The Memory Mile

Magnet #525 - Chicago

I just realized that today is DC sister's birthday, and we spent all day reminiscing about days before she was born. Whoops.

Still, happy birthday!

After being rudely awakened at 3:45 this morning, we finally made it to Chicago, and it's been a total trip down memory lane - from seeing the building where I was almost kidnapped, to seeing where I was baptized, to seeing our first apartment and my mom's hospital.

It's been a great day, as I rediscovered memories of the Lions Club selling their candy on the street side and finding the Mold-A-Rama at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

More on everything soon...

Oh! Today's supercool magnet is another one of my @KristinaMyers magnets from her her Etsy store! Love these map ones - totally my fave!

Land of Cotton to Land of Lincoln

Magnet #524 - Illinois

Destination: Illinois.

In about 5 hours, we'll be packin' up to get ourselves to Chicago, my parents and DC sis.

Several things are wrong with this picture.

First, Save the World sis isn't here. She should be, but she had to work. What's a family roadtrip without the baby sister to make fun of?

Second, we're leaving in 5 hours. I don't understand this - we always used to leave in the dead of night, before the rest of the Western Hemisphere was even thinking about getting up.

Third, we're packing the car in the morning. Dude. What? How is that car not already packed and fully stocked already?

Fourth, we're not really packing anything! No cooler or food basket! Well, cooler, but nothing in it yet. No drinks. No ice. No paper plates or plastic utensils. Where's the junk food? Apparently! We're eating along the way! What? What?

Fifth, we're all going to bed at a decent time, and wearing our jammies. We used to go to bed with our travel clothes already on, so that we're ready to travel when we steal away in the dead of night.

Sixth and seventh, we have no set itinerary, and we're apparently going to be stopping along the way. Stopping! Hopefully, it's gonna lean more toward roadside attractions than rest areas.

Oh, I could go on. But, let's see how the day progresses...just know that I'll be thinking with each passing mile, in our rented car, who are these people, and what have they done with our parents?

eta:
Oh! About this magnet. You know how they have these magnets for every state in the Union? Yeah, I don't have them all. I'm not really trying to have them all, mainly because I'm afraid that once I start to buy them, I'll find some novelty store that has all the state magnets, and then I'll feel compelled to buy them all to have a complete set. So, I try not to buy them...unless I see them in the store. Hahaha.

Third boxcar, midnight train

Magnet #523 - I <3 the RR

No joke. Otherwise, I never would have taken a 13-hour train ride to NC, only to turn around and make an 18-hour roadtrip to Chicago, only to turn around and make the 13-hour train ride back to NY.

In another lifetime, I bet I was a hobo with a bandanna satchel hanging off a stick, riding the rails wherever I could to far-off destinations in the lower 48. Had to have been, no other explanation.

Well, unless you count the numerous times I heard Roger Miller's King of the Road in my parents' van growing up.

But, there's a sense of peace that comes from isolating yourself from the world, staring at nothing, while the world whizzes by. Or, rather, there's peace when you remember to bring your headphones. Heh.

Today, with my mind clouded with so many crappy things about this week, I was really grateful for the respite. Mind you, the trip also taught me how dependent I am on that damn Blackberry. I don't think I let go of it for a minute today - both for work and for play.

Anyway, I'm glad it's before midnight, as I sit here waiting for DC sister's plane to arrive at GSO (yay, free Boingo wifi), toward the end, I was getting antsy that I hadn't put up a magnet yet.

Still, the train ride was a lovely part of my day, thanks to the wonderful Amtrak attendant we had in business class - she was lovely. Nicest bunch of people ever, those Amtrak folks. Thanks for a great day.

"What is possible for me is possible for you."*

Magnet #522 - Frederick Douglass, 1818-1895

Born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Frederic Douglass was the son of a slave woman and, presumably, her white master. He learned how to read and write, which, if you think about it was nothing short of a miracle, particularly after enduring years of slavery, and being shuttled from one household to another.

He escaped when he was 20, and ended up in Connecticut, with his new wife and a new surname, one that he took from Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake.

It was in Connecticut and Massachusetts that he was able to begin telling his story to those who would listen, attending abolitionist meetings and anti-slavery conventions, and eventually becoming a world-renown public speaker, and writer. He eventually became editor of some of the most influential Negro newspapers, such as the North Star and the Douglass Monthly. On top of that, he also became trusted adviser to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, and held a couple of different posts thereafter.

As if that wasn't enough, he also became a friend and defender for women's rights - that's why I really love this statue in Rochester of he and Susan B. Anthony having tea in the park. Hee. There's something funny about the two luminaries sitting down for tea - whether they actually did take tea together is something I probably would have learned, had we actually been able to drop by the Susan B. Anthony house. But we didn't. But, it's on the list for next time I visit Rochester.

A friend of mine gave me this magnet, I think just to see if I'd actually do the research and blog on Mr. Douglass. Heh, well of course, I would. But, I figured today was a good day - if the records are to be believed, today in 1868, the 14th Amendment was ratified, establishing citizenship of African Americans.

Mind you, this minimagnetbio is as bare bones as you can possibly be, given Douglass' stature of one of the most influential Americans ever. So, definitely check out a few of those sites to learn more.

*Frederick Douglass, to a class of African American students in Maryland

I scream, you scream

Magnet #521 - Ice Cream

Dudes, did ya'll know it's National Ice Cream Month? Had no idea. But yay! Ice cream's like the best food in the world - and I'm hard-pressed to say my favorite flavor.

No matter what grocery or bodega I'm at, I end up in the ice cream aisle, trying to decide what new flavors to try. My problem is that a pint of ice cream might be too much for me - because I very quickly get bored. I love the descriptions, but then, when I actually start to eat them, I'm done within the first quarter of the pint. Which is how I end up with several flavors in my freezer at once.

And, I don't like fruity flavors or sorbets, either. In fact, outside of strawberry and the occasional mango, I'm pretty much done with the fruit realm. Which leaves me with chocolate, vanilla, pieces of chocolate, pretzels, any kind of nuts, chocolate-covered anything, etc.

Though, I have to admit, I've been craving a soft serve for weeks. I'm always afraid to go get ice cream from the ice cream trucks - for two reasons.

First, when I was about five years old, I heard the ice cream truck, and my parents said no...and I ended up furtively running throughout the house looking for change to go buy some. I did. But I got in a world of trouble for disobeying a direct order. I didn't get to eat the ice cream, either, if I remember correctly.

