Just Because...

Somewhere in Austin, Texas @ SXSW: March 2007 (photos courtesy of me)

She's a Carnival

Happy 51st Birthday to the ultimate punk priestess, Siouxsie Sioux. The former Banshees frontman is prepping to hit the European festival circuit this summer in support of her latest solo offering, Siouxsie. I had the chance to catch her tour opener in February and the lady looked fantastic. She still makes it all look easy. Looking 51 years young, m'dear.



Additional birthday wishes go out to Crowded House's Neil Finn, who also turns 51 today.

[Siouxsie image by Eric Nowels]

I KNEW he was a total punk

So apparently New York Rangers left wing Sean Avery is interning at Vogue? So what, the dude had nothing better to do since losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs earlier this month? Are you freaking kidding me?

If this is a joke or some kind of clever publicity stunt, it's the lamest move EVER! But I suppose I should expect this from a punk like Avery, who acted like a complete tool during the opening series versus the New Jersey Devils. For those who were paying attention, remember the scuttlebutt between him and Devils goalie Martin Brodeur? In Game 3 in mid-April, Avery delivered some juvenile hand-and-stick-waving act to distract Brodeur; let us not forget the constant waving of his hands in Brodeur's face. Say what you want about Brodeur, but I wouldn't have shaken Avery's hand either.

The Sultan and I were at Game 4 where the Devils lost to the Rangers. NY Rangers fans are CORE! They love that team more than life itself. To me, it's like the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry times 10. Wonder what Rangers fans think of Avery now?

Again, joke or publicity stunt, it's a lame ass move, Avery. Don't wish you were back with the Wings?

GO WINGS!!!!!!!!

Good Looking Man About Town

Ah yes, it's today ... the 49th birthday of Morrissey, my favorite star. Still a charming man (heh), the former Smiths frontman is readying the release of "All You Need is Me," the second single -- out June 2nd according to morrissey-solo -- from his latest Greatest Hits collection. Mozzer, you don't look too shabby.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

"The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others -- who are, after all, deceived easily enough; has nothing to do with reputation, which, as Rhett Butler told Scarlett O'Hara, is something people with courage can do without."

-- Joan Didion, from her chapter On Self-Respect, Slouching Towards Bethlehem

[Image courtesy of Mostly Americana]

Just Because ...

Ryan and I met this friendly little fella named Kato yesterday in Jersey City. He had his tongue out the whole time. Isn't he cute?



While I do love me some Pugs, I'm still partial to my Beagles. NYC Beags! Where are you?

In tribute to my all time favorite beagle, Dumars -- yes, we named him after Joe Dumars. It was 1989 and we were obsessed with the Detroit Pistons, who were the NBA champs at the time -- Happy Birthday! He would have turned 19 yesterday. R.I.P. DIW!

Food... with some TLC

My childhood babysitter, Doreen, is a no-nonsense woman who takes care of everyone before herself. Whether she and her husband are mowing lawns for the elderly or driving all over Michigan to attend their grandchildren's various sporting events, Doreen is always happy to help and happy to be there. My family adores her and her family... for we've had the pleasure of knowing Doreen and Co. since I was five weeks old. We also LOVE her cooking.

So I'd like to share one of Doreen's awesome dishes, Chicken Tettrazini. Ryan and I make this on occasion and we love it!

- Pre-cook four cups of chicken by boiling
- Sauté 1/4 cups of celery and 1/4 cup of yellow onion heart-healthy olive oil
- Mix the following in a mixing bowl and add all contents to the diced chickem
* 16 oz. of fat free sour cream
* 2 cups of 98% fat free Cream of Chicken Soup
- Boil 8 oz. of spaghetti, drain and rise
- Place spaghetti in bottom of pan(s)
- Pour mixture over top of pasta and bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees
- Top with part-skim mozzarella cheese -- 4 cups or more; put back in over until melted

I'm tellin' ya peeps, this is good stuff!

Concrete Sky

This view, near Astoria Park, is a two-minute walk from my apartment. I heart Queens! (Photos courtesy of me)

Scrabble Dabba Do

What, am I 30 going on 65? I am becoming obsessed with Scrabble. I blame my pals, the Coreys, for passing the Scrabble bug on to me. Up until a few weeks ago, I hadn't played the game since I was a kid. Now, I'm crazy about it. I ordered the classic edition from Amazon so Ryan and I can play. I'm also going bonkers over the fact that Scrabulous, a fab online place to play the game, has been down for 12 hours. AND it's not supposed to be fixed for another day. BOO!

I've never played Solitaire or any other computer games. I stopped playing Nintendo in high school except for the friendly Mario 3 game with my sister. The idea of Wii appeals to me, and I've played Rock Band and that SO RULES! I do enjoy my Tetris via mobile while traveling on the subway or waiting in the airport, but that's about it. Now, I'm absolutely head over heels, insanely crazy for freakin' online Scrabble. I'm square.