Skip's a Foul Mouth

An email I received today (a forward, if you must know) reminded me of how little I care for cuss words and their regular use by some (most) people today. I suppose it's not so much a matter of dislike as it is contempt. I simply think of swearing as a version of oratorical laziness that points to a deeper lack of intellect or, rather, grasp of the wonders of the English language. How very unimpressive it is! I would like to think of myself as being a little more refined and having some sense of decorum. What can I say, it's the elitist in me.

That is not to say of course, that there aren't moments when the use of such unbecoming language exactly articulates the feelings at the time, but I would hope that those moments are few and far between (unless of course you are plumber or prostitute whose job it is to talk dirty) for the majority of men and women.

For those of you out there who find these instances more frequent, perhaps you can turn that frown upside-down and put your verbal vulgarities to good use by participating in the Annual Swearing Festival at the Edinburgh Castle on February 18th.

Get it all out of your system. You might win a raffle prize.

Skip Loves a Good Forward

Email forwards in college were somewhat of a novelty, which was relatively easy seeing that the internet and any email content were also exciting and new. Yet, after a little while, all the dancing-baby-needle-in-the-gas-pump-tell-us-your-favorite-color-friend-and-number-and-we'll-tell-you-who-your-future-husband-is-but-you-must-forward-this-on-to-7-people-as-soon-as-possible-otherwise-someone-will-die-or-you'll-have-bad-luck-forever-and-won't-get-a-check-for-$100-from-Microsoft emails became tedious and trite. So, with the exception of my mummy, who still finds them endlessly entertaining and feels the need to pass them along to her children (and someone called 'smackfam') or she might be cursed with the demonic destiny as dictated by the email, we delete them.

However, I was recently sent a forward by my dear friend, Mike 'Collars Up' Crittenden, that I took the time to open (Michael is such a fastidious forwarder, that I can trust the content of his emails will not be frivolous). Demonic destiny, indeed! What I discovered was a link to an online gallery of Demonic Tots and Deeply Disturbing Cuisine, which kept me entertained for a few hours and left me pondering the marketing wonders that are American consumer goods for even a few hours more.

Enjoy!

Match Made in Heaven; Part II

But, of course! Brake Alignment and Burlwood!

Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA.

Skip Prefers Hayes Valley

My most recent visit to the Marina area of San Francisco was about a month ago (after a 2-year hiatus) when I met up with some people at the divey bar, Mauna Loa, on Fillmore Street. While I very much love my friends, I was reminded on my trip to homogeneity that I most definitely do not enjoy going out in the Marina; the bar was ridiculously crowded, a discomfort only matched by the din of high-pitched Marina girl voices in my ears, and everyone looked exactly the same.

I am very happy to see that my observations and subsequent reasons for hating this nightlife nausea are corroborated by the witty folks at Wikipedia.

Take a peek. Marina District.

Only in San Francisco; Part II

I am not kidding. There are people twirling flaming batons around their heads at 10:20pm in the park outside my apartment.

Skip Wants to Go Back to College

Before I left for London I had the most glorious weekend reunited with my college roommates, Mary and Natalie, all three of us together for the first time since our university utopia.

What shining girls they are!

Skip's Fairyland

Anyone who knows me, is all too aware that I am scared to death of air travel. The paranoia begins about four hours before airport departure as I sweat and panic at the thought of getting into a flying tube. In flight, I clutch my cross necklace and say my 'goodbyes' at each tumble of turbulence. My fear ends only as the plane touches down and I thank God for delivering me safely (while I mutter to myself how I should be in control, because clearly I would have flown the plane better than the loon at the helm).

However, there was a brief respite in my persistent flight fright on my most recent trip to London (my location at press time). Not only was the flight going to be in record time thanks to some hefty tailwind, but also I was blessed with three empty seats and so I fitfully attempted to snooze as a way of making the time pass. Clearly, it was not going to happen and so I gazed out the window.

