Dear Yahoo & TJ Maxx,

Why do you hate me?

Don't you know I'm trying here!

I've overcome my addiction.

All I've ever done is love you both.

I don't know why you're ganging up on me like this.

I've never done either of you wrong!

does this make me a diva?

The only thing that ever motivates me to do dishes anymore is when I need to soak my fingernails.

You know you wanna vote sum mo'....

Ok, folks... so my dear friend Steph has entered her ever-lovin kitty in a contest. I'm counting on all of yous to help 'Stache win this thing! If you met him, you'd totally be ALL about him!!!

Here's his entry:

Hi!
I'm Mustache. The person who takes care of me, Stephanie, has entered me in The Humane Society of the United States' Spay Day USA Pet Photo Contest, presented by Nature's Miracle and Zoombak. Now I need your vote to help me win some cool prizes. Go here to vote for me!

To celebrate Spay Day USA (February 26), The Humane Society of the United States is telling everyone that spaying and neutering improves pets' lives. In addition to making pets better, more affectionate companions, spaying and neutering helps animals live longer and healthier.

To enter the photo contest, my caregiver submitted this picture and wrote a few nice words about me. Help us get more votes by forwarding this message to other family and friends. If I'm one of the top 500 vote-getters, we'll have a chance to win a fabulous prize. A panel of celebrity judges is also going to pick the best photo and essay and we'll have a chance to win even more prizes.

If you'd like to enter your own pet in the contest, then please do—I can handle some friendly competition! And if you want to stay on top of how I am doing in the contest, visit the Find a Pet page and search for me by name.

Enter your pet in the contest and vote today. The contest ends on March 7, 2008.

Sincerely,
Mustache

he's obviously gay...

Overheard on Sat afternoon....

I went to the library before I went to go workout b/c I forgot my treadmill book at home, & figured I could just pick up a copy of the same book there. (The library's right next door to where I work out).

As I was entering la bibliothèque, there were 2 women leaving the building. One was in her 50's & the other, in her 30's. This is what I heard as I was passing them by:

Older lady: .... he had long blond hair. He was obviously gay.

Younger lady: mm-hmm.

Ah, yes... Obviously.

This made me laugh, b/c if I'm trying to think of a dude w/ long blond hair, I'm just thinking country, you know? Like, if I see a guy w/ really nice, polished shoes that has great fashion-sense, & maybe you can tell does a lil man-scaping, then yes, I would say they're obviously gay. But most likely, w/ their fashion sense, they wouldn't have long blond hair. They'd have their hair coiffed right!

Nw Yr's Resolution: the shiny edition!

I know what's been on all y'all's minds for the last month & a half.... WHAT is D's New Year's Resolution this year???!?!!!?!

Well, the reason I never posted it is b/c I actually never even made my resolution. I'm being more conscious to look better. Like doing my hair (instead of just pulling it back), and I bought a few new cute outfits. Since the break-up, it's really important for me to LIKE what I SEE in the mirror when I look at myself.

I bought a new mascara that I love, love, LOVE! My bff-Sparky recommended it to me, & now they started makin it in waterproof, so I'm all over it. But it's not all over me... hahaha... I know, corny, but I crack myself up so it's ok.

I know this has been the most fascinating post so far, huh?

Anyway, here's my New Year's Resolution this year (drum-roll~ da da da da da da daaaaa):
Yup, that's right. I'm gonna make it a point to sparkle more. Whenever I go out. Here's what I got so far towards my New Year's resolution (ring on the left).

It's a HUGE cocktail ring, Swarovski Crystal. Last summer, a gal I met had a set that looked similar to this (to the right), but it was all clear crystals. I couldn't validate spending more than $150 on a ring right now. But I have to have something bright & pretty & shiny & sparkly; esp now that I can't wear my sparkly diamond ring anymore.

So, I'm vowing to wear jewelry more now. I used to wear jewelry all the time in high school. I never left the house without a necklace & earrings on. But in college, I lost that, and now I rarely wear a necklace or earrings. But my resolution this year is to be more sparkly, so I plan to wear it often.

