25

Someone in this picture is turning 25 tomorrow and people can't stop celebrating!

Ancelin, Josh, Morgan, and Jenny

This picture is from a moment in time that will never happen again. 2 of my friends from France came to visit Greensboro (!!!!!) and here we are in my old apartment on Rankin Place. I think this is from sometime in December 2006. Ancelin is playing guitar, Morgan is talking to him about it, Josh is in the kitchen, and Jenny is talking to someone just outside the frame. It's like a dream you have where people who are never together in real life are all hanging out and playing music, except this really happened.

Memorial Day 2000, or Camping: Part 3

I first saw this on VHS at Bruce St. with Rob and Heather (the tape belongs to Heather). The founder of Found magazine found it at a garage sale in Michigan. Seriously, these are real people! THAT'S THE CRAZY PART. A synopsis: some rednecks go on vacation in RVs with their 4-wheelers and drink a ton of beer and mess around with mud and nightvision goggles and stuff, and their accents are hilarious to the point where everything they say sounds like a joke.

It reminds me somewhat of The Barbeque, which I was told was a piece of evidence in some kind of trial (my dad's former law partner did mostly criminal defense...and wasn't too ethical sometimes w/r/t discovery aka evidence). The Barbeque is about a fight that breaks out during a church picnic and leaves pretty much everyone there stripped of their dignity--and their clothes, although it's not sexual at all. It's awful to watch. The first and only time I watched it was with Katie Z, Paddles, and maybe Corey and a few other people, and I want to apologize to all of them: sorry guys! Memorial Day 2000 is much more fun to watch.

Camping, Part 2

Still haven't said everything I need to say about camping! I came across this picture yesterday and it illustrates camping, the fun kind, the kind I want to be doing right now. Look at that dog! That's one of my favorite breeds. My aunt and uncle used to keep them out on their farm. The last one, Jazzy, passed away about a year ago. Last Christmas:


She lived in a barn so, you know, your fur would get scruffy if you rolled around in horse stalls all day too. What a great dog.

Here is a Neat Picture of an Elephant Getting a Bath

Camping, Part 1

This is what my bedroom might as well be: a tent in the snow. I live in what is basically an unfinished attic (there's paint on the walls and stuff but it's only technically "finished") (actually, not technically at all, since they forgot the insulation) and we're having a cold break here in NC. I know I'm being a baby about "cold weather" in North Carolina, but 21 degrees at night is pretty low when you don't have heat. So it feels like I am sleeping in one of these tents.



Last night I had on my body: wool socks, a wool cap, pants made of special fabric (I forget the name but it's a -Pro or -Prene tm), a long-sleeved shirt and sweatshirt, a sleeping bag, sheets, and 3 blankets. If I don't get into grad school and I stay in my house for next winter, I'm thinking about buying this:

and maybe this too:

Last post about Oscars 2009

I thought JoP could use a little brightening up. Even though I don't want to belabor this season's Oscars because a) I thought it was pretty boring b) I don't think Slumdog Millionaire is as good as everyone else thinks it is. After iming with co-workers today about best and worst dressed, I realized that I liked some of the worst dressed (even Miley!) as much as I hate to admit it. So I've assembled my own best dressed below:


Halle Barry. I'm not actually a fan of hers, and generally I find her fashion picks to just be kind of "eh". But something about this looked really great on her last night and I was envious. Her skin tone is really great and her hair really complemented the dress.





















Whoopi Goldberg. I honestly don't know why I'm picking this. I think she made a lot of worst dressed lists. But something about this really spoke to me. As ridiculous as this sounds, I think it's actually tasteful. The print might be a little overwhelming for some, but I think Whoopi looks good.

