact when you saw him. This is to say Michaelis did an excellent job at making him all too real with all his baggage and issues, just tooooooooo real. As it turned out, I just would rather not know so much. Also, as someone who can relate to Charlie Brown, I just didn't want to keep going down that road and learning more about the man behind Failure Face.

Minutiae Du Jour

I've been waiting anxiously for the documentary: The Natural History of the Chicken to arrive in my mailbox. I think today is the day. Yay!

Looking forward to meeting Junior. He is a tiny Bantam rooster that belongs to my Grandfather and is just learning to crow. I'd like to see him before he masters it.

Watched Cockfighter recently. Only Warren Oates could make enjoy a movie like that. Speaking of...there was a man at my hood meeting last night who looked just like Warren Oates circa 1971. I kept expecting him to lean over and ask the guy next to him, "What kinda sounds you like?" teehee.

I'm trying to be more civic minded so last night I attended a neighborhood meeting. There was a presentation by the city regarding flood zones and how they affect the hood. Basically I found out that many,many,many people in the Brentwood area have the same concerns I do and it felt good to know this. However, being highly encouraged by the city to purchase flood insurance was sort of worrisome.
I also learned that:
1. The City of Austin has a HUGE creek erosion problem.
2. A majority of the neighborhoods in Austin are connected by creeks and storm drains and there are very few areas that are not in danger of flooding
even if not on a flood plain.

Aprons

I love that aprons are the thing du jour but who is wearing them? I wear them, I own several and always have room for more! I'd love to give some cute aprons I find away to friends but I don't seem to know anyone who is really wanting an apron, uses an apron or into aprons. I'd like to make some from vintage patterns to give away but once again...girlfriend wear an apron? Let me know!

Interests Du Jour

1. Vintage Pachuca fashions
2. Doilies
3. Chris Marker
4. Backyard sanctuary
5. Hello, Fenderstrat! Where have you been? AAmDEF never sounded better! But would like to play C7 F Dm Am C C7
6. 2008 Presidential Election
7. Mel Torme on cozy evenings
8. Hello, sewing machine, the time is NOW!
9. Playboy After Dark episodes, Old Grey Whistle Test episodes, TV Party episodes
10. Miss Hitty
11. The movement in this video is awesome

list of thoughts du jour

1. Happy Birthday Miss Librarian!!!!!!
2. I was once a French Maid but now would rather not


3. The Tiki Monkey buzz
4. Hope this will be a cooler and colder season than last
5. Excited about Loma Alta and Lost Pines
6. Recycling old ideas into new executions
7. Expecting Gingernuts or Stars by Spring


Interest Du Jour:
Trenet, Aznavour, Brel and Villard
Distel singing La Belle Vie, swoon!

Thoughts Du Jour

Thinking about televisions a lot. There are a lot of free vintage television sets floating around if you know where to look. Basically anything tube, black and white made after 1955 is nearly worthless and after 1960, worthless. Of course, no taking into account aesthetic and emotional value to the prospective buyer.

Oatmeal raisin cookies, funnel cake kits, pecan praline making, bread pudding at Mimi's, Dart Bowl restaurant. This place is so cool and yummy!

The Dangerous Book for Boys-I dig this book, it's on my list of books I want.

Pecan trees, fig trees, heirloom roses, Jasmine, and the Treefolks

Taking walks after dinner in this great weather!

Sewing

Analog People in a Digital World, analog watches,

All New

So my new cubicle in the newly painted and remodeled office is pretty cool. That whole cubicle wall height controversy/panic (teehee) gave way to walls that were the same size as the old ones and lucky me, I got even taller cubicle walls than I had before. I dig how grey they are but most don't. The office is white and grey with a grey blue accent wall and grey cubicles but eh, I still have late 60's early 70's orange and green chairs. Everyone has pretty colorful stuff so it all even out.

New bathroom: Finally remodeled! Before and after photos coming soon. We were able to save the 1930's tile but the tub had to go and the new one is quite nice. Found out the weird closet space above the shower was held up with 4 nails and was not originally part of the house. That is now gone.

Re-NEWED interest in Velvet Goldmine, I could watch it over and over, it's so pretty to look at.

Re-NEWED interest in procuring an SX-70 but I think this is once again shortlived as they are still not easy to come by in working condition and didn't I swear off Ebay on this blog a few posts ago? Yes, I did and sticking to it so. Poop.

New habit: Eating icebox pies at The Frisco! They relocate 4/2008 so if you like that location take it in while you can.

