The Peeping Blog

A Christmas Story

2010-11-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

A long time family favorite, "A Christmas Story" from 1983, was the inspiration behind my latest greeting card entry. Young Ralphie sporting his least favorite Christmas gift:

Available in a set of 5, here: The Painted Peep Show

New Christmas Cards!

2010-11-08T16:40:00.001-08:00

Here's a set of 4 Christmas cards (2 from last year, and 2 that I completed this morning):

You can see the set (and more) by clicking the images below...

Etsy
thePaintedPeepShow

Halloween, Christmas, and everything in between

2010-11-07T15:24:00.001-08:00

The dust from Halloween has settled and it feels like a new year. I've started working on new Christmas cards, which will hopefully be available later this week. The EtsyGreetingsTeam is doing a Great Greetings Giveaway, which I'm participating in. You can find details, here or in my shop announcement. But, back to the party... my cousin came up from D.C., most everyone dressed up, the decorations were great. The day after Halloween is always a bit sad for me, but I now have a whole year to start planning my next costume and party! But first, some photos from the event:

My cousin Lindsay (as Rachel from Glee), me as Satan (or a satyr), and my roomie Leslie (as

Vampira)

Marie Antoinette, Seaweed, a Jellyfish, and a skeleton.

Me, a scary lady, and Tyler as a werewolf... you can't see it, but he has hair all around his hair, chest and coming out of his sleeves.

A better pic of Tyler and Leslie
The jellyfish (again, though slightly deconstructed now), Superman, and my cuz.

The Witches Pantry

2010-09-08T06:28:00.000-07:00

To help you witches get ready for Hallowe'en, I've put together an Etsy Treasury of potions, appendages, and other accessories for conjuration. The perfect starter kit for any witch-in-training or even the more seasoned spellbinders. Take a look!

The Witches Pantry - Treasury

For more from Halloween items, find my store here: The Painted Peep Show

New Niece and New Cards!

2010-09-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday so I won't spend much time typing. I think the images speak for themselves.

My brand new niece, Addilyn:

In addition to the new family member, I have three new sets of dog cards available in my store.

Etsy
thePaintedPeepShow

Featured on Etsy Greetings Blog!

2010-08-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

My shop, The Painted Peep Show, is this weeks featured shop on Etsy Greetings Blog! You can read the interview here.

Meanwhile, I'm back in Oklahoma visiting family... my new niece (pics to come soon, I'm sure), and Taco Bueno.

Also, you can expect some new dog note cards up sometime next week.

New Halloween cards listed! Finally!

2010-08-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

After searching (endlessy, it seemed) for a decent printing service, I finally decided to purchase my own decent printer. I now have new merch in my store! AND, it's not just any merch, it's Halloween cards! My favorite time of year is approaching. I've listed a set of 4 brand new cards, and reprinted/relisted last years cards on a matte card stock. I will be listing another set of spooky cards next week.

Make sure to check them out, or I'll put a spell on you!

Etsy
thePaintedPeepShow

For more cards, prints, watercolors, head over to my store!

The Painted Peep Show

Original Watercolor for sale!

2010-08-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

I've listed my first original illustration for sale in my Etsy shop. I've had such a difficult time finding a decent print service (that doesn'tovercharge), that I wanted to do something quick so I could have some fresh inventory. I've broken down and finally purchased a nice Epson printer, so hopefully I can get some new Halloween cards up next week.

Sunday Girl Tea Party

For more, check out my Etsy shop!

The Painted Peep Show

Feline Portraits - Etsy Alchemy

2010-08-11T15:59:00.001-07:00

A dear friend of mine requested custom anthropomorphist portraits of her cats. She sent me several photos along with detailed personality descriptions.

Here is Twiggy. She's shy, but loves observing people, and won't stop talking once she's got your ear. She's prissy and loves to be adored (but only by those she's comfortable with). Madame Twiggy:

And here is Brick. She is very social, but only speaks when she has something important to say (i.e. feed me, pet me). She's also a bit of a tomboy, but a great companion. Without further ado:

The Painted Peep Show

Robyn & Kelis "All Hearts Tour"

2010-08-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

A music post, for a change of pace. We went to see Robyn & Kelis perform at Webster Hall in Manhattan last night, and the show was amazing. The only downside was between sets when my cousin almost collapsed due to lack of food and too much heat. This is why the video is taken from further away when Robyn took the stage.

Robyn performs her new single, "Hang With Me", live for the very first time!

Kelis performs (flawlessly, I might add) with a cold she caught from her one year old.

And, I won't overlook the great performance from opening act, Dan Black.

They look good enough to eat!

2010-07-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've posted four new prints in my shop (relisted my dachshund print as well). A series of three ice cream prints, which I created for my (brand new) nieces' nursery, and an illustration I had done previously for a greeting card. They are done in gouache, with either a watercolor or ink underpainting. Every time I look at them, I get hungry... mmmmm

Three scoops of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry

One scoop of pistachio ice cream in a cake cone

Two scoops of vanilla with hot fudge, whip cream, and a cherry on top!

And a slightly more abstracted scoop of brightly colored ice cream with sprinkles in a waffle cone.

For more prints and greeting/note cards, stop by my shop The Painted Peep Show

Sleepover Games

2010-07-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

Continuing from my last post. Here is another illustration I've completed, which I'll be addingto my store shortly. This series is based on games children play, which are generally considered harmless fun, but to a child can be quite scary. This is Bloody Mary.

Here is (a detail of) the completed illustration:

For more:

The Painted Peep Show

The Haunted Tea Party?

2010-07-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek at a little project on which I've been working (for no particular reason, other than the fact that it's what I wanted). It started out as a sketch. A little girl having a tea party with her stuffed teddy bear. Inspiration came from a vintage photo of a young girl having a tea party.

Cute, right? But, it quickly morphed into something else. Something a little more... sinister. I lost the teddy bear, added another little girl, a Ouija board, and...

I'll be turning it into a print, or a card, or both for Halloween this year. I've also completed another illustration in the series, and am in the process of a third. Stay tuned!

ThePaintedPeepShow

Christmas in July SALE!

2010-07-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted, but I've been workin' like crazy! I've two part time jobs and have also been working on a couple of illustration projects (some of which you'll see soon...think Halloween!). But, the purpose of this post is to let everyone know that I'm having a Christmas in July sale in my Etsy store for the next week or so. It's a Buy-One-Get-One sale. Check out my shop announcement for details, and tell your friends!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

Cyndi, Cyndi, Cyndi!

2010-05-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hey, all!

I've been workin' like crazy the past week, and won't have a day off for another week and a half! I'm exhausted, but excited about the great news I have to share today! Cyndi's single "Just Your Fool" was released on Amazon and iTunes today for digital download. Check it out (I mean BUY IT)- id371601729

Additionally, her label is offering a FREE download of another new Cyndi song (featuring Jonny Lang), which you can download HERE!

Even better is the news that she's performing at NY's legendary Town Hall theatre in July! Tickets go on sale this friday and I will be purchasing tickets for the best seats I can find because I'm taking my Flip camera, so I can record as much as possible.

Anyway, I've been filming all of the concerts I've gone to, so I may post some clips soon... if I don't forget! I'm also trying to get back into the illustration swing, but this full time work thing is really sapping my energy, but hopefully soon!

New York!

2010-05-01T07:59:00.001-07:00

I'm in New York now, well, Brooklyn, but that's where all the cool kids live. :) I've been going to lots of shows/concerts since I've been here. All have been under $10 and a few have been free. I found out about Cyndi Lauper's new cd preview party and was, somehow, able to get on that list. There were about 25 people in the room, most were in the music industry, and we were able to preview 5 new tracks from her cd, Memphis Blues, which comes out on June 22nd. After the show, I was even able to speak with her.

