Hunky Crushes Retrospective

Edit: I know, it seems a crime that I somehow left dear Matty Matty off the list. I guess it was my way of coping since my DreamGuy-Next-Door went off and got married; dashing all my hopes and desires. Not mentioning him must have been my coping mechanism at work. But I cannot deny that Matty Matty had a big year. He tops off the Bourne Trilogy in a critical and box office burst of acceptance. He gets to smooch with Ellen Barkin in Oceans 13 (The nose plays!) And then he is crowned Sexiest Man Alive. And all the while he maintains that sense of humor of his that I absolutely adore. I don't know where I on my list he falls... but he certainly deserves mention. Go with your bad self Matty!!!

I've been recently caught up with all various retrospective lists that always pop up at years end and I've decided to compile a few lists of my own. But I find the trouble with these lists is, I have a damn lousy memory! Everything in the "top" is quite likely from the last 3 months!.. hahahaha. So I guess this may just be the Top 5 from the last quarter of the year.... let us see what happens shall we?

Top 5 Hunky Crushes of 2007:
5)Viggo Mortensen: Not actually "my type", but I admit there is a certain stillness about him that is appealing. Not to mention, he's a kick ass actor who gets to kick ass completely nude in Eastern Promises. Viggo makes the Top 5 mainly because I got to see his twig n berries. But also because I rewatched The Two Towers over Christmas and Aragorn is really growing on me.

4) Justin Timberlake: Sure, I talk about him too much as it is. I was going to just allot him honorable mention; but his priceless D!ck in the Box earns him a slot. Plus he won an Emmy®!

3) Tony Leung Chiu Wai : Okay, I got to see his berries too; but he makes the list because with his work in Lust, Caution, Tony cements his place in the acting world. As the NY Times so aptly put it, "Mr. Leung doesn’t do much talking: he looks, he conquers." He is just as brave(if not more so) as any "western" actor out there (Viggo, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ed Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman). Anyone who appreciates good acting should be digging into his work.

2)Brad Pitt: Brad, Brad, Brad. He should just be given Hall of Fame status. But he makes it on the list for his tireless work in NOLA and for starring in a relatively well-received arthouse western with the longest name ever!

Before I bring you #1, I have to list 2 honorable mentions..

George Clooney - As the girls from SATC say, "Clooney's like a Chanel suit, he never goes out of style." Here, here. Oceans 13 was a disappointment, but he balanced it out with Michael Clayton.

Eric Bana: My hot red-carpet hunk of 2006. Ok, Lucky You sucked at the box office this May, but isn't he adorable? Plus he just won Best Actor nods at the Australian "Oscars". Watch for him next year as the baddie Nero in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. He just may make next years list!

And *drumroll*... my number ONE Hunky Crush of 2007?

1)David Beckham: BECKS! In the looks department, there really doesn't need to be anything said is there? But this Greek God landing on California ground cements his standing as #1. I mean, my goodness! The press coverage! And I thought no one cared about soccer!
He arrives, plays a little soccer for $250 million, and promptly injures himself. Kind of a wanker maneuver I must admit. But he makes up for it by posing for uber hot photo spread in W magazine with his wife.

He also captures the other end of his fan base by landing a Disney shot. This is the only G-rated photo of him I can hang at work.



Then, before the year is out, he signs a 3-year deal to be the spokesmodel for Armani Underwear! And Voila! I mean, seriously. WHAT THE HELL???! Ladies, whatever he's selling, I'll take two! (Unfortunately, I cannot hang this picture at work.)


And despite the fact that his wife Posh is ten kinds of crazy, he loves her. And gets totally steamy for her. That's absolutely hot. And that makes him my Hunky Crush of 2007.

Merry Christmas

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

Keee-YAH!

20

Holiday Rundown

The Holidays have been kicking my hiney. I don't recall being this frazzled in ages. Even Sake is pooped!

