Green Monkey Music Project: ROYGBIV

For Splotchy's latest Green Monkey Music Project, he's looking for colorful songs. Since I enjoy seeing - and hearing - what comes out of GMMP and it also motivates me to post on my blog, I signed up for this round. I dug through my brain's trove of pop culture obscurities and came up with songs that are either pop classics or relatively unknown tunes.

Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) - Garbage
Garbage is one of my all time favorite bands. This quirky little number seems to be about a boy that keeps getting mistaken for a girl because of his "cherry lips and golden curls." The song is what I like to call "cheerleader rock": a chant-like chorus and a beat that lends itself to being part of a cheer, fight song or rallying cry. Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" and Toni Basil's classic "Hey Mickey" are two examples of cheerleader rock.

Yellow - Coldplay
I could have sworn "Yellow" was used in a Volkswagen ad several years ago, but my Google searches suggest otherwise. In any event the song was still ubiquitous in 2000 and while I like the song, I rarely go out of my way to listen to it.

Everything's Gone Green - New Order
I got turned on to New Order late in the game, when Substance 87 came out. I saw them at Meriwether Post Pavilion along with Public Image Ltd. and the Sugarcubes - awesome, fun show. This song is part of the soundtrack for my college years.

Ocean Blue - ABC
ABC's album How to Be a Zillionaire is best known for "Be Near Me" and "How to Be a Millionaire." This little tune has been one of my favorites because it always gives me this sense of being at the ocean, watching the waves roll in.

Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey
This tune is one of my favorite James Bond songs, from one of my favorite Bond flicks. Shirley's singing of "Gold-FING-GAH" is so dramatic it makes me laugh. It also makes me skulk around the room, pretending I'm a super spy.

Black on Black II - Heart
I just checked out the 2-disc album The Essential Heart from the local library over the weekend and this song happened to be on there. I'm not crazy about the lyrics for this song but the tune is great.

White Lines - Duran Duran
I wasn't very familiar with the original version by Grandmaster Flash - I don't recall hearing it on the Top 40 stations I listened to during the 80s. I did get to hear Simon LeBon do this song at the House of Blues in 2000. He really enjoyed singing/rapping this number and the crowd loved it as well. For that reason, I'm picking Duran Duran's version.

Top 10 Romantic Scenes for Valentine's Day 2009

Back in 2007 I did a Valentine's Day post on my top 10 romantic movies, focusing on specific scenes. For 2009 I'm doing a second list for two reasons: one, because I'm trying to be better about posting stuff to my blog, and two, because the more I watch movies the more I see scenes that fit the category of "most romantic." So, without further ado, here are my top choices, in order of romanticism (well, according to my standards, anyway). Sit back, enjoy the show, and share your favorite romantic scenes in the comments.

10. Sleepless in Seattle
My vote for most romantic line from this sappy movie is when Jonah, the little boy who wants his dad Sam (Tom Hanks) to meet Annie (Meg Ryan) on Valentine's Day in New York, gets in the cab and tells the driver to take him to the Empire State Building. "You gonna spit off the top?" he asks. Jonah's reply: "No, I'm going to meet my new mother." Talk about precocious.

9. Four Weddings and a Funeral
This movie is one I will watch over and over again if it's on cable. The most romantic scene to me is when Matthew (John Hannah) recites the W.H. Auden poem, "Funeral Blues," at Gareth's (Simon Callow) funeral. It's in that moment the audience realizes the nature of their relationship and how much Matthew will miss his friend and lover. I cry through this scene every time.

8. That Thing You Do!
I am a sucker for movies about music and this flick is another one of those movies where I stop what I'm doing and watch it, should it happen to be on cable. Moxie's pick for most romantic scene: Guy (Tom Everett Scott) asks Faye (Liv Tyler) when was the last time she was properly kissed. She tells him it was junior high. He nods, looks at Faye, then kisses her passionately.

7. Serendipity
I don't really consider myself a hopeless romantic, but I do love a good romantic comedy and Serendipity is high on my list of favorite rom-coms. Most romantic scene for me? When Jonathan (John Cusack) unwraps the groom's gift from his fiancee (Bridget Moynahan) and sees that it's a copy of Love in the Time of Cholera - the same title that Sara (Kate Beckinsale), his erstwhile soulmate, bought and wrote her name and number on the title page before selling it to a used book dealer. Hesitating for a second, Jonathan opens the cover and we briefly see Sara's name and number written inside before he shuts it. In that instant, you know he's going to look for her. Sigh.