Last night, I won two free tickets to see Gossip perform live. If you aren't familiar, you should check them out. Beth Ditto is large and in charge, and she has an amazing voice and stage presence.

Kelis (remember the song Milkshake?) performed some of her new music in a nightclub, so we went to see that, which was amazing. Pardon the crazy angles in the video... I'd had a couple of beverages and thought I was being creative... hahaha. I loved her lace one-sy and bedazzled tiara with cat ears. Her light-up mic stand was pretty rad, too.

We also went to see Dragonette perform, but I forgot to take my camera along, so there's no video from that show. One of my roommates friends puts on a weekly show with new/upcoming bands, so we've been going to those every week as well. In other words, I love NY. Yesterday, I heard back from a job interview at CB2 and was hired part time, so that takes some of the stress off. Anyway, I hope to continue going to shows and taking more video soon.

Sorry Casey

2010-03-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

Found these old Halloween pics and I just had to post them for all to see! But, to show that I'm a good sport, I even threw in a pic with me. I call this, my tragic period.

Here we are... Casey (dressed as an 80's hooker), Rachel (um... wearing a pink wig is something, right?), me (dressed as I usually did when I wasn't in school uniform), Wes (looking like he's trying to channel the spirit of Papa Smurf).

Here's Casey again... showing her True Colors!

And, here she is getting ready to meet up with her john.

Unleashing her most seductive look:

High in fiber

2010-03-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

I've completed another set of cards. They were pretty fun to paint, but kept giving me severe cravings for all things unhealthy. This is bad news when you're painting at 2am. I wanted to create cards for some of the most unhealthy, nasty, and delicious things of which I could think (Does that sound way too proper coming from me? Didn't want to end with a preposition). Anyway, at least the cards are high in fiber. (see below - second row/second column)

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

I've been feeling uninspired since I've completed this set and am hoping to get motivated here realllllly soon. While I wait inspiration to wash over me, I'll be treating myself to Alice In Wonderland this afternoon. I've heard mixed reviews and my expectations are low, but I hope I'll enjoy it nonetheless.

A Taste of Things to Come...

2010-03-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

This post is a jumble of sorts. First things first. One image from my next series of note cards:

Moving on... being the eve of the Oscar's, I thought I'd put in my two cents about "A Single Man."

The film was directed by famed designer (Gucci) Tom Ford, and stars Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, et al. Perhaps, more interesting than most Hollywood films because of the artistic approach to, well, just about everything. Nominated for an Oscar, Colin Firth should win for this performance (although Jeff Bridges is more likely). Set in 1960's L.A., it's a story about a man whose recent loss has driven him to contemplate suicide. The story (adopted from a novel written by Christopher Isherwood) actually takes place during the day of the aforementioned suicide. Amazing performances, soundtrack, and story deserve a view, or two. It manages to maintain a balance between self-revelation, grief, beauty, and sexuality without becoming too heavy and without any sex scenes (though there are plenty of butt shots). My favorite film of the year, so far.

Uncle!!!

2010-02-27T22:05:00.001-08:00

I'm going to be one! My brother and his wife recently told the family that they are going to have a baby, and we just found out they're having a girl. I've never been a baby-crazy person... don't get me wrong, I think they're great and cute, but I don't really like to be around children because they're so tiny, sticky, smelly, and just strange. Anyway, I'm excited about having a niece. AND, I know there are a few of you who are having babies (or grand-babies) in the near future. Babies are everywhere! I wanted to share this Etsy store that has some really cute baby things.

I'm sooo getting my niece a monkey hat.

New Cards & Prints! AND a Blog Feature!

2010-02-20T10:27:00.000-08:00

So, I've been m.i.a. for a couple of months. I suppose the holidays are partly to blame for breaking my habits. Anyway, I'm back.

While I haven't had much of a presence here, I have been working on new cards and prints (yes, I have prints now) for my Etsy shop. I've been branching out and working with graphite, ink, and gouache (which I love). My new fave items are the birthday cards, dachshund graphite cards/print, and my I-Love-You/anniversary cards:

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

I've also been featured on LoveClayBlog... give them some love,

In case you don't know, you can follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaintedPeepShow

I'm just saying...

2009-12-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

So, I'm not saying Adam Lambert's performance was tasteful (in fact, I didn't care for his performance at all), but if he can get in trouble for his choreography, why didn't Pink get in trouble for her performance at the 2004 Billboard awards?

Seems familiar. Double standard? Looks like it.

Still no job...Pussycat... New York

2009-11-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

I went on my shady interview, and haven't heard back from them. Not a bad thing though. The company sells art prints. Ya know, the standards, such as: Klimt's "The Kiss", Van Gogh's "Starry Night", etc. If they'd sell Schiele's "The Red Host," or Aubrey Beardsley's "Lacedomonian Ambassadors" then I'd be impressed. Clutch the pearls!

I did enjoy my Denver trip... got to see grandparents and party with friends. I also (accidentally) saw a performance by one of the Pussycat Dolls. Which one, you ask? Does it matter? Not really. But, just for kicks, here's a pic of her wearing the same trashy outfit she wore when I saw her.

And now, I'm planning a trip to NY to see Tyler (who I haven't seen since July). I've been before in the summer, but this will be my first time to see NY in winter, so I'm excited. Hoping to find a good concert, museum, or maybe I'll stalk Cyndi... who knows.

Wish me luck!

2009-11-10T20:44:00.000-08:00

I have a job interview tomorrow morning! May sound shady, but I don't know much about the company, or position, other than they are "hip" and deal in art. The interview is at 11:30, I have to be at the airport by 12:30, and my flight leaves at 1:30 (I'm flying to Denver for the remainder of the week). It's going to be a rush, but hopefully I'll make it through the morning in tact.

And, just because every post should have a picture:

TRAINWRECK (like her though)

The Day After...

2009-11-01T11:50:00.001-08:00

Well, my favorite day of the year is over and I'm in a bit of a slump. I don't usually look forward to Christmas as it's fairly hectic what with buying presents, going into debt, scheduling family events, etc. I'm more of a laid-back, no stress, kinda holiday guy. Anyway, I've just taken down my Halloween tree and decided I'd rather be online than do anymore clean up right now. I didn't get very many pics, because, as usual, I forgot. Here's what we ate yesterday:

We started with a black pasta in pesto sauce (I found this photo online since I forgot to take one)

Again, forgot to take a photo, but we got this recipe from Martha Stewart and it was AMAZING! It's a puff pastry with gruyere and parmesan cheeses, and a paprika/butter glaze.

Here are the cupcakes my mom and I made, and the haunted brownies that I made.

Another shot of my haunted brownies.

And, finally, the only person who was dressed up. Casey was dressed as a black eyed pea, and had fun making people guess what she was. Also, the Cheshire Cat pumpkin she carved. Very nice! (and a little glimpse of my Halloween tree) It was a low-key kinda Halloween, but I had a lot of fun with family and friends.

Halloween: Witches, Dancing Werewolves, and a Knocking on the Wall

2009-10-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Well, the big day is almost here. I wanted to share a couple of my fave Halloween party songs with you.

Embedding was disabled on this one, but it's an awesome dancey, horror themed video.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs - Heads Will Roll

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK4SUof_yv8

Eartha Kitt:

Ladyhawke - Dust Till Dawn

New Holiday Card is up/Halloween is almost here!

2009-10-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the new Christmas card:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33177397

One more "naughty" child card and that'll be it. I'm planning on doing a series of holiday cards minus the children theme, but haven't yet figured out what it's going to be.

