Posts filed under 'Advice'
"I could have killed you all, but I didn't. And that's what was great about me."
“My love of Star Trek is well known… I’d give anything to have the chest at 35 that [Ricardo] Montalban had at 72.
I went to the premiere of the Star Trek 2 DVD and Montalban was there. And he was in a wheelchair, as he’s had some issues as he’s gotten older, and I was going, “oh, that’s so sad, he’s in a wheelchair” and then they gave him a microphone and he opened his mouth and was like, “Hello! I am Ricardo Montalban” and every one of us was like, “oh god!” Literally, in a wheelchair, this guy could kick anyone’s ass. He is the manliest man alive. They don’t get manlier than Ricardo Montalban. I think he’s manlier than anyone on any show I’ve ever been on…
He’s the manliest. Good lord — he could kill us all if he wanted to, but he hasn’t and that’s what’s so great about Ricardo Montalban.”
– PopGurls Interview: Javier Grillo-Marxuach
“Your genius cannot beat my evil and treachery. Oh, by the way, have you met my bodyguards, Evil and Treachery?”
– Señor Senior Sr. on Kim Possible
RIP Ricardo, may all your fantasies come true…
Popularity: 14% [?]
January 14th, 2009
I’ve been listening to Dan Savage’s podcast since he started it — been reading his column for even longer — and I thought it odd that he’d taken the last couple of weeks off from the “out loud version” without any notice. I’d been a little miffed, more because I’ve come to look forward to Tuesdays when I can get the download and either disappear into my headphones while walking around the city or fighting the loud and obnoxious commuters on my bus home.
Then, in today’s column, I found out the reason for Dan’s absence — his mother died on Monday. His mother, with who he had co-written a column series, has always been a huge presence in his writing and is always, always spoken about with such reverence. When I read that his mom had passed, I felt like someone I knew had died, and I ached for him and his family and I’m sure most of his readers are doing right now.
Popnography wrote this about his tribute: If you’re sitting in a private office or don’t give a shit if people see you sobbing in your cubicle, or you just want to read a piece of beautiful writing about being the most lucky of mama’s boys, here’s what I’ve got: Dan Savage wrote an incredibly heartbreaking, amazingly honest column in tribute to his mom
After you finish it, and you’re able to take a small break from crying — and you will cry. Whether it leaves you thinking about losing your mom or dad or someone else that means so much to you, you will cry. But yes, once you blot your tears for a bit, pop over to the This American Life site.One of my favorite pieces Dan has done on was part of the Leave the Mask On episode. He discusses how, despite the fact that he “makes his living writing a nationally syndicated sex advice column — admits that there’s one group of people he does not want to discuss sex with ever. Sadly, it’s a group of people who have his home phone number: his family.”
The tears might come again, but this time — the laughter will probably break through.
Popularity: 12% [?]
April 9th, 2008
We PopGurls have often spoken about our issues being Busty Broads — most of which revolve around finding good bras and the sadness of eliminating tailored button-down shirts from our wardrobe. But as we’ve now done well with the bra issue (I personally thank Town Shop on 2273 Broadway (between 81st/82nd) in NYC in finding me supportive AND pretty bras to make the girls happy) — it’s the limitation in tops that we can wear that still invokes the mopiness from time to time.
However, that issue might have its own solution as well — I just stumbled across Bosom Buttons. As per the site:
The Bosom Button™ was created by a woman who experienced the same wardrobe problem as many of you. One morning while trying to properly “hide” a safety pin in order to keep a wrap dress closed a lightbulb went off in her head! Why not create a pin that is not meant to be hidden, is easy to use and adds style to your clothes?
And so Bosom Button™ was born!
Our Bosom Buttons™ are handmade with care. We use real Swarovski crystals or other quality stones and gems so you get maximum sparkle and style.
Cute, simple and oh-so-much better than a safety pin! I can’t wait to try them out!
Popularity: 30% [?]
December 13th, 2007
I’m doing the finishing touches of getting ready for my UK jaunt (London and Ireland) and I’ve realized that I love leaving in the middle of the week. You should always start long trips on a Wednesday or Thursday. If you start them on a Saturday, your Friday is a frantic day of trying to get everything done and THEN final packing. If you start them on a Monday, your weekend is good to finalize plans and packing, but things always come up and you wish you had an extra day.
Leaving Wednesday night is perfect work-wise!
Monday: Remind people you are leaving, get work done. Print out travel details, e-tickets, etc.
Monday Night: Pack.
Tuesday: Finish stuff up, put together “while you’re out” e-mail.
Tuesday Night: Look at what you’ve packed realistically, scale down and add in what you forgot.
Wednesday: Final check-in with work folk, final Is dotted and Ts crossed.
Wednesday Night: Leave!
And then you can plan to come back on a Tuesday or Wednesday, which means you have two short weeks surrounding one long week off. It’s like an extended vacation because you’re only in for a few days and then it’s the weekend again!
Popularity: 16% [?]
