The Faithful

Have you heard about the Virgin Mary image that supposedly has appeared under the Kennedy Expressway at Fullerton? It's been receiving all kinds of media coverage since being discovered by a NW side woman last week, and the police have even had to come in to do crowd control of the "faithful" that keep flocking to the site:



I have to say, no disrespect intended, but I just don't see it. This just looks like a a big 'ol smudge. If it resembles anything, I would say Yoda, not the Virgin Mary. Now, to contrast, the grilled cheese sandwich Mary -- that, I could see, and I'm not even Catholic.

Why I Now Sympathize With Britney Spears

I can't go into details, but let's just say that thanks to a certain work project I did a while back that involved an extremist group, my personal safety has recently become an issue and my company has decided to provide me with security. Although I managed to convince the powers-that-be here at the office that I do not need a 24-hour bodyguard, I was unable to stop them from posting a surveillance agent outside my back door. I'm not kidding -- there is a huge, armed man that sits in an idling SUV outside my condo each and every night from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. While I suppose that this should comfort me and make me feel secure, it's actually a little creepy to be watched all the time, and I don't like getting shined in the face with a flashlight every time I get out of my car or take out the trash. Even worse, it has been "strongly suggested" that I not go anywhere alone, which means I now have no personal freedom -- if I want to go to the grocery I have to wait until Garron is available to escort me. (Thank god for Peapod at least!) After dealing with these relatively minor security measures, I can only imagine how Britney Spears must feel with people watching her every move round the clock. I gotta say that I am much more sympathetic to her plight these days. In fact, it now makes sense why she married K. Fed and has generally been acting so disgusting -- she is probably hoping that she'll drive away all her fans and thus be left alone. Poor, poor thing.

Unfortunately, Life is Not Fabulous During February in Chicago

Let's face it, while we at windycityfabulous try to be fabulous no matter what the weather, it's quite difficult to feel fabulous during February in Chicago. It's cold, alternately rainy and snowy, the ground is one big mess of mud and sludge and really old garbage that blew out of someone's trash bin during one of this winter's storms and dog poop from irresponsible dog owners whose fingers were too cold to deal with a poo-poo bag and who figured no one would see that pile of crap anyway since it melted itself to the bottom of the snow bank. Uggh.

Or maybe I'm just crabby because I snagged my favorite silk blouse today on the sorry excuse for a desk that's in my office.

Can't Post-

Mia's sick and overworked, and I'm too busy posting on autoweek.

But other than that, things are great.

In Response...

to Mia's post, I clicked on the link, and I did see it! Ewww! It reminds me of that movie 28 Days. Wait, I mean 28 Days Later -- I think "28 Days" is the one with Sandra Bullock.

Anyway, I note also that the lovely website sells "bear electric fences." I bet those things are way more effective than the pepper spray -- my dog peed on an electric fence when I was a kid, and he wouldn't come out of his house for a week.

New Year's Eve Do's and Don'ts: A public service message

So, ladies: in case you haven't been paying attention, ponchos are lame. But I know some of you refuse to give up on them, so please do me a favor, even if you have a real pretty cashmere one in your closet that you've been saving for a special occasion: FOR GOD'S SAKE, DON'T WEAR A PONCHO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE! It's cold, so you should wear a coat, and nothing (and I know that's saying something, given that it's New Year's Eve) could make you look more ridiculous than trying to stuff your poncho'd arms in a winter coat. Thanks.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about activities for the big night... I wish I could suggest a fabulous party, but Garron and I are multi-tasking in a low-key way this year, hitting a couple of private parties and then having a late-night dinner at a steakhouse. So if you haven't firmed up your plans yet, my only suggestion is that you avoid the Chicago-Scene party at the Drake at all costs. I made the mistake of going there my first year here in Chicago -- what a nightmare. I won't get into the rude waiters, crappy hors d'ouevres, and long lines at the bar, I'll just point out that they only have one women's bathroom! For like 500 women! The year I was in attendance, 10 minutes before midnight, one of the toilets overflowed, and the whole bathroom was flooded with piss -- seriously one of the grossest things I have ever witnessed. Stay away, stay far away.

Unless, of course, you are a horny 23-year-old guy looking to hook up with a trashy chick (in which case I don't know why you're reading this, but anyways) -- then you'll love it. But please make sure that the lady you kiss at midnight is really a lady. See Exhibit A, from the Drake party last year:


Champagne Wishes and Happy New Year to all! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

More Leatherette Regret

I wasn't making this up, check out Joe S's comment on Autoweek.

I have to say, I really respect Joe S. It's a rare man who can admit when he made a mistake, and to do so in an effort to help others makes him a real gem.

But I still wouldn't go out with him ladies, until he replaces those seats!

By the way, I saw Mia at the party. While she was the drunk girl, she wasn't that drunk. And she had a very fetching outfit on that I saw on Sarah Michelle Gellar last year at the MTV awards, I think. Drunk, but stylish.