b l o g o r e l l i

Summer summer summertime

I think the dog days are finally here, ladies & gents -- temps in The Bean are supposed to hit 98 degrees tomorrow! Casa Murforelli is dealing with the help of our three ACs. I wish central air conditioning wasn't such an exception here in the northern states.

But let's put a positive spin, shall we, with three little genius summer necessities:

Vornado Flippi Personal Circulator (see how they don't call it a plan old fan? That's why marketing departments make the Benjamins, people.)

Amco Corn Kerneler (I'm a little skeptical that this will fit all circumferences of corn, but willing to try for hype's sake)

Ice Pop Mold (there's something here for everyone -- like Jaws? mourning the shuttle program? just need some beach time?)

No, really...the WORST luck

You may think that I'm kidding when I say that The Prof and I have literally the worst real estate karma ever, but no, I can prove the fact once again. For the past two days, I've been growing an ulcer over a great bungalow in Dedham. Not only is this town one that we didn't even have on our list really...but, again, we managed to lose out. Of course, it couldn't just be another person with $80k/20% down payment in this economy -- no we are special, this time the "established older couple" decided to pay for the $400,000 house IN CASH. HAhaahahaha...

Fuck my life.

Why am I trying so hard to stay in the Bay State again?

PoMo

Today, during a walk in the Arbo, I saw one of the raddest (are you still allowed to use that word?) things yet:

POMERANIAN WITH A MOHAWK!

(not actual dog from park, from tokenygaard on Flickr)

OMG, that little PoMo (or MoPo?) is all I could think about all night!

(you can dye the MoPo too!)

(have a Po but need to know how to Mo it? Instructions right here, yo.)

After the encounter, I begged The Prof for the entire rest of our walk to let me have Rusty shaved down to get the full body mohawk. He said no.

Which means I need to get a PO!

PROJECT 365: DAY 329

WOW -- Communispace just hired its 300th employee! Conveniently, she is located in the U.K., so we all gathered to celebrate with tea and scones.

Project 365: Day 310

Apparently, Beard Offs are all the rage, one I've completely missed due to being a woman. The men at my office are fully invested, and someone even made this ambiguous poster in advertisement of the event. I like it's graphic simplicity, and am fringe participating by growing my hair out...even though one of the Beard Off guys told me I could pitch in by doing a "Bush Off," which I politely declined.

Project 365: Day 271

Hello, budgeting? Painful, even if we do get to geek out and use both laptops at once for. But automating all of our bills and savings a la Ramit Sethi will hopefully end with us having the down payment for an amazing house (and no credit card debt.)

Project 365: Day 201

After two months of backorder, I am prepared for the environmentally pure (uses only water) experience that is steam mopping the hardwood floors at 200+ degrees F. Bring on the clean.

Summer Sippers

I spent some of this lazy Sunday organizing my site bookmarks, and came across the link to these fun paper straws that The Prof and I had at our wedding -- they're very affordable and super cute for any kind of summer drinks (alcoholic or not.) Bright blue or cherry red, 50 straws for $3.

(here's a shot from our wedding, you can see the can of Limonata soda with a straw)

Bit of Green Loveliness

Our first CSA delivery this week from Allandale Farm has me rethinking any backyard gardening that we had planned to do this year. It's already June, which means a bit late to start from seeds, and I'm not sure if the time/cost of building raised beds and buying small plantings is worth the effort. Instead, I am looking forward to next year, when we'll hopefully own a house and we're gardening for ourselves, not for rented backyard space.

However, Ms. Clairvoyant and Jeffé built some wonderful raised beds and have a bumper crop going...

Some specific instructions on building a garden box (really seems quite simple) here, with some guidance on planting in it here.

First Day of Spring = Project "Little Fenway" Initiation

A while back, I saw a press release announcing that Scotts Co. (known for lawn and garden products like Miracle Gro) and the MLB were forming a partnership, wherein:

"Fans will now be able to purchase grass seed blends and fertilizers featured in some of the most iconic Major League ballparks." ... Grass seed blends and fertilizers will debut in 2010 for fans of the Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park), Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field), Cincinnati Reds (Great American Ballpark), Philadelphia Phillies (Citizens Bank Park), and St. Louis Cardinals (Busch Stadium)."

Well, hooty hoo. Our rental apartment's backyard has been pretty patchy from the start, so what better way to revitalize it to a lush playing field (yuk yuk) than some Fenway grass seed? The Professor is, of course, on board. Pics of our "Little Fenway" to come...

(center field at Fenway photo via The Red Seat on Facebook; these feet belong to neither me or my hubs) 

Mushiness & Social Service Advocation Ahead

Even though we adopted The Boys in July, I still peruse the adoptable pets at the MSPCA centers in Boston and Methuen. Occasionally, I see a dog (or usually, a pair) whose story affects me. Every time this happens, The Prof and I go through my juvenile cycle of: me begging to get another (or two) pooches, his gently and practically pointing out that four dogs is A LOT, and my getting angry and pouting. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I guess that, since we are so lucky to have adopted such wonderful shelter pets, I want to help all the sweet animals who ended up homeless, usually for a reason not their own. This Valentine's Day, I am redirecting my shelter animal affection outward, and encouraging everyone to give a better gift than that Dunkin' Donuts card  or cheesy red rose to yourself and/or your partner. Some ideas:

- adopt a pet!
Since the economic downturn, there have been an influx of animals given up to shelters (or abandoned on the street) by owners who can no longer afford their care. Although some animals end up in shelters due to real behavioral or health issues, the majority of shelter pets don't deserve the stigma given to them. Check out shelterpetproject.org for more details.

