Shutdown, Schmutdown

Well, the federal government officially shut down this morning at 12:01 a.m. I was awake catching up on Nashville (OMG DEACON) and reminiscing about Snood with my fellow insomniac Kelly when the shutdown began. The earth did not tremble, the lights did not go out, and sirens were not sounded. Basically, the government continued to do nothing, as usual. (If you're wondering what happens to us folks living in the District of Columbia since we are not a state, our illustrious mayor Vincent Gray has deemed all D.C. government employees "essential", meaning parking attendants will still be waiting for your time limit to go over by ONE MINUTE before ticketing you. If you weren't wondering, well, now you know.)

Anyway, the #shutdownpickuplines hashtag on Twitter has been entertaining while the finger-pointing and mud-slinging from both sides reminds me a lot of pre-school.

The best thing I've read today is the story of the Mississippi veterans storming the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. Located on national park grounds, the memorial was officially closed today, but National Park Service personnel and perhaps a Congressman or two simply move the metal barricades and let the veterans inside. 

via Buzzfeed

F*ck yeah, America.

On Weather

Well. A lot has happened in the past few days. Frankenstorm, also known as Hurricane Sandy, the collective of storms that recently battered the East Coast, has come and gone. We were mainly spared in the D.C.-metro area. There were downed trees and branches, some flooding of businesses and basements, and extensive power outages, but the damage we faced was nothing (nothing) compared to the devastation in New York and New Jersey. As with many natural disasters, there aren't words to describe what's left in the wake of the storm. The Atlantic has some vivid photos of the aftermath here and here and here. (Side note: Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, has earned his Super Mayor title.)

Breezy Point, Queens

Manhattan without power

Queens, NY

Seaside Heights, NJ
(photos via The Atlantic)

As a Mississippi gal who grew up visiting the Gulf Coast, from Houston to New Orleans to the Florida Panhandle, I'm not a stranger to hurricanes. I was at school in Tuscaloosa when that bitch Katrina came barreling through, and we had substantial damage even then, several hundred miles from landfall in New Orleans. My family was vacationing near Destin, FL when Tropical Storm Alberto came through back in 1994. There are countless other storms that caused my hometown plenty of residual flooding and damage; Andrew, Ivan, Rita, Camille back in the day, and of course the innumerable tornados that hit the Southeastern U.S. each spring.

I don't mean to say that I survived these storms, because that's not at all fair to those who actually lived on the Coast and lost homes and loves ones. My point is, this storm was such a rare occurrence that it would have been terribly devastating to those who expect weather events like this; I can't imagine what it must feel like for the NYers and NJers who were blindsided by this storm. (Kind of like in 2009 and 2010 when D.C. experienced record snowfall amounts and the city shut down. President Obama, a Chicagoan, couldn't understand why three-plus-feet of snow sent D.C.-ers into a panic and received some flak for it.)

The District has experienced some pretty odd weather events over the past several years. There was SnOMG in December 2009, which dropped 16 inches of snow in D.C.; Snowmageddon/Snowpocalypse in February 2010, responsible for three-plus feet of snow and an epic snowball fight in Dupont Circle; an earthquake in August 2011; Snowtober on Halloween 2011; a derecho in June 2012; and now the Frankenstorm in October 2012. The Washington Post even wrote about it, and here's another breakdown.

Anyway, my neighborhood tends to lose power at a brisk gust of wind, so I packed up and camped out with my sister and her boyfriend in Arlington. We were lucky enough to maintain power the entire time, and had our own three-person hurricane party, complete with beer, PlayStation, scary movies, and homemade pumpkin waffles the next day. All in all, not a bad way to spend a couple of days.

Please consider donating to the Red Cross's Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. 

Alabama On My Mind

Today is the one-year anniversary of the day that tornadoes ripped through the city of Tuscaloosa, home of my alma mater, the University of Alabama.  I posted about this tragedy the day after, and there's not much I can say that hasn't already been said.  At work today, I read this poignant and sad article from the Crimson White, UA's student newspaper.  Natural disasters can often occur without warning, and it's a good to remember not only to have an emergency plan, but also to tell your loved ones that you love them.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and his wife Dianne walk past some 253 state flags, one for each victim, placed on the grounds of the Capitol during a memorial service for tornado victims on the steps of the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery Friday. Sixty two tornadoes left 253 people dead in Alabama a year ago.