What better way to kick this off than to buy what my mom is referring to as a huge tacky/gaudy ring?

Next up? Well, Sparky emailed me a pic of a gorgeous ring she's been eyeing (ring on left). And I went to the site & found THIS (yllw earrings)! I know, puuurrrtty. (these last two pics I've hyperlinked to the site where you can find them, so you too can look at purty, shiny, sparkly stuff!)

I'm channeling cantaloupes

Hi everyone. Yes, I'm still here. Sorry I've been all absent & stuff. Just a lot going on. I always have 10 days off work from just before Christmas to January 2nd every year, but guess what? This year, I spent much of that time all sick. Yuk.

That's the worst; well, for me anyway. I've told y'all before how I'm super-busy at work from November to March. Like, so crazy busy I have NO time for anything. Well, I look forward all year to that lil break I get at the end of December so that I can have my normal life back, & of course this year, I was all sick for the entire period.

Also, major life-changing news in my life: Mr. T & I broke up. This really is life-changing. We weren't just bf/gf; we were s'posed to get all married & stuff (this upcoming October). We'd been together for about half-a-decade. That's a long time to be that close to a person. There really wasn't anything we didn't share with each other. So, it's kinda weird when something happens & the person you normally tell that thing to just isn't the person you can still tell it to.

Yes, I'm still ending sentences in prepositions. Oh, & talkin about 'tions, I still haven't made a New Year's resolution yet. Although in my defense, I've been sayin 'yo' more often than I've changed my underwear so far this year.

Yeah, I know... it's hot.

Ok, so what else....? OH- Guess what comes along with a huge break-up? More hot-stuff... zits! Yeah, I've gotten one zit after another. And so now, I've got myself a binary-zit. That's when 2 zits decide to orbit around each other. And lucky me, it's right on my cheek!

I know.... hot.

I put up a pic of a cantaloupe, b/c I know that the FCC would fine me if I put up a pic of my binary zit. It's about time for them to make an example of someone to keep us in line; & I just don't have an extra $300,000 lying around, ya know?

So, I was thinking of my whole one zit after another complex I'm going through right now, & I thought of something. You know how everyone likes melons? No, seriously, there's a melon out there for everyone. I myself LOVE all melon, but I think honeydews my fave. Santa Claus is cool too, but you have to be in the mood for it cause it's so sweet. But I do love all melon.

Well, I was thinking of pick-up lines from guys (b/c all guys have them, & most are NOT creative). And thinking of melon. And it hit me! Why can't a guy who loves melons (99.9% of guys) also love zits on chicks?

Like, why won't a guy come up to me & be all like:

Damn girl! That sexy thing on yo face reminds me of cantaloupe, & I've gots ta get me sum cantaloupe! I just wanna lick it!

But nooooo, I'm not hearing that. Weird, huh?

Oh, & this post is dedicated to Jen, who's been asking me for months to update. Holla!

couples' costumes: yay or nay?

I know, I know, y’all are in a state of confusion once again. There’s an election coming up, the US has pushed around our daylight savings time*, you’re worried about ppl poisoning the Halloween candy.

And there’s even more Halloween controversy. Couples costumes: in or blech?

I’m here to help out & say that I def think that if you’re part of a couple, you should wear couple’s costumes. I’ll go even further & say that if you’re just part of a group trolling around downtown or whatever, you should get a group ensemble together. Like the Scooby Doo gang or something like that. Have I just dated myself?

Maybe this stems from my neurotic need to have consistency, but whatevs. I still think it’s cute to have things that go together.

You know, like peanut butter & ladies.

i ain't mad at cha

It's ok, Bron-Bron.

Betta late than neva, eh?

boooooo....

I'd like to just post the pic below that I've painted on & be done w/ it. But of course, I can't. I have to say a lil sumptin-sumptin here. B/c I'm not one of those ppl who think that dude can't support whoever he wants. He can.

