Pinup #2

So here is number 2. It was a very limited picture so I over-embellished it because I was having fun w/ my sharpie...LOL. Also, my scanner is on the blink so the picture is a bit dark because I had to take a digital photo in order to post it.

More ArT...LowBrOw and otherwise...

I thought I'd also devote a post to a couple of great artists that get little recognition since I guess they could be said to belong to the 'lowbrow' art world and only make an appearance here and there.

Above, is a piece by Casey Weldon whom I met at the Rockabilly Rod Reunion in Las Vegas. He had a booth set up and I loved his art/humor so much that I bought two of his prints right on the spot. I bought this one because I knew that Johnson would love it and it speaks to my heart as well...it's called 'At-At the Park'. His web address is http://www.caseyweldon.com/home/paintings.htm











And this is one of the BEAUTIFUL creations of Amy Sol, with whom I am currently most enamoured. Her paintings are all in muted tones on natural grain wood and they are all like a childhood dream. The grain of the wood shows through so perfectly on every piece and somehow always fits the flow and story she is telling. Soooo lovely.
Her fantastic website is www.amysol.com and there is a link to her blog so that you can see her new work as she creates it.

The Art of the Pinup

Ahhh, the art of the pinup. I'd thought I'd devote just a bit of blog-dom to my favorite pinup artists and what is currently serving as my inspiration and the catalyst for my present 'activity' in the world of charcoals, oils, and such.

The nurse is by the great Gil Elvgren. Painting is titled 'Now Don't Ask Me What's Cookin' from 1948



The blonde in the white dress is by Earl Moran. It wasnt accompanied by the customary title and date









'Time to Get Up!' by Peter Dribben 1950








Alberto Vargas, December 1943 (?)









Edward Runci, 'Put Up Job' 1948 (Runci is my favorite. I think it's his 'disney-esque' faces. I also love the sunkissed skin of his happy ladies and the fact that they are doing wallpaper jobs in heels!)









And finally, here's a lovely lady by George Petty, year unknown. Besides Vargas, he is probably the most famous of the cheesecake artists.


Aren't they precious?

Pinup #1

And so I've decided to try my hand at pinup art. I'm shooting for a crazy hodgepodge of realism, cartoonism, and illustration art. My favorite pin up artist was Edward Runci and I adore the Disney-esque-ness of the faces on his girls.

The picture to the left is the first in what is hopefully a long line of gals. However, let me say first that I completely aware that it...well...sucks. The medium was entirely wrong for my subject and my style. Watercolor pencils are great for some things but I'm not too thrilled with them for this. I think it's because I feel a little limited in my ability to fine tune and add depth thru use of layers. I prefer plain ol' pencils or oils for this project, I believe.

So why did I post it? I think it's because I'd like to take you guys along w/ me on my journey. I've made the brash decision to post every finished piece on this page whatever the final results. I'd like to eventually be satisfied with something that I do.

I can say I am pretty happy with the extra 15-20 pounds I added to the model, however. She was a stick!

'Tear It Down!'

Saturday night we saw Old Crow Medicine Show for the first time. It was feee-nom-en-al! Maybe it was the great venue of The New Daisy Theater on Beale (one of my favorite places to see live music...I've seen everything there from Leo Khotke to KMFDM to Clutch to Sarah Mclachlan and it's always great) or maybe it was just the fact that these guys are so incredibly talented, but I'll venture to say it was one of the best live shows I've ever seen. The music is 'old timey', as I've said before, and I guess the best way to describe it would be to just suggest that you watch O Brother Where Art Thou and if you like the music, you'll love Old Crow. They have such a full, rich sound and all four of the singers have great voices that blend perfectly together when they harmonize.

They performed just about everything I would have wished except the great little Ballad 'Caroline' that my two year old likes so much. But I'm more than happy to catch them again to make up for it! Their stage presence is really exciting as well since they jibe off of each other and the audience alike. My favorite tracks they did Saturday night were probably a little ditty called 'Let it Alone' and of course, their wonderful rendition of Bob Dylan's Wagon Wheel. They also did some AMAZING instrumental pieces that made wish for the first time that I knew how to do some buckdancing! And how can I forget that great cover of Alabama's Dixieland Delight which made the original seem pale in comparison??

As far as the audience goes, I don't think I've ever seen memphis so gracious to a band before. The audience was WILD with appreciation and by Sunday morning I had NO voice left due to the screaming of the night before. The New Daisy was packed by the time the band began and between each song the applause was uproarious. Old Crow really seemed to appreciate it and repeatedly thanked us for being 'a great audience' and making the last night of their North American tour so memorable.

