Not so perfect perfect day.

I ran out of steam yesterday and didn't blog.   I am bummed out/feeling dread creep down the back of my throat right now.   My kids are leaving tomorrow morning for their summer visit with their Dad for the rest of the summer.  I hate this time of year.  It's like anti-christmas....  Or something.  I worry and worry for an entire month.

We went geocaching today, found our cache, too.  Yay us! Pretty view.  We also went to visit my Grandpa's grave, I wish we hadn't because it amplified my emotional wreckage by a billion.  The awful thing about the graveyards in small towns that you grew up in is that you know most of the tragic stories behind the stones.   So I've been faking not being a snotty, weepy disaster all day long so as not to freak out the kids, but they always see through it, the little detectives.

Later we went to visit at my sisters and i put about 89347923847293 new books onto my son's ereader.  I spent all of my book budget on him.   

I need a hug or 20.

I had to add this one because I have a thing for scenic photos with a thumb in the top corner.  Dumb, eh?  It's the view from our geocache.

Miley Cyrus gets a new tattoo

Miley Cyrus's new tattoo

Miley Cyrus has shown her support for gay rights in a very special way: she's gotten a new tattoo. This is the seventh tattoo for the 18-year old singer.

Along with this photo Miley tweeted, "All LOVE is equal." Referring to The All Love is Equal campaign from the Gay & Lesbian Rigths Lobby. Miley has made her stance regarding gay rights known a number of times before, tweeting earlier this month - when Casey Anthony was aquitted for the murder of her daughter Caylee - "You know the world is skewed when people get away with murdering children, but we cant get gay marriage legalized in the state of California."

The Equal symbol is Miley's second tattoo in little over two months time. She got an anchor tattoo when touring in Brazil on her Gypsy Heart tour. Miley's first tattoo were the words Just Breathe on the left side of her chest. She also has the outline of a heart on her pinky finger and a cross on the inside of her ring finger, both on her right hand. Then there's the Love tattoo on the inside of her ear, and a dream catcher on the right side of her ribcage.

Summer Song #28... Up Up & Away

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon

We could float among the stars together,

 You & I

For we can fly, we can fly

Up, up & away

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon

The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon

It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon

We can sing a song & sail along the silver sky

For we can fly we can fly

Up, up & away

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon

Suspended under a twilight canopy

We'll search the clouds for a star to guide us

If by some chance you find yourself loving me

We'll find a cloud to hide us

We'll keep the moon beside us

Love is waiting there in my beautiful balloon

Way up in the air in my beautiful balloon

If you'll hold my hand we'll chase your dream across the sky

For we can fly we can fly

Up, up & away

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon

Balloon...

Up, up, & away...

Jimmy Webb

1967

I have never been in a hot air balloon. It is one of the many things on the list of things I want to experience before I go. I sense that I need to start checking off that list. Tell me, have you ever been up in a balloon?

Norwegian Would

I was thinking about lesbians today, (& who of us does not?), preparing for the post below. I have been dumbstruck by the lack of attention this story got in the mainstream press. Americans love a Hero Story, & yet I have seen no accounts in our country’s press of this story.

They were doing one of those things that lesbians do better than most of us- Camping. Hege Dalen & her spouse Toril Hansen were camping on an island when the couple were among the first responders to assist victims following the shooting massacre in Norway last week, when a Right Wing Christian gunman- Anders Behring Breivik went on a shooting rampage at a youth camp on Utoya island.

Dalen & Hansen made 4 trips back forth in their small boat, picking up injured, bloodied & scared young people.

Dalen & Hansen were near Utöyan having dinner on the opposite shore across from the ill-fated campsite, when they began to hear gunfire & screaming on the island.

Dalen: “We were eating. Then shooting & then the awful screaming. We saw how the young people ran in panic into the lake.”

The couple immediately took action & pushed the boat into Lake Tyrifjorden. Dalen & Hansen drove the boat to the island, picked up from the water victims in shock in, the young wounded, & transported them to the opposite shore to the mainland, all the while there were bullets flying overhead. They returned to the island 4 times. The couple were able to rescue 40 young people from the killer.

Heroes like Dalen & Hansen need to be part of the story when reported in the press. The Right Wingers call gay people many degrading names, but a HOMO HERO is a term that they just might choke on.

Born On This Day- July 31st... Pioneer Activist Barbara Gittings

During an era when very few gay people dared come out in private, much less in public, Barbara Gittings was a vocal & visible figure in the fledgling fight for gay rights.

