4) Repost (w/ a link) the picture of the oddest, craziest, strangest, coolest, oldest, etc. person that shares your name. Post multiples if you find a few you like. (See Below)
5) Pass it on to at least 5 other people.
As is my way, I don’t do tags by halves. I find them oddly inspiring. Probably because it’s a chance to wax lyrical about myself to my heart’s content.
So, here we have it.
I’ve always liked my name. Nay, loved my name. Not many people say that about their own name… but I suppose I can credit my parents for having immaculate taste. Mind you, I was almost called Miranda, which is also a lovely name, but my grandmother protested loudly, and I became Vanessa.
I have been told most often throughout my life, is that my name means, “butterfly”.
So, it’s quite understandable that for a long time, I believed that I was some kind of enigmatic butterfly, until I discovered that the name Vanessa, is just the name for a genus of butterly, like these:
I am all of these butterflys, and if that means that my name “means” butterfly, how could I complain? Butterflys are the epitome of delicacy and beauty…
Of course, that also makes me pupa and caterpillar, which strangely thrills me just as much, if not more…
I delved further.
Apparently, I am also shoes, which would please me no end if I had a shoe fetish, but then again maybe not, because you’ve got to admit, they’re not very spectaclar shoes…
It turns out, I am also a doll. A hot doll, no less. I am ever so pleased.
And some beautiful blooms. I can’t think of prettier flowers to carry my name….
This painting is called “Vanessa”, by Guy Morand. Does this make me his muse by default…?
I am also fluffy white cats. Only. No other colour need apply. Apparently.
Hey, I’m a computerised chess game! Which is pretty cool. I haven’t played chess since before my grandfather died when I was 9. Nobody has agreed to played with me since. I can’t help but wonder if there is a reason for that…?
Girlfriend! I’m a drag queen. Fabulous, darling! (you know it had to be a big photo with that outfit…)
And, as is the contrary nature of my being, I am also a strange piece of machinery related to the rotary process, whatever that is….
A somewhat groovy chair? It works for me. I do work with furniture, after all…
I am also Johnny Depp’s gorgeous, French pseudo ex-popstar girlfriend/partner/wife. Go, me!
And facial cleanser. I wonder if I could snag an endorsement?
Ships. Can you believe that all these ships are called “Vanessa”? Me neither. I like it. I love ships. And boats. Water is my element, all over. I dig it.
This one pleases me more than most. I love aeroplanes. A biplane called “Vanessa”. How many people can boast that? I wonder who inspired it?
But, I think above all, I will always remain a pygmy goat.
It’s always been there, but it’s grown to the point where I am seriously considering putting a ban on myself from logging into eBay ever again.
Then again, whatever makes you happy, right? It’s more fun and useful than collecting souvenir teaspoons.
I thought I’d show you my winning bids from the last couple of weeks. Who doesn’t like to look at pretty things?
This rather jolly looking 70’s number is a great size, in excellet condition and arrived on my doorstep from the UK this week. Needs to lose a certain musty odour, but at least that lets you know it’s not a fake.
Unlike this one:
…which I also now have in my possession and is NOT vintage, as advertised. Farkinell. You can’t bloody well trust anyone these days. The only reason I’m not going to kick up a fuss, is that despite the false advertsing, it is a lovely bag with very dense beading. I’ll definitely get some use out of it and I didn’t pay much.
Another 70’s vision, which also arrived this week. My mum had handbags like this when I was a kid. It’s leather, of course and very roomy. I took it out with me when I went out for lunch this week and I couldn’t be happier. Especially considering it only cost me AU$15.
So, not only do I have a fetish for vintage handbags in general, but also a fetish for pretty much anything made by Enid Collins in the 1960’s. This box bag is one of her creations. It arrived in the mail today and it is just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, much nicer than in the photo. Yay!
It’s also cute when you open it up….
And whilst we’re on an automotive tangent….
This is another Enid Collins (Collins of Texas) bag I managed to get my grubby little paws on. Woohoo!
This tooled leather 70’s bag was apparently once used in a movie. Which movie that was, nobody seems to be quite sure…. I’ll er… keep an eye out.
