Monday, February 3, 2014

Superbowl, Pop 'o' Pink and Tree Fern Friendship

Good friends keep you going don't they? Was reminded of this at the weekend. Am always trying to be a good friend back. Like my Tree Ferns, which always catch the rain from the trees towering over them and droplet down to whoever is below.

My Tree Ferns are good to their taller and smaller friends

The fronds do a corker curl when they're in the mood

In contrast my Banana Leaves are bit showy Kim Kashian

Philip Seymour Hoffman was always a bit like that on screen; never vain, played his part to the soul and made everyone around him look good. His death is so terribly sad... his talent and his work failed to sustain him.

Jen looks like she'd be a good friend doesn't she? She says she makes a great margarita. Apparently she and Justin are in therapy. What do I know, but surely those years before marrying should be wine and roses, seems too soon for therapy. The only person I've ever known to do therapy pre-marriage went on to be doubly miserable in her marriage and started an affair with her boss when she was two months pregnant with her third child.

Photo by Terry Richardson
Best ad in the Superbowl (don't ask me about the game) was the Budweiser one where a Lab puppy becomes instant best buds with a Clydesdale horse. The Passenger song Let Her Go has to be one of my favourite songs of all time, I never tire of hearing it on the car radio, so uplifting. Kevin thinks it's melancholy.

Adorbs: Best buds reunited in the Superbowl ad

You don't have to be a bird spotter to love this guest cottage on a bird sanctuary in Petaluma. I wrote about it for the San Francisco Chronicle this weekend. I totally fancy chewing away on my quill here. Or... taking the skiff into t'shops and t'pub. Knowing me, probably the latter. The homeowners built it hoping writers and artists friend would use it as a retreat, but there are too many drinking and eating distractions apparently.

The cottage library has 2,000 books

What do you wear to a Crab Feed? It was a fundraiser at Harley and Jackson's High School. Was very fun to be back at High School, this time we were allowed to drink in the gym and no mean girls. In midst of our first rain for months read BP's post and found myself popping out for a pop 'o' pink.

Frank and Eileen shirt, too pink

Carven, reminds me of the nuns at school

Strange pose in New Scotland sweater, just enough pink

Off to Crab Fest. (White jeans squeaky tight, dang it!)

Okay that's a lot for a Monday arvo.

At FF's place she has a fun thing called reader demographics. You all say what your age is and where you live. I am 51 and three quarters and live in Oakland. YOU? (extra points if you say what you do.)






68 comments:

  1. Lovely pink but the neckline reminded me of nuns too, geesh they were a bit much, bit happy with the ruler slap! What a post and so many things in it. I found yesterday very depressing and didn't even watch the Superbowl, drink champagne or eat anything good. Too sad of a day.
    You've cheered me up with your pink and green and I must say therapy before marriage, what? Agree on the wine and roses, and I try to keep on that method, is the wine and roses even an option after talk-therapy?
    Okay demographics, I like them too, I'm 43 and a half, I live in Canada, in a small University city near Toronto. I stay home to look after my rascals though I do some admin work for my hubs who has his own environmental law firm, he's a professor of environmental law as well, consequently I do a smidge of admin work with the academic offices... also I have a new puppy so that's my main job these days.
    xox Have a great week Dollface!

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    1. Hi Dani, I know, my husband says post too much, leave out Jen, but slipped her in at last moment. Yes our nuns also loved the cane as well, so that neckline does not bring back good memories, love the dusky pink though. Puppy is my career and hobby

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  2. Oh Jen and Justin - so pretty and yet, so troubled.

    My heart breaks about PSH as well - a genius. One of my all-time favourite movies is Almost Famous and I loved him in that!

    I think you look pretty in your outfit and I am saying nothing about tight clothes. Nothing!

    Me - live in Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada, was a Deputy Minister of a large department, then left to find self as a soon-to-be-published children's author (no news, just feel it in my bones!) as for age, I am such an open book - 51 and 20 days!

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    1. Gosh I'd forgotten he was in Almost Famous, yes he was that journalist who hadn't lost his mojo. So many goodies - he was great in that one about those posh preppy kids. Funny, for some reason i did not know you were up in Canada, don't know why! I feel your publishing in my bones too.