Miley Cyrus. Another worst dressed on most lists, but I have to be honest - this dress caught my eye last night. When they were doing those dumb award show entrances and I was numbed out of my mind on Nyquil, this dress held my attention. Today I read about how much people hated the belt. Which, given. The belt is a little juvenile, but hey - she's 16 and sleeping with a 20 year old underwear model - let her have the belt! I hate Miley (or do I? Hannah Montana is oddly entertaining...), but I think this dress complements her skin tone and is majestic enough for the
Oscars.

















Reese Witherspoon. I really loved the blue richness and the strap placement. It was unexpected. I even think this would have looked great as a shorter dress - maybe cut off with a fuller width around her knees? Sometimes she comes off look a little too old (her own Oscar winning dress, anyone? Bueller? Bueller?). But seriously - I think this makes her look young and it went great with the Oscar stage as well as on the red carpet. I'm jealous.



















Mickey Rourke. I included this one for you, Winnie. But it's a shame he didn't win an Oscar. He clearly put a lot of thought into his outfit and if you look closely you can see his beloved dog around his neck

Tilda Swinton. This one's for you Thomas. I mean do I expect anything more from her? But still - awesome.



























Jennifer Aniston. I'm more of a Jennifer fan than Angelina these days. Angelina just bores me with her fashion choices - which I get is her point because she's photographed all the time, less money for every picture in which she's basically wearing some version of black and grey, yawn. Lame. Jennifer's dress is fresh and some might say "90's prom dress" (Paddles), I say - cute. And I would wear it. I even like the California Dreamin' braid at the top of her head. Even with a date as lame as John Mayer, I think Jen still managed to look good.





















Lisa Rinna. I love it! What a hot mess! Does anyone remember her talk show with Ty Treadway, (of One Life to Live) Soap Talk? That thing was a riot. Just like this outfit!

More Heinous than the Oscars

Apparently, judges have been sending kids to detention centers in exchange for kickbacks.
This pisses me off bad. How completely morally bankrupt do you have to be to send kids to fucking detention centers and bootcamps just to make some money? I have a hard time believing that this is the only sick thing that people like that would do. I mean, how do you stop there? How many extra more or less fucked up shit could you do in a position of power like that? Shit, with an ever more privatized prison system, who's to say that judges don't do this with other people. Maybe this helps explain why the US has the largest prisoner population in the world.


It's not just the judges. Once you get put in jail, the sheriff will turn you empty stomach into his own personal cash cow.

Fuck the system and fuck the judges that profit off a teenager's childhood.

Heath Ledger Didn't Deserve It

Sorry! I just don't think he did, unless all the other nominees were seriously unworthy (although I doubt Philip Seymour Hoffman phoned it in on Doubt). It was obvious that everyone was sad, and obviously sorry that his life and promising career are over, and I'm right there with them. But...giving him an Oscar? For acting crazy? That's like awarding a Nobel Literature Prize for a book that ends in "...and it was all just a dream." A "crazy" role is the biggest cakewalk of an actor's career--just ask Natalie Portman in Garden State. No loose ends to tie, no depth to reveal, no responsibility to reality or continuity. Easy and fun!

The difference between Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight and Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is that McMurphy also had to be a human and like, show emotions and vulnerability and shit. He also had to be real. The Joker did not have to be real or feel emotions or have responsibility. Just crazy!

What I watched of the awards last night was at a friend's house, and when the Ledgers took the stage somebody said "I bet you'd feel like such a jerk if you'd won instead of Heath." I had to hold my tongue big-time because I knew I'd be outnumbered. But really: why should anyone feel like a jerk for winning that award? Because he's dead? If somebody else deserved it more, they deserved it more. I almost feel like I'm missing something, like everybody knows something I don't. If anyone can fill me in on why the Joker was such an amazing blessing of a part, I'd like to hear it.

Weekend

Sunday Afternoon Note

I'm sitting here in Andrew Wales living room with a bunch of people. Roll Call (right to left): Will MgGee, Yours Truly, Andy Wales (rockin the wyatt earp mustache), Graham "B-Boy" Benson, John, Winnie (never seen her in my life), C-Mac, Virginia, and Katie Lang (not the singer.)