In the late 1950s, she founded the NYC chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first national organization for lesbians, even though she lived in Philadelphia. In the 1960s, she took part in early gay rights demonstrations at the White House & Liberty Square in Philadelphia. In the early 1970s, she helped lobby the American Psychiatric Association to change its stance on homosexuality; in 1973, the APA invalidated the definition of homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Gittings also strove to make information about gay men & lesbians more widely available in libraries. Though not a librarian by training, she was for many years the head of the American Library Association’s Gay Task Force; she coordinated & edited the association’s comprehensive bibliography of literature by & about gay people.

Gittings felt keenly aware of the need for such a bibliography as a young woman, when she scoured local libraries, seeking, but seldom seeing, something that would help her understand her own life.

Gittings was born on July 31, 1932, in Vienna, where her father was a member of the United States diplomatic corps. Returning to the United States when Barbara was young. When she was a teenager, her father caught her reading The Well of Loneliness, the 1928 novel of lesbian love by the English writer Radclyffe Hall. He told her, via a letter, to burn the book. Gittings father mailed the letter, when he could not bring himself to speak to her.

Gittings studied theatre at Northwestern, but she was increasingly distracted by the need to learn as much as she could about homosexuality. She haunted the libraries of Chicago, unearthing little that was relevant & nothing that was encouraging.

Gittings: "I had to find bits & pieces under headings like ‘sexual perversion’, ‘invert, or ‘sexual aberration’ in books on abnormal psychology. I kept thinking, ‘It’s me they’re writing about, but it doesn’t feel like me at all.’"

She left Northwestern after her freshman year, & for decades she supported her activism with clerical jobs. In 1958, commuting from her home in Philadelphia, Gittings started the NYC chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, which was founded in San Francisco in 1955; she later edited the organization’s national newsletter- The Ladder. In 1965, she took part in one of the first gay rights pickets of the White House, in an effort to end discrimination against gay people in federal employment.

Gittings received many awards, among them honorary membership in the American Library Association. The Free Library of Philadelphia named its gay & lesbian collection for her, & the NY Public Library acquired the papers of Ms. Gittings & her partner Kay Tobin Lahusen, which chronicle more than half a century in the gay rights movement.

She appeared in the documentaries Out of the Past, Gay Pioneers, Before Stonewall & After Stonewall.

Gittings died of cancer in her home on February 2007 at 74 years old.

Lahusen: “Before Barbara died, we went jointly into an assisted-living facility here, Our last bit of activism was to come out in the newsletter of our assisted-living facility.”

Gittings front & center in 1966. Photo by her partner.

Westlife singer Kian Egan is going to be a dad!

Kian Egan and Jodi Albert

Westlife singer Kian Egan and his wife Jodi Albert are expecting their first child. The 31-year old heartthrob tweeted, "Myself and my wife @Jodi Wonderland are delighted to say we are expecting our first baby! We are so happy and cannot wait to be parents x"

Kian and Jodi, 28, married on Turtle Beach in the Caribbean in May 2009, having been together for five years then. Since then Kian has been working hard for Westlife, but also as a manager to the former Hollyoaks actress's girlband Parade.

A due date wasn't announced.

Candice Swanepoel shows Victoria's Secret Halloween outfits

Candice Swanepoel for Victoria's Secret

Candice Swanepoel for Victoria's Secret

It's still in the midst of summer, but Victoria's Secret has already released photos of Victoria's Angel Candice Swanepoel in Halloween costumes. Well, costumes... Halloween underwear. The 22-year old South-African model is photographed in some very sexy outfits for the lingerie line's new Halloween collection, from sexy sailor, to devil, to sexy santa, it all looks fabulous on Candice.

Candice, who recently was under heavy scrutiny for having dropped a significant amount of weight, also confirms that she's back to her old weight. Candice herself has always insisted that she's healthy, despite her size and the lost pounds. In an interview with ABC News during New York Fashion week this year, she said, "Actually, this year my problem has been more putting on weight and getting muscle on, becuase it's been really busy. I've been travelling around like crazy. I get skinnier if I'm very busy." Luckily, these shots show that she's no longer as skinny as she was three months ago, when she looked like a shadow of her former self.

Candice was discovered at age 15 at a Durban flea market and has since appeared on the covers of Vogue and Elle, and has featured in campaigns for Diesel, Nike and Guess. She's also a runway model and besides Victoria's Secret she has also walked shows for Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce and Gabbanna, and Diane von Furstenberg. Candice has been a Victoria's Angel since April 2010. 

Candice Swanepoel for Victoria's Secret

'Happy Feet 2' teaser released!

Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood), the dancing penguin, is back with new son Erik (Elizabeth Daily) in the upcoming "Happy Feet 2" which will be released in Real and Imax 3D.

"Happy Feet 2" poster

Directed by George Miller, the movie opens in theaters on November 17, 2011. Here's its plot:

Mumble the penguin has a problem: his son Erik, who is reluctant to dance, encounters The Mighty Sven, a penguin who can fly! Things get worse for Mumble when the world is shaken by powerful forces, causing him to brings together the penguin nations and their allies to set things right.

Check out the teaser trailer of "Happy Feet 2" below:

Alexa Chung and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner split up

Alexa Chung and Alex Turner © Pixsell

Alexa Chung and her boyfriend of four years, Arctic Monkeys frontman, Alex Turner have called it quits. Break up rumours started swirling around at the start of this month, when Alexa and Alex were in London for the iTunes Festival. The Arctic Monkeys performed and Alexa presented the Festival at the Roundhouse in Camden. However, the two weren't spotted together, apart from on stage. At the time, they denied their split.

Friends of the former couple now say that they're through, "Alexa has moved all her stuff out and is concentrating on getting her American TV career back on track. Alex has gigs in America next month, but none of them are on the East Coast." The friends conclude with, "They are very busy and have grown apart, but want to keep the news quiet."

Alexa her rep confirmed the break up, saying, "Sadly, Alexa and Alex have split, although they remain close."

Bagyong Lando Updates | PAGASA Weather Forecast

Bagyong Lando (Tropical Depression Lando) has developed from the active Low Pressure Area prevailing Ilocos Sur the past hours, the PAGASA said Sunday evening.

August 1 Update: As of 2 p.m., Bagyong Lando is no longer a tropical depression. It has weakened into a low pressure area, the PAGASA said.

Satellite shot of Bagyong Lando (West Philippine Sea) and Bagyong Kabayan (Pacific Ocean) as of 9 p.m. July 31, 2011 | Source: PAGASA

According to the latest bulletin from PAGASA, Bagyong Lando was estimated based on
radar, satellite and surface data at 220 kms West of Dagupan City (16.0°N, 118.0°E) at 6 p.m. It is packing maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and is forecast to move slowly in a Northwest direction.

Tropical Depression Lando is expected to intensify further the southwest monsoon and to bring scattered to widespread rains over Luzon and Visayas particularly the western section.

Meanwhile, Bagyong Kabayan (Typhoon Kabayan) is still inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Read the PAGASA bulletin about Kabayan HERE.

Mike Tindall and Zara Philips are husband and wife

Mike Tindall and Zara Philips

Mike Tindall and Zara Philips's wedding was a private affair, nevertheless, since it was a royal wedding, many well-wishers had gathered outside of Canongate Kirk yesterday, to catch a glimpse of the wedding party. Mike and Zara did not disappoint the well-wishers, when they came out of the church as husband and wife, after a 45-minute ceremony, they recreated their own 'balcony-scene-kiss-minus-the-balcony'. The crowd was delighted. After the ceremony the wedding party headed to Holyroodhouse for the evening reception.

Reverend Neil Gardener wed the couple in the 17th century Canongate Kirk, the official kirk of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Zara with father Mark Philips © AP

Zara wore an ivory dress by Edinburgh-trained designer Stewart Parvin, a favourite designer of Queen Elizabeth. The gown had a chevron pleated bodice, that ended in inverted pleats on a dropped waist, thus creating a bell-shaped silhouette. It included a concealed structured corset, a short train and silk tulle straps that fell into a V-shape at the back. She wore it with a silk veil and The Meander Tiara, lent to Zara by her mother Princess Anne.The bridesmaids wore ivory dresses, the youngest bridesmaids' dresses had tulle skirts. The maid of honour wore a dove grey dress.

Zara arrived with her father, Captain Mark Philips, by car. He got out of the car first and opened the car door for his daughter. As they walked to the church, Zara briefly turned around and waved at the crowd. Then Zara and her father were greeted by Reverend Neil Gardner and went inside the 17th century church. Zara's elder brother Peter was an usher and greeted guests by the entrance of the Kirk.

Mike looked dapper in a black jacket, grey pinstriped trousers, a grey waistcoat, white shirt and grey tie. Mike seemed completely relaxed and smiled and waved at the photographers and the crowd.

The Earl and Countess of Strathearn

Among the first guests to arrive was Zara's mother, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, were also in attendance, as well as Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Duchess Catherine of Cambridge. The Earl and Countess of Strathearn, William and Kate's Scottish titles, looked wonderful. Kate wore a beautiful champagne-coloured embroidered coat over her dress, that was gorgeous enough to keep on all night. She paired the dress and coat with nude pumps and a hat with floral detail.

