Gone Fishin...

I apologize. I'm sure I'm totally dead to the blog world at this point. But if you knew the insanely busy and consumed summer I'm having toiling away at friends' wedding stuff (both designing things and attending things), you might understand. And its only begun! Its going to be a rough few months but I hope to be back...

In the meantime, enjoy this wacky youtube video with a toddler "fishing".

dbox.com

DBOX now has an AWESOME new website... I assisted a little where they needed but cannot claim the gorgeous design as mine. Nonetheless, I'm so proud of it. Our web team is simply amazing. Check it out!

Life List #12: Run the Stairs of the Chicago Sears Tower

Update: Not possible. Boooo... I put this on my list after becoming interested after raising money for the Damon Runyan Cancer Research Foundation in 2004 by running up the 1062 steps (63 flights) of Boston's Hancock Tower. The Chicago Sears Tower beats that at 2109 steps (108 flights). However I just saw this from the DRCRF:

Go Vertical Chicago Announcement
After seven terrific years, we are greatly disappointed to announce that as a result of a decision made by Sears Tower building management, Go Vertical Chicago will not take place in 2009.
With many thanks,
The Go Vertical Chicago Team

So I'm making my FIRST swap to my life list, and change #12 to now by: Run the Stairs of the Empire State Building. Being a New Yorker now, there does happen to be a very cool race to the top of the Empire State Building. This race has 1,576 steps and 102 stories. Its a bit harder to get into since it is a shotgun start and has a smaller field of runners (rather than releasing runners every 10 seconds as the Hancock Tower did where the field is unlimited). Luckily, it HAS to be a little easier to gain entry to this race than the now defunct Boston Go Vertical (Hancock Tower) and Chicago Go Vertical (Sears Tower). See ya at the top... maybe in 2010???

OHHHH you....

You bloggie... you. You have been on my to do list but I've been neglectful and I am ashamed of myself. I'm a busy lady. But I will update you, Mr. Blog. At the very latest this long weekend.

As my older sister used to write as a sign-off in her diary when she was ten:
"Thanks for listening."

Celebrity Sighting: Birthday Edition

I walked past America's Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker on Bleeker Street at lunch today. He was tall and super super hot.

He did NOT come up to me and say, "Happy birthday, baby. I'm your present. This is going to be the best damn year of both of our lives."

He did however make a funny look at me... probably because I was using profane and unladylike language while I was on the phone with my sister.

I'm so damn classy, I just can't help it.

Rooting for Hall Even More

From the Boston Athletic Association ticker:

10:40am At 8 miles, the split is 38:14 (4:54). As the group overtakes the legendary Hoyts, Rick and Dick, Hall offers them a word of encouragement.

I did the same when I passed them on my bike in the triathlon last Fall. Of course, I wasn't competing for a laurel wreath... what a class act that Ryan Hall is!

History in the Making

I'll put money that an American makes history today... whether its Kara or Ryan, I'm not sure. But I'm watching every mile (albeit from NYC).

I'm giddy with excitement.

Oooo. This is an Excellent Halloween Idea!

Watch the ending... it gets pretty good.



via Jimmy Fallon blog

Opportunity Knocks and BMW Kicks Ass

Geez, Audi... way to set up the perfect situation for BMW to kick your advertising ass!

I love this:




BMW billboard from Juggernaut Advertising on Vimeo.

Via Notcot.org and BMWblog.com

Give us money!

I know the economy is rough... but at least I haven't resorted to this yet!



Via ffffound.com

Smart Stuff from the University of Cincinnati

Ah... love you DAAP. The confusing hallways. The smell of spraymount. My regular Sunday all-nighters (compliments of NoDoze). The design crits where the same 4 students voiced their opinions. It did me good...

now check out this brilliant idea from a fellow DAAPer to solve the crappy iPhone images.