The usual holiday work functions, and an office birthday trifecta have left little time for actual work to be done. And strangely, we are actually busy! I tried to adopt an active slacker work ethic this past year after my crappy buck-up-or-get-demoted review and lo! it worked! ... Effective January 7th, I will be moving on to new brand responsibilites at work.. New brands, more volume, more visibility, and more travel( most likely NYC, Hawaii, and Hong Kong).... I say score one for the slackers!

My dinner party was a success. I got The Band back together for a meal of homemade meatballs and marinara sauce. I must admit, it was yummydelicious. I was too busy being hostess to take pictures but it warmed my heart to see 16 of my closest friends pack themselves into my home for a holiday get-together. The Captain approved....

Since then, I have been focusing on organizing my boss' birthday party, finishing my holiday shopping(done!), writing Christmas cards, organizing Christmas Eve dinner, wrapping presents, and still putting in time with family, friends, Honey, and Sake (not necessarily in that order!). Shamefully, I still haven't finished cleaning up from Saturday! Ok, the salad greens, dressing, and croutons are from tonight.

Right now I'm just trying to crank out the giftwrapping in between loads of laundry. I AM very excited that my holiday shopping is finished though! I got some great gifts this year, I can't wait to see everyone's faces when they open them up! Do you spy the Borg Cube ornament there in the tree? My holiday pride & joy...

And now I find Project Runway is a rerun tonight. -DOH! I need something to watch on the telly when I'm giftwrapping. I guess its time to pop in that holiday favorite: The Lord of the Ring trilogy. Ahhh how I love holiday geekery....

Citizen Philanthropy

Update: FUNDED!!! Fully fricking funded!!! The Leonard R Flynn Elementary School project to plan, do and review has been fully funded! I don't know if its because of my readers, but it sure can't be coincidence! I shall take credit for it nonetheless! hahahaha! We've got the power people! If anyone comes across a project they are particularly interested in helping, post it!!!! Or send it to me, and I'll post it.

I was slow on the uptake this year and didn't get a chance to send a Christmas carepackage to the troops in Iraq. Poo.
Soo... I've opted to help someone in need online instead.
.. Crate & Barrel sent a gift certificate to use at the innovative DonorsChoose.Org. If you haven't heard of it yet, its a website where teachers pitch to you ideas for project and materials and experiences their students need to learn, such as: improving vocabulary with a class set of dictionaries ($150); discouraging teen pregnancy with “Baby-Think-It-Over” dolls ($500); taking students to Washington, D.C. to see the Supreme Court consider a case ($2,000). There's a lot more accountability here than what goes on in a Hollywood production thats for sure!

You can search proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project she/he finds most compelling. Donors receive a feedback package of photographs, student thank-you notes, a teacher impact letter, and an expenditure report showing that their gift was spent as directed.

Their Mission: "DonorsChoose improves public education by engaging citizens in an online marketplace where teachers describe specific educational projects for their classrooms and individuals can choose which projects to fund. We envision a country where students in every community have the resources they need to learn."

DonorsChoose.org received a surprise shoutout yesterday morning during the CBS Early Show. President Bill Clinton was speaking with Harry Smith about the importance of charitable giving, and he cited DonorsChoose.org as an example of a non-profit that harnesses the power of the internet to enable ordinary citizens to have an impact. BOOYAH! At DonorsChoose you can be a philanthropist for just Ten Bucks. Citizen philanthropy at work!

I used my Gift Certificate and contributed additional funds to a school in the Mission District of San Francisco, learning puzzles, etc, that future classes can use too. And I know where my money is going! .. They are close readers! If you feel you'd like to give, they could get their project funded and completed!! Or find something that is close to YOUR home, and better yet, YOUR heart.

Golden Compass Geekery

Behold, Philotheus, my Daemon!
Yes, yes, I'm a geek. I couldn't wait to take the quiz and find out what my daemon would be! And strangely, I like him!!!

DIY

Where the frick have I been?
Busy Busy.

My mind is so fragmented that I haven't been able to sit down and think too clearly. Just checking off things I need to do for the Holidays. With all the Christmas shopping I have to do, I also wanted to throw a dinner party for a few friends("Dude, we're gettin' the band back together!!"). I know, methinks I must be a masochist. So yeah, I've been stressing myself out wanting to spruce up my place for the coming Saturday soiree.

