Keen Marketing Insight

Joelle said during happy hour on May 7, 2008

Hire us. We know stuff.

Kathy: if they really want something mainstream they’ll have to ditch the stroke and go all soft focus n’ shit

Joelle: can I quote you on that?

How to Stay Amused

Joelle said at some point on April 28, 2008

I make an active effort to take pleasure in the little things.  One of those little things is the ”How-To of the Day” that feeds into my Google homepage.  It’s rare that I don’t smile at their group of random topics.

Tomorrow it could be ”How to Embalm” and ”How to Make Vegan Pancakes”. You just never know.

We All Love Ella

Joelle said around mid-morning on April 25, 2008 while listening to illasounds - A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald

Today would have been Ella Fitzgerald’s 90th birthday. She has been my favorite singer probably… well, as long as I have been singing. So, since I was wee.  I wish I knew more about her as a person; I should make a point to since I love her voice so much.  I admire her at every stage of her career, as her voice and style changed with age and times respectively, she always maintained her unique grace and warm tone.  I could listen to her every day… and do, usually.

Ross has put together a really fabulous podcast in her honor. If you’re into Ella, don’t miss it.  And, if you’re into any other jazz, funk, latin, soul, etcetera… check out his podcast, illasounds.  It’s my favorite. 

Hello Dolly

Joelle said in the early morning on April 25, 2008

I can’t remember what I was watching when I thought of this a few weeks ago, but I was trying to remember what dolls and/or toys I had as a kid that I was especially attached to.  I remember having a lot of games, puzzles and art supplies, but as an only child I spent a lot of time with adults. I think I abandoned teddies and dolls at a relatively young age or at least didn’t form strong attachments to them.  Most of the dolls I had were porcelain, frou-frou dolls that were more for looking at than for playing with.  I had a few Barbies that I’d either stripped naked and marvel at the holes in their feet, hyperextending their limbs like the creatures from that bad Charlie Sheen movie about aliens or I’d give them Susan Powter haircuts and make them wear Ken’s clothes.

You know, that’s kind of weird now that I think about it. 

Anyway, the point is I never really had a doll that I clung to, at least not for very long. I do recall a rag doll that I referred to as Dressy Bessy, whether or not she was actually called that is a mystery. She had a little gingham vest that would open and close with a big yellow button (I assume to teach dressing skills) and she was missing a blue plastic eye.  She had little red Mary Janes sewn right onto her feet with buckles that could be done and undone.  And, if I remember correctly, some sort of denim skirt with little underpants underneath that you could pull on and off.  I’m pretty sure I lost those right away since they weren’t sewn on.

There’s a hazy memory of a very tattered white teddy bear with a red tongue sticking out… also missing an eye.  I don’t know what that’s about.

Those are the only two dolls that I remember with any real fondness. The others, like I said, were more for looking at than playing with.  Part of me wonders whatever happened to them and wishes that I’d had the foresight to keep track of those sorts of things. I’m not really a keeper of stuff… or I wasn’t, anyway.  In my youth I parted with a lot of things I wish I’d held on to, not realizing the significance or emotional value they’d have later on. 

Do you have any dolls or toys from your youth that you remember or wish you still had (or at least had better memories of)?

Make Room in the Handbasket

Joelle said at some point on April 24, 2008

The other night on one of those “Ow, My Balls!” shows ("Most Outrageous Moments” I think it was) they had a clip of a man strolling through a room serenading a crowd with what sounded like Julio Iglesias tunes.  That is, until he stepped up on the stage and his fake leg fell off. He then had to sit down on the corner of the stage to put it back on.  But, he never stopped singing and hey, man… that’s inspirational.

I spent the last 15 minutes doing an extensive search of the Internet for “singing man fake leg” and “fake leg falls off” to no avail. I can only imagine the spam in my future.

So, while I’m sure I dazzled you with toilet humor, alas I’ve failed you in the realm of prosthesis shenanigans.  You’ll just have to settle for this really cute dog and a plea from Wells Fargo for your immortal soul.  Mine is clearly already spoken for.