- support a shelter animal!
Adoption is a big step, I know, but you can also give money and goods to pet shelters (who are always in need of supplies.) For my Valentine's present to myself, I'm sponspring Baby, a four-year-old daschund at the MSPCA Methuen. She was brought in as a bonded pair with Auggie, a basset hound, but the shelter was unable to find a home to take them together so Auggie was adopted out and Baby is still waiting for a new home. 

- donate your time!
From our involvement with the MSPCA, I know that shelters are always looking for volunteers to walk and play with the animals for socialization, as well as (here comes the yuck) clean up. Every time that we went to the shelter before and during adopting The Boys, it was obvious how vital volunteers were in keeping things running smoothly.

Just a final note: I understand that there are so many causes in need of money and time from the general public, some equally if not more more pressing than animal welfare. But this one hits close to home for me, so spread your good fortune around a bit this candy-heart holiday. Just sayin.

Love,
Blogorelli (and her Loverboys)

Geef een Airshake

So H1N1 prevetion has come to this...but you have to admit, everything seems sexier in a foreign language...

Rystelse!

K A R L !

The Boys have their first potential playmate, I'm referring to him as a "cousin." Introducing Karl, Tara + Hal's new pup! They picked up Karl the day after our wedding and flew home with him.

I can't wait for our first playdate...

CONGRATS, you three!!!

My Boss is Growing a Beard, I Think

...discuss amongst yourselves.

For Sale: One Pink Palace

Did you just love The Prof and I's former apartment? Us too, and now you can buy it! Hopefully the eventual new owners will not only be able to appreciate the little details of the place, but also the upstairs neighbors -- Mandy, Toby, and Syd, we miss you three every day!

Stage Direction

Bobby and P Natty, your calling is, well, calling...

(from the Washington, DC, Craigslist)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Actor needed for emotional role – One day high pay

Date: 2009-04-17, 12:52PM EDT

My deceased aunt gave my two kids a Cocker Spaniel a few months back. The dog has been a terror and become overwhelming for me. I am a single father raising two young children. I cannot face telling the kids that the dog must go. I have found a good home for the dog, and just need someone to transport the dog, and play the villain.

Premise: You will be the dog walker hired by daddy (me) to walk Skittles. I will introduce you to the kids, and you will tell them you are going to help Skittles get her exercise when Daddy is too busy to walk her. At that point you will walk Skittles to your car and take her to her new family 20 minutes from my place. Then return holding just a leash. The story will be that Skittles broke free of the leash and took off. At this point prepare for crying, things being thrown at you, and possibly cursing. My kids are young and dramatic, their girls.

Pay will be $500. The job will take roughly 2 hours at best.

This job is ideal for an actor looking to diversify their role base, or someone who genuinely likes to make children cry. Acting experience is a plus, but not necessary. Please inform me of any prior experience in this kind of situation.

. . . . . . .

Wow, who knew parents could be so manipulative (and willing to pay for said deception?) This ad kind of reminds me of when Dad-orelli bought me a guitar for my 15th birthday and told me it had been played by Bob Dylan during a show at the Civic Arena to entice me to practice. Of course, the guitar hadn't been owned by anyone named Bob except for my father, and I never did learn how to play but my brother found the guitar years later, taught himself, and is an amazing guitarist...

...Azoy gait es.

What a Week

So, these past seven days have been a bit like...

This past weekend, the Weber grill had its opening day...

"Competition grade" charcoal

"The chimney starter is bigger than my head...no, really"

That amount of smoke is normal, no?

...The Prof and I conducted our third annual (!) beard shaving ritual

In the beginning

Serious business

Doughnut muffin returneth

We saw a (bigger) apartment...and filled out applications! The landlady called yesterday, and we'll be moving in on May 15. That's right, a mere three weeks away...yea?

We also found a wedding string duet to play at our ceremony and bought our champagne glasses for reception toasting (a detail that I thought unnecessary until I saw these contemporary beauties, not a great photo)...

Now, a few current obsessions:

- homemade muslin hankies

 

- greta garbo style

- color schemes that go with our new kitchen's green countertops and backsplashes (thx, Half Pint, via Apartment Therapy)

- Vintage DIY hairstyles

Pig + Tink = Pink

A daschund 'adopts' a piglet:

“This new mom is also fostering this piglet for another mom who couldn’t take care of him. He had his eyes closed, but now they are open. He is just a little bigger than her other pups. She loves this little guy more than the other puppies and she is nursing him back to health. He is the cleanest ‘puppy’ ever because she licks him all the time.”

And I'm spent on my cuteness quotient for the week.

Why do I just know in my heart of HEARTS that this pig would wear a sweater?

Winter DIY Project

BKP Sophia turns 11-years-old this year, and in her advancing age, is getting persnickety about wearing the occasional sweater or costume. As such, I've found a new lovey something to personalize for her...

an IKEA-hacked cat bed!

"My cat Titina is very fat, it is 9 kg and she used me like a bed. Now it is very hot so I was looking for a nice and comfortable place where it can sleep. Looking at the Italian Ikea store, I have found the Bastis Krona at €59 ($69.99) which I thought was very expensive. Looking for something else to adapt I found the Duktig doll bed at €14,99 ($19.99) and I made Titina happy!"

Ahhhh yeahhh. Now, I only need to figure out which fabric she might like for her cozy new bed.

Bacon-Jacked

AAAAACK! Just call this blog "Bacon orelli" from now on...

Go here to perform your own cured meat URL terrorism.

(thx to The Dairy Queen)

That's Just...Super

Sometimes I need mindless fun, and today that meant creating my own superhero. So here I am, a lowkey superspy, wearing Tiffany blue to show that I will eventually finish the wedding planning...and ready to use my stick to clear people out of my way as I walk briskly to the train in this recently frigid weather.

