A Life Remembered

Ten years ago, a candle in the wind was snuffed.
Princess Diana was killed.
I remember this moment and the emptiness and overwhelming sadness I felt.

A life so important came to an end but the hope and peace that she gave us will not die. Rest in peace and live forever in our hearts.

WTH, pt. 4

What the hell?

Hey, no drinking and driving!

Nasty, bad, naughty boy

Raise your hand if you think Larry likes naughty boys.

WTH, pt. 3

When I go camping deep in the woods, I like to turn over logs to see what kind of interesting things I can find. Every now and then, I find something really gross.

"It's so easy. Happy-go-lucky."

Whitney Screws up the Classics

I know, I know, we've seen this before...but it still makes me chortle!
Let's watch Debra Wilson's brilliance again before the video's deleted.

"I said fix it!!!"

WTH, Pt 2

Another one of those videos that screams, "What the Hell?!"
Warning this forklift safety video contains "gore" and I don't mean Al.

Klaus, step away from ze forklift!

10 Years Ago Today...

Ten years ago today, I met Matt, the man I plan to spend the rest of my life with. He's the man who makes me laugh, encourages me to dream, challenges me to be a better person, grounds me, gives me shelter, and to this day makes my heart race.
1997 - Victoria

1998 - Puerto Vallarta

1999 - Paris

2000 - Christmas Party

2001 - Roller Coaster in Vegas

2002 - A cruise on Puget Sound

2003 - The base of Silver Falls.

2004 - with long lost family members in Oregon.

2005 - Our favorite camp site.

2006 - The Suite at the Marc Hopkins, SF.

2007 - At home with the pups.

And though this is not Chad's 12 of 12, I still get a bonus picture.

I love you Matt, not just for who you are...but for who we are.

Happy Anniversary.

WTH? Pt. 1

Every now and then I stumble across something on youtube that makes me ask "What the hell?" This is one of those videos.

The music is from Oleg Kostrow.

Falling for the Wrong Guy, pt 2

A while back, I brought up the topic of falling for the wrong guy. Celine sang about it in Ziggy. I came across another French video where another singer, Zazie, had the same problem...only she was a little more surprised. I wonder why this song and its video never made it big in the U.S.

And to think, this was on European MTV!!

Better than Ever

Candice Bergman is a very funny woman...she showed us that in Murphy Brown.
But did you know she can sing? No really, she can...just not very well.
She proved that in 1979's Starting Over. Here she "seduces" Burt Reynolds with her vocal stylings.

His expression says it all.

30 years ago today...

30 years ago today, many people were still mourning the passing of the King of Rock and Roll. Personally, I mourned another death, one somewhat eclipsed by what's-his-name.
Comedy lost its greatest king. . .
The one, the only, Groucho.

Rest in Peace, Captain Spaulding.

Happy Birthday, Madonna!

Wow, 49!
This is the Stereo MC's remix of Frozen, which I thought was one her two best videos.

Alright, since you ask, here's my other favorite.

Cheers to the woman who is able to constantly re-invent herself. You go, girl.

What Becomes the 80's Most?

In 1984, Babs made her most 80s-ish video.

So...do you think this video is dated? If so, why? Is it the hair? the pastels? the satin? the shoulder pads? the frosted eyeliner? Maybe it was that MTV was actually showing a music video? Something else perhaps?

What will he do?

It's been an exciting week! Karl Rove has announced he's leaving.
Headlines have sprung up declaring Bush has lost his brain. I think he's lost something else. I mean, isn't it more than coincidence that shortly after the president has a colonoscopy, Rove resigns?

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain"

Dances with...Poodles

Y'all know I love Toni Basil. This song is called "You Gotta Problem." However, after watching its video, I think Toni's Native American name should be "Dances with Poodles."

No expenses were spared for this video.

Mommy, can I be a hooker, too?

Tonight, I broke a nail, and I wasn't even rushing. That made me think of that commercial from the 80's. I thought I would youtube it (is that a verb?). I couldn't find it but found this instead...

"Press on!"

Ew, Creepy!

I came across a picture of Rudy Giuliani on one of my favorite blogs, Towlroad. I thought it looked a little...odd. But, when I rotated it 90 degrees, it became downright creepy.

BTW, the story this went with is how Rudy is backing away from his support of Civil Unions. Rudy, I thought you were a leader - not a sheeple.

