Have you seen this??

I log on to facebook today, and here's this extremely creepy picture advertising something vaguely medical (I can't even remember what it was for, I was so distracted by the image). What's going on here? It looks like that baby is growing OUTSIDE of that poor woman's stomach... like a tumor. Who edits this shit?

Rituals Are Very Important

One of my favorite things to do (on a Wednesday) is read the NYTimes Dining Guide's "Wine of the Times", then hop on my bike and ride to my local wine shop to see if they have any of the selections in stock. Most of the time they wont have the exact pick, but they will have something close to it, or better. From there I head to Rocket Video and I rent a movie that compliments the wine. I try to stick to whatever country the wine is from, and I try to choose something I haven't seen before... Sometimes this ends in disaster - but sometimes I find real gems. And every time I find myself surprised at how, just like a good food and wine pairing, the unique aesthetic features of the film bring out the subtle features of the wine, and vice-versa. Here are a few of my favorite pairings...

1. Chateau du Rouet + "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" + "Summer"

Rose, Catherine Deneuve, and my fondness for themes of alienation

Chateau du Rouet + "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" + "Summer"


Chateau du Rouet is a delicious Rose, 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah from Cotes de Provence. So. To find the perfect film pairing, I sought out something French (obvi), light, juicy and vibrant. Turns out most French films are "Provocative, daring and epic", so I had to do a little digging.

"The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" is the classic Jaques Demy all-sung-romantic-fiasco from 1964 that served as the inspiration for Woody Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You". Stylish, colorful and crisp, it was a perfect match for the Rose. However, on a substance level, I got kind of bored with it pretty quickly. I mean, it was enchanting in many ways, and I could see it playing on the wall of a French themed hipster bistro, but I don't think it's necessary to devote a lot of attention to it, if you know what I mean.... but of course, I'm not really a romantic movie kind of a gal -at least not in the traditional sense... What I'm saying is, if you don't happen to have a gaping black hole where your heart used to be, I can see you really falling in love with this film. And many have.

Eric Rohmer's "Summer" is much more my type of movie. It's the impressively sensitive portrait of a beautiful, single, not-too-old but not-too-young secretary trying her best to enjoy her summer vacation after she's been dumped by her traveling companion. Marie Riviere plays the character to perfection, making her both infuriating and completely relate-able at the same time - which is the sort of complexity I find extremely impressive in an actress. Eric Rohmer paints such an impressively poignant portrait of what it feels like to be truly isolated from the world around you. I found it deeply moving. The grace and light of the cinematography tied in perfectly with the Rose I was sipping, and brought out an interesting sense of irony, which I loved. Don't get me wrong, this is not a depressing movie - it's actually very romantic... just a different side of romance.... And the perfect double feature for "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg".... watch em both and see what I mean.... and don't forget the Rose....

New Treasures

My parents returned from their 29 year wedding anniversary with suitcases full of cheap jewelry from the enterprising Africans selling their wares in waves. My mother proudly handed over"gold" bracelets and necklaces, adjustable "antique" rings to turn my fingers green, and scarves with vague animal prints... And I love them all. What?

I supplemented the new bangles with a few pieces from Muse Apparel in Phoenix, Az.