i tried — i really tried ...

I've been trying to get rid of chemicals in our lives - both in the refrigerator and in the medicine cabinet. I've always liked to play with my hair color, so thought maybe I should try some more natural alternatives. I've areaway been using permanent hair color, so going the henna route wasn't the way. But there are permanent, "natural," ammonia-free hair color products, too. Unfortunately, if one is in a reddish mood, these "permanent" tints seem to be coloring my towels for weeks, after coloring my hair. And the color fades rather quickly. So it's back to chemicals for me at present. Unless another better option presents itself.

The box says permanent, but ...

whirling dervish

favorite song friday: middle of the road

I have always like Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, a true, kick-ass rock star. I've always liked this song, "Middle of the Road," too, but it seems to have even more relevance to my life these days.

The middle of the road is trying to find me
I'm standing in the middle of life with my plans behind me ...

The middle of the road is no private cul-de-sac
I can't get from the cab to the curb
Without some little jerk on my back
Don't harass me, can't you tell
I'm going home, I'm tired as hell
I'm not the cat I used to be
I got a kid, I'm thirty-three 

Baby, get in the road
Come on now
In the middle of the road
Yeah

throwback orlando thursday

Our recent Orlando birthday trip for the kid made me think of an earlier vacation, when she had just turned seven ...

a new way to travel ...

A mall we went to in Orlando had an interesting way to get around ...


And some very comfy (and pricey) furniture ...

spring break fun pix

Scooby Dooby Doo!

The kid's first word was "Shrek," after all ...

I want these!!!

Talk about perfect timing ...

all skies should be this cloudy

favorite song friday: trouble

"Trouble" is a new song from Iggy Azalea featuring Jennifer Hudson. After hearing it, you might think it should be credited the other way around ...

throwback (museum) thursday

Dancing with a Barry Flanagan sculpture at the Hirshhorn ...

beach still-life

happy st. patrick's day

We are more focused on it being spring break this week, but I guess I can dig up some green to wear ...

fun at the (miami) zoo

The weather was perfect for our zoo outing yesterday.

favorite song friday : i wanna be loved by you

The incomparable, never sexier Marilyn Monroe, from Some Like it Hot.

throwback thursday: old new york family photos

Listening to the Bowery Boys podcasts of Old New York has made me wonder what life in the city must have been like for some of my ancestors, who came here from Italy near the end of the 19th century.

My grandmother, Gaetana Marta D'Ippolito, whose name was changed to Gertrude when she entered the U.S. as a small child

Wedding photo of Mary D'Ippolito and Joe Battaglia (Mary was Grandma's older sister)

Paola Cerchio Periale, my great-grandmother, c. 1910

careful where you step

The man o' war jellyfish have been everywhere, all over our beach lately. I have gotten some minor stings on my feet, on the tops of my toes, but that hasn't stopped me from wanting to take a morning walk there. A little white vinegar does the trick to take away the sting.

i love the bowery boys

No not these guys, although I grew up watching them and like them too.

These guys.

Greg Young and Tom Meyers (from Warby Parker)

I am addicted to their podcasts, which I listen to to on longer car rides. I left New York many years ago and don't really harbor even the tiniest desire to move back, but it's is in my blood. Growing up in New Jersey, "the city" was always a big focus and a draw. I lived there many years, in Brooklyn and then Manhattan — some of my most formative ones, going to college and starting my life as an independent adult and artist.

The Bowery Boys go way, way back in their New York histories, to the origin of places like Gramercy Park and Little Italy, but they also do more modern episodes, like one on CBGBs and another on subway graffiti art. I urge you to check them out. They also have me wanting to learn a lot more about some forgotten names that helped shape the city, like Joseph Petrosino, Hilla Rebay, and famous names who you might not have known had strong New York connections, like Rudolph Valentino. Once you listen to the podcasts you'll want to check out their blog for great photos, too.

lovejoy, series 4: up to his old tricks

Lovejoy (Ian McShane) has always walked a fine line between legitimate and slightly shady deals - such seems to be the nature of the antiques trade. But in Lovejoy, Series 4, the always charming rogue has crossed over to out-and-out swindling - for a good cause, naturally - the saving of his own skin. Lovejoy is a "divvie," someone who has the gift of being able to sniff out a real antique. This feature has both helped and hindered Lovejoy in his life, loves, and business.

Lovejoy Antiques, Inc.: L-R: Tinker (Dudley Sutton), Lady Jane Felsham (Phyllis Logan), Eric (Chris Jury), and Lovejoy (Ian McShane).

As the series opens, Lovejoy Antiques, Inc. has been seized by the authorities - and Lovejoy is not only out of a home, but his livelihood. He starts scrambling immediately, setting up some deals with his friends and sidekicks, Eric (Chris Jury) and Tinker (Dudley Sutton), while trying to keep some of the more gruesome details hidden from Lady Jane Felsham (Phyllis Logan), who will most definitely not approve. Lovejoy and Lady Jane have always had an on-again, off-again flirtation that has sometimes crossed over to romance, but this season sees the Lady's affections sorely tested. Viewers will recognize Phyllis Logan as Downton Abbey's Mrs. Hughes, who has finally found love on that program with the redoubtable butler Mr. Carson. But will her character Lady Jane fare as well with the rascally Lovejoy?

Read the full review on Cinema Sentries ...

favorite song friday: off to the races

I've been listening to Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence on long-ish car rides. I love it so much. It's got a great mix of retro and what's happening right now. Her phrasing, quirky line readings. One of the most infectious, fun tracks is "Off to the Races," a Billie Holiday-esque song about modern, substance-soaked love. It's naughty and nice. I love it.

"Light of his life, fire of his loins
Keep me forever, tell me you own me
Light of your life, fire of your loins
Tell me you own me, gimme them coins

And I'm off to the races, cases of Bacardi chasers
Chasing me all over town
Cause he knows I'm wasted, facing
Time again at Riker's Island and I won't get out
Because I'm crazy, baby I need you to come here and save me
I'm your little scarlet, starlet singing in the garden
Kiss me on my open mouth

Now I'm off to the races, laces
Leather on my waist is tight and I am fallin' down
I can see your face is shameless, Cipriani's basement
Love you but I'm going down
God I'm so crazy, baby, I'm sorry that I'm misbehaving
I'm your little harlot, starlet, Queen of Coney Island
Raising hell all over town
Sorry 'bout it"

Here she is performing it live:

throwback thursday: mom's pastels

So why do I take so many beach photos? Maybe because I remember spending evenings at the beach watching my mom draw with pastels ...

playing with collage

While the kid worked on a large-scale mural at the museum last week, I had some fun making some smaller-scale collages. It feels good to be making visual art and using pastels again.