"Right now, you like me!"

OK - it's just a little post - the Sally Field reference is a bit over the top...but it's cool to be acknowledged by someone you don't know. Just goes to show you what your Mom taught you was right - be nice to others and they will be nice to you! Thanx Erin @ bridalwave!

So this is a little shout out from a shout out to http://www.thebridalwave.blogspot.com/ - who posted a bit of my rant on weddings - "The News" (posted July 3rd, below) on their own blog about everything 'weddings' and how to survive them - July 13th.

Once I digest the masses of food consumed at the Croatian Catholic wedding and bridal shower brunch events I went to this weekend, I will perhaps post about those...

The "News".

You know what it's about - you can hear it in their feigned nonchalant yet at the same time exuberant voice:

---" I have nnnnnuuueeewwwzzzz - call me!"

I am getting more and more of these calls - girlfriends with "news"...ahhhhaaa....Well, let's see -

Did you buy a fabulous new pair of shoes?

Get that job/part/position you've always wanted?

Are you travelling some place exotic or cutting your hair really short?

Getting a boob job/starting a fitness regime/getting that tatoo?

Redecorating your apartment/buying a house/moving to another city?

No. No, you are not. What you are doing - is getting married. Your news is that you are GETTING MARRIED. That is the News ...and it is good news - don't get me wrong...love weddings...luv them. In fact, been married - probably in the neighbourhood of ....oh let's say 400 or so times to about 8 or 9 different grooms ...Yep - been there....ooohhh ya. Done that -

IN PRETEND TONY'N'TINA'S LAND!!! www.hoarseraven.com/tony_n_tinas circa '96/'97. When we could all laugh along to the bridezilla and familial stereotypes that we all played out together ...but now those stereotypes are being lived out - albeit downplayed a wee bit and I gotta say that black for bridesmaids is pretty A-list....And I loooove my friends - especially this one. And really, was not ever one of those girls who HAD TO or PLANNED TO be married -with children (not sure I even want to have those) by a certain age...or ever! nop, not me...NE-VER! But you can't help but feel a teensy bit inferior - yes, inferior and shitty. Shitty that you are once again the guest and not the guest of honour. Shitty that another someone you know and love has found the 'one' and you barely know what the 'one' should look like...inferior in that everyone, everywhere has somehow found their way to this archaic and yet still very much sought after 'right of passage'...and you - you have not.

And you cajole yourself with platitudes that when they come along, it will be all that much sweeter, that at least you are persuing other avenues in life that are much more interesting and passion-driven than planning a wedding could ever be....and that you are way better off single - (insert diva air snap here) but what pisses me off the most is that I actually do believe that...I've always believed that. But when confronted with a marriage to witness (or many marriages this year) and applaud - it's hard to - say, perhaps plan an equally socially validating party for all your other life's pursuits - and no, birthdays don't count, everyone has those.

You can't register for the next stage of your life if it doesn't involve a piece of paper legally binding you to someone else - can you? Can you? Can I throw a party for embarking on a new adventure - my own business? Can I have flowers and music and gifts for that?...I'm sure that unless "the one" comes with a title like Baron or Duke or has scads of family money that I won't be doing anything even vaguely wedding-esque - even if we do decide to make it legal. In fact, yesterday I decided there will be no bridesmaids at all! Nop girls - sorry. If someone needs to sign something - that'll be my mom. We'll just show up one day and have done it ...and there'll be some sort of party with mixed CD's by D+G...K+A may sing a song, P may do a reading -perhaps of this post --- and we'll laugh and laugh and sigh - and then we'll all dance and eat - lots of food, seafood and an open bar

- Sidebar: what's with the no open bar at weddings people?!! I came, I got dressed up, I bought a gift, maybe 2...you provide me with booze - got it?

Ok, enough, I'm a little bitter and a little sweet today ...still sweet?...maybe tomorrow I will be more of my matter-of-fact self ;-)

Congratulations! A+D, E+M, J+P!!!

The Astounding Logic of the Male

All manner of talk to your girlfriends about a certain situation will never match the astounding logic of telling the same story to a male friend and getting their feedback...sometimes it's so out there in its simple, logical reasoning that it throws you for a loop! You think, it can't possibly be THAT simple - can it? But the truth is that it can be and when you go ahead and test this logic, you find out that it actually IS that simple. You were overthinking, overcomplicating, overcompensating and had overwhelmed your brain with all sorts of societal and personal precepts - that all you could see was the impending storm and not the fabulous summer that is predicted.

With that thought, I wish all a simply fabulous weekend -even though 'real-weather-wise' we are plauged with yet another rainy-mixed weekend not at all living up to the June of last year...when I alreay had a summery glow by this point...oh well will just have to purchase any one of those fake bronzers/moisterizers on the market these days to look great in my white dress tomorrow!

Killing it!

Celebrating Lusitania!