But right now , my place is a MESS due to a wiring issue. The contractor ultimately had to cut a piece of wall out in order to find out why my dining room lights stopped working. Good news is, he fixed the faulty wire; but the bad news is I have to sand down the new piece of sheetrock. ugg.
Don't ask me why but I have one of these laying around the house...
Edit: Note, this is NOT my hand. Its just a random picture I googled....

Why did no one tell me it would leave crap ALL OVER the place? Everything turned white with a layer of crap. Seriously, I NEED a houseboy! Now I have massive cleaning to do, and I can't get my hardwood floors clean. Not to mention I probably took 2 years off my life by neglecting to mask myself while sanding. (I finally wisened up and used my hoodie hood to cover my mouth and nose.) Silly Sake felt the need to supervise so she kept standing there right next to me, no doubt inhaling a much of crap. Great.

I singlehandedly bought a tree Saturday too, and lugged it up my stairs (What a sight I must've been with a 6ft tall tree hoisted over my shoulder!).. But with other commitments, I didn't put the tree up until Sunday night. It was, as they say... getting hella dried out!... So anyway, at 11pm last night, I was battling an uncooperative tree, trying to get it into the tree pot without the whole thing tipping over. After hanging the lights, it was far too late to deal with ornaments. Thats tonight.

I guess I should look for the positive side and be happy that I am getting things done. But I'm so frazzled, I don't can't remember where I actually put my positive side!

Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Make every moment count like this turkey did.

The End of an Era

Vogue is tired. Anna Wintour's iron-fist reign has run(albeit in Prada heels) that magazine into the ground. I realized slowly that I had become less and less excited each month as the issues arrived. The articles no longer resonate. The editorials are uninspired. The new batch of "supermodels" bore me.

Agyness Deyn excluded of course....

Nevermind that Vogue doesn't actually put models on the cover anymore. The actresses they shove at me are not icons of style, grace, or daring. Jennifer Hudson? Scarlet Johanssen? PUL-leeze. And I believe I actually suffered a small cardiac arrest when I saw Anna gave Sienna-f&cking-Miller the September issue!

And I guess I'm just sick and tired of reading about fashion, fitness, and style that I don't feel are attainable or even relate to me anymore. .. I likely just kept the magazine out of habit. So, after 22 years, I finally ended it. I did not renew my subscription. You may think, so what? Its just a magazine. A magazine full of useless, expensive crap they try to shove down women's throats. ... But any Vogue devotee can tell you, Vogue is really more than that, at least it used to be. The magazine showed me about style, not just fashion. And for a dreamy 15-year-old culture hound stuck in the burbs, the monthly editions were my bible.

I still recall my very first issue. Isabella Rosselini showed me that I didn't have to be a blonde blue-eyed vixen to be beautiful. Oh, how I wanted to be her! I actually had my Vogue in my schoolbag as I walked up to the Lancome counter to buy my tube of Cabaret Red. *sigh* Oh, yes, I remember it well.

I hope one day to rebuild the relationship I once had with this venerable book, to recapture the magic. But I think, for now, Vogue and I need a bit of a break; deep in my heart of hearts, I'm hoping it won't last too long.

If It's Free, It's for Me

It seems so simple. Play a game. Feed the hungry.

Yep. At Freerice.com, you are presented with questions aimed at testing your vocabulary. For every one you get right, ten grains of rice are donated to the The United Nations World Food Program by the game's sponsors (Apple, Time|Life, American Express, etc). Right now the focus is cyclone-ravaged Bangladesh.

It couldn't get any easier! Oh hmm.. Well, for some of us, its still going to be a mountain to climb.

Edit: On 18 November 2007, 170,885,620 grains were donated. Since its inception on October 7, total grains come to 2,628,006,040.

