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....)

"Hey Barkeep!"

My heartfelt thanks to all of you who came out last night to support me and support a great cause!

I was truly truly honored to see each and everyone of you as I made my first (and possibly only) foray into the world of bartending. I got to see family and friends, both old and new, meet and mingle over cocktails. And if that doesn't warm your heart, well, then you're dead inside.

Thanks again to each and everyone of you.. and thanks to the Mercury Bar for being such great hosts. (I'll be back for the ribs!) With your help, over $200 was raised towards the Tallship Educational Academy!


Now back to your regular scheduled programming.......

NOLA Week, Part 2: Finding Beauty

Five days down in the South, and there's been so much to take in.
I've been listening to stories, working with locals. and listening to local news radio. And like I just told someone back on the West Coast, the sh*t is bananas.

I'm here with a fantastic nonprofit called Relief Spark that has been here since November 2005. Sydney Ray and this grassroots organziation work with many of the other non-profits; providing donations, supplies, and volunteers. And in fact, its been a very effective way to see many different aspects of the Katrina fallout; as opposed to working with just Habitat or just Hands On New Orleans. Do not misconstrue as they are wonderful organizations... just different.

First up, we took a tour of the lower 9th Ward. Things are still eerily quiet....

And guess what? Sydney Ray also has a Westie(Chica)! ... She joined us for the tour too.
You can see here 1 dog was found on 9-29 by the SPCA... Although I was told by some people that the LASPCA really only picked up dogs that didn't seem too sickly and aggressive.. And let others to go it on their own. I couldn't believe my ears...!

It was heartening to see some rebuilding in action.
You can see where the floodline rose up to on the house below. This building was lucky...

And then we happened upon the Brad Pitt house! ... Well, thats what people are calling it. It's really the Holy Cross Project.The framing wood is entirely Forest Stewardship Council certified, and is 'blue' because of the use of a proprietary 'Bluwood' nontoxic borate treatment that protects against mold, fungus and reduces the need to use toxic pesticides to frequently spray homes for termites.
I will leave you with some beauty found in the Holy Cross District. The Doullut Steamboat House was built in 1887 by a riverboat pilot. In 1912 Milton Doullut's son built its twin across the street. On a beautiful sunny day, they were a sight to behold. I have not been able to get a story on how they were able to survive however. I think its just a testament to a house built with care and technique, as opposed to most of the Shotgun Houses that populate the area.

NOLA Week, Part 1: Whistling Winn-Dixie

I was not too pleased with the way my morning started.. But then again, I rarely am when I have to get up before 6am. Having to fight my Hello Kitty suitcase for what seemed an eternity didn't help matters either. At the airport I played dumb and checked-in at the Paper Ticket Counter.. (huh?? what????). After a small reprimand, I ended up at the short security checkpoint at the end of the terminal. Huzzah! A power-hungry TSA agent insisted I carry my laptop IN HAND and consolidate my handbag and my laptop bag because I had too many carry-ons. Excuse me ma'm, which airline do YOU work for? Oh none? I see. Orange Level Security at its best. (So far the best part of my morning is D getting me to the airport in most excellent time. I would say it was the joke he cracked about the army, and bugles, what WAS the joke exactly? But it was 5:45am... nothing is cute at 5:45am.)

Flight to LA consisted of a toddler crying HIS HEAD OFF on the plane. Mother and son were a good 6 rows ahead of me and there was some hullaboo about being seated in an emergency exit row. The child was already crying like a hellcat. But then some "helpful" person in the seat in front of me volunteered to trade seats. WTF???? I was THIS tempted to say .. "Actually, I rather you not." But I held my tongue and suffered the next 55 minutes for it.

ENOUGH of that. Anyway...by the time I arrived at Louis Armstrong International Airport, I had a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage under my eyes. ... Can I volunteer sufficiently in a zombie-like state?... Seems I have arrived on a nice low-humidity day; so things are looking up.

