Fashionista Porn

I love award show season. All of those epicurean dresses on the red carpet... it feels like fashionista porn. The SAG Awards were Sunday night, and the gown turnout was a bit disappointing. In fact, the majority were atrocious. Let's just say that the Fug Girls are going to have a heyday. So instead, we'll focus on the positive.

Jennifer Hudson

America Ferrera

Eva Longoria

Katherine Hiegl

Jaime Pressly

Demi Moore

Teri Hatcher

Laura Leighton

Helen Mirren

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith

Someday, I will have a husband that will honor my presence like the Fresh Prince honors his wifey.

You know I couldn't post a red carpet review without a little snark, and this time, I'm going to pick on one of my favorite actresses.

Rachel McAdams, wearing "oh-no-she-di-nt"

Toxic Pangs

Dictionary.com describes a "pang" as "a sudden feeling of mental or emotional distress or longing." I just had a pang.

I really miss someone right now, despite their high toxicity level and my own assuredness of making the right decision. I made the mistake of listening to a particular album, one that could be a biographical account of my summer-through-fall of 06. I'm such a masochist for allowing myself to listen to this.

I am a strong girl, and this too shall pass. I'm going to go to bed and sleep it off. Goodnight.

Tennessee has the Queen MAB Seal of Approval

I listened to Mindy Smith's new album on the way to and from work today. On it is a love-song to Tennessee. The song really moved me, and it makes me realize how much I love my home. You can listen to a snippet of the song here, but I highly encourage you to go and buy the album. It comes with the Queen MAB Seal of Approval (you know, like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, except better!).

Tennessee, you've been good to me
Yes, I've come to believe you're where I wanna be
You may not be what everybody needs
but Tennessee, you're good enough for me.

I can see stars shining in your night
Your daytime seems like Cash and Patsy Cline
They may not be what everybody needs
But they touch my soul and that's good enough for me.

It's been ten years now, and I'm rooted in your soil
I am rooted in your soil
Give me ten more years, I'll be rooted in your soil
Right here in your soil.

You may not be what I will always need
But I call you home
If I can call you home
Then you're good enough for me

Diddy Got Busted!

The Year of Mary Anna

Tonight, I love being single. I'm watching a Sex and the City rerun on TBS. It's the episode where Carrie and the gang are invited to Bitsy Von Muffling's wedding. Carrie finds out that Jack Berger broke up with his girlfriend and they make a connection. Aside from Big, Berger (Ron Livingston) is my favorite Carrie Bradshaw boyfriend. Even moreso than Aidan. Berger is sufficiently nerdy-yet-witty, for my taste.

I'm drinking Lipton's new Pyramids in White Tea with Island Mango and Peach. The flavor is great, but the gossamer mesh tea infusers aren't as good in quality as Tea Forte brand. Quite a bit of sediment is floating at the bottom of my mug, but for the price, they're a decent value.

I'm sitting on my couch. Kip is propped up on my left leg, and Jack the B.C. is stationed on my right leg. He's following the mouse cursor across the screen and is mildly entertained.

I cooked tonight for the first time in a long time. I made Picante Chicken and asparagus. I often forget how much I love to cook until I'm able to pick it back up again. I'm very possessive of my time right now. Last year, I gave all of my time to other people. When I went to use some time for myself, it wasn't there. I won't make the same mistake this year. This year, I will cook.

I will also knit. A lot. I have been knitting for two years now, and I only know one stitch. I've made approximately 25 to 30 scarves during this time, yet only one of them was for yours truly. This year, I will learn to purl. And I will learn to make a baby blanket or mittens.

I've been doing a bit of pre-spring purging in the Aspen Bungalow. With the purge went some picture frames that I'd had since high school. You know, the ones with smiley-faced flowers and declarations like "Best Friends." I'd been hanging on to them out of convention. I always put off buying things like nice picture frames because my life, as it is now, isn't "permanent." You buy "permanent" things for your "home" when you get married and have wedding photos and kid portraits from Olan Mills. Well folks, I finally got tired of pretending like my life isn't permanent. It is what it is---and that means that I went to Hobby Lobby tonight and bought a stack of new picture frames for my apartment.

