California Dreamin

In a few hours i'll be on a plane for California. I should be packing but i'm finding every excuse possible to not pack (i love the internet!). I've only been in California once before, for two hours in the LAX airport. I'm hoping this five day trip, to get acquainted with my future family, is more interesting and relaxing. It will be my first new year with no snow and away from home. For Russians New Year's is a big deal so that will be interesting. I'll be dressing as a hippy for a masquerade party i'm attending tomorrow, happening in San Francisco (with flowers in my hair). Unimaginative, but the cold has taken every creative impulse i have.

For Everything To Be Perfect....

For everything to stop hurting
- Jets to Brazil "Cat Heaven"

The news coming from South Asia has been terrible to say the least. I didn't want to blog about the tragedy because in truth i'm left speechless and feeling inadequate in adding my two cents to the news. It makes me sad that people would use the tragedy for political purposes, but that's the way the world works. I'm happy i was able to help in a tiny bit with a meager contribution to AmeriCares (via Daily Lunch) and i hope others do the same.

Scrumptious

If you get a chance, try the Apple Caramel Cider from Tealuxe. I'm usually a big tea person but the cider was too much to pass up on this cold (but sunny) day. The delicate taste of apples and the sweetness of caramel was a perfect combination to make me warm and a little bit less cranky.

Disgusted

Maybe if Hitler needed an attorney he would have hired Ramsey Clark as his lawyer? At least now Clark can help Saddam Hussein get justice from the imperialist oppressive pigs (aka the US). Puke.

My Ears Are Bleeding

A while ago i was going to write a mini-post about how much i was enjoying the Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" (I'm also a big fan of Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting). How the sweetness and sensuality of the song is something that you can rarely find in the current culture (and probably that is the reason for the song's popularity and staying power). Now days, it is very rare to come across a subtle piece of music, tv show, or film. Mostly the product either hits you over the head with the message or wraps in a nice bow and produces a saccharine version of reality.

There is this perfect balance of sexy innuendo and innocent banter in "Baby It's Cold Outside".

I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move a little closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

The effectiveness of the song depends as much on the lyrics as it does on the delivery of the lyrics. The song is a gentle volley of flirtatious exchanges. Each singer must play off one another to get the right tone of the song across. She's hesitant (we know she wants to stay) and his insistent. It creates the tension of will she stay or go? That's why the Dean Martin version (where he sings with a whole chorus of women) doesn't work, the intimacy and urgency is gone the song is generic with no suspense (he can't make the whole chorus stay!).

Another version that really doesn't work, actually it fails miserably, is done by Jessica "I have no creative bone in my body" Simpson and Nick "I'm Jessica Simpson's husband" Lachey. I couldn't even listen to the whole song, it was so awful i had to turn it off. It seems that Simpson cannot get through a song without panting like an out of breath dog. There is no chemistry between the very sexy duo (please note the sarcasm) and it's not like they are in love, oh wait... It seems like they were singing at each other instead to each other; there was no natural rhythm, no real interaction, no passion and no personality. The song fell completely flat. Once again the sensuality that should have come from the performance of the song was sacrificed for a "sexy" photo shot of Jessica seductively lifting up her shirt. Video killed the radio star, indeed.

Stupid Question

Why is it when a show is about high school/college students every new season means another year has passed? They so could have streched out Dawson's Creek/Felicity type shows.

It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.

Me: Do you have a movie you can watch over and over again?
George: Groundhog Day.

She Got All The Good Jeans Genes

My sister is not only a nuclear physicist but she can also paint/draw/make pretty things very well. I curse the gods of talent. Damn YOU. (Shakes fist at the sky). Check out her version of Father Frost as a young man.

I Will Never Buy A Dating Advice Book

One of my biggest pet peeves is when i go out with some particular girlfriends and they start telling one another about their boyfriend/dating issues. Sure i love a little gossip now and then, but it always seems so superficial. I always feel like it is up to me to give useless (generic) reassuring answers. Love (and like, as well as lust) is a complicated, subtle, and fragile undertaking. To see one person as a prick and the other as a saint is treating life like a game show with right and wrong answers. I'm not saying i'm immune to (at times) analyzing every little said and unsaid word by the guys i date, but it seems so frustrating to find yourself doing this time after time. On that note i really want to see Easy.

It Wouldn't be As Cute After The Car Wash

One of my favorite car photos. I like the little dude driving the car.


Taken in Haifa July 2004.

Bunnies Do It Better?

If you're tired of seeing the same old version of It's A Wonderful Life, here's a new take on the old classic. A sort of Cliff Notes for the film starring bunnies.
My personal favorite corny scene in the movie is after George and Mary fall into the pool and walk back home all wet from the dance. I was such a romantic back then, what happened?

