Dolly is my Homegirl

Dolly in 9 to 5

Hi hons, just returned from a week of motoring around the South. Amidst all the creepy pro-life billboards (including a “Graveyard for the Fallen Unborn” in Arkansas- how repulsive!) there had to be some civilization. So the fambly and I went to Nashville for a tour of the famed Ryman Auditorium, one of the best acoustic places in the world, and host of several acclaimed performers. The informative video of course mentioned Johnny Cash, Elvis, and the great Patsy Cline, but the sis and I went crazy when they said Margaret Cho had played the Ryman.

Anyway, in the gift shop among all the overpriced T-shirts, I found a CD rack, specifically the Dolly Parton section. Well, Dolly and I have had a long, love hate relationship. I am particularly fond of her earlier work in songwriting, especially “Coat of Many Colors.” Dolly also has excellent acting chops, exemplified when she starred in “Nine to Five”, one of my personal favorites, along with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, also excellent. Why, Dolly even featured Amy Sedaris in her latest music video for “Better Get to Livin’”. Even though Dollywood and surrounding Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, are hideous, I think Dolly is quite a gal.

Perusing her albums, I noticed a cover CD called “Those Were the Days.” To my ecstatic shock, I found that Dolly’s choice of classics to cover were my exact favorite songs. I mean- “Crimson and Clover”? “Me and Bobby McGee”? “Turn Turn Turn”? The songs that have been the soundtrack to my life for the past few weeks? It was an eerie discovery. Turns out, Ms. Parton and I have very similar taste. Of course, I didn’t buy the CD. Dolly and I may have identical taste, but I question her ability to channel Janis and Joan, respectively. But I do have a newfound respect for the ubiquitous “Queen of Country.”

Missed it Again (and more non sequiturs)

Last weekend I missed not only Capital Pride, but HonFest in Baltimore. For those of y’all not familiar with this veritable pilgrimage of tacky debauchery, it is a festival where a bunch of ladies (and gents) with penchants for beehive wigs, cat eye glasses, and too tight leopard print converge for a party in the rapidly gentrifying “Bawlmer” neighborhood of Hampden. Those lucky few of you who know me are probably thinking “oh my goodness, that sounds like Nellie’s idea of heaven.”

Well, I was off in the wilds of “Murrlin” on the annual neighborhood camping trip.  A few dear friends and I were off cavorting in a lake, eating junk food, staying up, having impromptu dance parties, and applying temporary tattoos. It was funner’n'hell. You’ll be happy to know I brought my glitter leopard print cat eyes anyway.

And to continue the tradition of sounding like a crotchety old columnist for the Onion…

I was watching Pulp Fiction today as while working on a mailing for NARAL. In the scene where Vincent and Mia are at Jackrabbit Slim’s, Mia orders a “5 Dollar Milkshake”. Of course, Vincent, as portrayed by John “Revolting” Travolta, bitches about the cost. This was, of course, in 1995 before it was terribly obvious that the world was going to hell by way of skyrocketing food prices. These days, it’s not unusual to pay more than $5 for a drink. Jesus H. Christ, milkshakes are more than $6 at Ben and Jerry’s. For less than that, you can get a pint at Seven Eleven.  Of ice cream, kiddies, a pint of ice cream.

In conclusion, Dusty Springfield is an excellent artist.

6/16/08

In keeping with traditional blog form, I thought I’d blog about my first real day at an office. And because y’all are fascinated with the mundaneness of my existence. Sarcasm, sarcasm.

So I got up early and made buckwheat pancakes for breakfast and read the Washington Post and New York Times because that is my custom but not the Wall Street Journal because quite frankly it is boring. On the front page of the Post was an article about “pharmacists with a conscience”, aka right wing nuts who refuse to stock condoms, Plan B, or the Pill because they think it’s abortion. Never mind the fact that a druggist’s job is to fill the damn prescription. My tirade on this utter ridiculousness can be found at the C.R.A.Blog.

Anyway, despite spilling iced coffee all over myself, I had a fairly successful first day. In the afternoon I sealed and stickered newsletters, while watching My Best Friend’s Wedding. Most. unrealistic. ending. ever. But I have a soft spot in my heart for movies set in Chicago in the ’80’s and 90’s (that’s my childhood!), so it was bearable. After work I went to Safeway for groceries, then came home and baked this wonderful rhubarb upside down cake. The recipe is Ruth Reichl’s (an excellent cook and writer) from the Gourmet Cookbook.

Then I began my formidable amount of summer homework. I was writing a summary of The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, when I realized that it’s an amazing book. One of my favorites, in fact. Go read it, go on. Then we’ll talk about why pro-LIARs have no business whatsoever interfering in women’s private medical issues.