HOWEVER, he CANNOT be disrespectful to the town that pays him. He's OUR bitch, so to say. Cleveland welcomed him here from the 'Kron, & Cleveland all donned "Witness" shirts. Um, remember the humongo poster on Ontario? Dude, you had everyone calling you "King James".

Cleveland showed you some respect.

Lebron,
I couldn't care less who you like. I don't care what sports team, religion, or political party you support. We get it, we know you're a bandwagon junkie, w/ your Bulls & Cowboys & Yanks. I don't care about that.

I do care that you have everything to gain if any part of Cleveland does well. I was once a little surprised at what a good business-head you had on your shoulders. This is not a good business decision. You are a Cleveland icon; the Yankees cap is a huge logo, & we all know how much Clevelanders hate the Yankees.

You shouldn't have worn the cap, you should'ta held it over your head, & you shouldn'ta gone on national television supporting the Yankees. You shoulda just came to the game in whatever normal clothes you wanted to wear (no logos) & just cheered for the Yanks if you wanted. Although, there really wasn't much opportunity to do so last night, eh?

You were always a lil cocky, L. But I think you pushed it too far. You're testing your city. Bottom line is that this isn't a good business decision.

Here's what you gotta do: Meet Braylon Edwards. Bray-boy went to Michigan, everyone knows that. He plays for our Brownies. So, at a Browns game, when the crowd started up the Ohio State "O-H-I-O" chant, he put his hands up & did it too.

"I was definitely doing it. This is Ohio. This is my residence. This is where I play football. This is where I earn my paycheck. This is the city I've adopted and the one that has adopted me. I don't mind doing O-H-I-O. I don't believe it just pertains to Ohio State.
Cleveland ... is in Ohio."

- Braylon Edwards

playas gonna play, & haters gonna hate

That's just the way it is.

Here's what James Black of Yahoo! Sports wrote:

Ugly uni alert: Apparently, there will be a weekly mention in this space of attire. Here's hoping the references to hideous jerseys are kept to a minimum. A week after the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to take unis from three eras – bad, ugly and worse – and create a new look, their in-state rivals decided to upstage them. The Eagles rolled out a yellow and baby blue throwback ensemble so ugly that any further description won't do justice. See for yourself.

I don't know, I kinda like it. I mean, it's supposed to be a tribute to what they used to have. Styles change. That doesn't mean we can't appreciate what came before. The ppl who played for their team before they came around used to wear those colors, & they're just giving homage to that.

The only reason I even know about all this hating is b/c Mr. T is a huge Eagles fan. And I'm a big ole fashion fan. I also love wasting time online, & sooooo....

I've created this nifty slideshow using Flickr. And then I surfed the web until I found a way to embed it into my bl*g. Cause I'm cool like dat.



UPDATE: I thought the outfits were cute & colorful & happy-looking. Mr. T thought they were horrible.

do your pants hang low?

I'm sure all of you have heard about local governments across the nation banning the whole saggy pant trend that's going around. Now, I'm all for going up to a kid with his (sorry, but they all seem to be boys) pants hanging low, smacking him upside the head, & telling him to pull his pants up.

But I don't think any government should propose a law dictating what ppl can & can't wear.

What if they found glitter offensive? It's fine to not like a trend. I wasn't crazy about the backwards overalls (a la Criss Cross); I don't enjoy feathered teased hair. It doesn't matter if you don't like something, you can't just ban it like that. That's not the principle this nation is founded on.

See, if you could just go around fining & arresting ppl for whatever you don't like (or is really wrong, but not illegal yet); I'd get fines out the wa-zoo for always ending sentences in prepositions.

Now... if they were to propose a voluntary task force of
... big men ... who are dressed as women ... who are also packin ...
to go around & smack those boys w/ their pants hung low upside the head until they pull them up.

Well, I'd have no problem w/ that.

OH OH... WAIT... I just had a thought. What if maybe an evil genius scientist could also concoct a serum of some sort? So that when the big man in drag smacked the fashion-offending young lad, HE would then have something come over him. So that then, HE also felt compelled to dress as a woman (sans 'packin') & go around smacking others that were once like him upside the head TOO!