This one I adore. It’s so pretty and unusual. I’m already scoping out places to put it on display… Hmm. Maybe it will make a nice jewellery box…
Other perspectives:
And finally….
Another Enid Collins creation from the 60’s. So pretty…. [sigh]
So, you see why I need help? This infatuation is starting to get out of control. I wonder if there is a treatment centre for handbag addiction. I think I need some aversion therapy.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to log into eBay…. to leave some feedback. Yeah, that’s it…….
Song of the Day – The Rezillos – Somebody’s Going To Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight
I wasn’t going to post another blog until tomorrow night, but I just came across this little gem and if I don’t share it with you right this minute, I couldn’t live with myself for depriving you of such a stellar slice of cheese.
It’s a Finnish cover of The Village People’s“YMCA”, by ’70s rokk ikkons Gregorious. Remember them?
No, me neither, but I hear they were HUGE in Finland.
I don’t care what anyone says, any video featuring scoop shorts, tube socks and an electric organ has to be good.
This video makes me happy.
Just watch. You won’t regret it:
And if you can’t get enough of those wonderful Finns and their cutting-edge choreography and fashion sense, CLICK HERE.
I am booking a holiday to Finland tomorrow. Anyone care to join me?
Ok, I’m taking my poor, sleep deprived self off to bed. I will endeavour to be back tomorrow, to begin posting the seemingly endless backlog of photo blogs I have pending… oyy…
The weather was fine for the first time in weeks. A near month of rain had caused flowers to bloom and inhabitants to crawl up the walls with cabin fever. A couple of decent storms had filled the swimming hole with debris and the garden was wild and weather beaten.
Bilbo stepped tentatively from the window that was always left open for him, even in the most biting chill. He wasn’t keen on the cold and preferred to sleep, eat and not much else in the winter months. His humans still liked to give him the option to go outside as he pleased. Mostly because they didn’t like to change the litter box too often.
Today was different.
Today, it was sunny. Flowers were blooming, in anticipation for the spring and the sparse warmth of the sun gave new life.
However, Bilbo wasn’t interested in flowers.
He liked clay.
The sun, the clay and the close proximity to chlorine made for a strange chemical reaction in Bilbo.
It was a perfect day.
Before long, Bilbo’s brother Spiffy had a similar idea, yet only simliar in the sense that he wanted to be outdoors on such a glorious day. Spiffy loved to be outside and had been terribly frustrated at all that water falling from the sky ruining his important business.
Immediately on stepping through the window, Spiffy spied his brother and strolled over to say hello.
Spiffy told Bilbo that he was going over the fence to take care of some long overdue business. Bilbo thought he’d take advantage of the peace and quiet, and have a bit of a lie down and enjoy the afternoon sun.
Little did he know, Spiffy had other ideas.
Nobody likes being stalked with stealth, no matter the intention.
Spiffy snuck up from behind. “BOO! HAHAHA!!”
He gave Bilbo an awful fright.
Bilbo was livid. “Don’t EVER sneak up on me like that!! I’ve told you too many times! Leave me alone!!”
Spiffy was beginning to enjoy his little game.
“Hehe, got ya a beauty!”
“Fuck you Spiffy! I’ve got a foot and I’m not afraid to use it!”
“Oh yeah? Let’s see what you’ve got…”
Bilbo launched a swift kick at Spiffy’s sternum.
“Owww! You didn’t have to hurt me!”
“Hah! Now who’s “got” who?” said Bilbo. “And just for that, I’m going to show you my scary face!!”
Spiffy was taken aback, but only momentarily.
“Pfft” he scoffed. “You call that a scary face? I’ll show you scary…!!”
My eyes are going crosseyed and my shoulders are super tense from typing.
Typing what, you ask?
I finally came to realise yesterday, what a bloody good thing is flickr.
I’ve had an account for a while, but haven’t really used it until now. I was having a poke around the site and was impressed with the easy and logical methods as to which you can organise your photos. Also, they’re stored online whether you pay your bill or not. This is heartening and to me, a lot more comforting than my non-existant dodgy backup methods.
I also realised pretty quickly that the free account wasn’t going to cut it for the volume of photographs I keep on my computer. I upgraded to the Pro account and since yesterday, I’ve uploaded, labeled and categorised 350 photographs… and I’ve barely touched the surface.