Second, we have one of those ice cream trucks on almost every other corner here in town, and every year, there's another newstory about them not always the being most sanitary of places to get your ice cream. Apparently, you have to go to the one with the longest lines, because that means they're busy, and their ice cream taps don't linger with dabs of germy ice cream that's been hanging there for a while. What? That's what they say!

Anyway, this magnet is one of a set of fast food magnets I just bought, which was part of a biiiiig Etsy magnet purchase I just made. Last week, I was on wefollow, wondering who else was out there twittering about magnets. And I found @KristinaMyers, this supernice lady who has a magnet shop!

Seriously, ya'll. She. Makes. Magnets.

And custom ones! I can't wait to show you more of what I bought from her - they're all supercool, and I'm superhappy with my Etsy purchases. In the meantime, check out her Etsy store and her blog! And buy some magnets! They're awesome.

Speaking of awesome. David Tennant during this introduction for the Torchwood/Doctor Who showing said (in his just terrible American accent) that that's what Americans say over here, premeeeres (instead of prehmiere) and awesome. At about the 3:54 mark, he said he loves awesome, and he's taking it back with him to London.

Hmph. I wish he'd take me back to London.

Opening the floodgates

Magnet #520 - San Diego

I don't really have all that much to say today - but, I'm watching G4 right now, for their three hours of live coverage of ComicCon, interspersed with a ton of clip packages and interviews. I can almost pretend I'm there.

Heh.

I do find it highly ironic that when we go next year, none of us are true comics or collectibles fans...we're all really just going for the panels.

But, what I worry about is that once we go, does that mean we'll have to keep going year after year? Will that pave the way for dressing up in vixeny, bosomy heroines with fly-away hair? Will it? See? I'm afraid once we break our SDCC seal, we'll be there every year. Oiy, will the floodgates be opened?


I'm reserving the right to eta the hell out of this magnet entry today...particularly as the DW panel starts - even though they've already told people they're just here to promote the specials, not a DW movie. We'll see, I guess.

eta:
Bwahaha. It's like I'm really there with them now. @televisionary, @sepinwall, @popcandy, @hitfixdaniel are all Tweeting the DW panel. The only peeps missing are @elgray and @moryan. Where they be?

No announcement. Hmmm.

eta2:
Who didn't call that DT's wearing that Marc Ecko Stormtrooper T. Love him. Love.

eta3:
No seriously. No announcements. Well, on the one hand - that's good, because I couldn't get behind a David Tennant in The Hobbit. And, second, I dunno if I could get behind a David Tennant Ten continuing on a set of big-screen stories while a Matt Smith Eleven continues on a set of little-screen stories.

Thanks to the Twitterverse for making me feel better about not going this year.

Seeking asylum

Magnet #519 - RIHS Visitors Center Kiosk

I've been playing tourist again in town. I swear, there's always something to do in town, and even if you're doing the same thing you've already done a few times, seeing it through a new pair of eyes is fun. Plus, I totally saw some of Manhattan today that I've never seen before.

Like - the back side of the Holocaust museum downtown. Just above and behind that? Is a freakin' Disney-esque set of docks. Who. Knew!

Like the lines for the Statue of Liberty. Ahem. Anyone coming to visit me - I've done the crown pre-9/11. Ya'll wanna visit the old green lady? You're on your own - those lines were insane!

And, speaking of insane...I've sort of taken Roosevelt Island off the east side of Manhattan for granted. There's a skyway to get there - you'll know this tram, because it's the one that got stuck in the air in the first Spider-Man, and Spidey had to go save Mary Jane in mid-air?

I've been to the island a few times, and I'm totally going back at some point soon - just to visit every darn landmark they have over there! I can't believe it's taken me this long to look up what's over on that island! Sheesh.

I found out today - having read all the literature on it on their site - that apparently, both Boss Tweed and Mae West did stints there. And, Nellie Bly and Charles Dickens both came here to investigate and visit and write about the lunatic asylum housed on this island.

Hell yeah. Lunatic. Asylum. Dudes, I love that I read and am using (in the right context) the phrase lunatic asylum today. Hahaha.

But, besides the nuthouse, there's a house there from before the Revolutionary War! It was owned by the Blackwell family for something like 150 years. Dude. That's old. But, apparently, they renamed the island from Blackwell to Roosevelt Island in honor of FDR.

Oh! And at the southern tip of the island, they're trying to building memorial to him. I didn't read that part all too carefully, but apparently, Louis I. Kahn designed it. Intriguing - I'll be rooting around for more information on that shortly.

I think it's been a while since the last time I went, because this little kiosk right outside the entrance of the tram wasn't there before. It's supercute! And I won't lie, the only reason I actually stopped in, was because there was a little sign in front that mentioned "books and souvenirs." Fun!

In the end, I ended up with this giant magnet - the magnet that should have had the tram in the background. But, I guess you can't have everything. You should take a look at this cool video that explains where this kiosk is from - but they were in use for the trolley system back in the early 1900s. And, it's had a long trip to get where it sits today. Anyway, check it out.

So, if you have a spare few hours in town, definitely head over to Roosevelt and the visitors center kiosk, via the tram. Though in the summer there's too many people and too many people raising their arms to hold on to the handles (phew-y), so keep that in mind.

Still. A fun time.

SD2010

Magnet #518 - Coronado

A magnet I brought back myself from a whole little morning sidetrip to Coronado.

In case you didn't hear, I've been wishing I were in SD, and tomorrow and Sunday, that's just gonna ramp up...particularly as all of my favorite tv critics seem to be having the best time - ever. Of course, they're all at the same panels, so all the Tweets are starting to get confusing who is sitting where. hee.

(Speaking of: #followfriday: Televisionary, Sepinwall, Elgray, Moryan)

I'll eventually be back to see Coronado proper. I'm all over taking a tour of the Del, which is a historical CA landmark, built in the late 1890s. Something like 11 presidents have stayed there, and it's totally haunted.

We didn't have time to do that tour, but I will say that I met my actual goal to watch the Navy SEALs doing their PT. Those that know me, know that I'm not even joking. Heh.

I've read too many Navy SEAL romances *not* to want to go. Heheh.

Ok. It's a date - a Coronado sidetrip @ ComicCon '10.

Wish I were there, too. Hmph.

Magnet #517 - Comixology

Picked this one up earlier this year at NY ComicCon.

I'm using it today because I'm desperately wishing I'd had the foresight to get myself to SD ComicCon. Seriously.

Apparently, my friends think this, too, as within the space of an hour, I had at least three people tell me that next year we're soooooooooooooo going to ComicCon.