I don't get this whole new interest in Vincente Fernandez that has been going around. Grew up with his music and movies but it's weird that all of a sudden he is the icon du jour in the hipster circles. I dig mariachi music, Olivia will back me up on this.

Virginia%20Plain.mp3

Summer Minutiae

The summer has been soooooooooo mild it's nutz! We don't even get into the 90's much. YAY! Time for a beach excursion, so long as it doesn't rain. Too much rain?

Speaking of....A friend of mine was at Okaloosa Island, somewhere near Florida's Emerald Coast. Her photos of miles of desserted beach and blue water and dolphins made me want to get us on the next jet to the Emerald Coast. Definitely a futre destination, sooner than later!

Been enjoying friends, music, movies and reading. Remodeling project will begin soon, will post photos.

Summer Interests Du Jour:
Heirloom roses

Fried green tomatoes at Billy's

Bookmaking: Made my first lil hardcovered book with hand sewn spine, trescool! Tons of ideas.

La Mer

Pachuco Boogie-Don Tosti

OUT:
Those about.com websites. I always end up clicking on one for lack of eyeing the url fast enough. They carry no information and lead you to other pages with no real info.

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates-What an asshole. What a criminal. How much did they pay this guy? What an indecent human being.

Du Jour, Du Jour

Interests Du Jour:
1. Attempting, exquisite, intricate crochet and pulled thread work
2. Creating new scarves and scarflettes and hats
3. Katherine Anne Porter and Antonieta Rivas Mercado
4. Cantinflas and his films
5. Vintage Mexican Items (not just dresses)
6. Reading, sewing and sorting all weekend
7. Casa Chapala
8. Fried Green Tomatoes from Billy's!
9. The Tiki Lamp comeback
10. Take a Chile y Limon rimmed glass and squeeze half a lime into it, then add a shot of tequila (or two), Fresca (the real stuff) and ice= Frescazit-O!
Have it with cold jicama drizzled with lime and sprinkles with Guajillo Chile.
11. Baybel Cheese! It's sooooooooo good!!!!!
12. Small , older homes are "IN" . Apparently the mansions of the future are less than 1000sqft!
13. Loquats are ready for picking in West Campus!
14. Did you know in England basil was expected to bring good luck to a new home?
15. The Green Ray

What's got me Miffed:
1. My favorite Oaxacan Restaurant moved far, far away. Not just out of my comfort zone, practically out of town. It's too far to drive for a flan, even if it was the best flan in the whole town. UGH!

2. I no longer have easy, three minute access to my favorite flan.

3. I'm sick of bicycle riders and their costumes darting out in front of cars. Happened to a car in front of me. You guys aren't cute or inspiring or even cyclist, you are just annoying.

4. I loathe Hummers. Ridiculous vehicles, no decent person owns one. You have to be an asshole to want one, a moron to buy one and Lucipher's own child to put a personalized licence plate on it. Wonder if any of these costumed bicycle riders own Hummers. Wouldn't surprise me.

5. UGH! I had a latte a few hours ago and UGH, It was actually 4 oz or less of latte and I feel awful for it. How can you coffee people do it? What gene or organ mutation do you have that I don't?

Lists

Recent movies I have seen and LOVED!
Pan's Labyrinth
Summer(Rohmer)
The Painted Veil
A Summer Tale (Rohmer)

Interests Du Jour:
Vintage house supply and salvage
Linen
Lenny Bruce
Spring
Florida: Mythical and Vintage Florida as well as The Keys(Cuban food and music, proximity to Cuba), Tampa, South West Florida beaches
Limrick,Ireland and their cute, roofless and gutted stone cottages for $55K...Euros of course
Ruth Orkin

Missing or can't find:
Music from the early to mid 90's
Squished penny from Hemingway House
Box of vintage glass door knobs and hardware(ce la vie)
Vintage St Theresa triptech

Found:
A marathon outside my door Sunday morning
$8.10 in my purse
Vintage red Pendleton coat at Savers
Cool exercise regimen
Brand new bird's nest
My lucky, jeweled wishbone charm
J.P.S. Brown!

Wanted:
Bangs to grow out
Outdoor cat to be more tame, less skittish and to stop crossing the street
To know the future of Koenig Lane
A good pair of linen capris
Embroidered Mexican shirt

Pet Peeves:
Drivers who never signal
SNAFUS
Insincerity
The fair weathered

Always In:
Sparky Marcus
Luddites
Genuine people, the real deal
Anyone with real convictions
Natural fibers
A good pair of pants

#998

I watched End of Suburbia (2004) last night. It was a better documentary than I thought. Basically we have peaked in oil supply and are now on the decline and the words du jour are sustainability and density. However the density described in the doc refers to modern urbanist's plan to return to the old fashion grid system not bringing big box stores into old neighborhoods and creating $400K duplexes.