Since the boys live in Nashville, they will be performing at home in December and I'm sure I'll do all I can to be there. I hope any of you who can will do the same!

'If this gal had money, she'd go broke...'

Oh dear me. I just found the greatest site in the WORLD for my love of retro reproduction duds. This is me. This style is everything I want out of being a woman...grace, glamour, and class.

The site is www.whirlingturban.com and it is a doozy. The company consists of a group of ladies (and gents?) that construct clothing using actual vintage patterns from the forties and fifties. They have a variety of wonderful fabrics that are in keeping w/ the era and styles that were popular as well. The dress above is a reproduction of the Dream Shaheen dress that was popular in the mid fifties. It flatters just about any shape and beneath the bolero is a beautifully tailored halter strap that can be removed. The best thing is, they don't do 'sizes'. You send them your measurements and they custom fit your dress to your body. I have already sent for the info on the Shaheen dress w/ a bolero jacket because it's just darling.

How much? That's the biggie isnt it? The truth is, I recently got an email from the company and almost every dress is available for under 200.00! More than a JC Penny frock but definitely less than any seamstress in this country would charge you for the same work. I am inlove!

Aye Me.

'Chug Along-Chug Along--Chuggin' Right To Your Door!'

Yes, that's right Memphis. Old Crow Medicine Show is 'chuggin' right to your door' on November the 18th at the New Daisy Theater.

Do yourself a favor and git you there! Tickets are a measley 18.00. How can you go wrong?

See you locals there! And if we 'not-so-locals' can get to the show so can you!

Weeeehooooo!


take a lissen: http://www.badongo.net/file/1712603

To Ava's Mamma:

Heather,
I found this polaroid this morning and was dying to find an excuse to use it somewhere. Since Ava is new to the world, I thought it was a perfect opportunity!

Congratulations to you all! Here's hoping that this picture is amusing enough to relieve some of your post-baby ails!

Love and kisses
Me

The Often Overlooked Genius of Robbie Williams

So, am I a Robbie Williams fan? The answer is an unabashed yes! I first heard of him in the band Take That and the only thing I knew about him is that when the band was interviewed, he kind of stole the show. It's not that he is necessarily charming but his personality is so over the top that it's irresistable. His constant hilarious tongue-in-cheek stabs at fame are my favorite. If you've seen his two episodes of 'MTV Cribs', you know what I mean.

Musically, I really like his brand of 'british pop'. The first album I heard, The Ego Has Landed had a few really great tracks like Angel, Mellenium, and Let Me Entertain You-the latter two of which each had excellent videos. When I saw his much touted and controversial video to Rock DJ, in which he performs a disgustingly brilliant (and hysterically funny) striptease, I was a fan. The 2nd album, Sing While You're Winning was also a worthy pop contribution to his catalogue. But it was the 2001 release, Swing When You're Winning (which I recently extricated from my basement-thus the belated review), that really impressed me with his talent.

Swing While You're Winning is an album that consists principally of big band era classics that Williams has given his own style and sarcasm. The first track, "I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen' impresses on the listener not only his egotistical sense of humor but his abiding love for showbiz that can't help but shine through. It is the only 'pop'song on the album. The rest of songs alternate between solo reworkings of classic songs that may not have necessarily been of the swing era ('Mr Bojangles'), big band classics ('Ain't That a Kick in the Head'), and duets with some of Hollywood's biggest stars. A much publicized duet with Nicole Kidman (Frank and Nancy Sinatra's hit, 'Something Stupid') is actually one of the weaker songs of the album but duets with Rupert Everett, Jane Horrocks, Jon Lovitz, and especially rock-opera star Jonathan Wilkes are all immensely entertaining and skillfully delivered. 'Me and My Shadow' with Wilkes is probably my very favorite version of the song that I've heard. In addition, Williams adds something wonderful to Bobby Darin classics 'Mack the Knife' and 'Beyond the Sea'(featured at the end of Finding Nemo). The great 'Have You Met Miss Jones' from Bridget Jones Diary also makes an appearance on the album, the song which, I believe, served as the starting point for this endeavor.

Make no mistake, I LOVE this album! I have listened to it countless times since I got it and still get just as much enjoyment now. Little bits of dialogue captured in the recordings between he and his 'friends' make you feel as if you are present at a great party instead of just listening to a song. Though I haven't kept up faithfully with Williams's recent work, I feel that he will be around for a long time to come.

