I Didn't Say It ...

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, and _____’s arch-nemesis, on the articles of impeachment:

“This president is impeached for life, regardless of any gamesmanship on the part of Mitch McConnell. There is nothing the Senate can do to ever erase that. … We’re confident in the impeachment. And we think there’s enough testimony to remove him from office. However, we want the American people to see the truth, and why are [Republicans] afraid of the truth?”

Actually, they’re afraid the racist followers of the Adderall-addicted moron will turn on them, so they’ll do whatever he says.

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Gwyneth Paltrow, on why she doesn’t act anymore:

“When I was acting I really burned myself out. When the flywheel kicked in, I was doing three to five movies a year. I really got to the point where even the little things, like sitting in the van going to set, getting your makeup touch-ups, and everything – I really don’t know that I can bear it. The last movie I starred in, I was pregnant with my daughter. It was a movie called Proof, an adaptation of a play I did in London, and I was like, ‘I’ve had it. I can’t do this anymore.’ I had morning sickness and I was dying, and I had these five-page monologues. So when I had her, I knew I was going to take a big chunk of time off. And I’ve never starred in anything again.”

Um, is that your choice, or Hollywood’s? See, Gwynnie, everything about you is an act. Maybe you aren’t doing it on a movie screen, but every time your lips flap, every time you push one of your delusional products, you’re acting; and it’s still awful.

You should really get down on your knees and thank Harvey Weinstein for buying you that Oscar.

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James Wharton, a gay former British soldier, on Prince Harry, his tank commander, stepping in to stop soldiers bullying Wharton for being gay:

“I’d got myself into a bit of a situation with some soldiers from another regiment and, essentially, they didn’t like the fact I was gay. They were sort-of chest poking me and making me feel quite uncomfortable. I got into my tank where Prince Harry was doing something, and he could see that I was clearly affected by something and he asked me what the problem was. I told him that there were a couple of soldiers outside who weren’t very happy with the fact I was gay. Quite offended that his gunner was being picked on by these people, Prince Harry went out and saw these soldiers and spoke to them, and the problem went away. He told them off and they left me alone.”

That’s how bullying stops. Call out the bullies. Demand it stop.

Especially when a Hot Ginger Prince does it.

Sidenote: my favorite dream in the world is about me getting in my tank with Harry.

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DJ Qualls, actor from Road Trip, The New Guy, Hustle & Flow, has come out as gay at a Jim Jefferies show, and then on Twitter:

“It is 11:20pm. I just came out on stage at a [Jim Jefferies] show in San Diego. Yep, I’m gay. Been gay this whole time. Tired of worrying about what people would think of me. Tired of worrying about what it would do to my career.”

Welcome out.

And please accept as our gift from HOMO HQ, the Official Coming Out Toaster Over™ and a copy of The Gay Agenda.

Welcome out!

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Sebastian Stan, actor, on his signature deadpan expression:

“People always ask me if I’m okay. They’ve said I have ‘serial-killer resting face.’ No matter what I do, I’ve always had dark circles under my eyes that never really go away. Lately there might be a little moisturizer happening here and there, just in case. Preserving a couple years, or whatever.”

Serial killer? Not at all.

Brooding sexy man who needs some attention? Yes, please.

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Jennifer Lopez, actress, singer, media whore, telling Vanity Fair that she longs for a more 'simple and organic' kind of life.

“I would love to live somewhere other than the United States, in a small town in Italy, or on the other side of the world, in Bali. Find another life where it’s a little bit more simple and organic and where I get to ride a bike, and buy bread, and put it in my basket, and then go home and put jelly on it, and just eat and paint, or sit in a rocking chair where there was a beautiful view of an olive tree or an oak tree and I could just smell. I have fantasies like that.”

Yes, please believe that a woman who lives her life in front of the media longs to be alone.

Cuz, if you do, Jenny, then go. Ain’t nobody stoppin’ you.

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Bobservations

As Carlos and I were watching the Gloden Globes last week, Michelle Williams was winning for Fosse/Verdon and came to the stage dressed in a sheet with dead bluebird perched on her shoulder. Carlos and I had this conversation; he said:

“What a hideous dress.”

“Says the man wearing croc slippers.”

 “But they’re—”

“Croc.Slippers.”

That’s all.

Trying to steer clear of the Iran mess, and of murdering a general on their soil, as well as deflecting from his impeachment, _____ tweeted about the stock market.