Personally, I do think we missed the boat. I'm convinced that they're gonna announce a Doctor Who/David Tennant movie (which totally will be getting a separate magnetpost, of course). Or - and this would be horrible - they're gonna announce that David Tennant's gonna be Bilbo Baggins.

Folks. This cannot happen.

Anyway, so everyone's all wanting to head to SD next year. Me, I'm sort of on the fence, because hello, crazy, crazy crowds, lonnnnnng lines, and very cramped quarters. Eeeeep.

Still. Jealous. Everyone's at the con and tweeting pics and lines and booths. Bah. So, maybe I'll think about it.

Anyway, in keeping with BBC-A week (apparently), I'm sure ya'll heard, Torchwood's on this week. (Insert snerk wordicon here.)

I'm excited, because it feels like TW's picked up a few new viewers these last three days. They're champing at the bit to watch Series 1 and 2 now.

It's awesome that people are engaged and enjoying this five-parter. But honestly, I'm just hoping that they're still talking to me after Day 4.

"It's that spaceship-lookin' thing down by the Bay"*

Magnet #516 - Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru

Ok. Who here is surprised that after I magnetblogged on the other Millennium Centre magnet, that I totally bought another one?

Of course, I bought one. How could I not?

The other one's still my favorite - that's the one that my sister brought back for me from her own trip, just in case I flaked on my Cardiff daytrip. But, I love this one, because of how the building inscription is backlit. It's my favorite design element of this building.

I posted a link to the whole album below, but I didn't even realize that I recreated this magnet on my own. Hahah. Lookit!

And, I'm using this one for yesterday, because Captain Jack Harkness just blowed up Torchwood Cardiff with that bomb in his tummy! A big gaping hole, right here - narrowly missing the Millennium Centre, the Pierhead, and the National Assembly Building - Senedd, as well. What? You also know I totally just rewound to make sure.

During my Is there a Doctor in the House UK trip last December, I spent a very long day in Cardiff - wandering around Cardiff and Cardiff Bay. (By the way, LOVE the logo, Cardiff. Sorry, a little work distraction there.)

The one-on-one guided tour of the Millennium Center with my Welsh tour guide was totally the highlight of quite possibly the entire UK trip. I plan on going back to take the architecture-specific tour, but she was terrific, the loveliest guide ever. Very proud of the majesty of the building, and rightly so.

Because it was just the two of us, we got to roam around a lot more. She led me through corridor after corridor, dressing rooms, stages, and rehearsal space, explaining everything from design to facility details along the way. They used all native Welsh materials during the two and a half years to build it - five different woods (ash, beech, cherry, chestnut and oak), plus 1,200 tons of slate and 4,500 tons of steel. And, they have like seven companies in residence, including the Welsh National Opera.

The main theatre was absolutely gorgeous, and we got to see where the Royals sit during the performances. (Darn if they're not hosting Sound of Music with my favorite Connie Fisher, the winner of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Yes. That was a spoiler. You can't hold it against me - the show aired in the UK almost two years ago now.)

My two favorite places were the public space of the lobby, where it's big enough to hold public performances at lunchtime, and the upper floors, where you can see behind the giant inscription of the facade.

Absolutely. Spectacular. Seriously, you can see why this building is included on the 1001 Buildings to See Before You Kick It list.

Of course, I'm not going to lie - I reveled in walking the Doctor's footsteps - this was where they filmed the New Earth episode.

• So, like a dork, I totally stepped into the elevator and waited to get showered with antibacterial spray. (It didn't happen.)
• Like a dork, I totally went into their little shop. (Where I bought this magnet.).
• Like a dork, I totally took a picture of the TARDIS in the lobby. (No key to get in.)
• And like a dork, I totally lingered over the Doctor Who concept drawings exhibition on the mezzanine floor. (No, I didn't buy anything.)

Funnily enough, it took me a bit before I admitted to my guide being a Doctor Who/Torchwood fan. Even funnier, the guide, an actress in company at the Centre, is friends with Eve Myles, who by all accounts is the nicest person ever. I knew that, just from the Torchwood session at this year's NY ComicCon.

So...Cardiff. Wonderful place to visit. For more than a day. I'm planning on going back, the first chance I get. (I didn't get to do a tour of the Senedd, and, I missed the second Torchwood entrance! Three hours on the Bay and you'd think I'd done more than a tour and eating lunch at Wagamama's. Heh. And, don't even get me started on Cardiff Castle, which I missed as well - and I have a whole magnet for that one. Heh.)

Oh! One last thing - the tour guide (from Swansea) had a lyrical Welsh accent - it's beautiful! Mind you, the only Welsh I know is Nadolig Llawen which is Merry Christmas. And the only reason I know that, is because of David Tennant and Billie Piper doing the Blackpool Illuminations a few years ago, and then, only because there was a DT vid diary where they're desperately and cutely rehearsing the phrase for the lights.

Hah. Nadolig Llawen - there's your bit of Christmas in July, I suppose.


*What the visitors center representative at the train station told me I wouldn't miss, when I asked him for directions to the Bay.

eta:
Huh. Every so often, I remember that I'm a bit of a geek. That's ok. I'll own the hell out of this one.

Bull-y for me!

Magnet #515 - Spanish Bull

Meet my new favorite magnet, it's pretty and shiny and mosaic-y.

And pretty, and did I mention shiny? Look at its horns! How. Cute!

The second I saw this little 2-dimensional piece, I immediately thought it was a Gaudi - not hard to believe, what with all the mosaic work running through his projects. I was thinking specifically that he might come from Parc Guell.

I took apart the packaging, and there was nothing attributing it to Gaudi. Still, I heart it so much. My friend just got back from Spain and brought him back for me - thank you, Maria!

There were a few others from her trip, but I couldn't wait to show this one off - so much so that I'm totally interrupting my planned BBC/BBC-A TV week, in honor of the US showing of Torchwood.

No worries, we'll get back to Cardiff tomorrow, particularly after ya'll see tonight's installment. Whew.

eta:
But, if you're looking for good reviews of last night's episode:

Televisionary's
Sepinwall's

And no one pay attention to whatever the hell the NYTs has to say about it. Silly.

To infinity...and beyond!

Magnet #514 - Griffith Observatory

I wonder, if when they built this observatory in the 30s that they knew that mankind would eventually reach the moon. There's something so romantic about a world where we'd barely reached the skies, much less the moon.

Growing up, one of the tall tales mom told me was that the day that mankind landed on the moon (40 years ago, happy anniversary, Apollo 11), she was working on a patient who was coding. They finally revived the patient, but when they told him about the moon landing, the guy went out again.