We were just west of the Hudson Bay and the sky was pitch black save for the most amazing display of Northern Lights. It sounds cheesy, but I was immediately at peace as I watched the glow flickering across the sky as if invisible ice skaters were leaving a trail of green embers as they sliced across a night pond. It looked like the darkness were tearing open to reveal some lightness beyond and it made everything quiet in its beauty for almost two hours. I was silent, awe-struck.

How can you not believe in God?

Take it back, Brad

No. This is wrong on so many levels.

Tune Buckle.

Skip to the Future

Apparently JBL had 'The Jetsons' in mind when they created this spacy OnTime iPod alarm clock. It's ridiculously cool looking and I can already see my cats' heads stuck in the halo space (which is clearly a reason to buy); but, though I consider myself a modern girl, this just might be too contemporary, architechture-as-consumer-electronics for me.

Then again, maybe not. Have you seen the size of the snooze button?!?!

Down Under

She's Back!

Dinner for Friends

Despite the dirty wine glasses in my sink, it was well worth it.

Skip Loves Dull Men

I have recently come across one of the most entertaining websites on the entire internet. It is the Dull Men's Club. Their motto: 'A place -- in cyberspace -- where Dull Men can share thoughts and experiences, free from pressures to be in and trendy, free instead to enjoy the simple, ordinary things of everyday life.' No, seriously.

Here, boring men from around the world (funny that most of them live in England) can share their inane stories and insipid facts about Baggage Carousels and Bingo, Rest Areas and Roundabouting. For example, who knew that of '366 airports reporting. . . 45.5% are counterclockwise, 29% clockwise, 7.7% go both ways, 3% other, 15.8% have no carousels.' Amazing! If only I knew what 'other' direction a baggage carousel could go in?!?!

You see! It is a wealth of pointless prosaic information that happily feeds my mind's need for just such nonsense and keeps you wanting more!

Skip is a Cheesehead

Part of my 'Take Charge of My Life' focus in 2006 (a reference to the moving 'Take Back the Night' episode of 90210 when Kelly works to counter violence against women at her university after being raped) involves determining where I want to live next. This would ideally be somewhere I could settle down and buy a home (read: NOT somewhere ridiculously expensive like New York or DC, but a place where I can have a yard. I want a yard. I want a puppy...but that's a different blog entry), enjoy the outdoors, seasons, movies, sports and still have a Neiman's and a Cheesecake Factory nearby.

In determining my next move, I utilized the Find Your Spot engine to generate geographic fits to my personality after answering a short series of questions.

Where will my next adventure take me? Apparently, I'm headed to Milwaukee.

Skip into 2006

Some New Year's pics for those who missed out...

And, there's more at Ofoto.com.

Skip's Mobile Phone Update

The wait is over! My oft'-blogged-about favorite phone ever, the Motorola SLVR, is now available in the US.

At eGizmo.com.

2005 Reflection

In honour of the impending New Year, I would like to direct everyone to the BBC's '100 Things We Didn't Know This Time Last Year.'

Among the things we didn't used to know, is the fact that 'half of Britons have a collection of more than 20 carrier bags at home. One in 10 people has up to 80.' Fascinating! And, more newly discovered gems include the knowledge that 'Tory leader Michael Howard and wife Sandra watch a video of Brideshead Revisited every New Year.'

There is a reason I'm proud to be British.

At BBC.com.

Skip Might Be Insulted (or Insulting)

Yesterday when sifting through my piles of Holiday mail that had accumulated in my absence, I came across a magazine of sorts called 'Heifer Foundation' with a photo of man and a cow on the cover. Surely, I thought, this is some kind of mawkish joke sent by a deranged Richard Simmons (or someone from 'Saturday Night Live') to remind me to stop eating the Christmas chocolate and my mom's mince pies.

But, no! Some further reading proved it is an actual organization and the catalog is filled with pictures of smiling celebs with various farm animals (think Walter Cronkite with a flock of fluffy, yellow chicks). The purpose of the organization is to help families in third-world countries create self-sustaining farms.

I am really not a bad person, but I think I had a fairly good laugh at the expense of those less fortunate than me. Forgive me.

