market research

Call the pinheads on the brand team and find out who came up with the name for our new dessert product..........

blogiversary

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's been a whole year. The first blogiversary of the World O Jeff. I guess I didnt think I had that much to say.

I must admit that I started this on a dare. My dear friend John, my own personal Auntie Mame, had passed away suddenly. I wanted to capture the stories before I could start to forget them. Betty was pestering me to write more. And besides, it was cheaper than therapy.

Who thought I'd have actual readers?

Thanks to Betty for inspiring (okay, forcing) me to do it, blogmammas Lynette and Cecilia for keeping me at it, Eric, Tank, David, Richie, Paula, Janey and Elizabeth for your kind emails and comments, and Ron, Will, and Ken for being crazy as a box of rocks and thus giving me lots of material.

And with that, here's the blogiversary repeat of my first ever post. Thanks, y'all.

sweet sticky dog

Valentine's day was this week and the impending trauma of it forced me to come up with a plan. I decided to tackle it head on. Calling Will (who is alternately Sacco to my Vanzetti or Cybill to my Mary Ann), we assembled a group of friends to meet in West Hollywood in pursuit of a Stunning Martini. The only requirement was to wear black, head to toe. I used a vintage tuxedo jacket and bow tie to create a dashing flair, Will did a tone on tone number with a black silk tie, bad boy Tony chose a biker jacket and black denim to set a completely different mood within the same color statement. It's all about our personal flair.

Our mourning party progressed to the Abbey where we found ourselves at a table in the wind tunnel (many of you will know where I mean- its like a covered outdoor bowling alley with wall sconces) next to a totally fun lesbian couple- they were chatting with us about a fashion show they were planning to help launch a line for a designer they were unfamiliar with. David-who-knows-everything was already familiar with the event and was lobbying to score a spot on the VIP list (I was on the VIP list once at a Cemetery, but that is a story for another day). Anyway, somewhere in the second round she shared that the designer was named Honey Labrador.

Honey Labrador? I burst out- I knew her in the 90's in Chicago. My friend Crazy Ass Ron (the one who thought he was Joan Crawford) used to hire her for Spiegel photo shoots. We would drink heavily and think of alternate names for her with the same cadence- Lobster Thermador, Sunny Ecuador, even Crosley Shelvador. I guess the drinks made it seem clever. Anyway, the fun couple were amused and actually relieved that someone had heard of Honey. So relieved that they bought us a round. Very cool girls.

Of course, I had to call Crazy Ass Ron in Chicago and tell him the news. I left a message on his cell phone from the Honey Labrador Fan Club. He called back a few minutes later snickering. "Honey Labrador- that was 1993! How the hell did you remember that?" "You know me", I replied. "How could I ever forget a girl named sweet sticky dog?"

wake up alone

Welcome to the World O' Jeff Valentines Day special, in which the entire cast (okay, Will and I) wear our traditional festive Holiday Black. It's Valentines Day for the rest of us- those who are aren't dating, and just don't really want to bother to anymore.

At the last minute I gave this piece a new name, because I thought "back to back to back to black" was stretching things a bit. Will and I will be going out tonight as usual, doing our Cybill and Mary Ann schtick provided I can locate my mantilla.

Here to set the mood is La Wino, Amy Winehouse herself with a live version of "Wake Up Alone", because it just isn't Valentines without an excruciating breakup. I especially love her intro. Happy Valentines everyone, even to those of you like this particular holiday. I'm not bitter. Really.



It's okay in the day I'm staying busy
Tied up enough so I don't have to wonder where is he
Got so sick of crying
So just lately
When I catch myself I do a 180
I stay up clean the house
At least I'm not drinking
Run around just so I don't have to think about thinking
That silent sense of content
That everyone gets
Just disappears soon as the sun sets

This face in my dreams seizes my guts
He floods me with dread
Soaked in soul
He swims in my eyes by the bed
Pour myself over him
Moon spilling in
And I wake up alone

If I was my heart
I'd rather be restless
The second I stop the sleep catches up and I'm breathless
This ache in my chest
As my day is done now
The dark covers me and I cannot run now
My blood running cold
I stand before him
It's all I can do to assure him
When he comes to me
I drip for him tonight
Drowning in me we bathe under blue light

His face in my dreams seizes my guts
He floods me with dread
Soaked in soul
He swims in my eyes by the bed
Pour myself over him
Moon spilling in
And I wake up alone
And I wake up alone
And I wake up alone
And I wake up alone

back to back to black

I've written about her before. I think she's the definitive voice of this epoch. An amazing blend of coquette and serial killer, she's Ronnie Spector with a switchblade.

Far too much publicity lately for her personal demons, perhaps proving once again the link between art and personal suffering. Problems with the tight assed State Department delayed her visa until it was too late to travel- so she stepped out of rehab, and at 4 AM London time, belted out "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab" in the best tradition of "The Show Must Go On".

Five Grammys out of six nominations- New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Female Pop Vocal, and Best Pop Album. The only award she did not receive was the one she most deserved. Sorry, Herbie Hancock, but Back to Black IS the Album of the Year. It might be the album of the decade.

Here's a repost of Back To Black, from the album of the same name. Listen for the Ronettes drum beat at 2:42. It's amazing.



Congratulations and continue to get well, tattooed nightingale. You rock.

across the universe

John Lennon said it was the finest lyric he had ever written. Composed during his fascination with TM, it includes a mantra line, "Jai guru deva Om", which would roughly translate as "hail the divine guru". It has always had a remarkable calmness about it, an oasis of peace in a world of chaos.

This week it was beamed into space by NASA to comemmorate the 40th anniversary of its recording, and the 50th anniversary of NASA itself. It was aimed toward Polaris on what has been called "Across the Universe Day".

Many artists have covered the song, including Fiona Apple whose version for the film "Pleasantville" is juxtaposed against a background of an angry mob attacking the local diner. It's worth a view. I find meaning for our current social climate.

For Mom. I miss you so much tonight, and you're so far across the universe.



Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind,
Possessing and caressing me.
Jai guru deva Om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes,
That call me on and on across the universe,
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box they
Tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe
Jai guru deva Om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing
Through my open ears inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a
million suns, it calls me on and on
Across the universe
Jai guru deva Om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

change for a change

In this eve of super super Tuesday, here's a reflection from the past to suggest that selling the politics of change is not new. Although in 1960, it seems to have been done with more style. And I dig the catchy tune.

Take a look back...



Be sure and vote, y'all.