Tonight I was uploading photos from a trip to Sydney last year, and I noticed something strange. Literally as my photographs were being uploaded, people were looking at them. Freaky. The more I uploaded, the more the individual photo view count increased, within seconds of uploading.
I’m bloody glad they you can adjust the settings for who can view what, although I have to admit I did get a bit of a thrill from people actually being interested in my boring holiday photos, heh.
I was given the gift of Photoshop a couple of weeks ago, and it’s got me all gooey about taking photos again. Although, what I’ve been uploading to flickr, is mostly archival to this point. Check out my page if you’re having trouble sleeping, heh.
It’s 3am and I’m done with flickr for today.
In lieu of something more interesting, here are some photos I took of a truck that rolled over on the Mitchell Freeway recently. I thought it was pretty exciting….
As you can see, emergency services were out in force. It made a big bloody mess. Thankfully nobody was hurt.
Yes, I am taking photos and driving on the freeway at the same time. Don’t ty this at home, kids.
It’s around this time that I’m feeling rather smug for driving north at the right time. Those people would have been stuck there for hours. And I mean, hours. The jam went on for miles, too.
Other than that, I’ve not energy for much although I’m feeling quite spiffy from a few glasses of the ol’ strawberry champagne….
Here is a list of music I joyfully downloaded on the weekend:
Emilie Simon – Ice Girl
Emilie Simon – Femme FataleEmilie Simon – Je N’Veux Pas Rester Sage
Emilie Simon – Fleur de Saison
Emilie Simon – Le Desert
Emilie Simon – All Is White
Emilie Simon – Flowers
Marvin Gaye – Praise
The Jam – The Butterfly Collector
The Jackson Five – Looking Through The Windows
Pulp – Cocaine Socialism
Brian Eno – Another Green World
Curtis Mayfield – Trippin’ Out
Gang of Four – To Hell With Poverty!
The Verve – On Your Own
Geordie – All Because Of You
Dusty Springfield – How Can I Be Sure?
Dusty Springfield – Wishin’ and Hopin’
Nick Drake – Tow The Line
Charlotte Gainsbourg – L’un Part L’Autre Reste
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Little Monsters
Charlotte Gainsbourg – The Songs That We Sing
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Morning Song
Coldplay – Bigger Stronger
The Osmonds – One Bad Apple
Lulu – The Man Who Sold The World
Jona Lewie – You’ll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties
Chris Spedding – Motor Bikin’
Phoenix – Long Distance Call
Phoenix – Run Run Run
Phoenix – Too Young
Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better
Arctic Monkeys – Bigger Boys And Stolen Sweethearts
All Saints – Black Coffee
Joy Division – Dead Souls
Nick Lowe – Cruel To Be Kind
Dave Edmunds – Girls Talk
Talking Heads – Crosseyed And Painless
Talking Heads – Radio Head
Outkast – Two Dope Boyz (In A Cadillac)
Kings Of Convenience – I’d Rather Dance With You
Kings Of Convenience – Misread
Kings Of Convenience – The Weight Of My Words (Four Tet Instrumental Remix)
Heaven 17 – Let Me Go
ABBA – The Day Before You Came
Razorlight – Before I Fall To Pieces
Razorlight – America
Razorlight – Golden Touch
Razorlight – Stumble And Fall
Anita O’Day & Gene Krupa – Side By Side
Time Bandits – Endless Road
The Finn Brothers – Won’t Give In
Britney Spears – Breathe On Me (Jacques Lu Conts Thin White Duke Mix)
The Toys – A Lover’s Concerto
Air – How Does It Make You Feel?
Air – Alpha Beta Gaga
Air – Surfin’ On A Rock
Johnny Wakelin – In Zaire
Gorillaz – Ghost Train
Judy Street – What
Music makes me happy. You may have guessed.
Song Of The Day – Talking Heads – Crosseyed And Painless
I’m a little confused. She’s run out of tissues? There’s a touch of the Ponds Institute about this.
I don’t think I’ve ever come across a brand of toilet paper that I’d want to drag across my face, save for err…. running out of tissues when I have a cold. Is this a real advertisement?