The Waning Christmas Spirit

So this will be my last Christmas picture/post, I promise.

The Mummy Mummy

Seriously, I challenge anyone out there to a 'Cutest Mom' contest.

Christmas Fun with Friends

Would you believe we've all known each other for 22 years? I feel suddenly very old and very lucky.

Happy Christmas to Skip

This is my new watch. Ladies and Gentlemen, try not to be jealous.

At Zodiac.

An Almost Christmas Miracle

Being away from San Francisco for over two weeks has been somewhat frustrating because it makes it very difficult to keep my blog up-to-date. Naturally, I have so many glorious thoughts and opinions to share with the world and so little time (work, work and shopping) and resources (digital camera) with which to do it. Oh, how my fans will suffer without me! Alas, I have to tuck my ideas into a small pocket of my mind for elucidation upon my return.

Fortunately, I can always make time to expound on the triumphs of my most favorite company of men; the Bears. Yesterday, the boys beat the Green Bay Packers (at Lambeau Field) to secure the NFC North title and a first-round bye in the playoffs with the help of a finally-uninjured Rex Grossman and a very unimpressive Packer's defense. May I add that this is the first time in 14 years that the Bears have actually swept Green Bay in a season! This win was surely because I was in Chicago and watching the game in my new Bears jersey.

PS- On Saturday, the Steelers shut-out the Browns in 41-0 victory at Cleveland. Literally, they c-r-e-a-m-e-d them. It was awesome!

PPS- Hi, Ben.

Skip is a Classy Broad

The snobby French woman in me will wear this with my black blazer and some oppressive perfume.

At Hermes.

Skip Creates Winners

Yesterday was unlike any other Football Season Sunday in that my two favorite teams, the Chicago Bears (I have to support the hometown boys) and the Pittsburgh Steelers, were playing against each other at Heinz Field. Kyle vs. Ben, Hines vs. Muhsin. This was an unprecedented conflict of interest, which I must say was quickly resolved when the Bears' defense chose to take a vacation, rapidly ending their 8-game winning streak.

I'm fairly positive the Steeler's win was also because I was sporting my Ben jersey and not my Target boys Bears sweatshirt.

Girl's Night Out

Er, kind of.

Celeb Spotting

Look! We're famous! My friends and I made it onto those trashy party website photo thingys, like party pics only everyone is less clothed! We are so cool.

At Ovahere.

Happy Feet

Omigosh.

I have found the perfect Christmas gift for everyone on my list (with a little help from my friend Lauren). Slippers from USA Happy Feet!

PS- Santa, I would like the Bear.

A High School Success Story

I don't much keep up with high school people (with a few very important exceptions, of course). It was so long ago and I had severe wallflower syndrome (identified by the fact that everyone I knew didn't know me). In fact, I'm certain that since I last saw these people, they have gone through several physical changes and personality iterations such that I am doubtful I would even recognize most of them. Regardless, it's always interesting to learn where everyone is, what they are doing, are they married, knocked up, etc. It is that morbid curiosity that I believe most people to possess when it comes to their high school classmates.

So, when it recently came to my attention that a boy with whom I went to high school and shared many a French conversation was the lead singer in a band, I had to hear more. Now, when I say 'band' I'm not speaking of a few guys who work part-time at Best Buy and/or Starbucks and jam in a garage and/or basement on the weekend. I am talking about a real band with a real tour schedule, whose songs you can buy on iTunes and who just played at the Great American Music Hall.

Um, that's pretty cool.

Aberdeen City.

Spy Gal Skip

Last night, after much discussion about the state of man/men with my pal Natalie over some red wine and the persistent, pestering voice of our waitress, we have decided to become spies. Much like my (as-yet-unfounded) notoriety as Wilderness Barbie, I think I will like having the gear more than being a gumshoe. But, honestly, who wouldn't love accessories like this pen video camera or the indispensable envelope x-ray spray!?!

Available at Spy Life.

Birds of a Feather

How fantabulously luminous is my little sister? She is truly my best friend.

I shall buy her the Conducktor for Christmas to show her how cool I think she is.