That Time of Year Again

Its that time of year AGAIN!.... "Serious" movie season.... Bear with me now as this post may be more for me than for you, my esteemed reader.
Realistically, I won't get to even half of the interesting movies that will be released, but here's a wrapup of my list of Must-See's:

Wes Anderson's latest work, The Darjeeling Limited, is another rumination on family. This time he brings his usual suspects (Owen Wilson, Angelica Huston, Jason Schwartzman) to India. I was entranced just from the trailer. "Does anyone have any questions?" "Yes. What happened to your face?" There's also a 13min "prequel" you can download free from iTunes.

The buzz on No Country for Old Men has been huge, and I don't think it will disappoint. Dark and relentless, Javier Bardem is the most frightening baddie you will see, haircut notwithstanding.
I'm not the biggest Keira Knightley fan, but again... the buzz on Atonement has been really good. And, I'm pretty much a sucker for a period movie. Gothic mansions, catastophic misunderstandings, I'm in.

Sidney Lumet is back with another heist gone awry movie, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.
Philip Seyour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke. How could this Lumet piece go wrong you ask? Well, don't forget Family Business with Matthew Broderick and Sean Connery.. and who though remaking Gloria with Sharon Stone would be a good idea? But again, the buzz is good and I will watch PSH in just about anything....
I'm sure there are more coming out that I haven't listed. But again, I'm trying to be realistic about what I can fit in. Have any films to add to the list?

BRING IT!

I am often telling people who don't live in San Francisco all the cool stuff that goes on in San Francisco. I don't always take part in it but its always comforting to know its there. But lo! This past Saturday night I found out about Style Wars and felt it was too cool to resist. So I got tickets online, D and I rounded up some friends and headed out to 111 Minna to hang out with some cool fashionable folks.

We bumped into some unexpected friends and our little group got even larger. (Love when that happens!) None of us knew what to expect but we lined up by the runway stage anticipating F-A-S-H-I-O-N.. But the show didn't start until midnight and it got hotter than a U2 concert. We're talkin' General Admission.

When we saw the models saunter out in their wifebeaters and black hosiery, we knew the Battle had begun.I got caught up in the moment and forgot I had my camera phone until the last matchup.

We didn't stay past the first freestyle round, but we did see some fierce ensembles. This was one of our favorites on the left. Her skirt is rope coiled around.

I'm not sure if I saw San Francisco fashion in gear that night; but it just felt good to be in the presence of creation.

Gravel '08

I took a quiz today at Glassbooth.com. It tallies up which political issues are important to you and then spits out the candidate you should vote for..... It said my #1 choice for president should be Mike Gravel?! I don't even know who the hell he is??? Me thinks he may have been my Atmo Sci professor in college, but I can't remember anymore...

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween Kiddies!!

NOw give me some candy.

I Having Nothing to Wear

Although in principle I am vehemently against the slobbification of America, I must concede; there are times when only sweatpants will do.

At those particular moments in time, I know I'm as comfortable as can be.. but I cannot help but wonder.. what message am I sending out? What on earth would people think of my fashion ethic? Do the people of Anything-Goes-San-Francisco even care??? What constitutes San Francisco Fashion anyway?

Meaning... when I think of New York Fashion, I think American Sportswear.. and lots of Black.
And of course, Paris fashion is all about Haute Couture sophistication:


And then there are the English Eccentrics:And even Los Angeles; I think there's LA fashion. It may not be high fashion, but its a look:

But what about my Beloved City? What is the look that cohesively ties together the city's identity?

Its not khaki's and white poplin, god forbid; although the GAP tried really hard to make that happen.
Is it hippie chic?? *barf* Is this the image people all over the world have of San Francisco when it comes to fashion?? *double barf*

And truly, shit like this just makes me mad... WTF????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I call this the Smug Hipster look. Ladies, just throwing more shit on your body does not make it fashion! I know we dress in layers here, but give it up already!

Is it any wonder then that San Francisco Fashion Week seems so uninspired? As a follower of fashion, I am always aware of New York and Paris fashion weeks. But does anyone really know what goes on during SF Fashion week? I thought I would check in with the local fashionistas on the SF Fashion Week website and see what insights they might have.

