CheapThrills

My new friend

First night of a work trip to Chicago, and look who the wind sent me. Things are lookin' up.

Ryan and Jesse Jackson at a Gold Coast restaurant

Strange election anecdote from Miami Beach, FL

Just got back from a fun-filled weekend with friends in South Beach, Florida. Though dancing ‘til 5am was top-of-mind for me and my cohort, we kept two other current events at a high second: the ALCS and, of course, the presidential race.

It seemed two Obama spots ran on a loop during each baseball game: the “unravel” ad, and the one I like to call  “many faces of McCain” (an ad that I find equal parts hilarious and unsettling).

We also spotted quite a few Obama signs in store windows, Obama bumper stickers (including one on a taxi cab – is that legal?), and a bonafide Obama-gear store.

On the McCain end? To our observation, no T.V. spots running (we even tuned in to Fox News… for as long as we could stomach it) and limited support signage. However, on our last vacation day, we did run into some HARDCORE McCain supporters, out in full force.

Who were these McCain fans, you wonder? Three Black supporters! Ingenious. One – an older gentleman – was clearly native African; the other two (both women) might have been African-American. Though I didn’t get a photo of them, I did obtain one of their most peculiar fliers. It got all crumpled in my bag (oops!), but I have included a photo regardless.

I’m particularly impressed with the 5th line: “Adding ‘sexual orientation’ to the definition of hate crimes”. Obama supports it, McCain opposes it. Maybe you aren’t for same-sex marriages. Ok, fine. But to be opposed to providing protection against violence directed at LGTB individuals? That’s flat-out brutal and heartless.

And, of course, the 8th line, "US Senate vote declaring English as the official language of the U.S. Government" (McCain supports, Obama opposes). How ironic - it was clear the African man who handed me this flier spoke very limited English.

Anyway, early voting in Florida begins today. So we’ll see if these three represented a larger Miami voting block… or just themselves.

That time I was on The Price is Right

Don’t believe Tony! Toni! Tone! for a second. It definitely rains in Southern California. And it was on one  particularly flood-watered January day that my BF and I found ourselves on the CBS lot for a Price is Right taping. Because really, what else is there to do in LA when the sun's hiding?

After waiting around for a couple hours with some insane Price is Right fans (you know, those weird matching T-shirt peeps, or worse yet, the older people with “I Love Bob Barker” face-painted to their cheeks), we finally got lined up to enter the studio. On the way in, a few producers took groups of 20 for quick interviews.

I basically acted like a lunatic during that interview. Somehow, I knew that would get me called down.

And then the luck just kept rollin’ my way. Which I found infinitely hilarious.

Most random showcase EVER. Seriously... a saxophone? What would you have bid on all this?

Grand finale, complete with Grandmommy shout out. She watched the show every day of her adult life.

And there you have it. Feel free to make fun… I know I looked psychotic. Happy Friday!

Off to the orgasm capital of the world!

I'll be out of the country on vacation for two weeks (yay!). While I'm away, here's a fun graph and some interesting stats to ponder. So many questions come to mind... Have we finally discovered the reason why Italians seem to radiate that intense euphoric glow? Why isn't hypersexualized France higher on the list?  What exactly is going on with China?

Anyway, dear readers, Happy July! I'll be back on the 14th with more than a few fun stories from Europe.

Related - Reuters: Chinese struggle to orgasm, easier for the Italians