SOOooo it is Portuguese Heritage Month with a slew of events happening all over the city if you are in the know...and I am...being a member of the Portuguese Benevolent Society and their 'youth' group. Finally wanting to give back to my culture literally: http://portugueseheritagemonth.com. I recommend the music nights at the Cellar Jazz Bar - http://www.cellarjazz.com/.
Music, readings, film, and other festivities - something for everyone.

Here are some fast facts and tidbits on the generally lesser know Iberian nation:

-Portuguese is the 6th most spoken language in the world behind Mandarin, Hindi, English, Spanish and Bengali...the teeny-tiny Iberian country may be small but its reach was once world-wide with colonies and settlements all over the world - most notably in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Macao, East Timor, Sao Tome and Principe and Goa.

-The Portuguese gave Japan tempura and thank-you: Obrigado = Arigato

-We gave the English their tea-time courtesy of marriage into Portuguese royalty. Of course 3 meals a day are not enough!!!

-We actually 'discovered' India, albeit a little later than Columbus ;-) in 1524 by Vasco da Gama

-I once heard a non-Lusitanian at a dinner party answer the question - 'What exactly is portuguese cuisine?' -- 'Give a portuguese woman a cut of meat to marinate and cook, and it's like an orgasm in your mouth!'

-But if you're not satisfied with that explanation some signature dishes are chicken piri-piri, (made popular in Canada by the Nando's Chicken chains) barbequed sardines, (believe me you have to try them at least once) all manner of cod dishes, and of course many egg and almond based sweets that melt in your mouth...showing influences from our arabic neighbours.

Dear Diary...It's been six weeks since my last post

Since I know there are only a handfull of you that may or may not check my bloggings goings-ons...I do not feel so bad...I have been busy....sort of ...and lazy...a wee bit. But let's see... I have been up to a lot!

I have had a career epiphany - going into business for myself - eventually...another 30th birthday...almost went to Turkey...recommitted to continue to explore the lotus sutra...and basically been very busy being A-list and killing it!

So really, a lot to report on but where to begin...maybe just with some fresh flowers.

I know! Channel the Cruz...the other Cruz!

Ahhhh....Penelope. Look at her wave just like Eva Peron..."do not cry for me - I am just happy to have worked with my mentor once again - Pedro makes me so happy...so happy that I will sign autographs for you - the people, my fans...feast your eyes on my beautiful awe-inspiring Sophia Lorenesque decollete...yes, they are marvellous, non?"

"They are what kept me going when I was with Tom and they are what keep me going now with the rumours that I am with Orlando, please - I will not speak of it...he is like a child to me, a child...I rock him to sleep in my bosom each night. At least he does bathe...unlike Matthew...he was much too comfortable with odour - any kind of odour...ohhhh, those were heady times. But I must go, now...I hope I have made you feel better as you - the people have helped me in my work...channelling the ordinary life - I thank you. Gracias. Gracias."

Ah, yes my non-latino latina...my fellow Iberian - we are so similar. And yet not...but you have cheered me and I will channel you as an inspiration tomorrow...perhaps because we are the same age...perhaps because we are both inspired by Pedro - Talk to Her is one of my all-time favourite movies...and who doesn't love watching Antonio Banderas in a little man-on-man action from time to time...when his butt-cheeks rivaled her bosom?

Gracias, PENELOPE, gracias.

An Ode to Dri

There are those people that always stay with you ...that are so obscenely talented and wise beyond their years...that are so generous of spirit that you cannot help but be a better person through knowing them. When these same people are also self-effacing, intelligent, funny, spiritual, able to kill it on a dance floor and pick you up from one when you fall down...these are great friends.

So Dri, can't wait until tonight - it's been too long.

xo

mo.

Bravo! Sexy, hot, talented women who eat!

Sara, Chandra, and America -- love that colour-want that dress!!!!

Just traversing one of my favourite sites - on my lunch of course - and I come across Lainey's wrap up of the SAG awards...and it is just sooooooo refreshing to see that there are talented normal-sized, even plus-sized women getting work and being recognized for their talents - there is hope for my return to the world of actors after all --- did you know Chandra Wilson had a part-time job the whole time she was gigging? She only quit after 6 months into the first season of Grey's and now she's receiving her first SAG!!!! I'm sure http://actingresponsible.blogspot.com will be happy to hear that!

Killing it ladies, killling it!

girl groups

Ladies...I know we are just going to drink wine and chat about our lives but I can't wait!!!!! Go draft dodgers...Beavers, can't wait until dineout on Saturday night...killing it! Girl groups are awesome!!!

no day like today

I just returned from the closest thing to a high school reunion as I have ever had - it's been almost 15 years...almost 15 years since I grew up with these people...laughed and fought and gossiped about some of these people...had crushes, felt crushed and walked the podium with these people...there are childen, marriages and other passions and pain. What brought us together? A funeral service, for one of us.

But we are young, we are beautiful and we are still here.
No day like today.