the ren faire with rebecca

it was an amazing experience! reliving ye olde times when women were proud to have meat on their bones and a large, natural bosom. there were some incredibly talented craftsmen from leather masks, to feathered headpieces, iron work, and a hilarious group of naughty Shakespeare players. while i like the idea of actually dressing properly each day and suffering in the name of fashion at times, i cannot fathom what it would be like to wear those clothes everyday in the high heat of summer.

daysleeper

in one of those many lives i've lived, i lived in athens, ga, home of REM, with my boyfriend of the time for nearly three years. we moved west together and i tortured myself the entire drive across texas listening only to REM and crying in the way some people do to barbara streisand's "Memories." oh, what a patient man to endure my melodrama ;) he eventually became my husband, and then my ex. he's an amazing man, and its still difficult at times to think of our ending. we were together for about 10 years of our very young lives as we grew up and apart. i was teary tonight for some time during the REM concert at the hollywood bowl. my friend mark was sweet enough to comfort me. many things hit me as i realized the last time i saw REM was 9 years ago with my ex here in LA (though we weren't living here). it was a magical evening at the greek theater, amazing seats that our friend who worked for REM arranged for us. but most importantly, it was the night before i bought my wedding dress.... i didn't let myself stay in that sad place too long as i chose instead to recall how great i felt that night with him, and all the amazing memories i've shared with friends over the years listening to and seeing REM perform. i thought of high school friends jodi and william, my boyfriend roger who had the cool muscle car, the best basement parties, and a dock we'd all sit on having our youthful intellectual discourse while gazing at the creek and stars listening to the best music his 35 year old brother introduced us to.

i am sure a therapist would have a field day with this. my attraction to men that i'll never have..... in my fantasy world, probably since age 15, i've gone for creative, skinny, dandy, man-loving blue-eyed men with cherubic lips. with these men its the look but its mostly their minds. the attractive intellect. deep thinkers. poets: on the page, on the dress form, of the song. its different as i've become older because i actually know or socialize with some of them now. michael stipe is such a talented performer. his voice is as smooth as honey and his range is incredible. to me he is as handsome today as he was 20 years ago. and he was so humble with everyone at the after party. i am so thankful to have had this evening with my friends dave, mark and christine--my induction into the beautiful hollywood bowl.

this is from a best friend from high school and college whom i lost touch with over the years only to be reunited through myspace and my stint on crapality television. for reuniting me with dear friends, i am thankful for the evils of technology. we were nicknamed by a "mean girl" in high school as "jessica trendy and jodi fashion." i emailed her to let know i was thinking of her as i prepared to hit the REM show. here's what she had to say regarding a concert in richmond, va circa 1991. mind you, i had an armful of stacked, thin madonna-esque silver bracelets and was throwing them as "gifts" to sir stipe, hoping he'd put one on so i could shriek like a groupie. barely a woman, i wanted the creative gay man's seed.... LOL. we had seats on the side, but even back then, you couldn't keep baby in the corner as they say. i had to be front row!!!! jodi says, "I remember Mr. Stipe himself stopping the concert, because "someone" was throwing bracelets on stage. I busted my leg falling through chairs as we lept through the crowd to get front row. the two of us were trouble. i have a million funny memories. I would do it all again in a heartbeat................... jodixoxo"

battle cries and champagne just in time for sunrise

David in Feathers

It doesn't get much better than this...... Part of why I love David. He had an earthy side mixed in with his glamness....

Let Them Eat Kate

Mademoiselle Kate Moss is back for our friends @ Agent Provocateur. (I must run down to see BB @ the store here on Melrose). I love that she's joined them again, I love the creative of the campaign with the storytelling of a pre-marital meltdown and the way they are launching it is so smart. Ah, Miss Kate as the bride who has a change of heart. Click here for their brilliant online experience (with one of my most favorite songs). Log on to Nick Knight's site for the to see it all! SHOWstudio
And if you want to see the story again of the "Let them eat cake" teen queen, watch Sophia Coppola's unique take on the story the ill-fated Marie Antoinette likening her to the celebutantes of today. I just watched it again a couple of weeks ago. Sophia's cinematography, especially the scenes with the natural lighting outside in the fields and gardens is quite beautiful and brings me back to what I loved visually about the Virgin Suicides.

Which Man? Sex & the City.

Ladies and gays, its going to be here sooooon. Sex & the City on the big screen.

