Nico - I'm Not Saying

You can't go wrong with Nico and French pop music in general.

Ave Marie ... Claire: Blogger Etiquette

The English translation of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria has the line, "Thou canst save amid despair." 

This might be advice I'd share with Maura Kelly, blogger of Marie Claire's "A Year of Living Flirtatiously," who's likely in the middle of despair for having written an incendiary column that uses less-than-pretty language to discuss overweight individuals. People (2,288 commenters to be precise) are attacking her for zingers like, "I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other" and "I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room -- just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroin addict slumping in a chair." (Awkwardly, she exposed her sloppiness as a writer when she misspelled 'heroin' as 'heroine' in her post).

Here's Kelly's post this week on 'Should "Fatties" Get a Room (Even on TV?)." 

One of the first rules in journalism was learning how to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Whereas Kelly compares apples to bananas when she likens the appearance of overweight individuals to that of heroin users. {insert awkward cough} She writes, "Anorexia is sick, but at least some slim models are simply naturally skinny." {eye roll} Overlooking the fact many of those models starve/bulimic themselves, did she not realize genetics are to blame for making Kate Moss as well as Oprah? Kelly misses the application of this lesson entirely (and yet the girl went to Dartmouth).

There is nothing illegal about writing trite ramble and calling it "professional," but this is a column about etiquette and social graces. If I were a blogger for a major Hearst pub, I'd have the sense to first, avoid egregious misspellings {shudder}, and two, use a filter before expressing myself on a contentious topic, like weight, which might personally and deeply affect a lot of individuals. When expressing an opinion--showing social grace and consideration neither adds nor detracts from the freedom of an opinion. There's always a hundred ways to say the same thing.

Last note. In her column, Kelly's beef was with the personal appearance of "fatties" being represented on TV (Should "fatties" Get a Room, Even on TV), insomuch she inferred a "displeasing" quality about viewing them on a big screen. For argument's sake, let's compare apples to apples. I wonder what Kelly would opine on personal appearances depicted by Snookie, Speidi and Octoman? If networks are willing to put the likes of those individuals on TV, why is there tremendous harm in broadcasting "Mike & Molly" whose characters are enrolled in Overeaters Anonymous. In time, I'm sure Kelly "canst save amid despair," since everyone's etiquette can falter at times.

"Remember you always have a choice: tact or react,
Every peacemaker uses the wisdom of diplomacy,
Because words when spoken right make men see" 

-- Tim Pickl 

EcoEtique is Born

I have been running a blog now for two years now. My first blog post was on Muse Marian, a.k.a. Marian McEvoy, the former etiquette columnist for Domino Magazine, RIP. McEvoy offered real-life advice for modern-day men and women. She's like Carrie Bradshaw meets Emily Post, plus classy oomph. Overdid martinis on a first date? Crackberry users make rude company? Muse Marian knew what to do. To this day, I still cherish her columns (yes, I keep old magazines that have gone to heaven). My first post was on etiquette and funny, even garnered me my first (and encouraging) comment. I think that must have been a sign. 


"I definitely love your own writing way, very helpful, don't give up as well as keep posting simply because it simply just truly worth to follow it, looking forward to find out additional of your articles, goodbye!" 


Today, I'm launching EcoEtique, an advice column on how to handle all aspects of modern-day eco living and etiquette. Sometimes the two are inextricably connected. For instance, if you're a guest at someone's house and offer to clean the dishes after dinner, and you notice the homeowner blasting the sink water with no dishes underneath (just thinking it makes me cringe), how do you resolve cleaning the dishes fast while not wasting precious water? Wanna send correspondence for a party or just say hello? There are a plethora of ways to nicely upcycle material into cards and find eco, sustainable stationery -- stay cordial to your acquaintances and the planet. This is my aim with EcoEtique, that and a little enjoyment. 

Santa Barbara's Eco Respite

The opportunity to visit Santa Barbara came my way based on a variety of elements that came together. Tracy wasn't able to go due to work, I was recently working from home and therefore able to work according to my very open schedule and ... it just happened that El Capitan Canyon got in touch with our eco website, Your Daily Thread. 

While I happily open myself up to new experiences as they come along -- one of the forefront reasons I love journalism/writing so much -- so when the chance to visit a brand-new, beautiful and coastal city, among other places, including a wine country in central California, how could I possibly say no?

Here are some pictures I took from my Blackberry. 

And the work space.

 

A Little AMOR

Last week, I went to visit my mother. She was feeling sick at the time, so I climbed into bed with her and hung out for a while. Later, she gave me the most beautiful pinkie ring, and her most cherished ring (OK, besides her wedding ring). She told me not to loose it. Ironically, I almost did when I had the disturbing experience of folding laundry and realizing the ring had simply slid off my pinkie (oh, that was horror). Since than, I have corrected the egregious error and now wear the ring on a silver chain with a Tiffany's heart (which my sister gave me). The ring though is remarkably irreplaceable. The story is in 1972 my mom decided to buy herself her first ring, of her own accord. It's gold and the diamond has fallen out but it's probably nothing like you've ever seen, a gorgeous vintage little piece. I cherish it. My mom told me she wanted the jeweler to make her a ring that said "love" but in Spanish so the ring says "AMOR." The font style is the other cool part. It's this psychedelic-ish, ballon-y font that you'd likely glimpse on The Doors or a Pink Floyd album cover.  Something like this: 

Here's the ring:

Blogging It Up on Simple Shoes

Check out the interview the good people at Simple Shoes posted about me on their blog, as part of their relaunching of the Simple blog, where I'll be contributing. 

Simple-y Blogging

As of late, I've started blogging for sustainable footwear company, Simple Shoes.  Check in every now and then to read up on their latest posts, where I'll be writing on everything surf, skate, culture, eco, art and, of course, all things Simple. 


Here's today's post on Dwell's Stacey Jones: Dwell Magazine People, Simple-y Fans