The Night Circus and Salvage the Bones

I'm not sure exactly what prompted me to purchase The Night Circus for my Kindle, except that I remember finding the reviews interesting.  The Night Circus is indescribable; it's a fantasy, a dream-like story of romance, with plenty of humor and suspense thrown in.  It's a thoroughly entertaining read that I didn't want to put it down.  Erin Morgenstern writes eloquently about the surreal world of Marco and Celia, pitted against one another in a magical and fierce competition, and the cast of characters that each play a pivotal part in their story.  From the Amazon page: 

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. 

While plenty of magic occurs in the pages of The Night Circus, the compelling story seems so real that you find yourself pulling for the protagonists, all the while realizing that only one can win the competition.  

It was a hard to swing from the elegant prose and vivid imagery of The Night Circus to Jesmyn Ward's stark and gritty Salvage the Bones, winner of the 2011 National Book Award.  The novel chronicles the days of a poor family living on the Mississippi coast in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.  While this book was a quick read, it was not an easy one.  Esch, the narrator, is fourteen and pregnant; her mother is dead, her father is an alcoholic, and one of her three brothers is stealing food and medicine for his pitbull's new litter of puppies.  There are some pretty graphic descriptions of dog fighting in the novel, which were hard for me to read.  Thin glimmers of hope shine throughout the novel, such as the community of friends that pull together after the storm, but these slivers of light are so fragile that I was left feeling depressed upon finishing the novel.  It's well-written and deserving of the praise it has received, but it's not a book I would choose to read again.

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Friggatriskaidekaphobia is a real word, meaning a fear of Friday the 13th.  Here's advance warning that if you suffer from this phobia, we've got two more Friday the 13ths in the year 2012; another one in April and a third in July.  

Today also marks the day before a long weekend, at least for many of us.  It's turned cold in DC, so my plans for the weekend have changed a bit.  Seems like a good weekend for movies and staying in (by the non-existent fire... one day...).  I do plan to watch the Saints game with some friends.  My Crimson Tide just won the BCS National Championship (that's our 14th national championship win, if you're keeping count), and I'd love for the Saints to at least go to the Super Bowl, if not win the damn thing.  

Speaking of the national championship, it was an honor for my alma mater to win; but I think it's also an outstanding accomplishment for the city of Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama.  On April 27, 2011 an F-4 tornado ripped through the city and surrounding areas, demolishing several city blocks and killing more than 50 people in Tuscaloosa County alone.  The overall death toll from that day is 292, with countless others injured and left homeless.  Winning a football game in no way replaces those lives lost or the injuries sustained, but it does bring hope to a city that is, by all accounts, still recovering.

President Obama visiting Tuscaloosa after the tornados said, "I've never seen damage like this," and declared a state of emergency for the area.

In happier news, next weekend I'll be visiting some DC friends who recently moved to Baltimore.  I've only ever been to Baltimore when heading to BWI airport, so I'm looking forward to actually seeing the city.  I'll try to take pictures to document the trip, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather is nice since I've been elected to drive to our carpool there.


Have a happy weekend!

General Housekeeping

Hello friends, followers, and Mom,

I am still here, but this summer has been an absolute whirlwind and I am just now starting to slow down.  My sister moved to DC and slept on my couch (in my one-bedroom apartment) for three months.  Amazingly, we still actually LIKE each other.  Crazy, I know.  I moved into a new place with two other girls and am so happy that I did.  I loved living by myself and having my own space to decorate and make my own, but I also love having two fabulous roommates, cheaper rent, an adorable back patio, and the convenience of living a bit closer to town.  Onward and upward!

By now you've probably heard about, or even felt firsthand, the 5.8 earthquake that occurred in Virginia on August 23.  Just... wow.  I've never been through an earthquake before, and living in DC, my absolute last thought was the shifting of tectonic plates.  I was certain it was an internal explosion or some sort of terrorist attack; it didn't soothe my nerves knowing that I work within a 1/4 mile from Reagan National Airport and less than a mile from the Pentagon.  Luckily, everyone was safe and unharmed.

That brings us to Hurricane Irene who is threatening to ruin my weekend plans.  While Irene won't directly hit the immediate DC area, we will get lots of heavy wind and rains, and knowing how inefficient our energy company is during regular thunderstorms, I can only hope that we are without power for a very, very short time.  If you're in Irene's path, stay indoors, stock up on non-perishables and water, and keep a flashlight handy!

Other than that, life is good!  I'll have some book reviews forthcoming and just some general pretty things that make me smile.  For now, I'll leave you with these earrings that I just bought from one of my faves, kate spade.

Have a fabulous (and safe) weekend!

Sweet Home Alabama

Y'all, I'm a Southern gal, born and raised.  Mississippi is my home, but Alabama was my home-away-from-home for four years while attending the University of Alabama.  The city of Tuscaloosa will always have a piece of my heart; within its city limits I made friends and lost friends, met the first boy that I loved and first had my heart broken, failed my first class, saw my first "ghost," drank more margaritas than anyone has a right to, cheered for the Crimson Tide even though we were terrible at the time, and most importantly, spent some of the most memorable times of my life.