Monday night, I made a comment to Sarah that my New Year's resolution is to focus strictly on myself. I said it's like the Seinfeld episode, where George gets a severance package from the Yankees, and decides to pursue his own interests (like eating a block of cheese while watching tv partially nude). He declares it "the Summer of George!" I tell Sarah, "it's the Year of Mary Anna!"

Things may change tomorrow, but at 10:34 p.m. CST, I'm happy. And I'm done blogging for the evening, just in time for another rerun of SATC, this time on ABC. It's the episode where Carrie and Samantha travel to San Francisco via train for Carrie's book signing. When they get there, Carrie realizes that she's "opening" for Mr. Winkle. Everytime I see Mr. Winkle, I think of my good friends, Amy and Nathan. They have a pomeranian, named Sampson, who I think resembles Mr. Winkle. Nathan doesn't believe that Mr. Winkle is a real dog, and it was a hotly debated topic of ours in the past. Not to mention, Nathan doesn't like me to compare Sampson to Mr. Winkle because of Mr. Winkle's obvious deformities.

That is all.

Come out, come out, whomever you are!

lurk /lurk/ –verb (used without object)
1. to lie or wait in concealment, as a person in ambush; remain in or around a place secretly or furtively.
2. to go furtively; slink; steal.
3. to exist unperceived or unsuspected.
—Related forms
lurker, noun
lurk·ing·ly, adverb

From time to time, friends and acquaintances will mention to me that they've had a visit or two to the Queen MAB Manifesto, and they found my blog utterly irresistable, wildly hilarious, and overly self-indulgent. I promptly ask, "well, why don't you comment?" Most drop their head and start to shuffle their feet, while mumbling incoherent jargon. You know who you are, you silent lurker, you!

In honor of National De-Lurking Week, I present to you a brief tutorial for making a comment.

STEP ONE: (Does anyone else feel like breaking out into some NKOTB right now?) Click the link labeled "X comments" at the bottom of the blog entry.

STEP TWO: When the comment box opens, type your comment into the box. Witty remarks, incessant praise, and harsh criticism are all appreciated.

STEP THREE: Complete the random sequence of text in the Word Verification box. This is like an obstacle course for your fingers, but it really exists to prevent spammers from infiltrating my blog.

STEP FOUR: Choose your method of signature:
a) Log in by using your Google Account (If you don't already have one, click here).
b) Sign as "Other," and leave your name and website/blog (if applicable).
c) Sign as "Anonymous." Be sure to sign your name in the comment box, unless you truly intend to make a lurker-like comment.

STEP FIVE: Publish your comment (preview first if you like).

It's that simple. So what are you waiting for?

It's a boy!

Isn't he handsome? I stayed up until 1 a.m. this morning hooking up my wireless router and playing with the settings. He needs a name. Any ideas?

"I love technology. But not as much as you, you see. But I still love technology. Always and forever..."

Maybe I'll name him Kip?

MMVII

Can I get an "amen"? Is anyone else as happy as I am to be done forever with the year twenty-six? While 2006 wasn't a tragic year, it wasn't one that I will refer to lovingly when reminiscing the past.

During the Christmas season, I read the highly recommended Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I don't typically read Christian fiction because of the "cheese-factor," but whatever expectations I had for the book prior to reading it, paled in comparison to my love for this story after finishing. It is a biblical retelling of the book of Hosea, set during the California Gold Rush, where a prostitute is convinced of God's unconditional love through her relationship with a Christian man. The book was a reminder to me that Christ will never fall out of love with Mary Anna Brown.

I made quite a few mistakes in 2006, and that's a conservative estimate. Lately, I've been really down about failed dating relationships, a couple of fizzled friendships, and an undefined career path. I'm ready for a fresh start in 2007 and with that, I have one resolution (one to rule them all):

Discover and manifest the woman God created me, on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level.

ab hinc anno MMVII!