We're watching the Wake vs. Duke game and drinking Miller High Life 40's. I played some ultimate frisbee yesterday, it was pretty nice. Not a whole lot to report. Occasionally we're switching over to the Oscars. Which seem pretty generic this year.

Bale meet David

CruSH LiTTLe BaBy

Aight, so I'll throw my hat into the crush ring. I've talked to a lot of my friends about this one, and they all think I'm crazy, but Tilda Swinton is my crush object.

Yes, that's right. Tilda, my bone structure is reminiscent of Panzer fucking Tank, Swinton.

Mmmmmm... those crisp lines in her face just spins my knobs. Facts about Tilda Swinton: When she goes to yoga, she wears a silvery full body unitard designed by NASA. She smokes DURING sex and eminates Pure Light. When she's done with you, the last sound you'll hear is her motorcycle pulling out of your driveway at 4 in the morning; she won't care where she's going.

Edit ( per winnie's request):

NeXt CrUsH: MiCkEy RoUrKe

From nottie...

To hottie (minus Evan Rachel Wood)!

I guess Mickey Rourke falls into the category of people who I know are unattractive. His skin, his hair, etc, etc= yuck! Maybe it's just that he played the best character in The Wrestler, or maybe the appeal lies in the whole "comeback" thing (can a comeback from 9 1/2 Weeks and a handful of tv appearances really be called a comeback?) and how I don't get it, but I don't know. There's an appeal there!

Other examples of this appeal--aka having fake-ish crushes on unattractive people--include Prince and the Kool-Aid man (when I was a toddler). There are some more, but I'll probably blog about them later so I don't want to spoil anything.

This appeal is brought down considerably, however, by what I just found out was a "lip-lock" with Evan Rachel Wood at an SAG "bash." Granted, a Fox News agency was doing the reporting, but I'm not all that surprised. It is creepy because she played his daughter, and it is nasty because she is annoying (sorry to dis on a Raleigh native but you know). But the fact remains the same: Mickey Rourke is in the ranks.

ADDENDUM: I really love mugshots like this. The "tee hee, you got me" face instead of a sour, dour, I'm-famous-I-don't-deserve-this face is so refreshing and makes me think Mickey's a cool guy in real life. Also the fact that he was busted for DUI on a scooter.

Top CrUsH

I got the idea for this segment yesterday when I saw this picture of Marc Jacobs:

The guy's got nice legs! And a killer smile with good fashion sense. But he's not a current crush for me. If this were 2 years ago, he would be it.

Instead I'm going to have to go with Fabio from Top Chef. Tonight is elimination night for 2 of the chefs. I hope Fabio remains safe! He has a great accent that serves to highlight his great one-liners! Last week was a bit of a close call with Fabio actually breaking his pinkie into 2 parts. And still managing to win the challenge. What a guy! As he said once the heat was off, "It's Top Chef. Not Top Pussy." Fabio speaks the truth. At first I thought it'd be hard to get into Top Chef since you can't actually taste the food. Not so! I feel like I would like Fabio's cooking and I like how true to his Italian roots he stays. While I was looking for pics of him I found out that he's also William Shatner's private chef. The man has it all.

CrUsH aLeRt !

Just kiddin' y'all! My crush on Endless Mic (Trekky Records' hip-hop representatives, in case you don't know) is faker than Katie Z's love of Slipknot. I thought it would be funny at one of their shows to tell Katie I had a crush on the guy on the right.

No offense to: Endless Mic (it's only funny cuz they're so not my type!); Rob (not overly sensitive, plus he knows he's the only one for me).



Back to Endless Mic. They have an album called Baby Geniuses, which I think is hilarious AND respect as a good name for a hip-hop album. Also, the one song of theirs that I know is sorta catchy.

Who are some of YOUR fake/real/implausible crushes?

