Project Runway . . . It Brings Me Closer to God

This clip of Santino impersonating Tim singing NIN “Closer” has been the big laugh of the week for me. I haven’t laughed this hard since the Crazy=Delicious Narnia Rap on SNL. Every episode I watch I just find Daniel more endearing. I loved his orchid inspired design. Andres was fabulous too. Daniel has a really great sense of color and color that is wearable for most people.

In other non-TV related news, I am finally over that nasty cold. I finally finished a very detailed painting that has taken me months to paint. I never thought I’d get it done! Pictures will be posted later! I also bought a mini-trampoline and am bouncing every morning. Once the weather warms up I want to take up running. I'm more into lifting weights so this will be a nice additional to my fitness plan. I may run a few times a week then lift two times a week instead of four. I just started the Flylady organization program too. Here’s to being more organized this year.

As I have mentioned on this blog, I’m kinda going through a mid-life crisis. I want some sort of big happy change to happen. I’ve been reading about the artist relocation program in Paducah, KY. Kentucky isn’t a huge draw for me since it’s a red state and all but the idea of having more time for my art and living somewhere that’s affordable is appealing. You could buy a fixer-upper there for $59,000. The relocation program has drawn people from NY, Chicago, DC, among other cities. The fantasy would look like this: Live in Paducah in a warmer climate which is surrounded by natural beauty, the town of Paducah seems very charming (at least judging from photos). I could have a lovely house and enjoy my time doing Martha Stewart things. I could make my living doing art and faux finishing, perhaps have an easy part-time job vs. the job I have now that sucks my time/energy. The low cost of living would allow me to have a car . . . oh and because it’s a small town I could easily find parking that I don’t have to pay for. I would also be able to travel more—come back to Chi-town once a month, visit friends in neighboring cities like St. Louis and Nashville. I always thought Southerners were very charming. I could afford to do a few exotic trips a year. Paducah could be my home base but really I’d be a woman of the world. Have Internet will travel. Anything I can’t find in Paducah could be bought on-line. I could also consider opening a bed and breakfast. I’m a good cook and brunch is my specialty. Plus I would be the sort of B&B owner who is polite yet not too into other people’s business. It’s a thought.

This plan would only work if I could truly make most of my living doing my art or finding work that I actually like. There is also the serious issue of health insurance. I haven’t lived in a small town in a very long time. I can’t deal with nosy neighbors. I like my introversion. I like not knowing my neighbors most of the time. It would only work if the people were cool, if not it would really suck. Also, Paducah does not have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, which is where I spend most of my time.

I may do their festival this May and see how I like it. They have and arts/blues festival every year. I'm curious what kind of crowds it draws. It’s nice to have possibilities.

From the couch . . . under an avalanche of Kleenex . . .

I have been pretty ambitious with my New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve been following the Zone diet (or as I prefer to call it a “lifestyle”) and feeling great until I got a cold. I found out last week that a friend of mine has pancreatic cancer. I think the stress of that invited this nasty virus; which means I ended up spending some time on the couch in front of the T.V. I know. I know. My New Year’s was to watch less T.V. I couldn’t resist the Biggest Loser, Celebrity Fit Club 3 and my fave Project Runway. At least Project Runway is educational. Now I have a little crush on designer Daniel Vosovic. (I think I also said no more crushes). I’m into younger, long and lanky men now a la Adrien Brody. I’m going to sound like I’m 13 but his haircut is SO cute. Plus he is really talented. I don’t think I have ever had a crush on anyone who wasn’t talented in some way. I love the dress he designed for Niki Hilton. I predict he or Zulema will win. Daniel seems very calm and focused under pressure, no ego and lots of talent—that’s how I like my men or should I say imaginary boyfriends.

I’ve also been watching the Travel Channel. I’ve been really into Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie on the Travel Channel. He lost a shitload of weight. He went from druggy sloppy teen to lean-mean mountain climber. No, I don’t have a crush on Jack Osbourne now but I do find his story really inspiring. As a huge non-fiction reader, I have just had a huge fascination with transformation. All those weight loss reality T.V. shows just emphasize this idea even more. Makes me wanna go to the gym and deadlift a thousand pounds, after I get over this cold!

High Fidelity

I just took the Which John Cusack are you? quiz. I’m a Rob Gordon. I guess one great thing about living in Chicago is the possibility of running into John Cusack. He’s tall, a leftie, Irish, his sister seems nice, he’s talented, and he was born under the sign of Cancer. I'm a Scorpio, we are very compatible. Anyway, like Cusack’s character, Rob Gordon from High Fidelity, I love to make lists. I just find it really calming. I was thinking about music and some of my favorite songs. The no. 1 spot is so hard to choose but here it goes.

1. "Baba O’Reily" – The Who (although the no. 1 spot changes daily)
2. "Trois Gymnopedies" – Eric Sate (can’t pronounce it but it is an exquisite song)
3. "Wonderwall" – Oassis
4. "Kate Bush" - Cloudbusting
5. "Fall on Me" – REM
6. "Whiter Shade of Pale" – Procol Harem
7. "Kashmir" – Led Zepplin
8. "Spirit of Radio" – Rush (Tom Sawyer close second)
9. "Take Me Out" – Franz Ferdinand
10. "Whisper to a Scream (When Birds Fly)" – Icicle Works
11. "Wise Up" – Aimee Mann
12. "More than a Feeling" – Boston
13. "Oh Child" – The Five Stair Steps
14. "Birthday" – The Sugarcubes
15. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" – Pat Benetar
16. "Barracuda" – Heart (although Magic Man and Crazy on You were close too)
17. "Under Pressure" – David Bowie/Queen
18. "Born to Run" – Bruce Springsteen
19. "At My Most Beautiful" tied with "Falls to Climb" – REM (both from the totally underrated UP album)
20. "Closing Time" – Supersonic (I know it’s a one-hit wonder but I loose my shit every time this song comes on)

Of course this list is subject to change and only inspires me to further the list making frenzy with topics like The Most Underrated Albums Ever, Best Cheesy 80's Tunes—although VH1 does a pretty good job of this already.