And the nominees for "The Best Use of Phallic Symbols" are...pt 2

The Kids in the Hall introduced us to Rockstar Tammy. Here's her outrageous video, "Roses" where we all heard that immortal line, "I ain't gonna spread for no roses."

"Tasteful use of crotch shots."

And the nominees for "The Best Use of Phallic Symbols" are...pt 1

Olivia Newton-John tried hard, very hard to break-out of her good-girl mold.
But for many, Sandra Dee she remained. Here in this great 80's video, "Soul Kiss." Complete with her phallic pipes and her hubby Matt Lattanzi, Olivia "gets down on her knees." What is she talking about?

Olivia Newton John - Soul Kiss
Thanks to jpdc11 from Here's the 80's.

August 12 of 12

For the week of summer, I take all our tropical plants and put them on our balcony. You could hear a collective sigh of relief when they got a breath of fresh air. We have several plumeria, hibiscus, anthuriums, bougainvillea, princess plants, and a few other oddities that people say, "you can't grow those in Seattle!" Liars.


Here's Shrimpie our pet shrimp. If you look closely, you'll see a few more shrimpies. We have Singapore Wood Shrimp, Cherry Shrimp, and a couple of Amano Algae Eating Shrimp.


Our pond is one of my favorite places in the world. I love to drink my coffee while watching the koi.


This is Pipa, one of our two pipa pipa frogs. The other is named Pipa, too.


This is Paco the Pacu. Pacu is at least a foot long. He's got his eye on you.


This is one of our turtles. Every time I turn around, Matt seems to bring another pet home. I don't know where he got the Ouachita map turtles. Oh wait, I think I got them.


This is Hunter, our polydactyl lounge-cat. He has opposable thumbs. This makes it easier for him to use a bottle opener.


One of my favorite websites is "Here's the 80's"
Just about any music video from the 80's is right here waiting for you.
Today, I got a pass to the VIP lounge. My love for Toni Basil paid off.


Scenes from our fridge. These aren't all magnets. Many are pix from friends. Our friends, Bret, Rachel and their twins' Christmas photo from the last 7 years are on the left. There's a picture of Matt and me when we went to the Woodland Park Zoo 10 years ago.


We had to go to the store for a beer/wine run. I love the aisle with the packaged dinners. Growing up very poor, I thought Rice-a-Roni was a treat. Still do.


Kali and her Deck of Destruction. There is nothing sacred.


Boo Boo, our Indian Ringneck tells me a secret.



The bonus word, "Light." This is our nightlight in the downstairs bathroom. It came in a box marked Fra-gile.


Chad, kudos to you for this event. Matt & I look forward to it each month!
Please check out his site at http://chaddarnell.typepad.com/

Bloggy Friends

Yesterday, Matt and I had brunch with fellow bloggers and new friends, Scott and Andrew. They were on vacation from Iowa. We met at the mutable restaurant The Five Spot on Queen Anne (the hill - not the sovereign). What great people! Check out their blogs and say hello. I'm sure you'll like them as much as we did.

The dude in the back is our bodyguard, Guido.


Scott taking a picture of me.


Bloggers with Seattle in the background.

He was white as a sheet and he also made false teeth...

Matt and I came across Frontier Psychiatrists while listening to NPR. It was truly a driveway moment. You know, when something on the radio doesn't let you get out of your car. The Avalanches are creative brilliance. But when we came across the video, we giggled ourselves silly (as if we needed any help). We often quote this profound song. Its lyrics fit in nearly any situation.

"And milk! rectangles, to an optometrist, the man with the golden eyeball
And tighten your buttocks, pour juice on your chin. I promise my girlfriend I'd... the violin, violin, violin"

From The Avalanches' first album, "Since I left You" their video of the same name.

The Avalanches have just released their second album. I haven't heard anything from it yet and couldn't find any videos. Perhaps soon.

"Sometimes a parrot talks."

"Yes, some birds are funny when they talk."

Maybe he's smarter than I thought....

I don't think President Bush is all that smart. Okay, I think he's a buffoon.
Every now and then, I find just a little more proof. The following video was posted by cadillac2001, an Australian. Sadly, this is the face others are putting on America.

Regardless of what you think of our president shrub, impeach Cheney first!

Why didn't he tell...himself?