High tech meets low tech with this simple corrugated cardboard stand, that makes capturing document images with your iPhone a snap. If you've ever attempted to scan a document by just holding up your phone, you'll know that a blurry image is often the result. This simple stand created by University of Cincinnati DAAP student Kyle A Koch, is an elegant and green solution that holds both the phone and document in the perfect position to get a sharp capture. The stand comes flat packed for just $16 through the Ponoko design store.




Via DVICE

Can you find the REAL Waldo?

I love this story. I kinda love Waldo too. Not just because I have a thing for brunette tall skinny guys with glasses either.

A few years back for Halloween I was "Where's Wanda Gone Bad"... if you remember, Waldo had a doppleganger girlfriend named Wanda and I dressed as her gone goth with a pimp cane, dog collar necklace, safety-pinned ripped red-striped shirt, and a Waldo heart tattoo. It was particularly fun because as people at that party got drunker, they all kept coming up to me enthusiastically screaming "YAY! I FOUND YOU!"

Before that I randomly spotted a tall skinny guy who was wearing a red and white striped shirt and glasses one night at Boston Beerworks with my old roommate... we later found him drunk off his rocker and groping a young hottie blonde. We laughed the whole night at the thought of the horror of children across the world who were looking for him that night.

However, I would have been for the overwhelming thrill of my life had I been at Rutgers University the other day. 1,052 Waldos (and Wandas from what it looks like)... to break the Guinness World Record for The World’s Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Waldo (ha ha... I love that that's even a CATEGORY!). They also repaired some of the damage of drunky Waldo above by donating 3,000 books to the local New Brunswick School District.

Meanwhile... Waldo turns 21 this year. So look for him in more bars soon!

Via Gothamist

Confessions of a Picky Eater

I'm not nearly as picky of an eater as I was when I was a child... back then, I didn't care for plain chocolate, hated hamburgers, gagged at the thought of a pickle, didn't like the "texture" of strawberries, and was not a fan of messy casseroles (I even went through a weird phase of not eating food if it touched... I was an odd kid).

Now, I'm not AS picky but I still have some dislikes. I realized a few months ago that I'm not much of a salad person. My main complaint is the lettuce really. A garden salad? BORING! Salad in fancy restaurants is a little different... I generally like those but I can never seem to replicate it at home. The only other times I can change my tune about salad is when it has, what I lovingly refer to it as, "candy" in it — fruit like pears and yummy cheeses or nuts. Something to mix it up... and distract me from all that boring lettuce.

What I am also not a huge fan of is sandwiches. One HUGE exception is the ridiculous Bresaola sandwich I have every Thursday with coworkers on our walk back from weekly meetings in Soho. And every Thursday, we stop at Grandaisy Bakery on Sullivan Street and walk back to work in bliss eating our yummy sandwiches and still gushing as if it were our first time trying them. Their lemon coconut tart is also pretty ridiculous. Mmmm.

The website Scanwiches posted on Swiss Miss pretty much gets my point about the grossness of sandwiches though. Its solely scans of sandwiches. And there is nothing remotely appealing about them to me. Blegh!

Avoid Central Park on June 20!

Eek. I do NOT want to see this! Found in the New York Post:

NAKED BIKE BUFFS
By JEREMY OLSHAN

Posted: 2:14 am
March 10, 2009

As if spandex didn't already leave too little to the imagination, hordes of cyclists plan to ride through Central Park in the buff on June 20.

The event is part of the World Naked Bike Ride, which began this week in Australia.

Participants are encouraged to go "as bare as you dare" in protest of the world's dependence on oil and in celebration of the human form.

The ride, which started in 2004, has led to several arrests over the years, but in general, the lack of clothing was barely noticed by authorities.

Running in 2009

So I went on my SECOND run of 2009. Hard to believe, huh? Only two runs this year? I'm not a fan of cold weather running and I haven't joined a gym in NYC yet, so I went on a 4-mile run two weeks ago with the Achilles Track Club and another today with my friend Lauren.

