wishbone clover

Irish Night at the Giants 2009

Shockingly, we forgot to bring a flag. Fortunately we were able to borrow an extra from the drunks Fine Irish Folk sitting everywhere around near us

At Last, the Perfect DWTS Pair: Maks and Debi Mazar

It's no secret I have a thing for Maks Chmerkovskiy. I have plenty of company -- shoot, he's freaking hot. I got your exhibit A right here:

He could teach any woman a thing or two about hair removal - and yet, still scruffy. Rawr!

Over the years, Chief has developed his own DWTS fan club, which includes Edyta and that little blond girl who's also a country singer. The one with the brother who got dumped by the skanky older chick from American Pie.

Yeah, right, Julianne.

Edyta's endless legs, and the potential that Julianne would repeat her adorable Naughty Nazi costume, were enough to convince Chief to keep me company on the TV watching sofa about half the time. But this season he'll be glued to the screen at my side because of a certain FOM (Friend of Madonna).

Chief has a thing for pale skin, dark hair and blue eyes, and Maks' partner this season, Debi Mazar, is a classic example of this look.

 

Debi's a pistol, and I'm quite pleased with the prospect of our side-by-side oogling. Her makeup always kicks ass, too.

No, it's not going out and doing ballroom dancing ourselves, but it's a damn sight more exciting than playing bridge or watching sports!

Happy Birthday, Chief!

Isn't it beautiful? This is the "chocolate silk pie" that Chief has been requesting for his birthday for the past 12 years.

We've had Hawaiian celebrations, spirited ourselves away to Mendocino or Monterey, and partied in literally a dozen different ways, but I've never come through with the chocolate silk pie.

Today I finally made it for him. I guess this is his lucky year!

 

Also, the magic pink sunglasses look SPECTACULAR on him.

Happy Birthday Chief! You're my favorite Big Mick ever!

Ivan the (Apparently) Irish Cat Tells a Bad Joke Brilliantly

This cat sounds like all the dudes at Chief's local pub. Only funnier.

He probably smells better, too.

Ballas Hough Band - CD Review

You all know how much I adore Dancing With the Stars, so it makes sense that I would leap at the chance to review the new CD by Ballas Hough. That's the band formed by DWTS champs and professional cuties, Mark Ballas and Derek Hough. 

The boys, who grew up together, have always loved music as much as dancing. They finally made an album, filled with songs they wrote themselves, plus one from hit maker -- and my new favorite American Idol judge -- Kara DioGuardi. They even play instruments!

So of course you want to know how it sounds, right?

Pause.

Pause.

Ummmmm...

Pretty much exactly like what you imagine. I mean, look at them. Derek's band bio should read "guitar, vocals and lead flat iron."

It's cute. It's fun. They sing pop hits. There was even this one song, Birthday, that sort of rocked out.

In the immortal words of Paul Stanley, KISS Guitar and Makeup God -- and artist: "It's just good, fun music. If you're looking for something deeper, you're looking too hard."

Sure, Paul Stanley was talking about ABBA on Behind the Music, but you get the idea.

If you like the Jonas Brothers and Miley and all that music "the kids" play, you'll enjoy Ballas Hough -- check it out. 

Flying Monkey of my Dreams

One of the best things about our visit to Monterey is that we went to the big antiques barn one street back from Cannery Row. They have all kinds of emerald green glasses, funky jewelry, and a whole booth filled with Wizard of Oz paraphanelia.

I really, really wanted this flying monkey cookie jar, but it was $175. On sale. There was also one of the Emerald City, complete with a full rainbow. Even marked down, that one was over $200.

When we saw the rainbow later that day, I said to Chief, "See? It's a sign that I need to go back and get that Emerald City cookie jar."

"No it's not," he replied.

And then we talked about the other stuff. He always knows how to distract me in the moment, but I'm still dreaming about having my very own flying monkey.

Rainbows, Ponies and Tattoos

Chief and I went to Monterey this weekend for a little getaway that involved a smoke alarm and (nearly) flashing the maid.

We also saw this amazing rainbow over the Bay. It stretched so far that we could see both ends!

While we enjoyed a romantic rainbow moment, Chief and I had this (totally typical) conversation:

Chief: Girls love rainbows and ponies.

Me: Yup. Or unicorns.

Chief: And guys with tattoos.

Me: Yeah, a lot of them do.

Chief: Who cheat on them.

Me: Well (big sigh) girls are dumb.

Chief: With their sisters.

Me: Yeah, and with their best friends, too.

Then we both shook our heads, then went for fish and chips and brown drinks called "Steinbecks".

It's good to be with someone who really gets you.

Hrithik Roshan is Hindu Jackman

Last Sunday, the day after Valentine's Day, was cold and rainy in San Francisco. Chief and I spent the morning, which turned into afternoon, and then evening, under blankets (no Snuggie's for us...yet) on the couch, watching TV.

For a couple of weeks we'd had a double DVD Indian film sitting around. Thinking we'd never find four hours to sit through a "sweeping historical tale", I almost sent Jodhaa Akbar back to Netflix without watching it.

Thank God I didn't, because on that rainy Sunday, my eyes were opened to the manly delight that is Hrithik Roshan, star of Jodhaa Akbar and reigning heartthrob of Bollywood.

"The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" - Childhood TV Crushes

Even in the early 70s, my taste in men ran to salty old sods with old fashioned ideas and dashing facial hair.

Sure, the The Ghost and Mrs. Muir film starring Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison is wonderful. But for my money, the TV series takes the cake.

Starring Hope Lange, her awkward hair and the lip-bitingly dashing Edward Mulhare (he's from County Cork, you know) the show played an important part in my emotional and psycho-sexual development.

I mean, God, that Captain Daniel Gregg is devastating! Check out this come hither gaze around 4:44 in the video and try to control your knee shakes. Sexy, emotionally inaccessible ghosts are hot!

Anyway, I regularly try to convince Chief to grow an "Evil Red Beard" and it's totally because of Mulhare/Captain Gregg.

Chief consistently dismisses the beard idea as "silly" and "wrong-headed" and somehow, Captain Gregg-like, that's totally satisfying too!

The Elevator Shafts of San Francisco

Some days you find the perfect story in the newspaper. Maybe it caught my eye because Chief and I have been watching The Streets of San Francisco (a Quinn Martin Production) on KOFY.

Body found in S.F. elevator shaft, a week later

It's worth reading the whole article yourself for the deftly deadpan tone, but here are the highlights:

• A body was found in an elevator shaft
  That's never an accident.

• He was taking Arabic classes in the building.
  See? It's a spy thing.

• His body was undiscovered for so long because of the holiday weekend so no one noticed "the smell"
  The timing was carefully planned.

• The rummies in the House of Shields (in the same building) are "abuzz".
  Look: Local color!

• The only guy they could find who "knew" the victim was a corner store guy.
  A man can't have "friends" when he's working undercover.

• Corner store guy (who didn't want his name used) said, "He was quiet."
  No name because he's undercover, too, and knows whoever killed the first guy is looking for him now!

Now, if only we could get Mike Stone on the job, this thing could be solved in under an hour, Buddy Boy!