After the ceremony Zara and Mike posed for photographers outside the church, whilst the crowd cheered.


The reception took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official Scottish home. It is expected that best man Iain Balshaw has given his best man's speech there. Mike and Iain are both rugby players, having played together for the Gloucester and England team.

Zara is thought to be setting a royal precedent by not taking her husband's last name. Brides of the royal family have always taken the surnames of their spouses, be they royal or not. According to the Daily Mail  Zara is keeping her own surname based on the fact that "she wants to preserve her sporting persona and her business interests."

Mike Tindall's wedding party

Trans-Asia ship sinks off Negros (Video)

M/V Trans Asia Malaysia, a passenger-cargo ship from Cebu and bound for Ilo-ilo, sank off coasts of Cadiz, Negros Occidental and Ajuy, Iloilo, Sunday morning.

The 107 passengers and 35 crew members of the said vessel were safe and transferred to other ships and boats after the ship captain issued an abandon-ship order at 6 a.m. before the vessel sank (at around 8:50 a.m).

The Philippine Coast Guard is still investigating the reason behind the sinking.

Operated by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc., M/V Trans Asia Malaysia left Cebu at 6 p.m. Saturday and was scheduled to dock in Iloilo at 8 a.m.

Here's a video of the ship just before it sank (courtesy of "airgrouppcg"):

Changes

Before

After

 (lick on the image it will get bigger!)

That clever, talented Husband can still stun me with his talents. I was not so keen for him to change the dining room chairs, I rather enjoyed the circa 1963 Pucci fabric. Change them he did, & on occasion I am unhappily & unwillingly brought to admit that he was right. He reupholstered the 2 dining room chairs & I am charmed by the results.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries's wedding cake tasting session

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries © RAMY PHOTO

Last Friday Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries stopped by Hansen Cakes in L.A. for a wedding cake tasting session. Kim, who recently upped her exercise regime to be in killer shape for the wedding, made time - and calories - to find the perfect cake for the big day. Mum's the word on whether or not they've found the right cake, or that they'll go back for another tasting - I know which option I'd pick - however, their tasting sure looks fun!

A source confides in US Magazine and says that Kim stopped by Mark's Garden - a high-end florist in Sherman Oaks, California - to discuss flower arrangements. Something that the source couldn't say was which designer is creating Kim's dress. Kim and sister Khloe were spotted at Vera Wang's NYC store last month, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Khloe, who wore a Vera Wang on her wedding day, has said on the topic, "I hope she does [design Kim's wedding gown too]. Just because I love her, and I feel like when you think of weddings, you think of Vera Wang. It would be a perfect fit."

When the wedding invite  that recently surfaced is authentic, we'll have to wait until August 20th in order to find out what Kim will be wearing and what wedding cake the couple chose.

First look: Zara Philips's wedding dress

Mike Tindall and Zara Philips © Jeff J. Mitchell

Mike Tindall and Zara Philips are husband and wife. The couple married today at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. US Magazine was the first to post this photo of the newlyweds AND Zara's dress. According to CNN is the designer of Zara's ivory wedding gown Stewart Parvin. Parvin is one of Queen Elizabeth's favourite designers.

Zara and Mike's wedding is a private affair, but many well-wishers had gathered outside the church to cheer for the newlyweds and other royal attendants, including Prince William and Kate, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth, and Zara's mother the Princess Royal (Princess Anne).

After the ceremony the guests will go back to Holyroodhouse for the reception.

Taylor Armstrong and almost-ex-husband Russell are being sued

Taylor and Russell Armstrong © Jordan Strauss/WireImage

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong and her soon-to-be-ex-husband Russell are being sued by MyMedicalRecords.com for more than $1.5 million USD for breach of contract.

MyMedicalRecords.com filed a lawsuit on Friday in an L.A. Superior Court. The company claims that the Armstrong's misled people into believing that they were investing in the company. They claim that the Armstrong's have pocketed over $1 million USD. The company says they've used that money to "live a lavish lifestyle."

These claims come shortly after Taylor, 40, filed for divorce from Russell and her claims that he verbally and physically abused her during their marriage.

Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth's honeymoon continues in Positano, Italy

Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth © Fame

From the streets of Paris to the Amalfi coast. Reese Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth have arrived in the seaside town of Positano, Italy, on their honeymoon.

