Addendum to Worst Bands of All Time

I was listening to JACK FM the other day (there aren't many good choices for music in LA now that Indy 103 is off the air) and heard this song by Blues Traveler. I cannot believe I forgot to list them on my Worst Bands of All Time post earlier this month. Grave error. If you are not familiar with Blues Traveler, just give this song a listen and see if you don't agree with me: Run-Around

Looking for Adventure?

I heard about Stiletto Spy School today on NPR.  

LOVE the logo!

Here is the pitch from their website:

who | you

adventurous

ready for a life-altering experience

are a spy girl disguised as a mom, businesswoman, scientist, musician

Spy girls come from all walks of life in a variety of beautiful shapes and sizes. Yet they have much in common - a thirst for adventure; the desire to learn new things; and the need to step out of their comfort zone, at least once in a while. That’s where we come in....

what | stiletto spy school

glamorous and high-end locales

carefully chosen instructors teaching real world skills

Fun, excitement, glamour, intrigue. Pushing limits, breaking boundaries, bonding with friends old and new, and learning real life skills and lessons that apply from the boardroom to the bedroom.

In our unique women’s only “Training Missions” in NY and Las Vegas you’ll train with experts in of such confidence-boosters as military hand to hand combat training, poker lessons with a world-champion teacher, racing cars and speedboats, martini mixology, dancing the tango and dancing on the pole, precision firearms training, perfect wine pairings, and so much more.

Join an existing "Training Mission" or customize one to enjoy with their friends. Programs range from single day ‘missions’ to our signature four day weekends.

The Bronx Zoo

Silverlake art gallery Ghettogloss recently hosted figure drawing classes at La Cita Bar in Los Angeles. During these classes that became known as "The Bronx Zoo", bikini-clad models wearing gorilla masks posed for artists to draw.   Here are photos from some of the sessions:

The best drawings from these sessions were shown at a Ghettogloss group show curated by Flavorpill's Shana Nys Dambrot. 

I love these photos. If you ever have taken a figure drawing class, you know how difficult it is to master the drawing of the human body. Somehow the masks make the models/figures even more interesting. I have taken a lot of figure drawing classes, but never one like this! 

Photos by Erin Broadley

Random Rants

I farked up my lower back yesterday and it is making me miserable.  I went for a 45-minute walk last night to try and loosen up.  I think it helped a little, but I am still so uncomfortable and in pain.  It blows. 

I might try acupuncture or a chiropractor this weekend if my back doesn't feel better, but I don't relish the thought of either. The one and only time I went to a chiropractor was about 10 years ago.  I was having terrible back pain. The doctor had me lay on the table with my knees to my chest.  She backed up, ran towards me, and JUMPED on me. It was terrifying and I haven't been able to bring myself to return to ANY chiropractor since then. Humph.  

So in my grouchy state I am thinking of many things that piss me off such as:

• When somebody burps and acts like they are just clearing their throat.  We all know this trick.  Find a new one.
  
• Stealth farters.  
• Having to go #2 anywhere but when I am home alone.
• Comments like: "You are a BIG girl!"  What the hell am I supposed to say to that?
  
• Prius drivers.  I swear, they all drive like idiots.  If this comment pisses you off, just let me know how Honda drivers are all morons, because I drive a Honda.
  
• Repeated punchlines.  If I didn't laugh the first time it wasn't because I didn't hear you, it was because it wasn't funny.
  
• Phone calls.  PHONE CALLS.  I hate phone calls.  This primarily pertains to work, but I don't like phone calls at home either.   
  
• People who respond to emails with PHONE CALLS.
  
• Unjustified text.
  
• Smugness.
  
• Arrogance.
  
• Superiority complexes.
  
• People that swing wide to the right to make a left hand turn.  MORONS.
  
• LA traffic.  My 11-mile commute to work takes 60 minutes.  The drive home is even worse.
  
• When the mailman says, "You sure get a LOT of packages from Ebay and Amazon --  Hyuh Hyuh!"  AND?????????????????
• People that play dumb.  This happens at work A LOT.  Give me a break.  I will call you out on this shit.

I realize this list is ALL OVER THE MAP, but welcome to my brain!  

Cheerier (or funnier? or scandalous?) topic to follow......

Crimson and Clover

Originally recorded by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts circa 1981:





and recorded by Prince in 2009:




Which do ya think is better?