------------------------------------------------------

Less than a week till Halloween! I have begun watching my traditional Halloween shows, which is exciting. I've watched Hocus Pocus, and need to watch Disney's Halloween Treat (long out of print and only available via eBay on VHS), Ernest Scared Stupid, Garfield's Halloween, Frankenweenie (one of Tim Burton's early ones), and The Witches. There are many, many more, including horror movies, but Halloween always makes me feel like a kid, so the family movies are priority. Then there's the music I listen to to get pumped up for the big day. I've done about all of the decorating I'll do, which is way toned down compared to Halloween's past.

Do other people have Halloween traditions like I do? I'm sure I've gone over the edge with mine.

A Taste of Things to Come...

2009-10-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

I'm breaking my own rules. I hate mentioning, or even thinking of, the "C" word before Halloween, but the early bird catches the worm? Here's a (very) rough sketch of my next holiday card...

The Great Pumpkin is going to be pissed! But, even he can understand that I'll do whatever it takes to get those coins, even if it means promoting *gulp* Christmas before Halloween! Anyway, the illustration... a little boy is eating Santa's cookies and drinking Santa's milk.... that's Santa's shadow on the while in the back.

Better to be Paranormal than just Normal

2009-10-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

So, I just returned from my weekly outing (well, that's what it seems like these days). This week, it was the low-budge indie horror flick, "Paranormal Activity." It wasn't particularly original - if you've seen an episode of Discovery's "A Haunting" you'll be familiar (or any other tv documentary-style ghostie show), but perhaps that's what makes it seem so real. I think the scariest part came once the movie had ended and I had to drive back out to the sticks to a dark, empty house. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I love to be scared so I'm going to end the evening with an episode of "A Haunting". Whispering in the dark, shadows moving across an empty room, warm breaths on the back your neck from a mouth that isn't there... goodnight!

Eye am in pain

2009-10-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

So, I went to the fair with the girls last night and had a good time (even though the "smallest woman in the world" gave me the evils), ate lots of unhealthy food, and saw some interesting art work. I came home, decided I'd get to bed at a decent hour, read for a few minutes and went to sleep... with my contacts still in. I woke up thinking, "gee, I sure can see clearly this morning." My eyes now feel like someone rubbed them with hot coals wrapped in sandpaper.

I can't believe it... I'm... I'm... I'm on Twitter

2009-10-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

I signed up about an hour ago... made a few quick "Tweets" and had instant hits on my Etsy shop! I don't know why I hesitated to sign up for Twitter!

If you Twitter, watch me Tweet!

http://twitter.com/PaintedPeepShow

New Etsy Items! Canine Note Cards and more

2009-10-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

I've been working feverishly all week trying to get a new batch of cards up for the weekend. I've also been taking care of my sisters French Bulldogs and my brothers Dachshund... so, it hasn't been a very relaxing week. Anyway, I finished my dog cards, one Christmas card (more after Halloween), and some pumpkin note cards.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

Pumpkins!

2009-09-25T16:57:00.001-07:00

I went, with my mom, to a pumpkin patch (for lack of a better word) and bought pumpkins today. Minutes before we arrived they had just finished unloading the trucks, so we got first dibs and found some really beautiful pumpkins and gourds. Here are pics: !

I'm not sure what the big red one is called, but the Red Worty Thing is called just that. The green and yellow striated gourd is italian in origin, but can't recall the name. The dusty, gray orange pumpkins are, I think, called Fairytale Pumpkins. The two dusty gray/blue/green pumpkins are, I believe, Jarrahdale Blue... or Australian Blue. The other two green things are gourds.
We got these in Bixby. If you're looking for less traditional pumpkins this year, now is the time to buy, because they will be picked over soon!

Classy, but get nasty at the same time...

2009-09-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

"all about the paper, certified banker, call me Betty Crocker cause they always got to cake her"

Picture it... a Saturday night, Tulsa, 2009. A young-ish man sitting in his parents house with nothing to do. No one to dance with, have a drink with, and his parents have already gone to sleep.

Since I've been back in Tulsa, I've been missing the dance floor. My iTunes playlist lately has consisted of mostly dance-y type tracks. One of my favorites, always a flashback to Savannah, is Rasheeda... I know, it's ghetto, but she has that slow, sexy, southern drawl that reminds me of my post-college years (and all those slow steppin' savannah women). I don't much care for hip-hop, but I have a thing for nasty ghetto girls. It's fun to see how creative they can be with lyrics based on the same subjects in every song. Whether it's about money, like the quote above. Or, about clothes... "I got my red Gucci dress, red Gucci pumps, supa dupa fly, I give'em what they want". Or, just nasty... "all my flavas is juic-ay, down to the last drop, good and fruit-ay, you won't catch me on the youtube mov-ay, can't let just anybody play with the boot-ay"

It makes me laugh every time, and I just had to share Rasheeda:

Bernie Fuchs (1932 - 2009)

2009-09-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

I don't follow contemporary art as well as I probably should, but when I find an artist I like I do my best keep up. Bernie Fuchs was, hands down, my favorite illustrator/painter. I'm really awful at trying to describe things, so here are a few of his pieces.

Etsy - The Painted Peep Show!

2009-09-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hey All! I haven't been online in a looong minute! But, I have a new computer, and internet connection again. I also have my own Etsy.com store, where I've just began selling Halloween greeting cards. Take a look and tell your friends! Also, check back because I'll be adding more items later on.

thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

Idol... results

2009-05-21T17:42:00.001-07:00

So, Adam didn't win. It probably doesn't matter because they're both going to have huge oppurtunities and I expect we'll be seeing Mr. Lambert again very soon. The finale show was pretty good. I was hoping Cyndi would sing a newer song (Rain On Me would have been a beautiful alternative to her standard ballads), but I'm glad she sang Time After Time instead of Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Allison did a good job as well. I was actually hoping Allison would've stuck around longer in the competition as I felt she was one of the stronger vocalists, but she's still really young and I think she's going to have a lot of oppurtunity still. What was up with the Black Eyed Peas mini-concert? Boom Boom Pow? Yeah... uh... that's fantastic.

Idol

2009-05-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

So, tonight is the finale. I'm hoping Adam wins because I think he has a more unique voice and he's more of a performer than Kris. However, I wouldn't be totally disappointed if Kris wins because he has a good voice and he's fairly attractive (color me shallow). BUT, the most important part of the finale show is Cyndi Lauper's performance. Her bit is fairly brief... she's singing a duet with Allyson...Allison...whats-her-face. They will be singing Time After Time together. Unfortunately, I'll catch it after everyone else because it airs later on the west coast.

Disney Fun!!!

2009-05-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

My brother and his wife are visiting this weekend and I'm taking them to Disneyland tomorrow (his wife has never been to a Disney park before). So, I thought I'd post a couple of ride photos from previous Disney adventures:

Splash Mountain, obviously...
Tower of Terror... I love these pics because it's fun to see other people's reactions. You can always tell who has ridden before and knows when to pose...

Easter, La Roux, and Denver

2009-04-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a while since I've blogged. I've been preoccupied with my job situation. I found out today that I'm going to be laid off at the end of the month, which came as no surprise since the company's been downsizing over the past couple of months. Anyway, here are a couple of pics from my visit to Denver...

This first pic is from Estes Park (in the mountains). This is the Stanley Hotel, where Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining

This elk slowed down traffic as we were leaving Estes Park. There were elk everywhere... even on the city streets!
This was a hotel bar in downtown Denver. I think it was called Lattitude, or something clever like that. With Tyler, and our friends Michael and James.

Here I am in the mountains. It was so beautiful and the weather was perfect for climbing on rocks.

