How about Sir Ian jamming with the Fleshtones (playing in the style of the Velvet Underground) doing Shakespeare's slashiest sonnet XX on Andy Warhol's MTV show for the Valentine's Day special?

Do you guys remember when Banana Republic used to be cheesy? I mean, I still liked them--enough that when they went "normal", I didn't shop there for a while, because I was pissed they'd given up their travel schtick. Sort of like J Peterman, but lower rent. It was the first American clothing store I shopped in on purpose--the only one I could tell from the rest (well that and Laura Ashley, but I did not dress there--tennis cousin's family loved it, though. I have tons of pictures of them all at ten dressed in floral prints and shiny ribbons and propriety) I got a bomber jacket at BR, that I loved to pieces, and my messenger bag, and I was a total sucker for the spiel.

Ah, well. Full circle, yo.

I'm poking around eBay trying to convince myself it's for Megan's wedding. My mother is having tuxedo conniptions, and the stepping on the toes of one or more of the bridal parties...confusing. Then I considered a blended kind of outfit--kinda Jilli-ish. A fitted jacket, and a skirt with petticoats to just below the knee.

And then I got distracted by this [link] which seems to come in a million styles, but this in another colour, like purple, could be an all femme option?

Can you believe that one of my second cousins (let's call me Ma Giant for the moment) (I don't know cousin in whose direction) yelled at my mother's older sister (who is the sweetest woman I've ever met that's never given me IV drugs, pretty much--let's protect her identity by calling her Auntie Schick) for not telling her S is now K and what you thought was girl is now man?

You know how long I've been blathering about this shit, right? First thing I did was call home, where my mother said she didn't know how segue into that. NEEDS NO SEGUE. IS SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGE. THAT'S BUILT IN, THE REASON FOR TALKING ABOUT IT...and we talked about it, as a family, and stuff. When K got married, my aunt Schick and my mother said "Love her...him...that's exactly what we're going to get wrong" and since the bride's parents don't know K is FTM, no mistakes or joshing allowed, they felt old, out of it, and not able to keep up. Which is sad, but I get it. But, also, they clearly all know. Pissy cousin Ma Giant lives in the NW, Baltimore or summat, which already puts her closer to the scene of the...scene, and her daughter Cousin Dime has known for years...

I don't know other people's experiences with their parents, but I could never not have that "Whoa...dude. And, serious--dude!" and my mother's inevitable "I knew this would happen when she refused to wear skirts and started dating women." No, some chicks stop there--as chicks.

But cousin Dime kept shush to Ma Giant, and this became a big deal. This is years ago, and she finds out...last month? Why do so many people think they either can't tell this information (like, K said--spread word--I'm sure he'd rather people know beforehand, although there's no getting used to it before you see and hear and hug him--it just makes that acclimation/shift so much easier. And more polite), or that the people they're talking to are going to break? Aunt Schick handled this stuff like a pro. Not sure if she knows her kid's possibly bi, probably gay herself.

I don't think K's mother has ever said much about it to anyone about it--previously because of massive denial, and I guess by now so much water is under the bench--she was a beaming proud (and SEXY mother) at his wedding. her sisters, for full disclosure of secret keeping. We just pretend the knowledge came to us in a dream, and not Facebook.

While we're in the depths of ita !'s family--second cousin Despair is going to the US for good. To live with the daughter she wished would die before the wedding. Daughter is (continued...)

( continues...) divorced. The issue everyone's braced for is that her son, Hasbro, who moved away from her so he could come out of the closet in peace (well, do a lot in peace, including, just *be*)--and now she's going to see him flame for the first time.

I hope he doesn't feel forced into dialing it down for family. His mother has ... my sister has had to step in and do so much shit for him, because his cousin Despair acted like her 4th kid (and second son) was a lot more optional than the rest. Comes of late in life grudge pregnancies where you don't tell anyone who the father is--including the son. I hope, at least, the father got to work it out.

To be incredibly rude and point-missing, she's the sort of woman who puts you off of two things--women being attractive, and the idea of even a barest chance of reproduction. I know it doesn't worked like that. But if it did, she'd be the other "made them gay" person on that side of the family. Jesus.

Okay! Back to eBay. I can't seem to find their Vintage section that arranged by decade...ish. Am I looking in the wrong places, or is it gone? Sheeit's almost looking like bluefly...bluefly...FUCK.

We just pretend the knowledge came to us in a dream, and not Facebook.

Modern families. And, damn, families are just complicated whether modern or not.

I am so confused by ita's family stories above. But I do like the dress she linked to.

msbelle, the dress you linked to is great, but sold out in basically every color in my size. Sad.

My dog just woke me up and then peed on the floor in frOnt of the door. I was getting his leash! One can only move so fast at 4am!!

I'm just bummed out that msbelle's dress isn't sold in stores AND I didn't order it last week, since I plan to be at a store this weekend and hate mailing back returns.

There must be something in the air (besides Isaac) because Chumley just tried to spray on top of my desk a few minutes back.

Oh dear, Stephanie. It sounds like he made an honest effort.

Love ita !'s dress link. Also, nothing like reading other's family drama to put things into perspective. Families are so entertaining, frustrating, loving, infuriating, interesting, no end to this list.

Hope our NOLA residents and loved ones are going to have a better day today.

Jennie Garth and Luke Perry are dating!! [link]