beth, my nephew got me a gift card for gas from BP. I'm pretty sure there are other gas stations that do the same thing.

It was a very welcome gift. When even a trip to Chicago becomes something to debate over because of the price of gas, having a gift card to help defray the cost was very nice.

We've talked about this before, but now it's a book: [link]

In his provocative new book, photographer and actor Leonard Nimoy (best known to the public from his role as Spock on Star Trek) captures images of full-bodied women, some of whom are involved in what is known as the “fat acceptance” movement. “The average American woman,” Nimoy writes, “weighs 25 percent more than the models selling the clothes. There is a huge industry built up around selling women ways to get their bodies closer to the fantasy ideal. Pills, diets, surgery, workout programs… The message is, ‘You don’t look right. If you buy our product, you can get there.’” In The Full Body Project, Nimoy challenges dominant notions of the ideal feminine figure as represented in the media and fine arts.

Fore SF-istas:

Last Gasp, in conjunction with the ArtNowSF and Juxtapoz Magazine monthly party Suite Jesus, is having a special book release event for “Full Body Project” featuring models from the book this Friday, August 22nd at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco.

Maybe Spock will be there....

eta: Link is worksafe, but clicking on the picture takes you to Nimoy's site, which is not.

One year, my mom got me a mumu for xmas. Why does she hate me?

Back-To-School clothing ads, 1957

God, but I love advertising art. Those and old cookbooks are better than any history book in terms of capturing a moment in time. I've got some great ad art books (the nice Taschen books) and regional cookbooks that are amazing stores of information.

One year, my mom got me a mumu for xmas.

Ouch, Allyson-- that's just wrong.

I LOVE gift lists! And I always ask people what they'd like, because I'm curious about what they will say. If they say they have no idea, then I just do my best to get creative within my limited budget. But my mom, for instance, and today is her birthday! Happy Birthday, Mom! I always ask what she wants. And it always ends up being a surprise for her because she never ever remembers our conversations about it, when she told me she needed/wanted it. Which is odd, but whatever. But I like making a big deal out of things like her birthday because she grew up in a Jehovah's Witness household, and basically nothing was special. So if she says she wants socks, she gets socks, and they will be the prettiest, most thoughtful collection of sport and dress socks, and most elaborately wrapped ones you'll ever find.

On the other hand, when she asks me what I want, she still often forgets what I said, in a similar fashion to the conversation about what she wanted. Or she'll remember something totally random, and won't think it through to why it'd be an odd gift. Like, my first year in college (in L.A.) I happened to mention that I wanted to get a Christmas tree for my apartment, and the fake ones were only $25 at wherever, and that might be a fun way to spruce up the place, and it'd be fun because it'd be my very own Christmas tree that I could do whatever I wanted with. And for Christmas (at home in N.Y.), which we celebrated on New Years due to scheduling stuff, my present was a 2' pink Barbie Christmas tree. And the rest of my presents were all things to put on the tree, like Disney Princess lights, and Barbie shoe ornaments. And she was like, "It was so much fun shopping for you this year!" And I was like...it's January. I have no need for a Christmas tree, I didn't get to pick anything out, and I can't fit this stuff in my luggage to take back to L.A. to even save it for next year. So, I appreciated where she was coming from on that one, but it still totally missed the mark for me, since I didn't even get the fun of picking stuff out with her. And I had to pretend to be excited about it, since she had such a blast picking it out, even though I was mostly feeling left out. On the other hand, she is the only person who actually believes me when I say that I LOVE gift certificates, since I really can't afford to shop for myself, so I think that gift certificates are the bomb diggity. And they're more fun than cash, since cash I always feel compelled to use in a responsible way.

she is the only person who actually believes me when I say that I LOVE gift certificates

I believe you, Alibelle! I DO!

I love gift cards. They stress me out. I finally got stuff from Lucy from Allyson and QPB's gift card. And it was good I waited because the Lucy in Pasadena is going out of business and everything is 50% off clearance! until tomorrow, I think.

A friend just got engaged to this guy.

Have you considered an intervention?

Have you considered an intervention?

No! She'll get sued! He'll skip straight to the State Supreme Court!

Hi, Kat! Thank you for believing me!

Also today: My friends Jay and Michael got married! And I got them some cupcakes (Yummy Cupcakes, of course) as a present. I thought the Happy Day ones made the most sense. And, of course, I left the cupcakes at home, since I was also their witness, photographer, and florist. And I tore the straps on my dress on the way to the wedding. So I was the stripper too.

And now I need to get my car washed because, no joke, the birds gifted me with 23 presents while I was gone. Disgusting.