Fast forward a couple of weeks to Easter... I've been obsessed with a new band called La Roux (the red-haired one). They're very 80's inspired electro-pop artists. Think Yaz, Eurythmics, Prince all rolled into one band. They haven't even released their first album yet, and have only released singles in the UK so far. I was able to get us tickets for a show last night at the Roxy, and it was fantastic. Tyler says her hair reminds him of how I used to wear mine. Although mine was more vertical and less in my face. But, I digress. Here's a photo, followed by her most recent video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ1Mi77nogQ

Spring Break!

2009-03-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Yay! Four day vacation! This weekend, Tyler and I are flying to Denver to visit some friends. Actually, they live in Boulder...actually, they live in Lafayette, which is between Boulder and Denver. Whatevs, I get 4 days off work and that's most important. It's supposed to be in the 70's this weekend, so I don't have to worry about snow. We're going to do some sight-seeing, bar hopping, hot tubbing, sleep... er... sleeping. Hope everyone else has as good of a weekend as I'm planning on having!

Last House on the Left

2009-03-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was invited to a pre-screening of the new movie, Last House on the Left, which is actually a remake of one of Wes Craven's (A Nightmare On Elm Street, Scream) early films. Although I enjoyed the premise of the first movie, I wasn't crazy about it, so I had low expectations for the remake. However, I was surprised at how well it was done. There were a few changes to the plot, but the integrity of the original story was in tact. And, the last 20 minutes or so had the entire theater cheering and applauding! If you're unaware of the story, here it is in a nutshell. Family goes to lake house for summer, daughter goes off with friend and they are abducted. Girls come to harm, villains have a coincidental meeting with victims parents, parents realize what has happened, and an ending you won't want to miss. There are some extremely violent scenes, but the ending completely makes up for it. If you enjoy horror movies, you should go see it on this Friday the 13th!

The Bumpers Have Spoken

2009-03-05T13:33:00.001-08:00

While driving to work yesterday (during rush hour traffic, on Sunset Blvd, in the pouring rain) the moron in front of me decided she would come to a complete stop at an intersection during a green light. So, I slammed on my brakes and hydroplaned right into her bumper. I jumped out of the car to assess the damage, and she stepped out of her car crying. I assured her everything was okay. She had no damage to her SUV, but unfortunately, my bumper was dislocated and my front license plate was bent. Not to mention various scuffs and cracks. She immediately apologized for stopping during a green light (I should mention, she stepped out of her car fiddling with her cell phone). I was very warm and friendly with her, so we decided we didn't need to call the police and we could be on our way. So, I asked her if she was alright and she said, "Yeah, just a little whiplash"! Folks, I couldn't have been going more than 5 or 6 mph, and she has whiplash!?! On top of that, I called my insurance company and they said since there's not physical evidence of her stopping in a green light, she can't be held negligible. But, because my bumper took damage I am being held negligible for running into her.

Relax and have a Mental Margherita

2009-02-23T15:50:00.000-08:00

This weekend, I received "Earth Girls Are Easy" via Netflix. I didn't have good expectations for this movie since the friend who recommended it to me told me it was a cheesey 80's flick. Oh, man! I loved it so much, I think I'm going to buy it! It's a campy, comedy/musical with a large cast of well-knowns (Gina Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, and the incomparable Julie Brown). Here's a clip of my favorite song in the movie, "Cause I'm a Blond"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rNfZxgkH7k

Also, I actually didn't hate the Oscar's this weekend. I enjoyed the format for presentations, and most importantly, the red carpet! Since Mrs. Pam already posted the pics, I won't bother (thanks for saving me the trouble!)... I'm ready for Jack Black to go away. Ben Stiller wasn't that funny. Tina Fey looks amazing. Sophia Loren looks like Valentino. Brangelina, and Jen, need to disappear. Slumdog was excellent, but won more awards than it deserved. AND, I need to see that movie with Penelope Cruz.

Elvira made my face all blurry!

2009-02-19T17:33:00.000-08:00

I said I was going to post these pics about a month ago, but my friend just emailed them to me. These are the pics from Elvira's anniversary show at the Vista theater. The first one... well, I blurred my face out, because I wasn't expecting three flashes and started to pull back after the first. Same with Elvira...not the most flattering pic of her either.

Here's a pic from inside the theater. It's a beautiful old theater, and the seats had TONS of leg room, which was really nice. The guy walking with her won the contest to be the next Elvira. Obviously, he's not in costume here. Apparently, the contest was filled with drag queens.

Chocolate Cakes and Nightmares

2009-02-16T15:16:00.000-08:00

I posted last week about my anniversary. Here's a picture of the chocolate cake Tyler bought me. My stomach just about died when I saw this. It's the most beautiful thing to ever go into my stomach.

Sunday, I drove through West Hollywood with some friends. We went on a mission to find the "Nightmare On Elm Street" houses. Here is the house where it all started:

And here's the house where Johnny Depp's character lived. Yes, for those of you who don't know it, "Nightmare" was Johnny's first feature film.

Jason Takes Valentine's Day

2009-02-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

I'm super excited about this weekend! Every Friday the 13th, I have my Friday-the-13th-a-thon... a-n-y-w-a-y ...and this year, there's a new Jason movie coming out! It's sure to disappoint, but I'm seeing it anyway. I have friends at Paramount Pictures and they've invited me to see the movie on the studio lot! For free!!! So, in honor of the holiday, I'm doing a quick little mini-bio on Jason:

Remember that time when Jason tried to go swimming. He always loved summer camp!

Maybe you remember when Jason hit puberty. He had to beat the girls off with a stick! ...or a machete!

And then this was this one time when Jason went on vacation to Manhattan. We stopped caring after he went to hell. Ugh! He even joined the space program and went into outer space one time.

Anniversary

2009-02-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is mine and Tyler's 4-year anniversary and since he decided to go to Las Vegas this weekend without me (long story) we're not getting a V-Day dinner. Actually, that's fine by me because it's kind of a silly holiday anyway (but I'm still going to make him feel bad). So, I made reservations at a restaurant called Cliff's Edge. It's not too far from my apt and it's supposed to be really great. They have an outdoor patio with a large tree growing in the center (see pic below) and lots of heat lamps during the cold weather. They serve Mediterranean/Italian/Greek food and have an extensive wine list. We don't eat out at really nice places very often, so this is a treat.

Griffith Park & Observatory.

2009-02-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

About a mile up the street from my apartment sits the Griffith Observatory. Many films have been shot at the Observatory and the surrounding park - such as: Rebel Without A Cause, Back To The Future, The Rocketeer, and so on. When I first moved here, almost a year ago now, I often went up to the park and explored the trails.

The weather is nice today and I'm sitting in the office wishing I were outside.

These pics are from last year. Here you can see the trails winding around the hills.

This pic is from the back side of Griffith Park and shows The Valley (Glendale) and, I believe, the San Gabriel Mountains.

This one doesn't really need an explanation. Well, maybe a little. The Hollywood Hills and Griffith Park run together. They form a spine that seperates L.A. from The Valley.

Here is a pic looking down from the trails. The building is the Griffith Observatory.

This last pic is from one of the dead end trails and has some amazing views of L.A. (right side) and the Valley (left side)

New Video!

2009-01-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV1GBx93cec&eurl=http://cyndilaupernews.com/forums/index.php/topic,1298.0/topicseen.html&feature=player_embedded

Here's the new video from Cyndi Lauper! It's a Japanese only release for a mashup of Girls Just Want To Have Fun / Set Your Heart. I don't care much for the song at all, but the video is kind of fun. Very simple, but the production is slick.

P.S. I can't figure out how to embed the video because I can't seem to copy the entire embed code.

I Love New York

2009-01-28T13:04:00.000-08:00

A little game for those of you with iTunes!

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends--------------------------

What do your friends think of you?
"Gypsies, Tramps, & Thieves" – Really? All three? I'm a dirty, thieving, gypsy!

