Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Information Is In Your Blood

The author did not speak to me.  I did not learn anything from "How To Write A Sentence".  I am always drawn to "how to" books even though I am disappointed more times than not where it seems it is just a regurgitation of something I already know.

Before the Internet I was visiting Seattle for the weekend with my boyfriend at the time.  We stopped in the city Museum and there it was.  A model of the future computer.  He was mesmerized.  He was a film maker and told me how this mock-up computer is going to give us access to information from all over the world.  I did not yawn but I did wonder if that was what I really needed in my life or if it was more important for me to apply the mass amounts of info I already had stored in my brain.  I already felt I was addicted to gathering more and more information as a procrastination from actually doing anything with it

My main interest is health, fitness and fashion.  The blogs I like are ones where I can learn from the dialogue rather than from a so called expert.  Fat Head and Mark's Daily Apple have some good dialogues.  I do not like business or medical journals putting out findings on the basis of which ever corporation is subsidizing their research.

Applying the information is another question.  My mother taught me to eat vegetables growing up.  She practiced her preaching and was placed in a nursing home at age 94 with dementia.  Jack LaLane who my mother exercised to on the television ate nothing but fresh vegetables and fruits right out of his organic garden if you believe the infomercials he made selling his blenders.  His exercise routine was stellar and never missed a day.  He died at age 94 of pneumonia.

On the front page of our newspaper the other day was a picture of a lady age 104 lifting weights at the health club she attends three times a week.  She takes more vitamins than medications and "eats lots of vegetables".  I am eating lots of vegetables, taking ballet class 5 times a week and have another cold.  GRRRR!!!!!


Now I am reading about the "High Priestess of Fashion".  Diana Vreeland says. "You cannot learn about fashion.  It has to be in your blood.".  Maybe this is true for all things???

Sunday, February 26, 2012

The Men In My Life

I'm sure the men in our lives tell us something about ourselves.  I wonder why I do not have any men in my life other than colleagues, business professionals, and my dance teacher.  The only men in my life I have never met.  The only male influences I have are in my dreams and on my mind.  My top four:

Arvydas Sabonis google image
 Arvydas Sabonis from Lithuania.  At seven foot three he played basketball with a finesse I had never seen.  He spoke with an eloquence that is exceptional for a sports figure.  The twinkle in his eye and sense of humor made him endearing and over a thousand people came to celebrate his days as a Blazer.

MJ google image
Michael Jackson, King of Pop to the masses and a genius to some.  I first came to notice him with his interviews and saw an artist that reminded me of the line in a song written about Vincent Van Gogh, "I could have told you Vincent this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you."  That is how I felt about Michael.

Kobe Bryant a super athlete.  Tonight I watched him play in the All Star game and he surpassed Michael Jordan (the BB player Kobe is accused of imitating) with number of points scored.  His love for the game, and constant hunger to improve and play and win is all attractive to me.  Oh and that smile!!!
Kobe Bryant google image

Woody Allen, how can I forget?  He does slip my mind.  Then the minute I hear him on the news as I did last night it all comes back to me.   He was  talking about the call he received recently telling him he was up for four Academy Awards .  He said he thought they were calling to ask for his Oscars back that he has already won in past years.  Why?  He never participates and is well known for his opinion that art cannot be judged because it is too subjective.  He does not want to consciously or subconsciously have awards influence his work. .  He is not a member of the Academy, cannot vote, and will not attend.  And tonight he WON an Oscar for best screenplay for Midnight In Paris.  Go Woody Go Woody!!!  He is his own man, talented, adorable, and funny,  And a musician.  Super attractive on many levels.

I admit the men in my life are obviously best admired from afar.  I feel like the author Graham Greene when he was in the same room with someone he admired.  His friend asked why he did not go speak to him and he answered, "I am afraid he would not live up to my projection". 


Thursday, February 23, 2012

How To Find Yourself

Self knowledge is awareness of your inner and outer world.  Observing yourself in relationships with your mate, friends, collegues, community, the world.  One fun way is to pay attention to your choice of reading material.  A few weeks ago I found myself in Powell's bookstore drawn to Jane Austen and choose her last novel Sanditon.  I find English authors are my favorite when wanting to read a register above my day to day dialogue with friends and co-workers.