No lie, I was like 8 or 9 when I heard that story, so I totally believed it. What can I say, I was gullible.

Here's something else I can't believe. For whatever reason, I don't have a NASA magnet. But, we make do.

We visited the Griffith Observatory, named for Griffith J. Griffith (goodness), a few years ago, and I dimly remember walking around in it, but not necessarily taking a tour. It had the musty feel of a National Parks building, with aging glass displays, and 70s typefaces.

Still, it was supercool seeing where the Rebel didn't have a cause, where Paula Abdul and Keanu Reeves shot Rush Rush, and where the Rocketeer and the Autobots rallied to save the day.

If there be dragons...

Magnet #513a & 513b - Dragon Magnerine

Yep, another magnerine, this one from the Met. My reason for this one today is kinda two-fold. (Ha. See what I did there?)

I have this little guy sitting in my cube, the companion to the other dragon sitting in the opposite side of my cube. That's the one who, with the little pearl in his claw, is my feng shui symbol, my little protector, and bringer of wealth, power and abundance of opportunities. Of course, I've been waiting for him to do his job, but he works here and there, I suppose. I mean, I haven't fallen out the window or anything, so far.

But, this magnet in my Photobucket was a gentle reminder that Merlin's coming on tonight on NBC. Yes, yes, of course, I'm still watching. I mean, really, are you surprised?

It's not the best show ever, but it's passable as summer entertainment goes.

I just can't figure out why NBC bought this BBC show, when it should have totally been BBC-A, as a companion piece to Robin Hood, or Doctor Who, or at the very least, they should have shared the rights with Siffy, because hello, of all the supernaturalness of it all. Heck, it even fits better on The CW with the youngness of their cast.

As far as Camelot and King Arthur retellings go, it's actually not bad. I do enjoy seeing Arthur as basically an egotistic frat guy (hopefully with a redeeming heart of gold in the end), and pre-evil Morgana being friends with the rather timid but brave Guenevere. But, I really love seeing Merlin as the unassuming, kind-hearted geek, getting tromped on by Arthur, sometimes his friend, sometimes his servant, but always both.

No, my problem is really the fact that nothing of import actually happens on the show - the story lines are fairly the same: King Uther Pendragon (love seeing Tony Head on my tv again every week) desperately fighting against the Magic of the Week in his kingdom every week - even though he's banned magix of every kind, somehow, a new one pops up every week. And while Arthur tries to save them all, it's Merlin and his mentor Gaius secretly using magic to get the job done.

Still, I love seeing the cute boys (hello, young Lancelot!), and their period dress, and hearing the anachronisms of their speech, and making fun of all the hoyay between the boys, the girls, and basically everyone walking on two legs.

My favorite, though, is this guy:

The captive magic dragon, the last of his kind, the one that everyone goes to visit in the depths of the castle.

He's a see-all, be-all, know-all giant, flying dragon, whom you know could escape at any time (what with him being a giant, flying dragon and all), but for some reason, he doesn't.

Rather, he hangs out in his little caverns, flying here and about, doling out his rather slashy Arthur/Merlin intertwined fates advice, week after week.

Eh, like I said, it's summer, it's somewhat entertaining, so of course, I'm watching.

Putting colors together*

Magnet#512 - Matisse's Nuit de Noël, 1952

I bought this magnet from my second favorite magnet vendor here in town. She has a great little stand just down the block from the Met, and I can never resist buying a magnet or two (or three) from here.

When I started writing this post, I couldn't remember who she said painted it, so I started searching the interwebs.

...almost two hours later...

At first, I thought it was Chagall. But, I got distracted by the awesome body of Chagall's work. I honestly couldn't tell you if I've ever seen a Chagall window. Now, I totally want to go see Chagall's 12 Tribes of Israel windows in Jerusalem.

They're absolutely beautiful. And, after this post, I'm totally gonna go look up where his closest windows are here in town.

My next thought was Picasso, but, it really didn't look a thing like his work.

But, as you look at it, you slowly realize whose work it is. Matisse, because the stars and the squiggles do kinda look Matisse-y. In the end, I was right, thanks to this person's Reverse Engineering Matisse blogpost.

And here's where burned most of the last hour...I started to hunt the painting down, to see whose wall it's hanging on and in what country. From what I've pieced together, Nuit de Noël is apparently a design that he did, supposedly a study for a stained-glass window that he designed in the Hotel Regina in Nice-Cimiez, in France, where Matisse lived/worked for a while.

Nice-Cimiez is also home to the Matisse Museum. But, a quick spin through its collection didn't yield this piece. Sigh. And, looks like Hotel Regina is now a residential building, so who knows where this piece (or the window) is now.

No, seriously.

Who knows?

I would love to hear from anyone about this Matisse piece....

*“When I put colors together, they have to join a living chord, like a musical chord or harmony.”

- Matisse

eta, a week later:
So I stumbled upon the nearest Chagall here in town! It's this window at the United Nations, dedicated to Dag Hammarskjold. Random. But, awesome.

The pope, the priest and the man who would be godfather

Magnet #511 - Pope Benedictus XVI

Yep. Just when you thought I couldn't possibly have a magnet for everything, in pops Pope Benedictus XVI, who apparently injured himself today. I hope he's ok!

My soon-to-be brother-in-law bought this for me - you know, the only man (besides my dad) who has ever managed to get all three of us girls into a church at the same time on a non-holiday. The same man who, at his insistence, has convinced Save the World sister to get married. In the Church.

I was going to save this magnet to tell you guys the funny story about how Save the World sister had to make a detour to the Philippines "on her way home" from Nepal to get confirmed. And, then how, after speaking with the archbishop (coincidentally with our same last name) for a couple of hours, she was about to get confirmed, and found out she needed to present her baptismal certificate, which then sparked a panic call to my dad in NC, who was away from home and then had to drive the 4 hours home and back, to get the church to pull her certificate.

Whew. The things we do for love, I suppose.

Don't get me wrong, we were raised Catholic as Catholic can be - my parents were married by their best friend, Uncle Oscar, a priest whom we took very much into our family and our family vacations. But, the three of us have dealt with religion in our own ways, me personally drifting in and out, but knowing He's always there for me. I've never particularly been that attached to the church at home, so my closest connection to the Church was always Uncle Oscar.

But, I picked this magnet for today for a couple of other reasons. Mainly when I was riding home on the bus, my Blackberry buzzed with the sad and breaking news from CNN about Walter Cronkite passing away at 92 (92! Wow.). And for a quick second, I thought, hmmm, wonder who the other two will be.

