Free Willy Drinking Game

I discovered that there was a need in the world. And I decided to fill that need.
If you, like so many others, myself included, would like to get drunk while watching the 1993 masterpiece film Free Willy (starring, of course, the incomparable Michael Madsen and that chick from Point Break, another movie that's great to drink to), you should drink for any or all of the following:
-You see Willy's tongue
-You hear the sad whale whine
-The creepy Indian dude surprises someone (announced by yelling INDIAN SURPRISE!)
-A character is seen in an entirely denim outfit
-Jesse talks to Willy
-Jesse plays the harmonica
TAKE 3 DRINKS WHEN:
-Rae says "that's his chocolate" while referring to salmon (just trust me)
-You hear MJ's "Will You Be There," the movie's theme song and an epic piece of music (BONUS: the VHS version includes the music video at the beginning...a great way to start a night of drinking. Then watch it again once you're drunk for a truly bonding experience)
IF YOU WANT TO GET ABSOLUTELY BLOTTO:
Drink every time someone says "Willy." I know (from 'experience') how many times it happens, but I'm not telling. You'll have to play to find out.
You can also drink every time there is a dramatic whale jump, but this happens so many times in the first scene of the movie that you'll be dead by the second Indian surprise.

There you have it. The perfect way to spend an evening. You're welcome.
they wouldn't let me embed it

From the Family Vault

My mom and aunt:

My mom as a wee one!:

My aunt as a little one putting on shoes:

My beautiful grandmother as a young woman:


My brother on his first Halloween:

My dad as a young rugger:

90s Style Icons

I have always loved Clarissa Explains It All (and own it on DVD, natch) and Clarissa's fab outfits are a source of inspiration. One of my favorites was a bright blue coat with brass military-like detailing accompanied by a black and white headscarf. The best part was a thin braid behind the scarf, with a gold fish skeleton dangling from it. LOVE it. Lots of creative uses of patterned leggings, plaid, and crazy pattern combinations abound on the show. Now I have found a similar figure in Rayanne Graff from My So-Called Life. Rayanne and her friend Rickie (pictured below) are nothing if not original. Rickie's red military jacket knocked my socks off, and Rayanne's creativity with her blond curls, including the ever-present loose lock on the right side of her face, is always welcome. One of my favorite Rayanne outfits was a structured green jacket with great sculptural shape over a zebra-print dress. Not to mention a large number of incredible dangly earrings and a fabulous vampiress costume for the Halloween episode. Amazing. If only I could pull it off.

Egg N Cheese Sangwich

This morning I woke up hungover and in desperate need of an egg and cheese sandwich. I had the most inordinately difficult time finding a place that would serve me one after noon. Hello people, this is New York City, since when is anything ever unavailable because of the time of day?
Since I had to go to J&R anyway, I spent a while wandering around the financial district to no avail. Until suddenly I had an epiphany and realized that what I needed had been right under my nose the whole time. Of course: Hot Bagels! I jumped right on the train. Back in my hood I made a beeline for HoBags. I was almost there when, right in front of Radio Shack, a frazzled hippy woman said loudly, "Do you have just a moment to spare for clean energy?" I reacted the way I usually do to such entreaties: a muted 'No' and an almost imperceptible headshake. As I hurried by, she threw up her hands in exasperation, like she was dealing with a petulant child, and said forcefully "You have a nice day." There was a certain acidity to her tone that I did not appreciate.
Lady, you don't understand.
I am on a mission here.
(I should have said to her).
You have no idea of the trials I have been through to find a simple egg and cheese sandwich to feed to my hangover. It's crying out for melted cheese and egg smooshed together between a limp roll. You wanna talk about clean energy? So do I. I wanna talk about eggs. They're good clean energy for me. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go get some clean energy so I can fuel a long day of sitting on my ass in front of the television.
You have a nice day.

ps. my corner deli (where they only serve breakfast sandwiches til 11am, the fascists) has a sign that says "sanguiches." I wonder if it's intentional. either way I love it.

Garfield Minus Garfield

I lol'd.