Sunday, February 28, 2010

And When I'm Sad, You're a Clown.



What a magical rendition! Marianne Faithful & David Bowie.... What a dream.

I don't know if all that's true, but you've got me and baby I've got you.

Friday, February 26, 2010

I had a dream about Ozzy


I was living in a sort of massive building in New York with Ozzy Osborne and some other folks. It was a commune of sorts. Ozzy was the leader. Ozzy was very calm and spoke with intellect and clear annunciation.

Our leader called us all together in the main room which was set up for a conference. I took my chair in the back amongst probably 25 other people. Ozzy stood in front of us and instructed that he wanted us each to stand up as we were called upon to say one word that described our future. The word could not be used twice in the group.

For whatever reason, the first and only word that came to my mind was"dynamic." Just as my turn was about to come, the young woman ahead of me, someone I only recognize from friend's photos on Facebook, stood up with confidence and said, "DYNAMIC!" I was stunned. My turn came, and all I could think of was this one word. DYNAMIC. I was silent. Everyone looked at me. My mind was blank. I felt badly. Zero thoughts. Nothing. I sheepishly smiled and said "Dynamic was the word I was going to use as well. I just cannot think of anything else." The woman took pity and said she would take it back, but I of course could not allow that. I just looked at Ozzy and the group and shrugged.....

How could I not think of anything else? Why was I stuck on dynamic? Why did I secretly despise this woman for "stealing" my word?

Cindy & Bert do Black Sabbath with a touch of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Can every day be like this?



A clip from Paris Aktuell from 1970. Music is "Der Hund von Baskerville" (The Hound of the Baskervilles), a cover version of Black Sabbath's Paranoid by the German duo Cindy & Bert, apparently with lyrics relating to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mystery "The Hounds of Baskerville."

And then this version. The dog, Cindy's hair and makeup....

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Antonio Damasio: Art and the Conscious Brain @ REDCAT

Introduced by CalArts President Steven D. Lavine'

For millennia, the relationship betweenreason and emotion and the nature of creativity has remained a mystery. Internationally renowned neuroscientist Antonio Damasio visits REDCAT to speak about what we now know about the emotions and the conscious mind, particularly as both relate to creativity and the arts. As founding director of USC's Brain and Creativity Institute, Damasio has been employing state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques as well as developing new research methods in collaboration with artists and social scientists to elucidate the neural basis of the emotions and the central role of emotions in social cognition and decision-making. Damasio is author of the widely acclaimed book Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, among other titles.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Curse you NYC. What have you done to me?

I never thought this Yankee town could steal my southern heart ;)

Sometimes you do get what you wish for. Simply, I wanted it to snow while I was here and it could not have been more perfect. Here we are out for a walk with Callie and one of her main boyfriends, Valcor. The puffy jacket is courtesy of angel Jeremy Scott, who created another smart collection for his return to NY fashion week and had the best party with dancing til dawn.

Right now I am listening to Maria Callas (the next project with the Italian Cultural Institute) as my commune of friends awakens groggily from a late night. I have had an amazing morning already, out for a long walk about town taking in the brilliant Alexis Bittar posters featuring 80s diva Joan Collins in full Alexis Carrington mode, the superb bagel shop, the exhilirating cool air, and many friendly strangers.

Yesterday brought this magnolia a true treat. My heart belonged to the ballet as a young girl and who would have thought I would be sitting in Merce Cunningham's studio watching the last dancers trained under him rehearse a very special piece. Sitting on the bench taking off my shoes before entering the studio made me think of those times going to dance rehearsals myself. I should also note the wonderful shock of seeing shirts hand-painted for Merce c. 1958 by Robert Rauschenberg as they came out of the archives....Is this a dream?!

I followed that magic up with a visit with my lovely friends and collaborators at Nouveau PR. They created the best presentations and shows of fashion week (Risto, Siki Im, Flanders House) and conduct themselves with good manners, style and grace. I <3 Michael and Corinna!

Last night I had a perfect dinner at Cafe Gitane with my dear Athens friends who have lived here for many years now. Of all the places in this big city, how is it that my friend Karyn from LA happened to be sitting right behind me? Serendipity is the theme this week.

I don't want to leave. We are off shortly to the Guggenheim. There is so much life, so much to take in.

I am eating a bit of meat again and drinking coffee.... honestly what happened? ;)

So there you are. My love affair with New York is no longer clandestine...

Monday, February 15, 2010

I ♥ NY

Perfect, wet snowflakes...like cool little kisses all over your face :)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

... --- ...

Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window 
For her I feel so afraid 
On her twenty-second birthday 
She already is an old maid 
To her, death is quite romantic 
She wears an iron vest 
Her profession's her religion 
Her sin is her lifelessness 
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow 
She spends her time peeking Into Desolation Row

In other words, ... --- ...

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Rainbow connection

I was terribly overwhelmed and sad earlier today. Really on the verge.....And then, this beauty came glowing across the sky. It reminded me of Hawaii.....and made me stop, take notice, and smile.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Princess Margaret: A Love Story

"She went up to him, and she brushed from his jacket, a bit of fluff.....which displayed a degree of intimacy which would not be normal between a princess of the royal house and a courtier..."

Fantastic documentary on PBS. Airing again on Feb. 20th...

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Mimi mittens makes me feel like Snow White


Whenever I sing around the house, Mimi (my rescue cat) gets this loving look in her eyes, starts purring, and comes over with a very gentle paw to touch me....

When I dance, Callie (my rescue pup) joins in with her own choreography.

And just remember different people have peculiar tastes

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Polo Lounge for hours today

I have a client/friend who likes to meet at the Polo Lounge. I can't complain. Its so traditional and old fashioned and reminds me of an old Virginia country club. Lionel Ritchie strolled in this evening. There were other "famous" people about, but something about Lionel always makes me smile. Maybe its just his name...Lionel.... I don't know....that or the memory of seeing him in concert with Missy Miles and my mom and Martin so many years ago :)