But then when I got home, sadly I got one answer, when I found out my godfather, Uncle Oscar's brother, passed away in the Philippines a couple of days ago. We haven't lived in the same town for more than 30 years, but he and my godmother have always been a presence in my life.

They were the sweetest couple ever, never found one without the other for very long, always off having adventures around the world, and often in search of miracles. The last time I saw them, we visited them in the Philippines. A fantastic hacienda, filled to the brim with every memento from their journeys through life.

And, that's how I'll remember Tatay Toting, with the love of his life, both playing host to the three American girls running around, exploring their treasures.

Oh Brown, what you be up to?

Magnet #510 - UPS

My friends picked this one up for me at Book Expo earlier this year.

UPS had a booth there, which was a little weird, but I don't care, because I got a magnet out of it. Yippee!

Oddly, you wouldn't think I had anything to say about UPS. But, as it turns out, I'll save my editorial comments for elsewhere, and let Brown Bailout and the Brown Bailout Guy do the talking.

Lord, I didn't think I'd ever use this magnet.

It's all about the Roosevelts

Magnet #509 - The Roosevelts

Ok. Having magnetblogged two pretty thorough posts on Franklin and Eleanor already, I feel ok about using this pin magnet for this post.

Last night, as I was watching my regular slate of not all that great television, I had my TweetDeck up as usual. Lately, I've found myself mesmerized by the trending topic tag cloud on TwitScoop. Seriously. It's starting to scare me.

That's how I found out about the Getty being evac'd last week. It's how I found out about Kim Jong Il this week. It's how I found out about the creepy Observer from Fringe being at the All-Star Game last night.

So when #commercial popped up and I didn't have a clue why, I clicked on it, being the good adgirl that I am. From what I gathered, Taco Bell (whose colors I've been wrestling with all day at work) ran a TV spot during the MLB All-Star Game, featuring rappers in an SNL'ish parody called "It's all about the Roosevelts" (the dimes, versus the $100s).

It garnered mixed reactions, but either way, within the first two minutes of me being on TwitScoop, 33 new Tweets chirped, mostly about this ad (300 since I started this post). Trending topic tags popped up for #Roosevelts, #Taco, #Bell, #taco bell, etc.

It's insane. No, seriously. See?

But, even more, were the redirects and Tweets sending people to the TB YouTube channel for the ad itself, where the lyrics are readily accessible, and the link to the ringtone's included, not to mention where there are more than 300 comments, and more than 266k views (2,000 since I started this post). Mind you, I didn't do a pre- and post- comparison of views, but good grief, I bet it's an immediate spike.

Annnnnd, you've gotten me to Tweet about it, FB it, and now magnetblog it. Dannnnng.

Well played, Taco Bell, well played.

Who's your favorite princess?

Magnet #508 - Belle

Ok. Several reasons to use this magnet. It was a few years ago now that I saw Beauty and the Beast with a guy I met over the internet. No, no. Not like that.

He and I met through a messageboard that I'd just joined a few months earlier, and both he and I wanted to see to see superhot Jacob Young play Lumiere.

For those of you who don't know, superhot Jacob Young, played Lucky on General Hospital, and is currently playing the ever-damaged JR on All My Children. So, we went through Playbill.com, which has some really fantastic discounts if you sign up for their free membership. We had a great time that night, and see? I'm still alive to talk about it. Mind you, both of us are still on that messageboard.

It's from that same messageboard that I met the child who would break my heart, the daughter of one of our other friends from that board. We've all gotten together several times now - and when we first met, her daughter was like 5, and the most adorable little princess ever. Fearless and sweet. At eight, she's still fearless and sweet.

But yesterday, they took her to the Magic Kingdom. And (sniffle) she didn't find it magical. Or the happiest place on earth. In fact, she was bored. Bored? How do you get bored at Disneyworld? Nooooooo. But, while they rode the usual rides, she just wasn't feelin' it.

In fact, she didn't even care about the characters. You know, the same characters that not three years ago, my buddies and I were putting down our drinks to take pictures with (Aladdin)? The ones we were mugging with (Three Caballeros)? The ones we got felt up by (Buzz Lightyear)? Sigh.

Bored. Seriously hurts my heart. I was absolutely sure that she'd fall in love with Disneyworld. Sigh. Boy, they do grow up.

But, here's something that made me laugh. Yesterday at work, I was telling my coworker's 10-year-old daughter and her BFF that I was headed to see an advance screening of Harry Potter (yay me, for not falling asleep, which means it was pretty good!), and I had told them about the girl who was bored at Disney. They laughed, and I asked the two girls who their favorite princess were.

One girl, the tomboy, said, oh, I don't care about the princesses, joy.

The other, poked her thumb to her chest and said primly, and quite unapologetic:

ME.

That old ball and chain

Magnet #507 - West Point

Up the Hudson River from me is West Point Military Academy, where the nation's best and brightest go to school, train and become officers of the U.S. Army.

I can't remember if I had to know this for school, or for my dad, or if I just wanted to know who the only 5-star generals were, but I remember learning about the Generals of the Army: General George C. Marshall, General Douglas MacArthur, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar N. Bradley, and Henry H. Arnold. Of the five, only Marshall didn't attend West Point, instead, he came in from Virginia Military Academy.

But I do remember reading bios on MacArthur and Bradley (and at least a dozen other bios along the way), talking about how challenging West Point was. So when I finally took the tour a few years ago, it was a fantastic getting to walk those hallowed grounds. Great tour!

It was on this same tour that I learned about the Great Chain. Apparently, during the Revolution, at West Point, they tried to block off the Brit ships from sailing up the Hudson from NYC...using a chain! What? I know!

Look, I know I didn't have that great of a history class in high school, but I swear, don't you think that if I heard, "and they used a giant iron chain tied across the Hudson River to stop the Brits" I would have remembered? Seriously. In the end, it never was tested because none of the ships went up that far. Huh. Really, though? A chain? Across the Hudson? River?

Anyway, the other reason I picked this magnet for today was because I just finished watching this week's Army Wives. Yes. I admit. Lifetime has my demo pegged, what can I say?

Whatever. I can't help it. I love this show. It's crazy, I know. Maybe it's because I'm not married, and I can't tell if it's an accurate portrayal of marriage and parenting. Or maybe it's because I'm not in the military, and I can't tell if it's an accurate portrayal of serving in the military and being an army spouse. But, it's the third season, and I'm still just as engrossed as I was from the pilot.

