Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Kate Bush is Alive!


I just received the following email regarding one of my favorite singers. The crazy thing is that I was actually pondering what happened to Kate last week.

KATE BUSH has announced details of her new album.

The singer will release the double-LP ’Aerial’ on November 7.

The record will mark the eccentric performer’s first since 1993’s ’The Red Shoes’.

’Aerial’ will be preceded by the single ’King Of The Mountain’ on October 24.

No live dates have been announced, though Bush has only toured once during her career, in 1979.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

The Sounds Like a Frog Podcast


I'm late in posting this, but this week's Beware of the Babylon podcast is here! This week Todd and I discuss

-the life and death of the New York hot spot
-the sound effects of a wooden frog
-and...we go back in time to our most recent karaoke extravaganza!



ANNOUNCING THE BEWARE OF THE BABYLON FILM FESTIVAL!





for example...
CLICK HERE TO SEE RACHEL'S SHORT FILM

CLICK HERE TO SEE TODD'S SHORT FILM

Friday, August 26, 2005

Reader Response Survey Results

Here are the very interesting results to the survey conducted throughout the week. I'd like to thank the readers who responded.

1. Over 56% of respondents were men. I forgot to find out if they are straight or gay.
2. Over 81% of my respondents claim to know me personally. I guess those who don't know me, didn't feel comfortable filling out the survey.
3. Over 56% of respondents like reading about the men in my life unless it is about them. 6.3% don't like reading only like reading about the men in my life when it is about them. 12.5% claim to jerk off after reading this blog. I'm not sure what this all means.
4. 12.5% of respondents claim to have had romantic or physical relations with me while 33.5% are waiting to make their moves, but only 12.5% want to marry me. Hmmmm....Please let me know via comments if you are wanting to make a move or marry me. I need some positive reinforcement.
5. 87.5% of those that answered like cats while 68% listen to the podcast.

Friday Catblog by MJ Cat


The summer is almost over and I am still waiting for something exciting to fly by my window. It's been so hot that I haven't been able to walk outside on my leash as much as I like to! Have a great weekend and next week, I'll be back answering all your questions. Meow!

Thursday, August 25, 2005

National Kiss and Makeup Day!!!!!!!!!!


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Today is National Kiss and Make Up Day! There are a few people I would like to kiss and make up with, but since most of my disagreements involve these people getting mad at me for writing about them on the Web, I can't name them by name or they will never want to make up with me. All I can say is that if you are mad at me for writing about you over the past ten years, I am sorry. Let's all kiss and make up!

Orgy at Bistro Du Vent


This is one of the best pieces of gossip I've heard in a long time. The entire image made me picture me, Pepe, Job and Michael all getting it on at the Risotteria back in the day and customers wondering the real reason the rice is so creamy. Gross!

August 25, 2005 -- AN after-hours orgy erupted at celebrity chef Mario Batali's Bistro Du Vent last week, resulting in the firing of four staffers, PAGE SIX has learned.
The randy sex romp between an openly bisexual waitress, a male chef, a female manager and a waiter was captured on the West 42nd Street restaurant's surveillance cameras, which feed to a monitor right next to the host's stand.

We're told that the oversexed staffers were boozing it up at the bar after closing when things got physical.

Our snitch, who saw the steamy surveillance footage, says the X-rated action took place "on the bar top, down to the floor, on top of the banquettes — chef on waitress, manager on waiter, waiter on waitress, all four tangled up in one bunch."

But apparently the night porter caught a glimpse of the freaky festivities, and told the incoming dishwashers and busboys that morning on his way out. They, in turn, tattled to the waiters and waitresses, who all crowded around the host stand monitor and watched the orgy unspool, freeze-framing it at points for maximum enjoyment.

Later that afternoon, Bistro Du Vent general manager Jeremy Noye announced to his staff that four employees had been fired, adding, "That's all I'm going to say, and we're going to move on from here."

When we called Noye for comment yesterday, he told us, "I'm going to let Mario handle this. I'm not in a position to make any official comment at this time."

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Don't Forget to Take the Survey: Results will be posted on Friday!



Click here to take our Online Survey

Kiss and Make Up Day


Tomorrow August 25th is the official Kiss and Make Up Day. So, let me know via the comments section if somehow I've wronged you or you perhaps wronged me and want to get together tomorrow to kiss and make up. If I would like to make up with you, I will be sending you an ecard tomorrow making my intentions known. Kiss and Make Up Day is now my new favorite holiday beating out Yom Kippur and Good Friday.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Tuesday Reader Response Survey

As I try to revamp my life, I've created the following survey for my readers. Please click on the link to and fill this out in order to help me make this the best blog it can be!