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  3. 32 (on Sunday!) from Brisbane. Mother of 2 boys, retired from my previous profession - about to commence a post graduate diploma in teaching.
    Agree with your comments regarding early relationship counselling. Off to find this Budweiser commercial.

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    1. So young!! I didn't even have my first child at 32. You are efficient!

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    2. Oops just fixed the Budweiser puppy-Clydesdale link!Weep away...

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  4. Counseling pre marriage doesn't promise much hope for after. Yikes about the gal who started an affair while pregnant. Just what do some people use for brains? I'm 57, Canadian expat, married to an American, living in the SF East Bay. About 20 minutes from you. Two grown children, one adolescent husband, one dog. One grandson who I'm gaga over. I'm not sure what I do, but it takes a lot of my time.

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    1. Yes the reaction of most people to her having an affair while she was pregnant was the same as yours!The last line! I have that same job! When we get a break in our busy schedule of doing things that take a lot of time, let's get together

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  5. Wow that is a lot of books indeed and all nice and neat, my ocd likes that haha and yeah therapy already is not a good thing. But then they could just be trying to get attention too as many celebrities do.

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  6. Oh and 28 too living in a nova scotia zoo

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  7. A crab Feed - how fun! Like that last pink sweater. The Cottage Library looks like a perfect place to read. Probably wouldn't get much writing done. I'm 60 and live in Tulsa, except when I'm in Southern California. (Tornado's and all). I have always been primarily a mom, with stints at accounting and teaching cooking to kids. (Extra points are so motivating!)

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  8. J, you did cover a lot of ground but first off PSH's death was quite a shock here too although saw a pic last week and he didn't look well. I really liked him in Talented Mr Ripley playing a very out of type macho-wasp type to perfection. I thought he was easily the best American actor under 60.
    The cabin is fabulous and don't give up on that F & E shirt; I think it looks great on you. I've watched that Clydesdale & pup advert on youtube several times and just love it.
    I'm 49 1/3 (since we're doing fractions) and an entrepreneur.

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    1. GSL: thought that PSH never looked that great though did he (in retrospect?) Even when he was young (Talented Mr Ripley) he had a life lived in look about him. How versatile, he also played that very empathetic nurse in that Julianne Moore movie Magnolia. Actually I hadn't realised he was in the Hunger Games.

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  9. I can't believe you wore white jeans to a Crab Feed...go girl. Not sure what to say about Jen except she tries too hard. Wonder if she's preggers and that's why counseling. 47, live in Knoxville, TN, own and operate a residential construction company with hubs...I am a glorified key punch and he's a glorified trash man...two kids off at college, three dogs, a cat, and five fish. I am a Gator so I love Tebow and was so disappointed for Peyton, even though not a fan of the Vols.

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    1. I know! I was thinking it was a bit crazy too. Living on the edge baby!

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  10. Your ferns and tropicals are simply amazing! All that in Oakland? The climate is so much more gentle than here in Chico. I so agree about Jen. Hell yes, I'd have margaritas with her-but therapy before planning the wedding is concerning. Sooooo sad about Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He was such a talent. I love your pinks though I wear almost no pink they look chic on you girl. Happy Monday! xx

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    1. Oakland is really mild. Last week it registered 80 degrees in the car though it's chillier today. Wish we could spend the long evenings outside though, bet you can do that in Chico!

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  11. Wow! I can't believe you're 51! What's your secret? Is there some painting in the attic?!
    Love your pink tops, the white jeans are the bomb too. I want to spend a long weekend in that room with the books (and no kids to look after) and some fine wine.
    I live in Sydney! and am 45 and 11/12ths.... 46 at the end of the month. I work in academic development at a big university. I used to teach academic writing, but thankfully not anymore.

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    1. Its i-Phone photos, they don't reveal what lies beneath. I wish I had a Dorian Grey in the attic though. Love Sydney, got to be the best City in the world (Aucklanders close eyes)

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  12. Hmmm.. I would love one of Jen's margaritas. And I hope the counseling is a preventative measure instead of necessary repairs.....

    Your pink sweater looks like the right amount of fun- especially when combating a rainy day......

    Oh and I am 30 and three quarters and live in Singapore. I am a Corporate Director of Social Media for a hotel company..... and I have the joys of conducting that job from home with my wild child present :)



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    1. Wow, I could barely get dressed in the morning when my first was a toddler, can't believe you do the two jobs at the same time

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  13. I would never guess your age, you always look wonderful. I think you suit pink a lot!! x

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  14. Great top. Love the pop if colour at this time of year. PSH was so great. Loved him in everything: he brought humanity to difficult characters others would write off.