It could have been nothing, except that ­­­_____, the ALLEGED billionaire businessman,  referred to retirement accounts as “409K’S” instead of “401Ks.”

Wait, my household cleaner is also a retirement plan?

The Texas DMV has revoked a Fort Worth man’s vanity license plate—after first issuing it—because it read “Jail 45” because, they say, it’s a derogatory statement.

Jerry Balkenbush, owner of the plate says the Texas DMV approves about 1,000 vanity plates a week, but rarely takes them back. But, apparently, some wingnut in Texas saw the plate and complained, and so “Jail 45” was revoked.

Balkenbush, an Air Force veteran and teacher, was going to fight the decision in court, but backed down and got a new vanity plate.

I like it better.

GOP Congressman, and _____ lapdog, is getting a White House Cold Shoulder following his anti-_____ vote for the War Powers resolution this week.

But, big surprise, Gaetz didn’t just vote for the resolution, he pushed for other Republicans to do so.

The White House has, seriously, called the vote ‘super uncool’ and said White House officials would not be returning Gaetz’s phone calls, text messages, ‘smoke signals or his kneelings in the snow.’

It’s the Children’s Hour over there.

Sylvia Allen, a Republican … because of course … state senator from … wait for it, it’s a real place … Snowflake Arizona wants to prohibit any mention of the word “homosexuality” in the state’s public and charter schools.

Good try, Syl, you illiterate snowflaked asshat, but when there are gay people all over TV, and social media and public office and running for president and in every sport you’re gonna have a hard time keeping “homosexuality” on the down low.

Take a seat, moron.

Someone woke Sylvia up and told it was 2020 and she basically said:

“Never mind.”

Take a seat anyway, moron.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine says he has enough votes to pass a resolution to limit _____’s ability to carry out a military attack against Iran without congressional authorization.

Kaine said GOP senators Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Susan Collins and Todd Young will support his measure.

Maybe the tide against _____ is turning and maybe, now, some Republicans will put this country over their party and their own self interests.

Maybe.

Sh’Rae Marshall.

He’s a fitness model and a medical student. Medical student? If he was my doctor, I’d be sick every single day.

Every.Single.Day.

Architecture Wednesday: Casa Diáfana

While I do love a barn, and would love to live in one, I’d also love to live in an old Colonial home in Merida, Mexico. Especially in what used to be an abandoned building in the historic center of Mérida that has been turned into the Diaphanous House, or Casa Diáfana.

The goal was to blend this new home into the historical context of its street and was attained by keeping much of the original Casa Diáfana’s exterior facade as possible. Once the facade was restored, the architects moved onto the foyer and the first-floor guest bedroom; luckily much of this part of the old building was intact so they have been largely preserved as they were. Through the foyer are the public spaces, with a double height living area, kitchen, and dining room with a wall of windows that replaced a crumbling brick wall.

There is a small private courtyard that, besides being a lovely place to relax, contains the pool that actually plays a passive role in heating and cooling the home; when the glass patio doors are open, the water, cool from the chilly night, helps reduce the temperate in the living and dining area. It also  absorbs the heat during the day and gives it back to those spaces when the temperatures drop at night.

This is a home I could easily live in’ small, in a lovely part of the world, and both old and new, and a bit eco-friendly.

If only I could convince my husband to move back to Mexico …

HomeDSGN

An Open Letter To Elizabeth and Bernie

Knock it off.

Knock off this petty bickering because all you’re doing is making it easier for _____ to win reelection.

Elizabeth? I’m not sure I believe you when you say Bernie Sanders told you in 2018 that a woman could never be president, because if he had, and with your love for social media, and knowing the two of you would be running for president this year, you would have spoken out then. But to sit on it for two years and then drop it this week smacks of desperation; it smacks of infighting; it smacks of not focusing on what’s important and that’s getting this rapist, drug-addicted, adulterer, liar, thief, con artist, traitor out of office.

So, again, tell me what you’re going to do if you’re elected, and stop this ridiculous squabbling with the other candidates. That accomplishes nothing. Oh, and that bit where you wouldn’t shake Bernie’s hand was childish and unnecessary and totally _____.

Knock it off.

Now, Bernie. You need to get your supporters in line, because if they are, with your blessing or not, personally going after Elizabeth Warren, then that’s on you. They’re your volunteers; tell them to knock it off.