Or, is that going too far?

Wonder Woman

So, yesterday I went to the grocery store just down the street to pick up some eggs for breakfast. I’ve been sick the last few days, & was feeling slightly better & was up to just going out to run a quick easy errand. So, I head to the store, walk in past the cashiers, & cut through a check-out counter that wasn’t manned. There was this large woman in a green velour sweat-suit looking over the magazines in the checkout line next to the one I cut across. I noticed her b/c:

1- She was quite large. Not fat. Just large, like the Amazon women from the Wonder Woman series. Like, her bone structure was just larger than a normal woman's would be. *Ok, I need to stop using the word 'large' here. I don't mean it in a bad "fat" way.

2- Her perfume was quite overwhelming. I don't normally wear perfume; I might spray some on by myself once a year. Perhaps a couple of times a year, when I'm getting ready for something w/ my two sisters, they may spray some on me to try out.

So, I just noticed her at first, walked past her on my way to the dairy case as she was putting her things on the conveyor belt. I got my eggs, & went back to the express lane to check out. I paid for my eggs, & was walking towards the door just as green-velour-amazon-lady was looking through her proportionate purse to pay for her groceries.

That's when I actually saw her face for the first time. She was a he!!

Now, I know this isn't a big deal. Esp since I know I live in a predominantly gay area. But what got me was how much effort this person put into her looks on a Sunday morn (ok, afternoon, whatever. So I slept in; I was sick, remember?)

I was proud of myself for having showered that day. I'd put on my moisturizer/spf so that I don't end up w/ wrinkles. And I go to the grocery store to see that this 'woman' had not only showered, & put on moisturizer, but also full make-up, did up her hair, had on full eye makeup (w/ the false eyelashes), EVERYTHING!

To tell you the truth, this kinda made me feel a little guilty that I haven't put that much into how I look lately. When I was younger, I used to at least wear some lipstick, eye-brightener & mascara daily. (Then again, I also never went out w/out glitter on either.) I enjoy being female b/c I do get to dress nice, & wear make-up, & play w/ my hair to look pretty. It's fun, I do enjoy it all.

But then I remembered that I was sick, & it's fine not have to do all that stuff if I don't feel like it.

'Evolution' by Dove -- Update at bottom

If you guys haven't seen this video yet, you absolutely have to check it out. Just watch it really. And I have been talking about models & our perception of beauty lately, so it fits in.

You can either click on the YouTube player to view it, or go to Dove's site, & click 'play film'. There, you can also find more information about their 'Campaign for Real Beauty', & a discussion group.



I've watched the video about 5 times in the last 10 mins now.

Here are the credits for the video.
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Toronto
Co-CCOs: Nancy Vonk & Janet Kestin
ACD/Writer/Art Director: Tim Piper
Production Company: Reginald Pike
Director: Yael Staav
Music: Vapor Music, Toronto

UPDATE: (10/24/2006 @ 4 pm)
Ok, so Nello's back, & she posted a link that someone gave her on her website. This is just all kinds of CRAZY. Seriously. I mean, it makes me never want to look at another celebrity again. EVER. You know how they did that study that proved that monkeys like to see pics of the "celebrity monkey of their pack"?

Well, now that I see some of our celebs in their original photos, I feel sick. Not sick b/c they look horrible. No, they look fine. Normal, you might say. But the fact that we've been force-fed an image for years. Lied to, consciously misled. That makes me sick.

Go here to FluidEffect.com. Click on 'Portfolio', & 'Agree' to the terms. Then, back in the left menu, click on the 'before/after'. And get ready for what you're about to see.

I have to say, I do love the internet, & my blog, & my blog-buddies. I have really discovered so much in the last year.

House of Galliano

Speaking of models & fashion. Let me say that I love John Galliano’s work. I like it cause it’s different, but not all so avant-garde that it gives me a headache. To me, he’s like the “Frank Gehry” of fashion. He creates interesting shapes & patterns. He has large obtrusive structure to his clothes. His pieces command attention.