And let me me introduce my superhero fiancé, Money. He's so...sexy?

Anyone want to join our (justice) league?

Single, Couples, and Queens

Sorry to disappoint, but this post is actually a random note to check out Toby Richardson's exhibit (well, book) of the same name, which consists of photographs of vintage mattresses. I love the old patterns on mattress cover fabric; why are contemporary mattresses so bland looking.

From Richardson:
"This publication doesn’t simply duplicate my exhibited work; instead it offers insight into each individual mattress. Each image has a story to tell and is in essence a portrait of its previous owner."

The mattress that we slept on while visiting PA, which is at least 40 years old and belonged to my Uncle Jerry during his boyhood, had a cheerful, green daisy print. However, the actual character of the mattress was definitely bi-polar, because while it put on a happy face, the damn thing said "F-ck off" all night long as The Prof and I tried not to sink into its large middle moat.

Look -- More Singles, Couples, and Queens!

My New Answer When Asked Why I Curb Salvage

I could find history!

Like Don Levy, the owner of Deluxe Diner in Watertown (one of Half Pint + Mr. Car's favorite haunts,) who found a suitcase of Hiroshima photos which fill a missing visual piece of history.

. . . .

"...Taken during the weeks following the bombing, they show a landscape that is eerily vacant and quiet, like ruins from a vanished civilization. But why were they taken and by whom? And how is it that they ended up in a pile of garbage?

...The man who found the photographs, Don Levy (no relation) lives and works in Watertown, a working-class suburb of Boston. Levy owns and operates the Deluxe Town Diner. It’s almost two o’clock in the afternoon and the lunch crowd is thinning out. He sits down for the first time that day and tucks into a Reuben sandwich, fries and a glass of water. He is wearing brown corduroy trousers, a dark blue pullover and horn rimmed glasses. His grey hair is cut short, with a fashionable tuft sticking straight up on top.

...'When I opened the suitcase that night I knew what I was looking at almost right away,' he says softly. 'Some of the prints had 'Hiro', short for Hiroshima, written on their edges.' He takes a bite of the sandwich. 'I felt pleased to have found them but at the same time I was saddened by what I was looking at.'

...Levy is a connoisseur of found objects (he’s a collector of vintage metal toys, commercial packaging and fabric sample books, among other things). Finding the photographs was the peak of his trash diving career. But the problem is that he didn’t know what to do with them. They were in terrible shape — some were stuck together, others had been hole-punched and stuffed into binders. One of his customers is an antiques dealer; she recommended putting them in archival sleeves. He did so and then he put them in storage while he concentrated on the more pressing demands of his business ventures and the necessities of putting his six children through school."

. . . .

Amazing. Maybe now I can get some slack from the #1 hater of all trash pickers, Mr. Bobby Crocker.

Shuttering the Market, Into the Hive

This week is our last South End Open Market: October 26, 2008, which is also the closing day of the SEOM and Market of the Living Dead. The weather is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 64 degrees, great conditions for zombie watching!

In retrospect, I'm glad that I participated in the SEOM. We sold about 3/4 of my total merchandise and I got to meet lots of friendly people and helpful vendors.  Next year, if I have time with the wedding planning, I'm going to sign up for single days instead of a block.

We'll be running some amazing sales this week ($10 table, buy 1/get 1 jewelry) but what to do with the inevitable leftover inventory? Take the goodies to a nice cozy hive for the winter. More to come on those happenings as they develop.

Hope to see you on Sunday!
Blogorelli

Mark yer calendars for OCTOBER 26 -- the last market (for us, and in general.)

Make Me Babies

First comes love, then comes marrige, then comes Make Me Babies with virtual offspring in an html carriage. Huh?

Even though The Prof's mom reminded us that the correct order is "marriage, then babies" (no worries there, Mrs. Murf,) I still couldn't help getting sucked into the weird site Make Me Babies. Ever wonder what your child with a partner, friend, or "HOT celeb" might look like? The answer, like so many others in this big big world, is simply accessible online.

"MakeMeBabies' unique technology will show you exactly (well... almost exactly...) what your future child with another person will look like! We take both your photos, do some magic calculations, and congratulations! You have a new baby!"

If only the process of having an actual baby seemed so easy! Once I found the site, I became so curious that I made not one, but FIVE examples of what Mark and I's future children might look like "exactly (well...almost exactly." I am lukewarm on the results:

I guess all the, erm, kids look similar...but why do they have such big foreheads? Personally, I like the little dark haired snorkeler the best, although I suppose that I shouldn't play favorites... And I just plain don't trust #3 (girl with the flower crown.) Mark said just seeing all of our virtural children freaked him out a bit, and made me promise not to "make" any more babies.

Clearly, I needed a control group for testing. So I decided to use a pair that had produced a known entity old enough to compare to the MMB results...Cho and Bobby. Here, their actual offspring (with Auntie Em):

 

Here, their Make Me Babies (how much do I love that the first one is dressed up like a bird?):

In conclusion, I am highly skeptical of the MMB results, which makes me feel better about only having an 'eh' reaction to our possible brood. On the other hand, I'm glad to know that our odd, snorkel-loving son will have another of his kind for playdates!

The Quinto Quintet Take It There

Well, I'm just going to "own" this one, before anyone tries to use it against me and my Keystone State-lovin' self...

"When customers arrived at the Quick Check in Swatara Twp. for bread, milk or Pennsylvania Lottery tickets Wednesday, they found five people dressed as giant fingers dancing at the front door.

