jaimes

I watched the VH1 Behind the Music with Courtney Love, and it got me thinking about my history with Hole and the sometimes described, cockroach of rock music, Courtney Love. She is sober now and talked openly about her decade of screw-ups and her marriage to one of the greatest songwriters of our generation, Kurt Cobain. (more…)

It’s not often that you see funny pregnant ladies on TV. The SnL ladies have boasted a few bumps over the years, but most actresses have to conceal their pregnancies to stay in character. Not so with Samantha Bee. Her belly has been all over The Daily Show and I love it. They’ve made jokes about it on the show and written her kids into sketches. It’s good to see celebreties schlepping through those final months of pregnancy like the rest of us.

And with her 3rd baby on the way and a husband (Jason Jones) who is also on The Daily Show, they may just overthrow Jon Stewart and turn the DS into a reality show about their family life. But until then, fans can get some juicy details of Samantha Bee’s life in her new autobiography, I Know I Am, But What Are You.

Here’s an exerpt from the book about Samantha and her dad’s musical differences:

“He always liked to remind me that I went through a very serious love affair with the music of the Smiths and that he thought it was terrible and depressing. I liked to remind him that Billy Joel was a much more interesting songwriter when he was suffering from depression and doing things like drinking furniture polish, not making songs like “Uptown Girl,” which was, coincidentally, my father’s favorite.” – Samantha Bee

And here is Samantha promoting her book:

So I was a bit let-down by the Decatur Beach Party, but the Mid-Summer Music Fest helped me get over it. I distinctly remember this festival last year because I had just moved to Atlanta. It was very stressful moving away from family and not having any friends here yet. But that night I could hear the festival’s headliner Guster playing some hypnotic hippy tunes from my back patio, and I got this feeling that I would really like living in Atlanta.

This year I took my kids to the festival early in the afternoon. Admission was free and the kids play area was also free if you got on some company’s mailing list. Of course I want to know more about my home’s ventilation; sign me up! After the kids jumped and bounced and tore through one bottled water and six Caprisuns in two hours, we walked home to rest up then went back to the festival in the evening when it was cooler.

At one point, I took the kids to the port-a-potties, which were mega-crowded from all the beer drinkers who had now arrived to hear The Wailers and Better Than Ezra. My kids, being children, took forever in the bathroom, and as they came out, a drunken festival-goer who really needed to pee shouted out a sarcastic, “great job, kids!” while clapping. His sundress-clad groupies then laughed at the expense of my children, and that’s when my inner mama bear came out.

There are very few things that truly piss me off in this world. Most times I just think, oh that person’s just a douchbag/baguette; no need to get upset. But when someone’s douchebaggery crosses my kids’ path, watch out. I don’t care if you’re a drunk frat boy or a member of my family, do not joke, snap at, taunt or tease one of my children or you will deal with my wrath. My wrath of course is usually my tongue, which I bit after giving this guy my dirtiest look and mouthing “what the fuck?” in his direction.

I hope that man forgot his sunscreen and now has a wicked sunburn and a hangover.

After that momentary upset, I decided the playground was a better fit for us. Devon met up with one of her school friends and they chased lightning bugs as The Wailers sang, “don’t worry about a thing cuz every little thing is going to be alright…” Damn, first Guster and now the Wailers calming my nerves. Never underestimate the power of a hippy band at a festival. I’m surprised I didn’t start hula-hooping holding glow sticks.

Happy Father’s Day to the man who gave me

my creativity,

my sense of humor,

and my huge forehead.

Thanks, Dad!

love,
jaimes

My family and I went to the 2010 Decatur Beach Party. It’s a festival in downtown Decatur where the streets are covered in sand and fun is had by all. All, except me. I really like to say great things about Atlanta. In fact, I’ve been SO impressed with festivals in and around Atlanta in my year living here, but…

The Decatur Beach Party was kind of a dud. A very overpriced dud that melts all over your hand and then slips out of your fingers and into the giant sandpit someone has dumped onto the street. (more…)

It’s very hot these days, and that’s a problem for me for two reasons.

1. As my friend Patti said, Atlanta summers always make her feel half-dead. Well put. I totally agree. I am barely alive as I write this.

2. It’s hard to look good in this intense heat. Unless, you’re a fan of sweaty faces, frizzy hair, and shorts. I personally have a problem with all three.

Being a natural problem solver and self-appointed expert on everything, I’ve decided to offer up some summer fashion tips. Here are four looks I’ll be alternating this hellish summer.

The Atlanta Uniform
This is me wearing the Atlanta uniform, otherwise known as a cute mini-dress and cowboy boots. I don’t have an issue with moms and mini-skirts or whatever. Just don’t wear tight dresses. They make me think of old school Mariah Carey, something we’re all trying to forget. My dress is from Target, and the boots are from Urban Outfitters in San Francisco. The photo was taken by my son, who took one look at the photo and said, “I think this one is perfect.”

photo by Holden, age 4

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