Driving through the Garden District to get to the condo, I am in awe of all the amazing homes here. Each and every one an architectural wonder. I have a roomie here in NO, James, who has so generously offered to drive me around. From Burbank, he's a Claims Resolution Specialist who's been here not long after Katrina hit. He's giving me some good scoops. He even takes me out to dinner at Felix's Uptown(Original French Quarter location shuttered by Katrina) where we gorge on oysters é raw, Rockefeller, Bienville, and grilled. YUM. Aside: methinks James has taken me under his wing as he calls me "sweetie" when I drop my Winn-Dixie bag only to find my grape jelly has broken. Before I meet with the director of Relief Spark tomorrow morning, he's taking me for my first cup of chicory coffee.

Can't quite get a gauge of the overall "mood" of the City yet.. but the few people James has introduced me to today(as a volunteer) have showered me with hugs and "God Blesses". They had me at "Would you like a Mojito?..."

A bit bleary eyed from the travel and the sights; I never even took my camera out. But I intend to have a full days worth of pictures to share tomorrow

Anniversaries

Fortunate or not, D and I celebrate our anniversary on 9/11. At first I felt it a dubious shadow that cast itself upon "our day"... but it's actually a wonderful remedy to an otherwise somber day that serves as an reminder of death. My morning started tearful and melancholy(and snotty) and as I was still feeling a bit under the weather... I didn't think I'd be able to see my honey. Which, of course, made me even more glum.

But when I told D I would be homebound, he delighted me by saying.. "Well, guess what! I'm coming your way!" And there my Honey was at 7pm... with flowers, a bag full of groceries, cheery flowers, and.. a sore throat. (OOOpsss!! My bad!)
And yet we were undaunted. I was so happy to see him, and have him in my arms on this day, this day that I deem "Life is Too Ficking Short Day", we were going to have a lovely evening.

I put his cheery red flowers in water:

And I cooked up our brontosaurus steak...

Aftes dinner, we did some Nyquil® shots, turned on the Hello Kitty humidifier, climbed into each other's arms and called it a night! Ole!

Continuing on with anniversaries, I had hoped to see New Orleans during the 2year anniversary of Katrina, but figured a (Northern) California girl wouldn't be able to survive an August day down south.. so.. I will embarking to New Orleans this Sunday instead. For five days I will be doing some volunteer work gutting houses and spending time at an animal shelter. ( I will do my best not to bring home 22 new doggies.) And of course, I'm looking forward to experience some night life and beignets.. !!!! Because you know what? Life is too ficking short!!

PS. I can't hold it in any more. This week's Mad Men is BRILLIANT.

Passive Agressive Meerkats

Have not been feeling my Deezy Best the last few days... in fact, I believe a family of meerkats has taken residence in my lungs... It certainly didn't help that I came across this:

Link

I laughed so hard, but the meerkats wouildn't budge. My laughter turned into snorts..... D didn't think it was too cute; but I blame the meerkats.

Enjoy.. I'll be back soon.....

Our Guide to Style

.. You KNOW I would tune into Tim Gunn's Guide to Style with anticipation. Who else would describe a pilled skirt as a "shaved hamster"? LOVE it.

And when he tells you that fashion is about fit and silhouette, he knows what he is talking about.
He is really talking Style. People did you notice the capital "S"??.. This isn't a second-rate-who-the-eff-are-you? host giving you tips. This man has an eye like no other. And when he tells you "thats a lot of look", you better pay attention!
... Makes me think back to the outfits I left the house with this week. ... Would they have passed muster with Tim?

The important takeaways this week... and listen carefully....
One cannot address issues of style, until order has been brought to the closet.
How can you have confidence if you don't own your look?
Ladies and gentlemen... all together, Own Your Look! Look for fashion inspiration, not fashion emulation....

PS. I did not mention Tim's partner in fashion, Veronica, because although she can be Fierce, I cannot abide by her hair right now. And until that is rectified, I will not mention her again.