The topic comes up again amongst friends. In the relationship you are in now, or relationships you've had in the past, how do you relate your man to the partners of Ms. Carrie Bradshaw? Fellas, which man are you? Which one to you want to be for your own "Carrie?"

Mr. Big: Exciting, opinionated, elusive, witty, emotionally unavailable. You can sense he wants to be with her (you) but is afraid. In and out of her (your) life, breaking her (your) heart. Many curses of bad timing. Despite it all, she (you) always believes in their love and he remains an underlying current.

Burger: Geek chic, (which can be quite appealing....) Handsome, sweet, intellectually stimulating. Drawn to her (your) boldness and confidence yet ultimately insecure about his hot and successful lady. If not for his insecurity, he'd be amazing. Ugh, lets not forget the wimpy post-it note goodbye and no talk. (Akin these days to a text or 1 line email to end a relationship.)

Aiden: A man's man with heart. He can build her (your) desk, throw her (you) over his shoulder, wrap his big arms around her (you) so protective and also be so sweet as to run a nice bath for (her) you. Is he so "perfect" that he's hard to live up to, so she (you) perpetuate(s) an even more imperfect and wrong version of her (your) self?

The Russian: "Exotic." Dramatic and opinionated creative type from another place. Revs her (your) engine in a new way. Adores her (you) while also being quite egocentric. Knows how to court a woman properly (we do all love that). The older man/dominate role in the relationship. She (you) may acquiesce much more than in other relationships. She (you) are simply tired of being the independent decision-making woman and just want a man to be a man and run the show for awhile. Emotionally unavailable and egocentric similar to Mr. Big.

I think the Russian is quite like Mr. Big, just older. Perhaps Mr. Big would turn out this way in 20 more years if he and Carrie do not tie the knot. Both put her up on a pedestal like a beautiful princess yet could just as easily ignore and hurt her without realizing it due to their massive egos. With these two, her life was the most dramatic, glamorous and exciting (for better or worse).

Some of us have been with all these types, some always go for the same. Some men are a combo. Really just some classic personality traits for each. I know I always wanted her with Mr. Big. The union of their different backgrounds--different personalities yet so much the same at the heart of it all. Lets think of that sweet and simple moment they danced to Sinatra playing in that empty room on his record player before he was to move. The electricity they created was wonderful, addictive, and intoxicating for us all to feel a part of. I liked the Russian for a bit too--though I knew he'd never last. He was right for the moment. We just want her (you) to have her (your) prince charming, white horse and all. Hmmmm......I want a private movie screening with friends and cocktails ;)

And where would we be without our dear friends?

The Vatican Embraces Darwin & Aliens

la "planète rouge"

This is major........

The Pope's chief astronomer says that life on Mars cannot be ruled out.

Writing in the Vatican newspaper, the astronomer, Father Gabriel Funes, said intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space.

Father Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory near Rome, is a respected scientist who collaborates with universities around the world.

The search for forms of extraterrestrial life, he says, does not contradict belief in God.

The official Vatican newspaper headlines his article 'Aliens Are My Brother'.

Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth, so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates.

READ THE REST INCLUDING THE VATICAN CONFERENCE ON DARWIN

A fantastical headpiece

Image courtesy of Stylefrizz

Love it love it love it! Philip Treacy headpiece and Alexander McQueen dress on Sarah Jessica Parker @ the world premier of the Sex & the City film in London. I am happy that she went more with the character of Carrie for this look. McQueen's current collection of feather-adorned silk ombre-dyed dresses is my fantasy.

My friend Laura Kranitz has been creating headpieces with vintage feathers, silk flowers, and the like for the past few years (this is a photo of one of my own Laura Kranitz pieces). Recently featured on Style.com and Daily Candy, She is an amazing up and coming LA-based artist who also designs very unique and intricate jewelry. Check her site for more....LauraKranitz.com

The Blessing Of Having Dear Friends

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not possibly born until they arrive, and is only by this meaning that a new world is born."--Anais Nin

Its such a true feeling. I am so lucky to have the inspiration and love of my friends and I hope I give back as much as they give to me.

Anais Nin lived the last part of her life here in LA, in the creative hub of Silverlake. This photo was taken in her LA home. She seems like a happy lady there :)

We could be heroes.....

...just for one day. Superheroes: Fashion & Fantasy at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York opening gala. Exhibit through Sept. 1, 2008. I hope to make it there to see this as well as the Koons exhibit all under one roof.....