There they were, in pinkish costumes, with big, cartoonish eyes and smiles on their big, round fingertips. A sale on Halloween candy? No. They are the mascots for the Lottery's newest game, Quinto, in which players pick five numbers for a drawing that features a grand prize of $50,000.

Customers displayed the same reactions. First, hesitation. Then, acceptance. If you wanted a free Quinto ticket, and a chance at the loot, you had to pose for a picture with the fingers -- the "Quinto Quintet" -- that would appear on the Lottery's Web site."

Apparently, some people think that the Quintos look like penises, but everyone seemed to love taking photos with the baldies regardless (see my favorites below.) Pennsylvanians love their Lotto...and the Lotto loves to take it there.

Tom, Dick, and Prof

Mark's blog is currently having technical difficulties, so he can't announce the exciting news about the celebrities he met last night while working on a show in Boston:

Look, everyone, it's the SMOTHERS BROTHERS!

"The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and-comedy team, consisting of the brothers Tom ('Tommy') and Dick Smothers. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs (Tommy on acoustic guitar, Dick on string bass), which usually led to arguments between the siblings. Tommy's signature line was, 'Mom always liked you best!' Tommy (the elder of the two) acted 'slow,' and Dick, the straight man, acted 'superior.' ...

They continue to tour the country as the longest-lived comedy team in history; 2008 marks their 50th year performing together."

My husband-to-be...always offering new horizons to moi, like being one degree from the a legendary American comedic duo (who he said were only minimally funny, but maybe because us kids these days have different comedic sensibilities?)

Yank Foliage

As I realized yesterday while waiting for an hour outside due to commuter rail "mechanical difficulties," Fall has officially arrived. The leaves are not only changing color, but some are falling off the trees already (!) One definite perk of living in New England is the opportunity to see some stunning foliage within just an hour or so's drive.

Cho sent me this neat foliage map via Boston.com, which shows in real time, where and what colors to expect here " up norther." As one can observe, Maine is already in the red zone, so plan that leaf peepin' for the next month!

Unique, Just Like Everyone Else

No, really! According to How Many of Me, there is just one out of the 304,993,835 people in the United States with my first and last name -- ME!

There are, however, 25,924 people in the U.S. with my first name, but only 427 with my last name (and I probably know most of them.)

On the other hand, 356,843 people in the U.S. have The Prof's last name --  Murphy (58th most popular.)
See why I'm keeping my maiden name?

I love that my surname truly does come from Italy, and  that I've visited the specific town where my relatives still live. Also, (distant?) cousin Giuseppe Gorelli even owns a vineyard in Tuscany that produces well-rated vino.

Update: SEOM

Many happenings in the Blogorelli-sphere with prep for the my first South End Open Market appearance on Sunday. As such, not so many posts being written for this unisex salon of popular culture. Things I still have to do in the next three days:

- test run in backyard with newly acquired canopy
- price all items
- investigate options for accepting credit cards
- update website
- design/print business cards
- borrow tables from Prof Parents
- come up with clever merchandising scheme
- make giant, eye-catching sign
- throw up from nervousness + anxiety
(I 've already had insomnia for the entire week, so that's on the "Done" list)

All that stuff is possible by Sunday, right? Especially since The Prof is in CT for work Friday-to-Saturday, which means I can even pull an all-nighter of preparation if I must. Luckily, the weather report for weekend has changed from lightning storms to just "mostly cloudy"...I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Hard to believe this madness began over two years ago

Forward movement, but then even more backslide

No, really, this time I'm committed

Keeping On (with) Keepin' ON

Hi Inter-net,

Thought I'd check in, catch up, and post some recent pics. BKP Sophia and I are lounging at home with a glass of vino (me, not her,) waiting for premier of Project Runway Season Five. Bobby Crocker pointed out that I failed to notify anyone of this momentous occasion (and the last season of Runway on Bravo) so I must apologize. But look...the gays didn't understand the marketing plan, either! Is it possible that Bravo under-promoted the show because of its move to Lifetime? Hmmm.

In other events, the BBK is officially two, although if eating a Carvel ice cream cake acts as the pass key, he is technically not in the "terribles." After many emphatic "NO!"s we stopped trying to get him to take a bite of the frozen deliciousness and concentrated on prezzies. I am happy to report that The Prof and I's gifts, mostly centered around "cookin'," were well received, most particularly the fake yet oddly realistic play eggs that we bought at Target.

Some shots from last night (and our trip to the Boston Harbor Island of Spectacle -- see all of the shots here, plus one cute lake shot.)

Introducing Albert the Wonder Dog...amazing in both his calm temperament AND willingness to wear accessories...

In most of my free time, I've been organizing and prepping for the SEOM. Part of the market planning revolves around coming up with some sort of merchandising scheme, thoughts of which led me to realize that I have no tent, tables, or stands to display anything...which is probably what caused me to drag a T-rack I found  on the street (while I was supposed to be getting morning pastries) back to The Prof's car and try to jam it into the back. Imagine this, but A LOT rustier:

So part of my Sunday involved trying to remove old rusted-on bolts, which led to a nasty scrape but (hopefully) nothing that requires a tetanus shot. One trip to Home Depot and some serious wire brushing and spray painting, and I should have my refurbished FREE display rack ready by the end of this week. I've also investigated some alternative shade ideas, one of which is a reconstructed umbrella canopy:

A few of my SEOM dates might move around, so I'll post an update once everything is confirmed.

Since we weren't speaking of awkwardness, let's look at some celebrity shots posted today on People.com. First up, Katie Holme's ever-badly transforming haircut:

 

AAAAACK!!!!