Vice-President Cheney said something that made sense...why didn't he listen?

Separated at Birth or Joined by Marriage?

Today, I came across a wacky picture of Laura Bush.
No, honestly, I really did.

The more I looked at it, the more I thought she looked like Jack Nicholson's Joker from Batman.

Searching on line, it seems there are many others who agree. I found the following pictures at Bongo News.

Funnier still, is a video I found where our first lady stands by her convictions (I'm not talking about the time she killed someone, as she was never actually charged with manslaughter when she killed her friend, Micheal Douglas). No, I'm talking about her strong, yet glossy stance on important things like our National Anthem.

And here I thought all those rumors about her and Xanax were just rumors.

Tagged, I'm It!

Claudia, who writes one of my favorite blogs, has tagged me. Hooray!

Yourself: Scott (Hello!)
Your partner: Matt
Your hair: Brownish
Your mother: Always there when she’s needed
Your father: Gone
Your favorite item: iPod
Your dream last night: Workmare (YIKES)
Your favorite drink: Kona-peaberry-coffee
Your dream car: 2007 Jaguar
Dream home: Kailua

The room you are in: Office
Your fear: house-a-fire
What you are great at: Inspiring
Where you want to be in 10 years: Hawaii
Who you hung out with last night: Matt
You're not: Unfaithful
One of your wish list items: 160gig-iPod
The last thing you did: Click
You are wearing: Alohaware
Your favorite weather: Tropical (I live in Zonal Denial)
Your favorite book: Chequebook
Last thing you ate: Pasta
Your life: work
Your mood: Meditative
Your best friend: Matt

What are you thinking about right now: frogs
Your car: Jeep
What are you doing at the moment: Typing
Relationship status: Domestic-partners
What is on your t.v: Vase
When is the last time you laughed: Now

Sad Songs They Say, Sad Songs they Say so Much...

I love a sad song. No, I am not a drama queen, there's just something about a really draining song that makes me feel...better. Call it an emotional enema.

There lived an amazing artist by the name of Eva Cassidy. I heard a song of hers once while driving home from work. It was a well-known song written and previously recorded by Sting. Eva Cassidy performed this song with such incredible depth that for the length of the song, I found nothing else existed but her golden voice. At the song's end, I learned that Eva had died before this song was released. It gave whole new meaning to the words.

Though there are no videos of this song, however there are many fan videos as well as Michelle Kwan's famous figure skating performance. This is version is a slide show and though it's quite pretty, I recommend you close your eyes and listen. Listen and think of those you miss and those who will one day miss you.

Sting was reportedly moved to tears when he heard Eva's version.

Fortunately, Eva did a live performance at Blues Alley which was caught on amateur tape. This show was recorded just months before she died at age 33. The swelling on her lower lip is the melanoma that took her.
Here she performs Cyndi Lauper's Time after Time.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is one of those songs that most singers turn into a power ballad, losing the meaning of the lyrics as they try to sing higher than the bluebirds fly. With just a guitar and her golden voice, Eva actually takes us there.


Now, I know there are angels. For I have heard one.

He-Bops, too

So Cyndi wasn't the only mainstream star to have a video where the singer "messes with the danger zone." Chris Isaak also went south when he gave new meaning to Neil Diamond's Solitary Man.

And you thought "Wicked Game" was steamy!

She-bop!

Okay, okay, I admit it. I should be in a 12-step program for 80's music. I just can't help it.
Cyndi Lauper was always in a category of her own. Her music was raw and always had meaning. One song that had a particularly deeper meaning was She-bop. We saw the video for the first time in a long while this weekend. Matt and I had to laugh at all the references to "bopping"!
I have never been accused of being a little slow, but this was the first time I got why the cook was spanking the hamburgers. And then there's the trip to the gas station. You go, Cyndi!

Thanks to Here's the 80's for another fun romp into the past!!
Be sure to check out the True Colors Tour at Cyndi's site.

My Favorite Ab Fab Scene?

After yesterday's post, I'm sure many were asking, "Scooter, which was your favorite scene from Ab Fab?" Well, worry not. I shall tell you. It's a scene from France. Eddy (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumely) go on a overly relaxing holiday. Not needing a second invitation, they go for a little wine "tasting." Brilliance, sheer brilliance...and I love Jennifer's cackle.

