Permit for life.

xo kate

Ten Ways to Get the Right Guy to Like You

I think I like this kid.

He makes some good points, in a compelling dramatic manner. I appreciate his style, wordsmithing, references to pop culture, and passion. Of course, I completely disagree with his opinions of the Jersey Shore and Britney Spears. Obviously.

What do you guys think?

Just like the clouds, my eyes will do the same.

I love everything about Bruno Mars: his music, his voice, his style, his love of the Dougie. I especially love this performance of It Will Rain. Give it a look see.

Unleash the Dragon

The following is a real email exchange between my best friend Chaci, and an administrator from a local university.

Background: In the fall of 2010, Chaci was about to complete his masters degree and was in the process of preparing all of the commencement paperwork and logistics.  This included choosing a personal picture to show while they called his name during the official diploma ceremony.

Please note: certain names have been changed to protect the ignorant...uhhhh, i mean, innocent.  Enjoy. 


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dr. Smith
Date: Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Subject: your MarchingOrder slide
To: Chaci 


Hi Chaci,

We noticed that the photo you used for your personalized slide for the upcoming graduation is of a celebrity.  Would you prefer to use one of yourself or another photo that is reflective of who you are and the message you want to send and publically display?  Typically, the personalized slide is an opportunity to give thanks to individuals who have contributed to their academic achievements or to wish others well.  We see that your message does mention Sisqo.  Perhaps Sisqo is a friend of yours.

Please let me know.  Thank you.

Dr. Smith

Assistant Dean

Academic & Student Affairs

Boston, MA 02115

From: Chaci
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 2:24 PM
To: Dr. Smith
Subject: Re: your MarchingOrder slide

Hello Dr. Smith,

I hope this email finds you well.  It terms of the type of person I am, perhaps you are right, Sisqo would not be the best representation.

Although his music has gotten me through some difficult times in my life that corresponded with his 1999 release of "Unleash the Dragon", it may be too embarrassing to admit to publicly.

I met Mark Althavean Andrews, a.k.a.Sisqo, during his younger years in Baltimore when he was with the singing sensation Dru Hill.  We've grown a part since his minor fame and I haven't had too much communication with him.

I would refer to him as an acquittance at this point, rather than a personal friend.

I rediscovered his music again when I was having difficulties managing my hectic full-time job and course work at BU.  Studying with his track "Got to Get It" surely made me realize his influential power and inspiration.

He has meant a great deal to me in achieving my degree, something many never believed I would accomplish.

I do; however, understand the public and professional setting of the commencement (something I'm looking forward to for sure!).

If you would like me to change it to something a little more standard I will do so immediately.

Thank you very much,

Chaci

On Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 2:30 PM, Dr. Smith wrote:

Hi Chaci,

Thank you for your response.  It really helped me understand why you used Sisqo’s photo instead of yours.  Given what you have indicated, I truly believe that you should be the spotlight of your personalized slide.  This is YOUR moment, not Sisqo’s.  I am sorry that there were those you encountered who doubted you.  You persevered.  That’s what’s important.  Sisqo made a song.  I’m glad that it touched you but in the end, you were the one who had to work very hard to accomplish all you have.  You were the one who allowed his song to touch and motivate you.  Instead of giving him credit for what you have done, when he personally did not contribute to your success, consider honoring those who have.  This includes you. 

Dr. Smith

Do you remember, that day in November?

How cool is this video? How great is this song?

The drummer, my good friend Jon Marco, is coming out with a solo album soon! Get excited! And in the meantime, enjoy some vintage Parker House and Theory.

Girl Crush: Wendy's Lookbook

Do you guys know Wendy?  She's bubbly and stylish and smart.  She is a genius at pairing outfits and even more brilliant at wearing scarves...no really.

Check out her blog here.

And be prepared for some fashion wizardry below.

Thank you

Here's to the crazy ones.

In the wolfpack: Barney

The wisdom of Barney never ceases.

Check out old Barney pep talks here.

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost.

Preach.

I know this isn't the greatest picture, but
I'm absolutely obsessed with the coat he
wore in The Ides of March.

I've seen three movies in the past two months.  They have all starred Ryan Gosling.  He's fan-fucking-tastic at everything ever in life.  Clearly, others feel the same way.

xo kate

They try copy my swagger. I'm on the next shit now.

Tuesday Mayhem

Kate and I fell in love with Dean Winters when he was portraying Ryan O'Reily on HBO's Oz.   Ryan was a sociopath with breast cancer, and Winters played him perfectly.

I haven't seen his work as Johnny Gavin on FX Network's Rescue Me, nor Dennis Duffy on NBC's 30 Rock, but I'm sure he was friggin awesome.

In 1999, he was on Sex and the City.

In 2010, he was selected to portray "Mayhem" in an Allstate insurance advertising campaign.

In 2011, he joined this wolfpack.

Where the Wilcats Are: Quidam

Quidam is the 9th production of Cirque du Soleil (created in 1996) and is currently playing in Boston.  I was lucky enough to be invited to experience Quidam by my lovely roommate JG.

