Shopgirlove has had some good dates in her time (remember, she's old), but last night was a really good date. We had Basil Lime Gimlets and tapas at Cuchi Cuchi, enjoyed the DJ at River Gods. And never stopped talking! And giggling! Yeah, life is good....happy Pesach to the tribe! Be good, and take care of each other. Shopgirlove hopes that peace will prevail.
Shopgirlove is happy to report that her preferred hit tracker: StatCounter, is NOT spying on her loyal readers! Oh, and they have a blog! Here's to blogging Atkins style ;-)
Tony Snow is facing another battle and his cancer has spread. Shopgirlove wishes him the best. Everyone with any heart will join me in wishing him well.
(image is a link)
Last summer eight Israeli soldiers were killed and two were taken hostage in Israel. Or maybe Lebanon. Last weekend fifteen British soldiers were taken hostage in Iraqi waters. Or maybe Iranian. Given the Israeli reaction to the kidnapping, or capture, of two soldiers, and the alarming rhetoric of the current Administration, Shopgirlove's a little concerned.
Divi Zheni had a very important CD release concert for our Director and it was fabulous! After our first set, Shopgirlove donned her shopgirl hat and went front of house to sell CDs. She sold her little heart out and, bonus, got a gift of rose oil from a fan.
Shopgirlove has fans!
Additional bonus? Bulgarian men are HOT!
Murder's not cricket!
The fighting Royal goes down fighting.
McDonalds (still recovering from a fight with the Royal Da) fights the Queen's English.
Iran takes on Great Britain and everybody takes on Iran.
Bush loves his lying lawyer.
Mel Gibson loves his hate.
Catherine Stevens is not Cat Stevens.
Rat poison is not good for pets.
Les UFOs exposed! Vive les petits hommes verts!
So, Shopgirlove missed a day...get over it! She has a life, and it's been busy.
Shopgirlove has been struggling with identity, lately. Is she or is she not gen X? She doesn't think so, but other people do. This is not as specious as it may seem. My cohorts are small in number, but our impact has been of some consequence. And yet, we are misunderstood. (Or misunderestimated as our fearless leader likes to say.) Dismissed by boomers as slackers, hi, when, exactly are you planning on retiring? And by our juniors as hopelessly out of touch: gee, cell phone, email, blog....myspace why?. We get no respect. Given what we went through, isn't it interesting how influential we've been?
Shopgirlove is sad to report that the strange, anti-Hill video floating around the blogosphere came not from her enemies, but from her "friends". Now, Shopgirlove is no great fan of the Junior Senator from New York, and yet she wouldn't mind a primary devoid of the Democrats eating their own, which has been our unfortunate history. Whereas the wrong-Right is loyal to the point of psychosis. The left has no qualms about throwing everyone else under the bus. The Right learned from us and adopted our techniques in the anti-choice fight, we should take a page from their book and adopt loyalty. Perhaps the left could learn to support and endorse each other. Oh, but that would be utopia.
Which Lord? Why Conrad Black, of course! His Lady indulges in some very unladylike behavior (there's a blog). Shopgirlove found herself in agreement with celebrity witness the Donald for the second time in two days. Is Mercury still in retrograde? Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy....trial.
P.S. Shopgirlove is sticking with blogger 'cause she's lazy and it fixed itself.
Shopgirlove had a great post about the new "forever stamp", but the new Blogger weirdness made her run off to find a new platform. She'll be back soon, but probably not in Blogger.
Shopgirlove worked with a wonderful persian woman named Azzie. She had a very funny story about a trip her Mother took to Iran from her host country of Germany. She checked in her luggage. As the suitcase floated down the conveyor belt, my friend's mother realized that her head scarf was in her suitcase.
"My Islam! My Islam", she cried.
Of course, the young soldiers at the Berlin Airport closed in on my friend's Mother, guns drawn. Some explanation was required to smooth things over. Luckily, the woman next to her on the plane had an extra head scarf and she was not arrested at Tehran.
For something light. The weather's got Shopgirlove in a flighty mood. Her recently purchased copy of George Eliot's Impressions of Theoprastus Such just won't do! It's altogether too too! She needs something less tasteful for her brow has been lowered.
