An Open Letter to Barbara Walters

Dear Babs,

While I truly enjoy your top ten most fascinating lists, I have a bone to pick with you. When you are interviewing the First Lady as your number one most fascinating person please refrain from spending a third of the already too short interview discussing said woman's arm buffness. In the words of Rihanna "puh-leaze". I know you are getting old and have seen it all, but I am unimpressed and frankly as a woman to another woman a tad offended that you would result to discussing a woman's already over objectified- body in the first place. Let me help you with a few questions you could ask Michelle if you are ever graced with her presence in the future.

"What has been the most exciting thing you have done this year?"

"As a strong woman and role model, who do you look up to?"

"You said your focus will be on children's health, how will you implement your mission into a concrete plan?"

"How have your values and beliefs changed or been strengthened within the last year?"

If you would like anymore suggestions please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help.

Sincerely,
Lo

P.S. I found your interview with Lady Gaga (of all people) to be compassionate and almost a tad provacative. Kudos.

Top 5 Holiday picks for 2009

Oh the weather outside if frightful, but inside it's so delightful . . . blah, blah, blah, you know the rest. By now, if you are a fellow Minnesotan, you are so stir crazy that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season offers much appreciated relief and distraction from being stuck inside day in and day out. This year I welcome Holiday Bonanza 2009 with open arms and tears of gratitude. I have compiled a list of my top five holiday favorites for 2009. So flick on your electric fireplace, cozy up with a mug of peppermint hot cocoa and enjoy!

1) Starbucks Carmel Brulee Latte

Yum!!! As a self proclaimed Caribou lover, I am hesitant any time Starbucks flashes a new drink in my face, fearing it will not satisfy. But this, my friends, this does not disappoint. If you want a real treat, go ahead and order it full fat, otherwise the skim version is pretty darn tasty. And how can one not appreciate the crispy caramelized sugar sprinkles on top?

2) Ornament shopping at Patina

After ordering your Carmel Brulee Latte, why don't you cross the street and head over to Patina? The most beautiful store in the world, often described at walking into a jewel box, is a true treat for your senses. It is filled with many unique and beautiful tree trimmings. J and I each chose an ornament this year. We picked out a metallic hot dog and a marshmallow snowman. A great place to do some gift shopping as well.

3) Mass at the St. Paul Cathedral

The cathedral is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Twin Cities. A must for Christmas mass.

4) Beauty and the Beast at the Ordway

My mom and I are lucky enough to see this show at the Ordway this holiday season. I love the songs, the costumes, and the story. It brings me back to my childhood whenever I hear "Be Our Guest" or any other Disney tune.

5)The lights at Rice Park


To me this is one of the most magical parts of the city. It is very near and dear to my heart not only because it exudes Christmas magic, but also because it is where J proposed to me two years ago. Every year Rice Park transplants a very tall pine tree to be the center of the tree lighting ceremony. If you have a little time after the Ordway go ahead and take a stroll through the park and maybe meander over to the St Paul Hotel for a dessert or a cocktail.

So there is my list. By no means is it complete, but I hope to demonstrate the joys of the season can be found in activities and events both big and small, free or with cost. So while December is often filled with trips to the mall and fighting crowds, make sure to take some time to relax and enjoy the blessings of the season. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Sincerely,

Lo

Thanksgiving

Do you smell that? That is the smell of Thanksgiving, my favorite time of year. I love the turkey, sweet potatoes, my dad's -everything but the kitchen sink- stuffing, J's cranberry salad, pumpkin cheesecake and green bean casserole. I love Thanksgiving so much I have no qualms about doing it all over again a mere three hours later. J and I do the newlywed double duty. We actually have been doing the double duty long before becoming newlyweds, but I think the holidays are something every new couple has to navigate and plan carefully.

We are fortunate enough to have both families living within 10 minutes of each other so we are able to do the double duty for practically every holiday. On Christmas Eve we have even started our own tradition of bringing both sides together while we host game and appetizer night. It is a nice way for us to ease our way into hosting holidays, show off our beautiful fancy wedding dishes, and bring everyone to us. Tomorrow, however, we are having lunch with J's family and dinner at my brother's. My stomach can't wait.

Another thing I love about Thanksgiving weekend is Black Friday. You won't see me standing in line at 4 am outside of Walmart or pushing over any soccer mom's for the last Wii. But I love the excitement of it all. I love the hustle and bustle and enthusiasm of the upcoming holidays.

I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving filled with many blessings and moments to reflect on the things you are truly grateful and thankful for.

Sincerely,
Lo

HILARIOUS!

Go see this. Showing at the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis.

Dear Pandora

Dear Pandora Radio,

You are my favorite. No really, every time I enter the Pandoraverse I feel a little tingle in my stomach. A moment of smugness that I am cheating the system with all the free music, free LEGAL music, that my little ears can handle . No suits coming after me for 2.2 million dollars because I coveted Fred Durst "Rolling" circa 2000. No icky viruses leaving my computer as dirty as 2 cent gigolo on the corner of University. A little part of me smiles each time I pull up my personalized stations to see what you have in store for me. Melody Gardot mixed in with a little Christina Aguilera mixed with a few spoonfuls of Lil Wayne and a side of Sinatra? Yes, please. The opportunity to introduce new music to my hip music buff acquaintances? More of that please. Avoiding the use of the soul- sucking frustration known as Itunes. Keep 'er comin.