    I'm 43 and live in Oakville, a Toronto commuter town, with my kids and french bulldog. I was an investment banker pre-kids and have done freelance writing and consulting while at home with them (God bless alimony.) I'm in the process of bringing my first book to market - it's a business book that reads like a fable. It's fun to get to know the other bloggers through the comments: great idea!

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    1. Hi Jen, there is also an Oakville near us in Northern Californian, a gastronomes heaven of fresh fruit and roadside cafes in the country

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    2. Sounds beautiful! Oakville Canada is pretty too. It's on the lake, has a charming Main Street, and has lots if preserved century homes. We have a couple of decent farmers' markets in summer but I suspect I'd envy you your fruit!!

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  15. 40, London and while I have been through a few professions I still don't know what to do when I grow up...PS I don't even know who played in the super bowl but I always loved the commercials so must youtube them all now! PPS Jen probably doesn't want to all the hassle with divorce paperwork so thinks this will preempt it maybe??

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    1. Too true, they have those backyard chickens so who wants to squabble over division of the chooks?

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  16. LOVED the Budweiser ad. I always love the Clydesdale ads. And such a terrible loss about Philip Seymour Hoffman :(

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    1. I hadn't even realised he had three children, apparently they raised the alarm when he didn't pick them up at Sunday http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/04/showbiz/philip-seymour-hoffman-final-hours/

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  17. I couldn't write in that library, it's way too tidy. And visually busy too. I suppose there are other rooms without to much to clutter the eye.

    I always thought Jen looked a nice girl, but looks can be deceptive, so who knows. I suppose celebrities are a bit weird so therapy before marriage is normal. In the old days, it would be the vicar who would take marriage classes. I suppose it boils down to the same thing : better with or without?

    I'm 50 1/3, live in St Clement de Riviere near Monpellier. I work in admin for a biocontrol lab to pay for our roof, but I also write educational resources for kids online. It would be nice to make enough of a living writing to do it full time but that is pipe dream. For the mo at least.

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    1. Hi Sarah, What sort of things do you write for children?

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    2. We're just about to make live an online resource on philosophy for adolescents, written in conjunction with a philo prof from the Sorbonne.

      I'm also writing some grammar games for the Asian market at the moment, these ones for learners of English, but I've also done some for Americans too. They are available for teachers through Edmodo. :) www.bongollp.com and https://www.myresourcecloud.net/

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    3. So cool Sarah, so Camus for teens? Maybe I can convert my lot.

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  18. I am 51 but just took a mental age test and it says I am 27. So, I am going with 27. Do you think my 17 year believes I was 10 when I had her............ah NO! She keeps me very young! I live in the state of Delaware which is a state in it's self we are not Maryland or Pennsylvania just plain ole little Delaware. I work in law enforcement which keeps me very humble.

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    1. Anon, that is a great idea, I am going with the 27 year old thingy too. Am looking up Delaware now, don't think I've been there yet!

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    2. From Delaware I can be in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, Atlantic City and Poconos(ski resorts) anywhere from an hour to 4 hours away. I go to NY city on a monthly basis to see a broadway show not crazy about Philly, it reminds me of our city of Wilminton. Delaware on the north end has big hills(mountains) mid state is flat good farm land and then we have the beaches on the south end. You either love Delaware or always trying to leave. Very compact state with lots of stuff in between. We have a large Air Force base here. Let me know when you might be on the east coast. I love the west coast my daughter wants to go to University of California at Davis for Vet school. Could she get farther away from her mother? She told me pack your bags mom your going with me.

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    3. That is so sweet of your daughter! I asked my 16 year old if he would mind going to a college one hour away. No worries, he said, there is no way I would come home much anyway. Awww, bless. I will be making his bedroom into an office.

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  19. I love the sweater with pink trim, but I love all things pink.
    I'm 48 and trained as a beauty therapist but have spent most of my working life chasing people who owe money (as a job not a hobby!) oh and I live on the Norfolk Broads in the UK

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    1. So interesting Jay! Did not know you trained as beauty therapist! I spend my life chasing people who take my money (non-paying lodgers) out of my purse. And wondering why there are huge bags of lollies hidden in the garden

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  20. i like the just enough pink sweater for a crab feed. and i couldn't agree more about therapy before marriage. not that it can hurt, but you just shouldn't need it!