Next, "lovebirds" Mariah and Nick Cannon, with übercouple The Mouses:

Prom, anyone? Because Nick is posing like he's got a corsage in his pocket...or maybe he's just happy to see Mariah. My teeth are chattering in discomfort.

Last but not least, which of these would be a better (or worse) impulse buy?

 

Just saying.

Cheers!
Blogorelli

Update: Terrarium How To

A while back, I wrote about how I thought that modernist terrariums would make fantastic gifts (but couldn't find any online instructions.) Luckily, one of my daily reads, Decor 8, posted a step-by-step to making your very own succulent terrarium (via M Stetson Design.) The whole shebang is a bit more involved than I expected, but still makes for an inexpensive and unique birthday/moving/hostess/you get the idea gift.

BofA + MoU = <$!

If the title hieroglyphics are unclear, Bank of America is once again sponsoring its Museums on Us program for 2008. Basically, holders of BofA cards can gain free admission to museums on the first weekend of every month for the entire year. For us in New England, the program means no payola for looksies at galleries of the Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Decordova Museum and Sculpture Park, and RISD Museum (technically in RI, but a pleasant short drive from Boston Proper.) Unfortunately,one museum near our apartment that I've been meaning to check out -- the Larz Anderson Auto Museum -- didn't make the MoU cut, but I'm hoping to win a one year membership in the Brighton High School "Breeze into Summer" Online Auction in time to see the Design, Performance, Passion: Italian Cars exhbit.

Not being eaten alive by the ridiculous cost of living here in The Bean? Don't worry, BofA has expanded the program to include museums in 17 other states. With sales of Spam at an all-time high, MoU = thriftiness that doesn't necessitate pairing with an antacid.

Grobal Gifting

One of my favorite things about the warmer, sunnier days? The time is ideal for planting outdoor gardens. This year, I'm hoping to not kill my green flock through under-watering by using Grobals, "The Cutest Self-Watering Plant Pot(s) Ever" (not to be confused with Josh.)

Designed by Karim Rashid (who did the Method packaging, among many other things,) these adorable pots are not only available in lots of stylish colors but also draw water and nutrients from the reservoir into the soil to keep plants happy + healthy. I love that the product photos feature succulents, which are my personal favorites due to their general heartiness.

Plus, Grobals look like the little machines from Batteries Not Included when open and come in various sizes...perfect for gifting, not to mention mixing-n-matching.

The Inevitable

To truly prove that some things are just a matter of time, I came home on Friday after work and found:

Yes, the BKP vommed on our new(ish) Corona. Luckily, using the "water only" technique described in the booklet that came with the sofa, I got all of the offending matter up and off. Three hours and much fretting later, the spot had returned to its original, appealing avocado hue.

Funny how much less protective one feels about a "big ticket" purchase  after knowing that another living thing regurgitated on it.

Forever is Now

Like diamonds or teflon, the US Postal Service's Forever Stamp truly does lock per-letter postage price at 41 cents -- a fact that I mocked upon the stamps' release until I found out at the post office today that stamps are going up to 42 cents on May 12. Get 'em before they fly out of the stamp books like lightning, or risk having to buy scads of the new generation of those lame G rate make-up stamps.

I n n i t ?

Well, boil my pickle. Between Pittsburghese and a new British tag question, I may actually be unintelligible to English speakers.

"For some people, 'innit' is just another tag question, a contraction of 'isn't it'. But kids in urban Britain are using 'innit' to cover a wider and wider range of situations. Here are some examples of non-standard use, gleaned from recent messageboard postings:

'We need to decide what to do about that now innit.' (don't we?)
'Now I can start calling you that, INNIT!' (can't I?)
'I can see where my REAL friends are, elsewhere innit!!' (aren't they?)
'I'll show young Miss Hanna round to all the shops, innit.' (won't I?)"

If the BBC says the above is proper grammer, that's enough reason to early adopt, innit?
(link via kottke)

File Under: Never Knew I Needed

...but I DO! (Yes, this is another shameless "dream purchases" post, since I am basically broke until I receive my economic relief check in May.)

360electrical rotating wall outlets
Now I can use my laptop and dry my hair all in one place

5 in Uno Set of Glasses

When neat storage and eye-catching presentation merge, I'm sold...until I see the $250 price tag. Still, the nesting of hand-blown glasses for spirit, port/prosecco/dessert wine, wine, water and cognac/brandy are a great idea for minimalists or cityfolk.

Old Phones

The Prof's grandpap worked for the Rhode Island Telephone Company, but unfortunately none of the beauties he stockpiled from his years of service work with contemporary hook-ups since most phone lines run through cable these days. Luckily, all tellies from OldPhones are "fully restored, work on modern lines, have a modular line plug, and are fully guaranteed."

Hubwear

Now everyone can know that, besides believing the Hype, I also have many dream travel destinations. My co-worker Jackie's hubby wore one of these tees at brunch this past weekend (BOS-LHR, they lived in London for a year) and it looked very cool in person. As an example (below,) I just picked my most frequently flown path.

The Stinger Finally Resurfaces

...at Taos? As of March 19, 2008, Taos (one of only four remaining mountains in North America which bans snowboarders) will open its slopes! Even though we weren't able to secure tickets out west for late February, I'm not completely giving up hope for the season. I'd love to take The Stinger out for his second day on the slopes ever with the scornful eyes of Taos skiers burning into my back.

"Dear Media Partner,

We are pleased to make you one of the first to be know that Taos Ski Valley will open to snowboarding beginning March 19, 2008.

After years of discussion and planning this exciting new chapter in Taos Ski Valley history and putting many of the pieces in place, the time is right. We are excited about this change and look forward to welcoming a whole new group of snow enthusiasts to our mountain.