6. The Namesake
This movie features Kal Penn of Harold and Kumar fame in a more dramatic role - and he does a fabulous job as Gogol, a young Indian man struggling to find his cultural identity. Most romantic scene: When Ashima (Tabu) tries on the shoes of her suitor Ashoke (Irrfan Khan). She decides to marry him and they end up emigrating to America, where they have a son, Gogol.

5. The Sound of Music
This movie is just an all-around sap fest and another classic I'll watch again and again. While pretty much any movie scene involving a gazebo and moonlight is bound to be a favorite, my preference is for the scene where Maria (Julie Andrews) and Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) are in the gazebo during the dance, finally confessing their love for each other. I especially love the song Maria sings here: "Somewhere in my youth or childhood/I must have done something good."

4. Michael
A lovely inspired tale about an angel and three people whose lives are changed for the better, Michael's stand-out scene, romantically speaking, is when Michael (John Travolta) tells Dorothy (Andie MacDowell) "sing" and she gets up at the pie restaurant/diner and sings her song about her three husbands. It's at this point that cynical reporter Frank (William Hurt) visibly softens and it's quite obvious he's smitten with Dorothy.

3. Enchanted
So many sweet moments in this movie, it's hard to pick one that stands out as the most romantic. But I'd go with the scene at Robert's (Patrick Dempsey) law office, where Giselle (Amy Adams) discovers what divorce is and she has a meltdown. It's a great reminder that the end of a marriage, no matter what the circumstances may be, is still a very sad thing.

2. The Notebook
It's hard for me to even think about this movie without crying. The best scene, by far, is when Allie (Gena Rowlands) realizes that Duke (James Garner) is telling her the story about how they fell in love. That moment of recognition on her face and his response is so warm, so loving, you can't help but choke up a little.

1. Moonstruck
The following clip shows Johnny (Nicholas Cage) and Loretta (Cher) arguing about their relationship. This is my all-time favorite romantic scene because it speaks the truth about love: it's not always pretty, with hearts and flowers and bon-bons.

Interview with Moxie

So Barbara over at Bad Tempered Zombie put out a call for interview subjects, and I responded. I figured it would be good incentive for me to actually post something on here. And see, it worked!

1. How would our society be different if it were matriarchal instead of patriarchal?

The easy answer is to say "there would be less war and famine," which I think would be true to some extent. More importantly, though, there would not have been a feminist movement, which I think screwed things up for many women and men. Asking for equal political, social, sexual, intellectual and economic rights as men sets up the world in a way that many women will frequently contort themselves to behave in ways that are antithetical to who they really are. A good example of this is women trying to "have sex like men" - no emotional attachment or involvement - and this behavior doesn't always work out to anyone's benefit. I'd like to think that a matriarchal society would have guided people to define their roles based on what comes naturally to them and not based on gender.

2. Which of your ancestors would you most like to meet?

I'd really like to meet my grandfather's uncle Neil. He worked in vaudeville with his wife and daughter. There are some family photos, an old poster and a recording of his show "Down on Brook Farm", which toured all over the East Coast. From what I've read online, the show was really popular in more rural communities because he'd crafted all these different characters illustrating farm living. There's a picture showing Uncle Neil dressed up as all these different characters and he's obviously enjoying himself. Pops and I like to say that we have a love of theater because of Uncle Neil.

3. What would you most like to do for someone else if you had the money and time?

I would set up an artist's colony in Venice Beach, CA, where any working artist could live rent free provided they stay off drugs and showcase their work on the boardwalk. I've thought about this idea since I spent a lot of time hanging out in Venice Beach and saw so many talented artists trying to make it there. I would also set up scholarships at my alma mater - both high school and college.

4. Would you stop eating all junk food to live 5 years longer?

Depends on how you define junk food. If it's all processed, high fat/high sugar foods, then I think I would. There are certain foods I'd struggle to give up, though, like Trader Joe's White Cheddar Popcorn or their Tortilla Chips with an Identity Crisis. Oh, and dark chocolate. Do those count?

