drawing by Mike Conway

As I sit here quietly drinking coffee and eating spoonfuls of Nutella out of a teacup, it seems mad to think that a month ago I was scurrying around like a chicken with her head cut off. I guess that's the difference between December and January. Therefore, I'm finally put together enough to share these highlights from a hectic December.

Sometimes your nail polish perfectly complements that of your bff's. Such was the case at this Big Sky Cafe brunch.

Amazing wrapping job by the amazing Erin; the rest of our family had issues this year, so we mostly threw presents into old Starbucks handlebags and haphazardly crumpled some tissue paper. Erin really stepped up to the plate; thank goodness!

A super-cool non-Starbucks gift bag from my mom; perhaps I exaggerated before.

Bathroom wallpaper at the Verdi Club in SF, where I did the Noise Pop Holiday Shop. I'd never taken a photo while sitting on the toilet before, but there's a first time for everything.

I got to hit Miette for one delicious moment. Magical!

My purses adorning the bookshelf at ISSUES during my pop-up shop! We had a great time on a rainy December night; I'm so lucky to live practially next door to a place that is so deeply awesome. They work hard to make this neighborhood more than a yuppie paradise by promoting really cool community-building events and by selling the finest selection of reading materials.

The lovely ladies of Fat Bottom Bakery! Not only are they adorably clothed, but their vegan baked goods are fantastic. I inhaled a wee Red Velvet cupcake, and it was divine.

My neighbor returned from his cross-country holiday vacation the other day, and said, "I hope my astral body catches up with me soon." I secretly laughed at the hippie jargon, but I know what he meant. I think a part of me is still in December.

Oh, hi there! I've been amiss in my blogging duties, and in many other duties, because I am lazy, but also because I've been enjoying the pleasures and non-pleasures that can't always be blogged adequately: day job drudgery, Thanksgiving with beloved family, the speedy passage of time. However, some things can be blogged, and the Madonna Inn is one of them. Here are some of the moments from a day I'd been waiting for my whole life.

Bar times.

Chandelier.

Me and my mama.

The Copper Cafe.

The happy couple.

A special guest.

A room with a view.

Dinner.

After dinner.

Travelin' light.

Miss Blythe.

Rock shower? Not slimy as expected.

Is that Jeff Goldblum?

Satisfaction.

Romance

I've always wanted to spend the night at the Madonna Inn. Since I learned how to want things, I have wanted this. However, it's hard to justify staying in a hotel in the town you live/lived in, and where your parents still live.

That said, I never promised that I wouldn't accept frivolous gifts in exchange for donating my kidney. My mother has generously set up a magical evening for me in the Romance Room this Saturday night for our two-year "kidney anniversary", and I can't wait.

I'm bringing a whole pile of costumes and props for a photo shoot, if I am still standing after a day of poolside champagne and kitsch overload (if there was such a thing).

July!

Well, hell's bells, it's been a long time. I'm gonna have to rewind a few weeks, to my 30th birthday celebration in San Luis Obispo. I was lucky enough to spend the day with my family, doing all the things I like to do, which are mostly variations of eating and drinking. Sometimes my hometown likes to torture me with wonderful places and events that tempt me to stay forever; the charming new restaurant Granada Bistro is an example. Housed in an old building marked for demolition next year, Granada's owners created a tiny, ethereal hangout that will disappear before people realize how great it is. They serve international wines and beers at a reasonable price, and the decor is lush and homey. I'm not going to go into flowery detail, because I just read a food review last night that, and I kid you not, used the phrase "snarky watercress" in reference to some sandwich. Really?


That said, I also very much enjoy the food and atmosphere at Buona Tavola in SLO. They serve an olive tapenade with mustard seeds along with an array of fresh breads that is truly the greatest condiment ever. You can buy it in jars now, but it's never quite the same when you're not sitting in a sunny garden patio with twinkle-lighted trees.




Then, Renegade Craft Fair! What a weekend. I met tons of new people and sold my heart out. I also got to catch up with old friends and acquaintances, who just kept appearing at my booth! That was a nice surprise.

A few sweet trades with fellow vendors, including this adorable birdie ring from Beebalalou sitting on top of an apron from Hambone & Jennicakes, filled my shopping urges, so I, too, left Fort Mason a satisfied customer. Exhausted, but satisfied.


Next up: what I did last weekend, in sepia tone!

Happy 4th of July!

I know it's the 5th already, but I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I'm at my parents' house, eating as much as I possibly can and playing with dolls. (Which is an ideal weekend for me, obviously.)

Bedazzled (no, not that one!)

San Luis Obispo's Sunset Drive-In has been one of my favorite places to go for most of my life. More on that later. I've seen a lot of terrible movies there, including the criminally awful Bedazzled, a 2000 film starring Brendan Fraser and Liz Hurley. And I have a very high Fraser tolerance, so you know it had to be bad.

However, I didn't know it was a remake of a trippy and awesome movie from 1967 starring the British comedy team Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. I know, I know, Dudley Moore is a big turn-off for most people, even more than B. Fraser for some, but hear me out. I caught about 3/4ths of the original Bedazzled on cable at my parents' house today, and I got hooked. It's basically a retelling of the Faust story; a doofus sells his soul to the cunning devil in return for seven wishes.

Peter Cook rocks as the Devil; you may remember him as the priest from The Princess Bride ("Mawwige. Mawwige is what brings us togetha, today."), but his performance as a joyful trickster who slowly gets outed as a malevolent douchebag is not to be missed. I'll be renting this to watch the final scenes, which I missed, but in the meantime, here's the Devil outperforming Dudley Moore with a hell-powered psychedelic superjam.



Addendum: I found an interesting article about Bedazzled's cult status and how the audience response propelled its stars in opposite directions than expected!