I don’t care if you like his stuff or not. You’ll def look at it. Either cause you think it’s cool. Or, b/c it’s like a train wreck to you, & you just can’t look away. Either way, you’re def looking.

I heard a lot of smack for the dress he did that Charlize Theron wore to the Oscars last year. You know, with the big black bow on the shoulder? Anyway, I liked it. I thought it had a bit of pizzazz for a normally boring ole show. He did the dress for Dior, & spiced things up for them a lil.

And let me tell you, I think it’s fine for someone to wear something that’s a bit “out there” or “flamboyant” or even crazy if they feel like it. And God knows, we’ve all felt like it before. I remember when I was in college, I used to have a “clash day” every now & then. I could wear whatever I wanted out of my closet, so long as it totally clashed. I mean, it had to give someone a headache if they looked at me too long. I usually went with these green & navy checkered pants with a conflicting top. My other fave was these blue, yellow, & tan plaid pants (I called them my “golf pants”*).

Anyway, my point is that all the designers have been showcasing what they’ve been up to, & last Sat, the 7th, John Galliano showed his stuff too. This post is peppered w/ pics from his 2007 Spring collection. And isn’t he creative? I love it! It’s all normal stuff that I would love to wear. Nothing too severe. But he adds in the boldness with accessories, in this collection, hats & shoes. I’m not showing the shoes so much, b/c I didn’t really care for them.

*um, should I mention that I’ve never gone golfing below in my life? Although I’ve put-putted once. Maybe that counts. But not for years after I used to wear the golf pants. Also, ironically, I enjoyed wearing the golf pants to go “moonrock bowling”.

is this really attractive? --Update at bottom (10/11)

Seriously ppl, is this pretty? This is a pic of a model taken at the Guy Laroche fashion show in Paris yesterday (Sat., Oct. 7th, 2006).

The problem is that little girls see this & think they're fat. Oprah did a show w/ the mothers of 2 little girls. One was 3 (THREE!!!), & the other 5 years old. Both were dieting b/c they thought they were fat. The mothers were educated, upper-middle class women who really should know better than to stress looks to such impressionable young children.

Is that extreme? Yes. But look at the extreme that makes them that way. Also, this particular model is lucky if that's her real hair. Although, she should appreciate it while it lasts, b/c it prob won't much longer.

Even her face looks sunken in. I don't know if she does coke, but she certainly looks like it to me. And her posture sucks.

The prob is the word itself. When in fashion, it should be taken into context.
Model:
1. a person or thing that serves as a subject for an artist, sculptor, writer, etc.
2. a person whose profession is posing for artists or photographers.
3. a person employed to wear clothing or pose with a product for purposes of display and advertising.

But unfortunately, sometimes ppl (esp impressionable young girls & boys) mix it up w/ it's other meanings; namely,
Model:
1. a standard or example for imitation or comparison.

I know this is not the most important thing in the world. But it is troublesome none the less.

UPDATE: Ok, so I haven't posted here or read my reg blogs in a while. Well, I was catching up on the blogs that I did used to read daily, & found something Vi had posted a week ago. You have to read it. It is very interesting. We do seem to need extremes of any kind to get us talking about stuff, huh? Or else maybe we just don't notice?

love thyself

Lately, it’s been so humid here, that my hair’s gone crazy. It’s just all over the place, & there’s nothing I can really do to control it. I know if I just cut (read: trim a quarter to half inch) it a little, it’ll be fine. But I’ve been waiting for this next weekend before I do. Cause I’m straightening it for two parties; & I don’t want to trim it & then damage perfectly good follicles. So, I’m waiting til after this weekend, so that whatever damage I do to my hair can just get cut off.

Point being, I’ve been a wreck about my hair lately. It’s really nice out & not as humid, & I’m having a good hair day for the 1st time in forever, & then I saw this:












Boondocks 7/23/2006
You'll have to click on the pic to enlarge & read

So, I'm trying now not to gripe about the things that make us who we are; & I thought I'd share, cause I know there's a lot of us (read: curly-haired gals) that do go through our hair probs & it bugs us. But I'm gonna think of it as fluffy clouds now. Even if it is cheesy.

this is for all my girls out there.