I don’t know who will get the nomination but if it’s not you, and you don’t step up and support whomever gets the nod, and you don’t demand that your supporters rally around the nominee, then we will all know that you are just a desperate old man who wants to be president and when he can’t he pouts.

Knock it off.

I need y’all to run for office, run for president, not run against your fellow Democrats. This country cannot stand, literally can not stand, another four years of this.

Tuesday Thought #3

Tuesday Thought #2

Tuesday Thought #1

PR 18 Ep 5: Girls Just Wanna Have Fashion

Another celebrity challenge! Another team challenge! It’s drama, y’all. The designtestants are called back to the runway where Karlie meets them with Very Special Guest, actress, singer, icon, LGBTQ+ ally, Cyndi Lauper. And the challenge will be to create cohesive mini-collections inspired by the Cyndi’s '80s style. Oh, and yeah, that whole split the designtestants into two teams thing. But, since there’s an odd number of designers, Victoria, as last week’s winner, will choose which team she joins.

Team 1, which will become Team Chaos, is Geoffrey, Brittany, Delvin, Dayoung, and Nancy. Team 2, Team Stripes, for reasons that become obvious, is Sergio, ShaVi, Chelsey, Melanie and Marquise. Victoria looks at both teams and picks chaos; go figure.

They will be given two days, $300 each at Mood—Cyndi’s looks apparently aren’t cheap—and then another $200 to make their own accessories.

It’s a hot mess of hot messes, so let’s rip …

TEAM CHAOS

They decide, or not, to organize themselves around Delvin’s choice of print… because Delvin wants a print, okur? But at Mood, they are a mess; or maybe they’re channeling Geoffrey’s every experience at Mood. Brittany, manic and bitchy, is running amok, and shrieking at Delvin, who is calmly picking notions and rolling his eyes at Britany.  Geoffrey, though, this time, quickly finds what he needs—though he chooses blacks only—and stops to marvel at Christian:

“Look at me! I’m done and together!”

To which Christian says:

“Are you really? Y’all don’t know what you’re doing at all.”

Geffrey replies:

“We do—”

Christian:

“No. You don’t.”

Christian finds Chaos huddled around swatches—not the dog—and calls their fabric choices “real crazy.” Britany, AKA Captain Obvious, mutters, “We’re on the road to getting f*cking eliminated.”

ShaVi sums it up best:

“It’s a mixed bag of nuts on that team.”

Delvin and Brittany are annoyed by Nancy, while Nancy is annoyed that Delvin and Britany won’t listen to her. At the penthouse, the entire team—oh, except Nancy, pow-wows about makeup and then tell Nancy it wasn’t a “team” meeting.  In other words, they mean girl’d her. But, then again … no one on Chaos knows what Nancy is making … because Nancy doesn’t know what she’s making, so, yeah, there’s that.

TEAM CHAOS looks, left to right:

GEOFFREY idolizes Cyndi Lauper and wants to do right by her. But then he forgoes all the bold colors and tulle and mishmash if styles she rocked, for a basic black jacket over pants.

BRITANY uses a dusty rose to make a suit over which she’ll put a corset because that says Cyndi Lauper? No, Brit, that actually was Madonna, who rocked the corset over a suit look on the Truth or Dare Tour.

DELVIN  also goes corset, though he pairs it with a hippie handkerchief skirt in one of the most boring and staid and un-Cyndi patterns I’ve ever seen.

DAYOUNG gives us a little black boring dress that even had Christian worried. In the end she accessorizes it with chains and studs and safety pins, but it’s still kinda boring and not at all Lauper.

VICTORIA once again gives us asymmetry with cut-out, though this time she adds thigh high boots and a ruffle. Ooh, daring.

NANCY, who was treated badly by the group, and treated the group badly, gave us bigger ruffles and sheers and shredded pants and tops. It’s cool, but it doesn’t read 80s or pop or punk.

TEAM STRIPES

Sergio instantly takes charge because, as he says:

“I’ve always been in a leadership role in my company, naturally I’m the leader of my team."

Uh, Serg-ego? Shouldn’t you take a leadership role in your own company because it’s your own company?

But the designtestants on Team Sergio Stripes quickly fall in line as he basically tells them what they’ll design; ShaVi? Cocktail! Marquise? Jacket! Chelsey? Big pants! Melanie? Try to fit in! Sergio? The showstopper finale look because, of course.

