Happy Halloween!

Drink Pink - Halloween - 2007, originally uploaded by Rob Thurman.

Reminder: Drink Pink! Tuesday, October 30

Code Pink Strikes Again

There's very little point in telling Condoleezza Rice she should be ashamed for having blood on her hands - when there's clearly no blood in her veins.

-- USA Today

Chicago - October 2007

I just returned from a weekend jaunt to Chicago for business, pleasure, renewal and reflection.

Many wild days of my youth were spent in that city.

At first, I was disconcerted that so much has changed (notably a few rickety old haunts are now luxury high-rise condos). The more I thought about it though, it only made sense.

Chicago has changed in the past 15 years and so have I.

I probably should offer a carefully crafted sentiment riddled with introspective clarity right now.

But I think I'll pass.

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Click on a picture for a larger image.

I've Got Chills...

...they're multiplying.

Link: Debbie Gibson Deborah Gibson in Grease.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover...

and you can't judge a YouTube by its title:

Epic Battle Between Wookies and the Lords of Mordor

Aunt Ruby

Mid-1930's image of my great aunt Ruby and my father (hiding behind her petticoats).

MAKEUP, MARTINIS, MIMOSAS AND MUMS

There's a fantastic neighborhood event happening this Thursday, October 18.

I'm gonna be a model(hah!)for Bouffant Daddy - they're demonstrating creative cosmetic techniques for Halloween hijinks.

I'm either gonna be painted like like a teen-age Jezebel or a disembodied specter, or maybe both!

See you there!

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AUTUMN ROMP IN MAPLEWOOD
OCTOBER 18, 2007
FREE * FREE * FREE

Head down to Downtown Maplewood on Thursday, October 18 for an evening of special openings, art, music and food in the unique boutiques and award winning restaurants of this charming historic enclave. Maplewood will also celebrate the openings of three new stores with ribbon cuttings.

Events kick off at 6 p.m.

Maven
7268 Manchester Road
RIBBON CUTTING AND GRAND OPENING at 6 p.m.!
Come by this amazing lifestyle boutique for complimentary snacks and drinks.
FREE SOAP AND BUBBLE BATH SAMPLES!

Boutique Chartruese
7298 Manchester Avenue
RIBBON CUTTING at 6:30 p.m.
The area’s only GREEN Boutique will feature new fall ECO-FRIENDLY FALL FASHIONS, a sidewalk sale and an art opening with Artist Patrick Nolan. Patrick Nolan is a St. Louis county resident and talented artist who creates art from recycled metals, cloth, & more! Of course there will also be samples of the house liqueur—Chartreuse!

Tulip
7314 Manchester
RIBBON CUTTING AND GRAND OPENING at 7 p.m.
MARTINIS, MIMOSAS AND MUMS, need we say more? Stop by and see the new store!

Femme
7270 Manchester Avenue
Keep an eye out for a model or two strutting their stuff with amazing hair and ONE-OF-A-KIND CLOTHING.

Bouffant Daddy
7276 Manchester Avenue
GLAMOUR GALORE! Bouffant Daddy is doing HOLLYWOOD MAKEOVERS and you’re invited to watch. They will create Marilyn Monroe, an Ice Queen, Medusa and a Viking Warrior Princess!

Boogaloo
7344 Manchester Avenue
This seen-and-be-seen watering hole and restaurant is hosting a CUBAN PIG ROAST AND BUFFET with roasted plantains, green beans and black beans and rice! Yummy!

Schlafly Bottleworks
7260 Southwest Avenue
Take a BREWERY TOUR, try a new fall beer and delicious dinner specials.

Massey Antiques
7225 Manchester Avenue
Take a field trip tonight. The shop is closed, but stroll down Sutton Blvd. and watch our resident master auctioneer in action! Ken Massey is holding a PUBLIC ANTIQUE AUCTION starting at 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post 103 located at 3212 Sutton.

Acero Ristorante
7266 Manchester Avenue
This award-winning restaurant is offering dinner and drink specials throughout the evening.

Pom Pom
7290 Manchester Avenue
Offering a sidewalk sale of must have home decorating items and tasty snacks.

T. Rohan Interiors & T. Rohan Upholstery, Inc.
7310 Manchester Ave.
Once you get into this shop, you won’t want to go back to your own living room. T. Rohan will be open late so you can stop in and check out their wonderful selection of tables, chairs, tables and interiors.

Minions Café
7322 Manchester Avenue
Perfect autumn eating! Minions will feature their opening of MINIONS IN MOONLIGHT! This soft opening will offer their new dinner menu!

Airedale Antics
7328 Manchester Avenue
Grab your costume, grab fido’s costume too and join in the fun. Airedale Antics is hosting a PET AND PET OWNER COSTUME CONTEST!! Contest starts at 7 p.m.

Grateful Inn
7336 Manchester Avenue
Rock n’ Roll art and a fine selection of drink in a smoke-free environment.

El Scorcho
7356 Manchester Avenue
DJ AND SPECIAL CONCOCTIONS at special prices! El Scorcho is the new hipster hangout!

Schottzie's Famous Pizza & Grill
7372 Manchester Avenue
Offering a new menu (including the Bison Burger) and a dinner special courtesy of chef.

