10 Things I love

You Are My Fave and some other blogs have been doing 10 Things I Love lists, I think inspired by the back page of Domino (my favorite part of the mag). Here's mine, minus fancy photo-shopping.
1. Turner Classic Movies
2. super fine point pens
3. vintage postcards
4. coin purses
5. leather riding boots
6. ice cream
7. Ikea fabrics
8. sea salt
9. white sheets
10. L'Oreal red Target lipstick

Grandfathers

Melanie at You Are My Fave posted these photo booth images of her grandfather. below.

And Angela at Ruby Press blogged about how her great-great-grandmother was so sad to have only one child that she dressed her son (Angela's great grandfather) as a girl, and then a boy, for photographs. above.

I miss my own grandfather who lives very far away in Cincinnati. And my other grandfather who passed away 16 years go.

Robert Morse

A lovely interpretation of Robert Morse's character Bertram Cooper from Mad Men (via kottke), and a really endearing interview with Morse from the Mad Men blog.

"Q: In the '60s, you starred on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, about working your way up the corporate ladder. How does that compare to Mad Men?

A: It's very strange. I'm the CEO now, whereas when I first did the show, I played a window washer of the office building. So I guess I realize I'm a little older now. Time and age change one -- don't do it. At that time I was in my 20s or early 30s. I'm very happy and very fortunate I'm able to go to work and have a job at my age -- one could call it the Rudy Vallee CEO part -- but it's really Robert Morse at a different juncture in his life, isn't it?

Q: If Bert Cooper is the Rudy Vallee character, who do you think would be the window washer?

A: Well it seems to me Peggy, doesn't it? She gets promoted every week -- head of this, head of that, but never deviously. You know that in How To Succeed..., [writer] Abe Burrows once told me, "Your character never really lies. He just puts himself in a good position." And I had never thought of it that way. But it's true -- he just bumps into the head of the company and asks for a job. Pete is too devious. And he hasn't moved anywhere, has he really? He almost got fired.

Q: Do you feel like you're stepping back in time with Mad Men?

A: Not really stepping back in time, but there are many values and things in the script that are reminiscent -- secretaries and typewriters, etc. -- of my days when How to Succeed... was on Broadway. So it is a reminder of things past, a little Proustian. Otherwise, it's fun wearing a goatee and a mustache and having my hair plastered down. It's fun to look completely different than you are. They write Bert Cooper very cleverly. He's an oddball. He walks around with no shoes, his office is completely decorated in early Japanese stuff. He has these fun, odd quirks.

Q: Is it true you visit the set, even on days when you're not filming?

A: That's right. Exactly. I love to go into the studio on days when I'm not even doing anything. It's like my senior club. Some people go to senior centers, well I go to my senior center. I think I'm the oldest of the group -- the only one who has lived through this period. I just love this show: I show up and hit the marks and say the lines and go home. And then show up the next day with the paper and visit with everybody and have a free lunch.

Q: What's been your favorite part about the second season thus far?

A: The second season, as far as I'm concerned, is explosive and wonderful. I'm not looking for anything really personal. I enjoy the show, coming back and seeing everybody. And that's what the second season is about. I'm very fortunate having the chance to be employed in these dire times. From my beginnings to here -- my endings so to speak -- it's very nice. I don't have many episodes to do, but I have just enough to make me happy. I'm not the leading man any more.

Q: You do own the company.

A: That's true...but I never get the girl!"

The girl that occasionally gets got:

Samson and Delilah

I got super psyched watching The Sarah Connor Chronicles--not because it was a good episode, because it wasn't--but because they played "Samson and Delilah" for the first few minutes of the episode. My dad used to play that song on the guitar when I was a kid, and it was the only one of many many folk songs in his repertoire that didn't make me cry. And hence, the only one where he was allowed to sing the words. It turns out that Battlestar Master Bear McCreary is responsible for this adaptation, another of my favorite tv-music moments of all time. Between this and "All Along the Watchtower," I might want to marry that man. Thanks Michael on Alan Sepinwall's blog for the tip. Image by Lucas Cranach, 1529.

Late Night Political Panic

I told you I wasn't writing.
Bob Herbert's inspiring call to liberals.
Frustrating but hopefully inflated poll numbers.
The Bush-esque media-managed Palin.
Though even without interviews, it's still painfully clear I hate her politics.
Where to donate to the Obama campaign.
Which is getting pretty necessary.

Frolic!

It's British week at Frolic! and "not writing the dissertation" day at my blog.

Did you know. . .

that Maury Levy and Brianna Barksdale of The Wire both make appearances in season two of Veronica Mars? My public service announcement for the day.

Good Neighbor Sam

The first movie I saw Jack Lemmon in was Under the Yum Yum Tree, and he was not so endearing. But since then, somewhat randomly, I've seen several Jack Lemmon pics including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, and Good Neighbor Sam. He definitely won me over with Some Like It Hot and in particular, the Apartment. But this moment from Good Neighbor Sam is pretty much the best, even though the movie's not my favorite. So here is Jack Lemmon as a Peanuts character courtesy of Youtube. Also, I love the song.

Plaid

So, I'm obviously not the only one who is coveting plaid right now. In fact, I stole this Dorthea Lange image from Nothing Elegant, who inspired this post. Forme-foryou also is loving it. Other plaid guys are from here and here. None of them beat my favorite jacket though, pictured at top, or this Dorothea Lange lady or even Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront. I don't need any jackets/coats, but maybe I'll indulge in a plaid top or dress sometime soon.

Top 5 Canadian TV Shows

1. Kids in the Hall: The Chicken Lady is one of my all-time favorite bits of sketch comedy. You can't beat it. It's so bizarre.
2. Degrassi: Yes, 1st and 2nd generations are both awesome. Total total cheese. Very Canadian. All those people of color! Abortions! Gay kids! The N has ruined "The Next Generation" a little bit, but it's still pretty great.
3. Radio Free Roscoe: This short-lived, Degrassi-ish show about a high-school pirate radio station is even cheesier. A little less scandalous. A little more inspired by Pump Up the Volume. A little closer to my heart. Several of these actors and actresses have ended up in bit parts on Degrassi, and I always lose my mind with excitement.
4. Today's Special. If I hadn't recently done that Belle and Sebastien post, I never would have realized this was Canadian. This was my favorite tv show on Nickelodeon as a kid. It's pretty weird too. It turns out Canadians are weird.
5. Much Music. Okay, it also turns out there are almost no Canadian shows on American tv. But I do remember watching Much Music in Toronto in 1994 and thinking it was awesome and way cooler than MTV. Canadians really are cooler. And more bizarre. I stand by that.

Lost link

I love this image, but I have no idea where I got it. Someone's blog I think. Sigh.

UPDATE: I found it! It's an item for sale on etsy.

Fairy Tale Outfits

I really like this challenge over at Creature Comforts. Set 1 here and set 2 here. I'm always impressed how much work goes into a single post over Creature Comforts.

Little House on the Rock

We went to the House on the Rock for Labor Day. That place is so weird and awesome and creepy. Here are a few of our creepiest pics. I guess they're actually NSFW. Ha!