Sunday, April 27, 2008

Happiness More or Less



I must start this most special birthday week with a post thanking my darling cohabitant V for taking me to see The Verve. Like I mentioned before, it was ten years in the making. Mr. Ashcroft cut his hair. Hate to be so superficial, but that's the first thing I noticed. Then of course, the incredible vocals and amazing sound caught my attention for the next hour and a half they played.

I found myself singing unabashedly to 'Lucky Man.' Every single line. As if I had a good voice. At the top of my lungs. All of a sudden the song had so much more meaning.
Happiness More or less It's just a change in me Something in my liberty Oh, my, my Happiness Coming and going I watch you look at me Watch my fever growing I know just where I am But how many corners do I have to turn? How many times do I have to learn All the love I have is in my mind? But I'm a lucky man With fire in my hands Happiness Something in my own place I'm stood here naked Smiling, I feel no disgrace With who I am Happiness Coming and going I watch you look at me Watch my fever growing I know just who I am But how many corners do I have to turn? How many times do I have to learn All the love I have is in my mind? I hope you understand I hope you understand Gotta love that'll never die Happiness More or less It's just a change in me Something in my liberty Happiness Coming and going I watch you look at me Watch my fever growing I know Oh, my, my Oh, my, my Oh, my, my Oh, my, my Gotta love that'll never die Gotta love that'll never die No, no I'm a lucky man It's just a change in me Something in my liberty It's just a change in me Something in my liberty It's just a change in me Something in my liberty Oh, my, my Oh, my, my It's just a change in me Something in my liberty Oh, my, my Oh, my, my


Stinson Beach, April 27th, 2008

A wise friend told me recently that this week, when I turn old, I will know everything. I'll be excited to know what I'm supposed to do for work for the rest of my life. I'm excited to know the places I will travel and the people I will meet along the way. I can't wait to know that every decision will be 100% correct for me and no one else.

I'm excited to be your omniscient narrator...

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Valencia, Cakes Not Place in Spain



It's been tradition in my family, and many families in the Bronx, to get Valencia cakes to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions. As the days approach the most auspicious of the calendar year for me, May 3, I can't help but crave that sugary, white, soft frosting and yellow spongecake that comes in the iconic white box with the bull fighter on top. I definitely substitute full meals for a slice of that cake during the month of May only to wait a few weeks to get another for Father's Day.

Usually the cake is adorned with gold or silves leaves and blue or pink piping, but they can make anything to order. If you are in the NYC metropolitan area, and want something different, yet urbane to the area, might I suggest Valencia bakery for your next event.


Tuesday, April 22, 2008

A Good Concert Week

Don't Forget: Musicians are Sexy Beasts, Too!

In honor of a lovely week of concerts, I can't help but nominate three sexy beasts of the music industry for today's batch of sexy animals.

Mary J
I will proudly confess that at the tender age of 10, I was the owner of a cassette tape of 'What's the 411?' It was the first time I heard the genius that was The Notorious BIG aka Biggie Smalls aka Christopher Wallace. Mary asked me to "Reminisce" on the love we had, and I thought back to my cabbage patch dolls, Corey Haim, and that kid I hugged in kindergarten. 'Real Love,' 'Sweet Thing,' 'You Remind Me.' That album alone reads like R&Bs Greatest Hits of the '90s. Her followup album, 'My Life' was the first CD I bought. She is undoubtedly the Queen of R&B. It was a pleasure to see her live last night in Oakland as part of her Heart of the City tour with Jay-Z. She did all her hits, along with some new ones. Though the picture is from afar, I would have rocked out just as hard if I was in the first row. That's what a professional musician does best. Gets you off your ass and clap your hands with a bunch of people you don't know. That's the power of music. Proud Mary keep on burning.


Jay-z, Hova, Jigga Man, 8th Wonder, Brooklyn's Finest

I am a New Yorker. My borough is the Bronx. It's definitely with a twinge of irony that I end up seeing two of New York's finest during my self-imposed exile in California. Jay-Z, Brooklyn's Finest. What can I say about Jay-Z? He was as common to my upbringing as taking trains, taking an elevator to my apartment door, and eating at pizzerias. My older brother is a music connoisseur so I grew up staring at posters of not only Kiss, Guns-N-Roses, and Poison, but Big Daddy Kane and Eric B and Rakim. By the time Jay-Z came around, I was well aware of his predecessors as well as his contemporaries. Fast forward almost 12 years and Jay remains to hold it down without having gotten killed or changing his image. AND he married one of the most successful woman in pop music. I don't know my highlight from the show. He has so many hits which he performed: Big Pimpin, Encore, Dirt Off Your Shoulders, 99 Problems, Hard Knock Life, Show Me What Ya Got, Can I Get A..., Excuse Me Miss, Change Clothes. Jeez, I could go on, but I have another Sexy Animal to discuss.

Richard Ashcroft

So many haters of this next artist. They can go piss off. (You know who you are!) Richard Ashcroft is the quintessential British artist. He remains the successful frontman of the wildly popular, The Verve, and has a well-established solo career. During the mid-90s I was lucky to take part of the Brit Pop revolution that occurred in England, if albeit from across the pond. I steadily read Q, NME, and MOJO. I was young and preferred Oasis to Blur. I wanted to see Pulp and the Doves and most of all, The Verve. My shithead high school boyfriend ruined that for me. By the time the Verve came round to Hammerstein ballroom, we'd broken up and he asserted he would be taking his new girlfriend to the concert. Sick after having been broken up with for the first time in my life on my 16th birthday and reeling from being played at such a tender age, I resolved not to attend the show. Oh how life repairs all ills when one is owed. Ten years later (yeah I realize I'm getting fucking old), I am going to see The Verve tomorrow with my bestest pal and roomie, V. Not gonna lie, I'll probably cry at least once during the show. The Verve, for me, isn't that one song everyone knows from the Cruel Intentions Soundtrack. It's about British music, the 90s, one of the best British albums of the '90s.
So tomorrow I will be, hearing some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah. Let the melody shine. Let it cleanse my mind. I feel free now.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Today's Sexy Animals- Weekender Edition Blowout!