Not watching? That's ok. I'm used to being the only person in America left watching select television shows. Heh. I am THAT old ball and chain.

Argenteuil in Chicago

Magnet #506 - Monet's The Artist's House at Argenteuil, 1873

Someone sent this in the mail to me, as a magnetic card!

The house in this painting is one that Monet rented in Argenteuil - that's Camille in the doorway, and his kid Jean, with the little hoop. And, there in the front, are giant blue and white planters that they bought in Holland. Supposedly, this is where Monet discovered his green thumb.

I haven't yet seen this painting, but soon, maybe. It's in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.

I'm anxious to go visit the AIC, because of their new Modern Wing. It's a Renzo Piano building, and it's had some mixed reviews, though mostly positive. For $283 million, it's probably going to be one of the last of the great art museum additions for a while.

But, it does look supercool, no?

Aaron Burr! Aaron Burr!

Magnets #505a, b and c - Aaron Burr, Dueling Pistols, Alexander Hamilton

I should have made these guys #505, #506 and #507, but their history is so intertwined that I thought they should be counted as one. I bought these magnets during the really cool Alexander Hamilton exhibition at the New-York Historical Society.

Incidentally, the N-YHS which has one of the best little gift shops, ever. I heart that place so much. Plus? If you ever go to one of their events? They have the best catering. I dunno what it is, but they really do a great chicken lollipop. Heh.

Moving on...today is Duel Day!

You can probably find a better recollection of the events and personalities online, but basically, Hamilton and Aaron Burr were at odds for years, and at some dinner, Hamilton supposedly said something derogatory about Burr (who had just lost the NY Governor's election the year before). Someone recapped it in the papers the next day, and Burr wrote him a letter saying, Dude, what up? Apologize!

Hamilton was all noncommittal, so Burr wrote another letter, and didn't get a response. And the next thing you know, today, in 1804, Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton in a freakin' duel in Weehawken, NJ. There's all this stuff about how Hamilton shot averted his shot from hitting Burr, but, Burr who was supposedly not the nicest guy ever, totally shot the heck out of poor Alex.

In the end, they rowed Hamilton back to NYC, where he died the next day. Burr was actually indicted (for murder!) in both NY and Jersey State, but they never prosecuted him. Dudes, what up with that?

But, here's even something weirder to think about. Aaron Burr was vice president to Jefferson at the time, while Alexander was the architect of the U.S. Treasury many years earlier. Dang. That's almost like ole Joe Biden challenging Tim Geithner to a duel.

Meanwhile, not to make light of what's arguably the most famous duel in U.S. history, but really, would half the people reading this magnetpost know who killed Alex Hamilton if not for the Got Milk commercial, where the guy has to answer the trivia question, and was all muffly yelling, "Aaron Burr! Aaron Burr!"

Annnnd, here's something weirder. Michael freakin' Bay directed that commercial! Whoa. It's amazing what you learn on these here interwebs.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program

Magnet #503 - Hollywood

Have ya'll ever seen the movie Mannequin?

That supercheesy but loveable 80s movie with superadorable Andrew McCarthy who plays a window dresser who falls in love with one of his mannequins, played by the young, bubbly Kim Cattrall, who comes alive due to a magical mystical Egyptian spell?

This is not that magnet.

It's just, every time I see it on my magnet board, all I hear in my head is Meshach Taylor falsetto sing-songing to Andrew, Hooollyywoood!! Oh, Hooollyywoood!! Here, it's at the :45-second mark. Watch...but then go run out and Netflix it. Seriously.

But, Andrew McCarthy worked with Teri Polo in the silly yet lovable Straight from the Heart tv movie. And Teri Polo gets you to Sports Night and The West Wing, where she worked with Joshua Malina.

And, Joshua Malina's one of the Twitterfeeds I follow. No, I don't have like a huge crush on him, but by far, he's one of the funniest Tweeters I've ever followed - not that I really follow all that many.

I've been following him for a month or two now - I've RT'd him and I've told others to follow him. And, he just sort of shows up in my Google Reader or TweetDeck - with his Tweets about his professional life, but also personal stuff, along with funny musings, jokes, or whatever. So, understandably, there's a sense of connection there - he's randomly become part of my everyday life, this guy who is supposed to stay in my little black box.

Here's what scares me. Actually seeing him in the little black box. The other night, I caught him on Valentine, and my first thought was, hey! It's Josh! I wonder what he's up to!

WHOA. Stop. The. Presses.

I don't know Joshua Malina from the Vin Diesel lookalike doorman around the corner! I shouldn't care what he's up to. He's the guy in the box!

Dudes, I can't really explain it, but it was certainly the single most uncomfortable feeling that night - it was creepy. And I realized that what I talked about a few months ago - about the fact that down the line, celebretweets will have some sort of backlash, I'm sure of it.

I shouldn't be able to interact with him or any other celebrity outside my tv. Dammit, get back in that little black TV box!

So, yeah, it's just scary. Not scary enough for me to stop following Mr. Malina (on Twitter), but enough for me to make sure I'm double-vigilant to maintain that fourth wall.

Mind you, I had a whole different magnetpost if I could have just gotten from Andrew to Alyssa Milano, whose Twitterfeed I also follow. But that was just way too hard. And I know my way there must be through Solarbabies and Jamie Gertz, but I just couldn't get there.

Now. Points if you ever saw Solarbabies.

Happy Birthday, Tai Shan! - Guest blogger, Save the World Sister

Magnet #503 - Beijing Pandas

New (possibly monthly) feature: I was a little wary of inviting guest bloggers, but so many of my magnets have been gifts that it would be a shame not to hear their magnet stories as well.

This one didn't come from my Save the World Sister, but since a ton of people overheard me yell at her "NO, we're NOT buying you a panda for Christmas!" at Concord Mall in NC, I thought she'd be perfect for this magnet. Enjoy!

- joy

__________________________________________________

So because I love (no seriously, it could be my obsession) pandas, Joy asked me to guest blog about this magnet. I'm excited to start joy magnetism's guest blog feature.

Four years ago, the National Zoo's pair of pandas finally gave birth to the *cutest* baby panda ever. Tai Shan (the baby panda formerly known as Butterstick) is almost like my pet. I love him and used to watch the webcam in the panda enclosure all the time back when he was only as big as stick of butter.

He's my pet that I don't ever have to take care of - thanks National Zookeepers! I used to visit the zoo ALL the time just to go see Butterstick. I went to his 1st birthday party just to celebrate with all the little kids that love Butterstick too. I've watched him grow up over the past 4 years... he's grown so much I've even had to give up my dreams of breaking him out of the zoo and hiding him in my closet!

