The James Gang

Watched a US talent show on TV this week which featured a clip by NY group The James Gang - totally compelling! 

A cool vibe mix of Edwardian funk fashion, great syncopated rhythms and choreography - all making a package that was really fresh form entertainment.

Check out the video below - and their myspace page...and if you like them, the story that featured them in the NY Times recently - and the style trend they're part of called Steampunk. 

Curiously enough, the vintage typewriter key keyboard I posted about recently is from a designer that's part of that movement...6 degrees of separation!

My Top 14 List

Talking of lists, while out walking the dog tonight I got to thinking about home so thought I'd put together a couple of my own lists - one about New Zealand, one about the US:

Things I miss about New Zealand:
- Denheath custard squares...they do mail order now, just not sure they'd make the Midwest
- cream buns - the old fashioned ones with the hard sugar crusted outside and fluffy inside
- the restaurants
- yum cha...only because there isn't any in Milwaukee
- British drama on TV...although I found out yesterday we do get the BBC America channel on our cable network which has the odd decent show (yesterday they were doing a Top Gear marathon - yeeeha!...)
- pineapple lumps...there is one pack in the freezer door and I'm convinced it's got a hollow bottom (it's lasting but I know it has to come to an end soon!)
- sheep
- the advertising
- the contemporary architecture (but that's just because there is none here)
- the bacon
- the bread
- the butter
(breakfast!)
- driving on the left ... it really is the right side of the road
- friends and family...all of you!

Things I love about America:
- that everyone is so polite
- outlet stores and coupons...don't think I've paid full retail for any item of clothing yet (well, maybe a jacket from H&M but that doesn't count - it was already cheap
- yard sales and flea markets - just so much better than Kiwi garage sales (although you do see some really ugly furniture)
- farmers' markets
- Krispy Kremes - only had one in a year and a half (but I know it's there if I need one!)
- that they don't know about the Tall Poppy Syndrome
- that they talk about dropping F Bombs - we just come out and say it F$%K
- that they love a Kiwi accent
- living so close to Chicago
- tailgating...never been but it looks so much fun (kindalike drinks out of the back of the car at the races when I was a kid)
- that most people don't have passports...they don't want to leave (maybe that's a good thing, think about it)
- the old fashioned diners
- Milwaukee custard
- (can't think of a 14th!)

I'm sure I'll think of more as soon as I press "publish". But that's what top of mind.

Can you tell that food is important in my life...

Calling all wives/girlfriends....

I saw this list on a blog today (hey, I was researching for a client project!....) and it got me thinking...would be kind of fun to post this and see what other lines some wives and girlfriends could add about their husband/boyfriend....Will leave it up to you! Post them in the COMMENTS section at the bottom...

Hey, and any boys that are offended - start your own list!

Reasons why my husband has a better life than me.

1) The children attend camp in the same city that I work in, therefore I am up at the buttcrack of dawn every morning to take them to camp before work while my husband is still sleeping.

2) Some nights my husband works until 8pm, which means he does not have to go into work until 11am. This means he gets to sleep even later, assured in the knowledge that I will pick up the children and make sure that everyone has a somewhat delicious dinner.

3) If he is abrupt with people they excuse it because either a) he's a man or b) he's not Southern. If I am abrupt with people they think I'm a bitch.

4) He can eat ice cream, cookies, four servings of dinner, and all the bread he wants and he still doesn't have fat thighs. I merelylook at those foods and the cottage cheese starts to dimple up and roll around.

5) He smokes. Not that I have any desire to smoke, but it would be good to have something non-prescription to relieve my nerves sometimes.

6) It's really easy with me. He says one little sweet thing and I'm all like, "AWWWWWW!" and forgive whatever stupid thing he has just done to necessitate the sweet thing being said.

7) He can pee standing up.

8) He has never, ever, ever stepped in MY pee in the morning. Ever.

9) He can drive a car that's not a total mom-car. His car goes really fast.

10) He has me as a wife. Because, come on. That's good stuff.

Last one out, turn out the lights

A little Kiwi memorabilia...The Goodnight Kiwi was a animated short used to signal the end of the broadcast day on Television New Zealand channels, before they went 24hrs. It aired from the early 80s till October, 1994. Pretty amazing to think how we take 24 TV for granted now.

Happy Birthday Miles, and America...

Today is Miles' birthday. Our boy is 5 - or 35 in dog years - and, poor guy (you think you've got problems?!), he's still a virgin!

It was a gorgeous day here at the lake...slept in - the joy of a 3 day weekend - and took the birthday boy walking.

Bumped into some of the neighbors on the way back who invited me to join them later in the morning at the local 4th of July street parade in nearby Stonebank, a village just a couple of miles up the road.

Amidst a plethora of red, white, and blue clothing - including some pretty snazzy sparkly numbers on some of the women, the locals lined the main street in anticipation - the Dads with beers in hand, the kids with bags in hand - ready to catch the candy being thrown from the floats.

It was obvious that it was important to have your tailgate collapsible chair and cooler at the ready...

It was obviously NOT the time to have a fire at your house. All of the local units, and plenty of the neighboring stations' trucks, were in the parade. In hindsight it probably would have been the perfect time to be a local burglar - the neighborhood was deserted (and houses probably left wide open as they usually are) during the time of the parade.

Neighbor Hayley, in the middle. Miles' no.1 fan and local ringleader!

Water balloons at the ready. For throwing...but there are strict rules of engagement - only throw at someone on a float with a water pistol or water balloons..

No parade in Wisconsin is complete without a posse of Harleys...The day ended with some brats on the BBQ (another Wisconsin staple), and firepits and fireworks on the lake front at a neighbor's house. We had the good fortune to have prime viewing of more than 6-7 major fireworks displays going off at local parties and villages - all around the lake shore.

Miles was the star of the night - being the only dog I know of not to be worried about the noise or lights or fireworks going off in close range - in our case at the end of the neighbor's pier. Perhaps being smothered by hugs and kisses from the neighboring kids had a lot to do with calming his nerves. He's quickly turning into the neighborhood mascot. The kids are yelling "Miiiiiiiles" as soon as they spot him.

Happy Birthday Miles, and America...

The Finished Product

The Wright-Young Dog House was finished last night (well, all but the installation of the electric motion switch to switch on the fan)...

It comes complete with cedar siding (eco/dog friendly - no glue and a natural insect repellant), interior fan, rolling castors on the bottom, and weighs in at....well, a lot!

Don't think it's going to become a production model, but as everything my darling husband does - it's custom!

This morning, as we were taking pictures Milesy walked outside and walked straight into it...circled around a few times (ancient snake detecting technique!) then promptly made himself at home.

Let's hope he likes it!