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    1. Should be wine and roses in winter and champers and hibiscus in summer

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  21. I am 57, an ex kiwi from Auckland, but now live in Hervey Bay, Qld , Australia
    I own a florist shop, and life is good. Three children, who have more interest in the fridge or cake tin than me!

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    1. Hi May, thanks for commenting! I've always admired florists, think they always make the best stylists for interior design too. We have a driftwood chair made by a local woman who studied floral design in Japan. (Love the mention of "cake tins" - that makes me feel homesick)

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  22. Jody, Loving that pink sweater. Have not heard of that brand. I like it! Yes, so awful about Phillip and he had 3 kids too. Sad! Also messed up about Jen. I think if it's that difficult before you are married it's a bad sign. Isn't that when things should be easiest?
    Hey I saw FF demo thing too. Very cool. I am 48, and live in Los Gatos.
    Hey we Bay Area girls need to meet up sometime soon.
    Oh cannot wait to read about that cottage. I dream of spots like that to read and veg out!
    Have a good week!
    x Kim

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    1. Amazing how much more tropical it is down there in Los Gatos compared to here and only a couple of hours away...

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  23. Jody, This house is amazing. Do you know if it is a vacation rental or only for their family? My husband would flip to visit this. He is a bird-watcher. xx

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    1. Hi Kim, they aren't renting it out at this stage. But I get the feeling they really want to get the word out about the benefits of the bird glass etc, so I think they might be open to your guys visiting the property and seeing the birds etc.

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  24. Team 50 here, also! Home is Qld, Australia. Careers, I've had a few.
    Serious thigh envy of those white jeans, you are looking good along with the pink jumper.
    A crab feed sounds like a mighty fine thing, if it is what I think it is (eating your body weight in crab?).
    Yes to good friends, especially those who know your original hair colour.

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  25. I'm 83 and I live in beautiful Somerset which is presently sinking in the ooze. I survive- one day at a time - without my true love who left me just over a year ago.

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  26. Love your sweater and that fern tree--wow, it's like an exotic animal, I love it!

    xo Mary Jo

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  27. When you said Jen and Justin were in therapy I thought you were talking about a totally different couple. My brain is not working today. The Superbowl was a disaster. I skipped commercials to pee and fill drinks, etc. I skipped the halftime show to catch part of a movie. Then, when the score was 43-8 I turned to the movie and never looked back. Such a disappointing game.

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  28. JOJO, I adore you - you're hilarious. LOVE that pink. You make me die every time I read your posts. Seriously, can't wait for coffee with you. I guess we can skip the sky tower, though, since you said all the gambling junkies of AKL piss their panties and probably make the carpet smell worse than cat piss and joan rivers ten-layers of foundation combined.

    We'll have to go somewhere classy. LOL!

    BY the way, I hope I can make it to SF one day, because you 'totes' have to show me around your neighbor-hood xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

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    1. I will for sure be your tour guide if you're ever in SF!

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  29. Came here from Jay's blog....you are hilarious!
    Ok....I am 64....don't laugh....at the age......not where I live!...I live outside Toronto Canada....
    Love your ferns♥️
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  30. I watched Bruno Mars' show at half time in the SuperBowl and he was fantastic! - No interest in the game!!

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    1. He was amazing and only 28 years old - practised to the t- great music and showmanship! Def the best act at Superbowl ever

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  31. Love the jumper. And your legs in those jeans look awesome! xx

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  32. We bought a Tree Fern about 25 years ago because we thought they were so unusual and pretty. It didn't seem to like the weather here in TN. Yours are just so gorgeous. Love the puppy ad also.

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    1. Hi Alicia, they like the shade and rain, in fact we had one indoors in London and it did better outdoors in blasting rain. Our ones i the sun don't do as well as the one in the shade.

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  33. 49 and three quarters ! living in tiny town in sierra foothills. clothing designer and mom. your writing never fails to make me smile. ursula

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    1. HI Ursula, I saw your really cool grey and black dress in Bella Vita today!

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  34. I am 30, I live in Tauranga, NZ, I write stuff.

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