There will be events and festivities to kick off this new era during the final 2 ½ weeks of the season (more details to come). We’ll plan to spend the summer addressing any issues that arise and continuing to prepare our facilities and staff to take care of both our new guests and our long time friends. We’re committed to attending to all of our guests in the personal manner that TSV is known for, and which the Blake family is committed to preserving.

We would like to offer you our heartfelt thanks for being a part of our nearly 55-year tradition. It would be our pleasure to share this new era with you. Please let us know if we can arrange a visit.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Alejandro, Adriana and Mickey Blake"

YESSSIR!
After a day on the slopes, I'd follow with aprés ski and perhaps a cozy dinner in one of the town's "wintry dining rooms."

Vinny Joins the Mile High Club

Or rather, the high mileage club! My randy sedan's odometer finally passed 100,000 miles about two months ago. Of course, I had to spend OVER $1,100 for the 100K service because the Vin needed new belts, miscellaneous repairs, and a new exhaust system from the catalytic converter back because either The Prof or I backed into a giant snow bank last month and pushed the tailpipe forward about eight inches.

All said, Vincenzo is looking sharp in his advanced age. I attribute much of his recent spunk to the fact that he is no longer hauling ass, or specifically, hauling my store (and storage space) in his ass. Soon he'll have his shiny prize for trudging along with me these past 10 years -- "an attractive grille medallion and letter of verification, with ongoing recognition for every additional 100,000 miles they drive."

(Tear.)
And WOO!

A Bug And A Bump

Today, I got up for an early meeting and, by the time I arrived at the office around 11:30, was fully immersed in the horrible, abdomenal-clenching reality of a stomach bug. NOoooO! Despite my mental mantras of "I will not vom, I will not vom", I barely made it home before the...event?

Anyone who's been forced to ride the commuter rail with the fear of God in her heart and a garbage bag in her hand knows my pain.

In other big news, The Prof and I just refuse to go more than three months without either welcoming a newborn into our lives OR finding out that one of our friends is pregnant. Accordingly, we're on high alert because The Prof's sister is expecting her second child any day now (her due date is December 8) and we could be on the bench to babysit. I can totally sympathize with The Prof's niece, Niamh, the big-sister-to-be, who doesn't know what's about to hit her. If it's a boy, I am available for counseling sessions, because she's a sweet girl, just look:

She's so "Mary Tyler" in that shot -- I love it!

In other Random Notables, I think these felt wine rack/bags would be great gifts and pretty easy to sew with an industrial strength needle. Not that I have time to make them before Christmas...

Finally, does anyone think this might be a good hairdo to launch me into the new year?

A Green Christmas

Ms. Claire Voyant sent me a hilarious website, akin to the Overheard in NYC, called True Green Confessions. I'm loving all the anonymous posts from former non-recyclers like myself who are still trying to navigate their personal green transformations. A few notables:

I bought a small car in order to save the air and global warming and all that, but many times I just drive around and waste gas because it relaxes me.

Its the law to recycle in my city. but I never do. I try to remember what can be recycled but honestly my 3-year-old has a better grasp on it than me.

I really really hate kids and just use green issues as an excuse to others why I'm not having them.

My car smokes like the car on Uncle Buck. I'm too cheap to fix it or buy a new one. That green stuff is for all you rich ex-hippies anyway.

I got chastised by a hippie because I bought un-organic produce.
She smokes.

One way that I hope to be greener this holiday season while Believing The Hype is to buy some LED holiday lights. They use 90% less energy than standard incandescent string lights...but why do they all have a pine-cone patterned surfaces?

Nico, Muy Caliente

Longtime readers may remember Nico, the adorable daschund owned by Lil Kim's sis Lindsay. I featured his struggle against the elements -- and doggie outerwear -- during a blizzard in the Winter of 2005. Now, the world at large, or at least the greater Chicago area, has the chance to exult his utter cuteness because he's a finalist in the Chicago Tribune/Red Eye Cute Cog Contest!

Good luck, Nico. Or do I mean "buena suerte"?

UPDATE: Vote for Nico here!

Speaking of dressing pets up in costumes, this weekend I saw the cutest dog/cat outfit at Old Navy -- a COWBOY! Perhaps the photo below is a glimpse into BKP Sophia's Halloween future? I just can't get enough of the little hat...

Revitalized

I'm back from PA and I had a great time hanging out with the fam. Amazingly, I felt relaxed and even managed to get loads of sleep. All scheduling went perfectly and I was lucky enough to catch one of Brotherelli's shows. I'm on press this morning, but here are a few links to keep you on yer toes, Inter-net, until I'm back in the office and caught up with my work for an afternoon deadline:

For those who doubt The Chin:  Ok, this Dove "Evolution" commercial proves that I could have completely doctored any photo of me and The Gang that ever appeared on this blog. I have not. I also have not gone so far as to adjust my eyes upward!

For Half Pint: I though she would get a kick out of this bat hunting website...because she's from Maine. Says Mr. Car, "One summer when I lived in North Andover we had bats in the house at least 3 times. I used the towel/swat/toss on the front lawn method. My bats were all flying, not just hanging out in the corner." You have to look at the link to see why that makes him a total bad-ass.

For those whose significant other is traveling for business:  The Prof is off on a trip (already) to Orlando this weekend, which gives me plenty of time to work on my store and try to make it as cute as ThreePotatoFour's site. (Thks, DQ.)

For Bobby Crocker and Jeffé:  In my old(er) age, I must finally recognized the fact that men just want to have upper lip hair. As such, I present Moustaches of the Nineteenth Century. Well, it is Autumn (le sigh.)