Click here to take our Online Survey

Monday, August 22, 2005

New Life Experiment: Week One Introduction

Well, I'm officially a year older now. I'm still recovering from the hangover of old age. Thanks to everyone for sending me cards and wishes! I decided that this year I will settle down, get married and move to the suburbs. Each Monday I'll document where I am in this process which begins today. So far, nothing has happened yet today to bring me closer to my goal.

Friday, August 19, 2005

It's Founder's Day: Friday Catblog by MJ Cat


Today is not only my person's birthday, but it is my own Founder's Day! Founder's Day is a special holiday created to celebrate the day a person is united with his or her adopted animal. Because I lived my kittenhood out on the streets, nobody knows my actual birthday. So, rather than the day I was born, I celebrate the day I came to my new home to unite with my person. So, although I'm estimated to be around 4 years old, this is my second Founder's Day! I can't wait for my catnip cake tonight!

Thursday, August 18, 2005

The Year In Review

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I fear I'm now an official single old-maid living with her cat. Yet, I had a decent year of emotional growth. Here are some of the highlights:

1. My love life was complicated, upsetting and yet, a lot of fun. I'd especially like to thank Mr. Book, The Snack and Liev Schreiber.
2. During this year, I dyed my hair dark brown and hated it so I went back to blonde. Then I decided to cut it into a very short bob which was also a big mistake and I'm still growing it out. My colorist moved to Ohio and my stylist was too expensive so I had to find an entire new hair team which seems to be working out so far.
3. I had a good year at work and for the first time, I like my job.
4. I perfected my recipe for BEEF BOURGUIGNON.
5. I started the podcast with Todd and we were featured in the Wall Street Journal!

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

The Ravages of Age Podcast



Todd and Rachel are back from hiatus, downing wings and fine drinks at BAR 89 in Soho.

This week on the podcast, find out:

- dirtier jokes than "The Aristocrats"

- how to automatically be ten years younger

- what are the ravages of age

- how much does Elizabeth Berkley pay for a haircut?

If you haven't already done it...
click here to subscribe to the podcast on ITUNES.

Or if you just want to hear it from here...
click here to download the podcast and listen.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

The Hair Salon in the Sky: Goodbye, Pitella!


I was very sad to hear about another death of an old friend of mine from York, PA. I was informed that Fortunata Pitella aka "Pitella" passed away over the weekend. Pitella was my first full-time hair stylist during my teenage years in York, PA. Responsible for keeping my hair on-trend during the fabulous 80's, Pitella's creations included the famous "electrocution" hairdo, the lopsided bob, the long bleached blonde bangs, numerous tight curly perms and the infamous Joan Jett hair crisis. Pitella would cut and color all of his client's hair with their backs to the mirror and I allowed him full artistic license. Being the Jose Eber of York, PA, Pitella was always overbooked so he'd put you under hot lights and dry your hair with the dryer stuck in a drawer while he worked on fifteen other clients. After he finished you off with the curling iron, he'd spin you around to "shake it out" to see his final creation. He once told me that this was just how Jose did it. Pitella always served tiny Cokes in the bottle, which even as a teenager, I thought was very high-class. When I competed in Junior Miss, Pitella bought a ticket to see me and even snuck backstage to ensure that my hair was at its best. As much as I loved Pitella, my sister hated him. Once, as he was working on her, he was simultaneously styling a senior citizen named Doodles and gave them the exact same bouffant. My sister emerged crying from the salon screaming, "Have you ever seen a teenager with a hairdo like this?" Pitella laughed and my sister became the only client to ever be allowed to look in the mirror as he worked on her hair.

Pitella was an old-school Warren Beatty Shampoo era hairdresser who felt that you should always look as you if you just left the salon and his curling irons were always on high. He loved women and he loved to attempt to make them look as close to Sophia Loren as he could manage (he had a photo of her hanging on the wall.) Despite his styling inconsistencies and crazy experiments, I relied on him and spent so much time on my hair I once was grounded for going through too many bottles of Sebastian Spritz Forte in one week.

Before I moved away from York to attend to college, Pitella gave me one last perm so extra curly that it would last for the semester. In my preppy New England college, someone asked me on the first day with disdain, "DO YOU HAVE A PERM? ARE YOU SOME KIND OF TEENYBOPPER?" I never saw Pitella again and found someone else in my college town who wouldn't give me a perm and also allowed me to look in the mirror as she cut my hair. She even styled it holding the dryer in her hands. She never used a curling iron. When I went home for vacations, I always felt guilty when we drove by Pitella's salon and I saw his big silver Mercedes parked outside. I secretly missed him and his crazy hair styles.