April 24th, 2007
In the eternal quest for underwear that is both cute AND functional — something I thought was nothing more than a pipe dream, a mere fantasy tale told by mother’s to get their daughters to go to sleep at night — I stumbled upon Mary Green in the boutique Retail Therapy in Seattle. They’re cute, they don’t ride, and I don’t have to listen to the boy complain about granny panties anymore. It’s fucking fantastic. I don’t even mind having to wash them by hand. Yet. I don’t mind yet. I’m sure the day will come when I start tossing them in the washing machine, but for now I’m trying to abide by the hand wash. We’ll see how that goes.
Also cute, though not quite as functional is the Honeydew line. Their frilly, can-canesque boyshorts are totally fucking cute, though they’re more for wearing as you dance your way around your house in nothing but your underwear than for wearing under pants. Not that they don’t have cute, practical underwear, because they have a line that looks pretty identical to Mary Green’s (only slightly less comfy), but if I’m going to get something that looks just like Mary Green, I’m just going to get Mary Green. If you do go for the Honeydew line, be warned that they run small. Extremely small. If you’re usually a small, try a medium. At least. You might even push it up to a large. (Mary Green runs true to size.)
The downside to looking cute in your skivvies? A slightly higher price tag than those of us that traditionally buy our underwear in cotton and packs of six are comfortable with paying. But if looking adorably cute isn’t enough to make you shell out $15 to $20+ a pair, try looking at it as an investment in peace and quiet since your significant other will no longer be bitching about your granny panties. They’ll be happier, you’ll be happier (it’s amazing what feeling cute can do for your attitude), and at least when your friends come over unannounced and you don’t have time to clear your underwear out of the bathroom, they won’t be asking why your grandmother’s underwear is hanging up in your bathroom.
-Michelle
Popularity: 19% [?]
March 5th, 2007
I used to work two blocks away from a Gap store, and every day I walked by it to and from the train station. I remember a moment last year when I was shuffling to the office, head down, intent on my Starbucks latte, when I noticed that the window had changed. The new window featured leggings underneath short denim skirts, and at that moment I began a months-long debate with myself about whether or not I’d follow this trend.
Oh, I wanted to. I wanted to so bad, because while some people might think it’s a cute look, I remember how comfortable leggings were. I mean, when you wear them under a skirt, it’s like wearing pants, so you can totally sit in unladylike ways!
And yet, the debate raged on within my head. Was I too old? Am I too curvy? Could I pull the look off without buying an uncomfortable denim mini-skirt? At the end of the day, I decided against the pull of the leggings.
Then one day I was in Anthropologie and I saw that they had COOL leggings, ones that were thick and wooly like a cableknit fisherman’s sweater. They were pricey – about $40 each – but I snapped up three pair. Well, one pair of great cableknit tights, and a pair of wooly brown leggings with gold flecks and a pair of cream wooly leggings with a fun knit pattern striped throughout. I couldn’t wait to wear them!
But here’s the truth: My ass was not meant to fit in those leggings. The tights fit great. They’re even long enough! But the leggings were some strange variation on “low rise,” and I swear I could not even pull them halfway up my ass before running out of fabric. How humiliating!
I almost gave up. I took the Anthropologie leggings back. I moved on.
Until I found a black/grey/olive striped pair at Target. They were $4. I had to have them. And so I did.
Except I wasn’t meant to have those, either. Sure, they fit. But I wore them out the first time with a little jersey dress, and the dress stuck to the tights all day long in a most unattractive way. My mother would have been horrified that I didn’t wear a slip to combat the problem. But what’s comfortable about that? And if I have to wear some heavy fabric – like the dreaded denim skirt – in order for the leggings to behave admirably, then I don’t want them at all.
*sigh*
I should have gone with my SECOND instinct and avoided this mess altogether. The sad(der) part is that I didn’t even get on the trend until it had pretty much passed me by.
-Amanda
Popularity: 15% [?]
January 18th, 2007
Yesterday, while avoiding work and hopping from random blog to random blog, I came across Violent Acres, or, more specifically, her How to Fight piece. I immediately sent it to several friends.
She talks about being six-years-old and her first experiences with bullying, and how her ex-Marine dad coached her into fighting — much to her mother’s dismay:“
What if someday a vicious serial killer kidnaps her?” my Father asked, “Do you want her to die weeping and begging for her life? Or would you rather she have the courage to wrench the knife from the killer’s hand and stab him in the throat?”
He paused, mid tirade, and said to me, “If that ever happens, V, stab and twist. Stab and twist.“
I’m also fond of screaming nonsensical phrases like “I’m going to eat your eyes!” at potential attackers. I keep saying that to M, while he responds with “stab and twist!” Really, I’m waiting for us both to be taken away to the looney bin.
Anyway, there’s some good advice in here about standing your ground and how fighting dirty is not a bad thing. If you didn’t learn these things at six, then be sure to check ‘em out now.
-amy
Popularity: 13% [?]
January 3rd, 2007
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