Its 60° and gorgeous so Lauren and I did almost a 10K in Central Park which was a blast... the miles went by fast because we just couldn't stop talking!

Then I decided (after a looooong wait for the bus on my way TO the Park) to just run home as long as possible before I got on the bus. Instead, I ran ALL the way home. For a grand total of, WHAT?!?!, 10 MILES! Insane. It was pretty slow especially since I had to keep stopping for 8 million red lights but still . . . a long distance to pull out of nowhere. I feel pretty good too! HOORAH!

Introducing www.dominicchavez.com

Another photographer website up and complete for my very dear friend Dominic Chavez. I've known Dominic since I worked with his wife and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and was even there when they first met. I adore him and he was so patient with me as I worked on his site over the last 6 months while going through a major move to NYC. But its done and I couldn't be happier — its easy to design a site around gorgeous photographs like these! Check it out: www.dominicchavez.com.

And congratulations, Dominic, on all your well-earned success.

Marathon Inspiration

From the April 2009 issue of Runners World:

JONATHAN BRUNOT, 19, of West Hempstead, New York, is autistic and speaks only 10 words. In November, he ran the New York City Marathon in 4:49 with Rolling Thunder, a special-needs running program. At the finish, he clapped and waved to his parents for the first time.

Says Brunot's trainer, Vincent Del-cid: "At the marathon, Jonathan was confused at first by the crowds as they cheered for him, but then he liked it and started to run faster. When he received his medal, he looked up at me and said, 'Malathon.'"

I couldn't possibly be more moved. Half-marathon training (and maybe another full in 2009) starts tomorrow.

Love MoMA Even More

MoMA just launched their new website this morning. Its a HUGE improvement. Lovely, simple, easy to navigate.

Kudos.

Everything is amazing but no one is happy . . .

My sister posted this on her Facebook page, and I quickly followed but I thought I would share again with my bloggers. I have to be honest I don't know who this guy is but he's so damn spot on (and hilarious) that I adore him anyhow.

Hudson River Landing Animation

Fascinating!



Found on swiss-miss.com

Great Artwork

Click image to enlarge so you can read it. I LOVE this.

Found via ffffound.com from Jordan Wolfson's art portfolio. . .

Invest in what truly matters . . .

This is a new campaign for an extraordinary green building in downtown NYC that I wrote with my boss at dbox. . . the Visionaire.
Apparently the ad made people think too. And act. They got several phone calls and walk-ins from it immediately!

That residence has amazing features too. . . and I truly believe that every detail that makes it eco-friendly is a huge asset in this tough economy. Its a much smarter purchase to know that your new home will have all the latest in water filtration, solar panels, air filtering, and environmentally friendly materials that are obviously becoming more and more important every day. So, in the end, marketing this building was a pretty simple task since their priorities are definitely in the right place.

Now go recycle, folks!

And check out the site: www.thevisionaire.com

Damn you, Peggy

Compliments of Lynn

Rendezvous with Mr. President

So, the lovely reporter to the right of Mr. President in the ethereal soft focus, is my darling big sister Jessica. The only way this could be cooler is if she were giving him the bunny ears or making one of her signature awesome faces.

There is only one photo of her (in my eyes at least) that trumps this and that's the spontaneous moment of excitement that was captured on Mr. Clooney's face when she mentioned that she had a lovely single younger sister he should meet.

Photo by White House Photographer Pete Souza

One Extra Random Fact About Me . . .

This other random fact about me was a suggestion from my older sister. It didn't make the original list but because of her pointing it out, I purposely did not have this happen even once in my entire list. Apparently, she says that I use the word "FABULOUS" constantly (and I confess that it is indeed true). Of course, she uses the word "CREEP" constantly so at least she gives me proof that it could be worse. Ha.

Thanks, creep!

