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.

Skip Loves Tai Shan

Due to my recently resuscitated cold-flu hybrid I've been a little slow on the uptake and very slow to realize the gem of a blog entry sitting in my email inbox. So, this is kind of old news, but I promise you have never seen anything as adorable in your entire life as Tai Shan, the 16-week old panda, learning to walk...

Melancholy Skip

Today is a very sad day. This moment is heavy with bereavement and pregnant with deferential pause because this morning Chris Whitley died. He was one of my most beloved musicians, so incredibly and uniquely talented blending Blues and Jazz and Rock into mellifluous and saddening songs consuming you in their prose.

I shall play 'Serve You' in his honor.

Ingenuity

For several years now I have been boycotting the Google Search (and most things Google to tell you the truth...gmail be damned), partly because I enjoy being non-conformist--that episode with the Uggs was a temporary lapse in judgement--and mostly as a personal show of solidarity (long story). I have been loyal to Yahoo! Search instead and, frankly, find it quite lovely and perfectly adequate for my world wide web-searching needs.

Until now.

I am at a cross-roads in my arbitrary abolishment of Googledom for they have created the most ingenious Google SMS search. This is pure gold, people! A value-add invention that makes it possible to essentially text message 'information' while at the same time putting a nail in the coffin of costly calls to 411 (and my arch-nemisis, SBC). You simply text G-O-O-G-L-E (466453) what you would like to know, local business listings, movie times, weather, etc. and it immediately texts you back locations, phone numbers, times and temperatures.

Eeeeeks! I love it!

Live from NYC

Oh. My.

It's finally here.

Forget my most recently developed obsession with New York, I'm heading to India for the Candybar RAZR (otherwise known as the SLVR for those gadget dorks like myself).

Skip Stays Warm

Anyone who has been around me for more than a few hours can attest to my faulty internal heating system. Regardless of the outside temperature, I am some level of cold (typically a touch to my nose will give away the severity of the condition). As a result, I must bulk up in my office with heavy sweaters and furry coats eliciting stares from Gap Cafe cashiers and my chic meeting mates.

But, Friends! No more will I suffer the cold in such an unfashionable way! Thanks to some clever Japanese (men, no doubt) I can subtly warm my core with the Warmbiz Bra. Brilliant.

PS- It's also eco-friendly!

Sweatsedo

I truly wish I were the person to have created the 'Sweatsedo; the Tuxedo of Sweatsuits.' It is amazing. Now you too can dress like K-Fed or, more impressively, Ali G in the Doo Doo Hoodie embroidered with your very own narcissistic moniker.

Mine will read 'Button.'

At Sweatsedo.

Signs of Greatness

Only in a country as great as the United States can you have stamps made with your face on them.

At Zazzle.

Skip Knows a Guy

This is my neighbor, Jason. He grew a moustache so that he could wear this wig and be that guy.

How is he not the coolest person ever?

Sentimental Skip

Being single probably makes me ill-equipped to comment on marriage (and divorce). However, ignorance has never stopped me from forcing my opinions in the past so I'm not sure why I would stop now.

I don't presume that many people get married with the intent of getting divorced (unless they really like getting presents, but that seems quite an expensive way to get a waffle-maker and crystal wine goblets). Yet, as misanthropists among us like to opine about 50% of these marriages, even romantics must admit that some couples just don't make it through the battle...they just battle.

For those folks they can find some anger relief by melting down their wedding ring into a bullet.

Seriously. Goddammo.

I'm not sure who decided this would provide the ultimate revanche, but I'm a little disturbed by the sentiment.

Happy Birthday

...to us!

Barndivine

I cannot stress enough the urgency with which you must bound to the restaurant Barndiva in Healdsburg, CA.

Last Sunday I had the incomparable pleasure to lounge lazily at the restaurant; sipping champagne and dining on delicious food in the amber sun, chatting with the dearest people in the world to me, my Fabs and Edward, and all the while being entertained and doted on by owner, Lukka. Everything about the experience was perfect; the moment crystallized in my mind as four matchless hours to be extracted from my life and bronzed (perhaps minus the feeling of being about to burst from overconsumption).

I will be returning this weekend.

True Talent

Despite incessant singalongs in the car and interminable renditions of 'The Old Grey Mare' and 'Heart & Soul' on the piano, I will admit that I have no musical talent whatsoever, which is likely why I show such deference to musicians from all walks of life and singers at every level on the annoyance scale. They have a talent which I completely lack.

Now, I would like to add Michael 'The Destroyer' Heffels to this gifted set. He represents the uncelebrated talent in the musical industry as the 2005 Air Guitar Champion. I cannot identify with certainty what incredibly rare talent he had to possess to become the World Champion; however, I am fairly confident that I cannot compete in this arena either.

I'll just have to buy the t-shirt.

Found It

Finally! After years of tormented searching I found exactly what I was looking for at a quaint little store in Monterey, CA; John Denver photos! Whew!

Skip Doesn't Like the Odds

I will gladly confess to knowing nothing about earthquake predictability, but part of me thinks that the so-called 'experts' should be able to do better than a '25 percent probability that the next big earthquake with a magnitude of 7 will occur on the San Andreas Fault within 150 miles of San Francisco sometime during the next 20 years.' Cool. It also might rain somewhere on the West Coast in the next 2 months.

I am not impressed.

Article at SFGate.com.

Skip Cares About What You Think

Not that anyone else's opinion matters, but if you do want to involve other people in any kind of decision-making or survey (i.e. where to go for dinner, the best concert venue, who's cooler John Cusack or Bill Murray) you can create a Snap Poll for your audience. It's fabulous.