(And yes, I do know who Lard is. Doesn’t change the fact this is a slightly odd album cover…)
It’s always nice to have a family Optometrist, don’t you think?
By the way, can someone tell me what a “Hofer” is? Anyone?
There is a holiday for Percussion? Brilliant.
I’m always up for a day off work, count me in. I have a wicked tambourine.
I can play it, too. Topless.
Ooh. This one asks all the hard questions.
Does it mean that if you are a Christian, your lifeless body will end up in an ugly coffin with an excitable ruched trim? I have to say that this is not an appealing option to me. The curtains do not help.
Apparently it’s a “message”.
Is it just me, or does this read like a threat?
Far out! That’s where I’ve been going wrong.
You see, I like jazz. I like swing, and some big band, but most modern jazz leaves me cold. That was until I saw the range of headwear available for the “jet set” jazz listener.
The boots are pretty cool, too.
[adds Dave Pike to her download list]
So, that would be all for this edition of Vinyl Beauties. Please feel free to leave your own interpretations…
No, nobody gave me flowers. I would be too busy dying of a heart attack if that happened, to post a blog.
I have flowers in my garden. Flowers that I planted myself.
FOR REAL, TRUE BLUE, FAIR DINKUM…
flowers.
I know it’s not quite normal to get excited over a few flowers. The world is full of flowers, after all… but if you had my appalling track record when it comes to having a level of responsibility high enough to keep a plant alive, you too would be excited. I could murder a plant at 20 paces just by looking at it. I’ve even killed a freaking cactus.
Strangely enough, I’ve never had the same problem with weeds…
I’m dead impressed that most of my bulbs have come up. Half the tulips are yet to be seen, but the jonquils are flowering already and the hyacinth’s are bursting forth.
Oh, check out the carrots. Remember the first one I pulled? You can just see that they’re ALL going to look like that. Poor little carrots.
Did you like my little slideshow? Apologies if the spinning photo’s made you dizzy, but they remind me of that spinning segue effect in the original Batman and I couldn’t resist. You gotta love the original Batman. Here’s the trailer for the 1966 movie. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a must. Hilarious.
Watch out for the Exploding Man Eating Shark. Holy sardine!!
Fantastic.
So.
I have now given birth to vegetables, flowers and cats.
Next stop……….children!
Eh, maybe not.
I don’t think anyone who includes Batman and carrots in the same blog, is qualified to be a parent.
Song of the Day – The Captain Matchbox Whoopie Band – If Youse A Viper
At least I am no longer coughing up blood. That was not fun.
Tonsillitis. And the Flu. And a generalised infection.
I haven’t felt this sick since I had Glandular Fever (Mono). I was in hospital for two weeks. Mainly because I had Viral Meningitis as well, but I was sick for months that time.
I hate being sick. [grumble, grumble]
Thankyou to everyone who has missed me. It feels good to be missed.
This is me:
This happened a lot when I was at my worst:
Breathing made me cry. Don’t even talk about swallowing…
NOTHING helped (except the antibiotics). All these drugs are a ruse by the pharmaceutical companies to make a load of cash out of people’s suffering. Take note.
I have done nothing but sleep and watch television and movies for 13 days. This is what my eyes look like now:
Here is a list of movies I have watched. Some I barely remember due to my state of semi-lucidity, but I’ve seen most of them before anyway. Some of them more than a few times:
Mildred Pierce
T.I.S.M – Incontinent In Ten Continents
T.I.S.M – TV Primer
American Psycho
Bad Timing
The Virgin Suicides
Harold and Maude
The Taste Of Others
Sunset Boulevard
Inside Deep Throat
True Romance
In Her Shoes
ENRON – The Smartest Guys In The Room
Puberty Blues
Stoned
Love My Way – Series One
Monster
The 40 Year Old Virgin
I *heart* Huckabees
Shampoo
Don’t Look Now
Withnail & I
Hi Fidelity
Swing Time
The Birds
Shaun of the Dead
Thank You For Smoking
I will write more when I am able.
The cats always get the last word:
Song Of The Day – Tex Williams – Smoke! Smoke! Smoke That Cigarette
I was inspired by watching the Saturday morning part of last weekend’s Rage today, which I’d recorded on DVD…
Aussie’s will get that.