25 Random Notes

It's a big trend on Facebook now and I actually succumbed after being tagged and nagged than no less than 10 people within a few days. . . so now I share with you, 25 completely random things about me:

1. 24 is my lucky number so I'm only doing 24 "random things" instead of everyone else's 25 . . . I declared it as my lucky number confidently in Kindergarten when I realized all signs pointed to it: a. when we lined up in class alphabetically, I was always 24th, b. my birthday is April 24th, and c. I had 24 crayons in my crayola box.

2. When I was 4 I wanted to be a "ballerina, a kitty cat, a lollipop, or a Solid Gold dancer" . . . when I was about 10 I wanted to be an archaeologist. in high school I first wanted to go into musical theatre until I got my first gig as a graphic designer at the age of 15. I cannot believe I've been doing this now ever since . . . I still love it most days but know that my path could always change someday.

3. In men, I have the following physical attractions: 1. brown eyes, 2. brown hair, 3. glasses. I also get weak in the knees when a guy has a fresh haircut.

4. I love to cook but only with a recipe usually — I'm not good with impromptu cooking like most. I think its because I learned how to bake first. That and probably because I'm a perfectionist and I want to get the meal as perfect as possible.

5. My actual first 15-minutes of fame was not actually that stupid reality TV show a few years back . . . in the third grade, my classmate wrote that he was thankful for Children's Medical Center in Ohio on our hand-drawn turkeys at Thanksgiving. It was published in the Sidney Daily newspaper and when the hospital saw it, they decided to put our class in a TV commercial. I had a pretty decent profile close-up in it and have since then been famous throughout the world as a child star gone wrong.

6. I adore all the biggest, fastest, and scariest of roller coasters but nothing puts me into a frozen state of panic like that dumb Viking ship ride that swings back and forth. Pure terror.

7. When I first interned in Boston in 1999, I had a really bad car accident where I ran a red light and I barreled into a woman going about 40. My car was just shy of being totaled as was her car, she was fine and I was left with bruised ribs and a partially torn ACL . . . and a date with my ambulance driver who asked me out when I was strapped to the gurney on the way to the hospital.

8. I love revealing that my mom was a "professional" clown for a couple of years. She took classes for it (clown college) and did parties and parades. I think I became a pretty cool second-grader because of it at the time. To this day, she still makes the best balloon animals and I couldn't be prouder.

9. Oranges, pineapples, and grapefruits (and similar citrusy fruits) make me literally get sick.

10. Facebook messages helped me get through the horror of putting my cat to sleep last week. I was literally constantly checking Facebook when I wasn't on the phone crying to friends and family over the weekend. I'm not over it yet and doubt I will ever fully be but it felt good to know I have such great people in my life that care about me. So that really helped (thanks) as did being distracted for hours with that stupid Tetris marathon. Dang it.

11. I've pretty much taken up a new sport each year: 2008 - triathlons/swimming. 2007 - marathons/running. 2006 - bikram hot yoga. 2005 - snowboarding. 2004 - surfing. 2003 - golf. I kinda like this trend: 2009 - I'm going to do a long (hopefully a century) bike road race. 2010 - badminton? rhythmic gymnastics? synchronized swimming? I'm looking for suggestions.

12. I am the middle child of three girls. Most people hate being the middle child but I wouldn't want it any other way . . . its great to have someone to look up to and also someone to give advice to . . . although it seems like we all three do both for one another despite our birth order! I'm also lucky to have a large collection of girlfriends that are as close as sisters as well. What up, ladies?

13. I have a dream of making my own line of product . . . my main challenge is I have too many ideas and cannot decide which one I really want to pursue.

14. Although I'm a little bit ashamed to admit it, I was actually a cheerleader for a very brief stint in high school and also in a sorority girl through college. Although looking back on the people I met, I'm pretty grateful for both experiences. My sorority gave me a scholarship that paid for my last three years of college as well so it was definitely well worth it in many ways!

