Entre Nous.

Poetry in motion

Valentine's Day Good Things

1.  "You Make My Bunsen Burn" notecard by One Good Bumblebee.  Appropriate for the chemist in your life.  [$12.00 for five]

2.  The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs box set.  I first heard these songs driving up the Northern California coast.  Then had the opportunity to hear all 69 songs performed at Carnegie Hall.  These songs will forever remind me of the first moments of falling for a certain boy.  [$35.99 for three CDs]

 

3.  Pink and white bubblegum flavored lollipops.  Finally something bubblegum flavored that you can actually swallow.  [$12.00 for two]

   

4.  Drinking, Smoking, and Screwing: Great Writers on Good Times.  "Here's to the three greatest pleasures in life: a cigarette before and a martini after. Drinking, Smoking & Screwing celebrates these less-than-holy pursuits and unlocks the sweet mystery of sin with a sordid selection of essays, stories, excerpts, and poetry from noted libertines such as Mark Twain, Charles Bukowski, Henry Miller, Vladimir Nabokov, Spalding Gray, and Dorothy Parker."  Love this collection of short stories, they would add a bit of snarkiness to any Valentine's Day.  [$11.16]

 

5.  A Glassybaby candle holder.  The color of the holiday being "True Love", of course.  [$35.00]

 

6.  Heart shaped conversation cookies from Dean & DeLuca.  "Convey your feelings in the universal language of butter and sugar."  [$50.00 for twenty cookies]

 

7.  A set of silk pink pajamas from Agent Provocateur.  Wouldn't this be the perfect outfit for a day spent lounging about at home?  [$441.00, ouch]

      

8.  Cards for your loved and not so loved ones by Jason Sho Green, a University of Washington graduate.  For the easily offended person in your life.  [$2.50 for one]

9.  Rose petal tea from The Republic of Tea. "Tea for the Queen of Hearts - Royal tea blend has the light spice of delicate, young rose buds & petals atop the sweet fullness of China black tea. This Victorian tradition is perfect served in fine China cups for kings, queens, friends & loved ones."  [$10.50]

   

10.  Jules Et Jim.  "Three's not a crowd in François Truffaut's wonderful adaptation of Henri-Pierre Roché's novel.  The camerawork on this New Wave classic is as ecstatic and giddying as falling in love itself. Truffaut moves between comedy and tragedy with awesome ease."  [check eBay]

      

Chat and chew

I went to my friend (from work) Sara's housewarming party.  Highlights from the party include eating salmon corn chowder, drinking beer, and watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Pod People.  Have you seen it?!  So bizarre yet so hilarious.  One of the boys from work brought Sara a Martha Stewart picture frame as a housewarming gift.  He's Mormon, they have good manners.  He was the only boy who brought a present.  I gave her Candyland because everyone needs at least one retro childhood game in their collection.

 

On Martha today Martha Stewart kept calling an Inuit woman from Alaska, who was also named Martha Stewart, an "Eskimo".   Wouldn't you think she of all people would know better?  Shame on you Martha.

You're invited

So as of today I've completed two full weeks of work at my new job.  I don't adore the job but it isn't totally abysmal either.  Tomorrow we're having a company "barbecue", which should be amusing.  Oh AND more importantly I found out that the boy I have a crush on at work is in a band.  I seem to have moved on from boys who own record labels to boys who are in bands.

My Birthday is a little less than a month away and I just finished making my Birthday invitations.  The words above the picture say "let them eat cake" and there's a pink gingham border.  Instead of a Birthday cake this year I decided I want cupcakes instead.  So I'm using recipes from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook ( More From Magnolia ).  I'm really dreading this Birthday.  I will officially be closer to 30 than 25, which I'm not dealing with very well.  So I just try to focus on the present and not think about the getting older bit that comes along with the presents.

 

I just found out that Stereo Total are starting an American tour next month.  I am so excited to get to see them.  They're going to be playing a show in Vancouver on May 24th at Richards on Richards, and I'm so going to be there.

The girl can't help it

I started work at my new job on Wednesday.  For those of you who haven't read my previous entries on the subject of "work" - I just got hired at a graphic design company.  The part of the company that I am now employed by specializes in student agenda books.  The girl who I'm working under is four years younger than me.  She has scars along the sides of her lower arms.  Clearly there's a story there, but I'm not one to pry (well at least not on the first day).  My first day was completely overwhelming.  She gave me an overview of what our department deals with on a daily basis.  The second and third day I felt a little less out of my element.  Everyone in the office, that I've met so far, has been super nice.  I already have a crush on one of my coworkers.  He has this rockabilly look to him that is just so adorable. 

 

As a "first day of work" present my Mom bought me lilies and a new book.  The book is Rebecca Wells latest in her series about the "Ya Yas".  I hadn't even realized she was working on a third.  But was thrilled to get my hands on it.  It's called Ya-Yas in Bloom (tres stupid title, as Vivi would say).  The first chapter left me disappointed but by the second Rebecca Wells was back in form.