Vegas Pictures

Here are just a few of our pictures.

This was a poster for the Bodies exhibit at The Tropicana. Yes, it's a real human. We didnt get to see it but we will next time.





At every tourist destination, you will find gag gifts like this one-he blows bubbles from his rear...yuk yuk yuk.








Below: one of the Bally's Jubilee girls














Our View from our room-night was better

The stratosphere view from observation deck.







Me and some famous faces









Flip flopped feet-ahhhh sweet relief











The ceiling of the Venetian-or part of it anyway.










He was smiling at me!











How do I love thee, Gregory? Lemme count the ways: Number 1, Number 2...

'Holiday Road..."

Ahhh Vegas. Here I am nursing my sore feet ( I've never walked so much in my LIFE! It puts Disneyworld in the dust, believe me.) and attempting to put into words the amazing time that I had for my first 'free' days in years.

My mom and stepfather agreed to keep the kids for us, so they came in Thursday night and Friday we left around 11am so

we could make our 3pm flight w/ no trouble. The flight was smooth as it could be and the view of the Grand Canyon was remarkable-I've never seen it before. We arrived around 5:45 LV time( good ol' Pacific Time Zone) and after getting seperated briefly at the airport, made it to Bally's by 7pm. Bally's is a super-nice hotel, on the four star borderline, that is absolutely monstrous in size and pretty in a vegas-y kind of way. I'd read on trip advisor that I must ask for a north tower room since these are all remodelled and truly, they were much better than I expected. We got a room on the 23rd floor (great view!) and it was really big w/ an all granite-tiled bathroom that was very cold on the feet-but looked nice. The following is the basic gist and highlights of our stay:

Friday night-Dinner and Bottled Kirin Ichiban at Ichiban Sushi in the Bally's shopping mall. It was a typical 'shopping mall' restaurant w/ very little privacy and slightly better than average sushi (albeit loosely rolled). Afterwards, we explored Bellagio and Caesar's Palace. Caesars was my favorite of all the hotels I saw while I was there...sooo pretty.

Sat-we rented a car (Jeep Laredo, not to bad) and drove to the Las Vegas Speedway for the event we had planned this trip around, The Rockabilly Rod Reunion. Unfortunately, the weather was not so enjoyable. It was about 65 degrees with a crazy wind. The show was great though, replete as it was w/ beautiful gals, gorgeous cars, and good good music. Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats was there as were another great band called The Southerners that I had never heard before. The wind really wreaked havoc on the whole day but it was still an amazing time. We had planned to go see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy that night but my dogs were BARKIN' by then and the idea of cuttin' a rug was a little ludicrous. We went back to the hotel to change and then went to The Alladin for a burger and a yummy Hawaiian Brew. Their shopping was pretty good too. Incidentally, driving in Vegas wasnt bad at all...even during heavy traffic, it seemed to flow nicely.

Sun-was my spa day. I had a nine o'clock appointment and may I just say...ahhhh. I got a foot and leg massage (sorely needed-no pun intended) and spent some time in the hot tub and steam room before i headed over to the 'prep' area to make use of their styling products and cosmetics. It was so nice to have that option. I didnt have to do anything but change once I got back to my room. The rest of the day included a visit w/ the Mirage Dolphins and Tigers, lunch at Caribe Cafe (the BEST Cobb Salad ever!), another quick car show at the Hard Rock, and some 9.00 coctails by the pool. For dinner, we ate at Tao, a eastern themed restaurant at The Venetian. Amazing food and another yummy Kirin later, we headed downtown where I was quickly compelled to purchase some 5.00 flipflops to replace my heels. Downtown was smoky, cramped, and a little depressing. The Freemont Street Experience was a bit overrated as well. But it was very bright and shiny...so, ok.

Mon-We had lunch reservations at Emeril's Fish House in the MGM. I loved the MGM hotel and all its hollywood memorabilia. Even the toilet stalls were decked out w/ famous faces. I purposely chose a toilet where a young Gregory Peck could overlook my business...heh heh. Emeril's was beyond good...beyond great...the lobster bisque was the stuff of dreams. And that caramel creme brulee? Dear Lord. Next, it was time for the Manhattan Express, a crazy rollercoaster that envelopes the New York New York Hotel. Very fun, fast, and a little rough. Luckily, it did me some good because I got a good neck adjustment that left me all loosey goosey. That night, we went to the Stratosphere to experience the view and (gulp!) one of those rides. We chose the Big Shot because it seemed the most thrilling and it didnt actually HANG OFF the edge of the building. It was one of the most exhilarating things I've ever done and I honestly feel like I've conquered my fear of heights! The view was beyond description.