For the rampant returner (like me):  Need a new challenge? Haggle during the buying process. Tom Chiarella negotiated the price of everything...for a year.

For indecisive politicos: The Candidate Match Game will help identify "your" candidate -- in only 11 questions!

Digipic Round-up

Once a year, usually around Christmas, I organize my digital photos into folders by year and event. Things have been piling up, though, so I decided to go through the photos from the past few months. I take a lot of pictures which are meant to end up on this blog, either in a post or as an album, but they usually don't for one reason or another. Some of my favorites of the batch for  sharing...

I love Felix Doolittle's address labels. Mine have the typewriter illustration on them. I also love the packaging!

In a frenzy of online shopping, I ordered a gift set from Thymes, a company from Minneapolis, MN, that has great bath/body products and packaging. I especially love their Kimono Rose scent, so after making it through the move to Roslindale, I ordered myself a gift set as a treat. As with the Felix Doolittle labels, the unwrapping became an enjoyable part of my purchase:

I still get "home"sick for The 'Ville, and sometimes I drive the 10 miles back for a visit. While picking up some random things at Shaws in Porter Square, I saw this sight -- VOLVO SANDWICH! (Vinny is on the right)

Enough about me...other people also share their photos, some of which I like enough to add to my iPhoto library:

Half Pint and Mr. Car are such dears -- with deers! (Taken on their recent vacation to Seattle)

Even though I have settled into a state of cohabitational calm, it's nice to know that there's still a girl out there rocking the wedding receptions. I present The Dairy Queen, a closet tambourine lover. Check out the band singer's *jazz* hands -- too much!

Finally, this past weekend Half Pint, Mr. Car, Cho, Bobby, BBK, The Prof and I (whew!) enoyed the delightful Sunday weather to take a walk around Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. If you live in the area, I'd definitely recommend a visit; it's not nearly as creepy as you might think, hiking around old graves. Aside from searching for soon-to-be-hip baby names on gravestones (Cho's idea,) visitors to "the first large-scale designed landscape open to the public in the United States." can see its "horticultural collections", which are "internationally renowned." The cemetery also has some large scale monuments and a chapel.

AYE, Melodica!

What better way to celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day at the Pink Palace than to treat the Captain and First Mate to prezzies in every pirate's favorite color -- black?!?

I came home to find a suspiciously long and rectangular package sitting in front of our door -- MY MELODICA HAD FINALLY ARRIVED! Immediately, I sat down and started practicing "Happy Birthday", to play for The Prof on Monday...his big 3-0.

The Prof joined me later at home, a little grumpy because he had to stay at school an hour longer than normal. I decided it was the perfect night to pick up his surprise birthday present (a little early) -- the Weber One Touch Gold. Ooo-la-la!

He he is putting together his 'baby':

With the grill and my South Beach Diet restrictions, I can go back to eating burgers every day...just like most of 2004! Perfection.

Summer, Come and Gone

I can hardly believe that this month is September! Where did the summer go? For me, the days (and weekends) flew by while I grieved for my Nona, obsessed over cohabitation arrangements, attended weddings, unpacked and organized the new apartment (groan,) and took fun weekend trips to hang out with friends.

I must sadly admit that I achieved a mere "medium" shade of bronze this year. One can only try her best. Donatella, watch your back come the 2008 beach season.

The Prof and I wrapped up summer well this past weekend in Yarmouth with Frankie Nacho and his girlfriend, who he has appropriately named Tracey Nacho. Admittedly, Tracie (with an 'ie') would be the *perfect* spelling to pair with Frankie, but as a person who appreciates correct spelling of my own and others' names, well, I heart Tracey and THE NACHOS!

Here, the cute little Cape house where we stayed:

Presenting: THE NACHOS!!!

Frankie looks just like his online graphic representation, which always makes me giggle (good call on the mustache removal, by the way):

The watch is still on for A Classic Girl's Bump to emerge, but in the meantime, the Blogorelli Babies of 2007 continue to progress nicely. My cousin's daughter Emerson turns one in a few weeks:

Kendall is still a water bebe (and, apparently, in the Witness Protection Program):

Will my vocal repetition exercises finally coax Lincoln Olav into, as Beyonce so succinctly sang, "Say my name, say my name"? Only time will tell. Until that shining day comes, I'm content with using bubbles to manipulate his affections:

No summer is complete without fresh curbside salvage from those lagging behind on their spring cleaning. But not every soldier can come back from the battlefield. Vintage Steelcase chair from possibly deceased chain smoker's garbage pile, I tried my hardest to resuscitate you to your previous glory, but even two serious washings couldn't make your stinky stained self lovable (or livable):

The melodica hasn't arrived yet buuut I decided that if The Prof and I could somehow turn into cartoon animals, we'd become Monokuro Boo, a pair of graphic Japanime pigs. Coincidentally, I'd be the white one, marking the first time in our history that The Prof could declare himself of a darker skin shade than I:

Whew (or Boo)...bring on Autumn!

xo,
Blogorelli

Glorious Release

Tonight was the best night of the past almost-month because The Professor and I finished -- finished! -- moving everything out of my bachelorette pad (as he calls the Somerville apartment.) Well, except the couch that is, so if anyone in the Boston Metro area needs a nice mid-century piece with *NEW!* foam, then click here. Ahem.

As he finished loading the cars and I stayed upstairs to mop the hardwood floors, I looked around at the empty place that had been so full of my curbside and emotional salvage, and well, life for the past three years, and I suddenly felt forlorn and deeply sad. Naturally, there is only one thing to do at such a time...weep. So I did. I shed the most tears that I've cried since Cho, Half Pint and I saw the movie Evening two nights ago on our Gals Date Night.