At Mood, unlike CHAOS, they work together, though there was smidgeon of dissent when Sergio held up a plaid and said it was a Marc Jacob’s plaid and ShaVi instantly shoots it down. It began a series of moments where Sergio’s face looked incredulous that people were disagreeing with him. But, in the end, they chose a stripe—hence the name—and some hot pink fabric because that screams Cyndi Lauper; actually, it was screaming WTF are you people thinking? It’s Beetlejuice At The Circus!

Christian is concerned because there aren’t a lot of fabric choices other than stripes and pinks; he doesn’t want them to be too similar while trying to be cohesive.

TEAM STRIPES looks, left to right

SHAVI created a perfect little cocktail dress; fun, pop, kinda punk, though perhaps not Cyndi; a big bundle of pink tulle under the skirt might have helped.

CHELSEY went full clown; that’s what I got. All that was missing was the big red nose. I hope this doesn’t mean she’ll be doing big pants all season, because while it won’t get you to The Tents, it might get you to the Big Top. See what I did there?

MELANIE is worried her personal Scandinavian aesthetic doesn’t jibe well with the pop-punk challenge; it doesn’t. And so, she scrapped her initial idea of an asymmetrical striped skirt to make this hot pink tube dress under window screening. Big mistake; huge.

SERGIO created the 80s version of Cyndi as a Lady Who Lunches; and I don’t mean 1980s, I mean, an eighty-year-old woman desperate to hold onto her youth might wear this mess.

MARQUISE was going to follow the team and use the stripe for the shorts, but after they all felt it was a lot of Beetlejuice, he switched to a plain—read: boring—white short with a black zipper and that seemed odd to put it mildly.

TOPS AND BOTTOMS

VICTORIA: CHAOS

WHAT SHE SAID

I feel good about my look, but I don’t feel it’s the most punk style.

WHAT I SAID

Sorry, this is basically the same look she’s done before. Scroll down and see …

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Cyndi likes the black with the splash of color, and said the boots made it “modern” and “wonderful.” Nina loved the “contrast” with the zippers—she pronounces it ‘sippers’ and I love her for that—and the rings and grommets; it’s a “nod to the ’80s” but still “feels now.” Brandon loves “the sliver of skin in the back” and called it new and fresh; he praised Victoria for staying true to herself as a designer.

GEOFFREY: CHAOS

WHAT HE SAID

It’s nerve-wracking, with Cyndi critiquing my work.

WHAT I SAID

I love it; edgy and punk, though the all-black isn’t Cyndi.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Cyndi called it “beautiful” and “bold” and “confidant,” and loved the pants. Karlie wanted to wear it. Brandon loved the hair and makeup and called the tailoring “great” but felt he had seen it before. Elaine thought it was a “nod to the ’80s” but not “costumey or dated.” Nina thinks it “looks expensive” and “refined” and loved the matte and shiny fabrics.

BRITTANY: CHAOS

WHAT SHE SAID

[My model] is snatched and rocking it.

WHAT I SAID

The dusty rose is old; the corset is badly made. I hate to say it, but … Madonna … wore … it … better.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Nina loved the “details” and the belt, the pop, the punk, the pink, but up close she realized it was badly tailored. Cyndi thought it was “spectacular” because “young people would wear this”—like Madge, when she was young. Brandon, however, as not impressed:  “The cheese stands alone on this one.” says Brandon. Elaine said that as far as being a top look, it failed to compare at all to Geoffrey and Victoria.

MELANIE: STRIPES

WHAT SHE SAID

This is so far from what I envisioned.

WHAT I SAID

Maybe you should have stuck to your vision and not used a screen door and some hot pink tubing?

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Karlie says she thinks Melanie has “skidded by” and now that she stands out, her work is a little flat.  Brandon thinks the accessory is “totally fine” but the look? Not so much. When Melanie says she hasn’t gotten a challenge that she feels is a good fit for her, Cyndi says, “Don’t blame it on the ’80s.” Cyndi thinks the garment on top has no structure and swings like a car wash; she adds that she wouldn’t even wear it if she was dead. Ouch. Elaine didn’t get a sense of any ’80s concepts fin the design or the fabrics or the execution, while Nina says she has no memory of any of Melanie’s work. Ouch, again.

SERGIO: STRIPES

WHAT HE SAID

I love what I created. It’s indicative of the 80s.