15. My nickname as a kid was Lissa. Which Tessa as a baby turned into Lila. Which somehow means my sisters both call me either Lila or Lily to this day. But my nephew randomly started calling me Amica over the summer even though no one could really figure out why and that seems to be sticking as well. I HATE when people call me Missy though because that term can be used as a generic "hey you missy" . . . and I am certainly anything but generic.

16. I love mashed potatoes. My life wouldn't be the same without them. They were there for me in the last year of painful braces. They are indeed the most comforting food to me. I love them so much that I rarely ever want gravy. There's even a rule in my family's house that has been in effect since I can remember that I don't get to serve myself potatoes until everyone has some on their plate.

17. I grew up on a corner plot of my grandparent's dairy farm. Getting dirty, feeding calves, playing in the cousin's clubhouse (an abandoned chicken coop), throwing the hay through the floors of the barn lofts to torment the cows below. The smell of cow shit still reminds me of childhood.

18. My middle name is Lynn . . . which is also the name of a super close friend. That is NOT however the only reason I like her.

19. I am so good at randomly finding obscene bargains that friends and family will literally say "I totally pulled a Melissa" . . . its just dumb luck too because I don't even shop that often or really enjoy shopping. But I feel so validated though when someone compliments a dress I'm wearing and I can say "Yea. Its Diane von Furstenberg . . . Regularly $300, I got it for $40!" or when I can give my friends a $400 Dwell Studio crib set for $75 at a sample sale.

20. I'm a pretty quick and determined learner: trapeze, knitting, sushi-making . . . most things i can accomplish to some degree pretty easily . . . except gardening. *sigh*

21. Let's reveal the real reason I wear high heels so dang often right here and now — I claim that its because they make my ginormous size 10 feet look smaller (which is sorta part of the reason), but really the added height just makes my proportions seem thinner and my butt look better!

22. With college internships across the country and a very restless situation in Boston, I have now lived in 21 different houses/apartments and moved a grand total of 25 times over the last 30 years!

23. When asking my older sister for some "random fact" suggestions, she offered that I remember EVERYTHING. it's true. I still remember the phone number of my elementary school best friends' house which I have not dialed since the third grade (kelly — 2095 right?). Its really not a good thing because it annoys the crap out of people and it makes me feel a lot of pressure sometimes since it can make it hard to relax!

24. I hate wearing shorts — even when I'm running in the hottest weather, I wear either running capris or pants. I think since my coolot days I've probably only owned about three shorts and those never got much use anyhow. (PS my sister also dared me to mention my childhood obsession with coolots somehow although I pointed out that most girls in our generation could probably claim that they wore them when they were young too so its NOT actually that random).

25. See number 1.

Sad days

So, for those who don't know, I had to put my best friend and cat of 18 years to sleep on Saturday. It was heartwrenching for so many reasons even beyond the loss because of the guilt and remorse afterwards. I could go on forever about the experience but in light of my really sad demeanor right now, I'll just say that.

And not to expect any posts for a week or so because I definitely want to write more about her and share some sweet photos and memories but its just too painful right now still. I never knew it would hit me so hard . . .

Snuggle all your cats, dogs, ferrets, chimanzees, or goldfish for me in the meantime.

xo

I Burned 40,000 Calories in 2008 — How 'Bout You?

My run down in 2008 running is attached. Curious what 2007 would have been since I ran three half marathons and a full and I actually did my training runs.

This year I will be faster, I can feel it . . . and keep saving gas and burning calories.

The Evolution of Obama (the Logo)

Great post on New York magazine about the evolution of the Obama logo. Its pretty great.

Kudos to artists Sol Sender, Andy Keene, and Amanda Gentry.

In fact, I'm going to check out this exhibition at the Danziger Projects gallery this weekend on the Obama political graphics. It looks AMAZING.

Busy is My Middle Name . . .

. . . but not in a "gettin bizy" kinda way, you pervs.

2009 is sure to be a VERY busy (and VERY great) year.