I saw some old favourites and enjoyed them so much, I started making a list. . .
There are songs and accompanying music video’s I have loved over the years and I feel a compulsion to share them with you.
The only criteria is that I have to like both the song and the video.
A lot.
It matters not what era, or genre it comes from.
It just has to be of quality. Funny or not.
Here is the first.
The band is Supergrass and the song is “Pumping On Your Stereo”. I’ve just watched it on YouTube, after viewing it on my rather large televsion, and despite how it looks on the small screen, believe me when I say there is almost nothing in the way of CGI going on here, if anything at all.
It’s just very clever puppeteering and crafty camerawork.
It really doesn’t look nearly as good on blotchy old YouTube as it does on my plasma, but it still makes me smile.
I hope you like it.
More to come. . .
Song Of The Day – Supergrass – Pumping On Your Stereo
I have so many of these glorious album covers, I’m spoilt for choice. I also have no idea where each and every one of these was pinched from, but I figure it’s not from their original source, so it doesn’t really matter…
Let’s just get started, eh?
What episode of Vinyl Beauties would be complete without some gratuitous nudity? Although I have to say, that the title paired with the image does my head in a bit. I’m not sure I even want to go there…
What I do like is some of the song titles – which do make me suspect that this record was not made in all seriousness….
“Sadie’s Still Got The Rag On”, “He Forgot His Rubbers”, “Tony’s Got Hot Nuts”… and then there’s always “Things Are Soft For Grandma Since Grandpa’s Eighty-Four”
I think that young lady was a bit warm under the lights. What do you think?
Stunning.
Someone’s mother is handy with a crochet hook…
Strangely enough, the outfit on the guy in purple would look quite fashionable right now…. on a woman. I’m somewhat impressed with the crocheted cowboy hat, although that guy is looking like he wouldn’t be out of place on a website for foot fetishists.
Do you think they could have put the palm in a more attractive container? Or at least placed it so the ugly plastic pot wasn’t in shot. Maybe they were in a hurry because the funeral home was about to close…
Hmm. Where to start with this one? Who is Bob McFadden and who is “Dor”? Is it his sister? Are they in the photo? Who are those people?
Is their “Mummy” a fertile, petrified, musical superhero?
We can only speculate…
Heh, well I have no problem with the proclamation that Jesus is a “Soul Man”, but I reckon this lot are in need of some divine guidance to make them appear even vaguely soulful…
Note to Naomi: A-line skirts and horizontal stripes around the hip of a full figured woman are not flattering…
Are we seriously supposed to believe these men are brothers?
Looks like poor Effie is has hit the skids. Either that, or she’s/he’s impersonating me at around the 3rd bottle of champagne mark. A bottle and head in hand is never a good combination…
Hmm. Should I be worried?
So, how is it, Effie? Tell it like it is….
I’d say her feet are hurting. Check out the size of her shoes…
So there you have it for another edition of “Vinyl Beauties”.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Feel free to throw in your own interpretations….
I’ve no excuse for slacking off with my postings of Yacht Rock, but I’m quite sure than no one but Jules will have noticed. Mind you, I do get a lot of search engine traffic for it, so it’s on with the show….
Let’s see. Where are we up to?
Ah, yes. Episode 5 – “I Believe In It”.
I’m quite fond of this one…
In this episode, these questions and more, may or may not be answered:
Who really put the smooth in Michael Jackson? It appears a spear gun plays some part…
How could Michael Jackson possibly be a catalyst for Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald to kiss and make up?
Who knew that Vincent Price had supernatural powers? And here I was, thinking he was just an actor…
Go! Go! Toto go!
Bye bye Koko! [waves]
And as a special bonus, here is Episode 6 – “The Seed Drill”.
I’m not only posting this to make up time, but also because it’s an odd episode and I’m not sure it would stand too well on its own…
It’s a history lesson with a difference.
And the lesson is Jethro Tull. The real Jethro Tull. Watch and you’ll see…
Hint: You will appreciate it a whole lot more if you’ve watched Episode One. 😉
Is it wrong that I can name every Jethro Tull song included on the soundtrack? I feel like such a tragic…
Vanessa is... 