5. What does your perfect day look like?

Waking up when it feels natural, then having a tasty breakfast of eggs, tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, bacon and a latte. Visiting some eclectic shops or museums, maybe exploring a part of town I'd never been to before, then meeting a friend or two for a light lunch. Taking a good book and my journal to a cafe and just hanging out, reading, writing and having tea or another latte. Dinner out with more friends, then maybe a good movie, play or musical. A soothing bath at home with a glass of wine or champagne, then bed. Wow, this all sounds really fabulous, I think I might actually shoot for this perfect day on my birthday this weekend.

Thanks Barbara!

Greetings from Moxie

Happy Birthday T-Wizzle!

One thing I'm definitely very thankful and grateful for this year would be my friends. And the one friend who has been instrumental in getting me out of my own head is the lovely T-Wizzle. Today not only happens to be Thanksgiving, it also is her birthday. So please join me in wishing her many blessings for the year ahead...and let's take a look at some of T-Wizzle's favorite things.

My girl T-Wizzle loves her some technology, and this year she's been obsessed with the new Dell Mini laptops. Last I recall, she was still drooling over them but didn't think they were going to impact her productivity as much as she had originally fantasized. But if someone put one in her hot little hands I know she wouldn't turn it down.


In keeping with the technology theme, let's talk about T-Wizzle's smartphone, the Treo 680. She loves this phone and has tricked it out with so many third-party apps and cool things that I can no longer keep track. The phone is on its last legs but because it does everything she wants it to do, T-Wizzle is having a hard time selecting the next phone worthy of her love and affection.


Another gadget much adored by T-Wizzle is her Zune MP3 player. I don't remember which model she has, but she is a big fan of Zune products. She got particularly excited recently when she saw someone else with one, as these aren't the most sought-after players for some reason (cough-iPod taking over the world-cough).


Lest people think she is all about the gadgets, think again. T-Wizzle is a fashion conscious young woman who also loves a great bargain. This is why I think she's such a fan of Forever 21. I've gone in that store on a few occasions and I just don't get the fascination - nor do I get the need for a clothing store to sound like a freakin' nightclub, but whatever. I will tag along with her to Forever 21, though, if only to make sure she stays entertained while shopping.


Another fashion favorite of T-Wizzle's is Vera Bradley, known for her vibrantly colored designs for handbags and accessories as well as home decor. The prints are really bright and fun - two words I would also use to describe T-Wizzle's personality. I think this picture is of one of her favorite prints, Pink Melon, but I can't be certain. I'm sure she'll tell me later.


T-Wizzle is also a big fan of office supplies and productivity products. On the top of her list is Franklin Covey - she's relied on their planners and software for a long time. She's taught me a lot about goal setting based on what she learned from attending FC seminars and classes. We joke that FC is a cult and I think it's actually true. Recently I started reading Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and realized that T-Wizzle had been quoting that book to me for years.


In the same way I've always been intrigued by Marie Antoinette, T-Wizzle is taken with Eva Peron. She's read books about her, watched documentaries, and is a HUGE fan of the musical Evita. Stand back, Buenos Aires!

Decision 08: Should Moxie Be Revealed?

For the last few weeks I've been thinking it might be time to make The Girl with Moxie an honest woman, so to speak. I got a digital camera for my trip to New Orleans and it occurred to me that I could start doing short videos and including more pictures on this blog. Lord knows I'm struggling to keep y'all entertained in the manner to which you have become accustomed. Being able to post quick videos could make things much more interesting.

The two people I've talked to about this dilemma have given me mixed advice. One said to not do it, the other said I needed to get very clear about my reasons for wanting to go public. Um, since when have I ever been very clear? And I'm a rebel at heart - don't tell me not to do something because I'll just do it anyway to be an asshole. That includes running with scissors.

If I "came out", as it were, the content of this blog wouldn't change very much, if at all. I would continue to hold myself to the same standards as before: if I can't say it out loud to someone, then I can't blog about it. I'm actually struggling to maintain this standard with my Facebook and Twitter accounts, too, to be honest. I do think it's possible to be authentic and transparent when participating in social media (blogs, social networks, etc.) and still have personal boundaries.

Enough talking! I really would like reader feedback on this issue. I'm ending this post with a poll to see what people think. If you're a regular GWM reader that comments often, or a lurker who rarely says much of anything, please vote. Feel free to add your comments as well - maybe you have another idea I should consider before making my final decision.

Now let's go to the polls!

The Cats Are Unionized and Planning a Revolt

Mossimo, after all we've been through? How could you?




Ippie, this doesn't really surprise me, seeing as you're from the rather dodgy side of town.