I know my curly-/wavy-haired girls can totally relate to this.

Sunday's boondocks (6/25/2006) [click to enlarge]

dark circles & puffy eyes

I've heard (& seen) that sometimes when ppl get married, they go out & party it up the night before. These ppl are like the last minute crammers back in school. Ok, I admit I was one of the procrastinators who crammed all night the last night before an exam in the first couple of years of school.

But the last couple of years, I got wise. Plus, I was really interested in the stuff I was studying. My major was sociology, so I took classes like 'Social Disobedience’, ‘Family & Intimate Lifestyles’ (where you explore the various close relationships that you find now-a-days), & ‘Urban Problems’ (this didn’t just focus on the US).

Anyway, the point is, I know ppl who go out & get completely sloshed the last night before their wedding. I think it’s uncouth & unwise. First, you’ll look like crap for the big day. You know why they call it the ‘big day’? B/c (at least) one of those wedding pics will be ON DISPLAY in your home for anyone & everyone to see for the rest of your life! And most likely in your parents & in-laws homes as well. Do you really want to look at a pic of yourself looking like crap, for the rest of your life? Well, do ya punk? (That’s what Dirty Harry would say if he was here.)

Second, with all those whiskey/tequila/whatever shots you did last night; there will most def be something coming outta your pores. Do you really want that when you’re in such close proximity to your childhood priest/rabbi/reverend/etc.?

And you’ll have dark circles & puffy eyes from the crappy night’s sleep you got. So, get yourself a good night’s sleep the night before, ‘kay? God knows I will! I don’t buy eye cream that costs me $100/ounce just so I’ll look like crap on the day where I’ll be immortalized all Kodak-like for anyone to see.

Confessions of an ole-lady

Ok, so now, as an official "ol'lady", I'm gonna share my new grey hair theory w/ y'all. This theory was posited last night, as I washed my face. It was then that I noticed a grey hair. So, I did what anyone does when they see a grey hair; I pulled out the trusty-tweezers to yank that sucka OUT!

10 mins later, I had yanked out 3 grey hairs, & 4 regular non-grey hairs.

So, you know how "they" say that for every grey hair you pluck out, you'll get 2 more? Well, I think it's just b/c you actually end up just plucking out twice as many hairs (or in my case, more than twice) as expected. I was only to pull out 3 grey hairs, & instead I got out 7 hairs total.

Soooo, maybe that's why you're supposed to end up w/ twice as many grey hairs as you thought you pulled out. Cause you were so focused on the grey ones, you didn't even notice all the yun'uns you was yankin.

Whaddya think?

my love of sandals has caused me to blush

So, I would totally love these "hot coco" sandals that my boi Ken had made; except I'm not so big on rosettes on stuff. Maybe if I was a flamenco (or tango too, I guess) dancer, I'd be all about it. But alas, I'm not. So, I was looking for shoes that looked similar to these sandals by Kenneth Cole:And I found these:Yes, they were very similar. veeeerrryy similar. I'm a picture person. When I get magazines, I flip through the whole damn thing, & look at all the pics. Sometimes, I'll read the captions. After I've seen all the pics, I'll go back & actually read the damn thing. Anyway, so I saw the pic of the shoe FIRST. I totally want to emphasize that. I was looking at little itty-bitty thumbnails of shoes looking for a similar sandal to the one you see above, minus the rosette.

So, I clicked on the sandal. It was then that I noticed the written description of it. And then I looked away. I look back. Yes, folks, this is designed by the one & only Jess Simpson. The "fake-hair wearin, Nick Lachey-dumpin, over-grown-bag carryin, looks horrible w/out makeup & her hair done, can now sleep w/ lead singers of bands named Maroon 5" Jessica Simpson. I was pretty mortified. Then, I laughed at myself, & I'm posting this short anecdote to prove that it can also happen to you. Now, I'm gonna go back to sandal shopping. If you'll excuse me please. Have a great weekend!