If you haven't heard, an F5 tornado ripped through the city yesterday leaving much of the campus unharmed, but literally leveling much of the surrounding city.  I am still shocked and saddened by the pictures and videos that keep coming from Tuscaloosa and nearby cities and communities; not only were cars and homes destroyed, but livelihoods and lives were lost as well. 

taken from University Downs parking lot, located on 15th Street in Tuscaloosa

my CVS at the corner of McFarland and 15th Street

15th Street, Tuscaloosa

a friend's [former] house

this is why you don't wait out a tornado inside your car

15th Street, Tuscaloosa

the front page of today's Tuscaloosa News

Videos of the tornado can be found here.

Please keep the victims of these deadly storms, and their loved ones, in your thoughts and prayers.  If you're in the DC area and happen to be reading this, some friends and I have organized a fundraiser for this Saturday evening at Gin & Tonic in the Glover Park neighborhood.  You can also donate online via the West Alabama Red Cross.

Prayer Request

Kids, shit's about to get heavy.  I normally keep this blog light and fun, but I have a serious request for those of you who visit me here.  I'll keep it short and simple: my uncle went to his doctor last Wednesday after having some chest pain.  About halfway through his treadmill stress test, the cardiologist told him to stop walking and said he needed to have surgery as soon as possible to insert a stent due to blockage(s) in his veins.  While serious due to the blockages, it's a pretty simple surgery.  His surgery was scheduled for today, and after surgery he'd spend tonight in the hospital for observation and be back at work on Wednesday.  Well, today in surgery the doctors found that his blockages are so calcified that a stent won't solve the problem; instead, my uncle will undergo a quadruple bypass at 8:30am EST tomorrow, if there is not an "immediate" need before that time.  I'm a praying gal, and I would appreciate any and all prayers, compassionate thoughts, good vibes, incantations, etc. that he is in capable and compassionate hands and that he pulls through.  Assuming everything goes well in the morning, he will have at least a 90-day recovery period.  That's another conversation... one step at a time.

Dad on left, uncle on right. Look nothing alike, do they?

Golden Globes Fashion

Awards shows.  Sigh.  I don't care much for the actual awards, I am much, much, more interested in seeing the gowns and dresses worn by the Hollywood elite.  Or in some cases, the Hollywood-Who-Hell-Is-That?  The Golden Globes aren't quite as hoity-toity as the Oscars, but have more star power than the Emmys, so it's an interesting venue for actresses to step outside the box a bit with their sartorial selections.  Below are three categories ranging from Loved It to Meh... to Oh No She Di'n't!  All photos from JustJared.com.


Tier 1: Loved It

Olivia Wilde - "House."  I wish her hair had more volume, but her dress takes care of the oomph.  She just looks like she's having a great time.

Diana Agron - "Glee."  I don't really watch this show, but I think she's beautiful.  This look grew on me, but it's now one of my favorites from the night.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones - no introduction needed.  I think they both look great for Michael's first red carpet since his throat cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Piper Perabo - "Covert Affairs."  She just looks stunningly classic in this simple black dress with the perfect hair and makeup.  She's come a long way.

Claire Danes - Temple Grandin.  While I think this dress is a little casual for the Golden Globes, I love that she stepped outside of the box a bit with the silhouette and color.

Mila Kunis - Black Swan.  My favorite of the night.  The color, the details--simply stunning.

  

Eva Longoria, making her triumphant return to the red carpet after her divorce from Tony Parker.  I love the simplicity of this dress, and and the fit is impeccable.

Eva Longoria

Lea Michele - "Glee."  I don't care for her personally, but she rocks these ruffles looking young and fresh.

Robert Downey, Jr.  Few can rock a suit on the red carpet and look better than the hordes of the actors in tuxedos.  

Amber Riley - "Glee."  The dress is a bit too disco-ball for me, but I liked that this "curvy" girl didn't shy away from sparkles just because of her size.  Also, the shape is flattering on her figure.

Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit.  She looks age appropriate in the best way; great fitting dress, great hair, and I love her clutch.

Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer."  I love this dress.  The color looks great on her, and I love the accessories.  She knows what works for her and she wears it well.

Sofia Vergara - "Modern Family."  If anyone can pull off a fire-engine red, corseted gown, it's Sofia.  (I was shocked to learn that this dress is Vera Wang.)

Sofia Vergara

Tier 2: Meh...

