Seal: Whirlpool

My blog used to have, what I now consider, sadly, kind of a corny name "I want to see as clear as my eyes can see" which I have since changed. I had pulled it from this gorgeous Seal song. Three years before the whole Batman, horrible (sorry Seal) 'Kiss From A Rose' thing and him becoming a household name and a radio staple that played over and over at nauseum- he was Mr. Underground cool dude with this fabulous, out of left field debut record. From beginning to end an incredible,incredible piece of work.
Before Heidi Klum, and millions of dollars, the life he had lived and the pain he had experienced (he went through some tough shit)allowed him to pour into this record that really amazing stuff that makes any kind of art truly great.
This was always my favorite song.

Song of the Day The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Around the Bend

Finally!!! I have scratched the itch I have had to find this song since I love it everytime I see the new IPOD touch commercial. Cool ass tune

Language Barriers and Cosmopolitan Magazine

Every Wednesday at work there is a sweet girl who comes in to do a few hours of cleaning. Usually by the time she is finishing up, we are ordering delivery for lunch, so she will hang out and wait and lunch with us. She speaks pretty fluent English, but her native language is Spanish, so alot of times she will have me translate some things for her that she doesn't understand. Today she was sitting next to me reading one of our many fashion magazines as we waited for lunch and periodically she would look up and say "Trenny, what does 'chick' mean" or "what does 'metropolitan ' mean?" I would answer and she would go back to reading and then, the following exchange in sued and it made me laugh so hard I HAD to share it.

Jeanette: Trenny, what does 'junk' mean?
Me: Uh, well, like garbage or yucky stuff you want to throw out.
Jeanette: No, that doesn't make sense with the sentence I'm reading.
Me: (noticing she is reading Cosmopolitan magazine) Oh, like 'junk in your trunk', A nice ass.
Jeanette: Ah, no I don't think that's what this is saying.
Me: Let me see what you are reading.
So, from a 'man on the street' type article it reads:
"One time I am out partying all night at this club and I meet this girl. We decide to go home together and I realize as we get to my place, that I am all sweaty from dancing and hanging out in a crowded bar and I am worried that my 'junk' is not so fresh down there.

Me: OHHHH, junk , that means um, you know, his thing, his stuff. (as I point to my nether regions)
Jeanette: That's what they call it, like the same word for garbage?
Me:Uh, yea, that's kind of ironic huh?
Jeanette: What's Ironic?
Lunch arrives just then anyway--saved by the bell!

'

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANNON!

Yesterday was my sister's Birthday and I wanted to make a special Birthday toasty post then, but wanted a cute pic to accompany it which she has yet to send So, in the meantime:
***********HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANNON! ***********
This is what is great about my sister:
*She is really really really funny. I laugh harder with my sister than anyone else in the world
*She is extremley independent and tough and has been through things that I am not sure I could have endured
*She is an AMAZING dancer! (One of her secret wishes -sorry Shannon-was to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and she would have been great!)
*She is my favorite singing partner We can put on music and sing all day long
*She is a wonderful mom and has two beautiful, funny, sensitive, caring and cool kids
*She can make a killer Halloween costume- like Moulin Rouge and Thriller proportions
Well, I could go on, but I'll leave with you with a quick story:
When I was little she and I shared a bedroom. It was good to always have a buddy to talk to in the dark and play records and hang out with, but we also got on each others nerves as brothers and sisters will do. I was always a natural perrfomer from a young age and there was a period where I had this game going that the circus was coming to town and that we had to rehearse our 'routines' for the upcoming audition. (Yes y'all I was well aware that this was a game and that the circus was not really coming to town:) But no matter how irritated or tired she was- I would say "Come on Shannon- we have to practice!" and I would teach her dance routines and stand on her sholders and do all sorts of goofy stuff. Later in life when I was home for the Holidays we were laughing about that story and I asked her "Why did you always go along with that and put up with me?" and she said,
"Because you were my sister and that was what I was supposed to do, it seemed to make you so happy."
I love you Shannon-Happy Birthday!

Coconut Oil

What I consider one of the great gifts of my life came in a disguised package (as they ususally do) when I was 19 years old. I had been dyeing my hair all shades of red and had run into a girl on main street in Sag Harbor with the prettiest shade of red hair and told her how much I liked it. "Oh , it's Henna" she said and proceeded to tell me that it was a natural dye and that I could find it in the local Healthfood store 'Provisions' just up the street. I went directly to the store and there was this funky chick named Kim who was really cool and funny and helped me out. Flash forward to she and I becoming great friends and me getting a job at Provisions. I kept this job all through college and actually managed the cafe for a year upon gradutaing and figuring out what I wanted to do. Because of this, I was blessed to be able to change sooo much about my eating and body care habits and am so grateful. So,I would consider myself schooled in alot of things that are good for your body, as I not only learned from products in the store, but also through getting to know all the vendors, local organic farmers, and customers who would tell me life changing health and anti aging miracles that had taken place in thier own bodies and lives. (and yeah, I also met the 'freaks' that usually inhabit these places, but all thier stories I took with a grain of salt! You gotta have balance and enjoy life too, so please don't take me as a healthfood nut!)