“San Francisco style is an expression of individualism mixed with a sense of city chic.”

“San Francisco's fashion is as diverse as it's inhabitants, it's neighborhoods and it's ever changing weather patterns!”

Just as I thought! They don't know either! .. This City is so hellbent on diversity and individuality, we use it as a crutch for not having a true fashion identity. Don't get me wrong , I love this City for all that it offers, the crazy melange of characters I come across every day. But what I come across on the Muni J-line does not constitute high fashion.

Where am I going with all this??
*sigh* I see and meet fashionable folks all the time. How and why is none of that being tranlsated into a strong cohesive identity to present to the world? Are we spiting ourselves for the sake of expressing a state of mind? A shame that for all those who love fashion, it seems as though we all end up looking elsewhere for inspiration.

How Much You Earn in a Minute

Fun! And yet, kind of depressing too.

I will say, it helps me to make purchasing decisions. I can afford that dress by sitting here for HOW many hours???????

I Came, I Sailed, I Conquered

I was unsure what three days on a schooner would bring my way. It was definitely an adventure; both of the expected and the unexpected.

I was immediately hit by the visceral sensations of being out on the water. The weather, the wind, the swells, the smells! And as if all that weren't enough to take in, my crewmates and I had to learn all the schooner parts and what they did. It was an entirely new world with a language all its own.

Halyards, cleets, main stays'l, luffing and tacking. What planet were we on??!?

I can't say I came back from this sailing challenge a changed woman per se.. but it most certainly has given me a whole another view of the world, of my own home. I saw parts of the bay I have never seen in my entire life living here in the Bay Area. I got a taste of what I think a part of maritime history that we don't really talk about anymore. Schooners having been more widely used in the United States than in any other country, popular in "trades" that required speed and windward ability, such as slaving, privateering, blockade running and offshore fishing. There is a whole subculture still of people who live on boats year round; they couldn't imagine living life at a 9-to-5 like most of us. I understand now the appeal of an everchanging environment, taking nothing for granted. Unlike the almost robotic way I sometimes go about with my workday. Wakeup, get coffee, ride the train, go to office, sit in my chair, and stare at my monitor.

My building stays in place. My cubicle always looks the same.

But getting just a small taste of what this Tallship program has to offer, I can only imagine what a new perspective this must give to a 16-year-old, for 6 weeks! It is humbling and yet empowering. Frightening to be so far out of one's element; yet comforting knowing there are your crewmates with also the same fears.

I worked alongside 14 other women who were committed to teamwork and learning. And believe me, when we were hit with a horrendous storm on our first full day out, morale was low. But we all focused on why we were there and what we came to do. Truly a lovely experience.

I cannot, however, say the same for the Head. blech. While I slept in my rack, I could smell the intoxicating scent of a port-a-potty waft through the salon. I'm not sure if the smell is completely out of my system but all I can say is yuck. I'll never get used to that.

I recommend anyone out there interested to step up to the challenge next year. You won't regret it. Know this is a wonderful educational opportunity for young girls who would never have the chance otherwise.And thanks to ALL OF YOU who supported me on yet another adventure. You can see all the pics here.

Ahoy Mateys!

Only 2 more days until I set sail on the San Francisco Bay. As I prepare and pack, the nervousness is beginning to set in.
Do I have enough pairs of wool socks? (I don't.) Will I be warm enough? (Probably not.) Will the candied ginger suffice in case I get seasick? (I'm hoping so.)

I can't believe I'll be out to sea for 3 days; what was I thinking??
To top it off, we'll be returning on the day of the Womens Skipper Regatta, participating in a race back into the Bay. No pressure.

If you have been thinking of sending a donation but just put it off? Well now's a great time!
Whether it be $5 or $10 or any other amount; IT WILL make a difference in furthering a young woman's education.
http://www.active.com/donate/rowena_tallship

I thank you in advance for your support, and truly appreciate your generosity!!