For the opening gala, we have the darling Christina Ricci in Givenchy. I feel Givenchy is having a bit of comeback--at least for a younger generation-- if they ever left. And some beautiful shoes the past few seasons. This is hands down my most favorite look of the evening. I love the nod to all time steel magnolia superhero favorite Wonder Woman. This is the dress I would love to wear. I want it.....

Not going to go too deep here as there are tons of critiques and photos online. There were overall some real bores, especially for an event like this! Margarita Missoni was disappointing. I usually really like MM's style. In context of this event, the Olsens were not that impressive this time around either, even though they were wearing gowns made especially for them by the Diane Von Furstenberg (whom I do quite admire on many levels). Anna Wintour really went for it in Chanel. Its great to see she must still have some sense of fun underneath her fashion editor armor. Kate Moss looked quite pretty but not really taking a risk here. I suppose its her effortless style. She always looks great, but somehow always looks a bit the same.... You know I love her, but its true....I would have liked to have seen more drama for this night. Katie Holmes looked radiant in red with that tan skin and shiny dark hair. Also quite loved the whole look of Naomi Watts. Its classic Hollywood glamor meets superhero with the signature Thierry Mugler star and geometric pleats. The angular effect frames her face and shoulders. More pics are here: Gala Photos. I'm off to revel in Bowie....

PS: On the superhero note I am kind of obsessing on Robert Downey Jr. & Ironman. I fell in love with him in Less than Zero. A great actor even back then. This is the first superhero movie I've really ever wanted to see...

Test-Tube Meat. Yum. Sounds Absolutely Delightful.....

Interesting. I stopped eating meat due to my love of animals and concerns of cruelty. Watching a film in college with the birds shoved in tiny cages, beaks cut off.... And my human anatomy art class--put me over the edge. Having to draw what our nude model's muscles looked like--without skin on top and thinking, "wow, that arm looks like a chicken wing." Mock meat used to mean veggie burgers and soy chicken, but there maybe something new on grocer's isles in a few years.....

From TIME magazine: On Monday, the clamorous animal rights group PETA announced it would award $1 million to the first person to come up with a way to make commercially viable in vitro meat by 2012. The fake meat would have to be indistinguishable from the real deal, according to competition rules, and it would have to be cheap enough to succeed in the marketplace.

The talk is that perhaps they could grow this meat to be higher in omega 3s and without bacteria and disease found on farms. Would you eat meat produced in a lab? Hmmm, I'd have to think about that.

9 Years Before. 9 Years From Then. Baby, you're gonna miss that plane...

Celine: I guess when you're younger, you just believe there'll be many people with whom you'll connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.
Jesse: And you can screw it up, you know, misconnect.

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Celine: The past is the past. It was meant to be that way.
The film is Before Sunrise. This photo was taken before sunset a few years ago.

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I've never been, I want to go!!! Don't make fun ;)

Koroneburg aka Corona...Welcome to the fictitious estate of a Renaissance baron where you can visit with actors, watch minstrels perform, compete in an archery contest, marvel at the jousting tournament or just wander around in tights and a corset eating meat off the bone (I wander around in tights and a corset eating meat off the bone everyday anyway, hellooooo). Saturday 05/10/08 to Saturday 06/14/08. http://www.koroneburg.com/riverview/

It looks creepy but cool ;) I'm going to look for some Renaissance fair fashion trends to bring to the mean streets of Los Angeles baby!

Hear Me Roar....

Between being a bit of a cliche non-committal Libra who cannot make up her mind, a gypsy/freebird hippie at heart who is not a "car person," yet also someone who loves beauty and style....and...someone who sometimes feels guilt about consumerism and enjoying nice material things......agh, I cannot take it! Then there was the headache of getting schmoozed by sales sharks @ car dealerships.

I prepared for battle. I did my homework. I became determined to succeed in this quest for my ideal car. Don't tell me I should buy the blue car because it matches my eyes! Don't try to sell me some cheesy tricked out rims for $2k! I've done my research, I know the safety features and fuel economy, etc., etc. I just want to drive the darned thing, figure out some financial logistics and make a decision. Afterall, I was in a rental car since February! (Did I mention I am a bit of a procrastinator???)

Here is my though process.....most of which I talked out with dear Roxy, not to mention a few new friends who must think I am a loon....