Have you been to a Cirque show before?  I was a virgin, but having done a case study on the Canadian circus arts before, I sorta kinda maybe knew to expect mind blowing, gravity defying, nail biting talent...with a plot weaving it all together. In this particular production, Quidam is imagined by a bored young girl named Zoé who is ignored by her parents. It is an escape.

The show's title refers to the feature character, a creepy big headless horseman.  Only...there is no horse, instead the decapitated fellow dons an umbrella and bowler hat.  According to the ever accurate and reliable wikipedia: Quidam is said to be the embodiment of both everyone and no one at the same time. According to Cirque du Soleil literature "Quidam: a nameless passer-by, a solitary figure lingering on a street corner, a person rushing past. ... One who cries out, sings and dreams within us all."

Deeeeeeep.  Right?  Sounds a touch depressing, but unless you speak french, you'll probably miss most of the message and just be awe struck by the stunts.  That is what happened to me and JG at least.

Here are some pics to make you feel like you were there.

These guys were my favorite.  I could think of only two things while watching them.  1: Elphalba's song "defying gravity" from the musical Wicked.  You can listen to it here.  And 2:  I should GTL more.  

Especially the Gym. 

Mind boggling. 

Who comes up with this stuff?  

Like, who decides it would be neat to make a human hamster wheel that turns on its side?  

These lashes are not from the show.  But I want them. 

I'm alive.

I teach for 8.5 hours everyday.  I spend the other 15.5 hours planning what to teach, preparing materials to teach with, talking to the parents of students I teach, learning how to teach, reflecting on what I just taught, trying to remind myself why I teach and sleeping.  As such, I'm not blogging as much I as I would like to.  My goal is to be back to regular posting by October at the very latest.  Luckily, I have the best friend and co-blogger in the world to hold it down for me while I'm trying to become a teacher.  Danielle is my heart.

However, there was an awards show on Sunday night and, although I didn't watch it, I did search US Weekly's website for pictures of the stars and starlets in their MTV best.  Unfortunately, their MTV best is actually the absolute worst.  I knew it would be bad, but I didn't know how bad until I actually started considering the Jersey Shore cast for my best dressed list.  It started with Britney looking ill-proportioned and just got worst from there, through Miley Cyrus' old-lady maxi dress, Selena Gomez's audition tape for the The Craft, and Katy Perry and Lady Gaga acting like themselves, before bottoming out at Nicki Minaj's ridiculousness.

In the end, there were only two that I ever thought were worth mentioning as best dressed, and they weren't even that great. Zoe Saldana looks chic and fun and I'm just a sucker for an Alaia (Katie Holmes).  Thank you Clueless obsession.

At least the VMA's provided us with the news of Jay and Bey's new baby and with this stunning Adele performance.  She is phenomenal.

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Adele

xo kate

This guy

I can't even wink, but this guy can friggin turn his face and voice into 10000 different celebrities. He can imitate half of the wolfpack!

I carry your heart with me

Sorry I've been missing in action, wildcats. I was in DC seeing my sister off; as of noon today, Lisa Danger is officially in Afghanistan tracking terrorists and gathering intelligence and generally being awesome.

I know its ridiculous, but I miss her already. I miss her more than I miss new episodes of LOST. I miss her more than I miss eating sugar and ice cream and pizza and Simmental. More than the deserts miss the rain. (Great song, btw)

I am also incredibly proud of her---a kind of pure pride that I have never before felt. Of course, I was proud of Lisa when she graduated college. I was proud of wildcats and wolfpacks when we won the Stylish Blogger award. I've been proud of Brit every single time she has picked herself up off the floor and staged a come-back. Every time. This, however, is a different kind of pride.

My sister is strong and wonderful and funny and sarcastic and beautiful; she is my favorite person on the planet, and my life is constantly made better because she is in it. Like so many others in her field, she is giving up months of her life to work for our safety, and I am so damn proud.

I love her more than anybody, and can't help being uber cheesy and mushy and sharing this ee cummings poem...which has so been on my mind these past few days.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

She'll be back in September. Until then, your suggestions for creative and fun and useful care-packages are most welcome!

I die: Kiera Knightley

How much do you love Kiera's hair and makeup in this post:


I wish I could take pictures with my mouth open like this and look sexy. When I do it I just look like I have a sinus infection or horrific head cold. Not cute.

image via where is the cool

And if you, like to buy me flowers, just go ahead now.

I don't know about you, but I much prefer Prince Harry to William. I can't really explain why, but Willy just seems like such a snotty pansy, while Henry, Prince of Wales, has an edgier, manlier, more down-to-earth vibe. And before you tease me for my cougerish ways, I'd like to remind you that the Royal Ginger is a whopping 26 years old--quite old enough to be my favorite of the two princes.

Now read the entire above paragraph in a British accent.



Who's your favorite?

Food for Thought

Food for thought...via wolfpack member, LLB.

I think if there was a Buffy/Glee crossover episode, Spike would sing "Grenade" for Buffy. And it would be glorious. That song reminds me of them.