What do Peter Sagal, Totoro, and Derrida Have in Common?

They're all on the SF Chronicle's Sexiest Fictional/Dead/Alive Men List.

This actually made me look up Peter Sagal's picture. I was surprised. I expected a spry, sarcastic looking young man. Well, he's spry and sarcastic looking.

And Totoro? Do you really want to go there? Here's his entry:

Totoro (animated forest spirit, Hayao Miyazaki's "My Neighbor Totoro"): He's not really a man; he's more a giant, furry Blob of Cute, but he can fly. He belongs in the sky. We could belong to each other.

As for Derrida, not really my taste. Although I've always found this rendition of him hilarious:


Foucault, I think, was much hotter. In a Nosferatu sort of way. How could he be left out when Edward Said made the cut?

Pumpkin Mousse & Before/After

I think I secretly want to be a food stylist.


And, because I finally have a little time, here are some before & after pictures of our home. All the painting, drywalling, etc. was done before the school year began, of course.

Before of the bathroom - note the eighties wallpaper. It was also on the door!


After: We couldn't change as much as we'd like in the bathroom, not having the budget to re-tile and all, but we did manage to get rid of the wallpaper.


Now here are some dramatic changes. Before of the basement: check out the plush, green-vinyl bar! Even the moving guys had snide comments to make about this ("party room!!").


After: amazing what a coat of paint can do. We still have the bar and stools, having not had the chance to burn them yet.


Also before in the basement: that built in TV is made in 1949! I think I'm going to sell it on eBay sometime.

After: this is really due to M's sweat and tears - pulling out the crap and putting up drywall, spackling, etc.


Too bad we don't spend any time down here as it's our "fun room" and we do nothing fun!!! Oh well, Christmas is a-coming soon.

Happy Thanksgiving

Since I can't be home for the holiday (my true home, with my parents and family) I thought I'd at least post a warm-fuzzy picture of the people I miss. Here's my sister with our cousin's daughter, truly representative of our ethnically blended family as she's Chinese-Caucasian-Israeli.
How I miss them!

They Hired Me for the Way I Say "Liberal"

You have got to hear NPR's story on campaign ad voice-over actors aired today on All Things Considered.

Tomorrow we do our civic duty, farce or not. I get to participate in an especially bizarre election in CT. Do I vote for Mr. Smug but Humiliated in the Primary but Still Secure in My Privileged Status or Mr. Hi! I am a Businessman Who's Real Serious About Change and Will Probably Lose?