WHAT I SAID

Does he even listen to himself? This was a total miss; not punk, not pop, not Cyndi. But it was a whole lot of ugly.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Nina thought the look didn’t “connect in any way shape or form.” She didn’t understand the ruffles or the pants or the decoration; she called it “puzzling”. Cyndi thought there was a lot going on and said she would “never wear it, ever.”

And Sergio snaps; he gives his spiel: he usually works with an older clientele, so his work is “more sophisticated” and if they don’t like it, “that’s not my problem.” Trouble is, Sergio, that Cyndi is over 40 and she’d never, again, EVER, wear it.

Brandon says “it’s all over the damn place” and that Sergio came to the show knowing what it was and that he doesn’t appear to want to learn anything. He finished by saying the look was all over the place, every decade, every country , every area code. Elaine did not like the look but was especially annoyed at Sergio’s arrogance.

MARQUIS: STRIPES

WHAT HE SAID

Everything about my look looks punk.

WHAT I SAID

It looks like  punk might wear it, and by punk, I mean punk girl who sells cookies door-to-door, because this isn’t punk or cool, and that Vagina Zipper™ gave me nightmares.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Elaine said it wasn’t a modern take on the 80s because of the lace anklet and pink heels. Karlie did give the jacket props, though when on the runway with Geoffrey’s it pales in comparison. Cyndi hated the shorts and the shoes, but liked the top, while Brandon also pointed out the Vagina Zipper™ and noted that if the model “sweat through that white satin short, we’re in hell.” He did note that Marquise did have some ideas in place.

The judges didn’t like Brittany’s look as much as they did up close, so she’s not winning. It comes down to Victoria and Geoffrey;  Brandon thinks Victoria’s look is more new and fresh, and Nina says it would be in Elle Magazine in a minute. But perhaps they remember something similar last week, and so the win goes to Geoffrey!

As for the loser, it really is a no-brainer, though the judges seemed to make it a toss-up between Marquise and Melanie. In the end, since Cyndi would literally not want to be caught dead in Melanie’s look, she’s out.

Melanie cried backstage, saying she was disappointed the judges only saw a “dull version” of what she had to offer, and how she’s “too scared” to put herself out there. Honey, that’s what gets you kicked off.

During a meltdown in the workroom, Geoffrey said that one of his first memories was being hit in the face with a baseball and his dad telling him that he wished he had a boy. And he said he learned from Cyndi and her music that “it was fine to be yourself.” My heart broke for him, and then lifted because of Lauper.

LINES OF THE NIGHT

Victoria, in confessional, says she only knows one Cyndi Lauper song:

“’Girls Just Wanna Go Cry’. No. Fun. It’s fun." 

When Nina said she liked Victoria's look and said it would be in ELLE Magazine in a minute, Cyndi Lauper says:

"Aren't you the editor?! Put it in!"

Geoffrey says he’s been inspired by Lauper’s art and has even dressed as Lauper in drag:

“I am a girl that likes to have fun sometimes.”

Dayoung, backstage, during Sergio’s runway ramble:

“I think he should stop talking.”

Permanently.

ShaVi, as the group struggles to help Melanie:

“We’re giving her all kinds of suggestions, but she’s swiping everything left.”

Sergio, after his look was trashed:

“When you do things people are confused about, you are changing the world.”

Quick question: how many production people help Sergio carry his big fat ego back and forth from workroom to penthouse to runway?

Though he was on the losing team, I liked ShaVi's striped dress the best.

Victoria finds that she’s using the same silhouette she has used before. Really? Take a look:

I loved when Christian told the designtestants they had to make their own accessories, and then went around the workroom picking up the ones they’d taken from the wall. He’s a mean little elf at times.

Britany is kind of a bitch and was especially nasty to Nancy. When her team met outside, she tried to play it off like it wasn’t a group meeting: “We were outside, some outside.” Except, hon, no one told her.

On the other hand, Nancy was not at all receptive to anyone, save the judges maybe, critiquing her looks.

The Tents? Clearly Victoria has an edge; and I still like ShaVi, though he does fumble occasionally. Geoffrey could be good if he stays sane. Marquise is struggling, Chelsey is a one-trick pony, Dayoung is not there yet, and neither is Nancy. Britany? Gosh, I hope not. Sergio? It’s be fun to see him eliminated right before The Tents and watch his head implode. Delvin? He should take the lab coat and get a job in a pharmacy.

Next week the designtestants get to make any kind of look they want based on their heritage. This could be good, or it could be epically bad,

What did YOU think?