Tuesday was departure day and after our one and only buffet, La Village Buffet at The Paris (another GREAT hotel and attatched to Bally's so very convenient), we were ready for another smooth flight home in the midst of which I completed three crossword puzzles!

Whew. That was long winded. I'll see if I can find some good pictures to post in seperate entries . I'll conclude by saying that Vegas is one of my new favorite places-and we don't even gamble. Some of the typical things I was led to expect such as scads of drunkards and public mayhem were completely false. The flyers for hookers and scantily clad showgirls were there but not as 'in your face'as I expected. It was an adult vacation but also a peaceful one.

"That's so money, baby "

Bright light city gonna set my soul
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money thats ready to burn,
So get those stakes up higher
Theres a thousand pretty women waitin out there
And theyre all livin devil may care
And Im just the devil with love to spare
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas

My New Love

(Insert ethereal choir music of choice here)

'He felt himself put outside the pale of life.'

Not to sound obsessively redundant, but this is just a little reminder to my readers to please check the page-a-day blog I have going of this wonderful book, The Man Who Laughs.

www.themanwholaughs.blogspot.com

The pages that are currently being entered are some of the best of the book as the ten year old Gwynplaine, having been abandoned on the seashore, makes his way through the frozen wilderness in search of shelter. The pages are full of thought provoking imagery, detailed characterization, and a gut-wrenching sense of loss. This part of the story is further enhanced by an eerie description of a dead man hanging from a gibbett-a spectre that the child happens upon as he wanders. His struggle to stay alive is starkly contrasted with the eerie peace of the corpse.

Even if you are not following the story thus far, these few pages are worth reading.

Ode to Paula Dean

Today will be the day of days
When Paula Deen receives the praise

She so deserves for lending me
the recipes that let me be

much loved by all who taste the likes
of krispy kreme bread pudding, yikes!

'Not yo mama's' banana pudding,
shrimp pie, grouper club, and apple dumpling

And chocolate gooey cakes, unholy bliss
my guests eat you and I get a kiss!

O Paula with thy snowy hair
That rosy cheek and smile so fair

It took your show to make us see
that lard is not the enemy!

To heck with scales and bathroom clutter
give me that unsalted butter!

So let's all chant with heartfelt purrs
'Best Dishes!' Paula,
From our bellies to yers.

Movin' Pitchers!

h'lo all.

Just to inform: I started a 'movie review blog' for my own reviews as well as contributed. Any who would like to submit a review may do so at my email address.

The blog address is www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

la la la

The Corn is Green (and the 'bacca is yaller)

So, here is our neighbor's tobacco/corn field. This is a very large crop, only about 1/3 of it made the picture. He actually has more corn than tobacco. I love August around here because no matter what sordid purpose the crop may fulfill, it is downright beautiful.

This particular field of tobacco is directly across from our land so it's nice to wake up each morning to this lovely expanse of yellow. This morning the mist was settled over it in a way that made it especially pretty. The fog over the hills kind of makes everything that much more serene and spectacular.

In about a week, this field (which is harvest-ready) will be cut down and little teepees of drying tobacco will be scattered over the dark soil. Then the teepees will be hung to dry in a barn and the field will be naked and sad. But while it lasts, it's awfully nice.

So the next time you see a cadaver-ish woman in cut offs and tank top standing stoop shouldered in front of your neighborhood wal mart, frowning as she lights her cigarette and pursing her wrinkled lips over that first tast of poison-just remember that at one time, the tobacco at least was pretty.

For Heddo...

My old friend Heather (Heddo) is expecting lovely little Ava in the not to distant future.

The other day I rediscoverd a song on Fiona Apple's album, Tidal, that moves me greatly. I thought other mothers would also appreciate the lyrics to this lovely tune and therefore decided to post it here. Keep in mind that without the lazy melody, it lacks something. So if you are in a position to errrr....download the song- I strongly recommend it.



PALE SEPTEMBER
lyrics by: Fiona Apple

Pale September
I wore the time like a dress that year
The autumn days swung soft around me like cotton
on my skin

But as the embers of the summer
lost their breath and disappeared
My heart went cold and only hollow rhythms resounded
from within
But then he rose brilliant as the moon in full
and sank within the burrows of my keep

And all my armour falling down
in a pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm
as I'm singing him to sleep

He goes along just like a water lily
Gentle on the surface of his thoughts his body floats
Unweighed down by passion or intensity
Yet unaware of the depth upon which he coasts
And he finds a home in me
For what misfortune sows, he knows my touch will reap

And all my armour falling down,
in pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm,
as I'm singing him to sleep

Tag!