Carrie Underwood.  She looks lovely but boring and predictable... with the exception of her those damned tendrils.

Carrie Underwood.  Tendrils = NO MA'AM!

  

Julie Bowen - "Modern Family."  The color washes her out, and I hate those appliqués.

Sandra Bullock, you can do better than this.  You can, I've seen it.

And those bangs... eesh.

Tina Fey - "30 Rock."  Tina always talks about how she doesn't use a stylist, and it shows.  She was moved up from Tier 3 only because she chose navy instead of black this time.

Megan Fox.  The bandage look is done, but I've seen worse.  Her hair is pretty.  She should have a doctor look at that perma-bruise on her forearm.

Anne Hathaway - Love and Other Drugs.  I'm sort of torn on this dress, hence the 2nd tier ranking.  Anne rocks it like many other women couldn't, but something is off... maybe a different color would have worked better. 

Look, no Spanx!

Scarlet Johansson, fresh from her divorce from Ryan Reynolds.  It's unfortunate that she grabbed Helen Mirren's dress by accident, and that she rode to the show with the windows down.

Helen Mirren - Red.  Helen looks great even if that bitch Scarlet stole her dress; however, that necklace is too much with the dress.

January Jones - "Mad Men."  She just tries so hard.  January doesn't disappoint in Versace, but it's so predictable for her.  Plus, those black clunkers are too heavy for that dress.

Angelina Jolie - The Tourist.  I cannot stand this woman, yet she looks pretty here.  I hope Studio 54 lets her in for the after party.

Brad Pitt is looking better than he has in a while.  Sunglasses can cover a multitude of sins.

Christina Aguilera - Burlesque.  Again, I've seen worse from her, so this was moved to the "Meh" category, even if her right breast is screaming "get me outta here!"

  

Julianne Hough - "Dancing with the Stars."  This neckline isn't my favorite, but on someone statuesque like Nicole Kidman or Heidi Klum, possibly Cate Blanchette, it could have worked.  It just overwhelms petite Julianne.

Mandy Moore - I have no idea why she's here.  She looks fine for high school prom; I'm not a fan of the netting that extends to the one shoulder, or the boning that's visible on the bodice.  I kinda wish she'd done something with her hair.

Nicole Kidman - I like her hair color, and I'm glad she wore it down instead of severely pulled back.  Her dress is just... that bow on the waist with that tribal thing on the shoulder and the sequins... it's not awful, but it's not good.  

Julianna Marguilies - "The Good Wife."  She looks washed out and tired.  She should be in Tier 3, but I gave her a reprieve because I really like her and the show.

Jane Lynch - "Glee."  She looks nice, and she chose a silhouette that flatters her figure.

Some chick from "Glee," I forgot her name.  She looks pretty.  The color looked more saturated on television and I thought it complemented her skin and the dress perfectly (I'll admit that it looks a little bridesmaid-y here).

Elizabeth Moss - "Mad Men."  The color of the dress is great, but nothing else is working.  The shape isn't flattering and looks droopy, and her hair, while better than Peggy Olson's, looks blah.  

Kelly Osbourne - Host for E! network.  This dress isn't my favorite, but Kelly looks great and healthy these days, and the silhouette of the dress really complements her new shape.

Tier 3: Oh No She Di'n't

Jennifer Lopez - J. Lo: On Ice!

Halle Berry, why?  The top looks like a supportive undergarment and the bottom looks like Frederick's of Hollywood.

Johnny Depp - The Tourist.  Presented without comment.

Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech.  Unsurprising, for her.  Doesn't she ever just wants to be pretty?

Jennifer Love Hewitt.  A) She's orange. B) She looks like she's heading to her debutante ball.  C) Busty women should not wear dresses that call more attention to said bustiness.

  

Heidi Klum - Either she let her kids design her dress or she let a Project Runway contestant design it.  Either way, it's inappropriate for anywhere other than the Bahamas.

Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine.  Worst dressed, hands-down.  Not only does the dress not even fit her, but it's covered in daisies.  DAISIES!  

Gemma Mays - "Glee."  She's channeling Elvira here and her hair is overwhelming.

Katey Sagal - "Sons of Anarchy."  She's channeling Peg Bundy in this cheap and neon dress; the shape is nice on her, but nothing else is working.

Leighton Meester - Country Strong.  One big Victorian muddled mess.  

Natalie Portman - Black Swan.  Be my Valentine?  Plus, I think it looks cheap (and it's not).  

Natalie Portman.

Gaboure Sidibe.  I'm sure that finding a suitable dress can be challenging for someone her size, but she can do better than this.

Tilda Swinton.  Presented without comment.