In the next month I have several weekend trips (one from a Boltbus frequent rider program free ride and one from USAirways frequent flyer miles — yay for free trips!).

I also have four HUGE weddings this year. All involving travel — one internationally to Africa. One I'm in the wedding (and doing major planning for which is fun albeit a lot to do!). Two I'm designing the invitations and collateral for. And one I'm singing in!

BUT! This busy schedule cannot stop me from running once it finally gets up to . . . I dunno +10 degrees? Its the best way to really see these places I will be traveling to in 2009 not to mention familiarize myself with my new city!

Here are the possible races I am planning for over the next 6 months. No full marathons although for some deranged reason I have the bug . . . even though my training was entirely inconsistent last year because of a lack of motivation. I think the later 6 months will consist of at least one more triathlon and possibly a century (100-mile) bike ride as well:

Sunday, February 15: Valentine's 5K, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 1: Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks Run 5K, Manhattan
Sunday, April 26: More fitness Half-Marathon, Central Park, Manhattan
Sunday, May 3: Five Boro Bike Tour, 42 mile bike ride through the five boros of NYC
Sunday, May 17: NYPD 5K, Manhattan
Saturday, May 30: NYRR Half-Marathon Brooklyn
Sunday, June 28: Achilles Hope & Possibility 5M, Central Park, Manhattan

Anyone care to join me with any of these? I love having buddies to talk about war stories with over bagels and gatorade.

Summary of January 20, 2009

Thanks for emailing this to me Blogorelli. Thanks for writing someecards. I couldn't have said it better myself.

2 out of 3 Wehrman girls mentioned in this news article

Yea . . . I was working and didn't see squat. And I don't work for a newspaper. So there wasn't much to mention about me.

Published in the Dayton Daily News . . .

Urbana native witnessed plane crash
By Jennie Szink
Staff Writer
Thursday, January 15, 2009

Urbana native Tessa Wehrman was sitting next to a window on the 33rd floor of a building in New York City when she heard the worst words a New Yorker can hear.

"Someone goes, 'Oh my God is that a plane?'" Wehrman said.

Turning around to look outside, Wehrman watched as a US Airways jetliner crashed into the Hudson River about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. She and her coworkers at Nickelodeon saw the plane "smoothly" cut through the frigid water and waited to see if passengers would exit.

"We said 'It can't be a water plane,' and at that moment we saw the side doors open and (the passengers) were standing on the wings," Wehrman said. "We first thought, 'Where is a boat, where is a boat?' "

The river's current carried the plane about 10 blocks before ferry boats reached it, she said. The boats carried the plane's 155 passengers and crew to shore to meet the many ambulances that lined the banks.

"It's good to hear everyone's safe for the most part," said Wehrman, the sister of Dayton Daily News Washington correspondent Jessica Wehrman.

Wehrman said her office was "pretty crazed" and her coworkers were glued to the TV since seeing the falling plane out their windows. She has lived in the city for two-and-a-half years and sympathizes with the alarm the reported accident set off in the city.

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists crashed hijacked jetliners into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attack.

"It's not something you want to see in New York," Wehrman said. "It's still very sensitive for everyone, even if you haven't lived there."

Water Rescue in the Hudson River!!

Breaking news from NYC . . . US Airways flight to Charlotte, NC made a water landing. Check it out here.

Also check out a friend of a friend's camera phone pic from the ferry. Thank God everyone's safe although I can't imagine they'll be too eager to get back on a plane soon.

Gap + Pantone!

Designers rejoice! Pantone has been embraced by Gap! On Fifth Avenue there is a temporary store open with Gap T-shirts in a large selection of Pantone colors. Love it! I'm going to check it out this weekend!

Details about Gap & Pantone T-Shop:
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 9 through Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009
HOURS: Monday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: 680 Fifth Avenue (between 53rd and 54th Streets), New York

Disney Rejection Letter

Look at the response some ladies in the 30s got when they applied for a position at Disney as an illustrator (click the image and it will appear full-size).