I don't know who gave Joy this magnet, but I'm jealous. Did you go to China and see the pandas? My love of pandas gives me a soft spot toward China (and being the Save the World Sister, China's got a lot of things I DO NOT agree with) because I REALLY want to go to the Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center and Reserve and play with all the baby pandas. Could you imagine??? Playing with over a dozen baby pandas at once? I would seriously go crazy.

I've known a few people that have gotten to visit the breeding center, but I haven't been able to raise enough funds to get me there. It's on the top of my list of places to go especially now that Nepal is checked off. Sometimes the documentary on the breeding center is on PBS or Discovery Channel and when it is I try to watch it... even if I've already seen it. Sadly, though, because of the earthquake in China last year, the reserve and breeding centre was closed to the public and some pandas even escaped and went missing. (Oh, noes! - joy)

But today, let's focus on the happy stuff. I don't want my post to bring you down. Pandas are meant to bring happiness! They give me such a happy that Save the World Boyfriend asked me to marry him in front of the pandas at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee. He did good, by the way, with the pandas on his side, of course I said yes. :) I'm still holding out hope that someone can genetically create a pygmy panda that I can keep as a pet... like a take it home and actually get to take care of it kind of pet.

So on Tai Shan's b-day today, go out and celebrate! Maybe go eat some Panda Express (I love it even if it is seriously Americanized Chinese food) or buy a panda plush toy (I have MANY and you can get one for free I think if you join WWF or donate over $25) or wear a panda ears headband (thanks to Save the World Fiance for buying me my pair!). Or go get engaged (if you feel like copying Gordon and me).

Pandas in America are located at the National Zoo in DC, the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, the Atlanta Zoo in Georgia, and the San Diego Zoo in California.

The world's attic

Magnet #502 - Sir John Soane's Museum

So last night on the newly dubbed Siffy (ok, fine, SyFy - Televisionary article here), they debuted Warehouse 13, the story of two Secret Service agents who get drafted into X-filey/Fringey duty at Warehouse 13 in South Dakota.

It's summer and I'm not picky (not any more than usual, anyway), but it was an ok show, and will probably stay on my dance card a bit longer. But, there are a couple of long shots of the giant warehouse, and it reminded me of the Library in Noah Wyle's Librarian series or the couple of antiquities warehouses in the Indy flicks.

And, it reminded me, oddly of the Soane Museum. The. Most. Awesome. Museum. Ever. If you have a spare few hours in London, head down to Lincoln's Inn Fields and check out Sir John Soane's Museum.

It's listed in the 1001 Buildings to See Before You Die, because of the architecture, so yay, check another off that book! But basically, Soane, one of London's famous architects, started out with just one of the buildings (I think, No. 13 in the center), but in the end, bought up No 12 and No. 14, demolishing them all and rebuilding them to his very specific and eclectic specifications.

I mean, he needed all that crazy space as his collection of antiquities and art grew. And grew. When he passed on, he left it to the nation to allow all those "amateurs and students" in architecture, painting and sculpture to come to this place to see and learn.

Ok. So big deal, right?

But here's where I wasn't at all prepared. I mean, I'd done my homework, visited the site to get the hours, but didn't really explore it. The pictures didn't really do it justice, and frankly, I can't remember if this 360-virtual tour was up on the site. But Oh. My. Lord.

First. There was a line to get in - it's close quarters in several areas of the house, and they can only let in a certain number of folks in at a time. And no cameras!

Second. It's very unassuming, as you walk into the darkened hallway and check your coat. You then walk into the very open dining room and library, and it gives you a bit of a freeing sense of space. But that's pretty much the last sense of expanse you'll get of it.

This museum was seriously packed to the gills with the walls and tables covered with everything everything from Apulian vases from the late 4th century to 13-century wooden fragments of Westminster, to Hogarth's Rake's Progress series to a couple of Canalettos, to a crypt and a Sepulchral Chamber with the sarcophagus of King Seti I!

Dudes, I dunno who he was, but the darn thing is from 1303-1290 BC, and this guy had it. In the basement of his house! Why? Because the British Museum didn't want to pay 2,000 pounds for it.

Or, that's what this video says, anyway. It's the only thing I can find that gives you a good enough feel for the place, because it's truly one of those places you have to see to believe. I'm surprised, frankly, that a remnant of the Elgin marbles aren't hidden away in there!

Only - don't go at dusk.

They don't believe in lighting, so almost everything's lit by candles and dim lamps...and security guards lurking around every freakin' corner, scaring the beJEEPers out of you at every turn. It's very gothic, very creepy, very damn scary.

No joke, man. I finally creeped myself out so bad, I almost forgot to pick up this magnet at the shop in my haste to get out before full-on nightfall.

Now you know that's scary.

Oxford Blues

Magnet #501 - Oxford University

Bought ths magnet during a daytrip out 2 Oxford a couple of years ago. We did rlly cool tour group through Evan Evans, & we had a blast wandering arnd the hallowed buildings & halls. I just think it's super pretty w/ all the difft college crests, vry Harry Potter-esque. According 2 their site, they have 38 independent colleges at Oxford (odd, b/c I count only 36 hre). They're independent, & have their own governing bodies, & R basically little colleges w/in the bigger context of the university.

I'm using it 4 2day's magnet b/c I realized something ystrday, in my unending battle w/ twttr. Lately, ive bn familiarizing myself w/ the evr-so-pretty TweetDeck (TweetDeck explained). & I ran across ths automatic TweetShrink fcn, which is wht I did 4 ths entire post.While it's economical, in terms of shrinking Tweets dn 2 140 characters, it essentially makes us all look lk illiterate fools. An abhorrence 2 all of R collective English teachers growing up.

An open letter 2 teachers of the coming generations: Please dnt stp teaching proper spelling & grammar. It pains & saddens me 2 realize that the kids who R coming up ths days R "de-learning" how 2 spell, & not learning proper grammar in the 1st place. &, it just makes me wonder if hallowed institutions such as Oxford will have 2 lower their education standards 2 admit the illiterate classes of the 20teens.Please dont giv up the ship! Xoxo,Stodgy old joy

Raindrops and roses

Magnet #500 - 100% Happy, 100% Joy

Yay! 500!

I do love that I'm blogging on my 500th magnet with a magnet that I made. It's from one of those bottlecap sets that you can buy at like a Michael's or a Jo-Ann's, only I just stuck a magnet on the back, rather than making it into a pin.

