Sarasota Fashion is Almost Here!!

Folks, I was really trying to hold out on this post until high season arrived. (I'm probably a little too early for regular season too, but what the hell.)

If you want a good time--a really good time--all you have to do is look at local columns and the various shiny covered magazines around. The fundraising season has almost arrived! And what better way to get engaged in some home town fun than to look at the outfits being flaunted by the socially elite of our town.

If you haven't read the hilarious GoFugYourself website, there's no time like the present. Gifted girl writers Heather and Jessica collect the best photos of celebs prancing around in their worst attire and prepare the most creative commentary you've ever seen. (Thank you RL for turning me on to this!) What sucks is that most of the time, I don't even know who the celebs are, but it still has the same appeal as laughing at the outfits in the local magazines. ("I don't know you from Adam, but I can guess that you probably did PAY for this attire you're wearing.")

Here's a great example of a posting from GoFugYourself, which actually is about a name I can recognize. It's the August 25 posting about Madonna. No really, you have to read it. One day I hope to be the writers you are, Jess & Heath. You don't mind if I call you that, do you?

So here's what I'm getting at. It's my brilliant idea for a fundraiser. And it doesn't even matter right now who would benefit. The idea is to have a FUGraiser, right here in Sarasota. We'd invite Jess & Heath to come in, fug the ugly outfits of our attendees and work with Marjorie to get them slathered in the paper. What do you think? I'm up for this. In fact, I'm ready to go. I can't decide what to wear, but I'm sure I can find some very appropriate clothes at a few local boutiques.

It's pretty fashionable to bring your pet to fundraisers too. Rams, can I borrow Gropius?

My Hair is Falling Out!

Is it too much work? Too much worry? Not enough peanut butter?

I'm not sure what's going on, but every few years I go through a major hair loss episode. The year I graduated from college it was so bad I went to the doctor to get all sorts of blood tests. Nothing showed up, thankfully.

Last month, I did a major hair chopping. A Russian woman who owns a beauty store here in Bradentuky hacked it off while she told me all sorts of interesting dirt about her family. It was a very relaxing session...No one else in there, and I trusted her with my hair as she talked away about her son and her sister living in NYC. She did a great job. Though I must admit, I don't feel quite like me, I'm getting used to it.

Except when I comb my hands through it, I'm getting strands of it that come out. I think there are some current events that may be causing the hair loss. Allow me to ponder the cause as I blog. I believe the potential events leading to hair loss are...

• The newfound knowledge that my dad, a very reasonable and strongly conservative individual, has just purchased a Harley Davidson motorcyle that he actually intends to ride.


• The fact that I am serving on 3 committees (2 of which I chair) and 2 boards, work a full time job, and have another full time job at home. (But I love these things!!!)


• Having the dog wake me up 2 or 3 times each night so that she can run outside and scare a pretend predator out of the backyard.


• Realizing that I must work at night and on the weekends to feel that I am doing enough.


• Obsessing over the number of homeless animals in the world.


• The realization that no matter how much I blog about Gropius, Ramey's cat will never have a name.


• The new realization that the cat probably does have a name, and that name is Eddie.

The bottom line is this. The world is good. I am extremely fortunate. I love being alive. I want to do as much as I can to help people, animals and the environment. But I worry too much. I'm trying to work on it.

I knew it. He digs social media.

Was I surprised to discover Gropius' YouTube video? No. This dramatic and somewhat creepy video (with The Shining-like background music in the middle), may have as well been made by Gropius himself. He was a Renaissance Man, a trend setter... Always well ahead of his time. And he would love the overzealous interactions focused on the mundane that are so encouraged by Web 2.0.

Though it's a bit long, it offers a proper introduction to Gropius. It captures the Bauhaus movement, which "reconciles art and craft to create a new industrial asthetic." Skunk Ape, this reminds me of your mission as a contractor here in Sarasota.

By far, one of the greatest aspects of this video is the narrator's pronunciation of "Grrropius." One day a similarly tasteful and elegant voice will repeat this name in the Skunk Ape's quarters. The young and sleek charcoal cat will approach, and though not very bright, it will start emerging from behind the couch as soon as the consonant "G" is released from the lips.

Gropius, you were so well-named. Where is your gilded leash?

Gropius Speaks About Beauty

"I consider beauty an essential requirement of life."

When you hear this BBC interview with Gropius, you will doubt no more that Gropius is the appropriate name for Ramsey's kitty. Click here for other BBC interviews with the Grope.

Might I also add that in an intriguing writing workshop today with Roy Peter Clarke, author of Writing Tools, the importance of selecting unusual names was emphasized as a great writing tool. Ah yes, my mind shot directly to this conversation...

The Competition Begins

Not even a month ago, a new edition was brought "into the circle." A young kitty named...oh with no name. The young beast was welcomed as a new addition into the home of the man known as Skunk Ape, Ramsey Frangie. Three weeks later, the kitten was nearing his new identity: the identity based on famous architect Gropius, AKA Mr. G, alias Ferocius G, etc.

Today while talking to PR Goddess M. Wells, I realized that the one who I supposed was the biggest supporter of this new flambouyent and hilarious name...was actually an advocate for another choice, "Eddie."

Mind you, after she explained the name originated from Edward Scissorhands (as the young kitty has grown to enjoy attacking Ramsey at night with its freshly growing claws), I understood. I also favored her argument that any self-respecting woman to enter the bachelor pad might be suspicious of the nickname "Gropie." Who is this man? And what creepy secret might I not be aware of?

So, Eddie became a more understandable choice.

Yet driving home, I continued the mental fight. Does Ramsey need the kind of woman who understands the insane and bizarre humor of a name like "Gropius?" Of course. This could be a filter of sorts for potential mates. "What?" "You don't think Gropius is really funny? Well, it was nice to meet you. Have a nice life."

Gropius vs. Eddie. This cat needs a name. What name will come out the winner in this epic battle of ginormous proportions?