"This is the one, Pats."

Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous was the most appropriately named show in TV history.
The antics of Eddy and Patsy were cheer brilliance. I won't paraphrase the show because I KNOW you've seen it. You wouldn't be at this blog if you hadn't. So sit back and enjoy these videos.

With whom did you most identify?

Edina? Patsy? Bubble? Saffy? Mrs. M?

I Say a Little Prayer for You

Yesterday, I wrote of Toni Basil's choreographing the opening scene for "My Best Friend's Wedding." It brought back memories of my favorite (probably everyone's favorite) scene. It's the one where gay second-best friend, Rupert Everett, weaves the lie for Cameron Diaz's family about how he and Julia Roberts met.

"Breezing through the door of the electroshock therapy room, I saw her, a vision in pink."

Over My Head

Toni Basil was best known for her "Hey Mickey." But one of my favorite songs from the 80's was her seldom seen, "Over My Head."

She proves to us that she can dance other than her cheerleader moves from the previously mentioned song. Toni is actually a world renowned choreographer. She has choreographed for the likes of David Bowie, Bette Midler and The Talking Heads (she choreographed their video Once in a Lifetime). She choreographed several movies, including "American Graffiti," "The Rose," "Peggie Sue Got Married," "That Thing You Do!," the opening scene from "My Best Friend's Wedding," and "Legally Blond." She even had roles in the classics "Village of the Giants" and "Rocula." Who knew?
Sit back and enjoy this time capsule.

Waiting for Angels

It's Seafair in the gorgeous city of Seattle. Seafair means party in some Native American dialect. It's also when the Blue Angels come to town and perform right above our houses. With camera in hand, I went in our backyard and patiently waited. Suffering from a wonderful case of ADD, I went around and took pictures of things that yanked at my short attention span.

Here's Lily.


We have several different flavors of hydrangea. Here you can see two different purples.


We have two koi that are at least a foot long, which is odd as they don't have feet.


This is a climbing lily. It lives in the same pot as a hibiscus.
"You have hibiscus in Seattle?" you ask.
"Yes" I smiled.


The Painted Lilies are blooming. Which is odd, we planted callas.


Here's a picture of Kali, our year-old Weimaraner lounging on the grass. She's smiling.


Here, she's deep in thought.

Sssh, she's hiding.

At last...the Blue Angels arrived. Usually, they zip by before being heard.

Vrooom!

Blue Angels flying under our cherry tree.

They really are this low!!!

On my way back upstairs to the office computer, I saw Sandy, the soft-shell turtle Matt made me buy...okay he made me buy 3 of them.

Putting Old Heads on Young Shoulders

"Brilliant, Simply Brilliant!" That's all I can say about Maggie Smith's incredible portrayal of a flamboyant school teacher, in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, who devotes her prime to her girls. The role earned Maggie Smith the well-deserved Best Actress Oscar in this incredible movie. The first time I saw it, I remember how funny she was while Maggie pulls you into her character as she struts and tells tales of her prime...

"Indeed! For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like."

As you watch her Miss Brodie unravel, you see she becomes a human train wreck. I can still hear the echo of her closing scream, "Assassin!!!"
In one of the lighter scenes, she is called before the conservative headmistress, Miss Makay.
"4:15. Not 4 or 4:30 but 4:15. She thinks to intimidate me by the use of quarter hours"

"4:15. I was afraid I might be late...or early."

You say "Bitch" as if it were a bad thing...

Maggie Smith is the host. Diana Rigg is the most. But I would bet my money on Dame Mags, regardless of who she's fighting!!!
Here, Mags is reacquainted with LONG-TIME rival Diana. Diana may have the man, money, and better house, but Maggie always has the upper hand!

"And so much wider..." MEOW!

Here Dame Mags offers Dame Diana something we know she can't pass-up

"Have a sausage, dear. You must be famished having to wait all that time in your room."

The two chums gather together for a family sing-a-long.
"But If Baby I'm the bottom,. you're the top!"

A so-so movie with all-BITCH cast!

Now, I know what you feel about burning our grand old flag, our high flying flag...

What to do with our Nation's Flag?
We could hang it from a flagpole outside our house?
No, The Decider has other plans!

Which to you is most offensive?

Writing on the flag with a Sharpie?


Are you okay with someone who steps on the flag as one would a doormat?