Listening to: Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Feeling: revolutionary

Reading: Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block

Hi Again

Hey folks, I’ve been away, attending to the endless rigors of the communication arts program. Anyway, I’m over at NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland writing their blog, so feel free to come check it out. And comment.

Since it’s summer, I’ll be posting a lot more. So for self-absorbed ramblings, come on over to the Curiosity Shop.

If you’ll excuse me, I have a patriarchy to smash.

Ta-ta.

The Barefoot Contessa

Just finished making a lemon yogurt pound cake from an Ina Garten recipe.

I absolutely  adore Ina, aka the Barefoot Contessa. Her show is the epitome of understated food elegance.

Here’s why she’s the best on Food Network: Not as annoying as Rachael Ray, not as plastic as Sandra Lee, not as ostentatiously obese as Paula Deen, and not as, um, big headed as Giada diLaurentiis.

Her Hamptons farmhouse is always gorgeous and her huge garden is fabulous. She uses locally grown food to make simple, delicious food. She does not use prepackaged crap like other chefs and takes her time in cooking.

My only problem is that her food tends to be geared to the palate of a picky child, or fearful adult- lots of chicken and rice/potato type dishes, perhaps with a bit of lemon or pesto to provide variety. Even so, the food pictures are gorgeous.

The stab at a whole Barefoot Contessa dinner has yet to be made, although I always am looking for roast chicken guinea pigs.

If you’ll excuse me, I have a cake to attend to.

You Don’t Own Me

Lesley Gore, Ladies and Gentlemen

and of course, Veronica Mars

New Duvet

As I complete my portfolio cover sheets and consume vast quantities of Thin Mints I am consumed by a searing, irrational hatred of my duvet cover. It’s hideous, an Ikea monstrosity that I thought was cool when I was 9. It’s this awful dusty turquoise with pea green swirly stripes. Factor in 6 years of sun damage form a skylight, and there you have it. I try to cover it up with a very hep purple leopard print quilt my grandma made, but even the quilt cannot hide the ugly duvet. My anti-materialistic self doesn’t want to buy a new comforter cover, even though I really want the one that Tony on Skins (excellent show) has. It is printed with a giant photo of two naked people from the back. Alas, such a smutty duvet would look ridiculous on my monastic twin bed.

Anyone know where to get a comforter cover that is actually comforting?

Silly Mormons

Instead of doing chem homework I am watching Big Love, a fascinating HBO drama about Utah polygamists. It’s the best show ever. And a vicarious way to express my Mitt Romney crush. Seriously, watch it. It’s got the lovely Chloe Sevigny in prairie skirts and blouses, and Deb, Lilly, and Cassidy from Veronica Mars (another excellent show). Seriously, you should watch it. Then perhaps over some Wonder Bread sandwiches and soda pop we can discuss the pros and cons of Salt Lake City.

Persepolis

And now, for the obligatory “dear diary” post:

Today, since my school district was wimpy and canceled school because of icy rain, I went to see the excellent French film Persepolis.  A black and white subtitled animated movie, it follows the story of Marjane Satrapi, a girl growing up in revolutionary early 1980’s Iran. She later moves to Vienna for school and finally to Paris. It was at once heartbreaking and laugh out loud funny. Essentially, it was poignant and creative- the black and white carton served the dark subject matter well. Unbelievably, the Academy overlooked it for Best Foreign Film (and best Animated Film, for that matter).

Liza Schwartzbaum at EntertainentWeekly.com has the same perspective, only better written.

Another mundanity of today: Entertainment Weekly came! Finally, they have something to write about now that the surprisingly brief writers’ strike is over.

The highlight of my week is Thursday through Friday. Thursday afternoon, the New Yorker is delivered, so I can read my cartoons and movie reviews. Then Thursday night marks my favorite broadcast show: 30 Rock! Brilliantly written by and starring geek-chic icon Tina Fey, it is recognized (by EW) as the best show on TV. Finally, on Friday my copy of EW arrives so I can read more reviews and articles and go see a movie on Friday night.

Don’t worry, “gentle reader” (as Miss Manners says). My posts will get better written and more interesting.

Wilkommen, bienvenue

Hi, y’all. Welcome to Little Nell’s Curiosity Shop. My posts will be much like my personality- erratic, arcane, random, unfocused, and, of course, heartbreaking works of staggering genius. I have lots of pop culture references- how many can you find? When something strikes my fancy, I will write about it.

My reason for writing?

“Life is a banquet, and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death”- Auntie Mame