dellagoodpinarich: 18 days 'til Election Day, part 2

Okay, so where was I?

After Vegas, we had a visit from our friend TJ McFarland, who is a singer/songwriter living in Nashville and Oklahoma and wherever else he feels like. He performed here in LA (he's on the left in the hat) and next month will head to New York City, so if you're up that way, check him out at Arlene Grocery in November.

Apropos of nothing, here's a photo I took while driving. (In California, we aren't allowed to talk on our cell phones while driving, but paparazzi-ing is entirely acceptable.) I was trying to get a good shot of a GIANT dog in the backseat of a Rolls Royce. You can kind of see that. But you can also see a very cool pic of a palm tree in my side view mirror, a reflection of my car (a Volvo), a tiny peek at the Hollywood sign (okay, okay, it's Hollywood Video) and a beautiful LA day.

Then last week, it was my turn for a birthday. I cannot bring myself to type the age that I turned. Just forget about it, okay?! It is not important! Age is just a number! It's a state of mind! It's not how old you are, it's how young you feel! Oh whatever!!!!!!

Okay, so you all know how much I loved my cousin Samantha and how we shared this insane passion for designer clothes. Well one of the things she coveted was a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. I tried and tried to find her a pair that I could afford -- but they were offensively expensive.

So imagine my surprise when, on my birthday, I opened a box that Brian had carefully wrapped in multiple layers (he even wrapped the lid of the shoebox so I wouldn't see the brand), and there in all their SARTORIAL GLORY were a pair of shiny, gorgeous Louboutins -- this season's no less!!!! I about fainted. Here they are:

OH HOLY HELL I'm just KIDDING!!!! Come on! Not only are those NOT Louboutins, I think Louboutin himself spotted them and almost gave up shoe-making altogether. "Whot is zee point?!" he cried. But then he remembered that what he really did design is beautiful, precious, and splendid. Here they are for real:

So I'm going to wear them and toast Samantha (and M. Louboutin) every time I do.

Speaking of fashion, anyone want to buy some designer dresses?! I went to the Corey Lynn Calter sample sale (no dressing rooms, no returns!), bought a ton of great dresses, and discovered not even one of them fit me. These dresses retail for $250-400 but I got em each for $50-75. Small size 6. Email for more photos, 6 dresses total. Spread the word, I gotta get rid of these things, they taunt me daily ("Hey Dellapina, ya chunkster! I saw you eat that cookie. Why don't you try me on now, hmm???").

Help me sell these or you'll all be getting size 6 dresses for Christmas.

Still on the fashion subject, but transitioning to that oh-so-scandalous topic of politics... I can say without hesitation that my bright, intellectual, passionate cousin Samantha would have been mortified at the idea of Sarah Palin anywhere near the White House. I don't want to turn this into a political rant (last time I posted political comments on this blog, I could not get Katie Couric and the New York Times to stop calling me, and it really got annoying), so I will just say a few short words. Regardless if you love McCain, hate Obama, feel Joe Biden is jejune, or really, really want Alaska to secede (okay, scratch that last one), you have got to be bothered by the idea of Palin becoming President. Not that it's a sure thing... but it's a possibility. And there is no earthly way that person is ready to run the most powerful nation in the world. No. F*ing. Way. (sorry Mom, but at least I used an asterisk)

This is the Kooba bag that Samantha wanted with all her heart. She got it, then passed away before she could really use it much. So Aunt Carmie gave it to me. I carry it with pride every day. I've adorned it with Obama pins -- I'm not necessarily wildly in love with him, but I am so intensely anti-Palin, it was the best I could do. (Oh, and if you want to say, "well she's had more executive experience than any other candidate", go ahead, but I will counter by saying my dad was president of the Burgettstown Italian Club for like, 20 YEARS -- does that "executive experience" make him qualified to run the country? F*** NO!!! [sorry Dad - for the blasting of your POTUS ability, as well as the triple asterisks].) Being mayor of a tiny town with a meth problem does not a meaningful executive make.

I stole this picture off Darci's Facebook page and want to include it, in case you need a reminder of how beautiful Samantha is (and Dena and Darci are obviously babes in their own right).

Finally, I leave you with something cute. I need it to cleanse the palate after my Palin rant (oh before I forget, Brian anagrammed her name: "has anal rip" or "a plain rash"!!). Anyway I heard some noise outside my sliding door. I thought perhaps it was a thief, who scaled the trees and landed on my patio, trying to get at the valuable goods we store out there (like a rusty bistro set, a fetid cooler, two gigantic truck tires, and an empty bottle of Cholula). But no! It was this little guy.