If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say...
"Clown" – See, this would've worked better for the first question.

How would you describe yourself?
"Shattered Glass" – What can I say... I have issues ;)

What do you like in a guy/girl?
"Belladonna" – Isn't this a plant? Okay, this might work. I like someone who can set down roots and still grow as a person. Wait. It's also known as Deadly Night Shade. That can't be good.

How do you feel today?
"Handle Me” I guess that means I'm feeling submissive.

What is your life’s purpose?
"Wake Up" – Hopefully it's more than that!

What is your motto?
"4 In The Morning" – Because that's when I'm asleep. Maybe this corresponds with the previous response?!?

What do you think about very often?
"Dynamite" - Well, I do have road rage issues.

What is 2+2?
"Porchlight" – I was hoping for 8-6-7-5-3-0-9

What do you think of your best friend?
"Show Me Love" – Hey, that's not bad.

What do you think of the person you like?
"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" – that's ominous!

What is your life story?
"Neva Wanna Leave" – Hmmm. Wrong! Because I keep moving!

What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Pussycat Meow" – Oh, Deee-lite! Thank you for that!

What do you think of when you see injustice?
"Time After Time" – "If you fall I will catch you..."

What will you dance to at your wedding?
"Mood To Burn Bridges" – Another ominous answer about my relationship. Or, perhaps that song is dedicated to Prop 8?

What will they play at your funeral?
"Birthday" – That hardly seems appropriate!

What is your hobby/interest?
"Up To The Mountains" - I like the mountains, but I'd hardly call that a hobby.

What is your biggest fear?
"Ave Maria" – riiiiiight.

What is your biggest secret?
"What I Can Not Change" – Oooh, cryptic! Still didn't give away my secret!

What do you think of your friends?
"You Make Loving Fun" – Not that kind of lovin' though!

What will you post this as?
"I Love New York" – Oh Madonna, quite possible one of the WORST songs you've ever put out.

My Least Favorites List

2009-01-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

[Disclaimer - this is not to be taken personally by anyone. Especially since I don't know most of you personally anways! If you're offended by anything on my list...whatever. Though you are free to rant in the comments]

Looks like I've been tagged!

MOUTHBREATHERS
Okay, so this may sound a bit insensitive, but people who never close their mouths really get under my skin. I suppose, on the up side, they can't ever sneak up behind you because you'd be able to hear their heavy breathing and feel their stank breath on the back of your neck. The worst, when you have to eat dinner with one! They always chew with their mouths open. I understand that some people have difficult breathing, but there is a difference between those with difficulties and those who are just completely unaware.

HOTEL BATHROOMS
I think my mother really did a number on me, because I have many issues with cleanliness in public places. I hate using hotel bathrooms because so many people have used it before me. It's also impossible to say whether the cleaning crew is doing a decent job of cleaning. I never step barefoot into the bathtub or on the tile. Towels go down on the floor and in the tub and work as a shield against the filth. Hotel beds are gross too (the comforter...UGH), as are the carpets, etc.

DRIVING WHILE TALKING ON THE CELL
I don't think I need to go into detail on this one.

DRIVING AFTER DRINKING
Come on... You know you're going to be drinking. Just take a cab, bus, subway, etc. This is not okay!

NAIL PICKING, FOOD CRUNCHING, AND OTHER UNCOUTH MANNERISMS
These may seem strange, but they really grate on my nerves. Why do people pick at their nails? Some sort of nasty skin condition? Is there food stuck in there? OCD? Practicing for that Scratch & Win ticket? I'm not sure why these things are being picked at, and it sort of grosses me out. Sloppy eaters also gross me out. Luckily, most everyone I know has table manners. BUT, I don't like to hear you crunching on your Ranch flavored Dorito's, so please chew with your mouth closed!

UNCLEAN DISHES
Just because the sponge has soap on it, doesn't mean it automatically cleans the dishes! Muscle power! SCRUB!

All of this being said. I know I'm probably host to many other people's pet peeves. Again, no offense to anyone. These are just some of my little hang ups. ;)

Quiet weekend

2009-01-26T11:43:00.001-08:00

This weekend was verrry quiet. Tyler's aunt passed away last week so he flew home to Tennessee. I didn't do too much... it was pretty rainy and cool at the start of the weekend, so I stayed in and watched movies. Fortunately, the sky cleared up and I went for a couple of walks up into the Franklin Hills (a very pretty neighborhood near my apt) and I also spent quite a bit of time on my Wii Fit. My hips and butt are very sore today from all of the exercising... I've been told this is a good thing. Exercise, other than early morning pushups, is relatively new to me and Wii Fit is a great way to do it! Saturday night was fun because some friends of mine had a viewing party for Lifetime's, "Prayers For Bobby", which was better than I expected. I've always been a HUGE fan of Sigourney Weaver, and she did an amazing job. It was sad, and some of the direction was a bit odd, but the story was excellent. It had a message without being heavy handed.

And now, I'm back at work.

My Favorite Things...

2009-01-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've been tagged to post some of my favorite things...so here they are:

My Halloween decorations and homemade costumes! I plan for Halloween all year round and typically start decorating in July/August. It makes me feel like a kid. Also, I love that most of my decorations are homemade or pieced together. It makes it feel so much more personal.

My furniture. Most of which I bought for my condo in Savannah, which is sort of a sore subject. After working on the unit for well over a year it was finally completed and ready to move in to... one week before I was supposed to move to California! But, I spent a lot of time picking out furniture and will enjoy no matter what state it's in!

My Disneyland Premium Annual Pass! When I'm alone and life is making me lonely, I can always go... to Disneyland! I don't think I really need to explain this one. It is the most magical place on Earth!

All of my Cyndi Lauper memorabelia! From my Cyndi cardboard standee, to everything inside my box of Cyn! I have spent waaay too much time buying things on eBay, but don't regret any of it!

I love scurry movies! I'm a collector (though my Mom has another word for it...packrat), and I have a library of horror movies. My favorites are: Return of the Living Dead, Poltergeist, Friday the 13th, Black Christmas (original, not the remake), and so on...

Other items are: my arsenal of hair products, hats (tribly's, to be specific), children's books, art books, etc.

People Got A Lotta Nerve!

2009-01-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

Do your part and download a free song for charity! One of my all-time favorite artists, Neko Case, is releasing a new album in March. She is one of the most curious songwriters, and one of THE best vocalists I've ever heard. It's country/rock/folk/etc.... if you can classify it. Pass the word along as well!

For every blog that posts the song for download, Anti- Records and Neko will donate $5 to...well, see below...and listen to this great song!!!!

"Today, we are especially happy to bring you “People Got A Lotta Nerve,” the first single from Neko Case’s forthcoming album Middle Cyclone (out March 3), because for every blog that reposts the song and/or iLike user who adds it to their profile, Neko Case and ANTI- will make a cash donation to Best Friends Animal Society."

Download:http://www.anti.com/media/download/708

Check her out on iTunes, or watch her amazing live performance on youtube!

Time After Time

2009-01-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

After reading comments from my previous post, I realized I wasn't too clear...
It isn't that I dislike Time After Time, or even Girls Just Want To Have Fun (especially TAT, because it's such a beautiful song). I just hate that the record company is promoting those songs, 25 years later, when she has new music out. BTW, if you enjoy those songs, you definitely have to listen to When You Were Mine (from the same album)... that's one of my all time favorite songs.