Sincerely,
Lo

Star Struck

Last night I had a dream that I met Brad Pitt. In my dream I did not ask him for a picture, he approached ME to take a picture with him. I asked if someone could take a picture with my camera as well to prove my presence with the king of stardom. The random passerby flipped several pics while Brad and I coyly posed for each one. . . . I retrieve my camera to review the photographic evidence and learn much to my dismay not ONE picture was taken! One thing to note... I get very star struck. If you have been in a commercial, I will get slack jawed in your presence. So to have a dream that I was playing it cool with one of the most famous people on the planet is difficult for even me to imagine. This has led me to develop my top list of celebs that I would like to hang out with in all my star dazed glory. . .

1) Bono- love, love, love U2. He is the epitome of a rock legend.

2) The Backstreet Boys- circa 2000

3) The boys from Entourage- especially when Drama is in a fit of road rage

4) Chelsea and Chuy - possibly as a guest at the round table

5) Micheal, Jim, and Dwight from The Office

6) Will Farrell

7) Courtney, Jen, and Lisa

8) Bridget and Kendra from the Girls Next Door- Classy, I know

Just when you've had enough . . .

Dear Mr Unicyclist,

Cool, we get it, you love yourself some cycling. I slightly understand you weaving in and out of rush hour traffic as you cut us off at stoplights, making us drive behind you at a mere 10 miles per hour on curvy, 2-laned roads in your neon spandex appearal on a bike. We get that you are beyond fit and are saving the environment at the same time. But the unicycle?!? As you wobbly cross my path in your circus transportation at 7am on University Ave what point are you really trying to make? Are you just that good that biking 45 min to and from work has become a bore? Are you trying to show the rest of us lazy, sloths how dependant we are on our automobiles? Please reconsider the following: the uni, the bike that has a full on chair built into it, and the parent/child tandem bike (it is creepy and makes for lazy children) If this matter does not become resolved within the next 24 hours I have no choice left, but to pogo stick to work.

Sincerely,

LO

There is no such thing as a free lunch

Truth by the Tens : Ten things I believe are true . . . (today)

1) It royally sucks to be sick on one of the last nice weekends of the summer.
2) I don't know how to change the color of my blogs background- green is not my favorite color.
3) Not everyone is born into the same situations and sometimes we need to practice a little sympathy for
   those who may not have been given the proper foundation and building blocks to ease through life like
   many of us. Just because someone may not be "succeeding" at this current point in their life doesn't   
   mean they are lazy.  And who are we to deny someone who is in need help, when we have been given  so
   much help throughout our lives.
4) My hubby is the best Hubs of all :)
5) If my calculations are correct I will be the proud owner of this http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?fromGrid=1&sku=22149806&mcat=148210&cid=287465&search_params=s+5-p+29-c+287465-r+101323351-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t by November!
6) The best thing about work meetings are the free lunches involved, when you take aways free lunches due to budget cuts and force people to (A) drive 75 min for said meeting and (B) to pay 10 bucks for their own crappy boxed lunch you will have a room full of crabby, resentful people
7) Glee, Cougartown, the Office, and the Community are the mark of the beginning of the end for reality TV shows (except for Project Runway). Long live witty comedy and Jane Lynch!!!!
8) I thoroughly enjoy the Twilight Series, however, seriously questioned many of the final book's subject matters as being appropriate for tweens or "young adults".
Note: the Edward inspired dildo being sold on the web.
9) I fully support following your dreams, but find all those posters, mugs, and plaques with inspirational sayings a load of crap and completely unmotivational.
10) It is a much better idea to be retired at the beginning of our adulthood (twenties- thirties) when we are still young, healthy, and fresh enough to enjoy it and to work from forty on up- I would thoroughly enjoy the chance to be able to tour the US by RV, be a snowbird, and spike my drink at noon while waiting for the adult bus to pick me up to take me to my fun filled day of activities at the community center.

Project Runway- Youz Out!!!

I am a huge project runway fan. I am amazed at the creativity and talent that pours out of these people's hands. I love fashion and would love to have just an ounce of their designing abilities, but whenever I try to creatively design my own outfit (read take a pair of scissors and a handful of safety pins to my threads) I find myself looking, well, homemade. . . Oh, but I have tried, don't get me wrong, my old journals contain sketches that suspiciously resemble last month's Elle, Target ads, or Glamour- if I am lucky. Nothing quiet as innovative or fresh as the budding artists on my beloved lifetime reality fluff. Thus I am resigned to a life of purchasing clothes, often with a scoff "I could make this", and a flash-forward of me standing in my closet, with an iron in one hand and scissors in another, hair in a sticky, curly mess, with the thought "this stitch witchery is crap"