I don't like Christian Bale

But I just came from seeing The Fighter.  I had not planned to see this movie-- who cares about yet another down and out Boston accent rises above all odds to win at the end?   Within the first 10 minutes, I was completely in love with "Dicky Eklund" the emaciated toothless white trash crackhead washed up boxer Christian played.  In love.  The a-hole disappeared so fully that I honestly loved this person, this character.  I mean come on, La Bale is arrogant, self-important, stilted, all his method bullshit about staying in character between scenes, ugh.  And that rant from the set of T4?  Who can forget that?

 Well, don't let that keep you away.  Its so good.  He's so good.  Wow.

We miss Paris!

5 More Years!!!

I cried some small tears of joy and relief this morning to hear Howard renewed. 

I will continue to be happy in the morning, at least for 5 years....

A New Series: Inspiring Things (by marni)

Since I am finding very little time to create my own stuff to post, I am going to start by posting other people's work that inspires and astounds me.  Maybe that will help get my creativity in gear.

These freakishly awesome pieces are by artist Betsy Youngquist,

made with beads and antique doll parts.

See her Etsy store here.

How did you celebrate Jim's Birthday?

I will put on my indian concho belt, drink a bottle of whiskey,  and write some poems....

(Marni)

Black Swan-- See it

I heard today that this was actually only shown on something like 18 screens across the US this past weekend???  I mean I had to drive all the way to hollywood to the cinerama dome arclight.  ha ha ha.  I was waiting at the door at 10:30am, crushing my rumpled advance purchase ticket in my sweaty hand.  I couldnt wait to see this!
So, it is "very good"-- not great, not fantastic, but really good.  Worth seeing in a theater.  Theres a scene with her legs.......agggh!
If you like psychological thrillers or the work of Cronenberg, Kafka, or Aronofsky, for that matter-- it might resonate with you.  Natalie is very good.  There are a few "gotcha" scares that seemed a bit horror film-ish, but I did jump!

Since there are not many cities its shown in, to build buzz, I guess its up to people like me.  Well, I'm buzzing.....

Loss of a good face

Believe me, I'm all for surgery to get freshened up or to suck some fat out of the ass if its ballooning up disproportionately, but I saw this clip of John Travolta on Oprah yesterday --as I lay motionless, getting over food poisoning-- and I literally yelled out loud "Oh noooo noo NO!!!" oh its just awful.  The poor guy, such an american icon, and he's gone forever......

Isn't this a deep and thoughtful post?

(marni)

Metal cuffs I made this weekend (marni)

I tore out this magazine page for the Falconiere cuff, but $525??  Come on.

And here are some more outrageous pieces-- gorgeous, but the prices are ridiculous:

Janis Savitt Cuff Black Nickel Chain Cuff $1000

Givenchy Black Chain Cuff $750

So I made some of my own.  I want to do some with leather, but this is a start.

Trying to perfect the assembly method.  The epoxy is a little messy.  Maybe 1mm drill holes and attach the chain with fine guage wire instead....don't want to tell you the actual cost to make these, as I may want to charge outrageous prices someday soon!

Enoying fine Thanksgiving cuisine in a trend-setting metropolis. Life is Good.

(marni)

 Today's Special-- Fish Boil Tray

Location:  The exciting world hub of Burbank, CA

The Pig Lady waiting

I wish I knew where this painting was. Did I throw it away or give it to the Goodwill in the "Big Purge of 2006"?  And this is such a horrible picture of it! The color is all washed out. Poor Pig Lady! Where are you? This is just one of many missing artworks of mine. Oh well, I guess it only means I got to get busy making some new ones.
 Julie

Do Chickens Dream of Electric Paris.....

(marni)

Don't Do What I Did-- The Day Trip to Macau

by Marni

Click the image to read the full story:

Macau, China

Some Fantastic Tops by Bobi

My friend Kara Lusardi is the designer behind Bobi Clothing, and recently I received these 3 tops for a present.  My new favorites! (marni)

Click here for more amazing styles.