Apparantly, Girls Still JUST Want To Have Fun

2009-01-15T16:18:00.000-08:00

It appears that Cyndi has a new music video coming out in Japan. With the upcoming single "Echo", I assumed it was for that song, but it's for a remix (or mashup) of her new song "Set Your Heart" mixed with "Girls Just Want To Have Fun". Now, I'm glad to see the record company investing in a quality video (image above is from said video), but I'm sooo sick of the constant rehashing of that novelty song! After all of the great work she's done since the 80's, why is she always remembered for that song or "Time After Time"? Anydisappointment, I'm still glad to see a new video for her. Especially after all of the low budget vids she's had since the mid 90's.

MIDNIGHT MASS!

2009-01-12T11:07:00.001-08:00

Guess where I'm going to be next Saturday evening (or Sunday morning, technically speaking)? One of my favorite icons is going to be hosting one of her own movies around the corner from my apartment at historic Vista theater at the Hollywood/Sunset junction. The movie starts at midnight and is followed by autograph session afterward. Any guesses who it may be? Here's a hint: she's THE Mistress of the Dark. Still don't know? Okay, I'll tell you... it's Elvira! She will be introduced by Peaches Christ, a local drag queen. Sounds like a recipe for campy fun! (I was going to upload a photo, but Blogger is being a turd right now)

ECHO!

2009-01-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

Not that any of you will have interest in this...but I've been a HUGE Cyndi Lauper fan since I was 17. Unlike most crap on the radio, Cyndi has an amazing voice and a 4.5 octave vocal range. After last year's success on the dance charts (she had two #1 songs), Cyndi is releasing her third single, called "Echo". They are already playing it here on the west coast, even though the single hasn't had a physical/digital release yet.

I'm super thrilled that soon, the dj's will start playing this on the dance floors! I can't wait to dance to this song!!! Also, we should start getting new mixes of this song soon.

Top albums of 2008!

2008-12-31T12:22:00.000-08:00

Since it's the last day of the year, I thought I'd post my favorite albums of the year. The list is much longer, but I'll spare you and only list 6. After leaving my friends in Savannah and moving to a new place, I've really been listening to a lot of fun/dance music and have temporarily ditched the more maudlin tunes of folk music. Since this list is only for albums, a few fave songs are Hot Chip "Ready For The Floor", Ssion "Heaven", Lady Gaga "Just Dance", Tilly & The Wall "Beat Control", Crystal Castles "Good Time", Beyonce "Radio", Brandy "1st & Love"

Janelle Monae "Metropolis Suite" though not an album release, this EP is strong from start to finish. Very reminiscent of Andre 3000's "The Love Below", but better, imo. Check out the video for "Many Moons"

Kate Miller Heidke "Curiouser" is so much fun! This aussie is in top form on tracks: "Can't Shake It" and "God's Gift"

She & Him "Volume One" featuring the vocal talents of the lovely Zooey Deschanel (actress "Elf", and "The Happening"). There's something very classic about her voice. This is actually more on the folksy side, but keeps from getting to heavy. Loves it!

Roisin Murphy "Overpowered" One of my absolute fave's from '08! She's sort of like Bjork, but a bit more for the masses. Lots of dancey tunes, but not shallow like most dance music.

Kylie Minogue "X" Lots of dancey tunes and not much of a message, but with tracks like "In My Arms", "Wow!", and "Speakerphone" this album has earned it's position in my top 5 faves of '08. I just love Kylie. What a great person, and still so beautiful. Check out some of her new vids on youtube.

Cyndi Lauper "Bring Ya To The Brink" is another dance album with (for the most part) a deeper message. From social responsibility to relationships, women's rights, and gay rights this album is one of Cyn's most lyrically creative. Collaborating with acts such as Basement Jaxx, Dragonette (amazing, check out their album "Galore"), and Peer & Astrom, Cyndi has some of the strongest dance songs of the year. The much overlooked DJ fave, "Into The Nightlife", is my #1 favorite song of the year. I dare you to sit down during that song! Other fave's are: "Echo", "Rain On Me", "Lay Me Down", "Rocking Chair".

Disney - Sparkling with Joy!

2008-12-29T14:45:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm back in L.A. after spending Christmas week in Tulsa. I'm kinda sad, and am really missing friends and family. I don't have any photos from the trip (yet), so in the mean time, here are some photos from my last Disneyland adventure:
Sleeping Beauty's castle was lit up like a Christmas tree and it even snowed on Main Street!!! Only at Disney!

Cruela DeVille was sassy and made us pose like puppies! Then she skinned us and turned us into a coat.

After being shut down for refurbishments for ages, the Small World ride reopened just in time for Christmas. The whole ride was decorated for Christmas and it was pretty amazing.

Here's Small World after dark. Pretty cool!

Here we are on the tram. Kristin & Kim (yes, they're twins), and Tyler and me (we're not twins, we're just sleeping together). K&K are HUGE Disney fans and this was their first visit to DL, so they invited Tyler and I to join them. Of course, we couldn't turn down an invite to DL!

Guess that quote!

2008-12-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

Guess these quotes! Here's how to play: 1point for guessing the movie/show. 1point for guessing the actor/character. Again, these can be either movies or tv shows. Post your answer in the comments section. *Hint* there are two television quotes

"Eat your checkers!"

"Here I am, 5 o'clock in the morning, stuffing breadcrumbs up a dead bird's butt."

"Well, I say we hire a couple'a wranglers to go upstairs and beat the shit out of him."

"In a good shoe, I wear a size six, but a seven feels so good, I buy a size eight."

"I cried when I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet. And then I laughed REALLY hard."

More old Photobucket pics...

2008-12-17T10:55:00.001-08:00

Okay Casey, I'm giving you a break (for now). Here are some pics of my friend John. We did a photoshoot mocking our friend Leslie. Let me paint the picture for you.... It's winter, Leslie doesn't like to go out in the cold, and she always wears her Juicy Couture jogging suit while lounging on the sofa. So, while she was gone one night, John and I raided her wardrobe and recreated some of the scenes (and imagined some others). The last one may be slightly offensive.... I'm okay with that.

She was offended by these two...

Oddly, she thought this one was hilarious.

Casey teaches art!

2008-12-16T13:47:00.000-08:00

Because I was going through my Photobucket, which I never use anymore, I was inspired to post a blast from my past. La Casey posing with paintbrushes in her hair during art class. The quality ain't so great... it looks like I had scanned the photo in. When she wasn't tormenting my brother, or the other boys for that matter, she let me take these scandalous photos of her (usually with props). Now, if I can only find the "butterfly picture"!

Don't hate me Casey. I had to do it! ;)

Christmas Tag

2008-12-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Chocolate...anything chocolate.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa is lazy, he let's the store ...er... elves do it for him.

3. Colored lights on house/tree or white? Halloween is really my holiday, so I don't do any traditional X-Mas decorating, but you can see my untraditional decorations further down the list.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I wear it on my belt buckle.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Were you not listening?

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Don't have one. Though, duck would be nice.

7 . Favorite holiday memory as a child? Austin going through my parents closet (they were gone, of course) and bringing/showing my sister and I our presents weeks before Christmas.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Austin told me when I was very young.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Pretty much all of them. Stockings wait til Christmas morning. This year we open gifts on the 23rd, and my bro and sis spend X-Mas eve with inlaws.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Again?!?

11. Snow. Love it or dread it? Love it when I don't have to be out driving, but here in L.A., we just get rain.

12. Can you ice skate? Icing cake? I like that!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really, I usually like most of my gifts. Probably anything Cyndi Lauper or Halloween related (yes I get Halloween decorations for Christmas).

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with my family.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Mom's chocolate fudge.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Opening presents. What? I'm just being honest!

17. What tops your Christmas tree? Here we go again!

18. Which do you prefer - giving or receiving? I like giving as long as I can find good gifts for people. I also like receiving... I could take this to a sexual place, but I'm not going to.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Anything from Phil Spector's Christmas Gift album, Cyndi Lauper & The Hives "Christmas Duel" is a new fave.