Maybe it is because my father's side is English and my Grandmother was an English school teacher the spoken word was important.  I remember I stayed with my Grandmother at the age of six and I used the word "stuff".  She told me that was not a word in the dictionary and not to use it.

Now I listen to our nightly newscasters and my ears cringe and my face hurts.  Everything is described as "we've got".  Whatever happenned to "we have"?  Which sounds better to your ears?  "We've got a storm coming" or "we have a storm coming".  Worse, why am I the only one this bothers????

Author Stanley Fish
I know my posts on this blog tend toward a style of casual conversation.  Maybe this is why I was attracted to this book at the library today.   I cannot wait to learn how my inner Jane can be revealed.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Ballet Pink Boots

Going shopping at the Outlet stores is not my favorite thing to do.  It is well known you cannot trust the prices just because they are the so-called outlet stores.  It does not mean the items are automatically a good deal.   But I was going with a fun friend from ballet class and knew this day was going to be a good time.

We had never gone shopping together before and did not know each other very well.  We have very different styles so items she is drawn to I am not.  We were going into most every store in the Mall but when she wanted to go into Rockport I thought she was kidding.  I asked her if she was looking for boots and she said, "no, but you are."   I only like dressy boots and they have to have a heel or at least a wedge.  No flat boots for me.  She has one of those personalities that is so upbeat when she said, "one never knows what one might find" we were already in the store. 

I wandered up and down the aisle hoping she would hurry up and decide we could leave when she asked me to come see.  And there they were to my surprise.  The softest prettiest ballet pink swede hiking boots on sale for $15.00.  I wanted to get two pair and Vix wisely said, "no one needs more than one pair of powder pink boots".




Sunday, February 19, 2012

My Version Of MJ

Hat F21
      
I found this hat yesterday while shopping at the Mall for a few cami's and some interesting quality sleeveless shells or blouses.  So what was I doing in F21?  I was done looking.  I had gone to Ann Taylor, The Gap, Bebe's H & M, J. Crew, and actually tried on 3 different white camisole's at The Gap.  Nasty.  The only word I can think to say.  The material was so slimy I could not wait to rip them off my skin.  I wanted to say something to one of the clerks but knew they had nothing to do with the quality of the merchandise they sell. 

I always check out F21 accessories.  I have been wanting a white hat to wear with my black jackets to brighten them up a bit and thought this would do the trick.    My daughter's reaction to this picture was "CAN YOU SAY MICHAEL JACKSON!!!"  What?  Really?  She knows I thought he was a genius.  When I told her I always wanted that look she said, "You're hilarious!".  So I will take that as a compliment???

Actually I had a friend come over today to help me figure out how to post photos again because just when I get it figured out my computer decides to be weird.  So this is an experiment taking my own photo with my phone, then emailing it to myself, then inserting it to my blog.  I think I finally have it down. Next comes  purchasing an SLR and learning how to use it in the spare time I don't have.

Who Is The Artist

This painting hung in my Grandmother's home.  The painting has no signage on it anywhere and I have looked in many library books over the years to try and identify it.

I am wondering if my grandmother may have been the artist?  How does one go about identifying the artist of a painting?

Friday, February 17, 2012

What Celebrity Are You Wearing

If only celebrities did it better.  But somehow it's worse.  I am talking about their so-called fashion designs.  Do they actually design the clothes or just attach their name to the articles in question?  We have Jennifer Lopez for Kohl's, Katie Holmes for Ann Taylor, Paris Hilton at Macy's but not sure if that is still happening, and forget who is at Penny's and of course the 3 Kardashians plus Mom and the two teens are not only at Sears but all over QVC.
Twiggy for HSN

Queen Latisha on HSN
Also to be found on QVC is Joan Rivers, and Wendy Williams.  At HSN we have Twiggy, Mariah Carey, Queen Latisha, and Serena Williams.  Making the price tag reflect the value of the celebrities name is one thing but why do all the clothes have to look so cheesy and be of such horrendous quality?
Joan Rivers on QVC
Serena Williams for HSN
Mariah Carey for HSN

K-Dash for Sears