To those I've tagged:

Instructions below:
1. Grab the nearest book
2. Open the book to page 123
3. Find the Fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next three sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. You are not allowed to dig that cool, intellectual book out of your closet! Just pick whatever's nearest.

My response-to get the ball rolling:

'To its claws and their gashings succeed soft intervals of velvet paws. Sometimes the story hurries on a wreck, at others it works out the problem with care; it might almost be said that it caresses it. The sea can afford to take its time, as men in their agonies find out.'

from THE MAN WHO LAUGHS by Victor Hugo (the best book ever and ALWAYS the closest one to me since I keep it at my desk.)

Finish the Sentence...

Saw this on a fellow blogger's site ( trusty ol' bookyeti ) and thought I'd adapt it again...I'm such a coattail dragger.

Those of you who read this blog should do the same...ya dig?

i feel: determined
i am a: lover
i am wearing: 'style-less' jeans and tank top
i hate: a messy house
my best friend is: Jehovah
i look: quizzical
i am often mistaken as being: self centered
i am becoming: a bit obsessed with fifties style
the song that is playing right now is: 83 by John Mayer
my favorite memories are: Disneyworld, my wedding, the birth of my children, and eating sushi for the first time
my worst memories are: those of family conflict
my favorite vacation place is: Disneyworld, of course
the song that best describes my life is: I'm a Woman by Peggy Lee
i want: to be loved
i am making: my children clean up the living room
i want to be: remembered by Jehovah and my family as someone who tried hard even if they didnt always succeed
i try hard to: get along with everyone while still stating my opinion freely; it's a very difficult thing
my fear is:not worth mentioning
my hopes are: to raise children who love Jehovah
i enjoy: peeling the labels off of bottles and putting them inside
when i get older, i: would love to donate my time on a intenational level
i am trying to decide: which Las Vegas hotel will best suit my romantic vacation plans in Oct
the leisure book i’m reading now is: The Brothers Karamozov and a Shakespeare Biography
little luxuries of mine are: Tide laundry detergent (the price warrants it a luxury, believe me) dvd's, expensive vitamins, a down comforter, imported beer
when i fall for someone, i: gush
one of my weakneses is: crying over songs, movies and the like
my favorite colour is: peacock blue
my favorite television shows are: Seinfeld, Lost, Paula's Home Cooking, GIlmore Girls, and a variety of talent shows
a person i adore is: my old man
places i would go in a heart-beat are: Disneyworld, just about anywhere in Europe, Books a Million, and the movies.
the person that i’m thinking about is: bookyeti, who i really don't know and wish I did
i love the way: my 2 year old's mouth turns into a little 'o' when he sees something exciting
i hate the way: my jeans fold up at the waist after sitting
a vexation of mine is : people who don't respect the car seat law
my favorite time of the day is: dawn
summer time is: the smell of parched grass seeds, which reminds me of baking bread
i try to block out: the disdain of my fellow man
my life is: perfect for me
my favorite season is: summertime (sing it Janice!)
after school, i: watched Little House on the Prairie and Inspector Gadget
one thing i can’t be happy without is: cleanliness
i’m trying to:be more patient
it hurts when: something you say is misconstrued and people refuse to listen to or believe an explanation
like my father always says: everyone must see The Black Stallion at least once
the hardest thing i’ve ever had to do was: defend myself
i need: to be held at least once a day
before bed i: whisper 'I love you'
the first thing i do in the morning is: work out
the best thing about life is: love and showing it
i never knew that: i could use power tools
my room is: horrendously unfinished
i cannot: whistle
i love going to: the theater or a book store
I dislike: most tv dramas
i cry when: scout sees boo
it’s: a shame there were not more good 'winnie the pooh' movies
i love the movie: Urban Cowboy
i am feeling: a crick in my neck from holding the phone like I am
i listen to: the song Wagon Wheel every day
something that makes me smile is: the knowledge of an inside joke
something about a person that attracts me is: when they don't take themselves too seriously...and a regard for human frailty
love is: was an underrated song by Alannah Myles
traveling is: therapeutic
it is time to: get back to work
i'm ticked off because: I didnt buy airfare to Las Vegas when it was cheap!