 

I watched the movie Head in the Clouds the other day.  I'm a sucker for period films or costume dramas, as some people refer to them ( costume drama: Information From Answers.com ).  The costumes, the scenery, I can't get enough of them.  Especially one set in Paris (parts of it take place in England and Spain, as well).  My favorite line from the movie was "One doesn't taste it darling, one simply swallows".  This movie was apparently the catalyst for Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend's current love affair.  Although the ending left me a little nonplussed.  It was directed by John Duigan who directed one of my favorite movies "Flirting" which was filmed in Australia and is a must see!

The beat goes on

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

I had my interview yesterday with the graphic design company.  After the interview they asked me to step outside of the "interview room" so they could discuss me in private.  So to make a short story even shorter they offered me a position.  Fortunately the job doesn't start till mid April so I have a few weeks to get back into work mode.  That gives me just enough time to get my sleep schedule back in normal working order.   No more 1:00am bedtime.  Le sigh.

 

So tonight we went to Boundary Bay Brewery for St. Patrick's Day dinner.  I'm such a fan or soda bread.  The food was fabulous.   The portions were enormous.  Unfortunately I always feel so self conscious on St. Patrick's day.  I feel like everyone is staring at my hair.   And what's with the abundance of dyed green carnations on St. Patrick's Day?   Why carnations?  According to Carrie Bradshaw the pink ones are making a comeback.  I sincerely hope those people wandering about with a green carnation pinned to their lapel aren't attempting to be ironic.  Please tell me they're being sincere.   Sometimes "I even I" need a break from the irony.

 

Then came home and watched Alfie.   So much better than the original.  The original was a bit too intense and "real".  It doesn't hurt that Jude Law stars in the remake.  He's such a looker.  He'd make the worst script seem sublime.  The scooter.  The hair.  The accent.  It just did it for me. 

Truly madly deeply

A past crush has resurfaced.  It's Jason Schwartzman.  I saw him on a rerun of Conan last night.  He is so adorable and I'm digging the hair.  He just seems like he'd be such a good "cuddle".  I first started swooning over him when I discovered that little band he was in.  It's so fabulous when a forgotten crush comes back into the picture.

So I was changing channels last night and happened to catch the end of "Inside Edition".  What made me stop and watch was pictures of Mary Kate Olsen.  They were showing some of her more recent out and about outfits.  And then Deborah Norville proceeded to inform the viewers that Mary Kate's fashion style has a title.  It's "BoBo".  Which translates into "Bourgeois Bohemian" ( ShoppingBlog.com: Mary-Kate Olsen and Bobo Style).  This just infuriates me.  The term comes from the book "Bobos in Paradise" by David Brooks (read it! if you haven't already).  But I just can't stand hearing the host of some gossip showing using the term.   Now I've discovered all sorts of media outlets referring to MK's "BoBo" style.  Here's a quote form the NY Times "The dumpster chic of the Olsen twins would seem to mark them as front-runners for a worst-dressed list. In fact, the twins are trendsetters for the latest hipster look."  Please.

I just came across one of those "favorite lists" that Amazon shoppers create.  The one that made me pause and take a look was titled "Top Essential Riot Grrrl Albums".  Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Team Dresch, Julie Ruin, Le Tigre, Sleater Kinney, Cadallaca, and Heavens To Betsy all made the list.   Those bands were so much a part of my life at one time.  I even rocked the "Riot Grrrl" Screen Name.  Nostalgia can be such a drag.  So many of those CDs I've discarded.  But at least I held onto the important ones.  I think tonight a little  "Pussy Whipped"  listening and a little feminism reading will be taking place.

Eligible, not too stupid

So I had an interview on Friday.  The woman interviewing me handed me a piece of paper and a pen and asked me to write a paragraph about "why I want to work for her company".  What does one do when placed in a situation like that?  All I could think of was David Sedaris.  There's a story in his book Holidays on Ice which is titled "Santaland Diaries".  In it he writes about going to apply for a job at UPS.  When the interviewer asks him why he wants to work for UPS he responds with "because I like the brown uniforms".  Questions like this one are so absurd.  The fact that she requested a handwritten response seemed not only absurd but verging on juvenile.  Due to the fact that I have no real desire to work for her company (it just happens to be one of the few hiring at the moment) it was difficult to come up with something sincere.

Today a guy actually called my mom and asked her if she would give him permission to ask me out on a "date".   The old fashioned nature of this request may have appealed to me if the guy had been remotely my type.  Unfortunately I pleaded with my mom to lie on my behalf and tell him that I was already taken.   Luckily she complied.

I'm smitten.  With a car.  It's a '79, white, two door, Mercedes.  It's priced at $5,000 and is in pristine condition.  It's so posh.  I figure I can sell the Audi buy the Mercedes and still have a few thousand left over.  Do I dare?

So you're brilliant gorgeous and

Last night Kasia and I were discussing a certain boy.  And how I thought he was in a state of floundering, in regards to his life.  Not living up to his full potential and what not.  Then Kasia supplied a quote from Melissa Bank's book The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing which summed up the situation superbly. 