To learn more about the Tall Ship Education Academy, Girls Semester at Sea, and the Women's Challenge(and watch a video!), go to:
http://www.tallshipacademy.org

Birthdays and parties and doggies.. oh my!

I've been looking so long at these pictures of Choon..

Hey, Cher called. She wants her hair back.....

As always, it was great getting the band back together. A good time was had by all; and we even met new friends from the next table!

Days later more birthdays were celebrated. Party dresses were in order!

And dessert of course.

NOLA Week: Part 4 - Going to the Dogs

I had been warned to brace myself against the wiles of a puppy dog. .. They are sneaky little things that worm their way into your heart. ... My next volunteer day was spent at Animal Rescue New Orleans, ARNO; a grassroots volunteer organization involved in hands-on Katrina rescue in the greater New Orleans area. These little sticks of butter are 2 weeks old. Their mother, Rocka, was found pregnant in a boat canal and was brought in for an emergency c-section. I should've put one in my pocket....

And here's Chloe once again, giving her best Sexyback. I believe she found a a loving family while I was there. Or else, she's be sitting on my lap right now.

In case any of you are wondering, yes... I did start to cry when I saw her.

There are so many other pictures I took, but I guess at this point, you must be tired of reading about NOLA. But I guess, thats exactly the point isn't it? The country overall I think is suffering Katrina burnout and we just don't want to hear anymore about the hardship there, the crazy stories that come out of there. But its happening, its frustrating, its sad, its a mess. I hope my time here helps to keep NOLA in your mind; to think about how lucky we are.. and how others still need help. If you have any questions please let me know. I am happy to tell you more. And you can find more pics here.

NOLA Week, Part 3: K-Ville

It was not all just observing and taking pictures while in New Orleans. Through Relief Spark I worked with the grassroots volunteer organization Common Ground Relief in the lower 9th Ward. For a day I joined them at their compound and distribution center to help clean out their tool lending library. It was a "slow" day in the sense that no big projects were in the works so I got to spend time talking to locals.. and getting to know some of the other volunteers better.

Front and center at the Distribution Center

Evidently, nowadays not only can you sign up for tours to see the Garden District homes and the French Quarter, there are fliers in hotels advertising tours to see the Katrina Devastation. Air conditioned tourbuses packed with tourists drive by occasionally.

The tool lending library. It was a wonder people could find anything in here.
Calvin wanted me to sort all the tools so we could put them back in an organized manner. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him that I had no idea what half the tools were!! I ended up with a big "miscellaneous tools" pile....

A few of the volunteers were out mowing lawns and hacking away weeds.
After 2 years, city government is concerned about the general decay of property in the decimated areas. Homeowners are being fined up to $100/day for overgrown yards, even if families have not received their Road Home grants yet and have not moved back. So there is a lot of volunteer work available to those who can just weed and mow lawns.

This was the womens bedroom at the volunteer compound.
Needless to say, I was really glad I didn't have to live here for a week.

What surprised me was my visit to St. Bernard's Parrish.
These were middle class neigborhoods that were also devasted by Katrina. Floodwaters rose up to 10 feet. I saw blocks and blocks of amazing homes where the bottom floor was completely gutted out, but the second floor is pristine. Most homes were still empty though... and this Dollhouse in particular is up for sale.

Your friendly neighborhood FEMA trailer park.I was so glad to actually see a dog in town..... while driving through St. Bernard's Parrish, I learned of a most horrific crime here. .. I cannot believe that I had not previously heard about the massacre of animals that were forcibly left behind as residents evacuated. Two deputies have already been indicted by a grand jury in New Orleans on charges of felony, aggravated cruelty to animals. Read more here.. but be prepared.. it sickened me and brought me to tears. ( Sydney Ray first told me about it while we drove through town; but even now I start sobbing when I read the articles I find online.) I guarantee you, if I had known about this before my volunteer day at the Animal Rescue... this little ball of sweetness would have come home with me!

(I couldn't possibly leave you with such cruelty. Take a look at this face and just let the smile creep back onto your face. I will tell you more about Chloe and her cohorts next time....)