20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck? Kinda yuck, but I've had worse things in my mouth.

21. What do you want for Christmas? Didn't have much of a list this year. Couple of sweaters and some DVD's. Mostly, I want time off from work.

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? No

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ’s? Dress up??? It's not Halloween. Although I have this red velvet thong that ... oh, you don't want to hear about this.

24. Do you own a Santa hat? No, but there's that thong... that's close

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? Mom, Dad, Catie, Austin... would like to spend it with Tyler, but he's in the closet... I mean, Tennessee

Holiday shopping!

2008-12-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

Here are two more pics from a couple of weeks ago, when we went shopping in Pasadena. Here we are with a couple of big balls.

And, a big statue. It was cool, and windy, so I took the oppurtunity to wear my favorite jacket. Oh, and Casey, the bag by my feet has a gift in it... just for you (sort of)!

New Console and X-Mas Decorations!

2008-12-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

So, I've had this big empty wall in my apt, that I've been dying to fill. When I worked at Arcanum in Savannah, I found a console that I wanted, but couldn't afford. Luckily, I have a job that pays well enough that I can charge this console and pay it off over the next couple of years ;)

It's an antiqued gold frame with a dark shell top. I finally have a place to put my lamps! They've been sitting on my bedroom floor since '87!
We also hung a couple of pictures in our bedroom. I just got so tired of having big empty walls!

I also have my "Winter Tree", I wanted a tree that reminded me of the cold weather, so I bought one without leaves! Not to mention, my fave holiday is Halloween, and this tree brings that feeling into the winter.

So, with uplights and creepy ornaments and birds, I have my Christmas decorations!

Cyndi nominated for a Grammy!!!

2008-12-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Cyndi Lauper's latest album "Bring Ya To The Brink" has been nominated for a Grammy in the Electronic/Dance album category! This is great news, although her song "Into The Nightlife" should have been nominated for best dance song. In her nomination category, she's up against Robyn (Swedish pop star), Kylie Minogue (for her amazing album "X"), Daft Punk (blah), Moby (blah), and the Brazilian Girls (they have some fun songs, but don't think they should win).

Hearst Castle

2008-12-03T16:26:00.001-08:00

Here are some photos of our drive up to Hearst Castle last weekend. We drove up the PCH and it was quite lovely. Here's a pic of a vineyard we drove by. If I'd had it my way, we would've stopped and gotten drunk...I wasn't driving.

Here's the ocean. If I'd had it my way, we would've stopped and gotten in the ocean after having drinks at the vineyard.

Here's a horrible picture of me with some other people. Okay, that's Tyler on the left and Adam in the middle. At least if I'd had those drinks I'd have an excuse for why I look like two scoops of fruit loops.

This is a pool (yes, there was also an indoor pool) at Hearst Castle. I wanted to go swimming so bad! Except that it was pretty cold, and you know what cold water does to boys!

Ah, the warm...er interior of the castle. It was very pretty.

The Christmas Duel

2008-12-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My5Bzf0PQhc

The above link will take you to the new Christmas song, sung by Cyndi Lauper and The Hives (perhaps I should say, Cyndi VS The Hives). I've been listening to this over and over (available on iTunes now). Lyrically, it's not the most family-friendly X-mas tune, but musically, it's very similar to Phil Spector's "Christmas Gift". If you enjoy the classic songs, "Marshmallow World" by Darlene Love, or "Sleigh Ride" by the Ronettes, you will enjoy this song. Slightly... okay, completely offensive lyrics and AMAZING vocals definitely make this an original holiday tune.

Thanksgiving photos

2008-12-01T14:22:00.001-08:00

RE: My earlier post - Here are the pics from Thanksgiving! The first is from dinner. Me on the left, Tyler, Crazy Chris, Adam, and Crazy-faced Gabe. Jess was behind the camera. She also cooked most of the food and it was yum.

The below pic is actually from the day after Thanksgiving in Pasadena. Again, Jess was behind the camera. Me on left (again), The twins (Kristin & Kim), Gabby, and Tyler. And a really big tree! You probably can't tell from this photo, but my hair was killer that night.

There will probably be more photos to come...

Long weekend... not long enough

2008-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well, Thanksgiving is over and I had a full weekend. After spending the holiday with friends and eating lots of food, we did a bit of travelling. Friday night, a group of us took the metro into Pasadena for the tree lighting ceremony and some shopping. It was a lot of fun, and a stranger flirted with me, which is always nice. Saturday, we woke up early and drove up the coast to Hearst Castle. We took a tour of the castle at sunset, which was amazing, and then drove back to L.A. Finally, on Sunday, we went to see Milk at the Arclight. For those of you that don't know (you know who you are ;), Harvey Milk was the first openly gay person elected to a government position in the U.S. It was an AMAZING movie, and was oddly relevant to today's issues (Prop 8, etc). And, if you're wondering why there's a picture of Doris Roberts above, it's because she was eating at a nearby table at the Arclight cafe. We tried to get a picture of her, but it was too difficult.

Confetti

2008-11-17T13:23:00.001-08:00

It only took a week, but here are a few pics from my Palm Springs/Pasadena weekend... plus an extra pic from Halloween!
Ooo...the famous grass bench! Not really.

Look! Another bench! Palm Springs is filled with old people so they need lots of public seating. The spider veins will burst if they stand for too long.

Tyler and I at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. One of the biggest monthly antique shows in the nation. I saw a lot of really neat things. Of course, the one thing I wanted, an antique asian console was $1,400 (a little out of my price range).

I really like this pic. My friend Jess was photographer.

I know he's trying to tell me something

2008-11-14T16:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvD8WcrdK5o

I wasn't able to embed it, but here you go...

I'm baaaack!

2008-11-11T11:19:00.001-08:00

Well, the computer did not recover, so I had to get a new one. Oh well.

So, I was feeling a need to get out of the city over the weekend. I went to Palm Springs on Saturday, and to Pasadena on Sunday. It was a lot of fun, and a nice change of scenery. Some of my friends took pics, so when I get those, I'll post them.

spy vs. spyware

2008-11-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

It appears that I have spyware on my computer. It keeps shutting itself down, and I keep getting pop-ups, so I think I'm going to have to take it in for maintenance. Hopefully, by monday everything will be fixed.

It's a nice day

2008-11-05T11:49:00.003-08:00

The sun is warm and the breeze is cool. It's a nice day out, so I thought I'd post a couple pics of my office and the view...

You can take a cow out of a cage...

2008-11-05T10:41:00.001-08:00

California can vote for a black president, compromise their own food regulations for the sake of animal cruelty, but they insist on keeping gays as second class citizens. I guess I can't be too bitter, we did win the election with Obama and help prevent animal cruelty, but I can't help feeling a little sad. It's no wonder I've been driven so far away from the church. Look who was backing the Prop 8 measure: The far right, the Mormons, and Christians. I just don't see how they can be so full of hate. The Christian Coalition had the following to say:

"The American people are proud of their fellow citizens in the states of California, Florida and Arizona for upholding traditional marriage between one man and one woman. Christian Coalition of America will continue to fight to ensure that government serves to strengthen and preserve, rather than threaten, our families and our values."

Karaoke, and something about James

2008-11-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

James moved back to Colorado yesterday, well, he stopped in Vegas last night, but the point is that he left. So, on Sunday night we had one last karaoke night in Korea Town. It was a lot of fun and a lot of people came out. We almost had to cancel because James' sister was flying in and her flight was delayed two or three hours. But, luckily, she arrived just in the nick of time.

James was the star of the show, singing some Madonna, Abba, and several duets (including "Morning Has Broken" with me).