BTW, how hot is Joan Jett at 50?

Tanya Aguiñiga

Tanya Aguiñiga (b.1978) is a Los Angeles based furniture designer/maker that was raised in Tijuana, Mexico.

She takes found objects and covers them with wool, yarn and felt. I love the look she has created!

Eames DCM. Found chair (molded plywood, stainless steel), hand-felted Goatland wool. 29.5"h x 20.5"w x 20.5"l

Zinacantan. Steel, wool yarn. 18"h x 16"w x 60"l

Felt Chairs. Hand-felted found chairs. 39"h x 17"w x 18"d

See more of her work at Aguiñiga Design

Sweet Corn Chowder with Toasted Tortillas

Chowdah time! This looks pretty tasty and easy, and sure sounds good on a chilly day.

Ingredients

6 cups frozen sweet corn, defrosted
3 scallions, trimmed and halved
1 clove of garlic, peeled
1/4 cup semolina
6 cups hot vegetable stock made from concentrate or bouillon cubes
1 package (about 14 ounces) lightly salted tortilla chips
2 cups grated cheese (Cheddar is good)
2 long red chiles, deseeded and finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Drain the corn and put into a food processor with the scallions, garlic and semolina. Blitz to a speckled primrose mush; unless you ahve a big processor you have have to do this in two batches.
3. Tip this mixture into a large saucepan, add the hot vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Then turn down the heat and let the chowder simmer, partially covered, for 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, spread the tortilla chips on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle these with cheese. Warm in the hot oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
5. Ladle the soup into bowls and put a small mound of cheese-molten chips into the middle of each bowl. Top with some of the red chile [optional]. Serve.

Recipe courtesy of Nigella Lawson on NPR

Trashy Lingerie

I have driven past the store Trashy Lingerie a good 4,000 times, but never gone in. I've never had the guts to do it, and never really thought they would have anything that I would be interested in purchasing.

But, I was thinking I could throw the boyfriend a bone and find some sexy (or trashy?) lingerie. Even though he says lingerie looks best on the floor (he is all about NAKED! NAKED!! NAKED!!!), I figured it wouldn't hurt to check it out.

I decided it would be safest, fastest and easiest to check out the store on line. And in the interest of watching my budget, I clicked on the clearance section to start. Boy, they have some doozies on sale:

Thinking maybe they would have better stuff in the regular-priced sections, I found these:

Well, there is NO WAY I could ever wear any of these, but at least I got my laugh for the day.

Giles Deacon Paper Doll Note Cards

I love these gorgeous note cards designed by Giles Deacon for Smythson. The limited-edition set of hand-engraved note cards features five of his pen-and-ink fashion drawings. So pretty. Sigh. Giles Deacon for Smythson

Louise Bourgeois

In the interest of getting out of the house today, seeing some art, and not spending much money, I ventured downtown to see the Louise Bourgeois exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art.

Sadly I was told my membership had lapsed, so I had to spring for a new membership. Gulp. Oh well. It was worth it to fork over the $68 to support the arts, and the exhibition was simply incredible.

Born in 1911 [and still kickin'!!!!], Bourgeois is a famous artist most known for her spider sculptures such as these:

Sadly those sculptures were not present at MOCA, but these beauties were:








These images don't really do the work justice. If you are ever able to see her work in person, it is definitely worth it! Or, spring for the exhibition catalogue. I did, and I can't wait to dig in and read more about her.

Jocelyne Wildenstein

East Coast socialite (and eligible bachelorette????) Jocelyne Wildenstein is rather famous for her, er...........face.  Her attempts to have a cat-like appearance via plastic surgery are RATHER ALARMING.  Witness:

This video shows many of her faces [pardon the pun]:  Bride of Wildenstein

Here you'll find a tidy explanation of her life, marriage, divorce, and obsession with plastic surgery: Jocelyn Wildenstein

But if you really want to know more about her, her ex-husband, the Wildenstein family business, prominent (AND SKETCHY!) art dealers, as well of allegations that the family sold art looted by the Nazis, read this Vanity Fair article from March 1998. It is very long, but fascinating.  FASCINATING. Bitter Spoils

Vanity Fair recently published a follow up to the article in October 2008. Bitter Spoils, Part Deux

Wow wow wow.