A 55 story high rise with $500K condos is not keeping with the modern urbanist plan for density. What they have been planning for Mueller, for what seems like eons, seems to be. Density seems like it may be easier to accomplish if people could cut back on their wants and needs and cannot live withouts (mentioned in the doc). A good grocery store is always needed in a hood, not so much an art gallery/jewelry store or a Chicos. That's just me. I grew up with a grocery store, bank,library, pharmacy, hardware store, furniture store, stationary store, five and dime, dept store, movie theatre, park, city hall, church and school all within walking distance from my home. It was that great, old fashioned grid system in place and it worked wonderfully until Wal Mart came to Del Rio. Growing up in this setting for so long really influenced me, can't you tell? I still find "city" life uncomfortable and so much retail redundant and useless. If it was not in town, it was not needed and I did without okay.

I thought the Internet was going to do away with store fronts but it didn't. I thought it would be a good thing if it did offering space for more necessary things like residential areas, parks and such things. Parks are necessary. Can you imagine a place of just concrete and buildings with a tree and 4x4 patch of pathetic ground cover and what it does to a person to only have that? Parks are necessary. I would have gone nuts when I lived in apartments if there had not been a park or weekly excursions to a nearby park, Pease being my all time fave.

This morning was the protest against the Northcross Wal Mart. I was not going to join after I read weeks ago that it was a losing battle due to the fact that the property was already leased to Wal Mart, all T's crossed and I's dotted. The reps from both Lincoln Property and Wal Mart have yet to show their faces at any meeting to discuss what the surrounding hoods want and don't want. I decided to attend the protest and was #998. I went to show I don't like what they have decided to do.

A friend of mine thinks the whole thing is rather stupid because, "What else are they going to put there?" At the very least, the protest could make them show at meetings and agree to not make the store so large or 24 hours. A whole lot could be put there that would really contribute to density and fulfil the needs of the surrounding area but it's not money making. I listed these things in a previous post: library, community center, condos (not 55 stories) that are affordable.... I saw who the people living in the surrounding areas are today too. Most are older people, young families starting out and mid age singles and couples. No twenty somethings in my area, I also noticed, at least where I was standing that there aren't many Hispanics who showed or live there? Hearing things they were saying I realized many grew up in small towns or were in Austin before the population explosion and were wanting mixed use. So to my friend: Mixed Use!

There was a traffic jam, friendly one, after the protest. We were all pulling out of the old mall at the same time on all sides. It took me twenty minutes to get on Anderson , past Burnet. So much for the arterial roadways being helpful. A Wal Mart will be more traffic than that because this was all going out, imagine in and out and this was all friendly, imagine the parents returning home with less money and kids screaming or just the average Joe with the need to get into Walmart and home asap. It was a good preview of what will come if something so massive is built that will be open 24 hours and offer everything under the sun.

There is such a thing of just bad location. I have seen some Austin corner commercial areas and infills change hands and facades over and over and wind up empty each time. That could happen in that location, even with a Wal Mart the size of Cabellas, and it already reaks of payola, and opposition it is possible that it could fail in less than 3 years.

Side note:
I wish America would get over the fear of stay at home jobs. Seems the techie world were the only ones to embrace this. The rest of working America seems rather closed minded to it and regards it as a joke. Who can really work at home tempted by snacks, television and sleeping in etc... Close minded. Vending machines, online movie sites, youtube.com, loud conversations and such already distract the average office worker. Imagine what could be saved in gas and sick days and not to mention the improvement in office relations, no need for ergonomic and new office furniture or other spending. Personally,I could work better from home because I could do without the distractions of the office and my home computer is situated in a quiet corner in a room without a television but a window. I need this because I do work from home on my One Tough Monkey business. Days would have to be set aside for in office work but I wouldn't need a cubicle and that saves space. State, city and university jobs would be last to follow this model.

Watch The End of Suburbia, be forewarned, it could make you want to scale down.