Gift Ideas

Today marks exactly 2 months until I'm 25. Am I scared? Freaked? Not really. Or am I more worried about what I'm going to receive as a gift? Bingo. It's a good thing my birthday is coinciding with Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch auction. For those of you who are wondering what to get me, here are some ideas:

I love socks. You can't beat a good pair to walk around the house in or put under some rain boots. You know what they say about April showers!! Luckily these rhinestone ones are a steal at only $600-800.

Little known fact: I was an art history major. Though my current occupation has nothing to do with that, I would like to pursue it in the future/I can always appreciate good craftsmanship. This particular sculpture is only $2000-3000. Does fine art really have a price?

For those with an extra $1000, you could pick up this Elizabethan portrait:

On the cheaper side is this tea kettle. I really enjoy tea but have never owned a tea kettle. This one is cute and only $100-200.

Thomas

I apologize in advance.

Best new band of '08

I'd like to introduce you all to the next step in the evolution in music.

Beethoven, The Beatles, and now....

Iglu and Hartley.

PS. Couldn't imbed the clip, so just click on it dammit.

WInnie's boyfriend is a hipster (period.)

So I've always asserted that winnie's boyfriend is a hipster, but she and he are vehement in their denial. Alright, right, but so I'm on the phone with winnie just a second ago and she's talking about what she and her bf are doing for valentines day. And she says that he bought her "Tim and Eric show DVDs" And they're watching them on the couch together. Maybe they'll smoke a couple American Spirits between episodes and drink PBR. GAHH!

Also, has anyone seen my Lost DVDs?

Getting Ready!

2 JoP bloggers getting ready for tomorrow!

Who's Ready for Valentine's Day??

When two become one.

This video combines the two post popular things on youtube: kittens and small children. Enjoy:

Valentine's Day starts early!

Can't stop, won't stop! I call this one "Lucky Boy."

Anyway, this is the first in our Valentine's Day interviews series. A good friend, pictured above, wrote in to tell us a little about his love life and we're all ears:

1. Are you single?

Yes

1b. Do you have an "it's complicated" situation you'd care to explain?

Well maybe, I just got out of the beginning stages of a serious relationship. And it was sorta complicated, mostly b/c I made it that way. But to summarize she liked me a lot and some how that freaked me out so I stopped seeing her. It was very Seinfeld.

1c. Do you have "feelings" for anybody?

Oh lots of people. I think I have some sort of "feelings" for most of the girls I know.

1d. Or are you just happy on your own?

I m not the type of person who has to be in a relationship. But I m also not psyched about being single. So what does that make me? Normal?

2. How did you and your significant other (crush object, ex, part-time lover) meet?

My new ex? Karaoke bar. I told her we should sing the same song that a couple was singing on stage at that moment. Like jump on the stage right after they were finished and do the same song. She thought it was funny.

3. What was your first impression of him or her (be honest!) ?

very girly and pretty and not the sorta person who I would go for or who would go for me.

4. How long have you been dating/involved/living with these feelings?

Maybe 3 weeks. I haven't seen her in a week.

5. Do you know what his or her favorite color is?
???

6. What are your Valentine's Day plans?

I m hanging out with my sister. She said that "she didn't want to be alone" and then I said "don't want to be alone or shouldn't be left alone?" then we both laughed. We love v-day suicide jokes.

7. Will any gifts be involved?

ha

8. What do you like the most about your person?

My sister? She makes me laugh and is super easy to talk to since we know so much about each other.

9. What do you think s/he might like the most about you?

I would think the same things.

10. Have you two ever gotten in a fight? How often? What was it about?

I think we only fought from 1994 to 1998.

11. Who apologized first?
I don't remember apologizes. Only screaming.

12. Speaking of firsts, who made the first move when you got together?

No moves have been made or ever will be made.

13. If there was a movie about your life or relationship (or both!) what would it be?

Tom and Huck

14. Do you have a "song"?

I dont think so. We were just talking about What Up Fatlip by Fatlip. So, that?