Well, kindred spirits might enjoy reading about the following:
The looming sex scandal in D.C. (oooh, hookers! We will begin a pool of most likely to appear. My vote? Bill Clinton. Kidding...) A tasteless roundup of what the most recently executed ordered for their last meal. (Saddam Hussein went with the chicken. Shopgirlove is apalled by the lack of culinary imagination of these convicted killers. Really, is onion ring-breath a smart choice on the eve of meeting one's maker?) For those of us in Scooter Libby withdrawal, there is the coming trial of Conrad Black. Bonus, these folks also have a nice pit bull mascot and an interesting take on Yankee politics. Shopgirlove has also been enjoying the mediocrity over at passive-agressive extraordinaire, dooce. Thanks to Charlene for the introduction.
And now, my exit, stage left. (Humming "America, the Beautiful".)
Blogger has had a field day with Shopgirlove's images. So much so that they appear twice in certain browsers...She can't explain why this is happening, much less what to do about it, Anyway, she apologizes and hopes that you, gentle reader, will forgive her for that over which she has no control.
By the way, the point of the Clinton Obama post was to introduce you to the Reuters' Photo Editor's pix of the week. They never fail to keep Shopgirlove up at night and provide the kind of eye candy that lasts more than one news cycle.
Reuters has an amazing selection of photographs each week, with narration, that warrant review. They are the kind of images that hijack the imagination, appearing later in your dreams.
Oh, she's tired! She has a lot to say about many different subjects, but they're all going to have to wait until Shopgirlove has recovered from the circadian rift. Good luck with your own internal clocks. Thank goodness her appliances took care of themselves. Shopgirlove didn't have it in her.
G'bless and good night!
And just where was Hillary? The first black President gets chummy with the first viable (and articulate--did I mention clean?) black presidential candidate. And the women are? In the kitchen? That's where they spent most of the civil rights movement. So Happy International Women's Day! Cream, sugar? How do you take your coffee? I wish I could embrace our fist viable woman candidate for President, but I cannot. As a Senator, one of her first votes was in support a the Bush-driven anti-bankruptcy laws. Laws she had faught as a non-elected member of government. Before, that is, she began cashing her campaign checks. And yet, woman are disportionally represented in the bankruptcy courts. Thanks Sister.
AAAAAARGH!Notwithstanding the celiac and all, Shopgirlove made it to her first concert. She almost didn't make it as she ended up in the wrong suburb at one point and in the wrong part of the right suburb at another point. She called Jess in New Hampshire to arrange to have a drink if things got that out of hand:
Shopgirllove: So, if I hit a deer, will you call 911?
Jess: Of course I will! Are you wearing the costume?
Sh.: Oh. I am. You probably don't want to be seen with me in public...
J.: No! That's all the more reason to be seen with you!
See, that's how you know who your friends are. Not only do they not care if you look funny, but they kinda want to show you off when you do.
Having completely missed the warm up, Shopgirlove found the Concord (Massachusetts) Police station and made inquiries.
Cute cop: Balkan night, right?
Sh.: Yes! (And by the way--YUM! Was it Nietzsche who said that all women love a man in uniform?)
C.C.: You're the second person asking about it. I think it's at the Boys and Girls Club (it wasn't). Just keep going, it's downtown (it was, or at least in what counts for a "downtown" in Concord).
Sh.: Oh thank you sooooo much!
C.C.: Just what is Balkan music?
Sh.: Oh my...it's very, um, loud. (Waaah, if only she weren't running late, this one had all kinds of potential. Oh well.)
So, she got there, went on stage, and sang her little heart out. And, guess what? People danced! We made people dance! It's rather intoxicating watching a room ( a fairly large one, too) literally dance to your tune. Also, monitors are weird.
After the concert, people came to find us in the green room. And by "people", I am really referring to my voice teacher, Sue Robbins, and Libana co-founder, Marytha Paffrath. It would be hard to find two more generous artists on this green earth than they. Both of them explained to Shopgirlove that they expected her to audition for Christmas Revels in September...now there's an offer I can't refuse.
Shopgirlove is trying to recover from an encounter with gluten last night. She had a lovely meal with a lovely beau at a lovely restaurant. Everyone there tried so hard to safeguard her health and well-being. Not one grain of wheat touched Shopgirlove's plate. But after dinner, Shopgirlove decided to have a whiskey. Not a good idea.
While waiting for her tummy to settle down, Shopgirlove has been catching up on the news:
The Dems finally figured out that FOX News loves them about as much as the Mayans love our President. Why didn't they just ask John Edwards?
At last! Someone in the administration took responsibilty for something. Sort of. (P.s. if anyone over at the FBI or the NSA is reading this, Shopgirlove hopes you have enjoyed your visit. Leave a comment! Feedback is always welcome at Retales.)