I'm Home

It is strange and wonderful to be back home from Scotland. I miss Scotland already (and i will admit that i cried like a baby once the plane took off, overlooking the gorgeous green Scottish countryside). I'm trying to hold on and meditate on this feeling of being around people who i love and loved by. However, i know that this honeymoon period will end (i love my family, especially in small time increments) and the daily grind will ensue. I'm too lazy to write a decent post about my travells, impressions, people i will miss terribly. So i'll just sit an contemplate how lovely it is to sit with my grandmother (who just turned eighty-fourth this week) and drink a warm cup of tea. Good Saturday to everyone.

Tolerance

I was out with a friend last night. We started early, i had other plans and he wanted to get to bed early so we met around 4:30. From there we went to a pub, a nice enough place with an added bonus of dodgey men in the corners. We started with a glass of whiskey on the rocks. I felt a little light headed, but nothing worth noting. Then we headed across time to another pub, by which time the little buzz was completely gone. I managed to drink two or three gin & tonics and the new establishment. Then we left and headed to a more modern bar - where i had two drink of whiskey and coke. You would think by this time i would get a little bit tipsy?! But no such luck, damn tolerance! I ask you, what (and how much) does a girl have to drink to get drunk?
Being the shameless tourist that i am, i'm off on a Haggis Tour tomorrow! Where i hear all there is to do is count sheep and drink. A lot. I'll report on my research in a few days.

For The Romantics At Heart

Long before my sister and my soon to be brother in law decided to tie the knot this happend: The inevitable engagement of sister.

I Don't Get My Sense Of Humor Either

I flew to Scotland with Virgin Airlines. When i was travelling again i noticed a little red sticker on the back of my passport which read: Virgin Security. It made me laugh, security indeed.

"Sir, are you a virgin?"
"No."
"Well, I'm sorry we can't let you on this flight, you know virgin security."

And A Happy Birthday From Me Too

We all know how much i like Ken Wheaton's blog. However, there is someone i have grown to heart just as much as Ken. I'm quite thankful to Ken for introducing me to Dead Serious, who is a daily read for me. His writing is engaging, sincere, informative, and witty. The only fault that i find with Mr. Dead Serious is that he doesn't update as often as As I Please. Today Dead Serious turns one more year older and i'm sure he would appreciate a comment from all of you. (G-d knows i made a lot of pointless comments on his blog to warrant the most bland comment award in history of blogging, but someone got to show the love, dammit).

You Know You Are A Geek....

When you get all excited about a web diagram you just drew before starting an essay. I've become to slap happy with all this pointless work.

What's Your Favorite?

I found this commercial through Zach Braff's blog. It's a clip for Channel 4 in the UK where a bunch of celebrities reveal their favorite swear word. It's not so much the actual word but the delivery of the swear that i liked.
(You have to click on http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/13480/ at the top to get the clip).
My favorites include BradleyWhitford and Zach Braff.

My Trip: A picture (ok cartoon) tells a thousand words.

After trying to get the best deals on crappy airlines and taking four plane rides in one week this cartoon is so perfect.

Award For The Best Attempt At Subliminal Use Of Sex In Advertising

Last week i noticed a billboard with a picture of a woman's face by Vedafone with a tagline "Video messaging. Live It." What caught my attention? Well the girl's right eye was covered with some white "stuff," her mouth open in a half smile of enjoyment. I did a little double take, the "white stuff" turned out to be a "snow ball" thrown by a guy pictured on the video phone the girl was holding. I know i have dirty mind, but this was blatant sexual pandering.
Anyway when i tried to find the advert on the Vedaphone website i could not, there is a similar ad, which pictures a girl all wet from a water hose.

Sex sells, but common people a little subtlety.
Still it was quite funny driving by a thinly veiled explicit sexual image with little old ladies passing by.

(Since Vadafone doesn't have the ad another blogger posted the image! The billboard has been taken down already.)

Guess What I Am Listening To?

Dont wake me i plan on sleeping
Dont wake me i plan on sleeping in

- The Postal Service

The lack of blogging was due to my lovely Mum coming and visiting her neurotic and paranoid daughter. Now i have tons of exams to study for and write by Friday, oh joy. All i want to do is lie in bed and dream beautiful dreams....more to come on my travels (London, Amsterdam, Koln, oh my!)

I rather have these lyrics as my anthem at the moment.

I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images and when
We kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate that God himself
Did make us into corresponding shapes like
Puzzle pieces from the clay
True, it may seem like a stretch, but
Its thoughts like this that catch my troubled
Head when you're away when I am missing you to death
When you are out there on the road for
Several weeks of shows and when you scan
The radio, I hope this song will guide you home

- The Postal Service

Link Love

A friend of mine from Israel has started a blog Showercap. She has loads of hilarious, incredible, and touching stories to tell. Please go read.