15. Describe your ideal Saturday.

Wake up early. Exercise with friends (maybe handball). Have brunch. Go to flea markets. Make dinner with a friend that I did not exercise with (maybe my sister). Then a concert to round out the day. I doubt that I would ever have enough energy to make this day happen.

16. Anything else you want to add?

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/02/denver_tv_anchors_take_a_cue_f.php

17. Do you want to use your real name? If not, do you want us to make up a fake name for you?

Fake Jields

My sister and cousin at Thanksgiving!

2 of your favorite bloggers, Winnie and Megan, enjoying a drink last July.

Numero Uno

Dog show. The Westminster Dog Show is no Puppy Bowl, but it is still worthwhile dog watching. Last year's winner was the first Beagle to ever win Best in Show, and it's timely because my parents are in the market for a new puppy.

What a dog like Uno can offer:

• Not threatened by other dogs - even if 3X his size

• Flirty
• Gives the camera his best side
  
  

• Friend of Celebrities
• Can make friends with anyone
  
  

• Dressed for every occasion
• Humble, able to pick up his own toys
  
  



• Not afraid of heights
  
  

• Really cute!!
  
  
  

¿Black History Month?

Why haven't I heard anything about Black History Month this year?

Is it because I'm not in elementary school anymore?

Or is it because racism is over now that Barack Obama is president?

It concerns me that maybe America got all its Black History out of its system last month, but maybe I'm speaking too soon; maybe I just don't have my finger on the pulse anymore.

The idea of [Minority Group] History Months really bothers me, anyway. Obviously the solution would be to integrate every person's history to the main school-taught version, and why haven't we done that? It's not revisionist to include Matthew Henson's North Pole exploration with (not even instead of! like I said, not revisionist) Robert Peary's, and maybe throw in the fact that technically Henson touched it first. For that matter, it also wouldn't be revisionist to include how rape wasn't even a crime until recently and women just had to deal with it (and raise the resulting babies). It's also messed up how I didn't learn about Japanese internment camps during the war until I read about it in a freaking novel in college. I felt similarly shortchanged when I had to take an African-American Studies course just to find out what the deal was with lynching and that it was so horrible it's shocking I didn't know anything about it until then.

Maybe I wasn't paying attention in middle/high school history classes (unlikely) or maybe textbook manufacturers aren't paying attention to what's important--and that maybe what's important could make some parents in focus groups uncomfortable. Should history make you uncomfortable? Yes. Should history also make you proud? Not until recently.

My 25.

So I started writing my 25 random things the night before last. These things require lots of thought. Eventually that evening I grew weary and retired to the boudoir with a tumbler of single malt. I awoke 14 hours later to find Winnie had put a post bemoaning the sad and thoughtless state of her peers' 25 random things lists. So I thought I'd slap what I've got up here and try and hammer out the rest. Serious Warning: it's getting late already and I might not make it all the way through, so if one of your pet peeves is incomplete 25 random things lists, then this post is not for you. Here we go:

So this is what I put down the other night. Also, Playlist time!: 1.Lost in the Trees 2. Missy Elliot 3. The Submarines 4. Iglu and Hartley 5. The Field

1. I was conceived under my grandparents dining room table on my parent's wedding day. My mom told me this while we were dancing at my cousin's ring ceremony. I remember my mom being a little tipsy, but she denies it.

2. I was an 8 pound baby. I had a very large head and was delivered via forceps.

3. I was constantly naked as a child. There is a disturbing large amount of photographic evidence to confirm this fact.

4. When I was still in diapers, my mom was heading off for her first day of work. For some reason I thought I was going with her, and that this entailed wearing a hard hat and carrying a plunger and briefcase. Unfortunately, also confirmed by photograph.