The newlyweds took in the sights of picturesque Positano on a boat ride to sea and on a shopping spree. Then they went to have a bite to eat at La Caravella, a popular eatery, where they "held hands and spoon-fed each other," according to a People Magazine observer. The observer also said, "Lovebirds - that's how I would describe them." The owner of the restaurant shared what Reese ate, "Mrs. Witherspoon ordered lemon leaf stuffed with fennel shredded fish, grilled and served with fennel; homemade cutlet pasta with ricotta cheese; buffalo ricotta cheese and pear with Aglianico wine and raw squids." To drink "the pair drank a very serious wine," the owner says, "the type that only connoisseurs would order."

Amy Smart and Carter Oosterhouse have set a wedding date

Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart © Byron Purvis/AdMedia

Actress Amy Smart and tv-handyman Carter Oosterhouse are getting married in little over a month. Amy, 35, told US Magazine, "We're getting married September 10. We've had about five months for planning, so it's more condensed than normal, but it's kind of perfect because it feels like we have the momentum."

The couple are going to have a "rustic" ceremony in northern Michigan. "He's from there and my parents live there, so it's been my second home since I was very young," Amy said about the choice of location. "I'm excited to get married!" The couple has invited around 200 guests to celebrate their nuptials.

Amy and Carter,34, met by chance at a green-charity event in November 2010. The couple was first spotted 'out and about' in January 2011. Five months into their relationship they confirmed their engagement.

Ali Landry is nesting, whilst daughter Estela is on holiday

Ali Landry © Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Ali Landry is preparing for the October arrival of her second child with husband Alejandro Monteverde and she is in nesting mode. Ali, 38, is making up for being unable to nest when pregnant with 4-year old daughter Estela Ines, when the couple was busy remodelling their house. "I am in major nesting mode right now in this pregnancy. I have touched every single corner, every single drawer in my house," she says. "It just feels so good to get your house organized and clean, especially with the phase that I’m in now."

Ali also has all the time in the world to nest, because daughter Estela is living the good life with grandma in Louisiana. Estela is having such a good time on holiday that, "I have to threaten her to talk to her. I have to say, 'I’m going to come and get you if you don’t talk to me on the phone!' Ali told People Magazine. I asked her the other day, 'Are you ready for Mommy to come get you?' and she said, 'Not yet … It’s a little late tonight. I need to go to sleep.'"

Aaron Johnson and Sam Taylor-Wood are expecting

Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson © Eric Charbonneau/WireImage

Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson and his fiancée, filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood are expecting their second child.

The relationship between 21-year old Aaron and 44-year old Sam raised some eyebrows, because of their 23-year age difference. Aaron has defended their relationship in the past by saying, "I've got a wonderful woman. I'm an old soul and she's a young soul." The couple met on the set off Nowhere Boy in 2009.

The new baby will join daughter Wylda Rae, who just turned one, and Angelica, 14, and Jessie Phoenix, 4, Sam's children from her first marriage to art dealer Jay Jopling.

Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner enjoy a date night

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump

New mom Ivanka Trump gave birth to daughter Arabella Rose two weeks ago and she's enjoying life as a mommy to the fullest. She recently tweeted, "The is nothing better in life than playing with a well fed baby first thing in the morning." She also reads books to Arabella, "Love the Black & White book by Hoben. Arabella will just stare at the pictures totally memorized! I joke that my baby is less than 2 wks old & already literate!"

Even though Ivanka, 29, experienced separation anxiety when she ventured into the office for a few hours on Monday, she and husband Jared Kushner made sure to have a date-night this week. Thursday she tweeted, "Just enjoyed my first night out of the house since Arabella and I came home from the hospital. I had a great date with my husband!"

Hot Rollers for the Stir Crazy.

What was today about, you might ask?  Going to Walmart to buy a birthday gift for niece hot rollers for my hair.  Life in the camper is great and stuff but maybe I'm a little stir crazy.... I don't know.  However, we all know that stir crazy purchases are usually the most interesting and best kind.  Even better than impulse purchases.  Impulse purchases are things like chocolate bars and tide pens.  Stir Crazy purchases are the things you see when you are at the store for no good reason at all and you buy something you don't need based on it's ability to entertain you for more than 10 minutes.  Like a pressure washer or a giant cigar that you can't really smoke but you might.  Don't judge me. 

Sometimes, when I'm feeling a bit cooped up, I head out to the store for this or that, I get what I need but I don't want to go home just yet- but I don't necessarily "need" anything else.  Walmart is particularly dangerous ground for the Stir Crazy individual.  They have a lot of stuff that goes Whiiiirrrrr and ping!   This time it was hot rollers because my kid was taking too long picking out a flavour of chap stick and they were in the general vicinity and I just, well I got weak.