Oh, and Obama is articulate, again.
But what really got Shopgirlove's panties in a bunch was the ongoing campaign by our government to KILL EVERY AMERICAN! C'mon! If butter were bad, wouldn't France be in Italy? Shopgirlove is aware that federal agencies are strongly discouraged from flirting with science, but this is too much.
Especially the crunchy corn-based variety, covered in cheese! Shopgirlove isn't sure that this is the key to having a voice at tomorrow night's concert, but she's choosing to indulge anyway.
The Big Gig is wonderful. Everyone is so nice, and Shopgirlove is being very productive and getting a giant kick out of how fast her days go by.
In the annals of giants: Ernesto Gallo passed. Here, my lovelies, is the genesis of modern marketing. We could all take a page from his book.
Be well and have a fabulous weekend!
Shopgirlove needs a tissue. 
Everyone in the new office is hacking and spewing. Why do they not stay home? Do they not know Shopgirlove has a concert? Do they not care? Does the world not revolve around Shopgirlove?
I have to go gargle salt-water...
Shopgirlove is ready for Sunday! Her coworkers are funny and SO nice! Not one word about the apalling state of Shopgirlove's roots...her computer has decided that "save" is overrated, sigh. Oh, and Saturday is her first concert with the Divi Zhenis. Thus, reheasal tonight and tomorrow night. Oh boy! Sunday will truly be a day of rest.
It seems that the main-stream media has finally caught up to Shopgirlove. Thank you, Em for the catch of the day!
And hey, SCOOTER LIBBY IS GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY, ACQUITTED, AND GUILTY. Go Fitzie! Sentencing is June 5th. Pardon? Justice may be blind, slow, and crippled under this administration, but she gets there eventually. If W chooses to sell whatever is left of his soul, so be it, the people have spoken and the record will stand.
Shopgirlove's a little overwhelmed by her new job. What a nice way to end the day, though.
Do find that some tasks are able to conquer time? Those moments when you lose yourself completely in whatever it is you are doing? Ironing has always done it for Shopgirlove. She can inflict smoothness on her entire wardrobe and come away not knowing if she's lost fifteen minutes or ten hours. Well, data-entry seems to hold the same power over Shopgirlove. How soothing. And how nice to be paid for the pleasure!
So is Shopgirlove. Since it's lazy Chez nous, I'm just going to point you toward two things that amused and astonished. Enjoy!
Oh, did anyone actually see the big orange luner eclipse?
Happy belated New Year everybody! Cold tea? Shopgirlove can't drink the beer (the celiac, ya know.) but she wants her guests to enjoy themselves. She's a horse herself, actually a fire horse, or Hinouema. Despite her pariah status, Shopgirlove has been getting many visitors from the East. She's curious. Visitors from China, how did you end up here? Please let a humble shopgirl know how you found this blog. Shopgirlove is truly puzzled...leave a comment and put the speculation to rest.
By the way:
Gong Xi Fa Cai!!
Shopgirlove had her first day at the Big Gig. Everything went well, but her worlds decided to collide at the end of the day in what can only be described as a typical Shopgirlove coinkidink. The office to which she has been assigned was hosting an event. It was an audition of sorts for various local caterers to showcase their wares. The catering companies began showing up toward the end of the day and presenting themselves to Shopgirlove. She was working on the computer and therefore sporting a snazzy pair of reading glasses (red). Because of this, everyone on the other side of the desk was the kind of fuzzy that aging actresses adore and myopic schoolchildren abhor. At one point, four fuzzy people arrived and announced themselves.
The Four Fuzzies: Hello, we're from catering company X. Can you tell us where to go?
Shopgirlove: Yes. (Not really paying attention.)
(Shopgirlove's brain switches over and she processes the company name. She stands and tries not to laugh.)
S: You're from X?
The FF: Yes.
S: Of course you are, and so am I!!!!!
(One of the Four Fuzzies recognizes Chef Shopgirlove and dissolves. It's Chef Babs!)
Chef Babs to the other three: This is the woman I was telling you about! She's the shopgirl at that gift store we passed!
(No more, alas. But many laughs for all involved.)
Shopgirlove was shameless in promoting her kitchen's goods.
Update on Monday.
So the big gig starts tomorrow and Shopgirlove is a little worried about her roots. They do not speak well of Shopgirlove. However, there's little to be done between now and then, so let's hope some tasteful jewelry can distract from her less-than Grace Kelley appearance.