Here is James' sister, Christine, dancing on the table while Tyler sings, also on the table. She said she wasn't going to sing, but after a drink or two she was showing us all how it's done!

Here I am with the group singing "Girls Just Want To Have Fun". We will miss James a lot. As much as he despised Los Angeles, we had a lot of fun together. My heart will be heavy for a while. But, hopefully we'll see him again soon! He does still have that Disneyland annual pass!

Halloween party pics! FINALLY!!!

2008-11-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

As I promised, here are the pics from my party. I dressed up as a scarecrow, a costume that monopolized most of my time in the past few weeks. I used corn husks, burlap, etc. and sewed my own costume. Below are pics of decorations followed by pics from the party.

Here are a couple of spiders who took up residence in the living room. That's a pretty big egg sack! I had rigged the spider in the back, so that when the front door opened, he would drop down from the web. It was pretty creepy!

Here's my Halloween tree.

Old, tattered cheesecloth surrounded the entrance to the dining room. You can't tell much from this photo, but Tyler had made a nice spread on the table.

Here's the cocktail table, also draped in old cheesecloth. Lots of candy, and a book of witchcraft.

Here's my candy cauldron.

Here's the cauldron (minus the flash from the camera). I put orange lights under the cauldron (inside of a branch wreath) to look like a fire. and I have a little fog machine that lights up (hence the purple light inside the cauldron).

Now, for the party pics! here I am sneaking up on James.

James and Kristin as Justin Timberlake and Madonna from the "4 Minutes" music video.

Adam and Jess as "Deadites" from one of my favorite scary movies, "The Evil Dead"

Here I we are again. The burlap and corn husk mask was incredibly itchy, so it had to come off.

Tyler went as a deadbeat 50's husband... although some people thought he looked like a 70's porn star. It was a cute costume.

And, finally, a group shot. There were more people at the party, but I haven't gotten everyone's pics yet. In addition to the people above are, Kim (anime witch), Gabe (Elliot Ness), and Gabby (in the back as a hippy). It was probably one of the best parties I've had. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and then we went dancing afterwards.

Disney on Halloween

2008-11-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

Well, my dear friend James is moving back to Colorado today, so last Friday (Halloween) we made our final trip to Disneyland. Here we are with Jack Skellington and Sally. They were only in the park for a couple of weeks, so the line to get a photo with them was ridiculously long.

Here we are with the queen/witch from Snow White. She told (well, mimed) to James that he was puny, so he told (mimed) to her that she had a stank face. Good times.

A Disney Halloween Treat!

2008-10-30T21:07:00.001-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Here we are at Disney. Our good friend, James, is moving back to Colorado on Monday, so we're heading back to Disney tomorrow. It's going to be a busy day... Disney, then the Halloween party, and possible the West Hollywood Halloween Party. I'm gonna be bushed!

These villains were evil! They kept trying to push me out of the picture!

Disney's California Adventure was even dressed up for Halloween.... mmm... candy corn

Here we are outside one of my favorite rides, The Haunted Mansion. Although, during the holidays its the Nightmare Before Christmas ride. The change most of the ride as well. It's really cool.

Here I am again outside the Haunted Mansion. As you can see, I've been trying to lose weight for my costume.

This scarecrow was really cool! Had to get a picture of it.

This is one of my favorite pics. Minnie Mouse is my new favorite Disney character. She's so sassy! She even kissed me on the cheek!

Here we are in Frontierland with the Dia De Los Muertos mariachi band. I'll probably have more pics from Disney soon. But my next post will probably be after the party tomorrow night.

A sampling of my decorations...

2008-10-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone who knows me, knows that I start decorating for Halloween in June or July. These are some pics I took several weeks ago. I've done quite a bit since then, but I'll post those in a couple of days.

This is Archimedes, he's watching over the living room on a perch above the window.

My carved wood stag head with a murder of crows gathered on his antlers. And, who can forgot my Halloween tree?! Later, I'll post some pics when it's lit up... very magical! I've decorated it with Halloween ornaments.

Another shot of stag head and H tree.

How many deer heads does it take to scare a Democrat?

2008-10-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

A short break from my Halloween postings to share this sick story.

http://cbs4denver.com/politics/colorado.obama.michelle.2.850599.html

The Great Pumpkin Snatch!

2008-10-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

So, we went to the pumpkin patch in Mission Hill over the weekend, and had to take advantage of this photo op. That's me, boiling in the cauldron while James throws jazz hands... I mean casts spells!

It was cookin' hot that day, so we all raced through patch and picked out our punkins! Everyone else chose orange. I wanted to be different so I picked a white one.

Here we are with Max, the fattest pumpkin in the patch. For some reason, Tyler wants to eat it.

And, finally, here we are lost in the cornfield maze. Yeah, the attendant sent us in the exit with a map, and didn't tell us we were going in the exit, so we spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out why the map was wrong. It was in the 90's that day.

Top 10 HALLOWEEN: Scary Music

2008-10-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

Dipping back into my punk rock roots for most of these. Also, some classics, and some often overlooked tracks.

10. Red Light - Siouxsie & The Banshees (creepy!)
9. I Put A Spell On You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
8. Warm Leatherette - The Normal
7. Hybrid Moments - The Misfits
6. Thriller - Michael Jackson
5. Bram Stoker's Dracula (O.S.T.)
4. Partytime (Zombie Version) - 45 Grave
3. Surfin Dead - The Cramps
2. Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus
1. Peek-A-Boo - Siouxsie & The Banshees (80's fun for a party)

Top 10 HALLOWEEN: Scary Movies

2008-10-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

10. Sleepy Hollow (Tim Burtons version... so good!)
9. Bram Stokers' Dracula (buy the soundtrack too!)
8. Scarecrows (kinda creepy)
7. Pumpkinhead
6. Night of the Demons (80's fun!)
5. Creature From the Black Lagoon (Universal, from 1955-ish)
4. Wolf Man (Universal from the 40's, I think)
3. Night of The Living Dead (either the original or the 1990 remake)
2. Killer Klowns From Outer Space (sooo much fun!)
1. Halloween (of course)

Top 10 HALLOWEEN: Family Movies

2008-10-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

I've been watching most of these since I was a child

10. Simpsons Treehouse of Horror specials
9. Hocus Pocus (love Bette Midler, hate that boy though. She should have eaten him)
8 Spaced Invaders (cheesey, but fun)
7. It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (not my fave, but I watch it every year)
6. Disney's Halloween Treat (very rare. only on VHS and very hard to find)
5. Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow (classic)
4. Stepmonster
3. Garfield's Halloween special (now available on DVD in Garfield's Holiday special)
2. Ernest Scared Stupid (Don't judge! It's magical)
1. Frankenweenie (now available as a bonus feature on Nightmare Before Christmas)

I'm sure I've left something off...

All Yesterday's Parties

2008-10-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

In honor of my favorite day of the year, I've decided to post some pics from a past Halloween party I threw. I think this was 3 years ago...

Here is my costume from a couple of years ago... I was a scarecrow...obviously!

Here I am (minus the mask) with Tyler (Clockwork Orange) and Heather (the head of Marie Antoinette)

James and Michael... looking regal, yet spooky!

Janice Dickinson also made an appearance, and LOVED the kitty litter cake that Tyler made!

Tyler, looking dreamy as Alex DeLarge from "A Clockwork Orange"

Here's the Savannah crew lookin' good! Tyler, Leslie (as Cyndi Lauper...I helped make the skirt), John...er...I mean, Janice Dickinson, Heather, Me, and Michael

Heather, Leslie, and Clarissa (on the far right) and some girls I don't know.

Close your curtains and lock your doors!

2008-10-28T15:28:00.001-07:00

Because we're invading your computer! Welcome to my blog!