I saw them, I imagined myself putting them in my hair in the camper when I got home,  then I imagined waiting for them to cool down so that I could take them out and reveal my new ravishing Marilyn Monroe camper hairstyle; so I bought them.  WHAT?  Like you wouldn't do the same if you were at Walmart with your Mom who used to be a hairdresser.  She told me it was okay to buy them even though I have no room to get them home.  I guess they'll go in with the puffed wheat.

So I unpackaged them, plugged them in, rolled them up and waited while bugging Neil as he tried really hard to read his book.   Then I made him take this photo with me:

Then I unrolled them for the big Marilyn reveal-to-Neil...

Me: Hmm... maybe I haven't perfected my technique yet, Neil.  It's a little less Marilyn Monroe and a bit more... hmmm.... not Liz Taylor..... no no no... maybe it's...

Neil:  Phyllis Diller?


AND IT WAS.  It was Phyllis Diller's exact hairstyle; It looked exactly like Phyllis Diller.

The End.

Our House For Our House

Portland has been enjoying a week of near perfect summer weather of the sort that made me fall in love with this place that I chose to live out my last days. Each day begins cool, in the mid-50s, after some marine air burns off we get into the 80s & sunny. Clear nights with views from the hot tub & the garden of the constellations & our friend Mr. Moon. Don't hate be because I'm beautiful.

I have been watching the weather & the very useless forecasts with apprehension, damn this Climate Change, because we are hosting a charity dinner in the Boys' Fort next Sunday. 4 couples paid $100 a person to feast on The Husband's surprisingly savory, scrumptious vegan offerings & my custom designed libations with a tour of Post Apocalyptic Bohemia & the garden. 4 courses, paired with drinks, on a summer evening in the garden.

We chose Sunday, August 7th, by the almanac, as the sure bet for no rain, but we have had cool rainy days for much of July & I was getting nervous.

The benefit is for Our House, housing & inspiration for people living with HIV. Our House is a model of innovation & compassion. During a July to July year, there is a catalogue of the Dinner At Our House For Our House series & this year Post Apocalyptic Bohemia opens our re-purposed door for the opportunity to do our part for this organization.

Our little cottage in Seattle was on the Seattle Art Museum's Tour Of Artists' Gardens in 1998 & we toiled to the very last moment before opening the gate to make sure that the tour participants would get an eye full & their money's worth. I was plugging Lobelia in the planting blanks as the first group arrived.

The Husband is putting extra energy, élan,& esprit on the Boys' Fort of Summer 2011 being the best possible Boys' Fort for our guests.

Please forgive me for posting so many photos of our back garden at Post Apocalyptic Bohemia, but I found these overhead shots, taken while the husband scampered up the dogwood like a monkey to fiddle with the lighting, gave a viewpoint not yet explored. I hope you don't mind. & when you are in Portland, please let me know, so we can have a cocktail in this unique space & toast to the boyhood that we still hang on to.

David Beckham would love to add one more baby to his brood

David Beckham with Harper Seven

Little Harper Seven Beckham is only two weeks old, but David Beckham has already made known that he and Victoria would love to have a fifth child.

David, 36, told the Associated Press, "We'd love one more. We've always said we'd love a big family and five was a number. If we're lucky enough, then we hope to have one more." Harper Seven has three older brothers, Brooklyn, 12, Romeo 8 1/2, and Cruz, 6 1/2.

David and Victoria, 37, welcomed their daughter into their family on July 10th and the proud father says that Harper's older brothers are completely smitten with her. "All the boys won't leave her alone, which is amazing." David adds, "It's different having a little girl. She's elegant."

Soulja Boy buys himself a $55 million birthday present: a jet

Soulja Boy © Larry Marano/WireImage

Hopped up out the bed plane. Turn my swag on.

DeAndre Cortez Way, a.k.a. Soulja Boy, turned 21 on Thursday, and he's celebrating it BIG. The Crank That (Soulja Boy) and Turn My Swag On rapper bought himself a private jet. Costs? A whopping $55 million.

You know... It's like.. I REALLY wanted it.. and.. you know.. I figured.. Fuck it. I'll do it. I'm going to buy myself a birthday gift, and I'm giving myself a plane... You know what I'm saying? - Or so I imagine were Soulja Boy's thoughts.

The birthday boy spent $35 million on the actual Gulfstream G5 jet and is spending another $20 million on upgrades. Improvements include custom Italian leather seats, flat screen TVs, four liquor bars (imagine that you run out of wodka/beer/courvoisier/crystal), a customized travertine-tiled floor, and Brazilian hardwood cabinets. Also included in the $20 million? A paint job of the exterior of the plane, that will feature his logo.