5. I curve slightly to the left.

6. When comes to hardcore interpersonal confrontation, I start getting teary-eyed. For example when my friend's older brother bullied me, or when my boss treated my like a piece of shit, when I tried to confront them about it, I started welling up uncontrollably. Less so with my boss (held it in enough to keep him from noticing) but still enough to disturb me.

7. Stay-at-home dad is my ideal vocation.

8. More crying. I went to Disney world when I was a kid with my mom and sister. Previously my friend John had told me about peopled falling out of and dying in the space mountain ride. My sister wanted to go, but since I was such a gullible puss I was too afraid. So they went in, but there's a line inside the dome that I didn't know about. So when they didn't come out for 30 minutes. I assumed they were dead and started bawling. You know how the rest goes. RIP Mom, Sis.

9. I've worn glasses since the first grade.
10. Body parts I'm conscientious about: my deviated septum, my hair, and increasingly my belly.

Alright, that's enough for now. Maybe I'll do the rest later.

General Peeves, But Really Your Facebook List

-Sex and the City-esque euphemisms for things we should be more comfortable with by now. "Vajayjay" is one I'm seeing disturbingly much in women's magazines like Marie Claire.

-Things that are wet that should not be wet, and accidentally touching them.

-Food smells that linger long after you're full. Like I cooked salmon last night, and the house smelled like salmon all night. Nasty.

-Your Facebook 25 Facts list, especially when it includes lame non-facts. Also, exaggerating a phobia or food preference so you appear unique (or whatever. quirky?) Also, flattering yourself and offering job-interview responses. Not to mention the parade of cliches that pass for facts! Here are some real examples:

24. I DO NOT eat:
Ketchup
Mustard
Collards
Yams
Potato Salad
Pig Feet
Neckbones
Bar-b-q,coleslaw
I hate mayo, but I love pesto mayo and chipotle mayo.
I STILL CLAIM TO BE A SOUTHERN BELLE THOUGH…
Neckbones??!?

25.... (I also fear water and dogs) This was at the end of a sentence about a vomit phobia. Which I can relate to! But water and dogs? Good luck surviving!

7) I do my best work under pressure. Of course you do. Boring!

17) I dislike cliche's because people are usually too self involved to really look at the phrases. Still, each day I try to be the change I wish to see in the world. The most important implication of that cliche statement is that we must have a decisive notion of what we want the world to be, and an integral understanding of how to apply that global perspective into our daily lives. Oh.

7) I like to walk barefoot outside after a summer rain. !!

2. My favorite place in the world is Italy. There's something so peaceful about wondering the cobblestone streets, eating gelato and listening to the silent history. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. I've read over a 1,000 books - ranging from Confessions of a Shopaholic to The Bell Jar. "a 1,000" isn't a construction you see often!

18. I have a glass of sweet tea with fresh strawberries, oranges, cherries, and lemons almost every single night before I go to bed. How does she round up that much fruit every night? Did she mean "or"?

15. I've always known I wanted to adopt a child one day and not because Angelina made it cool but because my heart aches for children who need love and care. Saintly!

20. Isn't technology wonderful???.

25. I will never grow up. I may get older, I may get wiser, I may get wrinkles in my face and my hair may turn gray BUT I will always laugh at a good fart joke, I will never give up my blankie, I will always choose kickball over a game of golf and I will forever love like a child. Mmm, thought-provoking. She must be pretty unique.

10. I prize honesty, loyalty, and intelligence above all else. Once you're a good friend you will always be a good friend-- If you betray these three things I probably will never full trust you again, ever. Look out: this woman's got principles!

11) But, I love to quietly make things happen. Super vague!

25. DANCE...I hope you DANCE! Live laugh love!

Let's Start Getting Ready for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is coming up, and we thought we'd do something special here on Hi Fever's "lifestyles" blog. If you want to be interviewed on your love life, drop us a line and we'll include you in our Valentine's feature! Love life, lack of love life, social life in general: we don't care! Just let us know if you want in.


And: A special advice column is coming soon (it's been a while!). Lots to look forward to on JoP.