Now, having my hair cut, colored or simply washed is the most relaxing thing in the world to me and I'm a salon fanatic. I've never had Jose Eber work on my hair, but I've seen some of the top-hairdressers written about in the glossy magazines Pitella kept in his salon. Pitella taught me at a young age that a good haircut could make any outfit look good and I still believe in this philosophy.

And to this day, I always take off my glasses when I get in the chair so I can't see what's going on. As I witness the final hairdo, I love the final rush I experience as if I'm 16 years old again, back in Pitella's chair, believing for one split second that I just might be beautiful.

Here is Pitella's official obituary:
InYork.com - York's Internet Community

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Another Day, Another Dollar

I don't have much to report this week. I'm bored and it's dull and it's hot and I am getting old. I will be back to my normal blog/podcast self next week.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

I BROKE A VASE AT VOGUE!


The Daily News reported the following today about Donatella Versace:
LEAN AND HUNGRY: Hard-partying fashionista Donatella Versace has calmed down and cleaned up since her rehab days, but her checkered past still shadows her. Radar magazine digs up this gem from her coked-up times: "In one memorable incident, sources say, she stumbled into a glass table in Vogue editor Anna Wintour's office, sending shards flying.

Believe it or not, the exact incident happened to me. Years ago, I had a job interview at Vogue where I was so nervous that I knocked over a vase of flowers with my purse. Donatella has inspired me to come forward and confess I BROKE A VASE AT VOGUE. My purse knocked the vase off the desk, water spilled, and glass smashed. I left the building, cried and was punished with a job at FamilyPC Magazine. With one simple swoosh, my dreams of working at Vogue were shattered as fast as the ill-placed vase of roses.

Monday, August 08, 2005

The Harder They Come, The Harder They Fall

Well, in a little over a week, my 34th birthday is coming up. I am telling everyone, I'm turning 25, but the fact is I am reaching or am already in my mid-30s. I'm getting older and hopefully wiser. Here are some of the revelations I've had over the past year.

1. Most men are crazy in some way. I always kind of knew this, but this year I am admitting it. My chances of finding true love suddenly seem slim.
2. Weight Watchers really is for the rest of your life. My leader Lauren once said this and she was right. I will be dieting for the rest of my life.
3. Mary Kay Time Wise products are fabulous. I won't make fun of anyone using Mary Kay ever again.
4. Tom Cruise is crazy (see #1). I used to love and defend Tom cruise against allegations regarding his sexuality and his religion. Now, I can't even drag myself to see War of the Worlds.
5. Some babies are cute. I used to be scared of holding babies, but over the weekend, I held my friend Diane's brand new baby and for a second, I kind of wanted to steal him.
6. I will never cut my hair too short or dye it dark brown again. I did both of the past year and regretted both decisions.

Friday, August 05, 2005

The Cat Days of Summer: Friday Catblog by MJ Cat


Well, it's hot outside so I've been holded up in the apartment chilling in the AC. It's hard to look cute in this weather and the humidity doesn't make my fur look it's best.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

She never made me any fudge!

While I was away on vacation, I was informed that the very scary Miss Snell, the former York Suburban math teacher passed away at the age of 83 which was suprising to me because I could have sworn that she was at least 100 when I had her as my teacher 18 years ago. Parents would try to get their gifted children in Miss Snell's math class for some odd reason. Miss Snell believed that you should spend at least 3 hours each night studying math. I believed that math should never interfere with one's social life. I was right as my social skills and friends provide me with many more benefits than my calculus education. In any case, I have to admit, I never forgot Miss Snell and her red check marks either.

It all added up for my high school math teacher - York Daily Record

Feel the Tingle!


It is so hot that I've been drowning myself in Jean Nate after-bath splash. Jean Nate is one of the most underrated beauty products on the market. Last year, I was dating someone who used to joke that I smelled like Jean Nate. Due to the mockery in his voice, I didn't have the heart to tell him that he was correct. Before we'd meet for a date, I'd splash myself all over my body. I always wear Jean Nate during the month of August and now I'm confessing it to the world.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

It's Hot!

Today at work we had a company picnic where my chocolate ice cream immediately melted on my white t-shirt. This is the most exciting news I've had all week. I'll have more to report tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Back in Town

I'm back in town and trying to catch up with my life. It's amazing how much minutiae piles up during my absence. I have to respond to 3,000 emails, open 400 bills and call 4,500 people. I'm going to be lazy with the blog this week and I don't have time to podcast.

Monday, August 01, 2005

The Tyra Banks Show

Tyra Banks is advertising for guests to be on her new talk show. I'd love to be on the show entitled, "Tyra Stole My Man!" A couple of years ago, I was dating someone who was always dissing me for Tyra and frankly, I just couldn't compete.


The Tyra Banks Show - Premieres September 12th

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