In honour of his birthday Soulja is throwing a birthday bash in Miami tonight, Friday July 29th, that reportedly cost him about $300,000. Sean Kingston, Bow Wow and Dwight Howard have been invited, but if you haven't received an invite you can watch - for free - the event go down on his website.

I'm getting spending money. Ohh.

Summer Songs #26... Crash Into Me

You've got your ball

You've got your chain

Tied to me tight tie me up again

Who's got their claws

In you my friend

Into your heart I'll beat again

Sweet like candy to my soul

Sweet you rock

& sweet you roll

Lost for you I'm so lost for you

You come crash into me

& I come into you

I come into you

In a boys dream

In a boys dream

Touch your lips just so I know

In your eyes, love, it glows so

I'm bare boned & crazy for you

When you come crash

Into me, baby

& I come into you

In a boys dream

In a boys dream

If I've gone overboard

Then I'm begging you

To forgive me

In my haste

When I'm holding you so

Close to me

Oh & you come crash

Into me, baby

& I come into you

In a boys dream
 In a boys dream

Oh I watch you there

Through the window

& I stare at you

You wear nothing but you

Wear it so well

Tied up & twisted

The way I'd like to be

For you, for me,
 come crash
Into me

Who got you off when you got yours?

Who was the first to spill your soul?

Who got you off? Well, I'm the one

Dreamed of doing it day & night

Oh sweet like candy to my soul

Sweet you rock & sweet you roll

Oh I swear over & over

It's you like a wave into me

When you come crash into me baby

Please come crash into me

Come crash into me

In a boy's dream

In a boy's dream

What runs your way?

Who runs up side you & begs everyday?

Who's watching you through your window?

Night Comes

Who celebrates with the moon?

That you're like a wave come again

Come & crash into me 

& I come into you

In a boy's dream

In a boy's dream

Oh now it's here I build my soul

I swear, friend, don't you know

I'm bare boned & crazy for you

Oh when you come crash into me yeah

& you come into me

& you come into me

Hike up your skirt a little more

& show the world to me

Hike up your skirt a little more

& show the world to me

In a boy's dream 

In this boy's dream

Crash into me

Crash into me

Crash into me

Crash into me

I want to play with you

 Dave Matthews

1997

Randy Houser got engaged

Randy Houser and Jessa Lee Yantz © Alicia Yantz Photography

Country singer Randy Houser and singer-songwriter Jessa Lee Yantz are engaged. Randy, 34, and Jessa, 29, are planning a wedding in the Dominican Republic.

The country star told People Magazine, "I finally found the person that I can't be without. Jessa makes me a better person every day, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her."

Engagement rumours started to swirl on July 22nd, when Jessa's sister Alicia tweeted her congratulations. Thursday Jessa herself tweeted, "Went wedding dress shopping today... First dress I tried on was 'the one!' Perfection about sums it up!" Earlier this week she tweeted a love-tweet as well, "I'm a good-hearted woman loving a good-hearted man. Now THAT'S a match made in heaven. Lucky in love."

Zara Philips and Mike Tindall pre-wedding party

Mike Tindall and Zara Philiphs © Dave M. Benett/Getty

Zara Philips and Mike Tindall are set to marry tomorrow, Saturday July 30th, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m.

Tonight, on the 30th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana - Zara's uncle and aunt-, guests are gathering together. The younger guests are expected to party on the Royal Yacht Britannia, a retired vessel of the Windsor's, that's now docked in Leith.

Iain Balshaw and Mike Tindall
© Cosmopolitan UK

Zara, daughter of the Princess Royal, and rugby player Mike announced their engagement in Decemeber. Their wedding wil be very different from that of Prince William and Kate in April - fyi: William and Kate a.k.a the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will go by their Scottish titles whilst in Scotland: the Earl and Countess of Strathearn - Zara and Mike will have their festivities in a palace, the Holyroodhouse, but their won't be any tv camera's, no wedding mugs and other memorabilia, nor a crowd lining the streets. There won't be horse-drawn carriages either, the wedding party will leave Holyroodhouse by car and return in a fleet of luxury vehicles after the ceremony.

Zara is said to be wearing a wedding gown by Stuart Parvin, but her reps won't confirm this rumour. Also, the only known member of the wedding party is best man Iain Balshaw. What is certain is that the almost newlyweds will forego a honeymoon, for now. Zara has commitments regarding her career as an equestrian - she's a show-jumper - and Mike has to be back at the England rugby training camp on Monday.