"After the waiter had taken our order, I mentioned that my boyfriend, Jamie, was probably in Paris right now.  Jamie had been in Europe for a month, trying to figure out what to do with his life- which was what he was doing with his life."

Fact checker's delight

I get such satisfaction from finding typos in the books I'm reading. Especially when the author is a pretentious twit. And especially when it occurs within the first few pages of the book. Where's Jackie O when you need her?

In the crush department I HAD a new one. But I'm over it. Anyway it was Jerry from the "Bachelorette". Refrain from making any snide remarks. Gallery directors just "do it" for me. Plus he knows Sign Language, and he was so sweet with his mom last week. But the hilarious thing is he's the doorman from Harry Winston that flirted with Lori from The Real World! Read all about it ( gossiplist.com ). What a dolt. But he's still cute.

Psst!

I have a huge crush on Austin Scarlett from Project Runway.  He's such a DANDY!  He's like a modern day Oscar Wilde.  And his hair is all swishy and cute.  Kasia and I are devising a plan to make him our friend and ask him to design dresses for us.

Why why why do I always fall for boys who I know aren't "the one".  And even when I find out things about them that should solidify the fact that they are NOT the one for me do I still try to convince myself that these "things" are worth overlooking.  And I'm always so adamant about not settling.  Yet that's all I seem to do.

As long as I'm asking questions.  Here's another.  Why do I spend money on books like Be My Guest: Theme Party Savior-Fair written by the socialite Rena Sindi?  And which cost $35 bucks!  I seem to go weak in the knees for books put out by Assouline.  But this book was so not worth my time.  I hate authors who are so self indulgent and pretentious.  Get over yourself!  Your parties are bland and hiring an event planner, florist, and chef, does not count as creativity.

I should have forgotten you long ago

"Ashby to Eighty
Eighty to the Bridge
Bridge down to One
Route One carry on"

I'm missing the Bay Area (Berkeley specifically).  The neighborhood I used to live in is called "The Elmwood".  Don't you love it?  I think it's just asking to be made into a neighborhoodies sweatshirt.

These were the important parts:

• Movie nights with Kate (and the hilarity of the fact that she didn't own a TV or DVD player and although I did she could not enter my apartment due to being allergic to my cat.  So for our weekly movie nights I would have to carry the TV and DVD player from my apartment to hers.  We lived across from each other in the same building so it's not as big a deal as it sounds).
• Cocktails at Cesars (and the night we had to walk all the way back to your apartment while trying to keep each other from falling over).
• Willard Park (where I first encountered the homeless man with the seat cover he'd constructed for his bike out of a Louis Vuitton bag, so Berkeley!).
• Looking at art books at Cody's Books (while waiting for you to get out of class).
• Trying to figure out what house Michael Chabon lived in (he shops at the Star Grocery!)
• The Star Grocery (where they still let people put their groceries on a "tab").
• Tuesday evenings (cheap movie night at the Elmwood Theater).
• Seeing Belle and Sebastian for the second time (when Alina came to visit).
• Cheap sushi (at Man Puku, where they remember my order!).
• Expensive sushi (at Kirala - the best in the east bay).
• The day Anna FINALLY said my name (well she said "Nessa" but she was 2 and 1/2 and I'd been her nanny for two whole years before she could say it).
• Seeing Margaret Cho with Sarah (but first drinks at Cesars).
• The view of SF (from the Paragon Bar at the Claremont Hotel).
• My first dinner at Chez Panisse ( Welcome to ChezPanisse.com ) (upstairs - but we had too many drinks next door to enjoy it - you paid!).
• My second dinner at Chez Panisse (downstairs - with my mom - I paid!).
• Alice's funeral (where everyone kept asking Kate and I if we were sisters - FYI if you see two redheads together it doesn't mean they are related).  I just used the term "FYI", how embarassing.
• The Alameda Point Antiques Fair (the first Sunday of every month).
• Videots (where I won 50 free movie rentals for guessing last years Academy award winners, go me).
• Launderland (people would come from as far away as South Oakland to do their laundry here, and their Terminator pinball game was swell).
• Ozzie's Soda Fountain (it was all about their grilled cheese sandwiches and their view of the hills).
• Kisses from Jules (the most stylish boy in The Elmwood - he wore a tux to his Birthday party! so posh).

Epitaph for my heart

I have this ability to reference things that happen in my life back to episodes of Sex and the City. In the episode "Take me out to the ball game" Carrie talks about how after a break up certain streets, locations and times of days are off limits. And in my case it has to do with a certain box set of 69 Love Songs by the Magnetic Fields. Those songs were the sound track to that first weekend we spent together. And even after all this time has passed I go through periods of not being able to listen to any of those 69 songs. The interesting thing is that listening to anything put out before or after 69 Love Songs sparks none of this emotional roller coaster whatsoever. And the devesting thing is those three CDs are my absolute favorite and having these moments of not being able to tolerate listening to them is beyond frustrating.