Bobi Designer Kara Lusardi

Pretty Portraits by Julie

"Will ya do me a kindness, Tony?" (m)

This only had a limited run in theaters in the big cities, so now that it is on DVD, please rent this documentary.  It is hilarious, sad, touching, and uplifting.  You won't be sorry.

If you are one of the few that has never seen the cult favorite internet videos, first watch them here, then watch the film.

Today's Inspiration (m)



I just returned from a work trip to Oregon to visit Fire Mountain Gems in Grant's Pass.  The local claim to fame is a group of businessmen who started the "Oregon Cavemen" in the 1920's to promote tourism in the area.  Literature says that it remains one of the most bizarre tourist promo concepts ever.

Roadside attraction still stands



A California Wrap

(marni)

Its 65 degrees.  Rune feels this is too chilly and needs his wrap.





My visit with a guru in India

Click the image to read the full story:

(by marni)

Monsieur Tuco in Paris Series

by marni

And here was my presentation on Tuesday (Julie)

Really, it's ok... keep the jabs coming! I'm completely void of feeling.

Today's BS presentations at work (marni)

Happy Birthday, Marni! (from Julie)

Paris Inspired art

by marni

Today's Inspiration

Inspiration of the Day-- Halloween (m)

Presenting: my brother in law, P to the S.

Inspiration of the Day

Small notch in the photo belt (marni)

See the full gallery of coverage from PAWS LA event here:

I caused a Teency Weency International Incident at CDG

Sunday morning, Julie and I were pushing one cart loaded with all 6 of our huge bags piled up on it into the check in line, and by accident my small black/white carry-on fell off, and we did not notice.  After about half an hour in line, we got to check in and the lady says sorry, we need to shut down all check-ins at this terminal, there has been a report of unattended baggage and they need to evacuate this area.  I looked at our cart, and said oh my god Julie, where is my little b/w bag!!!  I quickly looked around, and saw some machine gun toting guards circling my poor little bag a few aisles away.  I yelled 'WAIT!!! thats my bag!" and ran over.

The matter was cleared up.  Mon Dieu!!!

I'm joining the FFMC fan club-- most exciting protest I ever saw!

FRENCH FEDERATION OF ANGRY BIKERS

On our last night in Paris we walked over to the left bank, very leisurely day, went to an open house for an art gallery building that we got invited to, and stopped during a rainstorm at a nice cafe (me, Julie and her niece Mary) just eating jambon et fromage with a very pleasant crowd, we spent about a couple hours there just talking, when we began to hear this ROAR-- seriously like a jet plane coming down the street -- it turned out to be mile after mile after mile of thousands of motorcylces roaring angrily down the street perpendicular to ours, the noise and commotion was like nothing I've ever seen before!!! it just kept GOING AND GOING AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS RODE BY.  wow!!!!  it must have lasted about 20 minutes to half hour, just imagine the street completely full side to side with cycles so loud and so angrily roaring and revving and honking and honking as they sped past on and on and on-- everyone in the street was fascinated, and of course we thought it had to do with the Sarkozy pension stuff, but I finally found out that it was a protest against some pending motorcyle laws. man oh man, it was exciting!!  damn!!!  I LOVED it.

Its even cooler when you put it to music like this guy:

there are more pics and cool videos here:

http://ukfrancebikers.com/

Dinner Cruise on the Seine (m)

Captain Frick Frack was 10 minutes late, everyone waiting around not knowing what was going on, no one to meet us, no signs, crazy.

Julie, Lourdes and I took a dinner cruise on the Seine for Julie's birthday cadeau.  It was so lovely!  The food was fantastic, that's rare on these types of things I think.  As per my usual, I snuck on a plastic water bottle filled with wine so I didn't have to pay the equivalent of 15USD for one glass!   ha ha ha.

Amuse Bouche before dinner

  

I loved the tiny cow on my steak

 

toast de trois.  sadly the foreshadowing makes me look like man-hands.




Lourdes and Julie and Eiffel




Two friends wait for taxi at Hotel De Ville