I guess if I'd made it into a pin, it would have been like the little bottlecap Mr. Fredricksen gave to Russell on UP. Speaking of UP, I'm gonna go against the grain, and say that it wasn't my favorite Pixar movie. In fact, I fell asleep.

I know! It's a total unpopular opinion!

But, I suspect you'll find that a lot here on joy magnetism, because if there's one thing that I try to do in my life, it's stay true to myself and what I love - no matter how dorky or unpopular or obsessed people think it makes me.

So in honor of my 500th magnet, a review of my 500 favorite things - hahahhah, no, just kidding, only a handful, really. In no particular order: (cue Sound of Music music)

1. Architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright. McKim, Mead & White. Zaha Hadid. Frank Gehry. Daniel Burnham. Philip Johnson. Louis Sullivan. I.M. Pei. My taste runs the gamut, I just know what I like.
2. Magnets. joy magnetism. Nuff said.
3. Tours. I love them. I would take a tour of a paper bag, if it were given.
4. Television/film. I love them both. Love opening weekends, and no matter how much I weed out, there's a baseline of at least 30 hours of tv each week. Except reality. Hate. Kinda meta, methinks.
5. Travel, roadtrips and Roadside America. Practically grew up in a van, and there's nothing better than discovering some lost byway and crazy tourist trap. Here. Or abroad.
6. Books. Yes. When I'm not doing any of the above, I love a good book. Who doesn't?
7. Chocolate. No one understands how I can keep bags and jars of chocolate at my desk and not gobble it up. Psst. It's because I don't share the good stuff.
8. Duran Duran. I know! It's crazy that my little boyband from the 80s can still make a girl squee.
9. Trains. They're awesome. If I could train everywhere, I would.
10. George Clooney. And various and sundry cuteboys. If I list them, gravy, we'd be here for days. Just know: Cuteboys. Uniforms. Big guns. (No, not those guns.)
11. Doctor Who. Ten is my Doctor, and if David Tennant decides to do the big-screen DW while Matt Smith does BabyEmoDoctor Eleven on tv, that'll be interesting. (I'm thinking that this last one shouldn't count, since arguably, it's only been within the last three years or so. It could just be a fleeting thing that ends when David hits the road.)

There you have it. The oddest combination of me I can think of - even my best friend in the world giggles at some of the things I get into. And she's known me since we were in Kindergarten.

But even she doesn't share half of these things with me. And she shouldn't - that's what makes us friends, each bringing something different to the table.

Huh. I feel like I just filled out an online dating profile. Hahahah.

Anyway, happy 500! And they thought it wouldn't last.

eta:
Heh. Upon completing the labels for this post, I realized that I had existing labels for just about every item above, which I guess just means I'm pretty consistent in the things I talk about here, the places I go, and the things that interest me. Yay, consistency, I suppose.

Fruity displays of affection, or not, as the case may be

Magnet #499 - Caillebotte's Fruit Displayed on a Stand, 1881-82

Nice little still-life from Gustave Caillebotte, a wealthy Frenchmen who was friends with The Impressionists, but not necessarily a part of it, according to his bio.

So this painting's up in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, which I've been to, but honestly, I can't remember if I've seen this particular piece. I just remember going to the MFA to see their Monet show, and that's it. And yet, here's me with a magnet of it.

I just like it because I discovered something odd yesterday: I like strawberry ice cream better than actual strawberries.

Then I got to thinking about it...

• I don't like blueberries, except in muffins.
• I can't stand raspberries, but don't mind them in raspberry walnut salad dressing.
• I don't like cooked cherries or apples, but don't mind them as raw fruit.
• I can't stand pears, but don't mind it in candy form.
• I'm not a huge fan of peaches (cuz of the fuzz), but love them straight out of a cold can.
• I don't like cranberries, except as juice in my Tom Collinses.

See? I told you it was odd. And people wonder why I zip through the fresh market in Union Square every week. Heh.

Great. And now I'm craving fruit salad. Nooo, not that sad little mixed fruit in a cup that people consider "fruit salad." The real stuff, with a ton of fruit and a decadent cream cheese dressing, straight out of the fridge.

Mmmmmm. That's the stuff of real summer, right there.

Nah na-nah, na-nah, na-na-na-nah!

Magnet #498 - George III (r. 1760-1820)

Ok. So in grade school, we did a little musical kids play that acted out the American Revolution.

I haven't a clue which grade it was, but it had to have been early, because I totally remember that we had a little songbook with the bubble letters colored in, presumably by me. It had stars and red, white and blue, and a flag, and I could swear it said something like Kids in America? Kids Sing America?

I dunno. I just remember that we had to memorize all the lyrics in it.

The thing I remember most though is the song we had to sing to King George, with one of my boy classmates, sitting on his throne. We sang him the below, and if I recall correctly, we even had to point our fingers at him in time with the music.

King George! Nah na-nah, na-nah, na-na-na-nah!
King George! Nah na-nah, na-nah, na-na-na-nah!
King George!

What makes you think you can sit there on your throne?
Why can't you just leave us alone?

King George! Nah na-nah, na-nah, na-na-na-nah!
King George! Nah na-nah, na-nah, na-na-na-nah!
King George!

Yes. Oh, there's more. I just can't remember it. And now, as has happened for many many years now, when the King George! Nah na-nah, na-nah, na-na-na-nah! gets into my head, it never leaves. The problem is that I can never get past that one little stanza and the chorus.

Oh well, to quote my Save the World sister, happy birthday, America!

Cinderella, Cinderella, all I hear is Cinderella

Magnet #497 - Cinderella

Hah.

I made the mistake of commenting on FlickFilosopher's blog that Disney's Princess Protection Program, wasn't terrible, as I mentioned here. Of course, of course, I got reamed by a couple of folks who were very anti-Princess, anti-Disney, anti-Disney Princesses.

Bite. Me.

I know there's an evil empire of commercialism. I know it probably sets womanhood back a thousand years.

You know what? I don't care. I love Disney's products, their movies, and yes, even their princesses.

If that makes me mindless, soulless and stupid, I don't care.

If that makes me, a single woman in the big city trying to make it on her own, less of a woman, I don't care.

They're fiction. If you can't teach children the difference, that's on you.

Mind you...my inner princess probably wouldn't have minded a prince of my own to do my 6 loads of laundry this morning, or a BFF to bring me a pretty dress to wear today, or little birds to help me get dressed, or a horse-drawn pumpkin to get me to the post office, or a dwarf to carry my packages.

Or a fairy godmother to do all of the above.