A. I've always loved the old Mercedes 280SL roadster with that classic tan leather and woodgrain interior. I love the boxiness of old Mercedes, BMW and Volvos and those curvilinear accents which lines give personality. If the 280SL had good fuel economy, I'd buy it outright and be done in a heartbeat. I looked at one on Saturday.....(came really close to purchase on the spur of the moment and heat stroke on a car lot...) She is the perfect mix of sporty to drive and feminine style. A V-8 engine no less. But, at 15 MPG, she's not good for the mother earth I love so dearly..... So, she'll still be in my heart, and someday when I am a proper homeowner again with enough space for 2 cars, perhaps she'll be my weekend car.

B.The car I thought I was set on for the past month of research (with a lot of help from Sanoe as well and some input from John) is the Prius. Hands down, NO CAR gets a better fuel economy..... And I don't like the idea of beholden to volatile countries for their oil! Its been interesting learning about Hybrids and the technology. The car really makes since. But....other than on a cerebral level.... I just wasn't "feeling" the Prius. Is it too tech and asexual for me? Does that even make sense????? Hmmm, I think it does.

Do cars have chemistry with us like humans do to some degree? I mean, don't some people just rev your engine and others just don't? ;) I think its an amazing car, and right for so many people, just not me at this very moment :)

C. And then there is this. The image that cannot get out of my mind. Burned into my retinas. The perfect man....."The King of Cool." He had style, talent, sex appeal, a down to earth quality, and machismo..... Steve McQueen with his Mini Cooper in hot chocolate. (Do you KNOW how many times I have watched Papillon? Did you know he did stunts in Bullit?)

A+B+C=D. And my Sunday was finally without (much) headache. Michael @ Nick Alexander Imports here in LA is THE MAN! He was very patient with me, explaining the different styles, options, etc.

With the help of Lady Calliope as co-pilot (I brought her along to see which car she looked the best in), I chose the new BMW Mini Clubman in Hot Chocolate, a tribute to McQueen :) I like that there are only 70 dealers in the country and that production is limited. So I get to be somewhat unique :)

D. The final choice :)
She's a great mix of A+B+C. The boxiness and interior touches of vintage sportscars, yet she's top 10 EPA rated like the Prius and also has a great safety rating since they are built by BMW and have some sports car safety elements like the roll-bar, "drive-flat" tires I can drive on after puncture for 100 miles, and many,many air bags. And then we have the influence of Steve McQueen....yes, the sucker for style and history gets me. So I got her (or him? not sure of the sex yet) kinda more tricked out with the pretty chocolate and cream interior, chrome interior accents, sports seats, panoramic sunroof, bluetooth (since talking on the cellie will be outlawed here in CA shortly), and going for some window tinting as well. The car talks to you with certain features. I told Michael @ Nick Alexander that the car is Steve McQueen meets NightRider. Ha. Michael@AlexanderMini.com

Oh, what also helped to seal the deal: The free maintenance for the first 3 years/36,ooo miles which INCLUDES pick-up service from my house or work with a flat-bed where they will pick up my MINI and give me a loaner for the day while they service my car. I don't even have to go there. This insures I'll actually do the oil changes and tire rotations, get the wiper blades replaced, etc. etc.

I drove that baby off the lot and straight to Santa Monica to drive by the sea and show Dave & Mark who were also big helpers to me in this decision. Yeah! Mark will look great driving her too--he looks way more like McQueen than I ever will:)

Oh, and click HERE for a little bit about McQueen's Mini @ the Petersen Automotive Museum here in LA.

The Spring

"You begin to see that there are seasons in your life in the same way as there are seasons in nature. There are times to cultivate and create, when you nurture your world and give birth to new ideas and ventures."--Chogyam Trungpa

What season is your life in right now?

Who's on 3rd?

at least i have the dog now. like dorothy's toto ;) and i've already been off to see the wizard! you don't know. these coming 12 months are very important. it was told to me 4 years ago, amongst other things that were incredibly spot on. but though i revealed so much to persons dear to me then, i honestly never revealed this "exact" part. the time now seemed so far off then for the potential paths in my life in the future. (the future comes sooner than you think when you look back on the past....wow....thats a lot ;) i kept this detail to myself in part as i had hoped life as i had wished for at that time would have sorted itself out sooner. alas it did not, but thats okay, because there is another path.

so open but yet not at all it seems. we all must keep something reserved for ourselves out of that protective wall i suppose. so i am here, and the time is absolutely NOW. and i feel it like crazy. so much. its exciting! so many 3s were predicted. here we are....... as of this month. so i'll vaguely let you know what i am talking about.....or i won't ;)