My Summer Cool List (2005)

(originally posted July 1...August 9 updates in red)

What I'm Listening To—Until I get a hold of the new Supergrass album (Update: I got a hold of it a few weeks ago, and I'm still giving it a chance to grow on me...quite a departure for them), I’m currently digging the Nuggets Box Sets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 and Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond. Each set includes dozens and dozens of groovy songs lovingly crafted by the best garage bands of the 60s...some of my favorites are: Open My Eyes by Nazz, Pushin' Too Hard by The Seeds, The Leaves’ version of Hey Joe, Strychnine by The Sonics (this song totally cracks me up!), Making Time by The Creation (the best "Who-like" track ever recorded), Father's Name Was Dad by Fire, My White Bicycle by Tomorrow, My Friend Jack (Sugarlumps) by The Smoke, and (last but not least) Pictures Of Matchstick Men by The Status Quo;

In the car-while driving to the beach: The Ventures' Greatest Hits; while commuting to work: Air America Radio

Current Girly Bath & Body Faves—Every lip balm addict (and I’m a major one) should have Perfumeria Gal’s Red Currant Lip Balm in the fancy, art nouveau tin (it comes in several other flavors, but red currant is by far the best!)...I take this with me everywhere...as for summer scents, I’m totally loving the trés sweet Pré de Provence Honey-Almond Bath & Shower Gel and Lotion (and I find that men tend to prefer the smell of food to that of cologne or perfume) (Update: this scent is a winner); I’m also crazy about Neutrogena’s Build-A-Tan sunless tanning lotion (watch the pasty whiteness gradually disappear without looking like a shriveled prune by the time you're 40.) (Update: I finally broke down and got somewhat of a real tan this summer..but it's very subtle).

What I'm wearing—for work: long, flared tailored white slacks made of woven, criss-cross patterned fabric (and I sit on a jacket if I'm using public transportation), low-riding, flared, front-pleated black denim slacks (the pair I have are made of an almost shimmery denim, and even though they are essentially jeans, they're much too dressy for casual Friday); a white-on-black, 70’s-inspired flower print skirt that hits just below the knee (Update: this skirt is so popular...I've never received more compliments about a single piece of clothing!); also, tissue-thin T shirts in a variety of colors (I just throw one of these on over a cami, pair it with a skirt, and I'm ready for work)
for play: super short skorts…the mini skirt that can be worn bicycling (I have two pairs that I am wearing constantly)

On my feet—for work: super tall, strappy black platform sandals (a must for wearing with the long-legged tailored slacks…these are about 3 inches, so I’m 5’11’’ when I wear these! It's a good thing my husband is 6'2"!); at home: very cheap Japanese-style bamboo-weave flip-flops (the same kind I’ve been wearing every summer for the past 7 years…I’m hooked)

Summer Hangouts—the Night Light Lounge at 21st and Clinton; My neighborhood has gradually transformed itself from Hippie to Hipster over the past few years, and is now an odd mixture of the two (now you're just as likely to run into the new coolest haunt as you are to find a health food store or a community garden)...if you need any more convincing that the Clinton Neighborhood is the new hippest ‘hood in Portland, just walk by Night Light on any summer evening…everybody and their dog hangs out here…best sidewalk seating in Clinton; my other favorite hangout is my front porch swing...watching the sunset

Best Bike Ride—still Ladd’s Addition Rose Circles (when they finally finish the repaving project, this ride will be better than ever)

Fave Urban Hike—Forest Park, Wildwood trail to Stone House...on a hot day, this hike is nice and shady and near cool, flowing water

Fave Oregon Beaches—Neskowin and Oceanside

What I'm Watching on TV—“The Alternative Hour” on VH1 Classic…I can’t get enough of this “120 Minutes” nostalgia…it always brings back pleasant memories of being alive during 1988-1995; as always, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”.....and what can I say? I was looking forward to new episodes of “Chappelle’s Show,” but we’ve all heard that’s not gonna happen any time soon

Movies currently saved to my DVR (Digital Video Recorder)—“The Candidate” with Robert Redford, “The Long Hot Summer” with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, "Five Easy Pieces" with Jack Nicholson, "Mosquito Coast" with Harrison Ford and River Phoenix...Also "Before Sunset" and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind"...I almost forgot "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" (It's so hilarious!)

Theater Movies—since I'm not a fan of blockbusters, I don't really like Summer Movies, but I kind of enjoyed “Cinderella Man" (when I wasn't covering my eyes during the boxing scenes) Let’s face it, Russell Crowe is a truly incredible actor if I can watch this movie for 2 ½ hours and not once find myself thinking about the fact that this guy recently threw a phone in someone’s face;
I also tend to like anything that's playing at the Clinton Street Theater

Addictive Websites-Snopes Urban Legend Reference Pages...my favorite is the music section, but I also enjoy just clicking on "Random" to see what comes up...it's both entertaining and educational; Democratic Underground ...non-election year hot topics: the US Supreme Court and the Karl Rove/Valerie Plame Case (read about the tiny degree of separation between myself and the evil Karl Rove)

What I'm Reading—Re-reading Northanger Abbey and Hillary's autobiography Living History; also enjoying Ancient Mysteries (from the author of Ancient Inventions...okay, so I'm a nerd!) and Four Films of Woody Allen (a book a screenplays featuring "Annie Hall," "Interiors," "Manhattan," and "Stardust Memories.")

What I'm Eating—it’s grilling out season and I’m crazy about well-done (nearly blackened) salmon with Memphis-style barbecue sauce; for a quick meal…Trader Joe’s (I would starve to death if not for this place) Yellow Tuna with Curry on a toasted sesame pita, also Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Ravioli (I've recently learned that TJ's has discontinued this item. Damn!); Ben & Jerry's "Half Baked" Frozen Yogurt

And Drinking-Vodka with Pineapple Juice (this is really good!); Crème de Cassis with soda; TJ's Strawberry Lemonade, Chocolate Almond-Milk