Anyhow, I figured I would periodically share some of the things that I find are really beneficial and you can take em or leave em.

My first is my FAVORITE!

COCONUT OIL

Did you know that what you put on your body is just like putting it into your mouth? It's true- your skin is the largest organ of your body and it is pourous, so when you rub something onto your skin or get in yucky dirty water it goes right in directly to your bloodstream. Look at the ingredients of any of your lotions and potions and think about this- all the metylyparaben and crazy shit you can't pronounce going on and into your body. I always find it such a waste of money all the lotions and anti aging potions that we spend billions of dollars a year on! Most of them are 75% made of chemicals! Take a look!

So, here is a tip for a smooth, less wrinkly healthy body:

Get some *Coconut Oil, *Grape Seed Oil or even Olive Oil, put it in a pretty decanter or jar in your shower and it will warm up and soften by the time you are done with your bath/shower. Slather it onto your body and even dab on your face as moisturizer and you will have such yummy healthy skin! Also, health wise these oils are full of nutrients and anti-oxidents and because it seeps into your skin and goes into your bloodstream, you are getting nourished as well.

*The only reason I recommend Coconut Oil the most, is that it is clear and will not leave residue on your towel and/or cozy bathrobe. Also it is smell free, so you won't smell like you have been cooking :) and you an also have the option of adding your own favorite oil to scent it up (ie; Sandalwood, Jasmine, etc...)

And how can you beat the price of 10 bucks for a big ole jar that will last you a couple of months?

Forget La Mer and and all that crap-- try this!!

**PS- Provisions Healthfood store and cafe is still out in the Hamptons on main Street in Sag Harbor. Next time you are out there, stop in, the food and smoothie bar is delicious!

***http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html*** read here for more

Song of the Day The Sylvers - Boogie Fever

While all of my sister Shannon and I's friends were happy to flip the off switch on thier TV after the conclusion of American Bandstand, we were just warming up for the SOOOULLL TRAAAAINN! Now that was the schnizzle- where is the Soul Train dance line of today? Damn. And boy you better milk that 15 second spotlight you get too- check out some of the fine moves.

Song of the Day

Last Goodbye- Jeff Buckley

It was like three in the morning and I couldn't sleep, so I got up , went downstairs and flicked on the TV. It was, as it usually is, on a music station. The Canadian channel Fuse to be exact. Just as I flipped the switch in the dark, a song was just starting that featured a really cute guy and a haunting bass line. As I sat in the dark and heard this song for the first time I fell love and was captivated with it. I couldn't wait to see who this guy was so I could get the record. As the liner notes appeared at the end of the song with Jeff Buckley 'The Last Goodbye', I made a mental note and was excited to have discovered him-- then I was quickly brought down by the appearance of the VJ:
"That was Jeff Buckley who was sadly found dead earlier this evening of an apparent drowning" I cried. So young, so talented- it was a haunting, odd moment in the dark. And the stranger thing I came to find out, was that his father, a musician also, died years before at around the same age of a drowning. Weird, huh?
A great song to have in your collection. A good 'go to' for a cry after a breakup!
http://www.last.fm/music/Jeff+Buckley/Last+Goodbye
**Sorry guys, I can't link you to a full version-I am going to figure out how to let you just click here on my blog to hear in the future. :(

Walmart- who knew???

I think I have been to a Walmart once or twice in my life. Out where I used to live in Sag Harbor there were not any chain stores like Target, Walmart etc....well, except for the big kMart in Bridgehampton and thankfully so- cuz at least there was one place to get all those cheap little necessities that we all need. So, on a trip to Walmart for just that, I eyed this little cute sweater dress as I was standing in line- for a mere $12.99!! And it is pretty darn cute.

**Oh---and they have really awesome leggings for 5 bucks in all the basic colors a gal needs- black, brown charcoal and white.

So, sneak a peak at the cheap clothes next time you're there, if you pick the right thing, noone has to know!

let's keep this between us! xo

W

You will find it rare that I would review a movie on my blog, but I knew that I would write about this movie or have some strong feelings about it the moment I heard it was being made. I do not come from a hugely savvy political standpoint as much as I do a woman with a natural, inherent fascination with artists who are compelled to document, so closely - and try so hard- to portray the life of an individual. I think it takes a lot of balls because, with so much speculation it could either be a huge success or a horrible failure. I can't say this film was either one for me. What elements of GW Bush as a man, a President, was Stone so driven to expose and convince us of? And how would the mainstream American public leave the theater feeling about the Bush administration as a whole? I think a huge portion of the public do not really understand the horrors of his last eight years in office and I think many people hope this film will teach them, in a fun, soundtrack filled two and a half hour romp. I made it a point not to read any of the reviews, so my viewpoint could be unbiased, as naive or unschooled as it may be.