(via Buzzfeed)

Where the *cat eating spaghetti* did that come from?

This kills me. . . so I first saw this clip on my cat sitter's blog. Yes, you read that right folks. I found my phenomenal cat sitter by her blog in a drastically desperate December the week before Christmas. Not only do I love her and her friend (and they love Midnight), I also love her cute blog.

This clip she posted had to be published here as well. It makes me laugh at the complete randomness of it. Even better is that FOX network purposely inserted this random photo as a "bleep photo" to cover up an inappropriate remark made by one of the guests.

Enjoy.

The Arrows Point to a Bummer

Here's a pretty wild (although not tweaked to perfection) arrow illustration I did for a client a while back that we never used. Its kinda creates a very cool floral pattern almost.

Sad that they didn't go in this . . . DIRECTION.

Folks Just Love Those Burritos

From consumerist.com:

Yesterday, a magical new application appeared in the iPhone App Store. What did it do? Well, it allowed you to order burritos from Chipotle (for pick-up). From your iPhone.

There's apparently such a huge demand for this service that it broke the application.

Wow. So it was SO successful that they pulled it (for two weeks or so until they can streamline things). Expect many many more iphone ordering services from other restaurants soon!

Official Member of NSS

I wish I could figure out where I found this but I've had it for a while and just stumbled upon it again.

Hot Mess #2

So yesterday — inside out day — in addition to my shirt being inside out all day long, I also had the arched piece of plastic that is sold with shoes to keep their form, inside my boot all day. Except for the annoying squeaking of that foot (which I blamed on the shoe itself), I didn't notice until I went to put the same boots on this morning.

Wow.

Inside-Out Day

Its 3:20pm on an average Thursday . . . and I'm JUST NOW realizing that I have had my shirt on inside out all day long.

A New Brilliant Discovery

This discovery brought to you by Lynn (and her peep). And it's genius, if I do say so myself.

12 Angry Men and a Lady

Maybe being on a jury just seems so glamorous to me because my friend Sally was recently on one with Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Thom Filicia.

But I just watched what could easily be one of my top five favorite movies from the AFI Top 100 List (Life List item #75). 12 Angry Men. 1957. Starrying Henry Fonda. Black-and-white (dang I love B&W movies). Absolutely riveting. I picked it tonight because I have a lot to do and thought the plot sounded interesting enough to keep my attention while I cleaned my apartment and finished up a few things. WRONG. I couldn't look away. In fact, I had my dinner finishing up as I started the movie and I ended up eating it cold!


Here's an attempt at my top five movies of the 40 I've seen on the list (in no order between them):
12 Angry Men
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
West Side Story
To Kill a Mockingbird
Vertigo
Honorable mention to the Godfathers though . . . I liked those way more than I expected to


And here are five I could have gone without seeing (oh boy, I know I'm opening myself up to some serious backlash):
Raging Bull
Dr. Strangelove
Midnight Cowboy
A Streetcar Named Desire (not so bad, and definitely at the very least worth it to see a hot young Marlon Brando)
Raiders of the Lost Ark


