A Toast

Goodbye, cool blue eyes.

Goin' Back to Scranton

Can't wait to see how Ryan is doing in prison and how Jan's candle business is going. Illustration courtesy of the very talented Shannon Collins. Check out her etsy store to see how you can keep the Scrantonites in your purse.

I See Ice Cream People

Brian Butler is convinced that ice cream people exist. So he collects artist renditions of humanoid ice cream. If you're wondering what the hell that means, check out his blog. Above is one of his best finds, a philosophical version of the subject from artist Valesca van Waveren. We all scream for it, ya know.

Serenity Now

I am a total sucker for a great gig poster. All that care and vision being applied to a fleeting night makes me want to hang it on the wall, even if I wasn't there. Some of my favorites were created right here in Chicago by Delicious Design League. Above is one they created for The Most Serene Republic (who deserve a listen if you are unfamiliar). The best thing about the League's posters is that you can own one for a mere $20! Check them all out here. Thanks to Grain Edit for the reminder.

Swing Out Sister

That settles it. I'm wearing my white halter jumpsuit next time I hit the cineplex.

Lady Killer

My impatience got the best of me. Instead of waiting to watch the season premiere of Dexter in HD (the preferred format to watch his morning routine), I watched it online. It was a back-to-basics return for 'ol Dex, with a few surprises thrown in. One surprise: Jimmy Smits, who keeps his usual smug smarm in check for his guest turn as a prosecutor with a special interest in Dexter's latest kill. You can watch the premiere here by entering the password "lady killers." You can also watch the season premiere of Californication at the same location, if your taste runs to online porn addiction rather than serial killing.

Ossining Calling

As a huge fan of Mad Men and illustration, I was excited to hear that illustrator Dyna Moe is making illustrations of every episode this season. After designing this Christmas card for Rich Sommer (a.k.a. Harry Crane), she kept going. Here's last week's Betty rockin' the house à la The Clash. Thanks to Ted for the tip!

Help A Bitch

Donate here to save Bitch! It's a non-profit, yo!

Braindead

I've always been kind of meh on Brad Pitt, with one exception: his Floyd in True Romance. The few minutes he graced the screen in a stoner torpor made me wish the whole film revolved around him (nice try Pineapple Express, but no cigar). In Burn After Reading he does it again as the weightless meathead Chad. The movie was slight but fun, almost as if the Coens were hired by HBO to make a pilot for a new spy thriller and decided to screw with them. As usual, the Coens have found brilliant uses for their players, from an angry John Malkovich doing aerobics to George Clooney lugging around a Liberator sex cushion. But watching Pitt drink a Jamba Juice is worth the price of admission.

Candle Bananas

From the book Be Bold With Bananas. Looking for more freaky crafts? Check out the New Zealand-based store Arty Bees Books. Another bad idea: crocheted bikinis.

Southern Gothicky

Flickering neon lights, mossy cypress trees, pulpy sexuality and vampires: I reluctantly admit I'm a sucker for all, so I enjoyed the premiere of True Blood last night. Yeah, it lacked enough realism to ground its attempts at social commentary. Sure, the Southern accents didn't seem authentic. But the story of virginal Sookie's budding attraction to a Civil War-era vampire brought back all my adolescent, Anne Rice-inspired swoonyness. I'll be (guiltily) coming back for more.

Something I Whipped Up

I was so inspired by this card I bought from the ever-awesome Betty Turbo that I made this iMix. Listen to it when you've had a drink or two and suddenly feel like baking some cookies.

Dropping In

Dolan Geiman may live in Chicago, but his head is in the South. So I guess it is no surprise that I love his artwork, described as "contemporary art with a southern accent." He makes wonderful rescued wood constructions and mixed-media work, all available at his etsy store.

Don't Leave So Soon!

I have tons of muesli! You can sit on my couch all day if it helps you write more songs! We need more than two seasons!