Trust me, if there is anything that can expose one's raw insecurities as a younger contemporary woman more than moving out of a bachelorette pad, that thing is Evening. Loss of youth, fear of choosing the right mate, confusion at life's purpose, disappointment at missed opportunities and much, much death...if you crave having these concepts blatantly grated against your vulnerabilities like a potato against a stainless steel mandolin, then go see Evening. I cried six times during the actual viewing AND the entire drive home.

Anyway, I guess that I've been contemplating a lot lately why it's been so hard for me to assimilate to Life-With-Other. It's not anything about The Professor or the endless moving of boxes using only our cars, either. I guess, mostly, it is fear. Fear of losing the independence that has so defined my identity for years now. No more Saturday mornings of wasted time runnings "errands" and then coming home to drink champagne, read UsWeekly and carelessly smoke ciggies on the fire escape. No more insomniatic blogging or hunting of das Germans at 3 am. At least that's what I thought (and, actually, what I hope about the roaches.) Buuuut I guess I'm now realizing that, like living together itself, maintaining the parts of my singleton self which I cherished most (none of which involve torrid rendezvous with ridiculously handsome foreign men, unfortunately) is just a matter of compromise.

So we forge forward, into the landmine-filled area defined as...Cohabitual Decorating. Since The Professor doesn't really have much experience in defining a theme for an apartment's decor, I've titled the style we're going for as "Hollywood Glamour/Golden Era Kitsch." For the purpose of this experiment, I assigned The Professor the role of The New Gentleman.

I told Half Pint and Mr. Car my plan last Friday, when they came over to check out the new place and get some sushi in The Roz. "We're going to make a mood board!" I proclaimed. "I think the visual aid will really help hone our style." The Polish Princess had already warned that I shouldn't expect The Prof to participate in my mood boarding. A roll of his eyes confirmed her suspicion. Mr. Car sounded the final death knoll, declaring, "I have something for your Mood Board" before handing me a label peeled off his Bud Light bottle. Ok, so maybe men don't want to sit around with their live-in girlfriends and thumbtack photos torn out of Domino mag to an old bulletin board. But humor me, Inter-net, ok? Because I am a woman on a mission with little sleep due to new mattress and bedroom light level adjustment. And my mission is COUCH.

Half Pint found this one, which I think looks comfy AND has the appropriate name to go with my theme: The Movie Sofa.

This sofa is also kind of what we're (I'm) going for...not sure about the lime green piping, though. I also like the roughly hewn coffee table:

Speaking of awesome tables, check out this gem, made for A Classic Girl by her wiz of a carpenter hubba-hubby:

Our bedroom is "all bed" like Britney Spears is "all thigh." However, I think a simple accent piece like this red enameled Asian-inspired dresser would make me happy every time I woke up and saw it in the morning:

A final element of my grand scheme, barkcloth. One of my favorite online fabric retailers? Why ReproDepot, of course:

Hype, With A Nice Raspberry Drizzle On Top

The Prof and I had a crazybusy week...two concerts (Morrissey, who walked off stage after 20 minutes, never to return and Wilco, who, conversely, played for over two hours ) plus painting the new study (with one coat of a "no" color and two of its replacement hue,) and trying to pack/move as much ourselves before this weekend.

Not to mention the 90+ degree temps that hit The Bean from Monday through last night, making everything seem like a tedious chore. Luckily, there is no better reason to pop into Starbucks to check out the summer frosty drinks than oppressively warm weather. I took the opportunity to discover a new summer treat...the Raspberry Mocha Frappucino. YUM! Also, I noticed that they're offering a special summer coffee bean blend, called Gazebo. While looking at the bag's artwork, I saw a recipe for making citrus iced coffee with the blend, which basically instructed:
- brew the coffee double strong
- chill
- pour over ice
- add orange slices

The only other thing of note to mention is that I succumbed to some internet Hype and bought a Super Cool new mop for our apartment. I still haven't figured out a way to get BKP to wear the Cool 'N Dry Pet Shammy. Also, has anyone ever looked up "Danish Modern" in the furniture section of Ebay? Holy schnikes -- I'm overwhelmed! Finally, The Move is on Sunday and, if the cable man actually does come and hook everything (including the Inter-net) up tomorrow, I'll have a full report come Monday.

Pray to the moving gods for me,
Blogorelli

ps: Speaking of Hype, how could I not mention that the iPhone goes on sale tonight?!? This thing has so much Hype out there that I practically hyperventilate just typing the word. Fan me, Mac Rumors.

Totally.Knew.It.

Not that Cho, Bobby, or I needed confirmation, but a recent massive study by Norwegian scientists appearing in the journal Science concludes that a child raised as the eldest has a higher intelligence quotient, on average, than younger siblings.

Boo-YA!

Besides swelling the egos of first borns everywhere, the study states our massive intelligence "appear(s) to be a result of the way the senior child is raised and adapts to the family, not to any special genetic traits that go with being born first..."

and

"The study is long on numbers and notably short on interpretation. But the bottom line is blunt: the child who holds position as the oldest will possess, on average, an IQ 2.3 points higher than younger siblings. With a sample size of nearly a quarter-million test subjects, that's compelling scientific evidence, according to one specialist."

Like I needed a study to tell me that info.

Secretly, I suspect that Big Fat Worm silently accepted the truth about what our birth orders mean in regard to personality and smarts long ago. He's very sharp actually, but I guess that science has proven me superior once and for all. Also, now that I am coupled with a middle child, I find it fascinating how birth order affects compatibility. And The Polish Princess would insist that any couple take the this test.