And here's the most up-to-date:
1. Citizen Kane (1941) WATCHED SENIOR YEAR IN COLLEGE
2. The Godfather (1972) WATCHED 09-30-07
3. Casablanca (1942) WATCHED 09-08-07
4. Raging Bull (1980) WATCHED 04-01-08
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952) WATCHED 12-31-08
6. Gone with the Wind (1939) READ BOOK FIRST!
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler's List (1993) NEED TO REWATCH ITS BEEN AWHILE
9. Vertigo (1958) WATCHED 01-05-08
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939) WATCHED MANY MANY TIMES
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Psycho (1960) WATCHED 8-3-08
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
117. The Graduate (1967) WATCHED 1-08
18. The General (1927) WATCHED 05-12-08
19. On the Waterfront (1954)
20. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) NEED TO REWATCH SINCE ITS BEEN AWHILE
21. Chinatown (1974)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959) WATCHED 2-08
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) — READ BOOK FIRST!
24. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) WATCHED MANY MANY TIMES
25. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) WATCHED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) WATCHED 9-10-07
27. High Noon (1952)
28. All About Eve (1950)
29. Double Indemnity (1944) WATCHED 12-5-07
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
32. The Godfather Part II (1974) WATCHED 10-08-07
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) REREAD BOOK FIRST!
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) WATCHED MANY MANY TIMES
35. Annie Hall (1977) WATCHED 9-22-07
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964) WATCHED 9-2307
40 The Sound of Music (1965) WATCHED MANY MANY TIMES
41. King Kong (1933)
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969) WATCHED 12-14-08
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
45. Shane (1953)
46. It Happened One Night (1934) WATCHED 12-30-08
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) WATCHED 12-18-08
48. Rear Window (1954)
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) WATCHED IN THEATRES
51. West Side Story (1961) WATCHED MANY MANY TIMES
52. Taxi Driver (1976)
53. The Deer Hunter (1978)
54. MASH (1970) WATCHED ON 10-6-07
55. North by Northwest (1959)
56. Jaws (1975) WATCHED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER
57. Rocky (1976) WATCHED ON 10-1-07
58. The Gold Rush (1925)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)
61. Sullivan's Travels (1941)
62. American Graffiti (1973) WATCHED 2-08-08
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)
65. The African Queen (1951)
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) WATCHED 9-29-07
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
68. Unforgiven (1992)
69. Tootsie (1982) WATCHED 9-23-07
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971) READ BOOK FIRST!
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998) WATCHED IN THEATRES
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) WATCHED MANY MANY TIMES
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967) WATCHED 9-14-08, MAY NEED TO REWATCH, DON'T REMEMBER MUCH (I WAS PROBABLY MULTI-TASKING)
76. Forrest Gump (1994) WATCHED MANY MANY TIMES
77. All the President's Men (1976)
78. Modern Times (1936)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)
80. The Apartment (1960)
81. Spartacus (1960)
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997) WATCHED IN THE THEATRES WHEN IT CAME OUT
84. Easy Rider (1969) WATCHED 10-31-07
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957) WATCHED ON 1-2-09
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
89. The Sixth Sense (1999)
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie's Choice (1982) — REREAD BOOK FIRST!
92. Goodfellas (1990)
93. The French Connection (1971)
94. Pulp Fiction (1994) REWATCHED 9-27-07
95. The Last Picture Show (1971)
96. Do the Right Thing (1989) WATCHED 4-08
97. Blade Runner (1982)
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
99. Toy Story (1995)
100. Ben-Hur (1959)

Happy Holidays!

This weekend. . . two MAJOR holidays hit us.

Saturday, 1/3/09 is Festival of Sleep Day (I've been celebrating for the past two weeks really).

And Sunday, 1/4/09 is National Spaghetti Day.

Weird? Kinda.
Awesome? Absolutely.

Have a sleep and spaghetti-filled weekend!

Back in Black

Due to a horrifying incident on my travels to Ohio over Christmas (helpful hint: just because you still have the factory-seal on that water bottle, does not mean that the whole top of it cannot bust off in your bag), I am now the owner of a new pretty MacBook.

Thank you MacMall for your awesome after-Christmas sale (no thank you for spelling my dang name wrong even though I spelled it out for you about 12 times). Thank you Santa for helping me out since times are rough at this moment (too many expenses in 2008!).

I love that my computer is now 13" and much more transportable. And I adore the matte black fabulousness (the glossy screen will take an adjustment). And I REALLY adore how zippy and fast it is. Now I just have to get up and running with all my programs.

However, if anyone comes within ten feet of it with a beverage, I swear I will judo-chop them. Don't test me, folks. I am, after all, wearing a black belt today.