I adore this image not only cos I'm a huge fan of koalas, but because I also love monocles. This distinguished gentleman is a true example for the marsupial community. Is it just me or does it seem like he's graduated from a top university? Yale, perhaps?

Here's another cutie friend: Mr. Gopher Hat.


Mr. Gopher Hat certainly teams up with Mr. Monocle on the weekends to solve crimes together. It's so obvious. Mr. Gopher is wearing the best duck hunting houndstooth hat. I'm a huge hat wearer so I appreciate good hat taste in the animal kingdom when I find it.

Please note these ferocious critters are from worth1000.com. You MUST check out the other animals in outfits they have on that site. It's absolutely brilliant. Cows in bellbottoms, cats in overalls. I believe the site has various Photoshop contests for its users. These critters came from the 'Animal Dress Up 6' contest. Here is the link to the rest of the entries. Check it out!

http://www.worth1000.com/contest.asp?contest_id=6198&start=1&end=10&display=photoshop

Friday, April 18, 2008

Sexy Animal of the Day! Life Partners

Life Partners: Bridget and May


Meet Bridget and May. This hard-working couple never takes playing 'dress-up' for granted. Bridget and May are both professional workaholics who model for television, print, and the internets. They are the double threat in the industry fo sho! They met on the set of a project and have been inseparable since. KB, director of the couple during the photo shoot featured above, says,"They were sooo cute with each other, tugging on each other's clothes. It seems they wanted to go off and roll around in the hay.'" Adorable! Who says work can't be fun?

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Sexy Animal of the Day!


Welcome to the newest feature of GET UP ON THIS!

:::drumroll:::

SEXY ANIMAL OF THE DAY
I, personally, don't think it gets any better than this. I don't know his name or his species, but hot dang it's a lizard in a onesie! Can't go wrong! We must also give two snaps up for the way the onesie complements Mr. Lizard's natural skin tones. I definitely enjoy the baby blue. Also, the bunny ears and tail. Ferocious! Thank you, Mr. Lizard, for being our inaugural SEXY ANIMAL OF THE DAY.

Real Niggas Don't Die

Having grown up in the Bronx, I would say I am quite the arbiter of all things 'ghetto.' I think we've all seen those prom photos of couples in matching basketball jerseys reconfigured to look like formal wear.

I bring this up because I was watching yet another vapid first episode of 'The Real World' on MTV. I must be old, because I still think they peaked with the San Francisco season. ANYWAY--as they showed a lovely highlight reel of what-to-expect in season 20 of this reality show veteran, we find, yet again, another white cast member threatening a non-white cast member with 'being ghetto.'

I would definitely agree that 'ghetto' is a state of being. Yes, sometimes people can 'act' ghetto. For example, adding water to cranberry juice or shampoo to make it go that extra mile before buying a new bottle. Even worse, adding water to your roommate's shampoo or cranberry juice. One might say this is just poor etiquette.

I feel it's the same difference as calling a black person a nigger or someone retarded or gay. It shouldn't be a bullshit adjective thrown around for lack better vocabulary.

Unless you grew up in the projects and had to use water instead of milk for cereal, you might wanna refrain from using it. It's only fair. Speak to what you know, right?

From www.urbandictionary.com:
1. ghetto

1. (n.) an impoverished, neglected, or otherwise disadvantaged residential area of a city, usually troubled by a disproportionately large amount of crime
2. (adj.) urban; of or relating to (inner) city life
3. (adj.) poor; of or relating to the poor life
4. (adj.) jury-rigged, improvised, or home-made (usually with extremely cheap or sub-standard components), yet still deserving of an odd sense of respect from ghetto dwellers and non-ghetto dwellers alike
1. John's paranoia about triple-checking whether or not he's locked his car doors comes from his growing up in the ghetto
2. "Why you always be talkin' ghetto? Get yo'self a propa' e-ju-ma-kay-shun, kid!"
3. Jane hid her head in embarrasment as her mom shamelessly committed the ghetto act of stuffing the restaurant's bread rolls, sugar packets, and silverware in her purse
4. "A TV Guide duct-taped to a 4 foot stick?! That's one hella ghetto 'mote control!"

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Get Your Sexy On: The Tour Ends Here


I enjoy provocative reality shows as much as the next fool. My heart sank during the season finale of 'Rock of Love 2.' Why did Bret pick the under-sexed Amber over Daisy, who only speaks in rock 'n' roll cliches?

Bret says it wasn't 'rock of like,' but 'rock of love.' I get it. He was in it to win it with a sane chick who wasn't a stripper. People are already taking bets on how long it will last. Silly, rabbits! Bret can deceive us with his hairline week to week, but he won't be deceived by ill-intentioned women any longer! This is the real deal. Here's to looking outside of the box and finding love by any means necessary!

Also, here's a fun picture of some fierce hair I (and I'm sure Bret) would love to rock.