As I prepared to watch it, I pretty much had an idea what I was in for, with this being an Oliver Stone film (remember The Doors, Born on the Fourth of July, Wall Street, Platoon, JFK, Nixon, etc...). A politically, socially and 'of the times' charged script with an easy to follow cut from scene to scene and always a clever,constantly present and very intentional, well thought out soundtrack. These things always make it easy to digest his films.

If you know nothing about Bush, here is the first Presidential impression that Stone gives you with the obvious intention of making it stick:

Speech Writer: How about Axis of Terror?

Bush: Don't get cute, the word terror would scare people anyway.

SW: What about Axis of Evil?

Bush: (pacing the room and biting his nails) Now that I like, it's got a ring to it.

'A ring to it'- what a fucking line. And if you don't think to yourself 'oh shit, what an idiot, he doesn't know what he is doing'- which I can't imagine Stone DOESN'T want you to think, then Stone hasn't grabbed you. This scene is followed by a flashback to his college days pledging for a fraternity and having Jack Daniels poured down his throat. This is followed by the next scene which has him lunching with Dick Cheney being briefed on WOMD as he sloppily and aggressively eats a bologna sandwich and guzzles, and I mean purposefully, guzzles a Dr. Pepper. See where I am going with this this? From drunken frat boy to a White House lunch briefing on war tactics and chemical weaponry, with the image and actions of a frat boy still very present in your mind and apparent by his over the top body language and line delivery scene to scene. The whole film is pieced together so as to make you feel as if Bush was just this 'guy' who, stumble upon stumble, ended up in the White House- like Alice through the Looking Glass. (I kind of agree with this theory by the way) Stone makes him consistently insecure, sarcastic, flippant, narcissistic, and don't even get me started on the whole 'father and son' relationship which paints him to be a simple psychological breakdown of the boy who just wanted to constantly please a father that he is always disappointing. You know the old 'living in his shadow' cliche. Stone has Brolin play the character as just that : a cliched portraylof a faulted man who should never have become President.

It was ok, but too simplistic and candy coated a script that it became almost satirical to me.

I hope that I am right about Oliver Stone's intention with his portrayal of Bush. He wanted to give the public an easy way to, at the same time, be entertained and yet horrified by what we have done as a collective society by voting such a person into office. He used a reverse physcology by making you see and hear one thing, yet as a whole wanted to make you feel another. If this makes any sense. He wants you to either feel a little sorry for Bush or think he is an idiot , but at the end he wants you to be convinced that this man has, simply put, made a terrible mess of things. Stone is good with this kind of tortured soul, this fumbling through life kind of man (there is a great line that Val Kilmer- as Jim Morrison- has at the beginning of Stone's biopic the Doors "I am just a tortured clown who gets thing right for a minute and then messes them up in the end") and he is good at bringing it out in his actors. I have to applaud Josh Brolin for his outstanding job impersonating Bush. There were times where I purposefully closed my eyes and I could have sworn I was listening to GW. He did a brilliant job in my opinion. Also to be noted, Richard Dreyfus portrays a smarmy, slimy Dick Cheney brilliantly. Curious to see who might get an Oscar nod.

**Whomever played Condoleeza Rice was cast terribly wrong. Be prepared to be annoyed by this character..

***And big final applause to one of my favorite elements of the film--listen for it- it's brilliant. Stone's use of the original theme to Robin Hood throughout the movie ("with a cap in his hat, he comes to save the day......")which plays for mere seconds during any scenes prior to Bush taking the podium. This, I thought, was clever and HILARIOUS!

Definitely worth seeing, but go in expecting a satire, not a true and serious documentary. And it is always fun to see an Oliver Stone character portrayal from a psychological point of view- if you areas interested in that kind of thing as much as I am.

PS There are 3 people in particular that I know of who read my blog and are extremely political. I'm very much looking forward to their reviews, they should be good. I will re-blog them if, and when, they are posted.

Summer Breeze- Seals and Croft

My mom was a sucker for them when I was little, and I am a sucker for them too. I'm talkin' about the soft rock songs of the 70's. This song always makes me miss my mom. I can still picture me in the backseat of the groovy Chevy with both of us singing along.

http://tinyurl.com/6k5krv

Salon 8 am

Getting ready for an early 8:30 am blowout at the salon---which fun frivolous magazine to choose?

Meghan Fox was the hands down stand out. ***I refused to take my hat off until they got me at the sink, that's how bad it was! And even in the midst of my tired little cranky self, I still managed to put my big ass earrings on. Only me.

Devil in my Car- The B-52's

I dug this song up the other day when I read that the B-52's were playing at Hammerstein Ballroom in NY. I discovered this band way back in the eighth grade and they were a happy, happy, unique, quirky breathe of fresh air. I fell in love with them and I credit the two girls in this band, Cindy and Kate, for helping me find the real strength of my singing voice. Funny but true- singing that shit is HAARD. I really love them for the girls to tell you the truth. Everytime I would have to really warm up or open up my voice, or just want to sing along to something that makes me happy, all I have to do is sing along to a couple of these oldies but goodies. Always a fun sing along.

From their album Wild Planet
http://www.deezer.com/track/1560771