One step forward two steps back

Playboy After Dark is tres cool! I highly recommend this DVD set if you want a taste of the good life circa Camelot. The show's format is sweet and quite fresh and provides the viewer with unique interviews. I loved watching Lenny Bruce make lil quips to Nat King Cole and Rona Jaffe. In this new and modern world a big deal is made of any celebrity who says anything on the air inebriated. Compared to that era, we are total squaresville, eggheads, bores, L7.

Okay, I can't get enough of the cocktail dresses! Sketch pad out, all my retro patterns are out, it's sewing time, I have been inspired once more. Nothing beats a well tailored, strappy, lil number. It's all in the darts. Dig those cute pointy shoes! The men sport their sharp, close fitting suits-TRES DISTINGUE! How sloppy today's menswear has become. Nothing ruins the male silhouette more than any sort of slouch or wrinkle to his pants. Put today's man in those suits of the late 1950's and early 60's and you'll get a taller looking, streamlined dreamboat. All this bagginess is so unecessary. It's the style du jour to let the pants on suits sort of trail down to the shoes. Because I watch so much retro television when I do see a "modern day" tuxedo, they always look ill fitting or slightly over sized on the guy. I was reminded that this is because the style is no longer as close, tight, short fitting as they used to be. "Ah, noted". The tuxedo of today makes the guy look impish, I truly wish this style would really go retro. Zoot Suit is another thing, it's a Zoot Suit, I'm talking Men's Warehouse, en masse, burn those suits, start all over and bring back retro silhouettes.

The 1969 episodes were still swingin but ten years made a big difference, the party had moved to California. The women looked younger, perhaps the fashions or the fact they were in color. The men's suits started their metamorphis. So after getting a full dose of Hef and his guests all weekend ...it's evident that while we take steps forward, we have taken more than just a few steps back in many ways.

Minutiae

1. Last Friday went to see Jerry Cole, King of Hot Rod guitar, perform at Saxon Pub. It was great! However, Jerry was a lil, shall we say, randy. Nothing makes the night go kerplunk faster than appreciating an enduring older man only to find that off stage he's a wolf. Thanks for the save NINA!

Oh, I am now hip to the Thunderchiefs! Count mein, big fan!

2. Garage Sale this Saturday 8am-12pm! Yes, something for someone of every demographic and lifestyle.

3.My interest du jour has been investigating older homes. What I have found is so many of the little tract homes in my area were made with the idea to add on. Many were built leaving a spaciaous backyard just for this. From what I have read it seems as though the idea was was for newlywaeds to move in, same money, and build as soon as a family started. Sometimes families didn't come along or there was one child or job opportunities elsewhere that resulted in a move. Ideas changed quickly after the war and bigger homes came along. There was no need for frugality after the war. Out went the post Depression and WW2 thinking. There was money, jobs and opportunity so...why add on if you could move into a home big enough. Many of the old honeymoon homes remain stunted.

Interests Du Jour

I just now discovered Berg Publishers! Where have you been all my life Berg?
On my wishlist are the following titles:
Fashion Under Socialism
Fashion Under Facism
The Language of Fashion (and other reads by Roland Barthes)
Wearing Ideology
Old Clothes, New Looks
Fashion Under the Occupation
Suburban Century
Home Possessions
American Cinema of the 1980s
Mob Culture
The Vanishing Map
Ballet Across Borders
Bikers
Skateboarding, Space and the City
Feeding the Gods
and this list could go on and on....they literally have a book for every ponderance and interest du jour I have ever had in my adult life.

My Blog.

Yeah I know, sort of themeless and unfocused, that's it's theme. I do have a lot of interests but I get a little political, get a little bored, get a little whiney, get a little nostalgic and repetative when I blog.

Interests Du Jour:
1. Upcoming Fall weather. FINALLY! Fall baking, Fall walking, I can finally hang outdoors without the need for a beach.
2. Week one of no prepackaged food and fresh eating. It's been a few days now. Rough start but it's all I want now.
3. Working on new items for One Tough MOnkey to debut by the 22nd. No MUST be by the 22nd so tune in! Scrflettes and scarves, hat, some decor. This has kept me really busy and away from my other interests.
4. It's all about the Health-O-Meter and making those numbers change.
5. House getting exterior cosmetic overhaul! YAY!
6. Vintage patterns-back on that again
7. This site

Interests Du Jour

************************
1. Surfing, surfing, surfing in Africa-Cape St Francis
1a. Miki Dora
2. Early to mid 50's kitchens (how they appear in film and in photos)
3. Names: male, female name combos
4. Handmade
5. Malia Dresses
5. Religious icons and reliquaries as art
6. Thoreau
7. Mandola's