The "Vamp" & The "It Girl" Share a Birthday On July 29th

I really do understand. I know first hand, the pain & shame of a brilliant acting career cut down by sex scandals, men, drugs, drink & mental problems. My flame burned out all too soon. I was known briefly & in a select circle as the "IT GUY". I was forgotten all too soon... but you can still re-live the magic with my work on Beta, VHS, & DVDs. Sometimes the world is not ready for the heat that we sex symbols produce.  Still, I have not yet been buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Indeed, I am living in impoverishment & obscurity in Portland, Oregon, in a house that is little more than a squatter's shack, with too many dogs & an unhinged, unglued & unzipped husband.

In the 1920s, Clara Bow's spirit & sex appeal defined the newly liberated woman of the flapper era. Clara Bow was Hollywood's brightest light during this time. Clara was known as the-"It Girl", & Clara Bow had "It". The people she worked with claimed that she was full of charm & wit, & a thorough professional.

Clara Bow was an actress of range & depth, but she played mostly manicurists, waitresses, & department store clerks. Her movies helped emancipate young American girls from the restrictive morals of their parents. Clara's characters were unashamed about being attracted to men. Her shop girl in It (1927) spies the boss’s son & says:"Oh Santa, gimme him!" Her characters wore their dresses short, cut off their hair, drank & smoked in public, & danced all night long. At the height of her career, she received 45,000 fan letters a week. She was the idol of working girls & the dream of blue collar guys.

The It Girl was so hot & bright, it seems inevitable that she would burn out personally & professionally. It is shocking to think that her career was over in 1933 at 26 years old, after she had made millions for her studio- Paramount, & was one of the most well known stars in the world. She was condemned by the Hollywood community for her questionable morality. Producer Budd Schulberg, in his book Moving Pictures: Memories of a Hollywood Prince:  "Hollywood was a cultural schizophrene: The anti-movie Old Guard with their chamber music & their religious pageants fighting a losing battle against the more dynamic culture who flaunted the bohemianism of Edna St. Vincent Millay & the socialism of Upton Sinclair. But, there was one subject on which staid old Hollywood establishment & the members of the new culture circle would agree: Clara Bow, no matter how great her popularity, was a low-life & a disgrace to the community."

Scandal ruined Clara Bow. She had a breakdown & had to recover in a sanatorium. She left films for good, & moved to Nevada with her new husband- cowboy actor Rex Bell. They had 2 sons, but Clara Bow was battling mental illness. She was a doting mother to her sons, but haunted by a weight problem & profound depression, Clara Bow was eventually confined to a psychiatric hospital & not allowed to see her children. She died of a heart attack in her small house in West L.A., on September 26, 1965, while watching a Gary Cooper movie. She was 60 years old & living in poverty & obscurity. Clara Bow is buried Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Most of Bow's films have been lost. Of her 56 films, silent & sound, only 27 exist in their entirety or in pieces. Only 16 are available on video. The remaining films that survive are in the Library of Congress Film Archive.

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Theodosia Burr Goodman was was one of the most popular screen actresses of her era, & one of filmdom’s original sex symbols. She earned her the nickname "The Vamp" (short for vampire). The term "vamp" soon became a popular slang term for a sexually forward woman.

The glamorous star of the 1910s, Theda Bara is also the most inaccessible & mysterious today. Only Mary Pickford & Charlie Chaplin were more popular, but today it's nearly impossible to view her work. Of the more than 40 films she made from 1914 -1926, only 3 remain. Her image remains with film fans 80+ years after her retirement, & she is the only star responsible for a word being placed both in the dictionary. Songs were written about Theda Bara, postcards & magazines featured her face. Dangling earrings, kohled eyes, languorous looks & the catch phrase- "Kiss me, you fool!" became part of the public lexicon.

Theda Bara did not end up as a disillusioned, destitute recluse, like other sex symbols of the Silent Era. In 1921 she married successful director Charles Brabin, a marriage that lasted until her death in 1955. The Brabins were wealthy world travelers, & Theda's Bara’s talent as hostess & gourmet made their Beverly Hills home a favorite with the film community into the 1960s. Theda Bara is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

The fact that Theda Bara never spoke on screen makes her even more fascinating & mysterious. We are able to hear the voices of Mary Pickford, Lon Chaney, Charles Chaplin & Norma Talmadge, only a few stars: Theda Bara, Rudolph Valentino, Wallace Reid, Constance Talmadge are silent forever. Theda Bara remains almost invisible as well. It makes me impossibly melancholy that her legacy is crumbling away to dust.