Jive and Wail
7376 Manchester
See why all of the critics are giving this place the thumbs up! Offering $2 Schlafly Bottles, $2 well drinks, $2 domestic beers and HALF- PRICED APPETIZERS until 8 p.m.

Monarch Restaurant
7401 Manchester Avenue
Monarch scored high in the Taste of St. Louis Competition recently and they are offering a fine dining menu plus running the kitchen at Jive and Wail!

Tiffany's Original Diner
7402 Manchester Avenue
Coffee, eggs, toast and a jukebox. What else do ya’ need?

Flora Diva Design Gallery
2708 A Sutton Blvd.
Japanese hors d’oeuvres and TAROT CARD READING are just two excuses to stop by to experience this Japanese inspired botanical design studio and decorative art.

Premier Watch & Accessories
2712 Sutton Blvd
Time for a new watch or accessory? Premier Watch and Accessories will be open and offer NON-ALCOHOLIC LIBATIONS.

Shana Watkins Photography
2714 Sutton Blvd.
Meet the photographer and have some light refreshments!

Well Body Acupuncture and Chiropractic Clinic
2716 Sutton Blvd.
Check out this brand new addition to Maplewood!

Maya Café
2726 Sutton Blvd.
LIVE MUSIC and drink specials. Make sure you try their Sangria!

Gisele's
2707 Sutton Blvd.
A sidewalk sale of Shabby Chic table out front with BAILS OF HAY. Stop inside and check out their amazing soaps!

Archangels Books and Gifts
2719 Sutton Blvd.
Come in and see the eclectic offerings of gifts. SPECIAL FACE PAINTING FOR $2.00!

Saratoga Lanes
2725 Sutton Blvd.
You’ve shopped, dined, now bowl! Stop by to bowl with friends or play for a game of pool.

One Candle
2737 Sutton Blvd.
Check out the stock of free-trade gifts.

Tiger Lily
2739 Sutton Blvd.
Gifts for baby, home and YOU! See all Tiger Lily has to offer. COOKIE DECORATING for the little ones tonight!

CooperElla
2743 Sutton Blvd
Family shopping with a unique baby and children’s selection. Open for tonight with a KID’S SING ALONG.

Maplewood Chamber of Commerce
2915 Sutton Blvd.
Come by to CARVE PUMPKINS! Carving begins at 6:30 p.m.

Roots
3104 Sutton Blvd.
Roots is staying open late. They offer light refreshments and sales on VINTAGE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS in addition to other in-store specials. They will also have TREATS FOR YOUR DOG!

Bright Spot Studio
3520 Greenwood Blvd.
Will also keep its doors open so stop by and see the art and furniture. Check out their PRE-OPENING of their latest gallery show, “From Life” by Scott Smith. The show will "officially" open on Friday, so you’ll get to see it early!

Foley's Tavern
3522 Greenwood Blvd.
Stop in and grab a pint!

On the Radio

I'm waaaaayyyy late on this one, but if you missed Angry Black Bitch on NPR, National Public Radio, tune in to the interview here on the internets.

Link: Tell Me More host Michele Martin interviews Angry Black Bitch.

Grrrrr!!!! Argh!!!!!! Showing of Buffy Musical canceled

Showings of Once More, with Feeling - scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Tivoli have been canceled.

In fact, all upcoming showings of the musical having been canceled as Fox Pictures is having some problems concerning "payments of residuals, deals with the guilds and unions, etc."

Needless to say, I am incredibly disappointed.

This Week's Paranoiac Outburst: Spy Bugs

That's not a 'skeeter, y'all - it's a double nought digital dragonfly!

Washington Post: Scientists at Work on Robobugs.

Turn that frown upside down!

I would like to extend the happiest of birthday greetings to the much-beloved Mister Tickles.

Tickles is a dear old (or should I say older) friend and my occasional fiancé (that is, when we're speaking).

Can You Speak With All The Colors of the Wind?

Let's start with Japanese, French, Polish, Spanish and Thai shall we?

Doctor Sugar

Recent...ahem...news concerning Miss Elizabeth Taylor and events in my own life necessitate a viewing of Suddenly, Last Summer.

This Week's Paranoiac Outburst

Well, it's not really paranoiac as much as it is a very sad commentary on the United States.

- - -

U.S. leads the world in global arms sales: AFP

U.S. arms sales fuels India and Pakistan conflict: Foreign Policy in Focus

India defiantly sells guns to Myanmar military murderers: The Australian.

Thousands of Myanmar protesters and Buddhist monks slaughtered, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions starving in Myanmar: This is London

But don't worry! Annual U.S. arms sales of $16.9 billion provide important economic benefits to the American way of life: Al Jazeera

And finally.....

153 nations in the United Nations voted for a new global arms treaty, focused on "prevent[ing] international arms transfers that fuel conflict, poverty and serious human-rights violations."

The U.S. cast the only vote against the treaty: Associated Press

Aunt Jennie George

My grandfather's sister (pictured right) was rumored to make her own wine (rather a no-no in a dry county) and to chew tobacco.

Looking at her, I certainly wouldn't chide her for her behavior.

Please note, she's either holding a pocket book or a Bible.

Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ole Days

I wish I'd known my grandfather who died the year I was born.