THE OUT LIST
1. Fueling up
2. The A Type
3. Flip flops and low rise
4. Bloated American Consumerism
5. Flash Mobs
6. I heart VY tees

Mythical California Notes

I had a few brushes with the California myth:
My godmother was a make-up artist and hair stylist in Hollywood back in the late 60's and early 70's. She has always been glamorous herself and when she and my godfather would drive into town it was really something, to me. They would talk about how we should all move to California and for some reason I would get really hung up on Death Valley and ghost towns rather than Disneyland. Later they moved to Fullerton and Annaheim to raise a family before ending up in Corona all boring, save Fullerton (I think its pretty cool as far as Mexican American culture goes). But to this day they still retain a gothic,70's sort of California glamour. It was my godmother who fueled the entire childstar dream with her "connections".

We never moved to California. My mother had spent a substantial amount of time living and traveling all over California in the 60's before ending up in Texas. Her stories of San Francisco never included Haight Ashbury excursions, she saw it but didn't approve. My mother was a complete square who was in California to go to college and experience the American dream she saw in American movies growing up in Mexico. Still, she found time to hang in Tahoe between semesters and saw Venice beach, Malibu, hung at the National Parks and roomed with a Black Panther before graduating from University of the Pacific in Stockton. My mother did find the California she saw in the movies, the utopian land of good taste and culture, classy, sophisticated, fine and well coiffed. She caught that instant in America.

Joan Didion wrote about California the way I pictured it when my mom would talk about her time there. There was pre-Manson and post-Manson (my mother was there until May or so of 1970). Death Valley and ghost towns and Manson all went hand and hand. I had heard the story growing up, I was three and four years old and they were still going on about Manson.

I've not visited California but to this day it holds an eclectic mess of images that were put in my head at very young age (3-7 first years of life, in fact). As I heard the stories the pictures were forming and have remained, giving me the convincing illusion that I was there, post Manson. Didion confirmed it but none of it is real. Very odd and a testament to the effects conversation, television and parent have on child.


Interest Du Jour: Miki Dora, Mike Nader, screenprinting

Minutiae

1.*Thank God* for *Claude* this week!* For some reason this week seemed uber long despite the 4th off.

2. The Drag needs life. They should bring a Whole Foods "satellite" store and Book People along with an Alamo theatre to the Drag. These are all local businesses that have made enough money to afford rent on Guadalupe. Howaboutit guys?

3. Vogue, Butterick or McCall's needs to present the Audrey Hepburn Pattern Collection and feature the dresses she wore in her films. The cute jumper in Sabrina should be one of them, The little black dress she wore later in that film as well, her cute little capri and shirt set when she played Ariane Chavasse in Love in the Afternoon, the pants from Wait Until Dark, The skirt from Roman Holiday, outfits from Breakfast at Tiffany's and so on!!!!!!!!!!!! Sew on? But really, slim, cigarette,capri pants from Funny Face,gorgeous suit sets from Charade in tweeds and wools, those coats!

4. How to Get the Guy, saw two episodes and, boring, boring, boring. How to Drop the Wrong Guy would be more useful. Maybe a reality show along the lines of teaching women how to spot a loser a mile away (or recognize the loser they may be with) and how to go about dropping him and finding the right guy. That way the girls wouldn't have to drop them after leading them on for several days...they are pretty harsh. This show is all one sided about finding romance or something...can't really tell. Reminds me of that movie I saw only once, Looking for Mr Goodbar, ick! Poor Diane Keaton, that's a girl who needed to learn what a bad guy looks like. It was based on a novel that was based on a true story. Yeah. I know...chilling.

5. Looking forward to the game on Sunday! Forza, squadra azzurra
Forza Azzurri
Forza Italia
Forza Totti ecc...where's the limoncello!
OOOH reminds me, we checked out Mandola's and YUMMY! I highly recommend the prosciutto and arugula pizza and the gelato choices are amazing!

6. Interests du jour:
*Cookbooks (again, cycles through) I love to read cookbooks (use them as well)
*In search of the perfect vintage jumper dress pattern (ongoing since high school really but they will finally be in and I won't be the only one looking like a Mennonite this season).
*My One Tough Monkey logo is exciting,...needs cleanup and then to the rubber stamp makers.
*Populuxe
*Spring of 1971
*Whassup Rockers!

Got it all

June 20, 2005, Lucky Girl! Tres happy. Thoughts du jour: Tres Happy, Wm, 78s, Love and Christmas Lights.